a fiction mystery novel by

When the widow Miriam Wheatley finds her dream home nestled in the woodland outskirts of the quaint town of Belliford, Virginia, all she wants is to buy the property as quickly as possible. The ghosts of her deceased husband’s life as an FBI agent have haunted her long enough. She’s ready to settle down somewhere quiet, and the property’s neglected gardens and feral kittens offer her the perfect, peaceful project to dedicate her retirement to. But as she wanders the property on her own, her dreams of paws and petals are shattered by the peal of a rifle. Who fired the shot? Was it just an honest hunter, as her real estate agent insists? Or was someone trying to scare her away? What is really hiding in the locked cellar and shed of the Sherwood estate?

Learn More

Bookstore

Author Bio

Watch the teaser trailer!

Ben Srokosz, Producer and Sound Engineer

Reviews

What readers are saying about The Garden Tender's Cats

"In Lockehart’s novel, when an FBI agent’s widow tries to purchase an old Victorian mansion, she runs up against thieves, con men, and murderers. Miriam Wheatley is looking to start anew in a small, quiet town in Virginia. After rejecting several properties, she meets again with her real estate agent, Charlie Holmes. Lockehart’s complicated murder mystery places Miriam at the center of an increasingly expanding web of evildoers. Attempted murders, dead bodies, and a frightening kidnapping episode build the excitement (the tension is occasionally relieved by a budding romance between Miriam and Scott). The easy-flowing prose is detail oriented...the twisty plot, featuring plenty of surprises and some remarkable treasures, ensures the narrative moves at a good pace.

An engaging drama that will keep readers guessing."

─Kirkus Reviews

Read the Full Review