I genuinely adore this book. I couldn’t stop reading, so I didn’t, and finished it in less than a day (and I’m a very slow reader).

First off, I love the autism representation. Our main character is autistic, and it truly adds so much to the story. This book would’ve felt completely different with a different protagonist. Honestly, one of the things that makes it so incredible is her inner monologues and the way she interacts with the world around her.

I was also impressed with the side characters and how three-dimensional they feel. That said, they’re not the main focus, and you can definitely sense that throughout. The spotlight stays on our main character, and for this story, that really works.

The mystery was suspenseful without being over-the-top. I really wanted to know what was going on, but I was also so into the journey that I never felt tempted to skip ahead (which, I’ll admit, I sometimes do with mysteries). I loved the plot twists and trying to piece everything together.

Thank you so much to Jill Johnson, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for providing a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Seven days. That's the time it took me to get through this book. It was on my mind everyday. The writing, the characters, the story. I think the connection was there because of Professor Rose's quiet and adventurous self. She reminded me a bit of myself with how passionate she can be about a specific matter. The sublteness of her character was refreshing to say the least. And that is apart from the rest of the characters.
Not only did I feel an inclination towards the prose but also the fact that it was told from Professor Rose's perspective added a distinct layer to the understanding of what was happening during the whole story. If I'm being honest I was a bit more intrigued about how she navigated her personal life and the investigation –her methods– than the reasons behind the crime itself. But i must admit that once the dots were connected it felt rewarding. As if i was there and had had an important role in it. Overall I enjoyed the characters and the way there was a code to understanding how the protagonist felt about them.
This is an enjoyable book that I totally recommend reading. In fact I'm looking forward to reading the previous two books of this series.
Last but not least thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the free ARC in exchange of an honest review.

"From the author of The Woman in the Garden, Jill Johnson is back with another gripping Professor Eustacia Rose Mystery...

Betrayal is a bitter poison...

After getting caught in the middle of a murder investigation involving her very own poisonous plants, Professor Eustacia Rose was sure she'd never see the inside of a classroom again. With the case now closed, she finds herself back teaching toxicology to a group of grad students, spending time with her plant collection, and even forming a blossoming relationship.

But when your work is with poisons, peace is sometimes hard to find. When a man is found dead with a needle in his neck, and a disturbing painting of Eustacia links her and the body, she suddenly finds herself thrust back into a world of crime.

And at work, there's yet another threat for Eustacia to deal with. A PhD student is desperate to get access to her poisonous plant collection, and when she refuses to help him, he starts buying illegal plant toxins from an unknown source - and soon turns up dead as well. Are the two deaths connected? And could she be the link? With no leads and the body count rising, Eustacia is left with no choice but to investigate herself, however dangerous it may become.

With a quirky protagonist, dark academia aesthetic and an array of exotic poisonous plants, this unique spin on the classic murder mystery novel will hook fans Gail Honeyman's Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club."

If someone wants to buy illegal plant toxins, it's on them when they turn up dead.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC*

When I realized this was the second book in a series, I put it down for a bit to read the first book and loved it! I was a bit worried that I might not enjoy this installment as much as the first, but I liked The Poison Grove even more than the first book.

Eustacia is a complexly written character that you have to accept for who she is. She is very heavily autism coded and some behaviors she exhibits are more accurate than others. She is sometimes frustrating to read but that gives her a human quality that lacks in a cookie cutter perfect detective. There were multiple moments where I wanted to shake the professor because something was right in front of her eyes and she just was not seeing it. Her growth as a character is non-linear but she learns more about herself, her friends, her relationship, and society at large. Where she feels almost creepy in the first book, she acknowledges and learns from her actions.

She is called to help when a man is found with a syringe full of poison in his neck. From that moment on the mystery absolutely takes off. The twists and turns in this book were well developed and I wasn't able to put it all together until near the end. A highlight of this story for me was the misunderstood clues. A handful of evidence is given impertinence because it is thought to be superfluous, but the professor assesses and reassess information in a way that keeps everything fresh. A lot of characters take on a "I need to save my own skin" attitude that also lent a human quality to the story, nobody openly admits to any wrong doings. I thoroughly enjoy that Johnson does not give us a Clue-style "this is what really happened" and instead leaves some loose ends up to reader interpretation.

In three words: botanical, layered, and enriching. I highly recommend The Poison Grove to cozy mystery readers who want to step outside of the box. I impatiently await the next book.

I just recently got into reading mysteries, and this book will be hard to top. I love the elements of botany woven throughout the storyline, and it’s nice and easy to read.

A botany professor who specializes in toxic plants. A threatening student who will not leave her alone. A man is poisoned with a powerful hallucinogen and the police need her expertise.

Professor Eustacia Rose is being called to help investigate a poisoning involving a toxic substance. Her methodical and obsessive personality works well for solving mysteries and finding herself in dangerous situations. All the while her partner, Matilde, is trying hard to have a relationship with her. There’s an obsessive student she has nicknamed Giant Hogsweed, who will not leave her alone.

I recommend this book for any reader who enjoys a mystery and a humorous character. Professor Rose gives people nicknames based on flowers or plants, it’s quite entertaining and informative. The obsessive student is Giant Hogsweed, which is a toxic plant that causes blisters from touching the plant. I’m obsessed with what nickname Professor Rose would give me, if only I could be a star cactus or firethorn.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.