Poison

Going to law school and being a lawyer or maybe just getting older kills parts of you, parts that used to enjoy something suddenly and inexplicably go dead. Poetry died first. I usually read nonfiction. After reading Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA, I thought my ability to read for enjoyment had completely died. The first book that I read afterwards initially engaged me, but soon dulled after a little exposure. Galt Niederhoffer’s Poison completely revived me and was the first book that I read in 2019!
In the interest of full disclosure, I know the author. We went to school together, and when we get a chance to catch up, we are encouraging and rooting for each other. I’ve never read any of her books before because I don’t usually read fiction, but I was curious about Poison because it attracted a lot of attention at my local library and in the press since people theorized that it could be more autobiographical than fiction. (Dear God, I hope not.) I don’t have any special or intimate insight into any part of her life that a tabloid would find interesting, and even if I did, I would not put it here so if you’re hoping that I will confirm or deny this theory, keep it pushing because it isn’t happening. All writing is part autobiographical, part wish fulfillment and part imagination or revisionist history if it is nonfiction. So I’m going to use the Law & Order disclaimer, “The following story is fictional and does not depict any actual person or event.”
Poison is a novel about Cass, a woman in what she initially thinks is a miraculous situation. She is a widow with two children and unexpectedly falls deeply in love with a man who also loves her children. They marry and have a child. Then trouble begins. Is she delusional or in danger? I do think there is a possibility that knowing Galt influenced the way that I looked at the book in some small measure, which is why I encouraged a friend to read the book so I could hear another person’s take on it before I arrived at an opinion. Perhaps because we have occasionally drank from the same stream at various points in life, I know that Galt and I share one important value: we immediately believe people that the mainstream does not automatically believe and dismiss until it is impossible not to. So I never thought of doubting the narrator of Poison, was secretly encouraging the narrator to step up her paranoia and was actually waiting for some plot twists to occur that shocked other readers. For me, it was like a murder mystery without the murder—another genre that I typically don’t enjoy, but Poison seems to have been an invention of a new subversive drama. I love when underdogs turn the tables. I just kept waiting to see how it would happen.
The real suspense was who was actually on Cass’ side, and the most horrifying, pearl clutching moment of the story was when the people that have known her the longest were absolutely not in her corner, especially since one of those two people was initially suspicious from the outset. I would probably never talk to those people again as long as I lived, and anyone who could would be better than me. They’re vampires who will waste your time and make you feel bad about it. I actually expected the other turncoats because they were too convenient, but I’m also reading it as an outsider; however I have not been that picky in real life when I needed help and accepted an offer to assistance so no judgment. I also think that it showed real insight on Galt’s part to point out how Cass instinctually shuns people on her side because on some level, she doesn’t want to end the relationship so she unwittingly participates in isolating herself. It is an explanation for the fifty-two percent.
I know that it wasn’t Poison’s mission statement, but I would have loved some insight into why a certain conspirator participated. This person gains nothing and risks everything by getting involved. I suppose that the same could be said for a lot of OJ Simpson’s friends, and I don’t think that they faced any consequences so maybe they’re right. I would like to think of myself as a good friend, but do yourself a favor. Don’t do anything illegal and immoral around me because I am not ride or die. I’m not risking it all for anyone but Jesus, and even Jesus was like, “Really?” in the Garden of Gethsemane to God so that is still plenty of margin for backing out.
While I’ve never been a part of a reading group other than Bible Study (I consider reading a solitary practice), Poison would be the perfect book to recommend to your book club because I found myself wanting to talk about it while I read it. Hearing from others gave me much needed perspective because I didn’t even conceive of the possibility that a reader would consider Cass an unreliable narrator. Also I’m the kind of person who internally is screaming at the person in a horror movie to act differently so it was good to use other people as a touchstone for reality regarding whether or not Cass was reacting to certain situations in a typical way. If I even sense something is off, I’m out so I was screaming at Cass fairly early and often, “What are you doing!” I’m going to be single for life because I don’t think that I’m capable of loving someone more than I love listening to that voice screaming inside my head to be suspicious of someone. I choose you, gift of fear!
Poison has some pacing issues. I found myself getting lost in the descriptive language during the beginning. The transition from ideal marriage to living nightmare felt abrupt. The denouement felt rushed. I needed more time with the resolution and would have loved to linger at other character’s reaction to the revelation. Fortunately none of these issues ultimately affected my enjoyment of the book, which I could not put down and read fairly quickly.
I highly recommend Poison even if you don’t love fiction or mysteries. It is an entertaining and absorbing book that you will find impossible to put down. I’ll leave it to more astute readers to decide whether or not Galt has invented a new mystery genre that I can get behind! Keep turning those tables.