Thankyou to netgalley for providing me with a copy of this in return for an honest review.

I'm sure I'm not the only person who needed to read this book just because of the beautiful cover!
And after reading it I can say that the inside is just as beautiful as the outside.

Set in the 1920s after WW1 we meet saffron an assistant to a botanist Professor maxwell at University college in London.
Professor maxwell and his colleagues are preparing for an expedition to the amazon.

I liked saffron immediately.. shes a young, intelligent and level headed woman working in a man's world. She's also a botanist herself following in her late fathers steps.

Before the expedition a party is thrown to celebrate where Dr henrys wife suddenly collapses and falls into a coma.. it seems her drink has been spiked with poison!! But was her drink meant for her or her husband.

Saffrons boss is immediately a suspect but saffron sets out on her own investigation along with the lovely Mr Ashton (swoon) to prove his innocence. But obviously it's a very bumpy yet thrilling road ahead.

This books had twists and turns that I just didn't see coming. Saffron and Alexander's friendship is just beautiful and I'm really hoping there's going to be a book 2 to follow

<i>Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

3.5/5 stars.

I downloaded this book because it was about a poisoning in a botany department in London after WWI. The premise checks all my boxes. The story, however, took about half the book to really get going. Saffron is a plucky hero, but honestly, I was hoping for more plant discussions a la Outlander.

Overall, this is a good book and I would recommend it to anyone who likes an academic mystery.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Saffron Everleigh is a botany student/research assistant who is attending a party when the host's wife collapses suddenly...poisoned! Convinced that her mentor Dr. Maxwell is innocent, she teams up with Alexander Ashton, another researcher, to investigate.
I was very much reminded of Agatha Christie's style of writing while reading A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons and will certainly recommend it to my fellow mystery fans. I hope to see more of Saffron in the future!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for the copy.
I found this book enjoyable, set in my favourite time and with academics as the characters.
I really like the heroine and very promising premise of the book , but I think that it needed more of editing.
However it is my personal opinion and other readers may find this book delightful.

I better start off by saying that the cover of this book is gorgeous, and the title is absolutely compelling. These components may or may not have been a part of why I requested this book in the first place…
I really love the concept of this book. The mystery surrounding the poisonous plants, the intrigue of the botany department, a woman trying to make her way in the academic world in the 1920s. I think the latter point was my favourite and was what made me the most excited about this book.
Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting through this one, though. The plot moved along a bit too slowly for my taste. The main characters were likeable; Saffron had her moments and overall was smart and determined. She and Alexander also developed a really sweet relationship. However, the writing was heavy and lacked the excitement to keep me engaged all the way through.

Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a beautifully written book with an engaging mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would greatly recommend it. It was a great historical fiction which gave the book cozy vibes from the past. The characters were also written well and Saffron was easily understood and was interesting to read about!

“Oh, you have a problem with a strapping young man fighting through the jungle while pinning for you?”

A botanists guide to parties and poisons by Kate Khavari takes place in 1920’s London where Saffron Everleigh, a young research assistant with a passion for botany was thrown into the middle of a attempted murder investigation! Together, with the help of a charming biologist, Alexander Ashton, Saffron uses her wits and knowledge of plants to do everything in her power to clear the name of her accused mentor.

This book is a fast-paced, classic ‘who-done-it’ with extremely loveable characters. The plot was slightly predictable but the characters chemistry was so natural and fun I simply couldn’t stop reading and never lost interest. There was no cliff hanger at the end (which I appreciate) but clear possibility of a second book and I’m desperate to find out what happens during the expedition.

My only complaint when reading this was the character’s names: many names were very similar to one another leading me to be confused at the beginning because I didn’t understand who was playing what role in the story which, in my opinion, would be very important in a mystery.

Overall, a botanists guide to parties and poisons is a very fun read and I loved the academic background. I give it 4.5/5 stars and I recommended it to everyone (especially Stalking Jack the Ripper fans)!!

Thank you to the publisher/ author for providing me with this amazing arc through netgalley!

Thanks to Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for this advance copy. This was a nice read. As a biologist, I certainly enjoyed the botany angle. For me, the plot was a bit slow and I never really felt connected to the characters.

When I saw this historical mystery with its Beautiful cover on Netgalley I knew I had to request it. And I was lucky enough to receive it as well. And then it took me months to actually pick it up… but it seems the release date has been pushed back as well so its okay right?

We follow Saffron who works in the biology department of London University. Her professor gets arrested for poisoning, and Saffron has made it her mission to prove his innocence. In this she is helped by Alexander, who struggles with shell-shock. Of course, romance ensues.

I thought our main characters were fine… they were likeable, but especially Saffron could annoy me at times. I guess she is smart and straightforward, but also incredibly irrational and naïeve at times. I also get quite irked by women who shamelessly flirt just to get their way (especially when one of their major ‘character traits’ is being sexually abused). But that is something personal for sure. But she never felt real to me, nor did Alexander and their romance. Like yes, on paper they work. But I never felt anything for them.

The mystery itself and the plot were fine as well. Again, there is something lacking due to which it just doesn’t quite work. I feel that something is some kind of structure. Saffron and Alexander break into a bunch of offices to gather random clues and have a whole host of theories that don’t really make sense. There is a particular guy they dislike so they hope that he did it. And that is also the whole reasoning behind their solution. ‘He did it because we want him to have done it. The why and how don’t really matter.’ And then culprit actually reveals himself. The case is never really solved.

I now sound very negative, but it wasn’t a bad book. I guess it is a tad slow at times but I didn’t have a problem with that at all. It was a fun and easy read, and the start of a series I will definitely be continuing. But it is also nothing special and apart from the gorgeous cover didn’t stand out to me at all. It was fine…

When Saffron Everleigh (an assistant botanist) is witness to a terrible poisoning at a dinner party, she vows to get to the bottom of the mystery in order to clear her mentor and boss of any blame. With several greenhouses full of poisonous plants, Saffron and her colleague Alexander have a lot of digging to do to get to the bottom of this gruelling mystery.

I really liked this vintage mystery - it reminded me so much of Rosemary and Thyme. I enjoy anything related to golden-age "cosy crime" so this was a great choice for me. The addition of poisonous plants was an added bonus as I do find this genuinely interesting.

Saffron's character was engaging and I also liked her housemate, Elizabeth. All the loose ends were tied up well at the end so the book had a satisfactory resolution. I am hoping that this is the start of a series as Saffron's character has a lot more to offer in the botanical world of crime and poison and I'd love to read another adventure of hers.

All in all, a fun easy read, reminiscent of the cosy crime books we all love. It is due to be published 7th June 2022.

Thank you to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and Kate Khavari for allowing me to read an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review - I had a great time with it!

I imagine this will be the debut book of a cozy series. It feels that way. You have a plucky heroine with a nontraditional job/interest and the handsome but damaged love interest and it all takes place in the fun 1920s in London. Saffron Everleigh is a research assistant in botany at the University College London, but she hopes to begin graduate studies and become a female member of the faculty. The book opens when Saffron attends a party to celebrate the upcoming departure of various faculty to the Amazon. But tragedy strikes when the wife of one of the professors going on the expedition falls into a deep coma after drinking some champagne. Was she poisoned and how and by whom? At the party Saffron and the reader meets Alexander Ashton, also a scientist and definite love interest. Alexander is scarred both physically and mentally from his service in WWI. We also learn that Saffron's father, who died in the war, was a noted botanist who turned his back on his heritage (he was a viscount). Saffron gets a little irritating with her determination to unmask the poisoner and I really didn't care about the various characters. But I would probably pick up other books in the series if I needed to read a fluffy mystery that didn't require a lot of deep thinking. .

Saffron Everleigh would choose plants over her academic colleagues any day. But alas, rumors are swirling about her status as a research assistant in 1923 London, and she must be more outgoing to show her colleagues she is professional and a student pursuing graduate studies, not her MRS. Her first step to overcome the rumors is to attend the going away party for an expedition that includes members of her botany department. Unfortunately, the party she attends to quell the rumors ends up sparking even more gossip: the wife of a prominent professor is poisoned just a few feet away from Saffron.

Saffron, though intrigued by the mystery, has no intention of getting involved. Until her beloved mentor and professor is arrested for the crime. Unwilling to sit by and do nothing, Saffron launches her own investigation. But if Saffron’s mentor is innocent, the poisoner is still at large and Saffron may be next.

Kate Khavari’s historical mystery debut weaves a tangled web of suspects, motives, and opportunities. The overall tone and voice of the novel capture the historical setting well, matching the formal undertones of the era without bogging down the reader.

The lush gardens and humid greenhouses are key settings that are described in the same lush language and intricate voice as the rest of the narrative.

The characters are well developed, as the reader gets to unspool the character’s inner mysteries while also piecing together the puzzle pieces of the poisoning mystery. What happened to Saffron to be the subject of these rumors? Who is this new, handsome biologist? Could Dr. Maxwell, a renowned poison expert, have poisoned his colleague’s wife? The interpersonal relationships play a critical role in solving the overarching mystery, and will have armchair detectives entranced.

The overarching mystery is engaging and well paced, letting the reader slowly unspool the many threads to try and solve it alongside Saffron. But when the final puzzle pieces slide into place, this book is impossible to put down! Saffron’s traipsing through greenhouses and gardens, identifying plants and pondering potential suspects, keeps the reader turning the page to discover what will happen next.

The representation of positive female friendship between Saffron and her roommate is wonderful. Watching these young women make their way in male dominated industries, in the 1920s no less, was wonderful. The potential romantic relationship was a fun bonus, adding to the mystery and the character arcs.

A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons is a fun cozy mystery perfect for fans of Enola Holmes.

A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons will be available June 7, 2022 from Crooked Lane Books.

Thank you to author Kate Khavari, NetGalley, and Crooked Lane Books for an advanced e-galley such that I could share my honest review.

I was immediately interested in this book based on the title and cover. Mysteries are some of my favorite books, and this seemed like a different premise. I really enjoyed some aspects of the book, like the setting and the use of botany/poisons as a plot device. And there were several potentially interesting pieces to the plot. However, I felt that there were too many of those plot lines that were never developed to the point of being truly invested in them. It was a fine cozy mystery but could have used some editing in some places and more fleshing out in others.

I received a digital arc from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books. This is an honest review, and all opinions are mine.

London University during the roaring 20s! Our heroine Saffron is an inspiring scientist: she is smart, genuine and entertaining. It was easy to fall in love with her and root for her. Alexander was also an endearing and intriguing character. Khavari did so well with the characters, their descriptions and developments. Going further than superficial descriptions, we got to learn who they were through their story, their feelings, their goals and values.

I could not get enough of the story. I took a lucky guess and figured out the guilty party but I enjoyed reading until the end and putting all the pieces together. This is just the kind of mystery I love and would recommend to anyone looking for an enjoyable and entertaining read.

I loved learning about botany and science, I might just have unlocked a new hobby. And on this note, I hope we will have a sequel for I'm hooked and craving the awesomeness that awaits with the expedition and all the possibilities *o*

A BOTANIST'S GUIDE TO PARTIES AND POISONS
BY: KATE KHAVARI

This was a very interesting historical fiction & also I would categorize it as a cozy mystery. Saffron Everleigh is attending a dinner party and she is a research assistant at the campus of the University College of London. This novel begins with her being the central character at a posh dinner party. The writing is beautiful with imagery of the atmospheric setting. For example, one of the paintings on the wall would likely cost her annual salary. I loved the descriptions of how the house of the dinner party was furnished and vivid descriptions of the women's clothing. Mrs. Henry becomes quite ill at the party. There is only one medical doctor who attends to her. There are a majority of men who also attend the same University. Saffron seems to be the only female present who attends there the rest of the women at the party are wives of the men who Saffron recognizes from the University.

When Saffron arrives early she learns from Mr. Ashton that the police are looking into what happened to Mrs. Henry at the dinner party. Saffron asks Mr. Ashton why the police would be looking into an allergic reaction. Mr. Ashton informs Saffron that Mrs. Henry is in a coma and it is said to be from poison. Next the police show up while Saffron greets Dr. Maxwell some more and they ask Saffron to step outside wanting to question her since learning that she was at the dinner party also. They finished questioning them and Saffron went to the library wondering who would want to poison Mrs. Henry and why?

Her eyes fell on the name of a plant from south-central Mexico brought back decades ago by Dr. Maxwell who had looked worried after the police had left. She reassured her Mentor. The vine was a sickly yellow color and zigzagged around trees as it grew, clinging to its host. Dr. Maxwell had named it the xolotl vine, after the Aztec god of death and lightning, since the growth pattern resembled a fork of lightning and the toxin its leaves struck as quickly. Saffron had a creeping feeling of discomfort because everyone knew that xolotl was brought to the greenhouse and Dr Maxwell was its prime director and champion of it. As Saffron thought about Mrs. Henry falling to the floor the minute after she drank from her glass, she thought that Dr. Maxwell wouldn't have any reason to poison Mrs. Henry but he certainly had reason to poison Dr. Henry.

Saffron Everleigh is a likable character and when her mentor is accused she puts herself in the position of trying to clear his name. Her father was a Professor of Botany and he died in the Great war and she always had wanted to follow in his footsteps. After she confronts the police officer asking what he is doing and telling him he can't just take Dr. Maxwell's work he tells her that he is accused of poisoning both Mr, and Mrs. Henry. Saffron looked through Dr Maxwell's office for anything about xolotl and quickly went to the police station. Can Saffron prove Dr. Maxwell didn't do it? Saffron had narrowed down her list to four suspects to poison Mr. Henry as she played investigator: Dr.. Henry, Richard Blake, Eris Ermine, and Dr. Berking.

I really enjoyed this book and found Saffron to be a likable and strong female protagonist among a society of men. It was atmospheric and the writing was rich. I am hoping there is going to be a sequel. Kate Khavari is a talented writer and this story immediately drew me in with her lush prose. The cover is Stunning and I can't wait to get myself a physical copy. Highly recommend!

Publication Date: June 7, 2022

Thank you to Net Galley, Kate Khavari and Crooked Lane Books for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#ABotanist'sGuideToPartiesAndPoisons #KateKhavari #CrookedLaneBooks #NetGalley

Let’s start by saying, wow, I don’t read mystery often but I think I may need to start. A Botanist’s Guide was intriguing from the get-go - Saffron, a professional Nerd, investigates a poisoning to acquit her professor. Who wouldn’t be drawn in?

Khavari paints a vivid setting from the get-go, starting at a dinner party and then taking us to the university with Saffron. We meet a myriad of characters, see the poisoning, and eavesdrop on some exciting conversations. All the ingredients to a classic murder mystery. Each interaction is carefully crafted, and it’s easy to get swept away in the plot.

Saffron, herself is fun, vivacious, and fabulously overeager. She’s a scientist. Is she in any way qualified to investigate a murder? No. Does she let that stop her? Of course not. She makes for a fantastic narrator, and I greatly enjoyed following along.

The read itself is simple and quick, with a lack of complexity that makes for a perfectly enjoyable weekend read. I recommend it to anyone who just welcomes crawling through dirt in the dark in a dress!

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari is a cozy, historical mystery featuring Saffron Everleigh, who is on a mission of clearing her mentor's name, after he becomes the main suspect in the case of poisoning of a colleague's wife at a dinner party. She is joined by Alexander Ashton, a researcher like her. There is lot of eavesdropping in dark corridors, some poisonous plant hunting expeditions to gardens in the middle of the night, secret talks in greenhouses and quite a bit of breaking into places.
It managed to capture my interest from the very beginning. There is a lot of technical talk related to botany which I liked. Guess it interests me more than I thought it did. The relationship between Saffron and Alexander developed at a comfortable pace and was fun to read about. The book was going good in the first half and kind of lost me in the second half. This one is not going to be for everyone. It isn't perfect and a lot of things could have been better. But I had a good time with it. It never feels as if the stakes are very high or there is a lot going on. It is a slow paced book and is more about comfortably enjoying the story.
If you like cozy mysteries set in a historical time period with lots of talk about plants and poisons, then this one might be a lovely companion on a lazy Sunday afternoon or a dark cold rainy winter night (as was the case with me).
3/5⭐

An Unknown Poison…?
Immersive mystery, rich in character and detail, with a likeable and endearing protagonist. Set 1923, London, research scientist Saffron is heralded as the first woman to hold such position. A dinner party brings doom when a death occurs from a seemingly unknown poison and Saffron’s mentor becomes the main suspect. Can Saffron clear his name - or will she be next on the list? A compelling historical adventure.

This book was fun. I read it in one day. It is a traditional historical mystery with a stubborn main character and a sweet love interest.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I recently read A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons, and found myself fascinated. I've always been interested in poisons, and this book certainly didn't disappoint.

Saffron Everleigh is the newest research assistant at the University College of London. She's a botanist and the only female research assistant. Saffron is attending a dinner party for university colleagues when the wife of a professor suddenly drops dead. Saffron's mentor, Dr. Maxwell, is the prime suspect as he recently argued loudly with the lady's husband. Dr. Maxwell is also extremely familiar with toxic plants.

Saffron embarks on an investigation to find the true killer and clear Dr. Maxwell's name. She's assisted in her efforts by Alexander Ashton, and extremely charming and attractive colleague.

Will Saffron, with the assistance of Mr. Ashton, be able to find the killer and clear Dr. Maxwell? And, will the attraction between Saffron and Alexander become something more.

I would highly recommend this title to all cozy mystery lovers.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a free digital copy of this book to review.

#ABotanist'sGuideToPartiesandPoisons#NetGallry