The Gardener Mysteries

Steph Williams has arrived at the wealthy gated community of Beaulieu Heights ready to start her new position as head gardener. Surrounded by mansions and acres of land, it's worlds apart from the life she knows, but she's determined to give it her best shot. If she happens to accidentally overhear private conversations while trimming the bushes, or is refused access to a locked shed, she knows not to question it - after all, gardeners should be seen and not heard. Until notes start turning up, threatening to reveal the deepest secrets of the residents.

Steph Williams is excited to get her hands stuck into her latest gardening project. This time, she's been commissioned by Lady Clara of Ashford Manor to restore the stately gardens to their former glory. But the estate is suddenly thrown into chaos when a dead body is discovered in one of the rooms. The police rule it as suicide, though Steph's convinced they're barking up the wrong tree. For she knows the deceased better than they do and it could only be one thing: murder. And if the police won't listen to her, then Steph will have to investigate the case herself.

It's an invitation Steph can't refuse when she's handpicked to compete at the prestigious National Trust property Coleton Fishacre. With the country's top garden designers as rivals and a stunning historic estate for inspiration, it feels like a dream come true. But things quickly turn thorny when the youngest competitor falls mysteriously ill and Steph suspects foul play. Her fears are confirmed when a scream echoes through the gardens, leading her to the horrific sight of a dead body at the foot of the cliff.

Able to cherry pick her gardening projects after all her recent success, Steph Williams arrives at a luxury hotel in the Yorkshire moors with her beloved dog Mouse. She has been tasked with bringing the outdated gardens into line with the hotel's sleek and glassy new guise, and can't wait to dig in. But, before Steph can enjoy the fruits of her labour, she makes a shocking discovery in the hotel's pool: a body, fanned by a beautiful evening dress, floating beneath the stars. As she rushes into the scene, Steph realises this is no common-or-garden accident.

Steph Williams and her trusty sidekick, Mouse, are back in the fifth instalment in this much-loved cosy crime gardening series.