A trip to the English countryside turns into a brush with death for Pru Parke, the only gardener whose holiday wouldn’t be complete without a murder to solve.
Pru and her husband, former Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Pearse, are long overdue for a getaway. So when Pru is invited to redesign an Arts and Crafts garden in the picturesque Cotswolds, she and Christopher jump at the chance. Unfortunately, their B&B is more ramshackle than charming, and the once thriving garden, with its lovely Thyme Walk, has fallen into heartbreaking neglect. With the garden’s owner and designer, Batsford Bede, under the weather, Pru tackles the renovation alone. But just as she’s starting to make headway, she stumbles upon Batsford’s body in the garden—dead and pinned beneath one of his limestone statues.
With such a small police force in the area, Christopher is called upon to lead the investigation. Pru can’t imagine anyone murdering Batsford Bede, a gentle man who preferred to spend his time in quiet contemplation, surrounded by nature. But as her work on the garden turns up one ominous clue after another, Pru discovers that the scenery is more dangerous than she or Christopher could have anticipated.
Another outing for Pru and her husband, Pru has been asked to come and quote for reviving an Arts and Crafts style garden by the person who will inherit (although the current owner and designer of the garden is still alive, albeit unwell, but he also would like to see it renewed). Although they could have stayed with friends Carol (the heiress) has booked them into a local Bed and Breakfast which seems to be on its last legs! However that is the least of their problems when a couple of days after arriving Pru goes earlyish to walk around more of the garden and make notes and finds the owner of the house dead under a statue! The local force is short staffed and so Christopher is asked to step in and run the investigation which seems to have more that one loose end to tie up!
Crafts and Life 
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