FRUIT OF THE POISONOUS TREE

Tawny Lindholm Thriller #9

Jerome Kobayashi planted every cherry tree in his Flathead Lake orchard with his own hands. His wife’s ashes are buried there. His roots go deep in the land. For years, he’s turned down all offers to buy it.

But now someone won’t take no for an answer.

When Mr. K’s house is destroyed by arson, a body burned beyond recognition is found in the basement. Suspicion falls on Mr. K, who has secrets tracing back centuries to Japanese legend and lore.

His granddaughter begs for help from intrepid investigator Tawny Lindholm and her charismatic lawyer-husband Tillman Rosenbaum.

The truth is tangled in roots deeper and more twisted than the cherry tree.

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READ A SNEAK PREVIEW OF FRUIT OF THE POISONOUS TREE HERE.

What does the title mean? 

The title refers to a legal doctrine about evidence that is illegally obtained. Coined by Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter in 1939, the vivid metaphor says if a source of evidence (the tree) is tainted, anything gained from it (the fruit) is also tainted and can’t be used in court.

Since the setting for this mystery is a cherry orchard on Flathead Lake, the title seems just right.