I was ready to love this cozy, small town New Jersey mystery. Forty-year-old Kate is a smart and thoroughly likable widow. Her friend Bernard Duchowski is an ex-cop, and this is his first job as a private investigator. Dutch is crazy about Kate and trying hard to build a relationship. The romance is sweet, mature, and believable.

An aging Italian fortune teller tells Kate the auras of dead people are following her. Kate is concerned and gives some credence to the prediction as the deaths occur. The local police force is somewhat inept. A cleaning lady is not what she seems. The story is full of oddball characters. I thought I was in for a Jessica Fletcher - Cabot Cove type romp.

But I would have liked to hear more from Aunt Carmella and the spirits. I felt the author missed a chance at some engaging silliness here. She also could have done more with the eco-friendly caskets and burials. Author Goodwin did give the reader a lot of information about roses and a nice feel for traditional small town America. She also provided decorating tips at the start of each chapter. However, the book continued far too long after the mystery was solved. I did not feel we needed to know that much about the trial and sentencing.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Sweet

Reviewer: Lynn Bushey
September 18, 2008