The Forgetting Flower (Botanique Noire)

"Superb characters and alluring prose make for a truly exceptional read." —Kirkus ReviewsSecrets and half-truths litter Renia Baranczka's past, but the city of Paris had offered the refuge of her dream job. The specialty plant shop kept her busy, but also had brought her to a new friend, Alain. His presence had buffered the guilt of what happened to her sister but, all too suddenly, Alain turns up dead. His demise threatens every secret Renia holds dear, including the rare plant hidden in the shop's tiny nook. It emits a special fragrance that can erase a person's memory - and perhaps much more than that. As Renia races to figure out the extent of the plant's powers, she's confronted by figures from her past who offer a proposal she can't outright refuse. Bit by bit, she descends into an underworld of black market mobsters, navigating threats and fending off abuse to protect the peaceful life she's worked so hard for in Paris. Desperate to outwit her enemies, Renia maneuvers carefully, knowing one wrong move will destroy not only the plant, but the lives of her and her sister.

Kirkus Reviews

"Superb characters and alluring prose make for a truly exceptional read."

Emily Carpenter, Author of Until the Day I Die, Every Single Secret, and Burying the Honeysuckle Girls

"A lush mystery with the underpinnings of a fairy tale shot through with magic and tragedy. Karen Hugg is the rare author who can blend wonder and suspense."

Sue Burke, Author of Semiosis

"The literary side of the novel brings sensitivity and texture to the struggling characters and their surroundings, and the thriller side kept me up late, anxious to find out what happens next."

Deborah Lawrenson, Author of The Lantern, 300 Days of Sun, and The Sea Garden

"Intriguing and atmospheric, The Forgetting Flower has a fairytale quality, a journey into the sensuous magic of plants."

Marty Wingate, Author of A Potting Shed Mystery Series

"Karen Hugg's The Forgetting Flower instantly captures a reader's imagination. A book for those who love not only Paris and flowers, but also intrigue and danger."

About the Author

Karen Hugg writes literary mysteries and thrillers inspired by plants. Her stories are set in worlds where plants, real or imagined, affect people in strange new ways. A certified ornamental horticulturalist and Master Pruner, her passion is living green things and her aim is to entertain and inspire readers, to get them thinking while their hearts are pounding. Karen has her MFA from Goddard College and lives in the Seattle area with her husband, three children, and four pets. When she's not digging or writing or all else, she sits outside and stares at the sky. ? Learn more at https://karenhugg.com/

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