I always get a little shiver of excitement when I begin one of Banner's novels as her characters are so interesting and quirky. This one centers around Elise who upon returning home early from a trip, discovers her doctor-husband in bed with another woman. Shocked and devastated, she throws him out and confides in her friend, Chantal who comforts her as any good friend would. But things quickly become confusing for Elise as she is a frequent sleepwalker and often awakens somewhere other than her bed with no memory of what she has done in her sleep. So when her ex-husband steps in to help, she can't really be sure if he is helping or hindering her case. Of course things get dicey and the plot thickens until the conclusion that is both shocking and satisfying as all of Banner's novels are!

A.J. Banner is slowly becoming a favorite of mine and her latest The Poison Garden did not disappoint! My favorite book of hers is The Good Neighbor but this one held my attention and the characters were fleshed out and believable. The only reason I gave it 4 stars rather than 5 was in my opinion a few key plot lines weren't fully explained or were wrapped up too quickly; like the sleepwalking. But all in all this was a winner for me; interesting plot, interesting characters and several plot twists held my interest. Looking forward to her next one!

The book pretty much starts with Elise Watters discovering her philandering husband in bed with another woman. For me, the problems started there also. None of the characters are particularly fleshed out, but the husband is a cardboard cutout. After he's caught cheating, his reaction is absurd - he can't understand why Elise is so upset and just keeps turning up at the house - technically her house - seeming surprised when she tells him to leave (again...and then again...and again). There is no depth to his character at all and it just irritated me - I couldn't sympathise with Elise because I was too busy being annoyed with her for falling for such a thick-headed and one-dimensional character in the first place.

The story isn't bad, the writing's fine...but this book just didn't excite me, and I wouldn't return to it again. I gave it three stars because there were some things to like about it, but I felt like it could have benefited from a little more fleshing out / editing. The characters weren't fully believable, and there was no chemistry at all between the main character and her husband, who were supposedly madly in love prior to his indiscretions being discovered. It was fairly well written, but I like a bit more excitement from my thrillers, especially domestic thrillers.

Would I read more from the author? Sure. It wasn't a perfect book, but I liked it fine. And to give credit where it's due, I didn't guess the final twist, and I read so many crime thriller novels that I almost always do. For me this was a solid book, not a stellar one, but I look forward to seeing what this author does next.

Didn't love the story as much as I was hoping to. The plot kept changing which kept it interesting but the story jumped around too much and the characters weren't that likable except Bella. It's bummer since I love her other stories.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Poison Garden.

Initially, it was the cover and the description that sparked interest for me in this book but as soon as you dive into the first chapter you are thrown straight into scandal and set up for a journey of revenge which made me even more excited.

Althought the reader was set up for a whirlwind of a book, I think the bar was set too high early on and unfortunately it did not reach the level of intensity that it could have. I feel there were too many attempts to throw the reader off, and instead of one solid twist, there were a few that seemed unnecessary. I also felt the characters were unrealistic.

Although the book did not meet my need of suspense to the extent I was hoping, I did enjoy the setting of the story as I grew up near the area where it took place and was able to visually put myself into the story.

Thank you for the opportunity to read 'The Poison Garden'. I was interested in reading this book as it had an overall five star rating on Net Galley.

However... I'm sorry to say that I found the plot quite ridiculous and the writing very mediocre. The characters were not believable and the authors descriptions were very cliched.

I was unconvinced and wanted to give up about halfway through but kept going in case it improved. Unfortunately, it didn't.

garden. Do poisonous plants grow there and who would grow them and why? I rubbed my hands with glee before diving in.

When you come home early and find your husband in bed with another woman, that’s a strong opener right there and sets the scene for revenge and more. The woman in the book is Elise and it’s her soon to be ex husband who seems to then still be letting himself into the house when she’s not there. One time ends in tragedy and that’s when the story kicks up a notch and the characters within it seem to unravel.

There’s a lot of puzzling out what happens in this book and that’s a good feeling - to be on the same path as the characters and not know what’s happening..that sense of doom and foreboding in the background all the way.

Elise starts to almost go mad wondering what is going on and questioning herself about the events as they happen. Chapters were sharp and there were plenty of cliff hangers to keep you going from one to the next. Well -paced and written for this style of thriller.


So if you love suspense , a mystery set around a Victorian house? The atmosphere of a small coastal town? And characters you can’t trust as far as you could throw them?

WOW. This was full of twist and turns. A fast-paced ride that leaves you guessing until the last page. I was glued to the book until the end. Excellent read.

This is a stunning thriller, fast paced and well written. I was eager to keep reading as I needed to know what happened next! Creepy, twisty, and complex; everything I love in a mystery thriller.

**I generously received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review**

In the opening scene of AJ Banner’s newest book, The Poison Garden, we are immediately thrust into a vivid scene: a woman is fleeing from someone, as fast as her legs will take her, and behind her, a voice is calling after her, coming closer and closer...

The novel then cuts to where our story begins, three days earlier, with the ominous first sentence: “On the ferry ride home, I was not yet planning to kill anyone.” Here is the moment you know this book has got you in its grasp, and it won’t let go until you uncover every last detail.

Elise has been married to husband number two, a charming doctor named Kieran, for just under a year. She has come home early to surprise him for their anniversary. Unfortunately , Elise is the one surprised, finding her husband - whom she has just added at his urging to her substantial inheritance account - in bed with another woman. An argument ensues, and she quickly kicks him out of the house.

But that’s not the end of the matter. There’s much more going on underneath the surface here. As the novel continues, more and more damning facts (and the perspectives of different characters) surface. The suspense ratchets up and never really lets you go, as the reader is left with more and more questions and suspicions, until the final denouement.

I hate to give away spoilers in books within the mystery or thriller genres, because where’s the fun in that? But you will be wondering who is the crazy one? Whose version of events is distorted? Who can be trusted?

I recall reading AJ Banner’s debut novel, The Good Neighbor, back in 2015. It was decent, but I felt it could have been much improved. THIS is the novel you’ve been waiting for AJ Banner’s to write. The plot, the questions raised by the actions of certain characters within the novel, the incredible setting - it all came together to create a truly gripping story. I am so pleased to see this author step into her potential, and I will be eagerly awaiting her next book.

You don’t want to miss this one. Highly recommended.

The Poison Garden is a superior psychological thriller that grabs you right from the start and doesn't let go all the way to the ending. The twists in this story will keep you on the edge of your seat until you close the cover. When I finished the book, I know I sat there and was shocked. Now, I want to reread this to see if I could have seen it coming!! I also liked the references to the plants in the garden. It was something different for me and I enjoyed it because of my love for herbs and plants in their medicinal uses.

I love to read an A.J. Banner novel. It is always fast paced and the element of mystery surrounding her characters always make for a quick, intriguing read.

I have loved this authors previous work, and this one did not dissapoint!! Lots of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. Would definitely recommend!

Read this book in one night. Tons of twists and turns that will keep you guessing and the “poison garden” concept is a fun addition to the mystery/thriller genre.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43706721

This book is nothing short of amazing! It has so many twists and turns and the characters are completely believable. Just when you think you have figured out what is going on every thing changes. The ending is also a huge surprise. Definitely worth five stars!
Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this incredible book!

A fast paced psychological thriller. I was reaching for my Kindle at every free moment to read and figure out what was going to happen next in the story. A garden, blurred memories, questionable events in the past, and a dead body - what happened and who did it? The twists and turns kept coming and most took me by surprise. This is a new author to me and I look forward to reading more of their books.

This was an excellent and quick suspenseful book! This was one of those books where i kept thinking I had things figured out and the author just twisted the plot into a completely different direction. I liked the characters in this book and the setting was perfect for this twisted tale! This is my first A J Banner book to read (I do have her others on my kindle - so I best get busy reading them!) . I was really impressed with her writing and can't wait to go back and read her others.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Authors for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Is Elise loosing her mind or is someone orchestrating it to make her think that she is? This is an unbelievable story of full of twisted web of deceit and deception around every corner. I could not put this book down. It pulled me in from the first page and I found myself holding my breath until that very last page. It had very strong and intreging characters, a very original plot, and one heck of an ending that I did not see coming. This book is officially one of the best psychological thrillers out there!
I want to thank netgalley, the publisher and A.J. Banner for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Who doesn’t love a good, old suspense story set around a Victorian home? And in an idyllic coastal town? And characters you cannot trust? Veteran author A.J. Banner delivers a heart-stopping, intriguing, and quick-paced thriller in the new novel, The Poison Garden.

Elise Watters has it all: extreme wealth, a beautiful Victorian home, and a doting, doctor husband. On the eve of their first anniversary, Elise learns a shocking secret that has her questioning what is real and what is a facade. Over time, she encounters the truth behind what she’s always thought was reality and paranoia sets in.

This novel begins with drama and it almost never stops. The author does well to keep the pace moving at a mind-boggling speed which mimics the disillusionment and confusion the main character and narrator, Elise experiences during the plot. Elise is likeable, yet unreliable. This adds a tremendous advantage to the story, allowing the reader to settle in alongside Elise and deal with the issues presented. Without giving too much away, all of the supporting characters are unpredictable: one minute you feel safe with them and the next you want to strangle them. It adds a complete sense of unrest that makes the story worth it.

While the idea of a paranoid wife and narrator are not new to this genre, Banner writes a character that is much more likeable. I believe this sets the story apart from some of the other domestic thrillers I’ve read recently with similar plots. The story includes backgrounds for a lonely neighbor as well as Elise’s deceased mother. All of the subplots and background stories are well-done and handled well. Nothing gets lost or left behind either. Banner does well to tie up all loose ends in a creative way.

This leads me to the major saving grace of the novel: the twists. For about 85% of the novel, I thought I had it figured out. It seemed predictable and overused until the last few chapters. I was bordering on disappointment with the novel, although I enjoyed reading about Elise. I thought I wouldn’t be satisfied, but I was proven wrong. The last two twists actually made me smile because I thought “excellent.”

This novel earns a solid 4 stars for the plot twists, incredibly vivid use of setting, and a narrator that someone would actually want to invite in their house for coffee.

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing a free copy of this digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

The Poison Garden is set to be published on October 22, 2019.

Thank you #NetGalley for an advanced copy of #ThePoisonGarden!

What a read this was!! Within the first few pages I was hooked and in what felt like 5 minutes, I was 50% done with the book. It was incredibly fast paced and I was never bored. The storyline was interested. This is about Elise who is getting ready to celebrate her 1st anniversary with new husband Kieran when she uncovers some dark secrets and her world is turned upside down. Reading this made me stressed for Elise because she didn't know who she could trust... Could she trust her husband who claims to love her and will do anything for her, or her ex-husband who seems to still be in love with her, or her helpful neighbor/friend Chantal???? Without giving much away, I was a little confused on where a few chapters were going, as one chapter close to the beginning is from Chantal's point of view but then there was nothing from her point of view again until the end. I figured the first chapter had to be there for a reason and when I found out what the reason was... wow! Mind blown! I chose to read this book so soon after getting it approved on NetGalley because almost every review given was 4/5 stars and it did not disappoint!! Highly recommend!