Deborah J. Benoit's writing in ‘The Gardener's Plot' is suspenseful, humorous, and smooth. And Patricia Santomasso's theatrical narration is top notch. If you enjoy reading small-town, amateur detective mysteries, then I recommend this book to you!

Special thanks to Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for a complimentary copy of this audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I love a good cozy mystery and this was a perfect one. Fun story with engaging characters. Good narration. Enjoyable audiobook that I finished within one day.

3.5 stars, rounded up
Sometimes I just need a nice relaxing cozy mystery. Nothing deep or mind boggling. Just fun characters and an easy on the brain plot. And The Gardener’s Plot fit the bill.
Maggie Walker was looking to put down roots (pun intended) so she has bought her dead grandmother’s house. A gardener, she’s gotten involved with the community’s efforts to have a communal garden. On opening day, two things happen. The chair of the committee goes missing and a dead man is found in one of the plots. Maggie and her neighbor, Sally, both let curiosity get the best of them and just can’t let the detective do his job alone. They continuously ask questions and go off on their own investigation. Needless to say, this puts them both in harm’s way. I know this is the way of cozies, but every now and then, I do get a little irritated that it’s such an overused plot device. Benoit provides plenty of possible suspects and red herrings to keep the reader guessing. Although the outcome doesn't overly tax the reader. And brava to Benoit for keeping romance out of the picture.
Benoit does a good job with the small town setting - the gossip, the cliques and pushy characters, but yet the warm community feel. I especially enjoyed the inclusion of the garden and plant descriptions.
While nothing special, this was a relaxing and entertaining way to spend the hours.
I listened to this and Patricia Santomasso was a decent narrator. She specifically did a good job with Maggie.
Kudos for an especially beautiful cover.
My thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook.

This was an easy listen with a strong narrator who did a great job as doing the differing character voices.

The story whilst entertaining, did feel a bit basic and drawn out and repetitive. I also wish more of the action took place on the gardeners plot.

This had quite a large cast of characters so it did help set up a lot of the red herrings and misdirection. At times the main character did feel a bit cliche and annoying but generally was a good protagonist.

Overall this was a nice listen when doing other things but didn't blow me away.

One day, Maggie Walker discovers a body buried in one of the plots at the community garden. The entire novel is filled with humor and wit, starting with the double-meaning title! I thought the book over all was very enjoyable, but I especially adored the FMC. Maggie is such a strong female lead that is easy to read and love.

I think that this was a PERFECT cozy mystery to have as an audiobook! The narrator was phenomenal. I enjoyed her pacing and easy to listen to narration!

🪴 The Gardener’s Plot - Deborah J. Benoit

3.5 ⭐️ - I liked this one! I was interested in the community garden aspect as I grew up gardening with my Poppy as a little girl. Luckily we never found any dead bodies in the garden tho 😮‍💨. This is a close community, amateur sleuthing, cozy mystery if you’re looking for one with a little sunshine.

I liked this one. I enjoyed the characters a lot. They felt relatable, realistic, and enjoyable. Aside from the murder mystery in their lives. I loved the friendship and growth between Maggie and Sally. It lost me a little in the middle with the pacing, but the end picked up quickly, mysteries were solved, and the showdown was exciting. I recommend this one if you want a mystery on the lighter side (am I allowed to say that about a murder mystery?).

Thank you Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and Minatour Books for the early ARC and audio copy! You can dig this one up on 11/5!

Maggie Walker is just settling into her new old home and is starting to get her life back on track. She’s ready for a fresh start and when she is asked to help get the community gardens off the ground she jumps at the opportunity. Now that the big day is here nothing is going as planned. Violet Bloom, the woman in charge of the gardens, is nowhere to be found and Maggie finds a boot connected to a body buried in one of the garden plots. The opening day has turned into a nightmare and when Maggie realizes her friend is missing and she may have been the last person to see her she is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery stopping at nothing to find her find and the murderer.

Cozy mysteries are my go to genre and I am always looking for new authors and series to discover. I had never read anything by Deborah J. Benoit, but this book definitely has me interested in reading more by her. I was pulled in from the very beginning of this mystery and loved the journey I was pulled along on as Maggie searched for the truth. I liked the town and characters that were set up in this mystery and found this to be a fun, fast paced mystery. It kept me guessing the whole time and I was surprised at the end when everything was revealed. I would love to see more books with Maggie as the lead and will need to check out more by this author. If you are a cozy mystery fan who likes gardening this is a good book to try.

Pascal said “All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.”. Maggie could have been fine if she could continue gardening in her backyard instead of setting up a community garden for everyone's benefit (!). Look what that got her? Boot with a foot in it (and rest of the body connected to it)

She further could not sit still and decided to solve this mystery on her own. She did not wanted to be the person of interest as she was the one who dug the body. She did not want her not missing friend to be the one either. But where was her friend? Who would want to kill someone in that quiet town? Most importantly, when was this cousin gonna shut the f*ck up about the proceeds from the house?

Another example of "wholesome" sleuthing by ordinary people trying to clear their names. Is it a sign of people not trusting police to solve these murders and not finding the right people or is it just because of the curious nature of people? Whatever the reason is, it is another one for curious minds.

Filled with memorable supporting characters and a stunning setting, "The Gardner's Plot" weaves a delightful blend of mystery and small-town charm. This cozy mystery debut is a captivating journey, featuring an engaging storyline packed with unexpected twists. The gardening theme infuses the narrative with a distinctive flair.

The audiobook shines not only for its intriguing plot but also for its character-driven storytelling and the quaint essence of small-town life. The choice of narrator adds an extra layer of magic; their voice perfectly captures the warmth and nuances of the characters, making the listening experience truly immersive. This makes it an excellent recommendation for fans of cozy mysteries, particularly those who enjoy strong female leads.

I really enjoyed “The Gardener’s Plot” by Deborah J. Benoit. I originally chose this book because of the setting in the Berkshires. When a dead body is found at a local community garden, one of the leaders, Maggie Walker who has recently returned to town, can’t resist some amateur sleuthing. I loved the small-town setting and how the cast of characters and town gossip played into it. Good mixture of suspense and a cozy setting. I hope that Benoit decides to make this into a series, because I appreciated Maggie’s character and would like to see more of her and her friends. I enjoyed Patricia Santomasso’s narration. Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ALC.

this was so cute and cozy!! I loved this audio book so much. Anyone who loves cozy mysteries will adore this!

Thank you so much to Dreamscape Media for the ALC!

Title: The Gardener's Plot
Author: Deborah J. Benoit
Pub Date: November 5, 2024
Audiobook Length: 8 hrs, 38 mins
Audiobook Narrator: Patricia Santomasso

Cozy mystery lovers, this one is for you! Much in the veins of Finlay Donovan is Killing It and Thursday Murder Club, this one is cute and fun with a side of mystery and murder.

Our main character, Maggie Walker discovers a body buried in one of the plots at the community garden! I love that this book is full of humor and puns, even the title is adorable with it's double meaning. We have a character named "Violet Bloom", talks of "digging up the dirt" on people, etc. I thought it was all a blast, but my favorite thing about this book was Maggie! She was such an easy character to root for (see what I did there?)!

It was the perfect light and easy read/listen that kept me entertained the whole time! If you're weeding through November releases, I definitely think you'll DIG this one!

I think this was the first audiobook I've listened to that was narrated by Patricia Santomasso, but she had such a familiar and easy to listen to voice!

After a few setbacks in life, Maggie Walker moves back home to her small town in the Berkshires. She purchased the house she practically grew up in, her grandmother's, and is trying to settle in by helping out her friends and neighbors with the communal gardening plot. However, Violet Bloom, the director of the garden, goes missing on opening day and Maggie finds a boot stuck in a neighbor's soil. With the foot and body attached. Soon Maggie is launching her own murder investigation and search for Violet. But someone is willing to go a long way to protect their secrets.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio e-arc.*

Huge thanks to netGalley and Dreamscape Media for giving me access to this ALC! I love cosy mysteries I was so happy to receive this one!
The Gardener's Plot by Deborah J. Benoit (with its gorgeous cover) will be release on November 5th.
It's about Maggie Walker who returns to Marlowe for a fresh start, eager to help her friend Violet Bloom set up a community garden. On opening day, Violet is missing, and Maggie uncovers a body buried in one of the garden plots. The police launch a murder investigation and focus on Violet as a suspect. Convinced of her friend’s innocence, Maggie sets out to uncover the truth. Determined, she digs deeper, hoping to clear Violet’s name and reveal the real killer.
I loved the audiobook narrator, it was the perfect soft/quirky voice for Maggie! Amazing job! Bravo!
I recommend this book for any lover of amateur sleuth/cozy mysteries and ... gardening?! Love it!

The Gardener’s Plot
By Deborah J. Benoit
Narrated by Patricia Santomasso
4 ⭐️

This light small town mystery was a good listen. It was well paced, full of small town drama, and held my attention without a lot of effort. I enjoyed the garden theme of the story. I also liked that most of the characters were older - maybe their mid 30s/early 40s? I thought the audiobook was equally as good as the story. The narrator was great. I’d recommend this story to any cozy mystery reader.

Thank you to NetGalley, Deborah J. Benoit, Dreamscape media and St. Martin’s press for this audio and eARC.

I’m a cozy mystery girl and The Gardner’s Plot hit all the spots for me. It’s got the typical sleuth putting herself in danger and going out of her way to investigate when she probably should have left it alone, but it was so well-done overall and super stinking cute. I liked the small town and the cast of characters. I liked Maggie’s backstory with her grandmother and ex-husband. I liked the neighbor friendship and, though Benoit didn’t dive super into the unrequited-long-lost-love storyline, but there’s definitely something there and if this became a series I’d definitely read on for all these aspects. I felt the mystery wrap-up was believable. Overall, just an excellent cozy mystery I’d definitely recommend. The audio narration is really excellently done, as well. It was a fun listen, for sure.

Maggie has returned to her hometown to help her friend, Violet set up a community garden. But Violet seems to have disappeared, and even worse, Maggie find a body planted in the proposed garden. With Violet as the prime suspect, Maggie knows she has to find the real killer

"The Gardener's Plot" by Deborah J. Benoit, narrated by Patricia Santomasso, is a captivating cozy mystery that draws you into the vibrant community of Marlowe. Maggie Walker’s return and her efforts to launch a community garden are heartwarming, but the plot takes a thrilling turn with the discovery of a dead body and the mysterious disappearance of organizer Violet Bloom. The story is enriched by an engaging cast of characters, including local "mean girls" and Maggie’s supportive best friend, Sally, who lives next door. Benoit’s clever writing, combined with Santomasso’s lively narration, creates an immersive experience filled with suspense and charm. (I received an advance listener copy and all opinions are my own.) A delightful read for anyone who loves a good mystery!

Well written cozy mystery that wraps up nicely, but those looking for a darker or deeper mystery may end up disappointed. I also went into this book expecting it to be more garden-based than it ended up being in the book. There were a number of red herring style clues that were never followed up on in the narrative as well. Overall, this was a well written cozy mystery, but left this thriller lover a little underwhelmed.

A well written cosy crime mystery with great characters and some really fun moments, aside from the murder, of course!

Maggie arrives at the opening of the new community garden she has created with her friend, Violet, to find a body in the vegetable beds and no sign of Violet.

Maggie is determined to find Violet, and the killer, despite the local police being very clear about their resentment of her interference.

Patricia Santomasso’s narration was excellent and brought this cast of wonderful personalities to life.

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Deborah J. Benoit and Dreamscape for an ARC in return for an honest review.