NightBlooms and a Burial
A Poppy James Cozy Mystery #1
by Gemma Harper
Published: August 29, 2025
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Cozy Animal Mystery, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Short Reads
Blurb:
A hidden garden. A whispered warning. And one too-curious café owner digging into secrets that were meant to stay buried.
When Poppy James, owner of Willowbrook’s beloved café Perk & Page, discovers a cryptic note in her tip jar and a forgotten seed packet labeled “Moonshade,” she chalks it up to a prank—until local florist Ivy Barrett collapses under suspicious circumstances. With her beagle sidekick Midsip sniffing out clues and her glitter-loving best friend Nadine at her side, Poppy finds herself drawn into a mystery woven through the town’s gardens, gossip, and ghostly history.
As whispers of a long-dormant group called the Gardener’s Circle resurface, Poppy uncovers ritualistic ledgers, burned invitations, and a symbol she’s seen once before—in her grandmother’s attic. Ivy’s sister Laurel and the town historian Theo both seem to know more than they’re saying, but their evasions only deepen the mystery.
Someone in Willowbrook has secrets planted deep—and they’ll do anything to keep them from blooming.
If Poppy can’t untangle the roots in time, the truth might be pruned before it ever blooms!
My Review:
NightBlooms and a Burial marks the first installment in Gemma Harper’s A Poppy James Cozy Mystery series. Numerous secrets concealed within Willowbrook are poised for revelation in NightBlooms and a Burial. This tale is packed with unexpected twists and turns that maintain a steady flow of intrigue.
As Poppy investigates the town’s hidden realities, she uncovers a tangled web of mysteries that tests her perceptions of those she believed she knew. Every hint draws her closer to uncovering Willowbrook’s shadowy history, yet it also jeopardizes her safety.
It’s a captivating story that immersed me in its world right from the start. NightBlooms and a Burial begins with intensity and only grows more thrilling as I hurried toward the conclusion, eager for each revelation as Poppy James dives into her signature investigation, solving Ivy’s puzzling collapse.
Hints and clues start to surface at Poppy’s café, Perk & Page, as well as other locations linked to Ivy’s accident. The deeper Poppy probes, the more intricate the mystery becomes. The tension kept me glued to my chair as I tried to help Poppy uncover the truths hidden within Willowbrook and the reasons behind the reluctance to reveal them.
I am eager to explore more adventures in the Poppy James Cozy Mystery series. I look forward to the mysteries that Poppy, Midsip, and Nadine will unravel in the upcoming book.
I highly recommend all cozy mystery fans grab a copy of NightBlooms and a Burial today!
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