A cozy mystery rooted in academic infighting and poisonous plants, The Botanist’s Assistant by Peggy Townsend introduces a memorable new sleuth in Margaret Finch.
Margaret thrives with routine. She eats the same lunch every day, she wears a specific outfit each day of the week and she observes a strict schedule, which she follows down to the second. Margaret is sensible, methodical and possesses a keen attention to detail: It’s what makes her an excellent Research Assistant II to Dr. Jonathan Deaver, a celebrated and charismatic botanist at Roosevelt University. And if students and faculty at Roosevelt think her odd or call her “Big Bird” behind her back, making fun of her considerable size? Well, Margaret chooses to ignore them. She was hired to carry out excellent work, not to make friends.
Margaret’s orderly world is shaken when she discovers the body of one of her colleagues at Roosevelt. While authorities believe the death was due to natural causes, Margaret’s eagle eye noticed more than one suspicious clue at the crime scene. She takes it upon herself to investigate the death; after all, she cares about the victim, their research and the integrity of the university. But the closer Margaret gets to the truth, the more danger she finds herself in.
The Botanist’s Assistant is a smart, well-written cozy mystery with a unique protagonist who is constantly overlooked. Maybe it’s because of her physical appearance (she’s described as tall, big-boned and with a resemblance to a horse); maybe it’s because she’s a woman in a male-dominated field. Margaret doesn’t let others’ expectations of her hold her back, though. She’s extremely intelligent, skilled and capable of adapting as the situation requires it. It’s easy to root for Margaret, especially as she navigates relationships with students and colleagues. Her friendship with the university’s new custodian, Joe Torres, is a high point of the novel, and the unlikely duo work together to unravel the suspicious death.
Townsend perfectly captures the politics of academic life, with fights about parking spaces, lab protocol and grant proposals. Her descriptions of Margaret’s lush plants are vivid and help place the reader alongside the botanist’s assistant as she works in the lab and in her home garden. The Botanist’s Assistant is perfect for fans of Lessons in Chemistry, The Maid and anyone who enjoys academic mysteries and clever female sleuths.