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A Slow and Secret Poison
In the early 1900s, a young gardener at a lush English manor falls in love with her employer whose past is shrouded in deadly secrets—from the author of the “twisty, Gothic thriller” (Entertainment Weekly) Spitting Gold.
1922, When Vee Morgan accepts the job of gardener at a crumbling stately home in southwest England, she’s hoping it’s a fresh start.
But Harfold Manor is shadowed by its own grief and the memories of long-faded glory, its rooms haunted by the only surviving member of the family, Lady Arabella Lascy. Vee is fascinated by her enigmatic new employer, a woman obsessed with the curse she believes has killed her family one by one and is coming for her next. Her only hope for escape is a local the elusive dancing hare that gave her ancestor its blessing and the house its name.
But even as Vee falls deeper under the thrall of Harfold and Lady Arabella, her own dark past finally catches up to her in this lush and atmospheric novel.
1922, When Vee Morgan accepts the job of gardener at a crumbling stately home in southwest England, she’s hoping it’s a fresh start.
But Harfold Manor is shadowed by its own grief and the memories of long-faded glory, its rooms haunted by the only surviving member of the family, Lady Arabella Lascy. Vee is fascinated by her enigmatic new employer, a woman obsessed with the curse she believes has killed her family one by one and is coming for her next. Her only hope for escape is a local the elusive dancing hare that gave her ancestor its blessing and the house its name.
But even as Vee falls deeper under the thrall of Harfold and Lady Arabella, her own dark past finally catches up to her in this lush and atmospheric novel.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 22, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️ 4 ⭐️ Every three years someone dies at the Harford Manor. Each death is a tragic accident or a stroke of bad luck, as if someone has an expiration date. The only living survivor is Lady Arabella Lascy and she’s somewhat a recluse. Parents gone, four brothers dead, Arabella is living in fear of a curse that she believes is haunting her due to her past mistakes.
Vee Morgan moves into a Harford Manor to work as a gardener for the Lascy family. Vee herself comes from a troubled past and has dark secrets. As she immerses herself into the world of Hartford, Vee becomes completely entranced by her employer and the secrets that poison her. This magnetic pull between them becomes dangerous and along with the novels dark, eerie atmosphere, the ongoing sense of impending doom will keep you fully invested.
This book alone wins on immaculate use of gothic elements. Lowkis created an atmosphere that felt unsettling, spooky, dreadful. I was mainly reading this late at night and it genuinely elevated my experience.
I particularly enjoyed the flashback chapters and how Lowkis used them in reverse order to build the momentum and highlight the haunting elements of the story. They certainly solidified the story and gave more depth into Arabella’s character.
A Slow and Secret Poison is mostly a historical gothic mystery/fiction. The sapphic romance was mainly a subplot but its 1920s representation was as historically accurate (closed door) as it was culturally accepted (not talked about/not accepted). While there were no open door scenes, the tension was felt through unspoken words and the magnetic pull that Vee had towards Arabella. I particularly enjoyed how accurately depicted the “unspokeness” was for that time era.
I did feel the ending was a solid one, perhaps a bit too fast paced by the end as the author tried to wrap up the mystery. It does end on a what-if/did she or did she not note, leaving the reader up for a good book club discussion! Overall I would recommend this book for a lush atmospheric experience, particularly closer to the fall/winter/rainy season!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and the author, Carmella Lowkis for an early ARC.
Publication date: February 10, 2026
Vee Morgan moves into a Harford Manor to work as a gardener for the Lascy family. Vee herself comes from a troubled past and has dark secrets. As she immerses herself into the world of Hartford, Vee becomes completely entranced by her employer and the secrets that poison her. This magnetic pull between them becomes dangerous and along with the novels dark, eerie atmosphere, the ongoing sense of impending doom will keep you fully invested.
This book alone wins on immaculate use of gothic elements. Lowkis created an atmosphere that felt unsettling, spooky, dreadful. I was mainly reading this late at night and it genuinely elevated my experience.
I particularly enjoyed the flashback chapters and how Lowkis used them in reverse order to build the momentum and highlight the haunting elements of the story. They certainly solidified the story and gave more depth into Arabella’s character.
A Slow and Secret Poison is mostly a historical gothic mystery/fiction. The sapphic romance was mainly a subplot but its 1920s representation was as historically accurate (closed door) as it was culturally accepted (not talked about/not accepted). While there were no open door scenes, the tension was felt through unspoken words and the magnetic pull that Vee had towards Arabella. I particularly enjoyed how accurately depicted the “unspokeness” was for that time era.
I did feel the ending was a solid one, perhaps a bit too fast paced by the end as the author tried to wrap up the mystery. It does end on a what-if/did she or did she not note, leaving the reader up for a good book club discussion! Overall I would recommend this book for a lush atmospheric experience, particularly closer to the fall/winter/rainy season!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and the author, Carmella Lowkis for an early ARC.
Publication date: February 10, 2026
September 14, 2025
A historical gothic set at a crumbling old manor in the English countryside, A Slow and Secret Poison is dripping with spooky atmosphere and dark family secrets, with an extra dose of toxic lesbians. Vee is running from a mysterious sordid past in Cardiff, and it's not what you'd assume, so she takes a job that asks for no references as a gardener at a remote estate as a fresh start. A woman gardener is already unusual enough for the time, and Vee is desperate to escape her past, so she asks no questions.
There she meets Arabella, the lady of the house, a lonely and eccentric woman whom she is drawn to, like caring for an injured baby bird. Awkward courtship ensues, with Arabella sewing Vee embroidered portraits of herself when she didn't know Arabella was watching. But this was no sweet romance in which queer people eke out love at the margins of an oppressive historical society; in fact it is no romance at all. It is more like a revenge story. Arabella believes she is cursed, as everyone in her family line has died except her and another caretaker, her cousin, who is hiding secrets of his own. But the root of her curse is a dark family secret.
Arabella and Vee are more alike in their secrets than they think, class and privilege protecting only one of them.
I liked the layers of class and family secrets in this, taking the upstairs downstairs approach of Downton Abbey with a darker edge. I loved the dog, Mutton, and Reacher's pet finch, which provided an intimate element that bonded these characters together. CW for a dog death, but this one didn't trouble me as they usually do. It was a pivotal moment for developing these complex and dark characters.
I wasn't sure who I was rooting for in the end, because nobody in this was entirely innocent or likable, but I really enjoyed the lush writing and toxic, complicated characters. No one was really morally grey in this, they were morally black with few redeeming qualities. It was more historical than supernatural or horror than I was anticipating so this is hard to categorize, but I appreciated that as well. This is a genre mashup that doesn't quite fit any tropes and crosses borders.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There she meets Arabella, the lady of the house, a lonely and eccentric woman whom she is drawn to, like caring for an injured baby bird. Awkward courtship ensues, with Arabella sewing Vee embroidered portraits of herself when she didn't know Arabella was watching. But this was no sweet romance in which queer people eke out love at the margins of an oppressive historical society; in fact it is no romance at all. It is more like a revenge story. Arabella believes she is cursed, as everyone in her family line has died except her and another caretaker, her cousin, who is hiding secrets of his own. But the root of her curse is a dark family secret.
Arabella and Vee are more alike in their secrets than they think, class and privilege protecting only one of them.
I liked the layers of class and family secrets in this, taking the upstairs downstairs approach of Downton Abbey with a darker edge. I loved the dog, Mutton, and Reacher's pet finch, which provided an intimate element that bonded these characters together. CW for a dog death, but this one didn't trouble me as they usually do. It was a pivotal moment for developing these complex and dark characters.
I wasn't sure who I was rooting for in the end, because nobody in this was entirely innocent or likable, but I really enjoyed the lush writing and toxic, complicated characters. No one was really morally grey in this, they were morally black with few redeeming qualities. It was more historical than supernatural or horror than I was anticipating so this is hard to categorize, but I appreciated that as well. This is a genre mashup that doesn't quite fit any tropes and crosses borders.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 30, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! It’s everything I want in a gothic historical novel—atmospheric, mysterious, and full of haunting beauty. The setting of Harfold Manor was so vividly described that it felt alive, almost breathing with the weight of grief and secrets. The mix of curses, folklore, and the legend of the dancing hare added such a magical yet eerie touch.
The relationship between Vee and Lady Arabella was one of my favorite parts. Both women are flawed and carrying their own wounds, yet their stories interweave in a way that makes you question what’s real, what’s imagined, and what’s been buried for far too long. The prose was lyrical and immersive, pulling me deeper into the story until I couldn’t put it down.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A beautifully written, unsettling, and unforgettable read. If you love gothic tales of haunted houses, secrets, and folklore, this one will stick with you long after the last page.
What I Learned:
This story reminded me that grief and trauma can linger like ghosts, shaping the way we see the world and the people around us. It showed how curses—real or imagined—often symbolize the weight of the past we carry. And most of all, it reminded me that sometimes the only way forward is to face those shadows head-on, even if it means confronting the darkest parts of ourselves.
Huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Carmella Lowkis for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The relationship between Vee and Lady Arabella was one of my favorite parts. Both women are flawed and carrying their own wounds, yet their stories interweave in a way that makes you question what’s real, what’s imagined, and what’s been buried for far too long. The prose was lyrical and immersive, pulling me deeper into the story until I couldn’t put it down.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A beautifully written, unsettling, and unforgettable read. If you love gothic tales of haunted houses, secrets, and folklore, this one will stick with you long after the last page.
What I Learned:
This story reminded me that grief and trauma can linger like ghosts, shaping the way we see the world and the people around us. It showed how curses—real or imagined—often symbolize the weight of the past we carry. And most of all, it reminded me that sometimes the only way forward is to face those shadows head-on, even if it means confronting the darkest parts of ourselves.
Huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Carmella Lowkis for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
February 25, 2026
Well written but at the end of the day, it will be one of those historical gothics that get all mushed together cause I didn't really have anything to make me care about these specific story
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Atmospheric gothic read about once great manor and their cursed inhabitants...
The premise sounded interesting, but it took a while to actually get into the interesting parts. In the beginning the action is really slow and I asked myself what is even going on here, what's actually the plot, but since about 60% it picked right up and till the end it was constant action.
Were the twists surprising? not really, i guessed them very early, but I still appreciate the ending and how it was resolved, because there are a lot of secrets here to uncover - not only the inside of the manor, but also the past of Miss Morgan, why did she looked for this job, what happened during her previous employment and so on...
The relationships between characters also felt a little lacking, to me their feelings developed way to quickly and I couldn't see their chemistry at all.
Still it was quick read, that will make you want to read it in one sitting to discover what's the truth.
Thank you Netgalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.
The premise sounded interesting, but it took a while to actually get into the interesting parts. In the beginning the action is really slow and I asked myself what is even going on here, what's actually the plot, but since about 60% it picked right up and till the end it was constant action.
Were the twists surprising? not really, i guessed them very early, but I still appreciate the ending and how it was resolved, because there are a lot of secrets here to uncover - not only the inside of the manor, but also the past of Miss Morgan, why did she looked for this job, what happened during her previous employment and so on...
The relationships between characters also felt a little lacking, to me their feelings developed way to quickly and I couldn't see their chemistry at all.
Still it was quick read, that will make you want to read it in one sitting to discover what's the truth.
Thank you Netgalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.
November 14, 2025
4-4.5 ⭐️
This is a solid embodiment of the gothic genre. The setting is gorgeous and decrepit. It starts off with a swift punch to the gut, lulls for a bit, but then starts to hop along at a swifter and swifter pace (about 1/3 of the way through) sending the reader down several curious rabbit holes. The plot shifts were smooth and the mysteries and histories the characters elude to are surprising, shocking, and terrible. This book had a few great disappointments and I mean that in the best way! Once I was far enough along I had trouble putting this one down. Very worth the read especially if you like a good creepy gothic mystery.
Thank you to Goodreads, the publisher, and most importantly the author for the advance reader copy of this awesome book!
This is a solid embodiment of the gothic genre. The setting is gorgeous and decrepit. It starts off with a swift punch to the gut, lulls for a bit, but then starts to hop along at a swifter and swifter pace (about 1/3 of the way through) sending the reader down several curious rabbit holes. The plot shifts were smooth and the mysteries and histories the characters elude to are surprising, shocking, and terrible. This book had a few great disappointments and I mean that in the best way! Once I was far enough along I had trouble putting this one down. Very worth the read especially if you like a good creepy gothic mystery.
Thank you to Goodreads, the publisher, and most importantly the author for the advance reader copy of this awesome book!
January 5, 2026
I finished this one up last night and now I’m feeling a little empty without it. I’m a huge fan of the gothic genre and this solidified why I love it so much.
This is a slow-burn story that leans into mood, tension and emotional development rather than big plot turns, and that worked for me. That’s not to say I wasn’t stunned at some of the things that unfolded, because I was, but it’s not a blow-up-in-your-face kind of book. Which, for me, is exactly how a gothic read should be. It’s all about the setting!
Speaking of the setting… just yes! I mean, I spent a lot of my time in Wiltshire as a child with family, but now I’m going to see it in a whole different light! Granted, I wasn’t there in the 1920’s, but it still felt like an honest portrayal. Lowkis’ redolent prose really helped, and hand on heart, I think I’d now buy any of her books simply because of her ability to set a scene.
I appreciated how much space the book gave its characters to be complicated and real and messy, especially Vee and Arabella, who both carry a hell of a lot much beneath the surface. I wouldn’t say I necessary liked any of the characters, though, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. I mean it in the sense of “who the hell am I rooting for here” kind of way.
If I had one gripe, it’s that the ending felt a little rushed. Maybe that’s because I could have read another 150 pages of it, so it could just be a me problem.
A compulsive read that’s dripping in secrets, poison and malevolence.
Thank you Doubleday UK for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is a slow-burn story that leans into mood, tension and emotional development rather than big plot turns, and that worked for me. That’s not to say I wasn’t stunned at some of the things that unfolded, because I was, but it’s not a blow-up-in-your-face kind of book. Which, for me, is exactly how a gothic read should be. It’s all about the setting!
Speaking of the setting… just yes! I mean, I spent a lot of my time in Wiltshire as a child with family, but now I’m going to see it in a whole different light! Granted, I wasn’t there in the 1920’s, but it still felt like an honest portrayal. Lowkis’ redolent prose really helped, and hand on heart, I think I’d now buy any of her books simply because of her ability to set a scene.
I appreciated how much space the book gave its characters to be complicated and real and messy, especially Vee and Arabella, who both carry a hell of a lot much beneath the surface. I wouldn’t say I necessary liked any of the characters, though, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. I mean it in the sense of “who the hell am I rooting for here” kind of way.
If I had one gripe, it’s that the ending felt a little rushed. Maybe that’s because I could have read another 150 pages of it, so it could just be a me problem.
A compulsive read that’s dripping in secrets, poison and malevolence.
Thank you Doubleday UK for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 16, 2026
In the aftermath of a troubled past, Vee Morgan takes a quiet position tending the gardens of an aging English manor, hoping the countryside might offer a kind of refuge. Instead she finds herself drawn into the strange orbit of Harfold Manor and its solitary mistress, Lady Arabella Lascy a woman haunted by the belief that a dark curse is slowly claiming the remnants of her family. As the seasons shift and the gardens grow wild around the crumbling estate, Vee becomes entangled in the house’s lingering grief, its whispered legends, and the unsettling possibility that something far older than coincidence is shaping their fate.
This was one of those stories that leans fully into mood and atmosphere, and it does it beautifully. Harfold Manor feels less like a setting and more like a living thing that’s quietly decaying, heavy with memory, and wrapped in the kind of eerie stillness that makes every shadow feel like it might be hiding something. The writing has that lush, gothic quality where the landscape and the house carry just as much weight as the characters themselves. Gardens, overgrown paths, dim corridors, and rooms filled with echoes of the past all create this slow burning sense of unease. Vee is an especially intriguing narrator because she arrives carrying her own secrets. She’s observant, guarded, and clearly trying to outrun pieces of her past, which makes the story feel layered with tension right from the beginning.
What really stood out to me, though, was the slow unraveling of the manor’s history. The hints of superstition, the lingering grief surrounding the family, and the uneasy relationship between belief and reality all weave together into something that feels quietly haunting.
If you love stories that rely on atmosphere, creeping tension, and gothic settings, this one absolutely delivers. It’s the kind of book that feels best read on a quiet evening when the world outside is a little dark and a little stormy.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was one of those stories that leans fully into mood and atmosphere, and it does it beautifully. Harfold Manor feels less like a setting and more like a living thing that’s quietly decaying, heavy with memory, and wrapped in the kind of eerie stillness that makes every shadow feel like it might be hiding something. The writing has that lush, gothic quality where the landscape and the house carry just as much weight as the characters themselves. Gardens, overgrown paths, dim corridors, and rooms filled with echoes of the past all create this slow burning sense of unease. Vee is an especially intriguing narrator because she arrives carrying her own secrets. She’s observant, guarded, and clearly trying to outrun pieces of her past, which makes the story feel layered with tension right from the beginning.
What really stood out to me, though, was the slow unraveling of the manor’s history. The hints of superstition, the lingering grief surrounding the family, and the uneasy relationship between belief and reality all weave together into something that feels quietly haunting.
If you love stories that rely on atmosphere, creeping tension, and gothic settings, this one absolutely delivers. It’s the kind of book that feels best read on a quiet evening when the world outside is a little dark and a little stormy.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 11, 2026
A definite mood read - I liked the ominous tone and the slowly unfolding mystery. There were some reveals later in the book that I did not expect, and the ending was probably my favorite part.
October 31, 2025
A Slow and Secret Poison by Carmella Lowkis was a 5 star read for me until the ending. It fell a bit flat and felt rushed compared to the rest of the book’s pace.
That being said, I can’t think of another author that matches Lowkis’ atmospheric writing. Set in the early 1900s English countryside, this book immerses you in the complex class dynamics between the manor’s owners and the people who work for them. Harfold Manor truly comes alive on the page- thick with secrets, revenge, isolation, and grief. The slow-building tension and unease made it a hard book to put down. I absolutely loved this book!
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGallery in exchange for an honest review.
That being said, I can’t think of another author that matches Lowkis’ atmospheric writing. Set in the early 1900s English countryside, this book immerses you in the complex class dynamics between the manor’s owners and the people who work for them. Harfold Manor truly comes alive on the page- thick with secrets, revenge, isolation, and grief. The slow-building tension and unease made it a hard book to put down. I absolutely loved this book!
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGallery in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2025
I received this as an ARC from a Goodreads giveaway. Gothic horror isn’t my #1 genre, but I do enjoy whenever I dip a toe into it.
This was a very tight read, went down quick and easy (like its name would imply, ha). The characters felt developed and likable, but with enough mystery left that their motivations weren’t always plain clear. Like the best of these stories, it drops enough hints going along that you can read a bit ahead, but I at least didn’t guess the ending.
Overall it was just fun! Highly recommended when it drops next spring.
This was a very tight read, went down quick and easy (like its name would imply, ha). The characters felt developed and likable, but with enough mystery left that their motivations weren’t always plain clear. Like the best of these stories, it drops enough hints going along that you can read a bit ahead, but I at least didn’t guess the ending.
Overall it was just fun! Highly recommended when it drops next spring.
February 9, 2026
A Slow and Secret Poison really does live up to its name… it’s very slow before you even get close to the poison at its core. This is marketed as a gothic mystery, but I didn’t truly find much of the story’s set up or atmosphere to live up to the gothic vibes promised and the mystery doesn’t really come to fruition until the 75% mark. As for the romance, most of it occurs off page and is secondary to the primary plot. There is no tension, the relationship between the characters is incredibly surface level, and the secrets are strung along until a very underwhelming reveal at the end. Ultimately, this one just didn’t work for me, neither the plot nor the characters gripped me and I feel like there was very little payoff for the effort it took to slog through the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
February 14, 2026
This was such a moody and atmospheric story with gothic vibes. The descriptive writing style was beautifully done and really created such a vivid picture in my mind while I read about this eerie setting.
This historical story takes place in the English countryside where Vee takes a job as a Gardner at on old manor. They didn’t ask for references and she was trying to escape her past so it was the perfect fit.
I found Vee’s character to be particularly interesting because she has secrets of her own that she was holding close. This made her somewhat unreliable as a narrator and that really added an extra layer of mystery and intrigue.
I was definitely captivated by this story, especially since it was slow to build. There was always just enough mystery to keep me wanting to know more until the end.
Read this if you like:
🍃 Historical fiction
🌼 Dark & gothic vibes
🍃 Atmospheric
🌼 Family curse
🍃 Class dynamics
Thank you @atriabooks for the gifted copy of the book.
This historical story takes place in the English countryside where Vee takes a job as a Gardner at on old manor. They didn’t ask for references and she was trying to escape her past so it was the perfect fit.
I found Vee’s character to be particularly interesting because she has secrets of her own that she was holding close. This made her somewhat unreliable as a narrator and that really added an extra layer of mystery and intrigue.
I was definitely captivated by this story, especially since it was slow to build. There was always just enough mystery to keep me wanting to know more until the end.
Read this if you like:
🍃 Historical fiction
🌼 Dark & gothic vibes
🍃 Atmospheric
🌼 Family curse
🍃 Class dynamics
Thank you @atriabooks for the gifted copy of the book.
February 11, 2026
4.75 ⭐️
Let me begin by saying that I surprised myself with my rating at the end. The first half of this novel was an extremely slow burn, and I was losing the plot. Maybe I’m just impatient. 😅 However, the second half of this book had me HOOKED. The mystery and secrets finally began to unfold. There were a few twists I wasn’t expecting! And a juicy sequence of betrayals was the cherry on top. If you’re looking for crumbling gothic atmosphere, slow burn sapphic love (lust?), and a tightly wound cast of characters, then I would recommend this book!
PS - I was extremely upset by the number of times SPIDERS were mentioned for NO REASON?? And MUTTON??? (No spoilers, but are you kidding me???)
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Let me begin by saying that I surprised myself with my rating at the end. The first half of this novel was an extremely slow burn, and I was losing the plot. Maybe I’m just impatient. 😅 However, the second half of this book had me HOOKED. The mystery and secrets finally began to unfold. There were a few twists I wasn’t expecting! And a juicy sequence of betrayals was the cherry on top. If you’re looking for crumbling gothic atmosphere, slow burn sapphic love (lust?), and a tightly wound cast of characters, then I would recommend this book!
PS - I was extremely upset by the number of times SPIDERS were mentioned for NO REASON?? And MUTTON??? (No spoilers, but are you kidding me???)
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
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September 7, 2025ooooh I am not sure how I want to rate this yet, especially because I had such drastically different reading experiences for the 1/3 of the book and the following 2/3; the latter was so juicy and exciting while the former had me struggling to get through.
Edit...several days later:
There was genuinely so much to love with this one--it reminded me a bit of a Sarah Waters, but very much with elements of a classic Gothic. Part of the reason I love the Gothic genre is purely for the atmosphere and this book served! A manor in disrepair? I mean, that's all I need to hear. A curse, real or imagined (?) was the cherry on top! I thought Lowkis really conveyed the mysterious aspect of the book; the characters are a bit shady and there are secrets aplenty (imagine that!). I'm not sure if it was my state of mind while reading since I had a touch of the blues, but I had a difficult time immersing myself in the story. However, once the characters and plot were established, I was 100% invested!
After reading this as well as Spitting Gold and enjoying both, Carmella Lowkis is definitely an instant buy author for me.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this one early, so so so appreciated!
Edit...several days later:
There was genuinely so much to love with this one--it reminded me a bit of a Sarah Waters, but very much with elements of a classic Gothic. Part of the reason I love the Gothic genre is purely for the atmosphere and this book served! A manor in disrepair? I mean, that's all I need to hear. A curse, real or imagined (?) was the cherry on top! I thought Lowkis really conveyed the mysterious aspect of the book; the characters are a bit shady and there are secrets aplenty (imagine that!). I'm not sure if it was my state of mind while reading since I had a touch of the blues, but I had a difficult time immersing myself in the story. However, once the characters and plot were established, I was 100% invested!
After reading this as well as Spitting Gold and enjoying both, Carmella Lowkis is definitely an instant buy author for me.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this one early, so so so appreciated!
February 18, 2026
After reading Spitting Gold, I was excited to read the author's sophomore release. I enjoyed this so much — from the crumbling manor, eccentric heiress, and a dark secret — gothic at its finest!
What stood out: The ominous, mysterious vibes swept me into the world of Harfold Manor, its mistress, and the people who worked for her. That's where I met Vee Morgan, the new gardener.
Vee, the main protagonist in this book, was not what she seemed. I won't say any more, for fear I might give away spoilers. But one thing that stood out about her was that she was fearsome. Despite being a gardener, she spoke her mind. She was quite spunky, which is a breath of fresh air in a story set in 1922, where the help were expected to be meek.
Lady Arabella, the heiress and Vee's employer, had a state of mind that mirrored the crumbling Manor. Something in her seemed broken, stuck in time and in superstitions she was made to believe. I can appreciate how the author made me empathize with her and then dropped a twist that made me question everything about Lady Arabella.
The ending was brilliant! Diabolical.
Audio experience: I paired the e-book with the audiobook - perfect combination if you ask me. This book is meant to be savored and the audiobook elevated the experience. Beth Eyre was Vee personified. The defiance and fierceness of this character was brought to life through Beth's perfect delivery. Jade Croot captured Lady Arabella's gentleness and frailty beautifully.
Similar vibes: If you loved The Secrets of Hartwood Hall by Katie Lumsden, this delivers that same atmospheric gothic and mystery storytelling. Also reminiscent of Things in Jars in how it handles dark themes of class divide.
You'll love this if: You want gothic, mystery-driven stories with strong female leads.
Content warnings: Death, violence, grief, poisoning
Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio, Atria Books, and NetGalley for my early ARC access for review.
What stood out: The ominous, mysterious vibes swept me into the world of Harfold Manor, its mistress, and the people who worked for her. That's where I met Vee Morgan, the new gardener.
Vee, the main protagonist in this book, was not what she seemed. I won't say any more, for fear I might give away spoilers. But one thing that stood out about her was that she was fearsome. Despite being a gardener, she spoke her mind. She was quite spunky, which is a breath of fresh air in a story set in 1922, where the help were expected to be meek.
Lady Arabella, the heiress and Vee's employer, had a state of mind that mirrored the crumbling Manor. Something in her seemed broken, stuck in time and in superstitions she was made to believe. I can appreciate how the author made me empathize with her and then dropped a twist that made me question everything about Lady Arabella.
The ending was brilliant! Diabolical.
Audio experience: I paired the e-book with the audiobook - perfect combination if you ask me. This book is meant to be savored and the audiobook elevated the experience. Beth Eyre was Vee personified. The defiance and fierceness of this character was brought to life through Beth's perfect delivery. Jade Croot captured Lady Arabella's gentleness and frailty beautifully.
Similar vibes: If you loved The Secrets of Hartwood Hall by Katie Lumsden, this delivers that same atmospheric gothic and mystery storytelling. Also reminiscent of Things in Jars in how it handles dark themes of class divide.
You'll love this if: You want gothic, mystery-driven stories with strong female leads.
Content warnings: Death, violence, grief, poisoning
Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio, Atria Books, and NetGalley for my early ARC access for review.
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January 15, 2026
4.25/5⭐️ I received A Slow and Secret Poison by Carmella Lowkis through a Goodreads giveaway, and as someone who has been wanting to get into more Gothic novels of any genre, I was super excited to have won this one! Thank you to NetGalley and Goodreads for facilitating this ARC read for me.
The pacing, length, and wording were excellent, as was the descriptive writing. It really made me feel like I was on the Hartford Manor with Vee. I really enjoyed the different quirks of the characters, their complex personalities, and how their backstories—combined with their current situations—played into both the storytelling and the thriller aspects of the novel.
The family secrets, the different levels of wealth, and the townspeople who stayed away from the manor all fed into the eerie and twisty story that completely captivated me.
I honestly never saw the big twists coming, and even at the end, when I knew who was right and who was wrong, I still felt bad for the “so-called bad guys.”
Also I loved Mutton
The pacing, length, and wording were excellent, as was the descriptive writing. It really made me feel like I was on the Hartford Manor with Vee. I really enjoyed the different quirks of the characters, their complex personalities, and how their backstories—combined with their current situations—played into both the storytelling and the thriller aspects of the novel.
The family secrets, the different levels of wealth, and the townspeople who stayed away from the manor all fed into the eerie and twisty story that completely captivated me.
I honestly never saw the big twists coming, and even at the end, when I knew who was right and who was wrong, I still felt bad for the “so-called bad guys.”
Also I loved Mutton
December 8, 2025
1922, Wiltshire.
When Vee Morgan accepts the job of gardener at the stately, yet diminishing, crumbling home known as Harfold Manor, it isn’t simply to feel purpose to her day to day life, no she is hoping for a fresh start.
A place where nobody has knowledge of her much-troubled past, somewhere she can become a totally different person and she is determined to make it happen as whatever is in the past must stay there.
Yet Harfold Manor is veiled in grief, cloaked by loss and death, fond memories of long-faded golden glory; its vast rooms haunted by its limited staff and sole surviving family member, the wallpaper peeling away as if trying to escape the house and it’s broken past.
Lady Arabella Lascy soon becomes somewhat of an obsession for Vee, she is fascinated by her enigmatic employer who hides within this shell of a house, a woman obsessed with an apparent curse she firmly believes is the very reason she now stands alone - a curse that has claimed many family members over the years - and that it is coming for her next…
Vee quickly immerses herself in the world of Harfold and increasingly is under the spell of Arabella and the Manor in which she resides in, but as Vee orbits closer to Arabella, she must remember she is no innocent herself for if her own secrets step out of the shadows, the curse won’t just claim one victim.
It will very gladly take Vee too.
Compulsive, gripping, and dripping in malice and drama, A Slow and Secret Poison is a hedge maze full of surprises, secrets, and treacherous creatures.
When Vee Morgan accepts the job of gardener at the stately, yet diminishing, crumbling home known as Harfold Manor, it isn’t simply to feel purpose to her day to day life, no she is hoping for a fresh start.
A place where nobody has knowledge of her much-troubled past, somewhere she can become a totally different person and she is determined to make it happen as whatever is in the past must stay there.
Yet Harfold Manor is veiled in grief, cloaked by loss and death, fond memories of long-faded golden glory; its vast rooms haunted by its limited staff and sole surviving family member, the wallpaper peeling away as if trying to escape the house and it’s broken past.
Lady Arabella Lascy soon becomes somewhat of an obsession for Vee, she is fascinated by her enigmatic employer who hides within this shell of a house, a woman obsessed with an apparent curse she firmly believes is the very reason she now stands alone - a curse that has claimed many family members over the years - and that it is coming for her next…
Vee quickly immerses herself in the world of Harfold and increasingly is under the spell of Arabella and the Manor in which she resides in, but as Vee orbits closer to Arabella, she must remember she is no innocent herself for if her own secrets step out of the shadows, the curse won’t just claim one victim.
It will very gladly take Vee too.
Compulsive, gripping, and dripping in malice and drama, A Slow and Secret Poison is a hedge maze full of surprises, secrets, and treacherous creatures.
January 16, 2026
Carmella Lowkis absolutely nails atmosphere in this slow burn, Gothic mystery. Harfold Manor feels alive in the way only the best haunted houses do—crumbling and full of grief. From the moment Vee Morgan arrives as the manor’s gardener, the novel overflows with dread: a family line marked by death, a supposed curse ticking closer to its next victim, and Lady Arabella Lascy herself—reclusive, fragile, and impossible to look away from. The sense of inevitability feels oppressive, the kind that makes every quiet moment feel threatening.
What really elevates this novel is its characters and the secrets they carry. Vee and Arabella are drawn together in a way that feels both tender and dangerous, with a sapphic tension that’s all restraint, glances, and unsaid truths—perfectly suited to the era. The romance is very much a subplot, but it’s a compelling one, steeped in longing and imbalance, where class and power complicate every interaction. I especially loved the reverse-ordered flashbacks, which slowly peel back Arabella’s past and transform her from a haunted woman into something much creepier.
That said, the ending felt rushed compared to the careful buildup that precedes it. The resolution comes quickly, leaving some revelations to land more intellectually than emotionally. It almost felt like I didn’t have enough time to absorb the ending because it all concluded so quickly. Still, the ambiguity works in the book’s favor, inviting reflection rather than offering neat answers. This was dark, lush, and morally uncompromising, A Slow and Secret Poison felt like a beautiful study of obsession, guilt, and the rot beneath inherited privilege, and even though I wish this was longer and the conclusion hadn’t felt so rushed, I still thoroughly enjoyed it!
A big thank you to NetGalley and Atria for this eARC!
What really elevates this novel is its characters and the secrets they carry. Vee and Arabella are drawn together in a way that feels both tender and dangerous, with a sapphic tension that’s all restraint, glances, and unsaid truths—perfectly suited to the era. The romance is very much a subplot, but it’s a compelling one, steeped in longing and imbalance, where class and power complicate every interaction. I especially loved the reverse-ordered flashbacks, which slowly peel back Arabella’s past and transform her from a haunted woman into something much creepier.
That said, the ending felt rushed compared to the careful buildup that precedes it. The resolution comes quickly, leaving some revelations to land more intellectually than emotionally. It almost felt like I didn’t have enough time to absorb the ending because it all concluded so quickly. Still, the ambiguity works in the book’s favor, inviting reflection rather than offering neat answers. This was dark, lush, and morally uncompromising, A Slow and Secret Poison felt like a beautiful study of obsession, guilt, and the rot beneath inherited privilege, and even though I wish this was longer and the conclusion hadn’t felt so rushed, I still thoroughly enjoyed it!
A big thank you to NetGalley and Atria for this eARC!
February 4, 2026
A twisty gothic thriller filled with superstitions, bad luck, bad timing-the thought of curses and omens set against the backdrop of 1920’s era and a manor with a questionable family.
Death and decay blanket the manor and its surrounding acreage. There’s questions about the mental health of Lady Arabella Lascy and her impending sapphic romance with newly hired gardener, Vee Morgan.
Is it indeed a blooming romance? Or is it the need to find an equally odd person to fulfill the pairing? Two ships in the night?
The author’s ability to create such a picturesque scenery is what draws the reader in; every detail is catalogued so the reader gets a defined idea of wherever they are “standing” within any given moment.
Characters are solid, cheeky most of the time.
Absolutely an enjoyable historical horror!
Thanks to Atria Books for this engaging read!
Death and decay blanket the manor and its surrounding acreage. There’s questions about the mental health of Lady Arabella Lascy and her impending sapphic romance with newly hired gardener, Vee Morgan.
Is it indeed a blooming romance? Or is it the need to find an equally odd person to fulfill the pairing? Two ships in the night?
The author’s ability to create such a picturesque scenery is what draws the reader in; every detail is catalogued so the reader gets a defined idea of wherever they are “standing” within any given moment.
Characters are solid, cheeky most of the time.
Absolutely an enjoyable historical horror!
Thanks to Atria Books for this engaging read!
January 23, 2026
A slower paced read that builds the mystery steadily until it hits a breaking point. I enjoyed the writing style and gothic vibes but had a difficult time connecting with the main characters. Vee is a gardener in a time when women aren’t often hired for that kind of work. She takes a job at an estate owned by a reclusive and mysterious woman that she becomes intrigued by. Vee has secrets of her own that make her a bit of an unreliable narrator. The only person I truly liked was Tom, the groundskeeper. This was dubbed as a romance but I think it is actually more of a mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC of this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC of this book!
March 11, 2026
Big thanks to Carmella Lowkis, Atria and NetGalley for this ARC
Beautiful cover + interesting blurb? Sign me in.
A Slow and Secret Poison is a gothic feast for the mind. The slow building of the story compels you to keep on reading, because you desperately want to know just what’s going on, what’s the secret? is it witches? vampires? ghosts? generation trauma that grew solid, like a tulpa? or a secret, more malevolent, fifth thing? The blurb doesn’t give you much, but is better this way.
Beautiful cover + interesting blurb? Sign me in.
A Slow and Secret Poison is a gothic feast for the mind. The slow building of the story compels you to keep on reading, because you desperately want to know just what’s going on, what’s the secret? is it witches? vampires? ghosts? generation trauma that grew solid, like a tulpa? or a secret, more malevolent, fifth thing? The blurb doesn’t give you much, but is better this way.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Random House UK/ Doubleday and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.75 stars.
In 1920s Wiltshire, Vee takes a job as a gardener for the heiress of the manor house, Lady Arabella. Vee is running from her last, and Arabella appears to have secrets of her own, behaving mysteriously and at times eccentrically.
This is an enjoyable gothic read that looks at the power of belief and revenge. I would have liked the book to have gone harder with the gothic, and been more dread-filled. As it was I was left wanting a little more.
3.75 stars.
In 1920s Wiltshire, Vee takes a job as a gardener for the heiress of the manor house, Lady Arabella. Vee is running from her last, and Arabella appears to have secrets of her own, behaving mysteriously and at times eccentrically.
This is an enjoyable gothic read that looks at the power of belief and revenge. I would have liked the book to have gone harder with the gothic, and been more dread-filled. As it was I was left wanting a little more.
January 22, 2026
A dark and sinister tale of control and the power of superstition on a susceptible mind.
It seemed in this story, that there were secrets to hide and not everyone was the person they portrayed. When those secrets were finally unlocked and darker sides revealed, life at the Manor House began to implode.
This story kept me engrossed to the end, and the twist was one I didn’t see coming!
Well worth reading.
It seemed in this story, that there were secrets to hide and not everyone was the person they portrayed. When those secrets were finally unlocked and darker sides revealed, life at the Manor House began to implode.
This story kept me engrossed to the end, and the twist was one I didn’t see coming!
Well worth reading.
February 4, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy of this book.
A perfect gothic period thriller full of twists and turns that surprise and delight! If you love a mystery that’s not easy to unravel, this is for you! I also love how the author added LGBT+ representation in this piece, and how it’s shown through the lens of the era and the story.
Pick this one up to read on a dark and stormy night. You owe it to yourself.
A perfect gothic period thriller full of twists and turns that surprise and delight! If you love a mystery that’s not easy to unravel, this is for you! I also love how the author added LGBT+ representation in this piece, and how it’s shown through the lens of the era and the story.
Pick this one up to read on a dark and stormy night. You owe it to yourself.
March 13, 2026
A solid three stars for me, I enjoyed the story while I was reading it well enough. There was nothing I disliked terribly or loved immensely, but I liked the way the author wrote the main character's POV. It was really interesting to be in the mind of Vee during her time working at the manor and seeing her put together different clues she picks up along the way of this "curse" that the lady of the manor says has been set upon her family.
A couple of the backdated chapters from Arabella's POV didn't do too much for me, story-wise. Most of them being fairly short, I don't know that they gave me enough to feel they were necessary except the latter few. Being from another POV, I just didn't feel that they gave me enough from that character's perspective to really get a feel for why she is the way she is, it was more of just a telling this is what happened this year.
A 1920s gothic mystery setting, a splash of sapphic romance, and a very interesting collection of characters from different classes and backgrounds, I think this story will appeal to many people. I got a little bit of a classic mystery novel vibe from the way the story progressed and was wrapped up with a nice little bow on top.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced ebook to read and review.
A couple of the backdated chapters from Arabella's POV didn't do too much for me, story-wise. Most of them being fairly short, I don't know that they gave me enough to feel they were necessary except the latter few. Being from another POV, I just didn't feel that they gave me enough from that character's perspective to really get a feel for why she is the way she is, it was more of just a telling this is what happened this year.
A 1920s gothic mystery setting, a splash of sapphic romance, and a very interesting collection of characters from different classes and backgrounds, I think this story will appeal to many people. I got a little bit of a classic mystery novel vibe from the way the story progressed and was wrapped up with a nice little bow on top.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced ebook to read and review.
December 21, 2025
A true gothic pastiche. Lowkis is deft in her ability to recreate the tropes and build tension and an escalating dread in every chapter, while still able to reinvent the conventions to deliver a fantastically woven web of secrets for all of her characters, especially Mutton, who is the best of all of us.
February 15, 2026
This one had an eerie memorable start. An atmospheric gothic horror, this story focuses around a cursed family and the inhabitants of the mansion.
The pace was slow, and the twists not too surprising but regardless the story kept my interest. With mysteries behind both the main character, Miss Morgan who arrives to a new job as a gardener, and Lady Arabella, the final occupant and family member of a cursed family there were many plot points to keep the story moving.
3.5⭐️
Thank you the @atriabooks and @netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The pace was slow, and the twists not too surprising but regardless the story kept my interest. With mysteries behind both the main character, Miss Morgan who arrives to a new job as a gardener, and Lady Arabella, the final occupant and family member of a cursed family there were many plot points to keep the story moving.
3.5⭐️
Thank you the @atriabooks and @netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Did not finish
March 12, 2026I liked Lowkis’s Spitting Gold a lot, so I looked forward to her second book. But I struggled to get into this one. The nature of it means that there’s a good bit about trees and plants and such - I don’t care for that description. Other reviews confirm my feeling that this was gonna take ages to get started.
Historical fiction of the 1900s is also a harder sell for me than the 1800s, I dunno why.
Historical fiction of the 1900s is also a harder sell for me than the 1800s, I dunno why.
October 31, 2025
**ARC provided by the publisher for review consideration. All thoughts are my own**
Another atmospheric, gothic, queer historical from Lowkis. If you liked Spitting Gold, you'll enjoy this one, too- another seemingly hapless young woman with big eyes (but a secret in her past!) that romances our main character (with secrets of her own!)
CW for violence against an animal
Another atmospheric, gothic, queer historical from Lowkis. If you liked Spitting Gold, you'll enjoy this one, too- another seemingly hapless young woman with big eyes (but a secret in her past!) that romances our main character (with secrets of her own!)
CW for violence against an animal
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