I really enjoyed A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons! I love all aspects of nature and enjoy learning about poisonous plants and such, so this was a fun read for me. The setting was a lot of fun but the mystery didn't excite me the way that I thought it would. That being said I really loved the relationships between the main characters and found myself really excited to keep learning about that aspect of the story. If you're a plant person, this is definitely for you.

Tales of high stakes, adventure and heists galore added to a case of mistaken identity is at the heart of this fun filled book romp.

I wanted to like this book more as I love crime novels and am fascinating ated by poison, especially from plants bit it didn't quite hit the spot
I didn't particularly like the heroine and the pace was too slow for me with nothing really happening g for long periods

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons is the perfect Who Done It mystery. Excellent setting, atmosphere and characters. I highly recommend it

Rating: 4/5

First off, thank you so much to @netgalley and the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, for an advanced copy of this book.

This historical mystery set in 1920's London is the perfect book to cozy up with if you love crime solving heroines, botany and plants, and a charming romantic interest.

Saffron Everleigh is the only female botany student at her university. Her beloved professor is wrongly accused of the attempted murder/poisoning of a fellow professor's wife. Saffron, with the help of her reluctant–and very dreamy–sidekick, Alexander Ashton, embark on investigating the poisoning themselves to uncover the truth about who the real suspect night be.

This book held my attention from the very beginning. As someone who has a love for plants already, the book was just up my alley. I enjoyed all the botany talk, and appreciated that it was done in a way that even those with limited knowledge of plants could understand perfectly what was happening. I also loved the classic "who-dun-it" style of the writing.

I really liked Saffron, even if she sometimes annoyed me a little bit going off and trying to solve this mystery in dangerous ways without help. But she was quirky and confident and just trying to find her footing in the male-dominated academic world. I wanted a bit more romance from her and Alexander, and I wanted to know more about his time in the war, but overall I thought the characters were really well written with well-rounded personalities. I was also very excited to learn that there will be a sequel, so I'm looking forward to learning more about our lovely Saffron and Alexander in the next book.

And that cover! The cover is beautiful and drew my eye right away. I just knew I wanted to read it when I saw it. This is one book you can definitely judge by the cover, the story inside is just as wonderful as the exterior.

This book is expected to be published in June of 2022, and I hope you'll all pick up a copy!

I really liked the atmosphere in this book. The university setting and the greenhouses full of exotic plants. I was a bit more curious about the relationship between the main characters then the actual solving of the mystery. However the answer to who did the poisoning was not the way i expected it to be. Overall a good book, espacially if you like plants, university settings, murder mysteries and historical fiction.

A 𝘉𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵 ‘𝘴 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 - 𝘒𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘒𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘪
ᴘᴜʙ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ: ᴊᴜɴᴇ 7ᴛʜ 2022
ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇʀ: ᴄʀᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ʟᴀɴᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋs ɴʏᴄ
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎ 5/5

My love for plants + female led detective mysteries drew me into this one.

Saffron Everleigh’s character is charming and witty. She has a knack for problem solving and naturally takes an interest in the poisoning of an attendee at a formal dinner party with her colleagues. When her favorite faculty member + advisor becomes the one in question for administering the poison, Saffron is determined to clear his name.

During her investigation, she ends up accompanied by a Mr. Alexander Ashton, a handsome colleague of hers in the science department at the university. Although Ashton studies bacteria opposite Saffron’s study of plants, he proves helpful + supportive throughout the book. There is a subtle air of romance between the two companions that was tasteful and left you wanting more. The end is promising and open to include more books in the series.

I enjoyed this read very much + can’t wait to pick up a hard copy for my shelves once released! This cozy mystery has the potential to be a series I could see myself falling in love with.

A botanists guide to parties and poisons was an incredibly enjoyable mystery book. it follows Saffron Everleigh, a botanical research assistant, as she attempts to solve a dinner party poisoning in order to prove the innocence of her mentor. The book takes full advantage of its time period of the 1920's by really taking the time to explore what it would have been like to be a woman in the time period, let alone a woman in academia. While there is a romance plot line it never feels forced and you really do get to see the relationship grow over the course of the book, and it never gets in the way of the main point of the plot, that being the murder. The author has said she grew up with Sherlock Holmes as an inspiration and it really shows. What initially starts out as a locked room mystery soon grows to become a small part in a much bigger plot. I couldn't see where it was going but by the end everything was wrapped up neatly. There are mentions of sexual assault which does come up a few times in the book, and acts as the centre point for the protagonists interactions with one character, but it is never graphic and it does further the story. If SA is a trigger for you though it might be an issue worth considering before reading this book. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be looking out for further works by Kate Khavari.
An extended review of this book will be posted on my blog chasingfantasy99.wordpress.com and a shortened one will be posted to my bookstagram @chasing_fantasy_. I expect these to be up in February 2022

I wanted to like this book, but the plot just didn’t keep me interested. The descriptions are good and there were many times I felt that I could imagine the atmosphere, the rooms, the clothing and furniture. I believe it would be a better book if it was edited to shorten the number of pages. The introduction of most of the characters at a gathering in the very first chapter seemed contrite and opportune. Although I realize it is a writing strategy to collect all the characters in one place for the murder mystery event, as a reader I felt overwhelmed with the names and thin descriptions of the characters. Although there was an appropriate amount of dialogue, I still didn’t get a sense of the real personality of Saffron or Dr Alexander. A little more character building and less step by step description of Saffron’s every move would greatly improve this story.

This was a delightful surprise! Great new author and series to follow!

The story is set in England, a few years after WWI. Saffron Everleigh works as a research assistant at the university and attends a dinner party with her mentor, Dr. Maxwell, who becomes the main suspect after one of the professors' wives falls ill by poison.

Alexander Ashton is a fellow researcher and he joins Saffron in trying to uncover the truth before it's too late.

I really liked the mystery, the setting, the time period, and the slow burning friendship to something more between Saffron and Alexander. Well written and engrossing!

Can't wait for book 2 when Alexander returns from the Amazon!

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Historical cosy mystery.

Set in 1920s University College London, research assistant Saffron Everleigh is in a race against time to clear her mentor of allegations of poisoning by plant toxins.

Khavari introduces almost the entire cast in the first chapter, causing the reader to grapple to get a fix on all apart from the main character. The writing style could do with more polish, as it is, sentences tend to meander, and anachronisms interrupt the flow. Dialogue is clunky, and the plot lightweight.

The backcover blurb talks of an Amazon expedition, but this remains hidden in the wings. The science and scientists are unconvincing and, given the title, insufficient.

Thanks to Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.

As a fan of Deanna Raybourn's work, I jumped at the chance to read A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons. And I'm not regretting it one bit.

Khavari's novel is a fast-paced intrigue that I read in one sitting. It's so well-researched that it's not only suspenseful and fun but also informative. Partly that is because the 'investigator' is a scientist, Saffron Everleigh, helped by another scientist Alexander Ashton. Their characters were written marvellously, as were the characters of all the others in the book.

This was an atmospheric read with plenty of twists and discoveries and I can't wait for book 2.

I really liked this book, it was rather like a female version of a rather famous Belgian detective. The setting and scenes very much reminded me of that series. The book itself was engaging and the characters interesting but without the popular preoccupation with the main protagonists bearing their souls every few minutes. We knew enough for us to understand them and their motives. It was light enough to enjoy reading but with enough tension to keep your attention.

A Botanists Guide to Parties and Poisons was a delight from start to finish! Cosy, historical, mysterious and a little thrilling, it reminded me of Agatha Christie in the best way.

Our protagonist Saffron was my favourite part of the novel. We love women in STEM! All jokes aside, she was a great voice to experience the story from. Witty, determined and complex, she made me both more interested in the story and empathetic towards the difficulties she faces through being a woman in a male dominated field.

While I thought the plot and the setting were interesting, I was more invested in the characters. Saffron and Alexander’s romance was sweet and well done. I found it a little slow in the middle and the big *reveal* wasn’t quite what I was hoping for, but it was an entertaining and enjoyable read overall.

Kate Khavari's mystery story is interesting, fascinating, and captivating. The setting is the 1920s at University College in London. The main character is Saffron, a young assistant to a botanist Professor and researcher, hopes to progress in her field of botany. Since it is in the 1920s, she is having a hard time getting respect from the men in her department. Her mentor is accused of poisoning his rival's wife at a party. Saffron is determine to clear him. She does have help for one of the younger members of the department, Alexander Ashton. This relationship will developed into a romance. Poisonous plants, parties, police inspectors make up the rest of the mystery. Ms. Khavari keeps the reader engaged and only a few clues to guess the real culprits.
I highly recommend this book as it is informative, clever, and a good mystery.

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons was one of the highlights to an otherwise slow and somewhat mediocre reading month.

I have received this book in exchange of an honest review, thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity.

I have my own blog now (https://daysinotherworlds.com/), so please do give it a visit if you're interested in my other reviews :)

Release date: 7th of June 2022.

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I believe that I came into this one expecting a different type of mystery, not necessarily a cozy one. Given that I've been searching for more of those to add between bigger reads, I'll be lying if I said that it didn't feel like a nice added bonus. However, I'll also say that it's a little bit different in comparison to the other cozy mysteries, since it takes a more hands on approach.

The author wastes no time in setting up the rest of the plot line in the first few chapters of the book, where the supposed poisoning attempt takes place. Through that I got the first glimpses at the suspects, the possible allies, learned a bit about the possible motivations for murder and of course, got to meet Saffron Everleigh. From my novice eyes of reading this sub-genre it's more of a character driven affair until a certain point in the narrative, but this time, Kate Khavari mixed it up for me.

Saffron is a scientist at heart and seeing her teacher get taken away because of something she knows he didn't do, spurs her into action. From trying to figure out who's responsible, to recklessly trying to figure out the poison used and all the way to putting herself in dangerous situations. There wasn't a single moment where she wasn't trying to do something and through that, she made me do something I haven't done in a very long time, which was literally facepalm at certain points.

Don't let that imply that she wasn't enjoyable to read about, au contraire, I loved her.

Being in a very patriarchal society, dealing with some awful people and trying to rise despite all of this in a field that isn't "meant for her" is fantastic. I loved the Memoirs of Lady Trent because of this, so Saffron Everleigh immediately got my attention, before I got the chance to take a look at her mettle. Alongside her brilliant side, she's impulsive and reckless which gave an amusing take on some of the situations she put herself in.

She's not the only point of view though, as I also get the chance to see the world through Alexander's eyes. He's a more typical type of character in comparison to Saffron for me when it comes to settings like these, so while I wasn't as excited about his views, I did enjoy the partnership he had with Saffron. The different field he studies, and the discussions they had were pretty fun to witness. That being said, I didn't care much for the romance and hoped it would stay platonic, which I know was a losing fight from the very start.

It thankfully didn't take over either of their minds and they still remain useful as individuals, which is an A-okay for me. The author managed to find a good middle ground of it being obvious, while also being confined to moments where it can be added, which is again, a blessing for someone like me who hates romance in their books.

The way both of them approached solving this case, is the more hands on approach I was talking about earlier. They're not waiting for the authorities and taking it into their hands. While also giving me, the reader, enough interaction with different characters to try and solve it on my own. Which I enjoyed a lot.

The mystery in itself might not be difficult, but it's filled with many red herrings that makes it tricky to land on the main culprit until a certain point in the narrative. Add to that, the brilliant way this was written with the character interactions and the adventures taken to solve it, and it left me with a smile on my face by the end of it.

I was saddened when it was over. Until I read "A Saffron Everleigh Mystery" on top of that beautiful cover (tipping my hat to the artist), which makes me super excited moving forward. I honestly hope that it's the first of many books to come, because I definitely didn't have enough of Saffron just yet!

After reading all the great reviews and being compared to Anna Lee Huber and Deanna Raybourn, both authors that I like, I wish I could say I liked this much more than I actually did.

We’re introduced to Saffron in this book, a newly minted research assistant at the College of London in 1923. One a professor’s wife dies suspiciously, Saffron’s mentor, Dr. Maxwell, is accused of the crime. She wants to clear his name, and she’s able to use her (because she’s a woman) often overlooked intelligence.

Unfortunately, I just couldn’t warm up to Saffron. I honestly thought she was a little insufferable. I never really got a true sense of any of the other characters personalities to know whether I like the or not. As far as a mystery, that wasn’t bad, there were some red herrings and mild surprise at the reveal. However, I was a bit jarred by all the modern dialogue. I understand that authors tend to modernize some conversations but there were sayings that we quote out of place for the 1920s. All in all, the whole story just wasn’t a good read to me.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I don't often read murder mysteries, but this one was positively delightful. The balance between the mystery, the day-to-day workings of academia and Saffron and Mr Ashton's budding friendship made this a very entertaining, and engaging read.

The plot reads as medium paced, and had the reader trying to solve the puzzle alongside the characters. I thought I'd figured it out early on, but was positively surprised to find out I was wrong. Despite being somewhat reckless and aloof at times, Saffron makes for a likeable main character, and Ashton's POV adds depth and insight to the story. I would love to read more of their adventures.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy, I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, murder mysteries or a bit of botanical knowledge in their reading.

This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review

Before I could finish reading this book, it was archived. It hurt alot Because I enjoyed the first few chapters that introduced the main characters and the scene that would prompt the plot of the book.

I hope to get a chance to finish reading this ana amazing thriller and mystery book.

Saffron Everleigh is a scholar and a scientist and I enjoyed her adventures very much. She is a woman making her way through the unwelcoming world of the scholars in the 1920's of England. While working hard with her late father's colleagues, Saffron strives to be a great botanist just like he was.

While at a dinner party with an elite crowd of professors, university staff, and wealthy donars, Saffran is witness to an upsetting attempted murder. By poison. And there are so many suspects.

In a show of loyalty and academic interest Saffron and her cohorts (enter the dashing and intelligent Alexander Ashton) delve into the various quarrels, drama and not so secret dalliance amongst the party guests, in order to assist the police in an arrest. They need to clear the name of Saffron's mentor Dr Maxwell and discover who would want a woman dead.

I enjoyed the glamor of the time period, and the descriptions of the greenhouse, and the various floors it contained. This is the start of a charming series that I will enjoy following when I need a pick-me-up type of read.