A page turner that I enjoyed after I got past initial references to Covid.

And then as the story unfolds much later in the book Tory the main character learns the victim had lingering affects of Covid that the killer or killers may have used to get the poison in her system which killed her.

The story was good and I enjoyed it and the characters. But if a reader might have triggers this one is not for you.

The author brings a good cast of characters that are well developed. Tory's best friend Ashley who is the attorney representing one of the suspects has some trauma issues relating to some previous incidents I didn't quite figure.

Although both characters are fun and both good at sleuthing I felt they as the adults they that they could have been more loyal to thier boyfriends. The book ends with Tory and Ashley each ponduring thier feelings for three different guys.

The mystery is solved even though are twists and turns and several suspects.

Murder in the Community Gardrn was good read. I am not sure I like it enough to get more into the series.

I received a complimentary copy

Tory Benning, expert lawn architect and lover of Pomeranian pups, is back righting wrongs, helping her friend Mac, and generally causing her police officer friend Adrian a headache. Good thing she has a bestie like Ashley who will always be happy to share a bottle of wine and a few small adventures. Tory is a character with great ideas and a highly developed power of observation, she notices many things, like the beautiful flowers, trees, grasses, and many other southern California plants. I found the landscaping and plant identification aspect of the story telling process very useful as I have just moved back to the semi-desert climate of California and have gotten some great ideas from the wonderful descriptions. Ms. Gonda does an excellent job of character building and creating a setting in a real world environment while keeping the cozy aspects. Who couldn’t smile at the interactions between Tory and her beloved poms or the way Tory and Ashley are truly like sisters as they laugh together, cry together, and brave the early morning hours on a stakeout together. This is a story that keeps you guessing as to who done it and why did they do once you learn the how did they do it. Tory does a good job of balancing work and life, I wonder how well she will do with the new challenges, Jake may be team Tory, but I think that I am team Jake.

I don’t know what it was but I really just could not get into this book. I didn’t connect with the characters and it just felt a little humdrum for my taste.

Tory Benning, landscape architect, has a community garden and invited some of the community leaders to participate in a vegetable growing competition for its grand opening to the community. But when a couple of gardens are sabotaged and someone turns up dead. Tory is pulled into the investigation to clear her friend’s name.

This is an entertaining cozy mystery. It is the third book in the series but can be enjoyed as a stand alone. This is my favorite book in the series. The characters are well developed now and have good chemistry in the relationships. The mystery has a plethora of suspects and plenty of red herrings to keep the reader on their toes. I recommend this book to cozy mystery fans .

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

This is a story about landscape architect Tory Benning and how she has to overcome planted evidence and growing suspicion to save an innocent man from being framed for murder. As she looks closer into the backgrounds of those closest to the victim secrets begin to emerge about marital infidelities, a sizable inheritance and estranged children. Fearful she might be going against someone more cunning than a garden variety killer Tory has to stand her ground to bring the culprit to justice and be careful not to get her self in trouble. Great characters to follow in a very enjoyable fast paced story.

3.5 stars
I requested Murder in the Community Garden from Netgalley because the blurb sucked me in; Tory Benning, a landscape architect, arrives at the community garden she landscaped. But trouble brews when Mac and Bunny, two opposing mayoral candidates, accuse each other on TV of produce thefts from their garden plots and moments later, Bunny is found dead and Mac is the prime suspect.

This is the first book I've read in the Tory Benning series. It was pretty good, Tory and her friends are a likeable and interesting crew and the plot was suitably twisty and kept me on my toes. This one definitely trends young - late teens/early 20s young - so younger readers will probably enjoy the many social issue references in this book. As for me, reading is my escape from the world,, so I prefer books that keep it cozy with fewer references to the issues currently causing so much strife and stress.

This was a cute book and I definitely recommend it to younger kids looking to get into cozy mysteries.

If you're Tory Benning, you have a lot on your agenda - organize a community garden, run your landscape design and nursery company, reconnect with your boyfriend and solve a murder. It never crossed Tory's mind she would have to brush off her sleuthing skills to help a friend accused of murder and keep herself from being the next victim!

I loved the book! The mystery was well-written, the gorgeous California setting made me want to head to the beach and the romance didn't overshadow the story. Of course, those sweet Pomeranians (featured on the cover), Iris and Lily added to the fun! I hadn't read the second book, however, I had no problem catching up with Tory's backstory.

Murder in the Community Center is a perfect summertime (or anytime) read!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the second of this series that I have read and both have been really enjoyable. The characters are written really well and their personalities come through great. The mystery for this one was also done well. I enjoyed the nods and mentions to the pandemic as so many books seem to be just ignoring it. I thought the author did a great job of including it in the story. Will definitely be interested in reading another installment.

Tory was a big disappointment, unimpressive as an amateur sleuth, and her relationships lacked rationality and were flawed. The intrigue level was low, along with that of the excitement. A mildly entertaining cozy mystery.

Book Three of The Tory Benning Mystery series, Murder in the Community Garden, opens with a cabbage heist and a flurry of clues. At stake is a seemingly inconsequential gardening contest with apparent ties to the hotly contested mayoral race for the community of Santa Sofia. When one of the candidates drops dead after a press conference The obvious suspect is the opposing candidate, who just very publicly threatened her. Tory is convinced that her friend couldn’t have done it but the matter is confounded when a witness places him at the shooting of the victim’s son.

I have not read the first two books in this series and I didn’t need to. I do think that Tory’s story is compelling enough to give the first books a looksey. The cold opening to the story with immediate drama is a terrific way for the reader to dive right in. Even though the murder takes place further into the story, there is already an emotional investment. The mystery itself is a classic whodunnit trope with a trove of suspects, several conflicting and quixotic clues, and some pivotal plot twists.

Overall the story was enjoyable. The cast of secondary characters is witty and colorful with plenty of growth over the story and through exposition over the series. The descriptions of the town of Santa Sofia put the reader right into the setting. There is plenty of room for expansion n this series and I am looking forward to revisiting.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
I received an advance review copy for free through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours and Netgalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily

Murder in the Community Garden is the third instalment in Judith Gonda's mystery series featuring landscape architect Tory Benning. Set on the California coast, Tory is almost ready to launch a community garden she designed in relation to a new development. But on launch day, a prominent figure is found dead and Tory's friend, Mac McGregor is high on the suspect list.

This third book builds up the characters well as busy Tory juggles all of her responsibilities - running Bennings and continuing with her commitments as a landscape architect. The pacing was spot on, there was always plenty going on and there was certainly never a dull moment!

Judith Gonda clearly knows how to write a story that is compelling, entertaining and fun, with characters that are not necessarily easy to love but fit with the story really well. I really enjoy Tory's personality traits - particularly her spirit and astuteness. It was intriguing to follow the progress of the story with Tory, Ashley (her supportive and caring friend), the amiable lieutenant Adrian Ramirez who is an old schoolmate, and Jake, the PI who she is seeing. All of the characters had a great part to play, whether or not they were likeable and all had plenty of drive and resolve. The plot was brilliantly executed and I was desperate to find out what was going to happen next.

The combination of description and dialogue was great and I had plenty of opportunities to play armchair detective. I was definitely surprised by the final denouement. All things considered, I loved this fascinating mystery and I highly recommend this humorous, easy-to-read cozy. I am already looking forward to reading the next book in the series. A well-deserved five stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

After two years of the pandemic and more days to come authors have to decide how to deal with it, especially in series. Do they ignore it, do they write prequels or some such or do they work it into the series? Judith Gonda wrote it into her series as the fact of life that it has become and I'm glad she did. Tory Benning has had delays and adjustments to make with her latest project, the garden adjacent to a new condo/townhouse development that sits on the site of an old strip mall. With the grand opening at hand, Tory gets a middle of the night pounding on her front door. When she gets up the courage to open the door she finds her friend, Mac MacGregor, in quite a state....over a stolen cabbage. He and another person on the garden committee have come to loggerheads over purloined cabbages. Bunny Hare's cabbage has also vanished and she blames Mac. They soon have very public words for each other and that is used as motive against Mac when Bunny is found murdered in the garden. Tory and her friend Ashley team up to catch the killer and the list of suspects isn't short.
There are several layers to this well plotted mystery, lots of characters, red herrings and some twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, all coming together at the end with a satisfying conclusion.
Be warned - if you don't want to have the pandemic in your reading escape and you are not a fan of romantic issues in your cozies than this might not make it to your must read list. I was happy to give it five stars.
My thanks to the publisher Beyond the Page and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Murder in the Community Garden Earns 5/5 Trowels…Entertaining Fun!

There have been a few delays, courtesy of the Covid lockdowns, opening the community garden spearheaded by landscape architect Tory Benning adjacent to the new condo facility, but it’s finally here! If only Mac MacGregor and Bunny Hare, the two council members, mayoral candidates, and inaugural gardeners, would stop sniping at each other. The two accuse each other of stealing their prize cabbage entry in a veggie competition along with her leaking an editorial attack and he sending threatening notes. All Tory wants is for two to cooperate and highlighting the healthy benefits of having a community garden during the Good Morning, Santa Barbara broadcast. Instead they air the dirty laundry of sabotage which ends with a threat! Worse yet, Bunny is later found murdered and Mac is arrested!

Tory is taken aback by the idea she has a penchant for finding killers, even though the past couple of years is proof of her talent, when asked by Mac’s wife to prove his innocence. Tory is sure Mac didn’t do it. As chairman of the company that developed the condos, he’s been a target of the environmental protestors, and although he may be quick to fuss, a killer he’s not. Bunny, however, was the publisher/editor of the local newspaper full of controversial opinions, supported the Save the Environment protests to curb development, and her marriage to a Hollywood director/producer and her relationship with her children deserve close scrutiny. Tory has a lot to ponder, even though Detective Ramirez advises against her getting involved, but will the killer do anything to get away with murder?

It’s “Green” Thumbs Up! with Judith Gonda’s third book in her Tory Benning Mystery series. As my introduction to the series, there’re plenty of background references and character connections revisited making it easy to get this newbie up-to-speed. Gonda follows the traditional cozy formula I enjoy: the crime discovered early, the investigation a main element, and an arrest a shocking surprise. The suspect list starts out with the obvious family, colleagues, and competitors, but lots of surprises are thrown in with some checked off the list and checked into the morgue. Gonda’s writing style is well-rounded with descriptive language and witty banter, diverse characters, and endearing friendships and romantic interests. She doesn’t ignore the pandemic, instead uses it to provide a realistic factor in how events unfold and relationships interact. Along with discussions about landscape designs pertinent to California, Pomeranians, rescue shelters, and dog adoptions add to the backdrop. Tory is creative and clever, and suffers from the same inner queries related to confidence, relationships, and business, but despite her frustrations and fear of the future, she is portrayed with the strength to make the right decisions. Engaging. Entertaining.

Murder in the Community Garden, the 3rd book in the Tory Benning mystery series and the first book I have read. Tory in a landscape artist and the book follows her as she is getting ready to launch a community garden she designed in relation to a new development. A prominent member of the community is found dead the day of the launch and Tory's friend Mac who is running for mayor against the victim is the prime suspect. Tory wants to help Mac clear his name and gets involved in the investigation. Lots of red herrings and potential suspects kept me guessing and I enjoyed the setting and Tory's adorable pets.
The only thing I found distracting was Tory's love life. I haven't read the earlier books to learn about her husband's death so it was difficult to understand her headspace. I also had some trouble keeping the three potential love interests straight. That said it was still an enjoyable read and I would read another in the series.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery and appreciated how the author made the COVID part of the plot and dealt with it.
I was glad to catch up with the fleshed out characters and the solid mystery kept me guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was a fair book. It was the first novel I have read that addressed the pandemic which was interesting. I was taken out of the story each time the author discussed the distance from Santa Barbara to the fictional town. That is a commuter community to Santa Barbara due to the rents in the area and not actually that far of a distance. It would have been more believable if the distance was Los Angeles but not Santa Barbara.

Murder in the Community Garden is the third novel in a series, written by Judith Gonda. This book can stand alone, since there is sufficient backstory to fill in any gaps. The mystery was not overly complicated and was nicely plotted.

My only problem with this book was that the protagonist Tory and her BFF Ashley are written as if they were 14 years old. Supposedly there are both successful, well-educated career women, and so why write them like they are boy/movie star crazy adolescents? They giggle and squeal over men, as if they were still in middle school. I found this depiction so offensive that I struggled to finish this book. I make myself a promise that I will read every single book to the end, but this novel was a terrible struggle. I simply cannot recommend this novel, simply because of the female character’s depictions.

I love cosy mysteries. It is rare for me to feel this negative about a book. For me this is a two and a half star book, but I am rounding up. I do appreciate the author and publisher giving me access to this ARC, in exchange for my honest review. . And thank you also to BegGalley for making this novel available.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. I realized once I finished it that I had tried to read the prior book in the series, Murder in the Christmas Tree Lot and recall being unhappy with the book, which was confirmed by the review I'd written. Interesting that I did not realize same author until the end.

Tory Benning's friend Mac McGregor is being accused of murder. A prominent citizen in town has been murdered and Mac is the #1 suspect, despite all the evidence against him being circumstantial and given his character witness' statements, rather preposterous. Tory then inserts herself into the investigation to prove Mac is innocent. There are a lot of red herrings in this book to send the reader on a goose chase and my #1 suspect turned out to be incorrect,

I gave this book three stars because I cared enough to finish it. However, I found the constant references to the pandemic and masks and vaccines tiresome and I think given people's feelings about the pandemic, especially since it is still so burned into our psyches at this point, she is going to alienate some of her audience. I read to escape and I appreciate authors who have referenced COVID as a thing of the past, as to acknowledge it, but I don't want to constantly hear about it unless it is relevant to the plot (which it is not, in this case). I also found the ever changing cast of characters to be annoying and the most obnoxious cozy plot formula with the love triangle with Tory being torn between three different men, despite the fact that two of them have not seriously expressed romantic interest in her, she is just guessing, is so overdone and ridiculous. I will have to remember the tiresome plot gimmicks in order to avoid reading this author again.

'Murder in the Community Garden' is unique for me as it addressed the real life Covid 19 issues that altered our lives. I suspect that anyone who picks up this book from a library in thirty years will have a difficult time identifying with parts of it, but for us it is very current. The mystery was well done, with lots of suspects that had motives and were well developed. Tory's background with landscape design is interesting. This is the first book by Judith Gonda that I have read so I was a little lost with background and the death of Milo that plays a great role in Tory's thought processes. I look forward to more with the perfect set-up at the end of the book which promises to be fascinating.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Landscape architect, Tory Benning, is, once again, up to her ears in murder with a good friend, Mac, the main suspect. It all started with a cabbage at the Community Garden that Tory designed. Plenty of things for Tory to investigate, plenty of people to upset with the best of intentions but with three potential romantic partners diverting rather a lot of her attention. Enjoyable read, Thanks to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.