Reviewed by C.R. Hurst for Readers' Favorite

In The Buried Bloom: A Larkspur Hollow Garden Club Mystery by Jody Chaffin, word search meets cozy mystery. In it, the puzzle player/reader is asked to solve the murder of Cora Whitaker, who went missing thirty years ago in a Vermont town named Larkspur Hollow. Now, her body has been found under her rose garden, and the suspects are many and varied. Who will find her killer? Perhaps you will be the one, with able assistance from retired schoolteacher Nell Ashworth and 48 puzzles that, when solved correctly, reveal the motive, place, murder weapon, and murderer. Along the way, clues direct (and misdirect) as any mystery should. Will the mystery remain one, or will you discover who buried the rose bloom in Larkspur Hollow?

I thoroughly enjoyed The Buried Bloom as a word searcher and a mystery reader, though I must admit to a little skepticism initially. The concept seemed a little complicated to me. Could such an interactive combination truly work? The answer is a resounding “Yes.” Author and puzzle creator Jody Chaffin offers not only a cheeky storyline but also clever games that will have you scratching your head, though not tearing your hair out. No confusing apps required, but pencils should be sharpened, and erasers should be ready, for misturns are likely. And, best of all, another Jody Chaffin mystery puzzle will soon be released, called A Bitter Berry. So, if you are looking to play more word games and solve another mystery, a new challenge appears to be in the making. I will be looking forward to more cozy garden club mysteries.