Saffron and Alexander’s off-the-books investigation of the attempted murder of Mrs. Henry (a faculty member’s wife) will keep readers hooked from start to finish. Although the characters frequently reference plants by their scientific names, it can still be easily understood by the average reader. This historical fiction, with the smallest pin prick of romance, utilizes many of the well-loved tropes of mystery novels without losing its individuality 🔬🪴

London University during the roaring 20's. Saffron is a young assistant to a botanist professor and must navigate forcefully yet with diplomacy to earn the respect of her peers. She attends a formal dinner organized to celebrate the start of a new expedition to the Amazon, where she meets Anthony, a specialist in bacteria and she soon swoons over him. Later that evening, the wife of the expedition leader suddenly falls into a coma after being poisoned. Together with Anthony, she does everything she can to clear the name of her mentor who is quickly accused to be the culprit.
The main story happens in the offices of the university, which is very well depicted. I was transported to that period, inside stuffy rooms filled with books and possibilities. The mystery is rather easy and there is the blooming romance between Saffron and Anthony as a side.
Saffron is a nice character, she is trying her best to own her place in the academic world, yet she is still hesitating, doubting herself. She is quirky and fun and I liked her. The content is just as its beautiful cover promises: colorful and detailed with a touch of humor. A very nice read indeed.

A very sincere thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The title and the cover of this book immediately caught my attention. After reading the blurb I knew I had to read this book ASAP. Luckily I was approved for an ARC from NetGalley And Crooked Lane Books.
A bit historical fiction with a heaping dose of cozy mystery and suspense shaken with a sweet blossoming romance complete with very proper flirting — if any of this piques your interest preorder this book NOW and mark your calendars for June 7, 2022!
I could’ve easily read this book in one sitting with the company of several cups of tea. I have a 4-year-old and responsibilities so alas that wasn’t possible. Instead I completed this book over two nights of late reading (and maybe a page or two whenever I could grab a moment). Yes, this book hooked me. I adore Saffron Everleigh and desperately want to be invited to her apartment to gossip over tea - and her jewel of a roommate must be present for this gab session. Between Elizabeth and I, I’m sure we can get Saff to spill ALL the details about Mr. Ashton! After tea, I do hope there’s a walk through the greenhouse as well. I definitely need more of Saffron Everleigh in my life!

When it comes to historical mysteries they can be hit and miss. This one was a hit.

Saffron is an intelligent and compelling character. Her potential love interest Alexander is also likeable and has hidden depth.
An the men of that era make for plenty of good potential villains.

If you like the roaring 20s, strong female characters and mysteries, you’ll probably enjoy this book.

This was a fun read. I was intrigued by the cover and the story hooked me in. Saffron is such a great main character. She was not annoying and I loved how the author showed how hard it was for Saffron to perservere in a male dominated science world. The romance was enjoyable and I actually wasn't expecting Alexander to be a shell shocked veteran but it added so much to the story. I hope there is a book 2 as I want to read more about Saffron and Ashton and also know more about the mystery of Saffron's father,

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for the advance copy.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

Loved this
Was sucked in by the absolutely beautiful cover
This is a really well written mystery - lots of twists and turns
Loved the romantic threads

Just wonderful

This was an ARC given to me by Net Galley. I loved this book! The mystery was well constructed and twisty, the protagonist delightful, the romance believable and intriguing, and the secondary characters were so well made! Set just after the first world war, this book has the sort of cosy quality I associate with Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, and I read the whole thing in one sitting!

A unique setting for this mystery. I really enjoyed the botanist main character, and her biology love interest. I would certainly read another should this become a series.

A little slow to start and a little difficult to keep track of all the characters in the beginning, this book really took off for me! Set in early 20th century London, Saffron finds herself assisting in an attempted murder investigation, The cover really caught my attention and the story kept it!

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari

The cover drew me in, but the pacing was a little slow. Saffron Everleigh's mentor is accused of poisoning the wife of the man set to lead an expedition to the Amazon. Historical mystery set in the 1920's, mystery, a little romance. It was OK. read in October

NetGalley/Crooked Lane Books; Mystery; June 7, 2022.

A Botanist's Guid to Parties and Poisons is well written, with interesting characters and a great storyline i haven't seen before in YA. I found it hard to get into and care about the characters not helped by slow parts where the story kind of stops. The story is a murder mystery, with two lead characters who are interesting, and smart. A Botanist's Guid to Parties and Poisons is a cosy sunday read.

This book is as rich and beautiful as it's cover and I really enjoyed it. It's full of mystery, romance, fun and thrills and is similar to the type of book I'd love to write myself. The setting was very academic, which I think many will love. With regards to the mystery itself, Saffron does a great job at gathering clues and piecing things together in front of the reader. I really liked that we were just as able to make conclusions as she was and a lot of the evidence was clever and original. A downside to this is that there isn't necessarily a big reveal or massive surprises, but it is easy enough to enjoy the journey rather than just the destination. I am excited to continue with Khavari and the characters if another book is written.

A young female research assistant at a London university gets involved in a mysterious poisoning. When her boss and mentor is accused she decoy to do a little detective work on her own. Fun, fast paced, a little romance plus an interesting look at plants and poisons. Can’t wait for the next book in what I hope will be a new series.

Thanks to the publisher for the chance to read this awesome book!

I absolutely adored this book, it was reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes and but gave me female empowerment and PLANTS. You can really tell the detail that has gone into the creation of this novel from the accuracy of University College London (which I have visited in numerous occasions) and also the botanical elements.

There was a sweet slow burn romance between Saffron and Alexander and the rest of the faculty and supporting characters were well rounded and multi dimensional. I personally loved Elizabeth, Saffron’s flatmate.

The story details Saffron’s struggle to be acknowledged and respected in her profession and studies as a botanist as she tries to prove the innocence of her mentor Dr Maxwell.

The descriptors were fantastical and vivid and I could truly picture each scene from the oak of Dr Berking’s desk to the damp crisp air in the greenhouse.

I can’t wait to purchase a physical copy for my bookcase.

5 star *chefs kiss*

A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari is a charming mystery set in the world of academia in London, 1923. Saffron Everleigh hopes to follow in her father’s footsteps as a research assistant for Dr. Maxwell, a famed botanist at University College of London.

When philandering Dr. Henry’s abrasive wife keels over at a cocktail party, Saffron’s kindly mentor is accused of murder. Never one to stand on tradition, Saffron launches her own investigation to prove his innocence aided by the mysterious Alexander Ashton. The story vines and twists through the stuffy college, discovering jealousies, indiscretions, betrayals, and greed. Red herrings and tendrils of suspicion abound among the faculty, staff, and families of the cast of characters.

Saffron is a woman ahead of her time, but I thought the author dealt quite well with the difficulties of being female in a university setting during this era. The plot moves along at a leisurely pace curling and twining around a crazy and rabidly loyal roommate, a burgeoning romance, a wrongly accused professor, a mysterious toxin, and at least one desperate murderer.

A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons is a solid 4 our of 5 for me.

I have to deduct for some minor meandering and repetition which I think one more editing pass would have done away with. I’d also love to have found more botanical secrets and a better build up to the attempted murder. My editorial advice (It’s free, which might indicate how much it’s worth) is to slow down and build the atmosphere even more—build relationships with a few scenes before you tear them all apart with suspicions and back-biting. Explore the social issues you touch on more thoroughly. These were interesting times, but I felt the potential to delve a little more deeply was largely unrealized.

Having said that, I did enjoy the book and look forward to the next. Ms. Khavari’s debut novel is a light-hearted tale delightfully described. Perfect for a cozy read on a spring afternoon.

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

Plants, poisons, a mystery, and two classic who-dun-it characters are only the beginning of A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons. This romantic mystery held my attention from the very first chapter and I fought myself to get back to work and stop reading. There were many times that I thought I had everything figured out, but the plot quickly unraveled, keeping me *literally* biting my nails.

This book is a very quick read, I started and finished it on the same day, and it’s also very fast-paced, which is excellent for a mystery. There really weren’t any slow spots and I never lost interest! Saffron Everleigh and Alexander Ashton were my favorites, naturally. Their chemistry was so fun and had me giggling. Everything about them felt entirely natural and true to character as the romance developed too, so that was a huge win for me!

There’s only a couple of reasons for my rating of 4 stars instead of 5 though. The first is that I had difficulty with names. There is a fairly small cast of characters, and in that, there’s a Harry and a Henry. An Ashton and an Aster. A Blake and a Berking. An Eris and an Eliza (short for Elizabeth). And a few other similar name pairings that made it incredibly difficult to distinguish characters in the beginning, especially since the majority of them begin with the preface of “Dr.” and go by both first and last names. I finally got them mostly straight by the halfway mark, but still, I’d like to see less similar names in future books, especially in a mystery where character distinction plays a huge role in the plot.

The other reason is that with how heavily the expedition was included in the story, I really got the idea that part of the story would take place during the expedition and would be drawn out a bit more. Instead, the whole book takes place in a single week leading up to the departure of the expedition, so I was kind of disappointed to not get to go on the expedition to the Amazon. But perhaps the author wishes to save that trip for the sequential book that I have my fingers crossed for!

Overall, A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons was a fun read and I loved the large part that plants played in this story. I give it 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to mystery lovers!

Content Warning: Mild cursing. Sexual harassment (not detailed). Attempted murder. Infidelity. Mild discrimination. There is no gore, and on-screen romance is a single kiss.

I received this book from the author/publisher via NetGalley. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.

What a wonderfully cozy mystery!!

Kate Khavari transports us to a vibrant world of obscure plants and poisons in this cozy mystery/historical fiction set at a university in 1920s London. Her writing is filled with detail, Austen-style romance, and quirky characters reminiscent of those found in Harry Potter.

In The Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons, spunky botanist Saffron Everleigh is accused of murder after a professor’s wife is poisoned at a party. She meets the charming Alexander Ashton, a fellow researcher, who becomes a love interest and helpful ally.

Saffron is full of life, charm, and determination as she navigates 1920s male-dominated academia. I fell in love with her wit and ingenuity. The mystery element of the book reminds me of Agatha Christie and the pacing is similar as well.

The middle of the novel was a bit slow for my taste, but I’m used to the breakneck speed of psychological thrillers these days. I recommend this book if you are looking for a lighter, cozy mystery set in a magical world of greenhouses, poisons, and academia.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you Net Galley , the author and publisher for an advanced copy of this book!

I absolutely love historical mysteries and this was such a fun and fast read with a heroine I would love to read more about. Kate Khavari brings to life 1920s academic England with such clarity and genuineness that I felt I was there on the path of a poisoner.

Saffron Everleigh is a fearless woman who is the perfect embodiment of brains and looks and curiosity needed to solve a mystery. The description of the struggles at the time of being a woman in university is well touched upon and delicately discussed. Her partner in solving the mystery was an ode to the type of man that most women would swoon at and I found myself falling a little for Alexander Ashton. Haunted by the war, he's a gentleman in the truest sense and I absolutely loved everything about him.

The plot was fast moving and kept you trying to figure the mystery out. The descriptions of the botany didn't go over your head and helped give credibility to the story. I did sort of unravel the mystery closer to the end but I truly enjoyed the build-up and the reveal. The ending really left room for more of Saffron Everleigh and I am living for it! I sincerely hope we get more mysteries for this amazing botanist to solve!

Overall I am rating this book 4 stars - simply cause I unravelled the mystery.

Set at University College of London in 1923 the story is told from the points of view of two young academics Saffron Everleigh, a young botanist, the only female on staff and World War one veteran, biologist Alexander Ashton.

After a poisoning at a facility party that neither of them particularly wanted to attend Saffron and Alexander are convinced that the police have the wrong suspect in custody and try to solve the crime usually scientific methods and a fair bit of snooping.

There are themes of sexisim, work place harassment, grief and PTSD.

I love a good historical mystery and this one ticked all the boxes...
Characters with real struggles, banter, a bit of romance....plus it has a gorgeous cover.

This review has also be posted to Goodreads and my Instagram Jenthebookishbakernz

The book will be published in June 2022 and I am already hoping that there will be a sequel. I want more of these characters.

"Saffron Everleigh is in a race against time to free her wrongly accused professor before he goes behind bars forever."
The book starts off nice and easy with a poisoning at a party, which leads Saffron to help find the poisoner.
The pace to me was very slow, and I only just read in the summary on GR that it was meant to be set in 1923. I spent the whole book looking for clues it was set then (it mentions Alexander fighting in a war, so I figured it was sometime after the first world war). She is essentially a suffragist, studying at a uni in a time when that was uncommon, but can mostly do so because she came from a very rich family (although they cut her off). It felt like a "white people problems" book, but set in England in the 20s. I love historical fiction and have read several books set in that era. This one just didn't really add anything for me. I did skim parts of it, so perhaps I missed some stuff.