"I'm not looking for anything in particular. I was just...curious."

And there it is! In the fourth, and possibly my favorite, Saffron Everleigh Mystery, A Botanist's Guide To Rituals and Revenge, by the ever precise and keen historical fiction author Kate Khavari, once again, Saffron's curiosity leads to trouble. This time it's kidnapping, attempted murder, ghosts sightings, hallucinations and a dubious medium.

For the first time in the series, Saffron leaves 1924 London to head home to her family manor to see her grandfather who has suffered a heart attack. With her long time suitor Alexander, and best friend Elizabeth, she finds her widow mother and grandparents under the thumb of the deviously mysterious Bill Wyatt, claiming to be a doctor caring for her grandfather. But Saffron knows Bill and knows he's a liar. She just has to prove it.

The prolific voice actress Jodie Harris
is her usual "can do any accent and any emotion brilliant self." It's probably why this haunting often intense mystery is her 100th audiobook! Congratulations Jodie!

I adore this cozy historical fiction mystery series. It can be a standalone but trust me, reading the series, listening to Saffron and Alexander's relationship grow through all the dangerous, yet exciting crime solving through botany and science, is a ritual I hope never ends.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Saffron Everleigh is returns to her family's home after her grandfather suffers a heart attack, bringing her best friend Elizabeth and her beau, Alexander along for support. They arrive to discover that her grandfather's doctor is Bill Wyatt, an evil man we met in the previous book, who is pressuring Saffron to find her late father's research and turn it over to him so he can profit from it, threatening her family's safety if she fails to deliver. Elizabeth confronts her own family, the Everleigh's neighbors, for the first time since she also left for London, the visit made more stressful by the fact that her parents have taken in Madame Martin, a medium who claims to communicate with the dead that we also met previously. Saffron must hunt for her father's research as she navigates difficult family relationships and keeps a close eye on Bill, while Elizabeth is determined to out Madame Martin as a fraud. The setting of Everleigh hall lends a gothic atmosphere to the story, there is lots of tension between characters, and the "botanist" parts are well researched, as always. I enjoy the characters as much as the science and mystery in this series, which is set in post WWI England.

Saffron Everleigh, our accidental detective, returns once again to solve another mystery. This time, she leaves London behind and heads to Ellington, her family’s country manor, after her grandfather, Lord Easting, suffers a heart attack.

Back home, Saffron is quickly reminded why she left in the first place—her family relationships remain as strained as ever. Despite the tension, she’s genuinely worried about her grandfather. The so-called doctor, Bill Wyatt, isn’t helping matters—Saffron is convinced his credentials are fake and suspects he’s cozying up to the family for ulterior motives.

Meanwhile, at the neighboring Hale estate, a local medium, Madame Martin, and her assistant are creating quite the stir. Saffron is certain something is off about the pair. Thankfully, she has her steady beau Alexander by her side, and together they set out to unravel the mounting mysteries.

With murder, drama, and plenty of intrigue, Kate Khavari delivers another charming entry in this cozy mystery series. While the story hooked me from the start, the plot began to meander about halfway through, and I found my interest waning. The ending felt like a rushed wrap-up, which left me a bit unsatisfied. That said, I did enjoy seeing Saffron and Alexander’s relationship deepen, though I missed the botanical elements that usually add a unique flavor to these stories.

One consistent highlight? The cover art! Whoever is designing these deserves a raise.

Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and of course the author Kate Khavari for the advanced copy of the audiobook. A Botanist’s Guide to Rituals and Revenge is out now. All opinions are my own.

Summary
Saffron Everleigh returns to Ellington Manor after years away. But this homecoming is full of danger because Bill Wyatt, a man specializing in passing on government secrets for the right price, has been hired as Saffron’s grandfather’s personal physician, putting Wyatt at the heart of Saffron’s family.

This series is a favorite of mine. The covers are gorgeous. The characters are ones I love coming back to-four times now! What keeps bringing me back is Saffron’s refusal to conform to society’s notions of what a woman of Saffron’s social class should aspire to, a marriage of high-standing. Instead, she forges her own path in the male dominated world of academia. Her late father is her greatest influence, and in this book, we learn more about him as well as Saffron’s mother. I liked we learned, along with Saffron, there is far more to her mother than anyone knew.
The stakes in this story are also higher than the previous novels. Bill Wyatt wants the research Saffron’s father undertook years ago. By ingraining himself into her family, he forces her to do what he wants, but all her searching leads nowhere. This tension makes for a fast-moving, tension-filled novel. Bill Wyatt did get on my nerves a bit as he came across as too perfect the evil villain. He was always one step ahead of Saffron. And maybe that was really the issue I had—Saffron could never seem to outsmart him. I wanted her to one-up him! But that is a minor quibble.
Khavari’s writing immersed me in the historical time period, with a fast-paced plot full of twists and turns. If you love your mysteries set in the past, give A Botanist’s Guide to Rituals and Revenge a read.
5/5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an e-copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

Fourth instalment in the Saffron Everleigh Murder Mystery series, this was a weird one.

I enjoyed the first part of the book very much. The thread about the medium involved me completely, and I loved the way it impacted the main cast’s lives. It forces them to face the past and the wounds it carries, while most of them are busy burying it.

But then the story veered completely, almost forgetting about this thread, to focus more on a kind of hazy international plot, with Saffron bouncing here and there in search of her father’s lost research, which I was never really sure why was so important.

Saffron’s family situation was interesting enough, but the fuel of the action – Saffron trying to save them from Bill’s threat – felt too abstract to me.

The story, so lively and intriguing at the beginning, dragged in the middle as it focused on this thread, at least in my opinion, and at the end, it felt kind of a mess. I found the ending a bit rushed, and I even thought the series might be concluded earlier than it was supposed to.

But this is just my impression. I don’t know whether this will really be the case.

It’s a mixed bag for me.

This is an intriguing addition to the Saffron Everleigh series. It’s definitely a change of pace since the bulk of the story takes place away from London and most of the people Saffron usually associates with. There is also a greater focus on British aristocracy, family drama, and intergenerational tensions and very little active botanical research. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, just different from the rest of the series. I enjoyed reading about Saffron’s childhood home and I really liked her cousin and mother. The mystery itself is less of a mystery and more of a high stakes search for a needle in a haystack. I was honestly more invested in Elizabeth’s quest to discredit a supposed medium. The story as a whole was engaging and I did enjoy it, but this one leans slightly more towards cozy thriller than historical mystery.

Note: This is the fourth book in the Saffron Everleigh mystery series and should be read in order. Book 1 is A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons.

The plot of the book is very complex, with two mysteries to solve at the same time, but it is a slow-burn read. The good news is that it does pick up more at the end. The characters keep the storyline interesting, and the book ends with a tender moment. It is a great book to stretch your brain a little! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

Thank you NetGalley, and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This is book 4 in this series and I think it is the second one I have read. I definitely enjoy these characters and do intend to read them all. Saffron and her friends go back to her home because she is summoned due to her grandfather’s poor health. Unfortunately danger has followed them and there is plenty of family drama to resolve. I liked this mystery but I did get a little frustrated that things with Bill weren’t finished once and for all despite several opportunities. There is also progress to Saffron and Alexander’s relationship with I enjoyed too. I also really liked that Elizabeth also faced her family and past and got to be developed a little more. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator quite a bit, she definitely brought this story to life.

Saffron heads home as her grandfather is ill. She certainly didn’t expect Bill Wyatt to show up, or her family to get involved I. He relationship with Alexander, but here we are. Going home isn’t always a walk in the park, but it shouldn’t be this hard either.

This was a great read. The setting gives Downton Abbey vibes and a British cosy is never a bad thing. I adore this well written series!

5 stars – A Clever and Engaging Follow-Up

Saffron Everleigh and Alexander Ashton return in A Botanist's Guide to Rituals and Revenge, and this time, the stakes feel more personal than ever with Saffron’s family drawn into the mystery. This installment delivers all the charm, wit, and intrigue that fans of the series have come to love.

The historical setting is rich and immersive, and Kate Khavari continues to weave botanical knowledge seamlessly into the plot. The chemistry between Saffron and Ashton is as compelling as ever, and their partnership keeps evolving in a way that feels natural and satisfying.

This cozy mystery series is a true gem—well-paced, intelligent, and consistently engaging. I’m truly hoping there’s another book to come. I can’t wait to see where this pair will go next.

I really liked this book. The characters were great and the storyline was well written. This was my first time reading a book from this Author and she definitely didn't disappoint. I was really excited to be chosen to read an ARC copy of this book and can't wait to read more from this Author.

This has been a wonderful series so far. Set in the 1920s, Saffron Everleigh is high born but her family does not approve of her trying to make a living as a botanist like her father did before her. She also runs into lots of prejudice and blocks to her education and career choice at the university she attends and works at. What she didn't expect to find herself involved in was murder. Which unfortunately has happened a few too many times.

In this book, she is going home because she has received word her grandfather is not doing well. Only she discovers, Bill Wyatt, a man who appeared in a previous book and sells government secrets is posing as her grandfather's doctor. He wants her to find information about what her father was researching at the time of his death. If she doesn't, well the threat is obviously implied.

Meanwhile, things are further complicated by the medium who is staying next door with Elizabeth's parents. Elizabeth is determined to prove the woman is a fraud and wants Saffron's help.

Saffron will need all the help she can get from Alexander, her beau, who came with home with her. But will that be enough to save her family before Bill decides more deadly measures will motivate Saffron more?

Overall, I didn't like this one as much as the previous books but it was still good. Bill has become a criminal I wish the writer would dispose of forever. He is beginning to go into Master Criminal status and I find those don't always work well. I really did like the medium subplot and the continuation of Elizabeth into a strong secondary character.

My favorite part was definitely seeing Saffron and Alexander continue to grow in their relationship. They have faced danger before but facing a disapproving family is a completely different sort of challenge.

I look forward to seeing Saffron and Alexander in more mysteries.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Book four in this series and I have read them all.

This one turned out to be the book I have liked the least so far. I found it a little slow and I was not especially interested in either sub plot. Having said that, there was a lot going on between family members and between Saffron and Alexander which was entertaining.

Hopefully we have seen the last of Bill and may get to enjoy seeing Saffron and Alexander somewhere exotic overseas working on an archaeological dig and doing the kind of sleuthing they are good at. I visualise something like the Amelia Peabody series!

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Historical Mystery, Historical Suspense, Historical Thriller
Subgenre: Romance
Readability: You'll enjoy this series best when read in order.

A BOTANIST'S GUIDE TO RITUALS AND REVENGE taps into the love of seances and spiritualism that surged after WWI—what a great device to use to create mystery and suspense!

I feel like this series has morphed. At first it was more of a murder mystery with a side helping of romance. Now, I feel like it leans more toward suspense and thriller, and I think that is because of the political ramifications that begin in book 3. This makes me curious to see where the author is going to take us in the future. And I do think there will be another book. It is also reminding me a bit of Sherlock because of the villain and growth of the plot's focus.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and believe fans of historical mystery and suspense will too. I find this to be a quick and engaging read, so even if you haven't started yet, it is not overwhelming.

Happy reading!

A Botanist's Guide to Rituals and Revenge is the fourth book in Kate Khavari's Saffron Everleigh Mystery series. After her grandfather has a heart attack Saffron returns to her family home for the first time in years. What she finds has her very concerned. A man named Bill Wyatt who claims to be a doctor is treating her grandfather and tensions in the family are high. Saffron begins investigating Wyatt and soon learns he is not what he seems. Her suspicions are confirmed when he demands Saffron give him her father's old research documents.

I really love this series. Saffron continues to be one of the elite leads in the historical mystery space. She is smart and determined. I also love the developing relationship between Saffron and Alexander. I do have to say the mystery in this book wasn't quite as good as it has been in the previous books but I still enjoyed it. I can't wait to see where this series goes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In what I found to be one of my favorite Saffron Everleigh tales, Saffron returns to her family home when her grandfather has a heart attack. We know family tensions are strong with the Everleighs, but they are downright menacing in this tale. When strange things start happening and strange people start showing up, Saffron must step in to save both her family and their next door neighbors.

Adding ghosts and seances and a glimpse in to Saffron's past, this volume in the Saffron Everleigh Mystery Series is one of the most intriguing. If you are looking for a different kind of cozy mystery read for your escape this summer, this whole series is great, but this one is the tops!

Will Saffron ever be free of these manipulations!

Research botanist Saffron Everleigh has been called back to Ellington. Her grandfather, Lord Easting is ill. Alexander Ashton her beau accompanies her, as does Elizabeth Hale her childhood friend and brother to her dead sweetheart Wesley.
What greets her is Bill Wyatt masquerading as a cardiologist caring for her grandfather. Bill wants something from Saffron, some research of her father’s.
Meanwhile staying on the adjoining Hale Estate is a medium, Madame Martin and her assistant, Bernard Fischer, conning Elizabeth’s parents, friends and the villagers. Both Elizabeth and Saffron are furious.
Heightened tensions, danger, a kidnapping, and a killer willing to do anything to obtain his goals is just part of this intriguing, gut wrenching, latest tale of Saffron’s life.

A Crooked Lane ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Returning home after her grandfather’s heart attack, Saffron Everleigh discovers a web of secrets surrounding a mysterious “doctor,” a spiritual medium, and her late father’s research, all threatening her family and her budding romance.

More thriller than mystery, this book focuses on the intrigue surrounding Saffron’s family. It’s fast-paced and atmospheric with a plot that kept me guessing.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

💫💫💫💫💫

Saffron Everleigh is coming home, and with her, she brings her friend Elizabeth Hale and her boyfriend Alexander Asher. Things are tense at Ellington Manor, with Saffron's family meeting her beau for the first time and her grandfather being ill. While at the manor, Saffron must save the family from an evil man parading as a doctor, who wants something that belonged to her father.
This was a nice, cozy, fun read, and the part of the smart but delusional medium was very enjoyable. I loved Saffron and her boyfriend Alexander. The plot, the botany, and the sleuthing were so delightful. Overall, I loved the book and story!

Thank you, Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books, for this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

The fourth book in Saffron Everleigh series had me on the edge of my seat for the last half of the book. And yet there's no murder involved in the immediate story. This book is all about Saffron's and her family and it's a tangled tale to be sure. Saffron is called home due as her grandfather is apparently quite ill. So Saffron goes home with Alexander and her best friend Elizabeth and there are all sorts of hijinks. The main problem is Bill Wyatt is after something from Saffron and he's willing to cause pain in order to get it. He's still a bit sore from Saffron ruining his previous plot and he is not holding back in any way. Then there's the problem of the medium doing seances and bilking locals out of heaps of money, most importantly the Hales (Elizabeth's family).

As I first mentioned, this had me rushing through the second half and it was exciting to the end. The first half moved more slowly and then it just built speed to the end. I loved this entry into the series and found the character development to be excellent, from Saffron to Violet's mother, there was so much happening with these characters. I was pleased to see that Saffron finds she's guilty of some of the same things as some around her and her recognition of this is an excellent point. It just adds to the vulnerability of her character and the fact she is just a human being.

Overall, I give this 4.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane books for giving me a free advanced reader copy. I have provided my feedback voluntarily.