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A Slow and Secret Poison: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 10 Feb 26In 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
8531 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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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!
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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!
January 21, 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.
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!
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.
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.
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
Want to read
October 5, 2025A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
November 17, 2025
I really loved Carmella Lowkis's first novel Spitting Gold, and I was so happy to learn she had a second novel coming out in 2026. I was lucky enough to get ARC for A Slow and Secret Poison, and I loved it. Historical fiction is my favorite genre, and there isn't enough queer historical fiction. Lowkis scratches the same itch for me that Sarah Waters or Emma Donoghue does. I enjoyed the twists and turns of this novel. The ending felt a tiny bit rushed, and I would have happily read another 100 pages rather than having it wrapped up so quickly, but even so, extremely enjoyable!
Read
December 18, 2025Carmella Lowkis’ debut was one of the first books I read on Netgalley and I really liked it so I was very excited for this one. However this book really started to drag for me and sent me into a month long reading slump and by the time I pulled myself out of it my Netgalley ARC had expired with 25% of the book left…whoops!…so I guess you could say I didn’t like this one. More thorough review to come if I ever finish that last 25%.
ETA: I was able to finish this and I can’t say that the final part improved much for me. There wasn’t a single character I was rooting for, and while I normally like an unlikeable character, everyone was evil in a kind of banal way. Even the lesbianism couldn’t save this; there was no chemistry there. I liked Spitting Gold enough that I will probably read Lowkis’ next book, but this one just really did not work for me.
ETA: I was able to finish this and I can’t say that the final part improved much for me. There wasn’t a single character I was rooting for, and while I normally like an unlikeable character, everyone was evil in a kind of banal way. Even the lesbianism couldn’t save this; there was no chemistry there. I liked Spitting Gold enough that I will probably read Lowkis’ next book, but this one just really did not work for me.
September 21, 2025
i read most of this over the course of a cool and rainy day, one of those days that signals that fall is peeking just around the corner. it was a perfectly gothic experience, and one that i think will be set up perfectly for readers when this book comes out in february.
i’ve previously read carmella lowkis’s other work, spitting gold, and i’m happy to see some improvement from issues that i had with that narrative. i think the pacing is better overall in this one, much more smooth throughout instead of moving in fits and starts. this book is on the slower side, but i think it suits the content of it to be that way. after all, it’s in the title – a slow and secret poison, built on a type of creeping dread instead of fast paced jump scares. i was very intrigued by the idea of the lascys’ family curse, and the crumbling family seat was the perfect backdrop for their slow unraveling. i found myself reminded a bit of the haunting of bly manor in that sense, which is perfect for this time of year. and that ending!!! she really got me with that one. carmella lowkis does know how to pack a punch!
thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
i’ve previously read carmella lowkis’s other work, spitting gold, and i’m happy to see some improvement from issues that i had with that narrative. i think the pacing is better overall in this one, much more smooth throughout instead of moving in fits and starts. this book is on the slower side, but i think it suits the content of it to be that way. after all, it’s in the title – a slow and secret poison, built on a type of creeping dread instead of fast paced jump scares. i was very intrigued by the idea of the lascys’ family curse, and the crumbling family seat was the perfect backdrop for their slow unraveling. i found myself reminded a bit of the haunting of bly manor in that sense, which is perfect for this time of year. and that ending!!! she really got me with that one. carmella lowkis does know how to pack a punch!
thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It’s 1925 and Vee Morgan is on her way to Harfold Manor in Wiltshire to take up the position of gardener. She knows she’s lucky to get the job; although she loves being outdoors and was a Land Girl on a farm during the war, she has no horticultural qualifications and no references, not to mention that women gardeners are not at all common and not exactly in high demand. After arriving at her new workplace, however, she learns that none of the local men wanted the job and are reluctant to come anywhere near Harfold Manor and its strange inhabitant, Lady Arabella Lascy.
Arabella, alone in the world apart from her estate manager and cousin, Maurice Reacher, believes she and her family have been cursed. First her parents died, then all four of her brothers, each within three years of the one before, leaving only Arabella to inherit the family estate. Now another three years have passed and Arabella is convinced that she will be the next victim. But are the Lascys really under a curse or is there a more human explanation for what has been happening?
A Slow and Secret Poison is the second novel by Carmella Lowkis; I had mixed feelings about her first, Spitting Gold, a retelling of a Charles Perrault fairy tale, but I found this one more enjoyable. Vee interested me from the beginning – she’s a very flawed heroine, as we discover as the story unfolds and secrets from her past come to light – but I liked her as a character and I thought her practical, no-nonsense personality provided a good counterpart to the reclusive, fanciful Arabella. I was intrigued to learn from the author’s note at the end of the book that the character of Arabella was inspired by Stephen Tennant, one of the Bright Young Things of the 1920s.
The book has a lot of Gothic elements: the crumbling old house and its eccentric owner, the supposed Lascy family curse, sightings of a mythical hare and, of course, the poisonings hinted at in the title. I was reminded very much of Laura Purcell’s books, although this one isn’t as dark as those. I did find some of the secrets and twists quite easy to predict and some parts of the plot felt a little bit implausible (particularly regarding property ownership, which becomes an important part of the story later on), but otherwise it was a quick, entertaining read.
Arabella, alone in the world apart from her estate manager and cousin, Maurice Reacher, believes she and her family have been cursed. First her parents died, then all four of her brothers, each within three years of the one before, leaving only Arabella to inherit the family estate. Now another three years have passed and Arabella is convinced that she will be the next victim. But are the Lascys really under a curse or is there a more human explanation for what has been happening?
A Slow and Secret Poison is the second novel by Carmella Lowkis; I had mixed feelings about her first, Spitting Gold, a retelling of a Charles Perrault fairy tale, but I found this one more enjoyable. Vee interested me from the beginning – she’s a very flawed heroine, as we discover as the story unfolds and secrets from her past come to light – but I liked her as a character and I thought her practical, no-nonsense personality provided a good counterpart to the reclusive, fanciful Arabella. I was intrigued to learn from the author’s note at the end of the book that the character of Arabella was inspired by Stephen Tennant, one of the Bright Young Things of the 1920s.
The book has a lot of Gothic elements: the crumbling old house and its eccentric owner, the supposed Lascy family curse, sightings of a mythical hare and, of course, the poisonings hinted at in the title. I was reminded very much of Laura Purcell’s books, although this one isn’t as dark as those. I did find some of the secrets and twists quite easy to predict and some parts of the plot felt a little bit implausible (particularly regarding property ownership, which becomes an important part of the story later on), but otherwise it was a quick, entertaining read.
December 18, 2025
📚A Slow and Secret Poison
✍🏻Carmella Lowkis
Blurb:
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.
My Thoughts:
A Slow and Secret Poison follows Vee, running away from her past in Cardiff, she accepts a job as a gardener on a remote estate in England. She finds herself drawn to Arabella, the isolated yet alluring lady of the house, who believes a curse has killed her family one by one and is coming for her next. As they grow closer, both of their dark pasts threaten to catch up with them.It's an atmospheric novel full of class anxieties, folklore, 1920s queer culture, and a general sense of impending doom. Although some of the reveals were predictable, the book had enough twists and tension to keep me glued to the page. The characters were also fascinating, and the prose was delightful to read. This was a very tight read, went down quick and easy
Thanks NetGalley, Atria Books and Author Camilla Lowkis for the advanced copy of "A Slow and Secret Poison" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#AtriaBooks
#CamillaLowkis
#ASlowandSecretPoison
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️Trigger Warnings: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship, Classism, Medical content, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Murder, Lesbophobia, War, murder is implied; the death is manslaughter
✍🏻Carmella Lowkis
Blurb:
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.
My Thoughts:
A Slow and Secret Poison follows Vee, running away from her past in Cardiff, she accepts a job as a gardener on a remote estate in England. She finds herself drawn to Arabella, the isolated yet alluring lady of the house, who believes a curse has killed her family one by one and is coming for her next. As they grow closer, both of their dark pasts threaten to catch up with them.It's an atmospheric novel full of class anxieties, folklore, 1920s queer culture, and a general sense of impending doom. Although some of the reveals were predictable, the book had enough twists and tension to keep me glued to the page. The characters were also fascinating, and the prose was delightful to read. This was a very tight read, went down quick and easy
Thanks NetGalley, Atria Books and Author Camilla Lowkis for the advanced copy of "A Slow and Secret Poison" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#AtriaBooks
#CamillaLowkis
#ASlowandSecretPoison
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️Trigger Warnings: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship, Classism, Medical content, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Murder, Lesbophobia, War, murder is implied; the death is manslaughter
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Doubleday Books and Insta Book Tours for the ARC, it hasn’t affected my honest review.
TW: murder, death, animal cruelty and death, grief, homophobia
1922, Wiltshire. When Vee Morgan, a gardener with secrets of her own back in Swansea, takes a job at Harfield Manor, a great crumbling manor house in the country, she’s hopeful for a fresh start. However, Harfield Manor has been the site of multiple tragedies: the Lacey family is all dead except for one member, the eccentric and enigmatic Lady Arabella, who haunts the house like a ghost. Vee is disturbed to discover that Arabella believes her family to be cursed and that every three years, they die in an accident. Arabella has only one hope: the magical dancing hare supposedly roaming the land around Harfield that originally blessed the Lacey family and provided their home. As Vee falls deeper into the isolated world of Harfield, and further in love with Arabella, the past she fled in Swansea threatens to destroy everything she’s managed to build.
I loved the atmosphere of this book a lot- the isolated setting, the morally grey and secretive characters and the general attitude around queer relationships in the 1920s- and I found aspects of it made me really uneasy, especially as we move through present tense with Vee and flashbacks to Arabella in the past. The commentary on class, wealth, sexuality and history was so well written. It’s a slow burn, gradually building up over time and I can see why some people may not enjoy it as much but I did- it’s very hard to put this book down once you start, it pulls you in gradually and doesn’t let go. Vee is deeply complicated, hiding a lot of secrets about her former life in Swansea and the kind of life she wants to build for herself. The way that the working, socially conscious Vee contrasted with the aristocratic Arabella was excellent- I was fascinated by her from the very first page and I loved the dives we got into her mind. This is a dark, twisting story and no one is really fully likable with a toxic, complicated sapphic relationship at its heart.
TW: murder, death, animal cruelty and death, grief, homophobia
1922, Wiltshire. When Vee Morgan, a gardener with secrets of her own back in Swansea, takes a job at Harfield Manor, a great crumbling manor house in the country, she’s hopeful for a fresh start. However, Harfield Manor has been the site of multiple tragedies: the Lacey family is all dead except for one member, the eccentric and enigmatic Lady Arabella, who haunts the house like a ghost. Vee is disturbed to discover that Arabella believes her family to be cursed and that every three years, they die in an accident. Arabella has only one hope: the magical dancing hare supposedly roaming the land around Harfield that originally blessed the Lacey family and provided their home. As Vee falls deeper into the isolated world of Harfield, and further in love with Arabella, the past she fled in Swansea threatens to destroy everything she’s managed to build.
I loved the atmosphere of this book a lot- the isolated setting, the morally grey and secretive characters and the general attitude around queer relationships in the 1920s- and I found aspects of it made me really uneasy, especially as we move through present tense with Vee and flashbacks to Arabella in the past. The commentary on class, wealth, sexuality and history was so well written. It’s a slow burn, gradually building up over time and I can see why some people may not enjoy it as much but I did- it’s very hard to put this book down once you start, it pulls you in gradually and doesn’t let go. Vee is deeply complicated, hiding a lot of secrets about her former life in Swansea and the kind of life she wants to build for herself. The way that the working, socially conscious Vee contrasted with the aristocratic Arabella was excellent- I was fascinated by her from the very first page and I loved the dives we got into her mind. This is a dark, twisting story and no one is really fully likable with a toxic, complicated sapphic relationship at its heart.
December 11, 2025
Vee accepts a position as a gardener at Harfold in order to escape her past, but finds herself becoming obsessed with the lady of the manor. Arabella, Lady Lascy, is obsessed with breaking a curse she believes was placed on her family, and is keeping secrets of her own.
I highly enjoyed this gothic novel, although I would agree with other reviewers that it's not much of a romance. There's a romantic subplot, but overall it isn't the point of the novel. If you like gothic novels or historical fiction with unreliable narrators, and like reading about flawed characters, you will likely like this novel. If you want your gay characters to be morally upstanding and have a perfectly happy ending, you will not like this novel. You could technically say it's Hays Code compliant, but I don't think it's done in a homophobic way. Sometimes, gay characters don't get happy endings or are as morally flawed as straight characters in thrillers are.
This book reminded me of Her Wicked Roots by Tanya Pell, but it's not as fantasy-flavored as that book is. It has some light paranormal elements, but overall is mostly just a historical fiction gothic novel. The element of the mythology of the hare of Harfold is interesting, but it's not the main point of the novel. The main poison is not any sort of paranormal poison, it's simply arsenic. I agree with other reviewers that if you are upset by animal/pet death or animal cruelty, you shouldn't read this novel. It is fairly heavy on the triggers, but it's still a very interesting and well-written novel, almost verging into horror territory as well as thriller. There are also some interesting class dynamics and political dynamics in this novel as well, as our main character Vee is the daughter of a socialist who was imprisoned for refusing to participate in the war effort, and the class dynamics in her relationship with Arabella are highlighted.
A Slow and Secret Poison releases February 10 from Atria Books. Thank you to Atria Books, Netgalley and Carmella Lowkis for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
I highly enjoyed this gothic novel, although I would agree with other reviewers that it's not much of a romance. There's a romantic subplot, but overall it isn't the point of the novel. If you like gothic novels or historical fiction with unreliable narrators, and like reading about flawed characters, you will likely like this novel. If you want your gay characters to be morally upstanding and have a perfectly happy ending, you will not like this novel. You could technically say it's Hays Code compliant, but I don't think it's done in a homophobic way. Sometimes, gay characters don't get happy endings or are as morally flawed as straight characters in thrillers are.
This book reminded me of Her Wicked Roots by Tanya Pell, but it's not as fantasy-flavored as that book is. It has some light paranormal elements, but overall is mostly just a historical fiction gothic novel. The element of the mythology of the hare of Harfold is interesting, but it's not the main point of the novel. The main poison is not any sort of paranormal poison, it's simply arsenic. I agree with other reviewers that if you are upset by animal/pet death or animal cruelty, you shouldn't read this novel. It is fairly heavy on the triggers, but it's still a very interesting and well-written novel, almost verging into horror territory as well as thriller. There are also some interesting class dynamics and political dynamics in this novel as well, as our main character Vee is the daughter of a socialist who was imprisoned for refusing to participate in the war effort, and the class dynamics in her relationship with Arabella are highlighted.
A Slow and Secret Poison releases February 10 from Atria Books. Thank you to Atria Books, Netgalley and Carmella Lowkis for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A bit of a slow burn—in the best way possible—"A Slow and Secret Poison" is a novel where the title is a perfect fit for the story readers will find inside.
The story follows a woman named Vee as she begins her new job as a gardener at Harfold Manor—home of the now dwindled Lascy family. Vee initially applies, and accepts, the position without knowing anything about the family's history, but as she settles in she begins to uncover more knowledge about the family and the curse that the current family head, Arabella, fully believes has been placed upon her lineage.
Lowkis did a fantastic job with the pacing of this novel. We start off really taking the time to get to know all of the characters, their histories, and the setting in general—if anything it feels like a bit of a slice of life story at first. But as the novel progresses there are more and more quips and small details slipped in that suggest things might not all be as straightforward as they may seem. The plot itself slowly becomes poisoned with secrets, distrust, and paranoia as more and more of our character's stories are revealed.
This is one of those novels I probably could've devoured in one sitting if life hadn't gotten in the way! It was a smooth and easy read that captured my full attention from the very beginning. The characters felt like real people, the settings were perfectly descriptive, and the romance aspect was the perfect mix of being important to the plot while not completely overtaking the whole story. I really enjoyed my time with this novel and I'm honestly a little sad that it's already over!
(I received an advance review copy of this book from the publisher, Atria Books, via NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.)
The story follows a woman named Vee as she begins her new job as a gardener at Harfold Manor—home of the now dwindled Lascy family. Vee initially applies, and accepts, the position without knowing anything about the family's history, but as she settles in she begins to uncover more knowledge about the family and the curse that the current family head, Arabella, fully believes has been placed upon her lineage.
Lowkis did a fantastic job with the pacing of this novel. We start off really taking the time to get to know all of the characters, their histories, and the setting in general—if anything it feels like a bit of a slice of life story at first. But as the novel progresses there are more and more quips and small details slipped in that suggest things might not all be as straightforward as they may seem. The plot itself slowly becomes poisoned with secrets, distrust, and paranoia as more and more of our character's stories are revealed.
This is one of those novels I probably could've devoured in one sitting if life hadn't gotten in the way! It was a smooth and easy read that captured my full attention from the very beginning. The characters felt like real people, the settings were perfectly descriptive, and the romance aspect was the perfect mix of being important to the plot while not completely overtaking the whole story. I really enjoyed my time with this novel and I'm honestly a little sad that it's already over!
(I received an advance review copy of this book from the publisher, Atria Books, via NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.)
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
'We are cursed, here at Harfold, whether you believe in it or not.'
Elle at Doubleday, sent me a GIFTED proof of A Slow And Secret Poison by Carmella Lowkis, to be published on 22nd January, to read and review. Thank you so much Elle, and this is my honest and independent review.
If you're a fan of the gothic genre, or looking for a book with gothic mystery, and intrigue; an unreliable narrator; and characters with secret pasts, this book delivers.
It combines all of these really popular elements with complex, often toxic and dark characters, and an atmospheric, sapphic love-story, layered with hidden secrets, offering a highly readable title in the gothic novel genre.
It showcases an interesting, well-drawn cast of both 'upstairs' toffs and 'downstairs' servants, with different facets of their characters slowly revealed, as the twists and turns of the story play out, and Vee is especially intriguing and well realised.
The scene setting is done perfectly, and Carmella Lowkis has a talent for evoking atmosphere. With her evocative prose she deftly conjures both the decrepit country house estate, and the blossoming relationship between Vee and Arabella, two damaged women with pasts, tentatively opening up to each other and learning to love and trust.
With a slowly building tension, carefully dropped hints, and a storyline that both unsettles and keeps you guessing about the characters' realities and motivations, it's a gripping read examining themes of revenge, the class system, same sex relationships, fate, and the psychology curses.
A compulsive, gripping read, which I really enjoyed.
Elle at Doubleday, sent me a GIFTED proof of A Slow And Secret Poison by Carmella Lowkis, to be published on 22nd January, to read and review. Thank you so much Elle, and this is my honest and independent review.
If you're a fan of the gothic genre, or looking for a book with gothic mystery, and intrigue; an unreliable narrator; and characters with secret pasts, this book delivers.
It combines all of these really popular elements with complex, often toxic and dark characters, and an atmospheric, sapphic love-story, layered with hidden secrets, offering a highly readable title in the gothic novel genre.
It showcases an interesting, well-drawn cast of both 'upstairs' toffs and 'downstairs' servants, with different facets of their characters slowly revealed, as the twists and turns of the story play out, and Vee is especially intriguing and well realised.
The scene setting is done perfectly, and Carmella Lowkis has a talent for evoking atmosphere. With her evocative prose she deftly conjures both the decrepit country house estate, and the blossoming relationship between Vee and Arabella, two damaged women with pasts, tentatively opening up to each other and learning to love and trust.
With a slowly building tension, carefully dropped hints, and a storyline that both unsettles and keeps you guessing about the characters' realities and motivations, it's a gripping read examining themes of revenge, the class system, same sex relationships, fate, and the psychology curses.
A compulsive, gripping read, which I really enjoyed.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The gothic genre is alive and well (although the current resurgence is now called New or Modern Gothic) with authors like Laura Purcell and Sarah Waters. Sitting squarely in this tradition is Carmella Lowkis. A Slow and Secret Poison is her second novel and it has it all – a crumbling English country house, a generational curse, deep dark secrets and plenty of things going bump in the night. It is also, at its heart, a dark exploration of two fairly toxic characters.
Vee Morgan, a twenty-five year old gardener, has landed herself a job at a place called Harfold Manor in the south-west of England. She is not sure how she landed the job as she is essentially in hiding after some sort of disaster in Cardiff. The house is under the command of the reclusive last member of the Lascy family – Arabella. Arabella’s parents and all of her brothers have died one by one and she believes that the family is the subject of a curse. So she rarely leaves the house which is mostly closed off, heavily in debt and falling down around her, leaving things in the hands of her cousin Maurice Reacher. Vee finds herself becoming obsessed with Arabella Lascy and suspects that her interest might be reciprocated.
A Slow and Secret Poison is classic gothic with all of the trimmings. But putting aside some of the melodrama this is at its heart a toxic love story Vee and Arabella do seem to have feelings for each other both have secrets that they are desperate to keep and both are trying to get something out of the other. And keeping this relationship at its centre makes A Slow and Secret Poison both engaging, satisfying and delightfully dark, right up to the last sentence.
Vee Morgan, a twenty-five year old gardener, has landed herself a job at a place called Harfold Manor in the south-west of England. She is not sure how she landed the job as she is essentially in hiding after some sort of disaster in Cardiff. The house is under the command of the reclusive last member of the Lascy family – Arabella. Arabella’s parents and all of her brothers have died one by one and she believes that the family is the subject of a curse. So she rarely leaves the house which is mostly closed off, heavily in debt and falling down around her, leaving things in the hands of her cousin Maurice Reacher. Vee finds herself becoming obsessed with Arabella Lascy and suspects that her interest might be reciprocated.
A Slow and Secret Poison is classic gothic with all of the trimmings. But putting aside some of the melodrama this is at its heart a toxic love story Vee and Arabella do seem to have feelings for each other both have secrets that they are desperate to keep and both are trying to get something out of the other. And keeping this relationship at its centre makes A Slow and Secret Poison both engaging, satisfying and delightfully dark, right up to the last sentence.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
༻·. 🕯️📖☕️.·༺
Title: A Slow and Secret Poison Author: Carmella Lowkis
Publisher: Atria Books ]
Genre: Historical Gothic Fiction / Mystery
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Carmella Lowkis for this early ARC!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5 stars)
Carmella Lowkis has written a hauntingly atmospheric tale that’s everything a gothic mystery should be—slow, secretive, and steeped in creeping dread. Set in 1922 Wiltshire, A Slow and Secret Poison follows Vee Morgan, a young woman who takes a gardening job at the decaying Harfold Manor in hopes of leaving her past behind. The estate, however, seems to breathe with its own sorrow and decay, its shadows harboring secrets no one dares face.
Vee’s relationship with her enigmatic employer, Lady Arabella Lascy—who believes a family curse has doomed her bloodline—is intoxicatingly complex. The bond between the two women tightens like a noose as the truth begins to rot beneath the surface. Lowkis masterfully blends gothic flourishes, slow-burn tension, and shocking revelations, weaving a tale where grief, guilt, and obsession blur the line between the supernatural and the human heart.
I loved how the plot unfurled—slow and deliberate at first, then quickening with twists I didn’t see coming. Once the secrets began unspooling, I couldn’t put it down. A Slow and Secret Poison is dark, gripping, and beautifully written—perfect for readers who crave a lush, eerie gothic that lingers long after the final page.
#atriabooks #ASlowAndSecretPoison #CarmellaLowkis #HistoricalFiction #GothicMystery #NetGalleyReads #BookReview #Bookstagram #ARCReview #CreepyReads #DarkFiction #AtmosphericReads
Title: A Slow and Secret Poison Author: Carmella Lowkis
Publisher: Atria Books ]
Genre: Historical Gothic Fiction / Mystery
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Carmella Lowkis for this early ARC!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5 stars)
Carmella Lowkis has written a hauntingly atmospheric tale that’s everything a gothic mystery should be—slow, secretive, and steeped in creeping dread. Set in 1922 Wiltshire, A Slow and Secret Poison follows Vee Morgan, a young woman who takes a gardening job at the decaying Harfold Manor in hopes of leaving her past behind. The estate, however, seems to breathe with its own sorrow and decay, its shadows harboring secrets no one dares face.
Vee’s relationship with her enigmatic employer, Lady Arabella Lascy—who believes a family curse has doomed her bloodline—is intoxicatingly complex. The bond between the two women tightens like a noose as the truth begins to rot beneath the surface. Lowkis masterfully blends gothic flourishes, slow-burn tension, and shocking revelations, weaving a tale where grief, guilt, and obsession blur the line between the supernatural and the human heart.
I loved how the plot unfurled—slow and deliberate at first, then quickening with twists I didn’t see coming. Once the secrets began unspooling, I couldn’t put it down. A Slow and Secret Poison is dark, gripping, and beautifully written—perfect for readers who crave a lush, eerie gothic that lingers long after the final page.
#atriabooks #ASlowAndSecretPoison #CarmellaLowkis #HistoricalFiction #GothicMystery #NetGalleyReads #BookReview #Bookstagram #ARCReview #CreepyReads #DarkFiction #AtmosphericReads
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