I know we aren't supposed to judge a book by its cover, but this one is glorious and will have people picking up the novel for that alone.
The story is very Christie-esque - with a heroine who unexpectedly finds herself embroiled in solving a mysterious poisoning case, a respectful skdekick/love interest, and is very much resonant of that era of writing. It doesn't, however, have the same zinger type revelations that the usual Christie has.
The novel is quite slow paced; the myriad of characters involved (and therefore suspects) mean I struggled slightly to decipher who was who and what their role was again, and a lot of conversations and discussion about the case happens for much of the novel. The last few chapters are a marked difference in terms of pace and plot alright, but at that point it felt like too much, too late. Great premise, and if you're looking for an untaxing read, this could be a good choice, but if you like your murder mystery more punchy, this may not be the best option!

I loved this book! I am not normally interested in mystery or historical fiction, but the cover caught my attention. I greatly enjoyed reading this, and read it in about two days. The mystery was engaging and was one that I hadn't solved before the book revealed it.

Because I'm a huge fan of Deanna Raybourn, I was super psyched to read this but it was way slower and not as interesting as that series. It wasn't bad but it kinda dragge i t he middle and then all of the sudden at the end, they're like: mystery solved, the end. And all of those other small subplots, we're just going to ignore and pretend they aren't there. I will read another book in the series to see if it answers those questions and if Alexander and Saffron's romance feels more realistic.

This gorgeous cover is an excellent preview for the lush cozy-with-an-edge mystery contained within! As someone who enjoys botany and flowers, I enjoyed the touch of real flora with the invented (but very realistic) plant of focus. Saffron is a determined and interesting character to solve the crime in this poisonous plot. I love her interaction with Alexander and I look forward to more ~steamy~ romance in future sequels! (Which I think Khavari has mentioned as possibility!) Saffron's roommate was probably my favorite character of the entire book, so I wish we heard more from her, but I also look forward to her in future books. Women supporting women in historical novels is so refreshing! I also want to know what Dr. Maxwell is up to now that his name has been cleared! He has great potential as a warm father figure. Overall, if you're looking for a well written and not too gruesome mystery, I highly recommend A Botanist's Guide as an ~intoxicating-ly~ good time.

This book was a wonderful surprise!! I enjoyed it very much. The beginning chapter or two took a second to get going, but once the "who-dun-it" part of the novel started, I thought the protagonist got her chance to really shine. I love that there was a bit of romance too, but just a tad. It was more about the two of them working together and getting to know each other than any real romance arc in the book, but the ending was satisfying in that regard.

The academia world and the field of botany seemed well-researched (I don't know much about botany so I could be wrong) but I thought the history behind the poisonous plants was really intriguing. I'm excited to see what the main character will do in the next book as she furthers her research into toxic plants (I'm assuming there will be another book as it is set up for a sequel). I did love how our heroine was taking leaps to study and advance herself in the world of academia. She spoke about the challenges an up-and-coming female scientist might have had during her time period as she tried to make a name for herself in a male-dominated field. She was curious and independent, and I loved her for it.

Recommended for those who love a cozy historical mystery with a dash of romance along the way. The content was proper and there was no more than a kiss or two exchanged between the heroine and hero. Also, I loved the flatmate!! Could we get more of her in the next book? She was a delight.

I was given an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review from the publisher/Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sometimes you need a cozy whodunit mystery to balance out the heavier books on your reading list, and A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons perfectly fits the bill. Kate Khavari's historical mystery is meticulously put together without ever feeling cold or unapproachable, rather there's a warmth to her novel that should welcome seasoned mystery readers and newcomers alike.

Saffron Everliegh is a burgeoning botanist in the 1920s, eager to pursue her projects and follow her father's legacy at the University College of London. Her work and research are interrupted after a dinner party guest is poisoned, and it's sourced from a particularly uncommon sort of plant–framing Saffron's mentor Dr. Maxwell and leaving her to clear his name and find the real culprit. Along for the case is Alexander Ashton, a fellow scientist with a mysterious past and a looming research trip to South America. With the research trip on the horizon, Saffron needs to clear Dr. Maxwell, find the real culprit, and sort out her feelings for Alexander all before the boat leaves port–all of it is easier said than done.

All genres have tropes and conventions which provide a framework or sandbox for the author to build their narrative–with the most successful novels either masterfully utilizing these tools or reimagining them in surprising ways. A Botanist's Guide doesn't necessarily reinvent the mystery genre, though the story benefits from trading on a reader's knowledge of the conventions, leading to a tightly-paced crime for readers and Saffron to solve. From the opening of the dinner party, the cast is introduced, the murder occurs, and the stakes are set. From there, we're off to the races and on the case.

It's difficult to go into much detail on a mystery–as the sense of discovery is part of the fun–but Khavari's first entry into what I'm sure will be a long-running series is delightful. Saffron is quick-witted without ever feeling anachronistic for her time. There are enough morsels of her backstory and life outside of academia that there's plenty of ground to cover in future books. As a reader, you get the sense that Khavari is sketching out her protagonist but putting the core mystery ahead of characterization. Luckily, her dialogue, most of which is banter with Alexander, fills out a picture of Saffron without relying on heavy blocks of exposition. Alexander, as the love interest, has more personality than a roll of wallpaper–and that's always appreciated.

Potential is the main takeaway from A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons. Khavari certainly knows how to write compelling characters and a compelling mystery. Forgive the pun, but there's plenty of room for the series to take root and grow in the seeds of this inaugural entry.

1920s London, the lush, academia backdrop of University College, and a fiery, vibrant assistant to a botany professor named Saffron Everleigh sets the stage for this cozy, captivating whodunit. This story swept me in immediately with its intriguing cast of characters--particularly Saffron's likability as a stubborn, knowledge-seeking heroine working her way up the academic ladder as the only woman in the University botany department. While predictable when it comes to the overall plot (less-so with the plot details themselves), Khavari's storytelling makes this a delightful mystery; cute, cozy, and wonderfully atmospheric with a certain charm to any reader who loves an academia setting. I would love to see this become a series since Saffron's character is clearly far from done with her botany exploits, and I enjoyed the story from start to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read & review this advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this book, the cover is also amazing.
The book takes place in the 1920s in London, right after WW1. We are introduced to our female protagonist, Saffron Everleigh. Saffron is the only female botanist in her college, I was already happy with this book for that. The book is historical fiction mixed with cozy mystery vibes and some romance.

Saffron was relatable, smart and genuine. She is determined and resilient and pushes back against sexism experienced. She is an impulsive heroine who at times acts too quick.

A poisoning attempt leaves one of her professors being blamed for it, Saffron is convinced otherwise and teams up with a veteran named Alexander.

I started off really enjoying the book but as time went on, I grew less interested. This was because of the pacing, the pacing was off and changing rapidly. The story also began to slow down as time went on, meaning I wasn't as excited.

While this book was well written, I personally wasn’t able to get into it. It was a bit slow for my liking, and and there were times I was a bit confused with what was happening with certain characters. The premise was extremely appealing for me, but the actual book left me wishing and hoping for more. Slow burn that just didn’t do it for me. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc ebook!

Despite the interesting description, beautiful cover, and incredible well written storyline I found this to fall a bit short. It felt like story took to describing every nuance, small or large, in lengthy detail

This is a great debut mystery! The story is about Saffron Everleigh, a botanist in London, 1923. At this time, of course, Saffron is the only woman research assistant in her department.

Saffron is invited at the last minute to a dinner party for the University College to kick of the final preparations for an upcoming expedition. When the host's wife dies after consuming poison and Saffron's mentor Professor Maxwell is the primary suspect. Saffron is determined to clear his name.

Saffron is working closely with Alexander Ashton , a fellow researcher who will be collecting botanical samples for Professor Maxwell's proposed study. Alexander sees Saffron as an equal and treats her as such, which is a novel thing for her. Alexander gets pulled into Saffron's investigation to get to the bottom of who the real murderer is.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a historical mystery. It was fun and there were some twists that were unexpected. I look forward to more stories by this author.

My thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The pacing is excellent, as is the character development. I loved the story and appreciated the historical look at science. The book does a great job of capturing the times. I couldn’t put the book down. Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advance reader copy.

This is the cover of the year, it draws you in and makes you want to pick up the book just to see what is inside. But what is inside is just okay. This is a basic murder mystery with a smart, strong willed female determined to figure out what happened. Along the way she meets a man and they team up to be detectives. This uses the botany angle to add interest to the story. It is compared to Deanna Raybourn and I definitely agree but the characters and the plot need a little more pizazz to meet that standard. I think the author is on to a good idea with interesting characters but just needs a little more plot development and pacing - I found it very difficult to keep reading.

A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons is a perfect blend of historical fiction and a cosy mystery, all wrapped up in a gorgeous cover and intricate story. Kate Khavari book has interesting characters set in London in the 1920s. A huge thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC of A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons.

The characters and descriptions of the time period are brilliantly articulated. Set in London in 1923, Saffron faces a lot of sexism and quick dismissal from her colleagues, with a recent rumour has spread around the department. Saffron’s biggest tie to the University is that her father used to work there and in an effort to feel close to him, she chooses to follow in his footsteps. She’s wickedly quick, determined and straight-laced, but at times rash and quick to act, a juxtaposition of the field she works in and it gets her into trouble. Especially with fellow researcher, Alexander Ashton.

Ashton is one of the few men in the story who sees Saffron for more than she is. His annoyance at her rash decision bonds them and pushes him (although I really think he’d have jumped off a cliff for her) to help Saffron with her investigation. The two seemingly get closer and Ashton finds himself on more than one occasion, being the voice of reason. Due to the time period, their relationship is hidden behind the things they don’t do, rather than what they say. Thankfully, with the chapters switching between the two, we get an interesting insight into how the two of them feel about the other.

It wasn’t hard to get behind these two, and I fell very quickly in love with them both. Their slow-growing friendship (and hopefully more) pulls you in. But the two of them working together make an effective and complementary team. Their behaviour and conversations seemed perfect for the time period Kate Khavari has set this piece in.

The pacing of the novel began and ended brilliantly, it lost its way just a touch during the mid-part of the novel. But, it’s quickly forgiven when the pieces begin to come together and the last 150 pages had me on the edge of my seat, pulling me in, not allowing me to stop reading.

Thankfully, also, I wasn’t disappointed by the ending, having really enjoyed the ‘whodunnit’ thread throughout the book. I’d been close to being 100% right with my suspicions, but I’m excited to go back and pick up all the other breadcrumbs.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

Oh what a fun book!

Saffron was a great character. She is smart, funny, fun, curious, and courageous. Set mostly at University College London, Saffron is a woman out of place. Women are not supposed to be in the botany department, but because of her father's legacy, she has managed to become an assistant to Dr. Maxwell.

But, when Dr. Maxwell is accused of poisoning a colleague's wife, Saffron has to use all of her knowledge about plants and people to try to figure out who really did it so her professor doesn't take the blame for something he didn't do.

Filled with humor, a good mystery, well-crafted characters, and a little romance, I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

I'm so thankful for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. Absolutely amazing writing! The character development is superb and the story line magnificent and intriguing. I loved the struggle of Saffron, being a woman trying to make her spot in the University with all men. The mystery surrounding the poisoning and Saffron taking it upon herself to do her own investigating was awesome! Absolutely loved the book and will be highly recommending.

I was really keen to start reading this book but I found the character of Saffron as a modern, independent woman and the historical setting of the 1920s jarring in some parts of the story. This story had mystery, a bit of romance and transported me to 1920s London and I enjoyed it overall. If you like Deanna Raybourn's character Veronica Speedwell, this book is worth a read. I received an advance copy from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First, thanks for the author, Kate Khavari, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Next, I would like to comment on the cover of this book. It’s beautiful! That cover is what really made me want to read this book, and I know that statement is breaking every rule of whether or not a book should be read. But the cover is beautiful and totally appealed to me. I had to know what the contents were of this book!

This was really well written, even though there was a lot of information included about plants that I could never understand. But it was really interesting that the author did not require you to understand those details to enjoy the novel. At first, I felt that the murder occurred way too early in the book. At that point, I really didn’t understand the characters and felt confused for a few chapters. I found myself flipping back-and-forth to figure out who each character was. But it still was a fantastic read!

Once I got past the first three or four chapters, I couldn’t put the book down. And the ending left me wanting another book- a part two. I always feel that’s the best type of mystery and if there is a second novel, then I definitely want to read it. The heroine of the story is Saffron, and her personality never left me rolling my eyes or feeling that she was not intelligent, or anything like that, as you often read in stories like this. It was much better!

Bravo on this one! I almost feel that any detail about this story, other than what’s listed on the summary, is too much. I don’t want to give anything away other than this- just read it- take your time, let it settle in your mind, flip back to understand the characters, and smile. The time will be worth it.

Enjoy!

The characters and setting are all done very well, however the book seems a bit wordy, some would say slow burn. The book seems well researched though I didn’t look anything up to confirm. The story is great it just drags a little.

I took a long time to read this book because I found the writing a little too expansive, sometimes it made me tired. But the plot is interesting and the mystery at least helped me not give up on reading it!