“It’s a good old-fashioned treasure hunt”

It’s a good read but has not had me gripped, to be honest.
It was a slow start for me, I could not get my head around who is who, especially as two main names were so similar, Mrs Langley and Mr Lydney!
However, as the story progressed, my interest picked and I was keen to find out how the puzzle would unfold.
I liked the theme of the two female characters and, as I live in London, it was nice “walking through” the streets of the city with the characters.

Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley!

Quick summary: After discovering a strange symbol in her late husband’s notebook, Emma sets out to investigate its meaning. Her search leads her to a stranger’s house, and later to his hotel room, where she finds him dead. Although his death is ruled a suicide, Emma suspects otherwise. With help from her friend Penny, she begins unraveling a mystery that quickly grows more complicated.

Review: This is the second book in a series of three, and I didn’t read the first one. That said, I was able to follow the story without any confusion. It was a fun and low-effort read that gave me strong cozy mystery energy. The setting is meant to be Victorian England, but it never really convinced me. It felt more like a modern-day mystery with some old-fashioned vocabulary added in. The dialogue often came across as awkward, and I didn’t think the character development or world-building added much depth. The writing leaned heavily on telling rather than showing, and some plot elements felt random or overly convenient.

That said, I still enjoyed it. It has a quick pace, a classic whodunit feel, and a sense of light intrigue that reminded me of the Nancy Drew books I loved as a kid. I wouldn’t call it immersive or particularly well written, but it held my attention the whole way through. I genuinely wanted to see how the mystery would unfold. If you’re in the mood for something simple and entertaining, this delivers on that.

I loved reading The Whitechapel Widow earlier this year, so I was thrilled to continue the journey with the next installment in the series. And I think I enjoyed the second book even more!

Once again, Emily Organ delivers an entertaining and atmospheric story set against the backdrop of high society London in the 19th century.
This time around, Penny and Emma find themselves drawn away from the foggy alleys of Whitechapel and into a treasure hunt of sorts, unraveling clues left behind by Emma’s late husband. The shift in setting and tone gives this sequel a fresh feel, while still maintaining the charm that made the first story enjoyable.
As with the first book, the historical notes at the end are a welcome added bonus.

I'm already looking forward to the sequel and can't wait to see Penny and Emma accidentally stumble upon murders and mysteries.

Thank you very much to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest opinion of the book. This review is now available on Goodreads.

The Poison Puzzle is a cute, light-hearted mystery with just enough intrigue to keep things moving. Emma and Penny make a likable team as they follow a trail of clues through Victorian London, uncovering secrets and danger along the way. The historical setting adds charm without weighing down the pace. A great pick for fans of cozy historical mysteries. I’m looking forward to seeing where Emma’s next case leads.

This is the second book of a series featuring Emma Langley and a retired reporter named Penny Green.
This story has so many layers that it's impossible to give a good description without giving something of the story away and I don't do spoilers!
What begins as a symbol that Emma's deceased husband left in his diary becomes something far deeper on many levels.
I found the writing in this story to very descriptive with very well done scenes. You can almost feel yourself in the dark misty streets of Victorian London or in Penny's home with her children.
Each person was well fleshed out and the emotions and tensions and fear were all very realistic.
I have always liked Emily Organ's books and this one is no different. Well done.
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving my voluntary review.

What a fantastic cozy mystery set in Victorian London! This is my first book by the author—I wish I'd read the previous Emma Langley mystery, but you needn't read the first one to understand this book.
I'd strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy historical mysteries. The book was well written—I enjoyed the well-researched historical setting and the pacing worked well for a cozy mystery. I was able to figure out the culprit before it was revealed, but I had fun reading the book through the end nevertheless.
I look forward to seeing Emma and Penny (what a strong female character!) solve more mysteries together.
I thank the author, Storm Publishing, and Netgalley for the arc provided in exchange for an honest review.

FABULOUS!!!! What a brilliant read. Had me hooked from the beginning. Sadly, I'm not bright enough to have worked out who did it!! 🤭

A historical fiction mystery set in London that takes us on a thrilling ride through many historical sites in the city as Emma and Penny follow clues after seeing a strange symbol in her late husband's diary.

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have really enjoyed this book. It is the first I have read by this author, but it won't be the last. It had intrigue, a little romance, and above a great mystery. I want more!. I look forward to many more adventures with these two!

Thank you netgalley and Storm Publishing for this arc.

Book 2 following Emma Langley and Penny around. This time her late husband's journal ends up getting them involved in another murder and mystery. It was well paced and another enjoyable read. Looks like we have gotten a glimpse at Emma's potential new love match. Looking forward to the next one.

The Poison Puzzle
By: Emily Organ

5 Stars

I love old school books like this series. In book one, we learn of the demise of Emma's husband, which leaves her with many questions. This second book follows as Emma and Penny are caught up in a mystery and a murder. Together, they hope to solve a most complicated puzzle.

I have thoroughly enjoyed these books. They are they first from this author I have read, but they won't be the last. Emma and Penny make quite a mystery solving duo. These were filled with danger, intrigue, romance, friendship, and above all mystery. They kept me guessing. Kept me wanting more. Adventure spills from the pages and is quite palpable. I hope to read more from this duo soon.

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Reviews

This was a beautiful read from a previously unexplored author and I will be reading more in the future. Really enjoyed the flow of the story and the scene setting descriptions really took me to the place in my mind. Highly recommend this book.

Emma Langley is still trying to come to terms with both the loss of her husband and, more importantly, what dubious shenanigans he was up to prior to his death. She is ably assisted by her friend Penny now Blakely a former Newspaper Journalist but now happily married to her Inspector and with two children. The ladies are intrigued by clues found in husband's diary and follow the clues through various parts of London, a bit of housebreaking, dubious helpers, murder and suspicious family ties, not to mention a treasure hunt. It all works well and there is quite a lot about Victorian society and the role of women. Penny is lucky in that her husband accepts, to a degree, her continued need to be more than a mother. The second in a series but can be read as a standalone. Well recommended. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Emma Langley is a fast study at becoming a skilled sleuth! In The Poison Puzzle, she continues her search, started in The Whitechapel Widow, for answers about her husband’s connection with a secret society and his untimely death. Her curiosity about a symbol in her husband’s diary leads her on a scavenger type hunt for clues to solve a puzzle about a hidden treasure. And, what would the hunt be without a murder to solve as well?

It’s a wonderful pairing to have Emma searching along side of her mentor and friend, Penny Green Blakely. As Emma takes on more and more of the detective work, we learn more about Penny’s delights and trials of being a mother. I like the inclusion of scenes such as when Penny is trying to type an article for the newspaper where she formerly worked as a reporter. Her son, Thomas, takes interest in the typewriter, tries out a few keys, with Penny’s permission, and then brings his toy soldier over for a go. You can imagine how that turns out! Thomas is having great fun and Penny stops working on her article in order to love her son (and save her typewriter!). The scene is just one illustration given of the balancing act mothers experience between pursuing their interests and honoring the needs and actions of their children. The theme of balancing home and work/outside interests is tastefully portrayed, not done in a preachy, sugary, accusatory manner. It’s an additional layer of interest and intellect for the story.

I’m not an historian so can’t vouch for the veracity of what Emily Organ writes about Victorian societal ways, locations and beliefs, but I feel totally confident that she presents an accurate portrayal of the customs and locales of the time. She shares pictures and historical notes related to each of her books, so I know she does the necessary research. With a few well chosen words, Emily paints a vivid picture for her readers of her characters and their interactions with their surroundings and other characters. The pacing of the story is smooth and flowing, and the text and dialogue are easily read in short paragraphs. It’s a pleasure to read her works, all of them.

Thanks to Storm Publishing and Net Galley for this ARC. The second book in this series and i think its better that the first. I also think its better than the last few Penny Green novels; Penny is much better teamed with another amateur detective than her husband. Looking forward to more mysteries.

A fun yet interesting mystery in Victorian Era London. Great descriptions, made me feel I could actually see it happening. Highly recommended.

This is the second book in the series, and it is getting onto my favourites list. The book is written with the same care detail as the first with the fabric of the coats detailed, the furniture in the houses and how people addressed each other. The mystery itself runs for the whole book with tiny corners being lifted as Emma and Penny look to solve what is going on. The role of women at this time was not to investigate crimes nor was it to be a journalist and so Emma and Penny’s battles to be respected plain important part in the book. Their growing friendship is something quite lovely through book one and into this book.

The Poison Puzzle is the second book in the series "Emma Langley Victorian Mysteries" involving dual sleuths Penny (Green)
Blakely and Mrs Emma Langley. This historical mystery series is set in 1880s London and author Emily Organ has written
another thoroughly enjoyable and intriguing mystery.

Emma continues to wonder over what her late husband was involved in, after finding cryptic clues in his diary. Penny uses her
newspaper investigative skills to help solve the puzzle, which also happens to be a treasure hunt. Both women have exciting
adventures around London with suspicious characters at every turn.

This book is so well written and I didn't guess the murderer until the end! No need to read the previous book to enjoy this one, but I
would encourage it.

I really like all of Emily's series because they contain interesting facts about London at that time woven into the plot. She does
exceptional historical research for each book. They are all Highly Recommended!

Fantastic! Emma discovers a recurring appointment with a strange symbol in her late husband's diary. This leads Emma and Penny on the trail on a secretive society, a suspicious death and a treasure hunt. Fantastic descriptions of London at the time and a thrilling and exciting mystery or two to solve. The tidbits of information at the end were very interesting. I look forward to Emma's (and Penny's) next adventure!
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Emily Organ for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.

A very pleasant read! The well described historical background allowed for the atmospheric ambiance of the novel. The characters are mostly convincing: only Penny sounds much too modern . Even though I totally agree with her feminist ideas, her character doesn't feel natural somehow. However, this is only a detail. The plot was intricate and hooking. I enjoyed this second book in the series much more than the first one. I will definitely read more novels by Emily Organ.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.