Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours–Digging Up Daisy

Digging Up Daisy (A Mainely Murder Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Maine
Berkley (April 4, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593546652
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593546659
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B8GQNCBY

I’m so excited to be a stop on the blog tour for author Sherry Lynn and her new book Digging Up Daisy. It is the first

book in her A Mainely Murder Mystery.

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo –

Digging Up Daisy (A Mainely Murder Mystery)
by Sherry Lynn

Digging Up Daisy is a floral fiesta with an unearthed shoe, sea breezes, plant problems, an amazing aunt, a planted threat, and a lurking killer.
~The Avid Reader

In a fresh new Maine-set cozy from author Sherry Lynn, Kinsley Clark must root out a killer before the killer roots out her.

At twenty-nine, Kinsley Clark is living the dream life she always envisioned for herself. She’s the proud owner of SeaScapes, a thriving landscaping company in wealthy Harborside, set on the rugged coast of southern Maine. Kinsley’s veins are filled with salty air, a myriad of colors, and the fragrance of fresh blooms. But one afternoon, while working at her aunt Tilly’s bed-and-breakfast, the Salty Breeze Inn, Kinsley digs up more than she bargained for—a high-heeled shoe. The once sparkly shoe, now caked in mud, is linked to a case the police had appropriately dubbed the “Cinderella Murder.”

Kinsley panics. Does this mean that her aunt and the inn are somehow connected to this murder? Will it scare away potential guests? Will it subject the inn to a rush of bad press? With Aunt Tilly’s reputation, and possibly her safety, on the line, Kinsley digs deeper into the crime to find out what the shoe was doing on her aunt’s property and who murdered Cinderella, whose real name is Daisy. As she investigates, more suspects rise to the surface, and eventually, Kinsley has to weed out a killer.

The concrete cliff walk flanked the Salty Breeze Inn, traveled the coastline, and spanned miles in both directions from her aunt Tilly’s estate. To the right, if she continued down the path for roughly half a mile, it would take her to the private sandy beach reserved exclusively for Harborside residents. To the left, the cliff walk would snake its way to the marina where yachts and sailboats moored idly in the water, waiting for their captains to navigate them to the Atlantic Ocean. And beyond that, Breakwater Lighthouse jutted out from the mile-long rock jetty, waiting to guide vessels safely home in the event the fog rolled in, or an impending storm broke. Which, in Maine, was quite common.

Kinsley promised herself that a boat would somehow be in her future. She hated to take that leap now, though, as the summer season was the busiest time for SeaScapes, and she wouldn’t have time to enjoy that type of luxury. Although winter had its own appeal for her business, too. She loved the opportunity to decorate the wealthy Harborside homes and businesses for Christmas with live greenery, seasonal poinsettias, red roses, and dried hydrangea that she herself had cut when the summer blooms had faded and they’d had a lengthy time to hang upside down to dry.

The sound of a whistle caught Kinsley’s attention, and her eyes, the color of the sky on a cloudless day, traveled upward to see her aunt waiting for her atop the wide flagstone staircase. The staircase, which wound directly from the cliff walk to a path, led guests to a wide porch that faced the sea. A favorite spot for Salty Breeze guests to relax after a long day in the sun.

“Oh, there you are! Something told me I might find you hiding out here.” Matilda Hartwig stood atop the rock staircase with her arms wrapped around herself to prevent a light sweater from billowing in the wind. She quickly buttoned the sweater in an attempt to secure it. Her chin-length brown hair, highlighted with a hint of silver, also shifted with the changing breeze. She attempted to smooth her hair with one hand, but to no avail.

“Aunt Tilly, what’s the matter?” Kinsley took the remaining flagstone stairs two at a time to greet her aunt with a half hug at the wide landing.

“Nothing, darlin’. I was just wondering if you wanted to share lunch. I’m taking a minute while many of my guests are off playing tourist, and I thought you might want to join me.” Her hazel eyes, the color of toffee roses, sparkled with mischief.

Kinsley wondered what her aunt was up to.

“I was about to whip up something yummy for us to share, but it looks like you’ve already eaten.” Tilly’s smile faded as she gestured to the basket in Kinsley’s hand.

“Trying out a new recipe? Or do you have something else you want to chat about? You know I always take my lunch breaks out here, any chance I get.” Kinsley countered the twinkle in her aunt’s eye with a raised eyebrow.

“I was hoping we could talk about the event. We’ve been like two ships passing in the night lately, and I was hoping I could run a few ideas by you. I love your input on these things, especially since you’ve had a sneak peek at some of our competition.”

“Ah, I see.” Kinsley knew there was something prompting this spontaneous lunch visit. It was uncommon for the two to share time during a busy workday. They scarcely saw each other in passing, both fiercely obsessive with their respective work. Some evenings, however, they would sit on the oversized white wooden rockers atop the wide wraparound porch overlooking the ocean. They’d catch up on the day’s events over a cup of herbal tea or a late supper. But it had been days since that had happened.

Kinsley looped her arm through her aunt’s and turned them in the direction of the inn. “Tell me what’s on your mind. I can’t really divulge much of what’s going on with your competition, because I’m only working outdoors, but I still might be able to help. Do you have additional ideas for the floral decor? I’ve already decided instead of using your old containers the way they are, I thought I’d spray-paint them to freshen them up a bit before planting. I was also thinking about adding a floral garland to the posts on the porch. What do you think about that idea? Let’s walk and talk, shall we?” Kinsley smiled. “I have sooo much to do.”

Tilly patted her niece’s arm as they walked. “No, I trust your judgment on the floral design. That’s your wheelhouse; I wouldn’t dare touch it. Actually, I’m wondering what hors d’oeuvres to serve this year. Do I really have to serve a lobster dish again? Every event I host, we have lobster. Have you heard any chatter about what the other inns might be serving? I’m a bit lobstered out, to be honest.” Her tone was weary, but then she smiled, causing her age lines to crinkle in the far corners of her eyes. Besides those lines, no one would ever guess her aunt was sixty-two. People often said she looked as if she were in her late forties, which always made Tilly throw her head back in laughter.

“I know you’re about fished out, Aunt Tilly, but you have to remember, folks travel from all over for this event. They want the true southern Maine experience. Although you are blessed to have fresh lobster literally waiting for you in your backyard, most people don’t have access to that. We’re a bit spoiled here, you know.” Kinsley grinned.

Tilly sighed. “Oh, I suppose you’re right. I just want to stand out from my competition. Doesn’t everyone on the tour serve lobster something or other?” She frowned, stopped midstride, and turned to face Kinsley, and then made funny fish lips at her.

Kinsley smiled at her animated attempt at a fish face but then turned serious. She placed her hands on her aunt’s shoulders, looked intently into her eyes, and said, “I know how much pressure you put on yourself for everything to be absolutely perfect. Since you love to try new recipes, maybe you just need to create something different? Use the local ingredients but put your own spin on it. You really have a knack for that,” Kinsley said, smacking her lips in anticipation of what her aunt might come up with.

“Thank you, darlin’. You’re right, as always.” Tilly moved a wisp of hair away from Kinsley’s eyes, and Kinsley sensed the deep love in the gesture. “Maybe I’ll make the usual lobster-type fare . . . but add a special finger food dessert.” A new twinkle caught her eye.

“Exactly. And I’d be happy to sample test recipes-I haven’t outgrown licking the bowl. You know, someone has to do the dirty work around here, and not just in the soil,” Kinsley said, nudging playfully. “Let’s face it. The other inns on the tour have nothing on you. Your delicious food and the hospitality you provide are the bee’s knees,” she added emphatically. “I can’t help that I might be a little biased, too.”

The two shared a wide smile and then they turned back toward the inn. Her aunt moved with a new urgency in her step and hurried a few strides ahead.

“Something deliciously chocolaty, and ooey gooey, and rot-your-teeth sugary,” Tilly said in a faraway voice. “A finger food . . . something guests can grab and carry . . . but something they’ll crave for days on end . . . something that will make them never forget their visit to the Salty Breeze Inn . . .”

“Now, that’s the spirit!” Kinsley caught up to her aunt’s pace before they made their way to the wraparound porch that faced the ocean. When they arrived at the bottom step, she handed her aunt the lunch basket. “Would you mind tucking the other half of my sandwich inside your refrigerator? I don’t have time to run back to the cottage and put it in mine. I’ve got so much to do around here before sunset. I can pick it up later.”

“I’ll do one better; I’ll eat it myself!” Tilly said with a laugh. “Then I can get going on digging into my recipe books to brainstorm and maybe kick some ideas around instead of wasting precious time making lunch for myself.”

About Sherry Lynn

Sherry Lynn spent countless summers on the coast of Maine, knowing she’d one day return to write about the magical location from her youth. Curious by nature, sleuthing became the perfect fit for her, and she has written multiple cozy mystery series under several pseudonyms. Currently, Sherry lives in the Midwest with her husband, but she dreams about one day retiring oceanside with a good book in her hand.

Author Links

PenguinRandomHouse https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/708881/digging-up-daisy-by-sherry-lynn/

Website https://www.sherrylynnbooks.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sherrylynnbooks

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23043674.Sherry_Lynn

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sherrylynnmysteries/