This actually was a DNF for me. While the premise was intriguing and I loved the setting, there was something about that writing that just fell short for me. I believe I was in a reading slump at the time, so that also could have impaired my judgment and I may pick it up again.

In the captivating blend of cozy mystery and historical thriller, set in 1920's London, I found myself enthralled by Saffron, our aspiring and fiery scientist with a deep knowledge of poisons. As she assists in the investigation of a suspicious murder attempt, her relatable and genuine traits quickly drew me into the story. Despite facing condescending colleagues, Saffron's determination and resilience shone through, making her a true heroine.

The narrative takes an exciting turn at a party attended by esteemed academicians and high society members, which unexpectedly turns into an attempted poisoning. When Saffron's teacher, Professor Maxwell, is accused, she embarks on a quest to find the real perpetrator, teaming up with the charming veteran Alexander Ashton. Their chemistry hints at a delightful romance that adds even more allure to the tale.

Although the story's pacing slowed in the middle and the identity of the perpetrator seemed far-fetched, I thoroughly enjoyed this intriguing and well-executed cozy murder mystery. The time-traveling experience to early 20th-century London, combined with Saffron's compelling character development and the blossoming romance, earned this suspenseful adventure four stars—a riveting and tempting journey into a bygone era.

I really enjoyed this book. The beginning was a little slow for me, like I find most mysteries, but about 45% in, and I could not put it down. I love Saffon and her curiosity. I can't wait to read the next installment.

I really enjoyed this book and the journey it took me on as its reader. Saffron as a protagonist was someone who I loved when she was first introduced, but also loved being able to see her journey on furthering to develop and grow. The pacing of this book was a little slower, but I think that makes sense when you consider this is the first installment in a series rather than a standalone that might need to be faster to fit everything in. Overall, I just really enjoyed this read. I think it really transports you thought its descriptive words to a place that is filled with mystery, suspense and cut throat academia and from start to finish I was curious.

Audiobook review
I enjoyed this book. I was excited by the blurb and cover as I thought it may help to scratch the itch of The Lost Apothecary- I've not felt a historical mystery consume me like that since I read it!
This started well, I liked the start and the narrator kept me engaged, listening around the house. I liked the characters, although some weren't likeable, that just made it enjoyable because I disliked them. Characters don't have to be likeable, I just want them to make me react and feel strong emotions!
The pacing then slowed by rather a lot and I found myself not as excited to listen much.
I enjoyed the ending too, but I was left feeling somewhat underwhelmed because of the middle.

The year is 1923. Saffron Everleigh is an up and coming research assistant and botanist at the University College of London. When the wife of a high-ranking academic is poisoned at a soiree, and her mentor is framed, Saffron launches into her own investigation to clear his name and find the real culprit.

This was a fun read. It had the slow, elegant pace of a period novel with the intrigue, red herrings and complex motives that accompany a mystery. There was the obligatory love interest, of course, but also some far deeper subjects: sexism in the 1920's, workplace harassment, corruption and PTSD, all of which were unexpected in a lighthearted mystery novel.

The climax of the story was a definite page turner, and while it wasn't entirely unpredictable, it was still good fun.

~Many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review~

This was a really fun book overall. Had a cute little love story mixed in the middle of the poisonings, and it was just fun. I will definitely be reading future books.

I was initially drawn to this book because of the gorgeous cover. I mean, just LOOK at it. It’s stunning. But the book description hooked me as well. I love mystery books with interesting main characters and since I read A LOT of cozy mysteries, I end up hearing a lot about bakers, innkeepers, and librarians (not that there’s anything wrong with that – I’m obviously still reading them!) but I always like discovering books with unique vocations or hobbies.

Enter Saffron Everleigh (many of the names in this book relate to plants, for obvious reason). She’s a research assistant who specialises in botany at a university. Which isn’t that unusual, but this book is set in the 1920s, so it makes it a lot harder for Saffron to be taken seriously. Saffron not only has to deal with a rough work environment (she’s the only woman working in the department), but she also has to deal with chauvinistic male colleagues and superiors, plus several doses of sexual harassment (including one quite serious one).

I liked most of Saffron’s character – she’s brilliant, assertive, fiery, and capable. She’s often a victim of the times but there’s one situation in the story that I found quite… shall we say irresponsible? (No spoilers but wow, that was a dumb move Saffron!). I would describe her as brilliant but impulsive.

I did like her banter with Alexander Ashton, who helps her in her investigation. The two of them together are quick and witty and you can definitely see the romance brewing between them from the start. The scenes with the pair of them together were a highlight for me. Alexander has his own troubled background and he was one character I definitely wanted to learn more about – hopefully in future books!

I also get her allegiance to her mentor, Professor Maxwell, and why she’s working so hard to clear his name. He seems to be the only decent faculty member in the department and the loyalty Saffron displays to him is well deserved.

The geek in me wanted a bit more botany and nerdy scientific tidbits, but I guess that’s probably not for many people so the book is light on that subject. The mystery itself almost took a backseat to all the personal issues Saffron had to deal with so I didn’t spend much time trying to figure out whodunnit and just arrived at the conclusion when the book did its reveal.

The interesting characters and intriguing premise will definitely bring me back for the next book in the series.

*** Thank you to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, for providing me with an e-copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

The roarin' 20's and in London? Yes please! I really enjoyed many elements of this one. It was not only a fun read but also highlights important things.

It was plot driven but I do feel like the characters had moments to shine.

The mindset of this time in history is frustrating - I can't even imagine actually living through some of it.

While at times mildly predictable the mystery was still fun to follow.

From the clever title to the historical setting, A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons is a must-read. The writing is splendid. The humor is witty. And our lovely heroine is headstrong and a brazen light against the dazzling 1923 setting. This will leave you wanting more.

Set in the 1920s at a University College of London, Saffron Everleigh, a young botanist and the only female on the staff, wants to prove herself and do her own program.

After the WW, a veteran and biologist Alexander Ashton was recently asked to go to a new expedition to the Amazon.

After a poisoning occurs in a party they attended, they go at lengths to protect the only suspect – her own professor – and prove he wasn’t the killer.

The story is told from Saffron and Alexander’s points of view and I loved it. Both were compelling and interesting. I love how much they did to prove a man’s innocence.

I loved all the snooping around and the almost caught moments. It is very heavily based on science so if that’s not your cup of tea I wouldn’t recommend. But more than that it’s a murder mystery and I couldn’t but want to know the end.

There’s a lot of sexism and rumours, work place harassment, being the only female in the department. And for Alexander we have for sure PTSD. There’s also grief mentioned for both the characters. He grieves for the ones that lost their lives in the war while he survived, and Saffron is dealing with the grief of her own dad.

She turns to her professor for comfort after he took her on his wing when her father died, that’s why she is so keen to make sure the police do their jobs correctly. But you know how police was, any scape goat is often better than nothing….

I really enjoyed all the banter and the scientific part of the book, it made it more compelling and I think I learned a lot about poisonous flowers, which is incredibly interesting.

There’s also a romance evolving, that is slow and with a lot of flirting, which I loved. I like the duo of Saffron and Alexander a lot! It’s very 1900s and I loved all the dressing of the time and how much she tried to be taken serious for being a young woman.

I couldn’t but want to reach the end and know what the hell was happening and who is the murderer. Can’t wait for the next book and luckily I got it from Netgalley too! So expect a review!

The Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari is a historical fiction mystery. The book takes place in 1923 at the Univeristy of London. It follows Saffron Everleigh, a young woman who is an assitant to Dr. Maxwell a professor at the Univeristy .While is Saffron attending a party where the hostess is poisoned and left in a coma. Dr. Maxwell is soon arrested for the poisoning of Mrs. Henry and Saffron with the help of Alexander, must find out the truth to help set Dr. Maxwell free. With two weeks before a planned expodition to the Amazon Saffron and Alexander find clues that keep them in dark about who and why the poisoning had taken place. Saffron makes a tea out of the poisonous xolotl plant to try and see if this was indeed the poison given to Mrs. Henry. This book has is beautifully written and has an element of surprise and a little bit of a romance, that keeps you guessing on who was behind the poisoning. This is the first book in the series and I am looking forward to reading the next book.

I really loved this book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end

When I saw this book I was beyond intrigued.
I thought of all the ways things could go wrong and get murdery,
But..
It was just ok for me.
I loved Saffron as a character, I thought she expressed her independence and joy for her work really well.
I wasn't a fan of how the mystery and solving it unfolded. With this title, I wanted it to be a bit more and darker with the characters.
Overall, not a bad read

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for a free ecopy.
This is a mystery novel set in 1920 London.
I love historical fiction and the element of mystery was great but I couldn't feel any chemistry between the couple.
Overall I enjoyed the book.

First, I'd like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for granting me early access to an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I gave this book 3.5 stars!

Saffron Everleigh's uncle is a botanists, so she fell in love with that path, even though she was the only woman in the field on her time. The professor she's assisting is wrongfully accused (at least she's sure he is) and she starts a race against the clock to prove his innocence with a bit of help a loads of hardship. Will she make it? Does she have investigative skills? Will she be allowed to find the truth?

I had a really good time reading this book and the rating is not bad by any means.

I felt somehow attached to the characters and felt like, even though it was plot driven, characters were properly developed and relatable on their behaviours. Loved that there was a romantic story, it never outshined the story or justified irrational behaviours. It was funny and added intrigue.

As a cosy murder mystery, this book was somehow predictable from a certain point onwards, but this is not a reason to like it less or the author's fault. It is a characteristic of the genre, so it makes this book even better.

The writing style made this a really quick read and gave enough details to keep the reader engaged.

Lastly, I'd love to emphasize the importance of a book with a female lead that represents the first woman in a scientific field, which was not simply shown, but also talked about. First women (and not only first, but many) have always been suspected to have gotten "that" far because of sexual or other type of favours done to males within the business they meant to grow in. This caused frustration in most and gave reasons to some to effectively do so to give people real reasons to talk about them. Sad, but true.

I'd recommend this historical mystery for sure.

Hope you read it, so we can chat about it and every details that's worth discussing about it.

A cosy historical mystery that taught me much about plants, their uses and, of course, their poisons.

I absolutely loved the chemistry between the two main characters, Saffron Everleigh and Alexander Ashton. While their attraction is obvious, these two researchers turn amateur detectives to clear the name of Saffron's mentor after he's accused of poisoning Mrs Henry, the wife of another professor. From breaking an entry, stealing, tailing people, and experimenting with poisonous plants, these two refuse to back down and I rutting for them the whole time.

I must say I was surprised with the resolution of the mystery. It took a turn I wasn't expecting, but I loved every minute of it.

I can't wait for the second instalment!

This book was OK. it is a pretty straight forward enlish mystery. Female lead with a bit of sciency aspect with some twists and turns that keep the mystery moving when you think you have a good idea of the murderer. Not one I would recommend to others unless they were avid mystery readers and looking for something of the beaten path.

This book was a highly enjoyable historical mystery. It reminded me of a tamer version of Stalking Jack the Ripper, which if you didn’t already know, is a series I really, really love.

I loved how immersive the world in the novel was. I could easily visualise the setting of 1920 London, the university and the greenhouses. Saffron and Alexander, the novels dynamic duo, reminded me so much of Audrey and Thomas that I could not help but to like them.

This was a brilliant fast-paced mystery that had the perfect blend of suspense and romance to keep me entertained. I highly recommend this book for fans of historical cozy mysteries.

god i wish a historical mystery with romantic elements would hit for me. i’ve tried so many, including now khavari’s, and i just don’t connect with them the way i’d like to. i’m certain someone will like this though. not for me