I have the strength of a woman who has everything to loose.

says Karen, the protagonist of the The Poison Tree.

Her story is like being poisoned, starting with drops of un-wellness swirling into a deep, painful hopefulness: you know the end is coming and it’s not going to be good. Ah, the times I wanted to shake Karen’s shoulders whilst listening this book. Have some dignity, woman, I wished to say. That’s how much I dived into this mesmerising story.

The Poison Tree was my one of the best recent audible listens, a pretty solid plot, amazing characterisation; really elegant and so enjoyable.

Karen is a pretty ordinary girl, logical and predictable- until she meets with charming, provocative Biba and her equally fascinating brother, Rex. The siblings are apparently without a family, they have no one else but each other, living in an old but glam mansion in Highgate, they’re bohemian and carefree. Karen gets sucked into their world,  fascinated by their lack of rules and freedom, distancing away from her own life a bit more every day. There’s more to discover about these brother and sister for Karen, but the more she learns, the more she becomes attached to them. Biba’s charm is like a hypnosis, a sweet poison Karen happily accepts, putting her into the center of her life.

I don’t want to say more, you definitely need to pick up this book if you’re into : unlikeable characters, gritty plots, alternate timelines.

Would definitely read more from Erin Kelly, I loved the bleak atmosphere she built in this book and the solid, realistic characters.

I loved the ending…

You may like this book if you liked (or vice versa):

This is How It Ends by Eva Dolan,

Sweet Little Lies by Caz Frear,

The Sudden Departure of Frasers by Louise Candlish 

4 stars