ARC Review: A Botanist's Guide to Society and Secrets by Kate Khavari

A Botanist's Guide to Society and Secrets
Author: Kate Khavari
Series: A Saffron Everleigh Mystery (Book 3)
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (June 4, 2024)

Description: Brilliant botanist Saffron Everleigh is ready for her next thrilling adventure in the newest installment of Kate Khavari’s mesmerizing historical mystery series.

“A cleverly plotted puzzle” (Ashley Weaver) in the vein of Opium and Absinthe, this is perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen and Sujata Massey.

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.

My Thoughts: The third Saffron Everleigh historical mystery has the botanist looking into a lab which may by turning biologicals into weapons of mass destruction. 

Alexander Ashton, former love interest who might become a love interest again, comes to Saffron to urge her to convince the police that his brother Adrian had nothing to do with the death of a man sharing his train compartment. The man was an emigre and scientist at a government sponsored research laboratory. 

Meanwhile, Saffron's roommate Elizabeth's brother Nick has come to call. This older brother has been scarce for years. He is supposedly former military and now working for the agriculture department. He makes a fuss over both is sister and Saffron. It doesn't take the young women long to become suspicious of Nick since evidence seems to indicate that he's a spy. 

Nick recruits Saffron to work in the suspicious lab playing on her patriotism, her curiosity, and her desire to make sure science isn't used for immoral purposes after a second suspicious death connected to the lab. Her involvement attracts the attention of other ruthless characters.

This was an enjoyable historical mystery set in the years following World War I. I like Saffron both for her intelligence and for idealism. 

Favorite Quote:

"People in Nick's line of work don't look at people and see individuals with lives and families. People are either tools or obstacles. The either can be manipulated to suit their purposes, or they are removed. And you won't know which you are until it's too late."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.