A Botanist’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality is the second book in the Saffron Everleigh Mystery series by American author, Kate Khavari. Late summer 1923, and just a few months after dramatic events that see botanist Saffron Everleigh unpopular with her colleagues at University College London, she has been promoted to researcher in the Botany Department.

Her notoriously taciturn Department Head, Dr Aster has her conducting a phytotoxicology study with a noisy, messy, infuriatingly smug but attractive medical doctor, Michael Lee. Saffron and her study partner attend plant poisoning victims to interrogate, observe, take samples, and try to determine the botanical culprit.

But then Inspector Green turns up wanting what he surprisingly, given their previous interactions, terms Saffron’s “unique insight that could prove to be helpful” into two baffling murders. In each case, the dead woman has received a very unusual bouquet. And while the bouquets contain a number of poisonous plants, they are not the cause of death.

Saffron’s research leads her into the field of floriography, the Victorian tradition of secret messages via bouquets, which only provides vague clues, and what else might link these wealthy women is a mystery.

With the upper crust closing ranks against the police, Saffron sees that her own background as the granddaughter of a viscount might give her an entry with the friends of the younger victim, to gain important information. This entails several visits to a jazz club, being at the exclusive party of Lord Vale, a theatre attendance, a trawl through newspaper archives, and a visit to an upmarket fashion house, occasionally under the alias of Sally Eversby.

As the nephew of Lord Chamberlain, and with a fascination for the cases, Michael Lee is the perfect partner for some of these outings, and takes it upon himself to illegally enter and search the flat of one of the suspects.

The series needs to be read in order as there are massive spoilers for book one within. This instalment features a love triangle, some grisly murders, discrimination based on gender, race and wealth, shell shock, quite a lot of drug use and, of course, many, many flowers. There are several red herrings and distractions before the dramatic climax and reveal.

Khavari captures the era well, and her characters are mostly appealing, except when they’re villains. Saffron is a very principled young woman who sticks to her values despite pressure from the men around her. Some parts feel a bit like melodrama on steroids, but this is, mostly, a fairly enjoyable cosy mystery.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books.

Historical mystery with a bit of romance; I love this series (this is book 2) and think the cover art is gorgeous!
Saffron Everleigh is an intelligent young woman, intent on pursuing a career in botany despite the fact that, in London in the 1920's, women are still not widely welcome in academia. Everleigh has, however, been provided an opportunity to work with a young medical doctor, Michael Lee, on a research study that has them traveling the countryside to respond to and investigate reports of poisoning. Detective Inspector Green (introduced in book 1) shows up at their office one day, looking for Everleigh to consult on a puzzling case where murder victims were sent strange bouquets; he is hoping she can help him identify the flowers in case they can provide a clue to the identity of the murderer. Everleigh wants to do more to help, though, and soon she and Lee are working together, using their society connections to try to infiltrate the circle of friends of one of the victims. Although I did suspect the right person early on, there were plenty of red herrings and left turns to keep me unsure. I especially like Saffron Everleigh and how her character has grown more confident since book 1. The epilogue sets up book 3 and I can't wait!

(4.5 rounded up)

I received a complimentary ARC copy of A Botanist’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality (A Saffron Everleigh Mystery #2) by Kate Khavari from Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books in order to read and give an honest review.

… An intriguing, well-written, fast-paced mystery, replete with compelling characters, intriguing plotlines and rich historical details that transport the reader to Victorian London…

They say that things come in threes and when three brutal murders come with a message sent in bouquets to the victims, Saffron is called in to consult with Detective Inspector Green of the London Police. Saffron uses floriography to uncover hidden messages contained in each bouquet, hoping to figure out what message the murderer is sending. With a new promotion at the University and a new partner, Dr Michael Lee, a medical doctor, they are tasked to study, identify, and catalog poisonous plants. Although the two have a challenging rapport they manage to work well together. With Alexander Ashton, Saffron’s love interest on his Amazonian expedition Saffron is throwing herself into work to keep from missing him. When offered the opportunity to play sleuth Saffron tackles the case taking her into the seedy playground of the rich and famous of London society, with drugs, danger and puts her directly in the crosshairs of a murderer.

I found I enjoyed this one more than the first and the love-hate relationship with her new partner Dr. Lee humorous to say the least. I love Saffron, a brilliant, quirky, and brave woman, who thrives in a misogynistic setting she is a character to admire. Although it tends to drag a bit in the middle it more than makes up for it with a nail-biting climax. An intriguing, well-written, fast-paced mystery, replete with compelling characters, intriguing plotlines and rich historical details that transport the reader to Victorian London. It is definitely a page-turning historical mystery that keeps the reader engaged and I cannot wait to read more about Saffron’s adventures! I highly recommend it.

I love this series
Little lame with the stupid love triangle, but the story is still good in spite of it

I remember having enjoyed the first book when it was released last year. So when I began this one, I felt like something was wrong.
I had to dig into the first book to grab what I had forgotten.
The first book was told from Saffron and her potential beau Alexander, a colleague sort of turned suitor, even if things were left on a hiatus as he was leaving for a scientific expedition, and he has been absent since.
Why I was confused about Michael Lee.
So once I established that Lee, was not Saffron’s partner from the previous book, I was able to understand their dynamic better.
After, when Alexander returns, there is a sort of love triangle in the making, which is not something I saw coming and certainly does not enjoy as it is the one trope in romance I avoid at all cost.
Luckily this book is more a mystery than a romance, so I could overcome this part of the story, and focus more on Saffron as she finds her mantle, confirming she wants to help with her knowledge to solve problems or enigmas.
So until Alexander’s come back, I thought the narrative would be only told from Saffron’s perspective. I was wrong as Michael adds his voice to the plot.
Even if I was disappointed Alexander was absent for most of the story, and his relationship with Saffron gets quite a set-back, Michael was fun and likable, having set a study of Saffron’s persona and enjoying poking her any time he was able.

This mystery is complexe and was interesting to see unraveled, plus it is set outside the confines of the University, giving them the opportunity to explore the nightlife of the roaring twenties London and the different murders settings.
And this time, Saffron is a voluntary participant in the investigation, having been approached by Detective Inspector Green, even if she was not tasked to find clues, she was set on helping.
4.5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

4.25/5⭐️

This is second in the Saffron Everleigh historical mystery series set in 1920s London.

As a botany research assistant at university, Saffron has had to prove herself in a male-dominated workplace. She is involved in her first research assignment with Dr. Michael Lee when a series of murders with various floral bouquets left behind pulls her into assisting the police with clues. She and Lee ingratiate themselves with a victim’s fast friends and discover secrets/surprises.

I enjoyed this story! Saffron is a lovable character, and Lee and her roommate Elizabeth provide lots of comic relief. There’s a bit of a love triangle that emerges and though I was a bit disappointed in our heroine’s back and forth, I’m looking forward to seeing if that’s really resolved and what she gets up to in her next adventure.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing the free early arc of A Botanist’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality. The opinions are strictly my own.

Well THAT was unexpected. And fantastic. WHAT a great read. Saffron is a great MC and I love her perseverance and pluck and determination. Lee is the perfect foil for her and while I despise a love triangle, I can see this one only because Alexander was in book 1 and then left with no words of promise or love, so when Lee enters the picture...well, in this case, I can just see how and why it happens [though I hope it doesn't meander on and on - Saffron is a better MC than that and deserves more than a shoddy love triangle]. I like Alexander, but my GOSH that man needs some help. Seriously.

The whole mystery was just that for me - a mystery. I was completely snowed and even at the end/reveal, I was [and still am not] sure exactly what happened and just who the killer was. I mean I know, but....

It was a glorious read and I am fully in love with this series. SO. WELL. DONE.

I was lucky enough to also get an audiobook ARC for this and it was just fantastic. Jodie Harris is an outstanding narrator and truly brings this whole book to life; I know I have enjoyed this series even more because of the narration. I highly recommend listening to these books - it is a really great experience.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Khavari, Jodie Harris - Narrator, Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media for providing the audiobook and eBook ARCS in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Potions - so I was elated to see Saffron Everleigh was at it again. While embarking on her first research study with the charming Dr. Michael Lee, Saffron finds herself working with Inspector Green to help solve possibly connected homicides in the area. All of the victims were women who received bouquets just before their deaths, and that is where Saffron’s botany expertise comes in. Each bouquet is distinct, and the language of flowers might hold clues to figuring out the murderer’s identity.

Like before, Saffron doesn’t know when to quit and finds herself revisiting the affluent society she happily left behind. Befriending the victims’ friends, Saffron, along with partner Lee begins to question who to trust. They work to piece together a timeline with clues from conversations as they traipse along with high society from the theatre to jazz clubs on the fringe of proper. Saffron and Lee find drug use has gone rampant and everyone has secrets.

A Botanist’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality is full of twists and turns and is overall a light-hearted read despite the content. It reminds me of Enola Holmes, with a clever and witty heroine hell bent on making her way in world not ready for that level of female independence. The whole love triangle between Saffron, Lee, and Alexander (from the previous book) is a little annoying and not necessary to the story, but didn’t detract me from finishing it. I wish Elizabeth, Saffron’s flatmate, had a greater role—perhaps in the next book.

thank you to Crooked Lane Books. & Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book

I found this book to be quite slow, which I am often not a fan of, including in this case. I found myself putting it down and not wanting to pick it back up. I will say that when I would finally pick it back up I didn't dislike it. I liked the setting. I did not like the love triangle.

Side note: the formatting of the eARC was honestly awful. With the page numbers and title in the middle of the pages on Kindle.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books, Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.

I absolutely loved the first book of this series, so when the opportunity came up to read the second I was full of glee and trepidation. What if the second book didn't weight up to the first? What if the fact that Saffron would not have Alexander Ashton by her side make this instalment boring? Well, I needn't have worried because this author is one talented writer and I was entertained and intrigued the entire way through.

I loved the partnership between Lee and Saffron, and the complicated relationship they had. And the mystery was so twisty that I could barely keep up.

The book is written so well that the reader finds themselves immersed completely in the post-war world, when scientific discoveries could be a double-edged sword (you'll have to read this book to find out what I mean by that) and Saffron is such a wonderful, individual and complex character that I just can't wait to find out what she does next.

Hats off to the character of Elizabeth for comic relief and the representation of a true friend. She's one I want to read more about in the future.

A great read, that I finished in one sitting. Eagerly anticipating the third.

This is the second case in which the lovely Saffron Everleigh is involved. With her partner Lee, who will not be called by his forename but only his surname, decide to become more involved in the case than was first agreed. They study the bouquets which are sent to the victims to see some sort of explanation. Still confused Saffron and Lee decide to become great actors in order to get close to the people that have been involved in the victim's lives and are suspects in the case.
Again, the pace of this mystery is steady and comical in places!. I adore Saffron Everleigh, she's a woman who knows what she wants and is determined to help the Inspector as he was the one to reach out to her in the first p!ace! . Lee is another character who has stolen my heart!. He's a cheeky little devil who adds a lot of humour to the story. He gets away with a lot!!. Of course, the team would not be complete without Elizabeth, Saffron's best friend and flat mate!. She's once again becoming involved in Saffron's life,whether it be home or work!!. I loved the conclusion. I was wrong again!.
You will find by the time you get to the end of this book, you will be desperate for the next mystery..,
I received a free ARC book for an honest review.
#Netgalley, #crookedlanebooks, #authorkkhavari.

Saffron Everleigh has worked hard, defied her family, and found success at a time and place where women were relegated to fetching coffee, typing notes, and running a home. Were it not for her hard-headed determination and brilliant mind, she’d still be doing all of those things. Instead, she is a researcher at University College with her own office and a research grant. That grant comes with a partner, Dr. Lee, who is handsome, suave, and very dedicated to medicine. Their task is to investigate poisonings from poisonous plants and to document the plant, its location, the effect on the person who was poisoned, etc. Saffron is very excited about the project because it means she’ll have a published paper before she even starts her masters program at the university.

If you read the first book, you’ll remember Inspector Green who was constantly trying to keep Saffron out of his investigation. This time, he’s come to her asking for help. It seems there have been three murders – all by different methods – but all victims received strange flower arrangements prior to or at the time of their deaths. The murders are all definitely related – but how – and what prompted these strange bouquets? The inspector is interested in having Saffron identify the plants – which she does. She also discovers the old meanings (floriography) of the different plants and passes that along as well.

Being Saffron, she also inveigles more information from the Inspector and takes it upon herself to begin investigating – even bringing a reluctant Dr. Lee into it. They trek through dingy clubs where drugs are as prevalent as alcohol, and they befriend people who have much to hide. Who among the denizens of this dark world could have wanted three people dead? Or, are they even looking in the right place?

I’m definitely a romantic and I just have to have a romance in my mysteries. I’m not sure where this series is headed in that area, but I’m ready for the male romantic lead to be settled. I’m not one for the will-they/won’t-they scenario and that is what this is so far. Yes, this is only the second book, but we should have a pretty clear view of where this is headed by now – and we don’t. I’m pretty sure Dr. Lee is currently out of the romantic picture and Ashton may or may not be. I’m guessing Ashton will be the romantic lead, especially with how the third book is set up at the end of this one – but – you never know.

As for Saffron, I have to wonder a bit about her. She is brilliant and dedicated, but she seems to be oblivious to the feelings of those around her – at least the male portion of the population. They are all supposed to be totally supportive and understanding of her, but she seems to have no clue about them. For instance – Dr. Lee wanted to drop out of the investigation – so she just got angry with him rather than wondering (or asking) what the reason was. Then, there is Ashton with PTSD and she doesn’t seem to want to make any allowances for his feelings of protectiveness or his personal battles with flashbacks. Yes, he has a real problem with actually expressing his feelings, but she doesn’t seem to care enough about him to delve into why any of that might be. While I find her mind to be very sharp, I find her heart to be a tad slow, selfish, and dull. I’m hoping that will change with the next book.

I recommend this book and this series and I hope you will enjoy it. There are plenty of twists and turns, lots of red herrings, plenty of danger for all of our characters, and a thoroughly satisfying wrap-up for the villain. Then, of course, there is the set-up for the next book and I can’t wait to see where that one leads us. BTW – you do not have to have read the first book to enjoy this one – however, I believe it will add much to your enjoyment of this book if you understand more about Saffron’s journey to get to where she is now.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was not for me. The characters are insufferable and I had no internet in getting to know more about them. I'm hoping this is a hit for someone but it was a DNF for me.

What a lovely and delightful story! Saffron Everleigh is back, ready to take on the world. She and her partner Lee have been working together collecting information on poisonous plants and their effects on people. However, inspector Green comes to her with a request for help. Women are dying after being given bouquets of flowers. It is up to her and Lee to try and find the connections. Full of surprises, you won’t want to miss this adventure! The narrator was great and the story was very well done!

In 1920s London, Saffron Everleigh, a botanist at University College is in a better place than she was a few months ago after her near death from poisoning. Her lecherous and corrupt Head of Department, Dr Berking is in prison and has been replaced with Dr Aster, who treats her, the only female researcher in the Botany department, with more respect. Not only does she have a promotion and an office but he has assigned her a research project to carry out alongside a doctor, looking at cases of poisoning by plants in the community. Dr Michael Lee is currently sharing her office while they work on the project together over the summer break, following up reports of poisoning from contact with plants. Dr Lee collects information on the symptoms while Saffron identifies the plant responsible.

Dr Lee is both handsome and charming, however Saffron often finds him annoying as he is less serious about the study than she is, keeps a very messy desk and doesn’t like paper work. She is also missing Alexander Ashton with whom she shared the beginnings of a romance when they previously uncovered a poisoner. He is still away on the department’s field trip to Brazil where she hopes he is also collecting a list of plants to bring back for her.

When Inspector Green contacts her to ask her to look at bouquets of flowers sent to two murdered women before their deaths, she notices some unusual choices of poisonous flowers in the bouquets. Some sleuthing into the Victorian meaning of flowers (floriography) unveils messages being sent to the women, possibly giving the reasons they were murdered. Together with Saffron’s friend Elizabeth, Lee and Saffron decide to get close to the friends of one of the murdered women, who spend their time with an unusual wealthy clique, known to frequent the fast and flashy Blue Room jazz club.

This sequel to ‘A Botanists Guide to Parties and Poisons’ is another twisty mystery. The plot is a slow burn, carefully constructed with a number of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing to the end. The historical era works well, with a good feel for the structure of society and the hedonism of the time between world wars, as well as the restrictions Saffron faces as a woman in an academic world dominated by men. Saffron is an unusual protagonist for the era; a strong minded and independent woman who has shrugged off her place in high society and is courageous enough to take on the role of amateur detective and put herself in danger. Although, she finds Lee’s easy charm and cheekiness annoying, the chemistry between them is hard to deny and she finds herself caught in the middle of a love triangle when Alexander returns unexpectedly early from Brazil. The end of the novel sees Saffron contemplating the important decisions she will have to make about her future life and work. Recommended to all those who enjoy a historical mystery with a touch of romance.

A Botanist’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality is a great historical mystery with a plant-y twist.

This book intrigued me when I stumbled upon it on NetGalley. I love a good mystery and, in particular, historical mysteries. This is the second book in the Saffron Everleigh Mystery, # 2 series. If you are like me and haven’t read the first book in the series, you might feel a little lost in the first few chapters. It took me a few chapters to get my bearings in Saffron’s world and understand who is who and what has happened leading up to this book. But once I felt settled, I enjoyed the story, its characters, and the mystery Saffron is trying to solve. First, I have to say how much I love that this book takes place in the 1920's. It's such a unique time period to visit and one that I don’t get to spend too much time in. In this book Saffron and her new colleague Michael find themselves investigating different poisoning cases throughout England. These smaller poisoning cases were an interesting side story to the overall book. Sometimes I forget how toxic plants can be, and I found myself interested in learning all about these poisonous plants.

The main mystery follows the death of several women who have all received a deadly flower bouquet before their untimely demise. Saffron has been called in to help figure out the significance of the flower bouquet in these murders. The main mystery itself was intriguing enough. However, sometimes it got lost in the overall story, and the story itself lost focus at times. It made it hard to keep track of what was going on. It was incredibly clever and unique to add in the flower component to the main mystery. Saffron dives deep into flower language and uncovers the message the killer sent their victims through flowers.

One of the highlights of this book was the interactions between Saffron and Michael. Their banter and chemistry were addictive, and I wish they had spent more time together in this book. I’m hoping future books have these two spending more time together.

A Botanist’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality is an exciting and easy mystery to get lost in.

Content warning: murder, people being drugged, people being poisoned, kidnapping

Picking up after the events of A BOTANIST'S GUIDE TO PARTIES AND POISONS, readers find Saffron Everleigh sharing an office (reluctantly) with Dr. Lee as they work on documenting cases of people being poisoned. But because it's Saffron, but after Detective Inspector Green comes to her asking for her assistance in identifying the flowers in the bouquets that have been delivered to women who end up murdered, Saffron is pulled back into trying to track a killer (with Dr. Lee's help) before the killer finds her.

I found A BOTANIST'S GUIDE TO FLOWERS AND FATALITY a satisfying sequel with plenty of thrills to keep readers interested. The plot twists were good, I thought the overall mystery that was solved was interesting, and I loved the dynamic between Saffron and Dr. Lee. And just as things are getting complicated between Saffron and Dr. Lee, a familiar face from book one shows up again to make matters all the more complicated (and all the more enjoyable for readers).

While plot points are mostly resolved by the end, Khavari does leave readers on a bit of a cliff waiting to find out what happens next. So I'll be over here anxiously waiting for the next book in this series.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kate Khavari for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality coming out June 6, 2023. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

1920s London isn’t the best place for a smart woman with high ambitions. But research assistant Saffron Everleigh is determined to make it in a male-dominated field at the University College of London. Saffron embarks on her first official research study alongside the insufferably charming Dr. Michael Lee, traveling the countryside with him in response to reports of poisonings. But when Detective Inspector Green is given an unusual case, he asks for Saffron’s assistance.

The victims, all women, received bouquets of poisonous flowers. Digging deeper, Saffron finds out that the bouquets may be more than just unpleasant flowers— there may be a hidden message within them, revealed through the use of the old Victorian practice of floriography. A dire message, indeed, as each woman who received the flowers is now dead.

Alongside Dr. Lee and her best friend, Elizabeth, Saffron tracks numerous suspects through a swanky jazz club, a wealthy country estate, and a glittering theatre, diving deeper into a part of society she thought she’d escaped. 

Will Saffron be able to sniff out the murderer before they send their next death bouquet, or will she find herself with flowers of fatality of her own?

I actually loved this one more than the first book! I think the first book did a lot of world building and getting to know the characters, so this one felt more familiar and got right into the action. I love Saffron’s go-getting attitude. She’s trying to make a career for herself in a place that is predominantly male. This book had a bit of romance and I really loved that aspect of it. I love Lee’s character. I think he’s funny and flawed. Saffron and Lee are definitely fun together, but have their layers. I’m excited if there’s another book in the series!

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys 1920s murder mysteries!

The second Saffron Everleigh historical mystery was an engaging look at the 1920s. Saffron faces prejudice as she tries to make a place for herself as a botanist at University College in London where the old boys' network isn't eager to let her in.

She and Dr. Michael Lee are engaged in a study of poisonous plants in England. They are often sent into the countryside when accidental poisonings occur where they combine their knowledge of medicine and botany.

When Chief Inspector Green calls in Saffron to take a look at bouquets left at the scenes of murders of upper-class women, Saffron is drawn into her second police investigation. The first one (A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poison) almost killed her but her curiosity has been aroused and so has her desire to help. Saffron realizes that the flowers are conveying messages in the old Victorian floriography language, and the messages are chilling.

Saffron and Lee soon find themselves visiting the jazz clubs the victims frequented. The clubs are filled with upper class people or those who are hangers-on who are drinking and taking drugs and generally trying to have a good time. They find a range of suspects as they try to unravel the clues to who wanted each victim dead.

Saffron is also dealing with man troubles. She has started to like Lee despite his messy habits and bonhomie. But she is also still corresponding with Alexander Ashton who was her partner in her first investigation and who is currently on an expedition to the Amazon. When Alexander returns, her man troubles escalate but both men are there at the story's climactic moments.

I enjoyed this mystery. I thought the setting was well-developed. I liked Saffron's determination to solve the mystery and build her own career. I also liked the preview to Saffron's next case provided by the ending of the story when Alexander's brother comes to him with a problem. I really want to know what happens next.

Still enjoying this series, I’m happy to say. I was unsure about the introduction of a new romantic option for Saffron, bringing a love triangle into the story, but Lee grew on me - and Ashton, unfortunately, did the opposite. (Let a girl investigate dangerous crime if she wants to, man!)

The mystery plot is a little sloppier than the first book but still worked pretty well for me, and the whole story, whether focused on murders, romance, or good old poisonous plants, kept me engaged from beginning to end. Looking forward to book 3 (which is pretty starkly set up at the end of this one)!

Thank you to the publisher for the advance review copy!