The Gardener’s Plot

Skilled gardener and gardening advice columnist Maggie Walker is thrilled to be back in Marlowe, MA, the small Berkshires town where she spent time in her childhood. She offers to help Violet Bloom, the new director of the Marlowe community gardens, transform an empty lot into another gardening plot. Everything is going to plan, but on opening day, Violet is nowhere to be found. Then Maggie stumbles upon a dead body. Police believe Violet is to blame, but Maggie does not buy it and sets out to solve the mystery. Benoit’s debut abounds with small-town charm and an engaging cast of characters. Narrator Patricia Santomasso taps into the quaint, cozy atmosphere and expertly brings Maggie, Violet, and the many inhabitants of Marlowe to life. She excels in portraying the town busybodies and hopeful, determined Maggie, as she conveys the lightning-quick way that gossip, speculation, and misinformation electrify the community.