Poison Wood

A Novel

By: Jennifer Moorhead

Narrated by: Sophie Amoss

From the author of Broken Bayou, a haunting psychological thriller about how far we’ll go to seize our dreams and shield our secrets—and the devastating consequences when we can’t do both.

Ambitious crime reporter Rita Meade is riding high after her docuseries on the Broken Bayou serial killer. But when an anonymous tip promises the story behind a skull found deep in the Louisiana forest, she hesitates. Because this one strikes too close to home.

As a teenager, Rita attended Poison Wood Therapeutic Academy for Girls in that forest, but the school shuttered its doors after a series of disturbing incidents. Now the man who confessed to the murder of her classmate has recanted, and Rita’s father, the judge who put him away, has fallen ill.

Summoned back to those haunted woods, Rita sorts through the mysteries of a rotting schoolhouse basement. She digs up emotions she buried along with her mother—and secrets she’s tried hard to forget. But when her investigation spreads to her family tree, the TV cameras swing her way. How far will she go for a story that could threaten everything and everyone she loves?

©2025 by Jennifer Moorhead. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Poison Wood quickly builds up speed as secrets are revealed and the tension and danger amp up.”—Midwest Book Review

“Helmed by an iron-willed protagonist, this book is a wild, absorbing ride through the vicious world of teenage girls, buried secrets, and original wounds, guaranteed to keep you racing through the pages.”—Ashley Winstead, USA Today bestselling author of This Book Will Bury Me

“This evocative, creepy page-turner proves Moorhead is no one-hit wonder. Poison Wood will have you looking over your shoulder and counting down the minutes until you can get back to reading.”—Liz Talley, USA Today bestselling author of Deconstructed

Great characters

Listened in one day. Really good! I love novels that jump back and forth in time.

Suspense

I loved this book as much as Broken Bayou . It keep me on my feet waiting to see what happened . Love the voices and accents from the reader . And it was all towns that I recognized. Great story .

Twisty Thriller

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Although it is not a sequel, there are ‘Easter eggs’ from Broken Bayou the author’s first book. This is a great glimpse into. North LA culture. Although there’s a murder and an unexplained body, the author still made me smile with her descriptions and character personalities.

Loved it!

The setting was perfect. The story kept you guessing and I just had to keep listening.

Great twisting read!

I Loved the characters and the stunning ending! I couldn’t stop listening and was sad it was over!