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Garden Girl
Gordie MacLean, a 53-year-old bachelor detective is content minding his own patch of Cape Breton Island with its rugged coastal landscape and low crime rate. When the remains of a missing person are discovered though, he’s in the right place at the right time to be lead on the case. MacLean battles his sergeant’s scorn and his own demons to prove that he can hunt down the killer; a killer who will stop at nothing to protect their long-buried secrets.
For fans of P.D. James, this book brings a classic police procedural to life, with a Canadian flavour.
For fans of P.D. James, this book brings a classic police procedural to life, with a Canadian flavour.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 12, 2021
19 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Renny deGroot
14 books31 followersRenny deGroot was born in Nova Scotia, Canada, a first-generation Canadian of Dutch parents.
Her novels have been shortlisted for the Kobo Emerging Writer Prize and a Whistler Independent Book Award. They have been awarded several readers’ awards from the U.K., Canada, and the U.S. She has published mystery, historical fiction, short stories and non-fiction
Renny has a BA in English Literature from Trent University and studied creative writing at Ryerson University.
She lives in rural Ontario with her Great Pyrenees and Golden Retriever, and vacations at her cottage in Nova Scotia.
Her novels have been shortlisted for the Kobo Emerging Writer Prize and a Whistler Independent Book Award. They have been awarded several readers’ awards from the U.K., Canada, and the U.S. She has published mystery, historical fiction, short stories and non-fiction
Renny has a BA in English Literature from Trent University and studied creative writing at Ryerson University.
She lives in rural Ontario with her Great Pyrenees and Golden Retriever, and vacations at her cottage in Nova Scotia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 9, 2021
The story takes place in Nova Scotia. The body of a missing girl shows up years after her disappearance. It was presumed that she ran away, but now the entire community is looking over their shoulders because a murderer is in their midst. Enter Detective Gordie MacLean, an older police officer who has never been given a chance to run an investigation. To complicate the issue, the department forced him to work with a new partner, Detective Roxanne Albright.
With attention to detail and a cop who refuses to give up, this murder mystery will have you guessing at the multiple suspects until the last pages. The author shows off her knowledge of life in the Maritimes and the story has an authentic flavor that is appealing. Perfect story for fans of Murder, She Wrote or Columbo.
With attention to detail and a cop who refuses to give up, this murder mystery will have you guessing at the multiple suspects until the last pages. The author shows off her knowledge of life in the Maritimes and the story has an authentic flavor that is appealing. Perfect story for fans of Murder, She Wrote or Columbo.
February 13, 2023
This book was a Christmas gift— My mom knows I have a soft spot for Cape Breton, and she thought that I’d be interested in reading a book by a local author.
I’m not really a big reader of thrillers and mysteries, so I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading this book. And, I’ll be honest, sometimes ‘local writer’ isn’t a selling point to me.
But when I started I was immediately hooked. The first day reading I spent a few hours and was well over one hundred pages in.
Having the story take place in Cape Breton really did help keep my interest. I liked reading about places I knew, highways I’ve driven, spots along the coats I’ve stopped…
The story itself does move fairly slowly— it’s a slow burn. But my attention never wavered.
I’ll say that the highpoint in this writing is the dialogue. I’m amazed at how real the dialogue felt. I could hear the character’s voices in my head. Their speaking never felt forced. I think this author really nailed the dialogue.
One note: you might want to have some tea on hand when reading this book. I’ve never read a book that has so many characters drinking tea. But then again, it does take place in Cape Breton, so it’s a detail that makes the story and characters feel more real.
I’m not really a big reader of thrillers and mysteries, so I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading this book. And, I’ll be honest, sometimes ‘local writer’ isn’t a selling point to me.
But when I started I was immediately hooked. The first day reading I spent a few hours and was well over one hundred pages in.
Having the story take place in Cape Breton really did help keep my interest. I liked reading about places I knew, highways I’ve driven, spots along the coats I’ve stopped…
The story itself does move fairly slowly— it’s a slow burn. But my attention never wavered.
I’ll say that the highpoint in this writing is the dialogue. I’m amazed at how real the dialogue felt. I could hear the character’s voices in my head. Their speaking never felt forced. I think this author really nailed the dialogue.
One note: you might want to have some tea on hand when reading this book. I’ve never read a book that has so many characters drinking tea. But then again, it does take place in Cape Breton, so it’s a detail that makes the story and characters feel more real.
October 27, 2022
Met Renny and picked up this book last weekend. Have barely put it down since.
Authentic and charming characters bring Cape Breton to life with a gripping murder mystery.
Can't wait to read the next in the series and everything else Renny deGroot has to offer.
Authentic and charming characters bring Cape Breton to life with a gripping murder mystery.
Can't wait to read the next in the series and everything else Renny deGroot has to offer.
February 10, 2023
Enjoyed the read
Well written, good plot, interesting characters and a feeling of being there, in the setting. Going to read the next one in the series!
Well written, good plot, interesting characters and a feeling of being there, in the setting. Going to read the next one in the series!
May 6, 2022
This book was a bit slow burn. A bit too slow for me, but the intrigue kept me guessing, which I liked. I particularly enjoyed the setting for this novel. The story takes place in Cape Breton, and the author is true to the ruggedness of the landscape. It plays a role in building the mystery.
March 11, 2022
Garden Girl is set in small-town Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, where, as the author suggests, kids can go for a bike ride and their parents will know everywhere they went before they get home (thanks to the watchful neighbours). Yet when the body of a missing girl turns up nearly ten years later, the trail of a killer is a lot harder to track.
In the hands of middle-aged detective Gordie MacLean, handling his first big case, the story proceeds like a cozy mystery, with lots of potential suspects, authentic police procedures, and realistic characters, while the author cranks up the tension nicely.
Garden Girl is an enjoyable book that can be read quickly and savoured for a long time afterward.
In the hands of middle-aged detective Gordie MacLean, handling his first big case, the story proceeds like a cozy mystery, with lots of potential suspects, authentic police procedures, and realistic characters, while the author cranks up the tension nicely.
Garden Girl is an enjoyable book that can be read quickly and savoured for a long time afterward.
March 24, 2024
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Garden Girl' by Renny DeGroot.
Read and reviewed via Audible for Renny DeGroot, Toadhollow Publishing and Rachel's Random resources Tours.
Publication dates: paperback: 31st May 2021. Kindle: 12th June 2021. Audiobook: 21st December 2023.
This is the first book I have read by this author. It is also the first book in Renny's 'A Cape Breton Mystery' series.
This novel consists of a prologue and 35 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is very well written and narrated and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. The descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline.
I listened to this book via audible and I must admit that it did take a while to get used to the "voice" of Detective Gordie MacLean as I thought that is accent and way of speaking seemed to be over emphasised. However, after listening for a while I got used to it and by the end I actually thought it was the perfect voice for his character so if you are like me and struggle at first it is definitely worth pushing through with the audible version!! I used to watch Columbo many years ago and the storyline and Gordie brought it straight to mind as he seemed to work in a similar way so if you enjoyed Columbo then you will definitely enjoy this!!! This book started off slowly and I would definitely liken it to being on a rollercoaster ride where the first few pages are you ascending the lift on a rollercoaster before it sends you speeding down the other sides with twists and turns that will keep you gripping your seat!! This book is set in Nova Scotia where the body of a missing girl has been discovered years after she had disappeared, presuming to have run away. She is found in the garden of Vanessa Hunt when she started her garden renovations. Detective Gordie MacLean is put in charge of the case with his faithful hound Taz!! I love books that include animals being a huge animal lover and Taz makes a fantastic addition to this book! It isn't long that it is just Gordie and Taz though as he is soon assigned a new partner Detective Roxanne Albright to work with. Renny's fantastic writing skills and Nathan's brilliant narration skills makes it feel you are in the storyline seeing everything that the characters are seeing and feeling everything come to life around you. It is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Nathan Foss who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Nathan did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Renny but also to listening to more books narrated by Nathan! The storyline is filled with crime, tea, mystery, tea, suspense, tea, suspects and much more. Yes, i was meant to write tea so many times as this book is absolutely full of it!!! I actually lost count how many cups of tea I drank while reading this because every time a character was drinking a cup it made me fancy one so it turned into a bit of a non alcoholic drinking game so make sure you have your teabags at the ready!!! The characters were intriguing, strong and most importantly realistic!! I really liked Gordie who, as I have previously mentioned, reminded me of Columbo and I loved his determination to solve the case. i also really liked Roxanne and I enjoyed seeing the interactions between them and how they worked together and as individuals. However, I have to admit my favourite character had to be Taz!!! They all came to life in front of my eyes thanks to the evocative descriptions and narration. The fact that Renny has done her research into police procedurals shines through so congratulations Renny! There isn't much worse than when you are reading a book and it is littered with unnecessary mistakes due to the author not doing any or enough research into their chosen topic as it can spoil what would otherwise be a fantastic storyline. This book makes a great introduction to the series and is a fantastic start to what promises to be a gripping one. I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book to come along as well as more books written by Renny and narrated by Nathan. Once I started listening to this book I could not stop and was walking around the house with earphones in and listening to it in the car. I ended up devouring it in one sitting and would definitely recommend it to fans of mysteries and cosy crimes.
Overall a brilliant and intriguing start to a promising new mystery series.
300 pages/ 9 hours 17 minutes.
This book is just £2.54 to purchase on kindle, £14.82 in paperback and £13.12 for the audiobook via Amazon at time of review, which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 4/5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
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Review for 'Garden Girl' by Renny DeGroot.
Read and reviewed via Audible for Renny DeGroot, Toadhollow Publishing and Rachel's Random resources Tours.
Publication dates: paperback: 31st May 2021. Kindle: 12th June 2021. Audiobook: 21st December 2023.
This is the first book I have read by this author. It is also the first book in Renny's 'A Cape Breton Mystery' series.
This novel consists of a prologue and 35 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is very well written and narrated and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. The descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline.
I listened to this book via audible and I must admit that it did take a while to get used to the "voice" of Detective Gordie MacLean as I thought that is accent and way of speaking seemed to be over emphasised. However, after listening for a while I got used to it and by the end I actually thought it was the perfect voice for his character so if you are like me and struggle at first it is definitely worth pushing through with the audible version!! I used to watch Columbo many years ago and the storyline and Gordie brought it straight to mind as he seemed to work in a similar way so if you enjoyed Columbo then you will definitely enjoy this!!! This book started off slowly and I would definitely liken it to being on a rollercoaster ride where the first few pages are you ascending the lift on a rollercoaster before it sends you speeding down the other sides with twists and turns that will keep you gripping your seat!! This book is set in Nova Scotia where the body of a missing girl has been discovered years after she had disappeared, presuming to have run away. She is found in the garden of Vanessa Hunt when she started her garden renovations. Detective Gordie MacLean is put in charge of the case with his faithful hound Taz!! I love books that include animals being a huge animal lover and Taz makes a fantastic addition to this book! It isn't long that it is just Gordie and Taz though as he is soon assigned a new partner Detective Roxanne Albright to work with. Renny's fantastic writing skills and Nathan's brilliant narration skills makes it feel you are in the storyline seeing everything that the characters are seeing and feeling everything come to life around you. It is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Nathan Foss who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Nathan did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Renny but also to listening to more books narrated by Nathan! The storyline is filled with crime, tea, mystery, tea, suspense, tea, suspects and much more. Yes, i was meant to write tea so many times as this book is absolutely full of it!!! I actually lost count how many cups of tea I drank while reading this because every time a character was drinking a cup it made me fancy one so it turned into a bit of a non alcoholic drinking game so make sure you have your teabags at the ready!!! The characters were intriguing, strong and most importantly realistic!! I really liked Gordie who, as I have previously mentioned, reminded me of Columbo and I loved his determination to solve the case. i also really liked Roxanne and I enjoyed seeing the interactions between them and how they worked together and as individuals. However, I have to admit my favourite character had to be Taz!!! They all came to life in front of my eyes thanks to the evocative descriptions and narration. The fact that Renny has done her research into police procedurals shines through so congratulations Renny! There isn't much worse than when you are reading a book and it is littered with unnecessary mistakes due to the author not doing any or enough research into their chosen topic as it can spoil what would otherwise be a fantastic storyline. This book makes a great introduction to the series and is a fantastic start to what promises to be a gripping one. I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book to come along as well as more books written by Renny and narrated by Nathan. Once I started listening to this book I could not stop and was walking around the house with earphones in and listening to it in the car. I ended up devouring it in one sitting and would definitely recommend it to fans of mysteries and cosy crimes.
Overall a brilliant and intriguing start to a promising new mystery series.
300 pages/ 9 hours 17 minutes.
This book is just £2.54 to purchase on kindle, £14.82 in paperback and £13.12 for the audiobook via Amazon at time of review, which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 4/5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#GardenGirl #ACapeBretonMystery #RennyDeGroot #NathanFoss #ToadhollowPublishing #RachelsRandomResources #rararesources #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #Goodreads #Amazon #AmazonKindle #Bookstagram #Bookblogger #Audible #Audiobook
@GardenGirl @CapeBretonMystery @RennyDeGroot @NathanFoss @ToadhollowPublishing @RachelsRandomResources @rararesources @Audible @Audiobook @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @Goodreads @Amazon @AmazonKindle @Bookstagram @BookBlogger
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September 10, 2021
This Cape Breton mystery grabs your attention right away with a shocking discovery and holds it to the end with multiple suspects and plenty of twists and turns. I didn’t know who did it until the very end. It is obvious the author spent considerable time in Cape Breton as the descriptions, dialogue and characters were so realistic I felt as though I was right there. I also appreciate the slow, painstaking, methodical police work and that the forensics was kept to what would be realistically available to a low-crime, lower budget, rural police detachment. I really liked the characters, including the dog, and was rooting for Gordie. His hesitant steps at a possible romance was a nice touch and I hope to see that develop in the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 13, 2021
Novelist Renny deGroot’s first foray into the murder mystery genre has yielded an intriguing tale. “Garden Girl” follows the step-by-step hunt for a murderer conducted by a team of detectives in otherwise peaceful Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The juxtaposition of a grisly murder and the small town pastoral setting creates a deftly-crafted tension. In true DeGroot fashion, the principal characters are realistic and likeable and we find ourselves rooting for them as they painstakingly search for the killer. From the shocking first pages, through the relentless detective work, to its exciting climax, “Garden Girl” is an enjoyable page-turner loaded with twists and turns that will keep you guessing.
June 29, 2023
Entertaining read about a murder in rural Cape Breton. I am familiar with the area and route 19 so could picture the road and scenery. Typical Capers with their coffee at Timmy ‘s and oat cakes. Mystery was easy to follow and somewhat predictable. Character were realistic. All in all a decent read.
March 20, 2024
*** Four and a half shiny stars
An engrossing, engaging and comfy (more so than cozy) story, set in gorgeous Cape Breton, Nova Scotia where small-town charm, coastal ocean views, and the singularities of island life provide the perfect backdrop to a complex mystery.
Detective Gordie Maclean is fifty-three years old, a police veteran with the Major Crimes Unit in the island town of Sydney, and has never had a murder to solve. Until now. For such is the relatively calm, unhurried life Gordie has come to recognize, as he manages a roster of domestics and assaults, going home each night to his canine buddy Taz, a massive Great Pyrenee.
All that changes when the remains of a nineteen year-old girl are discovered, re-opening a former (now long cold) missing persons case, and pitting Gordie, along with his new partner Detective Roxanne Albright, against a murderer who has remained stealthily hidden for near-on a decade. The obsessive oversight of this case (and mostly, Gordie himself) imparted by Gordie’s churlish and unpleasant boss, Staff Sgt John Arsenault, certainly doesn’t help matters any.
As Gordie and Roxanne work their way through a voluminous set of interviews and clues, meandering through relationships, old memories, and new theories, it’s impossible for the reader not to settle comfortably into the vibe of this breezy, unassuming duo; their unpretentiously appealing community (be they suspects or simply neighbors), and the resolutely-followed zigzagging curves of this murderous puzzle, now accumulating bodies.
The first in a series featuring Detectives Gordie and Roxanne, I loved this book and it’s narration, which I listened to on Audible for this all-audio book review tour.
My stop today on the @rachelsrandomresources #blogtour for #GardenGirl by @rennydegroot
An engrossing, engaging and comfy (more so than cozy) story, set in gorgeous Cape Breton, Nova Scotia where small-town charm, coastal ocean views, and the singularities of island life provide the perfect backdrop to a complex mystery.
Detective Gordie Maclean is fifty-three years old, a police veteran with the Major Crimes Unit in the island town of Sydney, and has never had a murder to solve. Until now. For such is the relatively calm, unhurried life Gordie has come to recognize, as he manages a roster of domestics and assaults, going home each night to his canine buddy Taz, a massive Great Pyrenee.
All that changes when the remains of a nineteen year-old girl are discovered, re-opening a former (now long cold) missing persons case, and pitting Gordie, along with his new partner Detective Roxanne Albright, against a murderer who has remained stealthily hidden for near-on a decade. The obsessive oversight of this case (and mostly, Gordie himself) imparted by Gordie’s churlish and unpleasant boss, Staff Sgt John Arsenault, certainly doesn’t help matters any.
As Gordie and Roxanne work their way through a voluminous set of interviews and clues, meandering through relationships, old memories, and new theories, it’s impossible for the reader not to settle comfortably into the vibe of this breezy, unassuming duo; their unpretentiously appealing community (be they suspects or simply neighbors), and the resolutely-followed zigzagging curves of this murderous puzzle, now accumulating bodies.
The first in a series featuring Detectives Gordie and Roxanne, I loved this book and it’s narration, which I listened to on Audible for this all-audio book review tour.
My stop today on the @rachelsrandomresources #blogtour for #GardenGirl by @rennydegroot
March 24, 2024
When Vanessa Hunt decides it’s time to start renovations on her garden now the house is done, she calls in two local men to come and remove a large dead tree from the garden and the dig a hole for a pond in its place. A nice, fairly easy quick job, especially with Joe and Mikes large backhoe.
The tree is pulled down and removed swiftly and the digging soon commences. But what none of them expect to come out of the hole are the bones of a human arm or leg caught in the teeth of the digger bucket.
All work stops as Vanessa phones the local police to report the find of a human skeleton in her garden.
Detective Gordie MacLean gets the phone call from his boss to go and check out the scene.
Cape Breton Island is a quite little place where crime is low and his normal call-outs are to the odd domestic or drunk and disorderly, and with his partner off work sick, he’s now in full charge of running the investigation. Albeit with the help of his faithful Great Pyrenees dog, Taz at his side.
What he finds is definitely the remains of a human so an investigation is soon underway to discover the identity of the remains and how she came to be buried in the towns newish residents garden.
The story is compelling and extremely easy listening. It all flows at a great pace and the narrator Nathan Foss makes the listening experience enjoyable, easy to follow and his voice is very easy on the ears.
If you enjoy a good police investigation story then you will definitely enjoy reading or listening to this book.
Garden Girl, Cape Breton Mysteries Book 1, is out now so you can get listening to or reading straight away.
The tree is pulled down and removed swiftly and the digging soon commences. But what none of them expect to come out of the hole are the bones of a human arm or leg caught in the teeth of the digger bucket.
All work stops as Vanessa phones the local police to report the find of a human skeleton in her garden.
Detective Gordie MacLean gets the phone call from his boss to go and check out the scene.
Cape Breton Island is a quite little place where crime is low and his normal call-outs are to the odd domestic or drunk and disorderly, and with his partner off work sick, he’s now in full charge of running the investigation. Albeit with the help of his faithful Great Pyrenees dog, Taz at his side.
What he finds is definitely the remains of a human so an investigation is soon underway to discover the identity of the remains and how she came to be buried in the towns newish residents garden.
The story is compelling and extremely easy listening. It all flows at a great pace and the narrator Nathan Foss makes the listening experience enjoyable, easy to follow and his voice is very easy on the ears.
If you enjoy a good police investigation story then you will definitely enjoy reading or listening to this book.
Garden Girl, Cape Breton Mysteries Book 1, is out now so you can get listening to or reading straight away.
March 30, 2024
A discovery of bones is revealed to be a missing young woman. Sarah was assumed to have run away but now a murder investigation is launched, led by Gordie MacLean and his new partner. Then another body is found...
Garden Girl is a police procedural novel set in Canada.
Gordie uncovers an unhappy background to his murder victim Sarah. She is dug up in a garden whilst her friends and family claim she ran away due to issues at home. There are plenty of suspects to investigate and the pressure is on when another corpse is found, fresh this time. Gordie argues wuth his superiors about whether the two murders are connected.
The plot was engaging and I liked the developing working relationship between Gordie and Roxanne. Of course, my favourite part was the inclusion of the dog Taz! My knowledge of the police structure in Canada is non-existent so I was a little unclear on the ranking system, although I did recognise the Mounties when mentioned!
I found the different voices and accents a bit overwhelming as there were so many but they were distinctive. It was impressive that the voice artist managed to do so many voices and accents! I was particularly impressed by the female tone used.
Garden Girl has an intriguing crime to solve and an easy-to-like lead detective (and dog!)
Garden Girl is a police procedural novel set in Canada.
Gordie uncovers an unhappy background to his murder victim Sarah. She is dug up in a garden whilst her friends and family claim she ran away due to issues at home. There are plenty of suspects to investigate and the pressure is on when another corpse is found, fresh this time. Gordie argues wuth his superiors about whether the two murders are connected.
The plot was engaging and I liked the developing working relationship between Gordie and Roxanne. Of course, my favourite part was the inclusion of the dog Taz! My knowledge of the police structure in Canada is non-existent so I was a little unclear on the ranking system, although I did recognise the Mounties when mentioned!
I found the different voices and accents a bit overwhelming as there were so many but they were distinctive. It was impressive that the voice artist managed to do so many voices and accents! I was particularly impressed by the female tone used.
Garden Girl has an intriguing crime to solve and an easy-to-like lead detective (and dog!)
March 20, 2024
Garden Girl starts with a bang when the body of a girl is found in someone’s garden. That’s the most excitement found in this book until the very end. It’s much more like real life than many mysteries in books or movies because the case involves a lot of interviews, research and discussion. If you like dialogue and police procedurals, you’ll like this book!
Gordie MacLean is an interesting character dealing with his own issues, and he’s not thrilled about having a new partner. It’s located in Cape Breton which is normally peaceful with little crime.
The narrator has good timing and does well with the different voices. It did take me a while to get used to Gordie’s voice. It irritated me at first, but it grew on me.
There are a lot of suspects, but the outcome was fairly predictable. It was still a good read and I recommend it if you like police procedurals.
Gordie MacLean is an interesting character dealing with his own issues, and he’s not thrilled about having a new partner. It’s located in Cape Breton which is normally peaceful with little crime.
The narrator has good timing and does well with the different voices. It did take me a while to get used to Gordie’s voice. It irritated me at first, but it grew on me.
There are a lot of suspects, but the outcome was fairly predictable. It was still a good read and I recommend it if you like police procedurals.
November 25, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. The main characters were believable and sympathetic, the story compelling. Even the characters who've made a mess of their lives are described in a way that readers can sympathize with. The dialogues feel realistic and I liked the descriptions and personal angles that were brought in along with the actual investigation.
It interested me how long they took on this investigation. Important interviews with witnesses or suspects were scheduled for "tomorrow" or "next week." True, this was a cold case, but Detective MacLean goes about solving crimes in a more leisurely fashion than I'd have expected.
I knocked off one star for the much rehashing of the same details of the crime. In a real investigations this would happen, investigators would go over and over details, fitting in new clues and possibilities. As a reader, getting it all more or less in one sitting, I found this somewhat tedious. Still, this was a good beginning and a great setting for this series. I'd be ready to read more.
It interested me how long they took on this investigation. Important interviews with witnesses or suspects were scheduled for "tomorrow" or "next week." True, this was a cold case, but Detective MacLean goes about solving crimes in a more leisurely fashion than I'd have expected.
I knocked off one star for the much rehashing of the same details of the crime. In a real investigations this would happen, investigators would go over and over details, fitting in new clues and possibilities. As a reader, getting it all more or less in one sitting, I found this somewhat tedious. Still, this was a good beginning and a great setting for this series. I'd be ready to read more.
February 15, 2024
If you enjoy a good mystery/police procedural this book would be good for you. A body is found while digging up a garden and the nickname Garden Girl stuck for a little while. I listened to the audiobook which was about 9 hours. I really enjoyed the police work and how they had to follow multiple avenues to try to solve the case. Gordie is a very relatable character. An older cop on his first major case who has a lot to prove. I think his boss wanted Gordie to fail at the case but Gordie was determined to solve it and find justice. An excellent story that will keep you engaged from beginning to end.
March 24, 2024
I listened to the audio version of Garden Girl over a period of several days and found it to be an enjoyable listen. It was also my first foray into the work of De Groot.
It's a cosy style murder mystery tale/police procedural set in Nova Scotia, Canada and takes its name from the body of the young girl that's just been found murdered in - you guessed it - a garden!
I actually found myself speeding up the audio so I could listen to it quicker, it was such a compelling listen.
The characters throughout are credible and I found I quickly became embroiled into their stories.
Garden Girl is a brilliant start to a promising new series.
It's a cosy style murder mystery tale/police procedural set in Nova Scotia, Canada and takes its name from the body of the young girl that's just been found murdered in - you guessed it - a garden!
I actually found myself speeding up the audio so I could listen to it quicker, it was such a compelling listen.
The characters throughout are credible and I found I quickly became embroiled into their stories.
Garden Girl is a brilliant start to a promising new series.
August 8, 2023
PROLOGUE + CHAPTER ONE = HOOKED!
I admire how the author effectively guided me through this mystery alongside the detectives. The adventure intensified with each turn of a page – WELL DONE. And what’s not to love when a magnificent Great Pyrenees is one of the characters! I’m thinking about purchasing King Cole tea and oatcakes (if I can find some) before starting the next book in this HIGHLY RECOMMENDED series.
I admire how the author effectively guided me through this mystery alongside the detectives. The adventure intensified with each turn of a page – WELL DONE. And what’s not to love when a magnificent Great Pyrenees is one of the characters! I’m thinking about purchasing King Cole tea and oatcakes (if I can find some) before starting the next book in this HIGHLY RECOMMENDED series.
March 10, 2024
This was an interesting book to listen to - the narration suited the story. I loved the descriptions if really made me feel that I was there and just drew me in. The story itself was good. Overall it was a good listen and I look forward to listening to more by this author. It was just a 'nice' story.
March 11, 2025
I liked this story. It was a bit slow though I enjoyed it nevertheless. I loved the inclusion of the scenery and the multiple Tim Hortons trips.
I liked how they went through all the steps the detectives took to come to their conclusions. The interviews with witnesses and suspects were well written.
Overall I liked this and would read the next one.
I liked how they went through all the steps the detectives took to come to their conclusions. The interviews with witnesses and suspects were well written.
Overall I liked this and would read the next one.
December 29, 2025
I was captivated with this book from the moment a girl's body was found in a garden. This is a well-written story with multiple twists and turns, so the murderer wasn't known to me until the very end. And a book can't possibly be bad when a dog is one of the back characters! I highly recommend this read!
April 1, 2022
Good book
I’ve never really read books by Canadian authors that are written about Canada.
It was a good story and not the least shocking that in the end a Roman Catholic priest murdered two people and was ready to murder again. Just goes to show the church is full of hypocrites.
I’ve never really read books by Canadian authors that are written about Canada.
It was a good story and not the least shocking that in the end a Roman Catholic priest murdered two people and was ready to murder again. Just goes to show the church is full of hypocrites.
July 9, 2022
This is a detective murder mystery in the same "light" way of
Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache. I love that it's Canadian. I quite enjoyed it and for a quite a while it kept me guessing as to who the murderer was. And the author lives somewhere in my area!
Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache. I love that it's Canadian. I quite enjoyed it and for a quite a while it kept me guessing as to who the murderer was. And the author lives somewhere in my area!
December 25, 2023
I am one of those people who usually figure out the murderer and plot, way before the author reveals it. This time I did Not, which makes this a Very excellent story in my opinion. Narrator does a Great job with the various characters voices and the entire storyline!!
March 7, 2023
predictable
It was too predictable, the Characters were one dimensional and the dialogue flat. It needed to more depth and twists.
It was too predictable, the Characters were one dimensional and the dialogue flat. It needed to more depth and twists.
July 13, 2023
A very interesting read. Interesting from start to finish. Doug
January 11, 2026
A solid police procedural.
August 26, 2024
I enjoyed this book and looking forward to read #2.
March 22, 2024
Although this is a murder investigation, I loved listening to the narrator Nathan Foss, whose storytelling reflected the slower paced lifestyle in Cape Breton. The main character Gordie MacLean is brought to life with his quirky nature, thoughts and fabulous accent. Watching the professional relationship, mutual respect and caring develop between the new partners, Gordie and Roxanne was heartwarming.
Renny deGroot has written convincingly about the pace of the crime investigation. It was a slow burn with no rapid results, more an in depth and thorough process. You can feel the very real frustrations of the investigators as they hit dead ends and although I worked out the murderer quite early in, it didn’t detract from the enjoyment of the book, rather it enhanced it watching the detectives discover the evidence to back up my theory.
A great ‘book 1’, I’d love to read more in this series.
Renny deGroot has written convincingly about the pace of the crime investigation. It was a slow burn with no rapid results, more an in depth and thorough process. You can feel the very real frustrations of the investigators as they hit dead ends and although I worked out the murderer quite early in, it didn’t detract from the enjoyment of the book, rather it enhanced it watching the detectives discover the evidence to back up my theory.
A great ‘book 1’, I’d love to read more in this series.
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