Marguerite by the Lake

From Mary Dixie Carter comes an atmospheric,tense novel about the death of a glamorous garden designera widower trying to keep his secrets buriedand the beautiful young gardener who finds herself entangled in their lives. Marguerite Gray is a lifestyle icon known for her garden partieshigh-end business venturesand being the muse behind the famous Serge Kuhnert paintingMarguerite by the Lake. Her presence is overpoweringher tastelegendary. For the last few yearsPhoenix has been the gardener on the famed Rosecliff groundshome of the Gray family: Marguerite and her husband Geoffrey. Phoenix came from humble beginningsand now she works hard to craft the landscape that underpins MargueriteΓÇÖs brand. When a storm threatens the launch party for MargueriteΓÇÖs latest bookitΓÇÖs Phoenix who spots the danger to the guests and rushes to GeoffreyΓÇÖs side to save him from a falling tree. Geoffrey is gratefulΓÇöperhaps too grateful. Marguerite is . . . jealous. Phoenix senses the danger of being drawn deeper into their lives but canΓÇÖt resist the attentionbecoming embroiled in an affair that could destroy her career. But soon after the affair begins Marguerite falls to her deathfrom the same high point at Rosecliff where she posed for Marguerite by the Lake. Now Phoenix has another secretone that haunts her even as Geoffrey invites her to move into the manor with him. A secret that Detective Hanna and MargueriteΓÇÖs daughterΓÇöher spitting imageΓÇöare circling closer and closer to. Phoenix tries to put it all behind her and find her rightful place at Rosecliff. But as every gardener knowsnothing stays buried forever.