DEADLY PLANTS AND A HOST OF SUSPECTS

Margaret is a research assistant and lab manager for the eminent Dr. Weaver. She thinks highly of her boss, almost adores him, and he is one of the few individuals who appreciates her and the quality of her work. When Margaret finds him dead in a disheveled state, she assumes he has been murdered. The police don’t share her suspicions, but she starts investigating and enlists the help of Joe, a news journalist turned janitor.
This is a mystery, but a deliberate one. Margaret is a quirky character, direct in her speech, and ungainly in appearance. She leads a tidy life with meals and activities timed and done in precisely the same order every time. While putting up with the eccentricities of her colleague Calvin, she barges forth, sneaking around, and collecting data on those she deems suspects. Aided by Joe and adopted by a cat, Margaret is sometimes forced to loosen up her approach to life and friendship as together they seek to identify the culprit.
I found that Margaret grew on me, and I began to enjoy her foibles and to cheer as she accepted Joe’s offers of help and the occasional meal. For me, the ending was a surprise. The Botanist’s Assistant is recommended for fans of cozy mysteries and those who like the world of plants. Is there a sequel for Margaret in the making?

Margaret Finch, dubbed “Big Bird” by her fellow lab workers because of her large stature, is having a rough 54th birthday. Her schedule is off by 300 seconds, she oversees a lab with two messy colleagues, there is no cake, and her beloved leader, Dr. Deaver, is found dead in his office. Everyone else seems to think the cause of his death is a heart condition, but Margaret knows it was a poisoning. In fact, it was a poison from of a very specific plant that only a dedicated botanist would recognize. With the help of an unlikely partner, she is determined to find out who poisoned him.

This cozy who-done-it with a neurodivergent protagonist is an enjoyable read and includes some interesting facts from the plant world. Despite some abrupt transitions and unanswered questions about the deceased professor (did he really steal his research ideas?) I found this book to be well-written and paced. For fans of Lessons in Chemistry and the Findlay Donovan series.

Margaret Finch is precise, intelligent, and invaluable to the charming botanist Dr. Deaver, whom she finds dead in his office. While others believe he died of natural causes, Margaret has her doubts, and her attention to detail makes her a perfect sleuth, quickly finding unlikely allies to help her uncover the truth.

I enjoyed every page of this charming, slightly offbeat mystery led by a clever, tenacious, and loyal protagonist. Margaret’s scientific plant tidbits were curious and educational. If you like mysteries with quirky characters, precise schedules, and a hint of the strange, The Botanist’s Assistant is for you!

Thank you to BookBrowse, NetGalley, and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review. And of course, thanks to Peggy Townsend for this delightful read. I hope to meet Margaret Finch again!

Perfect for fans of Nina Prose. Lots of red herrings before we find out who-done-it. A few too many red herrings in fact. I found the middle portion of the book to drag as there were a few too many "maybe this matters, oh I guess not" moments. I enjoyed the main character and her points of view of the the different situations. Overall a good light mystery story.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC #TheBotanistsAssistant

In The Botanist’s Assistant, Peggy Townsend delivers a compelling and refreshingly original mystery driven by an unforgettable protagonist. Margaret Finch, a neurodivergent research assistant with obsessive-compulsive tendencies, lives a quiet, regimented life in the shadows of the prestigious university lab where she works. Her world revolves around her strict routines, her love of classic mysteries, and above all, her admiration for her recently deceased mentor, Dr. Jonathan Deaver. When his death is ruled accidental, Margaret is the only one who suspects foul play—and the only one determined to uncover the truth.

Margaret’s dogged investigation is both methodical and deeply personal. Her neurodivergence, often dismissed by others, becomes her greatest asset as she unearths subtle clues others overlook—like a suspicious graduate student’s coffee cup and a hidden vial of atropine. Despite being ignored and gaslit by colleagues, Margaret pursues leads with quiet intensity. Her isolation is palpable, but so is her resilience. The more she digs, the more dangerous the truth becomes.

The tension ratchets up when rival professor Levi Blackstone enters the picture, threatening Margaret’s career unless she supports his claim that Dr. Deaver stole research that was rightfully his. As pressure mounts, Margaret finds unlikely allies in people like Joe Torres, the janitor with a journalist’s past and a possible romantic future, and the ever-present Tom the cat, whose appearances provide a gentle comfort. The lab is a hotbed of secrets, with postdoc Calvin Hollowell, the dean Harold McDonald, and the tightly wound secretary Beth Purdy all harboring potential motives.

Townsend crafts a slow-burn academic mystery that balances character, atmosphere, and intrigue with surprising warmth. Margaret is a standout heroine—vulnerable yet quietly fearless. Her journey is not just about solving a murder, but about claiming her place in a world that constantly underestimates her. The Botanist’s Assistant is more than a whodunit; it’s a story of persistence, self-discovery, and the power of being underestimated. A thoughtful, deeply human mystery that lingers long after the final page.

A murder mystery, set in a realistic academic setting, centering around a full-figured, middle-aged botanist and her lab? I was immediately hooked by the concept and the lead character description. The story unfolds at a nice pace, and is easy to follow. A couple of times, I was caught off-guard by the ramping up of character development of a few side characters, but it made sense in the end. I really appreciate the story's focus on facts and reality from differing points of view. The fact it didn't focus on "solving" the problem of the single, older woman lead as she dives into the mystery was a wonderful change of pace for me as a reader. This is a quick, enjoyable, easy read that would be great for vacation or a palate cleanser between big series. It would also be fun for a book club, to see how different folks thought it was going to end and where they "figured it out" in the book compared to others.

Thank you to Book Browse, Berkley Books, and NetGalley for an advance readers copy of this book.

Margaret Finch, 54 years old, has been a brilliant scientist’s research manager for 10 years. She is unmarried and has no family or friends. Tall and big-boned, she is described as having a horse’s face, and is known behind her back as “Big Bird” to the students and staff at the university laboratory where she works.

But Margaret is reasonably happy. She believes in the work she is doing, and does it extremely well. Although obsessed with order and protocol, Margaret thinks creatively as well as scientifically, and has her own cottage in the hills and a beautiful garden which seems to be the opposite of her every-day life: it is beautiful and wild.

Then Margaret finds her beloved scientist dead in his office, and everyone seems too ready to say that the 43-year-old man has died from natural causes. Given subtle clues around him, Margaret is sure this is not true, and begins her own investigation.

She is helped in this by Joe, the science building’s custodian, who has his own story of loss and loneliness. Referring to a disfiguring scar on his face, Joe likens himself to a comic book’s scarred cartoon character, and there is a cartoonish feel to the book: all the characters seem at least a little exaggerated, but this gives a welcome lightness to the plot, which otherwise could be quite depressing.

The story is told with a voice that is precise, fresh, and slightly ironic. Although we begin by meeting an isolated, ungainly, older woman whose life’s work is vulnerable to powerful men (and more traditionally pretty women), Margaret’s obsessiveness becomes perseverance, as she finds the answers to her questions, as well as a small a circle of caring friends. I hope we can meet with her again.

Learn some fun-to-know botany facts but don't expect a cleverly plotted adult mystery in this one by Peggy Townsend. Told through the point of view of a quirky love-struck scientist, one keeps wondering if you're in the hands of an unreliable narrator. It was all a bit too daffy for my taste but I'm thinking this romp might appeal to younger readers. There are some sweet, endearing moments between characters, and positive character development for an ending the reader should enjoy. And a cat!

This book preview is given with thanks to Book Browse and NetGalley. for the opportunity.

The Botanist's Assistant by Peggy Townsend:
Review of ARC ebook June 2025 for the First Impressions Program

The hero of our story is Margaret Finch, a lover of science and nature, plants and birds and a very regulated life. I found Margaret to be a real gem. She is a bit prickly and blunt at times but also tenacious and honest, reliable and loyal. Margaret is not afraid to change her mind and habits if the situation demands it. She is a 54 year old woman who has faced many hardships and disappointments in life but has not become bitter. This book is fast paced and the story kept me interested all along. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a light mystery set in the current era at a small university. The character reminds me of the title character of Sister Boniface (a TV spinoff of the Father Brown series based on GK Chesterton books). Margaret is delightful, funny and inquisitive and not held back by how others perceive her. She is admired by many people and those who work with her but is often called offensive names by others because of her body size and appearance. Margaret’s amateur detective skills are often doubted and always underestimated. I hope we see more of this character in the future and it was just the thing for a light summer read.

Margaret Finch, the botanist’s assistant, knows she is “different.” She’s precise, she’s intelligent, and she’s tall. Margaret knows that other employees at the university call her “Big Bird” behind her back.

Her boss, Dr. Deaver, treats her respectfully. In return, Margaret thinks he is one of the greatest scientists and researchers ever. She does her best work for him.

Tragedy strikes. Margaret has one opinion and her superiors and the campus police have another. Although she sometimes uses unconventional methods, Margaret is determined to find out the truth behind what has happened to her boss.

I enjoyed this book so much. Margaret was so likeable and she so frequently shared tidbits of scientific knowledge with the reader. “The Botanist’s Assistant” was educational and informative as well as compelling.

I recommend “The Botanist’s Assistant” by Peggy Townsend. I hope Margaret will have her own series!

Thank you to BookBrowse and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review.

the Botanist’s Assisteant was a perfect read for the summer. I was immediately pulled in to Margaret who was the Botanist’s assistant and was described as”odd, peculiar,, quiekky,eccentric, and a spinster. “ To add to this was the mysterious death of her beloved boss. The reader learns about many poisonous plants which could have been the culprit and Margaret’s search for the murderer!

3.5*’s

I throughly enjoyed the unapologetic way Margaret approaches her life, her work, and her investigation. This was a refreshing cozy- not twee but acerbic and funny…

The Botanist's Assistant was an entertaining mystery filled with numerous scientific pearls about plants and poisons. There were a lot of interesting characters and plot twists encountered during the course of solving the murder mystery. If you are a science and mystery fan, I believe you would like this book.

This was my inaugural book to read/review before publication. This book is sort of a classic who-dun-it but the setting is a small University lab which is filled with no end of drama in real life and depicted well here. The characters are quirky with the exception of the handsome, dynamic, brilliant professor who is not all he appears to be. The quirky characters are well developed without boring the reader with descriptions. I think that we all know someone a little like Margaret. And everyone has had assistants who never quite measured up. Some might find the scientific names of the plants off-putting, I did not. I found myself drawn back to the book during the day and wanted to find out who-dun-it and also to learn more about the main character and her garden and her Tomcat. Good pool or beach read, very easy reading, good continuity between chapters, linear in the storyline. Enjoyed it a lot

🌿 Murder, Mulch & Margaret 🌱

Margaret Finch is tall, eccentric, and basically lives her life like a human day planner. But when her beloved botanist boss turns up dead and no one else seems suspicious, Margaret takes her OCD-level attention to detail and turns amateur sleuth. 🔍

Was the mystery groundbreaking? No. But Margaret is a charming oddball you can’t help rooting for, and her weird friendship with the night custodian? Surprisingly heartwarming. The plant facts were a fun bonus 🌸 and the ending left the door wide open for a sequel (yes, please).

Short, cozy, a little offbeat, and kind of inspiring if you’re not exactly in your spring chicken era anymore. 🐔🌼
4 stars. Would absolutely wander into these weeds again.

The Botanist’s Assistant is a story of the ultimate victory for the determined underdog. The main character uses her OCD nature to unravel a murder mystery in a college science lab. There is a good bit of plant information included. My favorite setting is her cabin on the hill and how it symbolizes the struggle to attain her sense of well-being. The book is all set for a sequel.

It's inspiring to watch a character in need of a change figure out how to transform their life. Our heroine is pretty much just going through the motions at the beginning of the book and by the end you can see how much happiness is on the horizon for her. A very hopeful book, especially for someone who is no longer a spring chicken.

If you love your mysteries with a side of quirky characters, precise schedules, and just a hint of the strange, then The Botanist’s Assistant is right up your alley! Margaret Finch might be tall, big-boned, and obsessively organized—think of her as the human embodiment of a meticulously labeled seed catalog—but don’t let her eccentricities fool you. She’s an invaluable research assistant to a charming botanist, and her attention to detail makes her the perfect sleuth when dark secrets start sprouting in her small university town. Peggy Townsend weaves a delightful tale that blends botanical intrigue with a dash of detective work, all wrapped up in Margaret’s perfectly timed routines and quirky personality. When a mysterious death occurs, Margaret’s instincts—and her newly acquired night custodian ally—push her into the role of amateur investigator. The plot thickens like a good compost pile, and I loved every moment of this charming, slightly offbeat mystery. A wonderful read for anyone who appreciates a clever protagonist, lush descriptions of plant life, and a story that blooms with surprises. Four stars—definitely a garden worth exploring!

Margaret is the consummate lab assistant to Dr. Deaver, always noticing important details and task oriented, so when she discovers his body and the college insists it’s not foul play, she knows she has to investigate. A quirky character who is delightful, this is an enjoyable mystery with an interesting plot. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.