This was an incredibly good read! The story was beautifully written and the characters were flushed out really well! Definitely worth the read!

Eustacia, the protagonist of Jill Johnson's The Woman in the Garden, spends her days in self-imposed isolation in her rooftop garden tending to her poisonous plants and her evenings spying on her neighbors through her telescope, especially her beautiful new neighbor whom she has nicknamed Psycho after one of her plants. Eustacia is a brilliant former professor but being on the spectrum has always made life challenging for her. Up until a year ago, she had her father, who was also a brilliant professor, to help her navigate life, but when he passes away, Eustacia doesn't know how to cope, and then her life completely falls apart after an accident rips her from her beloved university lab and places her in the police's crosshairs.

Now she guards her secret garden ferociously and tends to it meticulously, memorizing every leaf on every vine. She becomes just as fanatical about Psycho who is visited by four men, one of whom Eustacia recognizes in despair from her own past. Richard Wainwright has already ruined her life once before, stealing her only true love away from her, so Eustacia convinces herself that she must protect Psycho from Wainwright.

Eustacia has to begin engaging with people again in order to triumph, but when a horrible crime is committed, her actions place her again under suspicion from the very same detective who investigated her after her lab accident, and when she is reintroduced to her former love, she has to ponder the age old question if you can ever go back.

Although recommended, the reader has to be willing to extend their disbelief for an uncanny number of coincidences. Overall a fast-paced, enjoyable thriller.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an excellent domestic thriller with natural horror themes, a true unique take on the genre. It was a pretty quick read with deep character development. The mysterious aspects of the plot make the reader want more, the true testament of a well written story.

This was quite an interesting read and premise, but it stayed mainly middle of the road for me. I enjoyed the setup and the information and intrigue about the plants, and enjoyed the beginning of it. Eventually though, midway through, the adrenaline with the story and the mystery stayed stagnant and didn't give the aha moments that I was expecting. I'm not a fan of slow burns, and I didn't think this was one, but then it geared toward that the more I got into the book. Overall, this was simply just ok for me.

I do, however, like the author's writing style, just hoping the pacing was a bit better. I want to read her other books to come since this was a debut. The subject was just so fascinating and well researched with the poisonous plants and I was just so giddy learning about what I could. Unfortunately I'm one of those who don't ever retain anything. I liked that the MC characterized people as different plants when she met them, which made it fun and easy to remember. But with that great of a character, I was bummed at eventually I wasn't so attached to the storyline by the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Woman in the Garden by Jill Johnson

This story was well written but I feel like it lacked somethjng ... Not really my cup of tea

If you are not into gardening, don't read this. Just didn't care about the gardening and botany. Not the story for me.

Pick this up if you like: Slow burns, quirky characters, and stories with botanical themes.

Though this story had a promising setup, the execution felt scattered. Much of the book is spent on Eustacia’s inner thoughts and descriptions of plants, which makes for a slower pace without much dialogue to break it up. While the author clearly did extensive research on poisonous plants, the details often felt heavy-handed and didn’t always move the plot forward.

The plot itself left much to be desired. Key questions were left unresolved, and the story sometimes veered into confusing territory—such as when Eustacia is attacked by Andreas, only to inexplicably join him for a drink afterward. The mystery aspect was somewhat predictable, yet parts of it were still left unanswered. As for the ending, Eustacia’s sudden date with a character named Matilde felt completely out of left field, raising even more questions than it answered.

On the plus side, the book is fast-paced and an easy read. I appreciated that Eustacia’s neurodivergence was subtly woven into her character without it becoming a central theme. However, the lack of character engagement and clarity in the plot ultimately made this book feel like a missed opportunity.

For readers looking for an unusual character with an intriguing hobby, The Woman in the Garden has some appeal. But those expecting a tightly woven mystery may find themselves frustrated by the loose ends and lack of satisfying resolution.

The Woman in the Garden is an intriguing mystery that builds a haunting atmosphere, but it doesn’t fully capitalize on its potential. The novel's premise—an old estate hiding dark secrets—draws readers in, and the setting is richly detailed, with the garden itself almost becoming a character. However, the plot unravels at a slower pace than expected, which might frustrate readers looking for a more gripping mystery.

The characters are compelling, especially the enigmatic woman at the heart of the story, but at times they feel underdeveloped, leaving their motivations somewhat unclear. The twists, while interesting, can be predictable, and the conclusion feels rushed compared to the slow buildup.

For fans of atmospheric, gothic-style mysteries, The Woman in the Garden provides an enjoyable escape, but it might not satisfy those seeking a tightly woven, suspenseful plot. It’s an atmospheric read, with moments of tension, but ultimately falls short of delivering a truly unforgettable mystery.

A captivating blend of mystery and botanical machination. I found Eustacia to be a fascinating character and i loved the detailed descriptions of her garden and the toxic plants. The mystery unfolded at a steady pace with several twists and turns that kept me guessing.
Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The mystery was what drew me in, loved the idea of a rooftop garden. But I got lost in all the “plant talk”, lessons about botany, Latin names of plants, about growing plants, and about toxic and poisonous plants, the toxicity of plants …so many details about these topics. Not topics I normally find myself enjoying, so I was a bit lost, and found myself skimming along over sections. For this reason, I feel like I wasn’t able to fully connect with our MC Eustacia, or the other characters as much as I would have liked. There is mystery, and intrigue, but there was so much “extra” information (to show how eccentric she was), that I wasn’t able to enjoy it as much as I had hoped. If you are someone who enjoys gardening as a hobby, or someone who enjoys going on walks in the woods and is curious about the plants and flowers you encounter, this would be a great read.

This book was a new genre from my typical style. It was not my favorite but it kept me guessing! I would recommend it and others might really find it very interesting!

📚 BOOK REVIEW 📚

The Woman In The Garden By Jill Johnson
Publication Date: July 16, 2024
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐

📚MY REVIEW:

The Woman in the Garden is a mystery about an eccentric professor who studies poisonous plants and becomes implicated in a whodunnit murder mystery.

Our female MC, Eustacia, is a super eccentric and quirky character. She is a professor of botanical toxicology at a University in London, slightly agoraphobic at the book's start, who seemingly wears the clothing of her father (who passed away a year ago) as a way to remain connected to him. She has a rooftop garden where she grows numerous poisonous plants, and where she also has a rooftop telescope that she uses to spy on her neighbors. Spying on her neighbors pulls her into a situation that is the focus of the mystery portion of the book.

To me, this book was a massive education and lesson about botany, about growing plants, and about toxic and poisonous plants. It was written with an academia sort-of vibe, with so many details about these topics. Unfortunately, those aren't topics that are of much interest to me, so I found myself often zoning out while I read. Seriously, there was so much talk about plants - including their Latin names - and the uses of each plant and their toxicities and... It was A LOT. And it just didn't hold my interest.

I know the book had some mysteries going on in the plotline, but I was so checked out after all the academia talk about plants that I couldn't get hyped enough to get into them. And I just didn't connect at all with Eustacia and her eccentric quirks, which also meant I didn't feel like I connected with the supporting characters in the book, either.

If you are someone who enjoys gardening as a hobby, or someone who enjoys the study of botany, I think you'll really love this book. This is also a great read for anyone who enjoys going on walks in the woods and is curious about the flora and fauna on display in nature. (I'm not that person). The details in this book will be of great interest to those who enjoy these hobbies, as the information is extensive. Though this book didn't really work for me, I know there are many readers who will really love Eustacia and all of her botanical knowledge! I want to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

#TheWomanInTheGarden #JillJohnson #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARC #bookreviews #bookrecommendations #bookrecs #booklover

Right off the bat I was in love with Eustacia Rose as we see her dealing with grief and her career at the start and it Definitely is such a unique hobby having to tend those types of plants. It’s a slow one but a good one!

Eustacia Rose is a Professor of Botanical Toxicology who lives alone in London with only her extensive collection of poisonous plants for company. She tends to her garden with meticulous care. Her life is quiet. Her schedule never changes. Until the day she hears a scream and the temptation to investigate proves irresistible.

This was a fun start to a new mystery series. Eustacia is an interesting protagonist and the framing of poisonous plants is intriguing.

🪴 Book Review 🪴

Title : The Woman in the Garden
Author : Jill Johnson
Genre : Mystery
Rate : 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thanks to @netgalley for an arc copy of this book. This was published on the 16th July 2024.

“I’ve always been better with plants than people … “

We meet Eustacia Rose, a professor of botanical toxicology. She lives in London with her extensive collection of poisonous plants to keep her company. Her lives a quiet life and her routine never changes.

Until one day she hears her neighbour (Simone) scream and she looks across the street through her telescope and she becomes fascinated with her.
There men come and go (she nicknames them after plants) and after she believes the neighbour has been kidnapped, she makes it her mission to investigate and discover what has happened to her.

It took me a bit to get into this one and see where it was going. It was well written and read smoothly once I got into it. He definitely had me in suspense and I loved the idea of a rooftop garden (even if it was of poisonous plants 😅)

This was an enjoyable read and I’ll definitely look out for more of her books.

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Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Jill Johnson’s The Woman in the Garden is a mesmerizing dive into the world of botanical intrigue and psychological suspense. This novel masterfully intertwines the beauty of nature with the darkness of human obsession, creating a narrative that is both captivating and unsettling.

The story centers around Professor Eustacia Rose, a reclusive botanist specializing in botanical toxicology. Eustacia’s life is meticulously ordered, revolving around her extensive collection of poisonous plants and her peculiar hobby of observing her neighbors through a telescope. Her quiet existence is shattered when she hears a scream and becomes fixated on her new neighbor, Simone, and the various men who surround her life.

Eustacia Rose is a fascinating protagonist. Her transformation from a solitary academic to an amateur sleuth is both believable and compelling. Johnson skillfully portrays Eustacia’s internal struggles and her gradual emergence from isolation. Simone, the enigmatic neighbor, adds layers of intrigue and complexity to the story. 

Johnson’s writing is vivid and evocative, painting a rich picture of Eustacia’s world. The detailed descriptions of the plants and their toxic properties add an authentic touch to the narrative. The pacing is well-balanced, maintaining a steady build-up of suspense that keeps readers engaged from start to finish.

The Woman in the Garden explores themes of obsession, isolation, and the fine line between curiosity and voyeurism. It raises questions about the ethical boundaries of scientific inquiry and the consequences of crossing them.

Jill Johnson has crafted a novel that is as intellectually stimulating as it is thrilling. The Woman in the Garden is a thought-provoking exploration of the darker aspects of human nature, set against the backdrop of a beautifully described botanical world. This book is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and anyone who appreciates a well-crafted, suspenseful narrative.

While I found this one a bit slow to start I really enjoyed Eustacia’s story by the end.

When we meet her, she’s still grieving the loss of her father and her career at the university.

But when she realises Simone is in trouble and befriends her to try help, she learns to lean on the people around her and accept help when she needs it.

As a character, she has a great development arc and it was so interesting to see how the use of the poison garden matched with her personality.

Thank you to Poised Pen Press, NetGalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Plant lovers....This one is for you. This book follows Eustacia Rose an ex-professor of Botanical Toxicology, she is such a unique and quirky character. Eustacia lives alone and tends to her toxic garden. I think the fact that she had such a unique garden, not just pretty flowers, but deadly plants was my favorite part of this book. Overall, the book was well written well with a very unique characters.

This book was a slow start, and quite frankly, slow throughout for me. I wasn't a fan of this book. While I like detail in books, sometimes it's too much and too focused, but doesn't really play that much of a factor into the book. While this book wasn't for me, if I think someone else would enjoy it more, I would certainly recommend it at that time.

Who knew I would ever want a poisonous plant garden of my very own? This novel was suspenseful and diverse, with great main characters. If you like plants and botanicals, then this is a book you would enjoy. I appreciate the opportunity to read this !