The Garden Plot Diaries

Stories One Through Four

By: Endy Wright

Narrated by: Richard Salem

In the small town of Monadnock, New Hampshire, two aging veterans watch as war breaks out between its Garden Society and other community organizations, all set to the seasons and schedules of a New England vegetable garden.

Small town government overreach meets its match. When an errant bottle finds itself into the trash instead of the recycling bin, the authorities are called in to investigate. The investigation is shocking: Not only does it reveal a root beer bottle among the general recyclables but also the potential for juvenile cannibalism. Or not.

German Chinese operatives infiltrate Monadnock and threaten the freedom of America. They may be old, but they still know how to kick some ass. God bless America.

There is nothing better than an autumnal tale of horror and suspense. Safe to go out into the fields? Safe to choose a pumpkin to carve into a jack-o-lantern? Maybe. Maybe not. Only in the quiet New England town of Monadnock can a German farmer of Guernseys make you think twice about accepting a free New England pumpkin, but perhaps with good reason.

©2022 Nicholas D. Wright (P)2023 Nicholas D. Wright

Quiet Moments That Stayed With Me

This listen surprised me in the best way. It felt intimate, like sitting in on someone’s private reflections, and I kept finding little pieces that connected to my own routines and thoughts. The pacing made it easy to sink in, and each section added a new layer without feeling heavy. I enjoyed how calm and reflective it felt, especially during slower parts of my day. By the end, I felt relaxed, thoughtful, and genuinely glad I spent time with it.

Cozy Little Stories That Completely Drew Me In

I picked up The Garden Plot Diaries on a whim, and I’m so glad I did. Each of the four interconnected stories felt warm, charming, and surprisingly grounding. I loved the mix of everyday garden magic and gentle character moments that made me slow down and savor the details. By the end, I felt like I’d spent time in a quiet, comforting world I didn’t want to leave. Truly a delightful escape.

Hilarious stories and a brilliant performance!

I have hundreds of audiobooks and I have always preferred a production that was made with a full cast (women speaking the voice of women, men for men) but this audiobook has changed my mind! Mr. Salem's "smokey smooth" voice is brilliant and I found myself sucked into the STORY in a way I haven't experienced with multiple voice productions. I was also cracked up by the witty story and found myself identifying with the characters more than once, but this review is on the audiobook so I'll try to stick to the audio portion for this review. I am constantly annoyed by many audiobooks by changes in pace, volume and sound quality but this production stood out from most and before I knew it I'd listened to the whole 5+ hours and missed my bedtime. Mr. Salem's ability to switch between characters and his soothing voice is great! I especially enjoyed his version of the trash police officer's voice. Quite the variety of voices but all from one person! (think Mel Blanc) I'll be listening to more by this audio artist in the future. I usually post only negative reviews to warn people about poor products, so much so that I've had more than my fair share of nasty emails from Amazon telling me they won't post my review. I seldom post positive reviews because I expect a product that I pay for to be good quality. After all, I'm paying good money for it, So I guess I'm quite a bit like the characters in the story, I do occasionally post a positive review if a product is way better than I ever imagined. I waited 2 days before posting this review because I was sure there must be something I was forgetting to complain about, but finally decided it was just one of those products that deserve a good review.

Stories That Grow

Listening to The Garden Plot Diaries completely pulled me into its quiet, thoughtful world—I found myself looking forward to each story like a familiar ritual. Endy Wright’s storytelling, paired with Richard Salem’s rich narration, makes this a comforting and deeply engaging listen worth every minute.

Clever, Satirical, and Unexpectedly Engaging

I picked this up not quite knowing what to expect, and it turned out to be a very entertaining read. The stories blend small-town life with sharp satire and just enough absurdity to keep things interesting. I enjoyed how the seasonal garden setting was used as a backdrop for escalating conflicts and humor. The writing is confident and imaginative, and the characters feel intentionally over-the-top in a way that works. It’s quirky, well paced, and clearly written by someone having fun with the premise.