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Quintus Huntley: Botany
When his sole poetry collection is found in the case of a gruesomely murdered violinist, the police think Huntley did it. But he’s innocent, and the best way to prove it is to find the killer himself.
Variously assisted by Detective Everest, PR writer Aphra Massey and octogenarian computer hacker Henrikson, Huntley tries to solve a series of deaths (and one coma) that result from plant poisonings. While he has no idea what he’s doing, his ability to see stories, identify motives and predict endings enables him to zero in on the “weed killer”. For Huntley, all the answers are in the stanzas.
But there are bigger pieces in play, including a new subdivision being built on Perth’s southern wetlands, drug deals aplenty, a police force that looks out for themselves, a politician intent on making WA a separate country, and Huntley’s loose-cannon teenage daughter Verity. Can Huntley put all the pieces together to find the killer before the killer finds him?
Variously assisted by Detective Everest, PR writer Aphra Massey and octogenarian computer hacker Henrikson, Huntley tries to solve a series of deaths (and one coma) that result from plant poisonings. While he has no idea what he’s doing, his ability to see stories, identify motives and predict endings enables him to zero in on the “weed killer”. For Huntley, all the answers are in the stanzas.
But there are bigger pieces in play, including a new subdivision being built on Perth’s southern wetlands, drug deals aplenty, a police force that looks out for themselves, a politician intent on making WA a separate country, and Huntley’s loose-cannon teenage daughter Verity. Can Huntley put all the pieces together to find the killer before the killer finds him?
460 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 13, 2025
About the author
Royce Leville
3 books40 followersRoyce Leville is the author of 'The Book of Names.' One story from the collection, 'Mikelis,' was made into a short film starring James Cosmo. The book won the Australia/New Zealand category in the 2015 IPPYs. His debut novel, 'A Little Leg Work,' won the fiction category and finished runner-up in the grand prize at the 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 14, 2026
Thank you Library Thing for the free copy. It was okay but there were some things that bothered me enough to not rate it higher. I'm not sure how the detectives got, or kept their jobs. The entire investigation was a joke. Huntley was interesting and kept me reading but he wasn't much better at crime solving. I would have liked to have had some more character development.
February 16, 2026
An interestingly original dark-cozy crime story with some innovative murder weapons.
I say dark-cozy because it's definitely grittier than a cozy mystery, while also less gruesome than a noir thriller.
Quintus is a washed-up poet in Perth, who ends up implicated in the murder of a young pianist through his only successful publication. Via different routes, he meets Aphra, a brilliant political writer silently struggling with some deep trauma, and Everest, a rock star turned police investigator, who carries her own burden of unresolved sorrows.
Frankly, none of them are very likable despite their relatable struggles. But somehow, their abrasive nature doesn't become too off-putting. Partly I think, thanks to the skillful use of varying the point of views. Seriously, we even get a few secondary characters' points of view and it never gets confusing. I say kudos just for keeping the story straight with that bold choice!
What did rather annoy me though, was to see yet another has-been alcoholic amateur sleuth. It's been done so many times, it's a tad too cliche for me. And I feel like the story would have worked just fine with a more sober, less "woe-is-me" Quintus. Although to be fair, it makes the bond with Everest more believable since she has her own addiction, that one being plot-relevant and more original. I do feel like all three main characters are set to grow nicely in the next books. I hope Henrickson becomes a more permanent member of the sleuthing team too. I think he has the potential to be more than just useful minor character.
The crimes are neat variations of the death by poison types. I have no idea how realistic any of them are but as an average reader, they sound plausible enough to not distract from the story and intriguing enough to want to keep reading.
The book paints Perth and Western Australia in a rather depressingly corrupt light. That serves the story well but it sometimes feels a bit one-dimensional. Maybe Australian readers familiar with the locations will pick up more nuances in the depictions. And maybe we will get to see some more positive aspects of the place and its people in the next books.
All in all, it's a good introduction book that sets the stage for, hopefully, a new crime series.
I say dark-cozy because it's definitely grittier than a cozy mystery, while also less gruesome than a noir thriller.
Quintus is a washed-up poet in Perth, who ends up implicated in the murder of a young pianist through his only successful publication. Via different routes, he meets Aphra, a brilliant political writer silently struggling with some deep trauma, and Everest, a rock star turned police investigator, who carries her own burden of unresolved sorrows.
Frankly, none of them are very likable despite their relatable struggles. But somehow, their abrasive nature doesn't become too off-putting. Partly I think, thanks to the skillful use of varying the point of views. Seriously, we even get a few secondary characters' points of view and it never gets confusing. I say kudos just for keeping the story straight with that bold choice!
What did rather annoy me though, was to see yet another has-been alcoholic amateur sleuth. It's been done so many times, it's a tad too cliche for me. And I feel like the story would have worked just fine with a more sober, less "woe-is-me" Quintus. Although to be fair, it makes the bond with Everest more believable since she has her own addiction, that one being plot-relevant and more original. I do feel like all three main characters are set to grow nicely in the next books. I hope Henrickson becomes a more permanent member of the sleuthing team too. I think he has the potential to be more than just useful minor character.
The crimes are neat variations of the death by poison types. I have no idea how realistic any of them are but as an average reader, they sound plausible enough to not distract from the story and intriguing enough to want to keep reading.
The book paints Perth and Western Australia in a rather depressingly corrupt light. That serves the story well but it sometimes feels a bit one-dimensional. Maybe Australian readers familiar with the locations will pick up more nuances in the depictions. And maybe we will get to see some more positive aspects of the place and its people in the next books.
All in all, it's a good introduction book that sets the stage for, hopefully, a new crime series.
April 13, 2026
I found Quintus Huntley: Botany by Royce Leville* to be a unique and engaging mystery with a creative twist. From the start, the idea of a poet becoming the main suspect in a murder case caught my attention. It’s not the usual detective story, and that’s what made it interesting for me.
What I liked most was the character of Quintus Huntley. He is not a trained investigator, yet he tries to solve the case using his understanding of stories and human behavior. His connection to poetry and how he looks for clues in stanzas felt fresh and different. It made the investigation feel more thoughtful rather than just action-driven.
The plot is quite layered, with multiple elements like plant poisonings, politics, crime, and personal struggles all coming together. At times, it felt a bit complex, but it also kept me curious about how everything would connect in the end. The idea of a “weed killer” using plant-based methods added an interesting and slightly dark touch to the story.
I also enjoyed the supporting characters. Each one brings something different to the story, whether it’s help, tension, or even humor. Huntley’s relationship with his daughter added a personal side that balanced the mystery.
The writing style is simple and easy to follow, even with so many things happening. This made the book a smooth read overall.
Overall, I think this book is a good choice for readers who enjoy mystery with a creative and slightly unusual approach. It’s engaging, different, and keeps you guessing while also offering something more than a typical crime story.
What I liked most was the character of Quintus Huntley. He is not a trained investigator, yet he tries to solve the case using his understanding of stories and human behavior. His connection to poetry and how he looks for clues in stanzas felt fresh and different. It made the investigation feel more thoughtful rather than just action-driven.
The plot is quite layered, with multiple elements like plant poisonings, politics, crime, and personal struggles all coming together. At times, it felt a bit complex, but it also kept me curious about how everything would connect in the end. The idea of a “weed killer” using plant-based methods added an interesting and slightly dark touch to the story.
I also enjoyed the supporting characters. Each one brings something different to the story, whether it’s help, tension, or even humor. Huntley’s relationship with his daughter added a personal side that balanced the mystery.
The writing style is simple and easy to follow, even with so many things happening. This made the book a smooth read overall.
Overall, I think this book is a good choice for readers who enjoy mystery with a creative and slightly unusual approach. It’s engaging, different, and keeps you guessing while also offering something more than a typical crime story.
October 12, 2025
Quintus Huntley:Botany. An unusual title for a murder mystery? Yes! However, it clearly describes the novel that follows. The characters are well thought out, fully realized, with a bit of humor and environmentalism.This novel is a page turner that screams to be continued. I had a hard time putting it down!
February 10, 2026
This book started out like a "Sam Spade"-y type book to me. I don't know why and then when I read further I found that I was loving the cast of characters and how they all just seemed to mesh with nothing in common but two things (no I won't spoil what they are). The title makes sense, also, once you get into the story.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews