This is the second book featuring Professor Eustacia Rose, I really enjoyed the first in the series - Devil's Breath. For me this book has lost a little of the magic after she (spoiler) lost access to her poisonous plant garden. Still a great read with the brilliant central character being so well depicted and Jill is a lovely writer.

This is the second book in a fantastic series that followed Eustacia Rose, a professor of toxic botany. Eustacia is an eccentric genius who due to her extensive knowledge of poisonous plants, finds herself brought into a murder investigation by the police.

In Hell’s Bells we see Eustacia several months after the events of the first book. Things are going well for her at home and at work. However an aggressive and demanding student she nicknames ‘Giant Hogweed’ starts to disturb her peace. Add in a man rendered unconscious by the injection of a toxic plant and Eustacia is roped in by the police to investigate.

Eustacia is a wonderful main character. She’s middle aged, she dresses in her Dad’s Savile Row suit. She gives people botanical nicknames. She hyper fixates and is particular about how she does things. She is such a fascinating character and I’m filled with so much affection for her as she tries to navigate the world and the social situations where people don’t understand her. We see the return of her elderly neighbour Susan who assists her in interpreting other people and clues in the case.

I love all the plant references in this and delving into Eustacia’s fascinating world of botany. While we are investigating crimes in these books, we’re also experiencing such a rich, vivid and beautiful world of plants, which aren’t inherently evil and indeed in small doses can even cure.

An excellent addition to this series and it’s one i will certainly be continuing with!

The second book in the Eustacia Rose series is a worthy follow up to Devil's Breath.

Once again well written and researched. Eustacia is a wonderful character as is her neighbour Susan and DCI Roberts. Locations and settings are vividly described and the story flows at a good pace.

However, I found the storyline involving DS Chambers to be rather forced and pointless, adding little to the story and the conclusion of the storyline with the woman with the long white hair was far too obvious for me. I saw it coming a mile away and as such, it detracted from the story.

Overall, Johnson's writing style makes for a quick and enjoyable read. Several plotlines could have been tightened up but a worthy follow up. I look forward to reading more from this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Black & White publishing for the ARC.