I needed a break from my contemporary/sports romance genre, so I picked up Kate Khavari’s A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons on a whim. I was hooked and read the four available Saffron Everleigh mysteries in quick succession.
A Botanist’s Guide to Tradition and Treachery is the fifth book in the series, and I was fortunate enough to receive an advance reader’s edition. I was very excited for this next installment, and you can pick up your own copy next week! The book is set to release June 9th, 2026.
The Summary
During her first research expedition abroad, newly engaged Saffron Everleigh finds herself immersed in more than scientific research. The infuriatingly misogynistic culture of her early career is rampant among the team, and one member of their party is particularly keen on tormenting her relentlessly. When an assistant dies under mysterious circumstances, Saffron becomes the focus of the investigation.
Under duress and in a foreign country, Saffron and her fiance must determine who they can trust and rely on – including an unexpected, yet familiar face. How will they clear Saffron’s name without becoming embroiled in a much larger conspiracy?
My Review
One of the themes that Saffron wrestles with in A Botanist’s Guide to Tradition and Treachery is the idea that gossip is a poison whether the fuel is truthful or not. While set 100 years in the past, this concept kept ringing in my head as timeless and terrifying, even today. I believe that made my reading experience more impactful – as if anything happening in the story could be headlines for tomorrow’s news feed.
While it gave me contemporary chills, I thoroughly enjoyed the glimpse into Turkish life in the 1920s. The history and facts of the devastation following the Great War and Greco-Turkish War were well incorporated and an interesting, albeit sad, backdrop for the mystery. The problem with taking Saffron out of London though, was we missed out on many of her supporting characters, and I felt their absence. I could have used some Elizabeth sass!
I also felt that much of the action in this story happened AROUND Saffron, and we didn’t see as much of her intelligence and clever heroism. Getting more of Alexander was not a bad thing, but I’m curious to see how or if this more insecure side of Saffron plays out in future titles.
Kate Khavari does an excellent job of building her characters’ depth so there is substance and meaning behind each appearance. In A Botanist’s Guide to Tradition and Treachery, I found the pacing of this construction slower and less engaging than previous works. Personally, I would have loved a bit less build up and more elaboration in the culminating, action-packed show down at the end.
As I closed the book however, I was satisfied and could honestly say that I enjoyed the story. It just didn’t quite measure up to some of the others in the series, so I would give it 3.5 stars out of 5. I’m still excited for the next Saffron mystery though! The teaser at the end of this book is a good one!
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Oh, and I have Bachelors degree in Journalism and Masters' degrees in Business and Sports Administration that I like to flex via blogging here and running my small Etsy shop, Nothing Past Nine.
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