Autumn leaves are spinning in Bluejay Ridge-and so are the rumors. Roberta "Betty" Benino craves a fresh start in the mountains of Georgia. Her lakeside cottage promises peaceful new beginnings, and her welcoming neighbors seal the deal-until she stumbles upon a body at the local garden center. Now gossip blooms as quickly as the mums, and Betty's at the center of it all. A retired screenwriter with a flair for drama, she has no intention of playing detective ... until her curiosity digs her in deeper than she intended. With clues leading nowhere, a wary sheriff watching her every move, and suspects stacking up like firewood, Betty must unearth the truth before the killer decides she knows too much. Full of humor, heart, and small-town secrets, Mayhem in the Mulch kicks off the Betty Benino Mysteries-a cozy, character-rich whodunit for anyone who loves quick-witted sleuths, treasured friendships, and a little mayhem between the pages. These mysteries can each be enjoyed as a standalone, while the full Betty story unfolds across the series. You choose!