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!

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.