Chapter Nine | Marta McDowell - Gardening Can Be Murder

Raven sits down with author and historian Marta McDowell for a conversation surrounding the dark and fascinating relationship between gardening, folklore, poison, and crime fiction in her book “Gardening Can Be Murder: How Poisonous Poppies, Sinister Shovels, and Grim Gardens Have Inspired Mystery Writers.”

Together, they explore the surprising ways gardens, plants, landscapes, and even ordinary gardening tools have shaped mystery and murder narratives throughout literary history. The discussion dives into poisonous plants, gothic atmosphere, classic mystery influences, and how authors have long used nature itself as both setting and weapon in storytelling.

The conversation also touches on literary history and why gardens so often become symbolic spaces for secrecy, death, beauty, and buried truths in fiction.

Find the book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or wherever you get your books.

Thanks to Marta for being on the show!

(This episode originally aired on the podcast Sirens | Southern True Crime with Raven Rollins. It has been reformatted for use on this podcast.)

Find retail links to this storyteller's work, along with other books, podcasts, films, and music featured on the show at https://linktr.ee/DreadfullyYours.

Find Raven's books, audiobooks, and podcasts at www.RavenRollins.com.

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