Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Potting Shed Mysteries Series #3

By: Marty Wingate

Narrated by: Erin Bennett

After her romantic idyll with the debonair Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Pearse culminates in a marriage proposal, Pru Parke sets about arranging their nuptials while diving into a short-term gig at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. At hand is the authentication of a journal purportedly penned by 18th-century botanist and explorer Archibald Menzies. Compared to the chaos of wedding planning, studying the journal is an agreeable task...that is, until a search for a missing cat leads to the discovery of a dead body: One of Pru's colleagues has been conked on the head with a rock and dumped from a bridge into the Water of Leith.

Pru can't help wondering if the murder has something to do with the Menzies diary. Is the killer covering up a forgery? Among the police's many suspects are a fallen aristocrat turned furniture maker, Pru's overly solicitous assistant, even Pru herself. Now, in the midst of sheer torture by the likes of flamboyant wedding dress designers and eccentric church organists, Pru must also uncover the work of a sly murderer - unless this bride wants to walk down the aisle in handcuffs.

©2015 Marty Wingate (P)2016 Tantor

Everything I Want (and, then some)

What made the experience of listening to Between a Rock and a Hard Place the most enjoyable?

The sweet & captivating storyline with the little bits of "laugh out loud" humor. Pru, herself, is so down-to-earth and believable. And, I love that she's in her 50s. But, the "experience of listening" lay at the feet of the wonderful narrator, Erin Bennett.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Well, Pru, of course and I LOVED Christopher in each of the books, too! He comes across sexy and supportive - never over-stepping his bounds. But, Pru is a soft yet strong, loving, feisty, never full-of-herself woman and that makes her very interesting to me.

What about Erin Bennett’s performance did you like?

She is the BEST!! Switching from a Texas accent to a British accent to a Scottish accent PLUS capturing all ages and sexes perfectly. Her delivery is appropriate to the story and leaves the reader with exacting visuals. She deserves just as much credit as the author. What a talent.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

A few tears and few laughs!

Any additional comments?

Sometimes, in the series, there have been injuries that are never mentioned later on - like the first novel...... Pru had a deep cut on her chin that Christopher said needed stitches but there was never mention of it again.

Another Great Entry

Such a great series. This one had me holding my breath all the way to the end and had me falling even more in love with her characters. Can't wait to see what happens next.

loved this book and series

If you could sum up Between a Rock and a Hard Place in three words, what would they be?

loved them both

Which character – as performed by Erin Bennett – was your favorite?

Pru and her husband

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

not extreme - just very enjoyable to listen to

Any additional comments?

hope the author continues with this series

Set in Edinburgh, Scotland!

I loved hearing the accents the narrator expertly performed. Listening to a narrator who has really taken the time to craft their art brings a lot of joy. I pulled up the Edinburgh Botanical Garden and Edinburgh in general to see the places the writer describes. It is awesome. Maybe someday I can go there. The internet expands the pleasure of an armchair traveler so much.

Love this. Series

If you enjoy a fun mystery with gardens involved you will love the series I find it endearing that the lead character is one of a woman in her 50s me and my husband both enjoyed listening to these books on audible and I hope that you will enjoy them also.

This series just keeps getting better

Marty Wingate’s series, “Potting Shed Mysteries” just keeps getting better with each installment. Erin Bennett brings it all to life giving each character a voice of their own. I highly recommend this installment and the entire series to cozy mystery fans, suggesting you start with the first installment, “The Garden Plot.”

Love this series, but...

I'm enjoying this series. I'm happy to have found a basically clean series, with a happy marriage and interesting story lines and characters. The one issue I have with this particular book is the minor character of the hick, rich guy from Texas who wants to destroy the ecosystem. All those stereotypes rolled into one person, Sigh. That is such a worn out theme, and of course, Pru is not "one of those people". As a Southerner, I do get tired of writers resorting to stereotypes of people from my part of the world.

Another Superb Book!

This third book in this series was excellent! I didn't figure out who dunnit in this one! Great story, along with suspense on more than one front! Delightful characters in charming settings. As usual, Erin Bennett did an amazing job. She's one of the few that can give characters different voices without making me wish for straight reading.

Wonderful!

We have a mystery, a romance, a botanic garden – in Scotland! I did not think that a mystery, even a cozy one, could be so lovely. It’s funny, too, with even quirkier characters than the first book and a few extra surprises as well.

A lot is going on in this book, but the mystery moves steadily, interestingly forward. That it takes place in Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Garden adds to the thrill. But for me, the beauty of this book is in the character development and the groundwork it lays for future books in the series. These are characters we can love, and they are certainly fun to spend time with.

Erin Bennett has to be one of the best narrators I’ve ever listened to.

A fun and fascinating escape – five stars!

I can't take any more tears

How is it possible for one person to cry as much as Pru does and still manage to function in society? The answer is she wouldn't. The door opens, Pru sheds a tear. There's a coffee commercial on television, she cries. Enough!

I liked the supporting cast in the first two books, but the cast in this book wasn't as enjoyable and it just didn't make the heroine more tolerable as the first couple of books. This is the last in the series I'll be picking up.