Maggie has returned home after a borage of life events. She is pressured to sell her grandmother’s home, but finds herself wanting to live there and use it as a fresh start.

Her homecoming isn’t as warm as she envisioned, but quickly busies herself with a community garden project with friend Violet. Violet was an eccentric,

Violet goes missing at the same time a body is found in the community garden and she is the prime suspect. Maggie does her own investigation with the goal of finding what happened to Violet and proving her innocence.

Sometimes I was mixing up characters, but chapters would break down and review all of the evidence and facts Maggie had and these chapters would help me get back on track.

This was a cute, cozy mystery that unveiled secrets of Berkshire. I would definitely read more by this author. Left things open for a possible sequel.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Out on 11/5/24.

This is a small town cozy mystery with gardening themes.

Maggie returns to her hometown and takes over an old house. She offers to help Violet with a community garden, but on opening day there is no sign of Violet. When a body is found in the garden, Maggie is a suspect.

Maggie becomes the amateur sleuth, trying to find Violet and figure out why there was a body in the garden. I liked Maggie's character, and there were quite a number of secondary characters all of whom contributed to quirky village life.

Several subplots kept you guessing, as Maggie tries to uncover what is going on.

Hopefully the start of a series.

I listened to this book, and I thought the narrator did a nice job of keeping the many characters straight. The pacing was good.

A missing person, a dead body and a community garden kick off this first in a new small town cozy amateur detective series. I liked protagonist Maggie Walker, the quirky cast of older side characters, the touch of romance, the misdirections and the charm of the Berkshires setting.

This was an enjoyable, quick debut that was good on audio and had a great cover. I'd definitely pick up another one whenever it comes out. Recommended for fans looking for a feel-good story light on grit. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Maggie Walker, along with her fearless leader, Violet Bloom, design and organize a community garden. On opening day, Maggie is assigning plots to each of the members when something disturbing is found buried in a plot. The community is in uproar as police scramble to find whoever is guilty of the murder that was committed.

Thank you Deborah J. Benoit and Dreamscape Media for the audio version of this ARC. All thoughts and opinions here are mine and mine alone.

This was an easy listen. The characters were fun and the plot was simple. I wish there was more romance even though the focus was mainly on the mystery and murders. I just think that romance would have added another layer to the story, especially since the author set up two of the characters to have a potential love interest. Overall, the story just didn't stand out to me.

I enjoyed the narrator's voice. She was clear and had good variations in tone for the different scenes and characters.

If you are looking for a light cozy mystery, this is definitely the book for you! It has perfect colder weather vibes.

I highly enjoyed this book’s main character and plot! The main character is a strong lead that doesn’t let anyone stop her! She loves to ask questions- especially with finding a dead body. I enjoy the little twists and turns. I wish their was more character development with the friend.

This book intrigued me with the premise of a murder with Maggie trying to figure out what happened in the community garden.

The author did a great job with all things gardening in the story. The story was a bit slow for me and I lost interest in the middle. I did like the ending and did not guess the killer.

Patricia Santomasso did a good job on the narration.

Thank you @dreamscape_media @minotaur_books for a copy of the book.

3.5 ⭐️ stars
This is a first in series book by an author I have never tried before. I’m not really a gardener, but it was interesting to read and gardeners may really enjoy this series.
Maggie is putting her life together in her grandmother’s home, which she purchased. Maggie is getting to know people in the town and participating in community events. She faces quite a bit of opposition in her new life from a developer who wants to buy her house and a cousin who thinks he is owed something more from the grandmother’s estate via Maggie personally.
Maggie’s relationship with the police is fairly negative throughout the book as she stubbornly investigates and doesn’t share all she knows with the police.
The mystery is good. The murderer fairly well hidden. There were clues that could go in more than one direction.
I’d like to read about these characters again.
I had access to an ebook and audiobook version. The narrator did a good job.
Thanks to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this book.

This is a solidly fun cozy mystery with interesting characters and a decent plot. Does the second murder and following murder attempts make sense for the character? Not really. But logic isn't always a cozy murder story's backbone. I would read another in this series.

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!