The third book in the series and I have read them all. I remember in my review of the previous book wondering whether events were building up to a love triangle. Well that thought was dealt with instantly at the beginning of this book. No such doubts allowed for Saffron Everleigh! She makes her choice as though there never was a choice at all.

This book moves slowly and the intrigue mounts a little beyond the bounds of credibility. Nick in particular is impossible and when Bill popped up towards the end I laughed. It appears he will be playing a larger role in the next book so I will have to prepare myself.

Sorry if I sound as if I did not enjoy this book. I actually d it well enough and will definitely seek out #4 when it comes along. The author has already signified the direction it is going to take and it sounds fun.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
43 s8 comments Jen69 1 followerWant to read

Very much looking forward to this book. All I can say is Dr. Lee needs to be in this book in a very significant way. He embraces all that she is rather than trying to stamp out her fire. Lee is the best character and best man for her. Period.14 s Jeannine735 70

Saffron is back and the threads connecting her work to government research are explored in this incredible third installment of this fantastic series. We've seen Saffron confront the possibility that her research could be misused before. While she continues to resist aiding the government, when her friend (and sometimes love interest) Alexander comes to her for help defending her brother who is being questioned in a poisoning death, she's dragged into a larger plot that involves a government research lab.

This book picks up almost exactly where the last one left off, which is incredibly satisfying. The one missing piece is what happened during Saffron's time in France for an academic conference. The details of this are sprinkled throughout this book. This story brings Elizabeth, Saffron's roommate, into main character territory and some chapters are even written from her point of view. Elizabeth's brother and a sibling duo from the chemistry department also join the cast (one had a minor role in the last book). Growing a cast over the course of a few books is a great tactic - the reader doesn't have to juggle too many new names at any point. At the same time, there is more development in Alexander's character and we get to see some of Saffron's family as well.

I was provided an advanced copy, but have preordered a physical copy, as I want the books in this series permanently on my shelves.2024-06-june10 s1 comment eyes.2c2,804 83

More twists than a pretzel!

Once again Saffron Everleigh, now a full time researcher with the University of London, is thrust into the heart of another murder inquiry. This time two men who work at a government run agricultural research facility have separately been found dead—seemingly poisoned. But what has caused it? Saffron is an expert in poisonous plants. The time is post World War I. Countries are scrambling for their place on the world stage, to feed and house their populations. After a conference in Paris she is more than ever aware of her research being a dichotomy between medical and agricultural areas, and the dangerous offshoots both are capable of.
Her more than friend Alexander Ashton asks her to intercede with Detective Green on behalf of his brother whoÂ’s been innocently caught up in the investigation. As heÂ’s disapproved of her previous involvements in such goings on neither of them can avoid AlexanderÂ’s asking this of her as hypocritical.
As it is Detective Green gets in touch with Saffron as there are details which are close to SaffronÂ’s area of expertise. Her inquiries lead her to some puzzling facts. She enlists the help of her close friend Dr. Michel Lee.
It seems there are deeper waters involved when her dead fiancée, and her flat mate’s brother, Nick Hale turns up. Nick works with the ‘Agricultural Ministry.’ Strange things are happening and food security is part of it, or not?
On top all this thereÂ’s the matter of Alfie Tennison, who runs an illegal gambling den. What is his role in all this?
An exciting and deadly twist to SaffronÂ’s continuing story. If youÂ’ve followed her journey this is of course a must read. If your new to the Everleigh Mysteries IÂ’d recommend starting with the first in the series.

A Crooked Lane ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.historical-mystery interbellum-mystery netgalley ...more8 s2 comments Lilibet Bombshell786 76

IÂ’ve adored the previous two Saffron Everleigh books, so I was incredibly excited to read this one, especially with the title! Society! Secrets!

Sadly, this installment of Saffron Everleigh just didnÂ’t gel for me and I ended up only being able to really engage with certain parts of the book and only liking certain aspects of the book instead of engaging with and liking the whole of it.

What did I ? The characters, mostly. How can you not love Kate KhavariÂ’s colorful and unique cast of characters? She writes them all so well in all of their complexities, gives them all a full voice, and lets them all play their parts in the story. You canÂ’t help but to become invested in them and delight in the delicious dialogue Khavari writes for them.

What did I have issues with? Really, it was the pacing, of all things. Society and Secrets not only takes time to get going, but it takes time to really engage fully, and even once itÂ’s going fully the story is full of stops and stutters that just made this story feel really uneven.

Do I still recommend Society and Secrets despite the low rating? Yes I do, because IÂ’m not going to give up on Saffron Everleigh due to one book that didnÂ’t meet my standards. For all I know IÂ’m just not having a good reading day. Since I know weÂ’re getting at least one more book (if not more) out of Khavari about Miss Saffron, I recommend reading it because you need to read these books in order to understand the overall story arc.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. This review is rated three starts or less so it will not be appearing on my social media. Thank you.

File Under: Book Series/Historical Fiction/Historical Romance//Mystery2024-ng-arcs advanced-reader-copies book-series ...more5 s Lana | Libraryofabibliotaph 400 10

My review might contain a few minor spoilers. No big revelations or such, but some character dynamics and trends throughout the story are described in order to support my opinion and arguments.

~~~~~~~~~

The cover, the blurb and the ending of the second book convinced me to give the third book a try as well.

Sadly, I had to push myself through the first 200 pages. Only then the characters and plot managed to draw me in again. It's only from there on that the story starts showing the distinctive elements I recalled enjoying in books 1 and 2. In this book, a lot of new characters are being introduced and the storyline is also a lot more complex. It might be that this causes the slower pacing.

The investigative aspect of the storyline wasnÂ’t how I expected it to be. Only halfway through, the characters finally start making progress in their search. Before that, there were things happening but it felt more these were irrelevant little things instead of main story elements. The things they did discover throughout the book often felt random stuff they suddenly stumbled upon as well. The general credibility of the story just didnÂ’t sit right with me.

I did the way Alexander and Saffron finally opened up some more to each other and tried to overcome their differences. Even though I didnÂ’t feel the chemistry, I was happy they finally started to behave responsible and understanding adults in their relationship. Saffron and Lee on the other hand, it felt she was just using him when she needed his help, instead of trying to sustain a friendly relationship with him.

My favourite character was, without doubt, Elizabeth. I love how she got her own POV in a few chapters and played a more prominent role in this book. I feel I also really got to know her better. Her character also had at least some depth. Saffron on the other hand had barely any character growth.

The last 70 pages are suddenly high paced and make you want to keep on reading. There is action and tension, there are new revelations and twists, secrets get exposed, Â… everything you were waiting for. But this does not outweigh how the first half of the story kind of disappointed me.

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for this eARC.
arc4 s Sarah-Hope1,225 147

Kate Khavari's A Botanist's Guide to Society and Secrets is the third volume in the Saffron Everleigh historical mystery series, and it's every bit as good as the first two volumes. Khavari has been gradually sliding in some potential larger-scale problems to go with the specific mystery at the heart of each novel, so readers aren't just wondering whodunnit?, but are also waiting to see how the relationships among the continuing characters develop.

In one way or another, the longer-term problems probe the question of what it means to be female in England in the aftermath of WWI. Saffron, our central character, is determined to be a professor of botany as her father was, but her grandparents, who control the family's wealth, are becoming increasingly harsh in their efforts to get her out of London, into the family home, and married off to an appropriate man who can help build the family's wealth.

Saffron's childhood friend and current roommate, Elizabeth, is also seeking freedom to enjoy London life and to grasp every opportunity to enjoy herself. The one who is trying to prevent her emerging, more daring identity is her brother. And that brother has unresolved conflicts with Saffron's beau/friend Alexander (it varies regularly), who has asked Saffron to help prove his brother's innocence as he faces a murder charge...

The things I'm sharing here are set up for the novel, not revelations that come further into novel, so no worries about spoilers.

If you enjoy historical mysteries with plucky, intelligent, stubborn, female central characters, this is a series you'll want to check out. You can probably read the series (currently three volumes) in any order, but I would suggest reading them in order so you can watch the relationships between the recurring characters develop.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.2024 netgalley3 s Ink630 15

A Botanist's Guide to Society and Secrets by Kate Khavari is glorious. A wonderful historical mystery that follows botanist Saffron Everleigh as she battles against a soceity that wants to keep women out of the workplace and the ballot boxes

There were a lot of established characters in the book and the awesome character development has encouraged me to read the previous books in the series

Khavari has a real strength in placing characters in time and is authentic in her character development, especially against the backdrop of the aftermath of WW1, which naturally has a huge impact on characters behaviour and psyche

A truly wonderful book and a fantastic blend of characters and storylines. This series is straight on to my TBR

Thank you to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and Kate Khavari for this phenomenal ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own3 s Mo Jordan319 2

I was very excited to reconnect with the wonderful Saffron Everleigh, however I found myself feeling Saffron really didn't show up to the party. I don't feel Saffron grew or developed in this installment and she kind of fell flat for me overall. Anyone could have taken her place in the story and it wouldn't have made a difference. Her only characteristic in this was a continuation of struggles she had in the previous book - particularly about her Dad's history and governmental concerns. That plotline is just not interesting enough to carry this series and I feel we really need more character work to help things along.

Alexander was similarly boring for me, which is strange to say since we did learn a lot more about it. While that was nice, it didn't feel emotional or impactful - there was too much of a disconnect and it just ended up feeling I was being given information rather than truly getting to know him on a deeper level. I am happy that he and Saffron worked out their differences, but that also didn't feel entirely genuine. Their relationship felt unearned and we lost of lot of the spark between them.

I will say that Eliza was well done and I loved the depth and complexity we got with her in this story. It was nice to see her play a bigger role, but her struggles and development are just not enough to excuse the lack of interest in our main two characters. Having her brother, Nick, involved was also a nice aspect and I do find him quite interesting.

The plot was, unfortunately, both confusing and boring to me. In the previous two books, I feel the mysteries were a bit more complex. We had little reveals and a few twists along the way that really keep you interested and entertained. That wasn't the case in this story. It felt we waited until the very end to get any monumental information and I didn't even find it particularly satisfying. I would not have minded a lackluster plot had the characters been more interesting. But, this one just fell flat all around.

I think this book feels the most out of place in the series and I hope this was just a case of something "middle book syndrome". I'm very interested in the direction that was teased for the next book and I hope it's much more similar to the first 2 books in this series because I definitely enjoyed those ones quite a lot.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.2024-reads2 s Elise85 14

Here is an honest little review of A BotanistÂ’s Guide to Society and Secrets by Kate Khavari. I requested this title on Netgalley quite a few weeks ago, not realizing that it was the third book in a series I had never read! So, I quickly utilized my libraryÂ’s e-book resources and read the first two installments before beginning this one. What these books have made me realize is that I really do love a mystery.

Would I consider these a cozy mystery? Yes? Ish? There are moments of on-stage violence that make your heart beat just a little faster, but overall, the nature of these novels is very mellow. Who would have thought plants are worth killing people for? Khavari certainly causes readers to realize the importance of plantlife/the environment and how entire ecosystems could be destroyed if a person or government were to use the knowledge in war or for other unsavory reasons. Compared to the first two books, there was a lot more going on in Society and Secrets. For example, the government steps in with agents and spies, secrets are revealed, gangsters are after deadly information, and flatmate Elizabeth finally gets her chance to help solve the case.

LetÂ’s talk boys. I d that we got to visit Lee in this book! I was worried that we would never see this absolute charmer again, but alas, he is back and ready for some action! What I didnÂ’t ? AlexanderÂ’s weird vibes. Do I still feel I would personally choose Lee? Maybe a little. In one sense, he gives our girl Saffron freedom she needs, but is risky and flirtatious to a fault. Alexander craves order and would do anything to protect our little plant-lover from harm, even if she feels suffocated. This gives strong Stefan and Damon vibes (Vampire Diaries), and Saffron is just not into the bad boy trope. Not a relevant comparison? Oh well.

The ending leads me to believe we will get more of Ms. Everleigh, and the books, as seen in the average ratings on Goodreads, get better and better as we go. I am excited to see what happens next, because yes, I would recommend this series.2 s2 comments Celeste Miller257 10

This was a fun third installment in the series. It did feel a little more rushed and confusing with the plot not being as tight as the previous books. It was interesting to have Alexander's brother involved, as well as Elizabeth getting more air time, and her brother's role in it all as well. This one was also a little bit darker than the first two, but still a fun read. There is a lot of vagueness around "the government" and what was going on with Saffron's father, as well as the shadowy bad guys towards the end of the book. Hopefully that will be more clear in the next one!2 s Bosiljka Maricic81

I recieved an arc from Net Galley, and I have not read the first 2 books in this series before, but after reading this one I realized I've been missing out on some amazing storytelling

What I found most captivating about the novel is its richly developed characters and the intricate relationships that drive the story forward. Saffron's determination to uncover the truth, even at great personal risk, showcases her strength and resilience as a protagonist. The dynamic between Saffron, Alexander, and Nick keeps readers guessing until the very end, while the atmospheric setting of 1920s London adds depth and authenticity to the narrative.

Overall, "The Botanist's Guide to Society and Secrets" is a compelling read that will delight fans of historical mysteries.1 Lily133 2

3.5/5 - Glad we got past the love triangle of book 2! Alexander is perfect for Saffron. Took away 0.5 star because apparently although Saffron is an amateur detective who has solved multiple crimes, she was also completely and inexplicably blindsided by the fact that someone who is questionably involved with investigating a murder is part of a shadowy government organization. Thanks to NetGalley, Kate Khavari, and Penguin Random House for an ARC!arcs1 Amy Sparks161 5

Author Kate KhavariÂ’s fans have been eagerly awaiting another mystery for botanist Saffron Everleigh to solve. The BotanistÂ’s Guide to Society and Secrets is worth the wait. ItÂ’s an entertaining, engrossing novel worth reading. In my case, it was a delightful binge-read.

If youÂ’re new to The BotanistÂ’s Guide mysteries, IÂ’d advise you to read the books in order. YouÂ’d enjoy this book even if you haven't read the earlier ones, but the book is better if you are familiar with the charactersÂ’ backstories.

Saffron is usually discouraged from investigating mysteries by Alexander Ashton, the enigmatic university colleague and romantic interest. This time, he needs SaffronÂ’s help to exonerate his brother Adrian when a murder investigation points to him.

SaffronÂ’s roommate Elizabeth Hale finally has a steady but bland boyfriend. When ElizabethÂ’s brother Nick comes back into her life, he shakes up the quiet lives of the girls to include a second murder investigation. Both victims worked at the same government research laboratory, and Nick wants Saffron to take a position within the laboratory to find a connection between the two.

Saffron has a load of questions to sift through. Could she work at a government laboratory, even though she believes that government research led to her fatherÂ’s murder years ago? Can she solve the crimes without endangering her own?

Others have deep secrets. How does Nick HaleÂ’s current and previous military service tie him into the murders? AlexanderÂ’s wartime efforts are even more concerning, especially since he and Nick crossed paths during the war. Even ElizabethÂ’s professional and personal lives play into big secrets.

Khavari wraps up the primary murder mystery and shows how the primary characters were impacted by the experience. But itÂ’s not really over. Our author drops a gut-wrenching twist that appropriately sets up the next storyline. I didn't see it coming...but I should have. It also makes it much harder to wait for the next book.

Thank you, NetGallery for an advance review copy of the book.










fiction kindle-read mystery-thriller ...more1 Belinda (Belle) Witzenhausen211

(4.5 rounded up)

I received a complimentary ARC copy of A BotanistÂ’s Guide to Society and Secrets(A Saffron Everleigh Mystery #3) by Kate Khavari from Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books in order to read and give an honest review.

Â… A BotanistÂ’s Guide to Society and Secrets is an intriguing, well-written, fast-paced mystery, replete with compelling characters, intriguing plotlines and is definitely a page-turning historical mystery that keeps the reader engaged to the very last pageÂ…

I have been a fan of this series since book one, A BotanistÂ’s Guide to Parties and Poisons and this third book in the series does not disappoint.

Picking up where book two, A BotanistÂ’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality leaves off. We reunite with Saffron who returns from an academic conference in France to find that her colleague and friend Alexander has been tending to her cherished plants. Although struggling with something from France (which cleverly unfolds) she is ready to settle back into her routine life, but with Saffron nothing is ever routine. With her flat mate Elizabeth unsure about her new beau Colin, and Saffron confused as to her feelings for both Alexander and Lee she is in a state of limbo. When AlexanderÂ’s brother Adrian becomes a prime suspect in the poisoning death of a biologist he did not know, Saffron is asked by Alexander to intercede with Detective Green on AdranÂ’s behalf. Despite AlexanderÂ’s protests in the past and his withholding information an angry Saffron reluctantly agrees. When ElizabethÂ’s estranged brother Nick appears unexpectedly to reunite with his long-lost sister, an awkward interaction at a dinner party between him and Alexander raises more questions for Saffron. After a second biologist from the same research center dies Nick, a government agent approaches Saffron for her expertise, pulling her into government service to help investigate the mysterious deaths of the two biologists. Both biologists work at a government run agricultural research facility once her fatherÂ’s employer, utilizes her name to infiltrate the facility as an employee. When it appears the culprit that has poisoned the biologists is a unique fungus which is produced in the facility, she also notices the destruction it could cause if unleashed into the world. Normally distrusting, Saffron usually shies away from working for the government as she is leery that her research could be used as a weapon but after the events, she is wrestling with from France she feels compelled to act. Things heat up when missing test results, violent mobsters, illegal gambling dens and a dangerous stranger calling the shots puts Saffron and her loved ones in danger, it is up to her to get to the bottom of things before it is too late.

I love Saffron, a brilliant, quirky, and brave woman, who although struggling with her fears thrives in the face of danger. Although slow at times, A BotanistÂ’s Guide to Society and Secrets is an intriguing, well-written, fast-paced mystery, replete with compelling characters, intriguing plotlines and is definitely a page-turning historical mystery that keeps the reader engaged to the very last page. I loved the cliffhanger ending and I cannot wait to read more about SaffronÂ’s adventures! I highly recommend it. Barbara Rogers1,642 184

BarbaraÂ’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Saffron Everleigh Mystery #3
Publication Date: 6/4/24
Period: Interwar Period – 1920 - London
Number of Pages: 336

As with the first two books of the series, this third book is blossoming with intrigue, murder, mayhem, and a bit of romance. It is set in 1920s London with a rich narrative of period detail. It quickly sucks you into a time when respect was almost impossible for working females to win – especially female scholars.

Saffron Everleigh is a brilliant botanist who has had to fight and claw to claim a place as a researcher at the University – and she has to fight against prejudices, jealousies, and resentment every day to keep that position. In the previous two books, Saffron has willingly become entangled in murder investigations involving poisonous plants. Those investigations jeopardized her job and personal relationships, and she is glad to have left that behind her. With things settling down – her research project underway – and things getting back to an even keel with her work colleague (and romantic interest), microbiologist Alexander Ashton, she is looking forward to her next steps. Until . . .

Alexander has spent a lot of time over the last two books admonishing Saffron for her involvement in murder investigations – though he still helped her. Now, imagine his chagrin when he must ask for her help – with a murder investigation. As part of his job as an engineer, Adrian, Alexander’s brother had traveled by train to pick up a set of plans. He didn’t pay a lot of attention to the only other passenger in his car – until the man died. Since the man was poisoned, Adrian was the prime suspect.

Saffron agrees to do what she can to help, but – this time – Inspector Green isn’t inviting her into the investigation. While she can work around him, his cooperation would be much more helpful. This intricately woven mystery takes Saffron from the university, through secretive government labs, and on to government organizations who all want the biggest, best, most effective weapons.

The mystery is engaging, the prose educational, and the story easily translatable into todayÂ’s world. I particularly enjoyed the growth of SaffronÂ’s relationship with Alexander and hope that continues to be the case. Yet another interesting part of the story is Nick, SaffronÂ’s best friendÂ’s brother. Is he a good guy or a bad guy? He certainly gave no indications of any soft good-guy edges to him, so I have to wonder if we wonÂ’t see more of him because he wants Saffron to work at one of his secret government labs.

This is a well-crafted story that I can recommend if you enjoy a thrilling, thought-provoking read. When I mentioned above that it was educational, I was truthful, as it is filled with a plethora of information on plants, poisons, microbes, methodologies, etc. For me personally, I could do with less of that, but it doesn’t detract from the story in the least – and it might even raise my IQ a bit.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
2024-read iblog mystery-historical ...more2 s J Kromrie1,017 16

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC (in audiobook format).

Kate Khavari’s mesmerizing historical mystery series continues with “A Botanist’s Guide to Society and Secrets.” In this cleverly plotted puzzle, Khavari weaves together intrigue, romance, and the fascinating world of botany.

Synopsis: Set in 1923 London, the brilliant botanist Saffron Everleigh returns from Paris to find herself embroiled in a web of secrets and murder. When a Russian scientist working for the English government is poisoned and dies in her former love interest Alexander Ashton’s brother’s train compartment, Saffron is drawn into the investigation. As she unravels the mysteries surrounding the dead scientist, she discovers that some secrets are better left undiscovered.

What Makes This Audiobook Stand Out:

Botanical Intrigue: Khavari’s attention to detail brings the world of plants to life. From poisonous specimens to rare blooms, the botanical backdrop adds depth and uniqueness to the story.

Complex Characters: Saffron Everleigh is a refreshing protagonist—a strong-willed woman navigating academia, love, and danger. Her unresolved feelings for Alexander and her growing connection with Elizabeth’s war-hero brother, Nick, create a captivating romantic tension.

Historical Atmosphere: The 1920s London setting is vividly portrayed, immersing listeners in a world of post-war intrigue, scientific discovery, and societal constraints.

Narration by Jodie Harris: Harris’s narration enhances the experience. Her expressive voice captures Saffron’s determination and vulnerability, making the audiobook a delight to listen to.

If you enjoy historical mysteries with strong female protagonists, “A Botanist’s Guide to Society and Secrets” is a must-listen.

Fans of Rhys Bowen and Sujata Massey will appreciate the blend of mystery, romance, and botanical lore.

Prepare to be transported to a time when secrets lurk in the shadows and danger blooms a rare flower.


Autor del comentario:
=================================