Newly minted research assistant Saffron Everleigh attends a dinner party at University College London. She expects the conversations will focus on the university’s investigative expedition to the Amazon but she doesn’t expect one of the professors’ wives to be poisoned by an unknown toxin.
Saffron’s mentor, Dr Maxwell, is the chief suspect. As evidence mounts against him and the expedition’s departure draws nearer, she decides that if she wants her mentor’s name cleared, she’ll have to do it herself.
Joined by fellow researcher Alexander Ashton, Saffron uses her knowledge of botany as she explores steamy greenhouses, dark gardens, and deadly poisons. Will she be able to uncover the truth in time?
I enjoyed this novel, set in 1923 London, and I hope there will be a sequel. It’s a cosy mystery at heart with an inquisitive heroine who simply will not give up trying to uncover the poisoner.
It was the botanical background that appealed to me initially (plus it has a fabulous cover). Soon, though, I was keenly following the clues as the story progressed. The story is set in the aftermath of WWI and shows us some of the impact the war had on English community.
I read an Advanced Reading Copy of this book and I hope some of the language is checked prior to publication. I doubt the term “wheelhouse” was in use in 1923 in the context in which it was used in this novel!
The book will be published on 7 June 2022. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.
You can read more about A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons on Goodreads.