Short quick little book. Good story. Interesting characters for the little bit we know about them. however I think this would benefit if it was just a little bit longer. Take some more time getting to know the characters, Vere to train and plan his revenge more, felt a little rushed at the end. I wanted to explore the additional characters more and his relationship with his wife.

3.5/5

Poison by Gary Ball is a story of loss, revenge, and possible redemption —a story that grips you from the start until the end. This is sad, wild and unbelievable...
Losing a kid is not easy, losing more than once - even harder.
An English professor, Vere Larson, lost his son, Chris, twice. First, when Cris started his drug addiction and secondly, when Cris overdosed. Vere decided to take justice into his own hands...

Thank you, NetGalley for this copy!

Sometimes you just need a good value vigilante story. No complex notions, easy to read and gets the job done.

That was this one for me. A short read that I feel a lot of us parents would be able to sympathise with, and makes you think if this were my kid, what would I be capable of?

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this novella.

2.5/5 rounded down

Poison follows Vere Larson, an English Professor and father who seeks vigilante justice after his son dies from a drug overdose the day he moves to college.

Already with this story you have to suspend disbelief but until around the 65% mark I was hooked and likely would have rated this much higher. However, at that point the plot becomes extremely convoluted and messy. The author lost my attention and interest and never regained it.

Maybe if this idea was expanded into a full novel and developed better my opinions would be different.

Thank you to NetGalley and Köehler Books for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Oh my god. I can hardly put into words what I just read—a gripping tale of loss, revenge, guilt, satisfaction, and redemption. Though short in length, it carried immense emotional depth, making it anything but a quick read. Every step forward in life comes with a weight of emotions, and this story encapsulated that struggle beautifully. I struggle to describe it fully, but one thing is certain—it’s a must-read.

This was a fast-paced short story that grappled with the destructive forces of drugs, corruption, dealing drugs, death, and seeking vengeance. At its core, it's a heart-wrenching narrative of an English professor, Vere Larson, as he battles the death of his son, Chris, who succumbed to a drug overdose. Vere's story is a stark reminder of the devastating power of drugs and addiction as he becomes fixated on the drug dealers who tore his family apart and caused his son's death. This book is a powerful testament to the urgent need to address the destructive impact of drugs and addiction on families and loved ones. The beauty of the writing adds another layer of depth to this already powerful story. This was such a beautifully written story for the time I was here. Highly recommend!