Deadly Devotion by Sandra Orchard

I haven't read a cozy mystery this good in ages. There is action on nearly every page. And there are so many suspects, people with motive and means and opportunity, well over half way through the book I still had no idea who the killer might be. And Sandra does a great job of shifting the suspicion from one character to another as the story progresses.

Kate is a research scientist studying herbal cures. When her mentoring colleague and good friend Daisy dies, Kate is heartbroken. When the police rule the death suicide, either deliberate or accidental, Kate is angry. She knows Daisy would never deliberately take her own life nor would she, an expert in herbs, mistakenly drink a toxic mixture of herbal tea.

While the local police department turns a deaf ear to Kate's demands for an investigation, one detective takes an interest in Kate. Tom is an ex-FBI agent, back in Canada. He watches over Kate as she tries to find out who killed her friend. Tom finds out his interest in Kate is serious when it looks like the killer is now after her.

This is a great mystery where people are rarely what they seem. And it is a good romance too. Kate and Tom struggle with their relationship as Tom tries to remain loyal to his police role while protecting Kate too.

The Christianity of the characters is well presented. Daisy mentored Kate in her faith so Daisy's death was a spiritual shock as well as an emotional one. Kate relies on her growing faith, however, as she pursues the truth.

Several of the characters either research or grow herbs, so we learn a great deal about them, especially in their use for teas. A great mystery and romance and you learn about herbs too.

The end left me a little frustrated but a sequel is in the works. I'll be looking for it.

Sandra Orchard is an award-winning Canadian author of inspirational romance suspense novels. She enjoys doing research for her books. She lives with her husband in Niagara, Ontario, where their favorite pastime is playing with their first grandchild. You can find out more about her and her books at www.SandraOrchard.com.

Revell, 385 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.