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A Different Type of Poison
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in a simmering, slow-burn domestic thriller and psychological suspense novel that explores the stories we tell, secrets we bury, and the price we pay for both, perfect for fans of Sally Hepworth, Liane Moriarty, and Lisa Jewell.
When a bestselling author receives an invitation to return to her hometown to discuss her dark campus thriller, she never suspects she may be walking into the most unsettling plot twist of her life.
After her first two books flatlined, author Molly Archer is thrilled that her latest, Birds at Night, is an instant hit. Newly divorced and raising two children in an upscale community north of Manhattan, Molly will do whatever it takes to sustain her novel’s momentum and support the lifestyle she’s worked so hard to achieve.
When an enthusiastic book club organizer from her hometown reaches out, Molly welcomes the opportunity to meet her readers. Traveling back to Ohio offers the perfect excuse to check on her widowed mom, whose health—and memory—appear to be unraveling.
As much as she looks forward to the trip, one thing troubles Molly: She can’t remember Anna Fox, the woman who extended the invitation and seems all too eager to reconnect. Will Molly’s visit introduce her to a new group of adoring fans or is she stepping into her deadliest chapter yet?
A taut literary thriller with shocking twists, A Different Type of Poison explores the line between where fiction ends and the truth begins.
When a bestselling author receives an invitation to return to her hometown to discuss her dark campus thriller, she never suspects she may be walking into the most unsettling plot twist of her life.
After her first two books flatlined, author Molly Archer is thrilled that her latest, Birds at Night, is an instant hit. Newly divorced and raising two children in an upscale community north of Manhattan, Molly will do whatever it takes to sustain her novel’s momentum and support the lifestyle she’s worked so hard to achieve.
When an enthusiastic book club organizer from her hometown reaches out, Molly welcomes the opportunity to meet her readers. Traveling back to Ohio offers the perfect excuse to check on her widowed mom, whose health—and memory—appear to be unraveling.
As much as she looks forward to the trip, one thing troubles Molly: She can’t remember Anna Fox, the woman who extended the invitation and seems all too eager to reconnect. Will Molly’s visit introduce her to a new group of adoring fans or is she stepping into her deadliest chapter yet?
A taut literary thriller with shocking twists, A Different Type of Poison explores the line between where fiction ends and the truth begins.
356 pages, Paperback
Published November 25, 2025
36 people are currently reading
7676 people want to read
About the author
Liz Alterman
7 books467 followersLiz Alterman lives in New Jersey with her husband, three sons, and two cats.
Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Parents, McSweeney's, and other publications.
She spends most days microwaving the same cup of coffee and looking up synonyms.
For information on events and new releases or to have Liz join your bookclub, visit lizalterman.com.
Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Parents, McSweeney's, and other publications.
She spends most days microwaving the same cup of coffee and looking up synonyms.
For information on events and new releases or to have Liz join your bookclub, visit lizalterman.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 28, 2025
Kindle.
Misery meets Fatal Attraction meets Yellowface in the latest novel by one of my favorite thriller authors out there. (I still consider Alterman's He'll Be Waiting to be one of the best YA thrillers ever.)
I am super tired today because I stayed up far past my bedtime last night. Why? Because I had to know how this wild story was going to play out. And oh yeah, did it ever play out in dramatic fashion. A whole lot gets skewered in this book, both literally and figuratively.
Molly is a successful author who is trying to write the sequel to her runaway bestseller. That, on top of being a divorced mother of two young children, having an agent who won't stop emailing, and the constant haranguing from her jerk of an ex, make for some serious stressing.
Anna volunteers at the library down in Molly's hometown in Ohio. She's a broken, lonely woman. She is also obsessed with both Molly and Molly's novel, so much so that she has it almost memorized. When she invites Molly to appear at her book group and Molly accepts (mostly because Molly's mother lives there and she feels guilty she hasn't brought the grandkids around for a while), it's all Anna can do to prepare for the meeting--a meeting that will lead to far different outcomes than either of the women could have expected.
Holy cow but this was a great mindf&&%k of a book! So many twists. So many turns.
Great side characters. Spot-on dialogue. I couldn't read it fast enough.
Big thanks to the author and NetGalley for my download.
Misery meets Fatal Attraction meets Yellowface in the latest novel by one of my favorite thriller authors out there. (I still consider Alterman's He'll Be Waiting to be one of the best YA thrillers ever.)
I am super tired today because I stayed up far past my bedtime last night. Why? Because I had to know how this wild story was going to play out. And oh yeah, did it ever play out in dramatic fashion. A whole lot gets skewered in this book, both literally and figuratively.
Molly is a successful author who is trying to write the sequel to her runaway bestseller. That, on top of being a divorced mother of two young children, having an agent who won't stop emailing, and the constant haranguing from her jerk of an ex, make for some serious stressing.
Anna volunteers at the library down in Molly's hometown in Ohio. She's a broken, lonely woman. She is also obsessed with both Molly and Molly's novel, so much so that she has it almost memorized. When she invites Molly to appear at her book group and Molly accepts (mostly because Molly's mother lives there and she feels guilty she hasn't brought the grandkids around for a while), it's all Anna can do to prepare for the meeting--a meeting that will lead to far different outcomes than either of the women could have expected.
Holy cow but this was a great mindf&&%k of a book! So many twists. So many turns.
Great side characters. Spot-on dialogue. I couldn't read it fast enough.
Big thanks to the author and NetGalley for my download.
October 15, 2025
4.5 stars
Molly has hit it big. She's written a couple of just okay books, but her most recent one? It's a banger, and people have absolutely noticed. In addition to bringing her fame and other professional opportunities, it's also highlighted some challenges in her personal life. Molly has fairly recently gotten divorced (thankfully - the description of her ex's tattoo alone? BLEH) and is parenting her two children (kind of three if you count the ex) on her own. There are pressures to promote her current book as well as deliver the next, and Molly can only handle so much.
While Molly is mostly keeping it together despite the many obvious challenges surrounding her, readers are much more aware of a looming threat than she is because we can see into the perspective of a separate nefarious character. One thing Molly hasn't quite figured out yet is that not all of one's fans have good intentions. When she's presented with an invitation to attend a book club in her hometown, she is not at all skeptical enough about who or what might really be waiting for her. Readers go on a wild ride anticipating what the heck is going to happen when two characters finally converge. In the meantime, we're also learning - through joint perspectives and snippets from Molly's book - what's at the core of this ill-fated potential meeting.
If this is your genre, this book is going to remind you of others that have similar characters and situations, but it also stands on its own. The characters are well developed, and Molly, though deeply flawed, makes moves that seem mostly realistic. She is a bit naive at times, and that can be irritating. One thought: WHY are you so eager to trust folks when you have some challenging secrets in your own past? You write fiction, Molly. You should know better.
This was a fun ride from an author whose work I have consistently enjoyed. I'm already looking forward to what Alterman offers up next and feeling grateful that she clearly knows better than to accept sus invites from mysterious parties!
*Special thanks to NetGalley and One More Page Press for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Molly has hit it big. She's written a couple of just okay books, but her most recent one? It's a banger, and people have absolutely noticed. In addition to bringing her fame and other professional opportunities, it's also highlighted some challenges in her personal life. Molly has fairly recently gotten divorced (thankfully - the description of her ex's tattoo alone? BLEH) and is parenting her two children (kind of three if you count the ex) on her own. There are pressures to promote her current book as well as deliver the next, and Molly can only handle so much.
While Molly is mostly keeping it together despite the many obvious challenges surrounding her, readers are much more aware of a looming threat than she is because we can see into the perspective of a separate nefarious character. One thing Molly hasn't quite figured out yet is that not all of one's fans have good intentions. When she's presented with an invitation to attend a book club in her hometown, she is not at all skeptical enough about who or what might really be waiting for her. Readers go on a wild ride anticipating what the heck is going to happen when two characters finally converge. In the meantime, we're also learning - through joint perspectives and snippets from Molly's book - what's at the core of this ill-fated potential meeting.
If this is your genre, this book is going to remind you of others that have similar characters and situations, but it also stands on its own. The characters are well developed, and Molly, though deeply flawed, makes moves that seem mostly realistic. She is a bit naive at times, and that can be irritating. One thought: WHY are you so eager to trust folks when you have some challenging secrets in your own past? You write fiction, Molly. You should know better.
This was a fun ride from an author whose work I have consistently enjoyed. I'm already looking forward to what Alterman offers up next and feeling grateful that she clearly knows better than to accept sus invites from mysterious parties!
*Special thanks to NetGalley and One More Page Press for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
October 17, 2025
I went into A Different Type of Poison expecting a slow, psychological story, and that’s exactly what I got. Liz Alterman built tension through quiet moments and subtle clues that kept me second-guessing everything.
This story is a tense psychological thriller about Molly, an author whose return to her hometown for a book event stirs up unsettling memories. When a mysterious woman named Anna pushes to reconnect, Molly begins to question her own past—and realizes some secrets are more dangerous than she ever imagined.
I’ve been wanting to read one of Liz Alterman’s books for a while now, so I was happy to get a complimentary copy from NetGalley and the publisher, One More Page Press. Her writing creates a slow-burn tension that builds through subtle details and emotional unease. The prose was clean and character-driven, keeping the focus on psychology over action.
Collectively, this story had a haunting, quiet intensity that I enjoyed. While it wasn’t one of the more compelling books I’ve read in this genre-mainly because it focused more on tension, secrets, and perception than on shocking twists-I’ll still be keeping an eye out for more from Liz Alterman.
Thanks Net Galley and One More Page Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This story is a tense psychological thriller about Molly, an author whose return to her hometown for a book event stirs up unsettling memories. When a mysterious woman named Anna pushes to reconnect, Molly begins to question her own past—and realizes some secrets are more dangerous than she ever imagined.
I’ve been wanting to read one of Liz Alterman’s books for a while now, so I was happy to get a complimentary copy from NetGalley and the publisher, One More Page Press. Her writing creates a slow-burn tension that builds through subtle details and emotional unease. The prose was clean and character-driven, keeping the focus on psychology over action.
Collectively, this story had a haunting, quiet intensity that I enjoyed. While it wasn’t one of the more compelling books I’ve read in this genre-mainly because it focused more on tension, secrets, and perception than on shocking twists-I’ll still be keeping an eye out for more from Liz Alterman.
Thanks Net Galley and One More Page Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 23, 2025
A Different Type of Poison is a simmering, slow-burn psychological, domestic thriller that gets more addictive with each chapter! The story follows Molly Archer, an author who’s riding high after her book, a dark campus thriller called Birds at Night, has become a breakout hit after her earlier novels flopped. Newly divorced and juggling two kids, she’s working hard to write a sequel and establish herself as a mainstream writer. When an invitation arrives from Anna Fox, a woman from her hometown who claims they know each other and is the head of a book club, she sees it as a chance to meet her readers & check in on her widowed mother. But there’s one detail she can’t shake: she doesn’t remember Anna Fox.
The story is told from the shifting dual perspectives of Molly and Anna. Molly’s POV is the emotional core of the story—she’s a woman juggling motherhood, sudden career success/pressure, and unresolved feelings tied to her ex-husband and hometown. Her POV is filled with self-doubt, fragmented memories, and concerns about her mother’s slipping memory. She’s also the epitome of an unreliable narrator—readers will get the sense that Molly knows that things aren’t adding up but can’t quite piece them together—but also isn’t saying everything she knows! In contrast, Anna’s POV is much darker. She puts on an act to appear warm and welcoming, but her inner dialogue depicts a troubled woman with unsettling obsessions and a need for revenge. Anna’s chapters allow the reader to know more than Molly does—and to see the danger long before Molly does, helping to make for an addictive, unsettling reading experience. With each chapter from Anna’s perspective, her mask slips a little more, making her more unlikable and adding to the suspense!
This pacing is very much slow-burn. The first few chapters feel more like a domestic drama than a thriller as readers are eased into Molly’s world—as she’s grappling with writer’s block, motherhood, and drama with her ex-husband and nanny. Once the perspectives start shifting and Anna’s plan is set in motion, the tension begins to hit. Readers will have to be patient to see this book’s true worth—in the second half, the stakes heighten, the “story within a story” unravels secrets, and readers will feel a building dread for Molly’s homecoming trip! In the final chapters, the psychological suspense tightens like a noose, leading to a climax that’s as emotionally charged as it is shocking. And if that’s not enough, there’s another surprise waiting for readers in the final chapter that will leave readers unsettled in the best possible way!
Overall, A Different Type of Poison is a bingeable psychological thriller that really heats up in the second half—and readers will be furiously turning the pages to see how it all ends! If you enjoy domestic thrillers full of drama, unreliable narrators, and stories that blur the line between truth and fiction, this is the book for you!
The story is told from the shifting dual perspectives of Molly and Anna. Molly’s POV is the emotional core of the story—she’s a woman juggling motherhood, sudden career success/pressure, and unresolved feelings tied to her ex-husband and hometown. Her POV is filled with self-doubt, fragmented memories, and concerns about her mother’s slipping memory. She’s also the epitome of an unreliable narrator—readers will get the sense that Molly knows that things aren’t adding up but can’t quite piece them together—but also isn’t saying everything she knows! In contrast, Anna’s POV is much darker. She puts on an act to appear warm and welcoming, but her inner dialogue depicts a troubled woman with unsettling obsessions and a need for revenge. Anna’s chapters allow the reader to know more than Molly does—and to see the danger long before Molly does, helping to make for an addictive, unsettling reading experience. With each chapter from Anna’s perspective, her mask slips a little more, making her more unlikable and adding to the suspense!
This pacing is very much slow-burn. The first few chapters feel more like a domestic drama than a thriller as readers are eased into Molly’s world—as she’s grappling with writer’s block, motherhood, and drama with her ex-husband and nanny. Once the perspectives start shifting and Anna’s plan is set in motion, the tension begins to hit. Readers will have to be patient to see this book’s true worth—in the second half, the stakes heighten, the “story within a story” unravels secrets, and readers will feel a building dread for Molly’s homecoming trip! In the final chapters, the psychological suspense tightens like a noose, leading to a climax that’s as emotionally charged as it is shocking. And if that’s not enough, there’s another surprise waiting for readers in the final chapter that will leave readers unsettled in the best possible way!
Overall, A Different Type of Poison is a bingeable psychological thriller that really heats up in the second half—and readers will be furiously turning the pages to see how it all ends! If you enjoy domestic thrillers full of drama, unreliable narrators, and stories that blur the line between truth and fiction, this is the book for you!
November 22, 2025
✨4.25🌟
📈113/100
🎧Audiobook | 9hrs 51 min
🗣️Narrators: Anna Caputo | Rachel F. Hirsch | Leslie Howard 👏🏽
Give me a thriller that knows exactly what it is doing. Add in some messy characters and I am in heaven.
The synopsis describes this book as a simmering slow-burn domestic thriller. However, I really found this one captivating from the start. It unfolds in such an interesting way that you find yourself leaning in, waiting for the next piece to click into place.
What made it stand out for me is the structure. You are following Molly, a bestselling author out promoting her hit novel Birds at Night, while at the same time you are unraveling the book itself. It is a story within a story. A thriller double feature, if you will. Her real-life and a fictional storyline unfolding side by side like parallel universes that keep brushing against each other. Every meeting, every flashback, every book-appearance feels like a clue that might belong to either world. So clever and I feel that is where this book, and Alterman really shine.
The narrators are strong and I love the dual POV. It gives you the “in the moment” tension with Molly and Anna while also letting you sink into Birds at Night. The voices contrast in a way that makes the layers stand out. I always knew which world I was in thanks to both the writing and narration.
And because this is such a carefully crafted thriller, I have to zip my lips here. Just know that Alterman knows exactly where she is leading you, and she delivers on the payoff.
✌️Vibe Check
🎤 author bookish drama
📚 story inside a story
🧠 dual POV mind games
👀 divorce drama
Thank you @simonmaverickaudio and @lizalterman for the gifted audiobook. All opinions are my own.
It’s a yes for me!🖤
DeAnn | @deannsreadingriot
📈113/100
🎧Audiobook | 9hrs 51 min
🗣️Narrators: Anna Caputo | Rachel F. Hirsch | Leslie Howard 👏🏽
Give me a thriller that knows exactly what it is doing. Add in some messy characters and I am in heaven.
The synopsis describes this book as a simmering slow-burn domestic thriller. However, I really found this one captivating from the start. It unfolds in such an interesting way that you find yourself leaning in, waiting for the next piece to click into place.
What made it stand out for me is the structure. You are following Molly, a bestselling author out promoting her hit novel Birds at Night, while at the same time you are unraveling the book itself. It is a story within a story. A thriller double feature, if you will. Her real-life and a fictional storyline unfolding side by side like parallel universes that keep brushing against each other. Every meeting, every flashback, every book-appearance feels like a clue that might belong to either world. So clever and I feel that is where this book, and Alterman really shine.
The narrators are strong and I love the dual POV. It gives you the “in the moment” tension with Molly and Anna while also letting you sink into Birds at Night. The voices contrast in a way that makes the layers stand out. I always knew which world I was in thanks to both the writing and narration.
And because this is such a carefully crafted thriller, I have to zip my lips here. Just know that Alterman knows exactly where she is leading you, and she delivers on the payoff.
✌️Vibe Check
🎤 author bookish drama
📚 story inside a story
🧠 dual POV mind games
👀 divorce drama
Thank you @simonmaverickaudio and @lizalterman for the gifted audiobook. All opinions are my own.
It’s a yes for me!🖤
DeAnn | @deannsreadingriot
October 22, 2025
When thriller author Molly heads back to her hometown, she throws herself into marketing her book, even accepting an invitation to a local book club. Anna, the coordinator, seems to know Molly though Molly can't remember how or when she has met her. Can Anna be trusted?
This wasn't the most original storyline however the execution was excellent and made for gripping reading. Told through dual POVs and with short chapters, it was so easy to get lost in this book. With plenty of twists, Liz Alterman has delivered once again. I am already eagerly awaiting her next book.
This wasn't the most original storyline however the execution was excellent and made for gripping reading. Told through dual POVs and with short chapters, it was so easy to get lost in this book. With plenty of twists, Liz Alterman has delivered once again. I am already eagerly awaiting her next book.
November 20, 2025
A Different Type of Poison by Liz Alterman. Thanks to the author for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A best selling author is invited to a book club at her hometown. As she struggles to write a sequel to her popular thriller, the book club host prepares for the special visit.
I loved this one and had a really hard time putting it down. It’s a book about a book, and the excerpts from the fictional book were so enthralling that I wished it was a real book as well! I loved the main character and the whole time was curious about her reliability as a narrator. You’ll find out; but there’s much more to it than that.
A Different Type of Poison comes out 11/25.
A best selling author is invited to a book club at her hometown. As she struggles to write a sequel to her popular thriller, the book club host prepares for the special visit.
I loved this one and had a really hard time putting it down. It’s a book about a book, and the excerpts from the fictional book were so enthralling that I wished it was a real book as well! I loved the main character and the whole time was curious about her reliability as a narrator. You’ll find out; but there’s much more to it than that.
A Different Type of Poison comes out 11/25.
November 22, 2025
Wow, there’s so much going on in this book that you might not realize it's a story within a story until you dive in—and I am all for it!
Molly Archer, a bestselling author recently divorced and raising two children, is excited about the success of her latest novel, "Birds at Night". She receives an invitation to her hometown in Ohio to discuss her book, which also gives her a chance to check on her ailing mother. However, she struggles to remember the woman, Anna Fox, who organized the visit. As Molly prepares for the trip, she questions whether she will connect with her readers or find herself in a dangerous situation.
We get two different perspectives from Molly and Anna, along with excerpts from the book titled "Birds at Night." It may sound overwhelming, but there are layers and layers of suspense that keep you on the edge of your seat. Molly comes across as a likable and well-developed character, while Anna raises some red flags with her questionable motives and what seems to be an unhealthy obsession. I appreciate that, despite her cleverness, Molly doesn’t let Anna derail her. But I don’t want to give too much away; you’ll just have to experience it for yourself!
You’ll also get to explore chapters of Molly’s book, making it a thrilling journey! This read is thought-provoking, filled with deeper meanings that will eventually come together, prompting you to reflect on the events to grasp the underlying metaphor within the pages.
This book is perfect for anyone who can handle themes of obsessive behavior, stalking, toxic relationships, and manipulation. If you enjoy novels that feature a story within a story, a fast-paced narrative, and plenty of twists and turns to keep you flipping pages as quickly as your Kindle allows, then this unique read needs to be on your TBR list right away!
Thank you, One More Page Press and Netgalley, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Molly Archer, a bestselling author recently divorced and raising two children, is excited about the success of her latest novel, "Birds at Night". She receives an invitation to her hometown in Ohio to discuss her book, which also gives her a chance to check on her ailing mother. However, she struggles to remember the woman, Anna Fox, who organized the visit. As Molly prepares for the trip, she questions whether she will connect with her readers or find herself in a dangerous situation.
We get two different perspectives from Molly and Anna, along with excerpts from the book titled "Birds at Night." It may sound overwhelming, but there are layers and layers of suspense that keep you on the edge of your seat. Molly comes across as a likable and well-developed character, while Anna raises some red flags with her questionable motives and what seems to be an unhealthy obsession. I appreciate that, despite her cleverness, Molly doesn’t let Anna derail her. But I don’t want to give too much away; you’ll just have to experience it for yourself!
You’ll also get to explore chapters of Molly’s book, making it a thrilling journey! This read is thought-provoking, filled with deeper meanings that will eventually come together, prompting you to reflect on the events to grasp the underlying metaphor within the pages.
This book is perfect for anyone who can handle themes of obsessive behavior, stalking, toxic relationships, and manipulation. If you enjoy novels that feature a story within a story, a fast-paced narrative, and plenty of twists and turns to keep you flipping pages as quickly as your Kindle allows, then this unique read needs to be on your TBR list right away!
Thank you, One More Page Press and Netgalley, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 16, 2025
A DIFFERENT TYPE OF POISON, by Liz Alterman (a favorite author), is an enthralling 'book within a book' literary thriller that masterfully weaves suspense and intrigue, leaving you breathless with every turn of the page.
If a story is in you, it has to come out."
—William Faulkner
About...
What begins as an alluring book tour and a bestseller novel quickly spirals into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, where tension and excitement mount with every chapter, making it impossible to put down.
Characters...
Molly Archer:
Living in Manhattan, a recently divorced (ex-Dan), mom of two young children (Isaac and Ingrid), and finally a bestselling author (M.J. Archer, pseudonym) of a dark campus thriller, Birds at Night becomes a New York Times bestselling hit.
Anna Fox:
An enthusiastic (obsessed) book club organizer, a librarian from Molly's hometown in Milltown, Ohio, invites her to speak. Molly has no memory of her, but Anna seems very keen to reconnect. She wonders why this stranger seems to know her—maybe her mom will know.
Molly's widowed mother:
Her health and memory are declining, prompting Molly's trip to Ohio. This way, she can check up on her mom and attend the book club while on tour. Plus, it would be great to see her best friend, Gavin.
Are her dreams of finally becoming a bestselling author coming true, or is it unleashing a nightmare? What secrets has Molly buried?
What Molly initially perceives as a warm welcome soon morphs into a chilling entrapment, orchestrated by a woman whose face is hauntingly familiar yet completely elusive. As the delicate boundaries between her vivid fictional world and her own unsettling reality begin to dissolve, an intricate tapestry of betrayal and deception unfurls before her.
Long-buried secrets rise to the surface, weaving an atmosphere thick with tension and suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats and eagerly guessing until the very last, jaw-dropping twist.
My Thoughts...
A DIFFERENT TYPE OF POISON is a gripping literary thriller—a book within a book—that masterfully blends high-stakes suspense with deep characterization and lyrical prose, exploring emotional complex themes and relationships that make it impossible to put down.
The characters are richly developed, each with intricate backstories, internal conflicts, and moral ambiguity. Molly's thriller begins to mirror the mysterious events in her own life, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
Molly's mother holds the key to the truth about Anna, but her unreliable memories lead to cryptic information that forces Molly to question everything, heightening the psychological suspense and manipulation.
Featuring dual perspectives from Molly and Anna, with a chapter from Evelyn, the narrative builds tension as it races toward a shocking conclusion. Liz keeps readers hooked from start to finish, with Anna's dark humor providing a delightful contrast.
The title, A Different Type of Poison encapsulates themes of manipulation and psychological abuse, presenting these forms of "poison" as more damaging than any physical threat.
As a writer of dark thrillers, Molly is accustomed to fictional forms of danger. The title emphasizes the contrast between the fictional poisons in her books and the real-life emotional and psychological "poison" she encounters in her hometown.
The narrative blurs the lines between where fiction ends and truth begins, highlighting how real-world secrets can be far more toxic than any fictional story. Ultimately, the title serves as a metaphor for the slow, simmering, and often unseen ways in which people can harm one another emotionally and psychologically.
Night birds symbolize mystery, the unconscious mind, hidden fears, and secrets. Molly's book title and content serve as a metaphor for the repressed memories and dark truths from her youth that she has kept hidden, even from herself.
Birds at Night is a profound reflection of Molly's character, her history, and the psychological journey she must undertake to confront the "different type of poison" that has been lurking in her past, making this a thought-provoking literary thriller and a perfect book club pick for further discussions (questions included).
A DIFFERENT TYPE OF POISON is highly entertaining, a propulsive page-turner that explores highly-charged topics and themes of manipulation, trauma, gaslighting, mother-daughter relationships, family drama, repressed memories, unresolved issues, toxic relationships, and dark, buried secrets.
As a devoted fan of the author, I highly recommend this book as well as Liz's previous works. Alterman masterfully reveals how seemingly safe and familiar settings can harbor hidden menaces, while also highlighting the long-lasting, damaging effects that concealed secrets can have on mental well-being and interpersonal connections.
Among her other novels that capture the intricacies of family drama and explore similar themes of psychological manipulation, suburban secrets, deception, betrayal, and the shadows of a troubled past are:
You Shouldn't Have Done That (2025)
The House on Cold Creek Lane (2024)
The Perfect Neighborhood (2022)
Interview...
Stay tuned for my fun #LitLiftMiniAuthorChat with Liz on pub day (my blog) to learn more about the book and this talented author.
Recs...
A captivating read that will enthrall fans of the author as well as those who revel in intricate psychological thrillers and tantalizing literary suspense.
If you enjoy the intricate storytelling found in books such as The Plot, Disclaimer, or All This Could Be Yours, as well as works by authors like Mary Kubica, Sally Hepworth, Alice Feeney, and Shari Lapena, you will be captivated by this gripping story that promises to engage both your mind and your senses.
Special thanks to the author and publisher for graciously sharing an advanced reading copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts.
blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Nov 25, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars
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If a story is in you, it has to come out."
—William Faulkner
About...
What begins as an alluring book tour and a bestseller novel quickly spirals into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, where tension and excitement mount with every chapter, making it impossible to put down.
Characters...
Molly Archer:
Living in Manhattan, a recently divorced (ex-Dan), mom of two young children (Isaac and Ingrid), and finally a bestselling author (M.J. Archer, pseudonym) of a dark campus thriller, Birds at Night becomes a New York Times bestselling hit.
Anna Fox:
An enthusiastic (obsessed) book club organizer, a librarian from Molly's hometown in Milltown, Ohio, invites her to speak. Molly has no memory of her, but Anna seems very keen to reconnect. She wonders why this stranger seems to know her—maybe her mom will know.
Molly's widowed mother:
Her health and memory are declining, prompting Molly's trip to Ohio. This way, she can check up on her mom and attend the book club while on tour. Plus, it would be great to see her best friend, Gavin.
Are her dreams of finally becoming a bestselling author coming true, or is it unleashing a nightmare? What secrets has Molly buried?
What Molly initially perceives as a warm welcome soon morphs into a chilling entrapment, orchestrated by a woman whose face is hauntingly familiar yet completely elusive. As the delicate boundaries between her vivid fictional world and her own unsettling reality begin to dissolve, an intricate tapestry of betrayal and deception unfurls before her.
Long-buried secrets rise to the surface, weaving an atmosphere thick with tension and suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats and eagerly guessing until the very last, jaw-dropping twist.
My Thoughts...
A DIFFERENT TYPE OF POISON is a gripping literary thriller—a book within a book—that masterfully blends high-stakes suspense with deep characterization and lyrical prose, exploring emotional complex themes and relationships that make it impossible to put down.
The characters are richly developed, each with intricate backstories, internal conflicts, and moral ambiguity. Molly's thriller begins to mirror the mysterious events in her own life, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
Molly's mother holds the key to the truth about Anna, but her unreliable memories lead to cryptic information that forces Molly to question everything, heightening the psychological suspense and manipulation.
Featuring dual perspectives from Molly and Anna, with a chapter from Evelyn, the narrative builds tension as it races toward a shocking conclusion. Liz keeps readers hooked from start to finish, with Anna's dark humor providing a delightful contrast.
The title, A Different Type of Poison encapsulates themes of manipulation and psychological abuse, presenting these forms of "poison" as more damaging than any physical threat.
As a writer of dark thrillers, Molly is accustomed to fictional forms of danger. The title emphasizes the contrast between the fictional poisons in her books and the real-life emotional and psychological "poison" she encounters in her hometown.
The narrative blurs the lines between where fiction ends and truth begins, highlighting how real-world secrets can be far more toxic than any fictional story. Ultimately, the title serves as a metaphor for the slow, simmering, and often unseen ways in which people can harm one another emotionally and psychologically.
Night birds symbolize mystery, the unconscious mind, hidden fears, and secrets. Molly's book title and content serve as a metaphor for the repressed memories and dark truths from her youth that she has kept hidden, even from herself.
Birds at Night is a profound reflection of Molly's character, her history, and the psychological journey she must undertake to confront the "different type of poison" that has been lurking in her past, making this a thought-provoking literary thriller and a perfect book club pick for further discussions (questions included).
A DIFFERENT TYPE OF POISON is highly entertaining, a propulsive page-turner that explores highly-charged topics and themes of manipulation, trauma, gaslighting, mother-daughter relationships, family drama, repressed memories, unresolved issues, toxic relationships, and dark, buried secrets.
As a devoted fan of the author, I highly recommend this book as well as Liz's previous works. Alterman masterfully reveals how seemingly safe and familiar settings can harbor hidden menaces, while also highlighting the long-lasting, damaging effects that concealed secrets can have on mental well-being and interpersonal connections.
Among her other novels that capture the intricacies of family drama and explore similar themes of psychological manipulation, suburban secrets, deception, betrayal, and the shadows of a troubled past are:
You Shouldn't Have Done That (2025)
The House on Cold Creek Lane (2024)
The Perfect Neighborhood (2022)
Interview...
Stay tuned for my fun #LitLiftMiniAuthorChat with Liz on pub day (my blog) to learn more about the book and this talented author.
Recs...
A captivating read that will enthrall fans of the author as well as those who revel in intricate psychological thrillers and tantalizing literary suspense.
If you enjoy the intricate storytelling found in books such as The Plot, Disclaimer, or All This Could Be Yours, as well as works by authors like Mary Kubica, Sally Hepworth, Alice Feeney, and Shari Lapena, you will be captivated by this gripping story that promises to engage both your mind and your senses.
Special thanks to the author and publisher for graciously sharing an advanced reading copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts.
blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Nov 25, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars
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December 9, 2025
Listen to audiobook via Libby
I went into this book blind. So I had no expectations or preconceived notions about the plot. And maybe that’s a good thing because I might have DNF this if I had gone in expecting this to be anything other than just bearable.
The 2 ⭐️ are simply because I finished the book. But honestly, I’m not sure what the point of this story was. I think it’s a mystery thriller. But we know who the antagonist is and a decent gist of what their motives are pretty early on. Like the author doesn’t even try to make it a secret. We don’t know the exact details of what happened between the antagonist and the protagonist. But we know something went awry in their past, and now there’s this sort of revenge plot happening.
But that’s kind of in the background to just watching the protagonist go through her day-to-day life of navigating fresh divorce, coparenting with an asshole, and trying to write the sequel to her best selling novel that is low-key a memoir. Which again we are told very early in the story.
Mostly, I kept reading because I kept thinking OK there’s has to be more. There’s some surprise twist that I just can’t see coming.… But no they’re never was. Again we mostly just get the details about their conflict. Which just helps contextualize the revenge plot. But the whole time we have known that it’s a revenge plot. And that the book she wrote is a memoir. Even though she isn’t really admitting that.
Lastly, my biggest gripe with this book is that the main driving plot point that leads the protagonist and antagonist together is based on the idea that the protagonist has to be a fucking idiot. Because who on this green earth, would go to someone’s house for a book club meeting just because they said they knew you from your past, but you don’t actually remember them. Mind you, this is without a photo. And I’m pretty sure without a phone call, if I’m remembering correctly. This is all digital written communication. And she just believes the stranger whose name she does not recognize, and none of her close friends recognize. But still decides to go to her house for this book club that’s featuring her book. Like, literally, she agrees to go to the house of someone she does not know just because that person said hey remember me, I loved your book and I wanna host a book club featuring it for the month. Would love it if you came to talk about your book. Can’t wait to see you. Or something like that. And she just agrees. Even though she has no idea who this person is. Cannot find a class photo, none of her friends know this person, and as the date years she cannot for the life of her to have any recollection of this name. And again there is no photo to accompany this communication. But she shows up to this woman’s house anyway.
WHO WOULD DO THIS???? It’s one of the most ridiculous plot points I’ve ever read. And no one seems super surprised that she’s willing to do this. Like she gets some minor warnings about going to a STRANGER’S house. But no one is like “ hey girl, what the fuck are you doing?” did I mention she also travels from New York to Ohio to do this. Granted it’s her hometown that she travels back to. But for the sole reason of going to meet up with this stranger because for reasons unknown, she feels obligated to attend a book club about her book with a woman that she can’t remember just because the woman says that they used to know each other. It’s asinine.
So yeah, I finished the book. But that’s really the highest commendation I can give it.
I went into this book blind. So I had no expectations or preconceived notions about the plot. And maybe that’s a good thing because I might have DNF this if I had gone in expecting this to be anything other than just bearable.
The 2 ⭐️ are simply because I finished the book. But honestly, I’m not sure what the point of this story was. I think it’s a mystery thriller. But we know who the antagonist is and a decent gist of what their motives are pretty early on. Like the author doesn’t even try to make it a secret. We don’t know the exact details of what happened between the antagonist and the protagonist. But we know something went awry in their past, and now there’s this sort of revenge plot happening.
But that’s kind of in the background to just watching the protagonist go through her day-to-day life of navigating fresh divorce, coparenting with an asshole, and trying to write the sequel to her best selling novel that is low-key a memoir. Which again we are told very early in the story.
Mostly, I kept reading because I kept thinking OK there’s has to be more. There’s some surprise twist that I just can’t see coming.… But no they’re never was. Again we mostly just get the details about their conflict. Which just helps contextualize the revenge plot. But the whole time we have known that it’s a revenge plot. And that the book she wrote is a memoir. Even though she isn’t really admitting that.
Lastly, my biggest gripe with this book is that the main driving plot point that leads the protagonist and antagonist together is based on the idea that the protagonist has to be a fucking idiot. Because who on this green earth, would go to someone’s house for a book club meeting just because they said they knew you from your past, but you don’t actually remember them. Mind you, this is without a photo. And I’m pretty sure without a phone call, if I’m remembering correctly. This is all digital written communication. And she just believes the stranger whose name she does not recognize, and none of her close friends recognize. But still decides to go to her house for this book club that’s featuring her book. Like, literally, she agrees to go to the house of someone she does not know just because that person said hey remember me, I loved your book and I wanna host a book club featuring it for the month. Would love it if you came to talk about your book. Can’t wait to see you. Or something like that. And she just agrees. Even though she has no idea who this person is. Cannot find a class photo, none of her friends know this person, and as the date years she cannot for the life of her to have any recollection of this name. And again there is no photo to accompany this communication. But she shows up to this woman’s house anyway.
WHO WOULD DO THIS???? It’s one of the most ridiculous plot points I’ve ever read. And no one seems super surprised that she’s willing to do this. Like she gets some minor warnings about going to a STRANGER’S house. But no one is like “ hey girl, what the fuck are you doing?” did I mention she also travels from New York to Ohio to do this. Granted it’s her hometown that she travels back to. But for the sole reason of going to meet up with this stranger because for reasons unknown, she feels obligated to attend a book club about her book with a woman that she can’t remember just because the woman says that they used to know each other. It’s asinine.
So yeah, I finished the book. But that’s really the highest commendation I can give it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2025
Release: Nov 25, 2025
Author: Liz Alterman
Publisher: One more page press
Rating: 3.75 ★
A Different Type of Poison is a slow-burn psychological thriller about the blurred line between the stories we tell and the secrets we hide.
Molly Archer is finally living the life she’s worked for. After two failed novels, her latest book — a dark campus thriller called Birds at Night — has become a breakout success. She’s juggling single motherhood, fame, and the pressures of keeping her career afloat, when an unexpected invitation pulls her back to the one place she’s avoided for years: her hometown in Ohio.
An overly friendly book club organizer named Anna Fox invites her to come speak about her novel, and Molly agrees, seeing it as a chance to meet fans and check in on her mother, whose health and memory are slipping. But there’s something about Anna that feels… off. Molly can’t remember her at all — yet Anna acts like they share a history.
As Molly’s visit unfolds, buried memories and half-truths begin to surface, and she starts to realize that the line between her fiction and her real past might not be as separate as she thought. What begins as a simple book club event turns into a tense unraveling of secrets, lies, and revenge — the kind that could destroy everything Molly’s built.
A chilling, character-driven thriller that questions how much of our truth we can rewrite, and what happens when the past we’ve buried decides to dig itself back up.
A Different Type of Poison is a smart, twist-filled psychological thriller that completely hooked me from the start. Liz Alterman delivers a story that’s fast-paced, clever, and full of deliciously flawed characters hiding secrets they’d rather keep buried.
Molly Archer, a novelist whose latest book has finally made her a success, is juggling a lot — fame, pressure, single motherhood, and the shadow of her ex-husband (whose tattoo description alone says everything you need to know about him). She’s barely keeping it together when she’s invited back to her hometown to meet a book club eager to discuss her new hit. Seems innocent enough… except the reader quickly learns that not everyone waiting for her has good intentions.
I loved how the story alternates perspectives, giving us a glimpse into both Molly’s world and a darker, more sinister mind plotting something dangerous. It builds this delicious tension where you can feel the trap tightening before Molly even realizes she’s walked into it. And the way snippets from her fictional novel are woven in adds such a clever, meta layer — it’s truly a “book within a book” thriller.
The pacing is excellent: slow-burn suspense that suddenly kicks into high gear as everything collides in the final chapters. It’s twisty without ever feeling gimmicky, and every reveal lands exactly when it should. Molly’s a bit naive at times — which makes you want to yell at her through the pages — but her flaws make her feel real, not just another cookie-cutter thriller heroine.
This is one of those stories that keeps you guessing and second-guessing right up until the end. Sharp writing, great pacing, and tension that builds like a pressure cooker. I tore through the last half in a single sitting.
Favorite Quote:
“the stories we tell, the secrets we bury, and the price we pay for both.”
Author: Liz Alterman
Publisher: One more page press
Rating: 3.75 ★
A Different Type of Poison is a slow-burn psychological thriller about the blurred line between the stories we tell and the secrets we hide.
Molly Archer is finally living the life she’s worked for. After two failed novels, her latest book — a dark campus thriller called Birds at Night — has become a breakout success. She’s juggling single motherhood, fame, and the pressures of keeping her career afloat, when an unexpected invitation pulls her back to the one place she’s avoided for years: her hometown in Ohio.
An overly friendly book club organizer named Anna Fox invites her to come speak about her novel, and Molly agrees, seeing it as a chance to meet fans and check in on her mother, whose health and memory are slipping. But there’s something about Anna that feels… off. Molly can’t remember her at all — yet Anna acts like they share a history.
As Molly’s visit unfolds, buried memories and half-truths begin to surface, and she starts to realize that the line between her fiction and her real past might not be as separate as she thought. What begins as a simple book club event turns into a tense unraveling of secrets, lies, and revenge — the kind that could destroy everything Molly’s built.
A chilling, character-driven thriller that questions how much of our truth we can rewrite, and what happens when the past we’ve buried decides to dig itself back up.
A Different Type of Poison is a smart, twist-filled psychological thriller that completely hooked me from the start. Liz Alterman delivers a story that’s fast-paced, clever, and full of deliciously flawed characters hiding secrets they’d rather keep buried.
Molly Archer, a novelist whose latest book has finally made her a success, is juggling a lot — fame, pressure, single motherhood, and the shadow of her ex-husband (whose tattoo description alone says everything you need to know about him). She’s barely keeping it together when she’s invited back to her hometown to meet a book club eager to discuss her new hit. Seems innocent enough… except the reader quickly learns that not everyone waiting for her has good intentions.
I loved how the story alternates perspectives, giving us a glimpse into both Molly’s world and a darker, more sinister mind plotting something dangerous. It builds this delicious tension where you can feel the trap tightening before Molly even realizes she’s walked into it. And the way snippets from her fictional novel are woven in adds such a clever, meta layer — it’s truly a “book within a book” thriller.
The pacing is excellent: slow-burn suspense that suddenly kicks into high gear as everything collides in the final chapters. It’s twisty without ever feeling gimmicky, and every reveal lands exactly when it should. Molly’s a bit naive at times — which makes you want to yell at her through the pages — but her flaws make her feel real, not just another cookie-cutter thriller heroine.
This is one of those stories that keeps you guessing and second-guessing right up until the end. Sharp writing, great pacing, and tension that builds like a pressure cooker. I tore through the last half in a single sitting.
Favorite Quote:
“the stories we tell, the secrets we bury, and the price we pay for both.”
November 19, 2025
When I see a book compared to Lisa Jewell, Sally Hepworth, and Lianne Moriarty, it's basically a given that I'm going to have to read it. And that's how I discovered this little gem.
It reminded me strongly of Jean Hanff Korelitz's The Plot, and I mean that in a good way. After her first two books flop, Molly's latest book takes off. As she is on her book tour, she is invited by a fan to attend a book club in Molly's own hometown. Figuring she can also combine purposes and visit home to check up on her aging mother, Molly agrees, even though she has no recollection of the woman who invited her, who seems to know Molly. She asks her oldest friend if he has any recollection, and he also doesn't know who this Anna Fox person is.
While Molly has some hints of being morally gray, Anna's character isn't nearly as likable - she's devious and petty and has a nasty streak, making it tough to even want to empathize with her, especially the more I read about her. Molly, on the other hand, is much more of a sympathetic character.
The pace is kind of slow in the first half of the story, but it picks up the speed in the second half, as I'd expect from a good, tautly written psychological thriller. But as the story goes on, I found myself rolling my eyes at some of Molly's actions - for someone who writes mysteries, she isn't very good at spotting red flags in real life. I don't know about you, but if I was a hit author on a book tour and was invited to a book club in my hometown, I'd probably apply the same rules as online dating - meet in a public space, do a little research beforehand, don't just go to someone's house, you know, the usual. I was so disappointed in Molly's behavior towards the end of the story.
Overall, this was a middle of the road story for me. The tension and suspense elements of the story really held my attention, but I really struggled with how oblivious Molly is for someone who writes literal mystery/thrillers. It was really frustrating to be so invested in a story and have it go down in this way, although if Molly made better choices, she might have avoided the events altogether, but what's the fun in reading a book like that?
It reminded me strongly of Jean Hanff Korelitz's The Plot, and I mean that in a good way. After her first two books flop, Molly's latest book takes off. As she is on her book tour, she is invited by a fan to attend a book club in Molly's own hometown. Figuring she can also combine purposes and visit home to check up on her aging mother, Molly agrees, even though she has no recollection of the woman who invited her, who seems to know Molly. She asks her oldest friend if he has any recollection, and he also doesn't know who this Anna Fox person is.
While Molly has some hints of being morally gray, Anna's character isn't nearly as likable - she's devious and petty and has a nasty streak, making it tough to even want to empathize with her, especially the more I read about her. Molly, on the other hand, is much more of a sympathetic character.
The pace is kind of slow in the first half of the story, but it picks up the speed in the second half, as I'd expect from a good, tautly written psychological thriller. But as the story goes on, I found myself rolling my eyes at some of Molly's actions - for someone who writes mysteries, she isn't very good at spotting red flags in real life. I don't know about you, but if I was a hit author on a book tour and was invited to a book club in my hometown, I'd probably apply the same rules as online dating - meet in a public space, do a little research beforehand, don't just go to someone's house, you know, the usual. I was so disappointed in Molly's behavior towards the end of the story.
Overall, this was a middle of the road story for me. The tension and suspense elements of the story really held my attention, but I really struggled with how oblivious Molly is for someone who writes literal mystery/thrillers. It was really frustrating to be so invested in a story and have it go down in this way, although if Molly made better choices, she might have avoided the events altogether, but what's the fun in reading a book like that?
November 25, 2025
📚 E-ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚
A Different Type of Poison
By Liz Alterman
Publication Date: November 25, 2025
Publisher: One More Page Press
📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you bunches to Liz Alterman for reaching out to tell me this book was coming soon, and thank you to NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!
📚MY REVIEW:
WOW. Liz Alterman absolutely blew my mind with this read! I finished the book and just stared into space for at least a full minute, repeating the word "wow" every 10 seconds and just shaking my head in disbelief at the way the twists in this one left me completely floored.
I've really enjoyed each of Liz's previous books, but let me tell you: A Different Type of Poison is her best book yet and will finish quite high on my list of favorite reads of 2025.
First, this features one of my favorite thriller tropes: A Book Within A Book. But what made the trope so fantastic in THIS particular thriller is that you actually get to read parts of the FMC's best-seller Birds At Night as you're reading A Different Type of Poison. It was legitimately like two books in one, and I loved BOTH of them!!
The story is told through dual POVs in alternating chapters. There's best-selling author Molly, overwhelmed and under immense pressure to complete her sequel while promoting her current best-seller and being the perfect mom to her two kids while dealing with a jerk-of-an-ex-husband. And then there's Anna, an obsessed fan from Molly's hometown who lives a lonely life as a part-time volunteer at the local library and seems to become increasingly unhinged as the book goes on. When Molly agrees to return to her hometown and participate in Anna's book club, it's only a matter of time till this creepy weird obsession gets even wilder.
This was one of those reads that not only pulled me in quickly, but kept me captivated in its pages so much so that I didn't want to put it down! The build-up of the suspense was so good and the brilliantly twisty ending chapters culminated in an applause-worthy finish.
If you enjoy thrillers about people with unhinged obsessions, best-selling authors, and the books-within-books trope, then don't even think twice about grabbing this one immediately when it publishes on November 25th. If you're looking for a thrilling guilty-pleasure escape read over the upcoming long holiday weekend, look no further because you've found it. Or if you just want to pretend you need a break so you can read a really good book -- that's okay too. This one is SO WORTH whatever excuse you conjure up -- just read it!
#ADifferentTypeOfPoison #LizAlterman #OneMorePagePress #fivestarreads #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #thrillerreads #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #bookreviews #bookrecs #booklover #bookaddict
A Different Type of Poison
By Liz Alterman
Publication Date: November 25, 2025
Publisher: One More Page Press
📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you bunches to Liz Alterman for reaching out to tell me this book was coming soon, and thank you to NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!
📚MY REVIEW:
WOW. Liz Alterman absolutely blew my mind with this read! I finished the book and just stared into space for at least a full minute, repeating the word "wow" every 10 seconds and just shaking my head in disbelief at the way the twists in this one left me completely floored.
I've really enjoyed each of Liz's previous books, but let me tell you: A Different Type of Poison is her best book yet and will finish quite high on my list of favorite reads of 2025.
First, this features one of my favorite thriller tropes: A Book Within A Book. But what made the trope so fantastic in THIS particular thriller is that you actually get to read parts of the FMC's best-seller Birds At Night as you're reading A Different Type of Poison. It was legitimately like two books in one, and I loved BOTH of them!!
The story is told through dual POVs in alternating chapters. There's best-selling author Molly, overwhelmed and under immense pressure to complete her sequel while promoting her current best-seller and being the perfect mom to her two kids while dealing with a jerk-of-an-ex-husband. And then there's Anna, an obsessed fan from Molly's hometown who lives a lonely life as a part-time volunteer at the local library and seems to become increasingly unhinged as the book goes on. When Molly agrees to return to her hometown and participate in Anna's book club, it's only a matter of time till this creepy weird obsession gets even wilder.
This was one of those reads that not only pulled me in quickly, but kept me captivated in its pages so much so that I didn't want to put it down! The build-up of the suspense was so good and the brilliantly twisty ending chapters culminated in an applause-worthy finish.
If you enjoy thrillers about people with unhinged obsessions, best-selling authors, and the books-within-books trope, then don't even think twice about grabbing this one immediately when it publishes on November 25th. If you're looking for a thrilling guilty-pleasure escape read over the upcoming long holiday weekend, look no further because you've found it. Or if you just want to pretend you need a break so you can read a really good book -- that's okay too. This one is SO WORTH whatever excuse you conjure up -- just read it!
#ADifferentTypeOfPoison #LizAlterman #OneMorePagePress #fivestarreads #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #thrillerreads #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #bookreviews #bookrecs #booklover #bookaddict
November 25, 2025
Many thanks to NetGalley and One More Page Press for an ARC of this book on exchange for a review.
What a fabulous read, a book within a book! A slow burn psychological thriller,
Molly has written another novel, Birds at Night and this one is a best seller!
The story unfolds in a very clever way, it follows Molly who has loads of engagements, podcast invites, readings, interviews, all to promote her new book and at the same time the Birds at Night story is being told, Molly’s life and the story she has written weave together very cleverly.
She is going back to her home town, to see her widowed mother, hopefully see her friend Gavin and also to attend a book club reading, invited by an Anna Fox who alludes to have known Molly previously, though Molly cannot place her, cannot find her on social media, who is she?
When Molly arrives at the house of Anna Fox, there are no other cars, she is hoping to recognise Anna when she meets her again. When they are face to face, Molly feels a cold chill, there is something familiar about Anna, there are no other guests, After a large glass of wine she excuses herself to go to the bathroom, she realises Anna must have drugged her, she feels unwell, Anna is knocking on the bathroom door, her fictional world and her real life are about to collide!!! What secrets are about to be spilled!!!
The tension and atmosphere build, there are twists and turns in this highly entertaining read. There are some great characters, there is deception, betrayal, lies, secrets and manipulation.
This is my first book by this author, I look forward to reading more of her books. This is a 5 star read.
What a fabulous read, a book within a book! A slow burn psychological thriller,
Molly has written another novel, Birds at Night and this one is a best seller!
The story unfolds in a very clever way, it follows Molly who has loads of engagements, podcast invites, readings, interviews, all to promote her new book and at the same time the Birds at Night story is being told, Molly’s life and the story she has written weave together very cleverly.
She is going back to her home town, to see her widowed mother, hopefully see her friend Gavin and also to attend a book club reading, invited by an Anna Fox who alludes to have known Molly previously, though Molly cannot place her, cannot find her on social media, who is she?
When Molly arrives at the house of Anna Fox, there are no other cars, she is hoping to recognise Anna when she meets her again. When they are face to face, Molly feels a cold chill, there is something familiar about Anna, there are no other guests, After a large glass of wine she excuses herself to go to the bathroom, she realises Anna must have drugged her, she feels unwell, Anna is knocking on the bathroom door, her fictional world and her real life are about to collide!!! What secrets are about to be spilled!!!
The tension and atmosphere build, there are twists and turns in this highly entertaining read. There are some great characters, there is deception, betrayal, lies, secrets and manipulation.
This is my first book by this author, I look forward to reading more of her books. This is a 5 star read.
November 25, 2025
👯♀️👯Book Review! 👯👯♀️
👯♀️ Title: A Different Type of Poison
👯♀️ Author: Liz Alterman
👯♀️ Genre: #fiction #mystery #thriller #womensfiction
👯♀️ Goodreads rating: 4.10⭐️’s
👯♀️# of Goodreads ratings: 30
👯♀️ MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
👯♀️ Publishing Date: November 25, 2025
Blurb:
“A bestselling author returns to her hometown after receiving a mysterious invitation, only to discover she may be walking into a deadly trap reminiscent of ‘Misery’ “
- Amazon
My thoughts:
I love this author. Every book I’ve read of hers has been fantastic. Her mysteries are woven so expertly; there is a purpose for every sentence she writes. Whether that means it gives readers the opportunity to pick up on hints on what is to come down the road, or allows the reader to get to know another layer of a character. This is hard to do. Hard to not add fluff.
I loved a different kind of poison because it was a “true” psychological thriller. The poison in this being the manipulation, dark secrets, gaslighting, toxic / emotional trauma and unresolved pain from repression of memories.
I think the title subscribed to the belief that people can damage one another emotionally just as terribly and perhaps more terribly than they can physically.
I loved this one.
Thank you to #Netgalley and #simonmaverick for an advanced digital version of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
👯♀️ Title: A Different Type of Poison
👯♀️ Author: Liz Alterman
👯♀️ Genre: #fiction #mystery #thriller #womensfiction
👯♀️ Goodreads rating: 4.10⭐️’s
👯♀️# of Goodreads ratings: 30
👯♀️ MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
👯♀️ Publishing Date: November 25, 2025
Blurb:
“A bestselling author returns to her hometown after receiving a mysterious invitation, only to discover she may be walking into a deadly trap reminiscent of ‘Misery’ “
- Amazon
My thoughts:
I love this author. Every book I’ve read of hers has been fantastic. Her mysteries are woven so expertly; there is a purpose for every sentence she writes. Whether that means it gives readers the opportunity to pick up on hints on what is to come down the road, or allows the reader to get to know another layer of a character. This is hard to do. Hard to not add fluff.
I loved a different kind of poison because it was a “true” psychological thriller. The poison in this being the manipulation, dark secrets, gaslighting, toxic / emotional trauma and unresolved pain from repression of memories.
I think the title subscribed to the belief that people can damage one another emotionally just as terribly and perhaps more terribly than they can physically.
I loved this one.
Thank you to #Netgalley and #simonmaverick for an advanced digital version of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
December 3, 2025
🩸This is a thriller that will have your heart-pounding chapter after chapter!!
📚We follow Molly, an author whose latest release is a bestselling book. She has a lot going on with two little ones, recently divorced and struggling to write the sequel to her book. She receives an invitation from Anna Fox for a meeting to her book club, who claims to know her and lives in her hometown. Molly sees it as the perfect opportunity to visit her mother, who is slowly losing her memory. However, she can’t remember who Anna is!
🧏♀️Talk about unreliable narrators!! We get alternating POVs between Molly and Anna, and both will say one thing outloud to others but have different internal thoughts.
📖Additionally, we get a story within a story. While we are moving along with Molly and Anna, we are also getting insight into Molly’s book. Its like getting two thrillers at once!
🫠I loved how, although this is a thriller, we get a lot of drama and raw emotions. Molly is struggling with a writer’s block, but she is also dealing with her children and ex-husband. There were moments when she randomly remembered she had something to do, and as a mommy of 4, I could totally feel her frustration.
🎧The audiobook was amazing!! They did a great job with the tones of their voices and expressing their emotions. The tension was definitely felt!
✨️Listen to it, read it, or both.. you will have a great time!
📚We follow Molly, an author whose latest release is a bestselling book. She has a lot going on with two little ones, recently divorced and struggling to write the sequel to her book. She receives an invitation from Anna Fox for a meeting to her book club, who claims to know her and lives in her hometown. Molly sees it as the perfect opportunity to visit her mother, who is slowly losing her memory. However, she can’t remember who Anna is!
🧏♀️Talk about unreliable narrators!! We get alternating POVs between Molly and Anna, and both will say one thing outloud to others but have different internal thoughts.
📖Additionally, we get a story within a story. While we are moving along with Molly and Anna, we are also getting insight into Molly’s book. Its like getting two thrillers at once!
🫠I loved how, although this is a thriller, we get a lot of drama and raw emotions. Molly is struggling with a writer’s block, but she is also dealing with her children and ex-husband. There were moments when she randomly remembered she had something to do, and as a mommy of 4, I could totally feel her frustration.
🎧The audiobook was amazing!! They did a great job with the tones of their voices and expressing their emotions. The tension was definitely felt!
✨️Listen to it, read it, or both.. you will have a great time!
November 17, 2025
A slow, shadowy thriller that gets under your skin in unexpected ways.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and One More Page Press for the ARC.
This isn’t a loud or twist-heavy thriller. It’s the kind that creeps up on you slowly, focusing on the darker layers of family, ambition, and the subtle ways people manipulate one another. Liz Alterman’s writing has a sharpness to it that really stood out; some lines hit so well I had to go back and read them twice.
The story takes its time building momentum. For a good portion of the book, the tension simmers quietly beneath the surface, and while I appreciated the character depth, I did find myself wishing for the plot to tighten and escalate sooner. By the end, I was left feeling like something was missing — almost as if there was an extra layer I didn’t fully understand or a piece of the puzzle that didn’t quite click.
Even so, the mood, the discomfort, and the emotional complexity kept me turning the pages. This is definitely a more reflective, character-focused thriller rather than one filled with big shocks or twists. If you enjoy stories where the unease builds gradually and relationships are the real battleground, this one will be right up your alley.
3.5 stars — atmospheric, introspective, and quietly dark, though the ending didn’t completely land for me.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and One More Page Press for the ARC.
This isn’t a loud or twist-heavy thriller. It’s the kind that creeps up on you slowly, focusing on the darker layers of family, ambition, and the subtle ways people manipulate one another. Liz Alterman’s writing has a sharpness to it that really stood out; some lines hit so well I had to go back and read them twice.
The story takes its time building momentum. For a good portion of the book, the tension simmers quietly beneath the surface, and while I appreciated the character depth, I did find myself wishing for the plot to tighten and escalate sooner. By the end, I was left feeling like something was missing — almost as if there was an extra layer I didn’t fully understand or a piece of the puzzle that didn’t quite click.
Even so, the mood, the discomfort, and the emotional complexity kept me turning the pages. This is definitely a more reflective, character-focused thriller rather than one filled with big shocks or twists. If you enjoy stories where the unease builds gradually and relationships are the real battleground, this one will be right up your alley.
3.5 stars — atmospheric, introspective, and quietly dark, though the ending didn’t completely land for me.
October 26, 2025
This book certainly had multiple twists packed into it - and it flowed together really well which each twist and turn.
Author M.J. Archer releases her first best-selling book and before she knows it - her success skyrockets overnight. A hot demand for a sequel, monetary success, and even a movie deal for her book - she has it made. Or, so it seems. Behind the success, MJ is freshly divorced with a strained relationship with her ex-husband, struggling to write the sequel to her best selling book, and struggling to juggle single motherhood with fast approaching deadlines. One day, a mysterious email appears inviting MJ back to her hometown from an old friend hosting a book club featuring her book, whom MJ can’t remember. Desperate to please her readers and keep her success afloat, MJ accepts. Who is this mysterious Anna Fox? Why is she so eager to have MJ back in their hometown? And, why can’t MJ remember Anna?
Definitely a suspenseful and twisty book - my only complaint is the last chapter left me a bit confused and I wished there was a bit more elaboration before the book abruptly ended. Still recommend!!
Author M.J. Archer releases her first best-selling book and before she knows it - her success skyrockets overnight. A hot demand for a sequel, monetary success, and even a movie deal for her book - she has it made. Or, so it seems. Behind the success, MJ is freshly divorced with a strained relationship with her ex-husband, struggling to write the sequel to her best selling book, and struggling to juggle single motherhood with fast approaching deadlines. One day, a mysterious email appears inviting MJ back to her hometown from an old friend hosting a book club featuring her book, whom MJ can’t remember. Desperate to please her readers and keep her success afloat, MJ accepts. Who is this mysterious Anna Fox? Why is she so eager to have MJ back in their hometown? And, why can’t MJ remember Anna?
Definitely a suspenseful and twisty book - my only complaint is the last chapter left me a bit confused and I wished there was a bit more elaboration before the book abruptly ended. Still recommend!!
November 23, 2025
Many thanks to NetGalley and One More Page Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Liz Alterman. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!
Molly is thrilled that her latest book, Birds at Night is an instant hit. Newly divorced and raising two children while trying to write another book, she's desperate to keep her name out there and takes every opportunity to promote her book. She receives an email from a woman in her hometown inviting her to her bookclub. Since Molly's mom's health and memory seem to be failing, it's the perfect opportunity to check on her and meet some readers. But she can't quite remember Anna Fox, the woman who invited her.
Sometimes the book-in-a-book trope works for me, and sometimes it doesn't. In this book, it sure did. Molly's book is a dark academic thriller that was compelling in its own right. Told in alternating POV between Molly and Anna, backstories play out and secrets unfold, barreling towards the ending I never saw coming. There are lots of themes involved, mostly the danger of keeping secrets, even from ourselves. Great characters and plenty of twists and turns to keep you glued.
Molly is thrilled that her latest book, Birds at Night is an instant hit. Newly divorced and raising two children while trying to write another book, she's desperate to keep her name out there and takes every opportunity to promote her book. She receives an email from a woman in her hometown inviting her to her bookclub. Since Molly's mom's health and memory seem to be failing, it's the perfect opportunity to check on her and meet some readers. But she can't quite remember Anna Fox, the woman who invited her.
Sometimes the book-in-a-book trope works for me, and sometimes it doesn't. In this book, it sure did. Molly's book is a dark academic thriller that was compelling in its own right. Told in alternating POV between Molly and Anna, backstories play out and secrets unfold, barreling towards the ending I never saw coming. There are lots of themes involved, mostly the danger of keeping secrets, even from ourselves. Great characters and plenty of twists and turns to keep you glued.
November 8, 2025
3.5 Stars — Dark, twisty, and quietly unsettling
Thank you NetGalley and One More Page Press for the ARC to review!
A Different Kind of Poison is a slow-burn psychological thriller that really leans into the darker side of family and ambition. Liz Alterman’s writing is sharp and observant, with moments that genuinely made me stop and reread. The story builds tension gradually, and I appreciated how it explored manipulation and deceit in such a believable way.
That said, it took a while for the plot to really pick up, and I found myself wanting a bit more intensity and payoff toward the end. Still, the atmosphere and emotional undercurrents kept me invested.
Overall, it’s a smart, layered thriller that’s more about the quiet unraveling than big, shocking moments—perfect for readers who like their suspense thoughtful and character-driven.
Thank you NetGalley and One More Page Press for the ARC to review!
A Different Kind of Poison is a slow-burn psychological thriller that really leans into the darker side of family and ambition. Liz Alterman’s writing is sharp and observant, with moments that genuinely made me stop and reread. The story builds tension gradually, and I appreciated how it explored manipulation and deceit in such a believable way.
That said, it took a while for the plot to really pick up, and I found myself wanting a bit more intensity and payoff toward the end. Still, the atmosphere and emotional undercurrents kept me invested.
Overall, it’s a smart, layered thriller that’s more about the quiet unraveling than big, shocking moments—perfect for readers who like their suspense thoughtful and character-driven.
October 23, 2025
Review of ‘A Different Type of Poison’ by Liz Alterman, due to be published on 25 November 2025 by One More Page Press.
Author Molly is in a whirlwind of promoting her book, trying to write a sequel, parenting her two children and putting up with her recently ex husband accusing her of not putting her family first.
When Molly receives a request to visit a book club in her old home town by a lady called Anna, she agrees, using it as a good excuse to see her best friend and visit her mum.
This storyline is told as a ‘book within a book’ which was a concept I enjoyed. There are many secrets and lies woven into the narrative, and all is not as it seems.
A twisted, dark, psychological thriller that keeps you guessing, and then throws an almighty shock into the end. A recommended read.
Author Molly is in a whirlwind of promoting her book, trying to write a sequel, parenting her two children and putting up with her recently ex husband accusing her of not putting her family first.
When Molly receives a request to visit a book club in her old home town by a lady called Anna, she agrees, using it as a good excuse to see her best friend and visit her mum.
This storyline is told as a ‘book within a book’ which was a concept I enjoyed. There are many secrets and lies woven into the narrative, and all is not as it seems.
A twisted, dark, psychological thriller that keeps you guessing, and then throws an almighty shock into the end. A recommended read.
November 11, 2025
What happens when the ones you love the deepest turn out to be the ones who can hurt you the most? 👀
What the actual macaroons did I just read? 😵
This is a book that kept me guessing till the end. The story itself is dark, tense, and full of secrets, the kind that slowly destroy every relationship they touch. I loved that the characters are flawed in their own ways and I loved that Liz delved into ambition, betrayal, and the quiet ways that resentment grows.
The pacing and the tension was a bit slow for me at first and through the middle, but still, the twists hit right for me! 🖤✨
If you love domestic suspense with a bit of a slow burn and morally gray characters, this one’s worth adding to your TBR today! 📚
What the actual macaroons did I just read? 😵
This is a book that kept me guessing till the end. The story itself is dark, tense, and full of secrets, the kind that slowly destroy every relationship they touch. I loved that the characters are flawed in their own ways and I loved that Liz delved into ambition, betrayal, and the quiet ways that resentment grows.
The pacing and the tension was a bit slow for me at first and through the middle, but still, the twists hit right for me! 🖤✨
If you love domestic suspense with a bit of a slow burn and morally gray characters, this one’s worth adding to your TBR today! 📚
December 7, 2025
In contrast to her initial lack of success as a novelist, Molly's latest book is a huge success and she is attempting to ride the wave while she can.
But as a single mother with two children and an ailing parent, she is stretched so thin that things are inevitably falling between the cracks. And one of those things is a sinister invitation from someone pretending to run a book club in Molly's hometown, which she mistakes for a genuine group of readers. But she is about to discover her mistake...
Alterman has followed up her last excellent novel with another very good piece of writing, and she gets 4.5 stars for this one. Don't miss it!
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
But as a single mother with two children and an ailing parent, she is stretched so thin that things are inevitably falling between the cracks. And one of those things is a sinister invitation from someone pretending to run a book club in Molly's hometown, which she mistakes for a genuine group of readers. But she is about to discover her mistake...
Alterman has followed up her last excellent novel with another very good piece of writing, and she gets 4.5 stars for this one. Don't miss it!
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
October 20, 2025
I received this as an ARC from Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley. This review is my own. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but it won’t be the last! Molly Mason is the author of a wildly successful mystery/thriller “Birds at Night.” She’s busy promoting her novel and writing the sequel, while balancing being a mother and navigating co-parenting with her ex husband. Molly receives an invitation to a book club in her hometown and agrees to attend, though she can’t remember the old acquaintance who invites her. The story unfolds with mysteries inside mysteries and shocking twists that keep the reader guessing to the very end. Excellent!!
October 29, 2025
This was a fun, twisty, and quick read. Once I got going, I found myself not being able to put it down (luckily I was traveling and had a ton of reading time!). I didn't necessarily LOVE any of the characters, which made me a bit less likely to care what happened to them, but I still had fun along the way. My biggest gripe was the last couple of chapters. I didn't think they were necessary and maybe a bit overdone. It'd probably be worthy of 4.5 stars without those last couple chapters. Overall, I think it is definitely worth spending a day reading!
Thank you to NetGalley and One More Page Press for an ARC of this novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and One More Page Press for an ARC of this novel.
November 9, 2025
Strong start, slow psychological burn and a twist towards the end? This is an easy 5 star read in my books and A Different Type of Poison by Liz Alterman did not disappoint!👏🏼
Molly, a celebrated best selling author, returns to her hometown by an invitation from Anna, an old friend who is running a book club. Molly has a lot going on in her personal life and doesn’t l seem to remember Anna until it was too late.
Much recommended if you enjoyed Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang and are a fan of Alice Feeney type of twists
Thank you @netgalley & Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this opportunity.
A Different Type of Poison I’ll be out on November 25th, 2025
October 21, 2025
I love a good domestic thriller and this one was kept me reading way too late, which are the best kind.
An author, a possible stalker and the downfalls of becoming famous.
Author Molly Archer is now a hit after a couple of books. She is newly single and raising two children. She wants to maintain her lifestyle after her divorce, but it becomes a struggle when she gets unwanted attention.
Be careful what you wish for!
This title should let you know you are in for a crazy ride.
An author, a possible stalker and the downfalls of becoming famous.
Author Molly Archer is now a hit after a couple of books. She is newly single and raising two children. She wants to maintain her lifestyle after her divorce, but it becomes a struggle when she gets unwanted attention.
Be careful what you wish for!
This title should let you know you are in for a crazy ride.
October 18, 2025
3.75
I ENJOYED READING THIS BOOK! All dark vibes and twisted characters. A book within a book. It is good pick for someone who is willing to dive in blind (as I did) and wants a good build-up, though I found the first half of book more intriguing than second half, it was overall an interesting thriller read.
I ENJOYED READING THIS BOOK! All dark vibes and twisted characters. A book within a book. It is good pick for someone who is willing to dive in blind (as I did) and wants a good build-up, though I found the first half of book more intriguing than second half, it was overall an interesting thriller read.
December 9, 2025
Thank you to Simon Audio for the ALC!
“When you’ve been quiet most of your life, it’s hard to find your voice…”
Molly Archer is enjoying the huge success of her latest book, Birds at Night. When a fan from her hometown invites her to speak at a book club, Molly hesitantly accepts the invitation. There’s just one problem - she can’t remember who Anna Fox is.
I swear every Liz Alterman book is better than the last! This story featured Liz’s signature laugh-out-loud wit in between a slow burn mystery. I always love authors as main characters, and getting a look inside Molly’s head (as well as her book) was cool. Told in multiple points of view, we also have a story within a story as snippets from Birds at Night are included too. After a jaw dropping twist, I thought we were at the point of an epilogue to wrap things up but nope - Liz had one equally exciting twist to finish off this story!
“A Different Kind of Poison” is out now! This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)
“When you’ve been quiet most of your life, it’s hard to find your voice…”
Molly Archer is enjoying the huge success of her latest book, Birds at Night. When a fan from her hometown invites her to speak at a book club, Molly hesitantly accepts the invitation. There’s just one problem - she can’t remember who Anna Fox is.
I swear every Liz Alterman book is better than the last! This story featured Liz’s signature laugh-out-loud wit in between a slow burn mystery. I always love authors as main characters, and getting a look inside Molly’s head (as well as her book) was cool. Told in multiple points of view, we also have a story within a story as snippets from Birds at Night are included too. After a jaw dropping twist, I thought we were at the point of an epilogue to wrap things up but nope - Liz had one equally exciting twist to finish off this story!
“A Different Kind of Poison” is out now! This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)
October 21, 2025
This book is full of Mysteries and twists, lots of secrets and memories . This was a first read from this author for me and I was so consumed in the story. This book had me turning pages wanting to find out what was really going on.
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