The premise of this book seemed very interesting. From the start i found it a very dry sort of read and I kept waiting for it to pick up. . I found it very hard to keep my attention. I wished I had found the characters more interesting.

Rating: Not for Me, 1.5 stars

This book is a cozy historical mystery. Saffron Everleigh is a botany research assistant at the local university. A big research expedition is getting ready to head out for South America, and at a faculty party for the research team, Mrs. Henry, the wife of the head of the expedition, is poisoned. Saffron's professor falls under suspicion due to an argument he had with Dr. Henry in the office, and Saffron is determined to clear his name. She teams up with Alexander, a biologist on the expedition, and they begin to poke around and try to figure out who dunnit.

Overall, this book was just not for me. The characters were pretty flat, the pacing didn't work for me, I didn't love the way the mystery portion was executed, and I didn't enjoy it. I was enjoying the setup of this one and was interested to see where it went; however, the pacing really took away from my enjoyment. I think that a lot of time is spent on portions that weren't as integral to the plot and these portions of the book felt very long, and then there were some things that were important to moving the mystery along that were just glossed over. The final answer to whodunnit was rather unsatisfying as well. I feel like the building blocks were all there, but the ending just happened in a rush, and it just didn't flow very well for me.

I did enjoy some of the aspects of botany that were in this. Alexander was also an interesting character. He was a soldier in the Great War and is still dealing with some of the fall out of that. I enjoyed his perspective much more than Saffron's, but there isn't as much of it in the book as I would have liked. Their budding romance was also sweet. Overall though, those good pieces weren't enough to swing me in favor of the book as a whole.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an early eARC of this work in exchange for an honest review. A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons releases June 7, 2022.

Saffron Everleigh is a young woman in a man's world of academia. It's 1923 London and she is the only woman in the botany department. She is also whip smart, outspoken and determined. All of that comes into play when she is invited to a university party that goes horribly wrong. There are plans to be finalized for a collecting trip to the Amazon and any delay would mean its cancelation. During the event the wife of one of the professors, Mrs. Henry, falls down dead - poisoned by an unknown substance. The prime suspect becomes Saffron's mentor, Dr. Maxwell and she is 100% certain that he didn't do it. But then, who did and can the murder case be solved in time to leave for the Amazon?
With the help of fellow academic, Alexander Ashton, Saffron does her own investigating as to which plant was the poison and who did the deed. The reader doesn't have to be versed in botany to enjoy this well crafted period mystery. Added to the strong female character of Saffron there is the possible budding romance with Alexander. They make a great sleuthing team. Throughout the mystery she has to deal with the unpleasant behavior of certain men she encounters which shows not all that much has changed. The ending is satisfying and I hope that this is just the start of a new historical series. They are my favorite mystery genre.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

"A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons" is a cozy, historical mystery thriller with a dash of botanical science.

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari lays out a thrilling path where Saffron must exonerate her mentor before the real murderer disappears.

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons opens with a grand party and a main character that would rather be anywhere else. Being the only academic woman in her university has shaped Saffron's character, and the hardships she faces are evident early on as they've made her stubborn, ambitious and quite impulsive. This remains throughout the series, though she comes to have moments of reflection in the second half of the book both on launching the investigation in the first place and also her behaviour throughout.

She's helped along by Alexander Ashton, both in this and the investigation. A World War I veteran with PTSD who finds solace in the world of microbiology, he's taken by Saffron from the moment he meets her. Like Saffron, his character arc isn't pronounced, but he picks up certain habits that overall help him by the end of the book. Where she was brazen, he was held back and very interesting to experience as his POVs also included how he faces day to day triggers for his PTSD.

While only a secondary character, Elizabeth steals the show. She's loud, she'd doting and she will always have her way, whether that be with the police once Saffron runs into trouble, or with Saffron herself when she puts herself in trouble. She was my favourite character of the bunch and I'd love to see her take a more active role if there are future Saffron Everleigh mysteries.

Khavari's skill extends to her plot as well. Central to a mystery thriller's success, the book plot pulls you in from the first few chapters. What started out as a party with a little gossip and interesting colleagues, turned into a murder scene with a suspect quickly apprehended and Saffron taking matters into her own hands. As Dr Maxwell was her mentor, she sets out to find out the truth and practically drags Ashton into it when she (lightly) poisons herself to prove Maxwell innocent. The pace only picks up from there as the pair race against time to find the murderer before the expedition can begin.

Kate Khavari kept me on my toes by constantly introducing new suspects and theories, all while keeping the true murderer a mystery all throughout. Her writing was captivating with a thrilling edge to it that perfectly fit the book's overall atmosphere. She easily kept me hooked up up to the last page.

Within the frantic investigation, Khavari also weaves subplots that tackle the sexism Saffron faced being a university assistant in the 1920s, the impact WWI had on its soldiers, and even heavier topics such as sexual coercion and even attempted rape. I thought Khavari covered these topics with respect and made them relevant to the story, as opposed to just using them to traumatise her characters.

Overall I greatly enjoyed A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari. The plot gripped me early on and kept a steady pace throughout, the characters were delightful while the writing complimented the setting and atmosphere very well. I'll even go as far as to say that I was surprised this was a debut, Khavari shows a lot of potential and I can't wait to read more from her.

Someone poisoned Mrs. Henry at the dinner party bur Saffron doesn't believe it was her mentor Dr. Maxwell, no matter how much he's argued with Dr. Henry. It's 1923 and Saffron, a research assistant at University College in London has been through a lot to get where she is. She's equally determined to figure out who did murder Mrs. Henry. Luckily, Dr. Alexander Ashton is also intrigued and willing to help (and Detective Green is willing to give them both a break). Alexander is an interesting character. A WWI veteran, he's dealing with both physical and psychological injuries. He's also got good chemistry with Saffron. There's a fair amount about plants and poisons which I enjoyed because I learned a bit. The mystery isn't too twisty but it kept me engaged. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm hoping there will be another outing for this pair of scientist sleuths.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC of A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari.

I was totally hooked in the first scene! Saffron is so adorable and relatable. She's a norm-breaker by working in academia in the 1920s. Alexander is interesting—hard to grasp like deep waters with a past in WWI. I was so intrigued by their relationship and how it wove through the murder mystery. I wasn't disappointed! I really can't say much because I don't want to ruin the mystery for readers. But I can say I loved how Saffron and Alexander worked through the clues as they tried to find a killer. The edge of my seat is worn off from me sitting there as I tried to suss out the clues from the red herrings. I think you'll be surprised!

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons was a twisty delightful story from beginning to end. I highly recommend this book for cozy mystery lovers, romance aficionados, historical buffs, and anyone with an interest in parties and poisons.

4.25 stars, rounded down to 4.

Saffron Everleigh finds herself swept up in a whodunnit mystery when a Botanists wife is poisoned at a dinner party. Working in the Botany department herself, Saffron takes it upon herself to identify the plant and would-be killer who lurks among them. When her mentor and family friend is accused of the murder she teams up with biologist Alexander Ashton in a race to find the true culprit. Will Saffron and Alexander find the weapon and the criminal? Or will the truth reveal that she can't trust even those closest to her?

I really enjoyed this novel! I'm more of a sci-fi/fantasy reader but this historical mystery proved to be an exciting deviation from my norm. Saffron is everything you imagine a woman in the 1950's living in a man's world would be. She is extremely intelligent and knows how to mildly manipulate those men around her into seeing what was blatantly obvious to her. Alexander was a really nice balance to Saffron's strong personality; and seeing how he coped with his PTSD was an avenue I had never seen before. The author took a very real and often sensitive subject and offered new light. The pacing was quick and fun without you feeling left behind and the writing style really shined.

Overall I wasn't completely blown away, but I was extremely entertained throughout. 4.25 stars rounded down to 4, but heavily recommend for those who enjoy historical fiction as well as a good mystery. Appropriate for ages 14+ for a bit of violence, but nothing graphic.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

In 1923, Saffron Everleigh, a research assistant at the University College in London, attends a dinner party. She’s shocked when one of the professors’ wives drops to the floor, and is found to be poisoned. Now, Saffron has to find the truth before the wrong professor goes behind bars forever.
This is a very good mystery. Saffron is a very likeable character who strives to make it in a male-dominated world. She’s driven by the love and previous work of her father. The historical setting was very interesting to read about. I liked the plot, although it seemed drawn out and a little boring at times. It’s definitely not a cozy due to some violent scenes. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

Set in 1923 this book is a combination cozy mystery and historical fiction. I was drawn to this book from the stunning cover.

I did a combination read and audiobook listen, thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for those arcs.

Saffron is a young woman who is determined, resourceful and at times a little foolish. Driven to clear the name of a mentor she impulsively does things that put her own life and others at risk.

It was a fun read and an entertaining listen. With an interesting cast of characters, some likeable some not so much. The mystery played out nicely with adventure, wit and risk. There was a satisfying ending as well. I am not sure if this is the beginning of a series or not but it does have the makings for one.

While there are some comparing this book to Deanna Raybourn‘s Veronica Speedwell Series I don’t think I would go that far.

My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media for advanced copies in exchange for a honest review.

A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari is a cosy historical mystery story. Set in London in 1923 where Saffron Everleigh works as a research assistant in the Botany faculty for the University College of London. Saffron attends a university party and is thrown into the midst of a suspected poisoning/possible murder of one of the attendees.

The story is full of academic intrigue and the research into unusual plants especially poisonous ones. Saffron faces the challenges of being a woman at that time but does finds support by her faculty head Dr Maxwell and also a blossoming friendship with Dr. Alexander Ashton. There are also the ‘bad boys’ who make life for Saffron quite difficult. Some very intriguing twists and turns in the plot.

This is a delightful story which was a pleasure to read.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher Crooked Lane Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Any quotes are subject to change with the final publication.

This book… wow is all I can say. I was able to read an ARC being it comes out on June 7th thanks to NetGalley and wow. This has grumpy and sunshine romance, slow burn, and a murder mystery that keeps you guess till the end. This normally isn’t the type of book I read but this might have made me into a murder mystery fan. This book follows our main character Saffron who is an assistant in the botanist department of the university college. She gets invited to a dinner celebrating an expedition group who leaves in two weeks when all of a sudden one of the members at the party faints and can’t be awaken. This starts the adventure for Saffron has she tried to figure out who the killer is and what poison was used. This book is set in 1923 and from what I know is historical accurate. I was very surprised by this book and can’t wait to read more from this another!

This historical fic opens up with a dinner party where one of the guests is poisoned. Set in London in the 1920s, Saffron our sassy MC isn't letting her mentor take the fall. I'm a big fan of strong female protagonists, especially ones in historical fiction. I connected with Saffron early on and enjoyed the whodunit plot.

3.5★s
A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons is the first book in the Saffron Everleigh Mystery series by American author, Kate Khavari. Following in her beloved father’s footsteps, Saffron Everleigh is a botanist at University College, London.

It’s 1923, and she’s the only female in her department, making her the subject of gossip, innuendo, some harassment, and discrimination due to her gender. But the man for whom she works as an assistant, Dr Alan Marshall, is unfailingly supportive.

Which is why, when he is arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, she is determined to prove his innocence. At a party celebrating an upcoming expedition to the Amazon, Cynthia Henry, wife of Dr Lawrence Henry, collapses after she drinking some champagne, apparently poisoned.

Dr Marshall’s extensive knowledge of poisonous plants, in particular, a certain, reputedly highly toxic Mexican vine, implicates him. It’s when Saffron conducts a dangerous experiment on herself to disprove this theory that she teams up with Alexander Ashton, a good-looking microbiologist who has recently joined the department.

Together they try to deduce who might have wanted to poison Mrs Henry, and why. Things get more complicated when they wonder if, indeed, she was the intended victim. Saffron does entertain several loose deductions that, with each additional fact learned, veer further into wild guess territory.

And, as she suspects that the poisoner could be a member of the Amazon expedition, they face a deadline if Alexander is not to spend months in the company of a possible killer.

It’s lucky she has Alexander onside, as he, at first reluctantly, joins her in escapades that involve searching offices and trespassing in gardens and greenhouses, although eventually he blots his copybook as he ineptly tries to alert her to the likely motive behind a certain professor’s uncharacteristic flattery.

Despite lots of somewhat convoluted college politics and the odd plot hole, Khavari captures the era well, and her characters are mostly appealing, except when they’re villains, making this a quite enjoyable cosy mystery.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books.

This book was hard for me. I love the idea of it. I love what it could have been, but I didn’t really love the characters. They just read super flat for me. Which caused the mystery they were solving to be very meh. I just could not get into caring about they mystery or anything that was truly going on. There were sparks of life this book, but they were so sparse that it just couldn’t save the book for me.

This book is really promising (love the title!) but it falls flat upon reading. I couldn’t connect to any of the characters, finding them really dull. There was also no excitement that I typically look for in a mystery.

This book was so interesting! I wouldn't have this in a curriculum, but I would recommend it to my students who love the more macabre themes in stories. It was witty and fun, also dramatic and suspenseful. Definitely a book I will buy once it is released for the general public!

2.5

I really had to power through this. I found the writing to be stiff and awkward—though it got better as the book went on, so was that an editing mistake?—and most of the characters to be quite dull and interchangeable. Randomly, a couple chapters in, we are thrown into a different POV. Even though we've had only Saffron's for a decent amount of time. The romance felt forced, the mystery felt obvious (like, the person who ended up being The Bad Guy was not shocking whatsoever), and the Stakes were almost non-existent. Saffron was a perfectly fine character and I wouldn't mind reading more about her, but the writing/plotting would have to get a bit better for me to seek it out.

Thanks to Crooked Lane via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Pretty average mystery. I didn't understand the need to have the point of view change throughout the book as it was fairly inconsistent and uneven, especially when it happens mid chapter with no warning. The romance seemed unnecessary to the plot line, wish it wasn't there at all. I would have enjoyed it more if the character-line focused more on Saffron and Eliza and less on Alexander. Actually, could have done without him at all. I understand there's a second book coming out next year that I don't have an inclination to read.

London, 1923. Newly minted research assistant Saffron Everleigh attends a dinner party for the University College of London. While she expects to engage in conversations about the university's large expedition to the Amazon, she doesn’t expect Mrs. Henry, one of the professors’ wives to drop to the floor, poisoned by an unknown toxin.

Dr. Maxwell, Saffron’s mentor, is the main suspect, having had an explosive argument with Dr. Henry a few days prior. As evidence mounts against Dr. Maxwell and the expedition's departure draws nearer, Saffron realizes if she wants her mentor's name cleared, she’ll have to do it herself.

Joined by enigmatic Alexander Ashton, a fellow researcher, Saffron uses her knowledge of botany as she explores steamy greenhouses, dark gardens, and deadly poisons. Will she be able to uncover the truth or will her investigation land her on the murderer’s list?

Classic cozy. Saffron and Alexander give off a very Tommy and Tuppence Beresford vibe. I think this could be a nice series, especially if Saffron consults with the police on future poisonings.