Cozy Mystery Book Review: Secrets, Songbirds, and Succulents

Secrets, Songbirds, and Succulents

Secrets, Songbirds, and Succulents is a fun cozy mystery with a delightful eco-twist.

• Series: Succulent Sleuth Mystery (Book 3)

• Written by: Iris March

• Publication date: January 23, 2025

• Mystery type: Cozy mystery

Hawthorn Heights is celebrating the Buckeye Trail with a weekend-long festival. Garden center manager Molly Green is ready to participate in the festivities and sell some extra plants to the tourists.

When a bird-loving naturalist dies on the trail, Molly gets tangled up in the investigation. The suspect list grows as she digs into the clues.

Secrets, Songbirds, and Succulents was a really fun read. I enjoyed the setting, characters, and mystery.

As a nature lover and birdwatcher, I also liked reading about the plants, nature activities, and birds that were included in the plot.

My favorite aspect of this series (besides Sherlock the cute tuxedo cat) is the hook. Molly Green has an interesting profession and makes a good sleuth. I like reading about the garden center and her work. After finishing the story, I found myself looking up plants like the Graptopetalum Purple Delight Variegated.

The mystery is a solid whodunnit with plenty of secrets, red herrings, and twists. The reveal at the end wrapped things up nicely.

I would recommend Secrets, Songbirds, and Succulents to anyone who likes small-town cozy mysteries, gardening, and nature writing.

Disclosures: As an Amazon Associate, Cozy Crime Reads may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Cozy Crime Reads received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher.