Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for a copy of this book.

This book wasn't for me. I found the back and forth story line a bit confusing. That being said, it was a good story.

The cult that Romy has grown up in has imploded. Many people are dead & she is suddenly thrust into the “real” world. At 22 she has little idea of social interaction, shopping, travel or much else that we take for granted. Everyone presumes that she is happy to be “free” but is she?

This is an unusual book which had various twists which took me to unexpected places with unexpected ideas. The “world” always presumes that people who have come out of cults are rescued. That they were unhappy and kept against their will. However, if it is all you’ve known do you really want to be deposited in a strange complex, noisy world where you don’t know people & have no idea of the social cues? I loved this way of looking at the situation.

This book does quite a lot of swapping backwards and forwards – back to see Romy growing up in the cult & then back to the here and now when Romy is tackling the real world. There are a variety of other characters as well each with their own baggage & agenda – I’ll leave you to discover them for yourself.

The ending of this book is brilliant – not quite the expected ending for this type of book. This is a clever and quirky book which is well written with good characters. It is interesting to view thew world from a different point of view……

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

A dark and disturbing look at life inside a cult, The Poison Garden by Alex Marwood was an enthralling read. I was transfixed by the character of Romy and her decidedly unorthodox upbringing inside a cult. The book opens with the discovery of a tragedy at the site of the cult compound, where almost all the members are found lifeless. The only adult survivor is Romy, who joined the cult as a toddler with her mother. Through a series of flashbacks we learn about the harsh realities of life in the cult, a survivalist organisation busy prepping for the end of the world. Those outside the cult are called the Dead as they will inevitably die off due to lack of being ready. The cult leader regards himself as the "Progenitor" whose primary function is to create a messiah like offspring, known as the "one" who will lead the cult members safely through the end days. When Romy's mother becomes one of the chosen women to bear his child, it seems like their future is secured, but sometimes being special brings burdens of its own.
In the outside world Romy's aunt Sarah had given up on ever finding her sister or niece , but in the wake of the tragedy she is contacted to say that not only did Romy survive, but so too did her two younger siblings, and so Sarah agrees to take them in, knowing that it will be a huge challenge to help them come to terms with a whole new world on top of the loss of almost everyone they ever knew.
As the story unfolds it seems like there may be more to it than initially meets the eye, and to say anything more would spoil it, but suffice it to say the unpredictability of the characters and their actions mean that this book is not for the faint of heart.
I can only applaud the author for their skill in creating a disturbing yet completely believable setting, the cult, its leader and beliefs are almost too plausible which can make for very uncomfortable reading, though I mean that in an entirely positive way. From the beginning I wanted to know what had gone so badly wrong, and as the book went on , I found myself ever more engrossed . I also thought the sections about Romy and her siblings trying to adjust to life outside the cult were fascinating, the gaps in basic knowledge caused by their unique upbringing were cleverly used to create some drama in what could otherwise have seemed like the more boring side of the story when compared with the drama and tension of so many of the sections set within the cult.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I adore Alex Marwood’s writing and she never fails to bring her characters vividly to life so that you know how they think and feel. The Poison Garden is a different kind of book to her most recent novels but it is just as dark and unnervingly brilliant.

This time she has taken the world of cults as her subject and shows us just what life is like in a world where children are brought up to believe that the law of the cult is the only way to be safe and that whatever happens, the word of the cult leader is not to be denied. These are children who know nothing of the world outside of their own desolate, harsh rural upbringing; whose rituals and slavish behaviours are difficult to comprehend and whose survival skills whilst exemplary will not equip them for what is to come.

This is a bleak and dangerous world. Those who live in the outside world are referred to as ‘the dead’ and every ounce of energy is put in to preparing for an apocalyptic world end. Members of the cult slavishly follow their charismatic leader, Lucien.

Told from three different perspectives, we first learn about our central characters after a cataclysmic event at their commune in Wales. Romy is young, pregnant and was born in the cult; Somer is her mother and Sarah is Somer’s younger sister who was brought up with her sister in a strict faith and now works at a Finborough school.

Sarah lives alone in the house that belonged to her deceased parents. Her sister Alison, renamed Somer in the cult, was ejected from the family home after she became pregnant. She had three children in the cult, Ilo and Eden, who are Romy’s siblings.

When the story begins we find Romy alone and in the hands of social services. She desperately needs to find her siblings whom Sarah, as their sole living adult relative is now looking after.

Marwood creates a layered narrative moving from present to past and back again to show us what life in the cult was like and how the cult’s power structure worked.

The Poison Garden is not a comfortable read. It is the story of life in a poisonous, pernicious culture where interpersonal relationships are toxic and ever shifting. It is particularly distressing to read at this time in our society, because one is left with the over-riding impression that such cults will grow in number as our political and cultural landscape lends itself to more extremism and the blind following of larger than life figures who promise everything and yet only serve their own needs.

Marwood’s depiction of her characters and their situations feels horribly close to an unpalatable, realistic scenario and it is all the more chilling for that. Monsters do live among us and they can command unswerving adoration which inexorably leads to obsessive, destructive behaviours.

She skillfully lays down a scenario which is disturbing and utterly compelling leaving this reader somewhat shell-shocked and horrified. There are faint echoes for me of The Handmaid’s Tale in her apocalyptic vision of life and that is one of the scariest things about this book.

By no means a conventional thriller, but all the better for it, Marwood has presented a story that will chill you to the bone and give you nightmares because you fear it may not be at all dystopian.

Verdict: Remarkable, chilling, uncomfortable and ultimately devastating. This is a must read.

Alex Marwood writes crystal clear, compelling prose and is expert at maintaining distinct and vivid voices and points of view. In this book she creates a cult that is totally separate from the readers' experience yet totally believable. She also doesn't shy away from complex endings. Loved it!

It's an exciting book that begins with the poisoning of most members of a doomsday cult and then follows one of the survivors. The 'father' of the cult had children scattered among the women - he took his pick - and from these children will come 'The One'. This person - male or female - will lead them after the apocalypse..

The last few chapters surprised me.

I read a free advance review copy. This review is voluntary, true and my own opinion.

A story of a small cult, led and orchestrated by, to my mind, a perverted sexual predator. A difficult story to relate to or engage with. The story seemed a little cliched in that it took every perverse action related to cult life and added it to the narrative.

Unlike some readers who enjoyed this narrative I found I struggled to engage with the story or the characters as all of them seemed wholly unlikeable. The writing was well executed and the author was committed to portraying life within a cult in its most extreme but this book wasn’t for me.

From there, we meet Romy who is the lone adult survivor of the deaths at the cult at Plas Golau in rural Wales. We follow her before and after; life within the cult she grew up in and after 'among the Dead' (what they call those of us on the outside who aren't prepared for the impending apocalypse). We also meet Sarah, a woman who's lead a very ordinary life, until a few strays left over from the tragedy at Plas Golou turn up on her doorstep.

The cult life was fascinating; I love a good cult story and this one ticks a lot of boxes; it's a dark, creepy and frank look at the effects of a lifetime of brainwashing. The group at Plas Golou are convinced the end is coming and they're preparing for it. But they are also convinced that there will be 'one' to save them all and that's the bit where things really get weird, because the one has to be the son of their 'Father' Lucien, and Lucien can choose to have sex with whoever he wants in order to achieve this goal. Of course it's more in depth, there's a lot of rules and layers and rituals including the classic Solstice party and coming of age parties for when girls get their period. It's all incredibly bizarre, but told from the point of view of someone who is so deeply ingrained and so fully accepting of this culture, it feels authentic and I could see parallels with famous cults in the real world.

One issue I did have with the story is that I struggled to connect with the characters, there's always a feeling of distance but I think this may be intentional. Looking back, all of their character arcs are perfectly pitched and while not everything went quite the way I expected, it was right for each individual character's journey. It's just that none of them are particularly likeable, which seems to be a common theme with the Marwood novels I've read.

This story definitely leaves a lot of unanswered questions, both about how the cult began and what happens after. I think it's intentionally ambiguous, but I would have liked some characters' stories fleshed out a little more. Who knows - if there's a sequel, I'll definitely be reading it.

Compulsive reading, this is an addictive suspenseful psychological thriller like no other.

The plot is unpredictable with lots of twists and turns along with solid engaging characters.
There is also a sense of dread as the story deals with the deep and dark corners of the human psych.

I very much enjoyed this and would recommend it to anyone!

Fantastic. An absolutely amazing story. Cleaver and insightful and compelling. I loved it. Alex marwood just gets better and better. I loved the cult theme too

Oh this was excellent - and extremely dark! It is terrifying how some people can get caught up in a cult like existence by blindly following an ideology headed up by charismatic personalities. I found myself getting angry at some of the characters, thinking stop being so ridiculous and get out of there! Frighteningly realistic portrayal of how people can be manipulated with their insecurities and vulnerabilities being exploited for the benefit of the 'elite'.
I am a huge fan of Alex Marwood's books, I love the horrible self absorbed characters in them and they are so well written. I would certainly recommend this.

I quite enjoyed this read, but it didn't totally grab me. Alex Marwood's skillful writing evoked a real sense of unease in me and I was deeply uncomfortable reading a great deal of this book. I felt, however, as if I had heard it all before, particularly as I recently watched a television series on cults. Perhaps it was just bad timing. What elevated this book for me was my gradual realisation as to where things were heading, and the totally unexpected ending. It really was a dark read with very little respite. Even sweet, timid, eager-to-please Sarah doesn't bring much light into the book as, for me. she was merely a foil to show up the almost inhumanity of the 'rescued' cult members. Scary and intense, dark and uncomfortable, this read will no doubt appeal to a great many readers.

Gripping and twisty, this book explores the world of cults and draws you in! Fine story telling and good characters. Thank you for the chance to review.

A survivalist 'cult' who believe the world will end have been preparing and surviving off the radar for many years and now suddenly, after an accident, Romy, Ilo and Eden are the only ones left. They move in with their Aunt Sarah who tries to guide them in their new world but because of their beliefs it's not easy for anyone.

Not the usual type of book I'd pick but I did enjoy reading. I was a little confused to start as the plot jumped forwards and back in time but after a couple of chapters I knew where I was at and I enjoyed the jumping back where the characters and their lives and experiences were explained more. I liked the characters, I became invested in them and from the writing could understand their fear in the new world.
Personally, I felt the ending was disappointing....lots of unanswered questions though. It kind of felt like it was suddenly wrapped up all a bit too quick and after such a dramatic and well written build up it was all a bit of an anticlimax. I do think that if this is the start of a series of books I would definitely be interested in following the story on.

I’m always excited by Alex Marwood books – she addresses difficult issues sympathetically but unflinchingly. The book is about cults and belief systems, and the toxic effect they can have on people and relationships.
It opens with a gruesome discovery on a remote farm in Wales, when a group of people having been living a communal life, cut off from the outside world, for many years.

Romy is a survivor of this apocalyptic cult who is brought to live among the Dead (the rest of us, who won’t survive the apocalypse).
Her mother Alison/Somer was brought up in a very strict Christian family who believed that Jesus was going to return to live with them, and she was disowned by her family when she became pregnant.
The timeline switches between earlier times in the commune, and after the break-up, and the story of how charismatic characters can brainwash vulnerable people, and children is truly chilling.
Also, how power can corrupt and change those who wield it, or want to wield it, and how all forms of organised religion can be misused.

The story races along to a shocking, but inevitable conclusion, and remains with you - as with all her books, I want to know what happens next!
The sign of a good book!

Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book group UK for the opportunity to read this book.

The Poison Garden grabs you from page 1 .
A shocking discovery is made -of what appears to be a Jones like mass suicide in and around the grounds of the head quarters of a cult in rural Wales.
Their main purpose was to prepare for the Apocalypse under the watchful eye of their leader - Lucien
The story is then told from 3 perspectives - Romy one of the survivors - who knows hardly anything about life outside the cult - Somer her mother - and Sarah -Somer's younger sister .
This was my first Alex Marwood novel and won't be my last - great story -well written

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy in return for an honest review !

I am a HUGE fan of Alex Marwood's previous books and was thrilled to learn she has a new book being published this month and delighted to get an early copy via Netgalley of THE POISON GARDEN.

THE POISON GARDEN is a real departure from the authors previous books focusing more on the characters and digging deeply into cults, brainwashing and the followers apocalyptic beliefs. 

Told through the viewpoint of several main characters, the story begins in Wales when two police officers are called to a scene to discover hundreds of dead bodies.  This begins the multiple narrators; Sarah, a divorced school administrator who has moved back into her deceased parents house and learns that her sister is one of the dead; Romy, a young girl who is one of the few survivors of cult and Somer, Romy's mother and Sarah's sister who was one of the followers of the cult.

This is a much slower pace than her previous books, but it still kept me hooked and gripped throughout.  The details surrounding the cult and the brainwashing of the followers and the enigmatic leader Lucien Blake made the story plausible and realistic.  There were moments and scenes which were so disturbing and uncomfortable that I had to stop and gather my thoughts before continuing on.  

An interesting and thought-provoking story.

I couldn't put this book down. The complex and at times rather bleak world of this doomsday cult unfolds carefully within the book. I found the cult itself, as well as the various characters within it very interesting to read about. However, I felt a little bit disappointed by the ending. Almost deflated because it all felt very hopeless and dark. I only realised towards the end that there is not a single likeable character within this book. I also found the different narrative voices (one is in 1st person, one is in 3rd) a bit tricky to read, though I realise this was intentional to make the distinction between narrators more clear. The cover is gorgeous and instantly captured my attention.

I’ve really enjoyed Alex Marwood’s previous novels like The Darkest Secret so was really excited to read this especially learning that it’s about cults, a topic that intrigues me.
The book opens with a scene in Wales where two officers have been called down by a farmer because of a strange, putrid smell coming from his neighbours: a private and secluded farm. The officers break through and find a river of dead bodies...
The story then breaks into 3 narrative strands:
* Sarah is a 31-year old divorcee who had moved back to her parent’s house in Finborough after their death three years ago and works as a school administrator. When news about this cult breaks in the media she’s contacted by social services. Her older sister, Michelle (later renamed Somer) who was thrown out of the house by their strict Christian parents after discovering she was pregnant as a teenager was a member of the cult and has two adolescent children. As next of kin Sarah faces the dilemma of being their guardian.
* Present day Romy. Romy is twenty-years old and one of the surviving few members of the cult. She’s also Somer’s daughter. We see her try to assimilate to this new world while keeping her pregnancy a secret and going through with a surreptitious task.
* Past day Romy and Somer. Here we learn more about the cult and how it worked.
My favourite parts of the story was the present day arc. I loved seeing how the characters struggled with cognitive dissonance, how Sarah dealt with her guilt over how her sister was treated and how she tries to put aside the feeling of ‘otherness’ when she meets her niece and nephew in attempt to understand what they’ve been through. I also found Romy to be an engaging and intriguing character, and kept wondering what she was up to. My least favourite parts was cult sections. I think for me personally I’ve just read so many psychological suspense novels that look at cults and have done it better. I wanted more of an explanation on how the cult started, how was it being financed, and what are their underlying beliefs. I understood that they were a survivalist cult obsessed with the inevitable apocalypse. For me there just wasn’t any emotional or psychological involvement, and I found Lucien’s and Uri’s characterisation really wooden and one-dimension. Also plot-wise I found this section predictable.
On the whole this was an immersive read on how survivors from cult struggle to assimilate and a character driven book. However this isn’t your usual mystery/thriller which makes this book for me hard to define. This is a pacy, Psychological drama with suspense elements. 3.5/5

I read ‘The Wicked Girls’ when it was first published, and since then I’ve eagerly awaited each and every one of Marwood’s novels. They’ve all captivated me.

When I saw this on Netgalley, I had to apply for it. But I was a bit concerned...all of the reviews were so low! I wasn’t sure how to feel when I was given a copy.

For me, this was the perfect book. Intricate and captivating, there are no huge twists and turns, rather it reads as an experience rather than a thriller. It’s slow paced and opens like a flower - I could not put it down.

Very, very highly recommended. Do not go into it expecting the same thriller type of read.