A Botanist's Guide to Society and Secrets is the third book in Kate Khavari's Saffron Everleigh mystery series. In this book Saffron is drawn into a new investigation by her former love interest Alexander when his brother becomes the prime suspect in a murder. I really love this series. London in the 1920's is a perfect setting. The mysteries are always captivating as are the personal relationships. I enjoyed getting to send more time with Saffron's roommate and friend Elizabeth. Saffron's career is so interesting and I love how botany is tied into the crimes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this read so much, a botanist and a crime book! Yes please! I was staying up late to finish it. Learning that it is a series made my day.

This was a fun third installment in the series. It did feel a little more rushed and confusing with the plot not being as tight as the previous books. It was interesting to have Alexander's brother involved, as well as Elizabeth getting more air time, and her brother's role in it all as well. This one was also a little bit darker than the first two, but still a fun read. There is a lot of vagueness around "the government" and what was going on with Saffron's father, as well as the shadowy bad guys towards the end of the book. Hopefully that will be more clear in the next one!

A Botanist's Guide to Society and Secrets by Kate Khavari is glorious. A wonderful historical mystery that follows botanist Saffron Everleigh as she battles against a soceity that wants to keep women out of the workplace and the ballot boxes

There were a lot of established characters in the book and the awesome character development has encouraged me to read the previous books in the series

Khavari has a real strength in placing characters in time and is authentic in her character development, especially against the backdrop of the aftermath of WW1, which naturally has a huge impact on characters behaviour and psyche

A truly wonderful book and a fantastic blend of characters and storylines. This series is straight on to my TBR

Thank you to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and Kate Khavari for this phenomenal ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Brilliant botanist Saffron Everleigh is ready for her next thrilling adventure in the newest installment of Kate Khavari’s mesmerizing historical mystery series.

Saffron is a great protagonist and these books continue to be very good! The plot twists were great, the characters were entertaining, and I couldn't put it down.

A Botanist’s Guide to Society and Secrets is another delightful entry in this series. I love Saffron’s determination to further her scientific career and solve crimes with the odds stacked against her. Add in some 1920’s glamour and a tempestuous romance, and Khavari has written one of my new favorite mysteries.

Here is an honest little review of A Botanist’s Guide to Society and Secrets by Kate Khavari. I requested this title on Netgalley quite a few weeks ago, not realizing that it was the third book in a series I had never read! So, I quickly utilized my library’s e-book resources and read the first two installments before beginning this one. What these books have made me realize is that I really do love a mystery.

Would I consider these a cozy mystery? Yes? Ish? There are moments of on-stage violence that make your heart beat just a little faster, but overall, the nature of these novels is very mellow. Who would have thought plants are worth killing people for? Khavari certainly causes readers to realize the importance of plantlife/the environment and how entire ecosystems could be destroyed if a person or government were to use the knowledge in war or for other unsavory reasons. Compared to the first two books, there was a lot more going on in Society and Secrets. For example, the government steps in with agents and spies, secrets are revealed, gangsters are after deadly information, and flatmate Elizabeth finally gets her chance to help solve the case.

Let’s talk boys. I liked that we got to visit Lee in this book! I was worried that we would never see this absolute charmer again, but alas, he is back and ready for some action! What I didn’t like? Alexander’s weird vibes. Do I still feel like I would personally choose Lee? Maybe a little. In one sense, he gives our girl Saffron freedom she needs, but is risky and flirtatious to a fault. Alexander craves order and would do anything to protect our little plant-lover from harm, even if she feels suffocated. This gives strong Stefan and Damon vibes (Vampire Diaries), and Saffron is just not into the bad boy trope. Not a relevant comparison? Oh well.

The ending leads me to believe we will get more of Ms. Everleigh, and the books, as seen in the average ratings on Goodreads, get better and better as we go. I am excited to see what happens next, because yes, I would recommend this series.

Another fun read in this series, with a cliff hanger that made me both cringe and be excited that more is to come.. Made me think about spies and government plant research in an entirely different way. This is a quick historical mystery that's not too dark.

Saffron Everleigh can now be called a crime-solving botanist after this third outing of the A Botanist's Guide series. She's a scientist in 1920s London and suffers the common unfair treatment towards any women who seek anything other than marriage and babies. In this outing, she's drawn into a case where her ex-love Alexander's brother has been accused of murder after a man dies in the same train compartment where he is travelling. Along the way, her romance with Alexander rekindles and she also draws in Lee, the physician who assisted her in the second book. We also meet her roommate Elizabeth's brother, Nick, who does secret work for the government. Elizabeth plays a more central role in this story, which is a nice change, allowing another woman to show that she is anything but traditional.

I enjoyed this book as much as the first two in the series. And for a first in the series, a cliffhanger ending is going to draw me back to find out what happens next in the future book. What I most like about the series is the emphasis of a woman in a science role. Even though few were noted back in the 1920s there must have been far more that have been hidden and forgotten with time. Despite the scientific leanings, Saffron still has an interest in the romance part of life and isn't afraid to embrace that. That said, I did feel as though some of Alexander's more negative traits were somewhat forgotten once the romance returned. I do wonder if that will affect them in the future. It felt like the writer was previously dangling possible suitors to her and perhaps that's still the case. For all I know the next book may take romance in a totally new direction.

The other part of this book that is appealing is in the background of post-Great War. Much attention was given to the effect the war had on various characters, particularly Alexander and Saffron. Both lost much in the war and it's definitely not forgotten here.

Overall, this was another lovely read from a great mystery series. I rate it a solid four stars. I would like to thank Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me an advance reader copy of the book. I have written and shared my thoughts voluntarily.

This is the 3rd instalment of the Saffron Everleigh mysteries and I enjoyed the book just as much as the first 2 books. I like Saffron as a character and how she approaches solving her mysteries that all relate to something plant related. This time the brother of her dear friend Alexander is a murder suspect, when a scientist working with fungi suddenly drops dead in his train compartment when they were riding the train together. Even though Alexander is not a fan of Saffron putting herself in danger solving these murders, he asks for her help.

The characters were interesting in this 3rd book and I feel that both, Saffron and Alexander matured a bit more compared to the first 2 books. In book 2 Saffron's scientist peer Lee is playing a major role, but he is less prominent in this 3rd book. I liked that Alexander not only plays a bigger role again this time, but he is significantly more likeable than in book 2. Saffron herself is still stubborn and strong willed and likes to investigate her mysteries, which I love about her. This time, her friend and flatmate Elizabeth is playing a major role in solving the mystery and it was great to get to know her better.

All in all, I am hoping Kate will continue this series, as the book ends in a certain way that would suggest a new adventure for Saffron and her friends will be coming. I'm here for it as this series has proven to be great reading fun so far.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read this book in advance of the pub date in June! A review will also be published on my accounts on pub day.

Saffron is fast becoming one of my favorite accidental crime solvers. She stumbles into another murder investigation and drags her friends along to help. The stakes were higher than ever and the cliffhanger ending has me SO excited for book 4!

This was a good instalment in the series. I wasn't the biggest fan of the second book (not a huge love triangle person) but this one redeemed itself. I liked the story and the mystery and of course, I was thrilled that Alexander was back to being himself (unlike in the second book).

The third lovely installment in the Saffron mysteries was a hit. This book went a step further from the botanical world and into the newbie jeebies inducing world of mycology and bio weapons. Yes, Saffron and her group get caught up in some invasive biological terror and have to uncover the scheme...in style of course. Just as she did in the first two books, Khavari sets the scene on 1920s London with an effortless glitz and gam and well sketched characters. I do think Lee is still a favorite of mine. Highly recommend this series to anyone who like a stylish book, expertly written, and brimming with mystery and feminist (STEMenist?) power.
I received an arc from NetGalley. My options are my own.

I’m so happy to be getting back to Saffron Everleigh and here world, this was a really well done concept with what I was expecting. It had that mystery element that I enjoyed and was excited to get back to. It had the same great feel from Kate Khavari and the characters were beautifully written. I enjoyed the science elements to this book and that this had a great mystery that I wanted to solve.

Overall, I quite liked this instalment of the series. The character development was not quite as logical as in the previous couple books and I found it a little disorienting to have the POV switch from Saffron in scenes she was in the last third of the book, but the overall web of machinations that Saffron and her comrades are drawn into is intriguing and I continue to enjoy Khavari's writing. The frankly terrifying (in the best way) final scene and whopper of a cliffhanger mean that I'll be picking up the next book the instant I can't my hands on it.

Saffron is back and the threads connecting her work to government research are explored in this incredible third installment this fantastic series. We've seen Saffron confront the possibility that her research could be misused before. While she continues to resist aiding the government, when her friend (and sometimes love interest) Alexander comes to her for help defending her brother who is being questioned in a poisoning death, she's dragged into a larger plot that involves a government research lab.

This book picks up almost exactly where the last one left off, which is incredibly satisfying. The one missing piece is what happened during Saffron's time in France for an academic conference. The details of this are sprinkled throughout this book. This story brings Elizabeth, Saffron's roommate, into main character territory and some chapters are even written from her point of view. Elizabeth's brother and a sibling duo from the chemistry department also join the cast (one had a minor role in the last book). Growing a cast over the course of a few books is a great tactic - the reader doesn't have to juggle too many new names at any point. At the same time, there is more development in Alexander's character and we get to see some of Saffron's family as well.

I was provided an advanced copy, but have preordered a physical copy, as I want the books in this series permanently on my shelves.

Set in interwar London and environs Saffron Everleigh investigates the death in railway carriage where her colleague Adrian's brother is the prime suspect. Saffron wishes to continue with her botanical researches but is drawn into the mystery using her scientific skills. Weaving through the story is Saffron’s relationships with the male characters including her previous beau Lee, Adrian and his brother as well as Nick (her flatmate’s Elizabeth’s brother) are they interested in her romantically or for her intellect or institutional access? This is the latest Saffron Everleigh story and the narrative follows on from the previous novels. I was still able to follow and enjoy this story based around fictionalised versions of University College London and Rothamsted Institute, although I found the modern attitudes and sensibilities at odds with the period setting.

There’s a lot more intrigue in this book, the third mystery in the Saffron Everleigh series, and the plot takes Saffron out of her university laboratory and into an undercover role at a lab run by the government. This adds a whole new level of danger for the characters.

I enjoyed this story for the twists and turns and the development of relationships. Saffron’s best friend, Elizabeth, plays a more prominent role and we get to know her better than in the first two novels.

A satisfying read and I look forward to the next one.

Saffron is off on her biggest adventure yet. Her roommate Alexanders brother is being questioned by the police about a murder, Elizabeth's brother suddenly appears and what's Saffron's help, and her boss is semi threatening her position at the college. Full of intrigue.

The third installment of the Botanist’s Guide picks up where the last one ended. Alexander’s bother Aiden shows up and is being investigated by the police for a murder of a scientist from Russia. Against his better judgement, Alexander asks for Saffron’s help with the investigation to clear his brother’s name. Elizabeth’s brother Nick shows up in this Installment. We learn that is is a government employee and also needs Saffron’s help with not one but two mysterious deaths of two scientists working with dangerous fungus. I absolutely loved it and now will have to wait to see what will happen in the fourth book. This installment has more of Elizabeth in the story and we find out that she is bold, smart and her own woman who helps Saffron out with the murder investigation. Dr. Lee also makes an appearance to also help Saffron. Thank you NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read an advanced copy of A Botanist’s Guide to Society and Secrets.