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The Gardeners' Club
Gardening is dirty work—but should it be deadly? When a corpse turns up in the community greenhouse, Gill Swanley discovers her new hobby might be more dangerous than she imagined.
When Gill Swanley decides to take up gardening to fight a bad case of midlife malaise, she never expected it to become quite such a dangerous hobby.
Pushing herself to "get out there," Gill picks herself up the secateurs and joins the Bromley Botanists. Here she finds a seven-strong group whose main agenda is how to win the coveted Golden Trowel for best community club of the year.
But when a dead body turns up in the community greenhouse, they suddenly have more serious matters to consider than victory. They must uncover whether their arch-rivals, Croydon, are taking things to another level or whether someone more dangerous is targeting their rag tag group.
Can they dig up the truth before someone else is left pushing up the daisies?
When Gill Swanley decides to take up gardening to fight a bad case of midlife malaise, she never expected it to become quite such a dangerous hobby.
Pushing herself to "get out there," Gill picks herself up the secateurs and joins the Bromley Botanists. Here she finds a seven-strong group whose main agenda is how to win the coveted Golden Trowel for best community club of the year.
But when a dead body turns up in the community greenhouse, they suddenly have more serious matters to consider than victory. They must uncover whether their arch-rivals, Croydon, are taking things to another level or whether someone more dangerous is targeting their rag tag group.
Can they dig up the truth before someone else is left pushing up the daisies?
Audible Audio
Published March 3, 2026
47 people are currently reading
429 people want to read
About the author
Marnie Riches
20 books140 followersMarnie Riches grew up on a rough estate in Manchester. She learned her way out of the ghetto, all the way to Cambridge University, where she gained a Masters degree in German & Dutch. She has been a punk, a trainee rock star, a pretend artist, a property developer and professional fundraiser. Previously a children's author, now, she writes gritty, fast-paced crime fiction.
Marnie Riches is the author of the award-winning, best-selling George McKenzie series, starting with "The Girl Who Wouldn't Die", published in the UK by Avon/HarperCollins and special editions by The Word Factor-e in the US. She is also the author of best-selling, critically acclaimed Manchester gangland thrillers, "Born Bad" and "The Cover-Up" as featured in CBS documentary, "Written in Blood".
In her spare time, Marnie likes to spin, travel, drink and eat all the things (especially if combined with travel) paint portraits, sniff expensive leather shoes and renovate old houses. She also adores flowers.
Marnie Riches is the author of the award-winning, best-selling George McKenzie series, starting with "The Girl Who Wouldn't Die", published in the UK by Avon/HarperCollins and special editions by The Word Factor-e in the US. She is also the author of best-selling, critically acclaimed Manchester gangland thrillers, "Born Bad" and "The Cover-Up" as featured in CBS documentary, "Written in Blood".
In her spare time, Marnie likes to spin, travel, drink and eat all the things (especially if combined with travel) paint portraits, sniff expensive leather shoes and renovate old houses. She also adores flowers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
March 2, 2026
Community gardening has never felt this unhinged, and frankly I’m obsessed with the audacity of it.
The Gardeners’ Club said cozy mystery and delivered exactly that, but also said, surprise, we’re unpacking grief, perimenopause, workplace misery, teenage chaos, and elderly mothers who weaponize passive aggression like it’s an Olympic sport. This is less “edge of your seat thriller” and more “group therapy with compost,” and I mean that with affection.
Gill Swanley is in her early forties, widowed, exhausted, juggling a call center job she loathes, a teenage son with ADHD who keeps veering toward disaster, and a mother who has Opinions about everything. She’s deep in that sandwich generation spiral where you’re everyone’s emotional support human and nobody’s. On her therapist’s advice, she joins the Bromley Botanists, because nothing says reclaiming your life like aggressively pruning begonias.
And then. There’s a body in the greenhouse.
The way this book handles the murder is so British it practically apologizes for the inconvenience. Yes, someone is dead. Yes, there may be sabotage from the rival Croydon gardening club. Yes, the Golden Trowel competition is suddenly high stakes because it comes with a shockingly massive prize involving land that could change everything. But the real drama is watching this ragtag group of gardeners, all with their own baggage, slowly bond over compost, suspicion, and mild chaos.
Valerie, the club leader, speaks like she swallowed a rulebook and a Bible verse at the same time. Mike is mid divorce and emotionally living in a shed. There’s a retired pensioner who swears like she’s auditioning for The Sopranos. A Dali moustached teacher providing occasional sanity. A Gen Z fashion forward club member who feels like she wandered in from a completely different Netflix show. And Gill, in the middle of it all, trying to figure out if she’s allowed to feel anything close to joy again after losing her husband.
That’s where this book actually got me.
Under the petty rivalries and slightly thin murder plot is a very honest look at what it feels like to move forward after grief. Gill’s guilt over even considering new romantic feelings is painfully relatable. The push and pull between duty and desire. The way she’s constantly calculating how to keep her son afloat while not drowning herself. It’s not flashy, but it’s real.
Now let’s talk audiobook, because Rachel Atkins absolutely understood the assignment. She leans into the humor without turning it into caricature, which is a delicate balance when you’ve got a cast this eccentric. Her voice for Gill feels age appropriate, grounded, a little tired but still sharp. She differentiates the characters well, even when the personalities are borderline cartoonish on the page. There were moments where the pacing felt a bit leisurely, but that almost fits the cozy vibe. You’re not sprinting through a dark alley. You’re sipping tea while side eyeing your neighbor’s suspicious petunias.
That said, if you come in expecting something twisty and explosive, you’re going to feel like you showed up to Knives Out and got The Great British Bake Off with a light dusting of homicide instead. The mystery resolves fairly quickly and isn’t the most intricate puzzle I’ve ever seen. The suspense never quite spikes into full blown obsession territory. I was entertained, not feral.
But here’s the thing. I cared.
I cared about Gill. I cared about her son. I cared about whether the Bromley Botanists would win the Golden Trowel. I was emotionally invested in compost politics, which feels like a sentence I should unpack in therapy.
This book is more about people than plot, more about community than crime. It’s about finding a sliver of yourself again in the mess of responsibility. It’s about realizing that maybe you’re allowed to want something that’s just yours. Even if that something involves aggressively judging rival gardeners and potentially solving a murder on the side.
Three and a half stars. Not life changing, not mind blowing, but genuinely charming and sneakily heartfelt. I’d absolutely hang out with these weirdos again.
Whodunity Award: For Making Competitive Gardening Feel Like a Blood Sport With Better Hydrangeas
And a huge thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ALC, for letting me experience murder, mulch, and mild British chaos straight through my headphones. Truly nothing says self care like folding laundry while listening to pensioners plot and possibly commit light horticultural crimes.
The Gardeners’ Club said cozy mystery and delivered exactly that, but also said, surprise, we’re unpacking grief, perimenopause, workplace misery, teenage chaos, and elderly mothers who weaponize passive aggression like it’s an Olympic sport. This is less “edge of your seat thriller” and more “group therapy with compost,” and I mean that with affection.
Gill Swanley is in her early forties, widowed, exhausted, juggling a call center job she loathes, a teenage son with ADHD who keeps veering toward disaster, and a mother who has Opinions about everything. She’s deep in that sandwich generation spiral where you’re everyone’s emotional support human and nobody’s. On her therapist’s advice, she joins the Bromley Botanists, because nothing says reclaiming your life like aggressively pruning begonias.
And then. There’s a body in the greenhouse.
The way this book handles the murder is so British it practically apologizes for the inconvenience. Yes, someone is dead. Yes, there may be sabotage from the rival Croydon gardening club. Yes, the Golden Trowel competition is suddenly high stakes because it comes with a shockingly massive prize involving land that could change everything. But the real drama is watching this ragtag group of gardeners, all with their own baggage, slowly bond over compost, suspicion, and mild chaos.
Valerie, the club leader, speaks like she swallowed a rulebook and a Bible verse at the same time. Mike is mid divorce and emotionally living in a shed. There’s a retired pensioner who swears like she’s auditioning for The Sopranos. A Dali moustached teacher providing occasional sanity. A Gen Z fashion forward club member who feels like she wandered in from a completely different Netflix show. And Gill, in the middle of it all, trying to figure out if she’s allowed to feel anything close to joy again after losing her husband.
That’s where this book actually got me.
Under the petty rivalries and slightly thin murder plot is a very honest look at what it feels like to move forward after grief. Gill’s guilt over even considering new romantic feelings is painfully relatable. The push and pull between duty and desire. The way she’s constantly calculating how to keep her son afloat while not drowning herself. It’s not flashy, but it’s real.
Now let’s talk audiobook, because Rachel Atkins absolutely understood the assignment. She leans into the humor without turning it into caricature, which is a delicate balance when you’ve got a cast this eccentric. Her voice for Gill feels age appropriate, grounded, a little tired but still sharp. She differentiates the characters well, even when the personalities are borderline cartoonish on the page. There were moments where the pacing felt a bit leisurely, but that almost fits the cozy vibe. You’re not sprinting through a dark alley. You’re sipping tea while side eyeing your neighbor’s suspicious petunias.
That said, if you come in expecting something twisty and explosive, you’re going to feel like you showed up to Knives Out and got The Great British Bake Off with a light dusting of homicide instead. The mystery resolves fairly quickly and isn’t the most intricate puzzle I’ve ever seen. The suspense never quite spikes into full blown obsession territory. I was entertained, not feral.
But here’s the thing. I cared.
I cared about Gill. I cared about her son. I cared about whether the Bromley Botanists would win the Golden Trowel. I was emotionally invested in compost politics, which feels like a sentence I should unpack in therapy.
This book is more about people than plot, more about community than crime. It’s about finding a sliver of yourself again in the mess of responsibility. It’s about realizing that maybe you’re allowed to want something that’s just yours. Even if that something involves aggressively judging rival gardeners and potentially solving a murder on the side.
Three and a half stars. Not life changing, not mind blowing, but genuinely charming and sneakily heartfelt. I’d absolutely hang out with these weirdos again.
Whodunity Award: For Making Competitive Gardening Feel Like a Blood Sport With Better Hydrangeas
And a huge thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ALC, for letting me experience murder, mulch, and mild British chaos straight through my headphones. Truly nothing says self care like folding laundry while listening to pensioners plot and possibly commit light horticultural crimes.
March 11, 2026
*Thank you to Dreamscape for a complimentary alc of the Gardeners’ Club. All opinions expressed are my own.*
The first time I chuckled while reading this, was the dedication. However, while I was amused several times during my time with the Gardeners’ Club, I felt like it wasn’t giving me what I was hoping for. While I was expecting a cozy murder mystery, and there was a murder, there really wasn’t much of a focus on the crime - but more on the lives of the gardening club members. For a murder mystery, it didn’t feel like a mystery at all.
The narration of the audio book grated at me a bit too, with the narrator clearly trying to set different voices for each character, but them all sounding similar and nasal. When someone is described as cheery, the narration sounded just as flat as when the same character is concerned or bored. It would’ve worked better if the narrator had simply stayed to one type of voice, for me at least.
If you want a whimsy book about a gardening club, this might be a good choice. It wasn’t my favourite, but I didn’t hate it either.
The first time I chuckled while reading this, was the dedication. However, while I was amused several times during my time with the Gardeners’ Club, I felt like it wasn’t giving me what I was hoping for. While I was expecting a cozy murder mystery, and there was a murder, there really wasn’t much of a focus on the crime - but more on the lives of the gardening club members. For a murder mystery, it didn’t feel like a mystery at all.
The narration of the audio book grated at me a bit too, with the narrator clearly trying to set different voices for each character, but them all sounding similar and nasal. When someone is described as cheery, the narration sounded just as flat as when the same character is concerned or bored. It would’ve worked better if the narrator had simply stayed to one type of voice, for me at least.
If you want a whimsy book about a gardening club, this might be a good choice. It wasn’t my favourite, but I didn’t hate it either.
November 18, 2025
Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it. The comparison with Richard Osman is a huge stretch. This book is not in that ilk at all.
It wasn’t a bad book. I finished it, so that was good. It wasn’t really a murder mystery. Sure. There was a murder, but the focus of the book was the lives of the members of the gardening club and that was fine, but if you’re looking for a proper murder mystery, this is not the book.
It is really a book about people. Read it from that perspective and you may love it.
It wasn’t a bad book. I finished it, so that was good. It wasn’t really a murder mystery. Sure. There was a murder, but the focus of the book was the lives of the members of the gardening club and that was fine, but if you’re looking for a proper murder mystery, this is not the book.
It is really a book about people. Read it from that perspective and you may love it.
March 5, 2026
Audiobook 4 stars!
Gardening Club + Great Cast of Characters + Murder Mystery + Cozy
I’m not a gardener but this book makes me want to get into gardening, but you can hold the murder part of it lol. This follows Gill who joins a community gardening club. There is a current competition going on to win a grand prize however one of the top donors to the prize is mysteriously murdered. After the police just pitter patter around and the case goes cold, Gill and the group of community gardeners take it upon themselves to become sleuths and solve the case.
This book touched on much more than the murder mystery though. It discussed aging parents and the responsibility and care that is needed to assist in end of life care. It also discusses neurodiversity and the testing of this in children who might be struggling in school.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and the whole fun cast of characters.
This book was sent to be from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Gardening Club + Great Cast of Characters + Murder Mystery + Cozy
I’m not a gardener but this book makes me want to get into gardening, but you can hold the murder part of it lol. This follows Gill who joins a community gardening club. There is a current competition going on to win a grand prize however one of the top donors to the prize is mysteriously murdered. After the police just pitter patter around and the case goes cold, Gill and the group of community gardeners take it upon themselves to become sleuths and solve the case.
This book touched on much more than the murder mystery though. It discussed aging parents and the responsibility and care that is needed to assist in end of life care. It also discusses neurodiversity and the testing of this in children who might be struggling in school.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and the whole fun cast of characters.
This book was sent to be from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 24, 2026
Sometimes you just need a cozy mystery.
And this one delivered!
Gill Swanley needs a hobby, and at her age she feels a gardening club might the perfect way to socialize and form a hobby,...right?
Wrong. When a dead body turns up in the community greenhouse, their victory at the community gardening club and achieving the coveted "Golden Trowel" seems less important.
I really enjoyed the ALC, the pacing and narration was perfect. I did have to listen at quicker speed than normal, but that was just preference.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and the author for an advanced listener copy of this!
And this one delivered!
Gill Swanley needs a hobby, and at her age she feels a gardening club might the perfect way to socialize and form a hobby,...right?
Wrong. When a dead body turns up in the community greenhouse, their victory at the community gardening club and achieving the coveted "Golden Trowel" seems less important.
I really enjoyed the ALC, the pacing and narration was perfect. I did have to listen at quicker speed than normal, but that was just preference.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and the author for an advanced listener copy of this!
April 24, 2025
This book was a revelation - not what I had expected at all.
I knew it was a cosy mystery but it was so much more. Full of human emotions and disparate characters brought together through The Gardener’s Club.
Add in a mischievous and sometimes down right naughty grandma and a son with his own neurodiverse issues and the book was set for a rollercoaster of some thrills and emotions.
I think it testament to Marnie Riches’ writing that Marjorie was so thoroughly unlikeable and annoying - I often felt that if she said ‘one does this that or the other’ one more time I would have cheerfully dealt with her myself. But still she had her foibles and liking for sherry to add into the mix.
There were also themes of constructive dismissal, employment issues and the runnings of an insurance call centre to put into the mix.
And Gill - a widow, mother and daughter - and how she coped with the loss of her husband but also her tentative feelings for another of the gardeners - and the guilt that she felt that she was letting her husband down.
Oh I almost forgot there was also murder and distinctly underhand behaviours from another gardening club. And insurance fraud.
Who would’ve thought there were such shenanigans in a simple gardening group.
Well written and a great read - kept me rapt right to the end. There seemed to be a lot of human conflict packed into this cosy mystery which I had not expected. I hope that perhaps there will be more adventures for Gill, her family and their new friends
I knew it was a cosy mystery but it was so much more. Full of human emotions and disparate characters brought together through The Gardener’s Club.
Add in a mischievous and sometimes down right naughty grandma and a son with his own neurodiverse issues and the book was set for a rollercoaster of some thrills and emotions.
I think it testament to Marnie Riches’ writing that Marjorie was so thoroughly unlikeable and annoying - I often felt that if she said ‘one does this that or the other’ one more time I would have cheerfully dealt with her myself. But still she had her foibles and liking for sherry to add into the mix.
There were also themes of constructive dismissal, employment issues and the runnings of an insurance call centre to put into the mix.
And Gill - a widow, mother and daughter - and how she coped with the loss of her husband but also her tentative feelings for another of the gardeners - and the guilt that she felt that she was letting her husband down.
Oh I almost forgot there was also murder and distinctly underhand behaviours from another gardening club. And insurance fraud.
Who would’ve thought there were such shenanigans in a simple gardening group.
Well written and a great read - kept me rapt right to the end. There seemed to be a lot of human conflict packed into this cosy mystery which I had not expected. I hope that perhaps there will be more adventures for Gill, her family and their new friends
May 3, 2025
Oh my word ... I can't put into adequate words how much I absolutely loved this book! I absolutely devoured it in quick time such was the quality of the story I was reading.
I'm not going to go into the story line as the blurb says it all but what I will say is that it's full of fantastic characters each of which are unique and 'special' in their own way but, equally, they could be your neighbour, work colleague or family member such is their relateability and how well they have been written and developed.
The story is much more than a cosy, murder-mystery; it's about life and everything that is thrown at us and gardening of course! I cannot rate this book highly enough and would recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Many thanks to the author, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this excellent book. This is the first in a new series and I can't wait for the next instalment to find out what is in store for The Bromley Botanists' Golden Trowel gardeners' club.
I'm not going to go into the story line as the blurb says it all but what I will say is that it's full of fantastic characters each of which are unique and 'special' in their own way but, equally, they could be your neighbour, work colleague or family member such is their relateability and how well they have been written and developed.
The story is much more than a cosy, murder-mystery; it's about life and everything that is thrown at us and gardening of course! I cannot rate this book highly enough and would recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Many thanks to the author, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this excellent book. This is the first in a new series and I can't wait for the next instalment to find out what is in store for The Bromley Botanists' Golden Trowel gardeners' club.
May 5, 2025
A lovely little cosy crime book which came along at just the right time for me as I was teetering on the verge of a reading slump. Its narrative style is one typical of a cosy genre fiction novel which would normally irritate me, but that doesn't stop it being well written and I was soon in the swing of it. The crime aspect is a little thin and quickly resolved, but that isn't the only thing going on and I was genuinely excited when the winner of the Golden Trowel was about to be announced. The characters are borderline caricatures, but again that didn't really matter as I was still drawn into their plights and foibles. An extra bonus for me was that the book is set in the town where I live, and I cheered inwardly when a place I know was mentioned. If this goes on to become a series I'll definitely be reading future instalments.
February 28, 2026
The Gardeners’ Club is a delightfully witty, sharply observed mystery that proves even the most wholesome hobbies can hide a few dark secrets.
When Gill Swanley joins the Bromley Botanists in an attempt to shake off a midlife slump, she’s expecting fresh air, friendly faces, and perhaps a shot at the coveted Golden Trowel. What she doesn’t expect is a dead body in the community greenhouse. From that moment on, the novel blossoms into an entertaining whodunnit filled with rivalry, suspicion, and more than a few thorny personalities.
Marnie Riches excels at creating a ragtag ensemble cast. The Bromley Botanists feel authentic and endearing; flawed, competitive, occasionally petty, but ultimately compelling. Their rivalry with Croydon adds a layer of playful tension that keeps the story buoyant even as the stakes rise. The humor is dry and distinctly British, offering sharp social commentary alongside the mystery.
The pacing is brisk, with plenty of twists to keep readers guessing. While comparisons to Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club may be tempting, The Gardeners’ Club stands comfortably on its own roots. Rather than leaning heavily into cosy charm, Riches injects her story with a slightly edgier tone and a keen eye for human folly. The result feels fresh and spirited rather than derivative.
At its heart, the novel is about reinvention, community, and the surprising resilience people discover when pushed out of their comfort zones. Gill’s journey from midlife malaise to amateur sleuth is both amusing and oddly empowering.
Clever, darkly funny, and full of blooming secrets, The Gardeners’ Club is an entertaining mystery that will appeal to readers who enjoy character-driven crime stories with a touch of irreverent humor. Just remember: in this greenhouse, not everything growing is green.
When Gill Swanley joins the Bromley Botanists in an attempt to shake off a midlife slump, she’s expecting fresh air, friendly faces, and perhaps a shot at the coveted Golden Trowel. What she doesn’t expect is a dead body in the community greenhouse. From that moment on, the novel blossoms into an entertaining whodunnit filled with rivalry, suspicion, and more than a few thorny personalities.
Marnie Riches excels at creating a ragtag ensemble cast. The Bromley Botanists feel authentic and endearing; flawed, competitive, occasionally petty, but ultimately compelling. Their rivalry with Croydon adds a layer of playful tension that keeps the story buoyant even as the stakes rise. The humor is dry and distinctly British, offering sharp social commentary alongside the mystery.
The pacing is brisk, with plenty of twists to keep readers guessing. While comparisons to Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club may be tempting, The Gardeners’ Club stands comfortably on its own roots. Rather than leaning heavily into cosy charm, Riches injects her story with a slightly edgier tone and a keen eye for human folly. The result feels fresh and spirited rather than derivative.
At its heart, the novel is about reinvention, community, and the surprising resilience people discover when pushed out of their comfort zones. Gill’s journey from midlife malaise to amateur sleuth is both amusing and oddly empowering.
Clever, darkly funny, and full of blooming secrets, The Gardeners’ Club is an entertaining mystery that will appeal to readers who enjoy character-driven crime stories with a touch of irreverent humor. Just remember: in this greenhouse, not everything growing is green.
March 2, 2026
A gardening club mystery where the relationships and family dynamics kept me just as hooked as the whodunit.
While I enjoyed sleuthing along with the main character, Gill, what really drew me in was Gill and her family and her growing bond with the members of her gardening club. It was motherhood, taking care of an elderly parent - the challenges were relatable. The group members were quirky characters, and their interactions felt genuine.
Gill was the type of character I would root for. The way she fought the moral dilemma of doing the right thing or keeping her job elevated this beyond just the mystery genre. I loved her as a mother - the way she supported her neurodivergent son was unparalleled.
Audio experience: I paired the book with the audiobook narrated by Rachel Atkins. She brought Gill's frustrations, hopes, and determination to life. She also did great voicing each of the other characters.
You'll love this if: You want cozy mysteries with genuine characters, family dynamics, and motherhood at the center alongside the whodunit.
Thanks to Pegasus Crime and NetGalley for the advance copies. All opinions are my own.
While I enjoyed sleuthing along with the main character, Gill, what really drew me in was Gill and her family and her growing bond with the members of her gardening club. It was motherhood, taking care of an elderly parent - the challenges were relatable. The group members were quirky characters, and their interactions felt genuine.
Gill was the type of character I would root for. The way she fought the moral dilemma of doing the right thing or keeping her job elevated this beyond just the mystery genre. I loved her as a mother - the way she supported her neurodivergent son was unparalleled.
Audio experience: I paired the book with the audiobook narrated by Rachel Atkins. She brought Gill's frustrations, hopes, and determination to life. She also did great voicing each of the other characters.
You'll love this if: You want cozy mysteries with genuine characters, family dynamics, and motherhood at the center alongside the whodunit.
Thanks to Pegasus Crime and NetGalley for the advance copies. All opinions are my own.
March 6, 2026
I am again late posting this review, but it is not because the book warrants a bad review, I simply forgot when the publishing date was. Which is definitely on me.
When I was deciding to request this book, what pushed me to go ahead with the request was a mix of reviews. I always wonder which side I will end up on, especially when it seems like something I might enjoy.
So, I gave this a chance and I'm glad I did. Was it a full five stars? No, but was it enjoyable and something I would absolutely read again, yes! And sometimes, those are the books I am looking for. Some of my all-time favorite 5-star books were one offs in the sense that I could not read it again.
Some of my favorite go-to books are 4-star books. I don't rate them 5 stars because they aren't that: they are not the cream of the crop and life changing. But that is my rating system.
After all of that, what I want to say about this book is this; it's enjoyable, funny, and a little unexpected. And at the end of the day, if it isn't the book for you- that is ok.
I want to thank Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced audio copy of this book. All my opinions are my own.
When I was deciding to request this book, what pushed me to go ahead with the request was a mix of reviews. I always wonder which side I will end up on, especially when it seems like something I might enjoy.
So, I gave this a chance and I'm glad I did. Was it a full five stars? No, but was it enjoyable and something I would absolutely read again, yes! And sometimes, those are the books I am looking for. Some of my all-time favorite 5-star books were one offs in the sense that I could not read it again.
Some of my favorite go-to books are 4-star books. I don't rate them 5 stars because they aren't that: they are not the cream of the crop and life changing. But that is my rating system.
After all of that, what I want to say about this book is this; it's enjoyable, funny, and a little unexpected. And at the end of the day, if it isn't the book for you- that is ok.
I want to thank Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced audio copy of this book. All my opinions are my own.
August 6, 2025
Read half of it and then skimmed the rest - it was super boring with unlikeable characters and a weak plot
June 14, 2025
More cosy than crime, but still good.
February 23, 2026
This charming, sweet novel is set in the UK in the world of competitive gardening clubs. The main character, Gill Swanley, is a widowed single mom, juggling care of teen, a horrible job, and a difficult and aging mother. Riches manages to find the humor in this situation, especially through texts from Gill’s teenaged son (the one where he can’t find the lasagna she left for him to heat up for dinner is a classic). Still, you feel for Gill. Her job seems especially soul crushing, as she’s in charge of a group of insurance call centers and is being asked to cull her workforce and find the slackers.
For respite, she decides to try joining a garden group – the Bromley Botanists. Her first meeting sounds a bit like an AA meeting with everyone sharing their feelings, but the main thrust of the discussion centers on the “Golden Trowel” award which the Botanists have never won and are determined to win in the coming year. Gill forms alliances and friendships with members of the group, and when she and Marjorie, the Queen Mum of the group, discover a dead body in the community greenhouse all heck breaks loose.
The dead woman turns out to have left a golf course she owns as the prize for the Golden Trowel. That ups the stakes immediately. While this is a mystery, with a murder at the nexus of the action, it’s more of an identity journey for Gill, who is coming to terms with being a widow, managing her cranky mom, figuring out how to deal with her boss, and dealing with her teenage son (who is really quite a nice kid).
The gardening parts make this book stand out. There’s pretty specific stuff about composting, dealing with bugs, starting seeds, planning a garden, etc. It’s the perfect winter’s read if you’re itching to get your hands back in the dirt of your garden. Gill is learning as the reader is (unless you are already an advanced garden expert). There’s a scene when one of the club members takes over Gill’s sad looking back garden and fixes up her compost pile. It’s a Cinderella gardening moment.
The relationships between members of the group – especially between Gill and the nerdy John, a fellow single parent – are what makes the book sing, as does Gill herself. The author keeps the detecting very strictly amateur and hands off, with Gill and John standing back to let their police do their work. While this is a more realistic approach to a murder investigation, for any lovers of the amateur sleuth out there, this will be a slight disappointment. What made it worthwhile was Gill’s journey – and the gardening!
For respite, she decides to try joining a garden group – the Bromley Botanists. Her first meeting sounds a bit like an AA meeting with everyone sharing their feelings, but the main thrust of the discussion centers on the “Golden Trowel” award which the Botanists have never won and are determined to win in the coming year. Gill forms alliances and friendships with members of the group, and when she and Marjorie, the Queen Mum of the group, discover a dead body in the community greenhouse all heck breaks loose.
The dead woman turns out to have left a golf course she owns as the prize for the Golden Trowel. That ups the stakes immediately. While this is a mystery, with a murder at the nexus of the action, it’s more of an identity journey for Gill, who is coming to terms with being a widow, managing her cranky mom, figuring out how to deal with her boss, and dealing with her teenage son (who is really quite a nice kid).
The gardening parts make this book stand out. There’s pretty specific stuff about composting, dealing with bugs, starting seeds, planning a garden, etc. It’s the perfect winter’s read if you’re itching to get your hands back in the dirt of your garden. Gill is learning as the reader is (unless you are already an advanced garden expert). There’s a scene when one of the club members takes over Gill’s sad looking back garden and fixes up her compost pile. It’s a Cinderella gardening moment.
The relationships between members of the group – especially between Gill and the nerdy John, a fellow single parent – are what makes the book sing, as does Gill herself. The author keeps the detecting very strictly amateur and hands off, with Gill and John standing back to let their police do their work. While this is a more realistic approach to a murder investigation, for any lovers of the amateur sleuth out there, this will be a slight disappointment. What made it worthwhile was Gill’s journey – and the gardening!
September 9, 2025
Book#29 for the year
This endearing book is one of a kind- a British murder mystery centered around a gardening theme. Meet Gillian (Gill)- a single mother who recently lost her husband and is a classic example of a sandwich generation woman. She works an insipid insurance call center supervisor job, has an ageing parent to care for and an A level son who has recently been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder. Her psychiatrist suggests her to take up a hobby to relax her mind. She joins the Bromley Botanists club, a motley group of experienced and budding gardeners from different backgrounds and walks of life. The club is competing for the coveted Golden Trowel award, which comes with a grand prize this year and is hotly contested between many other gardening clubs in England. As the competition progresses, there is a murder of one of the other club members and consistent efforts to sabotage the chances of Bromley winning the award. How Gill and her co club members solve the mystery is narrated in the most interesting manner. It would be very hard to not like the characters whom you come across in the story -
the prim and proper religious Valerie who quotes bible at the drop of a hat and uses the word ‘one’ instead of personal pronouns (‘one has contested many times in the past…), she is the club leader
Mike the potato head, who is going through a bitter divorce, having been thrown out of his house, he is the pro compost maker (he calls it the Berisford black gold), town planner and the deputy chief of the gardening club.
Valerie who swears by the minute, a retired pensioner who cares a damn about rules or social etiquettes
Seth, the bright boy who works in a construction firm to foot his moms medical bills but wants to become a medical cannabis farmer
Cath, the overworked GP doctor who struggles to come to terms with the loss she has faced in her life
Neil, the Dali moustached teacher and the voice of sanity in the group
Phoebe, the chic smart Gen Z kid who brings in fresh perspective on things..
The fast paced narration, the uncovering of the murder plot and the ultimate reveal makes this book unputdownable. The way the author has woven in the gardening trivia into the course of the story deserves a special mention. The book is not just about how the club ultimately wins the grand prize, but is also about how they earn friends for life along the way.
This endearing book is one of a kind- a British murder mystery centered around a gardening theme. Meet Gillian (Gill)- a single mother who recently lost her husband and is a classic example of a sandwich generation woman. She works an insipid insurance call center supervisor job, has an ageing parent to care for and an A level son who has recently been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder. Her psychiatrist suggests her to take up a hobby to relax her mind. She joins the Bromley Botanists club, a motley group of experienced and budding gardeners from different backgrounds and walks of life. The club is competing for the coveted Golden Trowel award, which comes with a grand prize this year and is hotly contested between many other gardening clubs in England. As the competition progresses, there is a murder of one of the other club members and consistent efforts to sabotage the chances of Bromley winning the award. How Gill and her co club members solve the mystery is narrated in the most interesting manner. It would be very hard to not like the characters whom you come across in the story -
the prim and proper religious Valerie who quotes bible at the drop of a hat and uses the word ‘one’ instead of personal pronouns (‘one has contested many times in the past…), she is the club leader
Mike the potato head, who is going through a bitter divorce, having been thrown out of his house, he is the pro compost maker (he calls it the Berisford black gold), town planner and the deputy chief of the gardening club.
Valerie who swears by the minute, a retired pensioner who cares a damn about rules or social etiquettes
Seth, the bright boy who works in a construction firm to foot his moms medical bills but wants to become a medical cannabis farmer
Cath, the overworked GP doctor who struggles to come to terms with the loss she has faced in her life
Neil, the Dali moustached teacher and the voice of sanity in the group
Phoebe, the chic smart Gen Z kid who brings in fresh perspective on things..
The fast paced narration, the uncovering of the murder plot and the ultimate reveal makes this book unputdownable. The way the author has woven in the gardening trivia into the course of the story deserves a special mention. The book is not just about how the club ultimately wins the grand prize, but is also about how they earn friends for life along the way.
March 9, 2026
First of all, thank you to **NetGalley and Dreamscape Media** for the advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
If you like your mysteries a little cozy, a little quirky, and sprinkled with humor, The Gardners’ Club is such a fun listen.
Gill Swanley is dealing with a bit of midlife malaise and decides the solution is simple: take up gardening. So she joins the Bromley Botanists, a small community gardening club whose biggest goal in life is winning the coveted **Golden Trowel** for best community club of the year.
But things escalate quickly when a dead body turns up in the community greenhouse… and suddenly the group has a lot more to worry about than flower beds and bragging rights.
This is very much the kind of cozy mystery where the charm comes from the characters as much as the mystery. The Bromley Botanists are a delightfully ragtag group, and I loved getting to know them as they tried to dig up the truth (literally and figuratively). Gill is a great lead—relatable, a little dry, and easy to root for—and her mum’s sassy humor added some great moments throughout.
The mystery itself keeps the story moving, but what really makes the book shine is the warm, slightly cheeky tone. It’s the kind of story that makes you feel like you’ve joined the club yourself.
And the audiobook narration by Rachel Atkins was fantastic. She brought the characters to life beautifully and really leaned into the humor and personality of the story. Her delivery made the dialogue especially fun and helped the cozy vibe come through perfectly.
Overall, The Gardners’ Club is a charming, lighthearted cozy mystery with lovable characters, a dash of humor, and just enough intrigue to keep you listening. Perfect for fans of character-driven mysteries and anyone who enjoys a good whodunit with a cup of tea nearby.
I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from Marnie Riches.
If you like your mysteries a little cozy, a little quirky, and sprinkled with humor, The Gardners’ Club is such a fun listen.
Gill Swanley is dealing with a bit of midlife malaise and decides the solution is simple: take up gardening. So she joins the Bromley Botanists, a small community gardening club whose biggest goal in life is winning the coveted **Golden Trowel** for best community club of the year.
But things escalate quickly when a dead body turns up in the community greenhouse… and suddenly the group has a lot more to worry about than flower beds and bragging rights.
This is very much the kind of cozy mystery where the charm comes from the characters as much as the mystery. The Bromley Botanists are a delightfully ragtag group, and I loved getting to know them as they tried to dig up the truth (literally and figuratively). Gill is a great lead—relatable, a little dry, and easy to root for—and her mum’s sassy humor added some great moments throughout.
The mystery itself keeps the story moving, but what really makes the book shine is the warm, slightly cheeky tone. It’s the kind of story that makes you feel like you’ve joined the club yourself.
And the audiobook narration by Rachel Atkins was fantastic. She brought the characters to life beautifully and really leaned into the humor and personality of the story. Her delivery made the dialogue especially fun and helped the cozy vibe come through perfectly.
Overall, The Gardners’ Club is a charming, lighthearted cozy mystery with lovable characters, a dash of humor, and just enough intrigue to keep you listening. Perfect for fans of character-driven mysteries and anyone who enjoys a good whodunit with a cup of tea nearby.
I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from Marnie Riches.
March 2, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ | A cozy mystery that will delight gardeners and mystery lovers alike 🌿
💭 What happens when a group of eccentric gardeners compete for the coveted Golden Trowel?
The Gardeners’ Club by Marnie Riches is a charming and humorous cozy mystery set in the world of competitive gardening, and what a joy it is!
🌱 As someone who has spent years as a professional gardener (and now misses it dearly as an apartment dweller), I found this audiobook especially delightful.
📚 Our protagonist, Gill (pronounced Jill) Swanley, is a widowed mother encouraged by her therapist--“Mandi with an I”--to join a club to shake off her malaise. Enter the Bromley Botanists, a wonderfully eccentric group of gardening enthusiasts.
🌿 And let’s be honest--gardeners can be delightfully eccentric. I say that with love!
🎧 Narrator Rachel Atkins does a superb job, bringing each character to life with distinct voices and personality.
✨ The story begins at a slower pace, but by Chapter 5, Marnie Riches’ clever writing truly takes root, and the story blossoms into something thoroughly entertaining.
😂 The humor is a highlight:
“Comfort botanicals” that turn out to belong to the Cannabaceae family
A secret recipe for “liquid gold” compost
And a memorable character named Dave Potato!
💚 There’s even a touching thread involving a young man cultivating plants for his mother battling cancer, adding depth to the story.
🌼 A delightful blend of cozy mystery, humor, and heart.
Highly recommended for gardening enthusiasts and fans of cozy mysteries.
I appreciate Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for providing an advance audio copy. Expected publishing date is March 3, 2026.
💭 What happens when a group of eccentric gardeners compete for the coveted Golden Trowel?
The Gardeners’ Club by Marnie Riches is a charming and humorous cozy mystery set in the world of competitive gardening, and what a joy it is!
🌱 As someone who has spent years as a professional gardener (and now misses it dearly as an apartment dweller), I found this audiobook especially delightful.
📚 Our protagonist, Gill (pronounced Jill) Swanley, is a widowed mother encouraged by her therapist--“Mandi with an I”--to join a club to shake off her malaise. Enter the Bromley Botanists, a wonderfully eccentric group of gardening enthusiasts.
🌿 And let’s be honest--gardeners can be delightfully eccentric. I say that with love!
🎧 Narrator Rachel Atkins does a superb job, bringing each character to life with distinct voices and personality.
✨ The story begins at a slower pace, but by Chapter 5, Marnie Riches’ clever writing truly takes root, and the story blossoms into something thoroughly entertaining.
😂 The humor is a highlight:
“Comfort botanicals” that turn out to belong to the Cannabaceae family
A secret recipe for “liquid gold” compost
And a memorable character named Dave Potato!
💚 There’s even a touching thread involving a young man cultivating plants for his mother battling cancer, adding depth to the story.
🌼 A delightful blend of cozy mystery, humor, and heart.
Highly recommended for gardening enthusiasts and fans of cozy mysteries.
I appreciate Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for providing an advance audio copy. Expected publishing date is March 3, 2026.
March 4, 2026
Received an audiobook arc from Dreamscape Media and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
narrator: female narrator, first pov
speed 1.75-2.0x
Gill is a middle aged widow with a teenage son in the UK. During her mid life crisis and to do something since her husband's death, she joined a gardening club. The gardening club is full of a variety of people wanting to win the Golden Trovel. When an older member died, could it be a murder instead of natural causes?
The narrator did a great job conveying a middle aged British woman at her wit's ends. she is struggling with work, her son approaching his A levels, her sick mom so she wanted to join a gardening club to destress. Then a murder happened and bam, it consumes her whole life. I was listening to her thoughts and I'm like girl you have too much going on to solve a murder.
I'm used to a gardener murder mystery such as The Gardener Mysteries and the show
Grosse Pointe Garden Society. I was just expecting more about plants being the murder weapon or the gardening clubs going murder crazy to win the award. I was just bored the whole time.
While we got a lot of her everyday life, I felt the murder was an afterthought since she had so much going on. I felt no suspense at all. I kinda forgot how the first person died half way through the book. I think cozy murder mysteries about gardening are popping up, I can't help but compare it to other series, at least we go through different suspects. I felt Gill has no skin in the game like she can just quit the club and focus on her work and family with no consequence.
Overall, I didn't hate the book. I thought it was ok. I just feel like there are better gardening murder mystery series out there hence the 3/5 stars.
narrator: female narrator, first pov
speed 1.75-2.0x
Gill is a middle aged widow with a teenage son in the UK. During her mid life crisis and to do something since her husband's death, she joined a gardening club. The gardening club is full of a variety of people wanting to win the Golden Trovel. When an older member died, could it be a murder instead of natural causes?
The narrator did a great job conveying a middle aged British woman at her wit's ends. she is struggling with work, her son approaching his A levels, her sick mom so she wanted to join a gardening club to destress. Then a murder happened and bam, it consumes her whole life. I was listening to her thoughts and I'm like girl you have too much going on to solve a murder.
I'm used to a gardener murder mystery such as The Gardener Mysteries and the show
Grosse Pointe Garden Society. I was just expecting more about plants being the murder weapon or the gardening clubs going murder crazy to win the award. I was just bored the whole time.
While we got a lot of her everyday life, I felt the murder was an afterthought since she had so much going on. I felt no suspense at all. I kinda forgot how the first person died half way through the book. I think cozy murder mysteries about gardening are popping up, I can't help but compare it to other series, at least we go through different suspects. I felt Gill has no skin in the game like she can just quit the club and focus on her work and family with no consequence.
Overall, I didn't hate the book. I thought it was ok. I just feel like there are better gardening murder mystery series out there hence the 3/5 stars.
February 19, 2026
Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC listen of this book for my honest opinion and review.
What initially drew me to this book was the expectation of a gripping murder mystery, complete with intricate plotting, high stakes, and perhaps a darker psychological edge. However, the reality was a notably different experience, as the novel leaned much more toward the gentle charm and familiar structure of a cozy crime novel. This genre shift wasn't necessarily a flaw, but it did alter the overall reading experience from what I had anticipated.
My engagement with the narrative was unfortunately sporadic. It took a considerable amount of time, well into the first third of the book, before I felt any real connection to the characters or the central puzzle. Even as the plot progressed toward the climactic reveal, I found my attention wavering. The pacing often felt a little too slow, and the level of suspense—a key element I look for in crime fiction—never quite escalated enough to fully capture my focus and draw me completely into the unfolding events.
Despite my personal lukewarm reaction and the struggle I had in fully immersing myself in the story, I recognize that my taste is just one of many. While I didn't find this particular blend of gentle crime and character focus entirely compelling, I am confident that there is a significant audience for it. Readers who specifically seek out the low-stakes, comforting atmosphere, and community-centric nature of the cozy crime genre, and who enjoy a less intense, more character-driven mystery, are very likely to find a great deal of enjoyment in this novel.
What initially drew me to this book was the expectation of a gripping murder mystery, complete with intricate plotting, high stakes, and perhaps a darker psychological edge. However, the reality was a notably different experience, as the novel leaned much more toward the gentle charm and familiar structure of a cozy crime novel. This genre shift wasn't necessarily a flaw, but it did alter the overall reading experience from what I had anticipated.
My engagement with the narrative was unfortunately sporadic. It took a considerable amount of time, well into the first third of the book, before I felt any real connection to the characters or the central puzzle. Even as the plot progressed toward the climactic reveal, I found my attention wavering. The pacing often felt a little too slow, and the level of suspense—a key element I look for in crime fiction—never quite escalated enough to fully capture my focus and draw me completely into the unfolding events.
Despite my personal lukewarm reaction and the struggle I had in fully immersing myself in the story, I recognize that my taste is just one of many. While I didn't find this particular blend of gentle crime and character focus entirely compelling, I am confident that there is a significant audience for it. Readers who specifically seek out the low-stakes, comforting atmosphere, and community-centric nature of the cozy crime genre, and who enjoy a less intense, more character-driven mystery, are very likely to find a great deal of enjoyment in this novel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The story of Gill and the Bromley Botanists gardening club is not quite what one might expect (channeling character Margorie). This is more of a story of the members of a gardener’s club fighting through a myriad of life’s challenges to create beauty through plants. Along the way, a murder happens.
Throughout the story, we are given peeks into the lives of the Bromley Botanists’ lives through Gill’s eyes. In the past, they may have been deemed a group of misfits. Their varied backgrounds, ages, and life challenges meld and bring them together as an unlikely group.
Gill, a widow with a 17-year-old son, has so many life challenges that she feels guilty doing something for herself. I don’t read many coming-of-age stories, so I am not sure if that categorization applies here, but that’s what it felt like in reading/listening to this story. Gill is working to move past her grief at the passing of her husband 10 years earlier. She’s got work pressure, concern about her son, who’s struggling in school, and a mom she’s caring for.
With the urging of her son (love their relationship) and her therapist, Gill joins the gardening club. Along the way, each of them changes, and the group itself changes. There are many life lessons mixed in, some very subtly that if you blink, you might miss them, and others that stand up proudly. There is also the reminder of not judging a book by its cover, as Gill finds out firsthand when she gets to know one of the younger club members.
If you are looking for a cozy mystery, not sure this is it. Yes, there was a murder, and yes, the club did some digging into it, but the story was more about the club and the club members’ personal growth. Maybe because of this, the story might feel like it has a slow pace.
Overall, I enjoyed the story once I got passed it was less of a cozy mystery. It is listed as a novel, but it could easily be a series.
Thank you, #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia, for the opportunity to listen and share my thoughts.
Happy Reading!
Throughout the story, we are given peeks into the lives of the Bromley Botanists’ lives through Gill’s eyes. In the past, they may have been deemed a group of misfits. Their varied backgrounds, ages, and life challenges meld and bring them together as an unlikely group.
Gill, a widow with a 17-year-old son, has so many life challenges that she feels guilty doing something for herself. I don’t read many coming-of-age stories, so I am not sure if that categorization applies here, but that’s what it felt like in reading/listening to this story. Gill is working to move past her grief at the passing of her husband 10 years earlier. She’s got work pressure, concern about her son, who’s struggling in school, and a mom she’s caring for.
With the urging of her son (love their relationship) and her therapist, Gill joins the gardening club. Along the way, each of them changes, and the group itself changes. There are many life lessons mixed in, some very subtly that if you blink, you might miss them, and others that stand up proudly. There is also the reminder of not judging a book by its cover, as Gill finds out firsthand when she gets to know one of the younger club members.
If you are looking for a cozy mystery, not sure this is it. Yes, there was a murder, and yes, the club did some digging into it, but the story was more about the club and the club members’ personal growth. Maybe because of this, the story might feel like it has a slow pace.
Overall, I enjoyed the story once I got passed it was less of a cozy mystery. It is listed as a novel, but it could easily be a series.
Thank you, #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia, for the opportunity to listen and share my thoughts.
Happy Reading!
April 1, 2025
This is a light hearted romp of a cosy mystery with some delightful characters and a gardening theme.
I know little about gardening but I still enjoyed this story, mainly due to the wonderful characterisations. If you are an avid gardener I’m sure you will derive even more from the book.
Gill Swanley is a widowed single mother of a teenage boy with an elderly mother and a job she hates. One of the in between generation scrabbling to keep everything together.
On the advice of her therapist she joins the local gardening club to calm her anxiety and get out of the house occasionally.
The club consists of a motley group of people, both young and old and as she begins to get to know them, Gill finds she’s actually enjoying her new hobby. However when she discovers a dead body and suspects foul play, she decides it must be connected to the gardening, particularly when some strange things start happening to the members of the club.
This is not just a murder mystery or a book about gardening, it is also a story about real people and their lives. Many people will relate to difficulties with elderly relatives and problems with teenagers. This is also a book about overcoming grief and moving on.
The murder mystery element is enjoyable but probably not the central point of the book.
I definitely enjoyed “The Gardeners’Club and would recommend it as a five star read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy,
I know little about gardening but I still enjoyed this story, mainly due to the wonderful characterisations. If you are an avid gardener I’m sure you will derive even more from the book.
Gill Swanley is a widowed single mother of a teenage boy with an elderly mother and a job she hates. One of the in between generation scrabbling to keep everything together.
On the advice of her therapist she joins the local gardening club to calm her anxiety and get out of the house occasionally.
The club consists of a motley group of people, both young and old and as she begins to get to know them, Gill finds she’s actually enjoying her new hobby. However when she discovers a dead body and suspects foul play, she decides it must be connected to the gardening, particularly when some strange things start happening to the members of the club.
This is not just a murder mystery or a book about gardening, it is also a story about real people and their lives. Many people will relate to difficulties with elderly relatives and problems with teenagers. This is also a book about overcoming grief and moving on.
The murder mystery element is enjoyable but probably not the central point of the book.
I definitely enjoyed “The Gardeners’Club and would recommend it as a five star read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy,
March 1, 2026
This review is for The Gardeners’ Club: The Novel by Marnie Riches. Audiobook narrated by Rachel Atkins.
I knew I was going to like this author when I heard the dedication. I found Gill Swanley relatable when she mentioned killing cacti. 10 years after her husband‘s death, Gill is in a rut, and at the recommendation of both her therapist and her teenage son, she’s giving a go at joining the Bromley Botanists. She found that it’s a small group of very different individuals who all have the same interest in gardening and winning the Golden Trowel award. Murder and vandalism follow and the group decides to do a bit of investigating. Gill fits that in while working a thankless job, having a cantankerous elderly mother, and a teenage son who is struggling with school. There is so much going on in the story and I just couldn’t stop listening. These characters seem so realistic and I liked that once Gill got to know them, she realized that people aren’t always what they appear to be. I love how this group came together and I found myself missing them once the book was done. I would’ve loved for this to be a series to see how things go for them. The narrator did an excellent job. There were a number of character and it was easy to tell the characters apart.
Thank you to the author, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the Advanced Listener Copy (ALC) of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I knew I was going to like this author when I heard the dedication. I found Gill Swanley relatable when she mentioned killing cacti. 10 years after her husband‘s death, Gill is in a rut, and at the recommendation of both her therapist and her teenage son, she’s giving a go at joining the Bromley Botanists. She found that it’s a small group of very different individuals who all have the same interest in gardening and winning the Golden Trowel award. Murder and vandalism follow and the group decides to do a bit of investigating. Gill fits that in while working a thankless job, having a cantankerous elderly mother, and a teenage son who is struggling with school. There is so much going on in the story and I just couldn’t stop listening. These characters seem so realistic and I liked that once Gill got to know them, she realized that people aren’t always what they appear to be. I love how this group came together and I found myself missing them once the book was done. I would’ve loved for this to be a series to see how things go for them. The narrator did an excellent job. There were a number of character and it was easy to tell the characters apart.
Thank you to the author, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the Advanced Listener Copy (ALC) of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
March 8, 2026
Gill Swanley is at a crossroads in her life. Her husband died 10 years ago, she dislikes her job, her son is struggling at school, and her mother, well, her mother is tough. Gill's therapist suggests she tries doing something for herself, so she joins the local gardening group. She almost doesn't attend her first meeting as she is feeling overwhelmed, but she makes it in. The group is an eclectic bunch. Various ages, skills, and personalities all coming together to make their community more beautiful, and win a contest. But a dead body appears. A very important person in the gardening community who was offering the high-stakes prize. As the group begins making progress with their gardening and the murder, someone, or a group of someones, is tampering with their success and their lives.
It took me a little while to become invested in this story, but once I did I was glad I stuck with it. The characters are a lovable, motley bunch who really come through to support each other. I did feel like there was a lot going on in the story - midlife crisis, lousy job, school struggle, tough parent, mourning spouse. If this is the first book in a series, then all of these various components make sense to set the stage. If it is a standalone if felt like a lot to begin with, but ended up coming together in the end. A worthy read for any cozy mystery lover.
Thank you #NetGalley for the ALC
It took me a little while to become invested in this story, but once I did I was glad I stuck with it. The characters are a lovable, motley bunch who really come through to support each other. I did feel like there was a lot going on in the story - midlife crisis, lousy job, school struggle, tough parent, mourning spouse. If this is the first book in a series, then all of these various components make sense to set the stage. If it is a standalone if felt like a lot to begin with, but ended up coming together in the end. A worthy read for any cozy mystery lover.
Thank you #NetGalley for the ALC
September 16, 2025
The Gardeners Club by Marnie Riches is exactly the sort of cosy mystery I love to curl up with. It has a steady, welcoming pace that makes you want to settle in with a cuppa and let the story unfold.
The cast of characters is such a mixed bunch, and that’s what makes them so much fun. They’re quirky, funny, and a little flawed—which, to me, makes them all the more real. I even found myself adoring Gil’s mother, who brought such sass and humour to the story.
At its heart, this book is about friendship and jealousy, but what I really enjoyed was how the plot meandered gently through the wilderness of everyday life. We see people turning up to their day jobs, joining in their hobbies, and living their lives, and the mystery itself almost feels secondary at times. Normally that might frustrate me in a whodunnit, but here it works beautifully. The characters are so well-rounded and engaging that I didn’t mind one bit—it made me feel like part of their little world.
I really enjoyed The Gardeners Club. It’s a cosy mystery that doesn’t rely on shock twists or frantic pacing, but instead charms you with its colourful characters and gentle storytelling. If you like your mysteries light, character-driven, and full of heart, then this one will be right up your street.
The cast of characters is such a mixed bunch, and that’s what makes them so much fun. They’re quirky, funny, and a little flawed—which, to me, makes them all the more real. I even found myself adoring Gil’s mother, who brought such sass and humour to the story.
At its heart, this book is about friendship and jealousy, but what I really enjoyed was how the plot meandered gently through the wilderness of everyday life. We see people turning up to their day jobs, joining in their hobbies, and living their lives, and the mystery itself almost feels secondary at times. Normally that might frustrate me in a whodunnit, but here it works beautifully. The characters are so well-rounded and engaging that I didn’t mind one bit—it made me feel like part of their little world.
I really enjoyed The Gardeners Club. It’s a cosy mystery that doesn’t rely on shock twists or frantic pacing, but instead charms you with its colourful characters and gentle storytelling. If you like your mysteries light, character-driven, and full of heart, then this one will be right up your street.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I did enjoy this book. However there was a lot going on that was not connected to the murder or even to the investigation but it was the reason for Jill joining the gardening group in the first place, so did sort of have relevance and wasn't just fleshing out the story. It also gave you an insight into this very character driven story and the changes and growth the main character went through from how she started at the beginning of the book. I liked the gardening group and should I say they grew on you the more you got to know them. The murder was wrapped up in Gill's home life drama and the sabotaging but I liked the way the gardeners came together to investigate. I would join them again.
Gill is stuck in a job she hates but needs as a single mother, with an elderly mother who's health and attitude is failing, a teenage son who easily gets distracted and is in trouble at school. She needs something for her and decided to join a community gardening group to get away from it all for a few hours. Instead her life gets even more complicated. She joins the Bromley Botanists just as the annual Golden Trowel contest begins for best community club of the year and when they decide to check out the competitions plans they stumbled over a dead body. Now the stakes are even higher, the prize left to the competition from the dead woman is a golf course which the winners need to turn into a garden to sell flowers. When one of there own is targeted the Bromley Botanists worry that someone will stop at nothing to get the prize. Can Gill survive the Gardening club in order to take care of her family and will the prize? Or will the sabotage deadly? If it hasn't already.
I liked the narrator. She grows on you and is actually pretty good as providing different voices for the characters.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Gill is stuck in a job she hates but needs as a single mother, with an elderly mother who's health and attitude is failing, a teenage son who easily gets distracted and is in trouble at school. She needs something for her and decided to join a community gardening group to get away from it all for a few hours. Instead her life gets even more complicated. She joins the Bromley Botanists just as the annual Golden Trowel contest begins for best community club of the year and when they decide to check out the competitions plans they stumbled over a dead body. Now the stakes are even higher, the prize left to the competition from the dead woman is a golf course which the winners need to turn into a garden to sell flowers. When one of there own is targeted the Bromley Botanists worry that someone will stop at nothing to get the prize. Can Gill survive the Gardening club in order to take care of her family and will the prize? Or will the sabotage deadly? If it hasn't already.
I liked the narrator. She grows on you and is actually pretty good as providing different voices for the characters.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
March 5, 2026
This was a cute low stakes story about a woman who is burnt out and looking for self growth. After dealing with a teenage son who has a learning disability and a aging mother with multiple health issues Gill is burnt out and struggling to get by. And man do I understand that feeling.
She decides her best course of action is to join a once a week gardening club. Unfortunately somebody in the gardening club gets murdered. Not really the cozy relaxing hobby she was looking for.
This is really more of a human story than a murder mystery. It was really uplifting and heartwarming but wasn't really so much on the mystery aspect. And if you know that going in I think you'd appreciate it more.
I think the narrator did a fantastic job at the different voices. You could really feel Gill's pain and her emotions very clearly through the narration. I laughed out loud at certain points it's a cute story and it has a happy ending. Sometimes you just need a cup of hot chocolate and not a cup of coffee and that's what this was.
Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this advance copy of this audiobook.
She decides her best course of action is to join a once a week gardening club. Unfortunately somebody in the gardening club gets murdered. Not really the cozy relaxing hobby she was looking for.
This is really more of a human story than a murder mystery. It was really uplifting and heartwarming but wasn't really so much on the mystery aspect. And if you know that going in I think you'd appreciate it more.
I think the narrator did a fantastic job at the different voices. You could really feel Gill's pain and her emotions very clearly through the narration. I laughed out loud at certain points it's a cute story and it has a happy ending. Sometimes you just need a cup of hot chocolate and not a cup of coffee and that's what this was.
Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this advance copy of this audiobook.
March 2, 2026
This is such a fun whodunnit involving a group of amateur British gardeners!
Gill is a widow and single mom to her 17-year-old son, who needs a midlife pick-me-up. After finding an advert in the paper, she decides to join the local gardening club, the Bromley Botanists. The group is made up of such an unlikely bunch who are out to win the coveted Golden Trowel award for best community garden of the year.
When the group discovers the body of a rival garden club member, they exchange their garden tools for detective gear and try to connect the dots.
What a fun adventure! This book is a perfect cozy mystery with characters you just want to root for. They are such a random group of people who come together over their love of gardening and protecting their community. I really enjoyed both the mystery component and the glimpses into their lives and the growth they experience through the gardening club. It really is a great book.
I really enjoyed listening to this ALC - very well narrated! Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC!
Gill is a widow and single mom to her 17-year-old son, who needs a midlife pick-me-up. After finding an advert in the paper, she decides to join the local gardening club, the Bromley Botanists. The group is made up of such an unlikely bunch who are out to win the coveted Golden Trowel award for best community garden of the year.
When the group discovers the body of a rival garden club member, they exchange their garden tools for detective gear and try to connect the dots.
What a fun adventure! This book is a perfect cozy mystery with characters you just want to root for. They are such a random group of people who come together over their love of gardening and protecting their community. I really enjoyed both the mystery component and the glimpses into their lives and the growth they experience through the gardening club. It really is a great book.
I really enjoyed listening to this ALC - very well narrated! Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC!
March 10, 2026
On its surface, The Gardener's Club is a cozy mystery about a middle-aged single mother who starts a new hobby and solves a murder. At its core, though, this book is a heart-warming work of literary fiction about grief and friendship and family and growth.
Gill Swanley is battling a stagnant job she hates, a cantankerous aging mother, her son's new struggles with school, and the hot flashes of perimenopause. At the urging of her therapist, Gill joins a local gardening club. The club is made up of a multi-generational group of loveable misfits with a variety of unique personalities. In the course of her new club's business, Gill discovers the unfortunate and suspicious death of and elderly television personality. What follows is a cozy mystery in the vein of The Thursday Murder Club.
I laughed, I cried, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Bromley Golden Trowel Gardening Society. The audio narrator is fantastic and brings each charger to life beautifully.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the Audio ARC
Gill Swanley is battling a stagnant job she hates, a cantankerous aging mother, her son's new struggles with school, and the hot flashes of perimenopause. At the urging of her therapist, Gill joins a local gardening club. The club is made up of a multi-generational group of loveable misfits with a variety of unique personalities. In the course of her new club's business, Gill discovers the unfortunate and suspicious death of and elderly television personality. What follows is a cozy mystery in the vein of The Thursday Murder Club.
I laughed, I cried, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Bromley Golden Trowel Gardening Society. The audio narrator is fantastic and brings each charger to life beautifully.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the Audio ARC
March 5, 2026
The Gardeners' Club by Marnie Riches was such a fun mystery to get pulled into. The whole concept of a group digging into a murder gives it that cozy-but-clever vibe, but there are still plenty of twists and intrigue to keep things interesting.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator was wonderfully hilarious and just got it. The timing, tone, and personality in the narration added so much to the story and really brought the humor and character dynamics to life.
The characters themselves were what really made this one shine for me. Their personalities and interactions kept the mystery feeling lively and entertaining the whole way through.
Overall, it’s just a really enjoyable whodunit. If you like mysteries with humor, strong characters, and a great audiobook performance, this one is definitely worth the listen.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Marnie Riches for this ALC!
#NetGalley #TheGardenersClub
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator was wonderfully hilarious and just got it. The timing, tone, and personality in the narration added so much to the story and really brought the humor and character dynamics to life.
The characters themselves were what really made this one shine for me. Their personalities and interactions kept the mystery feeling lively and entertaining the whole way through.
Overall, it’s just a really enjoyable whodunit. If you like mysteries with humor, strong characters, and a great audiobook performance, this one is definitely worth the listen.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Marnie Riches for this ALC!
#NetGalley #TheGardenersClub
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