I d this more than I did book one, and I had no argument this time as to the appropriateness of the title - there were lots of flowers and a surfeit of fatalities.

The botanist in the title is Saffron Eversleigh, a woman in a man's world as a research assistant at the University College of London in the 1920's. Her love interest from the first book, Alexander Ashton, is absent for most of the time overseas, and he is replaced by Dr Michael Lee, a man with a penchant for teasing Saffron in order to enjoy her reactions. She of course thinks she does not him when it is obvious to everyone else that she does.

There are lots of murders, many red herrings and a surprise murderer. Ashton returns and we imagine a love triangle, but Saffron is a woman with a mind of her own. I am looking forward to what happens next.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.3500-2364 s3 comments Shirin ?^•?•^? t.543 86

6.5/10

Saffron Everleigh is a research assistant who shares an office with the handsome Dr. Lee. He is annoying and responsible for the book's low rating, although it has a better plot and mystery than the first book.
Whatever, Inspector Green has asked Saffron to examine bouquets of flowers sent to two murdered women from high society. Despite her dis for her grandmother's high society parties, Saffron is determined to find any clues and has found herself peeking around for suspects.

A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatalityis the second book in the Saffron Everleigh Mystery series, better in many ways and I imagine many mystery series it could be read as a stand-alone.

book1A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons5/10

I have given my honest review thanks to Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley for ARC.audiobook historical-mystery netgalley37 s Nora567 13

AAAAAAAAA i read the first book earlier this year and loved the mystery and poisons so when i saw this on netgalley i immediately requested it and was so happy i got it. Saffron IS SO SMART yo. She's what i imagine i am on a good day. This was even better than the first one to be honest. more engaging. And we got more of Alex. My baby. Light of my life. The slow burn is slow burning.
And THE EPILOGUE OMG I'M SO EXCITED FOR THE NEWEST when it drops19 s jude?°. (IS EDITING REVIEWS)427 448

I hate to say this, but I d the first book better. The book had a strong plot. It was well-structured, easy to follow and full of vivid imagery.

But I strongly feel that it was lacking in lots of places. The characters' personalities weren't consistent throughout— especially if you compare book one and two.

The pace was very slow, I had to drag myself through the first 90% of it. When it finally got interesting— which was towards the end— everything got rushed and ending left me unsatisfied.18 s Kylie H1,037

This is book 2 in the Saffron Everleigh mystery series (set in the 1920's) and it picks up where the first book left off. Ashton, her friend and potential beau is on an expedition in the Amazon. Saffron has been partnered in a research project with Dr Michael Lee to look into poisonings and the effects of these.
Once again Saffron is feeling the loneliness and dealing with a lot of misogynists in having a role and the London University which is not quite ready to see women as equals. She is thrilled however, when Inspector Green of the police, seeks her assistance with two murders in which a deadly bouquet of flowers was found to have been delivered. Saffron at once has her interest piqued and sets off to investigate the deaths in her own way. Roping in Lee to assist with infiltrating a social circle, Saffron quickly finds herself in a world of decadence and drug use.
Thank you Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.crime historical-fiction netgalley16 s Brittany (Britt's Book Blurbs)727 244

Thanks to NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons may not have been my favourite book, but I was expecting more from A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality.

A slightly above-average start to a series can be misleading because it makes you think that the series can only get better. Sometimes thatÂ’s true and things only get better (for example, the Plated Prisoner series), and sometimes youÂ’re left at the end of the second book trying to figure out where everything went wrong.

While I was hoping we would get more character development to help the new relationship between Alexander and Saffron feel more grounded, I was not expecting Saffron to have the memory of a goldfish and the fixation a crow has for shiny things. Alexander has barely left the country and is spending all his time collecting specimens and completing research for Saffron. He's also writing her letters, despite the limited mail service, sending pictures, and writing unnecessary postscripts. Meanwhile, Saffron walks around thinking they never put any labels on their relationship, so farewell kisses and forlorn looks in dark gardens could mean anything. I'm not saying Saffron wasn’t technically free to explore a flirtation with someone else; I’m just not going to bend over backwards to pretend I believe the lies she’s telling herself. I might be less critical if her supposed new love interest was even a little appealing. Shallow and self-serving, Lee went out of his way to annoy and pester Saffron - who, it has to be said, was incredibly condescending and patronising right back and so probably deserved some of this treatment. But then, something happens ‘as a lark’ - I guess I’ll hide their kiss behind the jazz club as a spoiler even though it’s the most 'clichéd love triangle in an amateur detective story' thing to have ever happened - and suddenly Lee has decided he’s interested in Saffron. Which is convenient since, apparently, the only thing you have to do to get Saffron interested in you is to pay a little attention to her. And, I guess, not leave the country.

Most of the interesting dialogue took place in the characters’ heads and was never spoken aloud. Because of this, there didn't appear to be any character growth. Who needs strong interpersonal or romantic relationships?! It’s the 1920s! The only time Lee showed any personality beyond ‘snobbish flirt looking for a good time’ was in his POV moments; he never lets the mask fall or reveals any truth through words or actions. Lee very clearly puts himself first and only spares a second thought for Saffron when he’s got some free time. But then we get a glimpse inside his head and... well, okay, it’s not much better. He’s still incredibly judgmental and dismissive. For example, when he breaks into Amelia’s rooms and rifles through her belongings, he makes the most inane comments about her life and possessions. If he was capable of any level of consideration, he would have been able to dig even slightly below the surface, and things could’ve been very different. Saffron is the queen of thinking the important stuff and saying either nothing or the most useless alternative, only to be dethroned when Alexander returns as he only ever says the worst possible thing in the absolute worst way while thinking the sweet, heartbreaking things that Saffron is too superficial to be able to read from his actions.

I was disappointed that an outside character purposely included to make Lee look a good person was given such a limited and self-serving role. Romesh knows what it is to be discounted, overlooked, and discriminated against in his chosen field of work, yet heÂ’s awfully quick to believe hurtful gossip about Saffron and pile on. But donÂ’t worry, Lee was nice to him a few times while they were studying together, so at least Lee is a good person. Romesh honestly shows up for a few pages, but it really stuck out to me that Khavari chose to include a person of colour, and instead of making him an empathetic and understanding voice of reason in his one interaction with Lee, she made him part of the system that so devalued and belittled him.

I also don’t understand how someone so surrounded by gossip at all times, and so sensitive to it, could spend months with someone - hours and hours together every single day at work and travelling and in the library and doing fieldwork and writing reports and sharing an office - and not give them a heads up about their recent history and the treatment they tend to receive from their colleagues. It would’ve been so easy. ‘Hey, I’m Saffron. I'm new to this office, but I'm so excited we'll be working together on this interesting assignment. I was a research assistant for my close friend and mentor, but he was wrongly involved in a murder mystery, which I got way too involved in. I don’t want to get into it because it was pretty traumatic, but all's well that ends well! Oh, and I’m a woman, so it’s been a bit of an uphill battle getting a basic level of respect from the men at the university, so I’d appreciate your support. Just so you know, my boyfriend-not-boyfriend is away on a work trip, but he’ll be back soon, so let’s keep this professional.’ Saffron so often lets others define her and then gets angry when she doesn’t the story they tell about her. If you want to write a fiercely independent and intelligent female character in history, it would be nice to commit.

The last thing I will say about the terrible love triangle trope is: STOP DESTROYING GOOD CHARACTERS TO MAKE ALLOWANCES TO DISCARD PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE RELATIONSHIPS. Alexander has PTSD and is experiencing a particularly overwhelming moment, but he has proven that he is better than Khavari allowed him to be here. Alexander has strong coping techniques and strategies in place to counteract triggers and stress; most importantly, he's been through much worse. I have a feeling IÂ’ll get dragged into reading the third book in this series to see if Alexander gets the fair treatment he deserves. The ending sets up the perfect case for Alexander and Saffron to work together, and with no other obvious alternatives paying attention to her, Saffron will probably be interested in Alexander again. Unless Detective Inspector Green decides to start sharing more information about cases with herÂ…

I could probably write more about so many things that rubbed me the wrong way, ignored exposition from the first book, or werenÂ’t explained properly, but IÂ’d never get to bed, and no one would ever read it all.

Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.

Amazon | Blog | Bookstagram | Reddit | Wishlist arc fiction history ...more14 s3 comments Sarah-Hope1,225 147

I found Kate Khaveri's A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality a rewarding read. The central character, botanist Saffron Everleigh, who is trying to make it in the man's world of university research in the 1920s, is feisty, keenly aware of her own intelligence, and has little patience for the sexist attitudes of her colleagues. There were a number of times in this novel when I wanted to high-five her for standing up for herself (though I don't know if people high-fived each other in the 1920s).

I found this volume stronger than the first in the series, A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons. The case this time around focuses on the murders of several women, each of whom was also anonymously given an unsettling bouquet. The flowers varied in each, but all were deadly—and in the Victorian "language of flowers" each bouquet serves as an accusation against the recipient. Saffron is consulted by DI Green who knows enough to know that he doesn't have the knowledge to interpret the bouquets the way Saffron will.

Saffron, amateur detectives everywhere, takes Green's consultation as an invitation to start her own investigations. She and her co-worker Dr. Michael Lee work their way into a fast, rich crowd with connections to the victims. There are jazz clubs, wild parties, and cocaine (though not used by Saffron or Lee). Many of the members of this circle could potentially be the murderer, and they're all difficult to get to know.

What I particularly d this time around is the way Saffron refuses to be "protected" by the men around her. She's driven to use her skills in pursuit of justice, let the men sputter and pout as they will.

The mystery here is well structured. I finally did guess whodunnit near the end of the novel, but kept racing through the book nonetheless because the action was compelling, even with my sense of having solved the case.

If you enjoy historical mysteries with strong female characters, you're in for a treat with the Saffron Everleigh novels. I suggest you begin with this volume, then read the first afterwards for context. I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.2019 2023 netgalley12 s Brittany McCann2,174 484

This book's slow pacing had me dragging it out far longer than expected.

While I thoroughly enjoy Saffron as a character, the lack of actual movement on the crime and the constant talk with little action was disappointing.

I did love the botany of the novel, as well as the descriptions of poison. The mystery was a good unveil. The romance was a bit dull, though.

There are still brilliant elements that kept me reading, but this one could have been condensed for higher enjoyment. It felt it was somewhat stretched for length as opposed to content.

2.5-3 Stars
fiction historical-fiction mystery ...more11 s2 comments Amy Sparks161 5

A Botanist's Guide To Flowers and Fatality is the second book with botany researcher Saffron Everleigh. If you havenÂ’t read the first book, A Botanist's Guide To Parties and Poisons, I strongly recommend that you read it first for two reasons: a)the first book is really good and b) youÂ’ll enjoy the excellent sequel more if youÂ’re aware of SaffronÂ’s situation.

ItÂ’s definitely worth it.

In Flowers and Fatality, Saffron is working on a research study with Dr. Michael Lee to identify dangerous plants and how to treat those exposed to the toxins. One day, Inspector Green walks into her office to ask for her input about a flower bouquet found near a woman murdered. Since Saffron had consulted on a previous investigation, he wondered if there was any significance to the flowers that were included. Saffron agreed, and when another bouquet was found near a dead woman, Saffron learned an important lessonÂ…

Recent murder scenes are messy and can make you puke.

Khavari brought back all of the ingredients that made us Saffron fans in the first place - a smart, sassy lead; a dashing man investigating at her side; and an enjoyable mystery. I did figure out who done it, since I couldnÂ’t stop thinking about the book when I (briefly) put it down.

Mysteries can be formulaic, with a plug-in investigator. Seriously, how many former cop/agent haunted by a fatal mistake redemption stories do we need? Saffron Everleigh is unique whose botanical expertise makes her the right person at the right time a toxic case comes up. Pun intended.

Do you an intelligent investigator who is their own worst enemy? Do you enjoy being swept to a different place and time, such as early 20th century London?

I also love the KhavariÂ’s epilogue. Yes, A Botanist's Guide To Flowers and Fatality is wonderful. Kate Khavari topped off an enjoyable mystery by teasing a great premise for the next book. I want to read it - hurry up! fiction historical-fiction kindle-read ...more10 s Jodie Brown116 33

Saffron Everleigh returns in the second novel in the series by Kate Khavari as the sleuthing botanist in 1920s London. She is encouraged by Detective Inspector Green to help investigate murders of prominent local socialites who have been left bouquets tied with a black ribbon since her current work focuses on toxins and poisons from plant sources. She works on the research project alongside Dr. Michael Lee, and he assists her with the investigation. Saffron digs into the Victorian art of floriography, or the practice of sending messages encoded by the flowers themselves, to discover who the killer is. As she does this, readers accompany her and Dr. Lee through 1920s London, a city and society entranced by the Jazz Age and all its trappings. Saffron's foray into detective work is fun, but fraught as she simultaneously tries to figure out her feelings of attraction and aggravation for Dr. Lee and pines for her beau Alexander Edwards who is away on an expedition in South America.

The glimpses into 1920s London were what I appreciated most in A Botanist's Guide to flowers and Fatality, along with the burgeoning science of the era. The jazz clubs, the liberated and liberating behavior of the previously stilted women, the use of intoxicants (alcohol and chemical) reveal a compelling picture of a society in the midst of tremendous growing pains in terms of its mores and values.

I must confess that the mid section of the book dragged a bit for me with Lee's refusal to help Saffron at one point and the numerous dead ends that halted forward progress into the investigation and the advancement of the plot. However, overall, the book is fun and informative, both things I admire in this type of story.

I have recommended this book to my students, who I think will enjoy learning about 1920s London and floriography.8 s Jeannine735 70

July 2023: This was even better the second time around. There is more to AlexanderÂ’s part of the story than I picked up on during my first time through. The set up for the third book is also intriguing!

May 2023: Saffron is back, she has a new partner, and a trio of murders to consult on because of her knowledge of botany. While we still see a brilliant woman navigating the misogynistic waters of a 1920s university, this installment in the Saffron Everleigh series has the heroine at jazz clubs and parties looking for villains in London society.

Alexander, SaffronÂ’s love interest from the first book, is still on his Amazonian expedition as the book starts. SheÂ’s been paired up with a physician to do field research on poisonings. The resulting paper will be a boon for her, as she hasn't even started her Masters program. Along the way, the police ask her to help them with some murders because a bouquet of flowers has been left at each crime scene.

ItÂ’s impressive to see the seemingly disparate storylines merge in the second half of the book.

I was given an advanced copy to review, but have already preordered a physical copy.2023-06-june netgalley the-something-guide-to-something8 s Marianne3,754 266

A BotanistÂ’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality is the second book in the Saffron Everleigh Mystery series by American author, Kate Khavari. Late summer 1923, and just a few months after dramatic events that see botanist Saffron Everleigh unpopular with her colleagues at University College London, she has been promoted to researcher in the Botany Department.

Her notoriously taciturn Department Head, Dr Aster has her conducting a phytotoxicology study with a noisy, messy, infuriatingly smug but attractive medical doctor, Michael Lee. Saffron and her study partner attend plant poisoning victims to interrogate, observe, take samples, and try to determine the botanical culprit.

But then Inspector Green turns up wanting what he surprisingly, given their previous interactions, terms Saffron’s “unique insight that could prove to be helpful” into two baffling murders. In each case, the dead woman has received a very unusual bouquet. And while the bouquets contain a number of poisonous plants, they are not the cause of death.

SaffronÂ’s research leads her into the field of floriography, the Victorian tradition of secret messages via bouquets, which only provides vague clues, and what else might link these wealthy women is a mystery.

With the upper crust closing ranks against the police, Saffron sees that her own background as the granddaughter of a viscount might give her an entry with the friends of the younger victim, to gain important information. This entails several visits to a jazz club, being at the exclusive party of Lord Vale, a theatre attendance, a trawl through newspaper archives, and a visit to an upmarket fashion house, occasionally under the alias of Sally Eversby.

As the nephew of Lord Chamberlain, and with a fascination for the cases, Michael Lee is the perfect partner for some of these outings, and takes it upon himself to illegally enter and search the flat of one of the suspects.

The series needs to be read in order as there are massive spoilers for book one within. This instalment features a love triangle, some grisly murders, discrimination based on gender, race and wealth, shell shock, quite a lot of drug use and, of course, many, many flowers. There are several red herrings and distractions before the dramatic climax and reveal.

Khavari captures the era well, and her characters are mostly appealing, except when theyÂ’re villains. Saffron is a very principled young woman who sticks to her values despite pressure from the men around her. Some parts feel a bit melodrama on steroids, but this is, mostly, a fairly enjoyable cosy mystery.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books.
6 s Jude: The Epic Reader690 82

Sometimes I start to think I Saffron but in the end I don't. Shes so judgy, why should Lee be there to cater to you every time you want him? Ma'am he has other things to do that don't revolve around you. Saffron is smart and successful and I do love her for that but she doesn't give others enough credit.

The mysteries in these are not appealing to me. I to club parts but I'm mad that it was with another man and not the guy from book one.7 s solomiya515 53

okaaaay this one was so much more interesting and intriguing that the first book! it makes me impatient for the next one now bc that set up at the end was so good

thank you to libro.fm, the author, and the publisher for an advanced listening copy of this book!romance2 s1 comment Heather440 25

2.5??
This being the second book in the Saffron Everleigh Mystery series I was excited to find myself back in the roaring twenties and following Saffron, our headstrong but frighteningly intelligent botanist as she stirred up trouble at her college and, as she has a habit of doing, getting herself involved in crime investigations. I appreciated the plot of this book, the mystery was intriguing and I was invested in our cast of odd but rich side characters who introduce Saffron to the world of nightlife and drugs. However, I was pretty let down with the romance plot that kind of hijacked the story about half way throughÂ…

Never did I ever peg Saffron Everleigh as someone too not only get involved in a love triangle, but as someone to handle it horribly.

I canÂ’t say IÂ’ve ever read a series where our first book introduces us to the likable and kind love interest (Alex), only to ship him off to another country for the next novel and have our protagonist falling for the flirty and, honestly pretty bland, SECOND love interest (Lee)? I think if a love triangle was something that Khavari wanted to pursue with this series, then Lee should have been introduced, even if briefly, in the first novel. Since I spent an entire novel with Alex itÂ’s hard to warm up to anyone else without feeling he was being betrayed by not only me but Saffron.

I really tried to focus on the other aspects of the plot, which I enjoyed immensely, but manÂ… I really just wanted my sweet Alex Ashton back; unfortunately when he did return he felt clunky and out of character for me. IÂ’m sure he was written to make Lee seem more appealing since, well, he couldnÂ’t do that on his own.

Just to focus on the audio aspect of this book - fantastic! I really love this narrator and I absolutely breezed through this entire audiobook!

All this to say, the book itself was interesting, I still love the world of Saffron and after the epilogue promising me more Alex Ashton in the future I will be hanging on for the next of this series!

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio arc of this novel!audio-reading5 s ABCme331 45

In this second in series researcher Saffron Everleigh and doctor Michael Lee are called in to assist the London police in solving some murders. Left at each crime scene is a bouquet of flowers, which leads the team to dive into floriography, especially poisonous flowers.
A wonderful read although quite slow going. I enjoyed this one better than part one.

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.kindle netgalley5 s LindaPf451 51

When last we met her, Saffron Everleigh, newly promoted botanical researcher at University College in London, was absolving the mysterious xolotl vine of a possible poisoning and accusing a new hybridization of aconite instead in the suspicious coma-inducing incident involving a professorÂ’s wife. ItÂ’s the Roaring Twenties and Saffron is a woman in academia and, as expected, not being taken seriously even though her intellect is superior to many of the male professors.

ItÂ’s a few weeks after the poison investigations of the first installment. Alexander, SaffronÂ’s detective cohort and presumptive future paramour, is on a 6 month Amazon expedition, and she is now paired with an obnoxiously handsome but very able physician, Dr. Michael Lee. TheyÂ’ve traveled together to Hampshire and other points to determine if a small child has been poisoned by a local plant as part of a phytotoxicology study. But she is suddenly recruited by Inspector Green to consult as an outside poison expert for the police department when a series of black-ribboned deadly bouquets had apparently been received by strangled and smothered murder victims. Saffron heads off into the world of floriography, the Victorian secret language of flowers, in order to assist the Inspector.

I was surprised that I enjoyed the second Saffron story more than the first — Saffron has grown more confident of her abilities and expertise and she can more easily circumnavigate around the men doubting her abilities. There are less confusing characters (not everyone is an old professor this time). Dr. Lee is there as her confidant and foil (since Alexander was necessarily sent away to Brazil). The plot is intriguing and Saffron gets to be a delicious snoop again. 5 stars! ??????????

The “violently yellow” (I love that description) xolotl vine still survives, almost a pet, on Saffron’s office windowsill.

Kudos to the beautiful cover design by Nicole Lecht.

Looking forward to another volume of Saffron Everleigh mysteries, when, I suppose, Alexander and Michael will meetÂ… and eagerly awaiting another botanical index on the authorÂ’s website.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems 90% of all fictional females): NO In the second paragraph of the book, we meet Lee and his brilliant green eyes. SaffronÂ’s are cornflower blue.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Whew! High expectations, of course, for a floral book. The pink heather is properly blooming in August (although it’s usually known as the “September Plant of the Month”) and Saffron knows that pomegranates would probably be grown in a greenhouse or protected garden in England.

4 s Dawn Michelle2,602

Well THAT was unexpected. And fantastic. WHAT a great read. Saffron is a great MC and I love her perseverance and pluck and determination. Lee is the perfect foil for her and while I despise a love triangle, I can see this one only because Alexander was in book 1 and then left with no words of promise or love, so when Lee enters the picture...well, in this case, I can just see how and why it happens [though I hope it doesn't meander on and on - Saffron is a better MC than that and deserves more than a shoddy love triangle]. I Alexander, but my GOSH that man needs some help. Seriously.

The whole mystery was just that for me - a mystery. I was completely snowed and even at the end/reveal, I was [and still am not] sure exactly what happened and just who the killer was. I mean I know, but....

It was a glorious read and I am fully in love with this series. SO. WELL. DONE.

I was lucky enough to also get an audiobook ARC for this and it was just fantastic. Jodie Harris is an outstanding narrator and truly brings this whole book to life; I know I have enjoyed this series even more because of the narration. I highly recommend listening to these books - it is a really great experience.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Khavari, Jodie Harris - Narrator, Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media for providing the audiobook and eBook ARCS in exchange for an honest review. already-own audiobook-netgalley books-read-in-2023 ...more4 s Valerie, Book Valkyrie 47 21

Enjoyed 1920's era London setting. Saffron Everleigh, the protagonist, is depicted as a female scientist successfully making her way in male dominated achademia; a theme occluded by the chosen title as well as the front flap summary and paramount to all of the themes/plots put forth by the back cover reviewers who seem to have completely missed the point! Yes, this is "an intriguing mystery", "delightful and twisty" with an "engaging" and "plucky heroine", yet those descriptions seem all too trite for what goes on in the pages between the front and back covers.4 s Patty121 23

In this second book of the Saffron Everleigh Mystery series, we find our heroine a few months after her dangerous exploits (book one) have precipitated personal and professional changes. Now under the supervision of her mentor, Dr. Aster, Saffron is participating in a study for the identification and cataloging of poisonous plants in England. Much to her irritation, the dashing and glib Dr. Michael Lee becomes her partner. She now has to deal with the intrusion into her office of the messy Dr. Lee (Lee) who has taken over the desk of Alexander Ashton: her colleague and possible lover. Settling into her new routine (and the misogyny of her peers on campus), Saffron is contacted by Detective Inspector (DI) Green asking her to assist him with some plant identification of his own.

Flower bouquets have been found at the crime scenes of murdered women. Saffron thinks that
poisonous plants may have caused their deaths. However, DI Green informs her that the victims have been murdered by strangulation and stabbing. Knowing that DI Green contacted her for a reason, Saffron utilizes her expertise as a botanist to analyze these bouquets. To find answers, Saffron unearths floriography: the arcane practice of communicating through flowers.

Popular during the Victorian era, people would use what they called “talking bouquets” to secretly communicate with each other. Usually, young women would carry small flower arrangements called nosegays (or tussie-mussies) to express their intentions to men who may become suitors. The flower arrangements sent to the victims contain plant life with negative and sinister connotations. Can the identity of the killer and the reason for their crimes be found through floriography?

Saffron continues putting herself in harm’s way as she goes beyond DI Green’s instructions. She visits speakeasies with Lee in search of a group young people who may have known the victims, searches for cocaine users and dealers, and gets kidnapped. While in pursuit of knowledge, she is incapable of assessing the foolhardiness and possible dangers of her actions. The inclusion of Lee disquiets Saffron, bringing her confidence in her love for—and from--Ashton love under scrutiny. Luckily, book two ends in a cliffhanger to ready us for the next installment.

This book—and its predecessor—are fun and satisfying reads. I highly recommend you check them out.

IÂ’d to thank Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.books-i-ve-reviewed4 s Barbara Rogers1,642 184

BarbaraÂ’s rating: 4.3 of 5 Stars
Series: Saffron Everleigh Mystery #2
Publication Date: 6/6/23
Period: 1920’s London – George V – Interwar Period
Number of Pages: 352

Saffron Everleigh has worked hard, defied her family, and found success at a time and place where women were relegated to fetching coffee, typing notes, and running a home. Were it not for her hard-headed determination and brilliant mind, sheÂ’d still be doing all of those things. Instead, she is a researcher at University College with her own office and a research grant. That grant comes with a partner, Dr. Lee, who is handsome, suave, and very dedicated to medicine. Their task is to investigate poisonings from poisonous plants and to document the plant, its location, the effect on the person who was poisoned, etc. Saffron is very excited about the project because it means sheÂ’ll have a published paper before she even starts her masters program at the university.

If you read the first book, you’ll remember Inspector Green who was constantly trying to keep Saffron out of his investigation. This time, he’s come to her asking for help. It seems there have been three murders – all by different methods – but all victims received strange flower arrangements prior to or at the time of their deaths. The murders are all definitely related – but how – and what prompted these strange bouquets? The inspector is interested in having Saffron identify the plants – which she does. She also discovers the old meanings (floriography) of the different plants and passes that along as well.

Being Saffron, she also inveigles more information from the Inspector and takes it upon herself to begin investigating – even bringing a reluctant Dr. Lee into it. They trek through dingy clubs where drugs are as prevalent as alcohol, and they befriend people who have much to hide. Who among the denizens of this dark world could have wanted three people dead? Or, are they even looking in the right place?

I’m definitely a romantic and I just have to have a romance in my mysteries. I’m not sure where this series is headed in that area, but I’m ready for the male romantic lead to be settled. I’m not one for the will-they/won’t-they scenario and that is what this is so far. Yes, this is only the second book, but we should have a pretty clear view of where this is headed by now – and we don’t. I’m pretty sure Dr. Lee is currently out of the romantic picture and Ashton may or may not be. I’m guessing Ashton will be the romantic lead, especially with how the third book is set up at the end of this one – but – you never know.

As for Saffron, I have to wonder a bit about her. She is brilliant and dedicated, but she seems to be oblivious to the feelings of those around her – at least the male portion of the population. They are all supposed to be totally supportive and understanding of her, but she seems to have no clue about them. For instance – Dr. Lee wanted to drop out of the investigation – so she just got angry with him rather than wondering (or asking) what the reason was. Then, there is Ashton with PTSD and she doesn’t seem to want to make any allowances for his feelings of protectiveness or his personal battles with flashbacks. Yes, he has a real problem with actually expressing his feelings, but she doesn’t seem to care enough about him to delve into why any of that might be. While I find her mind to be very sharp, I find her heart to be a tad slow, selfish, and dull. I’m hoping that will change with the next book.

I recommend this book and this series and I hope you will enjoy it. There are plenty of twists and turns, lots of red herrings, plenty of danger for all of our characters, and a thoroughly satisfying wrap-up for the villain. Then, of course, there is the set-up for the next book and I can’t wait to see where that one leads us. BTW – you do not have to have read the first book to enjoy this one – however, I believe it will add much to your enjoyment of this book if you understand more about Saffron’s journey to get to where she is now.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
iblog mystery-historical netgalley ...more3 s Mel (Epic Reading)984 304

The first half of this is pretty solid. We have a lot of reminders about how the last book ended (is critical to read this series in order); which was good for me, but could be annoying for anyone who just came from book 1.
The interpersonal relationships were well done and interesting. Our characters remainder engaging and had good narrative voice. However the overall plot was dull. Initially the poisonous flowers were kind of neat; and a great way to excuse why the Inspector went to Saffron about them. As time went on I got bored by the constant nagging of why Saffron shouldnÂ’t be doing what she was doing. To the point of actually putting the book down in annoyance.
Which is probably what led to the ending just dragging on and on for me. The ‘twist’ is not really that twisty (or good) and so I was done with this one before it was done telling me the story.
All that said I will still read the next book in the series as I do love the characters and think the plot was the issue here for the most part. Not the characters, setting or narrative voice.
Additionally the little teaser at the end (that I would normally hate) actually worked for me.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.arc-netgalley audiobook library-print3 s Morgan Cahill22

While the writing was better than in the first book, I didn't enjoy this one as much. The main conflict was a little too peripheral at times and a good portion of a events in the middle felt repetitive. I don't mind a love triangle when it's done well (and this one almost was) but I hate when one corner of said triangle (usually a man) is so overcome with jealousy they act out of character for conflict's sake.

The strongest aspect of the first novel was characterization, which was still strong in this one, but it made me miss characters from the first novel that weren't as prominent in this one. If you ask me, Elizabeth should be on every page.

I love Saffron and the story world here so I'm hoping the third book combines the best aspects of the first and second book. to-read-in-20243 s Maria Vazquez184 5

Love the mystery murder.. I loved the addition of lee
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