The Gardener’s Plot

by Deborah J. Benoit

RATING: 1/5

The Gardener’s Plot by Deborah J. Benoit promises an intriguing blend of cozy mystery and community gardening, but sadly, it fails to deliver on its potential due to an insufferable protagonist and some frustrating narrative choices.

The story begins with Maggie Walker, a newly widowed woman, who is working with Violet Bloom to launch a community garden. On opening day, Maggie finds a note from Violet saying she’ll be late, but by the time the event begins, a body is discovered buried in one of the garden plots. Violet, however, is nowhere to be found, and soon she becomes the prime suspect. Maggie, despite her lack of experience, decides to take matters into her own hands and get to the bottom of Violet’s disappearance and the mystery surrounding the murder.

At first glance, the premise is intriguing—community gardens and murder mysteries do make for a compelling combination. However, the execution falls flat primarily due to Maggie, the story’s central character. Maggie’s character is not just unlikable, she’s exasperating. She comes across as the embodiment of everything frustrating about the “boomer” mindset, constantly assuming she knows better than everyone around her, even when she clearly doesn't. For example, when the police detective mentions the possibility of helping her look for the note Violet left, Maggie dismisses the offer, saying she no longer has the note. Yet, in a dramatic twist halfway through the novel, Maggie discovers she still has the note—crumpled up in her pocket, no less—rendering any potential forensic evidence useless. This type of impulsive, irrational decision-making is a recurring issue throughout the book and undermines the integrity of the investigation.

While one might expect a cozy mystery where the civilian sleuth is an amateur trying to outsmart incompetent police officers, in The Gardener’s Plot, the police are actually doing their job quite competently. Maggie’s interference is, more often than not, a hindrance, and her assumption that she knows better feels both misguided and frustrating. Additionally, her reluctance to share any important information with the authorities—such as the mysterious phone calls she’s receiving—further adds to the tension of watching her bumble through the case.

Another aspect that irked me was the awkward attempts at romance. The book repeatedly brings up the "cute cop" trope, hinting at a potential relationship between Maggie and the detective, but there is zero chemistry between them. Their interactions are limited to mundane conversations about the murder, and the supposed romantic tension feels forced and unrealistic. It’s as if the author tried to wedge in a romantic subplot for the sake of it, even though it adds nothing to the narrative.

Ultimately, The Gardener’s Plot is a missed opportunity. While the setting and premise hold promise, the frustrating character of Maggie, coupled with her misguided sleuthing and lackluster romance, make this book a hard one to enjoy. The mystery itself is fine, but the execution of the plot is bogged down by poor choices that lead to an underwhelming reading experience. For fans of cozy mysteries, there are far better options out there that offer smarter, more relatable protagonists and more compelling storylines. Unfortunately, The Gardener’s Plot is not one of them.

* Received for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*