Poison Wood by Jennifer Moorhead is a compelling blend of mystery, suspense, and emotional depth that kept me hooked from start to finish. Rita’s return to the haunted Louisiana woods—where her troubled past and unresolved secrets lie buried—creates a tense atmosphere filled with lurking danger and long-buried truths. The story strikes a perfect balance—part psychological thriller, part family drama—as Rita unearths disturbing clues about her former school and her own tangled roots. Moorhead skillfully crafts an environment thick with suspense, making every discovery feel like a step closer to the truth, but also a step deeper into danger. Her journey is as much about confronting the ghosts of her past as it is about uncovering the secrets that could tear her family apart. Rita’s internal struggle and her quest for justice make *Poison Wood* more than just a mystery—it’s an exploration of trauma, truth, and the cost of digging up the past. Overall, a gripping read that will appeal to fans of suspenseful family dramas and dark secrets!

3 stars out of 5.

Having not read Broken Bayou, I went into reading Poison Wood blind. It quickly became clear that this didn't matter; Moorhead manages to build the world and its characters successfully and weave the important events from the previous book into the narrative for readers new to the series like me.

We follow reporter Rita Meade as she latches onto her next big scoop after the bayou and faces a tangled web of memories, lies and cover ups in dire need of unravelling. Forced to face her own demons and juggling her father's ill health, will Rita be able to take a backseat and let others break this story when she is more involved with the events at Poison Wood Therapeutic Academy for Girls than anyone first realised?

Flitting between student journal entries from 2002 and Rita's present-day perspective, the narrative is fast-paced while taking time to build the tension surrounding the many mysteries held in Poison Wood's dark past.

I found myself speeding through the book to find the answers I was so desperate for. There were plenty of surprises along the way but I will admit the grand reveal came a little out of left field for me and so felt a bit underwhelming. Still a thoroughly enjoyable journey to get there and an author I would happily read again.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

a haunting psychological thriller about how far we’ll go to seize our dreams and shield our secrets, and the devastating consequences when we can’t do both! Great dark thriller! This book had some shocking moments, great suspense, mystery, murder, dark past secrets, and a few jaw dropping twists! The story was very interesting! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

If you are looking for a good mystery novel to read then Poison Wood is one that you really need to check out. abefore reading this I had never read anything by Jennifer Moorhead so I will admit that I was diving into unfamiliar territory but I managed to make it through and I will say that I was not only impressed with the writing but also the plot line and the characters.
The story follows the adventures of a crime reporter named Rita and she has a very popular docuseries about a serial killer. She is one of those people who can handle any type of case thrown at her but when there is a revelation that just happens to be at her old school she is very on the fence with the whole thing because it brings back unpleasant memories.
Will she be able to overcome the sea of emotions that threaten to erupt and will it all end up coming to an explosion in the long run.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.