While I always love discovering new historical series, there is nothing like returning to a beloved. And for me, one of those series is the Botanist’s Guide series. I love that it is set in the 1920s, as there is a lot happening for women at the time giving our fearless protagonist a lot to do. And Khavari’s research is always a highlight- she has clearly done her botanical research and works it into her novels seamlessly. If you are looking for the perfect historical mystery for an afternoon, look no further. Let’s get into A Botanist’s Guide to Society and Secrets by Kate Khavari!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an Advanced Listening Copy and an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A Botanist’s Guide to Society and Secrets, Kate Khavari
London, 1923. Returning from Paris, botanical researcher Saffron Everleigh finds that her former love interest Alexander Ashton’s brother, Adrian, is being investigated for murder. A Russian scientist working for the English government has been poisoned, and expired in Adrian’s train compartment. Alexander asks Saffron to put in a good word for Adrian with Inspector Green. Despite her unresolved feelings for Alexander, Saffron begins to unravel mysteries surrounding the dead scientist.
As if a murder case weren’t enough, her best friend Elizabeth’s war-hero brother, Nick, arrives in town and takes an immediate interest in Saffron. Saffron learns Alexander has been keeping secrets from her, including a connection to Nick, who Saffron and Elizabeth begin to suspect is more than he seems.
When another scientist is found dead, Saffron agrees to go undercover at the government laboratory. Risking her career and her safety, she learns there are many more interested parties and dangerous secrets to uncover than she’d realized. But some secrets, Saffron will find, are better left undiscovered.
Why You Should Read This…
I always think I cannot love this series more, and then Khavari publishes another book! Saffron remains one of my favourite mystery protagonists- she is a go-getter and does what she needs to when investigating but is not a know-it-all who ignores all common sense and logic. (That seems to happen a lot with mysteries.) Her friends and family are just the right mix of endearing and annoying that makes you feel like you know them yourself.
These are longer stories and we see her move through several different settings in each novel, a real strength of this series. I love that we are slowly getting to see Saffron’s wider world, because it gives us so many clues to her character. It also helps build a thorough and complex mystery, because they so rarely happen start to finish in one place.
Jodie Harris’ narration is perfect, as always!
Is A Botanist’s Guide to Society and Secrets on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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