Another thrilling mystery combined with science, hot scientists and sassy friends. Love this series and can’t wait for the next,

I enjoyed this addition to Saffron's adventures than the last one. The plot was more well rounded and it was nice seeing more personality from some of the other characters. I enjoyed how the brother was written in and using the MC and side characters. Elizabeth is bad ass and I hope to see more of her. I also hope we get even more Alexander.

I finished this with 24 hours. I loved the mystery in book 3! I have enjoyed all the books, but book 3 is my favorite! I loved the story of Sapphire's dad woven into this mystery, as well as her grandpa. Also, I am swooning over Alexander and Sapphire! I need more of them in book 4!




I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

London, 1923. Returning from Paris, botanical researcher Saffron Everleigh finds that her former love interest Alexander Ashton’s brother, Adrian, is being investigated for murder. A Russian scientist working for the English government has been poisoned and expired in Adrian’s train compartment. Alexander asks Saffron to put in a good word for Adrian with Inspector Green. Despite her unresolved feelings for Alexander, Saffron begins to unravel mysteries surrounding the dead scientist.

As if a murder case weren’t enough, her best friend Elizabeth’s war-hero brother, Nick, arrives in town and takes an immediate interest in Saffron. Saffron learns Alexander has been keeping secrets from her, including a connection to Nick, who Saffron and Elizabeth begin to suspect is more than he seems.

When another scientist is found dead, Saffron agrees to go undercover at the government laboratory. Risking her career and her safety, she learns there are many more interested parties and dangerous secrets to uncover than she’d realized. But some secrets, Saffron will find, are better left undiscovered.

We are finally introduced to Saffron’s family. Or at least her grandfather. However, we also meet Elizabeth’s brother and Alexander’s brother. This whole novel has a theme of family, biological and “adopted”. I’m glad that the next book takes us to Saffron’s family home. I do want to know more about Saffron’s father, and I am really glad that there is a connected villain. I really want to know where that is going to go.

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

This is a good series and I'm appreciating the audiobook even if I wasn't a fan of the narrator trying to play male voices.
Safron and her friends are back and it's always a lot of fun follow the investigation and the evolutions of the relationships
There's a sort of cliff-hanger that promises a new novel and I hope it will be soon
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is the third book in the Saffron Everleigh series and probably one I didn't enjoy as much as the precedent books. In this one Saffron's housemate Elizabeth has a visit from her brother, Nick, who she hasn't seen for some time. Saffron is surprised to see that Nick appears to be acquainted with her friend Alexander and the mystery grows as Alexander's brother becomes a suspect in a murder.
The book centres on a government operated horticultural laboratory, and Saffron is convinced by Nick to go in there and spy on the staff to see if she can learn what is going on. Saffron finds herself in the thick of another investigation.
The plot loses its way a couple of times and tends to get bogged down in the minutiae but still overall an intriguing story.
Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

I was eager to dive back into Saffron's world with this book. Ended up being a fantastic entry into the "Botanist's Guide" world!

Saffron Everleigh has just returned home from Paris and a conference. She's upset, though the details aren't revealed till later in the novel. Instead, Saffron is immediately asked by Alexander Ashton, who had given her so much grief about her investigative activities in the previous installment, to help his brother Adrian, who is accused of murdering a Russian scientist.

Despite her misgivings, Saffron follows through with Inspector Green, and finds out that the scientist, who worked for the British government, had been travelling in the same train compartment as Adrian. The man had collapsed and Adrian's playboy lifestyle and Greek accent made him the police's natural, and main, suspect (*heavy sarcasm*).

Interestingly, Saffron's best friend and roommate Elizabeth receives an unwelcome surprise when her older brother Nick arrives soon after, and seems to find Saffron very interesting. A war hero, Nick now works for the Agricultural Ministry, which seems an odd fit for the man. During an uncomfortable dinner at the women's apartment, Saffron realizes that Nick and Alexander know each other from the War, but neither man is willing to spill.

When another scientist is found dead, Nick drops his urbane act, and convinces Saffron to go undercover at the government facility where the two dead men worked. She meets a colourful cast of researchers who are territorial over their work and other things, and slowly finds out what is really going on there. Also, she and Alexander begin to work through some of their personal issues together.

I have been really enjoying this series. I like the time period, the commentary about prickly male scientists jealous of their privileges and the combination of reluctance and horror over having to share anything with a smart woman, and the influence the Great War has had on society and technology.

Saffron continues to be likeable, and adept in her field, but also wonderfully conflicted about how work like hers is being applied. This has kept her from accruing more status in the university as well as in her field, but her principles drive her forward in this case, as she begins to unravel the secrets around the work performed in the government lab.

Elizabeth gains more prominence in this book, which is great, as she wrestles with her family issues. I like the way the author has gradually deepened and widened the cast of characters in this series, while also having Saffron and Elizabeth wrestle with more professional and personal issues.

I am eagerly awaiting the next entry, especially after the ominous ending of this satisfying mystery.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Once again Saffron Everleigh, now a full time researcher with the University of London, is thrust into the heart of another murder inquiry. This time two men who work at a government run agricultural research facility have separately been found dead—seemingly poisoned. But what has caused it? Saffron is an expert in poisonous plants. The time is post World War I. Countries are scrambling for their place on the world stage, to feed and house their populations. After a conference in Paris she is more than ever aware of her research being a dichotomy between medical and agricultural areas, and the dangerous offshoots both are capable of.
Her more than friend Alexander Ashton asks her to intercede with Detective Green on behalf of his brother who’s been innocently caught up in the investigation. As he’s disapproved of her previous involvements in such goings on neither of them can avoid Alexander’s asking this of her as hypocritical.
As it is Detective Green gets in touch with Saffron as there are details which are close to Saffron’s area of expertise. Her inquiries lead her to some puzzling facts. She enlists the help of her close friend Dr. Michel Lee.
It seems there are deeper waters involved when her dead fiancée, and her flat mate’s brother, Nick Hale turns up. Nick works with the ‘Agricultural Ministry.’ Strange things are happening and food security is part of it, or not?
On top all this there’s the matter of Alfie Tennison, who runs an illegal gambling den. What is his role in all this?
An exciting and deadly twist to Saffron’s continuing story. If you’ve followed her journey this is of course a must read. If your new to the Everleigh Mysteries I’d recommend starting with the first in the series.

The first two books in this series were really charming, so I was happy to get this one!

The stakes are even higher for Saffron when she is recruited to help investigate the suspicious death of a Russian scientist who was working on deadly fungi.

And this is such an interesting series. I love the setting of 1920s London, and the side characters are all fascinating! I especially love Elizabeth who is frank and cheerful, and a wonderful balance to Saffron who sometimes irritated me with her bullheadedness. And at first, I was worried that this series was going to be introducing a new love interest every installment, but instead we got an actual resolution on the love triangle established in the second book!

I dislike the introduction of a brand new plot complication in the last 3% which is just there to hook you in the next one. If the writing is good enough, I'll want to keep reading the series anyway. And the fact that the stakes of this mystery series have now reached Bond level villain plans seems a little bit like overkill. I would have more appreciated this one staying with the mystery of Alexander's brother, and getting to know more about the two of them organically. The plot is also pretty slow for most of the book, until suddenly everything is happening in the last 10% or so.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this arc.

I read the first book when it came out in 2022 and enjoyed it quite a bit. I did not read the second book, but I don’t think going into this third book that was too much of a problem.

I do like this type of mystery; where there are some nice friendships, a relationship that is developing, but not taking over the story and a rather niche murder mystery.

I liked the characters, although I think the various POVs were not always necessary. For example Elizabeth’s POV seemed a bit superfluous. It cluttered up the narrative a bit. And even if the mystery did not quite work for me and I felt the story meandered a bit too much, I still found much to enjoy. Saffron’s sleuthing and her ballsy character were so much fun and and being immersed in the 1920s setting was a nice bonus.

I would happily read more in this series when I am in the mood for this type of novel. It’s a definite mood.

I’ve adored the previous two Saffron Everleigh books, so I was incredibly excited to read this one, especially with the title! Society! Secrets!

Sadly, this installment of Saffron Everleigh just didn’t gel for me and I ended up only being able to really engage with certain parts of the book and only liking certain aspects of the book instead of engaging with and liking the whole of it.

What did I like? The characters, mostly. How can you not love Kate Khavari’s colorful and unique cast of characters? She writes them all so well in all of their complexities, gives them all a full voice, and lets them all play their parts in the story. You can’t help but to become invested in them and delight in the delicious dialogue Khavari writes for them.

What did I have issues with? Really, it was the pacing, of all things. Society and Secrets not only takes time to get going, but it takes time to really engage fully, and even once it’s going fully the story is full of stops and stutters that just made this story feel really uneven.

Do I still recommend Society and Secrets despite the low rating? Yes I do, because I’m not going to give up on Saffron Everleigh due to one book that didn’t meet my standards. For all I know I’m just not having a good reading day. Since I know we’re getting at least one more book (if not more) out of Khavari about Miss Saffron, I recommend reading it because you need to read these books in order to understand the overall story arc.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. This review is rated three starts or less so it will not be appearing on my social media. Thank you.

File Under: Book Series/Historical Fiction/Historical Romance//Mystery

I really enjoy this series about Saffron, a young woman in the early 1920s trying to build a career as a research botanist in London. But she keeps becoming involved in solving murder mysteries. And she has the help of the men who are attracted to her, particularly Alexander, the sexy microbiologist. Alexander has asked her to use her connections with the police to help solve the sudden death of a scientist who was in a train carriage with Alexander’s brother.

Saffron then plunges into a mystery that seems to get more complicated as she gets more involved. I found it a bit confusing at first, but I didn’t mind because I enjoy the ambience of 1920s London as Saffron and her roommate go out on the town. They dance and drink and explore clues.

If you enjoy historical mysteries, this is a great 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 received a copy of this title from the publisher, but all opinions expressed are my own. A Bontanist's Guide to Society and Secrets picks up a few months after the prior bookish Saffron returning home from a visit to France. She soon finds herself involved in yet another murder case when Alexander asks her to investigate a death in which his brother is the prime suspect. Saffron also gets involved in a mystery involving a lab with links to the dead man thru the brother of her roommate Elizabeth. Her relationship with Alexander is awkward complicating things even more.

I liked this book and it captured my attention from the beginning unlike the prior title that took a while for me to get into. The mystery was good and secondary characters interesting. I liked the developments between Saffron and Alexander. Curious to see where the next title goes with how this book ends.

(4.5 rounded up)

I received a complimentary ARC copy of A Botanist’s Guide to Society and Secrets(A Saffron Everleigh Mystery #3) by Kate Khavari from Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books in order to read and give an honest review.

… A Botanist’s Guide to Society and Secrets is an intriguing, well-written, fast-paced mystery, replete with compelling characters, intriguing plotlines and is definitely a page-turning historical mystery that keeps the reader engaged to the very last page…

I have been a fan of this series since book one, A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons and this third book in the series does not disappoint.

Picking up where book two, A Botanist’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality leaves off. We reunite with Saffron who returns from an academic conference in France to find that her colleague and friend Alexander has been tending to her cherished plants. Although struggling with something from France (which cleverly unfolds) she is ready to settle back into her routine life, but with Saffron nothing is ever routine. With her flat mate Elizabeth unsure about her new beau Colin, and Saffron confused as to her feelings for both Alexander and Lee she is in a state of limbo. When Alexander’s brother Adrian becomes a prime suspect in the poisoning death of a biologist he did not know, Saffron is asked by Alexander to intercede with Detective Green on Adran’s behalf. Despite Alexander’s protests in the past and his withholding information an angry Saffron reluctantly agrees. When Elizabeth’s estranged brother Nick appears unexpectedly to reunite with his long-lost sister, an awkward interaction at a dinner party between him and Alexander raises more questions for Saffron. After a second biologist from the same research center dies Nick, a government agent approaches Saffron for her expertise, pulling her into government service to help investigate the mysterious deaths of the two biologists. Both biologists work at a government run agricultural research facility once her father’s employer, utilizes her name to infiltrate the facility as an employee. When it appears the culprit that has poisoned the biologists is a unique fungus which is produced in the facility, she also notices the destruction it could cause if unleashed into the world. Normally distrusting, Saffron usually shies away from working for the government as she is leery that her research could be used as a weapon but after the events, she is wrestling with from France she feels compelled to act. Things heat up when missing test results, violent mobsters, illegal gambling dens and a dangerous stranger calling the shots puts Saffron and her loved ones in danger, it is up to her to get to the bottom of things before it is too late.

I love Saffron, a brilliant, quirky, and brave woman, who although struggling with her fears thrives in the face of danger. Although slow at times, A Botanist’s Guide to Society and Secrets is an intriguing, well-written, fast-paced mystery, replete with compelling characters, intriguing plotlines and is definitely a page-turning historical mystery that keeps the reader engaged to the very last page. I loved the cliffhanger ending and I cannot wait to read more about Saffron’s adventures! I highly recommend it.

Author Kate Khavari’s fans have been eagerly awaiting another mystery for botanist Saffron Everleigh to solve. The Botanist’s Guide to Society and Secrets is worth the wait. It’s an entertaining, engrossing novel worth reading. In my case, it was a delightful binge-read.

If you’re new to The Botanist’s Guide mysteries, I’d advise you to read the books in order. You’d enjoy this book even if you haven't read the earlier ones, but the book is better if you are familiar with the characters’ backstories.

Saffron is usually discouraged from investigating mysteries by Alexander Ashton, the enigmatic university colleague and romantic interest. This time, he needs Saffron’s help to exonerate his brother Adrian when a murder investigation points to him.

Saffron’s roommate Elizabeth Hale finally has a steady but bland boyfriend. When Elizabeth’s brother Nick comes back into her life, he shakes up the quiet lives of the girls to include a second murder investigation. Both victims worked at the same government research laboratory, and Nick wants Saffron to take a position within the laboratory to find a connection between the two.

Saffron has a load of questions to sift through. Could she work at a government laboratory, even though she believes that government research led to her father’s murder years ago? Can she solve the crimes without endangering her own?

Others have deep secrets. How does Nick Hale’s current and previous military service tie him into the murders? Alexander’s wartime efforts are even more concerning, especially since he and Nick crossed paths during the war. Even Elizabeth’s professional and personal lives play into big secrets.

Khavari wraps up the primary murder mystery and shows how the primary characters were impacted by the experience. But it’s not really over. Our author drops a gut-wrenching twist that appropriately sets up the next storyline. I didn't see it coming...but I should have. It also makes it much harder to wait for the next book.

Thank you, NetGallery for an advance review copy of the book.

London 1923

If you are a fan of historical mysteries, you cannot go wrong with this series. Great historical facts intertwined with fiction will make you go down a few rabbit holes on research!

Murder, suspense and close ties bring this journey of discovery full circle as Saffron finds herself drawn into trying to find a killer and keeping herself out of danger.

Hope to listen to this on audible as well. Do not miss it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for the ARC! I wish I read the other two of the series. I was lucky enough to get the audio as well and the narrator did an amazing job. I felt a bit that the pacing was off, and it took me time to get into the story.
3/5 stars

affron Everleigh is back for another botanical adventure! When Alexander's brother, Adrian, is accused of murder with a whiff of poison about it, he goes to Saffron for her help. The deeper she dives the more tangled it gets, especially when Elizabeth's war hero brother, Nick, turns up out of the blue. Saffron and Elizabeth know he's up to something and it seems to involve the case of Adrian. As Saffron becomes more and more involved in the case, her relationship with Alexander takes on a deeper meaning as they take their relationship to another level.

This was a fun third book in the series, and the ending takes the series in a new and darker direction.

The third book in the series and I have read them all. I remember in my review of the previous book wondering whether events were building up to a love triangle. Well that thought was dealt with instantly at the beginning of this book. No such doubts allowed for Saffron Everleigh! She makes her choice as though there never was a choice at all.

This book moves slowly and the intrigue mounts a little beyond the bounds of credibility. Nick in particular is impossible and when Bill popped up towards the end I laughed. It appears he will be playing a larger role in the next book so I will have to prepare myself.

Sorry if I sound as if I did not enjoy this book. I actually liked it well enough and will definitely seek out #4 when it comes along. The author has already signified the direction it is going to take and it sounds like fun.