A Botanist’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality (A Saffron Everleigh Mystery)
Partnered with Dr. Michael Lee, a most obnoxious combination of golden-haired attractiveness and infuriation, Saffron Everleigh is a researcher at the University College London examining the effects of local botanical toxins. When Inspector Green shows up at her office to ask about a series of deaths in which the victims received a bouquet of flowers, Saffron’s own investigation turns up a hidden, nefarious message behind each bouquet. However, to find the connection between the victims, Saffron will need to dive back into the upper-class scene from which her family cut her off when she accepted a research position.
Dr. Lee and Saffron have an amusing rapport with each other. Both of the feisty and determined characters are easy to root for. Character mindsets feel appropriate for the 1920s, which helps immerse readers in the historical setting. It was easy to read this as a standalone as the author deftly weaves important past events into the narrative. The pacing slows a bit midway in both the murder mystery and the character development. Overall, though, there are many captivating twists to the plot and suspicious characters. From decadent parties to notorious nightclubs, university offices and police stations, readers get a tantalizing glimpse of Jazz Age London. I’d definitely read more of this series.
