Poison Wood

Poison Wood by Jennifer Moorhead
10/28/25; 351 pages
Thomas & Mercer

Poison Wood by Jennifer Moorhead is a very highly recommended investigative mystery. This continues the story of crime reporter Rita Meade from  Broken Bayou but it can be read as a standalone novel. It surprised me how much I ended up enjoying Poison Wood.

Rita Meade learns that a skull has been found on the property of the Poison Wood Therapeutic Academy for Girls which was located in the Kisatchie National Forest in central Louisiana. The home was closed in 2002 when a young girl went missing and was presumed dead, which Rita remembers well. As a teenager Rita was sent to Poison Wood by her father, who was a judge and she was there in 2002. Many of Rita's classmates were also the offspring of powerful, influential families. 

A man confessed and was convicted for the murder of the missing girl but the discovery of a body in Florida changes everything. The body is identified as that of the missing teen, but the woman has been living under another name. Rita is back in the area because her father had a heart attack. Her old roommates Katrina and Summer also happen to be back in the area. While there Rita begins to investigate the mysteries surrounding Poison Wood along with the identity of the skull. She's not officially working on the case as a reporter, but she is still working hard to uncover information.

This well written, atmospheric investigative mystery starts out interesting and gets incrementally better with each turn of the page. The pace is even at first and then quickly becomes fast-paced while the narrative is more compelling and intense. In-between present day action are journal entries from their time at Poison Wood written by the teens under pseudonyms. There are actually multiple mysteries going on and, although you might have predictions, the final denouement is not predictable.

Rita is a complex, fully realized character with both strengths and weaknesses. She's shown as an adult and successful reporter but also as a daughter with a complicated relationship with her father. The rest of the characters are also portrayed as complex individuals. All the interactions between characters are well done and realistic, which helps keep interest high in the narrative. The investigation follows clues and discoveries logically. I'll be looking forward to Moorhead's next book.

Poison Wood is a great choice for those who enjoy investigative mysteries. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.