The Gardener’s Plot by Deborah J. Benoit

Item: The Gardener's Plot
Rating: 5
Author: BaronessMom

Posted November 7, 2024 by BaronessMom in Mystery, Review / 0 Comments

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Gardener's Plot

by Deborah J. Benoit

Published by Minotaur Books on November 5, 2024
Setting: Massachusetts
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 336
Format: Audible Audiobook, Hardcover, Kindle, Paperback
Source: the Publisher
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon

A woman helps set up a community garden in the Berkshires, only to find a body in one of the plot's on opening day.

After life threw Maggie Walker a few curveballs, she’s happy to be back in the small, Berkshires town where she spent so much time as a child. Marlowe holds many memories for her, and now it also offers a fresh start. Maggie has always loved gardening, so it’s only natural to sign on to help Violet Bloom set up a community garden.

When opening day arrives, Violet is nowhere to be found, and the gardeners are restless. Things go from bad to worse when Maggie finds a boot buried in one of the plots… and there’s a body attached to it. Suddenly, the police are looking for a killer and they keep asking questions about Violet. Maggie doesn’t believe her friend could do this, and she’s going to dig up the dirt needed to prove it.

The Gardener’s Plot takes readers to the heart of the Berkshires and introduces amateur sleuth Maggie Walker in Deborah J. Benoit’s Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award-winning debut.

The Gardener’s Plot by Deborah J. Benoit is well-written and very enjoyable.

Will Maggie find Violet before it’s too late?

Maggie Walker

Maggie Walker is our sleuth and main character. She has returned to her hometown and Grandmother’s house, where she grew up. Things aren’t the same as when her Grandmother was alive. However, since Maggie bought the house, things have looked up. Maggie is an avid gardener, and it shows in her home gardens. Still, Maggie is the co-chairperson of the Community Garden, and she writes articles for the newspaper and is working on a book.

After finding a body in the community garden, Maggie and her best friend, Sally, start investigating the disappearance and death. I like Maggie. She is an excellent sleuth who did a bit of character growth. I am wondering if Maggie will get another installment.

My favorite part is the characters’ relationship between Sally and Maggie. These two will go to all lengths to keep each other safe.

The Mystery

We have a murder, a real estate scam, a crazy cousin, a missing person, a town picnic, an old rival, and true friendship. There are lots of things going on, but are they connected?

Five Stars

My rating for The Gardener’s Plot by Deborah J. Benoit is five stars. The mystery was top-notch, the characters believable, and I was invested from the beginning. I love it and highly recommend it.

[di vider]

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Gardener’s Plot by Deborah J. Benoit.

Until the next time,

About Deborah J. Benoit

After 30 years as a legal secretary, Deborah J. Benoit decided to pursue more creative endeavors. Her debut novel, The Gardener’s Plot, won the Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition in 2023. The Gardener’s Plot is scheduled to be published on November 5, 2024.

Born and raised in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, there’s no place she’d rather call home (even in winter). Determined to never stop learning, Deborah loves sharing her knowledge of gardening, through articles she’s written, person-to-person, and on social media. When not writing or digging up plots in her garden, she can be found working on her latest art or craft project.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges: