A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari -> Starting June 15th, 2024

[Aly]

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?

[Kim]

started this audio today

[Sibil]

chapters 1-6
(view spoiler)[ think that I would have DNF this one in a fit of rage for the idiotic stunt Saffron pulled if I was reading alone, because really, it is so maddening how moronic that idea was!
But the symptoms of the poisoning are intriguing (not that this is an excuse). I am also sorry that Ashton got a place in the expedition because he was one of the few decent persons in there, so the idea of not seeing him around anymore is not a happy one! (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

chapters 7-12
(view spoiler)[I really like Elizabeth. But I hate that this is one of those books where the police are stupid. I find it maddening!
And why didn't Saffron say that the police think that she and Alexander are in a relationship, and that she pretended to be Dr. Maxwell's niece before going to the police station??
It's not the best idea ever to tell him when they are at the police station!! (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

chapters 13-18
(view spoiler)[I am glad that the police are not really bad, even more so because Saffron is not a great detective. I know that she is not a real detective but she is, at best, an amateur sleuth but she is bad at it.
I am happy that she has Alexander who offers a counterbalance to her, because she wouldn't have gotten far alone.
I am not really enjoying the book. There are a ton of ways in wich this could have worked, because Saffron is a botanist, is inside the university, and is a woman so she has some access that the police lack, but the way in which the author has chosen to go is just bad. Saffron has no practicality to her, she is just going where her wims take her and, frankly, I am starting to get annoyed by it all! (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Finished
(view spoiler)[I think that the ending was my favorite part. The attempt to poison Saffron and Alexander with the xolo...whatever is called this plant was a nice touch, and I enjoyed that Elizabeth was so worried for Saffron that threatened to go in a nightgown to the police station, it was fun and sweet.
I don't understand why Professor Aster doesn't want to talk about Saffron's father's works, it does not make sense at all, and maybe it would be something explored in the sequels, but I won't continue the series.
On a side note, I really appreciated the depiction of the post-war life. Not only for the shell shock but in everyday life, I think that the author did a good job with this part!
But all in all, I didn't particularly enjoy the book. It wasn't bad but it was not good, either. (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

Sibil wrote: "chapters 1-6
think that I would have DNF this one in a fit of rage for the idiotic stunt Saffron pulled if I was reading alone, because really, it is so maddening how moronic that idea was!
But th..."

lol i totally understand this feel 😂

[Sibil]

Kim wrote: "Sibil wrote: "chapters 1-6
..."

It was so maddening!!!!

[Kim]

Ch.1-7 (view spoiler)[ I wish Ashton was gonna be around more. As previously discussed, Saffron needs someone giving guidance or parameters lol. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Kim wrote: "Ch.1-7 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I sooo agree! She can't really be left alone!! (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

Ch. 8-13 (view spoiler)[ she seems almost frivolous in the way she is going about this investigation. like stealing letters from Dr. Henry's desk? bananas! I do feel a little badly at how she played his assistant though. I wonder what Dr. Maxwell is inferring about Ashton though! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Kim wrote: "Ch. 8-13 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yes, I was sorry for the assistant, too!! (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

I guess something I’m struggling with in all of this is the assumption that she was poisoned by the champagne. Like it could’ve been something earlier in the evening that had a longer gestation period you know?

[Sibil]

Yep, they all are fixed on the champagne but it could have been anything else, really, there is no explanation and no real confirmation of it!

[Kim]

Ch. 14 - 18 (view spoiler)[ love that Ashton twisted that flirtation back on Saffron *heart eyes * i am super suspect of Saffron getting her research project. what is Burkin up to... (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Kim wrote: "Ch. 14 - 18 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Ashton is so sweet! And cute! *_* (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

Just finished! I’ll complete update on the computer tomorrow. I’m debating on continuing the series. What’re your thoughts??

[Kim]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Ashton is a peach and I'm so glad that Dr. Maxell's warning was not necessary. I did not see Blake coming as the ring leader of this but definitely not surprised Burkin was involved. Not the most exciting of books but I thought the ending was good. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Kim wrote: "Just finished! I’ll complete update on the computer tomorrow. I’m debating on continuing the series. What’re your thoughts??"

Sorry, but I am dropping it. The ending was quite nice (view spoiler)[I liked that the police wanted to work with Saffron and I think that this part would be pretty interesting, (hide spoiler)] but I didn't particularly enjoy this book, so I'll pass!

[Sibil]

Kim wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I think that the ending was the best part! And I was surprised to see that the mastermind was Blake!! (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

Sibil wrote: "Kim wrote: "Just finished! I’ll complete update on the computer tomorrow. I’m debating on continuing the series. What’re your thoughts??"

Sorry, but I am dropping it. The ending was quite nice [sp..."

yea i totally get that. thanks for reading with me! i agree (view spoiler)[ the ending was the most interesting part. the story could've gone so many other ways to have improved it. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Thanks to you!! :)