- Title: Poison
- Author: Galt Niederhoffer
- Genre: Thriller
- Pages: 304
- Published: November 2017 – St. Martin’s Press
- Source: Publisher
Description: Cass and Ryan Connor have achieved family nirvana. With three kids, a cat, and a yard, they are living the modern family dream. A recent move to Portland, Maine is the perfect fresh start – a fixer-upper Victorian, new jobs for Cass and Ryan, a good school for the kids, and the shimmering bay in sight. But trouble begins imperceptibly, first with the white lies told in every marital bedroom.
Was he really “stuck at the office”?
Did he delete a text?
The lies seem insignificant, but they are quickly followed by a swirl of denials, explanations, and confusion. The tables are turned.
Is he lying? Or am I losing my mind?
With life-and-death consequences, Poison is a chilling reminder that the ties that bind can also be instruments of torture. And that breaking trust is the most toxic betrayal of all. (publisher)
My take: When widowed mother of two young children and former award-winning investigative reporter Cass meets Ryan he seems an answer to her prayers. After a whirlwind ‘courtship’ they marry and their son is born several months later. After a few concerning occurrences they move to Maine for a fresh beginning. Life is great. Until it isn’t. Cass has suspicions that something has flipped in their marriage. Cass will find out just who (if anyone) she can trust and where she’ll get help for her dire situation. I thought the author did a good job building drama and even suspense. She makes her point of the challenges women face in the legal/criminal system. Most of the novel I wasn’t certain Cass was a reliable narrator – not because of what her husband said but because of her self-doubt. That bothered me but I’m guessing it’s not unusual for abused women to feel that way. Recommended to fans of psychological thrillers.
Bookfan 
Looks like a good one, Mary. And speaking of psychological thrillers, I recently read a very good debut novel. It’s called Dark Associations, by Marie Sutro. It’s book 1, and I am definitely looking forward to #2. AND, she is our RBC author in January.
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I’ll look for it, Lloyd!
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They do like those unreliable ones
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Yes they do 🙂
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I felt the same way that you did about her…there were times…for me…when she was just totally annoying!
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I think it bothered me because she was an investigative reporter but maybe when its happening to you it’s hard to see?
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I’m sure abused women do feel self doubt because their abusers plant it in their heads. This sounds like something I’d like.
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Yes, I agree.
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Great review…this was a good read for me.
The abuse was upsetting.
Enjoy your day.
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Very upsetting.
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I loved this book, and I’m quite used to seeing abused women having a lot of self-doubt and seeming to be unreliable (from my years of work). But it can feel annoying to watch the characters struggling about the reality of their lives when we can clearly see that they are in trouble.
Thanks for sharing!
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I imagine you recognized a lot about abuse given your professional experience, Laurel.
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I haven’t read a good psychological thriller in a while. I think I need to add this to my list!
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It was good but tough, at times.
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I may add this to my list. And yes, abused women do feel self doubt.
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I believe it, Vicki. It wasn’t an easy read for me but the writing was good!
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I have seen some very positive reviews for this book and yours reinforces that. While my usual “go to” are not thrillers I am always surprised how good they are when I do read them!
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