*This book was received as an Advanced Reviewer's Copy from NetGalley.

I went back and forth with how I felt about this book. There were many elements I enjoyed; botany, intrigue, a female character trying to rise through a male-dominated profession. And then were elements I didn't enjoy, namely, the romance. Overall, I'd say this one landed at about 3.5 stars for me.

Saffron, our intrepid protagonist, is an assistant at a botany department at her college. As such, she gets to assist others with their dreams and experiments, without driving much of her own. But then, at a party she attends with other faculty, someone is poisoned, and the main suspect is the professor that she works under. She knows it's not him, but how to prove it.

For a scientist, Saffron is wont to take risks and not really think things through. This made the plot drive along, but maybe didn't help her image as someone who can critically think. In fact, she had to rely on her counterpart to save the day at least. Which I didn't really want to see. Well, that and the romance just seemed kind of forced. I would have much preferred they stay friends and drive the plot that way.

I did enjoy all the talk of plants and how plant genetics worked (very brief, but hey, it's there). While I'm not going to vouch for its scientific accuracy, it was at least believable. And the thriller/mystery part of the book was fine. Not too hard to guess, not too easy either.

This was a decent book. The cover and title alone make it worth the intrigue.

Review by M. Reynard 2021

Many thanks to author Kate Khavari, to publishers Crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for the ARC of A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons. This is my honest opinion.

The first two things I noticed about this book were the beautiful cover and the name of the novel. What a perfect way to set the atmosphere for this lovely and intriguing mystery set in London in 1923, and the atmosphere is really a tangible this all through the novel!

Saffron Everleigh is a research assistant in the botany department in the University College of London. Saffron attends a fancy dinner party where a wife of one of the professors is poisoned and the blame seems to fall on her professor. Saffron is certain that her dear friend is being framed and is determined to use her extensive knowledge of botany to prove it. She infects a fellow researcher, the handsome Alexander Ashton with her enthusiastic sleuthing.

The style of writing is very well fitted to the time the story is set in, while still being just modern enough to avoid sounding tedious (although some of the wording used would not have been appropriate for England in the 1920's, but that was forgivable for me).

I loved how well researched the different aspects of the story were.
Also, some bits of the story were peppered with dry cynicism which was very fitting for the time and place.
Lastly - the romance in the book was just right.

I have never read anything by Ms. Khavari and having enjoyed this book so much, I looked her up.
In her website she writes: "I write the books I wish I could find..." I'm so glad to have found this book :)

3.5 stars-I liked this one- it just missed being a “love” for me though and I can’t quite put my finger on why. There were parts that dragged a bit but it was fairly fast paced and I enjoyed the mystery and intrigue. Saffron was a great main character and I did love her unconventional approach to living her life and taking charge!

A pleasant read set in the 1920s with the character Saffron coming across as a well rounded, personable young woman of her time. The descriptions depict the era beautifully and paint a picture that is highly believable.
My enjoyment was, however, somewhat marred by the use of American spelling for book set in England, American vocabulary (for example, we don't have sidewalks in London, we have pavements, women in Britain carry handbags not pocketbooks !) and the constant use of Saffron to designate the character. I felt a little 'tidying up' was required and this was the reason for only four stars. Apart from these personal annoyances, the book was very enjoyable.

“How on Earth did Saffron find charming information out of people so easy?” -From A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons

3 stars

Can we talk about this cover? What a dream. And the title? I HAD to read this book. I was immediately pulled into this murder mystery (without an actual murder) that made me feel I was thrown into a game of Clue. Unfortunately, the pace lagged most of the rest of the book. There also felt no real stakes, with no murder being committed. We just are wandering around the university, breaking into gardens and offices rather than do work. I would have liked to see Saffron work on more academic things- not use her “charm” to ask people questions and look over paper. She’s not really that great a detective. I didn’t feel any real romance coming off the two main characters, especially after his quick dismissal at her research project being accepted at the near end. Saffron does a lot of stupid things for the sake of plot. It still was a fairly enjoyable read with a different setting than I’m used to, but not the knockout I thought it would be when I first started reading. If you enjoy historical fiction and mysteries I would give it a go.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Botanists’s Guide to Parties and Poisons is an elegant his-mystery fic with a vivacious main character who has a mind of her own. The story is set in a post world war 1 academic setting and portrays the struggles and challenges faced by women at that period in a simplistic yet engaging manner. The way the author paints the ambition and independence of the main character throughout the plot is admirable. She is quirky yet thrives on being taken seriously as a professional academician, which hits true enough today. For a debut novel, the author definitely did a praise worthy job of making botany colorful and enjoyable. Although the story could have more potential with the pace, which seemed too drawn out and slow for the beginning 60% and rushed rather abruptly towards the end, it makes a splendid light read.
Thank you Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for this e-arc in exchange for my review!
I published this review on goodreads on September 30, 2021.

With grateful thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest opinion.
Not my normal reading but was drawn to the book by the cover a totally new author as well its quite a intriguing read I was slightly unsure in the beginning but actually really e joyed it.

3.5 stars

I really liked the character of Saffron. She came across as very realistic, with strengths and weaknesses. She and Alexander were very different types of people but seemed to balance each other well. For some reason, this wasn’t a mystery that I tried to solve, but I just went along for the ride experiencing everything right along with Saffron. This was an interesting look into 1920’s life.

Thank you Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #ABotanist’sGuidetoPartiesandPoisons

While I never thought I would use these two words together this novel is - a witty, mystery. The main character is a bit nutty with an infectious disposition. I found myself smiling as I read. The book was incredibly well-written. While I wasn’t super surprised by the ending, the journey was pretty fun. Thanks Netgalley for the ARC. I published this review on goodreads on September 29, 2021 and will publish an Amazon review closer to publication.

Truly, an enjoyable start to a new series. Kate K. is a fairly new author on the scene, but you can’t tell because the story flows so well. The characters, especially Saffron (pretty name!) and Alexander, had great presence and good chemistry. Alexander is a very layered character; he is just the right combination of mystery and allure. He was part of the element that kept me coming back for more. Saffron is a very driven lead. Who as a botanist and research assistant, is still mourning the death of her father. She was hard to get to know though, but maybe it was just my mood? But what is a series for if not to get to know them more?

I guessed about halfway through who did the crime. That's not a real big surprise, but there are some surprising twists and turns toward the end. Especially dealing with the apprehension of who committed it. (My eyebrows raised for several pages!) I enjoyed that part to the max!
Ending a book with a smile on my face and ready for more is what I love. Very much looking forward to the next book in the series.

With a name like Saffron, a life-path in botany seems like a no-brainer.

Set in London in the early 1920’s, A Botanists’s Guide to Parties and Potions is a dreamy mystery full of peculiar characters and lovable moments.

I was originally drawn to this book by the beautiful cover but the story contained behind the artwork is a masterpiece of its own.

The reader is immediately immersed in the social lives and intellectual world of research assistants and professors. We follow Saffron Everleigh and an unlikely, handsome side-kick as she tries to prove to the police and community that her beloved mentor would never use his botanical knowledge for evil, as some characters are lead to believe through a series of interrelated events.

I really enjoyed this book! While I LOVE historical fiction, I’m not necessarily one to pick up a mystery as my first-choice in genre but I devoured this story in two days.

4.5/5 - my only qualm is that I expected a bigger punch in the last few pages. Maybe we will put more pieces together about Saffron Everleigh in the future …

Highly enjoyed this one. Devoured it within a few days. Really likeable characters & easy to follow plot. It just wasn’t too memorable. Loved the witchy vibes with the potions & poisons. Would highly recommend for an easy read.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and the publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read this e-arc.

Really enjoyed this 1920s era book. Murder mystery based in the 19th and 20th century are some of my favourites and this book definitely met my expectations. The plot is excellent with great twists and turns, and some romance in their too. Also enjoyed the science and the fact that Saffron isn't afraid to follow in her fathers footsteps. Loved the tense atmosphere between the characters at the beginning an excellent set up for an attempted murder mystery book.

This book has everything I love. Murder mystery, a loveable main character and the ability to have me hooked from the start. Reading this book sent me into a world of my own that I didn’t leave until every last page was read. I really hope there will be a sequel as this book deserves that.

I enjoyed this gentle, Agatha Christie-esque story about a young female botanist working in a university during the early 1920s. The heroine Saffron deals with a range of situations including murder, misogyny and gentle romance which offer an interesting insight into the social norms within the era. The sections on poisons and plants are particularly interesting as they offer something a little different to other books of the same genre.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I am often drawn to books that have a science angle and this one had a great title so, why not? I'm so glad to say that it lived up to its promising title! The story is light, interesting, perfectly paced, easy to follow and invest in. The main character is totally likable and a personable heroine in the post-ware era which saw women breaking out of traditional roles, especially in a University setting. Just enough science to keep nerds interested and just enough nefarious people to keep the mystery junkies turning the pages. Good read! Definitely recommend and I look forward to the next installment! Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4259842593

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. Her mentor turns out to be the main suspect so Saffron takes it upon herself to find out who really committed this murder. With the help of a fellow researcher, she does just that but not without lots of red herrings, fascinating locales and interesting characters. great historical detail that just transported right back to the 1920's. I am hoping these characters show up in another mystery soon! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

3.5
Anything that references D. Raybourn as a read alike I am game to try, but nothing ever lives up to the challenge. This book would probably have been a 4 if I wasn't constantly comparing. I almost wish I had gone in with no prior perceptions. That said I hope there is a follow up, because the characters were fun and I see a lot of growth for them.

This was a fresh take on the academic mystery and was a very enjoyable romantic mystery. It was erudite, but not inaccessible ( in all its botanical detail and lore) and the protagonists were motivated enough that their detective antics were credible. . . Even if some activities seemed a bit of a stretch.

Ms. Khavari has written an historic mystery that is both entertaining and interesting. I hope she will pursue these characters in other adventures. Netgalley provided me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a candid review.