A Botanists Guide to Flowers and Fatality, by Kate Khavari
Published: 6th June 2023
Rating:4/5
Saffron Everleigh is my hero. Working as a researcher for the Botany Department at University College London, she is summoned to help the police in a series of strange murders. The victims are all sent curious bouquets of poisonous flowers a day before being murdered. Everleigh and her handsome new research partner, Dr Lee, must decipher the meanings behind the banquets and solve the murders before anyone else dies. It is a wildly exciting tale, and just as good as the first in the series. I love Khavari's descriptions of post-war London, and the elitist social circles of that period. She tells a brilliant story, and it really is impossible to guess who the killer is. Her characters are so unique, and really well portrayed. You can really see and hear each of their quirks as you read. I loved it :) cannot wait for the next!

4.5/5 stars! I am obsessed with this cover. It is so pretty. I loved this historical mystery novel. I am a fan of poison in stories so I was drawn to this tale. Saffron is hands down my favorite character. She is whip-smart and determined in a time when women were rarely granted permission to be either. I hadn't realized this was the second book in the series and I will absolutely be going back to read the first, although it doesn't seem needed to follow this storyline. The book was so intelligent and expertly crafted. Will 1000% be looking for the next book in this series.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

I was a big fan of the first installment and was really looking forward to this book, but unfortunately it didn’t quite meet my expectations.
Saffron is investigating again, after several murder victims received a bouquet of poisonous flowers. Inspector Green is asking for her consultation on those bouquets, but that’s where the story kind of lost me. After this first consultation Saffrons part was done and I found it quite unrealistic how she forced herself into the investigation and the Inspector just let her. Overall, for me, the beginning of this book was also really slow, and I wasn’t a big fan of the love triangle.
I still really liked the setting of a female researcher at a male dominated university and the botany aspects of the book are great (altough unfortunately there weren’t as much as in the first book). Saffron is a strong character and her determination to solve the case is admirable.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and the author Kate Khavari for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A nice follow up to Kate Khavari’s debut novel. The book started a bit slowly, but Saffron really came into her own as it progressed. I really appreciate the growth of the main character and those surrounding her. I look forward to the next adventure, and her further exploration of what it means to be a botanist, an academic, an investigator, a friend, a companion, and a modern woman.

This book is well written and keeps you guessing all the way through. There were many points where I thought I had it figured out but I never would have guessed the ending. You cannot help but fall in love with Saffron and Dr. Lee.

It was kinda interesting although I was expecting much more elaboration on the topic of botany. It is more focused on resolving a crime and the relations between the characters than the crime's link with flowers.

The setting is what kept me interested as it's the early 1920s and part of the plot is still influenced by the Victorian era.

I have to say that I saw the end coming from half of the book onwards and the inclusion of the love triangle was not really for me as I didn't connect with any of them.

One of the good aspects is the female protagonist that is quite independent and throughout the story she remains so and, at a point, she states that she will not lose what she has worked for or change her plans for anyone. I think she is the strongest asset.

I love this series. Might be my new favorite. The characters and plot jump off the page. I am thoroughly obessed with it!

I loved the first installment of Khavari's series),and had no doubt I would enjoy this one. Saffron is back with a new mystery to solve and the stakes are far higher than before. In Saffron, we see more growth and more of her back story, as well as that of Eliza's and in the end, Alexander's. Khavari introduces us to a new character, Lee, whom I personally adored. He was the perfect balance of pompous ass and bumbling, unsure heartthrob. And Saffron is caught in his web well before she knows it! The atmosphere of this book, from the smoke thick Blue Room, to the crime scenes and archaic academia of 1920s University College London, is spot on. Khavari does an excellent job of weaving classic tea cozy/murder mystery, with a contemporary heroin whose shoes we all want to wear. At least, sometimes. Fantastic sophomore book.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!
I would give this book a 3 - 3.5 out of 5
I thought that this book looked interesting, so I found the first instalment at my local library to read before I started it.
If you or your readers liked the first book, you should like this one too. I would like to say that I struggled with the first book - I found the presentation and the characters poorly written and unrealistic.
This book is a huge improvement in plotting, character development and style (maybe there was an experienced editor at work?)
The main character, Saffron, has, I guess, gotten a promotion, since her supervisor (from the first book) is on indefinite leave. Her kinda boyfriend, from the first book, is on an expedition to South America. A new love interest is added, a guy she clashes with professionally.
The stern police inspector has decided that while he still finds her annoying, her botanical knowledge might be useful for a puzzling case he has.
Saffron, of course, must gather her friends together and investigate on her own.
I found that the point of her as protagonist, her being a botanist, got kinda lost as the book carried on. So the 'mystery' part of the book was pretty rote. The characters are getting more interesting - I particularly like 'the roommate' - and I like that Saffron is struggling with questions about who, if anyone, she wants to date (both of her men friends are fairly chauvinistic).
I hope that this author continues to improve, I would read a third book with interest.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Kate Khavari for the ARC!

I absolutely loved the first book and the very clever and unique story line. I was so thrilled to read A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality early!

Saffron Everleigh is back navigating a 1920s male dominated University of London, and after a promotion she is now studying the effects of local poisonings with an attractive but infuriating Dr. Lee. Soon she is paid a visit by none other than Inspector Green who is requesting her help with two murders and she is more than happy to help. Both victims received a bouquet of poisonous flowers and it's up to Saffron to find out what it means. As they begin to entertain a high stakes and dangerous crowd where nothing is what it seems, Saffron and Lee become more involved with the case and each other.

I really enjoyed this book and was happy to see the character development. I can't wait to see what happens next!

A BOTANIST'S GUIDE TO FLOWERS AND FATALITY is the second book in the Saffron Everleigh mystery series by Kate Khavari. I was impressed, from the very beginning of the book, on how much research the author must have needed to accomplish to provide so many interesting details to make it realistic. Not only were poisonous plants and flowers showcased along with their Victorian floriography (which I found fascinating), but the historical details of the 1920s as well. Ms. Khavari seamlessly wove the details into the storyline without detracting from the engaging characters and the intriguing mystery. I especially admire the protagonist, Saffron Everleigh. She’s intelligent and determined, yet has a playful side that lightens the story. Her banter with her co-researcher, Dr. Lee, and her best friend, Elizabeth, brought the characters to life. My only quibble is the introduction of a love triangle, of which I am not a fan. It appears that it was resolved by the end of the book, but there’s a hint that makes me wonder.

The mystery itself was well-plotted and had a couple of twists and turns I didn’t see coming. Given the problem of having three vastly different women murdered within a short timeframe (and each had received a bouquet of flowers that contained sinister blooms) it wasn’t easy for Saffron or the police to narrow down a list of suspects. Ms. Khavari adroitly builds upon the clues and created a clever mystery that kept me turning pages while trying to suss out the killer. This highly entertaining book has me eagerly waiting for the third in the series, especially with the epilogue teaser in A Botanist’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality!

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In her second outing, Saffron is consulted by the police about flower arrangements found as the homes of murdered women. Eager to help, she gains the assistance of a handsome young doctor and together the risk their lives.

Going into this book with really high expectations because I absolutely loved a Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons, this one fell a bit short for me.

I think it’s really nice how Saffron gets to determine her own path in this book and is given the opportunity to officially assist the police in a murder case, how she remains true to herself and dares to defy the others around her. Unfortunately, the strong focus on the police investigation was at the expense of the botanical side and more in depth development of the rest of the story. Even though Saffron is called upon because of her botanical expertise, this only comes up briefly a few times in the book. I had hoped to simultaneously see a bit more of her own research at the University, and more generally the way things are going there. However, there is a strong focus on the social aspect of the police investigation on the one hand (even though she isn’t supposed to look into that part), and her relationship with Lee on the other. I get why these pieces also play an important role, but I regret it had to come at the expanse of such other great things (in my opinion, the mystery and the plot twists were also better planned and executed in a Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons). The same goes for the character development, I get the feeling that Saffron’s personal development remains rather a status quo (except for one scene at the end of the book). In addition, there is also a love triangle built into the story that I really felt was put in to make something happen in the story rather than because it really fit. I also missed the engaging and witty dialogues that were more prevalent in a Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons, but this may be due to the fact that both Elizabeth and Alexander play less prominent roles in most of a Botanist’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality. Hopefully they’ll get bigger parts in the next instalment. The pacing at the beginning was also a little bit too slow, but at the end it was really impossible to put this book away because of the fast paced developments.

On the positive side, I again really enjoyed Kate Khavari’s writing style, it’s a real pleasure to read anything she has written. In addition, with Saffron she also establishes a strong character around whom several more books could be written, there is a lot of potential in her story. The multiple POV's were also a real added value. And the title and the cover, both are just gorgeous!

So all things considered, I certainly didn't think this was a bad book, I was just a little disappointed in several parts due to my high expectations. Notwithstanding, I do look forward to how the series will continue to evolve and what plot twists Kate Khavari still has in store for Saffron and her readers.

3.5/5 ⭐

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the eARC.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for a chance to review this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book 2 in this new series by Kate Khavari.

I love seeing how authors flesh out their characters. Saffron is a colorful (see what I did there) character. A young lady, turning her back on her posh upbringing to attend university and become a research assistant while she works on her master's. All this while in the 20s, after the great war.

The author has done a great job of researching the period, including touching upon PTSD and how women were treated in 1920s England.

The mysteries are good, and they keep you guessing. I did figure out who the culprit was, but not the level of deceit by the murderer. This book will entertain and keep you guessing.

If you love a strong protagonist, good background info and intelligent plots, this book, and this series will keep you coming back for more

I had high hopes for this book after the first one, but I dnf it after the first 30%. It just wasn't for me. I still like Saffron and found Lee to be a much more interesting love interest than Alexander. The 1920's setting was fantastic and I loved the bits about the poisonous plants. I especially liked the beginning of the book when Saffron and Lee help the little boy and to me the story would have made more sense if the mystery had emanated from that event because I had a big problem with the story: WHY did Saffron need to start investigating? After naming the poisonous flowers in the bouquet, she had absolutely nothing to do with the murders, and that the police let her investigate was just unrealistic. Saffron just appeard annoyingly nosy and I could look past that.

Thank you Netgalley for providing an Ecopy of The Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality!

I'm surprised by how good and underrated this read is! It has the perfect blend of mystery and romance with the 1920s setting.

Saffron is such an intelligent and independent character which I admire, she's being involved to help in solving a few murder cases where a bouquet of flowers with black ribbon were left/sent to the victims. As a botanist and someone who comprehend the language of flowers, Saffron assist Detective Green to decipher the meaning behind each bouquet.


It's the perfect murder mystery to cuddle up and read on a rainy/cozy day!

The second installment in the Saffron Everleigh series is engaging and intriguing. Saffron is smart, independent and capable of making her way in a world that isn’t ready to see her as an equal. This mystery keeps you guessing, and has you rooting for Saffron and her partner (romantic??) to solve the crime. Surprises abound but our intrepid hero won’t be kept down!

I absolutely adore Saffron Everleigh! I was so excited to be able to read an ARC of A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality - the second book in this series. I love the idea of Saffron using her knowledge of botany and the symbolic meanings of flowers to solve murders. And the interaction with her two potential love interests was just enough of a hint of romance without taking over the whole story line. I look forward to reading more of Saffron's adventures in the future.

An intriguing and fast paced second book in the Saffron Everleigh historical mystery series. 1920’s London…Saffron has been named a researcher in the Botany Dept at University College. She’s still not accepted by the crusty old men in her Department, her colleague and “man of interest” Alexander Ashton is off on a months long expedition to the Amazon and she has a testy relationship with her partner, the habitual flirter, Dr. Michael Lee, in a new study about the impact of toxic plants on human health. Her old pal, Detective Green asks her to consult on a difficult multiple murder case because the victims were each sent an unusual bouquet of flowers before they were killed. Lee and Everleigh become entangled in a group of hedonistic young people who use alcohol and cocaine and dance to Jazz all night…and may or may not include a killer.
Lots of great atmosphere, fascinating characters and a very surprising ending. Looking forward to the next installment…Saffron’s next investigation and advancement of her career and personal life.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Saffron Everleigh, botanist, aspiring detective, is spunky. She has the air of many women in spaces that are traditionally male dominated, in the best way. She’s sarcastic and intelligent and stubborn. And she wants adventure. So when a request for help from the local police department pulls her away from her study on poisons with the attractive Dr. Lee, she juggles both. Following the clues on a case with mysterious bouquets of poisonous but beautiful plants Leads her deep into historical London‘s night scene. Into twisty intrigue, secret affairs and many, many parties.

Once again, the writing was fantastic. I really enjoy the detailed way the author sets the atmosphere, especially for the glamorous 1920s club scene. (I did have a huge issue with the formatting, but I think that’s because it is an ARC and I hope it won’t be there in the final version) I also really like the characters, especially the new male lead. I was surprised by that because I usually dislike love interests that are introduced later on in series. I actually like Lee better than Ashton now :) In the first book, my biggest criticism was that there was no representation for minorities whatsoever. That did change, while no lgbt character appeared in the main cast, there were many side characters, especially during the parties, that were queer. I really appreciated that. The language used there wasn’t negative, but it was a bit strange. Im sure it’s historically accurate but it did rub me the wrong way a few times.
The mystery was exquisite. The bouquets were such an interesting subject and the twists were well-done and well placed. I did wonder why Saffron only really looked into one victim and then solved the other two murders „backwards“, because the choice of which victim seemed somewhat random to me. I didn’t mind much while reading though.

Overall, a fun mystery that kept me turning the pages and wondering what would happen next.