Book Review of 'An Ode to Poison' by Lisa E. Betz

Happy Monday Bookworms!

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I got to spend some time with my youngest son as well as some alone time while my husband was out with friends all weekend. It was nice but I felt a bit lonely, as I'm sure we all do when our partners aren't with us. That's what I love about books, they're always there, and they make you feel like you've got a friend when you're fighting loneliness.

One book that I was able to get lost in was the novel I'm featuring today. I hope you enjoy my thoughts on this Historical Mystery and don't forget to scroll to the bottom of this post and enter the amazing giveaway from JustRead Tours!

Welcome to the Blog Tour for An Ode to Poison by Lisa E. Betz, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: An Ode to Poison
Series: Livia Aemilia Mysteries #3
Author: Lisa E. Betz
Publisher: Breakthrough Christian Publishing
Release Date: October 21, 2024
Genre: Historical Mystery

What do death by poison, a ruthless senator, and a poetry party have in common?

They combine to draw Livia Aemilia into her most dangerous investigation yet. She must risk setting foot in the house of her worst enemy, Senator Tiberius Gracchus, to investigate the death of his wife. (Don’t worry, she has a plan.)

The victim’s sister is convinced Gracchus is the killer. If so, proving his guilt in Rome’s law courts could put a stop to his nefarious threats forever.

Livia is sure this investigation is God’s plan to protect her family from their malicious enemy. And maybe it will finally convince her husband Avitus that God is real.

The more Livia and Avitus dig, the more it looks like they will finally bring Gracchus to justice. Until another victim is poisoned, and everything they think they know is turned upside down.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

My Review

One of the first things that caught my attention when I started An Ode to Poison was just how different it is compared to most clean mysteries that are popular right now. I found this quite refreshing, as I never once felt like I was reading the same old story.

This novel is part of the Livia Aemilia Mystery series and the first novel I’ve read by this author, and I was impressed. The world building is spectacular, the writing engaging, and I admire Livia and her sleuthing talent and bravery in the face of a very scary situation.

The most intriguing part of the story for me went beyond the characters and was actually the setting. I have never read a historical mystery set during this time period in Rome, and that aspect was fascinating. The plot kept me guessing and second guessing at every turn, though I wasn’t too surprised once I made it to the reveal. There is a faith aspect to this story, but it didn’t feel forced but natural to the characters and the overall story.

After reading An Ode to Poison I am curious to see what the other stories in this series all are about. Liza Betz has a talent for bringing unknown worlds to life in such a beautiful way while also throwing in faith and historical tidbits and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read one of her stories.

My Rating: ★★★★

More Books in This Series

About the Author

Lisa E. Betz is an engineer-turned-mystery-writer, entertaining speaker, and speaking coach. She inspires others to become their best selves, living with authenticity, and purpose, and she infuses her novels with quirky characters who thrive on solving tricky problems. Her Livia Aemilia Mysteries, set in first-century Rome, have won several awards, including the Golden Scroll Novel of the Year (2021). She and her husband reside outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with Scallywag, their rambunctious cat—the inspiration for Nemesis, resident mischief maker in her novels. Lisa directs church dramas, hikes the beautiful Pennsylvania woods, eats too much chocolate, and spoils her grandsons.

Connect with Lisa by visiting lisaebetz.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed set of all 3 Livia Aemilia Mysteries in paperback!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 4, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 11, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!