I only really picked this book up for the cover - and I was not disappointed!!

I love a good mystery, and this one was really well written. IT also had a romance subplot which I really enjoyed as well.

I loved the academia vibes and overall setting of the book. The description of the greenhouses and university really made me feel like I was there as well. I also loved the main character, Saffron. She was such a smart badass heroine who was also extremely relatable at the same time.

At times, I felt that it was a little slow. There were parts where there was not a lot going on, and it dragged on a little bit for me. However, the last few chapters had me hooked, and I couldn’t put it down.

A cute and cozy mystery

I quite enjoyed this novel. It is so unlike all the other mysteries I have read (And that is saying a lot!).
In 1923 with all the troubles of being a woman of academia, you would think that alone would be enough to create a good story, but throw in a party, a bit of romance, endless possibilities of botanical poisons, and you have "A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons" in your hands.

This is a cozy and easy read - perfect for the upcoming summer holidays.

Here’s a genre I hadn’t visited for a long time: Historical Cosy Mystery.

Saffron Everleigh was a research assistant at the University College of London, an uncommon role to be held by a female in 1923. She studied botany and chemical reactions in plants, i.e. poisons. When her professor was accused of poisoning someone at a dinner party, she had to quickly figure things out to prove her mentor’s innocence.

Reading this book made me realise how much I’d missed cosy mysteries. After so many fast-paced thrillers where characters got killed left, right and centre, this was a breath of fresh air.

I loved the modern take on the 1920s time period. Saffron was a sole female scientist in a university full of privileged men, so naturally she had to be sharp-witted and quick on her feet. While the dialogues were written relatively true to the time period, I could see the modern nod in Saffron’s sassy responses to her surroundings.

I also liked that Saffron had a healthy friendship with her roommate, another modern female character for the time period. An accomplished female doesn’t have to be a loner who hates other successful females!

This was a wonderful STEMinist, indeed! I’ll definitely read the next book in the series.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons (A Saffron Everleigh Mystery #1) by Kate Khavari from Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books in order to read and give an honest review.

… atmospheric and filled with thrills, humor, romance and an intriguing plot A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons is a brilliant historical mystery with a cozy quality to it. …

Set in 1923, we are introduced to the very spirited Saffron Everleigh, the first female research assistant in the Botany Department of the University College of London. As with most females in a traditionally male field, she endures the usual academic “old boys club” attitude amongst her colleagues. Her late famous botanist father leaves her a huge legacy to live up to. As assistant to her mentor Botanist Dr. Maxwell, Saffron is determined to make her mark and earn the respect of her peers.

While attending a formal dinner to launch an expedition to the Amazon, we are introduced to the quirky cast of characters including the dapper biology researcher Alexander Ashton. Overhearing conversations between various attendees, Saffron learns of scandals that are brewing below the surface of the stodgy academic world. During a toast when Mrs. Henry, the wife of Dr. Henry the expedition leader is poisoned, and Dr. Maxwell is arrested, Saffron and Alexander work together to figure out who was behind the poisoning and why.

Atmospheric and filled with thrills, humor, romance and an intriguing plot, A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons is a brilliant historical mystery with a cozy quality to it. I love Saffron, a brilliant, quirky, and brave woman, she is definitely a character to admire. Although it tends to drag a bit in the middle it more than makes up for it with a chilling climax. I cannot wait to read more about Saffron’s adventures! I highly recommend it.

Saffron Everleigh (or Everleigh, as she prefers to be called in a professional setting) is an aspiring botanist trying to make her way through the male-dominated halls of research science. Dodging unwanted advances, trying to clear the name of her mentor and solving a murder are only a few of the challenges she faces in this enjoyable historical mystery.

Saffron is a complex and likeable character, and Kate Khavari manages to situate her extremely well in the just starting to shift world of early 20's British academia. What young adult readers will appreciate in Saffron is how much she is dealing with many of the same issues young women working in science are dealing with now. There is an assumption, when she enters a room, that she is not there as an academic equal, but as at most, an assistant. I was surprised at how contemporary the novel feels, while being solidly historically accurate.

There is lots of fun here, and lots of possibility for future books. The police characters are a nice mix of on the ball and bumbling, Everleigh's roommate Elizabeth is an excellent foil for her own impulsiveness, and the romantic interest, Alexander Ashton is a complex character on his own, as a veteran of the Great War. At times, the story moves a little slowly, but I liked the characters enough to care about what happens to them.

Stunning cover, and a couple of stand out scenes boosted this one to a 4 star read for me. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for the e-arc.

Cover Pick! Seriously, isn't this a gorgeous cover?! Fortunately, A Botanists Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari was a fantastic 4 Star mystery as well!

It's 1923 and Saffron Everleigh is a Botanty research assistant for Dr Maxwell. At a dinner party, one of the other professor's wives suddenly drops dead from an unknown toxin. Dr. Maxwell is the prime suspect with his research as well as a recent argument with Dr. Henry, the now widower. Saffron can't help but take steps to help clear her mentor and recruites another researcher, Alexander Ashton to help. As they get closer to the truth, what they uncover is much more sinister than they imagined putting both their lives in serious danger.

I thought this would end up being a lighter, cozier mystery, but I was pleasantly surprised by the intricacies of this story as it unfolded. The mystery in this story was much deeper than a spurned lover or something similar; the layers of it revealed in a well-timed manner. As a plant person, I was very interested in all the botany (it wasn't overdone at all). I loved the speculation on the plant at the center of this story! The 1920's setting gave it the patronizing overtone that Saffron has to overcome, which I think is a good reminder to recognize those women IRL who had to blaze those trails, and still do.

This looks to be a series of adventures with Saffron Everleigh, and possibly Ashton, and I will be waiting expectantly for the next one!

Thank you to @NetGalley and @crookedlanebooks for this digital ARC. This gorgeous and compelling mystery will be available on June 7th!

Additionally, I was really looking forward to this book. I love books with strong female leads in STEM fields during a time in history when women's roles were still not considered to be outside the home and child-rearing. That being said, this book felt a bit flat for me. From the beginning, I had a hard time keeping the characters straight and it detracted from the story for me. However, I do think other people could really enjoy this book. Mystery (and plant) lovers alike should be able to find something in it they like; it just wasn't the book for me.

‘I’ve always wanted to follow in his footsteps. I want to make him proud, doing what he loved.’

My Thoughts:
3.5 ⭐️. The book is a historical fiction, a cozy mystery, and a slow burn romance. The protagonist, Saffron Everleigh, reminds me of Nancy Drew but in college. University College London to be exact, set in 1923. Still snooping around, speculating, getting caught, and figured who dunnit it.

The book started off great. I love the premise of a young female assistant in a male dominated field and the study of poisonous plants. The story ebbed in and out of several chapters but eventually it picked up, leaving you anxious. Without giving up spoilers, the later chapters will keep you on edge.

I believe this is the first of a series. Can’t wait to see what trouble Saffron and Alexander are up to next.

Thank you, @netgalley, and @crookedlanebooks, for the eARC and in return, an honest review.

This is an entertaining look at university life in the 1920; Saffron is invited to a dinner party by a friend of her late father. This dinner party discusses a proposed research trip to the Amazon but is interrupted by the death of a professor’s wife. Everything points to Saffron’s mentor and she begins her own investigation, even poisoning herself to test results of the amounts needed for the murder.
Luckily she survives and even finds love in the process. The most interesting part of the story is how women were still treated as wives daughters or friends but not as equals in academic life. Saffron is going to have a fight on her hands if we ever meet her in another story by Kate Khavari.

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons is a cozy mystery set in 1920s London. I admit that I picked this one based on its beautiful cover art. While the overall story was good, I felt a little underwhelmed. Everything could have been a little richer. The only reason why I knew it took place in the 1920s was due to references to the Great War and one mention of flapper-style fashion. Otherwise it could have been the Victorian Era or the 1960s. The main characters were two dimensional but the others were rather flat. I wanted a little bit more from every aspect, unfortunately. Likely this is because I am a huge fan of multi-dimensional characters and complicated story lines. But if cozy mysteries are your favorite, this would be a solid choice. 3.75 stars

⭐⭐⭐ -- The cover of this book is just beautiful!

I wanted to love this one more than I did. It wasn't a terrible book by any means. The writing was top-notch. I loved the time period, and the setting. Saffron was a strong female lead. I thought the subject of poisonous plants was fascinating. All good things! However, where this book fell short was the pacing. I found it to be very slow and draggy, especially through the middle section. I also wasn't a huge fan of the romance. It felt forced and clunky. All that said, I am onboard to give book two (if there is a second book) a try!

**ARC Via NetGalley**

Having never really read within the historical mystery genre before, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. There were, obviously, parties and poisons, but this debut brought so much more to the table than the aspects alluded to in its clever title.

The research that went into this book, incredible. The dynamic between Saffron and Alexander, loved it. Saffron’s down-to-earth flatmate Elizabeth, I’m a (big) fan. The pacing throughout the story, on point. The flirtatious banter and plant talk, more please. The reveals at the end, fooled me. So, basically what I’m saying is this: I need the sequel, “A Botanist’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality.” Now. Soon. Please.

Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Kate Kahvari for an ARC of this book.

Kate Khavari's "A Botanists Guide to Parties and Poisons" is the perfect atmospheric mystery! And that cover is gorgeous!

London 1923: Saffron, an assistant researcher, is excited to blaze her own trail. It's not common for women to be scientists or leaders and she aspires to explore and discover new plants, just as men do. When Saffron attends a university staff party to celebrate an upcoming Amazon expedition, she expects to engage in exciting scientific conversations. She doesn't expect to find herself in the middle of a mystery where the wife of the expedition leader collapses, poisoned by a rare plant based toxin. All fingers point to Saffron's mentor, Dr. Maxwell, a botanist in the biology department. Saffron wants to prove his innocence but, someone doesnt want her to uncover who-done-it. Will Saffron and fellow botanist Alexander Ashton discover the truth or will they be next?

A Botanist's Guide is beautifully written in the vein of The Lost Apothecary meets Agatha Christy. Khavari's Saffron is plucky, intelligent and determined. She is an act first, think later type of person and that puts her in some interesting situations. This debut mystery is filled with twists and layers. It's the type of book that keeps you reading late into the night. I was so glad to read that this is the first in a series of mysteries. I look forward to book 2.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Kate Khavari and Crooked Lane Books for introducing me to Saffron Everleigh. The best historical fiction books are the ones that teach you something new while entertaining you.

Here’s a historical cozy mystery with a difference - the main amateur sleuth is a female botanist! Not only that, but she lives in London in 1923 and is the only female member of the department (albeit a research assistant) at University College. She is motivated to find the real poisoner because at first, the police suspect her mentor, Dr. Maxwell. Of course, Saffron (interesting name) has to deal with all the typical misogyny you would expect for that time and place, both from her colleagues at the university and from the police. Luckily, at the beginning of the story, she is introduced at a party to a young man who studies bacteria, who does NOT treat her like all the other men. Alexander gradually becomes a huge help to Saffron and yes, there is a slowly growing attraction between the two of them, in addition to their mutual interest in science. I really liked that, while Saffron did do a couple of really dangerous things, she realized it afterwards and admitted how foolish she’d been. In addition to Saffron and Alexander, the author gives us Elizabeth, Saffron’s lifelong friend and roommate, who is the polar opposite of Saffron in terms of her interests and style. (Elizabeth lends Saffron a dress so she can go to a fancy party among other academics, for example, and loves to “keep house.”)

There are several likely suspects and the author had me guessing for most of the book. I enjoyed all the botanical knowledge being imparted along the way, although I confess to having skimmed some of that. As an American, it was interesting to read a book that was set in the 1920s in a place that was totally unaffected by Prohibition. Very refreshing.

CW: discussion of PTSD (shell shock), attempted sexual assault and sexual harassment

I imagine that there will be more books featuring the sleuthing team of Saffron and Alexander.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book is supercool.

1923, a woman in science, poisonous plants, a planned expedition in the Amazonas, private investigations in a greenhouse in the company of a handsome bacteriologist, and a gorgeous book cover. This novel has everything you need. I strongly recommend reading this if you like cozy mysteries combined with historical fiction, science and romance. It's a charming mixture of all these.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an Advance Review Copy.

This was something I expected to love, but it just fell flat for me. I think I will try again at another time and see if I get more enjoyment out of it.

I didn't really know what to expect going into this book but I was pleasantly surprised. I really liked the main character, she is strong, intelligent, and independent. Additionally, I thought the main character and the romantic interest had good chemistry and the romance developed realistically and it felt natural. Overall, I thought it was a fun and interesting who-dunnit story and I enjoyed all of the botany references quite a lot. Additionally, I really liked how the more serious or traumatic things that the characters deal with were handled and I thought that the characters felt human, making mistakes and having their own issues to deal with.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a nimble, fun read. The mystery was engaging, the heroine was sprightly, and the botany angle was ingenious. It’s a great choice for a lake cabin read this summer.

I think that this book has a lot of great aspects, the cozy mystery feel and the botany parts were nice, but overall, it just wasn’t for me. The protagonist was good but could definitely be more developed, I just couldn’t bring myself to become invested in her enough or anyone else to really care about the story. It’s unfortunate because I really wanted to enjoy this but I just couldn’t. I gave it 2 stars but would maybe bump up to 2.5.

*3-3.5 stars

Saffron Everleigh is a research assistant to Dr Maxwell, a botanist in the biology department at University College of London in the post-war year of 1923. They attend a party with several others of the university staff to celebrate the up-coming Amazonian expedition. During a champagne toast to Dr Henry, the leader of the expedition, his wife collapses: it seems she's been poisoned and Dr Maxwell becomes the chief suspect. Can Saffron prove the police are wrong about her mentor?

I did enjoy the historical period and the setting of this story. There is a bit of light romance mixed into the amateur investigation Saffron and her friend, Alexander Ashton, carry on. I didn't much care for Saffron herself and found her attempts to uncover the truth quite haphazard, reckless and foolish. (One life-threatening act in particular which I won't describe to avoid spoilers.) It just seemed that most of the basics of investigation were missing here, such as looking into motive and opportunity. I would call this a cozy historical-mystery with a touch of romance.

I received an arc of this new mystery from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity. Much praise for the lovely cover art!