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Nina Quinn #5
Weeding Out Trouble
Landscaper Nina Quinn would do anything for her employees. After all, Taken by Surprise, her garden makeover business, wouldn't be blooming if it weren't for them. So when Kit Pipe, her right-hand handyman, goes missing, Nina immediately starts digging into his disappearance. But all she finds is Daisy Bedinghaus, Kit's ex—and she's dead as dirt.
An ex-con who'd been dumped by Daisy not long before her murder, Kit's the prime suspect. But Nina's determined to prove his innocence and nip this whole thing in the bud. After all, it'll get her out of her all-too-crowded house, where her ex-husband the cop is recovering from a gunshot wound on her couch and her thorny new stepson is giving her the evil eye. But as she comes closer to unearthing the truth, Nina will find that facing the frost in her home is nothing compared to confronting the real killer's ice-cold stare.
An ex-con who'd been dumped by Daisy not long before her murder, Kit's the prime suspect. But Nina's determined to prove his innocence and nip this whole thing in the bud. After all, it'll get her out of her all-too-crowded house, where her ex-husband the cop is recovering from a gunshot wound on her couch and her thorny new stepson is giving her the evil eye. But as she comes closer to unearthing the truth, Nina will find that facing the frost in her home is nothing compared to confronting the real killer's ice-cold stare.
208 pages, Paperback
First published July 29, 2008
51 people are currently reading
600 people want to read
About the author
Heather Webber
29 books4,134 followersUSA Today bestselling author Heather Webber loves to read, drink too much coffee and tea, birdwatch, crochet, and bake. She currently lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, and is hard at work on her next book. *Heather also writes under the pen name Heather Blake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
February 22, 2017
Weeding Out Trouble is book 5 in the Nina Quinn Mystery series. Nina is a divorced landscaper currently living with her stepson. She gets involved with a murder when one of her employees disappears under mysterious circumstances. There is a large cast of characters supporting Nina and she has an interesting personal and career life. The current murder case is complicated by massive snowstorm dropping feet of snow. There are lots of possibilities to explore here with illegal drugs, crooked police, and jealous lovers. Quick cozy read from Heather Webber, who also writes cozies as Heather Blake.
July 25, 2019
I swear I love everything this woman writes! This was the 5th installment of the Nina Quinn gardening mysteries. Nina's company Taken By Surprise does surprise landscaping makeovers. She has a very dedicated crew and loves her employees. When, Kit, her right hand man goes missing and his ex-girlfriend is found dead all suspicion points to Kit. Nina knows Kit and doesn't believe for a second that he could be capable of murdering Daisy. Despite numerous warnings and a constant police tail, Nina and her friends (this time Brickhouse and Perry) pull out all the stops to prove Kit's innocence. This is made even more complicated by Nina's ex-husband, Kevin moving back in while he recuperates from a gun shot injury. In addition to proving Kit's innocence, Nina is also trying to figure out what's going on with the influx of poultry that has been invading her neighborhood. I was actually surprised to learn the identity of the killer, I did not see that coming.
March 24, 2025
#5 in the Nina Quinn cozy mystery series
When the girlfriend of one of her employees is found dead, he's the police's prime suspect. He disappears, and because Nina doesn't believe him capable of murder, she finds herself involved in the investigation. To complicate her life, she's hosting Thanksgiving for Bobby's family and hasn't had a chance to go shopping yet. Plus Kevin (her ex) is staying at her house while he recuperates from being shot. Riley (her ex's son) is showing signs of doing some illegal activity that she's worried about. And there are wild turkeys running around the neighborhood, panicking the older folks about the possibility of bird flu. Needless to say, Nina gets finds herself in some sticky (and humorous) situations, sometimes even dangerous. But I like how she methodically sifts through the facts that she gleans from helpful neighbors and other contacts. Nothing about the business this time--it's all personal.
When the girlfriend of one of her employees is found dead, he's the police's prime suspect. He disappears, and because Nina doesn't believe him capable of murder, she finds herself involved in the investigation. To complicate her life, she's hosting Thanksgiving for Bobby's family and hasn't had a chance to go shopping yet. Plus Kevin (her ex) is staying at her house while he recuperates from being shot. Riley (her ex's son) is showing signs of doing some illegal activity that she's worried about. And there are wild turkeys running around the neighborhood, panicking the older folks about the possibility of bird flu. Needless to say, Nina gets finds herself in some sticky (and humorous) situations, sometimes even dangerous. But I like how she methodically sifts through the facts that she gleans from helpful neighbors and other contacts. Nothing about the business this time--it's all personal.
August 4, 2025
The last book ended on a double cliffhanger, so I expected this book to jump right in where the last one left off. Wrong! Instead, it fast forwarded several weeks with no details about the two cliffhangers until several pages in. I felt ripped off! Cliffhangers are bad enough. Failure to follow through immediately is unforgivable. It soured the rest of the book for me.
The book itself felt like a series ender, but I know there are a few more books left. I'm wondering if the author thought this would be the final book when she wrote it and that explains the lackluster failure to follow through. I'll finish out the series and hope this is the last time the author gets the readers all worried about the fate of a main character only to treat it like no big deal in the next book.
The book itself felt like a series ender, but I know there are a few more books left. I'm wondering if the author thought this would be the final book when she wrote it and that explains the lackluster failure to follow through. I'll finish out the series and hope this is the last time the author gets the readers all worried about the fate of a main character only to treat it like no big deal in the next book.
May 13, 2022
I normally don't read this type of book, but wanted to try it just for the heck of it. I think the author does this just for fun and doesn't take any of it too seriously.
It's quirky at best. Some things just don't fit and are kind of goofy IMO. Because of this, the story didn't really pull me in.
I liked the mystery aspect and how she sets you up trying to figure out the perp.
Honestly, if you want something light, goofy and less believable, this might be alright. But if you are expecting more, you might be dissatisfied.
It's quirky at best. Some things just don't fit and are kind of goofy IMO. Because of this, the story didn't really pull me in.
I liked the mystery aspect and how she sets you up trying to figure out the perp.
Honestly, if you want something light, goofy and less believable, this might be alright. But if you are expecting more, you might be dissatisfied.
April 2, 2023
I skimmed a lot of this book, but only because I wanted to know who the bad guy was. Next author!
Also, anyone who thinks it is even remotely 'cute' to let your big dog slobber all over people, is totally ridiculous. I don't care how much you love your dog, I can promise you, others do not like being slobbered on, jumped on, sniffed between the legs, etc.
Also, anyone who thinks it is even remotely 'cute' to let your big dog slobber all over people, is totally ridiculous. I don't care how much you love your dog, I can promise you, others do not like being slobbered on, jumped on, sniffed between the legs, etc.
June 9, 2018
I really enjoyed the author's down to earth writing style. Nina is a fun and quirky character, who's always getting herself mixed up into trouble. I especially enjoyed watching her grow in her relationship with Bobby and finally put her issues with her ex where they belong.
May 17, 2021
Nina may not always get who the villian is correctly, but I love her journey trying to discover the truth and get Kit out of trouble. Her neighbors and friends and family are a wonderful assortment of characters.
July 4, 2017
Another adventure with Nina! Looking forward to the next one!
December 27, 2017
Very good.
April 21, 2019
A wonderfully fun mystery. Nina wants to prove that her friend Kit is innocent of the murder of his exgirlfriend. A really great cast of characters. A fun read.
April 25, 2020
Nina is on the hunt to find her employee, Kit, and to clear him of murdering his ex. Enjoyable read.
May 6, 2021
I am really enjoying this series
May 7, 2022
Fun
The story has many facets and story lines that make very enjoyable and unpredictable. The usual cast characters do not disappoint
The story has many facets and story lines that make very enjoyable and unpredictable. The usual cast characters do not disappoint
October 25, 2022
I loved the reveal and the great ending!
January 29, 2024
This was fluff but a good escape read.
December 12, 2024
3.5. Sweet funny. Great characters
February 24, 2025
Fun fluff while awaiting other more meaty books.
March 18, 2025
I should have read the earlier books first. I had trouble keeping track of the characters in the story.
September 6, 2025
As always such a good read didn’t want it to end!
March 3, 2025
Too slapstick for me, but I was still hooked into the mystery.
February 21, 2009
This is the latest edition to the Nina Quinn series, and the third that I've read. It's my favorite so far.
I really love Nina's distinctive voice. There's just a hint of romance mixed in with the mystery - I could use a little more, but it's a cozy, not a romance novel. This felt like it could be the end of this series...there was some serious character wrap-ups. I need to check out Ms. Webber's website to see what she's working on next.
The wrap-ups were very well done - the book had a very satisfying ending (something you know that matters to me). That probably puts it at the top of the three I've read, but I still want to go and catch up on the two I missed.
One thing that this one lacked was the gardening aspect, so if you're into the theme as much as the mystery, you might be a little disappointed. I'm not a huge gardener, so it wasn't a big loss to me.
After three of these fun little books, I feel like Nina is a friend, and can't wait for her to visit again. I will say that Nina is much more generous with who can stay in her house than I would be - but she has some awesome friends.
Check out the series - you may have to order it online, but it's worth it!
I really love Nina's distinctive voice. There's just a hint of romance mixed in with the mystery - I could use a little more, but it's a cozy, not a romance novel. This felt like it could be the end of this series...there was some serious character wrap-ups. I need to check out Ms. Webber's website to see what she's working on next.
The wrap-ups were very well done - the book had a very satisfying ending (something you know that matters to me). That probably puts it at the top of the three I've read, but I still want to go and catch up on the two I missed.
One thing that this one lacked was the gardening aspect, so if you're into the theme as much as the mystery, you might be a little disappointed. I'm not a huge gardener, so it wasn't a big loss to me.
After three of these fun little books, I feel like Nina is a friend, and can't wait for her to visit again. I will say that Nina is much more generous with who can stay in her house than I would be - but she has some awesome friends.
Check out the series - you may have to order it online, but it's worth it!
April 30, 2012
This started out pretty exciting and I was thinking "author I can read" !!!! but as always had to add some elements that totally turned me off (why they always preach their unnatural life style-shoving it down my throat is beyond me. Nothing to offer, but death with it. ) So ignoring that part the story was kind of cute with the turkeys and sweet elderly and neighborhood. A really great start of a story which may have been a 5, I can barely give a 2. Since I got this from library loan and will not have anymore-library not carrying this author, I am going to try 1 more since I do have a few days. But even though I have 3 more from this author if #2 I read Digging Up Trouble causes me more weeds of annoyance than the last(or the same trouble )-other 3 from Webber are headed to "compost" library book drop without digging one word out.
November 18, 2024
Landscaper Nina Quinn would do anything for her employees. After all, Taken by Surprise, her garden makeover business, wouldn't be blooming if it weren't for them. So when Kit Pipe, her right-hand handyman, goes missing, Nina immediately starts digging into his disappearance. But all she finds is Daisy Bedinghaus, Kit's ex—and she's dead as dirt.
An ex-con who'd been dumped by Daisy not long before her murder, Kit's the prime suspect. But Nina's determined to prove his innocence and nip this whole thing in the bud. After all, it'll get her out of her all-too-crowded house, where her ex-husband the cop is recovering from a gunshot wound on her couch and her thorny new stepson is giving her the evil eye. But as she comes closer to unearthing the truth, Nina will find that facing the frost in her home is nothing compared to confronting the real killer's ice-cold stare.
An ex-con who'd been dumped by Daisy not long before her murder, Kit's the prime suspect. But Nina's determined to prove his innocence and nip this whole thing in the bud. After all, it'll get her out of her all-too-crowded house, where her ex-husband the cop is recovering from a gunshot wound on her couch and her thorny new stepson is giving her the evil eye. But as she comes closer to unearthing the truth, Nina will find that facing the frost in her home is nothing compared to confronting the real killer's ice-cold stare.
September 7, 2010
Weeding Out Trouble is the conclusion to the Nina Quinn series, in this book, one of Nina's employees, Kit, disappears into thin air. Nina gets really worried, and starts investigating his disappearance, but ends up discovering Daisy, Kit's ex, who has been murdered!
Kit is the prime suspect, but Nina is determined to prove his innocence. She finds out that it's much more difficult than it seems, her ex-husband is recuperating in her house, there are two cops which seem to be tailing her wherever she goes, and to top it off, there are turkeys and a rooster that suddenly appeared which are terrorizing the whole neighbourhood!
Being Nina, she copes with it all somehow, and the ending to this series is tied up nicely, which a big happy surprise.
Kit is the prime suspect, but Nina is determined to prove his innocence. She finds out that it's much more difficult than it seems, her ex-husband is recuperating in her house, there are two cops which seem to be tailing her wherever she goes, and to top it off, there are turkeys and a rooster that suddenly appeared which are terrorizing the whole neighbourhood!
Being Nina, she copes with it all somehow, and the ending to this series is tied up nicely, which a big happy surprise.
December 2, 2008
This last book in the Nina Quinn series wrapped everything up perfectly...but not to perfectly because then it wouldn't be Nina!
Heather Webber is actually local to the area I live in and it is great fun to read about the streets and stores I drive on and by every day. The mysteries always leave me guessing which I love. Usually I can figure things out, but not with these books. The reveals are always so perfect I wonder how I didn't know.
I just with there was a surprise yard designer here for real, especially one run by someone as fun as Nina.
Heather Webber is actually local to the area I live in and it is great fun to read about the streets and stores I drive on and by every day. The mysteries always leave me guessing which I love. Usually I can figure things out, but not with these books. The reveals are always so perfect I wonder how I didn't know.
I just with there was a surprise yard designer here for real, especially one run by someone as fun as Nina.
December 27, 2010
Over? Over?! How can this series be finished? I need more Nina and Kevin and Riley. More of Brickhouse Krauss's clucking. More of the neighbors and their crazy spying ways. I breezed through it, then promptly felt sad after finishing the final page, knowing I wouldn't be enjoying anymore of their antics. Sigh.
Side note: I didn't appreciate the way things ended with Nina/Riley/Kevin, because I didn't agree with the change that they made. But, you can't have everything, and that one small point can hardly spoil the rest of this series for me.
Side note: I didn't appreciate the way things ended with Nina/Riley/Kevin, because I didn't agree with the change that they made. But, you can't have everything, and that one small point can hardly spoil the rest of this series for me.
November 3, 2015
In the last book Nina is on a quest for self discovery, and I thought it was great how events at the end of the last book lead into this one. I think Nina really finds her footing in this edition, and of course the relationships that have grown from book one up to now, just make me happy. My favorite part of any book, especially series and even more importantly mystery series, is the characters and their relationships. The mystery is fun but for these books the what really keeps me coming is the relationships and characters, and from experience Heather Webber/ Heather Blakely does them well.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews