Non fidarti di loro

by Alex Marwood, Marta Lanfranco (Translator)

Dall’autrice del bestseller Oscuri segreti di famiglia

Un grande thriller

«Spaventoso come l’inferno. Personaggi indimenticabili.»
Stephen King

Nel nord del Galles c’è una setta, l’Arca, che predica l’im­minenza dell’Apocalisse. Tutti gli adepti vivono isolati, pre­parandosi costantemente al­la fine del mondo. Coloro che sono estranei al culto sono chiamati i “morti”, perché an­dranno incontro a una fine inevitabile.
Ma una tragedia sta per abbattersi sulla piccola comunità: un centinaio di membri vengono ritrovati morti per avvelenamento. I pochi rima­sti in vita si disperdono senza più certezze. Per Romy, una ragazza di ventidue anni che non ha mai cono­sciuto il mondo al di fuori della co­munità, è terrificante imparare a vi­vere in una realtà di cui ha paura sin da quando era piccola. Eppure deve farlo, per il proprio bene e per quello del bambino che porta in grembo. E così si mette alla ricerca di quel che resta della sua famiglia, decisa a trovarla, a qualunque costo…

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Audiobook, Crime

352 pages, Paperback

First published July 25, 2019

About the author

Alex Marwood is a former journalist who worked extensively across the British press. Her first novel, The Wicked Girls, achieved widespread acclaim and international bestsellerdom. It was shortlisted for ITW, Anthony and Macavity awards, was included in Stephen King's Ten Best Books of the Year list, and won the prestigious Edgar Award. The Killer Next Door, her second novel, won the coveted Macavity Award for Best Mystery Novel, was nominated for the Anthony and Barry. The Darkest Secret, the tale of the disappearance of young Coco, met with critical and reader acclaim. The Poison Garden will be released in 2019. She has also been shortlisted for numerous other crime writing awards and her first two novels have been optioned for the screen. Marwood lives in south London and is working on her next novel.

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Marwood takes the reader into the toxic, tragic and unwaveringly bleak territory of the dangerous world of cults and communes as she immerses the reader into the horrors of their ways of living. A multilayered narrative provides us with insights and observations of life before, during and the repercussions that follow in the aftermath of the cult with its different timelines and characters. A young vulnerable and pregnant Romy has been shaped by the cult, and has to negotiate life after the cult, isolated and alone, with trust issues, facing an unfamiliar world and with questions about her family, only to find the past is not that easy to leave behind.

It is truly terrifying how so many will blindingly follow a charismatic leader, irrespective of how insane they may be, although the brainwashing does explain a lot. This is a hugely unsettling, shocking and uncomfortable read, one which quite frankly I could not wait to shake off, but this is a story that managed to get to me. I did not find myself emotionally investing in any of the characters, but here's the thing, it is frighteningly scary just how realistic it felt, mirroring and grounded in real life cults and their twisted dynamics. It proves to be thought provoking and eye opening about a world I have no experience of, and no desire for any, it outlines with skill just how difficult cults are to walk away from. This is a relentlessly haunting and monstrous read, one that gave me the shudders, and in my view, not for the faint hearted. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.

[Ceecee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not sure this is entirely the best reading choice in the current crisis but it’s very good. The police are called to Plas Golau, Wales, a property owned by a survivalist cult known as The Ark which is led by Lucien Blake. What they find on entering the property is deeply shocking. This chilling, dystopian tale is partly told by pregnant Romy now in her early twenties and who has lived with the cult since she was taken there as a baby by her mother Somer. Romy must now start a new life, keep her unborn baby safe but there is a sinister and ambitious cult member in their Scottish Headquarters who could be even more dangerous than her new life among The Dead. This refers to everyone not inside the cult. Romy’s aunt Sarah, who is not a cult member tells her side of the story as does Somer.

The most unsettling aspect of the book concerns the cult and their views and it disturbingly shows how one person can control and manipulate so many as they wait for The One to lead them to survival. Tensions grow as Lucien ages and there’s a terrible power struggle that they all get disastrously caught up in. The book is very eerie in places, it’s unsettling and there are sharp intakes of breathe so shocking are some events. It’s very well written, the plot is excellent, the characters are portrayed clearly and it keeps you intrigued throughout. I like the end which is unexpected.

Overall, an excellent book from the talented Alex Marwood.

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a novel I’ve been waiting for and it was worth every second of that wait- nobody engages me with thought provoking characters and stories like Alex Marwood and The Poison Garden is tense, beautiful and utterly gripping.
The thing about this book is it is full of layers, Romy is unforgettable and her life experience and how it defines her sets the anchor for the wider story. This is a dark dark tale indeed, edgy and unpredictable, the cult theme expanded upon in hugely compelling ways. The author manages every aspect of the drama pitch perfectly, leaving you the reader feeling off kilter and concerned for the outcome as if these were real people. She absorbs you into their world immediately and unrelentingly, less a read more a life experience.
If happy endings, rainbows and kittens are your thing then this will not be for you – however if you like your reading to push the boundaries of your usual thinking, if you like to see the world from a different perspective and most of all if you want those characters and tales that take you out of your comfort zone then The Poison Garden will no doubt be one of your books of the year.
Highly Recommended. All the way.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have previously read 'The Darkest Secret' by Alex Marwood and enjoyed it a lot but for some reason I just couldn't connect with this book. I love the writing style but this particular book didn't do it for me.
In this story Romy escapes the cult she was raised in and the only world she has ever known. But when she enters 'normal' life it does not hold the excitement you would expect. Now twenty-two, she has recently escaped the toxic confines of the cult she was raised in. Romy is young, pregnant and completely alone. In a world that is completely new to her, she needs to learn there are some people you can trust and others to fear.
I don't doubt that this book will bring a lot of entertainment to the majority of its readers but sadly not for me this time. Enjoyed the writing and will read others by this author so don't be put off by me it is only my opinion.
I would like to thank both Net Galley & Little, Brown Book Group UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my third Marwood novel, and it's probably the weakest for me. I can suspend my disbelief to a point, but this went a little too far for me.

Here we follow Sarah, her elder sister left when she was in her teens, never to be seen again. It's decades later when she gets the call that her sister is dead, found on a compound, part of a cult, and leaves behind three children.

This is split into two timelines, one where we follow Sarah, navigating these three orphaned children. The other, her elder sister and children in their cult life.

I was far more interested in the present-day timeline, which says a lot of I love a bit of cult life, but I didn't find this very engaging.

This was too far-fetched for me, I didn't believe in these characters or like them, to be honest.

Two stars.

[Jamie Prawdzik · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terrible ending. Left so many unanswered questions.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Poison Garden was my first time reading a book by Alex Marwood, but it definitely won't be my last. Even though I ended up giving it a 3/5 rating, I really enjoyed her writing style and so much more, I just couldn't bring myself to do a 4.

This book is almost impossible for me to wrap my head around and I had a hard time rating it, so this review won't be any easier. I really liked the multiple viewpoints and the dark themes, but there was just something missing for me and I can't quite put my finger on it. The Poison Garden has a great, disturbing start but I felt slightly let down by the rest of it like it wasn't living up to the beginning. Don't get me wrong though, a lot of people are going to love it, especially if you are a fan of books about cults. Books that involve cults are a little hit or miss for me, and I found myself pretty frustrated by the second half of this novel.

The Poison Garden is DARK, and there are a couple of scenes that are downright gory, so I think it is good to be aware of that. I don't want to touch on too much of the plot since I think it's better not to talk about the details, but I really like to see evil characters get their comeuppance in books and there just wasn't enough of that for me here.

Final Thought: If you like dark books and are a fan of cults, you will have to make The Poison Garden a must read. I would still recommend this to a lot of people, it just didn't fully hit the mark for me. However, I am still glad I read it and I'm very happy that Marwood is on my radar now. I look forward to checking out her other books and I already put 3 on hold at the library!

Thank you to The Book Drop https://www.thebookdrop.com/ and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions and thoughts are my own.

[Bill Kupersmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth novel by Alex Marwood that I’ve read. I loved The Wicked Girls, The Killer Next Door, and the Darkest Secret, and The Poison Garden does not disappoint. It fascinates each of Marwood’s books is distinctive and different, all excellent but if you didn’t know, you’d swear they are by different authors. This one is a story about a cult that very much resembles Jim Jones’s People’s Temple, though located in Wales instead of Guyana. It also resembles Rebecca Wait’s The Followers: in both the cult is called the Ark, a reminder to us that Noah was truly the first (and most successful) survivalist. The members of the Ark community refer to all those outside their as the Dead. The leader of the cult, Lucien, chooses mating partners for the girls when they come of age, but some are especially honoured to bear his own progeny, who become a kind of aristocracy within the community. Just what is expected to happen to the human race at the Great Disaster is never specified, whether it’s going to be ecological, military, or even astronomical, is not revealed. We discover early instead that something like the Jonestown massacre overtakes most of the cult. The front story set in 2019 feature three half-siblings who escaped, Romy, Ilo and Eden. The latter two find their way to being fostered by their aunt Sarah in East Anglia, where Romy eventually joins them. Romy is also pregnant by Lucien. Romy carries a knife and is most adept at survival skills, especially dealing with rapists. Ilo and Eden’s schoolmates also learn the consequences of bullying.

The Ark community is well developed in the story. Though “Everybody is No One and No One is Somebody” are the motto of the community, Lucien, his partner Vita, an American though that plays no part of the story, and some of his offspring seem to form an inner circle who actually run things. Community members who run afoul with the leaders have a habit of disappearing or suffering fatal accidents. In either case they are simply not mentioned again. Sarah is the product of a fanatical evangelical Christian church that is virtually a cult itself, whilst the Ark seems to profess some kind of neo-paganism, though I also sensed the suggestion that the Ark existed only to gratify Lucien and his family’s appetite for sex and power.

As I read The Poison Garden with a raging tooth ache, I’m a bit unclear on some of the details and eager to read over parts again. But for now I found the ending a bit enigmatic. It seems the cult may indeed survive, perhaps as they imagine as the only survivors. But whatever the conclusion, this is an engrossing read.

[Indieflower · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like Alex Marwood's style of writing and this had me hooked from the first chapter, a young pregnant woman is found alive inside the grounds of a sprawling rural property owned by a cult, where everyone else appears to be dead. I became totally engrossed in this thought provoking, character driven story, I found it dark and gripping and not quite what I was expecting. The characters were fascinating, the differing time lines really helped to get to know them and perhaps to understand just a little, why they made the choices they did. The depiction of the cult felt very believable and so well written I felt as if I was there and the fact that it was a cult with no religion involved made it even more interesting. I've read all of Alex Marwood's books but I think this one is my favourite so far, 4½ stars rounded up to 5.

[Ildikó Connell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was mostly fine, apart from the author's insistence on awkwardly shoehorning her crap political views in when they bear no relation to any of the plot. One of the characters is clear self-insertion by the author, and we are treated to bizarre, stilted dialogue and internal monologues making it clear that the author hates Jeremy Corbyn and socialism and appears to be anti-trans.

e.g.

"'Ah', says Helen, 'schoolyard politics. Always one execution away from Utopia. They'll tire of magic grandad eventually though.'

Followed by a dirge of an internal monologue comparing socialism to a cult (including the words "Yes I know Stalin killed twenty million people but, see, that wasn't proper socialism") and talking about antisemitism in the labour party for absolutely no reason at all. I cannot stress enough how weird and irrelevant to the plot these bits are, on top of being horribly and clunkily written.

Perhaps to save time Alex Marwood/Serena Mackesy could just write this on her twitter. It's not a very good book anyway so I wouldn't recommend it even if you do share her political views.

[Olga Kowalska (WielkiBuk) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tajemnicza sekta katastrofistów, zbiorowe samobójstwo i tajemnice tych, którzy przetrwali, czyli "Zatruty ogród" brytyjskiej autorki Alex Marwood.

Już po pierwszych stronach "Zatrutego ogrodu" od razu przychodzi na myśl wspomnienie prawdziwej sekty Jamestown i największego zbiorowego samobójstwa w historii nowożytnej. Ale Alex Marwood szybko rozwiewa wszelkie podobieństwa i tworzy swoją własną opowieść o ludziach, którzy czekali na katastrofę, czekali na koniec, który nadszedł dla nich szybciej niż mogli się tego spodziewać. Czytelnik powoli zanurza się w życie sekty, poznaje jej przywódców, poznaje ich plany, ale przede spogląda na Arkę oczami dorastającej dziewczyny, wyrzutka, która sama rozpracowuje swoich bliskich krok po kroku. A my razem z nią. Rysuje się przed nami mroczny obraz ludzi, którym marzył się lepszy, wspanialszy świat, ale ten, który sami stworzyli był zaledwie smutną parodią, utopią, która jak każda utopia nie miała racji bytu.

Sięgając po "Zatruty ogród" nie ma co spodziewać się mrożącego krew w żyłach dreszczowca, ale powieści obyczajowej z mrocznym twistem. Napięcie budowane jest tu stopniowo, miarowo, bez fajerwerków, ale tak, by przyciągnąć czytelnika sączącą się między rozdziałami tajemnicą. Snuje się niespiesznie, a obraz całości czytelnik otrzyma dopiero wraz z zaskakującym finałem. I nie sposób odwrócić wzroku.

[Tracy Fenton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a HUGE fan of Alex Marwood's previous books and was thrilled to learn she has a new book being published this month and delighted to get an early copy via Netgalley of THE POISON GARDEN.

THE POISON GARDEN is a real departure from the authors previous books focusing more on the characters and digging deeply into cults, brainwashing and the followers apocalyptic beliefs. 

Told through the viewpoint of several main characters, the story begins in Wales when two police officers are called to a scene to discover hundreds of dead bodies.  This begins the multiple narrators; Sarah, a divorced school administrator who has moved back into her deceased parents house and learns that her sister is one of the dead; Romy, a young girl who is one of the few survivors of cult and Somer, Romy's mother and Sarah's sister who was one of the followers of the cult.

This is a much slower pace than her previous books, but it still kept me hooked and gripped throughout.  The details surrounding the cult and the brainwashing of the followers and the enigmatic leader Lucien Blake made the story plausible and realistic.  There were moments and scenes which were so disturbing and uncomfortable that I had to stop and gather my thoughts before continuing on.  

An interesting and thought-provoking story.

[Lulcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

SZOK I NIEDOWIERZANIE! Nie jestem w stanie dopuścić do siebie myśli, że gdzieś na świecie może dziać się coś takiego jak w Plas Golau. A może dzieje się to bliżej niż mogę przypuszczać...

Genialny, momentami ohydny i odrażający thriller. Jest to coś, czego właśnie szukam w tego typu gatunku. Przyznam szczerze, że w momencie gdy w bibliotece przeczytałam opis książki, wiedziałam, że przypadnie mi ona do gustu - miałam rację.

Alex Marwood w swojej kolejnej powieści pt. "Zatruty ogród" odwaliła kawał dobrej roboty. Uwzględniła w niej wszystko czego oczekuję od thrilleru. Dodatkowo dołożyła jeszcze coś, co niezwykle mnie wciągnęło...

Zastanawiam się, co dzieje się w głowie autora, gdy tworzy tak absurdalne, ale momentami do bólu realne, zaskakujące historie. Ktoś mógłby powiedzieć, że fabuła "Zatrutego ogrodu" jest wręcz nierealna, niesamowicie naciągana i niedopuszczalna w dzisiejszych czasach. Ale tutaj chwilka... skąd możemy być pewni, że za nowo poznaną osobą kryje się to, co nam się wydaje? Skąd możemy być pewni, że za drzwiami innego domu wszystko jest OK? Skąd możemy być pewni, co tak naprawdę dzieje się za lasem, górą czy rzeką? No właśnie, w tym sęk...

Reasumując. Fenomenalna historia! Bohaterowie wykreowani na najwyższym poziomie. Pomysł na fabułę przemyślany pod każdym kątem. A samo zwieńczenie domknięte na ostatni guzik. Serdecznie polecam!

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've previously read The Killer Next Door by Alex Marwood and really enjoyed that book. I was therefore very eager to read this new book.
It is a bleak story of brainwashing by an apocalyptic cult, the impact on the lives of the children and there adjustment post-cult. At times the writing seemed a bit contrived. I found the pace very slow going and which made me less interested. There are leaps backwards and forwards in the time frame and at times it was quite confusing. The chatacters, even allowing for their background, lack any warmth and it is difficult to feel an emotional bond with them.
On the whole I was rather disappointed in the book which seemed to show great promise at the very start.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars--I really liked it. Reader warnings for sexual assault (nothing graphic).

Wow, this book is not what I expected. I could never have predicted the conclusion of this book, and I love that. The story is dark, focusing on a non-religious but terrifying end-days cult. There are some near-horror elements, which I enjoyed.

I thought the writing occasionally wobbled, but characterization was so strong and the plot so shocking that I didn't care. I'll definitely be reading more Marwood.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been fascinated with cults and Alex Marwood brings to life the grim reality of what it is like to live in a commune headed by a charismatic leader. The story is bold and in your face and Marwood holds nothing back. Every single shocking detail will completely blow you away.

The Poison Garden weaves the present and the past and tells the story of Romy, now 22, and out in the real world after escaping the cult she spent most of her life in. Romy is thrust into a world virtually unknown to her while still holding firmly to the beliefs she was taught. With back and forth narrative, we are brought to the past when Romy was a young girl living in the commune, Plas Golau. Her upbringing is not conventional to say the least and I went through a whirlwind of emotions from sadness to being angry as we learned her background history and what it was like growing up in a cult. Marwood does such a great job of bringing the commune to life and showing Romy’s upbringing from the time she was young until adulthood. Romy, along with every other member of the commune, are preparing for the end of the world. They know it is coming and it has been ingrained in them since they were children. They would be the saviors of the new world.

Romy is such a well written character, but not always very likeable. Even though I may not have liked her I certainly felt empathy for all that she has been through and all the lies, manipulation and brainwashing she had to endure in such a short life. Imagine being told over and over again about the outside world and how dangerous it is and why you should never leave the compound. Once Romy is on the outside it is such a struggle for her with what she has always believed and what is actually reality. Can Romy assimilate into the real world or is she already too far gone?

The story in itself is simply told and mostly character driven. There is not much in the way of action, but the story completely messes with your mind. I also could not help noticing parallels regarding faith on opposite ends of the spectrum. Romy’s mother came from an overly strict religious household. I may even classify her family as religious fanatics, so it was really interesting to see some of the similarities and yet many differences in regards to beliefs. Also, Sarah, Romy’s aunt in the outside world plays a really important role in the story and again, the parallels are so intricately weaved into the story. The ending is shocking, but it also feels true to the characters and the story. Definitely one of the best endings I’ve read from a story of this nature.

The Poison Garden is multi-layered, gripping and intense. What a way to start the beginning of the year than with a well-written story that will remain on my keeper shelf. Also, the first book of the year to make it into my top reads for this year. I will definitely be purchasing all of Marwoods previous books!

[Onceinabluemoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Not what I was expecting, thought it would be a garden book 😉

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, now. The Poison Garden will get your heart racing. This is a dark psychological thriller that begins with a police call-out to a farm where something seems amiss. That's an understatement.

The Ark is a doomsday cult. Members are trained in survival skills. They refer to people outside of the cult as The Dead because the frail humans won't survive when a catastrophe happens. They don't name the pending apocalypse, it's a certainty they believe in.

Think of their lives, especially the children who have never experienced life with The Dead. Integration will be difficult.

Great read, I had to set aside my normal Sunday prep for the week ahead to finish this. It was worth every minute.

[Jodie Sheerin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I did enjoy this book, I was also disappointed by it. I thought I would love it and unfortunately I just didn’t. I liked the characters and the storyline was interesting. The chapters set in the past were more interesting than the present ones. I found the ending really anticlimactic and the whole book was a bit uneventful. I was mildly surprised by a couple of parts, but I thought it was lacking action and suspense. I feel like there could be a sequel and I would probably read it, just so that I knew how the story ended. I would recommend this book to people who aren’t looking for a full-on thriller.

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Poison Garden by Alex Marwood is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank Edelweiss, the publisher Penguin Books, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:  (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

After growing up in a survivalist commune, 21-year old Romy is the lone adult survivor of the cult.  She is alone, and pregnant.  Although out in the "real" world among people who she still deems as the "Dead", she finds herself ill-equipped to handle certain things.  She grew up being told that one of the ways the world would end would be through chemicals, so simple things like using detergent to wash her clothes is a scary thought. Learning to interact with the people who are sure to die when the apocalypse comes, is another.  But Romy is a survivor, and she is sure that her child will be The One.  She will do whatever it takes to protect her baby.

Romy has a 13-year old sister Eden and an 11-year old brother Ilo, who both survived the camp, and were put in foster care.   Eden is one of the special children of the founder of the ARK.  Romy will have to find them.

Although they've never met, Romy has an aunt.  Sarah was only ten when her sister Alison was kicked out of the house when she got pregnant.  Shortly after, Alison joined the cult, and Sarah never saw her again.  After her divorce, Sarah moved back into the home of her deceased parents, who were religious fanatics.  She never thought she would return to this house.  She also never thought she would be considering taking in her sisters children either.

The question is....will Sarah's new family adapt to life on the outside, or will Sarah follow Romy's lead.


My Opinions:  

WOW.  This was different, and I really enjoyed it.  Definitely Alex Marwood's best yet.

The book was about the cult, but it was also about family, and the deep roots that both have.  It is about the things you learn as a child staying with you, no matter the circumstances.  It is about survival, and the lengths people will go to keep themselves safe.

The story was told from different timelines and different points of view, and it flowed smoothly, allowing the plot to unfold without confusion.

The characters were deep, and fascinating, and all of them felt very genuine.  The plot, although a little creepy and a lot dark, also felt real, and was very intense.  It was sometimes a little uncomfortable (and scary) reading about how easily people will follow a charismatic leader.  Even when they sometimes questioned decisions and directives, they didn't speak up.  I often felt on edge, worrying about a character's reactions and outcome.

Overall, the book was a very well-written, vividly descriptive narrative, with characters that you could relate to (although you didn't necessarily want to), and a plot that could be taken out of the newspaper.

A haunting read you won't want to put down!  I loved it! 


For a more complete review of this book and others (including author information and quotations), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Beatrix · Rating 2 out of 5]

Verborgen in de bossen van Noord-Wales bevond zich jarenlang een sekte met honderden leden. Wanneer een gif binnen de sekte honderden levens opeist slaat een handjevol overlevenden op de vlucht. Onder hen is is Romy. Zij groeide als kind op in de sekte, en werd daar door haar moeder achtergelaten. Nu moet ze zich onverhoopt staande zien te houden in de grote boze buitenwereld. Dit betekent niet alleen dat ze eerdere overtuigingen zal moeten herzien, maar ook dat ze met een nieuwe blik zal moeten kijken naar alles wat er niet meer is.

De verhalen van sekteleden is iets wat mij persoonlijk fascineert, zowel in fictie, als in non-fictie, dus ik toen ik de beschrijving van 'Niemand komt je redden las' was ik direct nieuwsgierig.👀 Helaas was dit boek niet wat ik ervan had gehoopt en viel de uitwerking me erg tegen.

Alex Marwood is een Britse thrillerschrijver en ook 'Niemand komt je redden' is gecategoriseerd als (psychologische) thriller. Wat mij betreft onterecht, want daarvoor ligt de spanningsboog echt te laag. Al lezende volg je de flashbacks en flashforwards van de verschillende overlevenden van het drama wat zich in de sekte heeft afgespeeld, maar het verhaal ontvouwt zich dusdanig traag, dat het mij ontzettend veel moeite kostte om geïnteresseerd te blijven en door te lezen. Het uiteindelijke plot zat goed in elkaar, maar voor de aanloop ernaartoe heb je een lange adem nodig. Ik vond de personages persoonlijk ook niet bijster origineel en zelfs cliché, wat het voor mij nog extra ingewikkeld maakte om door te blijven lezen, but I did it.😬💪 En zoals gezegd, het plot verzacht de struggle een klein beetje, maar al met al vind ik 'Niemand komt je redden' helaas geen aanrader...

Mocht je op basis van de beschrijving toch nieuwsgierig zijn, geef het dan zeker een kans, wa zoveel mensen, zoveel smaken! Maar hou dan wel in je achterhoofd dat het een verhaal is met een lage spanningsboog waarin er over de grote linie weinig gebeurd, dus in gedachten ook even het woord 'thriller' doorstrepen. Ik denk dat je er met die aanpassing in je verwachtingen mogelijk wel van kunt genieten als de beschrijving je aanspreekt.😊👍

[Asia (zupa.czyta) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I co ja mam z Tobą począć, "Zatruty ogrodzie"?
Czyta się dobrze? - Całkiem dobrze, chociaż czasami monotonia mnie osłabiała!
Napięcie jest? - Jakieś tam jest, wyczuwalne szczególnie pod koniec.
Bohaterowie interesujący? Są! Interesujący i przy tym kompletnie naiwni.

Wszystko niby gra i buczy, a jednak nie do końca "siadła" mi ta historia - mój odbiór prozy Marwood nie uległ więc zmianie. To mogłaby być świetna opowieść, gdyby momentami nie była tak nudna. Bardzo podobały mi się rozdziały opisujące codzienne życie w sekcie - początkowo byłam nimi zafascynowana, pod koniec mój entuzjazm opadł, gdy i te fragmenty zaczęły robić się lekko nużące.
Historia, która toczy się w świecie, do którego my przywykliśmy, a który członkowie sekty określają mianem "świata Martwych", nie potrafiła mnie już, niestety, porwać.
I ta końcówka - wszystko wskazuje na to, że jak najbardziej mógłby tu powstać sequel, ale czy miałabym ochotę go przeczytać? Chyba niekoniecznie.

Podsumowując - powiedziałabym, że "Zatruty ogród" to typowy średniak, ALE... I właśnie dla tego "ale" chyba warto dać tej powieści szansę, jeśli jeszcze się wahacie.

[gem · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Alex Marwood’s books, I’ve been a fan since reading The Wicked Girls and with each book she offers an insight into some kind of dark and twisted world.
Within The Poison Garden we are forced to confront the controversial issue of cults, communes, and how they treat each other and how they view the outside world.
Differing time lines allow us to see the story from varying perspectives and I loved that. I really liked Sarah and Romy but wasn’t too fussed about the others.
It’s difficult to say much about this without giving away any spoilers, but suffice to say it’s sometimes uncomfortable reading because it’s so plausible that this kind of brainwashing/radicalising behaviour is happening... but that just makes it even more believable and unputdownable.
Yet another hit!
Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read this.

[Emily Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was boring from start to finish. I considered DNFing but I wanted to know how the story played out. It really wasn’t worth it.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this story Romy escapes the cult she was raised in and the only world she has ever known. But when she enters 'normal' life, she finds that she doesn't fit anywhere. Now twenty-two, she is young, pregnant and completely alone. She finally locates her sister and brother and has some cryptic communication with some other cult members, but what is her next step? She knows very little of the world she finds herself in and misses the life she has lived and knows. This is a very interesting story. Told mostly from Romy's POV, I was not sure what to make of her life living in the cult, her mother and the others she lived with. There were definitely evil people, but what was their motive. I felt bad for Romy. She was a product of her upbringing and her past and I wanted her to adapt to her new life, but it was not easy. She put herself in some dangerous situations and was it her stubbornness or her naivete. I just wasn't sure about most of this book, but I kept listening because something attracted me and I wanted to see what was going to happen to Romy and her siblings, as well as her unborn child. The chilling world of cults and how the residents become indoctrinated is terrifying. The twist at the end of this book had my heart in my throat. It was not what I expected at all! The story was well-written, gripping and chilling all at the same time. The narrative of past and present flowed and meshed well as it stitched together the lives in the cult. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Rachael Beresford. I enjoyed her narration. She did a good job with the pace, various voices and her expression. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

[Silvie Klokgieter · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5*. Dit boek vond ik best wel saai. Ik had er veel meer van verwacht. De schrijfstijl was wel vlot, maar het kon me gewoon niet zo boeien. Er gebeurde bijna niets en het was ook totaal niet spannend. Jammer... De tekst op de achterkant van het boek maakte me nieuwsgierig namelijk.

[Vanessa Loockx · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slechte vertaling.
Mssn dat ik hem nog eens in het Engels probeer.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE POISON GARDEN, a great title that immediately got my attention, was one of those rare books that grabbed me from page one and utterly absorbed me into the story and its characters. Now that I have finished the book, the ghost of its rich cast is still with me, and I am wondering how their story will go on. It’s the sign of great writing when the setting and characters become so real that I can picture them vividly in my mind like flesh-and-blood people.

I find books about cults fascinating, but rarely has an author managed to capture the essence of it as Harwood has done. By offering us insights into the minds of several characters who are involved in the cult – some of whom have been born and raised there – a deeper understanding grows. Why was Somer initially attracted to join the cult led by its enigmatic leader Lucien, ready to believe his seemingly outlandish ideas? How did baby Romy fare, born on the outside but member of the “family” since she was a baby? And her siblings, Eden and Ilo, one of whom is Lucien’s child? As the story revisits the past 15 or so years of Romy growing up in the folds of the community, the answers slowly emerged to form a full – frightening - picture.

I love books that make you question your own belief systems, and as I was ready to sneer at Lucien’s congregation for being so gullible, I soon came to see that we are all a product of our upbringing, and the programming (or brainwashing) we receive through family and friends in our lives. Sarah, Romy’s aunt, who is her contact in the world “outside”, beautifully brought this point home to me, as her life has also been coloured by the fanatical beliefs of her own parents, even if in different ways. There was a constant sense of impending doom that made this book a real page turner, and I feared for each and every character – with good reason!

It is impossible to discuss this book without spoilers, even though I would love to. It affected me deeply in many ways, and I am itching for my friends to read it so we can talk about it! Any book that can do that to me, as well as keep me up all night because I just can’t put it down, deserves a solid five stars. It’s a great finale to my year’s reading, and one I thoroughly enjoyed all the way. I can’t wait to read more from this talented author!

All the stars!

Thank you to Edelweiss and Penguin Books for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.

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[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Setting:- UK; 2001-2016. The book starts with police attending the Welsh headquarters of a cult headed by the omnipotent Lucien Blake whose followers are waiting for The End - but police find that the end has come to virtually all the members of the cult in an apparent mass suicide. Three of the survivors are siblings - 20 year old Romy was found in a near-death state in the infirmary and two teenagers, Eden and Ilo, also survived.
In a small Berkshire town, Sarah finds that the mother of these three survivors is Alison, her elder sister who left home when pregnant some 20 years before. She is persuaded by Social Services to take on the care of Eden and Ilo, whose father was the enigmatic Lucien. But Sarah also wants to get in touch with Romy, the closest one to her sister Alison. Romy is finding it hard to adjust to life outside the cult but also has a task to perform....
Told in a series of flashbacks to life in the cult between 2001 and the mass suicide and linked in to the present day, a picture gradually builds up of the intense rivalries that drove a wedge between certain members of the cult, leading to the shocking event which opens the book.
This is another great read from the author - I have enjoyed all her previous books and this one is right up there with them - great characters and an intriguing and very different plot - 9/10.

[Isabele Fluttershy ✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5/5 ⭐

W sumie to nawet nie wiem co mam sądzić na temat tej książki. Wypożyczyłam ją, ponieważ zaciekawił mnie opis. Tak samo prolog, a potem... Cóż, myślałam, że ta historia będzie inaczej pokierowana, ale nie było aż tak źle (chociaż żeby powaliła mnie na kolana, to też nie). Było kilka momentów, które mnie zszokowały - jeden chyba najbardziej tak pod koniec książki - ale większej oceny nie jestem w stanie dać. Czytałam lepsze.