Set in 1923, Saffron Everleigh is attending a party for University College of London for the botany department where a woman is poisoned. Her mentor is the main suspect, and Saffron must prove he is innocent.

Saffron is a great main character. She has to deal with unfair and uncouth treatment from some men, but she is the first female research assistant at the University for good reason. She is smart, tenacious, and a brilliant botanist. These are all great skills that help her to solve this mystery with the help of another researcher Alexander Ashton. There is a romance between the two that develops as well.

I would say this mystery was well researched and had a cozy feel. The story took it's time developing characters, clues, and creating a sense of place and time with a slower pace. I really enjoyed reading the lengths Saffron would go to prove her mentor innocent. I found it to be a great summer read. I would recommend this book for those that want a great dastardly crime, a tenacious young sleuth, and a cozy feel to a mystery.

Thank you net galley for providing me with a free copy of A Botanist's Guide To Parties and Poisons in exchange for a honest review!



I'm gonna be honest it did take me a few chapters to get into this book but once I did I immediately became invested in the plot and the characters.


One of the things I mostly appreciate about this is that unlike a lot of mystery books that tell the reader through the whole book how smart the main character is,in this one our MC Saffron is shown to be extremely intelligent by working consistently, while also making some mistakes along.


Saffron and Alexander were actually an adorable couple and I loved reading about them. The background information about war trauma and the strong hinting of OCD that Alexander had were also beautifully written. Overall the characters had a lot of chemistry and I found myself often grinning at their witting dialogue.


My only issues with this was the pacing which felt a bit too rushed. I feel like a but more room for us to get a better introduction to the characters would be way better and so would a bit more complexity to the person/people responsible for the poisoning.

I really dislike the title of this book, but I really like the name of the protagonist - Saffron Everleigh. Clever, as both her father and herself are botanists, although Dad died a few years ago during World War I. Saffron is a research assistant at a London university in 1923, experiencing the problems of women in science during that time. When her long-time mentor is accused of poisoning a colleague's wife, Saffron turns her investigative skills to solving the mystery. She takes often silly chances, and enlists the help of a possible suitor, before solving the mystery. I enjoyed the scientific aspects of the story, but Saffron's amateur sleuthing did get a bit tiresome. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Books for providing an ARC.

This was absolutely a cover/title grab when I first requested it on NetGalley oh so many months ago. I love a good cover ... and a good poison. Parties? I'm more the wallflower type after the planning of the party is all said and done. Heck, I'm not even really the wallflower type. I'm more the "just let me know how it went after the fact" type ... but I still had high hopes for the book. I was most definitely not disappointed.

All of the basics, of course, are covered in the description. What it fails to mention is how enthralling Saffron is. The girl definitely has chutzpah -- much to the delight of some and the dismay of many. No one expects her to be as, well, "balls to the wall" as she is. Even her flatmate, Elizabeth, whom has known her pretty much forever is taken aback by the lengths Saff is willing to go to in order to solve the mystery at hand when the police seem determined to believe that it's as clear cut as the poisonous plant they believe was used by her mentor to do the dastardly deed. She even goes so far as to poison herself with the same plant! Minor minor spoiler ... but it's just too cool not to mention and what happens is something you'll want to read for yourself ... and then thank me for later.

Review with teaser posted at https://wellreadpiratequeen.blogspot.com/2022/06/a-botanists-guide-to-parties-and.html

"Dr. Henry glared at Blake and snatched the champagne glass from her hand. “I can pour my wife’s drink well enough, Blake.” He sloshed a dollop of liquid into her glass, refilling what he had just caused to splash out. He smiled obnoxiously at Mrs. Henry as she accepted the glass from him and took a drink.
With a cold smile to her husband, she said, “Thank you, darling.”
Then Mrs. Henry crumpled to the floor and lay quite still."

Saffron Everleigh is Dr Maxwell’s research assistant in London’s University College biology department, the only woman employed there and thus the subject of whispers. Science was making great strides in the post-war world, but 1923 was maybe not the best time to be a young woman trying to build a career in a heretofore male field. It helps that her father was a renowned biologist, but she must face serial sexism and some truly odious individuals in her quest to advance her studies and career. She finds herself facing a very different challenge, though.

"…when I taught fifth grade American history, the story of how America developed felt like a story instead of a bunch of names and dates in a book. Writing about the ‘20’s feels the same- so many things were happening as a result of World War One that influenced everyday life. Technology and science were exploding with new discoveries, women were finding their new place in the world, millions were adjusting to horrible new realities of destroyed countries, bodies, and minds, and politics were ever-changing and charged with fear and hope. It’s a fascinating time to write about." - from The Book Delight interview

When we meet Saffron, she is enduring a department party at the grand home of a major donor, and meeting-cute the studly, witty, but mysterious Alexander Ashton, who will become her partner in this. Are those sparks igniting between the two of them or maybe just some spores floating in the air? Ashton is a biologist AND a microbiologist, a weird coincidence, as Khavali’s husband just happens to be a biologist AND a microbiologist too.

At the party we are introduced via observations and overheard conversations to a series of characters and potential conflicts. We are let on, for many, to just what we should think of them.

"Harry Snyder, Dr. Henry’s assistant, was seated on her other side. With small brown eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses, and thin lips that emphasized his large, impeccable teeth, he looked rather like a rodent. His demeanor, skittish and reticent, matched his mousy appearance."

Probably not setting Snyder up for a heroic role. The excitement of the party turns out to be the sudden collapse, noted in the introductory quote at the top, of Mrs Henry, wife to Lawrence Henry, the man slated to lead an upcoming expedition to the Amazon. Was it an allergic reaction? Young George Bailey might have a good idea just what caused Mrs Henry’s sudden shift from the vertical.

Saffron becomes concerned that the doltish police are settling on her boss as a possible suspect, deciding that since the authorities can be relied on to get everything wrong, it is up to her to find out what really happened at the party. Thankfully, she has considerable knowledge of things biological so the game is afoot, focusing on a particularly poisonous (and fictional) South American plant that her boss had discovered decades ago.

Everleigh keeps pushing to learn more, gaining help from Ashton in her pursuit. There seems to be a connection between the two, but the sexual tension between them seems to blossom, then wilt, blossom then wilt. We are kept in the dark, and thus guessing, about his role in all this. A prospect or a suspect? Is he a reliable partner, or is he using his appeal like that of a carnivorous cobra plant, not as transparent as he appears? This romantic element crops up from time to time in fawning descriptions of the guy.

The tale is of the cozy mystery sort, not much blood and violence on screen, although there is some very definite peril. The investigation is done by rank amateurs. Usually, there is someone with police expertise to advise, but not so much here. The fun feature of this particular book and, I expect, the planned series, is the introduction of botany as the root of all Saffron’s investigations. The possibilities are vast. We are led to suspect first this one and then that one, while maintaining a short list of likely subjects.

Khavari has some fun with names, (I love this stuff) seeding her cast with a veritable garden of botanical references, some obvious, like Saffron, Inspector Green, and Doctor Aster. Alexander Ashton must certainly reference the tree. I am sure there are more. She also has some fun of a different sort with other character names. Does Doctor Berking’s character reflect the etymology of his name? How about Eris Ermine, a femme fatale sort?

She also brings into the tale a consideration much in the world of this era. The long-lasting, personal impact on those involved in the front lines of World War I.

"Much has been written about soldiers experiencing shell-shock, so I wanted to explore a lesser known avenue of symptoms and recovery. Alexander’s recovery from the Great War is complex and isn’t straightforward—few cases are—nor it is over. I will just say that many hours of research and consideration went into developing his symptoms and coping strategies…" - from The Book Delight interview

Saffron has to deal with MeToo miseries from the more aggressive, and personal and institutional chauvinism all around, even among some thought more advanced. The toxic nature of academia politics is noted. No antidote is prescribed.

This book is hardly a yuck-fest, but there is still considerable humor and the occasional LOL.

Khavari, who grew up in Wichita, Kansas, keeps her characters on the move, and thus holds our interest. Saffron is a decent sort, working hard in multiple ways to produce good results. She is mostly honest, although suffering a bit from a moral disorder that afflicts so many investigators, a willingness to engage in criminal behavior on the grounds of the-ends-justify-the-means.

Ultimately, though, A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons (which was called Saffron Everleigh and the Lightning Vine earlier in its life. I have no inside intel on why this title was not used, but suspect it was a bit too close for comfort to the Harry Potter book titles format.) is a delightful sapling in the The Saffron Everleigh Mysteries series. Who knows? Maybe you will learn a few tricks for preparing that special drink for that special someone. The second volume, A Botanists’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality is expected to sprout in June 2023. It is something to look forward to. Once you begin spending time with Saffron Everleigh, you will not want to leave.

"Her eyes fell on the name of a plant from south-central Mexico, brought back decades ago by Dr. Maxwell. The vine was a sickly yellow color and zigzagged around trees as it grew, clinging tightly to its host. Maxwell had named it the xolotl vine, after the Aztec god of death and lightning, since the growth pattern resembled a fork of lightning and the toxin in its leaves struck as quickly. Saffron had the feeling that Maxwell enjoyed the notorious reputation of his plant, occasionally still telling secondhand stories of people dropping to the ground immediately upon consumption."

Review posted – June 10, 2022

Publication date – June 7, 2022

I received an ARE of A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons from Crooked Lane Books in return for a fair review, and the secret to my special tea. Thanks, folks. and thanks to NetGalley for facilitating.

In 1923 Saffron Everleigh, the only female scientist in the Department of Botany at University College London is attending a party to celebrate the University’s upcoming expedition to the Amazon. The woman who collapsed during a toast to the success of the expedition, is the wife of Dr Lawrence Henry, Head of Biology and leader of the expedition.

Saffron’s supervisor, Prof Maxwell was observed having a bitter argument with Prof Henry a few days before the party and quickly becomes the police’s main suspect, especially when they learn that he has a very poisonous plant Solandra xolotum (known as the xolotl for short) that he brought back from an expedition to Mexico.

Saffron is devastated as Prof Maxwell has always been a kind mentor to her, recognising and encouraging her talent. As the only female scientist in the Biology department, it has not been easy for her to forge her career in such a male dominated department. She has already had one close encounter with the lecherous Prof Henry, a well known philanderer and, after a narrow escape from his unwanted attentions, now avoids being alone with him.

Positive that Prof Maxwell would not have had any reason to poison Mrs Henry, Saffron sets out to prove his innocence. Joined by Alexander Ashton, a charming and handsome research fellow, they work together to try to find out who really poisoned Mrs Henry and why.

Encased in a gorgeous cover, this is a fun and engaging historical mystery sprinkled with a little romance, although I was disappointed there weren't more parties and poisons. I enjoyed Saffron and Alexander’s witty conversations as they tackle the mystery and their attraction to each other grows. Saffron is a woman ahead of her time for the 1920s; smart and determined, wanting a career before a husband, although a little naïve and unsophisticated from her sheltered upbringing. She’s not afraid to take risks but prone to jumping in feet first without thinking through the consequences. Fortunately, she has her more worldly friend Elizabeth, assistant to a lord and writer of rather salacious poetry who provides Saffron with good advice. The descriptions of the old University buildings, cluttered offices and humid, steamy glasshouses filled with unusual plants and the excitement about the upcoming expedition all work together to provide the perfect atmospheric backdrop for the mystery.

I wanted to read this book because the premise sounds so interesting. I'm myself a cozy mystery fan and writer, I never read other historical series other than Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, it is also based on the twenties, Wich it was another thing that drawn me to this novel.

Khavari heroine is witty and smart. Though the reading (maybe because of the historical on it) it was a bit slow paced.

It took me more than I thought to finished but it is not going to be the last tittle I read from the author.

I'm sorry it took me a while to give you the feedback but definitely for fans of the cozy and the historical. (I believe that fans from miss Fisher would be pleased to grab this book. I've never read the Maisie Dobbs series but I think it is in the same page too)
Thanks netgalley for the copy and Crooked lane books for the opportunity to review this title.

Saffron Everleigh a botanist researcher is decided to prove her tutor´s innocence of murder using her knowledge of botany. It is 1923 and there´s almost no women studying at college or being assistants but Saffron whose father was a renowned scientist could pursue her career though it is not an easy path. Her tutor is one of the few people who trust her so she won´t let permit to be in prison for something she is sure she did not do.

Set in London, in 1923, Saffron Everleigh is the first woman to hold a research assistant position in the biology department at University College London. Her mentor, Dr Maxwell, is the main suspect in the poisoning of a colleague's wife, Mrs Henry. Alexander Ashton, another researcher, helps Saffron with her sleuthing.

I liked Saffron, whom I found smart, genuine and straightforward. The mystery itself was engaging and I loved the frissons between Alexander and Saffron. An extremely satisfying read leaving me agog for book two.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

There is so much to enjoy here. The story itself is great but add to that the interesting information on botany, the evocative descriptions of the era and a really compelling lead character and it becomes something really special. Recommend this for people who like to learn as they are entertained.

This was a pretty effective and fun mystery set in the aftermath of WW I. It took me a little while to read, but that is by no means down to the novel.

This was an enjoyable read for me. I like the characters quite a bit and I was very happy with the way the romance was not taking over from the mystery elements, but was just right. I felt for Saffron as she had to navigate a male-dominated environment, but liked how she was able to hold her own most of the time.

The mystery itself was interesting, even if Saffron and Alexander’s way of investigating was a bit gung ho at times.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable historical mystery set at a botany department at a 1920s London University.

A Botanist's Guide To Parties And Poisons is the first book in the A Saffron Everleigh series by Kate Khavari. The series is set in 1923.

Saffron Everleigh is a research assistant in the Botany department at the University College of London. Mrs. Henry, the wife of Professor Henry, drops to the floor. It will be learned that she was poisoned. Saffron’s mentor, Professor Maxwell, had had a loud argument with Prof. Henry a couple of days before and soon became the prime suspect. Saffron wants clear her mentor's name, so with Alexander Ashton, they set off to determine who poisoned Mrs. Henry.

I very much enjoy historical mysteries, but this one wasn’t for me. I couldn’t get into Saffron or Alexander. I enjoyed Saffron’s flatmate Elizabeth. For me, the book was a slow read.

Ohhhhhhh, this was so good.

Saffron is a botanist, and a very good one. Well, rather, she is a research assistant to a botanist, but Dr. Maxwell likes her and gives her much more leeway than most professors would. She is extremely knowledgeable in plants and when a woman drops at a party and goes into a coma, and her mentor Dr. Maxwell is accused of the poisoning, Saffron takes it upon herself to solve the crime when it looks like the police are uninterested in finding any other suspect. With the help of Alexander Ashton, another research assistant, they snoop, dig, creep and at one point run an extremely dangerous experiment, all to try and save Dr. Maxwell. There is quite a bit of shenanigans [which is glorious] and tons of poisons and plants and fun stuff like that. The reveal is edge-of-your-seat and I was thoroughly surprised at it all, which is just fantastic. When one reads as many mysteries as I do, it is always such a treat to not have a clue at what the heck is happening. :-)

Very well done and I cannot wait for the second book!!

I was also able to get the audiobook ARC of this book and I have found a new favorite narrator. Jodie Harris is delightful and I enjoyed the book even more because of her excellent narration of the story. She does excellent work of bringing Saffron and Co. to life and I will be looking for her narration in other books. Well done!

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

Really good historical cozy.

1920s. science, competent characters, a couple to be that are fun to discover. Good and solid historical background, WW1 vets, women in academia.

A fun, entertaining mystery set in the early nineteenth century. I love Saffron! A great historical read.
Thank you NetGalley!

The premise of this book sounded so intriguing however I found that it fell flat in the execution. The beginning was very good and had me hooked however I found the middle part dragged on quite a bit. I expected more lavish parties and more poisoning. I did enjoy the whodunnit style to this book.

Thank you to netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Saffron Everleigh is in a race against time to free her wrongly accused professor before he goes behind bars forever. Perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn and Anna Lee Huber, Kate Khavari’s debut historical mystery is a fast paced, fearless adventure.

Such an intriguing title but, for me anyway, the book did not quite live up to it. There were a lot of botanists but I can only recall one party and two possible poisons.

Set in the University College of London in 1923, the main character is Saffron Everleigh. She is the first woman research assistant appointed there and she feels her position as a woman in a man's world very strongly. She becomes involved in events surrounding a poisoning at a party and works with a colleague, Alexander Ashton, to solve the mystery of 'who dunnit'.

I have always assumed that researchers dealt in proof and logic but Saffron defies that and works mostly by instinct and rash decisions. Luckily Alex is there to save her and occasionally prevent her excesses and the pair have an interesting, developing relationship.

The botany was informative and not over whelming, the characters were well done and the mystery interesting and rounded off well. A good start to a new series and I will look out for the next book.

A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons, research assistant Saffron Everleigh finds herself unexpectedly at the center of a murder investigation as she struggles to exonerate her professor. Help with her private investigation comes unexpectedly from the taciturn yet alluring Alexander Ashton.

I really enjoyed Kate Khavari's debut, which has elements of historical fiction, being set against the backdrop of post WWI London, as well as mystery. There is also a bit of slow burn romance between Alexander and Saffron.

Another aspect of the story that I enjoyed was how elements of botany were skillfully intertwined into the plot. I love flowers and appreciated learning about some of the exotic plants in this story. I also thought the author did a great job of tackling difficult topics like discrimination and PTSD in her book. I could definitely, somewhat ironically, relate to Saffron’s struggles of being taken seriously in a male dominated field.

Although the mystery was wrapped up at the end, Saffron and Alexander’s story seemed unfinished so hope the author will continue with their story in subsequent books

I am a big fan of Deanna Raybourn so when I saw the description on NetGalley saying this was for fans of Deanna I thought well then I must read this! Plus have you seen the cover it is beautiful!

This was a great start in this series, and it kept me intrigued from the moment I started reading it. It has been a while since I have read a book this fast. The book flowed nicely and the pace worked well. You felt like you were working alongside Saffron and Alexander to uncover who was really the poisoner instead of the gramed Dr. Maxwell. I thought the plot was similar in the sense of the type of book, however, I think it was also unique because you have a botanist who is a female working hard to make a name for herself and is getting to use her knowledge to help solve a crime. There was humor, adventure, mystery, and some slight romance in this story, so it had a lot of everything.

The characters I thought were well done. I liked Saffron she stood up for herself and didn’t let anything keep her down. I was definitely rooting for her to succeed. I like that even though you can tell the Inspector doesn’t really believe/like her you get glimpses that she is growing on him and by the end I think he knows her value. Alexander I also thought was a good character and I liked how he played an important part from the beginning and it wasn’t just purely for romance purposes. It is good that you get some background on him and Saffron, as well as I really like Saffron’s friend and roommate Elizabeth she made me laugh with some of her interactions.

I think overall this was a really fun read and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series and seeing what mystery Saffron, Alexander, Inspector Green, and Elizabeth will be involved in. I hope Elizabeth comes along for more of the adventure just because I really liked her character. So definitely check out this new series you won’t be disappointed.