The Poison Grove | Jill Johnson

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🌟 The Poison Grove by Jill Johnson 🌟

📚 Genre: Mystery, Crime, Academia, LGBTQ+

📅 Release Date: August 26, 2025 — Preorder Link

🖊️ Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

🔗 Goodreads: The Poison Grove on Goodreads

💫 Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis

After being cleared in a murder case involving her own poisonous plants, Professor Eustacia Rose is back to teaching toxicology and tending to her beloved greenery. But when a man turns up dead with a needle in his neck, and a haunting painting of Eustacia nearby, she's pulled into yet another investigation. Things only get worse when a pushy PhD student dies after sourcing illegal toxins. With bodies piling up and the threats closing in, Eustacia must uncover the truth before she ends up the next victim.

My Thoughts 💭

🔍 Why I Picked This Up:

I was first drawn in by the cover of this book and when I read the synopsis, as a plant lover and a mystery lover, I couldn’t wait to read it.

I want to give a huge thank you to Jill Johnson, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for providing a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

✨ What I Loved:

I genuinely adored this book. I couldn’t put it down and ended up finishing it in under a day, something that’s rare for me, as I’m usually a slower reader. 🐌

One of the standout elements was the autism representation. The main character is autistic, and her perspective adds incredible depth to the story. Her inner monologues and the way she interacts with others feel authentic and layered, giving the narrative a distinct voice that really makes it shine. 💫 I honestly think the story wouldn’t have had the same impact with a different protagonist.

I was also impressed by the side characters. While they aren’t the central focus, they still feel fleshed out and believable. The book clearly centers on Eustacia, and that focus worked well, it allowed the story to dive deep into her character and inner world. 🌎

As for the mystery itself, it struck a great balance between intrigue and subtlety. I was hooked on figuring out what was going on, but I also found myself completely immersed in the moment-to-moment story. There was never a time I wanted to skip ahead just to see what happens. The plot twists were satisfying, and trying to piece everything together kept me fully engaged from start to finish. 🌟

✍️ Room for Improvement:

Honestly, I don’t have a single critique, not even a minor one. I was genuinely impressed by how well-written and polished this book was from start to finish.

🥇 Overall Takeaway:

I’d recommend this book to just about anyone, especially if you love a great mystery. Bonus points if you’re also a plant lover. 🌿

💡 From The Margins:

• Mood Board: 🪴 Overgrown rooftop garden, dimly lit office 🕯️, well-worn tweed suit 👔, stargazing at midnight 🔭

• Favorite Quote:

  “A trouble shared is a trouble halved.”