A Cup of Quiet Poison

At Fern Hollow, women come to rest, recover, and begin again. Nestled in an Oregon valley, Fern Bellweather's quiet herbal retreat offers sanctuary to the weary. But when celebrated speaker Ezra Vale dies suddenly after taking tea in Fern's parlour, peace shatters overnight. What first appears to be a tragic collapse soon reveals darker roots: poison, hidden letters, old grievances, and a carefully staged web of suspicion.
As a storm closes in around the retreat, Fern must untangle a dangerous knot of secrets among her guests-each with reason to resent the dead man, and each concealing wounds of their own. With gossip spreading, trust fraying, and her life's work under threat, Fern is forced to look beyond the obvious culprit and confront a more unsettling truth: sometimes harm arrives not from strangers, but from the quietest hands in the room.
Warm, atmospheric, and rich with emotional depth, this cozy mystery blends small-town tension, herbal lore, and a deeply satisfying whodunit. Perfect for readers who love layered characters, intimate settings, and mysteries where healing and justice are equally hard-won. If you enjoy gentle suspense, sharp observation, and a retreat full of secrets, Fern Hollow will draw you in from the first cup of tea to the final page.