"[A] stunning debut . . . deftly mixing historical fact and fiction.”—Booklist (starred review)
“The pseudonymous Poole makes a promising debut with this fast-moving historical thriller. . . . Francesca's a genuine firecracker of a heroine, and her dilemma--is it worth her soul to exact justice for her father--plays out in a riveting fashion. Vivid, suspenseful, and capped with an ending that begs a sequel, this is a great first step on the way to the historical fiction A-list.”—Publishers Weekly
“With a unique heroine, a tumultuous historical era, intrigue, suspense, a vibrant backdrop and a nonstop plotline, Poole’s debut delivers a historical mystery to savor.”—Romantic Times (four stars)
“A historical thriller brimming with intrigue, action and enough double-crosses to stump even the most venal of Renaissance Popes . . . a fascinating page turner as delicious and deadly as the poisons brewed up by its heroine.”—Lauren Willig, bestselling author of The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
“Poison presents the most unique heroine I have ever seen in a mystery series, (a complex, angst-filled Renaissance Dexter). But above all, what kept me riveted was the fact the plot is as much a fast-paced thriller as a compelling mystery. (Although it is a historical, it seems amazingly modern if we substitute Wall Street financiers or national politicians ...
