Hidden within the derelict gardens of abandoned Wickersham Priory, a deadly secret is waiting. But when an unsuspecting young Californian named Jamie Gibson finds herself the new owner of the estate, through a surprise bequest from a total stranger---the secret begins to stir. Jamie, fired with enthusiasm to restore the gardens to their 1930s glory, seeks the help of Lawrence Kingston, a retired professor of botany, eccentric bon viveur, and amateur sleuth. Lawrence soon unearths an old chapel, which leads to an ancient Healing Well, which in turn yields a human skeleton. And as the police pursue their inquiries, Kingston begins his own investigation---following a baffling trail of clues that wind down through the centuries, from the battlegrounds of World War II to the depths of the Middle Ages. It is a trail marked by misadventure, revenge, compassion, and murder when finally Kingston unlocks the secret of Wickersham Priory, he and Jamie must confront a reckoning that neither of them could have ever imagined. As with the highly acclaimed The Blue Rose, Eglin brings his botanical and literary skill to this new mystery. Eglin ( The Blue Rose , 2004) presents another case featuring retired botany professor Lawrence Kingston. When a young American woman inherits Wickersham Priory, an estate in Somerset, England, she decides to restore it to its former glory and hires Kingston to clear and replant the extensive gardens. In the process, he finds a human skeleton in an old well. Naturally, he is compelled to investigate, which takes him deep into the strange history of Wickersham Priory. The primary appeal of the Kingston series is its detailed treatment of a subject dear to the hearts of many cozy fans: English gardens. Barbara Bibel Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved “A plethora of gardening detail…a memorable read.”— Publishers Weekly  “A delightful tour filled with flowers, weeds, and corpses.”— Midwest Book Review “[Eglin’s] talent is in full bloom.”— Richmond Times-Dispatch  “Delightful ….Guaranteed to please the most demanding mystery buff.  You’ll be looking for other books by this fine author.”— New Mystery Reader Magazine   “Anyone who loves British country houses, mysterious gardens, secret passages, and good storytelling will want to read The Lost Gardens . ”—ReviewingtheEvidence.com   “The ‘Britishness’ of the man and the book are just right. It all rings true and should intrigue thoughtful readers on both sides of the Atlantic.”—John Joss    “The primary appeal of the Kingston series is its detailed treatment of a subject dear to the hearts of many cozy fans: English gardens.” — Booklist   “The second English Gardens mystery is a delightful amateur sleuth tale...a superb whodunit cozy and a fabulous look at gardening.”— Harriet’s Reviews   “A clever plot spiced with gardening information and historical detail.” — Kirkus Reviews   “Eglin, a prize-winning expert on roses, brings all of his expertise to the fore in this gentle cozy about English gardens and horticulture.”— Library Journal English-born Anthony Eglin spent many years on the creative side of the advertising and marketing business. Forsaking that career to indulge in his passion for gardening, he started The Larkspur Company, where he coproduced a series of bestselling garden videotapes. Anthony is a member of the American Rose Society and his small garden has been featured in a number of magazines and newspapers. In 1995 he was awarded Garden Design magazine's Gold Trowel Award for Best Rose Garden. Anthony lives with his wife Suzie in Sonoma, California. The Lost Gardens Chapter One Somerset, 2003   The clang of metal on metal resounded off the walls of the old stone house, echoing across the lawns to be lost in the dense forest beyond.'Doctor!'Lawrence Kingston brought the sledgehammer down on the iron stake one more time.'Doctor!'He looked up to see the carrot-haired figure of his foreman, Jack Harris, approaching. Leaning the sledgehammer against his leg he wiped his brow with the back of his hand. He was about to take a rest anyway. For the last twenty minutes he had been surveying, driving in stakes on the top lawn--one of three football-field-size levels that stepped down from the back of the big house. Once mown and rolled twice a month to look like green carpeting, they were now a waist-high tangle of weeds.'Need you to come and take a look at something,' Jack said, nodding back over his shoulder.'Be right there.' Kingston picked up the survey maps, put them in his canvas bag and walked over to join Jack. Was it good or bad news? From the look on Jack's face, Kingston couldn't tell. 'What you got then?' he asked.Jack smiled. 'You'll see in a minute.'With nothing further said, they took off.Soon they reached a clearing some five hundred yards from the house. It was in one of the most overgrown sections of the 'Jungle', as it was now nicknamed. Nearby, to the staccato whine of c