Foi difícil engatar na leitura, talvez por não estar acostumada com o tipo de narrativa em inglês. Ainda assim, gostei da ambientação e quero me desafiar a ler mais do estilo.

I was definitely expecting something very different so almost set myself up for disappointment with this one. I wanted more fantasy, more whimsy...and less botany. All in all a good story, just not what I was looking for.

The central mystery is engaging, with well-crafted twists and intriguing ideas. Saffron Everleigh emerges as a promising new character, though the historical setting felt somewhat underdeveloped. The time period, only briefly touched upon in the publisher’s summary, lacked depth in capturing the essence of early 1920s London. References to the aftermath of the Great War were present, but more vivid details would have enhanced the historical atmosphere. The romantic subplot brought a delightful and engaging element to the story, especially through the chemistry between Saffron and Alexander. Their dynamic was charming, and I found myself looking forward to their interactions whenever they were separated. While Alexander's well-developed backstory made him a standout character, Saffron occasionally felt somewhat one-dimensional in comparison.

Overall, “A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons” is a delightful historical mystery with a touch of Agatha Christie’s Poirot vibe. It’s a lighthearted read that fans of the roaring twenties and cozy mysteries will likely enjoy. I look forward to seeing more of Saffron Everleigh’s adventures in future installments.

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari is a historical mystery set in 1920s London, where the vibrant world of botany meets the dark intrigue of a murder mystery. The story follows Saffron Everleigh, a determined young botanist working at the University College of London, as she navigates a male-dominated academic environment while also unraveling a dangerous mystery.

From the outset, the book’s cover and intriguing title drew me in, and the premise did not disappoint. Saffron Everleigh is a captivating protagonist—intelligent and fiercely independent, yet often reckless in her pursuit of the truth. Her journey is one of resilience, as she strives to prove herself in a field where women are rarely taken seriously. However, her impulsive decisions frequently put her and others in jeopardy, making her a character you root for while also wanting to caution against her more dangerous choices.

The dynamic between Saffron and Alexander Ashton, a biologist who becomes her reluctant ally, adds an interesting layer to the story. While I didn’t feel a strong romantic chemistry between them, their interactions and collaborative efforts to solve the mystery were engaging and provided some of the book's most compelling moments.

One of the book’s standout features is its detailed portrayal of botany. The scientific elements are woven seamlessly into the narrative, offering a fascinating glimpse into the study of plants, particularly poisonous ones, and how they play a crucial role in the unfolding mystery. This aspect of the story is not only educational but also adds depth to the historical setting, making the world of 1920s academia come alive.

However, the novel does have its shortcomings. The pacing can be slow at times, particularly in the middle sections, which might detract from the overall suspense. Additionally, some characters and plot points felt underdeveloped, leaving me wishing for a bit more depth and complexity. Despite these flaws, the story manages to maintain an air of intrigue that keeps the reader engaged.

In conclusion, A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons is a charming and atmospheric mystery with a strong, if sometimes frustrating, female lead. While it may not fully satisfy those looking for a fast-paced thriller, it offers a unique blend of historical fiction, botany, and amateur sleuthing that makes it a worthwhile read. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a touch of academic intrigue and a richly detailed setting, this book is likely to be a delightful addition to your reading list.

I believe it is safe to say that the book cover and title caught my attention first to this story.

Saffron Everleigh is quite the character. One moment you want to shake her and the next you want to hug her. She tends to be a bit reckless and puts herself in dangerous situations without thinking it through. Eveleigh is a woman of intelligence in a male dominated field and has to work even harder to been taken seriously. You see the struggle through the story and she doesn’t give up but her reckless actions wasn’t helping much for her I kept thinking. When I thought she’s finally learned her lesson she goes and does another life altering dangerous thing and puts herself and a colleague’s life on the line. I must say I had wondered how she was going to get out of that sticky situation to say the least!

While I wasn’t feeling the chemistry between Saffron and Alexander, I did enjoy their interactions and talking through the what ifs on who is the perpetrator.

While I felt a few details and characters could have been fleshed out a little bit better and the pacing was slow at times, this was an entertaining story. As for this story being a series, I’m hoping what I felt needs to be approved upon happens in the books after this one.

I did enjoy the Botany aspects of the story very much.

This book had all of the hallmarks of magical realism, but instead of going deep into a magic system in 1920s London, it went deep into the study of botany. Saffron was a likeable scientist navigating an academic system with the help of her best friend, Elizabeth, and her crush (for lack of a better word!), Mr. Ashton.

I was on the edge of my seat to see how the mystery would play out. Violence was not a surprise coming from Berking, but I was surprised by Blake, who seemed like a flat character leading up to the ambush on Saffron and Alexander.

I’m intrigued to see what direction the next installment in the story takes.

I received a complementary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the author and the publisher.
Saffron Everleigh (is this not the best name?) is a female botanist in 1923 trying to make her way at the University College of London when a mystery befalls the department and she becomes an amateur sleuth, digging in to things and coworker's backgrounds. I enjoyed this historical fiction, cozy mystery type of book. There are some interesting references to plants, some poisonous and the author does a great job of describing them that you feel like you can actually see them. A mystery that keeps you wondering and waiting to read who is the next suspect.

**A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons** is an enjoyable read with an interesting premise, but it doesn't quite reach its full potential. The novel is set in 1920s London, where Saffron Everleigh, a young botanist, finds herself embroiled in a mystery after her mentor is accused of poisoning a professor’s wife. The historical setting is well-researched, and the details about botany add a unique touch, making the book stand out from other historical mysteries.

However, while the concept is intriguing, the story itself can be a bit slow at times. The pacing occasionally drags, especially in the middle sections, and some of the secondary characters feel underdeveloped. Saffron is a strong protagonist, but her investigative journey lacks the tension and suspense you might expect from a mystery novel. The romantic subplot, while charming, sometimes distracts from the central plot rather than enhancing it.

Overall, **A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons** is a decent read, especially if you’re interested in botany or the historical period. It’s a solid choice for a quiet afternoon, but it may not be gripping enough for readers looking for a more intense or fast-paced mystery.

I wanted to love "A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons" more than I did. The writing was excellent, the historical setting was immersive, and Saffron, the protagonist, was a strong lead. I also found the focus on poisonous plants fascinating.

However, the pacing was slow, especially in the middle, which made it hard to stay fully engaged. The romance felt forced and didn't have the chemistry I was hoping for. I might have been expecting too much, especially since the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries series is one of my favorites, and this just didn’t hit the same notes.

Despite these issues, it wasn't a bad read, and I’m open to trying the next book.

Thank you to Kate Khavari, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A slow paced historical mystery that was well paced and satisfactory wrapped up. The title intrigued me but the story wasn't as good..

There were a few things that I did enjoy: Saffron’s research of poisonous plants and her best friend, who was supportive but also gave her much-needed reality checks. The ending was quite satisfying as the pieces started coming together.

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari is a perfect fit for readers who delight in historical mysteries with a strong female protagonist, a dash of romance, and a richly detailed setting, as this debut novel masterfully weaves together themes of botany, murder, and societal expectations in 1923 London.

Special thanks to Crooked Lane Books for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 2.5 stars

I probably should have DNF this but I was already feeling guilty that it is so overdue that I powered through it. I was also hoping that the writing would get better and the main character less irritating but unfortunately, that didn't happen. I had previously tried picking this up several times but it never seemed to hold my attention, and although I chalked that up to not being in the right reading mood, it seems that this book just wasn't for me. That said, I seem to be in the minority with my feelings on this as it seems to be a well-loved enough series.

To start with the positives: I did love the fact that Saffron is one of the lone women scholars at University College at a time when it was still rare to find women on campuses. She is strong-willed, curious and is not easily cowed by intimidating men—even when said men have taken advantage of the power imbalance by exploiting it. I admired her tenacity. Other than her, Alexander was an interesting counterpart (a tamer Watson to Saffron's frenetic Sherlock) and I enjoyed his addition to the storyline. There's a bit of a romance that develops but it's a slow burn and thankfully doesn't distract from the mystery. Again, his level-headed personality balanced out Saffron's and I liked what we learned about him and how he was her stoic supporter, even with the more ridiculous of her ideas. The book's biggest strength is its knowledge of botany. I'm not even a mild botanist but I did find it interesting in the context. If you like reading about botany, there will be a lot for you to enjoy in this book!

Unfortunately, several issues made it hard for me to enjoy this more. I wish the author had done more showing than telling yet most of this was told down to the minute details of Saffron's daily activities and not only was it uninteresting, but it was also poorly written. There were times when I noticed that the protagonist's name was repeated an excessive number of times in one paragraph. The more I noticed it the more it took me out of the story because it irritated me so much! Aside from the botany, the "telling" aspect made it difficult to connect to the characters and made it hard to care about the finger-pointing and mystery. I cared very little about the characters... They were dull caricatures. While I found things to like about Saffron, the more I read about her amateur sleuthing and rash actions, the more she irritated me; particularly when it came to her "theories" being discarded and pulled apart so quickly because she would jump to the first conclusion she landed in believing it was true when it's clear to everyone that it's not. I also did not understand why she continued searching for the culprit—I mean, of course, she wanted to know who set this all into motion but the lengths she went to solve it didn't make sense since it would undoubtedly jeopardise everything she worked so hard for. Her "act now, think later" attitude was also baffling for a scientist and I just didn't buy any of it...

Ultimately, the culprit is caught, justice is served and all things end well and good. It was such a neatly packaged ending it honestly felt a bit anticlimactic. Sadly, despite having an interesting premise, the execution of this was lacking and I don't think I'll be continuing with the series.

This book was fun and different! I found it entertaining and loved the different topic than I’m used to!

I loved the cover of A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons, and this is what initially drew me to the book. It is cosy and atmospheric, but I did struggle a bit to get in to it as it is quite slow paced. I did like the characters and though it was well written, but I don't know if I will pick up the next book.
Thank you Net galley for the ARC in exchange for a review.

The very first intriguing part of this book was how beautiful the cover is! Secondly, the fact that the story takes place in London in the 1920's, which is by far one of my favorite eras for style and fashion, was a dream. I felt Kate Khavari did a wonderful job and the book was very well-written, but I found myself wanting more and felt the story was dragging a bit. I still look forward to the next book in this series to see how it progresses.

A super fun new cosy mystery series set in the 1920s, a bit over-the-top at times, but definitely an enjoyable read!

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons is a delightful, charming mystery, brimming with academic intrigue, sassy characters, and charming characters with a pinch of romance.

My favorite aspect of this book has to be the fiery female protagonist (Saffron) and the chemistry between her and the male lead Alex. The author astutely portrayed the struggles that Saffron faces in the highly male-dominated academic world.

The murder party mystery twist only highlighted my delight and proved a useful catalyst for the plotline that involves a good old-fashioned "Who dunnit mystery."

Saffron, who is more of a heart-first leap into danger first hand girly is tempered very nicely by Alex and his strong headstrung ways.

With a decent plotline and fantastic characters, this book is a definite must-read.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review. You can follow me on IG @JessicaReadsIt.

Though not my usual genre of choice, I really enjoyed this book. The pacing was well done and the prose was beautiful. The book kept me engaged and guessing the whole way through. Very entertaining, and with a beautiful cover to boot.

In the Roaring Twenties, London University. Saffron is a young assistant to a professor of botany who needs to gain the respect of her peers by navigating with both force and diplomacy. She meets Anthony, a bacterium expert, at a fancy dinner meant to mark the beginning of a new expedition to the Amazon, and she instantly falls in love with him.
The university's offices serve as the setting for the main plot, which is expertly portrayed. I was taken back in time to those stifling rooms brimming with potential and literature. The mystery is not too complicated, and Saffron and Anthony's budding romance is a bonus. The text is as vibrant, intricate, and humorous as its lovely cover suggests. An interesting read for me.