A Botanists Guide To Parties and Poisons Review

I am so embarrassed! I messed up the book title throughout the initial posting of the review. Even worse, I wasn’t consistent. I had the P-words switched in some places, correct in others. I swear, I read the book, and stand by my 5-star review.  This reviewer didn’t deserve 5 stars. My apologies to author Kate Khavari.

A Botanist’s Guide To Parties and Poisons
By Kate Khavari

The wonderful mystery A Botanist’s Guide To Parties and Poisons is set in 1923 at the University College of London. Saffron Everleigh is a new botany research assistant at the university, and her father was on faculty there before he perished during World War I. She is the lone female in a misogynistic old boys’ club more interested in harassing her than accepting her as a legitimate researcher.

Saffron attends a university reception in honor of the upcoming Amazon research expedition led by Dr. Henry. The celebration takes a disastrous turn when Mrs. Henry collapses after being poisoned. When Saffron’s mentor Dr. Maxwell is considered the prime suspect, she enlists the help of researcher Alexander Ashton to prove Maxwell’s innocence. Was Mrs. Henry the intended victim? Who poisoned her?  Will the expedition leave and possibly allow the poisoner to escape prosecution?

Author Kate Khavari gets the story moving quickly and uses the time-sensitive expedition departure to generate more urgency in solving the case. Tall, dark, and handsome researcher Ashton is an excellent foil for Saffron’s impulsive and stubborn nature. No science knowledge is required for entering this botanical academia world, because Saffron is always sharing her expertise as she attempts to establish her credibility with her dismissive fellow researchers. Together, she and Ashton make an interesting pair that draws in readers. 

Kate Khavari presents a delightful sleuthing pair in a fascinating tale. The book is well-paced. It was difficult to put it down, because I was eager to read what would happen next. Khavari presented enough botanical information that a reader would need to follow the story, and she incorporated it in an interesting way instead of turning it into dry textbook instruction. 

I enjoyed visiting Saffron Everleigh’s world and would happily visit it again. A Botanist’s Guide To Parties and Potions is an excellent introduction to author Kate Khavari, and I eagerly await more of her books.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy of the book.