Science, botany and a cozy who done it mystery – sign me up!

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons tells the story of Saffron, a research assistant and botanist that is pushed headfirst into a mystery when her supervisor is accused of poisoning his wife. Coincidently the positioning happens at a dinner party two weeks before the all-important expedition to South America. Saffron and Alexander, a Scientist and World War I veteran, must use their scientific knowledge figure out what actually happened.

I just loved how the characters were written, speaking as a woman in science, Saffron’s tenacity is refreshing. Was she a little annoying, yes, did she find herself in situations she could have avoided, also yes- but I loved it nonetheless. The addition of Alexander’s was also very well done. I’m usually not into “crushes” but he is the exception. Being a man in academia in the time the book was written did give him a “free” pass to overlook Saffron’s brilliance, but he does not- so appreciated.

It should be noted that a trigger warning is needed, for sexual harassment and PTSD.

The audio book is very entertaining, and Jodie Harris' narration is just phenomenal. I recommend this book to anyone interested in plants and using science to solve mysteries.


Thank You to Kate Khavari and Dreamscape Media, for the audio-digital ARC provided through NetGalley in exchange

This was a delightful, historical mystery set in 1923 London. I require an emotional bond to characters for a four star rating or higher, which is why for me this was a three star.

Read if you enjoy:
🌺 Botany
🌺 A Whodunnit
🌺 Strong Female Characters
🌺 A Little Love Story Minus Any Smut
🌺 Historical Academia Settings

I thoroughly enjoyed this whodunnit set amid the glittering parties and hallowed halls of university in the 1920s.
Saffron Everly has fought her way into the almost exclusively male world of academia, following in her Father's footsteps under the mentorship of her surrogate father Dr. Maxwell.
When Dr. Maxwell is arrested for attempted murder, Saffron will stop at nothing to prove his innocence. And as far as Saffron is concerned, the dashing Mr. Ashton can either aid her in her investigations or get out of the way!
I enjoyed the plot and the characters. There were several period details to keep the reader anchored in the setting, and I enjoyed the contrast between the more proper Saffron and her flapper best friend and roomate.
I received an audio copy of the book and enjoyed the reading for the most part. I did find the narration a bit formal - leaning a bit too hard on proper elocution and more evenly paced than expressive.
I would certainly read more of Saffron's adventures if the story continued as a series.

All in all, I enjoyed this audiobook. The combination of historical fiction with a female scientist protagonist was enough to pique my interest, and I wasn't disappointed. Admittedly, the story seemed to drag on in the middle (and this is the work of a new author, so perhaps future books will be more tightly crafted), but this is definitely one to pick up if you enjoy period mysteries set in post WW1 England.

Thanks to Dreamscape Media for access to an ALC via NetGalley.

Has a feel much like Murder on the Orient Express but botanist version. I actually really enjoyed the whodunit and the talk on poisons and such even though it wasn’t what I expected necessarily. The narration was beautiful.

This story is about Saffon, a research assistant who is struggling to free her mentor who has been wrongly accused of poisoning a coworkers wife. Saffron uses science to gather clues and evidence and there are lots if twists and turns along the way.

What worked for me:
- the title and book cover are both fantastic!
- Saffron is a spunky, courageous character who kept me rooting for her
- the setting - 1920's academia - very interesting...a time when the world was booming and discoveries abounded!
- Saffron's love interest was a charming and supportive gentleman
- a fun, fast-paced mystery to solve
- well written and throughly enjoyable plot line, different from anything else I've read

What didn't work for me:
- nothing

The beginning was super strong and did an amazing job at setting the 1920s London scene. It had a gothic-esque vibe that I always adore in books, especially historical fiction. I think the beginning of the book really hooked me and made me excited for a cozy historical murder mystery, but the rest of the book didn't hold up so much. I liked the quirkiness of the main character, but my enjoyment of the characters couldn't overcome the general boredom I felt throughout.

Overall, this book was good but not great!

I got a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Dreamscape for a fair and honest review.
I really enjoyed listening to the book. It was an interesting mystery that didn't have an obvious villan like other mystery stories. The characters were great and I loved the female lead. Would love to read more by the author.
The narrator was great as well though her male voice could use some work.

A Botanist and A Biologist take on a Clue style mystery, using their scientific knowhow to hunt down answers that even the police can't figure out.

Summary:
One fateful night, a dinner party takes a horrid turn when Dr. Henry's wife is poisoned. Everyone in attendance is immediately under suspicion. Saffron Everleigh and Alexander Ashton meet briefly before the events get out of control. After the party concludes, Saffron's mentor is taken into custody and she sees no one else to turn to other than Alexander. But Saffron and the police are both on a massive time crunch.. In two weeks a large portion of the college's research staff are going on an expedition to South America and the culprit is likely using that as their escape route. What follows in the two weeks is a mystery that keeps Saffron's head spinning and draws her and Alexander closer.

Characters:
Saffron Everleigh is following in her father's footsteps to pursue botany but she faces significant struggles as one of the only women working in her department where the misogyny of the time period is very strong. She has a poor reputation in the college for lies spread about her but she has a way with people and easily uses her charm to get answers. I really admired her strength and tenacity, she makes for a fantastic lead.

Alexander Ashton is the soft academic that I adore in a love interest. He's equally clever in his own right but not as smooth talking when getting information, or when flustered by Saffron. As a war veteran, his trauma and visible scars are address in ways that I think were really well done, especially considering the way "shell shock" was treated at the time. The moments of boldness and romantic tension between him and Saffron are absolutely amazing.

Plot:
As some one who is always trying to guess the ending, I could not work out whodunit! The mixture of science and deduction made the ultimate result completely logical but it wasn't something I had considered at all. The overall arc of the plot built really well, you grow as invested as Saffron and Alexander. The romantic subplot was the perfect touch and it didn't take away from their investigation.

Other:
The narrator did a fantastic job, I am definitely a fan now. I did get a little overwhelmed but the amount of characters, especially at the beginning but as the suspects narrowed down it was much easier to keep track of who was involved.

TW: sexual harassment, PTSD (there may have been others but that is was stood out to me specifically)

Overall, I really enjoyed this mystery even though I haven't read many at all. This book has definitely drawn me to the genre! The audiobook was relatively short and I would absolutely recommend it in that particular format.

A cozy, historical mystery about botany? Sign me up!

I loved the plot of this novel, having Saffron and Ashton investigating the poisoning of Mrs. Henry, subsequent arrests of her mentor, Dr. Maxwell, and then the truth of the crime that was committed.

The narration was very good in this audiobook. I was hoping that there would be some bigger twists, but overall, the evidence of research and effort put into this novel was very clear. I think I know more about botany now than i had ever anticipated!

I thought this was an intriguing story, but I was looking for some big moments and twists, and I didn't find that. It felt a bit flat as the story moved forward. I did enjoy the historical information, but I wanted more excitement.

This was an interesting story that kept me hoping for a big, twist reveal at the end. Sadly, that didn’t deliver for me. I still found it entertaining, and really enjoyed the author’s note at the end. All of the research that clearly went into was impressive, and very intriguing.

This is a lighthearted slow-paced, cozy mystery with a little sexual tension thrown in; it is not a thriller. If you start reading it knowing this, you won't be disappointed in this fun novel.

University Botany assistant, Saffron, is present at a faculty dinner party when Mrs. Henry, wife of the lead scientist for an upcoming expedition, is poisoned. Saffron, along with love interest Alexander, a fellow colleague, do their own detective work, sneaking into University offices and breaking all the rules while looking for clues to solve the mystery.

Khavari's very descriptive writing makes you feel as though you are right in the room where the action is taking place. It does slow down at times but it did not take away from enjoying the author's prose. Lots of great botanical research on poisonous plants are also included in this fun mystery.

Narration is quite good for this audiobook which made it all the more enjoyable.

My thanks to #NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC of this book. This opinion is my own.

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons was a well written who-done-it mystery with a twang of romance and a ton of science. Kate Khavari's writing is smooth and had be unable to stop reading. Jodie Harris was excellent as a narrator which really helped readers to feel present in all the action. Overall, this twisty tale was gripping and enjoyable read. However, I would have appreciated a content warning for sexual assault in the forward of the book to prepare myself for said content. 3.75/5.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a genuine review.

This was a cute audiobook! It is the 1920s, in London in a University where our Main Character Saffron is the first women to get a job as a research assistant, she is modern in her thinking especially when it comes what women should be able to do compared to men. she certainly had her fair shares of obstacles but she knows who she is and she is a strong smart women determined to do anything a man can do. Then one night at a party where her collages are at, one of the wives of the men is poisoned and saffron with the help of her collage Alexander Ashton. Together they are a cute pair and have flirty romantic vibes and it is so cute, the mystery part was really good too well written and with Saffron determination and her knowledge of herbs and other plants they solve the crime. But not without some trouble along the way. It was a cozy mystery with a little bit of love and the roaring 20s! I give it a 3.5/5 an overall enjoyable story! If you like the 1920s and cozy mystery's check this audiobook out! Thank you Net Galley and DreamScape Media for a copy of this audio book for review.

A really well written period/historical piece. Good narration all round. Somewhat predictable, but what stories aren’t now? Would probably recommend to anyone who enjoys older style novels with a female voice.

(ALC received from NetGalley in exchange for honest review. Thank you.)

3.5

This was a fun enjoyable historical mystery on the cozier end but with some thrills. I liked watching Saffron's struggle as a woman in STEM in 1920s London, though I will say the setting could have been better developed. I'm not sure if it was the atmosphere or some of the dialogue but I found myself forgetting sometimes that this was meant to be taking place in the 1920s. That being said, the poisons and botany parts of this book felt incredibly well researched without being a drag, so I appreciated that.

I think I liked some of the side characters more than I liked Saffron, although some of that is because very early on she poisons herself "for science" and I could not believe she would do something that stupid. Alexander and Elizabeth, her love interest/sleuthing partner and best friend/roommate respectively, did their best to knock some sense into her though and I hope to see more of them in the forthcoming books.

As for the narrator, Jodie Harris, did a great job voicing these characters. I thought her performance was so expressive so I will definitely be on the lookout for more of her work as well.

I loved this book! I don't ever read historical fiction because history is just not my thing, but this book has me convinced to give it another go!
Saffron is a strong female lead, that doesn't take no for an answer. She knows she is looked down upon by male coworkers, but she makes sure they know her worth.
The mystery and murder were great to follow along, and it kept me guessing.

Oh how I wish I could read this again for the first time! A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons was such a fun read with witty and enigmatic characters. When a dinner party guest collapses after drinking poison-laced wine, the mystery of what happened and who is responsible shakes through the London university. Research assistant, Saffron, uses her botany knowledge to uncover the mystery surrounding the poisoning. But the closer she gets to uncovering the mystery, the more danger she’s in.

TW: sexual assault.
During Saffron Everliegh’s first high society party, someone is poisoned. After her mentor is wrongly accused, Saffron takes it upon herself to find out what exactly happened.

This book kept me guessing to who the culprit truly was. It was also fun to read and learn about different plants. The author has a very descriptive mind, and at times I truly felt like I was in the greenhouse.