This is my second adventure with the erudite, but adventuresome academic botanist as protagonist, and I enjoyed it even more than my first experience with one of Ms. Khavari’s historical mysteries.

Her protagonist is a strong-willed woman fighting for respect in a University enclave of stuffy men circa 1920. Although her exploits are unlikely, they are interesting and entertaining. The faint aura of romance is fun, but the social mileu our characters populate is fascinating and the period details are interesting. We dabble in both horticulture, the Language of Flowers, drugs and the jazz clubs of cafe society.

I loved every minute I spent with this book.

Netgalley provided me a complimentary copy in return for a candid review.

I love Saffron and the second title is just as good as the first. I love the characters and I always learn something new. I can't wait to see where this series goes!

The 1920s always seemed like a fun decade, at least for fashion. Saffron is a botanist working as an assistant to a professor on campus. When a woman is murdered (poisoned) she steps in to help save her professor from being accused. Interesting story, and one I enjoyed. Would recommend.

This was a smart mystery and lots of fun to read. I liked that the heroine was educated and experienced and also a hoot. And her foil, Dr Lee, was also good fun. I don't know, I just loved the scientific bent to this tale. The description s of the flowers and their properties were fascinating to me. I also liked the character of Elizabeth. She was great fun and a little scathing. Perfectly entertaining.

I have yet to read the first in the series but this worked fine as a stand alone.

Thank you for this advanced reader copy.

I am always a sucker for a good A periodic mystery book. The writing was easy to follow along and the plot did not lag, which meant I did not want to put this book down. The characters did not feel flat and I did love the dynamic between Saffron and Dr. Lee.

Overall an enjoyable read.

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.

A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality
by Kate Khavari
Pub Date: 06 Jun 2023

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.


#ABotanistsGuidetoFlowersandFatality

Thank you net galley for providing me with an arc of a botanists guide to flowers and fatality.
This much like the first book to me was decent. The writing is easy to understand and the characters likeable enough ( I do have a soft spot for the fmc as I absolutely adore intelligent women) but I was quite disappointed that the authors writing hadn't developed more since book one. I had the exact same issues with some parts of this book as I did with the previous one, such as being a tad too underwhelming to read about

I enjoyed this story more than her adventure in book 1, which surprised me. The environment seemed more pronounced and everything just had a little bit more attention to detail.

I'm a sucker for any mystery that involves floriography! This was a very enjoyable historical mystery. I'd say if you like Rhys Bowen then you will love this series. I can't wait to read more of Saffron's adventures!

I just loved the audiobook version of Saffron Everleigh’s first mystery case, and so was thrilled to,have the chance to read the second installment.

A Botanist’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality is quite a worthy successor to the first book., though it’s not necessary to have read it to enjoy this volume. Saffron and a male colleague, Dr. Lee, are asked to consult on a strange series of murders, in which each victim received a strange bouquet of flowers, some with poisonous plants. How they solve the case is entertaining and well written and developed.

I like Saffron as a character. She’s much more independent in the second book, and is becoming more of a confident individual.

My thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing an ARC of this entertaining book.

Due for publication in 2023, the second in Kate Khavari’s Saffron Everleigh series follows Saffron as she starts her first research study at the University College London in the 1920s. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley, I received an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Of course, poison is never far from Saffron’s mind. For the study, she is joined by the charming Dr Michael Lee as they investigate and document sources of poisoning cases throughout the countryside. Their skills complement each other as they identify the origins and treat the patients.

When Detective Inspector Green calls on Saffron for assistance on a different matter - to help decipher the meanings of poisonous flowers in bouquets given to murder victims before their deaths - Saffron is intrigued. She researches the Victorian practice of floriography to help interpret the messages.

Soon, she and Dr Lee are drawn into a series of Society events in search of the killer. Can she solve the case before she receives her own bouquet of fatal flowers?

I like Saffron. She’s inquisitive, smart and determined to make her own way in the academic world. This is a worthy sequel to A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons and I look forward to the next in the series.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
A Botanist’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality releases June 6, 2023

This is the second installment to the Saffron Everleigh Mystery series.
We’re immediately thrown into witnessing Saffron and Dr. Lee travelling to aid in the care of sick individuals, and figuring out what poisonous substance they might have ingested as a part of their University research study.
Alongside these events, an inspector has tasked Saffron to help in investigating a string of murders, where there is always a carefully crafted bouquet of poisonous flowers that all have a very specific meaning.

The premise of this story was there, but the execution fell flat for me.
Some of the issues I had with the first book in terms of pacing transferred to this one as well. It just dragged on, with only the last 20 or so percent having any sense of urgency.

There was an instance where Dr. Lee just suddenly decided he was no longer going to participate in helping with the murder investigations, and it felt so stilted and abrupt. They didn’t even have a big fight or conflict to warrant this, so it felt like some chapters with explanation were missing.

I’ll happily be the first to admit that I was not a fan of the romance in book one with Alexander, there was lack of chemistry and they were just so insufferably boring.
I found that Lee had charisma that brought this story to life.
However, what I didn’t like was all of the other man drama/cheating/love triangle… whatever you want to call this situation, it was messy and drew away from the murder mystery.
Even though I really liked the dynamics with Saffron and Lee, I didn’t think it was fair at all to Alexander who was literally on another continent, partaking in the Amazonian Expedition.

There’s this underlying theme that Saffron has “changed” but I still think she has room to grow and stand up for herself as the only woman in this predominantly male-centric world.
The romance is left a little open ended, so I’m curious who she’ll end up choosing.

This ends on a cliffhanger involving Alexander’s brother, so I’m assuming there will be a third installment. I don’t think I can mentally handle another one, but I guess we will see what happens when the time comes.

CW: kidnapping, drug use (cocaine)

5 stars for the cover alone, the designer for these really outdid themselves. I love the needle and how it makes sense with the story.

Saffron Everleigh mystery book 2

paw marks from my reading buddy: 3

keywords: mystery, historical, murder, women sleuths, armature detectives, 1900s ideals , romance, drug use.

In short: A good, interesting murder mystery full of twists and turns that will keep you up long into the night.

Full review:

Thank you netgallery for the chance to read and review this book :)

A botanists guide to flowers and fatalities is Kate Khavari second book in her debut series and it was just as good if not better then A botanists guide to parities and poisons.

Book two of Saffron Everleigh mystery is set a few weeks after the shocking case of her university bosses and her mentor nearly getting arrested for attempted murder, while going through these unexpected events Saffron learns the mysteries of the exotic vines, that despite her passion for her career she can open her heart up to love and that she might also enjoy police work. These issues intensify as once again completely unexpectedly she is swept up into another murder mystery, this one to do with a deadly set of budding flowers being left in vases with black ribbon right next to the bodies of high class women. Saffron is introduced to this case when police detective Green comes to the university for help while she is reporting and writing her first study about poisons plants within Britain, this case not only causes Saffron to increase her studies into different types of plants but ignites the fires of passion for this type of work, all the while trying to decide what her heart is saying not only about Alexander Ashton but also the infuriating but possibly kind Dr Lee, her new assistant for her poison study.

Kate Khavari creates an intoxicating mystery that I couldn’t guess the ending too, there are strong characters developments within the faces that are familiar and the new faces are just as lifelike and 3D, making this overall a very enjoyable read, Kate has also discovered her pace to this story which is just right at an easy steady gait that neither rushes to far head long but it doesn’t make you doze off with it slowness. The only small problem I had was I didn’t quite gel with the conclusions to the romance side of this story but I can see what she was going for but it did feel a little rushed and a little unrealistic of what we know about both the men's personalities.

I truly felt that Kate had definitely got into her stride and found her true character and her MC world this time around and everything came perfectly into alignment and I really look forward to book three and what mystery will Saffron solve next, this is an author and series that is definitely quickly winning my mystery loving heart.

Sorry, this book is written for a different audience. I prefer not to review it. Way, way, way too much preach, too little show, too little tell.

Unconvincing.

When starting a book, the words should make me sit straight up and kick-start my brain. In this case it never happened. The entitled protagonist is on an ego trip, trying to prove a political agenda, which is fine, if that concept rocks your boat. It's also great if you embrace the ME...ME...ME, only ME-culture.

The history is written in a 'how it is supposed to be'-way, not how it really happened. A rewrite of history to suit a totally different generation. Well, good luck with that one. We all have to grow up in the meantime and face the music when we arrive.

If you're looking for magic, mystery, atmosphere, well...try another book.

I was forced to write 100 characters. I wish it wasn't necessary.

This was an enjoyable second outting! I appreciate that Saffron, Ashton, and Lee all got to evolve throughout this book. I'm not usually a big love triangle fan, but this was done very well. I wish there was more Elizabeth, I hope she gets to develop more in the next book. I'm looking forward to #3, but I hope it's available as an ebook and not a PDF next time.

DNF at 74% because reading this eARC as a PDF on my phone is quickly eroding what little sanity I have. Star rating is subject to change.

I really love the way that the 1920s setting is so much more apparent in this novel than the first. I felt very immersed.

I don’t like love triangles and this whole Lee - Saffron - Alexander situation isn’t going to change that. I didn’t particularly enjoy it but it certainly added drama. I did enjoy Lee as well; there’s something about that “annoying, arrogant flirt paired with a smart girl not afraid to bite back” that I enjoy.

I like seeing Saffron immerse herself in the case with the go ahead from cops. The mystery is interesting but I feel like things started to get overshadowed by the . . . entanglement.

Anyways I am absolutely looking forward to finishing this book. Thank you NetGalley for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loving this series! Saffron has really come into her own and I liked her new partnership with Dr Lee. The story could've been whittled in a few places but a nice, winding mystery indeed (even if it was less about poison this go round). More Eliza please! The epilogue sets up for the third round and I'm definitely going to want to read it. This reminds me a lot of Miss Fisher's mysteries. I'm also learning quite a bit about poisonous flowers, Victorian flower bouquet sending, cocaine, Alice Diamond (brief mention but intriguing!), And that buttercup sap can be irritating. The perfect cosy mystery.

This was a second book but I didn’t feel like I missed out by not reading the first one. It was fun, interesting and a great read - I’m off to find more by this author!

Saffron gets embroiled in another murder investigation when the inspector asks her to identify two bouquets of flowers. Both were found at murder scenes. Intrigued, Saffron and her research partner Dr. Lee help investigate. But people with drugs, money and power are dangerous.

Saffron continues to enchant as a botanist detective. She also has the delightful dilemma of two handsome gentlemen fancying her. She ultimately must decide what she wants and who. Oh, and discover a murderer! This mystery has all the flare, romance, and excitement of the roaring twenties.

An exciting follow-up to A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons. Saffron Everleigh has a new research assignment at the University College of London; partnered with an attractive young doctor, she is dispatched to find the botanical sources of accidental poisonings while trying to avoid the misogyny of the faculty common room. Dr. Lee is charming and attractive, but almost annoyingly so, and Saffron has unresolved issues with Alexander Ashton who is on an Amazonian expedition. Luckily, Scotland Yard seeks her expertise on a series of mysterious bouquets to distract her from her romantic troubles. Crossing between the halls of academia and the nightclubs of 1920s London, Saffron soon finds that there's a lot going on behind the scenes.

A solid historical mystery with a scientific bent! Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for access to a digital ARC on NetGalley.