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Reviewed by Demetria Head for Readers' Favorite
Mayhem in the Mulch by Janet Fix is book one in the Betty Benino Mystery series. The story follows Roberta “Betty” Benino, a widow who finds herself still trying to adjust after her husband’s murder two years ago. She’s settling into her Lake Pointe cottage in Bluejay Ridge, Georgia. She meets neighbors Trudy Carter and Jolene Prescott as she adjusts to small-town life. When they tell her about a string of plant thefts that happened at Serenity Garden Center, her curiosity is piqued. Betty decides to visit the garden center to purchase a nozzle. But when she starts wandering around to check out the native Georgia plants, she accidentally stumbles into the middle of something far more serious than plant thefts. It’s the dead body of Gloria Thames, a well-respected accountant. Betty soon finds herself involved in figuring out a mystery while Sheriff Harlan Brooks begins the investigation. Will she figure out if the death was natural or if something far more sinister is at play?
Janet Fix has created an engaging mystery. The plot unfolded at a moderate pace. There was humor and a lot of character interactions. It felt like a real community with a variety of personalities, but they were not exempt from my suspect list. The sheriff was no-nonsense, cautious, and professional. Betty was inquisitive, and this contrasted well with Sheriff Brooks’ personality. Trudy and Jolene were gossip-loving but loyal neighbors. Marva and Priscilla were the strong-willed, authoritative figures. I loved how Janet painted the small-town setting with a tightly connected community. The garden center and the yoga studio were the essential parts that added to the charm. Knowledge about the different plant species was a highlight for me. Readers who loved Mia P. Manansala’s Arsenic and Adobo would absolutely love Mayhem in the Mulch.
