Vicky Ramakka

As one of my reading challenges to myself this year I've wanted to read novels in different settings particularly after it seemed the only locations I read for a few months were either in the state of Washington or Maine. In browsing, I discovered the description of this mystery and couldn't wait to give it a try.

I really enjoyed it. Millicent (Millie for short) Whitehall has left her hometown of Milltown, New Jersey, and has driven across country to begin a summer staff position as a seasonal botanist for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). As Millie has finished graduate school she's excited to use her education in a natural setting. I've only viewed photographs of friends' travels with photographs of cacti primarily in Arizona or Nevada. My armchair traveling gave me the opportunity to enjoy Millie's first impressions of all her excursions for work and in her free time. It was fascinating to read the descriptions of the work done by the BLM "to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The mystery also provides insight into the work of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Although no surprise, it provided fictional examples of the competing mandates of different environmental protection regulations that have been enacted on different years.

I highly recommend this mystery for first-time armchair traveling to New Mexico or to reminisce on your own travels to New Mexico. It might even encourage an armchair traveler to plan a trip of their own. :)… (más)

I’m not generally a fan of the slow build novel and this was no exception. I did enjoy the book and the characters, the delivery just wasn’t exactly what I look for.

I also didn’t find that the book had a lot of depth to it, which was excellent for the quick read I was looking for but also a little disappointing. I felt like a lot more could have been done with the characters and the setting than what was explored.

I received this book for free from LibraryThing Early Reviewers un exchange for an honest review… (más)

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from LibraryThing in return for an honest review.

Recent college graduate and East coast native, Millie Whitehall, has accepted her first job as a biologist with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for the summer in New Mexico. She is taking over for the recently retired BLM botanist. She is looking forward to spending her summer identifying and plotting plant life in the desert. In her first few days at the BLM she learns about an archeologist who mysteriously died out in the desert. When Millie makes an amazing discovery of an endangered cactus growing in the area she cannot help but to tell everyone about her discovery. However after the retired BLM botanist is found dead with a note that has her name on it near her recent discovery, Millie finds herself dragged into a murder mystery that includes interest characters and cactus rustlers. But can Millie figure out who the murder is before she becomes her next victim.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. This book took a while to build up to actual murder mystery but it still managed to keep my interest. This book is perfect for readers who enjoy a good cozy mystery.… (más)

The Cactus Plot is a cosy mystery set in New Mexico on land similsr to a National Park. I found it an fairly enjoyable light read - suitable reading whilst commuting when it doesn’t matter if you are constantly interrupted to get on or off the train. The author refers to other fictional detectives from similar settings, namely Anna Pigeon and Joe Leaphorn, when her protagonist, a newly graduated botanist in her first job, is wondering what steps to take to track down a murderer. This for me was an unfortunate comparison as it highlighted what I see as a flaw in the plot, because she stumbles almost accidentally onto the murderer rather deducing who it as than as a result of clear thinking and drawing on relevant knowledge and experience. I have always found Anna and Joe much more engaging and the plots better developed, even in their first outings!… (más)