I honestly hadn't realized this was the fourth installment in the series when I picked it up. It was extremely apparent after mentions of previous interactions and experiences with other characters. For me at least, this didn't take away from the story. I continued forward and now that I'm finished, I will absolutely be reading the first 3 books.
There definitely wasn't as much botany as I was hoping for, but maybe that'll be remedied with the earlier books. Either way, the mystery was fun and I did enjoy the characters and their stories.
The narrator was amazing and really separated each character!

A Botanist’s Guide to Rituals and Revenge by Kate Khavari, beautifully narrated by Jodie Harris, is an atmospheric and clever addition to the Saffron Everleigh mystery series. Returning to her childhood home, Saffron is quickly entangled in a web of family tension, espionage, and eerie séances, all while navigating the growing complexities of her romantic life. Khavari expertly blends historical intrigue with gothic suspense, crafting a mystery that is as emotionally rich as it is intellectually engaging. Harris’s narration adds depth and nuance, bringing Saffron’s sharp mind and vulnerable heart to life. Perfect for fans of character-driven historical mysteries with a touch of espionage and the supernatural.

Dear A Botanists Guide to Ritual and Revenge,
You got perfectly into this series. You did provide opportunities for Saffron, Alexander and Elizabeth to dig deeper and change, which is what keeps this series fresh and interesting. But you also kept so true to who each of the characters are and the world they live in . I am excited for this series to continue!

A Botanist's Guide to Rituals and Revenge by Kate Khavari is another fun entry into this mystery series. I love Saffron so much as a main character and her beau Alexander is also so likeable. It was interesting to get to know more about her background and see how dysfunctional her family is. I liked how much she stood up for herself despite the pushback from family and friends. As always, the mystery was multifaceted and intriguing and I can't get enough of the different botany references. I always feel like I learn a lot when reading this series. It's so good!

Saffron Everleigh is back with another adventure! But this time while she’s back home in London to visit an ailing family member, she has to face family drama, a deceitful medium, corruption and manipulation rather than murder. The story isn’t a thrilling high speed rollercoaster ride, but more of a slow and steady journey with obstacles along the way.

The audio was wonderful, and exactly what I’d expect from this genre of book, and for the “timeframe.”

Thank you NetGalley & Dreamscape media for the audio arc.

Saffron Everleigh is back! Along with her best friend Elizabeth and Alexander! We get to see the messy relationship with both Saffron and Elizabeth’s family and how each of them doesn’t quite live up to their expectations. When Saffron is called back home she brings Alexander with her and of course trouble follows. We are swept up into another mystery that our heroine must figure out. I love the witty banter and the relationship between Saffron and Alexander.

I've read both books in this series, the second and then the first, which didn't matter at . Although, I am happy to already know Gabriel's story. I'll call them steam punk, adventurous romances and I loved the stories and the characters excessively. I cannot wait to read what I am hoping is Amelia's story next.

Much thanks to Kate Khavari, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a really slow burn. I wanted to DNF so bad around 30% because I'd only been half listening from the start and nothing had yet to grab me, but I liked the characters and was in the middle of doing something and didn't want to take the time to stop and find something else to listen to, so I let it play. There isn't a murder mystery, it's more of a thriller as the villain looms and threatens Saffron if she doesn't find her father's old research. So the entire mystery is who's Bill (which doesn't get answered) and where is her father's research (which doesn't have a satisfying or entirely clear answer, either). Not very compelling. That's about half the plot, maybe even less; the rest is navigating social politics and family drama, which was also not compelling to me. You get a bunch of classism and misogyny shoved down your throat--been there, done that--and nothing's changed by the end except the grandfather's very reluctant gesture to Alex. Overall I found the novel uncompelling and unsatisfying. I do like the characters, though, which is probably why I keep reading this lackluster series.

This is the 4th book in the series! That was an important detail to know after I was given an early ARC through NetGalley, so I went back and read the first 3 books. I expected more from a post WWI historical fiction mystery series. There was so much potential with the storyline, but the hole filled plot and static characters held back the series’ potential.

3.5 ⭐️ some sections of the story felt lagging. The last quarter of the book gets a little push due to the events, but the nitty gritty details are still needed.

I liked that more information is given about Saffron’s parents, but the initial pushes of character development and excitement often fizzled out. If you are a reader such as myself that was disappointed that Saffron pursues Alexander you will continue to be disappointed. The characters are often clueless, and for being researchers and scholars, are blind to what is directly in front of them. So much “suspense” is built due to ignorance.

At least the prior novels in the series include botany and some interesting pieces, but the author’s decision to have a poorly done love triangle that moves to Alexander being Saffron’s “hero” - while the rest of the story relies on very thinly supported drama (mostly family spite) - just didn’t work for me.

Title: A Botanist's Guide to Rituals and Revenge
Author: Kate Khavari 
Genre: Historical fiction, mystery/thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5

Saffron Everleigh returns to Ellington Manor after her grandfather suffers a heart attack. Back in her childhood home for the first time in years, Saffron faces tense family relationships made worse by the presence of the enigmatic Bill Wyatt, hired on as a doctor to the ailing Lord Easting. But the man is no doctor—in reality, he is a mysterious figure involved in the trafficking of dangerous government secrets, and his presence at Ellington can only mean trouble.

When their neighbors, the Hales, invite a spiritual medium into the village who starts angling for Saffron’s mother’s attention, Saffron realizes that there is more afoot in her hometown than she originally thought. Not to mention inviting Alexander to Ellington has put their budding relationship under her family’s microscope.

As tensions rise at Ellington, Bill demands that Saffron hand over old research documents belonging to her late father. With her relatives under his power as their ‘doctor,’ Saffron fears she may be forced to surrender the files along with her hopes of ever understanding her father’s obscure legacy. Nothing and no one is as they seem at Ellington. It’s through the perfumed haze of the séance’s smoke that Saffron must search for the truth before it’s too late.

I enjoyed this audio book. The narrator is good and is perfect for this series. So much family drama here! I thought Saffron’s grandmother was pretty awful, and her grandfather wasn’t much better. I enjoyed the mystery aspect quite a bit, but the family drama less so (that’s just my own personal preference). The writing is solid and kept me engrossed in the story. This is a good series!

Kate Khavari lives in Dallas-Fort Worth. A Botanist’s Guide to Rituals and Revenge is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 7/9).

I love the Saffron Everleigh mystery series, there are always cool plant facts sprinkled throughout the story as Saffron works her way through the mystery.
I am not a huge fan of Saffron's grandparents, but I love that Saffron is starting to stand up to them when it comes to her work and her love life.
I am looking forward to reading more books in this series, as they are written and published.

Jodie Harris did a great job narrating this book and the series. I hope Jodie continues to narrate the rest of the series.

Every time I think that I cannot love Saffron more here she comes in all her chaos and glory. I love this series so much. The writing and pacing is always spot on. The mystery is complicated and detailed. I love that in the midst of what they are trying to solve you get to learn so much not only about our main characters, but also about the character that are essential to the story. This one was really fun for me because we finally get to learn more about Saffron's home and childhood. Things that while hovered on in past book, were all out out on the table so to speak. This is one of those series that you wish would never end! This audio was so well done and it was hard to not imagine yourself right in the middle of everything.

Saffron has been summoned to her family home in the countryside and drags along Elizabeth and Alexander to bolster what is to be a profoundly uncomfortable meeting. But her grandfather is ill and she must see him. So many things ensue, from seances to poisonings to fake doctors and stolen kisses… oh yeah don’t forget kidnapping. Saff and Alexander must unravel a mystery before her family comes under threat.

I love when a new Saffron Everleigh books comes out as I know it will be a fun, emotional, and thrilling ride with a strong female lead. I really enjoy this series and this installment doesn’t disappoint. The narrator does a fantastic job as always and I devoured this book. Will forever be a Khavari fan.

This is number 4 in the Botanist’s Guide series and full disclosure, I haven’t read them all. I started with number 3 last year and I thought it read pretty well as a stand-alone that I enjoyed very much! This one, however, did not. I don’t feel it fair to judge the book for that-so I’ll try my best to give a fair review.
I really found this one to be confusing. There were characters that were tough to keep track of. And it became a bit dull in the middle. I still really love the character of Saffron. She’s bold and sassy and independent- though she’s coupled up in this one. I liked her relationship with Alexander. He was just a nice constant source of support. Saffron’s best friend Elizabeth was dreadful. Didn’t care for her character at all.
There was a lot of mystery here and I honestly don’t think it was ever solved. The immediate threat passed, but I am still unclear what it had been all about. I apologize if I missed it and that was on me. The ending is left open for the series to continue. Though I can’t say that I will.
Thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC!

Saffron Everleigh is one of my newest favorite lead female characters. I adore this book style, old world gothic mixed with a little academia. The light hearted mystery and her sense of humor make these books easy to breeze through.

This fourth Saffron Everleigh mystery takes our favorite botanist back to her childhood home, where family tensions, romantic scrutiny, and an espionage-laced mystery await. I’ve adored Saffron from book one—she’s clever, curious, loyal to a fault—and this installment shows just how far she’s come. Her relationship with Alexander is especially lovely here; he’s steady, supportive, and unshakably on her side, even when her aristocratic relatives make things awkward (Lady Easting, I’m looking at you).

The mystery is twisty with just the right dose of séance smoke and shadowy secrets, and longtime readers will appreciate how it threads through earlier storylines. It’s definitely not a standalone, but it’s a satisfying continuation. Elizabeth shines as a supporting character, and the audiobook narrator continues to deliver strong voice work that brings everyone to life. A clever, cozy, slightly spooky delight.

This was my first introduction to Saffron and her adventures. I will definitely need to go back and read the previous books in this series. Not sure how I feel about Bill surviving. Hopefully he stands by what he says… I feel like he may pop up again.

Saffron and Alexander return in A Botanist’s Guide to Rituals and Revenge, I know this is book four, and I have only read book 1, so I understand that I was confused and felt the beginning was slow. Overall, enjoyed the historical setting. Kate's writing is rich and immersive - you know she does her research.
The chemistry between Saffron and Ashton continues to grow naturally and doesn't feel forced due to their partnership. Plot and pacing was just right for a cozy mystery and I'm excited for more books to come.

Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for providing a copy of this title in exchange for my review.

This is book 4 in a series, and I have not read or listened to the previous books. So I was meeting the characters and locations for the first time.

Not being familiar with the story line, I had a hard time following the story line and understanding the characters and plot. I found this book to be rather slow just too long. In reading other reviews, I saw others comment about the book being slow, so maybe it's not me, or maybe it's due to knot knowing the characters.

The story line with the medium was interesting to me. I'm not sure who the character Bill is or what his spot in the story line is supposed to be.

I'm not sure if I'll go back to find previous books in this series. For those who enjoy historical mysteries, especially set in the 1920-1930 years, you may really enjoy this series. Just start with book 1, I think.

This is the 4th Saffron Everleigh mystery and, I think, the most emotional. To best enjoy these books…they should be read in order. No worries, once you finish one, you’ll want to immediately start on the next one.
Saffron is a botanist, university researcher and part time, involuntary sleuth. Set in early 1920’s Britain, Saffron has had an angry break with her aristocratic family who do not think that young women should obtain a university degree, live away from family in London, and engage in meaningful, scientific work. While many of her university colleagues and botany department professors do not like her among them, Saffron has one special friend and colleague, Alexander Ashton, a WWI vet who is haunted by his wartime experiences like many of his generation. Saffron has been recalled to her family’s estate by her grandmother, Lady Easting because her grandfather. Lord Easting is ill. She’s had no contact with her grandparents in years but she has exchanged occasional letters with her widowed mother who also lives on the estate. Saffron brings Alexander with her to meet his family knowing that they will likely disapprove of her beau because he’s half Greek and from a middle class family. Also travelling with them is her London roommate, childhood friend and neighbor Elizabeth Hale. When they arrive, they find a frosty reception and they see that the doctor treating Lord Easting is really a very dangerous nemesis involved in intrigue, espionage and violence. They are further dismayed to find a known spiritualist charlatan and her helper at Elizabeth’s family estate….taking in the Hale family despite lay to make contact with their dead son. There is a LOT of mystery going on in this book plus the progression of Saffron and Alexander’s relationship that’s made it my favorite so far.