A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari

 I devoured this book in record time and then immediately was ready for more. Saffron Everleigh is a wonderful protagonist and a delightful heroine. The supporting characters are also incredible additions to the story as well. 

There are two points of view throughout the story - of course Saffrons point of view and then Alexander Ashton who has his point of view scattered throughout as well. However, Kate Khavari did an excellent job in not letting Alexander Ashton and his pov overwhelm the story. 

It's hard to express just how much I love Saffron as a character. She is smart, awkward and struggling to find her place both in the world and in the male-dominated field that she loves and chooses to pursue. 

One aspect of the story that is done so well and made me viscerally react was Saffrons descriptions and retelling of the sexism and sexual harassment that she faced as a woman in 1923 England and as a woman who was pursuing a career that was out of ordinary for the time. Kate Khavari did an excellent job writing those scenes and the sad fact of acceptance and resignation that Saffron and other women had to this fact. 

The twists and turns in this book were magnificent. The culprits were perhaps who you thought it was, but also they weren't. There were different plots that pulled at different people and gave them different motives that all connected in a delicious mess. 

Honestly, this is an incredible start to what I hope with be a long-lasting series for Saffron Everleigh and the continuation of a wonderful career for Kate Khavari. 

I received this book free from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books to review and this is my honest review. 

Five out of five stars