The Poison Garden by A.J. Banner

☆☆☆☆
ebook, 208 pages
Published October 22nd 2019 by Lake Union Publishing
About the Book:
Elise Watters seems to have it all—a blissful marriage, a gorgeous Victorian home surrounded by lush gardens, and a dream job running her late mother’s herbal boutique. But on the eve of her first wedding anniversary, Elise makes a shocking discovery that turns her life upside down and casts doubt on everything she thought she knew—about her marriage, her friends, and even herself. As she treads into dangerous territory, Elise is forced to wonder: Is her whole future at stake? Or is paranoia getting the best of her? If she is to believe what she sees, Elise has every reason to fear for her life.

This was such a captivating thriller, I had a difficult time putting it down and was surprised at how much could be packed into less than 200 pages. The twists, turns and character flaws and strengths kept me hooked. Ms. Banner does a wonderful job juggling a mixture of personalities, developing their individual stories and weaving it in a pulp fiction like manner to keep you mentally engaged and turning pages vigorously.

The main character has real problems and issues coping with them, and that makes her vulnerable and compelling. This is a book where you will care about the characters more than you will the various mysteries that are revealed. This is not a book where you are racing to a conclusion, although the tension and action ramps us as we speed toward the ending. It was intriguing and fast-paced, and while I thought that I could forecast how a lot of things were going to turn out I was wrong on a number of points, I like it when I'm wrong in that way - it keeps me interested. The quality of the writing is exemplary, I highly recommend it as this is a very well written book.

Thank you NetGalley, A.J. Banner, and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.

#ThePoisonGarden #NetGalley