A Botanist's Guide to Society and Secrets by Kate Khavari is third installment of the Saffron Everleigh Mystery series. I've really enjoyed this series so far and this one was no exception. Saffron is thrust into yet another murder mystery to solve in this gripping plot full of unexpected twists and danger. This is a must read if you've been following Saffron on her journey so far.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is another book in the Saffron series and I really like her character. I'm this one scientists are being murdered and it's up to Saffron to discover whodunnit. I love the historical fiction aspect to this book. It's always irritating when men can't accept that a woman is smarter than them, but that's just in any time period really.

Saffron Everleigh has More Mysteries to Solve

Saffron Everleigh is back in Kate Khavari’s A Botanist’s Guide to Society and Secrets, book 3 of A Saffron Everleigh Mysteries series. As a female in 1920s England, academia in the realm of physical sciences is not the most welcoming place. Even with a pedigree of privilege and connection Saffron must continually prove that she is worthy of the positions and research she has. But her intelligence has not gone unnoticed by the people with unconventional and sometimes nefarious goals as she is drawn into solving a number of murders with suspicious ties to the British government and international groups. But challenges and struggles are hard to overcome individually which leads Saffron to rely on her roommate, Elizabeth, as well as reconnecting with her former romantic interest, Alexander Ashton, to tackle her most dangerous mystery yet.


Part of an Ongoing Series

Khavari’s continuing story of Saffron as she encounters new mysteries to solve in A Botanist’s Guide to Society and Secrets is a wonderful immersion in the classical British murder mystery style. Everything from the historical 1920s English backdrop to the mannerisms and language of the time makes for a very engaging environment for the unfolding mystery. Saffron’s mental prowess helps her to discover and unravel the clues needed to solve the murder of two scientists involved in projects that could have devastating impacts to society at large in the hands of the wrong people. But identifying those “wrong” people becomes just as much of a challenge as Saffron quickly learns. Even though I have not read the first two books in the series, I was still able to follow along and enjoy this book. However, I’m confident that it would have been an even more engaging experience if I knew the details of many of the events and relationships that this book was built upon.


Romance Evolves


A Botanists Guide to Society and Secrets was enjoyable not only because of the main storyline of a traditionally British mystery but because of the ongoing romantic tension between Saffron and Alexander. They have a history that occurred in the previous stories but is alluded to and taken to a new level in this book. Their intellectual sparring and undercurrent attraction made every scene with them delightful. I’m probably most motivated to read the first two books just to get a complete picture of their relationship and how it developed. I was also thoroughly entertained by the secondary interactions between Saffron and her best friend, Elizabeth. While significantly different in personality their loyalty and friendship was memorable. I like that Khavari seemed to be developing Elizabeth into more of a leading character, which may lead to more of her own storylines.

Series Finale

A Saffron Everleigh Mystery series ending fourth book, A Botanist’s Guide to Rituals and Revenge, is scheduled to release June 10, 2025. This gives you plenty of time to join me and start from the beginning and read this as well as books 1 and 2 in preparation. I’m confident you won’t be disappointed in Khavari’s writing style or storytelling!

I love this series, and there were so many parts of the third book that I loved! One thing I really loved? We get a firsthand look into in Saffron’s anxiety and claustrophobia. Another thing I loved? How involved Elizabeth was! Something I wanted more of? LEE. I am biased though. Utterly so. But we also got this one really, really long-awaited romantic moment, and it was so very worth the wait and perfectly placed within the story and series. Can’t wait for the fourth installment!

Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Kate Khavari for an ARC of this book.

Saffron has just gotten back from a botany conference in France. It didn't go quite the way she had hoped (sexism, sexism everywhere.) And getting back, she's still having to prove her place in the department. Luckily, Alexander is back from the Amazon and he's a bright light.

In this book, we meet some brothers. Adrian, Alexander's brother was more connected to their mother's family (more Greek) while Alexander tended more toward their English father's lifestyle. He seems to be a part of the hard partying Bright Young Things.
Also hard partying? Saffron's friend and roommate Eliza. She also has a long-lost brother showing up out of the blue. Nicholas is even more mysterious. He didn't show up for their brother's funeral (Saffron's sweetheart) but he's here now and asking Saffron for help. But his question isn't as innocent as it appears and suddenly Saffron, Alexander, Eliza, and Nicholas are all in danger.
Apparently everyone who meets her is just smitten by Saffron. No. Nearly every time she meets someone male they are overly interested in her. I think I'll try another book in the series but I'm almost ready to let this one go. In addition to the "everyone falls in love with Saffron", there are some reaches to get her involved in the mystery though at least one of the new characters may add some ways in.

Three stars
This book came out June 4, 2024
Saffron Everleigh Mysteries #3
Follows A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality
Followed by A Botanist's Guide to Rituals and Revenge
Borrowed as audiobook from Libby
Opinions are my own

Gosh do I love plants! I just adore when two of my loves come together in a fantastic and mysterious way. Great read!

I look forward to reading each consecutive book in the Saffron Everleigh series immediately after finishing its predecessor. A Botanist's Guide to Society and Secrets is no different - I was captivated the entire time reading this, and cannot wait until the next book is launched! This book involves intrigue and romance, a perfect combination in my mind.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Kate Khavari's series featuring botanist Saffron Everleigh just keeps getting better with this third installment.

Saffron begins this book in a state of upheaval. Her sort-of sweetheart has returned from a long expedition, but the road to reunion has not been smooth. Saffron herself has been at a conference in Paris and has again been faced with an offer of employment with the government. Again, she has turned the offer down, fearing that her research will be weaponized. The interwar period in which this is set makes this a particular concern.

Saffron continues to figure herself out as a character in this installment of the series. I was pleased to see that Khavari has chosen to not stick her in the middle of an unnecessary love triangle, and it is clear that she and Alexander, while still spiky with each other, care deeply for one another. Alexander pulls her into another potentially risky puzzle-solving adventure when his brother becomes the prime suspect in a mysterious death. Saffron's adorable roommate Elizabeth gets a bigger role in this book along with her less-than-savoury older brother who, it quickly becomes clear, is part of the interwoven threads around government research.

I enjoyed this one. It deals with important themes from the time period, including sexism, racism, PTSD and that lingering sense of tension that perhaps the Great War wasn't the war to end all wars.

I've been enjoying the Saffron Everleigh Mysteries from book one and this third entry does not disappoint. Saffron is pulled into an investigation of two mysterious deaths that could be murder or could be accidental. Both worked at a botanical compound experimenting with plants for use in war. We are post-WWI and she has an ongoing concern that her deceased father was part of a war effort to modify plants to make them more toxic. While Saffron usually shies away from government work to avoid the ethical dilemma of how her work might be used, she takes a job at the compound to suss out the people and the possibility some plant was used to kill the victims.

Also involved is her childhood friend/roommate Elizabeth whose brother Nick has popped up in London. Nick obviously has a secret job and the jury is out on whether Nick is naughty or nice. Saffron's on again off again love interest, Alexander is kind of in the picture as his brother and is the reason she got involved initially in this mystery. Nick and Alexander seem to have met before and seem not to be besties. Lee, now a medical doctor, remains a friend. Along the way, we meet gangsters, get a peek at secret London nightlife and continue to follow the plight of being a woman working in a man's world and always under the microscope.

I really enjoy the historical period for this series and the idea of a botanist and all the lovely toxic plants is original. The characters, plotting and writing are all very enjoyable.

I always think I cannot love this series more, and then Khavari publishes another book! Saffron remains one of my favourite mystery protagonists- she is a go-getter and does what she needs to when investigating but is not a know-it-all who ignores all common sense and logic. (That seems to happen a lot with mysteries.) Her friends and family are just the right mix of endearing and annoying that makes you feel like you know them yourself.

These are longer stories and we see her move through several different settings in each novel, a real strength of this series. I love that we are slowly getting to see Saffron's wider world, because it gives us so many clues to her character. It also helps build a thorough and complex mystery, because they so rarely happen start to finish in one place.

I'm giving up on this series. Not only do we have yet another installment that does NOT center on botany (instead we are onto mycology), but now Moriarty is in play?! A completely ridiculous, over the top, monologuing Holmes super villain in this what-I-thought was a cozy mystery series. Raising the stakes doesn't make this a better story, it just makes it absurd. I had no issue with the cloak and dagger British spy content, but this new guy is just the last straw. I was hoping we'd return to the charm of the first book after a disappointing book 2, but that was not the case. I continue to enjoy Khavari's writing style, but her choice of ridiculous plot elements ruins this series for me.

**Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the eARC**

Another thrilling mystery combined with science, hot scientists and sassy friends. Love this series and can’t wait for the next,

I enjoyed this addition to Saffron's adventures than the last one. The plot was more well rounded and it was nice seeing more personality from some of the other characters. I enjoyed how the brother was written in and using the MC and side characters. Elizabeth is bad ass and I hope to see more of her. I also hope we get even more Alexander.

I finished this with 24 hours. I loved the mystery in book 3! I have enjoyed all the books, but book 3 is my favorite! I loved the story of Sapphire's dad woven into this mystery, as well as her grandpa. Also, I am swooning over Alexander and Sapphire! I need more of them in book 4!




I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

London, 1923. Returning from Paris, botanical researcher Saffron Everleigh finds that her former love interest Alexander Ashton’s brother, Adrian, is being investigated for murder. A Russian scientist working for the English government has been poisoned and expired in Adrian’s train compartment. Alexander asks Saffron to put in a good word for Adrian with Inspector Green. Despite her unresolved feelings for Alexander, Saffron begins to unravel mysteries surrounding the dead scientist.

As if a murder case weren’t enough, her best friend Elizabeth’s war-hero brother, Nick, arrives in town and takes an immediate interest in Saffron. Saffron learns Alexander has been keeping secrets from her, including a connection to Nick, who Saffron and Elizabeth begin to suspect is more than he seems.

When another scientist is found dead, Saffron agrees to go undercover at the government laboratory. Risking her career and her safety, she learns there are many more interested parties and dangerous secrets to uncover than she’d realized. But some secrets, Saffron will find, are better left undiscovered.

We are finally introduced to Saffron’s family. Or at least her grandfather. However, we also meet Elizabeth’s brother and Alexander’s brother. This whole novel has a theme of family, biological and “adopted”. I’m glad that the next book takes us to Saffron’s family home. I do want to know more about Saffron’s father, and I am really glad that there is a connected villain. I really want to know where that is going to go.

Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars.

This is a good series and I'm appreciating the audiobook even if I wasn't a fan of the narrator trying to play male voices.
Safron and her friends are back and it's always a lot of fun follow the investigation and the evolutions of the relationships
There's a sort of cliff-hanger that promises a new novel and I hope it will be soon
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is the third book in the Saffron Everleigh series and probably one I didn't enjoy as much as the precedent books. In this one Saffron's housemate Elizabeth has a visit from her brother, Nick, who she hasn't seen for some time. Saffron is surprised to see that Nick appears to be acquainted with her friend Alexander and the mystery grows as Alexander's brother becomes a suspect in a murder.
The book centres on a government operated horticultural laboratory, and Saffron is convinced by Nick to go in there and spy on the staff to see if she can learn what is going on. Saffron finds herself in the thick of another investigation.
The plot loses its way a couple of times and tends to get bogged down in the minutiae but still overall an intriguing story.
Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

I was eager to dive back into Saffron's world with this book. Ended up being a fantastic entry into the "Botanist's Guide" world!

Saffron Everleigh has just returned home from Paris and a conference. She's upset, though the details aren't revealed till later in the novel. Instead, Saffron is immediately asked by Alexander Ashton, who had given her so much grief about her investigative activities in the previous installment, to help his brother Adrian, who is accused of murdering a Russian scientist.

Despite her misgivings, Saffron follows through with Inspector Green, and finds out that the scientist, who worked for the British government, had been travelling in the same train compartment as Adrian. The man had collapsed and Adrian's playboy lifestyle and Greek accent made him the police's natural, and main, suspect (*heavy sarcasm*).

Interestingly, Saffron's best friend and roommate Elizabeth receives an unwelcome surprise when her older brother Nick arrives soon after, and seems to find Saffron very interesting. A war hero, Nick now works for the Agricultural Ministry, which seems an odd fit for the man. During an uncomfortable dinner at the women's apartment, Saffron realizes that Nick and Alexander know each other from the War, but neither man is willing to spill.

When another scientist is found dead, Nick drops his urbane act, and convinces Saffron to go undercover at the government facility where the two dead men worked. She meets a colourful cast of researchers who are territorial over their work and other things, and slowly finds out what is really going on there. Also, she and Alexander begin to work through some of their personal issues together.

I have been really enjoying this series. I like the time period, the commentary about prickly male scientists jealous of their privileges and the combination of reluctance and horror over having to share anything with a smart woman, and the influence the Great War has had on society and technology.

Saffron continues to be likeable, and adept in her field, but also wonderfully conflicted about how work like hers is being applied. This has kept her from accruing more status in the university as well as in her field, but her principles drive her forward in this case, as she begins to unravel the secrets around the work performed in the government lab.

Elizabeth gains more prominence in this book, which is great, as she wrestles with her family issues. I like the way the author has gradually deepened and widened the cast of characters in this series, while also having Saffron and Elizabeth wrestle with more professional and personal issues.

I am eagerly awaiting the next entry, especially after the ominous ending of this satisfying mystery.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.