First published 2011
Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen anticipates her first grape harvest in Crozet, Virginia, as spring arrives with blooming redbuds and returning robins. Her excitement turns to anxiety when a sudden health crisis forces her into the bewildering maze of hospitals, doctors, and medical procedures. Her loyal companions, the sleuthing cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, along with the determined corgi Tee Tucker, stand ready to guide her through this frightening ordeal. Harry's husband Fair provides steady support as she navigates treatment. But the hospital harbors its own dangers. A talented nurse dies mysteriously, her body showing no signs of trauma. Soon after, another hospital worker in apparent perfect health also turns up dead. Despite her own medical struggles, Harry cannot resist investigating these puzzling deaths. With her animal friends alert to every clue, she finds herself drawn into a deadly puzzle where the very place meant to heal becomes the scene of murder.
Genres: suspense, mystery, thriller, cozy-mystery
Vibes: cozy, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, found-family
Setting: Crozet, Virginia
Period: Spring
240 pages · Hardcover · Bantam
Content warnings: medical-trauma