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The Botanist's Assistant
A murder in the science lab shatters a woman’s quiet and ordered life when she decides she must solve the crime herself in this entertaining and uplifting mystery.
Plenty of people consider Margaret Finch odd. Six-feet-tall and big-boned, she lives alone in a small cabin in the woods, drives a 20-year-old truck, and schedules her life so precisely you can tell the time and day of the week by the chore she is doing and what she is wearing. But the same attributes that cause her to be labeled eccentric—an obsessive attention to detail and the ability to organize almost anything—make her invaluable in her job as Research Assistant II to a talented and charismatic botanist.
It's those very same qualities, however, that also turn Margaret into a target after a surprising death shakes the small university where she works. Even as authorities claim the death appears to be from natural causes, Margaret fears it might be something more: a murder born of jealousy and dark secrets. With the aid of a newly hired and enigmatic night custodian, Margaret finds herself thrust into the role of detective, forcing her to consider that she may not be able to find the killer before the killer finds her.
With a cast of quirky and likeable characters that one won’t soon forget, The Botanist’s Assistant is a delightful story of perseverance and the power in all of us to survive.
304 pages, Paperback
First published November 18, 2025
162 people are currently reading
13880 people want to read
About the author
Peggy Townsend
7 books206 followersPeggy Townsend is longtime newspaper reporter who has won state and national awards for her work. She has flown with pararescuers, taken a flashlight to a knife fight and narrowly missed being punched in the jaw by a mass murderer. She has rock climbed, run rivers, skied expert slopes, run half-marathons and fished in the Gulf of Alaska: all things at which she is only marginally competent. She is the author of three novels Her Run, The Thin Edge and The Beautiful and the Wild. Her newest book, The Botanist's Assistant, will release on Nov. 18, 2025.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
October 29, 2025
What a great book! Peggy Townsend has combined a murder, a science laboratory, a janitor, and a woman who is considered odd by her colleagues into a fascinating story in
The Botanist's Assistant.
Margaret Finch is tall, lives alone in a small cabin in the woods, drives an old pick-up truck, and schedules her life precisely. When a surprising death occurs at Roosevelt University, everyone except Margaret believes the death is from natural causes. With the help of the newly hired night custodian, Joe Torres, she plays detective and puts herself in danger.
Margaret is a research assistant to a botanist. She has an obsessive attention to detail and the ability to organize almost anything. She’s intelligent, tightly controlled, doesn’t like waste, is observant, straightforward, direct, and calm. She tends to be blunt, and people don’t always appreciate it. She also helps her boss, Dr. Jonathan Deaver, by supervising the others who work in the lab and with grant applications as well as ordering supplies and keeping the lab running. Dr. Deaver is creative and confident. Joe is a good listener, kind, and helpful.
The story captivated me from the beginning. It did a great job of portraying the university and its culture. There’s a riveting mystery along with the politics of the university and the desire for fame. The story steadily builds momentum until it’s fascinating conclusion. It’s well-plotted and the characters felt realistic and emotionally rich. There are some unpredictable moments in the story and a few plot twists with multiple suspects.
Overall, this is an engaging, unique, fascinating, and entertaining story full of murder, corruption, and investigation by an amateur sleuth. The world-building and characterization are well-done. I hope there will be another book featuring Margaret.
Berkley Publishing Group – Berkley and Peggy Townsend provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for November 18, 2025.
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My 4.16 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Margaret is a research assistant to a botanist. She has an obsessive attention to detail and the ability to organize almost anything. She’s intelligent, tightly controlled, doesn’t like waste, is observant, straightforward, direct, and calm. She tends to be blunt, and people don’t always appreciate it. She also helps her boss, Dr. Jonathan Deaver, by supervising the others who work in the lab and with grant applications as well as ordering supplies and keeping the lab running. Dr. Deaver is creative and confident. Joe is a good listener, kind, and helpful.
The story captivated me from the beginning. It did a great job of portraying the university and its culture. There’s a riveting mystery along with the politics of the university and the desire for fame. The story steadily builds momentum until it’s fascinating conclusion. It’s well-plotted and the characters felt realistic and emotionally rich. There are some unpredictable moments in the story and a few plot twists with multiple suspects.
Overall, this is an engaging, unique, fascinating, and entertaining story full of murder, corruption, and investigation by an amateur sleuth. The world-building and characterization are well-done. I hope there will be another book featuring Margaret.
Berkley Publishing Group – Berkley and Peggy Townsend provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for November 18, 2025.
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My 4.16 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
January 7, 2026
A science based mystery? Say Less, I'm in!
The quirky yet smart cover art drew my eye and I HAD to check this out. I can't readily recall reading a botany centric mystery before and this delivered. The intelligent yet accessible style had me so invested in the characters that my enjoyment had me putting the mysterious elements to the side. I would love to see this become a series, but if not, this was a fantastic read that threw some surprises my way.
Margaret is called a lot of names 'peculiar' by those with tact 'Big Bird' by those without. She likes things a certain way neat, reliable, and correct. Waste not want not. She is precise and fact oriented probably on the spectrum in some regard. She keeps five work outfits, one home outfit for lounging, one for gardening and sticks to the three-minute shower rule. No surplus. She's frugal down to the letter. Margaret is an assistant to a fame chasing botanist at a small university. All eccentricities aside she is stellar at her job. When her boss is found dead, she looks at the body and scene suspecting foul play, poison to be exact. No one takes her concerns serious because the botanist had a preexisting heart problem. Also no one is going to approve funding for a grant when the lead scientist was murdered. Margaret realizes there may be a lot of reasons for the university to be complicit in a coverup. Not on her watch! She makes some unexpected friends including a janitor whose more than meets the eye and a grumpy one-eyed tomcat 🐈 that shows up on her porch.
The biggest compliment I can give here is that I got so wrapped up in the plot and characters that the killer's reveal snuck up on me and I was sitting in my chair bummed that the novel was over. 🧪🔬📚 That is a rare occurrence in my experience as I'm usually sleuthing away tugging at threads to see what will shake loose, but something about this world absorbed me and I loved every minute of it. 🩵
*Now Available*
Thank you to Berkley for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The quirky yet smart cover art drew my eye and I HAD to check this out. I can't readily recall reading a botany centric mystery before and this delivered. The intelligent yet accessible style had me so invested in the characters that my enjoyment had me putting the mysterious elements to the side. I would love to see this become a series, but if not, this was a fantastic read that threw some surprises my way.
Margaret is called a lot of names 'peculiar' by those with tact 'Big Bird' by those without. She likes things a certain way neat, reliable, and correct. Waste not want not. She is precise and fact oriented probably on the spectrum in some regard. She keeps five work outfits, one home outfit for lounging, one for gardening and sticks to the three-minute shower rule. No surplus. She's frugal down to the letter. Margaret is an assistant to a fame chasing botanist at a small university. All eccentricities aside she is stellar at her job. When her boss is found dead, she looks at the body and scene suspecting foul play, poison to be exact. No one takes her concerns serious because the botanist had a preexisting heart problem. Also no one is going to approve funding for a grant when the lead scientist was murdered. Margaret realizes there may be a lot of reasons for the university to be complicit in a coverup. Not on her watch! She makes some unexpected friends including a janitor whose more than meets the eye and a grumpy one-eyed tomcat 🐈 that shows up on her porch.
The biggest compliment I can give here is that I got so wrapped up in the plot and characters that the killer's reveal snuck up on me and I was sitting in my chair bummed that the novel was over. 🧪🔬📚 That is a rare occurrence in my experience as I'm usually sleuthing away tugging at threads to see what will shake loose, but something about this world absorbed me and I loved every minute of it. 🩵
*Now Available*
Thank you to Berkley for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 15, 2025
~Murder-Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, and more!~
4| The Botanist's Assistant was a pleasant and cozy read. I especially enjoyed the lab setting and seeing Margaret's day-to-day life as a research assistant. Margaret's character was delightfully unique, observant, and caring. I loved watching her friendship with Calvin and Joe develop as the story progressed. It allowed me to see a different side of the character than originally presented. While Margaret might have come across as a little aloof at first, I actually found her character quite refreshing and unique. Margaret is precise and diligent, and always makes an effort to look at everything logically. While we do get to see and hear about her emotions, I appreciated that they never overtook her judgment. Her blunt personality definitely took some getting used to, but I overall liked how she always stood true to herself.
It was interesting to learn about Margaret's life, especially since it added to the story and helped explain her actions. Her loyally to Dr. Deaver, scheduling, and note-taking all had reasonable explanations, which helped me understand her quirks. The university politics was a fun obstacle that added a lot to the plot and mystery. I did feel like some of the book felt a bit clunky. Sometimes, the paragraphs would switch back and forth with the timeline without warning; it was quite confusing, and I had to reread sections to understand. I also wasn't a fan of how some things were left unfinished. I'm not sure if this is meant to be a series, but I wish so many things weren't left unresolved. While I enjoyed the science setting, it sometimes felt like an information overload. Overall, this was a nice cozy read! It truly was unlike anything I had ever read. Margaret's character was unique and a wonderful narrator throughout the story. I hope this ends up being a series because I'm interested in reading more about Margaret's story!
*I received this book through Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley as an eARC reader. This will not in any way affect my thoughts or opinions on the book*
Expected publication is November 18, 2025
4| The Botanist's Assistant was a pleasant and cozy read. I especially enjoyed the lab setting and seeing Margaret's day-to-day life as a research assistant. Margaret's character was delightfully unique, observant, and caring. I loved watching her friendship with Calvin and Joe develop as the story progressed. It allowed me to see a different side of the character than originally presented. While Margaret might have come across as a little aloof at first, I actually found her character quite refreshing and unique. Margaret is precise and diligent, and always makes an effort to look at everything logically. While we do get to see and hear about her emotions, I appreciated that they never overtook her judgment. Her blunt personality definitely took some getting used to, but I overall liked how she always stood true to herself.
It was interesting to learn about Margaret's life, especially since it added to the story and helped explain her actions. Her loyally to Dr. Deaver, scheduling, and note-taking all had reasonable explanations, which helped me understand her quirks. The university politics was a fun obstacle that added a lot to the plot and mystery. I did feel like some of the book felt a bit clunky. Sometimes, the paragraphs would switch back and forth with the timeline without warning; it was quite confusing, and I had to reread sections to understand. I also wasn't a fan of how some things were left unfinished. I'm not sure if this is meant to be a series, but I wish so many things weren't left unresolved. While I enjoyed the science setting, it sometimes felt like an information overload. Overall, this was a nice cozy read! It truly was unlike anything I had ever read. Margaret's character was unique and a wonderful narrator throughout the story. I hope this ends up being a series because I'm interested in reading more about Margaret's story!
*I received this book through Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley as an eARC reader. This will not in any way affect my thoughts or opinions on the book*
Expected publication is November 18, 2025
July 19, 2025
Margaret Finch, dubbed “Big Bird” by her fellow lab workers because of her large stature, is having a rough 54th birthday. Her schedule is off by 300 seconds, she oversees a lab with two messy colleagues, there is no cake, and her beloved leader, Dr. Deaver, is found dead in his office. Everyone else seems to think the cause of his death is a heart condition, but Margaret knows it was a poisoning. In fact, it was a poison from of a very specific plant that only a dedicated botanist would recognize. With the help of an unlikely partner, she is determined to find out who poisoned him.
This cozy who-done-it with a neurodivergent protagonist is an enjoyable read and includes some interesting facts from the plant world. Despite some abrupt transitions and unanswered questions about the deceased professor (did he really steal his research ideas?) I found this book to be well-written and paced. For fans of Lessons in Chemistry and the Findlay Donovan series.
Thank you to Berkeley Publishing, NetGalley, and BookBrowse for the advanced copy of this book on exchange for an honest review.
This cozy who-done-it with a neurodivergent protagonist is an enjoyable read and includes some interesting facts from the plant world. Despite some abrupt transitions and unanswered questions about the deceased professor (did he really steal his research ideas?) I found this book to be well-written and paced. For fans of Lessons in Chemistry and the Findlay Donovan series.
Thank you to Berkeley Publishing, NetGalley, and BookBrowse for the advanced copy of this book on exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2026
I really enjoyed reading a research lab-based murder mystery with a mature lab manager turned detective. Some characters were a little archetypal but the best ones were multi-faceted. The Maid meets Lessons in Chemistry is the perfect pitch for this book. I’m processing some of the academic lab life representation. A lot of it was pretty realistic.
November 22, 2025
Wow! I hope this is the start of a new series. I want to be friends with Margaret and be invited to her hilltop cabin for spaghetti with fresh tomato sauce! Well written and filled with scientific bits but done so the average person can read, understand and enjoy. Excellent!
January 19, 2026
People can set their clocks by her because her routine is so rigid, but murder has a way of alarming even the most precise of individuals. I’ve had my eye on Peggy Townsend’s books for a while since I spotted her Alaskan survival thriller, but turns out a neurodiverse university lab assistant solving crime was what got me first.
Margaret is a fifty-something lab assistant to a university lab botanist. She’s well aware people are put off by her tall-framed appearance and her rigid devotion to routine, but this is what makes her good at her job and appreciated by her mentor. Margaret’s birthday is devastating when she’s the one to find her respected mentor dead in his office and no one else cottons to the fact he’s been murdered by a poison that only a fellow botanist would detect. She’s not going to let his death be swept under the rug as ‘a heart condition’ and, with the help of Joe, a new night janitor, she will find answers.
The Botanist’s Assistant got my attention with its colorful cover and the author I wanted to try, but the blurb depicting a neuro-divergent main figure who is an awkward height and sees the world so differently from others really hooked me in. I loved Margaret and enjoyed being along as she detected. Joe Torres, her partner, was something of an enigma, but he didn’t laugh off Margaret as did others. I enjoyed the description of university campus research life and Margaret’s plunge into changing her routine also netting her some friends.
The mystery was one that had me changing my mind more than once and I ended up surprised at who it was. This was a fun and entertaining cozy that I think is standalone, but I wouldn’t mind if Margaret got to solve more mysteries. Cozy mystery fans should give this one a go.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer 1.7.26.
Margaret is a fifty-something lab assistant to a university lab botanist. She’s well aware people are put off by her tall-framed appearance and her rigid devotion to routine, but this is what makes her good at her job and appreciated by her mentor. Margaret’s birthday is devastating when she’s the one to find her respected mentor dead in his office and no one else cottons to the fact he’s been murdered by a poison that only a fellow botanist would detect. She’s not going to let his death be swept under the rug as ‘a heart condition’ and, with the help of Joe, a new night janitor, she will find answers.
The Botanist’s Assistant got my attention with its colorful cover and the author I wanted to try, but the blurb depicting a neuro-divergent main figure who is an awkward height and sees the world so differently from others really hooked me in. I loved Margaret and enjoyed being along as she detected. Joe Torres, her partner, was something of an enigma, but he didn’t laugh off Margaret as did others. I enjoyed the description of university campus research life and Margaret’s plunge into changing her routine also netting her some friends.
The mystery was one that had me changing my mind more than once and I ended up surprised at who it was. This was a fun and entertaining cozy that I think is standalone, but I wouldn’t mind if Margaret got to solve more mysteries. Cozy mystery fans should give this one a go.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer 1.7.26.
October 14, 2025
I enjoyed this book..about a 50-something Lab tech/manager at a mid-level university working for a high-level botanist/cancer researcher. At 6+ feet tall, blondish-gray hair and a “plain” face, Margaret Finch is called Big Bird behind her back but she knows. She’s also rigidly set in her behaviors including 5 blouses…one for each day of the workweek, timed morning routines…same lunch prep, same breakfast, same amounting of time to get from bed to lab. She is likely neurodivergent in that she has a great deal of difficulty overacting with others and misses conversational queues. And, she’s a terrific lab manager and a meticulous experiment runner…she is greatly values by her boss who she respects and reveres. So, Margret is throw for a loop when she finds him dead in his office. Everyone thinks that he died of natural causes (he had a problem heart) or at the very least want the issue settled and closed quickly. The Dean wants NO scandal or anything to jeopardize a huge grant that the botanist’s work was about to receive. However Margaret, ever the observant witness, is convinced he was murdered and sets out to find the culprit and obtain justice. This is a fun whodunit with lots of quirky characters but I feel like the awkward woman whom everyone either dismisses or ignores is getting to be an overused trope. Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC of this book.
June 30, 2025
Margaret Finch, the botanist’s assistant, knows she is “different.” She’s precise, she’s intelligent, and she’s tall. Margaret knows that other employees at the university call her “Big Bird” behind her back.
Her boss, Dr. Deaver, treats her respectfully. In return, Margaret thinks he is one of the greatest scientists and researchers ever. She does her best work for him.
Tragedy strikes. Margaret has one opinion and her superiors and the campus police have another. Although she sometimes uses unconventional methods, Margaret is determined to find out the truth behind what has happened to her boss.
I enjoyed this book so much. Margaret was so likeable and she so frequently shared tidbits of scientific knowledge with the reader. “The Botanist’s Assistant” was educational and informative as well as compelling.
I recommend “The Botanist’s Assistant” by Peggy Townsend. I hope Margaret will have her own series!
Thank you to BookBrowse and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review.
Her boss, Dr. Deaver, treats her respectfully. In return, Margaret thinks he is one of the greatest scientists and researchers ever. She does her best work for him.
Tragedy strikes. Margaret has one opinion and her superiors and the campus police have another. Although she sometimes uses unconventional methods, Margaret is determined to find out the truth behind what has happened to her boss.
I enjoyed this book so much. Margaret was so likeable and she so frequently shared tidbits of scientific knowledge with the reader. “The Botanist’s Assistant” was educational and informative as well as compelling.
I recommend “The Botanist’s Assistant” by Peggy Townsend. I hope Margaret will have her own series!
Thank you to BookBrowse and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review.
December 4, 2025
"The Botanist's Assistant" is a well-crafted mystery novel that combines botanical science, grief, and redemption into a genuinely engaging story. Peggy Townsend has created something that works both as a page-turner and as a character study of someone learning that obsessive control cannot protect you from life's messiness.
The book's greatest strength is its protagonist, Margaret Finch, a meticulously ordered research assistant who has built her entire life around routine, planning, and minimizing waste. Everything from her clothing (five nature-themed blouses, one for each workday) to her meals (always spaghetti on Sundays) operates on a predictable schedule. She is tall, plain, unmarried, and largely invisible to the world around her. But she is also brilliant, observant, and carries a deep secret that has shaped her entire adult life.
Margaret caused a terrible accident years ago, one that hurt people around her, and she has spent the last thirty-four years trying to atone through perfectionism, control, and detailed record-keeping in daily notebooks. When her beloved boss Dr. Jonathan Deaver dies, Margaret begins to suspect it is not the heart attack the authorities claim, it is murder.<
What makes Margaret work as a character is that she is not portrayed as simply "quirky" or "cute-in-her-weirdness." Her behaviors are rooted in real trauma. Her inability to tolerate disorder in the lab isn't charming, it is compulsive. Her isolation isn't a choice she is entirely happy with, it is a defense mechanism. Townsend treats Margaret with compassion and complexity rather than as a punchline.
The detective work that unfolds is scientific. Margaret examines carbon-14 residue to track lab contamination, interviews people carefully, discovers suspicious gardens, and pieces together a timeline. This is not a cozy mystery where everyone is bumbling around randomly, Margaret approaches investigation the way she approaches everything else: with rigorous attention to detail and careful documentation.
The mystery elements are satisfying. The plot unfolds logically, with clues that a reader can piece together.
More importantly, the book is about the moral complexity of justice. When Margaret finds evidence that could prove murder, she must choose between preserving the crime scene for investigators or cleaning the contamination that violates her core sense of order. She struggles with this choice in a way that feels genuine.
The secondary characters feel real. Calvin, the anxious postdoc, is drawn with humor but also genuine sympathy. Joe, the custodian with a scarred face who shows Margaret kindness when she is in crisis, becomes an important emotional anchor. These characters have their own interior lives rather than existing solely to move Margaret's plot forward.
The book takes a while to get going. The first several chapters are mostly setup and character establishment. While this is necessary to understand Margaret and her world, some readers may find the pacing slow in the early section.
Additionally, the final resolution involves a revelation that shifts the perspective somewhat, and while it is handled well, some readers may find it slightly less satisfying than a more straightforward "murderer caught" ending. The book is more interested in justice and truth than in neat closure.
What elevates this beyond a simple mystery is its exploration of isolation, control, and the possibility of human connection. Margaret has spent decades trying to prevent chaos through perfectionism and avoidance. Through the investigation and through her growing connection with other people- Joe, Rachel Sterling, even the difficult people in the lab, she begins to learn that you cannot control life and that connection requires risk.
The title itself "The Botanist's Assistant" suggests Margaret's role: she has always been in service to someone else's genius, happy to stay invisible if the work gets done. Part of her journey involves learning her own value.
Who Should Read This
This book is for readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries over plot-heavy thrillers.
It is for people who like protagonists who are flawed, awkward, and deeply human rather than heroic or conventionally likeable.
It is for anyone interested in how orderly people process chaos, or how perfectionism can be both a strength and a prison.
My rating:4/5 star
The book's greatest strength is its protagonist, Margaret Finch, a meticulously ordered research assistant who has built her entire life around routine, planning, and minimizing waste. Everything from her clothing (five nature-themed blouses, one for each workday) to her meals (always spaghetti on Sundays) operates on a predictable schedule. She is tall, plain, unmarried, and largely invisible to the world around her. But she is also brilliant, observant, and carries a deep secret that has shaped her entire adult life.
Margaret caused a terrible accident years ago, one that hurt people around her, and she has spent the last thirty-four years trying to atone through perfectionism, control, and detailed record-keeping in daily notebooks. When her beloved boss Dr. Jonathan Deaver dies, Margaret begins to suspect it is not the heart attack the authorities claim, it is murder.<
What makes Margaret work as a character is that she is not portrayed as simply "quirky" or "cute-in-her-weirdness." Her behaviors are rooted in real trauma. Her inability to tolerate disorder in the lab isn't charming, it is compulsive. Her isolation isn't a choice she is entirely happy with, it is a defense mechanism. Townsend treats Margaret with compassion and complexity rather than as a punchline.
The detective work that unfolds is scientific. Margaret examines carbon-14 residue to track lab contamination, interviews people carefully, discovers suspicious gardens, and pieces together a timeline. This is not a cozy mystery where everyone is bumbling around randomly, Margaret approaches investigation the way she approaches everything else: with rigorous attention to detail and careful documentation.
The mystery elements are satisfying. The plot unfolds logically, with clues that a reader can piece together.
More importantly, the book is about the moral complexity of justice. When Margaret finds evidence that could prove murder, she must choose between preserving the crime scene for investigators or cleaning the contamination that violates her core sense of order. She struggles with this choice in a way that feels genuine.
The secondary characters feel real. Calvin, the anxious postdoc, is drawn with humor but also genuine sympathy. Joe, the custodian with a scarred face who shows Margaret kindness when she is in crisis, becomes an important emotional anchor. These characters have their own interior lives rather than existing solely to move Margaret's plot forward.
The book takes a while to get going. The first several chapters are mostly setup and character establishment. While this is necessary to understand Margaret and her world, some readers may find the pacing slow in the early section.
Additionally, the final resolution involves a revelation that shifts the perspective somewhat, and while it is handled well, some readers may find it slightly less satisfying than a more straightforward "murderer caught" ending. The book is more interested in justice and truth than in neat closure.
What elevates this beyond a simple mystery is its exploration of isolation, control, and the possibility of human connection. Margaret has spent decades trying to prevent chaos through perfectionism and avoidance. Through the investigation and through her growing connection with other people- Joe, Rachel Sterling, even the difficult people in the lab, she begins to learn that you cannot control life and that connection requires risk.
The title itself "The Botanist's Assistant" suggests Margaret's role: she has always been in service to someone else's genius, happy to stay invisible if the work gets done. Part of her journey involves learning her own value.
Who Should Read This
This book is for readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries over plot-heavy thrillers.
It is for people who like protagonists who are flawed, awkward, and deeply human rather than heroic or conventionally likeable.
It is for anyone interested in how orderly people process chaos, or how perfectionism can be both a strength and a prison.
My rating:4/5 star
December 18, 2025
Margaret is a very serious research assistant (definitely neurodivergent). She's 6-feet tall, big-boned, and is a no-nonsense researcher (picture Gwendoline Christie but with the personality of Dr. Temperance Brennan).
+ 
When her boss, Dr. Deaver, dies on her birthday under mysterious circumstances (she refuses to believe that he died of a heart attack), she takes it upon herself to investigate his death with the help of the new janitor, Joe.
This was a light and enjoyable mystery. The mystery aspect itself was only ok, but I did like the characters and loved that story ended with Margaret having made new friends who accept her as she is 💛.
**I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
*** #24 of my 2025 Popsugar Reading Challenge - A book with a happily single woman protagonist ***
+ When her boss, Dr. Deaver, dies on her birthday under mysterious circumstances (she refuses to believe that he died of a heart attack), she takes it upon herself to investigate his death with the help of the new janitor, Joe.
This was a light and enjoyable mystery. The mystery aspect itself was only ok, but I did like the characters and loved that story ended with Margaret having made new friends who accept her as she is 💛.
**I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
*** #24 of my 2025 Popsugar Reading Challenge - A book with a happily single woman protagonist ***
November 16, 2025
Synopsis: Margaret Finch has many eccentricities, but they make her a perfect fit for her meticulous job as a botanist’s research assistant. Her carefully crafted life, scheduled down to the minute, is thrown off course when her boss is found murdered in his office. The police want to write it off as a natural death, but Margaret knows something more is going on.
Thoughts: This is a riveting murder mystery with an engaging cast of quirky characters and an interesting setting. If you enjoy murder mysteries that area but on hr cozier side but still have high stakes, you’ll definitely enjoy this book! Margaret is such a unique character and makes for a fantastic amateur detective. I also really enjoyed the side characters such as the janitor and the other lab assistant’s. The author really nailed the academia setting and the pressures faced by researchers. While currently a standalone, I would love to see Margaret lead her own series! A note on the audio: The narration was really well done and brought to life the quirky and lovable characters.
Read this if you like:
🪴 cozy mystery
🪴 academia setting
🪴 plants
🪴 quirky characters
Thoughts: This is a riveting murder mystery with an engaging cast of quirky characters and an interesting setting. If you enjoy murder mysteries that area but on hr cozier side but still have high stakes, you’ll definitely enjoy this book! Margaret is such a unique character and makes for a fantastic amateur detective. I also really enjoyed the side characters such as the janitor and the other lab assistant’s. The author really nailed the academia setting and the pressures faced by researchers. While currently a standalone, I would love to see Margaret lead her own series! A note on the audio: The narration was really well done and brought to life the quirky and lovable characters.
Read this if you like:
🪴 cozy mystery
🪴 academia setting
🪴 plants
🪴 quirky characters
October 3, 2025
It has taken me a while to get through this one, a blah read for me (and too many personal life issues!!!). I appreciate the education about poison plants and was truly surprised who the murderer was. Thank you for the lack of vulgar language, no sex escapades or drug use. So must say it was a pleasant read from that standpoint. Best of luck, Peggy Townsend with all your future writing endeavors!
December 18, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
The Botanist’s Assistant is a quiet, cozy mystery with a refreshingly unconventional heroine and a strong sense of place. Margaret Finch is socially awkward, methodical, and deeply observant, and I found her both endearing and believable. Her attention to detail and rigid routines made her a fascinating lens through which to view the story, especially as her orderly world begins to unravel.
I especially loved the laboratory and academic setting. As someone who has worked in a laboratory environment for over 20 years, the details rang true and added an extra layer of enjoyment for me. The botanical elements and campus atmosphere created a unique backdrop that felt authentic and thoughtfully rendered.
The story leans more toward being character-driven than plot-heavy, with a slower, more contemplative pace. The supporting cast was quirky and likable, and I enjoyed watching relationships develop organically over the course of the investigation.
That said, the mystery itself felt a bit understated. While engaging, the stakes never fully escalated for me, and parts of the middle dragged slightly. I also would have liked more depth and tension as the story approached its conclusion.
Overall, The Botanist’s Assistant is a charming and comforting read with a strong protagonist and a gentle mystery at its core. I’d recommend it to fans of cozy mysteries who enjoy character-focused stories, academic settings, and a slower burn rather than high-intensity suspense.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Botanist’s Assistant is a quiet, cozy mystery with a refreshingly unconventional heroine and a strong sense of place. Margaret Finch is socially awkward, methodical, and deeply observant, and I found her both endearing and believable. Her attention to detail and rigid routines made her a fascinating lens through which to view the story, especially as her orderly world begins to unravel.
I especially loved the laboratory and academic setting. As someone who has worked in a laboratory environment for over 20 years, the details rang true and added an extra layer of enjoyment for me. The botanical elements and campus atmosphere created a unique backdrop that felt authentic and thoughtfully rendered.
The story leans more toward being character-driven than plot-heavy, with a slower, more contemplative pace. The supporting cast was quirky and likable, and I enjoyed watching relationships develop organically over the course of the investigation.
That said, the mystery itself felt a bit understated. While engaging, the stakes never fully escalated for me, and parts of the middle dragged slightly. I also would have liked more depth and tension as the story approached its conclusion.
Overall, The Botanist’s Assistant is a charming and comforting read with a strong protagonist and a gentle mystery at its core. I’d recommend it to fans of cozy mysteries who enjoy character-focused stories, academic settings, and a slower burn rather than high-intensity suspense.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 10, 2026
This book is so funny if you are in any degree acquainted with university administration. When I was reading it I was struck by how realistic the details were, no stretch of imagination required. This was a somewhat cosy and low-stakes murder mystery with lots to learn about poisonous plants and correct lab procedures.
Margaret is a fifty-four-year old research assistant in a lab under a university's biological sciences department. She was trained in botany and got her Masters but corruption in her previous job killed her chances at career advancement, so it was only by luck and her boss's kindness that she could work in a lab again. It also does not help that she is neurodivergent and not conventionally attractive, so people tend to be put off by her or underestimate her abilities. Her boss is a charismatic and popular researcher and their lab is on the brink of a breakthrough for cancer research. Or at least, until he is found dead in his office.
Immediately, the dean is blackmailing her to force her to complete a fraudulent application for a huge grant, as well as trying to cover up the death by insisting that it was heart problems. Margaret knows plants, and she knows that he was poisoned. By who, though? As she investigates, putting her own life and livelihood on the line, she learns that the man she revered was more complex than he seemed.
Margaret is a fifty-four-year old research assistant in a lab under a university's biological sciences department. She was trained in botany and got her Masters but corruption in her previous job killed her chances at career advancement, so it was only by luck and her boss's kindness that she could work in a lab again. It also does not help that she is neurodivergent and not conventionally attractive, so people tend to be put off by her or underestimate her abilities. Her boss is a charismatic and popular researcher and their lab is on the brink of a breakthrough for cancer research. Or at least, until he is found dead in his office.
Immediately, the dean is blackmailing her to force her to complete a fraudulent application for a huge grant, as well as trying to cover up the death by insisting that it was heart problems. Margaret knows plants, and she knows that he was poisoned. By who, though? As she investigates, putting her own life and livelihood on the line, she learns that the man she revered was more complex than he seemed.
January 8, 2026
I think the reviewer who called this a good mix of The Maid and Lessons in Chemistry was spot on. This is told in third person, and it's about Margaret, a research assistant in a university lab that handles dangerous South American plants in a project to develop a new cancer treatment. Margaret is tall, solitary, and socially awkward. When she finds her charismatic boss and head researcher dead in his office. she notices details about the body that indicate a plant-based poison (about which she knows a lot, due to her work in the lab) and wants to share them with the police, who totally dismiss her, because sexism, that's why. Margaret is determined to find out what happened to Dr. Deaver, and finally finds an ally in the science building's new custodian. This is heartwarming without being too cuddly, and I enjoyed it. I kind of don't want this to be a series because it stands so well on its own. I would read another by this author.
January 14, 2026
3.5 stars. If Nita Prose’s The Maid is set in a botany lab, it would probably end up being pretty close to this. Neurodivergent FMC, a motley crew of characters to support her and an interesting murder make for a quick read.
Margaret Finch is a research assistant who is meticulous and obsessive. When her boss dies under mysterious circumstances she decides she’s the only one who can investigate it since no one else seems to miss him. However, who is going to listen to a lowly research assistant?
I loved Margaret and her relationship with Joe made me all warm and fuzzy. I do wish we got to know more of the side characters and that the villains weren’t so mustache twirly but it’s an easy read and has potential for more books to come
Margaret Finch is a research assistant who is meticulous and obsessive. When her boss dies under mysterious circumstances she decides she’s the only one who can investigate it since no one else seems to miss him. However, who is going to listen to a lowly research assistant?
I loved Margaret and her relationship with Joe made me all warm and fuzzy. I do wish we got to know more of the side characters and that the villains weren’t so mustache twirly but it’s an easy read and has potential for more books to come
January 12, 2026
First book club book for 2026! I didn’t love this one I’ll be honest. It was super slow in the beginning, and sort of picked up but also not really. I sort of figured out who did it by the middle but the author does a good job of switching it up and keeping you wondering. It was a fairly easy read, but it does have a lot of science talk that gets kind of boring. Overall, didn’t hate it, didn’t love it.
December 21, 2025
Is this a cozy mystery, is that what I just read?
Firstly, thank you to Peggy Townsend and Penguin Random House for this copy of The Botanists Assistant in an exchange for a fair review.
This was a well wrapped up little mystery book. If you have a green thumb and grew up watching Murder She Wrote, this is the book for you.
The characters were a bit stereotypical and the mystery was very sit-com but I enjoyed this.
Follow Margaret as she unravels the mystery of who killed her boss and mentor, whom she has a strong affection for, not romantically. My heart went out to the protagonist. As you discover snippets of her past throughout the story I could not help but feel sympathy for her and want her to be right about all of her hypothesis.
It all wraps up in a very Scooby Doo kind of way, but even though I was never clutching my pearls, I felt the story move rather well. A good little weekend mystery for a rainy day and some hot tea.
I feel old after writing this review.
Am I old? blech
Firstly, thank you to Peggy Townsend and Penguin Random House for this copy of The Botanists Assistant in an exchange for a fair review.
This was a well wrapped up little mystery book. If you have a green thumb and grew up watching Murder She Wrote, this is the book for you.
The characters were a bit stereotypical and the mystery was very sit-com but I enjoyed this.
Follow Margaret as she unravels the mystery of who killed her boss and mentor, whom she has a strong affection for, not romantically. My heart went out to the protagonist. As you discover snippets of her past throughout the story I could not help but feel sympathy for her and want her to be right about all of her hypothesis.
It all wraps up in a very Scooby Doo kind of way, but even though I was never clutching my pearls, I felt the story move rather well. A good little weekend mystery for a rainy day and some hot tea.
I feel old after writing this review.
Am I old? blech
January 5, 2026
Quirky and fun!
January 8, 2026
3.5 stars.
November 24, 2025
My Rating - 3.5/5
A cozy mystery rooted in toxicology and botany, with a neurodivergent M.C. who uses her detail-oriented eye to solve the mystery behind the death of her boss whose death is initially suspected to be because of natural causes.
Margaret Finch is a likeable MC, and I especially enjoyed reading about her home life- quite productive and peaceful. She has an exaggerated sense of loyalty towards her job and her boss, almost to the point of turning a blind eye to the flaws of both. She does however, change her mind when faced with evidence - and that signifies a truly scientifically-oriented mindset.
It's also heart-warming to read along the process as she develops deeper friendships with a few co-workers, and an adorable stray (I take care of a few strays, so this was especially close to my heart). Her strict self-denial about being lonely, but slowly accepting it and changing it, is an emotionally rich journey, especially in light of her shocking past revealed gradually throughout the story.
I also loved that her actions also catalyzed positive changes in the lives of two other people- Joe and Calvin.
The book isn't afraid to get into the nitty-gritty details that make up the big picture of a scientific community, and completely geeks out with fascinating botanical/biological facts related to toxicology ( so glad I've an adequate knowledge of Forensics). I love books like this - they help stimulate the creative as well as the scientific loci of my brain.
There's a long villainous, exposition-filled monologue at the end, that could've been slightly better constructed; and the interpersonal connections that Margaret slowly formed with the colourful characters might've been more compelling with more detailed interactions.
Recommended if you like - informal murder investigations, scientific academia, neurodivergent characters, attention to detail, cozy mystery, botany, forensics, stray pets
A cozy mystery rooted in toxicology and botany, with a neurodivergent M.C. who uses her detail-oriented eye to solve the mystery behind the death of her boss whose death is initially suspected to be because of natural causes.
Margaret Finch is a likeable MC, and I especially enjoyed reading about her home life- quite productive and peaceful. She has an exaggerated sense of loyalty towards her job and her boss, almost to the point of turning a blind eye to the flaws of both. She does however, change her mind when faced with evidence - and that signifies a truly scientifically-oriented mindset.
It's also heart-warming to read along the process as she develops deeper friendships with a few co-workers, and an adorable stray (I take care of a few strays, so this was especially close to my heart). Her strict self-denial about being lonely, but slowly accepting it and changing it, is an emotionally rich journey, especially in light of her shocking past revealed gradually throughout the story.
I also loved that her actions also catalyzed positive changes in the lives of two other people- Joe and Calvin.
The book isn't afraid to get into the nitty-gritty details that make up the big picture of a scientific community, and completely geeks out with fascinating botanical/biological facts related to toxicology ( so glad I've an adequate knowledge of Forensics). I love books like this - they help stimulate the creative as well as the scientific loci of my brain.
There's a long villainous, exposition-filled monologue at the end, that could've been slightly better constructed; and the interpersonal connections that Margaret slowly formed with the colourful characters might've been more compelling with more detailed interactions.
Recommended if you like - informal murder investigations, scientific academia, neurodivergent characters, attention to detail, cozy mystery, botany, forensics, stray pets
Read
November 30, 2025Fans of Freida McFadden will enjoy this.
September 19, 2025
United States Publication: November 18, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.
Margaret Finch lives a very ordered life. She's fifty-four years old and working as a botany research assistant for one of the most brilliant botanists she has ever known. In fact, they are working on a groundbreaking formula that they hope will be a game-changer in the fight against cancer. Every day, Margaret has a strict routine she adheres to, but one day that routine gets upended when she finds her boss dead in his office. To her observant eye, death wasn't natural but induced by a poisonous plant. A couple of the problems with Margaret's observation are that nobody believes her, and some of those people are accusing her of hysteria. (Cue the rage of all women everywhere for the word "hysteria.")
Unwilling to be silenced or shut down, Margaret, along with a new friend, decides to investigate the suspected homicide herself. She's determined to bring justice to her boss and further the work they were doing toward the fight against cancer. But the problem with Margaret's investigation is that she's not a natural detective, and she could very well be the next death in the lab.
Margaret is a quirky character; I suspect she's neurospicy, and that just makes her even more interesting. Townsend does a thorough job of casting suspicion on several characters and keeping Margaret, and perhaps the reader (or some readers), in the dark until the exact moment she wants both her character and her reader to know who the murderer is. I enjoyed this title from Townsend; it was a fun and fast read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.
Margaret Finch lives a very ordered life. She's fifty-four years old and working as a botany research assistant for one of the most brilliant botanists she has ever known. In fact, they are working on a groundbreaking formula that they hope will be a game-changer in the fight against cancer. Every day, Margaret has a strict routine she adheres to, but one day that routine gets upended when she finds her boss dead in his office. To her observant eye, death wasn't natural but induced by a poisonous plant. A couple of the problems with Margaret's observation are that nobody believes her, and some of those people are accusing her of hysteria. (Cue the rage of all women everywhere for the word "hysteria.")
Unwilling to be silenced or shut down, Margaret, along with a new friend, decides to investigate the suspected homicide herself. She's determined to bring justice to her boss and further the work they were doing toward the fight against cancer. But the problem with Margaret's investigation is that she's not a natural detective, and she could very well be the next death in the lab.
Margaret is a quirky character; I suspect she's neurospicy, and that just makes her even more interesting. Townsend does a thorough job of casting suspicion on several characters and keeping Margaret, and perhaps the reader (or some readers), in the dark until the exact moment she wants both her character and her reader to know who the murderer is. I enjoyed this title from Townsend; it was a fun and fast read.
November 19, 2025
Thank you @berkleypub for the free book and thank you @prhaudio for the #gifted listening copy of The Botanist’s Assistant! #PRHAudioPartner #PRHAInfluencer #BerkleyBookstagram #BerkleyIG #berkley #berkleypub
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭’𝐬 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐏𝐞𝐠𝐠𝐲 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐜𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐰𝐦𝐚𝐧
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝟰.𝟱★ (𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗨𝗽!)
This book was an absolute delight! I adored the characters in this book and found Margaret to be such a lovable and quirky character. This book follows Margaret as she investigates the death of her boss, who authorities claim died of natural causes. However, Margaret believes there might be something more going on, and plays the role of detective with the help of a recently hired custodian, Joe. I adored how Margaret grew throughout this book and gained confidence in herself. While this book was a cozy mystery with a great cast of characters, my favorite part was the character growth. It was such a heartwarming read!
🧪A Cozy & Uplifting Mystery
🌱Women in STEM
🧪Amateur Sleuth
🌱Lovable & Quirky Characters
🧪University Setting
🎧Narrated by Rebecca Lowman, I loved listening to her narrate this heartwarming story! There was just something so perfect about her ability to perfectly capture Margaret and the other characters. I had such an amazing time listening to Lowman bring these characters to life and I cannot recommend this one on audio enough! Lowman gave a 5★ performance!
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭’𝐬 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐏𝐞𝐠𝐠𝐲 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐜𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐰𝐦𝐚𝐧
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝟰.𝟱★ (𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗨𝗽!)
This book was an absolute delight! I adored the characters in this book and found Margaret to be such a lovable and quirky character. This book follows Margaret as she investigates the death of her boss, who authorities claim died of natural causes. However, Margaret believes there might be something more going on, and plays the role of detective with the help of a recently hired custodian, Joe. I adored how Margaret grew throughout this book and gained confidence in herself. While this book was a cozy mystery with a great cast of characters, my favorite part was the character growth. It was such a heartwarming read!
🧪A Cozy & Uplifting Mystery
🌱Women in STEM
🧪Amateur Sleuth
🌱Lovable & Quirky Characters
🧪University Setting
🎧Narrated by Rebecca Lowman, I loved listening to her narrate this heartwarming story! There was just something so perfect about her ability to perfectly capture Margaret and the other characters. I had such an amazing time listening to Lowman bring these characters to life and I cannot recommend this one on audio enough! Lowman gave a 5★ performance!
December 11, 2025
Margaret Finch is a tall, big-boned, and socially awkward research assistant for a small university. Set in her ways, but extremely diligent and efficient at her job, she is especially loyal to her supervisor, Dr. Jonathan Deaver, who gave her a chance when everyone else failed her. So when he turns up dead in the lab one morning and the police working the case are oblivious to the obvious clues she spots, she decides to find the killer herself.
I love slightly weird, awkward, but extremely smart and loyal characters like Margaret. This cozy mystery was an easy, relaxing read—perfect for a cold, lazy weekend.
Thanks for the free book, @PeggyTownsendWriter and #Berkley. #BerkleyPartner #BerkleyBookstagram
I love slightly weird, awkward, but extremely smart and loyal characters like Margaret. This cozy mystery was an easy, relaxing read—perfect for a cold, lazy weekend.
Thanks for the free book, @PeggyTownsendWriter and #Berkley. #BerkleyPartner #BerkleyBookstagram
November 15, 2025
The Botanist Assistant by Peggy Townsend has my favorite type of main character. Margaret was not young, not pretty and socially inept. What she was, extremely intelligent, self reliant and curious. Margaret also grew fabulous plants in her garden and worked for a botanist as a research assistant. She has worked and was able to work independently following the death of the Botanist. Unfortunately most everyone sees the first description as compared to her positive traits.
Margaret discovers Dr. Jonathan Deaver had died in his office. This starts her off on a journey to discover what happened. Of course the local police do not believe what she thinks she has discovered. Her bosses are trying to undercut her and get rid of her, so they can take the glory.
With the help of Joe Torres, the newly hired night janitor and other quirky characters (including Tom, the stray cat), Margaret sets out to discover the truth about the murder. There are some interesting twists and turns, some unexpected help and a great reveal to keep the book moving right along.
I read this book in one sitting (except for the bathroom and feeding the animals including myself). I was drawn into the way the book presented the information especially through Margaret’s eyes. The Botanist Assistant by Peggy Townsend is a great read
Margaret discovers Dr. Jonathan Deaver had died in his office. This starts her off on a journey to discover what happened. Of course the local police do not believe what she thinks she has discovered. Her bosses are trying to undercut her and get rid of her, so they can take the glory.
With the help of Joe Torres, the newly hired night janitor and other quirky characters (including Tom, the stray cat), Margaret sets out to discover the truth about the murder. There are some interesting twists and turns, some unexpected help and a great reveal to keep the book moving right along.
I read this book in one sitting (except for the bathroom and feeding the animals including myself). I was drawn into the way the book presented the information especially through Margaret’s eyes. The Botanist Assistant by Peggy Townsend is a great read
November 14, 2025
▪️Read this if you like:
▫️cozy murder mysteries with short chapters
▫️a lovable main character
▫️Lessons in Chemistry
———
3.5⭐️ This was a fun one!
I always thinks it’s weird when I refer to a murder mystery as “cozy”, but that’s exactly what this was. Margaret was such a lovable main character, and her oddities only added to her charm. I found her to be surprisingly (yet unintentionally) funny, and her dry and to-the-point demeanor had me laughing out loud at points. She also fought for herself in the boys club environment she was working in, which I loved.
As for the murder mystery, I was intrigued. The book kicks off with the action, and the pace was steady throughout. I felt just as unsure about everything as Margaret did, and it was interesting to see where her suspicions took her. Aside from Joe, none of the characters seemed trustworthy to me, which only added to the suspense. I didn’t see some of the twists coming, especially the final reveal. It felt like we’re left with some unresolved things at the end of the book, and the plot meandered at times with some added science information, but this was overall enjoyable.
I can’t tell if the ending hints at a second book, but I’d definitely be interested in one.
Thank you Berkley for the free copy!
▫️cozy murder mysteries with short chapters
▫️a lovable main character
▫️Lessons in Chemistry
———
3.5⭐️ This was a fun one!
I always thinks it’s weird when I refer to a murder mystery as “cozy”, but that’s exactly what this was. Margaret was such a lovable main character, and her oddities only added to her charm. I found her to be surprisingly (yet unintentionally) funny, and her dry and to-the-point demeanor had me laughing out loud at points. She also fought for herself in the boys club environment she was working in, which I loved.
As for the murder mystery, I was intrigued. The book kicks off with the action, and the pace was steady throughout. I felt just as unsure about everything as Margaret did, and it was interesting to see where her suspicions took her. Aside from Joe, none of the characters seemed trustworthy to me, which only added to the suspense. I didn’t see some of the twists coming, especially the final reveal. It felt like we’re left with some unresolved things at the end of the book, and the plot meandered at times with some added science information, but this was overall enjoyable.
I can’t tell if the ending hints at a second book, but I’d definitely be interested in one.
Thank you Berkley for the free copy!
November 13, 2025
Absolutely loved this cozy mystery set in an academic botany lab where the dean dies under mysterious circumstances and only 54 year old lab assistant, Margaret suspects he may have been poisoned. With no one on her side, set in her ways, methodical Margaret investigates, befriending the former journalist turned janitor along the way. This was a great woman in STEM proving herself sort of story and would be perfect for fans of Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. I really enjoy older women sleuth stories and there have been some great ones this year! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
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