I absolutely loved the cover of this book with the title being a close second place. It immediately drew me to the book and I was excited to read it.

I thought the romance was lacking. It was too understated and made me think it shouldn’t have been included as a subplot.

I enjoyed the overall setting of the book and appreciate the representation of a woman scientist in a world of men.

That is where my praises stop because I found the book to be a bit boring. The mystery wasn’t captivating and I forgot about the book as soon as I finished it. There were a few times while listening to the audiobook that I had to go backwards and listen again because it was easy to lose track and get distracted.

If there wasn’t an implied rape scene (which turned out not to be rape) I’d say this was a YA book. But I think that scene and the one surrounding the Ah-ha whodunit scene precludes it from that category.

Overall it has a beautiful cover but dull story.

Super fun, intriguing, and adorable! I really enjoyed all the characters and the dynamic. I also greatly appreciate a strong woman of science who gets shit done. The romance was also very cute without being overbearing. I would gladly read more if this were to be a series!

The cover and title of this upcoming release caught my attention immediately. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator was fantastic, as well.

I loved that the story was told from the perspectives of both main characters. I liked the 1920s university setting, too.

Overall, however, I found the story rather forgettable. The lackluster mystery didn't have much to it, and the dialogue made the book feel like it was marketed to middle grade/YA, even though it's labeled as being for adults.

I do think fans of The Lost Apothecary may enjoy this one!

I enjoyed this cozy mystery, although I think it probably would have benefited from some editing. Some of the descriptions were just a little too long and unnecessary, and dragged the story out more than necessary.
Although source, the historical aspects are interesting and the botany lessons gave the story a unique twist.
The characters are likable and the twist regarding “whodunit” was unexpected.
I thought the voice actor was a competent narrator and accordingly didn’t add to or take away from the story itself.
The book is an easy read and listen, making it the perfect summer or rainy day diversion.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for the ALC in exchange for my honest opinions.

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really like how Jodie Harris narrated this book! Her voice aligns perfectly with the female characters and she even does a good transition to male characters! The story itself took me some time to get into as it starts off with a bang and a murder at a work dinner party. I loved all the research that was obviously put in to it regarding poison and plants and it was enjoyable learning about them. Once I hit about the 30 percent mark I really started enjoying it and looked forward to getting into my car to listen. I would recommend to anyone who likes murder mysteries and learning about poisons, with twists towards the end.

This had that quick but proper feel of the time. I enjoyed this all in one morning. The poisoning of a professor’s wife right before he goes off to a mysterious place. You can just see the hats and dresses and old university halls. I found I was just enjoying the back and forth of the main characters and not carig too much about the actual crime.

I jumped at the chance to read this book. I liked the combination of the mystery and historical fiction. Two genres I have been really into lately. The cover also drew me in.

Unfortunately, I just couldn’t get into the book and I really tried. The narration was wonderful, but I found there were multiple times I felt myself zoning out while listening. It might have been the progression of the story. I definitely could see how well the author researched into the subject of botany and rounded out the characters. In the end though, it wasn’t for me.

I want to thank NetGalley, Kate Khavari and Dreamscape Media for the audio of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are honest, my own and left voluntarily.

I’ve seen this book floating around on Amazon, and when the audio came available from Netgalley, I decided to give it a shot. This was a welcome surprise.

Saffron is a fun, fearless character in a world where she’s surrounded by men trying to step over her. On the flip side, Alexander is a great partner in both solving mysteries and being a romantic interest. It was a fun listen.

Looking forward to the next book.

This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced electronic audio review copy of this book. This fast-paced adventure is a promising start to a new series. A great read for lovers of historical mystery.

Who knew that you could be a botanist and a detective at the same time?
   It’s London in the 20’s and Saffron is an assistant to a professor University that has been accused of poisoning someone with one of his dangerous plants.  Her belief in his innocence is so fervent she ingests a potion she made of the same plant to help his defense. This is all well documented by her in a scientific manor until she finds herself unable to record her reactions because it has rendered her arms paralyzed.
   Saffron encounters her share of close calls while she snoops around to discover the real villain in the University; she’s as methodical as a detective as she is a scientist. The staff at the school provide a litany of candidates, all with personal agendas that could provide a reason for their involvement.
   This was a step back in time when women’s skirts swished when they walked, worked twice as hard to prove themselves, were taken advantage of by superiors in their field and romance was approached in ladylike fashion.
   An enjoyable read into the past

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.

Content warnings: talks of and threats of sexual assault, physical abuse, forced poisoning

Khavari takes readers to 1923 London where England is adjusting to life after the war and where academics at the University College of London are gearing up to go on an expedition to Brazil and the Amazon. Despite the social norms of the time, Saffron Everleigh has become first woman to hold the title of research assistant at the school working with botany professor Dr. Maxwell. At a party, the wife of a professor becomes deathly ill - and it is suspected she was poisoned... the person blamed? Saffron's mentor and and employer. Sure that her mentor is being framed, Saffron sets out with the help of another researcher, Alexander Ashton, to find out who really poisoned Mrs. Henry. In doing so, Saffron and Alexander uncover much more than just an attempted poisoning. Can they put the clues together in time before they are caught? And is there more between Saffron and Alexander? You'll have to read A BOTANIST'S GUIDE TO PARTIES AND POISONS to find out!

Overall I really enjoyed this novel. I thought the characters were engaging, the mystery was interesting, and the resolution was satisfying. Setting this just after the war and during a time when so many scientific breakthroughs were being made was perfect. It's modern enough that it doesn't feel too dated, but far enough removed from the present to make it a fun historical fiction reading experience. While this is perfect as a standalone novel, I also wouldn't mind another one set in this world with Saffron doing more research to solve another mystery.

And how gorgeous is the cover? So pretty!

Jodie Harris does a good job with the audiobook narration. I would have loved to have had two narrators (one for each POV) though.

I could not for the life of me get into this book. The narration was horrible. I couldn't even listen long enough to get into the story. I tried slowing it down, speeding it up nothing. I really did love the description of this book maybe once it releases I will read the physical book and skip the audio completely..

DNF at 63.7%

This was just okay, a little too slow moving for me. Perhaps if ARC's app allowed me to do 3x (the quality of the audio isn't listenable after 2x) I would have felt differently. It was too dragged out, slow moving and excessively detailed for my tastes. I couldn't do another 2 hours...

Saffron (the main character) was likable enough, but I didn't feel much connection to her or care about her or think of her as a friend. She didn't captivate me, you could say.

I normally love historical novels and cozy mysteries (the series by TE Kinsey is a top favorite) and any kind of novel that gives me little doses of real science... in other words, I expected to devour this one and didn't.

Saffron (an aptly named Botanist and research assistant) is trying to make her way up in academia when a mysterious poisoning takes place at a party she attends. With her handsome co-worker and new acquaintance, Alexander, she undertakes her own not-so-police investigation to clear her mentor's name and find out who the real would be murderer is. She learns that when you meddle with dangerous substances and even more dangerous people, here is no field guide in place.

This was a captivating mystery but the story line moved a bit too slowly for me to get sucked in. The story wrapped up nicely with all threads tied together and included a really cute romance along the way. I laughed out loud a few times during this audiobook and my heart rate was more than a bit elevated during especially tense moments. The title is a bit misleading as there are definitely more poisons than parties - think more Sherlock Holmes than Bridgerton.

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced copy of this audiobook for review.

A great storyline with strong characters, it was so well written. This who done it, thriller will have you gripped from the very first page until the end. An ending that you will not see coming.

I struggled with a rating for this one. While I loved the story and found myself on the edge of my seat for most of the story I was not a fan of the ending. Up to that point I really loved everything that Saffron seemed to get into and I liked that the mystery was driving the story while the romance took a backseat. It was such an interesting story and I was never sure exactly what was coming next. It was the ending that sort of caught me off guard because it felt a bit cliche. Still, this was a great story that I would recommend others check out. 3.5 stars.


Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

4.25 stars, rounded down to 4.

Saffron Everleigh finds herself swept up in a whodunnit mystery when a Botanists wife is poisoned at a dinner party. Working in the Botany department herself, Saffron takes it upon herself to identify the plant and would-be killer who lurks among them. When her mentor and family friend is accused of the murder she teams up with biologist Alexander Ashton in a race to find the true culprit. Will Saffron and Alexander find the weapon and the criminal? Or will the truth reveal that she can't trust even those closest to her?

I really enjoyed this novel! I'm more of a sci-fi/fantasy reader but this historical mystery proved to be an exciting deviation from my norm. Saffron is everything you imagine a woman in the 1950's living in a man's world would be. She is extremely intelligent and knows how to mildly manipulate those men around her into seeing what was blatantly obvious to her. Alexander was a really nice balance to Saffron's strong personality; and seeing how he coped with his PTSD was an avenue I had never seen before. The author took a very real and often sensitive subject and offered new light. The pacing was quick and fun without you feeling left behind and the writing style really shined.

Overall I wasn't completely blown away, but I was extremely entertained throughout. 4.25 stars rounded down to 4, but heavily recommend for those who enjoy historical fiction as well as a good mystery. Appropriate for ages 14+ for a bit of violence, but nothing graphic.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an AudioARC in exchange for an honest review.

Saffron Everleigh is a botanical research assistant in this enchanting story set in the 1920’s. Saffron isn’t interested in marriage like other women her age, only her plant research. After a professor’s wife dies from poisoning, Saffron can’t help but delve into the mysterious death.

I’m not a “cozy mystery” fan but I found this one to be captivating. The narration by Jodie Harris was wonderful. I also must mention what a beautiful cover this book has. I sincerely hope a sequel is in the works!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to review this Audio ARC.
#ABotanistsGuidetoPartiesandPoisons #NetGalley.

Set in 1923 this book is a combination cozy mystery and historical fiction. I was drawn to this book from the stunning cover.

I did a combination read and audiobook listen, thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for those arcs.

Saffron is a young woman who is determined, resourceful and at times a little foolish. Driven to clear the name of a mentor she impulsively does things that put her own life and others at risk.

It was a fun read and an entertaining listen. With an interesting cast of characters, some likeable some not so much. The mystery played out nicely with adventure, wit and risk. There was a satisfying ending as well. I am not sure if this is the beginning of a series or not but it does have the makings for one.

While there are some comparing this book to Deanna Raybourn‘s Veronica Speedwell Series I don’t think I would go that far.

My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media for advanced copies in exchange for a honest review.

A period tale, set after WWI when British scientists were still planning expeditions into the unknown. A spunky woman scientist, a whole lot of misogynistic white men and a murder plot that threatens to derail the planned expedition into the Amazon.