I really liked parts of this book. I think Kate Khavari is a strong writer, but not everything was working for me. Saffron didn't ever feel like a person, and neither did Alexander. They were both there, but we never really got to know them. It felt a bit like Alexander's shell-shock and PTSD were shoehorned in there to give him a personality, same thing with Saffron's assault. I didn't really care for the way the harassment and assault was handled, it felt like lip-service and very surface level.

This book was beautifully crafted. I was immediately drawn to era and world building. I loved every small detail that reminded us of a different time and place. I found the premise of science and botany to be a clever stage for this attempted murder mystery. This is one of those stories you sit down to read and you think it’s been 10 minutes when in reality it’s 1 am and you’re the only one in the house still awake. It will suck you in air tight, and the writing flows so magnetically you will not put this down! I loved the characters. I found myself falling for Alexander, rooting for Saffron, and completely loathing Berking. Every time I thought I knew what was happing, or what would happen next I realized I was not even close.

Kate Khavari takes us back to 1920's London, where the scene of the crime takes place at a dinner party. Someone has been poisoned and another framed! Our heroine, Saffron must work alongside her steamy colleague Alexander, to help clear her mentor's name from the crime. Khavari does an amazing job devling into the world of botany and definitely did her research. She has mastered the art of description because there were times I could actually see the plants. While I loved the backdrop, I just could not connect with the characters and wished there was a little more zest within the story.

3.75✩ Kate Khavari opens the world of academia, more specifically botany during the 1920s in London. In A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons, we explore the fascinating, colourful and aromatic world of flowers, plants, infusions and poisons.

With an intrigue balancing the perfect amount of suspense, botany research and references, and romance, Khavari’s newest novel makes a great light read and cozy mystery. Her vivid descriptions, world-building and character developments are beautifully executed.

However, the story lost its pace in the middle of the book after having such a strong start. I also had a little difficulty navigating through the book’s cast. The majority of characters had very similar names, making it harder to distinguish one another and thus follow their roles and motivations.

Saffron Everleigh is an assistant to a botany professor at University College in London in the 1920s where women are just getting into the field and some men are pigs about it. After an incident of poisoning at a party celebrating the University’s upcoming Amazonian expedition, Saffron becomes a centerpiece of the investigation as her professor is the prime suspect. Some mystery, suspense and a little bit of romance ensues as the case unfolds and science is the key.

This novel was a great read and especially fun for a reader who loves science in general and especially biology and botany. The time period after World War I in the 1920s is a great setting for a mystery taking place in academia. A nice light romantic interest as well as some solid friendships make Saffron a protagonist that you can cheer along in every step of her sleuthing. Great novel, would recommend to just about anyone who likes a light read. 5 stars.

Review based on digital Advanced Reader’s Copy from Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books.

I was excited to read a story about a woman in science, I love botany, and the 1920's is my favorite era to get lost in. The cover was beautiful, and I think that so many people will LOVE this book- it's fast paced and I appreciate that you're moved into the story quickly. I also appreciated that the characters were pretty straight forward and acted like people do- which isn't always the case in mysteries.

I just didn't fully connect with the characters thought, and found it a struggle to stay committed to finishing it.

Description (from cover): “Saffron Everleigh is in a race against time to free her wrongly accused professor before he goes behind bars forever. Perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn and Anna Lee Huber, Kate Khavari’s debut historical mystery is a fast paced, fearless adventure.

London, 1923. Newly minted research assistant Saffron Everleigh attends a dinner party for the University College of London. While she expects to engage in conversations about the university’s large expedition to the Amazon, she doesn’t expect Mrs. Henry, one of the professor’s wives to drop to the floor, poisoned by an unknown toxin.

Dr. Maxwell, Saffron’s mentor, is the main suspect, having had an explosive argument with Dr. Henry a few days prior. As evidence mounts against Dr. Maxwell and the expedition’s departure draws nearer, Saffron realizes if she wants her mentor’s name cleared, she’ll have to do it herself.

Joined by enigmatic Alexander Ashton, a fellow researcher, Saffron uses her knowledge of botany as she explores steamy greenhouses, dark gardens, and deadly poisons. Will she be able to uncover the truth or will her investigation land her on the murderer’s list?”

My Thoughts:

This is the first book in the Saffron Everleigh mystery series. Saffron is an assistant to a botany professor at London’s University College. She is smart and determined to make a name for herself academically. Although this is quite a hard feat for her as she is the first female assistant and is treated differently for being so. Her father was a well-known botany professor at the university and she is eager to make her own way in a world dominated by men. She is often looked over just because she is a woman. When the wife of a professor is poisoned at a party she attends, she knows that nothing is as it appears and she is determined to solve the case. Surrounded by men who think that they are better than her because she is just a woman, she is able to investigate on the sly.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am glad that I was able to get my hands on an advanced reader’s copy as I am always on the hunt for a new historical mystery series to love. In this book, the author does a great job of showing the reader how women were treated professionally in the 1920’s. Even though women were starting to leave the home and create careers for themselves, not everyone was on board. That is a struggle that the reader sees Saffron having to deal with a lot in this book. She is smart, but she is a woman and that limits her chances to advance in a field presently dominated by men.

With the help of another research assistant, Alexander Ashton, she sets out to determine who wanted to murder Mrs. Henry and why. Was it her husband who was having an affair or was it one of the other professors in the department who had grudges against her husband? I thought that this was a brilliantly written debut novel in this new historical mystery series and I cannot wait to read more about Saffron’s adventures in the future. I couldn’t put this one down and am extremely excited about this series and will be watching for new books in the future.

Overall Rating: 4.5 Stars
Author: Kate Khavari

Series: Saffron Everleigh Mystery #1

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Publication Date: June 7, 2022

Pages: 304

Genre: Historical Mystery

Get It: Amazon

Disclaimer: This book was given to me by the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for my honest review. I reviewed this book without compensation of any kind. All thoughts and opinions are solely mine.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
I love a mystery/thriller, and being a woman working in science I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately it didn't quite live up; I'm not sure why but didn't feel drawn into the story. There were a lot of characters but I didn't feel that I particularly warmed to any of them, apart from her Saffron's flat mate who I loved!.

Such classic fun! This book is basically if you took Downton Abbey and smashed it with a murder mystery. And throw a little romance in there, too. I loved the development of the characters throughout the plot - the main character, Saffron (whose name is so creative and adorable), had plenty of personality throughout the entire book. It was really enjoyable to read her sassy one-liners and hear her talk passionately about her love of botany - in real life, we definitely would have been friends. She's got spunk and confidence and doesn't let people stand in the way of what she wants. The book talked about some heavier topics, such as war, PTSD, anxiety, and infidelity, but it did so in a way that made it seem more like a natural part of the lives of the characters, rather than descriptions written in a dictionary. The novel flowed very well, with only a few stagnant paces sprinkled in. I was nervous to read a historical fiction novel, just because I tend to find them boring, but this book has provided me with a new perspective. At first glance, a historical novel might feel boring, sure, but if you give it a chance, you'll find that, more often than not, the plot is simply slower and more thoughtful. This novel left more room for beautiful descriptions that give the reader an idea of the aesthetic of every scene, and the author took her time to make sure you know exactly what situation you are in while reading her book. Also, the bits of science knowledge, about poisons and botany and bacteria, were really well done - it felt like I was learning something while also going on an adventure. If I had one bit of criticism, it would be that the romance left something to be desired. For me, the slow burn is great, but only if there's a resolution to it at some point. I loved the relationship between the two romantic interests, with the sass and the flirting - all very good - but I wished there had been a slightly more heart-stopping romantic payoff. That being said, that's less of a criticism and more of a personal preference. This book was well written, fun, and exciting, and Khavari did an excellent job bringing this story to life!

Plucky: this is the word used by the publisher to describe our heroine, Saffron Everleigh in the novel A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari. Whenever I see the word “plucky”, I picture Shirley Temple or The Unsinkable Molly Brown: girls/women who acts in a way different from the girls/women of their time. They are sassy and brassy; they never give up, and are able to rally those around them to keep up the good fight. Nothing gets them down. I had so much trouble seeing Saffron this way, so I looked it up. In Gothic/Victorian literature, the Plucky Heroine—to paraphrase—is brave, outspoken, intelligent, curious, and independent. She uses courage, intuition, and intellect to solve problems (crime).*

Saffron is a plucky heroine. It is 1923, and Saffron is a research assistant for botanist Dr. Maxwell. She is the only female in the science department at the University College of London. In fact, it wasn’t until the 1870s that women were allowed to earn a degree at this institution of higher learning. Fifty years later, the imbedded misogyny is apparent as she goes about her day at work: she is not allowed to do what her male colleagues take for granted, and is inundated with their sexual harassment. The two male characters who treat her with respect are Dr. Maxwell and fellow researcher, the handsome Alexander Ashton. It is the latter who works with her to save Dr. Maxwell—playing the part of the damsel-in-distress—from prison.

This book was a fun and easy read. The pacing was swift, and the author put a modern twist to the historical fiction novel. Alexander Ashton, despite being a somewhat superior faculty member (and male), defers to her and acquiesces to her expertise in poisons. He doesn’t come in to save the day, or act paternalistic. He must have had a fantastic mother.

If you like your mysteries with a bit of peril and romance, this is the book for you.

*“Plucky Girls and Female Gentlemen: The Amateur Sleuth in Historical Mysteries” by Kelly Gardiner, Australiancrimefiction.com

I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Saffron is a research assistant in the botany department in a university in London, just after the Great War. She is reluctantly networking with colleagues at a party when a women is poisoned there. When her mentor is accused of the crime Alexander, who also works at the university, helps her delve into who is responsible for the poisoning. I never really connected with the characters, and found the plot slow moving. Despite my interest in both botany and historical fiction, I was very disappointed. I received an advance copy from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

In this delightful debut, A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons introduces us to Saffron Everleigh, the only female working in the University College London Biology Department. She is the assistant to Professor Maxwell, a botanist. He is an old family friend, who assigns Saffron substantive work and mentors her, an unusual experience for many assistants and exceptional for a woman in this position. Five years ago, Saffron's father, also a botanist, died in WWI. The novel opens in the roaring Twenties. The University has recently secured funding for an interdisciplinary South American expedition. While Professor Maxwell was not included on the team, Saffron is assisting him in preparing the documentation necessary for a research project to be conducted on his behalf. The book opens with a party to celebrate the upcoming six-month expedition. Dr. Henry, a history professor who will lead the expedition and well-known philanderer is there with his long-suffering wife. Saffron chats up various people, with mixed success. She decides to take her leave, feeling rather invisible as the only female scientist at the party and serving on the lowest rung of professional staff. She happens upon Mr. Ashton, a young biologist as she is heading down a hallway to make her farewells. As they chat, the two inadvertently overhear Mrs. Henry having a highly personal conversation with their hostess. When she makes her way to the room where the party has gathered, Saffron finds celebratory speeches underway. She approaches her hosts to thank them just when another round of champagne is being poured. Very near Saffron, Mrs. Henry takes one sip of champagne and collapses, to be carried away by ambulance in grave condition. Khavari does a lovely job establishing Saffron as a curious and competent investigator, working to point out poison related information to the police investigating Mrs. Henry's apparent poisoning; checking out a decent array of suspects; pulling in others to help with her dangerous enquiries; giving us a nice feel for several years post-war London life and academia; throwing in a possible romance; and keeping it light enough to be a cozy and accurate enough to be a pleasing historical fiction piece. The clues are there, not too clear cut, the red herrings are decent and the setting is well wrought. This one is a win for me! I will definitely look for the next Sapphron Everleigh installment, with pleasure.

Murder mystery set in London in the 1930s. Strong female heroine and sidekick/love interest. Villainous villains. Dumb detectives. Interesting botanical information. And a plot with not too obvious twists.

I hope this will have a sequel.

First of all kudos for a gorgeous cover!
Set in London's 1920's, this is an intriguing, well written, but slow moving story.
An exotic expedition is being prepared for the university's botanical department until an unexpected event threatens to delay the journey. What follows is non-exciting who-dunnit.
The subject of poisonous plants is interesting, but the characters are rather dull academics who need some dusting off. At least our main girl has some spirit. This book took a lot of patience for me to finish.

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.

~Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to receive an ARC in exchange for an honest review!~

5⭐𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬

•I love plants and poisons and the blurb of this book immediately intrigued me and the story met all of my expectations and more.

𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭
•As a mystery I expected a lot of suspense and twists and I was not disappointed. The plot had numerous directions and twists that led to a surprising but logical climax and a satisfying ending. It had enough suspense to keep my interest but not too much where I felt the characters were not getting anywhere.

•There was a romance subplot that I also enjoyed as it was not overpowering but gave an extra layer to the story and breathed life into the characters. It also made the story seem more realistic than just a mystery with no other motives or layers.

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
•I had no vices with the characters and I felt their personalities were well thought out and motives for solving the mystery made sense and seemed real instead of a character just being tossed into it. The side characters were also special and were fleshed out and really, the characters were decent and well-written.

𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥
•Mystery is a new genre to me but A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons was a perfect introduction to it and I heavily recommend it for anyone, not just mystery lovers.

This is a fun historical caper centred around Saffron Everleigh, a botanist assistant at a university in London in the 1920s. She has followed in her father's footsteps, who was quite famous in his day in the same field however she struggles to find her own way, especially as woman are rarely the scientists at this time.

She attends a high profile dinner party along with a lot of the professors from the University and their partners, and during the evening one of the wives collapses. It is determined quite quickly that she's been poisoned and the Professor that Saffron works for is arrested as he is known to have knowledge of and interest in poisonous plants.

What follows is quite a caper, with Saffron enlisting the help of a mysterious and handsome colleague called Andrew Ashton as they investigate what has happened to prove the innocence of Saffron's boss.

There are a plot twists and some dead ends and red herrings to keep things interesting - when the reveal came I didnt see it coming at all. This book is well written and I would recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction - I have rated as 3 stars because I did struggle to get into the story initially and at times found it hard to stay engaged with the story. I did finish reading and am glad I did so, it just was not really my kindof thing.. I think there are a lot of people who would thoroughly enjoy this book.

Thanks to netgalley for this ARC. I was intrigued by the title and the book cover is amazing. I gave this 3.5 - 4 stars. If you like historical fiction, cozy mysteries, amateur sleuths, and the world of academia, this book might be for you. The setting is London College right after WWI, Saffron is a research assistant in the botany department. The only female struggling to get her ideas taken seriously by the lecherous head of the department.
A group of scientists is planning an expedition to the Amazon when the wife of one of the professors is poisoned. The lead suspect is Saffron's mentor and the Professor she assists. Unable to believe his involvement in the poisoning, Saffron begins her own investigation with the help of Alexander, a Biology professor who is also set to go on the expedition. It was a fun read!

This is a fun historical mystery featuring Saffron Everleigh. Saffron has followed in her father's footsteps to become a botanist. She struggles to find her place at London University as one of the very few females employed in the biology department. While attending a dinner party the wife of one of the university professors collapses. It is found that she has been poisoned and Saffron's mentor is quickly arrested due to his interest in a particular poisonous plant. Saffron and her new colleague, Alexander, set out to clear his name and discover the truth,
This book follows the classic devices of the English historical mystery, There are plot twists and red herrings, but very little gore or technical detail. The overarching theme of botany provides a unique backdrop for the action. Overall this book is well written and sure to be enjoyed by historical mystery readers,
Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

This story follows Saffron Everleigh, a botanist assistant as she tries to uncover the truth and clear her boss’s name. The University is planning a popular expedition to the Amazon in the pursuit of science. Everyone wants to be on this expedition and get their names in the records books for something. Her boss, Dr. Maxwell was one of those individuals who wanted desperately to relive his youth and be part of this amazing expedition. Dr. Henry had other plans and quickly shut down Dr. Maxwell’s dreams. This caused both to be involved in an explosive confrontation. No harm no foul right? Well you would think so but when Mrs. Henry collapses from an apparent poisoning at a faculty party, all eyes turn to Dr. Maxwell. Saffron Everleigh knows her boss better than anyone, or so she thinks. She has made it her mission to prove that Dr. Maxwell is nothing but a harmless educated old man who would not hurt a fly. But she can do this in time to save him? Can the mysterious Alexander Ashton be of any help? Will her private investigation put her next in line on the murderer’s hit list?

If you are a science nerd and love mysteries set in a somewhat Victorian era to this is the book for you. I learned so much about the study of botany and how effective the scientific method and be in any situation just by reading this novel. Khavari does an amazing job leading the reader along this journey with Ms. Everleigh. With every twist and turn, throughout the story, you become more and more invested in this race to prove that Dr. Maxwell is innocent. This book flows nicely from chapter to chapter which makes this an easy read. But when one door opens, another is bound to close. Khavari’s use of descriptive alliteration throughout this novel allows the reader to be transported this time.

The rating that I would give this book would be a 2.5 out of 5 stars and the reason why is because his book simply wasn’t for me. I found it hard to keep engaged throughout the story. There were some parts of the story that I had to push though so that I could finish the book. Would I recommend this book to anyone? Yes. While this book was not my cup of tea, it was well written and Khavari took the time to make sure that the reader understood what she was talking about when they dived into the botanist subject matter. Mystery wise, I think that was a great story and it kept you guessing right up to the end of the book. While I had some ideas while I was reading it, it completely surprised me at the end.

Saffron Everleigh is in a race against time to free her wrongly accused professor before he goes behind bars forever. Perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn and Anna Lee Huber, Kate Khavari’s debut historical mystery is a fast paced, fearless adventure.

London, 1923. Newly minted research assistant Saffron Everleigh attends a dinner party for the University College of London. While she expects to engage in conversations about the university's large expedition to the Amazon, she doesn’t expect Mrs. Henry, one of the professors’ wives to drop to the floor, poisoned by an unknown toxin. Dr. Maxwell, Saffron’s mentor, is the main suspect, having had an explosive argument with Dr. Henry a few days prior. As evidence mounts against Dr. Maxwell and the expedition's departure draws nearer, Saffron realizes if she wants her mentor's name cleared, she’ll have to do it herself. Joined by enigmatic Alexander Ashton, a fellow researcher, Saffron uses her knowledge of botany as she explores steamy greenhouses, dark gardens, and deadly poisons. Will she be able to uncover the truth or will her investigation land her on the murderer’s list?