The Darkest Flower: (1 Allison Barton)

You’ll never believe the terrible things being said about the perfect president of the PTA. Attempted murder? Inexplicable accident? Either way, a PTA mom struggled for her life in an elementary school cafeteria, poisoned by a wolfsbane-laced smoothie at the fifth-grade graduation party. Now all eyes are on the accused, the victim, and a woman hired to look deeper. Ambitious defense attorney and single mother Allison Barton is anxious to escape the shadow of the low-down dog of a marquee partner carrying their renowned Virginia law firm. A win for her high-profile new client will give Allison the career she deserves. And PTA president Kira Grant certainly appears innocent—except for the toxic bloom in her backyard and perhaps a bit of a malicious streak. But no one said the innocent had to be likable—or entirely honest. Besides, with an image as carefully cultivated as her garden, Kira would be insane to risk everything on something as outrageous as the attempted murder of one of her closest friends. What about those in Kira’s orbit, a sunny suburb of moms behaving badly? What do they really know about Kira? What does Kira know about them? For Allison, the answers are getting darker every day.

About the Author :
Kristin Wright is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School and has simultaneously been a small-town general practice lawyer handling criminal defense and the vice president of the elementary school PTA. She lives in Virginia with her husband, sons, and two beagles. For more information about the author visit www.kristinbwright.com.

Review :
“A female-forward courtroom drama…” —Kirkus Reviews “In this enjoyable psychological thriller…the author, herself a lawyer in suburban Virginia, writes convincing courtroom scenes and presents the two very different women as fully realized characters. The whodunit remains tantalizingly unclear right up to the surprise ending. Those who like their legal dramas with a light touch will be satisfied.” —Publishers Weekly “A fun—and funny—tale of PTA moms and the small-town lawyer mom whose quest for success leads to a moral dilemma. I found myself laughing out loud at the sociopathic PTA mom, Kira.” —Marcia Clark, bestselling author and iconic former LA prosecutor “Impressive and intoxicating. The women inhabiting this story are bold, clever, complex, and deliciously thorny—quick to show you what they’re capable of if you dare underestimate them. This book is a dark delight, and Kristin Wright is an author I’ll be closely watching.” —Margarita Montimore, USA Today bestselling author of Oona Out of Order “The Darkest Flower is juicy, suspenseful, and wickedly fun. With pitch-black humor, a fresh and engrossing voice, and one of the most fascinating characters I’ve come across, Kristin Wright explores the toxicity of privilege—and its ability to poison people from the inside out. From its attention-grabbing first line to the chilling revelations of its conclusion, this book is a stay-up-all-night read.” —Megan Collins, author of The Winter Sister and Behind the Red Door “In The Darkest Flower, Kristin Wright takes the legal thriller to a new level when a PTA mom is poisoned (she survives!) and the main suspect is more venomous than the toxin used in the attempted murder. Dark. Twisty. Unforgettable female leads.” —Cara Reinard, author of Sweet Water “The Darkest Flower is a fast-paced legal drama that pulls you in from the first page to the last. Like the best fiction, it is about so much more than the plight of its well-drawn characters and the jaw-dropping reveal, as it challenges you to reconsider your own beliefs about the things that matter most—family, friendship, and truth.” —Adam Mitzner, Amazon Charts bestselling author of Dead Certain “The Darkest Flower is as much a riveting legal thriller as it is an exploration of modern-day motherhood and privilege. The story shows exactly what happens when the much-feared queen of the PTA gets accused of attempted murder. I couldn’t stop reading.” —Kellye Garrett, author of the Detective by Day series and winner of the Anthony, Agatha, and Lefty Awards “The Darkest Flower unfolds with the sinister beauty of a night-blooming poison. Wright has created a character so compelling in her deviousness that you find yourself reading just to find out what she says and does next. Relentlessly suspenseful, grimly humorous, and sneakily challenging, this twisty portrait of the extremes of motherly ambition will stay with you.” —Elly Blake, New York Times bestselling author of the Frostblood trilogy “A twisty and darkly hilarious ride-along, Kristin Wright’s timely thriller skewers the deadly sense of entitlement lurking below even the prettiest of facades.” —Mary Ann Marlowe, author of Some Kind of Magic and Dating by the Book “Wright’s The Darkest Flower is a dark, visceral view into the lives of suburban PTA moms. The final twist thrills, leaving you wanting more.” —Roselle Lim, author of Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune and Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop “The Darkest Flower is a deliciously nasty drama about the dark side of motherhood, with an antiheroine you’ll love to loathe and wicked wit dripping from every line. Clear your schedule, because you won’t be able to put this one down until you reach the scandalous and oh-so-satisfying conclusion!” —Layne Fargo, author of Temper and They Never Learn “This is Big Little Lies if Cersei Lannister was heading the cast of malicious, impeccably groomed housewives. An addictive page-turner with a twist you won’t see coming!” —Michelle Hazen, author of Breathe the Sky “PTA presidents and poison don’t usually mix, but they’re the perfect blend in Kristin Wright’s fantastic thriller debut The Darkest Flower. Wright has created a propulsive legal thriller with plenty of juicy secrets to uncover behind those perfect picket fences. The Darkest Flower is Desperate Housewives meets Big Little Lies, and you won’t be able to turn the pages fast enough.” —Vanessa Lillie, Amazon bestselling author of Little Voices and For the Best