A RATHER PECULIAR POISONING is a historical mystery that would make a great movie.

We have lots of characters with an onslaught of entangled relationship drama. I didn’t find any of the characters likable, but they certainly were interesting. The mystery will keep you guessing because almost everyone involved has a motive to murder someone else.

Susie Riddell does a great job with the audiobook narration. If you tend to listen to audiobooks while multitasking, be aware that you need to pay close attention at first in order to keep all the characters straight.

*Thanks to HQ Audio (#HiveInfluencer) for the free audiobook download!*

What a cozy little mystery romance mess of a book.

Picture Clue but with a lot more secrets, love hexagons, and everyone is either up to something or hiding something.

The setting was cozy. Turn-of-the-century lakeside estate with a seemingly endless amount of old servants passageways (aka hidden hallways behind walls), surrounded by woods, and with several greenhouses.

Weston and Easton being twins was fun. You knew right away there was going to be all sorts of tomfoolery with that. Made worse by the fact they are both in love with Eloise, the girl from next door who they grew up with, but she is in love with Wes. Wes and Easton though? They might have a rivalry going but will either step on the other to get the girl? Classic love triangle.

Unfortunately for Wes and Eloise, Easton, as the older twin, is set to inherit everything. As such, Weston is to marry Della, an heiress who comes to stay at the estate with her mother. And Easton is to marry Eloise. Meanwhile, Wes can't seem to keep his hands off the maids, one of whom is Violet who is pretty sure she should be the one getting married to Wes. Or Easton, it doesn't really matter as long as she gets to be the one on the other end of the serving finally.

Spending the engagement party week with the mess is their father who can't seem to keep them under control as he continues to mourn his wife, their younger sister Lucy who has issues of her own that cause everyone problems, and the staff including poor Sadie who really is just trying to do her job.

When Wes ends up poisoned with Nightshade from his mother's poison greenhouse, accusations start flying in every direction as everyone with their own motive tries to point the blame elsewhere. When the attempts to murder poor Wes amp up so does the drama as everyone falls into plans, arguments, and compromising positions.

Who is trying to kill Wes and why? Who is going to end up with who? And will the messy past between the twins and Eloise come to light?

The audiobook was narrated so well, and was a delight to listen to.

While cozy and charming don't let this one fool you, it's a real puzzle and you gotta keep track of who is talking to who, when, where, and why. There was more than once I replayed parts because I was doing other things, tuned back in and went 'wait what now.' The who dun it journey was fun, the big reveal on the final night was even messier.

Multi POV between Eloise, Violet, Sadie, and Della you really get to know the girls, or so you think. And everyone else at the estate? Good luck.

Multi time line we jump from the engagement festivities to several points in the past as we learn just how messy things between the twins and their girl really were.

Highly recommend for a cozy autumn read.

Thank you to Netgalley, Harlequin Audio and Chrystal for the ALC of this book. I had to immediately preorder a physical copy when I was done with it. Definitely a reread.

I was surprised by this book. I guess just because of it being more historical, I didn't expect it to be so fast paced. I was pleasantly surprised! There was constantly something happening. I will admit that sometimes it was almost too much for me just because there were so many different characters and POVs. It was sometimes hard to keep up. However, it was a great story and the ending was unexpected and so twisty!

The narrator was wonderful and gave life to the characters. I really enjoyed it!

Ok, this was fantastic! I had so much fun listening to this historical mystery fiction. The narration was perfection.
It felt like the who done it Bridgerton edition but make it gothic vibes.
I can’t say I loved any of the characters, but I think that was the point to keep us guessing. Which by the way..I did not.

Imagine The Inheritance Games meets Bridgerton—that’s the vibe of A Rather Peculiar Poisoning. It’s a fast-paced, drama-filled historical mystery that reads like a YA thriller, even though it’s firmly adult in cast and setting.

The love interests, Weston and Easton (yes, twin brothers), are exactly as ridiculous as you’d imagine. The twin thing? It’s exactly what you think. And while I did guess the ending early on, that didn’t make the ride any less enjoyable.

This book was really fun to read: compelling, dramatic, and easy to picture as a binge-worthy TV series. I loved the historical backdrop, but it’s the tone and pacing that really made it shine.

I absolutely loved this book! The ending left my jaw on the floor and my mind racing long after I turned the last page. I thought the narrator did a great job.

HOLY CRAP... this book blew me away! This mystery thriller was a masterclass in twists, tangled relationships, and, best of all, poison. It had everything I crave in a whodunit: a sharp, compelling plot, characters with layered motives, and surprises lurking around every corner. I was hooked from the first page, constantly guessing and second-guessing as the story pulled me deeper... and of course never guessing right! The writing was stunning and utterly engaging. This book kept me perched on the edge of my seat until the very last page.

Tropes: Twin brothers, a poison greenhouse, poisoning mystery, entangled secrets, house drama, love triangles, and engagements

This book was the perfect transition book for me to get into the fall spirit! A great mystery historical fiction story that made me feel like I was transported into this crazy manor trying to figure out what in the world is going on!

I dont read mystery/thriller books often, but I really enioy it when I cant pin point exactly what happened or see the plot twists coming from a mile away and this book was exactly that!

If you are looking for a mystery historical fiction, you need to pick this one up!

Set to be released on Sept 2nd!

Thank you Harlequin audio for the early listening copy! All thoughts are my own

Title: A Rather Peculiar Poising
Author: Chrystal Schleyer
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Susie Riddell
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Genre: Mystery/Historical Fiction
Pub Date: September 2, 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 302

I was drawn to this when I read one review mentioned this had the vibe of Downton Abbey with upstairs/downstairs characters… With that - I knew I’ was in!

Time Period; 1910 ~ Story starts with an engagement celebration,
Story told from the POV of the upstairs and downstairs characters – each it told from a different characters POV – I like that the chapter heading also gives the name of the character. As there are many all with some kind of drama!!

Easton and Weston Asquich are twenty-two year old twin brothers and although the look alike they are opposites like their names East vs West. The twins are both in love with Eloise a childhood best friend.
Eloise fell in love with Weston many years ago. He admits he loves her as well since he is the second son he is not heir to and needs Money to make sure his little sister – fifteen year old Lucy has proper care. She has issues and the dad plus Easton believe she needs morel care than they can provide. Weston plans to propose to Della Durlett an heiress. Her wealth can assure that Lucy won’t be taken away. Thus Eloise finds herself engaged to Easton—the twin she doesn’t like.

The engagement celebration is held in the Asquith’s Manor. It is large and can easily handle the many who will be attending - families of the spouses-to-be as well as a number of servants.

Speaking of servants story switches to a chapter regarding Sadie Fisher the “Cook’s Assistant”.
The cook is her aunt and instructs her to go to greenhouse and pick huckleberries as they will be used for the evening’s dessert. When she returns to the kitchen, her aunt immediately recognizes that the berries are not huckleberries but Nightshade which does look like the berries she was requested to gather only Nightshade is poison. Her aunt tells her she went to the wrong greenhouse and went to the ‘Poison Garden’ which should have been locked. She tells her to take the proper key and go lock the door. As she is locking the door Weston approaches her. He is taken by her beauty. She tries to get away stating she knows he is engaged. However, he kisses her. What?
During the evening celebration Wes is poisoned. Murmurs of Nightshade are throughout the manor,
Wes is alive but ill. It seems he was spotted with Sadie. Might this be a punishment? Or jealousy? Etc.
Actually whodunit this almost murder kept me guessing. It seems several have a motive-it seems Wes has a playboy and there is another servant Violet whom he was interested in.
But wait he isn’t the mystery – What happened to the beloved servant Betty? Was her accident really an accident or was it murder? Aww the plot gets thicker!

As the story continues and we get to know the many characters and they sure kept me suspicious as well as interested.

The ending left me with a hint there might be a Book #2 – Count me in!

Thank You to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 2, 2025.