The Skeleton Garden (Potting Shed Mystery #4) by Marty Wingate

USA Today bestselling author Marty Wingate’s Potting Shed series continues as expert gardener Pru Parke digs up a Nazi warplane—and a fresh murder.

Texas transplant Pru Parke has put down roots in England, but she never dreamed she’d live in a grand place such as Greenoak. When her former employers offer Pru and her new husband, former Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Pearse, the use of their nineteenth-century estate while they’re away for a year, she jumps at the chance. Sweetening the deal is the prospect of further bonding with her long-lost brother, Simon, who happens to be Greenoak’s head gardener. But the majestic manor has at least one skeleton in its closet—or, rather, its garden.

Working on renovations to the extensive grounds, siblings Pru and Simon squabble about everything from boxwood to bay hedges. But when the removal of a half-dead tree turns up the wreckage of a World War II–era German fighter plane and a pile of bones, the arguments stop. That is, until a rival from Simon’s past pays a surprise visit and creates even more upheaval. It’s suddenly clear someone is unhappy their secrets have been unearthed. Still, Pru’s not about to sit back and let Simon take the fall for the dirty deed without a fight.  (Summary via Goodreads)

I really enjoy this series. I felt so honored when I was able to read Between a Rock and a Hard Place in this series a few months ago. Now Mary Wingate has blown me away with this new book The Skeleton Garden. I am a reader that loves a bit of history along with a great mystery. This book has it all. I love the character's likability and down to earth attitudes. They feel like they could be your neighbors. I also really enjoy the storyline of Pru and her brother Simon and how each of them are trying to learn each other better. 

In this book Pru and her hubby Chris have the wonderful opportunity to live at Greenoak while the owners are away on a dig. Pru is so excited because she gets to work alongside her brother fixing up the gardens. Simon is the head gardener and I'm sure you can guess there are a few differences of opinion. Thank goodness for Polly, Simon's wife who seems to be a buffer sometimes. 

Then one day while removing a dead tree from the garden they find more than a dead root ball, they find a WWII plane with of course a skeleton. The question is, does the skeleton go with the plane or not? It becomes very apparent that someone wants the past to stay buried when another body is found by the dig site. 

So many secrets and family twists and turns. Who would want to keep the past buried?

Review by Penny M.

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