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.

Just finished reading the e-galley! What a phenomenal story! Definitely kept me engrossed from the very first page. The author’s writing style is excellent. It flows with each sentence. My heart would race as I anticipated the unfolding of the characters with each twist and turn. I wanted to finish reading but at the same time wanted more. The Poison Garden definitely did not disappoint.

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!

A. J. Banner is a MUST read author for me! Her books never disappoint and leave me wanting more! The Poison Garden was no exception and is probably my new favorite book of hers! Elise has the perfect life or so she thinks. Married to her second husband Kieran , living in her mom's house, and running the herb boutique her Mom had built. But nothing is ever what it seems. As twists and turns are revealed, Elise starts second guessing herself. This book kept me on my toes as I was shocked with all the layers. This is an absolute must read if you love psychological suspense! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

A.J. Banner is an absolute master at writing thrillers! The Poison Garden had me on the edge of my seat the entire way through!!! Just when I thought I had a grip on what would happen next, A.J. Banner would throw in a perfectly placed twist or turn and shock the heck out of me! I don’t want to touch on any details because the blinder you go into this novel the better, but I will say that I am confident that any mystery/thriller fans will think this book is as fantastic as I think it is! I wish I could give The Poison Garden more than 5 star because it’s just that good! A.J. Banner is always a sure thing for me, but I think she actually outdid herself with this gem!! The Poison Garden is most definitely on my 2019 favorites list!

The Poison Garden pulled me in the first chapter and never let go. I have to admit I was intrigued by the title. The ideal that a garden could be a place for a suspense novel to unfold had me wondering how? A.J. Banner took us into the world of pharmaceutical and herbal medicine and gave it a dark twist. It truly is a Hitchcockian story full of plot twists and much more!

A day before their first anniversary, Elise returns home from a work trip to find her husband, Kieran in bed with a woman he hired to stage his farmhouse. She catches snippets of their conversation in the bedroom that suggests Kieran is probably planning to do away with her. Has he been after her money the whole time?

When Elise confronts them, Kieran tells Elise that the sex meant nothing and that he still loves her. But Elise kicks Kieran out and calls her attorney immediately to change her will. Apparently, Kieran stands to inherit $5 million dollars in the event of Elise’s death.

That doesn’t deter Kieran from stopping by their house (which Elise owns by the way). He gets in with his spare key to their home to try and win Elise back.

Meanwhile, Elise’s ex, Brandon, whom she’d been married to for four years is still largely in the picture. He’s an architect, and sometimes he checks up on Elise whenever he’s in town for a project, asking to meet up for coffee (which she always turns down). When Kieran enters Elise’s house once again, uninvited, Elise asks Brandon to change the locks.

Following one of his unscheduled visits, Elise wakes up to find Kieran dead on the steps behind her house. She has no recollection of how she got there. She tries to resuscitate him, then she goes to get help but suddenly loses consciousness. When she finally comes to, Kieran is gone. Did she kill him while she was sleepwalking or was this all a dream? Or does her ex-husband have anything to do with Kieran’s disappearance?

As the story unravels, Elise wonders if she’s being targeted and starts questioning everything about herself, her life, and her marriage.

The Poison Garden is a captivating book that will keep the reader guessing and turning the pages to see how everything unfolds.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and A. J. Banner for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The title alone of this book had me intrigued. What would a poison garden have growing in it and what would someone do with the yield from this garden? The possibilities are endless in my mind.
Ms. Banner wove a very suspenseful and thrilling story around just such a scenario with characters that have hidden agendas that take unexpected twists and turns. Who is doing what to whom?
I had my heart pounding from the very beginning of this book. The prologue is intense! I am holding my breath and feeling frantic with Elise. That was it.....I was in this story completely.
Ms. Banner writes her scenes so well and descriptively. I can see in my mind as if I were there what the surroundings are. The sounds, the sights, the smells, the "feelings", the drama of what is going on. It pulls me into the story and makes me react along with Elise, the main character. I love the cliff hanger chapter endings. I just HAD to keep reading on....I couldn't put the book down. This story had me guessing and changing my mind. Reguessing and rechanging my mind again and again. The characters were unpredictable. I would think I had it figured out and then a new twist would occur and I'd be back to square one. I love stories that do this. Ms. Banner is extremely talented in doing just that.
This psychological thriller had me gulping and gasping! Shocked and stunned! My heart was thumping with adrenaline rush! It's another great read by this author who knows how to take the reader on a suspense filled ride.
I want to thank Ms. Banner and Netgalley for the privilege of reading this five star book!

The Poison Garden is the latest thriller by A. J. Banner. Fast paced, The Poison Garden keeps the reader guessing and turning pages to see what happens next. Ms Banner (as usual) gives us some edge of the seat moments. I was given an early copy to review.

Another heart stopping, fast paced psychological thriller by A. J. Banner!
I have loved all of her books and this was no exception. I literally did not want to stop reading this, I simply had to find out more. I was hooked from the very beginning. I knew as soon as I started that I would finish this book the same day and that's what I did. I cannot recommend her books enough. 5 stars!

This author is one of my favs. I have read all of her books and follow her on FB. This book follows her previous but can stand on its own if you haven’t read previous book. This thriller has you wondering just who is the bad guy in Elise’s life. Current husband or previous husband?? I changed my mind as story progressed. Throw in some other characters and a beautiful location in NW United States and you’ve got amazing book.

Wow! This was a wonderful mystery thriller. I loved the fast pace and how nothing was as it seemed. Great characters, premise and twist. My favorite AJ Banner story to date!!!

Wow! This book was quite the adventure! I was very surprised by many of the twists. This was a quick and engaging book!

A superior psychological thriller that I wholeheartedly recommend.

The main character Elise returns home one day from work to find her husband in bed with another woman only a few days from celebrating their 1st anniversary. Of course she kicks him out but he keeps stalking her everywhere.

Things go from bad to worse when the other woman turns up dead not far away from Elise's house.
From this point onward Elise's world starts unraveling and she discovers deadly secrets that will make her question everything and everyone in her life.

An amazing gripping book that kept me all night to finish, and I was really sad when it ended.
Thanks Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing, and author A. J. Banner for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was drawn in from the opening pages.This was my favorite type of psychological thriller characters that come alive twists and turns scenes especially the opening scene that left me racing through the pages unputdownable. #netgalley #lakeunionpublishing,