Debut Wasn’t Quite Ready to Bloom
When I saw that The Gardener’s Plot, the debut mystery from Deborah J. Benoit, had won a contest from Minotaur Books and Mystery Writers of America to be published, I immediately took note. There have been a few series that were first published that way that became favorites of mine. Sadly, this doesn’t look like it will be one of them.
The book introduces us to Maggie Walker, who has inherited her grandmother’s house in a small town in the Berkshires. She’s long been a gardener, so when she is asked to help Violet with the new community garden, Maggie jumps in with both feet. But the morning of the grand opening, Violet is nowhere to be found. Then, a member of the community finds a boot in his plot in the community garden. A boot attached to a dead body. With the police thinking Violet might have something to do with it, Maggie’s set out to find her friend and prove she is innocent. But can she do it?
I feel like there is a good story here, but it needed some polish before it was ready to be published. Take the first chapter. We were introduced to a couple of different characters, and I had a hard time figuring out who was important and why. As the book progressed, I continually found myself realizing that assumptions or connections I made when something was introduced wasn’t necessarily true. The problem was the writing was vague, with the added information being filled in later. And this isn’t a matter of Maggie learning something she didn’t know to unravel the mystery but a case of the full information not being given to us. I get it. It’s easy to think what you mean to say is obvious. I’ve felt that way with the little bit of fiction I’ve done. But it is frustrating when these things haven’t been smoothed out in subsequent drafts so when a reader isn’t confused when he or she sits down to read the story.
Speaking of story, the pacing was off. Maggie’s investigation starts out well, but then she starts reploughing the same ground. I get that this can happen in real life, but as a reader it was frustrating when I felt the story wasn’t moving forward. Things do come together for a strong and logical climax.
The main characters are strong. I really enjoyed spending time with them. Unfortunately, the suspects tended to blend together. Again, by the end the killer and motive are clear. But more time with them would have been helpful.
I also really enjoyed the setting. Even though I can’t grow plants, I enjoyed hearing about the various gardens. The town seems warm and friendly, the kind of place I’d love to spend more time fictionally.
It’s a shame I struggled with this book overall since I really do feel like the premise and main characters could have been something I would love. But the execution didn’t work for me.
Others seem to be enjoying The Gardener’s Plot more than I did, so maybe the problem was me. If the premise intrigues you, consider picking it up. Unfortunately, I think this series isn’t for me.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
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