Of course the first Book Bite of October had to be a mystery. The Botanist’s Guide series has quickly become one of my favourite mystery series, with a strong protagonist, a complex murder (or several), and a fantastic setting. While these are certainly engrossing mysteries, they are not overly dark, either (which is a big draw for me). If you are looking for a great mystery to get lost in, you should add A Botanist’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality to your TBR list!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an Advanced Listening Copy in exchange for an honest review.
A Botanist’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality, Kate Khavari
1920s London isn’t the ideal place for a brilliant woman with lofty ambitions. But research assistant Saffron Everleigh is determined to beat the odds in a male-dominated field at the University College of London. Saffron embarks on her first research study alongside the insufferably charming Dr. Michael Lee, traveling the countryside with him in response to reports of poisonings. But when Detective Inspector Green is given a case with a set of unusual clues, he asks for Saffron’s assistance.
The victims, all women, received bouquets filled with poisonous flowers. Digging deeper, Saffron discovers that the bouquets may be more than just unpleasant flowers— there may be a hidden message within them, revealed through the use of the old Victorian practice of floriography. A dire message, indeed, as each woman who received the flowers has turned up dead.
Alongside Dr. Lee and her best friend, Elizabeth, Saffron trails a group of suspects through a dark jazz club, a lavish country estate, and a glittering theatre, delving deeper into a part of society she thought she’d left behind forever.
Will Saffron be able to catch the killer before they send their next bouquet, or will she find herself with fatal flowers of her own in Kate Khavari’s second intoxicating installment.
Why You Should Read This…
This is the second book in the Botanist’s Guide series but you do not need to have read the first book to enjoy this book.
I love that we were able to experience several more settings. While Saffron really does flourish at the university, we were able to see her skills at work at the theatre, in the country, and even in jazz clubs. It also allows us insights into her past that we wouldn’t have otherwise had.
Dr. Lee is an excellent addition to this world- he’s a great foil to Saffron. I will admit, sometimes I wanted to strangle him, but that is part of what makes an excellent foil.
My favourite element of these books is the plants themselves, though. Khavari has clearly done more than enough research and it is more than apparent in the story. If you are like me and find yourself googling the various poisons and plants, you will find that everything is blooming when it should be and has the properties that are portrayed.
Jodie Harris’ narration of the audiobook is sublime. She has one of those voices that works so well for historical books, and I wish she would tackle more in the genre!
Are you going to be picking A Botanist’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality up?
Cheers,
The Historian
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
