I was super excited to read A Botanist’s Guide to Tradition and Treachery: A Saffron Everleigh Mystery by Kate Khavari.
Look at that gorgeous book cover!
The main character’s name is Saffron Everleigh, which just sounds so lovely.
And the premise of a 19th century female botanist on an archelogical expedition was giving me all sorts of Evie/Rachel Weisz/The Mummy vibes.
But, after getting halfway through the book, I DNF’d it. Saffron Everleigh just didn’t hold my attention.
What’s A Botanist’s Guide to Tradition and Treachery about?
Saffron Everleigh is a woman who’s continuously trying to prove herself in a man’s world. This time, it’s during an archeological dig to Turkey with a research expedition team, as well as with her fiancé. There’s a language barrier, unfriendly locals, collapsing ruins, venomous snakes, and overwhelmingly hot weather to overcome while she does her job. A job that’s not made any easier by her stereotypical early-19th century white male colleagues who think a woman’s place is, well…not on a dig.
One particular researcher, Dr Clark, has it in for Saffron. He plays increasingly mean and dangerous tricks on her. (Well, I think it’s him. I didn’t read far enough into the book to find out if it really was.) However, when Saffron’s assistant ends up dead under suspicious circumstances, people start pointing fingers at her instead of the guy who acts like a jerk toward everyone.
Why I DNF’d A Botanist’s Guide to Tradition and Treachery
Saffron can be fun and feisty, but she wasn’t quite as captivating a heroine as I was hoping for. Her interactions with her fiancé are where her personality most shined, but those interactions felt too few and far between.
Instead, author Khavari invests much more time on the interactions between Saffron and her colleagues. A lot of the male researchers make jokes at Saffron’s expense that humiliate her and, sometimes, her fiancé.
In an attempt to prove she’s just as capable as the men on the trip, Saffron doesn’t really speak up for herself, doesn’t confront the jerk-faces, doesn’t want any complaints lodged against them, etc. She doesn’t even allow her fiancé to stand up for her.
Overall, it’s very immature and clichéd behavior on all sides. It really turned me off, which is a shame since this interplay takes up the first part of the book.
Although A Botanist’s Guide to Tradition and Treachery is billed as a murder mystery, the murder doesn’t take place until about halfway through the book. I wish the bodies started droppin’ a lil’ earlier. By the time Khavari finally got around to killing somebody off, I’d already lost interest in Saffron and her story.
Should you read A Botanist’s Guide to Tradition and Treachery?
If you like historical fiction with a tinge of romance and suspense, try reading A Botanist’s Guide to Tradition and Treachery. Even though this book didn’t keep my interest, I think there are a lot of readers who will fall right into this story, especially if they’re already fans of the Saffron Everleigh mystery series.
But, if you’re looking for a fast-paced whodunit, this book will probably move too slowly for you.
Plant lovers and herbalists, beware: there wasn’t as much botany as I was hoping for in this “Botanist’s Guide.” Maybe reading T. Kingfisher’s books have spoiled me – when Kingfisher goes all in on a topic like botany or mycology or entomology, she goes all. in. I’d have liked to seen more of Saffron discovering native Turkish plants and flowers instead of discovering how much of an asshole Dr Clark could be.
What’s the book-inspired recipe?
Even though I DNF’d A Botanist’s Guide to Tradition and Treachery, I was still inspired to create a recipe for it. Stay tuned for Lahmajoun (Turkish Pizza).
Although I received a complimentary advance copy of A Botanist’s Guide to Tradition and Treachery from Kaye Publicity, all opinions expressed in this review are my own. I was not compensated in any way for this review or for any other promotion/publicity I’ve done related to this book.
