The Budding Detective

The Origin Story for a Grace Thompson Mystery Series

By: Ginger Ellington

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Fans of small-town sleuths, smart women, and canine sidekicks will love this fresh take on the classic cozy mystery!

Grace Thompson thought her biggest challenge this spring would be keeping up with floral orders for the annual Bloomsville Flower Festival. But when she opens her shop’s storage room and finds a dead man lying among the tulip crates, everything changes. Suddenly, the town is buzzing with suspicion, and Grace’s once-wholesome reputation is under fire.

Refusing to wilt under pressure, Grace teams up with her best friend Chloe, an eccentric forensic specialist who thrives on puzzles and late-night theories. As the two dig deeper, they uncover secrets buried beneath Bloomsville’s sunny exterior—secrets that someone is desperate to keep hidden.

With Rosie the Westie always one paw ahead and tensions blooming faster than peonies, Grace is about to prove that solving a murder might just be her real calling.

A cozy mystery full of humor, heart—and one dog determined to steal the show.

Note for returning readers: This newly expanded edition of The Budding Detective includes additional scenes, deepened character moments, and a fuller mystery experience based on early reader feedback. Whether you're revisiting Grace’s first case or discovering it for the first time, welcome back to Bloomsville!

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The AI voice was 2 distracting. I did not like it. The story was cute