BOOK THREE OF THE INTRIGUING “THYME WILL TELL” MYSTERY SERIES Can Regan Culver prune away a thorny tangle of suspicion and danger that’s strangling an heirloom rose society? After wildlife rehabilitator Damia Day costs senatorial hopeful Bram Falco the election, her animal patients are slaughtered and her prized rose bushes poisoned–presumably in retaliation. Since both Day and Falco are members of the heirloom rose society founded by Regan Culver’s mother, Regan is asked to intervene. But when someone replaces Falco’s lighter fluid with gasoline at a society cookout, the resulting explosion disfigures him for life and a deadly, modern-day War of the Roses ignites. To quench it, Regan must discover the truth about another fiery accident that dates back to the seventies and has left one charred body unidentified for twenty-five years. But before the mystery is solved, a murderer will strike again. And the blood-stained white rose clasped in the victim’s hand warns Regan that even an interfering innocent can be in danger when she knows too much… Regan Culver is reluctantly convinced to accept a nomination to the board of the rose society her mother founded. The society is divided into two camps; one side supporting Bram Falco and the other Damia Day. The feud between Day and Falco has escalated beyond personal insults to a physical attack on Day. Someone kills all her roses and the wounded animals she cares for. She is certain Falco was behind it, but has no proof. Falco believes Day planted the arsenic in the river that was traced to his factory and which ultimately cost him an election to the Senate. It's not the atmosphere Regan wants to enter. But she respects Day and wants to help her. The rose society meets at Falco's mansion. Regan's nomination passes easily. Everyone is stunned when Day votes in Falco's favor. Is it the act of a gracious woman or the opening salvo in a new campaign? Everyone thinks they have the answer when Falco pours what he thought was lighter fluid on the grill, but is instead gasoline, leaving him badly burned. Damia is the obvious suspect, however Regan doesn't believe Day capable of such a vicious act. Then Hilda Graveston, a close family friend of Falco's is found dead at the rose show. Was it another act of spite against Bram Falco or something else? The only way to find out is for Regan to delve into the past, before the situation between Damia and Falco becomes any more explosive. And before the killer can strike again. Audrey Stallsmith knocks the wind out of the reader from the first pages and barely lets you get a breath in for the rest of the book. While still interesting, Regan Culver takes a back seat to the bizarre relationship between Bram Falco and Damia Day. Regan's investigation provides the breathing spaces between the high tension scenes with Day and Falco. Roses for Regret is a superbly crafted page turner that doesn't let go! The best Stallsmith yet! Pick this one up as a reward for work completed, otherwise you'll get nothing done until the last page! Linda Fitzner -- Copyright © 1999 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times BOOK THREE OF THE INTRIGUING THYME WILL TELL MYSTERY SERIES Can Regan Culver prune away a thorny tangle of suspicion and danger that s strangling an heirloom rose society? After wildlife rehabilitator Damia Day costs senatorial hopeful Bram Falco the election, her animal patients are slaughtered and her prized rose bushes poisoned presumably in retaliation. Since both Day and Falco are members of the heirloom rose society founded by Regan Culver s mother, Regan is asked to intervene. But when someone replaces Falco s lighter fluid with gasoline at a society cookout, the resulting explosion disfigures him for life and a deadly, modern-day War of the Roses ignites. To quench it, Regan must discover the truth about another fiery accident that dates back to the seventies and has left one charred body unidentified for twenty-five years. But before the mystery is solved, a murderer will strike again. And the blood-stained white rose clasped in the victim s hand warns Regan that even an interfering innocent can be in danger when she knows too much Audrey Stallsmith is the author of Rosemary for Remembrance and Marigolds for Mourning, the first two books in the Thyme Will Tell mystery series. She is also the author of The Body They May Kill as well as numerous articles published in Moody Monthly, The Lookout, Birds and Blooms, and Thema. She is a cum laude graduate of Houghton College and has been state-certified as a Pennsylvania Master Gardener.