Please Don't Push Up the Daisies is an essential new chapter in the life of intrepid interior decorator Madison Night, and I have enjoyed watching one of my favorite fictional characters rising to each and every occasion as this series progresses.

This newest installment is all about relationships and family. Past events in Madison's life have always made her feel like the person on the outside looking in, but meeting boyfriend Tex Allen's sister and four nephews begins to change all that. (And while I'm on the subject of those nephews, let me just say that I was not amused by their "antics". There's a difference between high-spirited and "Call 9-1-1!")

One of the departures in this book is the sidelining of Tex Allen. Madison is effectively cut off from her investigative mainstays, and she has to look elsewhere for help. The help she receives often surprises her, further highlighting the importance of relationships and family.

Please Don't Push Up the Daisies is another enjoyable entry in one of my favorite series. Whodunit surprised me, which I always love, and there's a bonus epilogue available which I heartily recommend reading. If you enjoy strong female characters, intriguing mysteries, humor, and a strong dash of creativity, this series is the one for you. Begin at the beginning with Pillow Stalk so you don't miss a single step of Madison's journey. ( )

BEST OF THE SERIES SO FAR!

Author Diane Vallere writes the delightful Madison Night Mystery Series and, in my opinion, her latest release, Please Don’t Push Up the Daisies, is the best of the series! Vallere’s reoccurring characters are quirky, fun, likable, and excellent at their chosen careers. The new characters in this book make it entertaining and keep you wondering if they are part of the problem or the solution. This plot is filled with mischief, havoc, and murder. This whodunit will keep you guessing until the end! Vallere makes this one a wild ride from start to finish!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the author/publisher. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own and without influence. ( )

It is always a treat to get another book to read written by author Diane Vallere, and this, the 11th entry in the Madison Night series, is no exception. It works perfectly well as a standalone but you will be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t go back and read the entire series, because author Vallere is an expert at story arc and character growth. You won’t want to miss any of the references to the past because they all contribute to the wonderful, compelling woman Madison is today.

Remember Madison is the Doris Day lookalike, the successful decorator and businesswoman who loves, loves, loves anything mid-century and knows all there is to know about it. More than once she’s also found herself in the usually dangerous role of amateur sleuth.

The story this time feels more personal and serious and gives us a more detailed look into Madison’s parents and the accident that took their lives when she was young. She became independent because she had to. Many of her career and style choices have root in the memories of her folks. She’s a loyal friend and her relationship with Tex is solid, but she hasn’t had family in her life and has valued doing whatever she wants whenever she wants. We’ve seen this change slowly over the last several books as her relationship with Tex has become more serious, but when she meets Tex’s sister Lily and her four sons she remembers just how important those family ties can be. How you might do just about anything to protect family.

Lily says her infuriating husband Gil has finally agreed to a divorce after many, many requests and years of living apart. Not so fast – before anything is finalized Madison and Lily discover his dead body. Madison doesn’t know Lily, doesn’t know if she could have murdered the husband she so longed to be free of, but she does know that this is Tex’s sister we’re talking about and family comes first.

As always Vallere provides a solid, well-written, well-plotted, well-paced mystery with an interesting cast of new and familiar characters, as well as a lot of danger, excitement and fun. And don’t forget the style: from Madison’s spot-on mid-century Doris-Day-suitable hair and clothes to her amazing ability to come up with the perfect decorating solutions on less than a moment’s notice you’ll be stunned and fully immersed in that time and fashion.

The story is full of miscommunication, practical jokes and antics by Lily’s rambunctious four sons with Tex as their victim and the realization that everything may not have been as straight-forward as it seemed with Gil and his business partner. There are plenty of clues but you’ll still be guessing right until the end and you’ll enjoy seeing yet another side of our Madison.

Thanks to the author for providing an advance copy of Please Don’t Push Up the Daisies for my reading pleasure and honest opinion. Loved the book, loved the series, recommend this and everything else this author writes without hesitation. Always a very satisfying read. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. ( )