With Eustacia Rose, a neurodivergent expert in deadly botanicals with a rooftop garden full of poisonous plants and a voyeuristic interest in her female neighbour, Brighton-based Māori storyteller Jill Johnson introduced a truly unique amateur sleuth in Devil’s Breath. While that captivating first outing was a BBC Between the Covers pick and recent dual Ngaio Marsh Awards finalist, it did feel like Eustacia’s story deserved to bloom for more than one season. In Hell’s Bells, Professor Rose is back teaching at University College London, only for a possible poisoning and a stalker-ish PhD student with eyes on her poisonous plant collection to upturn the life Eustacia tries to keep well in order. When the student also turns up dead, Eustacia feels forced to investigate. Johnson, who used to run a leading UK comics store (and later studied for a degree in horticulture), has crafted a wonderfully unusual heroine. Blunt, eccentric, unintentionally hilarious at times. Fearful yet brave, Eustacia and her relationships with others, often botanically categorised, deliver a fresh feel to intriguing storylines in a growing series that will delight cosy mystery fans.

[this review was published in the New Zealand Listener magazine in late September 2024]

I read and enjoyed the first book in the Eustacia Rose series, Devil's Breath, so I was looking forward to this second instalment.

The good professor is now back at work at University College London, her love life seems to be going well with her attractive girlfriend Matilde, but her fragile peace is about to be disturbed by the discovery of a man with a syringe in his neck, poisoned with plant toxin. Eustacia is called in as an expert, but gets embroiled personally and finds herself in danger.

This series is fairly unbelievable from a police procedural point of view, but Eustacia is such a quirky and endearing character that the story is enjoyable anyway. A recommended read - but read Devil's Breath first!

Unique, Immersive..
The second in the Professor Eustacia Rose mystery series and the professor is only now getting to grips with the fallout from the previous investigation, finally back teaching. Unfortunately when a man is discovered dead with a needle to the neck, links are also discovered which trace back to the professor herself. Soon bodies are piling and the professor is slap bang in the middle of it all. Another truly wonderful outing in this new series with a unique and credible protagonist, a clever plot populated with a well drawn cast and an immersive narrative. A clever spin on the traditional murder mystery.

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.