Play Book Tag discussion

I came across this today about a british poison garden:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/THmM...

I read a book not long ago that featured a poison garden on an English estate, one critical to the plot. Dang if I can remember what book it was - The Forgotten Garden? The Thirteenth Tale? I don't think so but don't have time to search my read books to tickle the memory. If anyone has read any books where a poison garden features ...
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I will look when I have time.

Or even a book where the garden and its plantings is a disturbing element of the plot. One Stephanie Laurens' historical romances has a disturbingly planted garden that is key to the suspenseful murder plot.

Often poisonous or dangerous blooms and plants are incredibly beautiful.

I'm wondering if you're thinking of The Turn of the Key. There's definitely a poison garden in it. It's the only book I remember reading with a poison garden.

Rachel N. wrote: "I'm wondering if you're thinking of The Turn of the Key. There's definitely a poison garden in it. It's the only book I remember reading with a poison garden."

That is probably it - because there were children involved in the plot!

I bet this was the garden that inspired it. I know I saw a mention somewhere - during an author interview probably.

Thank you, Rachel N! Ware is a favorite author of mine, and though it would have surfaced in my memory at some point, I'm so happy you knew it!

The Stephanie Laurens book I read many years ago with a definitely problem garden was The Truth About Love - while an historical romance it has a murder mystery and gothic plot. Here's what the author's summary of the book says about the garden:

But something is horribly wrong at Hellebore Hall. Evil lurks in the beautiful gardens and along the rambling pathways. And that evil reaches out to ensnare Jacqueline, trapping her in a web of insidious whispers - whispers that paint her as a double murderess.

The garden is a key plot element, fully described and there's even a map of it and the rest of the manor's grounds. It includes a night garden and I am pretty sure that while it doesn't have a poison garden per say, there are poisonous vines and plants in the night garden, as I recall. Might be time to re-read it!

Also - The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman - in the stories, is the red garden at any time ever poisonous? Definitely has magical or unreal properties.

Sadly, while I loved the book and the whole concept of the red garden as this thread, and though I read it not that long ago - during the Favorite Author challenge - I can't remember if it had any poisonous elements to it at any stage/in any story.

I read The Queen of Poisons the most recent Marlow Murder Club #3, could that have been the one you are thinking of. It does feature a poison garden.

Now maybe you can help me. I am sure years ago that I read an Agatha Christie in which someone was poisoned by drinking the water that lilies of the valley had been in previously. I did a half-hearted search and came up with nothing.

Booknblues wrote: "I read The Queen of Poisons the most recent Marlow Murder Club #3, could that have been the one you are thinking of. It does feature a poison garden.

Now maybe you can help me. I ..."

Nope I haven't read that one yet but pleased to know there is a poison garden - I will admit that I'm somewhat fascinated and horrified and creeped out by them. Thus I need to read more featuring them!

I don't recall that one but I know just where to go to find out.

Rachel N. wrote: "I'm wondering if you're thinking of The Turn of the Key. There's definitely a poison garden in it. It's the only book I remember reading with a poison garden."

That's the one I was trying to think of! I was thinking... thriller... ? Thanks, Rachel!

@BnB - here is one of the best lists of poisons used in her works, including the short stories.
https://agathachristie.fandom.com/wik...

Here is how Lilies of the valley are poisonous
Yes, the water from a vase of lilies of the valley can be poisonous because the water absorbs toxic substances from the plant. The entire lily of the valley plant is poisonous, including the petals, leaves, pollen, stems, roots, and berries. The seeds and flowers contain high amounts of cardenolides, which are toxic compounds that can cause severe illness and death. Even drying the plant doesn't make the compounds harmless.
...when kept as cut flowers, the water in the vase absorbs the toxic substances from the lily of the valley cuttings and also becomes poisonous.
...
The primary toxin is convallatoxin, a digitalis-like compound, which is present throughout the plant.

This is an interesting short read: https://owlcation.com/humanities/The-...

Still on the hunt.

Ah. It isn't a Christie book, but this I bet: Murder a la Christie by Marilyn Levinson

Sounds like many a poison garden out there in fiction land-there is one in A Dangerous Collaboration

Clearly a few. Certainly poisonous plants are used a lot in fiction - just wander into any garden and you find a lethal plant or two. It's having a whole garden of them that is deliciously chillingly fascinating. And so Victorian! Must have an ornate cast iron gate that is kept locked.

Theresa wrote: "Ah. It isn't a Christie book, but this I bet: Murder a la Christie by Marilyn Levinson"

It is not that one because I read it in the mid 1970s during my Christie reading stage.

Joanne wrote: "Sounds like many a poison garden out there in fiction land-there is one in A Dangerous Collaboration"

I was thinking of this book as well. I've also recently read The Three Dahlias which has a poison garden in it.

I was looking for another thread I had started in Footnotes, and stumbled across this. I had forgotten this discussion! I just read for BWF and Steampunk tag a book with a poison garden in it that plays a big role in the plot: Umberland

I found one recently in Salt & Broom too which was key to the plot.