Elise is living her dream - living in a beautiful big house on an island in the Pacific Northwest and married to a handsome doctor.  Her world is shattered when she arrived home early on her first wedding anniversary.  What follows is a psychological letdown of a book.  Despite having the potential to be a great story, there are just too many impossible aspects to the plot.  2 stars.

(NetGalley ebook -  I received a complimentary advanced reader copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

I am no longer interested in the content of this book. So, I'm DNF'ing this book for now. I may circle back around to this book one day.

I really loved A. J. Banner’s last book, so I was excited to hear about her newest novel The Poison Garden. She has a way of writing about that niggle of doubt in a relationship that can tear it wide open.

Elise runs an herbal boutique she inherited from her late mother. Elise’s mom died a few years earlier, and in the wake of her grief her mother’s physician is there for her. And soon the handsome doctor becomes more than just a confidant, he becomes her husband. 

On the eve of her wedding anniversary, Elise is adding her husband to her will and her finances. She inherited quite a bit from her mother passing and it’s time to move on. But when she arrives home early and finds her husband in a compromising position, everything Elise thought she knew is turned on it’s head.

And thus begins a terrible time in Elise’s life. Not only is she dealing with the destruction of her marriage, but it appears that her life may be in danger. Though is it from someone with nefarious intent, or is she losing it?

A.J. Banner played with memory a lot in this book, as well as sleep. Elise has a sleep-walking habit which I found to be an interesting element. She was never entirely at grips with herself and what she has done, which led to that unsettling feeling that permeates the story.

I wish I could say more about the ending but this one has some great twists so I don’t want to risk spoiling. I hope you enjoy it!!

Thank you to Kathleen Carter and Lake Union Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.

Elise is excited, can’t wait to surprise her husband for their anniversary.  He also has a surprise for her.  From there, this book takes off on a roller coaster of a ride!  This book was a fast read for me, finished it before I knew it.  So many twists and turns. Some you expected, others...not so much.  Perfect read for a fall day, but make sure you have nothing planned, you just might not want to put this book down!

This author is so descriptive, almost like reading a movie.  I’ve enjoyed all her previous books and, for me, this did not disappoint.  Characters are flawed.  Some made me uncomfortable, some down right scary, while others were completely narcissistic.   

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.  Opinion is mine alone.

⭐️Book Review ⭐️
The Poison Garden by AJ Banner
3.5/5 Stars

The main character Elise is about to celebrate her first anniversary when she comes home to find her husband, Kieran, cheating on her. Her life now is disarray, she finds telltale signs of his disloyalty from their entire relationship. And to boot- Kiernan was the doctor that took care of her mother right up to the day of her death. 

Elise begins unraveling the unsettling truth that Kieran May have married her not for love, but for something else entirely. 

The book begins all over the place and really doesn’t tie together until about 2/3 through. As it is only just over 200 pages, it is a quick read. It is filled with so many twists that will absolutely keep you guessing til the very end.  Don’t look for the spoilers, allow yourself the mystery and enjoy the book.

Let me start this review by saying this is one of those books that you can’t get into much detail without giving to much away.
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Elise has the perfect life. Happy marriage, a job she loves and wealth. With her first wedding anniversary coming up Elise decided to return home from her trip a day early to surprise her husband and get their celebration started however upon her arrival home her world is turned upside down. With the world spinning around her Elise is trying to determine what to do and where to turn but she is thankful to have the support of her friend/ neighbor and her ex husband who is working next door. Murder, lies and unpredictability will have you wondering what is going on.
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The characters in this one are super unlikeable and there were many times I was frustrated with them. Overall this was a quick read that grabs your attention 3.5 ⭐️ thank you @netgalley for my copy!

This was such a good book to read, I read it so quickly because I just couldn’t put it down. It had all the elements I love in a thriller, twisty and exciting and sometimes creepy.
It was a little bit different to a lot of the thrillers I’ve read in the past but it kept me guessing right down to the end.
I would certainly read this author again and recommend this book to my friends.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Returning from a trip to the city to spend her anniversary weekend with her husband of a year Elise's life is plunged into disarray.
everything Elise thought she knew about her perfect existence is brought into close scrutiny and question and as she further investigates to get to the hidden truths, her eyes are then further opened as her world crumbles around her.
Not knowing who she can trust or even believe Elise has only herself to rely on.
So this was mainly told from Elise's POV with some slight input from her neighbour Chantel who also seems to have her own personal hidden agenda concerning Elise.
This was such an easy page-turner captivating and intriguing with a deep vein of mystery running through its narrative.
Despite appearances, this was so far from the obvious I was expecting and this changed directions on me constantly blind-siding me along the way.
I was suitably impressed with the masterful story-weaving skills of this author.
If psychological thrillers are your genre of choice I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this one not only was it such an enjoyable read its a bloody good one definitely keeping me on my toes throughout.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of The Poison Garden.

I think there might have been one twist too many in this novel. The writing was fine and the author really made me care about the narrator when she caught her husband cheating, but after that the emotion seemed to fizzle out.

When I look at my notes on the plot, the story feels a little convoluted. Elise is an easily paranoid person who quickly grows to distrust and fear her husband, Kieran, who has lied many times to her. Her ex-husband is working on a project for her next door neighbor and seems to be a bit of a protector to her, but he has his own dark agenda. At one point, it became impossible to determine which husband was manipulating her and which was protecting her. And then there was her friend, her next door neighbor. A slim part of the story was told by Chantal, which didn't make much sense until the very end.

When I think about how I felt while reading it, and when I ruminate upon it long after reading, I'm awed at what a fast-paced thriller it was. I loved not knowing who to trust, who to believe. I hated that Elise was so easily manipulated, but, were I in her shoes, I think my psyche would be more than a little fragile. But she clearly had bad taste in men. As for Chantal, I was so confused about her chapters as they felt like they intruded on the story Elise was telling, but it really came together at the end, and I can't help but feel a bit impressed. This may be a thriller focused on the easily manipulated Elise, but I also think of it as really being Chantal's story and the lengths she would go to for a friend.

The characters were so insanely well-done. I kept going back on forth on Elise's husband, Kieran, and ex-husband, Brandon, and whether to trust them or not. In some books, this comes off more as the author not really feeling sure about their characters. This wasn't the case here. I felt like the author knew exactly what she was doing, and was purposefully twisting the reader's mind around with Elise's. As helpless as I felt Elise was, and as much as I wished Chantal had told more of the story, it really had to be Elise's. Her character and the story fit perfectly together. Easily manipulated, increasingly paranoid, and longing to trust someone, this thriller depended on her perspective.

Let's discuss the setting a bit. It takes place on an island off the coast of Washington. It's remote and idyllic with a small population. It's seemingly cut off from the rest of the world, so is its own microcosm. At the beginning, I really loved the island. It really did feel idyllic and picture perfect and, gosh, I wouldn't mind living there. But, as the story went along, that remoteness came into play with absolute perfection. The island began to feel sinister, as though it were wrapping itself around Elise and choking her.

The Poison Garden tells a really twisted story. It asks whether you truly know someone. I loved not knowing what was going on and where the story was going. I felt as helpless as Elise did. I found it really easy to be swept up in this story. Overall, this was an excellent thriller where the story, characters, and setting worked together with near flawlessness to tell a truly dark and twisted story.


Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a free e-copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Link to post: https://thelilycafe.com/book-review-the-poison-garden-by-a-j-banner/

It’s the day before her one-year wedding anniversary and Elise has a problem in the new gaslight-esque thriller, Poison Garden.

When Elise arrives home one day early from a trip, she finds her husband, Kieran, in their marital bed with another woman. He swears it was a one-time fling, but her neighbor, Chantal, tells her she has seen the woman sneaking into the house once before.

Elise also finds her herb store unlocked and in disorder. Did she really sleepwalk into the store the night before she left on her trip? Or is Kieran plotting to kill her with the poisonous plants kept in her shop? And what did he and his lover’s pillow talk about patience and playing the long game really mean?

The cat and mouse game between Elise and Kieran is the best part of the Poison Garden. You feel Elise’s shock at her husband’s betrayal deeply. You want to see her succeed in getting herself and her money away from him. Neighbor Chantal’s story is intriguing and adds depth to the plot.

Overall, the genuineness of the characters and the compelling plot forced me to stay up late to finish this book in one sitting. 4 stars!

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Everyone Has An Agenda. This is one of those books where if you spend more than a couple of pages or so with a character... they have some ulterior motive to everything they're doing. Dark and twisted, with pretty solid pacing throughout. Couple of places that seemed to be a bit *too* trippy, but that could have been just this reader - and these places usually resolve themselves well enough if you just keep going. Overall an excellent work, and I'm looking forward to more from this author. Very much recommended.

THE POISON GARDEN by A.J. Banner 

From the time Elise gets home to the end of this book you will be on edge. Not know exactly what to believe or think. I had lots of theories about what was going to happen and what happened but the twists and turns in this book through me for a huge loop. I was way wrong about who did what to whom. Elise comes home to surprise her husband the day before their first wedding anniversary and she gets more surprises than she ever bargained for.

Some of the characters in this book I loved. I loved Elise and even Chantal finally. At first I thought Chantal was just a tramp who had no feelings at all for what her friend was going through. But she proved to be a very good friend and was there when it counted. She had her own sorrows and was able to finally come to “terms” with things that happened in her life.

This book will definitely keep you turning the pages until the very ending. The ending was done powerfully and oh so good. I loved all the things that happened to those that got what they deserved. I thought it was perfect justice. This book will pull you right in from the very beginning and will not let you go until the sweet ending. The ending is very sweet too. Right before the ending you find out why different things happened and who did what. I usually figure these things out but this book was a surprise to me. I loved that.

A. J. Banner is a wonderful author of thrillers. I’ve read a couple and always look forward to more. This one in my opinion is the best one yet. It’s definitely one that you won’t want to put down until the very last page.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #LakeUnionPublisher’s for this book. This review is mine and mine alone. 

A huge 5 stars and highly recommend this book to everyone that loves a great thriller.

This was my idea of a very good book. Not too long, very exciting and hard to put down! Elise is getting ready to celebrate her one year anniversary with her perfect husband- until she discovers he isn’t, without giving too much away,suffice it to say there are some twists. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to pre-review this book!

I was lucky to received an ebook version of this book in exchange for feedback. I read this book so quickly, I couldn't put it down and the fast pace just never slowed down. I feel for anyone who is involved in Elise's life, everyone is a suspect and everyone has some back story with a motive. Once you think things are all tied up with a neat little bow, you're wrong and there is more. This book keeps you guessing until the last page. Another winner for A.J. Banner!!

This was a really easy thriller to read. At just a little over 200 pages, it's a great rainy day book. 

It was fairly predictable, though there was one big twist I didn't see coming. The biggest issue I had were the characters. None were really likable - the "bad guys" were all bad, no black or white, no real motivations beyond just being a bad guy. I wish the main character was a little stronger. Her naivete grated on me sometimes. 

I did like the neighbor, Chantal, who was really the only character who had some layers and a real arc. 

Overall, it was a quick, decent thriller.

Elise seems to be well settled. An idyllic marriage, a beautiful home, gorgeous settings and tranquil lifestyle. In an instant her world is turned upside down, when she discovers her husband having a relationship with a girl in her own home.

Faced with such a situation Elise finds that she does not seem to be able to think rationally. 

Disturbed and distraught Elise reverts to sleep walking and seems to be unaware of what she is doing at the time. Forces around her want her to imagine that she is losing her mind and Elise falls into the trap very easily.

Who is her enemy and who is her friend. Did she imagine she saw her husband dead, is her ex husband who is constantly on the scene actually concerned for her or is it put on and what is it with a caring neighbour who we know is not quite right. Is Elise herself in a proper state or is she slightly off balance and mentally not stable?

I found the background of the story a bit disconcerting till its conclusion. I felt there were too many strands that had to be woven together. The descriptiveness of the setting of this island was very good.

This was a bit too much of a complicated story for me though I did read to the end.

The positive is that this is a very, very quick read. It's short and moves at a fast pace. Unfortunately, it's just beyond believable. I couldn't suspend my disbelief enough to buy anything that happens. Another thing I don't care for is the first person chapters blended with the third--Just pick one already, it's too many heads to be in and makes things jumbled.
There are some potential good twists, but again, they are just not believable at all. The convenient losses of memory and sleepwalking just made it all the more out there.
I generally like Banner's books, and will continue to pick them up in the future. This one just fell a bit short for me.

As this book began, I could see exactly what was going to happen.  Then it went in another direction.  And another.  Was anyone sane?  Who could be trusted?!  Plenty of twists and turns in this one to keep the reader happily confused to the very end!!

Elise had been married before to Brandon. Now she was happily married to Dr. Kieran Lund. They lived in her childhood home on Chinook Island. Elise had been a pharmacist but the pressure got to her and since her mother Seline had passed away she had taken over her mother’s herbal boutique-Clary Sage in honor of her mother. The shop is behind Elise’s house in the woods.  Elise loved gardening and shopkeeping although she was still learning. Now it was Kieran and her first wedding anniversary She had been on a trip to Seattle but Elise came home a day early and prepared a special anniversary surprise. Money was no object as Elise had inherited a lot of money from her mother. When she gets home she find Kieran in bed with a much younger woman before confronting him she hears them talking about getting rid of her. She than kicks Keran out of her house. Elise decides to do an investigation of her own on Kieran and finds her husband was in some serious financial trouble. Brandon works construction and actually doing some work for her neighbor Chantal and has agreed to help her. But she wonders about him also. Now she has two men she can’t trust. She doesn’t know who to trust. Chantal is Elise’s neighbor and friend, she is also a computer hacker. Chantal lives inside her memories of happier days. Four years ago her teenage daughter jenny had died. After that her son had relocated overseas. Her husband Bill and Chantal had divorced. Kieran won’t leave Elise alone and is determined to win her back. Then strange things start to happen. Elise starts sleepwalking again from stress, things in the shop were moved or misplaced, and she finds her mother’s journal that she had never seen before, and strange credit card bills. Also the juliet plant had reemerged in the herb bed. It was a poisonous plant her mother had warned her never to touch. You have to use just the right amount in formulas and such. Too much can be deadly. Elise is afraid for her life. 
I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast and easy  read. Alot was happening maybe a little too much. This book kept me guessing. This includes: deception, cheating, family drama. Obsession, violence greed . financial trouble. A wealthy woman, poison plants, canver, plotting murder, revenge,  and grief. I liked the plot and pace. I sat on the edge of my chair at times.  I loved the characters and the ins and outs  of this book and I recommend it.