Dandelion Dead
by Chrystle Fiedler
Dandelion Dead: A Natural Remedies Mystery
Cozy Mystery
Pocket Books (September 27, 2016)
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1476748931
E-Book ASIN: B00WRBQP22
Synopsis
In a cozy mystery filled with natural cures and edible plants that you will love, an organic winery becomes the backdrop for murder! Fortunately, solving crimes comes naturally to charmingly unconventional amateur sleuth and holistic doctor, Willow McQuade, as she looks for clues that will reveal a killer’s true vintage.
Business is blooming at Nature’s Way Market & Café, and shop owner, holistic doctor, and amateur sleuth, Willow McQuade has never been happier. Her new medicinal herb garden is a hit, so is her new book, she’s in love with ex-cop and animal rescuer Jackson Spade, and enjoying teaching seminars about edible plants and natural remedies.
But everything changes when Willow’s old boyfriend and TV producer, Simon Lewis, winemaker David Farmer, and his wife Ivy, ask her to cater a party at Pure, their new organic vineyard, to kick off North Fork’s Uncorked! week and the competition for Wine Lovers magazine’s $200,000 prize. Pure’s entry, Falling Leaves, is the favorite to win, and the wine flows freely until after Simon’s toast when smiles give way to looks of horror. Ivy’s twin sister, Amy has been murdered! Turns out, the poison that killed her was actually meant for David. But who wants him dead? A rival vintner? Or someone closer to home? This time the truth may be a bitter vintage to swallow.
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EXCERPT
We left the police station a few minutes later. “I can’t wait to get home,” Jackson said as we got into his truck.
I took his hand. “Sorry we didn’t make the jazz concert, honey.”
He smiled at me. “And miss all of this?” He patted the seat next to him. “Come to me.” I scooted over, and we drove to his house, snuggled together.
Qigong, Columbo, Rockford, and Zeke went nuts when we got to his house, barking, running around, wagging their tails, looking for treats. Ordinarily, we didn’t leave them alone for more than four hours, max, but this had been a long night. They did have full run of the house, although they usually all got up on the living room couch by the doggie steps and went to sleep in front of the TV, which we left on for a little noise, until we returned.
After we gave them each a few treats, we took them outside into the fenced-in yard to run around. While they did that, Jackson did his nightly check on all of his rescues to make sure they all were okay, especially the new arrivals and the ones that had been ill. One of the volunteers had done a walk-through at nine o’clock. Jackson had also installed in the kitchen an alarm, motion sensors, and an intercom to the barn.
Once he was satisfied all was well, and after our dogs had sniffed to their hearts’ content and done their business, we went back inside, and Jackson made a fire in the bedroom’s fireplace and drew the blinds.
While he did that, I took a hot shower and changed into my flannel pj’s, went into the kitchen, and put an organic gluten-free pizza with a flaxseed crust in the oven It wasn’t vegetarian or vegan, but I wasn’t perfect. While it baked, I whipped up green salads with balsamic-vinegar dressing. We’d eaten early, and both of us were ravenous.
Since my muscles still felt sore, I reached into the cabinet over the stove and pulled out a bottle of homeopathic arnica. Interestingly, research has shown that it’s the helenalin, an active compound in arnica, that curbs the inflammation that comes when you’re injured or overdo it, by stopping the release of NF-kB, an immune system regulator.
I took five tablets of 6X strength—the lower the number, the stronger it is—and would repeat that four times over the next twenty-four hours. I also had arnica cream, which I’d rub on my legs three to five times a day.
That taken care of, I checked the pizza, which was halfway done. While I waited, I washed up a few dishes in Seventh Generation dish soap [SHB1]and straightened up the counter. We spent more than half our time here, but also had hectic lives, so it was important to stay on top of household tasks.
The pizza still needed a few more minutes, so I watered all of my plants on and near the windowsill that overlooked the front yard and received the morning sun and exposure from grow lights. I’d planted all the usual herbs in small pots, including basil, chives, cilantro, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, and thyme, for salads and cooking. Most of which had naturally powerful antioxidants in them. But I’d also added my favorite edibles, including a dwarf avocado tree, whose fruits were full of vitamins A, E, and B6 and carotenoids; a dwarf mandarin orange tree with fruits with antioxidants, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, and fiber; and a dwarf lemon tree with fruits chock-full of vitamin C.
In addition, I’d planted superfood garlic greens that I used like scallions, carrots with vitamins B6, A, C, and K, and antioxidant-rich mushrooms and tomatoes, not to mention microgreens that are a great source of vitamins A, C, K, and folate. Having fresh herbs and fruits and veggies at hand made whipping up a healthy meal super-easy. By then, the pizza was done, and I put it, two plates, two microgreen salads with lemon-dill dressing, two Honest peach ice teas, and napkins on a tray and carried it into the bedroom. Jackson toweled himself off from his shower and got in a T-shirt and sweatpants, and both of us climbed on the bed. I put the tray between us, and the dogs settled down at the foot of the bed to go to sleep.
“What do you want to watch?” Jackson said, picking up the remote.
“Something light and funny. I need to wipe away the memories of that gruesome Halloween maze.” I put a piece of pizza on one of the plates and handed it to him.
“Thanks.” He turned on the TV and flipped through the channels. “That thing was pretty bad, but you handled it like a trooper.”
“Thank you, honey.”
“Guess what? Murder, She Wrote is on, just for you. In fact, it’s a marathon.”
I took a bite of pizza. “Sounds just about perfect. Love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Look at these sweet boys. The one in back looks shy…or afraid, poor puppy dog.
These adorable guys, Murdoch, 1 and Wallander 7, were rescued by Chrystle Fiedler from All American Dachshund Rescue.org. Drop in and take a look at the sweet critters needing a home. Hard to say no to a face like that. 🙂
About the Author
CHRYSTLE FIEDLER is a freelance journalist specializing in natural remedies, alternative medicine and holistic health and healing, and is the author of the Natural Remedies Mysteries series. Her many consumer magazine articles have appeared in USA Today’s Green Living, Natural Health, Remedy, Mother Earth Living, Spirituality & Health, and Prevention. She is also the author/co-author of seven non-fiction health titles including the Country Almanac of Home Remedies with herbalist Brigitte Mars, and The Compassionate Chick’s Guide to DIY Beauty with Vegan Beauty Review founder, Sunny Subramanian. Chrystle lives on the East End of Long Island, NY in a cozy cottage by the sea. Visit www.chrystlefiedlerwrites.com.
Author Links
Website link: www.chrystlefiedlerwrites.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dandeliondeadbook/?fref=ts
Twitter: @ChrystleFiedler
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3360187.Chrystle_Fiedler
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/chrystle123/dandelion-dead-a-natural-remedies-mystery/
Purchase Links: Amazon – B&N – IndieBound
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