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debralewi's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
rachaelsreadsandreviews's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
nina_reads_books's review
4.0
Digging Up Dirt by Pamela Hart was a fun and fast moving mystery. I guess you would call it a cosy mystery as there’s no real violence and the story was more light-hearted than a normal crime novel. I’ve not really read any cosy mysteries before but I was sold on this one!
Set in Sydney in the current day (there’s even a passing reference to the pandemic!), the story centres on Poppy McGowan who is in her twenties and works as a researcher on a children’s education series on the ABC. Poppy has saved and bought herself a rundown heritage house in the inner west of Sydney. She is living nearby with her parents while the renovations are happening.
Her builder rings her one day with news – he’s found bones under her floorboards. Are they human or animal? Poppy asks for help from the museum who sends an archaeologist, Dr Julieanne Weaver, to check them out. Julieanne thinks the bones are of a rare breed of sheep and gets a heritage order on the house preventing Poppy’s renovations from continuing. An archaeological dig begins and Julieanne’s boyfriend Tol arrives to help. Then Julieanne is found murdered in the archaeological pit in Poppy’s house and Poppy and Tol both become suspects. Poppy is thrust into the investigation as she tries to clear her name and is called up by the ABC to do some spontaneous interviews with key players.
I really enjoyed this book. At the beginning it felt like there was quite a lot of explaining things which slowed the storytelling down but that soon passed and I was flying through the book desperate to find out whodunit! I loved the familiar Australian references from the locations, to the ABC, to the ins and outs of a religiously linked minor political party. I found Poppy and her family and friends relatable and I was pleased that the hinted at romance was really kept as a minor thread in the book rather than something that took over from the mystery.
Pleased also that this seems to be the first in a series based around Poppy McGowan. I’ll definitely be back for more Poppy. Thanks so much to @harlequinaus for my #freegift copy.
Set in Sydney in the current day (there’s even a passing reference to the pandemic!), the story centres on Poppy McGowan who is in her twenties and works as a researcher on a children’s education series on the ABC. Poppy has saved and bought herself a rundown heritage house in the inner west of Sydney. She is living nearby with her parents while the renovations are happening.
Her builder rings her one day with news – he’s found bones under her floorboards. Are they human or animal? Poppy asks for help from the museum who sends an archaeologist, Dr Julieanne Weaver, to check them out. Julieanne thinks the bones are of a rare breed of sheep and gets a heritage order on the house preventing Poppy’s renovations from continuing. An archaeological dig begins and Julieanne’s boyfriend Tol arrives to help. Then Julieanne is found murdered in the archaeological pit in Poppy’s house and Poppy and Tol both become suspects. Poppy is thrust into the investigation as she tries to clear her name and is called up by the ABC to do some spontaneous interviews with key players.
I really enjoyed this book. At the beginning it felt like there was quite a lot of explaining things which slowed the storytelling down but that soon passed and I was flying through the book desperate to find out whodunit! I loved the familiar Australian references from the locations, to the ABC, to the ins and outs of a religiously linked minor political party. I found Poppy and her family and friends relatable and I was pleased that the hinted at romance was really kept as a minor thread in the book rather than something that took over from the mystery.
Pleased also that this seems to be the first in a series based around Poppy McGowan. I’ll definitely be back for more Poppy. Thanks so much to @harlequinaus for my #freegift copy.
seasonforreading's review
5.0
Digging Up Dirt is a Australian mystery novel, following Poppy McGowan. Poppy is attempting to renovate her heritage home when bones are found under her floorboards. In order to determine if the bones are human or animal, an expert is called in, Julieanne Weaver. Poppy and Julieanne have a history, and neither are particularly fond of the other. When Julieanne is found murdered in Poppy's home, Poppy finds herself at the centre of a murder investigation. Poppy uses her role at the ABC and her connections in media to help uncover the real murderer, and even meets a man in the process.
Pamela Hart has written an engaging and very entertaining mystery, with likable characters and a great plot. Poppy is a great character, with the perfect amount of sarcasm and wit. The mystery element in this book is excellent, with a couple of twists that were unexpected throughout the book.
This is the first in a new series by Pamela Hart, Poppy McGowan Mysteries, and I cannot wait to read the second. Digging Up Dirt is a great start to the series, and overall an excellent read that is nearly impossible to put down.
Thank you to Harlequin AUS for the ARC.
Pamela Hart has written an engaging and very entertaining mystery, with likable characters and a great plot. Poppy is a great character, with the perfect amount of sarcasm and wit. The mystery element in this book is excellent, with a couple of twists that were unexpected throughout the book.
This is the first in a new series by Pamela Hart, Poppy McGowan Mysteries, and I cannot wait to read the second. Digging Up Dirt is a great start to the series, and overall an excellent read that is nearly impossible to put down.
Thank you to Harlequin AUS for the ARC.
fasmina's review
4.0
This is one of the shortest books with the biggest plot line ever! Set in the heart of Sydney, the story begins with a set of bones being found in a house under renovations. And also there is a murder at the same house but don’t worry, they aren’t related! This is a funny, witty and interesting novel that highlights several seriously under-discussed topics of concern but what I loved the most is that the storyline was different, compelling and intriguing. The book didn’t start off with a good pace so you are hooked to it only after about 50 pages but the remaining set of pages do fly through, because you cannot put it down!
clairrus's review
A sweet, little, easy to read murder mystery. Just the kind of book I needed
vezreads's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
jemimamc's review
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
bibliobliss_au's review
4.0
4.5 stars. Murder mystery lovers - check this book out! I read it over 2 days and what a fabulous way it was to spend my weekend!
This book is so much fun. I really couldn’t put it down. I was completely caught up in the intrigue, the cast of characters and the mounting drama. Digging Up Dirt was an absolute delight to read!
This is a fabulous, cosy, murder mystery with some great comedic moments. As a protagonist, Poppy is excellent - smart, funny, relatable and with a voice that propels you easily into the story.
There were several things I really loved about this book:
This book is so much fun. I really couldn’t put it down. I was completely caught up in the intrigue, the cast of characters and the mounting drama. Digging Up Dirt was an absolute delight to read!
This is a fabulous, cosy, murder mystery with some great comedic moments. As a protagonist, Poppy is excellent - smart, funny, relatable and with a voice that propels you easily into the story.
There were several things I really loved about this book:
mandylovestoread's review
4.0
Love a murder mystery - and this one is set in Sydney so I had to read it. Digging Up Dirt was a fun, cozy mystery book that I read over the course of a day. Familiar setting, likeable (and some not so likeable) characters and a story to keep you guessing, Digging Up Dirt has something for everybody. I hope that this will be the start of a new series, keen to read more about Poppy and Tol.
Poppy has bought the house of her dreams in Annandale in Sydney., at least it will be when the renovations are done. But when bones are found under the floorboards she had trouble on her hands. Only it is just the beginning. She calls for help before calling the police, but that help turns out to be Dr Julieanne Weaver, a woman that Poppy does not see eye to eye with. Are the bones human or animal> And when can she get her house back? Not soon as it turns from an archeological dig to a crime scene when the doctor is found murdered a few days later. Using her media contacts as a reporter at the ABC, Poppy sets out to find the killer, identify the bones and get her renovations back on track. Not too much to ask is it?
This is book you won't want to put down. It will make you laugh and want to know more. Thanks to Harlequin Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read.
Poppy has bought the house of her dreams in Annandale in Sydney., at least it will be when the renovations are done. But when bones are found under the floorboards she had trouble on her hands. Only it is just the beginning. She calls for help before calling the police, but that help turns out to be Dr Julieanne Weaver, a woman that Poppy does not see eye to eye with. Are the bones human or animal> And when can she get her house back? Not soon as it turns from an archeological dig to a crime scene when the doctor is found murdered a few days later. Using her media contacts as a reporter at the ABC, Poppy sets out to find the killer, identify the bones and get her renovations back on track. Not too much to ask is it?
This is book you won't want to put down. It will make you laugh and want to know more. Thanks to Harlequin Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read.