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Poppy McGowan turned out to be a likeable character with common sense and no sudden propensity for putting herself into stupidly dangerous situations. I liked learning about her job working for ABC Kids plus all the archaeological information that came from the buried bones. There was also a lot of good stuff about the Aboriginal culture and language.
The mystery of the archaeol
I really enjoyed this cosy mystery set in my home town of Sydney. It is always nice to read about a place you know well.Poppy McGowan turned out to be a likeable character with common sense and no sudden propensity for putting herself into stupidly dangerous situations. I liked learning about her job working for ABC Kids plus all the archaeological information that came from the buried bones. There was also a lot of good stuff about the Aboriginal culture and language.
The mystery of the archaeologist found murdered in Poppy's house was intriguing and there were many possible suspects. It was good to have a friendly police person in charge of the investigation and Poppy was able to help in solving the case. There was also an enjoyable romantic attachment which may or may not have a future for Poppy.
Altogether this was a good read and I will certainly be watching out for book 2.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
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Poppy McGowan works as a researcher for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), working on a stimulating "real life" show for kids. When her builder discovers a skeleton benea It's rare for me to give 5 stars to a "cosy" mystery, but this one really hit the mark for me! It strikes a perfect balance between intrigue and humour, with great characters, a little "will they? won't they?" romance and an action-packed plot leading to a satisfying conclusion. I love the cover by Julia Murray, too!
Poppy McGowan works as a researcher for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), working on a stimulating "real life" show for kids. When her builder discovers a skeleton beneath the floorboards of the cottage she's renovating, it seems a great opportunity to film a segment on suburban archaeology. Things don't stay fun for long though - firstly, the head archaeologist Dr. Julieanne Weaver, a long-time nemesis of Poppy's, threatens to whack a heritage order on her property, then said archaeologist is found dead in the excavation pit that was once Poppy's living room!
Drawing on her skills in researching and natural tenacity, Poppy sets out to discover who, apart from herself, might benefit from Dr. Weaver's untimely death. Her search leads her from the many curious characters who work at the Museum of New South Wales, to the murky and tangled web behind both the ultra-conservative Australian Family Party and the Pentecostal-style Church of Radiant Joy. Her investigations lead to a wonderfully high-camp denouement, featuring heroes, villains and members of local government.
Pamela Hart successfully blends a lighthearted mystery with some deeper messages about politics, the news media, attitudes to women and the LGBTI+ community, and the hypocrisies rampant within certain religious lobby groups. As a counterpoint, Poppy's parents and broader family, who are practising Roman Catholics, provide many moments of domestic levity.
Digging Up Dirt was a stimulating and highly enjoyable read and I'm delighted to learn that it's the first in a new series by author Pamela Hart. I'd highly recommend the book to any and all lovers of crime and mystery, especially those who seek a less gritty, more up-beat style.
My thanks to the author, Pamela Hart, publisher Harlequin Australia, HQ & Mira and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this fantastic new title. ...more
When Julieanne's body was found at the d
Poppy McGowan loved her little home in Annandale, Sydney. Her renovations were going along nicely until bones were discovered under the floorboards. With the only person available at the time to check if they were human or animal being archaeologist Dr Julieanne Weaver – Poppy's nemesis – Poppy knew things were bound to go wrong. And with Julieanne's declaration that the site was of historical significance, Poppy's renovations were immediately put on hold.When Julieanne's body was found at the dig site in Poppy's home, and the police were called, Poppy came under suspicion as the murderer. It was common knowledge that Poppy didn't like Julieanne and that the feeling was mutual. Dr Tol Lang, the other archaeologist, was also a suspect so between them, Poppy and Tol were determined to find who killed Julieanne. Poppy wanted her house back; she wanted to continue the renovations. But until Julieanne's killer was found, Poppy's house was a crime scene…
Digging Up Dirt is the first in the Poppy McGowen Mysteries by Aussie author Pamela Hart, and also her first foray into cozy mysteries. I've loved her work as a historical fiction writer, and also her children's books as Pamela Freeman. In my opinion she has nailed the cozy mystery genre also. With plenty of twists; Poppy doing all she can to find the 'bad guy'; great characters; intrigue and more, Digging Up Dirt is one I recommend highly. I'm keen for the second in the series 😊
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
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Poppy has bought the house of her dreams in Annandale in Sydney., at least it will be when the renovations a
Love a murder mystery - and this one is set in Sydney so I had to read it. Digging Up Dirt was a fun, cozy mystery book that I read over the course of a day. Familiar setting, likeable (and some not so likeable) characters and a story to keep you guessing, Digging Up Dirt has something for everybody. I hope that this will be the start of a new series, keen to read more about Poppy and Tol.Poppy has bought the house of her dreams in Annandale in Sydney., at least it will be when the renovations are done. But when bones are found under the floorboards she had trouble on her hands. Only it is just the beginning. She calls for help before calling the police, but that help turns out to be Dr Julieanne Weaver, a woman that Poppy does not see eye to eye with. Are the bones human or animal> And when can she get her house back? Not soon as it turns from an archeological dig to a crime scene when the doctor is found murdered a few days later. Using her media contacts as a reporter at the ABC, Poppy sets out to find the killer, identify the bones and get her renovations back on track. Not too much to ask is it?
This is book you won't want to put down. It will make you laugh and want to know more. Thanks to Harlequin Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read.
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Digging Up Dirt by Pamela Hart. (2021).
**Thank you to Harlequin Australia for sending me a free advance readers copy of this novel; published 2 June 2021**
TV researcher Poppy has her heritage home renovations halted when bones are found under the floorboards. Her old enemy/archaeologist Julieanne declares the bones evidence of a rare breed of sheep and gets a heritage order. The archaeological dig includes Julieanne's attractive boyf
*www.onewomansbbr.wordpress.com*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
Digging Up Dirt by Pamela Hart. (2021).
**Thank you to Harlequin Australia for sending me a free advance readers copy of this novel; published 2 June 2021**
TV researcher Poppy has her heritage home renovations halted when bones are found under the floorboards. Her old enemy/archaeologist Julieanne declares the bones evidence of a rare breed of sheep and gets a heritage order. The archaeological dig includes Julieanne's attractive boyfriend Tol. But then Julieanne is found murdered in the house, and Poppy and Tol are the main suspects. So Poppy does her own investigating, including into the right-wing Australian Family Party, for which Julieanne was seeking preselection, and the affiliated Radiant Joy Church, as well as the Museum Julieanne worked for. Can Poppy save herself, Tol, and get her house back?
I have to say, I've read a historical fiction novel by this author and when you read this one you wouldn't think it was the same person who wrote both. I mean that as a compliment and acknowledgement of the author's talent, successfully adding another genre to her repertoire. I just want to mention that I've only given this book 3 out of 5 stars because cosy mysteries are not really my thing; I absolutely think that those who read and enjoy that genre will love this book. In relation to our main character, Poppy is a likeable enough lead. I found her actual job description quite interesting really, and of course it's always entertaining when an 'average' person just decides to go off on an amateur detective journey. I'm intrigued as to what will happen next for Poppy in future books and what her next adventure will be.
Overall: if you enjoy reading cosy mysteries, definitely pick this one up.
Then soon after this, a newly dead body is found in the house and Poppy This is a first in a series, Poppy is in the process of having her Sydney home renovated, but when the builder pulls up the floor he finds bones. Poppy calls on a friend who works for a museum and an archeologist is sent over to look at the bones. Julieanne, the archaeologist, feels that the find may be historically significant. Poppy is put out by this as it may bring her renovations to a screaming holt for quite some time.
Then soon after this, a newly dead body is found in the house and Poppy finds herself as a suspect. Working for the ABC Poppy is seconded as a news reporter with an inside scoop and starts her own line of investigation. Just who can she trust?
The story was quite good, although it did drag in places with excessive details. I quite enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading the second book. ...more
Poppy McGowan works for the ABC children's network. She is currently renovating an old inner city house and when bones are found under her floorboards she sees it as a good opportunity to call in a couple of archeologists she knows and film the dig for a children's docum
I have come to know Pamela Hart through reading her Historical Fiction novels. However, she also writes Fantasy and children's novels under the name Pamela Freeman. Digging Up Dirt is her first foray into the cozy mystery genre.Poppy McGowan works for the ABC children's network. She is currently renovating an old inner city house and when bones are found under her floorboards she sees it as a good opportunity to call in a couple of archeologists she knows and film the dig for a children's documentary. All is going well until one morning a body is found in the house and suddenly she is the number one suspect.
This story was such a lot of fun. Poppy is a character I easily warmed to. She was fun, upbeat and didn't take herself too seriously. The addition of nemesis Julieanne leant for some dark comedy. She was one determined, ambitious woman!
Not at all happy about being a suspect Poppy decides to do some digging of her own.
Digging Up Dirt is a story that has many twists and turns and my thoughts on who the murderer was kept changing as i read on.
With the involvement of an evangelistic church , politicians, the local council, heritage orders, archaeologists and news reporters after an exclusive, it all makes for an interesting and fast paced read.
Pamela Hart has proven herself to be a writer of remarkable versatility. I am eagerly looking forward to the next Poppy McGowan mystery now that she has proven to be an amazing investigative reporter.
*I received my copy from the publisher
Poppy McGowan works for ABC TV researching children's shows and she loves it she has previously worked for the museum and is thrilled to have bought a house in the inner suburbs of Sydney an
I am a big fan of Pamela Hart's stories and this one is a little different from what I have read before, a cozy mystery and I was so excited to read it and I was not disappointed at all a renovation, bones found, a murder, a who dun it that I did not guess till the very end, this one had me turning the pages.Poppy McGowan works for ABC TV researching children's shows and she loves it she has previously worked for the museum and is thrilled to have bought a house in the inner suburbs of Sydney and the renovations have begun, but when bones are discovered under the house Poppy wants to make sure they are not human before calling the police and calls in a favour from her friend Annie who works at the museum for help.
Dr Julieanne Weaver arrives which does not make Poppy happy they have worked together before and friends they are not, enemies would be more like it, she announces that they are the bones of a rare breed of sheep kept during very early settlement and slaps a heritage order on the property and starts an archaeological dig bringing in another archaeologist Dr Tol Lang, who happens to be Dr Weaver's boyfriend.
Life is turned upside down for Poppy when Julieanne's body is found at the dig site and she and Tol become number one suspects but being the researcher she is Poppy does not give up searching for the killer and there are a lot of people it could be when they get to the bottom of Julieanne's life and what she has been doing including political parties connected to a church. Poppy finds herself doing a current affairs spots for the ABC not what she wanted.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it is witty, entertaining and there are lots of twists that I didn't see coming, I loved Poppy and her family they are all wonderful characters and I think that Pamela Hart has hit the spot with her first cozy mystery and I do look forward to more Poppy stories, I do highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a great read, one that will have you thinking.
My thanks to Harlequin Mira for my ARC to read and review
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Digging Up Dirt is the first book in the Poppy McGowan series by Australian author, Pamela Hart. The first thing Poppy McGowan does, when her carpenter tells her he's found bones under the floor of her house (the most run-down, tiny house in the worst street in Annandale), is to hope this won't delay the booking with her elusive electricians. Her best friend Annie Southey, Director of Gallery Operations at the Museum of New South Wales, offers to send an archaeologist to check the bones are 4.5★s
Digging Up Dirt is the first book in the Poppy McGowan series by Australian author, Pamela Hart. The first thing Poppy McGowan does, when her carpenter tells her he's found bones under the floor of her house (the most run-down, tiny house in the worst street in Annandale), is to hope this won't delay the booking with her elusive electricians. Her best friend Annie Southey, Director of Gallery Operations at the Museum of New South Wales, offers to send an archaeologist to check the bones are not human.
As a researcher for the Children's and Education Department of the ABC, Poppy decides it can form part of their program, so calls in her camera and sound guys to record. She is dismayed to have to welcome Dr Julieanne Weaver (aka Psycho Woman) into her little house (they have a less-than-amicable history) but Julieanne is trailed by a rather gorgeous assistant, Dr Bartholomew (call me Tol) Lang, apparently also her current boyfriend.
The good news is that the bones aren't human; the bad news is that they might be historically significant, so need to be carbon-dated. Just to make certain that Poppy stops work on her floors, Julieanne applies for a heritage preservation order with the local Council. When Julieanne's body is discovered, not much later, there in Poppy's house, the Police immediately tag the preservation order as a motive: Poppy is a suspect, as is Tol, being close as he was.
But there are others with motives: Julieanne's involvement with a certain nascent right-wing political party and its funding ultra-conservative church did not meet with universal approval; her ex-boyfriend and her boss had potential issues with her behaviour; and there are rumours of a secret lover.
Poppy's proximity to the case soon sees her pushed into conducting on-camera interviews of parties of interest to the case, uncovering pertinent information, and liaising with the police in an effort to clear her name (and Tol's). The melodramatic denouement in Poppy's tiny kitchen is laugh-out-loud funny. This is a hugely entertaining Aussie cosy and more of Poppy McGowan is definitely welcome.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and HQ Fiction.
I enjoyed Poppy McGowan's character, I liked that she didn't have it all together and wasn't perfect, I loved that she felt strongly about different topics and wasn't afraid to stand up for those beliefs.
Poppy was a fun character who most people liked, but she wasn't bothered if they didn't, she was who she was even w
4.5 stars I thoroughly enjoyed this cosy mystery type novel, not a genre I read a lot of, I have a few favourite authors in this genre, so it was nice to add a new one to that list.I enjoyed Poppy McGowan's character, I liked that she didn't have it all together and wasn't perfect, I loved that she felt strongly about different topics and wasn't afraid to stand up for those beliefs.
Poppy was a fun character who most people liked, but she wasn't bothered if they didn't, she was who she was even when being investigated for murder by the police.
There was a full cast of characters in this novel, Poppy and her crew from the ABC, her friend Annie and her ex-coworkers from the museum, including Julieanne who is found dead in her house, the members of the Australian Family Party (a party I wouldn't vote for if you paid me, and I'm glad Poppy felt the same way), and the members of the Radiant Joy Church, (another group of people I'd have no time for), who overlap with those from the political party, (I think religion should never play a part in politics, but that will never happen).
There was plenty of humour, a dash of romance and plenty of mystery once Julieanne's body is found in Poppy's house. I felt for Poppy when first some old bones put her renovation of hold and then Julieanne's death compounds that, but I liked how even though she was unhappy, she took it pretty much in her stride while doing her best to help track down the murderer and managing to get some insider scoops for the ABC on her way.
This was a fun read, which kept me completely engaged, I had my suspicions about who the murderer was, but I wasn't 100% correct. There are a few topical issues raised along the way and I appreciated Poppy's thought's on these. I look forward to more Poppy McGowan mysteries in the future.
Thanks to Harlequin Australia for a copy of this novel in return for an honest review.
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A cozy murder mystery that will keep you guessing whodunnit right up until the very end.
TV researcher Poppy McGowan is renovating her beloved home.
When the builder finds bones under the floorboards, it's time to call for help.
Unfortunately the help is her arch enemy, Archaeologist Dr Julieanne Weaver.
Julieanne brings with her, her assistant and boyfriend Tol Lang and Poppy can't stop ogling.
But then the Doctor is found murdered in Thank you Harlequin for sending us a copy to read and review.
A cozy murder mystery that will keep you guessing whodunnit right up until the very end.
TV researcher Poppy McGowan is renovating her beloved home.
When the builder finds bones under the floorboards, it's time to call for help.
Unfortunately the help is her arch enemy, Archaeologist Dr Julieanne Weaver.
Julieanne brings with her, her assistant and boyfriend Tol Lang and Poppy can't stop ogling.
But then the Doctor is found murdered in Poppy's house and Tol and herself are the main suspects.
Tol and Poppy must prove there innocence and the countdown has begun to reveal the truth or their time will run out.
In the tradition of the good old fashioned mystery we are introduced to Poppy who is smart, sassy and romantic, nothing holds her back and she wants to see justice done.
As Poppy untangles the threads, the reader sees her as an amateur detective and you can't help but love her attitude and actions.
A fun, entertaining read with a cracking plot, engaging mixed cast of characters and enough surprises to keep the super sleuth reader on their toes.
Subtle hints and red herrings are all available to trigger the brain into thinking who could possible be behind all the dastardly actions.
There's some slapstick humour, a puzzle to unravel and a plot of intrigue and conundrum.
A enjoyable read for all mystery buffs. ...more
Poppy McGowan is nearing the end of renovations of her terrace house in inner Sydney when her builder discovers bones buried in the dirt under her living room floor. To determine if the are animal or human, the Museum of NSW sends Dr. Julieanne Weaver, with whom Poppy has an antagonistic relationship, who ar
There's a real dearth of Australian cosy mysteries so I'm delighted by the publication of Digging Up Dirt by Pamela Hart, introducing television researcher, and amateur sleuth, Poppy McGowan.Poppy McGowan is nearing the end of renovations of her terrace house in inner Sydney when her builder discovers bones buried in the dirt under her living room floor. To determine if the are animal or human, the Museum of NSW sends Dr. Julieanne Weaver, with whom Poppy has an antagonistic relationship, who arrives with her boyfriend- the handsome visiting archaeologist Bartholomew 'Tol' Lang. Weaver quickly agrees the bones aren't human, but she won't release the site, declaring the bones may belong to a rare breed of sheep that arrived with the First Fleet. Poppy is frustrated but decides to make the best of the situation, as a researcher for an educational television show on the ABC, at least footage of the dig can be used for a upcoming program. Two days later, Poppy finds herself in front of the camera after the body of Julieanne is discovered in the hole in her house. The police consider Poppy to be a prime suspect so using her research skills and media contacts, Poppy sets out to prove her innocence.
Poppy digs up no shortage of suspects, Julieanne wasn't well liked among her colleagues at the Museum, and then there is her surprising involvement with the right-wing Australian Family Party and the Pentecostal Radiant Joy Church. Hart provides plenty of red herrings for Poppy to be sidetracked by, creating an interesting 'whodunnit' plot.
I wasn't keen on the involvement of religion and politics in the story, simply because both subjects tend to distress me. That said, it allows Hart to raise some topical issues including feminism, domestic violence, the status of LBTQIA+, Aboriginal heritage, and obliquely comments on Australia's current political climate. Poppy uses the media credentials bestowed upon her by the ABC news desk desperate for an exclusive, to involve herself in the two conservative groups, suspecting one of their leaders may be responsible for her death.
Smart, resourceful and quick-witted Poppy is a likeable, well rounded character. As she is living with her staunchly Catholic parents while her home is being renovated we are briefly introduced to her family giving us a sense of her background. I found her work as a researcher to be interesting and think it lends itself well to the practicality of amateur sleuthing.
There's a touch of romance in the novel, though Poppy is involved with an accountant named Stuart, and Tol is dating Julieanne, the attraction between the pair is obvious from their first meeting. As it turns out Stuart is a prat, and well Julieanne dies, so the situation is not quite as awkward as it could be. I liked the will they/won't they nature of the relationship, however given that Tol is expected to leave for a long term position in Jordan in a few weeks, there is no guarantee he will become a series regular.
Offering well crafted intrigue, appealing characters and a uniquely Australian setting, I found Digging Up Dirt to be entertaining and engaging cosy mystery. I hope there will be more.
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If I compare this to other cosy mysteries, it's quite a superior book. Most cosies I've read up until now have been a little annoying. I'm not a fan of the 'quirky' characters usually included. Hart, at
I've enjoyed the other books by Hart I've read a lot and was eager to read Digging Up Dirt even though, being a contemporary cosy mystery, it was a bit of a change of pace from her usual historical romance titles. I've got to say, after finishing, I've got mixed feelings about this swap of style.If I compare this to other cosy mysteries, it's quite a superior book. Most cosies I've read up until now have been a little annoying. I'm not a fan of the 'quirky' characters usually included. Hart, at least, avoids that trap with her supporting characters being mostly an appealing bunch, archeologist Alain and builder Boris (wait… were those alliterations deliberate?) being my favs who I hope turn up again in subsequent books.
Our heroine, Poppy, is [most of the time] pretty likeable too. Poppy has engaged Boris to renovate her house when he comes across bones under the floorboards and soon she is embroiled in a murder mystery involving an ultra conservative minor political party which is being funded by a Pentecostal contemporary Christian church. Poppy's day job as a researcher for a children's programme at the ABC (Australian Government funded tv station ABC, not the US commercial network version) makes it easy enough for her to switch roles and use the excuse of being a reporter to nose around into the affairs of the leaders of the church/politicians.
The pace of the book moved along nicely until I got to around the last third where I felt the fun of the book started to wane a bit. There's a few things I put this down to. One was the chemistry between Poppy and her potential love interest. Hart gave them some conflict, a couple of good reasons why they shouldn't get together, I admit, but I still just didn't feel the unresolved sexual tension was that strong.
Another problem I had was Poppy's age and the book's contemporary setting. I actually don't think Poppy and her inner thoughts felt very modern or young a lot of the time. Her talk of tea and roasts and such all seemed to suit someone a lot older. I think Hart should have just made her older and perhaps set the whole thing in the 60s or 70s.
I didn't think anyone in the book acted like it was 2021. Okay, maybe there's some very strict religious people around in Australia still but, really, is there as many as this book implies? I do not know anyone who would want to keep their homosexuality a secret or think that women who had had sex before marriage were whores or any other rubbish this plot mentions, no matter what their religion. And I wasn't keen on how Hart tried to lecture us on these themes and others, like Indigenous affairs etc. These ideas weren't organically included but forced down our throats. Trust me, I'm not a ScoMo Hillsong fan at all but surely even they don't go to such lengths to demonise strong women or homosexuals. (Surely?) The great irony is I found Hart's in your face politically correct writing very moralistically American-like which is what she was mocking with the plot a lot of the time.
I do think, however, if Hart can rein in that self righteous attitude, she will be on a winner with Poppy and this series. At least there was no mind reading witches or grandmothers reincarnated as cats, after all.
3 ½, heading towards 4 out of 5
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Synopsis /
When your builder finds bones under the floor of your heritage home, what do you do? For TV researcher Poppy McGowan, the first step is to find out if the bones are human (which means calling in the cops and delaying her renovations) or animal (which doesn't).
Unfortunately, 'help' comes in the form of Dr Julieanne Weaver, archaeologist, political hopeful, and Poppy's old enemy. She declares the bones evidence of a rare breed of fat-tailed sheep, and slaps
Digging Up Dirt by Pamela HartSynopsis /
When your builder finds bones under the floor of your heritage home, what do you do? For TV researcher Poppy McGowan, the first step is to find out if the bones are human (which means calling in the cops and delaying her renovations) or animal (which doesn't).
Unfortunately, 'help' comes in the form of Dr Julieanne Weaver, archaeologist, political hopeful, and Poppy's old enemy. She declares the bones evidence of a rare breed of fat-tailed sheep, and slaps a heritage order on the site. The resultant archaeological dig introduces Poppy to Tol Lang, the best-looking archaeologist she's ever met - and also Julieanne's boyfriend.
When Julieanne is found murdered in Poppy's house, both she and the increasingly attractive Tol are considered suspects - and so Poppy uses her media contacts and news savvy to investigate other suspects. Did Julieanne have enemies in the right-wing Australian Family party, for which she was seeking preselection, or in the affiliated Radiant Joy Church? Or at the Museum of New South Wales, among her rivals and ex-boyfriends? And who was her secret lover? Can Poppy save herself, and Tol and finally get her house back?
My Thoughts /
'How interesting!' Mum said enthusiastically. 'A real archaeological dig in your own backyard.'
This is a story about Poppy McGowan. Poppy is in her late 20s, and is a researcher for an educational children's television series which airs on Australia's national broadcaster, the ABC. Poppy is no different from most people her age. She has a job she loves, she has scraped and saved her hard earned income and has just bought her first home. It's located in the inner west suburb of Annandale in Sydney, it's small, but suits her perfectly. Yessiree, Poppy McGowan is living her best life. That is, until her home renovations unearth a set of bones underneath her heritage home.
'Hello, miss?' It was Boris, my carpenter, and he sounded worried. 'Miss, I found something.'
'Something? What? Where?'
'I dug the hole for the post. I found …' His voice dropped. '… body."
'What?'
'A body, miss.'
'What kind of body?' I was thinking, for some reason, of an old car body—a Valiant or a Ford or something, and wondering how they'd got in the door.
'You know, bones. Skellington.'
'A skeleton?' I almost dropped the phone. And I'm ashamed to admit it, but my first thought was - This is going to completely stuff up my renovations.
Trying to determine who the bones belong to, creates a series of complex problems for Poppy, but as the investigation advances, it's revealed that the bones are not human, they are animal bones. But not just any animal bones, Archaeologist Dr Julieanne Weaver has suggested that the skeletal remains may belong to a rare breed of sheep. So rare in fact that she has slapped Poppy's home with a heritage order which ensures that Poppy can no longer continue with her renos until identification is confirmed. Poppy doesn't see eye to eye with Julieanne. So (you knew there'd be a 'so' in here somewhere!). So, when Julieanne, herself, is found lying lifeless in a pit in the bottom floor of Poppy's house, things start to get really interesting! No prizes for guessing that it's Poppy who goes in search for the truth about who killed Julieanne Weaver. It appears as though Julianne's work, political interests and religious affiliations may have had a part to play in her untimely death. With so many questions and doubts surrounding Julianne's murder, Poppy hopes that she can get her freedom and home back. What ensues is a huge amount of very entertaining sleuthing that is served with a nice side order of witty social commentary.
The most reasonable explanation was that she had gone there to meet someone. An empty house was a great place for an assignation. I really hoped nothing physical had happened before she was killed. Somehow I found the idea of Julieanne having illicit sex in my house more off-putting than the memory of her corpse. But surely the police wouldn't suspect me if there was evidence of Julieanne's sexual activity?
As a character, Poppy is extremely likeable. The plot travelled along well, with Hart dropping clues at just the right time and place, along with the requisite red herrings and a few ah-ha moments (as well as many hahaha moments!).
Digging Up Dirt. A story that promised a touch of fun, humour, a little romance and, of course, a mystery to solve. Verdict? Delivered as promised!
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'How interesting!' Mum said enthusiastically. 'A real archeological dig in your own backyard.'
Digging Up Dirt comes from an emerging voice in the cosy mystery genre. Pamela Hart graces her readers with a brand new tale that fuses humour with dark intrigue. Topical, perplexing and thought provoking, Digging Up Dirt is an interesting Australian based mystery style from Pamela Hart.
Meet Poppy McGowan. Poppy is a television researcher, who becomes embroiled in a
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com'How interesting!' Mum said enthusiastically. 'A real archeological dig in your own backyard.'
Digging Up Dirt comes from an emerging voice in the cosy mystery genre. Pamela Hart graces her readers with a brand new tale that fuses humour with dark intrigue. Topical, perplexing and thought provoking, Digging Up Dirt is an interesting Australian based mystery style from Pamela Hart.
Meet Poppy McGowan. Poppy is a television researcher, who becomes embroiled in a complex murder mystery when her builder unearths a set of bones under her heritage home. While first trying determine who the bones belong to, Poppy realises that this discovery may lead to a complex series of problems for her to solve. But help soon arrives thanks to Jacqueline Weaver, an archeologist. As the investigation into the bones advances, it is revealed that the bones are not human, but animal. However, the skeletal remains belong to a rare breed of sheep, so Poppy's home is subjected to a heritage order. The archaeological dig that ensues sees Poppy cross paths with another archeologist, but this handsome man is also Julianne's other half. Things take a deadly turn when Julianne's murdered body is discovered on Poppy's property. With Poppy and Julianne's boyfriend Tol cast immediately as suspects, Poppy must call on all her resources to prove their innocence. As the murder investigation progresses some interesting facts emerge. It appears as though Julianne's work, political interests and religious affiliations may have a part to play in her untimely death. With so many questions and doubts surrounding Julianne's murder, Poppy hopes that she can get her freedom and home back.
It is always great to see an author who is well established in one genre branch further afield and bravely take on a new genre. Pamela Hart, the author of Digging Up Dirt, is a respected writer in the historical fiction field. Digging Up Dirt represents Hart's first venture into the cosy mystery genre. Digging Up Dirt was a very entertaining read.
Poppy McGowan leads the charge in this intriguing murder mystery case. I really enjoyed getting to know Poppy, she was a fun character to be acquainted with. I appreciated Poppy's outlook on life and I found I was really interested in her career pursuits. I liked how Hart allowed Poppy to morph into a fabulous amateur sleuth as this story progressed. I was really rooting for Poppy to save herself from this shocking crime and gain her property back. The ensuing mystery surrounding Julianne's death and Poppy's possible involvement allows for some interesting dialogue interludes to take place. I appreciated this aspect of Digging Up Dirt.
Romance has a part to play in this cosy mystery. The tension that arises between Poppy and her potential love interest was covered really well by Hart. There is no doubt that Hart can spin a fabulous side romance yarn, not matter the genre. Hart displays her prowess in this field via her engaging and tension filled love storyline. I'm sure the hesitant will they/won't they style romance present in Digging Up Dirt will appeal to readers.
Within this narrative we have a great contrast of darkness with comedy. Hart's storyline framework also incorporates a number of topical issues. We are presented with a whole host of themes in Digging Up Dirt concerning politics, religion, personal rights, societal trends, archeology, heritage rules, home renovations and media reporting. This is just a touch of what Hart serves up in Digging Up Dirt. With plenty of plot curls, sudden developments and red herrings strategically placed in this novel, the reader is able to play a very active role in this clever whodunnit.
A diverting murder mystery tale awaits readers in Pamela Hart's Digging Up Dirt. A story that promises a touch of fun, humour, romance and a titillating mystery to solve, look out for this one in bookstores.
*I wish to thank Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Digging Up Dirt is book #61 of the 2021 Australian Women Writers Challenge
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Poppy McGowan works in children's television. She has a boyfriend Stuart, an arch nemesis Julianne who works at the museum, a married friend with children, an extensive and diverse friendship network and of course, a conservative Catholic family. Really, what more could you ask for?
In this case what Poppy wants is a home of her own with a garden to potter around in. And she is so close t This is the first mystery I've read for a while and it was worth diverting from my usual romance fiction fare.
Poppy McGowan works in children's television. She has a boyfriend Stuart, an arch nemesis Julianne who works at the museum, a married friend with children, an extensive and diverse friendship network and of course, a conservative Catholic family. Really, what more could you ask for?
In this case what Poppy wants is a home of her own with a garden to potter around in. And she is so close to achieving the dream. She has the house, which admittedly is a fixer upper. She has the contractors on tap.
What she doesn't need is a skeleton under the floor joists and the arch nemesis making life difficult for her. And true to form, Julianne gets herself murdered in Poppy's house so the already disrupted renovations are thrown totally out of whack. The only consolation is the rather nice archaeologist who rather unfortunately happens to be Julianne's new boyfriend.
I really like the pun in the title as Poppy starts out with archaeologists digging up her dirt, and Poppy then has to start digging up the dirt of all the people around Julianne in order to keep from being taken up for murder.
I loved the characterisation of Poppy and her family and everyone around her. Everyone was so real and engaging, even the bad people. You could imagine yourself sitting down to have a cup of tea with any one of them. Yes even the bad people.
There is a romantic element in the story but it's very much a work in progress like the house. It's a first in series so I imagine there will be more to come. For those who like resolution, you will have to be satisfied with the solution to the crime. ...more
I have real mixed feelings about Digging Up Dirt . It felt like nothing was happening most of the time, and I forgot what the story was supposed to be about. I think there may have been too many working pieces for me to get a handle on the point of the story.
Combining a cozy mystery with attacks on religion and right-wing politics may have been asking for too much. P
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ Fiction for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.I have real mixed feelings about Digging Up Dirt . It felt like nothing was happening most of the time, and I forgot what the story was supposed to be about. I think there may have been too many working pieces for me to get a handle on the point of the story.
Combining a cozy mystery with attacks on religion and right-wing politics may have been asking for too much. Pamela Hart seemed to be working hard on the angle that religion was okay, but only if it's traditional Catholicism. I understand that she was trying to draw a line between right-wing politics aligned with hypocritical religious leaders, but it still tainted the story for me. I got more of a 'my religion is better than your religion' vibe than a 'racism/sexism/homophobia masquerading as religion is bad' vibe, when I think (or at least hope) she was aiming for the latter.
Putting all of that aside, the solving of the case was more of a secondary motive to everything else going on - no one seemed to care much about the murder victim. I don't care how unlikable someone is; their murder should not be less important than the sexual chemistry you have with their boyfriend or getting on with your home renovations.
Finally, anyone who has spent any time in Sydney will find it hard to believe a lot of the timelines here. Poppy zips around the city like it's no problem when in fact it should've taken so much more time to get around - Sydney traffic is no joke. Plus, her ability to purchase a house pretty much in the city (no matter how run down) despite constantly complaining about how little money she has/earns is just totally unbelievable.
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A home renovation leading to an archaeological dig in the inner-west suburbs of Sydney is the setting for this quirky murder-mystery. Some very topical parts of this book (the rise of conservative right-wing Christians primarily) while also having light, funny moments. Love the characters of Poppy and her large family. Hope to read more about Poppy (and hopefully Tol) in the future!
This was an easy read with a couple of twists and turns but fairly obvious in its outcomes from about two thirds in. My only gripe would be the amount of ti
A "cosy" style murder mystery which is set in Sydney. Initially bones, and then a body is discovered during renovations to a house owned by Poppy McGowan. Poppy is employed by the ABC as a researcher for a children's educational program but slips easily (perhaps too easily) into the role of investigative news reporter as required by the plot.This was an easy read with a couple of twists and turns but fairly obvious in its outcomes from about two thirds in. My only gripe would be the amount of time dedicated to commenting on the attractiveness/sexiness of the characters in the first section of the book in particular. A cosy mystery with romance tendencies!
That said, this was a generally enjoyable, light, escapist reading, and I would seek out #2 when it is published.
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Poppy McGowan is a welcome addition to Australia's crime fiction protagonists. She's down-to-earth, romantic, blunt and clever. I'm looking forward to seeing where Hart takes her next.
[Disclaimer: the publisher provided me with an early copy in exc
If you're fond of cosy mysteries written with humour and wit and a few nicely-aimed social barbs, you'll love Digging Up Dirt. It is distinctly Australian, original contemporary and urban, with sharply-drawn characters and a satisfyingly twisty plot.Poppy McGowan is a welcome addition to Australia's crime fiction protagonists. She's down-to-earth, romantic, blunt and clever. I'm looking forward to seeing where Hart takes her next.
[Disclaimer: the publisher provided me with an early copy in exchange for an honest appraisal... which this review is!]
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As Pamela Hart, she writes the Poppy McGowan Mysteries and historical fiction, including Regency romance.
As Pamela Freeman, she writes children's fiction and non-fiction, and is well known for her fantasy novels for adults, the CASTINGS TRILOGY and her Aurealis Award winning novel EMBER AND ASH.
Pamela lives in Sydney with her hu
Pamela is a best-selling, award-winning author of more than 40 books.As Pamela Hart, she writes the Poppy McGowan Mysteries and historical fiction, including Regency romance.
As Pamela Freeman, she writes children's fiction and non-fiction, and is well known for her fantasy novels for adults, the CASTINGS TRILOGY and her Aurealis Award winning novel EMBER AND ASH.
Pamela lives in Sydney with her husband and their son, and teaches at the Australian Writers' Centre.
She has a Doctorate of Creative Arts from the University of Technology, Sydney, where she has also lectured in creative writing.
Also published under Pamela Freeman - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
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