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.

3.5 stars~

~Thanks to Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons in exchange for an honest review. ~

I was so excited when I received an ARC of this, because of this cover? Freaking gorgeous. The premise made me think we were getting a historical fiction thriller, but this is more of a historical fiction cozy mystery.

The start of this book introduces a lot of characters very quickly, all bland, academic men, which does make it hard to keep them all straight. We also meet Saffron, who’s smart, wistful, strong-willed, but she does give off ‘Not like other girls’ energy. She did grow on me by the end and even became more fun, utilizing her femineity to get what she wants. Alexander, who is obviously the love interest from the first time we meet him, feels a bit underdeveloped in comparison. We slowly start to see more from him as the book progresses (and eventually see from his POV,) but I still felt like we didn’t know him very well. I did like that the author utilized WWI by mentioning the impact it’s had on the characters, without putting the focus of the story on the war itself. But the relationship that develops between these two felt thin and didn’t really convince me. Being considerate and having intellectual conversations doesn’t necessarily make for romantic chemistry.

Speaking of, I was a bit surprised that this shifts POVs since this is supposed to become a series revolving around Saffron solving mysteries. I just would have expected that everything we see and learn would be through her eyes, so I’m not sure what was the necessity in seeing through Alexander and a police officer’s eyes, apart from convenience, but I think most of what’s learned from their POV could be explained to Saffron later, without needing to change characters.

This is pretty slow-moving, which reinforced the fact that this definitely isn’t a thriller, but I do enjoy that a lot of investigating included gossiping. While early scenes of suspense didn’t really pack an anxiety punch, the final climax certainly did. The tone overall is very prim and proper, with word choice having an old-school feel, but apart from that, the atmosphere is not particularly strong for what I’d expect from a historical fiction book.

In the end, I enjoyed this, but I don’t know if I’ll continue the series. It’s an easy, quick read that mixes many genres and has a gorgeous cover.

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

This is a lovely little "cosy-up under the blanket on a rainy day" type of read. It's not too intense and maybe even a bit predictable at times. My favourite character by far is Saffron, our MC and female lead - the author manages to make Saffron very relatable despite the fact that she is a female scientist in 1920's London! I really enjoyed watching the romance between Saffron and Alexander develop too, and look forward to following them on their next adventure.

I really enjoyed the main characters bravery and boldness during a time when societies view on women in science and the academic field was vastly different compared to today.

Next to her studies Saffron, a young assistant to a professor for botany at University College of London during the 1920’s, usually "just" has to navigate through academic politics and dinner parties held by important benefactors..
At one such party, right before a research team is supposed to head out for an expedition, a guest is poisoned and the professor Saffron works for ends up being the main suspect, due to his work with rare and poisonous plants. So now she also takes on solving a murder to help clear her professors name.

With Saffron’s tendency to act first, think later, it isn’t always easy for Saffron to stay away from trouble. But she is talented in her field, aware of her knowledge and abilities and trusts herself enough, to go as far as to try yet unknown toxins on herself to prove someone else’s innocence.

This book has a little bit of everything for everyone! It’s a “who did it” book for any crime solving fans and it’s full of plant energy for any science fans. I was absolutely in love with the hints of romance of this book because it was well balanced by a strong female lead. Sometimes the characters are a bit difficult to keep track of, but if you are in to “Clue”, this is the one! This book also gives you a glimpse into the past with a historical fiction lens! I can’t wait for this book to release!

Saffron Everleigh would rather spend her time as a newly minted research assistant studying plants at the University College of London than at a stuffy dinner party. Saffron is expecting to spend the night listening to conversations about the university's upcoming expedition to the Amazon, so when one of the professors' wives drops to the floor, poisoned by an unknown toxin, Saffron is just as flabbergasted as everyone else. When the crime is pinned on her mentor, Saffron decides to launch her investigation to clear his name. Saffron enlists the help of a fellow researcher, Alexander Ashton, but will the pair be able to track down the real murderer before it's too late?

I was initially drawn in by the cover, but once I read the synopsis, I knew it'd be right up my alley. I can't say no to a historical mystery with a plucky heroine. I liked Saffron right off the bat. I thought she was smart, capable, and held her own against all the men who would belittle a woman in her field. She and Alexander had a nice dynamic together, and I enjoyed how they bounced off one another. They had great banter that I loved. I thought the plot was good, but it felt too simple; as did the writing. It was easy to read, and I flew through it in almost one sitting, but it felt clunky. However, I still liked this and would recommend it if you're looking for a cozier mystery.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari is a historical mystery that will appeal to fans of Sherlock Holmes or Agatha Christie. The story is set in London in 1923, which is a lovely time. The story revolves around Saffron Everleigh, a research assistant who gets involved in a murder investigation when a woman is poisoned. Saffron's mentor is the main suspect, so she decides to use her knowledge of botany to find the true murderer. Along the way, she teams up with a handsome fellow researcher. Will they be able to clear her mentor's name before it's too late?

Here is a lovely excerpt from Chapter 1;

"Light poured from the windows of the grand house, illuminating the front steps and graveled drive. The taxi rolled to a stop and Saffron emerged, then was led up the stairs by a liveried footman. A maid took her coat, and for a moment, Saffron stood in the doorway to the lavish sitting room, where about twenty people were gathered. The room was vast and cool despite a fire in the large marble hearth. With tall walls papers with green silk and coutnless pieces of highly polished heirloom furniture, it reminded her very much of her grandparents' house; it was the sort of place that was heaped with family treasures that were ignored by everyone but the maids."

Overall, A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons is a wonderful blend of multiple genres. It would make the perfect gift for the Victorian-era lover in your life. One highlight of this book is how historically accurate everything felt. I'm no expert, but the author's writing style definitely evoked the Victorian era. I felt like I had been transported back in time to early 20th century London. Another highlight of this book is how it blended historical fiction with mystery. I felt that the story was very masterfully written. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of historical mysteries, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in June!

Firstly, thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I think the premise of this book is really good. I love a university setting, a mysterious whodunnit and poisonous plants, but I just don't really think it was all delivered that well.

The cover is beautiful and the discussion of plants is interesting, but I struggled with other parts of the book. I found some of the characters to be too similar and I had trouble differentiating them. It took me a while to realise it was set in the 1920's. I didn't love Saffron as a character and wasn't invested in her progress or her relationship with Alexander.

I think some of the grammar and sentence structure could have been improved. (words were repeated in sentences, many sentences in a paragraph started the same way s.g. Saffron thought, Saffron went, Saffron asked).

I think the thing that annoyed me the most was the plot. It just needed a bit more development to make it more believable and connections more convincing. For example, because Saffron's supervisor discovered a poisonous plant, they arrested him because that meant he probably poisoned Mrs Henry...? And Saffron connecting that straight away so taking the poison and using her symptoms to positively conclude that isn't what Mrs Henry took? What if Mrs Henry took more and her symptoms were different? It all just seemed a little unbelievable to me and the characters made weird connections between events and things that didn't make sense to me.

I think this book had a lot of promise but it didn't quite fulfill it's potential. 2.5 *

I typically struggle with historical fiction but I liked this more than expected.

Saffron Everleigh is an imaginative and creative thinker, a scientist who seems to know an awful lot about poisons. This comes in handy as she is thrown in the middle of an attempted murder plot which her advisor and mentor is accused of. Saffron teams up with veteran Alexander Ashton and sparks fly.

The pacing lagged a bit in the middle and the suspense that was so ramped up in the beginning lost some steam. Some components require more suspension of disbelief than I was willing to give but overall, I enjoyed this.

I might read the next in the series, which I rarely say about historical fiction novels.