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Trowel and Error

The English Cottage Garden Mysteries - Book 4

When budding garden sleuth Poppy is invited to a party in a beautiful orangery, the last thing she expects is to witness a lethal wasp attack! Helped by her “mad scientist” neighbour, his new robotic invention, and Oren, the talkative ginger tomcat, Poppy sets out to solve the puzzling murder. Meanwhile. she’s also discovering that gardening isn’t just sunshine and roses. With limited horticultural experience and a long winter ahead, can she really make a success of the cottage garden nursery she’s inherited?

The Mousse Wonderful Time of Year

The Oxford Tearoom Mysteries - Book 10

Join your favourite tearoom sleuth, her little tabby cat and the four meddling ‘Old Biddies’ in this hilarious festive whodunnit! Gemma is looking forward to a holiday filled with delicious Yuletide treats, time with friends and family, and maybe even a “white Christmas” in Oxford… But when she’s snowed in at a country manor, she finds herself embroiled in a puzzling murder… Come and enjoy a traditional British Christmas… and see if you can solve the case before she does!

Meet Muesli

Meet the real-life inspiration for the feline star of the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries…

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H.Y. Hanna - Author

22 hours ago

Can you guess how this inspired part of the story in my new book TROWEL AND ERROR (English Cottage Garden Mysteries #4)? It's a case of art imitating life! ;-) A while ago Muesli went for her annual check-up at the vet and he declared that the little minx is too fat!! She's a very small-boned cat and should ideally only weigh around 4.5kg (10lbs). But as she's got older, her weight has been slowly creeping up. Last year she weighed 5.5kg (12lbs) and this year, as you can see below, she's topping the scales at 6.3kg (13.8lbs)! Muesli is 9 & half years old now and it looks like she's turning into the classic "fat grey tabby". ;-) She has become so lazy and such a homebody, all she wants to do is nap in a warm spot on the sofa and it's an effort even getting her to go out in the garden. Even when we do manage to get her outside, she just finds a warm, sunny spot and goes back to snoozing. Sigh. But keeping a healthy weight is important so we're attempting to put Muesli on a diet.
And it so happens that in TROWEL AND ERROR, Oren the bossy ginger tomcat is put on a strict diet after a visit to the vet. So when Poppy is asked to feed him while his owner is away, she finds herself dealing with a grumpy, hungry, demanding feline (hmm... I wonder where I got the inspiration for THAT from?!). Who do you think wins - Poppy or Oren?
If you haven't read the book yet, grab it and find out! ;-)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2X4mDrP
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/36xvGVq ... See MoreSee Less

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I loved that part of the book as it reminded me of the times looked after my daughter’s cat. All her food, treats etc had to be carefully weighed and put out at the appropriate times as she was also overweight. She was an indoor cat and had (narrowly) survived two major operations previously so maintaining a healthy weight was very important. But it certainly didn’t make for happy cat sitting experience 😊

She just looks so little!💕💕

I loved reading about Oren as he reminded me of my sister's tabby cat, Kitty, who has also been overweight and has been on a diet over the past few months. She's now back in an acceptable weight range and is a lot happier, more playful, and wanting to hang out with family. I hope that Muesli goes the same way.

Muesli looks small. Hard to believe she's considered overweight

Have you seen those fancy cat exercise wheels?

I have a lovely ginger boy named Simon. He's only 4 but he's getting really big. Does Muesli like chasing a laser pointer light? That's how I try to get a little exercise in for Simon. He's a total indoor cat.

My 🐶 has been in reduced calories as she’s 15 this year and has had both rear ACL’s replaced. She’s ridiculous about getting extra’s and snacks!

Brilliant story, by the best cosy murder mysteries writer - the only thing wrong with Trowel and Error is that it ended! And Muesli doesn’t look fat, she is beautiful.

Loved the book- and Oren’s antics to get out of eating his diet food! I had an angora mix cat named Lily for 18 years. She got up to 15 lbs at one point, but usually hovered around 13. But, angoras are cousins of Maine coons, so she was just BIG, not really fat. Plus she had super long hair. I had her shaved once to get a few mats out of her fur (she couldn’t clean as well once she got older) and she actually looked skinny with no hair! Lol

Ha ha. Yes, I loved that part of the book! I would be hard put to keep Lukey and Smokey on a diet! They turned 11 in April, but so far their weight is ok. Smokey looks heavy because of all his fur, but he is a lightweight. Lukey has a little extra weight , about 2 pounds, but he is still pretty active. Of course just like me, old age has slowed them down.

Yes. Oren and his "New"Food

Just finished "Trowel and Error", loved it! Already pre-orderd the next one on Kindle, through Amazon!!!😍🥰😘😻

Muesli XOXO

Just started few days ago

My cat is 13.4 pounds now. He has lost a lot of weight!

She’s still beautiful. When will #4 be on audible?

I have just received the book & will read it when I've finished 'Apple Strudel Alibi' (I never guess the murderer😄 but I have an idea) I bet Oren wins😻 We had the opposite scenario with our cat - she was very skinny & had to be put on a high callorie diet!

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H.Y. Hanna - Author

3 days ago

Book research question! I haven't actually ever tasted vodka or gin or rum or tequila or brandy, in neat form, not in a cocktail... (Probably should remedy that! Seems wrong to be a writer and not have those basic experiences ;-) Maybe when life returns to normal, I might venture to a bar...) Anyway, can anyone please tell me the difference in taste between them? I HAVE tasted whiskey (at a distillery tour in Scotland!) so I know what that tastes like. Do they taste similar? Can you tell purely from the taste if something is vodka or gin, etc? I thought they all just tasted strongly bitter? :P ... See MoreSee Less

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I'm no help at all. I'm a tea drinker. 😉

They all taste very different. You can tell because rum is sugar cane based, gin usually has the flavor or juniper berries, and tequila is agave, also very different and brandy, grapes, distinct also.

vodka has the least flavor usually so is popular for mixing, it all tastes strongly of alcohol though. gin has a junipery flavor to it (which makes sense since that's an ingredient) brandy trends towards sweet, sometimes overly so. rum can vary between almost no flavor other than alcohol to mildly sweet and spicy to daaaaaaaaaaaark and earthy

Yes you can. Gin is aromatic. Almost like herbal/green teas in a way. Vodka is easier to hide the taste of and is more of a sharp alcohol taste. Brandy is sweeter than whisky almost like a really condensed wine

Vodka is colourless, odourless and tasteless!!Gin runs thru a myriad of tastes these days, all sorts of distilled flavours, rubharb even. Taste is described as botanicals which actually tastes of nothing much specific except juniper berries. Whiskey never touch the stuff.

Although I have 32 years of sobriety, some things one never forgets. Vodka: by itself: heavy and burning; with any cooling mixer: a great way to get very drunk very fast. Brandy: like drinking warm maple syrup - but without the syrup, and with a beautiful deep kick. Gin: Like vodka, but without the burn, and a bit of a bite. :)

Imo vodka doesn't really have a taste, it's more the burn you get after swallowing like with whisky. Gin is floral/herbal depending on the aromatics that have gone into it.

Ok I need to come and visit you once the state borders are open. I can educate you! 🤣

Okay, all these are MY ideas on the tastes, by that I mean that someone else may or probably does, have completely different opinions 😄: Tequila = how I imagine the sulphur pits of hell tasting, it burns in a weird brimstone way. Vodka = gives you the duck face but pleasantly warming and doesn't really have a flavour so is a great mixer. Rum= the soul of the high seas, deep dark burnt caramel but can slip a shiv between your shoulder blades if you take it for granted! Gin = nectar of the goddess 🥰 floral, sometimes a little spicy, mostly delicate. If it was a person it would be an elegant lady in a floral dress in a flower garden on a warm summers day! Bet you can't guess what I prefer 🤣🤣🤣

They all taste horrible

Yes they do taste different. They are distilled with different ingredients.

I never did this, but all through my teacher career I knew people who soaked fruit in vodka and ate it throught out the day because it doesnt give off a smell. It was how they drank on the job. I was scandalized to learn that when another teacher warned me not to eat from the fruit trays in the lounge OR to accept chilled fruit from other teachers. I have no idea how long that has been going on. Blew my mind..

When our sports team is winning, my dad gives us random shots and has us guess what they are. I always guess kerosene! 🤣 But actually I love rum in mixed drinks. It tastes smooth to me. Vodka has more of a kick. Tequila and whiskey each have a distinct taste. I’ve never enjoyed gin. I remember enjoying sipping brandy. It is more of a distilled wine taste.

I have been told the cheaper it is the worst it taste. I think the idea is they cut the cheap stuff. I always am impressed as a non drinker. I created a scandal when I drank cherry Kool Aide from shot glasses in college! And I do mean just Kool Aide. Nothing mixed in 🤓

There's also a real difference between cheap and expensive. For example vodka can be made with a variety of things. Good vodka does have a taste and you can definitely smell it.

Vodka has no taste so is most dangerous you don’t realise how much you’ve had till the next morning 🤢

Lots of good descriptions here. My summary would be: Vodka: distilled to such a high level of purity (over 95% abv then watered down to bottling strength), that little of the raw material (cereals usually) flavour remains. There are differences, mostly textural. Gin is flavoured vodka. The main flavour is juniper (pine-like. You can get juniper berries where you buy herbs and spices). Also usually a citrus element, especially in modern gins. Rum varies widely depending on raw material (sugar cane juice is grassy, molasses more toffee like), fermentation (martinique haïti and jamaica especially use yeast to create fruity esters eg banana aroma), how distilled (cuba, puerto rico can approach vodka style smooth purity; guyana jamaica martinique keep a lot of the flavour of the base alcohol, lots of funky complexity) and how aged (some are bottled raw, others spend a short time in oak to mellow, and others many years to extract spicy savoury oak flavours. Confusingly, some white rums have been aged then colour removed by charcoal, other dark rums are hardly aged or even unaged and get color from caramel. Many rums have added sugar (especially south and central america, and commercial blends), but some have none (adding sugar is forbidden in jamaica, eg) Tequila tastes of agave (peppery weird floral flavour that I love) and can be aged in oak. Brandy if made from grapes can be cheap rubbish (distilled to high strength, coloured with caramel) or eg Cognac or Armagnac the production is controlled and the best have fruit flavours (raisin, prune), some floral aromas (violet in cognac), and spicy savoury complex depth from oak. Definitely possible to tell all apart, and even to identify with categories (eg for a rum, which island does it come from).

Brandy, rum and gin are totally different (of course, you cannot say which is if you've never tasted it). Gin and vodka... I haven't drank a lot of vodka, but I haven't found them similar.

Gin has a very distinctive smell and taste. Vodka has no taste.

Vodka does have a taste. I sampled a little of several things out of curiosity when I was a young woman. I had heard that vodka was odorless, tasteless, etc. but it is definitely not. No one could ever mistake it for water, for example. So don't make that part of a plot, H.Y. :-)

Never drank much other than sweet mixed tropical on cruise ship. I do like Margueritta with Mexican food. Straight anything no.

H.Y., Best not to try any of them.... unless it's just one sip of each to taste the difference. Stay away from the bars - they won't give you just a sip and it's the bars associated with restaurants that make all the money for the business. Just ask a drinking friend to share a sip with you if you really feel like you must try it.

Everyone's descriptions have been quite accurate. Tho I do want to add something to the discussion. If you taste any of these alcohol spirits you should taste just the alcohol itself, not in a cocktail masked by fruit juices or soda pop. Also, taste good quality alcohol, not cheap alcohol. For example, cheap low grade vodka tastes like medical rubbing alcohol. Yuk... 🤢

Not a drinker

Oh no....very different tastes and each has differences between them! I never cared for gin until I was in my 40s. I enjoy it and there are many varieties. Being Polish I know my vodka and prefer to drink it straight and extraordinarily cold. We keep bottles in the freezer. The most common forms of vodka are made from potato or wheat, but it can also be made from honey and other ingredients.

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H.Y. Hanna - Author

3 days ago

Lovely review on my new release TROWEL AND ERROR by Kathleen Costa on Kings River Life Magazine with great gardening tips & resources included and a giveaway too! :-) Check it out: https://kingsriverlife.com/05/23/… ... See MoreSee Less

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Trowel and Error showed up in my Kindle library this week. I’ve just nestled in for the night and am going to start reading it right now. Yay!

I am on location 1893 and have 60 percent left. I have been reading two nights only so far, trying to ration it because I hate for it to end. I usually read it without stopping til the end. Trying to discipline myself a bit right now. It's like trying to nibble on Key Lime pie!

I look forward to the audible edition! Currently listening to "Double, Double, Toil and Truffle!" Do you plan to write any more books in the "Bewitched by Chocolate" series?

Reading it now. I really want to slap that cousin!!

Hsin-Yi, I didn’t think it was possible to enjoy cosy murder mysteries more than your Oxford Tearooms books, but this series is already right up there, if not better. Trowel and Error is a great read - I didn’t want it to finish. Great characters, great story - everything! Thanks for writing such great stories.

Mine's just arrived. Just got to finish 'Apple Strudel Aĺibi'

I loved it too

I loved this book can’t wait for the next one. Have pre-ordered 😊

read it loved it cannot wait for the next one!!

I am reading this book now. Wonderful!

Loving this book by a great author.

Reading, and loving it now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I completed the book last night. Loved it! I had a dog who used to spit dry food across the room if it was the wrong food. No lie. He would glare at you, pick a piece up is his mouth and puff up his " cheeks" and then blow it out at 90 miles an hour and it would bounce against the wall. We would laugh like mad. He would chunk the whole bowl one piece at a time. So much drama. He looked like Richard Burton playing a Shakespearean role with his facial expressions of disgust and the burden of personal betrayal. Like the cat in your book!

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H.Y. Hanna - Author

3 days ago

Thank you to the lovely readers who have been messaging me worried about the big storm in Perth. It's still raging outside as I type this but so far (touch wood!), our suburb has been lucky and seems to have escaped the worst. Other parts of Perth are without power, though, and there has been bad damage with uprooted trees & collapsed structures. I spent all yesterday morning in the garden tying down everything I could! :P My roses, especially, had grown really long arms over the hot summer. Now, I just need to keep on top of rotating fresh buckets to catch all the precious rainwater! ;-)
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-52787152 ... See MoreSee Less

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Stay safe!

Stay safe, I’m sure your husband is going to be extra busy-be well!

I’m glad to hear you’re ok!!!

Wow stay safe!

So glad you’re ok!

I hadn't heard about that!!! The only news we're getting around here is about COVID-19. Glad you're ok!

Oh,my, I had not heard! Please be safe and hang on to the cat!

Be safe!!

Stay safe

Oh no, sending best wishes to you, your garden and everyone impacted by the storm

Thank goodness you all are safe!

So glad you're ok.

Stay safe xx

Wishing all the best for you & your family!

So glad you are all OK xx Stay safe.

That was‘nt on the news here. Since COVID-19 we hardly get anything else but statistics about the pandemie. Glad to hear from you and that you‘re OK. Hope Muesli is fine as well and taking a rest inside the house.

Stay safe Hsin-Yi x

Glad to hear you are ok

Wow so scary

Stay safe

So glad you are doing fine! What a year! Enjoying your new book!

Glad you are okay!

🙏🙏🙏

Be safe. Wishing you the best.

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H.Y. Hanna - Author updated their cover photo.

2 weeks ago

Join gardening sleuth Poppy and the talkative ginger kitty Oren as they weed out murder suspects in their new horticultural mystery!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XJTC5GS
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07XJTC5GS
Autumn has arrived, with crisp, cold mornings, dew on the grass and hedgerows full of blackberries... When budding garden sleuth Poppy is invited to a party in a beautiful orangery, the last thing she expects is to witness a lethal wasp attack! As authorities investigate the possibility of murder, Poppy is horrified when local handyman Joe Fabbri, her friend and mentor, becomes the main suspect. Determined to prove Joe's innocence, Poppy sets out to solve the case - with help from her "mad scientist" neighbour, his new robotic invention, and a particularly stinky mushroom! Meanwhile, Poppy is also learning that gardening isn't just sunshine and roses. As she grapples with wind, rain, and unpleasant autumn chores, she wonders if she's bitten off more than she can chew. With limited horticultural experience and a long winter ahead, can she really make a success of the cottage garden nursery that she's inherited?
As Oren, the talkative ginger cat, lends a paw, and crime author Nick Forrest helps her dig for clues, Poppy makes a startling discovery: could there be a link between the murder victim and her long-lost father? Would solving this case also give her answers to the biggest mystery from her past? ... See MoreSee Less

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🌈

I really like this series! I think Oren is my favorite character🥰

I haven't read this series yet! Something to look forward to :)

Will you be doing more of the Oxford Tearoom mysteries? Just finished and really loved them 😊 thank you!

When will this be available on amazon to buy. I have the rest of the series and I want to buy the book not load on my kindle. I like to keep the books together and re read sometimes!!! :)

I love this series. I have all the others and can't wait to buy this one!

Great as always😀 But now got to wait a whole year for the next one!😳

Started this last night!

I really need to read these!!

I am looking forward to the Audible version.

I’m waiting for audio. Love these books and the Oxford Tearoom mysteries! Wonderful series.

Starting today on my kindle! Will get on audible when available, too.

Will it be available from Amazon Canada, too?

Started last night and already nearly finished 😭😭 Hope your mum is still Doing well ❤❤

Just finished reading it. So fun!

Those covers really make me need to read the books! Love them!

I've got kindle unlimited. I'm reading a book a day. I love this author.

Loved it!!

I just got Trowel and Error! I will start it today!!

Fabulous story, I really enjoyed it, hence the 5 star review :-)

Just got my trowel and error😊

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H.Y. Hanna - Author

2 weeks ago

Oh my goodness, I was incredibly honoured to be compared to Janet Evanovich in this article! How very cool! :-)
https://bookriot.com/2020/04/… ... See MoreSee Less

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This is fabulous!!! Ooh I must share!

Well deserved!

You're books are loads of fun!! 😁😁

Oh, and I've read every single one, lol!

Brilliant, will you be writing any more Bewitched by chocolate books xx

Congratulations, I totally agree with Heather and Maureen.

I have really enjoyed the Oxford Tearoom series on Audible. I like the twists you put in and think you do a fabulous job. I'm looking forward to starting another series shortly. 😃

Marvelous. I'm finished w Tearoom Mysteries and marching thru the chocolate mysteries. And I'm hooked as usual. Love love love Widow Mags!

Apart from yourself the only other author on that list I have read is Karen McInerney - but not the series mentioned.

I love her but in my humble opinion you take the top!

I love your novels. Your characters are charming and lovable. Plus, I loved Oxford the one day I was there. (I love having a tea.)

I'm not a fan of Evanovich myself, but what an honour as she's so well known! I enjoy your characters far more than I did Stephanie Plum in the one book I read. I've never heard of any of the other authors on the list. There are certainly a lot of cozy writers out there and you're one of the very best. :)

Congratulations! I love your books! They have brought a lot of joy to me.

Congratulations. Well deserved.

Girrrl! I am so happy to have the new book out. I preordered and Amazon notified me it's ready!!

Well done! Great to see!

You are much better 😘

You are an amazing author! I devour your books! I can’t wait for more!

What an honor! Congratulations

It's about time!

You are nothing like Janet Evanovich, you have your own special style! While I do love Janet Evanovich, I really love all your stories, each and every one and always look forward to new ones! I just downloaded your newest one!

I see your latest book has reached my Kindle. Look forward to another delightful read 🌻🌼🌺

you deserve it!

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H.Y. Hanna - Author

2 weeks ago

Endlich ist es da! 🎉 „Tee mit Milch und Mord“ (Ein Oxford-Tearoom-Krimi 2) https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B083K3JC1T
- erhältlich als E-Book und bald auch als Taschenbuch
Auf einer Cocktailparty belauscht die Tearoom-Besitzerin Gemma Rose zufällig eine ominöse Unterhaltung - kurz darauf wird eine Studentin vergiftet. Gemma hegt den Verdacht, dass beides zusammenhängt und der neue Freund ihrer besten Freundin Cassie in den Mord verstrickt ist.
Mit der Unterstützung von vier neugierigen alten Damen aus ihrem Dorf in Oxfordshire stellt Gemma ihre eigenen Ermittlungen an, sehr zum Ärger ihrer alten Collegeflamme, CID Detective Devlin O'Connor. Auch Cassie ist sauer über Gemmas Einmischung, und Gemmas Mutter sorgt zusätzlich für Chaos in dem beschaulichen Tearoom. Noch dazu wirft der Mordfall immer neue Rätsel auf.
Zu spät wird Gemma klar, dass sie womöglich als Nächste auf der Speisekarte des Täters steht. Kann ihre kleine Katze Müsli sie aus dieser misslichen Lage retten?

Viel Spaß beim Lesen! ... See MoreSee Less

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oh wie schön.... ich freu mich

Ein tolles Buch. Ich habe alle Bücher der Oxford Tearoom Serie im Original gelesen und hoffe sehr, dass es bald eine neue Folge gibt. Viel Spaß beim Lesen. Ich bin sicher, den deutschen Lesern wird es ebenso wie mir ergehen.

Perfect! Just in time for a friend of mine. 😀 I love Gemma‘s adventures and Muesli‘s interference so I‘m happy to share this story with my friend.

Zack, Buch 1 gekauft. 👍 Bin gespannt.

😻

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H.Y. Hanna - Author

2 weeks ago

Congratulations to the winners of my latest giveaway! To celebrate the upcoming release of TROWEL AND ERROR (English Cottage Garden Mysteries #4), five lucky readers have each won a set of the first 3 books in the series!
1) K Seiler
2) S Cordery
3) "Susan" CF
4) M Roberts
5) M Courtney
My assistant, Erin, will contact you via email with details of how to claim your prize (winner's choice of ebook or paperback format). If you don't hear from her by Friday, please drop her a line on: [email protected]
And if you didn't win this time, don't worry! I'll be running another fabulous giveaway soon! :-) Make sure you've signed up to my Readers' Club Newsletter so you don't miss out https://forms.aweber.com/form/85/2046068385.htm ... See MoreSee Less