The Queen of Poisons ⭐⭐⭐🔅 3.25

The Queen of Poisons by Robert Thorogood 

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G👀dreads About Summary

The Marlow Murder Club is on the hunt for a killer... Geoffrey Lushington, Mayor of Marlow, dies suddenly during a town council meeting. When traces of aconite―also known as the queen of poisons―are found in his coffee cup, the police realize he was murdered. But who did it? And why?

The police bring Judith, Suzie, and Becks in to investigate the murder as civilian advisors right from the start, so they have free rein to interview suspects and follow the evidence to their heart's content… which is perfect because Judith has no time for rules and standard procedure. But this case has the Marlow Murder Club stumped. Who would want to kill the affable mayor of Marlow? How did they even get the poison into his coffee? And is anyone else in danger? The Marlow Murder Club is about to face their most difficult case yet...

Genre: Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Crime, MŪrdɇr Mystery, British, Thriller

The How/Why: Down the rabbit hole. I was looking for another with a similar title and this one popped up on in Hoopla.

⭐⭐⭐🔅 3.25

🎉🎊 Overall Storytelling? 🎉🎉🎉🎐

  • Setting the stage. Atmosphere, Vibe 🎉🎉🎉
  • Likeable Characters: Protagonist, Supporting Cast, Extras 🎉🎉🎉🎉
  • Unlikeable Antagonist 🎉🎉🎉
  • Executing the premise 🎉🎉🎉
  • Lives up to the promise 🎉🎉🎉

🎣🎏 Did it grab and keep my attention? 🎣🎣🎣

🗣️Would I recommend it to anyone? Maybe 🤷 If you enjoy Cozy Mystery

🕮 Would I want a sequel? No ➖ 

📚 Would I want to read more books by this author? No ➖ 
This is Book 3 of 5 of The Marlow Murder Club. I have not listened to the first two. It's said to be a standalone mystery because the plot is self contained. If you read them in order, you get a better bond with the main characters. Bond Schmond. 

⚠️💣💥 📢 Content Warnings? ꞘɐtƤh0oḆiɐ & B0dy Shąminᵷ, MŪrdɇr & P0is0ninᵷ, Ǥriɇf & DɇaṪh
Not sure how/why ꞘɐtƤh0oḆiɐ & B0dy Shąminᵷ comes into play in a cozy mystery but I'll let you know.  
Update: Not over the top but also not necessary IMO. Some mocking about larger bodies, judging a character's weight. The author tried to back peddle but it didn't feel genuine. 

🌶️🫑Spice? No

🌪 Plot Twist? No

👟 Pace? Up and down ↕️

💻 Tidbits ~ Note to Self: It's hard to go from True Crime > Historical Fiction Mystery Thriller >Cozy Mystery! 😏

I enjoyed the bond between three local and very different women. A Septuagenarian and two Millennials with vastly different skills.  Judith's sharp puzzle-solving mind, Suzie, the dog walker, knows everyone in town, Becks' eye for social details. They made quite the trifecta. 

Once they discover they are looking for clues in all the wrong places their pieces of the puzzle start coming together. 

Highlights

  • The Lethal Plant “the queen of poisons”.
  • Civilian Investigators.
  • A Dramatic Arrest (helpful k-9).
  • Stays cozy despite the dark poisoning plot.
Lowlight
  • There is a trigger warning for Fatphobia and Body Shaming. Not so cozy and also not necessary IMO. The author tried to back peddle but it didn't feel genuine to me. 
Extra Tidbit: If you love the book series, it is also a TV Series which started in 2024. PBS has announced it's been renewed for a fourth season. 

🎧 Narrator: Nicolette McKenzie 👍

🎧9.10 hours (Hoopla) 🕮 272 pages



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