First, the cover of this book is absolutely stunning. It's what drew me to the story. I should have done a little more research though because I didn't realize this was a cozy mystery. I am not usually a fan of cozy mysteries. However, I really enjoyed getting to know Saffron and Alexander. I loved the botany theme as well. It did take me a couple chapters to really get into the story. It starts off with so many names it's hard to keep track of who is who. Additionally, there is way too much use of proper names. I know this will probably be addressed in the final editing process, but there definitely needs to be less "Miss X" over and over on the same page and more use of personal pronouns such as she, her, and they. I will definitely recommend to others!

There is a certain irony that I just finished another book about poisons a few weeks before I read this one, it wasn’t planned, just lined up that way. I love that the main character here is named Saffron, a very unique name and of course a spice derived from the flower Crocus Sativus. It could be argued that Saffron was destined for the world of Botany. While it isn’t immediately disclosed, the timing of this story is obviously set in the early 1900’s, sometime after WW1. Saffron is a bit of a role breaker as one of the few female research assistants serving and learning at university. So perhaps it is fitting for her when the high profile wife of a professor appears to be poisoned at a party; Saffron decides perhaps she can be of some good in uncovering the possible suspects. Of course, every Sherlock needs an assistant, enter Alexander; a handsome, WW1 vet struggling with what we now know is PTSD. Assisted by the broody, mysterious Alexander, Saffron uses all her skill as a budding plant researcher to identify the poison. Of course, Saffron is no detective and she is prone to find herself in over her head, as her inquires draw the attentions of not just the police, but also the persons responsible for the nefarious acts at the college. While this is a mystery novel at heart, there are a lot of elements of social change and defying role expectations, as well as the obstacles women face in succeeding. As murderous mysteries go, this is fairly light hearted, with a storyline free of depraved murder. It is easy to be happy for the characters and rejoice in their successes. It is nice to read something that isn’t full of complete darkness. Overall, this is an enjoyable, light mystery perfect for a rainy Sunday. Review posted to Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, Litsy, and LibraryThing

This book was interesting, but for me it missed the point of a mystery with many twists in an actual mystery. There were many thrilling scenes but the only thing that really thrilled me and kept me reading was the romance. Although I love that the picture of woman in academics and their struggles, especially in scientific academics, is portrayed, this book was meant to be set in the 1920's and I wished for more description for this setting. Women still have strong problems in academics and except for some descriptions of clothes I didn't really feel as if I am reading a mystery set to be in another time. The war plays a big role for the different character's backgrounds but we find that in many contemporary books as well. Overall this book was easy to read but in the end it wasn't more than an average mystery to me. I'm a big mystery lover and sadly found the romance in this book more catching than the actual mystery and I missed scenes that in more detail would explain ideas and plans of the actual crime. I feel like this book could have been a bit more fleshed out. When it comes to the mystery it felt a little bit flat in my opinion. I like the plant descriptions and the idea of the book though. I loved reading about the healing effects of plants as a kid and through that also started learning about poisining ones (since they're often the same). I think I wished for a bit more explanation of the book on that side, as I feel it was strongly targeted to me this way.
Another thing I noticed that the first character switch to Alexander Ashton happened quite late and abruptly, a few chapters into the book and then in the middle of a chapter as well, which threw me off a bit. But in the end I really liked having 2 perspectives and it also helped my enjoyment of the romance.
But I would be interested to read more by this author in the future since I enjoyed her writing style.

3/5

It’d be wrong of me to say otherwise but it was this stunning cover that drew me in long before I read the blurb, and I really am not usually the kind of reader to be so persuaded. That said, I loved the combination of historical fiction and a solid mystery, and this had all that plus lots more.

Set in London in the early 1920’s, A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons has the vibe of a black-and-white movie transformed into glorious technicolour and thoroughly turned on its head. Saffron is not your typical damsel in distress, she has taken up her role as assistant to Dr Maxwell based on merit, though there are some who cast aspersions on that fact and assume it was the result of family connections. She is determined to be seen for the capable academic she is but social conduct of the day often seems to work against her.

She is thrown into the mystery when her mentor is charged with the attempted murder of Mrs Henry, one of the professors' wives at the university. The fact that Maxwell has recently been rejected by Henry for a place on the expedition is said to give him a motive. But things do not add up.

But who’s going to listen to Saffron? Not the police inspector running the case, that’s for sure. It is only with the “unexpected” help of fellow researcher, Alexander Ashton, that any credence at all is given to Saffron’s evidence. Evidence which she has acquired at great risk to herself.

In getting her evidence, the duo stumble upon yet more misdeeds that seem to point to others being responsible for the poisoning of Mrs Henry … and they – cue the dastardly villains – are not very happy that Saffron is asking questions, questions that could see their plans unravel. They have to silence her and Ashton. Can they? Will they? These last few chapters are fraught with danger for the twosome and they are seriously in need of assistance if they are to see the true culprits caught … and, more importantly, if they are to survive themselves.

I really enjoyed this book, it was such an easy read. Captivating and intriguing, true to the era in which it was set, and thoroughly packed with engaging characters and evil scoundrels.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for my copy of this fabulous story. I’ll be getting a hard copy as soon as it comes out to indulge further in that stunning cover.

I really liked this unusual spin on a murder mystery. 3.5* rounded up.

The novel is set in England after WWI. Our heroine, Saffron Everleigh, is thoroughly modern and definitely a feminist. This is not exactly accurate to the time frame. If that's what you're looking for, you will be disappointed or annoyed, Personally, I liked it. It's not a history textbook and the author made some small changes. Miss Everleigh is a researcher, sort of. She works as a research assistant, which is more like a glorified secretary, in an attempt to pay her dues and become a full-fledged botanist. Her mentor, Dr. Maxwell is her only champion and the only person that doesn't seem to treat her like an idiot female. The novel opens at a party where one of the guests is poisoned. Dr. Maxwell becomes the prime suspect and that endangers Miss Everleigh's blossoming career, so she investigates and makes some questionable decisions.

This was like a rom-com Lady Sherlock, if she was a research assistant trying to break through the patriarchy and have al life outside of being a wife; with bit of light romance thrown in. It was mystery light. It was fun to read. The characters were nicely drawn out. Miss Everleigh was suitably awkward. She was always polite to the men around her at the university (all Drs.) even when I wanted to mentally smack them. Given how she was treated and how easy the men had it compared to her, I'd be angry. She is a bit but she can't and doesn't really let it show. She is overlooked because of her sex and the author could have played that as more of a strength in the mystery solving. If that was the intention, I would not be surprised, but it didn't read that way to me.

The mystery of who was the poisoner was nicely drawn out and easy to follow. It was not fast-paced. It was more medium-paced; definitely not slow. I really enjoyed all the details about the plants and the research expedition being planned along with the people who were suspects. There was definite life happening in the background. The university felt very real and I felt like I got enough detail to understand but not be bored.

I'd read another Miss Everleigh mystery. There's enough of an open ending for there to be more in the series. The reading experience was a bit like an historical cozy mystery.

I was pleased to be approved for a copy of this murder mystery for a free, unbiased and honest opinion.
Saffron aspires to run her own study but this isn’t likely to happen in 1920s London, no matter how hard she tries. So when her only champion and mentor is accused of attempted murder she has no choice but to solve the crime with her knowledge of plants.

The underlying mystery is interesting with a huge range of shady suspects with complex motives that kept me guessing who the murderer was and while I did kind of guess the identity, the motive did come as a surprise.
The book is told from the third-person point of view from Saffron and Alexander as they try to solve the mystery.

Saffron is an interesting character, a woman ahead of her time with no real female role models trying to find her way in the closed world of academia- I found this thread of the story the most fascinating particularly in how despite the progress women have made but so much has still the stayed the same. Some of her actions did seem reckless but made sense given her shaky future in a department determined to see her fail. I could understand the police’s frustrations with Saffron’s well-intentioned attempts to help!

Alexander was a solid character but in the usual supportive hero with underlying issues mould but the budding romance between him and Saffron was lovely.

The book was easy to read and finished this in a couple of hours in one sitting ( I did need to find out if I was right about the culprit) and I will be adding Kate Khavari to my list of authors to read.

Content warning

Attempted sexual assault, sexual harassment

Perfect for Fans of

Historical cosy crime, from the Goodreads blurb-Deanna Raybourn and Anna Lee Huber.

I really enjoyed this little mystery and will be glad to follow Saffron into the series! I liked the determination and bits of humor from Saffron, her loyal roommate and friend, the university setting, the slow burn romance, Alexander of course and most of all the botany! I felt that the author could have even gone more into plants as someone whom is a plant lover. And all I could picture was Matthew Macfaddyen as Alexander Ashton…
Bravo to mother Khavari for writing this in a newly discovered profession and just becoming a mother. Really looking forward to the next!

I do think I slightly misinterpreted this book as fantasy, though why I thought that I couldn't tell you, but ended up being pleasantly surprised nonetheless. I love a good mystery and this was one of the first mysteries I've read that doubled as historical fiction and actually did it well. Saffron was the ultimate investigator and such an easy character to root for from start to finish. I loved the explorations of plants throughout and really thought it added a lot of dimension to this story.

I thought this was a fun new mystery with a main character that I would be very happy to see more of in additional books. The university setting and botany theme kept the characters and subject matter really interesting and unique. The author did a great job in creating really rich characters that makes me want to read more about them. There was a small romance, but for those of us who really don't like to read romance, it wasn't fawned over and didn't take away from the plot at all :)

Set in 1920's London, Saffron Everleigh is forging a path as a research assistant in the Botany department of the University College of London - a place where many do not believe women should be. But Saffron is out to prove them wrong and follow in her late father's footsteps.

One of the things Saffron has to reluctantly do is attend a party to celebrate the impending departure of a University expedition to the Amazon. But, it is a chance to network and make her presence felt. What she doesn't expect to witness is the wife of the leader of the expedition collapsing and going into a coma - a suspected poisoning.

With her beloved mentor accused of the poisoning, Saffron knows she needs to investigate the crime to find the real culprit. Joined by Alexander Ashton, a fellow researcher, Saffron races against time to solve the mystery of who the poisoner is before they possibly escape to the Amazon jungle, leaving her mentor to take the blame.

This is a fun historical mystery that will keep you guessing. Definitely falling into the cozy mystery genre, there is nothing too graphic or gruesome, just lots of twists and turns with a touch of romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advance copy of this book to read and review.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an advanced review copy of this book.

3.5 Stars Round Up!

What I liked:
realistic portrayal of women in academia in the 1920's
thoroughly explained botany jargon
slow burn romance
who did it mystery
strong MC who did whatever it took to discover the truth
crazy ideas to get evidence that were funny and entertaining
academic setting
1920's dinner party
general workplace drama with big stakes

Oh.My.God. I love it! It is just a perfect story for me!

I love a strong, independent and brave women who decide to do something unexpected and chase their dreams no matter what other people say or do and Saffron is exactly this type.

She decided to study botany, to be one of the few female students in London and she choose a life different from what would be expected of her as a woman. This is just after the end of the first world war in England so the society is still very close to equality and women who decide on their own.

Anyway, Saffron is not only a student and researcher but also a great friend cause she decides to solve the mystery of the secret hidden in the walls of the university. The complicated relations, secret plants, dangerous poisons, and many parties when it is better to be very careful.

The atmosphere, the strong characters, the world of unknown plants and expeditions - I'm totally in. I love this period when the reality seemed to be a bit (!) different than today when the rituals and rules had a second meaning and love was something more than just lust, desire.

Good news? The author is going to publish the next book about Saffron and I just cannot wait and order it intimately, without hesitation. I appreciate the plot, writing, the precison and how she planned the whole story, so it is definitely one of the my best book this year so far.

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poison is truly a STEM adventure and a series with something different. The protagonist is curious, smart, and has a unique love and knowledge for Botany that she inherited from her father.

I found this book a great read that I would definitely recommend to others. I'm looking forward to more of this series!

I enjoyed this cozy mystery which is set in the 1920s and takes place in the world of botany at the academic level.
Saffron is our heroine and works as a research assistant at London University. As the daughter of a botanist and is trying to make her way in the male-dominated world. I liked Saffron because she is intelligent and curious. Unfortunately, after she gets drawn into a murder, she makes some questionable choices. However, overall she is clearly ethical and hardworking. The story starts off at a great pace and I felt immersed in the world as the author has done a great job of creating the background of the story. The book does fall off the pace in the middle, but overall a quick read. Anyone who enjoys Botany will delight in this story as there is a discussion of poisonous plants and research. The subject was incorporated into the story in a way that I was able to enjoy in spite of having no affinity for Botany. This is a nice cozy with a sweet slow-building romance included.

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books the advanced reader copy.

Unfortunately I struggled to get through this book and was unable to finish. Although the plot line was interesting, I found the pace and overall execution tough to keep my attention.
I hope others are able to enjoy it more than I did, as it appears to be the first in a series.
On a more positive note, I did love the cover!
Thanks NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the chance to review this ARC!

Readers join botanist, Saffron Everleigh, as she investigates the poisoning of a professor's wife. The setting is 1920s academia, and Saffron is one of very few women who work in her field. Saffron teams up with her colleague, Alexander Ashton, to figure out what is amiss among their departments and professors. Of course romance sparks also fly!

Usually I find these type of mysteries rather light and fluffy, and while this book still maintained that, it also did began to chip away at some unfortunate historical issues that are often ignored in books with similar settings. Saffron as the only woman in her department, endures her sexist department head and advances he made on her when she submitted a study proposal, and the aftermath of how that affects her. Alexander was a soldier in WWI and begins to open up about his troubles returning to normal life after the war. While I wouldn't say that this story centers on these more serious issues, I did appreciate that it showed deeper sides of the characters and their life experiences rather than skipping over what would be very prevalent given the time frame the story takes place.

Overall, this was a fun, quick historical mystery read! I am hoping that there will be more to this series, as I really liked Saffron's spunk and drive to figure out the mystery. It felt like a classic whodunnit, where the reader is trying to follow along and figure out the clues right along with the characters. If you are looking for a unique take on a historical mystery, try this one.

First of all a gorgeous cover! A historical cozy mystery that has me wanting more.
If you adore a mystery with a slow-burn romance between an intelligent botanist and a sexy biologist, you're in the right place!

I actually requested "A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons" by Kate Khavari based solely on the intrigue of its title. When I went to read it and saw it was set in the 1920s, I was very sceptical, as I am not usually into period pieces. I was actually pleasantly surprised as I read, since the story could have occurred in any time period. The characters were very relatable and the mystery was exciting & well paced.

Kate Khavari"s book was one of the best books I have read this year. I will definitely be checking out more of her works.

3.5 stars.
I enjoyed the storyline. But the pacing was a little off to me. A few times I wondered where the story was going, not in a good way of “wonder who did it” but more in a “what’s the point of this”…
Satisfying ending!
I’m hoping to see Saffron and Alexander again!

I have to say I fell for the lovely cover and interesting title but what I found here is a beautifully written post-war historical fiction wrapped up in cozy crime-mystery environment. I loved premise, the gossip-ridden, male-dominated academy circle with horrible men circulating the buildings harassing who seems to be the only female body around: Saffron Everleigh. The opening chapter is a feast for Agatha Christie fans: a great number of academia people at a party enjoying themselves when one of them drops dead. Saffron is an assistant to a famous professor in the field of botany and after her mentor is accused of the attempted murder, she follows the steps of Hercule Poirot and starts digging for clues only to reveal scandalous events surrounding the upcoming expedition to the Amazon. I enjoyed the story but there were several problems for me to thoroughly love it.
First I hated the name Saffron, she was too weak and too nosy for my taste as a protagonist. I hated all the men in the novel, the way every man without an exception treated Saffron as an edible walking-talking object, who in return hates in but takes advantage of their interest when the need arises. One whole star goes to Elizabeth, Saffron’s lifelong friend and roommate, she is the best thing in the book. I wish there was more information on botany here, I really enjoyed the terminology of this strange field. Overall an enjoyable read for historical fiction fans.