Thank you to Netgalley and Kate Khavari for an advanced copy. I quite enjoyed the book, it was a fun crime fiction, a little different from what I usually read but I enjoyed nonetheless. I liked the complexity of the characters, especially our main, Saffron. The writing style suited the atmosphere of the novel, and I really like Khavari's descriptions. The plot fell a little short - I found my attention wandering at times, but it was still enjoyable enough to finished. And a side note, beautiful cover! Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

This book was enjoyable enough but not anything outstanding, I feel because it's the first book and was a lot of introductions; I say that as I assume this is going to be a continuing series.

I felt it was quite confusing at the start and towards the end as there was rather a lot of characters and not really easy to remember who was who or how they were connected.

I did like the character of Saffron and also Alexander, even though at times he was a bit of a stuffed shirt but felt that Saffron brought him out of that. Also, I would like to see more from Saffron's friend as I don't feel we saw enough from her.

Worth a read and intrigued to read more.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Kate Khavari for the copy of this book. All views are my own.*

Honestly, I mostly requested this one because of the cover. It was like 80% cover, and 20% title. I haven't read anything by Kate Khavari but the synopsis sounded right up my alley.

I liked this book. I read it a few weeks ago and am just now writing a review. I have notes but the book wasn't super memorable. Definitely an enjoyable regency-inspired mystery / romance but nothing that really stood out. I would read more about these characters but I could also see myself being fine to leave this world and these characters alone if there were no more books.

I guess what I'm saying is this was good but not compelling in a way other mystery / romance books I've read were.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to #NetGalley for the e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari is a historical thriller with a cozy mystery feel. It is set in the roaring 1920s in London. This book is a combination of character driven as well as plot driven. The characters are well developed and relatable. There is a bit of a romantic vibe throughout the novel. I loved the blending of the botany and crime. I learned a bit along the way. I highly recommend this book. I can't wait for the second installment.

I feel in love with "A Botanists Guide to Parties and Poisons" cover before I even read the blurb.
Kate Khavari takes us to post war 1923 London City university life, of professors and their supporting staff. Saffron Everleigh is a research assistant following in her fathers footsteps, studying botany. Her father sadly died in the war but his legacy surrounds Saff, as she tries to fit in with the elite academics. She even has to borrow a suitable dress to wear to a party.....that becomes the setting of a poisoning.
Saffron is young and inquisitive and sets herself on the road to solving this case....putting herself at certain risk of harm.
This is the first in a series of Saffron Everleigh Mysteries. I enjoyed the thought provoking twists and turns, with hint of a burgening romance.
And look forward to the next instalment. It will be hard to match up to the quality of "A Botanists Guide to Parties and Poisons" inventive use of toxic plants in a combination of cozy mysteries and historical fiction.
Thank you Crooked Lane Books, NetGalley and Kate Khavari for my copy of murder mystery.

I think I hoped for more based on the title. This book is a cute little mystery set in the 1920s, where a young woman, aspiring botanist, finds herself needing to solve whether her mentor poisoned someone. Along the way she flirts and seeks help from a dashing biologist dealing with shell shock. The characters were cute, with lots of potential. The book hit all the necessary points to progress. It was easy to read, I just wanted a little more depth.

Kate Khavari introduces Saffron Everleigh, research assistant in 1923 University College, who gets involved in defending her professor after he is arrested for poisoning Professor Henry's wife at a faculty party in A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons. Saffron works with researcher Alexander Ashton to find out who did the poisoning and who was embezzling funds from a research expedition to the Amazon. Unusual for Saffron to land a research position. Interesting intrigue. Lots of suspects. Have fun with this historical whodunit.

Who poisoned Mrs. Henry?
Mrs. Henry collapsed after taking a swallow from her drink and from the beginning the novel I was hooked, plus it was a short novel, which is nice after a much longer book.
The novel opens up at the University of London where Saffron was an assistant , which in itself was an uncommon occurrence for a female. During the dinner party, Mrs. Henry collapsed after taking a swallow from her drink. Dr. Maxwell,, who was Saffron's mentor, was considered the main suspect in the murder of Mrs. Henry. Thus Saffron was driven to prove her mentor innocent.
I am a word nerd, and I enjoyed the Latin words sprinkled throughout the novel. The word lookup feature with my Kindle was a useful tool in researching the vocabulary. Along with the fabulous vocabulary, the novel was character driven, which was another feature of the book that I enjoyed, I found was able to visualize the characters, which made them seem real.
. It took all my willpower not to jump to the last chapter, this was an edge to your seat novel. I plan on adding more of Kate Khavan's other novels to my library and I would recommend reading this novel with the Kindle app, i implemented the word lookup throughout the book.
Thank you Kate Khavan, NetGalley, and Crooked Lane publishing for the privilege of reading this novel and I wrote an honest review.

This mystery series debut is a lot of fun. Research assistant Saffron Everleigh dons her sleuthing cap when one of the University College of London’s professor’s wives is poisoned at a party and Saffron’s mentor Professor Maxwell becomes the prime suspect. With the help of fellow researcher Alexander Ashton, the pair sets out to find the real killer and clear Maxwell’s name.

I really enjoyed my time with Saffron and Alexander. They make a good pair; he balances her sometimes impulsive behavior. The author handles some weighty subjects, such as workplace sexual harassment and PTSD, with a deft hand. The 1920’s London setting is a wonderful escape, and I felt an authentic sense of time and place while immersed in the tale. The backdrop of academia allows for quirky and interesting characters. The story is told from alternating perspectives (Saffron and Alexander), and this helped keep the story moving along though the pace does drag a bit at times.

A BOTANIST’S GUIDE TO PARTIES AND POISONS combines historical fiction, mystery, and romance with great success making for a fantastic read. I look forward to more adventures featuring Saffron and Alexander. Highly recommended.

I received an ARC of this title from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.

I don’t know why it took me so long to read this. I’m not usually a fan of mysteries so that’s probably why. Saffron was very relatable to me. I loved how straightforward she was. Really enjoyed this for me not usually liking this genre.

I honestly don’t know what drew me to this book while I was browsing NetGalley one day. Perhaps it was the title or the description, however, it could have been the cover. It was a beautiful cover with a glass jar and flowers. If I had to guess it was a mixture of all three. I couldn’t wait to start this book, however, family emergencies popped up and I had to bump this book so I could deal with those. When I actually got started with the book I didn’t wait to stop reading it.

Saffron is an oddity. She is a woman working in a man’s world. She is a research assistant in the Botany Department at a university. She is struggling to find footing. That all changes when the Professor she works under gets arrested for attempted murder that she witness while at a party. Her life gets topsy turvy from here on out. I really loved this book. Although, one thing that really bothered me the entire book is that they call her Saffron the entire book. Not once did the shorten it to Saffie or Saf. They didn’t have to but that just seems like the natural way that one would go especially as she starts a slightly flirty turned romantic relationship with the male character. I did really enjoy this book, I just felt that was odd. It reminded me of a Agatha Christie mystery with a cozy mystery twist with a clean romantic edge to it.

I loved the twists at the end with the two bad guys. I guess I didn’t even have the one guy even on my radar. He was just kind of there. I enjoyed the banter that the two main characters had. They did have me giggling and I was so happy when the author actually gave them a chance romantically. I appreciated the fact that Saffron had a best friend that knew something was amiss even when she only was missing for a few hours at the time of her reporting it to the police. I hoping with the way the story ended that we will get a sequel. I have questions that need to be answered at the end of all this!!!

I read a lot of cozy mysteries and a lot of historical fiction. This combined both my favorite types of books in the most delightful way. Plus, a lot of what Saffron, our enigmatic protagonist, is dealing with was so relatable despite the time period being so removed from our present day. It was a fun read from start to finish and I walked away wondering if I should learn more about botany. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

While attending a party for the university, research assistant Saffron Everleigh hopes to discuss the upcoming expedition to the Amazon, and be taken seriously by her colleagues. What no one expects is for one of the party guests to be poisoned!

A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons is the first in a STEMinist mystery series by author Kate Khavari.

I love a good historical mystery from time to time. I may never guess who dunnit, but I enjoy the ride. I will definitely continue with this series as it comes out!

I really enjoyed this murder mystery set in London a few years after the Great War. Saffron was a great main character-quirky and stubborn and bucking typical convention for a young woman of her time. Alexander was intriguing and a perfect match for Saffron's wits and intellect. I'm looking forward to reading more stories set in this setting.

Saffron Everleigh is a woman pioneering in Botany where woman have rarely been allowed before. She must face condescension, belittling, and pressure for intimate favors by her male scientific brothers. She is tough, but can she figure out who the killer is and avoid being poisoned herself? Alexander Ashton is accepting of Saffron and compliments her temperment well as a friend and potential romantic interest. Dr. Maxwell is a dear character and I hope he is in future adventures.

Miss Khavari's style makes this a delightful story. The plot is just twisty enough - apparently academia can be deadly! The acadmeic life are realistically fleshed out along with the trials of women at the time. The climax is nail biting and thrilling, just the way I love it. I highly recommend for anybody who enjoys historical mysteries, this is an author to remember.

Rating: Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend.

2.5 ⭐️
I’d be lying if I said I don’t judge a book by it’s cover (or should that be the other way around??!) - I totally do, and this one is beautiful! But I know, I’m supposed to be taking about the content, not the art! Cute historical cosy mystery which isn’t necessarily my cup of tea, and so it didn’t quite hit the spot for me.

Set in 1923, we’re introduced to Saffron Everleigh, the only female botanist on campus at University College, London. This was a great time and setting for the book, as Saffron had a hard fitting in and being ale seriously in this male world. I liked how forceful, spirited and stubborn she was, both in fitting into the department, and in trying to solve the inevitable murder. Strong Agatha Christie vibes here for me! While I feel like the book got off to a strong start, I struggled to make a connection with any of the characters.
It was a light and easy read but I probably wouldn’t go back for more.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an ARC!

The wonderful mystery A Botanist’s Guide To Parties and Poisons is set in 1923 at the University College of London. Saffron Everleigh is a new botany research assistant at the university, and her father was on faculty there before he perished during World War I. She is the lone female in a misogynistic old boys’ club more interested in harassing her than accepting her as a legitimate researcher.

Saffron attends a university reception in honor of the upcoming Amazon research expedition led by Dr. Henry. The celebration takes a disastrous turn when Mrs. Henry collapses after being poisoned. When Saffron’s mentor Dr. Maxwell is considered the prime suspect, she enlists the help of researcher Alexander Ashton to prove Maxwell’s innocence. Was Mrs. Henry the intended victim? Who poisoned her? Will the expedition leave and possibly allow the poisoner to escape prosecution?

Author Kate Khavari gets the story moving quickly and uses the time-sensitive expedition departure to generate more urgency in solving the case. Tall, dark, and handsome researcher Ashton is an excellent foil for Saffron’s impulsive and stubborn nature. No science knowledge is required for entering this botanical academia world, because Saffron is always sharing her expertise as she attempts to establish her credibility with her dismissive fellow researchers. Together, she and Ashton make an interesting pair that draws in readers.

Kate Khavari presents a delightful sleuthing pair in a fascinating tale. The book is well-paced. It was difficult to put it down, because I was eager to read what would happen next. Khavari presented enough botanical information that a reader would need to follow the story, and she incorporated it in an interesting way instead of turning it into dry textbook instruction.

I enjoyed visiting Saffron Everleigh’s world and would happily visit it again. A Botanist’s Guide To Parties and Poisons is an excellent introduction to author Kate Khavari, and I eagerly await more of her books.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy of the book.

I received A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons as an ARC through Netgalley.

Saffron is an aspiring botanist in the early 1920's in London. At a party she attends with her teaching professor, Professor Maxwell, a wife of one the prominent scientists is poisoned from drinking a glass of champagne. Everyone who attended the party becomes a suspect, but Saffron's employer is actually taken into custody.
Saffron and another collogue, Alexander Ashton, work together to try to prove Professor Maxwell's innocence. They are pressed for time as the party had in attendance the crew that is getting ready to leave for an expedition to the Amazon and the killer is among them.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery from Kate Khavari. I felt the characters were well written and the dialogue was spot on. Kate address the sexist and demeaning treatment most female scientists or any woman in a man's field would have experienced, and unfortunately still probably experience til this day.

DNF at 60%. It was just too slow. I absolutely loved the concept, but I did not love the execution. I wanted this to be more a feminist take, showing how women were working to succeed, but the story seemed to lose direction.

What I Loved
The Title. It caught my eye.

The #instagrammable Cover. It kept my gaze arrested.

What I Liked
The Silver Lining. Often, books set in the past like to depict everything as dismal, particularly when it comes to gender roles and discrimination. Of course, that’s a part of our history—and present—but there have been trailblazers, who have refused to stick to the norms. We find this book has a few such characters, both male and female. In fact, our male lead was one of the good, woke guys.

The Pacing. I like slow-burns, especially when they’re of the historical mystery genre. What’s more, I didn’t feel cheated when it all came together at the end.

The Poison. I am a botanist, so anything about plants is always welcome. I’ll say this, though, I would have loved reading about more plants than the ones mentioned in the story.

The BFF. She didn’t take any shit from anybody and tried to instill sense into her impulsive bff. I’d have liked if she had been the protagonist, instead of Ms. Fly-By-My-Pants-And-Science-Can-Go-To-Hell!

What I Didn’t Like
The Female Lead. She was shown to be a rebel—a woman scientist when the field was exclusively for the menzz. Yet, the way she behaved was impulsive, non-scientific, and idiotic! I mean, who would experiment on themselves? Why was she not following the Scientific Method? Did she want to prove the sexists right by behaving this rashly?

The way she used her feminine wiles is another reason I wanted to smack her. All the menzz liked to hit on her and objectified her, which was shown to be despicable behavior. Okay, got it. Then why could she use the same strategy on the menzz while ferreting for information?

To sum it up, I want Saffron to grow up and represent if there’s going to be a second book!

So, a mixture of good and bad, which is why I wouldn’t say no to taking a second book out for a spin.

Disclaimer
I requested this book on Netgalley, and am so glad I got to read it!