The historical mystery series set in 1920s England combines elements of adventure, mystery, humor, and romance.
The protagonist's knowledge of botany and the use of plants provide clues and add visual and sensory elements to the story.
Deep dives
Introduction and Background
In this episode of the She-War Black Podcast, host Agatha Andrews interviews author Kate Cavari about her historical mystery series set in 1920s England. The series follows Safran Everly, a female botanist who becomes entangled in murders, mysteries, and a touch of romance. Cavari discusses the unique titles and covers of her books and introduces the first two books in the series, Abotanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons, and Abotanist's Guide to Flowers and Vitality.
The Cozy Historical Mystery Genre
Andrews and Cavari discuss the genre of cozy historical mysteries, which combine elements of adventure, mystery, humor, and romance. They highlight the use of knowledge from the protagonist's profession to solve crimes, and mention popular series and authors, such as the Veronica Speedwell series and Lady Sherlock series, that fall into this subgenre.
Why the 1920s Setting
Cavari explains her choice to set the series in the 1920s, drawn to the aesthetic, mood, and freedom of the era. She mentions her familiarity with the time period through her upbringing and teaching American history, as well as her appreciation for the combination of old and new elements in the 1920s. The 1920s also offer a backdrop of societal and technological changes that create opportunities and challenges for the characters.
The Role of Botany and Flowers
The use of botany in the series is discussed, with Cavari expressing her personal interest in plants, gardening, and the fascinating history of botany. She highlights the role of plants in providing clues for the protagonist, Safran, and the inclusion of flower symbolism and the language of flowers (floriography) in the second book. Cavari emphasizes the aesthetic, visual, and sensory elements that plants bring to the story, as well as the botanical index on her website for readers who want to learn more about the plants mentioned in the books.
Welcome to the She Wore Black Podcast. I’m Agatha Andrews. Today I chat with Kate Khavari about her fun historical mystery series that involves a female botanist in 1920s England, poisonous plants, murders, mayhem, and a bit of romance. You can find Kate’s books in my online bookshop if you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide. That’s at bookshop.org/shop/sheworeblack. If you want another way to help out my She Wore Black Podcast, you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, and leave me a review wherever you get your podcasts. If you want to make a donation or buy me a coffee, I have my Ko-fi donation link on my website at sheworeblackpodcast.com, as well as links to all my socials. Thanks for joining me today.
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