I don’t usually read “romance” books but the mystery aspect of Fiona Grace’s “Orchid Obsession” caught my interest. This is her first book featuring Delilah Green, the “rare plant lady.”
Deliliah and her sister, Rose, run the popular Verdant Curiosities plant shop. Rosie works wonders with her pottery skills, and Delilah uses her vast knowledge of botany to coax the best out of every plant she encounters.
Delilah is intrigued by a call from the personal secretary to Percival Wainwright. It appears that the extremely wealthy plant collector needs Deliliah’s help verifying the identity of a newly discovered orchid.
Once a year, Wainwright invites academics, socialites, and rare plant collectors to view his extensive collection. This year, he will present his newest acquisition, the ebony orchid, but he needs Deliliah’s expertise to authenticate the very valuable species.
As she waits to board the plane to Madagascar, Deliliah meets a gentleman named Aiden Byrne. Aiden is an expert herbalist who searches for plants that might hold the key to treating or curing medical problems. The two hit it off immediately, and the flight goes by amazingly fast.
After a long, uncomfortable drive they arrive at Wainwright’s amazing compound. Deliliah is in awe of the lush and exquisite gardens surrounding the massive manor house. Before she can slip off to explore, Percival Wainwright takes her to a room where the fabled ebony orchid is on display. It doesn’t take her long to verify that this is a true ebony orchid.
Delilah is pleased to learn that her room is next to Aiden’s and soon the two friends explore the mansion and the gardens. The evening goes by in a blur. The party is an elegant affair, the meal amazing, and the ebony orchid has been presented to the acclaim of the many guests.
Everything seems magical until Deliliah sees Ethan Atwood among the guests. She and Ethan have a complicated history that involves romance and betrayal.
He’s the last person Deliliah wants to see, but Ethan quickly reaches her side. He has come to do a story on the new orchid and Percival Wainwright. Deliliah does her best to remain cool and aloof, but Aiden can tell that she’s upset. Hoping to clear her mind, Deliliah wanders into one of the many gardens.
She is horrified to discover the body of Percival Wainwright. She notes foam at the corners of his mouth and a petal from the ebony orchid on his chest. The police consider her a person of interest, so Deliliah and Aiden know they must find the killer themselves.
All the guests are potential suspects, but combining their unique talents, they notice clues that no one else would see and determine how Wainwright was poisoned. That narrows their suspect list quite a bit, but they know that the killer is still close by.
By wandering the extensive gardens and grounds, Deliliah and Aiden discover a tiny grove filled with ebony orchids. Was Wainwright killed because he was hiding the rare plants?
The clues lead to the killer, and with the mystery solved Deliliah and Aiden return to their respective lives. Once home, Deliliah mulls potential future adventures that include Aiden though she hasn’t ruled out Ethan either.
AT A GLANCE
Book: Orchid Obsession (A Delilah Green Cozy Mystery, Book 1)
Author: Fiona Grace
Publisher: Fiona Grace
Year published: 2024
Number of pages: 158
Rare plant lady digs up a mystery
