Poison Wood gives us the story of famed crime reporter Rita Meade following a story that is bringing her past rapidly into her present, and her future? Only time will tell in this riveting story.

In this Moorhead novel, you find yourself pulling for Rita to learn the truth about what happened at her boarding school that quickly closed after the presumed murder of a student back in 2002 during her senior year. With themes like post-traumatic stress disorder and axiety, I think a lot of readers will be able to sympathize with what Rita is going through as she deals with things going on in both her personal and professional lives.

A few things to note as I went through this novel:
1. Rita is stated that Lousiana is known for poisonous snakes. This is an error. Snakes are venomous, not poisonous.
2. In one part of the story with her dad after his medical emergency, she feels his arm and is grateful to feel that he is still warm. This is in poor judgment on Rita (and Moorhead's part). As a crime reporter, Rita should know and understand that bodies don't go instantly cold upon death.

While this ARC was riddled with spelling errors, this is absolutely okay since it's unedited. But I felt like it was my duty to point out these things because they can be contradicting to a character that is both a crime reporter AND grew up in rural Louisana where snakes and other critters are rampant.

Otherwise, I truly found myself enraptured by this story and wanting to figure out the who of this whodunit! The truth is revealed in the last 10 minutes or so of the story, but we are given plenty to keep us entertained throughout the remainder of the novel so as not to be bored by it and wondering when it would end (I've had this happen before, both in ARCs and in novels I've purchased. It's not a good time, but this was not the vibe with this novel). The truth is seriously shocking and honestly, I never saw it coming.

As a side note, I particularly enjoyed the locale of this novel, both as a lover of the movie Steel Magnolias, which got a shot out in the novel (though Rita says she never heard of it..,which is strange as a Louisiana native) and the fact that I, myself, along with my family, will be moving to Baton Rouge this upcoming fall so it gives me a sort of "lay of the land" if you will.

Thank you to Netgalley, Jennifer Moorhead and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of Poison Wood in exchange for an unbiased review.

Absolutely brilliant book.

I was engaged from start to finish - couldn't put it down. Would definitely read another book by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me too read this book in advance. Seriously loved it..

Poison Wood grabbed me from the first page. It had a good pace to the book with the right amount of suspense. The chapters were very long. I prefer short chapters but that’s not a bad thing.

I went into it completely blind, having not read any other books by this author. This was a very pleasantly surprise, I was left on the edge of my seat the entire time and was hooked from the very beginning. This was overall, a gripping read that will appeal to fans of suspenseful family dramas and dark secrets!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher.

Out October 28th, 2025
When crime reporter Rita Meade returns to the Louisiana forest that once swallowed her youth, she’s not chasing a scoop—she’s chasing ghosts. The Poison Wood Therapeutic Academy for Girls, now a rotting shell of secrets and sorrow, becomes the epicenter of a mystery that claws at Rita’s past. A skull unearthed in the basement, a recanted confession, and a father’s failing memory all converge into a chilling spiral of buried trauma and twisted truths. Moorhead’s prose is thick with humidity and unease, each sentence steeped in the scent of moss, decay, and regret.

As Rita digs deeper, the forest seems to close in around her, whispering long-forgotten names and half-remembered sins. The narrative flickers between present-day investigation and haunting journal entries from her school days, creating a layered tension that feels like peeling back cursed wallpaper. Moorhead masterfully blends psychological suspense with familial reckoning, crafting a tale where every revelation is a step closer to danger. Poison Wood doesn’t just tell a story—it traps you in it, like a vine that tightens the more you struggle. It’s a haunting meditation on memory, ambition, and the price of unearthing what should have stayed buried.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC!

Loved this book! The mystery kept me guessing but gave me enough clues to make reading and attempting to figure it out fun. The Louisiana background was very authentic which is a rare occurrence. The characters were interesting with layers, and I especially enjoyed the continuation of the characters from Broken Bayou, although this book could easily stand alone.

This book had me intrigued from the synopsis, I was fully invested by the first chapter, The changing time line and diary entries kept you guessing. I enjoyed the writing style, the emotional changeds/ arc of the main character. Overall an easy and enjoyable read

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC ebook. All opinions are my own.

I have never read any other books by this author so I went in completely blind. It was amazing! While it did take a few chapters to draw me in, it ended up being an immersive plot line that did not disappoint at any turn.

This is definitely worth the read!

Another great book from Jennifer Moorhead. Poison Wood had me on my toes; it was such an interesting story. The suspense was just enough to keep me wanting to read more and more. I love the way that Jennifer Moorhead tells her stories. I was so intrigued by how mentally strong the main character was in this book and the traumas she had been through as a child and a teen. There are hints of her growth throughout the book as she learns more about her family life and the lives of others she considered friends. I especially liked the little love interest twist. I felt like it made for an amazing ending. I may have also noticed a little reference to her other book, Broken Bayou. Overall, this was such a good read, and I would reread this book.

This book was pretty good, I would definitely recommend

~This was given by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review………..

If you enjoy suspenseful mystery thrillers with unexpected twists, this book is an excellent choice. This was my first experience reading this author's work, and I found their writing style to be very engaging and easy to follow.

Although it took me a few chapters to become fully immersed, once I did, I couldn't put the book down. The suspense and mystery kept me captivated. The story follows Rita, a crime reporter investigating a murder mystery that hits close to home. The twists were so well-executed that I found it challenging to predict the ending.

I was unaware that this book picks up after the author's first novel, *Broken Bayou*. I'm now eager to read the first book!

I loved Moorhead's debut novel, Broken Bayou and was anxious to return to her work with this second novel (not exactly a sequel, but it does reward the reader who is familiar with her first book). Moorhead's Poison Wood builds tension, layers in concerns about trauma and power, and offers a very satisfying ending to the central mysteries of the book. I believe the author understands humanity's propensity to sacrifice truth for comfort, and to tell ourselves lies for the sake of convenience. Plus - her characterization of teenage girls is frightening accurate. Jennifer Moorhead will remain on my must read list going forward. I'm so excited to have encountered her work and wish her the very best success.

This book had lots of twists and turns, and it kept me engaged! I did feel like something was missing at the end so I am giving this 3.5 out of 4 stars. I may have just been me missing something but I have some unanswered questions. I did enjoy Rita’s drive, and how she was determined to find out the truth regardless of her situation! I definitely need to read more from this author for sure!

This is my second book from the author as I read her first book, Broken Bayou. I loved reading with the characters from Broken Bayou in this one. I met the author at a book festival here in Louisiana (I loved reading local authors!) that I got her first book and she told me about her second book coming that I could not wait to read. I loved reading her writing style and thrillers especially set near me! It was a great book. 5 stars. The only part confused me were the journal entries. It never told us who’s who till the end. I love how it wrapped up who the killer(s) is. My kind of ending. I love the Academia setting of the old abandoned school with it’s deadly past, slowly revealing all of the secrets. I so enjoyed curling up to this. Highly recommended! Looking forward to get my new copy signed at her next book signing. Best wishes!

Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for providing the copy of Poison Wood by Jennifer Moorhead. The story was great, and I love it when characters have to delve back into their pasts and uncover deeply hidden events and mysteries. I loved the mysterious diary entries of the schoolgirls that gave us a glimpse of the past without really giving anything away. Rita was an interesting character. Even though she was a little too needy for validation, I liked her relationship with her father and her reminisces about her past schoolmates. With all the drinking she did, I couldn’t decide if I trusted her or not. The writing propelled me through Rita's reveal-filled investigation. The big reveal didn’t have the wow factor I was hoping for, but it made sense, even though it kind of came out of the blue. If you want a book that will keep you riveted, try this one! 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

I really liked Broken Bayou so I was excited to get my hands on this book. It didn't disappoint it kept me engaged the entire time and the story flowed so well.

This is the second book I have read by this author and it did not disappoint. Set in the swampy bayou, it is atmospheric and chilling. Looking forward to reading more by this author.

After reading Broken Bayou (and thoroughly enjoying it!), I was SO excited to see that Jennifer Moorhead was writing another book and it did not disappoint! I was hooked from the beginning and had so much trouble putting it down. You initially meet Rita Meade in Broken Bayou as a committed investigative reporter who got herself into a bit of a bad spot. In Poison Wood, she finds herself in a bit of a predicament when she is presented with a story that is directly related to her past. She ultimately gets taken off the story but that doesn’t stop her from doing her own investigating. And this investigation is a roller coaster from the get-go! All the secrets and lies she uncovers along the way, whether they involve her family or her old “friends,” are enough to have you reeling and completely sucked into the story. The world-building and character-building are on-point, which of course adds to the story. If you are looking for a mystery-thriller that will have you captivated while keeping your guessing, this is 100% the book you need to read!

This is the second in the series. I didn't read the first one, and althought I don't feel like I had to, I want to go back and read it becasue I liked this one so much.

Rita Meade is a reported who recently broke a huge story involving a serial killer. This story involves something much more personal to Rita. It involves Poison Wood Academy, the girls boarding school that Rita's dad sent her to when he found her kissing a boy. A school that did more damage than good and left her with lasting trauma that haunts her in her adulthood.

It took a little bit for me to get into the book, but the further along we got, the more I was drawn in. The characters are complex, and the stories build on each other. Rita's past is unraveled and the secrets of Poison Wood are exposed. The setting is eerie and creepy, exactly how I image an old abandoned girls boarding school in Louisiana would look.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I love a good thriller. This story took off like a shot. At first I found the FMC a little irritating, but she grows into her own. I love the race to uncover secrets and trying to hide secrets. I loved the twisty tension and the reveal was totally worth it. I look forward to reading more from this author.