The Queen of Poisons

NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES starring Samantha Bond, Jo Martin, and Cara Horgan. Season 3 coming in 2026!

*Pre-order THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR OF JUDITH POTTS now!*

‘I love the audacity of the Marlow gang, those ladies sure know how to live’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Fiendishly clever and a satisfying puzzle to try and solve’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A brilliant whodunnit mystery that keeps you guessing’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Who killed the Mayor? It’s up to the Marlow Murder Club to find out …

Geoffrey Lushington, Mayor of Marlow, dies suddenly during a Town Council meeting. When traces of aconite – also known as the queen of poisons – are found in his coffee cup, the police realise he was murdered. But who did it? And why?

The police bring Judith, Suzie and Becks in to investigate as Civilian Advisors right from the start, so they have free rein to interview suspects and follow the evidence to their heart’s content, which is perfect because Judith has no time for rules and standard procedure. But this case has the Marlow Murder Club stumped. Who would want to kill the affable Mayor? How did they even get the poison into his coffee? And is anyone else in danger? The Marlow Murder Club are about to face their most difficult case yet …

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Praise for The Marlow Murder Club Mysteries:

‘I love Robert Thorogood’s writing’ Peter James

‘Thrilling and heartfelt, gripping and wonderfully humorous … an absolute joy from first page to last' Chris Whitaker

‘Cosy crime at its best’ Crime Monthly

‘Cleverly plotted and laugh-out-loud funny’ Yours magazine

‘The perfect cosy crime to curl up with’ Heat

Reviews

Praise for Robert Thorogood:

‘The perfect cosy crime to curl up with’

Platinum

‘A fantastic whodunnit with laugh-out-loud moments’

The Sun

‘An absolute joy to read. Funny, entertaining and beautifully written’

B A Paris

‘Thrilling and heartfelt, gripping and wonderfully humorous . . . an absolute joy from first page to last’

Chris Whitaker

About the author

Robert Thorogood is the Sunday Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Marlow Murder Club mystery novels, which have been adapted into a major TV series starring Samantha Bond as Judith Potts. Robert is also the creator of the hit BBC One TV series Death in Paradise, he has co-created the spin-off shows, Beyond Paradise and Return to Paradise, and has written a series of Death in Paradise novels featuring DI Richard Poole.

When Robert was ten years old, he read his first proper novel – Agatha Christie’s Peril at End House – and he’s been in love with the genre ever since. He now lives in Marlow in Buckinghamshire with his wife, children and two whippets called Wally and Evie.

Follow him on Bluesky @robthor.bsky.social and Instagram @robertthorogoodwriter