Author: Kate Khavari
Publication: 7 June 2022
Format: Kindle eArc via NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books
Amazon Description
Debut author Kate Khavari deftly entwines a pulse-pounding mystery with the struggles of a woman in a male-dominated field in 1923 London.
Newly minted research assistant Saffron Everleigh is determined to blaze a new trail at the University College London, but with her colleagues’ beliefs about women’s academic inabilities and not so subtle hints that her deceased father’s reputation paved her way into the botany department, she feels stymied at every turn.
When she attends a dinner party for the school, she expects to engage in conversations about the university's large expedition to the Amazon. What she doesn’t expect is for Mrs. Henry, one of the professors’ wives, to drop to the floor, poisoned by an unknown toxin.
Dr. Maxwell, Saffron’s mentor, is the main suspect and evidence quickly mounts. Joined by fellow researcher -- and potential romantic interest -- Alexander Ashton, Saffron uses her knowledge of botany as she explores steamy greenhouses, dark gardens, and deadly poisons to clear Maxwell's name.
Will she be able to uncover the truth or will her investigation land her on the murderer’s list, in this entertaining examination of society’s expectations.
Ramble-y Teaserish Stuff
This was absolutely a cover/title grab when I first requested it on NetGalley oh so many months ago. I love a good cover ... and a good poison. Parties? I'm more the wallflower type after the planning of the party is all said and done. Heck, I'm not even really the wallflower type. I'm more the "just let me know how it went after the fact" type ... but I still had high hopes for the book. I was most definitely not disappointed.
All of the basics, of course, are covered in the description. What it fails to mention is how enthralling Saffron is. The girl definitely has chutzpah -- much to the delight of some and the dismay of many. No one expects her to be as, well, "balls to the wall" as she is. Even her flatmate, Elizabeth, whom has known her pretty much forever is taken aback by the lengths Saff is willing to go to in order to solve the mystery at hand when the police seem determined to believe that it's as clear cut as the poisonous plant they believe was used by her mentor to do the dastardly deed. She even goes so far as to poison herself with the same plant! Minor minor spoiler ... but it's just too cool not to mention and what happens is something you'll want to read for yourself ... and then thank me for later.
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& Book Beginnings (share the first few sentences) is at Rose City Reader
4 comments:
Descriptive excerpts that pull me in...and the premise of women's struggles for equality balanced against a mystery kept me intrigued. Thanks for sharing, and here's mine: “IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS”
I love the cover and the blurb sounds excellent!
Have a great weekend!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
I would have grabbed it because of the cover, too! Saffron is a pretty intriguing name for a botanist, too. A lot going on here.
I would totally grab it based on the title and cover alone! Happy weekend!
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