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What Happens At The End Of 'Thyme Of Death'?

2026-03-23 08:24:07
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3 Answers

Jade
Jade
I just finished 'Thyme of Death' last week and I am still reeling from the end. The final chapters of the book turned everything I had thought I knew about the story on its head. The real killer of Susan's sister is someone that Susan trusted with her life. The confrontation with this person took place in a rather atmospheric greenhouse, full of wilted thyme plants (symbolizing decayed trust). But it was great to see Susan using her knowledge of herbs to kill off the person who had killed her sister with a poisoned tea drink. However, the epilogue went on to reveal that Susan had in fact inherited the killer's secret garden and the last line of the book was 'new shoots growing from rotten soil'. It's one of those endings where justice has been served but it's not feel good. It's also left me wondering whether it's possible to ever truly heal from the kind of trauma that Susan has been through.

Chills. This is not a happy ending, but a “you survived but it changed you” kind of ending. I want to read the rest of the series to see how she manages. (Mirroring the first scene where Susan prunes the herbs in the garden… and her hands are shaking in this one).
2026-03-25
Gemma
Gemma
A beautiful and haunting ending to 'Thyme of Death'. All Susan’s journey with healing – physical and emotional – through the herbs is brought crashing down when she discovers the murderer of her family and others used her own remedies to cover his tracks. A quiet, whispered conversation over a cup of tea is all the action needed in the final confrontation with the killer. He calmly reveals that he took advantage of Susan’s nature and used her trust against her. The book leaves you with a rather uncomfortable question – is it possible for someone with such an understanding of plants and people to ever let their guard down? The final image of Susan, in her sister’s apron, replanting the withered thyme bush she was given is so powerful it gives me goosebumps to this day.
2026-03-26
Daniel
Daniel
A great mystery with setting as character – ‘Thyme of Death’ by Richard Canavan is a great read. In the final scene Susan realizes that the thyme sprigs left by the killer at each of the murders were not just mementos but rather clues to a decades old dispute over property. The quiet and unassuming town librarian was ‘cultivating’ revenge with her rare herb collection. The most poignant scene for me is when Susan discovers her sister’s diary between the pages of an old botany book. The irony of the killer who was trying to preserve the past being exposed by her own obsessions is devastating.

I did like how the annual Herb Festival in the town is celebrated even in the finale and life goes on. Susan has her sister’s herbal remedies for sale at a stall and even though people praise her for making them, she never reveals the truth to them about who really made them. That was so much more powerful than her saying something in a dramatic monologue.
2026-03-28

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