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.

"A Botanist's Guide to Rituals and Revenge" by Kate Khavari truly allows to peel back layers, especially for its protagonist, Saffron Everleigh. In this fourth instalment, readers and listeners alike get an intimate look into Saffron's childhood home, her complex family relationships, and the subtle intergenerational tensions that have shaped her. Seeing her navigate these dynamics, particularly with her mother and cousin, John, can be incredibly engaging. It's like a testament to the author's skill that even with a change of pace and setting away from London, Saffron's journey gives the sensation of an authentic and enriching experience, revealing more about her core personality and resilience as she strives to prove herself.

To add to this, Jodie Harris's narration of the novel elevates the entire experience, making the character development truly come alive. Her performance is nothing short of immersive, and her ability to craft distinct voices for each character continues to be remarkable. From various accents to subtle vocal shifts for characters actively trying to alter their sound, Jodie masterfully navigates the diverse cast. This vocal dexterity not only makes it easy to follow who's speaking but also adds incredible depth to their personalities and emotional states, allowing listeners to feel truly connected to every individual on their journey.

A huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy in exchange for this honest review!

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While this was only the first novel I read by this author, I loved the story, the characters and narrator so much that it won't be my last.

Thank you Netgalley for this ALC.

I think this series is one of the least predictable cozy series, and I love it! You know you’ll be on the edge of your seat the whole time. I can’t wait for the next installment! (I know I say that every book, but it’s such a good series!)

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. 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 story as a whole was engaging and I did enjoy it, but this one leans slightly more towards cozy thriller than historical mystery.

The audiobook is narrated by Jodie Harris. Her performance felt very immersive, and I appreciated the different voices she used for the characters. There are several characters with distinct accents and a couple that actively try to change the sound of their voice. That’s no easy feat for a narrator, but it was done very well here.

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.

What was her father really working on? Who is Bill? There is so much more to discover. I have enjoyed this series so far. With my background in plants and my love of a good mystery, this was right up my alley. However, this one was not my favorite. I found the story within the story in the previous book to be a very intriguing premise.

This book followed this premise that had been previously alluded to. There was plenty of suspense and mystery. We don't know who to trust or who is working for whom, I found that it kept my interest as I was already invested in Saffron, Alexander, and Elizabeth's lives. The cousin John and his family were a nice addition. It was interesting to get a peek into more of Saffron's family relationships and trauma. Although I came out knowing a whole lot more than I did going in I was disappointed and feel like there is still gaps of information.

I always find myself hurting for Alexander. He seems to be such a wonderful person with scars of his own but true to the time period it seems everyone looks down on him. I disliked the jabs he took throughout this book. I also feel as if this book used the lack of communication among people to the extreme. I hope my family and friends are always better at communicating than these characters. Lack of communication on the grounds of protecting the other person seems to never work out. I think this is likely why I didn't enjoy this story line as much.

I did love seeing Elizabeth in this book. She reminds me of myself in her personality. I feel like this series does a good job of reminding people not to underestimate women. I hope to read more of Saffron's adventures.

I did get the audiobook version and I enjoy this narrator. She may not be for everyone but I thought she did this series justice.

A huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review this audiobook in exchange for this honest review. Another smash hit in the Saffron Everleigh series! I was on the edge of my seat from the beginning all the way to the end of the book….and that twist!!!!!!!!!! I have thoughts that would be spoilers so all I will say is please for the love of god let that be the last we hear from certain people! In this book, we finally get to see the larger Everleigh and Hale families, and boy is there a lot to unpack between them. I was fascinated to find out the mystery of Thomas Everleigh’s final research, but I think that the actual discovery was obscured a bit too much for this to be the climax of the four first novels. I hope that we are able to leave behind the larger conspiracy theory plot line in this book and refresh with a new start in the next books in the series.

The fourth book in the Saffron Everleigh Mystery series was just as enjoyable as the previous three! In this story we learn more about Saffron’s family, as well as Eliza’s and it lives up to everything alluded to about them previously. This story has two different mysteries going on, and yet, they intertwine to keep the reader engaged throughout without becoming confusing.

This is a great series, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the latest book.

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.

I struggled at the beginning of this book as the main characters just did not seem anything like themselves, with Elizabeth broody and drunk, and Saffron nervous and skittish. It took a bit for them to leave behind the shadow that both of their families tried to cover them with to be someone that they are not.

As Saffron tries to convince her family not to trust their live-in doctor, and Elizabeth tries to get her family to stop putting a fortune into a medium who talks to the dead, our main characters are constantly trying to prove themselves to family members who haven't shown them the same care over the years. Alexander shows us why he is so smitten with Saffron and supports her and Elizabeth, even when the family members are trying to push him away. Their friendship and trust in each other are part of why I come back to this series.

Once our main characters are back to acting more like we have seen them in the previous books, the book picks up speed with one heart-racing moment after the next. I did not read the previous books directly prior to reading this fourth book in the series, and although the author did a good job of dropping reminders of pertinent information when it was needed, I do think that I would have enjoyed this more had I a better recollection of exactly what happened in the book before. Especially the information about our villain and a few names I did not recognize when they were introduced.

The narrator is amazing, providing the perfect emotions in each of the situations. They were so talented with so many different accents and characters in this book. Including, sometimes, multiple accents for the same person!

Thank you NetGalley for helping me jump my lines at the library by providing the audiobook.

This was the very first audiobook that I was able to receive an ARC for on netgalley, and I was so excited because I really liked the book that went with it. I really liked the audiobook for this book. Jodie Harris is such a good narrator for this book. She did an amazing job bringing this story to life with her voice and I was just really glad to be able to listen to it. I will definitely be finding more audiobooks from her.

This was such a cute, cozy installment into what seems like a well established series. It's my fault for not knowing this was book 4 in the series, however, I do feel the story within does stand on it's own without the need for the other books, There is enough information to clearly follow what was going on, but I do feel I would have liked to know more of the backstory between the characters which I would have received had I read the others in the series.

I did think this might be a murder mystery, yet, it is simply a mystery with some shady characters and family drama as well. Saffron is a really fun character and though I don't get to see her too much in her "botanist" element, I do like the atmosphere she gives the story. It seems as though she's on the outs a bit, with her grandparents for not wanting to be "a proper lady" and follow the standards of her family's traditions.

There is a character named Bill Wyatt who appears at the home of Saffron's Grandparents as a heart doctor to care for her grandfather. However, it seems he is there under false pretenses and possibly to get something out of Saffron or her family which he may not have access to otherwise. I really had a fun time with this book and the narration was very well done. I was engaged by the narrator and entertained throughout. I need to go back and read the rest of this series because even though this one felt a little "lacking" in action, it was still a very cute, cozy mystery.

A Botanist’s Guide to Riuals and Revenge by Kate Khavari.

This is another great installment of A Saffron Everleigh Mystery (4th book). The author has written another wonderful and interesting book about Saffron Everleigh. It makes the reader want to be sure the entire series is complete and the series is known and the main characters are understood.

I enjoyed the narration of the audiobook.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the alc.

Everleigh Saffron, Alexander, and Eliza have returned to Saffron's Grandparents home to try and protect them from Bill and also find the information he is forcing them to find. When the group arrives they soon realize their one mystery turns into 2 because a "medium" is at Eliza's home next door "conveying with the spirits". With Bill stalking their every move, secrets galore, and proper etiquette constantly disrupting an investigation this book delivers exactly what we come from our little group of mystery solvers. The narrator as always did a wonderful job with conveying the emotions and stress levels of our characters and the stories follows a similar path as the previous 3 books with how the mysteries come into place and the depth it takes to solve them. If you enjoyed the style of the first 3 books then this book will be just what you expect.

Another great installment in the series. Taking place a few months after the previous book, Saffron travels to her childhood home when she finds out that "Bill" is posing as a doctor treating grandfather's heart issues. Traveling with Saffron are Alexander, meeting her family for the first time, and Elizabeth who has a complicated relationship with her parents who ate next door neighbors. Complicating matters is a psychic in the neighborhood who seems to have dug her hooks into Elizabeth's parents and is exploiting those that lost love ones during the war. There is an interesting mystery related to the work Saffrn's father did prior to his death and missing journals detailing the work. I really enjoyed the interactions between Saffron and her family as it helps me understand her better. I also liked the growth in her relationship with Alexander. I'm looking forward to many more titles in this series.

I adored this series! Have loved it since I read book 1! This book didn't disappoint either. Loved the audio narration. Would love the series to keep going, as I never get tired of saphron's problems lol

Kate Khavari has written another wonderful and intriguing book. She brings the next installment of the enjoyable Saffron Everleigh series. It makes one want to make sure that they series the whole series to get to know the main characters better.

The fourth title in the Saffron Everleigh series, this book shifts the setting to Saffron’s family estate. Saffron has been summoned home due to her grandfather being ill, and when she realizes a nemesis may be present, she brings Elizabeth and Alexander and dives in. Many plot points are satisfied in this installment, although there’s plenty of room to expand into further books. An enjoyable read.

I love this series so much!

ALC REVIEW:
Book 4 of the Saffron Everleigh Series
Saffron, a botanist, must return home after her grandfather suffers a heart attack. Soon, she finds herself on a quest to uncover her father's research, while trying to expose a blackmailer posing as a doctor, a medium con-woman, and other secrets intertwined with family grief.

Mystery/thriller Dark Academia with the use of Botany. I enjoyed the story even though I had not read the previous books. It has academia and family drama, eerie vibes, and a touch of romance, all of which I loved.

The narrator did an excellent job with the various characters and accents! The narration was flawless, kept me engaged, and I did not feel confused with all the different characters.

Thank you NetGallery and Dreamscape Media for the advanced copy!

Saffron, a botanist is called home after her grandfather has a heart attack. Her family will meet the love of her life and Saffron will be faced with her blackmailer posing as a doctor. Tensions and threat levels will rise as Saffron searches for her father’s research documents to appease her blackmailer, Bill.

Very well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Very good characters in a well paced novel. Family relationships, blackmail and a spiritual medium set the scene. Can things be resolved in time or will people be put in danger.