I actually think I loved this book more than the first one. The story kept me on my toes and guessing and wanting more. The murder investigations were thrilling and I definitely think this is worthy of a binge read

I really enjoyed the first book in this series which came out last year. And I enjoyed this one. My one problem was that I didn’t remember much about the first book, but the author assumed that readers would have read and remember the characters and plot from that book. There would be references to the earlier one and I just didn’t remember. I bet I’m not the only one. I know it’s a pain when writing or reading books in a series to have that page or two summarizing what happened previously, but it’s necessary sometimes for the reader.

What I did remember is that there was one man who was the potential love interest for Saffron, the series’ protagonist. But in this book, he’s off stage for most of the book and a new guy is on the scene. So we’re set up for some sort of a triangle that doesn’t really get going until the last few chapters. And, spoiler alert, it doesn’t get resolved by the end of the book.

So I guess that is to make us eager to read the next book in the series which I hope will come along soon.

Saffron is a botanist and she’s consulting with the police because several women have been delivered bouquets of deadly plants prior to their being murdered. It seems like the murderer is going on their way to drop clues that can bring in our heroine. Why not murder these unrelated individuals without the bouquets so the police don’t look for connections between them? It seems more like a literary excuse bring the heroine into the case.

And Saffron seems to be finding meaning in her life by trying to solve the case. I’m wondering how many future murders there can be when the skills of a botanist are needed.

I still enjoyed the book and will happily read future entries into this series.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy of A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality by Kate Khavari. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.

A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality was such a fun cozy mystery. I loved the protagonist and her profession as a poisonous plant researcher. It is a great setup and gives the story a unique perspective from a very saturated genre. The mystery was good, and I look forward to reading more from this author. 5/5 stars.

Saffron Everleigh is still struggling to claim her place at the University College of London. But she finds renewed vigor when the Detective Inspector asks her to consult on some new poisoning cases. Eager to help, Saffron uncovers clues relating to bouquets that have been found with recent victims and believes they’re being used as warnings or threats. With the help of her “insufferably charming” colleague, will she be able to find the murderer before they claim more victims?

First things first, that cover is stunning. I did love the inclusion of floriography (the Victorian practice of attaching specific meanings to flowers and using them to send messages) and how well it was explored in the book. I’ve always found the topic fascinating, and it was a treat to watch Saffron decipher the meanings of the bouquets. But the addition of a love triangle (and Saffron’s repetitive inner dialogue relating to this), unexplained character choices, poor pacing, and a simple/predictable mystery detracted from this work.

Unfortunately, the characters left me wanting much more. They were just okay but never really felt alive. There wasn’t much (or any) growth for Saffron in this book despite her declaring many times that she’s changed; I found her passable in the first book and was hoping for more from her in this one. But she remained static, and I didn’t find her to be an engaging protagonist. Similarly, the one character that showed promise in the first book wasn’t present in this read until the last quarter, and then was cast simply as a jealous boyfriend. It seemed that there wasn’t much consistency between the characters between book one and two. And then the author made sure to include Saffron’s male colleagues being rude, pretentious, and typical for the times, but it wasn’t incorporated in a meaningful way and felt more obligatory.

While the mystery is wrapped up in this one, it’s set up for a sequel but I’m not going to continue this series. My thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read this book, which will be published 6 June 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I liked the first book, and I loved the second.

Even though I was cheering for Saffron and Alexander in Book One, I ended up finding Lee's cheeky character irresistible and at some point I even felt like punching Alexander in the face. Dear author, thank you for coming up with such a clever solution for the romantic plot! I am so happy with it.

The investigation into the murder cases was exhilarating, and I couldn't not binge read this. Can't wait for Book Three!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Cooked Lane Books for an Advance Review Copy.

"Brilliant botanist Saffron Everleigh is back and ready for adventure in Kate Khavari's next mesmerizing historical mystery.

1920s London isn't the ideal place for a brilliant woman with lofty ambitions. But research assistant Saffron Everleigh is determined to beat the odds in a male-dominated field at the University College of London. Saffron embarks on her first research study alongside the insufferably charming Dr. Michael Lee, traveling the countryside with him in response to reports of poisonings. But when Detective Inspector Green is given a case with a set of unusual clues, he asks for Saffron's assistance.

The victims, all women, received bouquets filled with poisonous flowers. Digging deeper, Saffron discovers that the bouquets may be more than just unpleasant flowers - there may be a hidden message within them, revealed through the use of the old Victorian practice of floriography. A dire message, indeed, as each woman who received the flowers has turned up dead.

Alongside Dr. Lee and her best friend, Elizabeth, Saffron trails a group of suspects through a dark jazz club, a lavish country estate, and a glittering theatre, delving deeper into a part of society she thought she'd left behind forever.

Will Saffron be able to catch the killer before they send their next bouquet, or will she find herself with fatal flowers of her own in Kate Khavari's second intoxicating installment."

Just like my favorite Enola Holmes mystery! Never discount the danger of the language of flowers!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

I was looking forward to this as it is book 2 of a series.
I enjoy Saffron, she’s a good main character, strong but flawed. I liked seeing Elizabeth again, I love how quirky and modern she is.

I was a little put off by the introduction of Dr Lee, her new science partner. It was clear from the start that there was chemistry there. But he came out of nowhere. A prologue or some sort of recap about the previous book. I remembered that Lee wasn’t in book 1 nor the main love interest but couldn’t remember why Ashton wasn’t around (a few chapters later a letter was received).

The plot was good. I enjoyed figuring out who the killer was. The side characters were interesting!

I enjoyed reading about Saffron’s new adventures. She’s gotten a little more daring since the last book, but has also learned from her past mistakes. I loved the fact that she and Alexander exchanged letters while he was on the expedition. The mystery itself was complex and interesting. I thought the use of flowers to convey meanings was a nice touch.

I really liked the introduction of Dr. Michael Lee. I’m usually not a fan of love triangles, but I think it worked for this book, especially given Alexander’s current stance on some of Saffron’s choices. It was really nice to see another male colleague who valued Saffron for her skills as a botanist and researcher rather just seeing her as a silly girl playing at science.

I have read the first Saffron Everleigh mystery, and was interested in reading the second.

1920s London sees Saffron Everleigh continuing as a research assistant of botany at the University College of London following her near miss with death. Though it is a male dominated environment, Saffron is conducting a study with the assistance of Dr. Michael Lee, traveling the countryside in response to possible cases of poisoning. However, Inspector Green has remembered Saffron’s disdain for his colleague’s lack of forensic insight, and enlists her expertise in a case. Women have been murdered and each one received a bouquet of poisoned flowers. Using floriography, the language of flowers, Saffrom discovers that there is much more going on than even the inspector knows. With Dr. Lee’s help, the two traverse a jazz club, lavish country estate, and a theatre all in the hopes of stopping a murderer.

I love how determined Saffron is to make it in this world. She isn’t relying on her name, in fact she appears to have shunned all of that. I will admit that I took a point off because of the potential love triangle, and I sincerely hope that is not the case with book 3. I did miss Alexander Ashton in this one, but he does make an appearance. The cliffhanger ending has me on gasping to want the next book sooner rather than later.

The mystery was superb. I admit to having a feeling of the killer, but it wasn’t confirmed until the very end. I did flip flop between two, and then was pleasantly surprised to see I was 50% right. Plenty of red herrings, plenty of motives, plenty of suspects, and a wonderful dose of practical with hints of emotional.

Overall, I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy of abotanists guide to flowers and fatality. This was pretty good for historical fiction and worth he read even though it gets a bit long at some points.

First, this is the second book in a series. If you haven't read the first book I highly recommend it and I think it will help to make this story understandable since this book references things that happened and characters from the first book often.

I like how Kate Khavari references the era and the limitations that the time period puts on her main character, Saffron, while portraying her as a strong and smart woman. These books have just enough mystery, drama and romance to keep me reading.

I also enjoy how the author ties up the ending nicely while also leaving room for a third book (which I hope we get).

Saffron Everleigh is a researcher for the Botany department at University College London working on a botanical poisons and toxins project with Dr. Lee. When Inspector Green is assigned murder cases where the victims have received bouquets containing poisonous flowers he reaches out to Saffron for help. A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality is another interesting historical mystery by Kate Khavari. Thanks to the author, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

The Botanist’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality is the second book in the historical STEM novel set in 1920’s Britain. Following amateur detective and botanist Saffron Everleigh, she’s once again thrown into a mysterious series of murders where the only clue is the flower bouquets the victims received before death.

This book takes the things that I enjoyed from the first book and did them better. The writing is more solid, and the mystery has even more twists and turns. I also adore the fact that this book has focused on floriography, the Victorian language of flowers. I’ve always been fascinated by flowers and their meanings, so to see it included here was fun. Saffron was just as badass as in the first book, but I didn’t like the “maybe something there” romance/ possible love triangle that was in this. I missed Alexander Ashton, and his cozy romance with Saffron.

If you like your historical fiction with a murder mystery, or are looking for books with similar vibes to Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries - then you should give this series a go!

I enjoyed this one more than the first one! I love a good mystery and Kate is turning into an author I can trust to deliver a good one with a great cast of characters. A little slow to start, but I really liked the multiple POVs throughout the novel and though I thought I had it all figured out, there were a couple of twists I didn't see coming! Definitely looking forward to the next one.

I felt this book was a little slow to start. I didn’t remember Michael Lee from the first book which made things difficult as he’s the main character after Saffron in this book. And I desperately missed Alexander Ashton who was Saffron’s hunky co-conspirator previously and was now on voyage in the Amazon. But once the mystery got rolling, and BFF/flatmate Elizabeth showed up (she’s the best), it was full steam ahead.

I love Saffron. She’s smart and strong but not really an early feminist as she’s still reserved and a bit of a prude. But that serves her well. She doesn’t often let herself get carried away by emotion. My only wish is that she continue to grow and not think about others opinions of her as much. Hopefully we’ll see some of that in the next book (in Paris?).

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality is the second in the delectable Saffron Everleigh Mystery series. You don't want to miss either of them. The characters are quirky, plots clever, setting and era (1920s England) fascinating and the writing is gorgeous. The covers are perfection!

As a botanist, independent Saffron Everleigh has attended university and studies poisonous plants (as do I) and uses the fascinating Victorian art of floriography (identifying and attaching the meaning of certain plants in bouquets Victorians sent each other) to help crack puzzling murder cases. Assorted floral bouquets are placed near female murder victims, stumping Inspector Green who seeks Saffron's specialty phytotoxicty and floriography knowledge.

Not only are there murders but also flirtations and banter. Researcher Dr. Michael Lee adds sizzle and and boyish charm. Alexander Ashton is kind and steady, no drama. Saffron happens to be intrigued by both.

I really do appreciate the botanical research the author has undertaken which add a wonderfully unique flair and dimension to the story. However, there are tiny inaccuracies such as blooming times. But this did not diminish my enjoyment.

What an eclectic, amusing and unique escapist book. In short, it's fun! Do add this series (both installments can be read as standalones) to your reading stack. I just know oodles of trouble and mayhem await in the third! The series makes my heart glad. I am besotted with Book 1 particularly and am crazy about Book 2. My only little complaint is that the romance elements, though lighthearted, took away from the actual mystery. I'm here for the murder and poison!

My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this engrossing and heart-lifting novel.

I found Kate Khaveri's A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality a rewarding read. The central character, botanist Saffron Everleigh, who is trying to make it in the man's world of university research in the 1920s, is feisty, keenly aware of her own intelligence, and has little patience for the sexist attitudes of her colleagues. There were a number of times in this novel when I wanted to high-five her for standing up for herself (though I don't know if people high-fived each other in the 1920s).

I found this volume stronger than the first in the series, A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons. The case this time around focuses on the murders of several women, each of whom was also anonymously given an unsettling bouquet. The flowers varied in each, but all were deadly—and in the Victorian "language of flowers" each bouquet serves as an accusation against the recipient. Saffron is consulted by DI Green who knows enough to know that he doesn't have the knowledge to interpret the bouquets the way Saffron will.

Saffron, like amateur detectives everywhere, takes Green's consultation as an invitation to start her own investigations. She and her co-worker Dr. Michael Lee work their way into a fast, rich crowd with connections to the victims. There are jazz clubs, wild parties, and cocaine (though not used by Saffron or Lee). Many of the members of this circle could potentially be the murderer, and they're all difficult to get to know.

What I particularly liked this time around is the way Saffron refuses to be "protected" by the men around her. She's driven to use her skills in pursuit of justice, let the men sputter and pout as they will.

The mystery here is well structured. I finally did guess whodunnit near the end of the novel, but kept racing through the book nonetheless because the action was compelling, even with my sense of having solved the case.

If you enjoy historical mysteries with strong female characters, you're in for a treat with the Saffron Everleigh novels. I suggest you begin with this volume, then read the first afterwards for context. I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for my honest review, so let’s get into it. I also received an arc of the first book in the series, and absolutely fell in love with it. I’m typically not someone who’s into the murder, mystery, historical stories, but this one really got its claws in to me, I was super excited to get this book but compared to the last one it kinda fell short for me. In the story we don’t really get to see much of Alexander until I think the last 30% and we kind of have a love triangle thing going on with her new lab partner Lee. I really liked the mystery in this one I thought I was very well executed. I kind of guessed who the killer was going to be, but I don’t mind when I do that when I’m reading a murder, mystery book. The thing I didn’t love was basically how saffron Kinda decided which guy from the love triangle she was going to be with and also I just didn’t really enjoyed the book ended like the epilogue was good, but the last chapter I was like really really you’re gonna do this to us but I guess that’s fair cause it will keep people coming back to read more. This book releases June 6th 2023.

Oh I love when a sequel is better than the first book!!

While this one had a bit slower of a start, I adored Flowers and Fatalities! Saffron is back and better than ever. She’s really come into her own after everything she’s gone through in book one and is curious as ever!

I found this store much more captivating than the first. I couldn’t wait to figure out who was behind the mystery bouquets and let me tell you, the twist was perfect!!

The amount of knowledge Kate infuses into her work is astonishing. We had spectacular world building around 1920’s London including everything from the landscape to the wardrobe to the vernacular to the pastimes. Then on top of that, there was the medical and botany knowledge seamlessly woven through out. My favorite part of the book was the lost art of floriography! It’s something has had always been of interest to me and Kate’s use of it was fascinating!!

Like with book one, my only complain is that I wished for more with Saffron’s love life!

——

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC! All opinions are my own! Review will be added to Amazon and Instagram around the publishing date)

In this second in series researcher Saffron Everleigh and doctor Michael Lee are called in to assist the London police in solving some murders. Left at each crime scene is a bouquet of flowers, which leads the team to dive into floriography, especially poisonous flowers.
A wonderful read although quite slow going. I enjoyed this one better than part one.

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.