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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a well-paced contemporary cozy that’s heavy on the toxicology facts about various plants. I saw it at Barnes & Noble over the weekend and hadn’t heard of it before seeing the striking cover. The bleeding hearts drew me in.
The main character Professor Rose is in her mid-40s, dresses androgynously (her words), is attracted to women, & is neurodivergent. (There’s no romance, and it’s never clearly stated whether she only likes women.)
Borrowed from the Cincinnati Library via Libby (it happened to be immediately available).
Side note:
Apparently the original title was Devil’s Breath. It’s being rereleased in August 2025 as The Poison Grove.
The main character Professor Rose is in her mid-40s, dresses androgynously (her words), is attracted to women, & is neurodivergent. (There’s no romance, and it’s never clearly stated whether she only likes women.)
Borrowed from the Cincinnati Library via Libby (it happened to be immediately available).
Side note:
Apparently the original title was Devil’s Breath. It’s being rereleased in August 2025 as The Poison Grove.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really didn't enjoy this from the very beginning when our main character was stalking her neighbours and tracking their movements. I should have put it down then tbh
It was perverse and weird and never actually addressed.
And the investigation itself is never solved which makes me so angry. Only one other time have I had this happen to me and it was similarly infuriating.
We see the guy that gets arrested in the end being framed and the main character decides not to tell the police
The police officer was actually quite good until his personality did a total 180 and he involved a civilian in an investigation. I never really like that.
Final thing that really bothered me that is never addressed:
She breaks into a 'kidnapped' woman's house, has a bath, wears her clothes, nicks her phone and takes a piece of clothing because she likes the smell? So bizzare
It was perverse and weird and never actually addressed.
And the investigation itself is never solved which makes me so angry. Only one other time have I had this happen to me and it was similarly infuriating.
The police officer was actually quite good until his personality did a total 180 and he involved a civilian in an investigation. I never really like that.
Final thing that really bothered me that is never addressed:
would recommend! i loved the main character and the loved how the pieces all came together in the end
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
It took me a little while to get into this ... and i wasn't very keen on Professor Rose, but by the end, I was really hooked !
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Professor Eustacia Rose lives an unusual life. She is an expert in botanical toxicology and climbs a ladder through the ceiling of her London flat to her garden of highly toxic plants. She has to grow this garden at home because twelve months ago there was an 'incident' at the University. Somehow, her lab was contaminated. Not only did no one listen to her protestations of innocence, but she lost her position and the respect of her colleagues. All this on top of the recent death of her beloved father.
Now that so much of her time is spent in her rooftop garden Eustacia begins to watch the lives of her neighbours like scenes from a serial. But she becomes increasingly hooked into the story of the exotically beautiful Psycho and the four men in her life. She's increasingly fearful for Psycho and uncharacteristically willing to get involved with people and their incomprehensible behaviours to help Psycho and keep her safe.
And then she finds that she too is at risk. Not only is she unsafe, but so is her life's work and her freedom, as she finds herself on the cusp of a murder charge.
I found this book more and more fascinating. Eustacia Rose is a character that is increasingly interesting and satisfying and yet there is still so much to learn. She is as unusual a detective as Sherlock Holmes was in his day with the added attraction of real character development. The supporting characters are definitely engaging and occasionally perplexing. How has the DCI developed more insight and respect for Eustacia in the last twelve months despite her seemingly odd behaviours?
The plot grows to be somewhat labyrinthine but with enough action to keep me involved. I'm also still considering the ending which I think may be somewhat controversial. It works for me but would it really have worked for Eustacia? I'll be interested to hear the various arguments.
I believe this is the first in a series and I'm looking forward to the next instalment. I have great hopes for the future of this series and highly recommend this book.
4 stars
Thanks to #NetGalley and Ms Johnson for this ARC in exchange for a free and honest review.
Now that so much of her time is spent in her rooftop garden Eustacia begins to watch the lives of her neighbours like scenes from a serial. But she becomes increasingly hooked into the story of the exotically beautiful Psycho and the four men in her life. She's increasingly fearful for Psycho and uncharacteristically willing to get involved with people and their incomprehensible behaviours to help Psycho and keep her safe.
And then she finds that she too is at risk. Not only is she unsafe, but so is her life's work and her freedom, as she finds herself on the cusp of a murder charge.
I found this book more and more fascinating. Eustacia Rose is a character that is increasingly interesting and satisfying and yet there is still so much to learn. She is as unusual a detective as Sherlock Holmes was in his day with the added attraction of real character development. The supporting characters are definitely engaging and occasionally perplexing. How has the DCI developed more insight and respect for Eustacia in the last twelve months despite her seemingly odd behaviours?
The plot grows to be somewhat labyrinthine but with enough action to keep me involved. I'm also still considering the ending which I think may be somewhat controversial. It works for me but would it really have worked for Eustacia? I'll be interested to hear the various arguments.
I believe this is the first in a series and I'm looking forward to the next instalment. I have great hopes for the future of this series and highly recommend this book.
4 stars
Thanks to #NetGalley and Ms Johnson for this ARC in exchange for a free and honest review.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Devil’s Breath is the first novel in a new crime series built around a neurodivergent professor of botanical toxicology, Eustacia Rose. Full Review at Newtown Review of Books
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated