London. 1920s. Botany. Female heroine. I had high hopes for this book but unfortunately could just not get into it. I found it rather slow and dull, and I didn’t the think the character development was very good. For some reason, I couldn’t stop picturing Alexander as a older man, even though he is not.

The cover is gorgeous. Sadly, this book is just a pretty face.

I received this book as an ARC, and this is my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books.

I’m always ready to read a story set in London, it feels like the perfect place for a poison based mystery. And in the 1920’s which has that temporal intrigue. As a research scientist (although in medicine not botany), I thought the realism of scientific inquiry and competition as well as the romance were cleverly intertwined. The character development was detailed and believable and the science authentic.

I was pleased to see that there will be a sequel to clever book coming in 2023!


Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher, Crooked Lane Books for a copy of this book.

The Botanists Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari
Thanks to Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.

Saffron Everleigh and Alexander Ashton are the main characters in this charming historical fiction. Saffron tries to free her wrongly accused mentor with help of Alexander.
I liked the story, unfortunately we are suspecting almost from the beginning real poisoners. In my opinion Saffron was a bit naiv and acted like she did not think at all sometimes. However really enjoyable read.
3,5 ✨ of 5

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons is the perfect book for those rainy days in November where you just want to curl up in front of the fireplace with a cup of tea and a good book.

This dark academia mystery set in the 1920s tells the story of Saffron, a research assistant who's trying to clear her mentor of murder accusations by investigating the case together with smart, handsome, witty scholar Alexander Ashton.
For all those that love a good love interest with dark hair and a traumatic past: Alexander will be right up your lane.

But seriously, this book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, I trusted no one and was genuinely clueless about how it would end.
The characters are written with beautiful attention to detail and their relationships with each other are wonderfully human.

The only reason this is a 4-Star-Read instead of 5 are the few grammatical errors like missing words or wrong tenses that popped up a few times, and the ending left me feeling a little unsatisfied - I wished it'd have been just a little more rounded off.

Still, this was a wonderful read and I'll definitely add this to my physical collection once it's officially released.

Historical fiction meets a whodunnit murder mystery. Main character, Saffron Everleigh, was likeable, smart, determined. I liked the focus on her struggle with being taken seriously in the male dominated academic setting and the inclusion of poisonous plants. Unfortunately, the plot was slow moving and ultimately underwhelming. Great cover though!

Excellent read, full of mystery, suspence and danger....lots of very serious danger! This story is set in the 1920s and brings in a variety of themes: along with the obvious title subjects: widely ranging from: woman's budding liberation in a misogynistic environment to post war shock syndrome coping mechanism theories. I am so grateful for NetGalley for offering me to read this book. Looking forward to reading more from Kate Khavari in the future.

This was a really fun book and I am actually excited for book 2! A bit of The lost Apothecary vibes if that was your thing. The characters were well developed and it was a different time period than I usually read. IT was something different and I loved branching out! A huge thank you to Netgallery and Kate Khavari for this ARC in exchange for my unbiased opinions!

A botanist's guide to parties and poisons introduces us to Saffron, a research assistant and up and coming botanist. While attending a party the hostess is passes out and is whisked off to hospital. Much to Saffrons dismay, her mentor is arrested for poisoning Mrs. Henry, the wife of the upcoming expedition leader, something Saffron refusing to believe. The police has one lead, a plant no one will go near that her mentor, Dr Maxwell, has in one of the University greenhouses, as the attempted murder weapon.
Saffron with the reluctant help of Alexander Ashton, set about finding out what really happened that night. Will she uncover the truth before the criminal sets sail away from punishment or will she find herself in mortal danger instead?

The title hooked me so hard with this one and I was so excited to start it. Firstly, it is very well written. It flowed, it didn't drop the pace and it not once lost my attention.
Saffron is one heck of a young lady. Following in her dead fathers footsteps and working at the university that he worked for, she has very large shoes to fill. Being a woman in that time too, shows the level of courage and perseverance she had to have to make it to where she was. I felt the character development was very well done and I loved watching her meet the challenges she faced and the relationship blossoming with Alexander.

I felt the rest of the characters could have done with some of the same level of expansion. We learned very little of Alexander and nothing of the other characters. I don't know if that was done on purpose or not but I felt it would have rounded the story out more having more details on the lesser characters.

I felt there were some loose threads in the story that needed to tightened and they were left kind of hanging. It doesn't take from the story at all though, it literally just would have strengthen it in my opinion. Building a well rounded character base, is one of my top 3 things for a 5 star book.

I loved the whodunnit element that ran through the whole book! It has me guessing the whole time.
The author really weaved a tale of early blooming love while never losing sight of the base storyline. It was cleverly executed with a delicate balance in the writing. The plant knowledge was fascinating and really added to the dynamics of the book.

If you love a good mystery with a twist of romance.... This is the book for you.

4.5 stars out of 5.

An enjoyable mystery and characters. Continuing my post-WWI binge. The university setting on the precipice of an expidition in the 1920s is indeed a song ride with potential and Khavari takes advantage of it. The romance is played with a decently light hand. There are characters waiting to be developed further, like the inspector, the sergeant, Saffron's roommate, and the new department head. There's a hint of familial intrigue at the end to keep us wondering until the next book.

Content warning for sexual harassment and (spoiler) the hint of potential rape, although it doesn't happen.

I received an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review via netgalley.

3.5 stars. I liked this one. Set in the roaring 20s, saffron is one of a handful of women working in University College. Her mentor is accused of poisoning the wife of a colleague. She sets out to find out who did it and uncovers more than a simple poisoning. Love how she and Alexander get along and enjoyed his they solved it. He’s a reluctant partner but still… looking forward to reading more of their adventures.

Thank you Crooked Lahr Books for the arc.

I have returned from London, University College… 1923. I suppose I’m happy to return for Christmas, but I just loved clicking my heels around the North Wing with Miss Everleigh and her tall, dark and reserved biologist and partner-in-solving-crime. | #gifted ⁣⁣⁣
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@authorkkhavari created such an atmospheric, 𝙛𝙪𝙣 murder mystery, and I deeply appreciated the journey of a female scientist as she navigated the “too-familiar feeling of living under a magnifying glass” —as well as darker corners of the female experience. ⁣⁣

This one also gets 10 pts extra credit for the two flirty nerds. 🤓
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Book two is in the works, and I cannot wait to see what the curious Saffron Everleigh gets up to next! 😍 🌱🌿 Plant lovers and fans of #historicalfiction and #darkacademia should not miss adding this to the TBR.
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Thank you to @netgalley for this eARC.

2.5 stars
I was really disappointed in this book, unfortunately. The story focuses on Saffron, an amateur botanist and research assistant hoping to break into the men's club that is the University College of London and become more than just an assistant. However, at a fancy dinner party, one of the guests is unexpectedly poisoned and the blame falls on Saffron's mentor Dr. Maxwell. Obviously Saffron knows her mentor didn't do it but with the police refusing to believe her she starts investigating the mystery herself. Luckily Saffron is aided by a friendly yet mysterious researcher setting up what could be a cute romance. The summary sounded promising and the cover was beautiful but everything else was just meh.

The writing was clunky and everything was overexplained. There was a lot of summarizing of scenes that had just happened. I didn't feel any excitement reading this book or any nervousness about the outcome of the story. I also got characters confused because besides Saffron and Ashton everyone was else was pretty one-dimensional. Also, this may just be a pet peeve of mine but in the first few pages, Saffron was continuously named even though she was the only character in the scene (ex: Saffron emerged, Saffron stood in the doorway, Saffron smiled, Saffron entered the room). I think the author was going for a specific vibe writing this way but it just took me out of the moment a little bit.

The romance between Saffron and Ashton was cute but again a little bland. Overall this was a miss for me but other people might enjoy it.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the digital ARC of 'A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons'.

I constantly have people sending me links for books they think will interest me, or feel would be something I would like to add to my library... or even tell my students about. This book was one of those.

As soon as I saw that this book involved botany, I knew it was something I wanted to read as soon as I possibly could. I enjoyed the world, and time I was brought too. Views of the time were well represented. Botany was one of those pursuits deemed appropriate for those of a higher social class.

My only personal frustration for this book (which is addressed in the Author's Notes) is that 'Solandra xolotum' is fictitious. Part of what made me want to read this book was to see what existing plants would be used, since there are over 100+ plants that are poisonous or fatal. I will admit though that it's creation was well done.

This is definitely something I would recommend to my colleagues for their 'to-read' lists, and for some of my older students that are fascinated with Historical Fiction.

A fairly straightforward Agatha Christie genre with red herrings aplenty, the clumsy amateur sleuths, a surprise ending, and top it all off, an insightful lesson of different plants. Summing up, a quick and enjoyable read. 3.5 for me.
An independent review thanks to NetGally / Crooked Lane Books

This was a cute, cozy, lightly romantic mystery. I enjoyed imagining the life that Saffron lived. It wasn't my favorite novel as at times it seemed repetitive and slightly confusing. Overall 2.5 rounded up to 3 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for obtaining a copy of this book for my review.

This story is set at a university.in London during the 1920s. Saffron Everleigh, is research botanist, who is working under Dr. Maxwell her mentor. Saffron goes to a university party where Dr. Henry’s wife. Is poisoned. Dr. Maxwell is accused of the crime.
Saffron believes his innocence and takes it upon herself to find the culprit, along with a good looking man Alexander Ashton.. She tries to find the culprit by searching greenhouses and gardens for poison plants. This sets herself up to becoming a victim herself being a female in a mans dept.

The story is interesting but gets stuck a bit in the middle and the botanist language for me is a guess. I don’t think the character, Alexander, is developed enough. For example, Dr. Max warns her about his temper. You get it’s because of the war but it’s not at the forefront of his persona.
I think if this is a series Saffron and Alex have plenty of room to grow!

Saffron Everleigh is a young woman assistant to a leading botanist professor in London who is accused of poisoning the wife of another professor at a party.

Saffron takes it upon herself to fight for the accused and to free his name with the help of another young professor. With it being the height of the 1920’s she suffers some poor behaviour asserted by other vile men within the institution that she works in.

A great detective story based around botany and the poisons lurking beneath.

If you like Deanna Raybourn or Sujata Massey you will really enjoy Kate Khavari's Saffron Everleigh adventure. In addition to having a great name, Saffron is an up and comer in the surprisingly dangerous world of Botany. When her mentor is framed for poisoning, she must use all of her wiles and her botanist knowledge to track down the killer before she becomes a victim. Like Perveen Mistry or Veronica Speedwell, Saffron is a woman unlike any others of her time. She is tough and wants to do things on her own. So if you enjoy reading about strong women solving mysteries, add Saffron to your shelf next to Perveen and Veronica.

TW: Sexual harassment

I picked up this book solely because of the title and yes, maybe the cover too. And it turned out to be a fun and interesting murder mystery novel. Found a tad bit difficult with all the botanical terms though.

I received my copy fro Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons is a historical mystery set in post-WWI England. Saffron Everleigh is a botanist who works at a university. After a party where a woman is poisoned, the professor she works under is accused of the crime. She must solve the mystery before he goes away for a murder he didn't commit.

I felt like this book couldn't make up its mind if it wanted to go the cozy route or not. There were elements that felt more like a cozy mystery and other things that made it feel grittier. I didn't love the characters or feel the chemistry between them. However, I did enjoy the setting of the book.