The Botanist's Assistant

“The Maid meets Lessons in Chemistry in this clever, charming mystery.“—Nina Simon, New York Times bestselling author of the Reese’s Book Club Pick, Mother-Daughter Murder Night

“A fun murder mystery steeped in the world of scientific research and botany.”—Scientific American

“Readers enamored with Nita Prose’s endearingly offbeat sleuth Molly Gray will be equally smitten with the delightfully quirky Margaret, while those who miss the botanical mysteries of Rebecca Rothenberg will find much to appreciate in Townsend’s cleverly crafted, science-centric puzzler… with a delectably deadpan sense of humor and graced with an exceptionally entertaining cast of characters.”—Library Journal, starred review

“Margaret is an endearing enough heroine that readers will be gratified to see her hard work vindicated. … this is sweet enough to charm cozy fans.“—Publishers Weekly

“The realistically described frame of scientific research, botany, deadly plants, and university politics and an endearing, sharply-defined, layered, mid-fifties heroine who begins to find friendship and expand her life add up to a fresh, satisfying stand-alone cozy.“—Booklist

“Towering, routine-following and totally brilliant, Margaret Finch is a sleuth to remember in Peggy Townsend’s The Botanist’s Assistant.“—BookPage

“With a quietly fierce heroine at its center, The Botanist’s Assistant is a feel-good mystery with real emotional depth. Research assistant Margaret Finch is precise, private, and wonderfully complex. Her journey from life in the shadows to determined amateur sleuth is as compelling as the murder she sets out to solve. A delightfully satisfying read from start to finish.“—Jenn McKinlay, New York Times bestselling author of A Merry Little Murder Plot

“Irrepressible, funny, heartwarming—in Margaret Finch, Townsend has created a character so compelling, so smart that readers will be clamoring for more time with her. One part mystery, one part send-up of academia and its unusual denizens, The Botanist’s Assistant is one of the most charming, original novels I have read in years!”—Katy Hays, New York Times bestselling author of the Read with Jenna Pick, The Cloisters

“A smart, funny, bighearted novel that explores ever-so-deftly the challenges of being a woman in a man’s world, and the sheer guts required to defy an establishment. Readers will root for the marvelously eccentric Margaret, and cheer as she finds her power, a family, and the ability to adapt as surely as the plants she studies and loves. Fans of Bonnie Garmus will love this one.“—Meg Waite Clayton, internationally bestselling author of Typewriter Beach and The Postmistress of Paris

”The Botanist’s Assistant is at once clever, humorous, and touching—a delightful mystery told with compassion and heart. And not unlike the complex heroine she has created, Peggy Townsend demonstrates an uncanny attention to detail in her descriptions of both the natural world and the human condition in this exquisitely crafted novel.“—Leslie Karst, award-nominated author of the Orchid Isle Mysteries

“Townsend’s narrative pays tribute to the meticulous dedication of research scientists and pokes gentle fun at their quirks, while exploring the hidden motives–jealousy, revenge, ambition, and love–that drive their work, sometimes to deadly ends. With a clever protagonist and a satisfying plot, The Botanist’s Assistant is highly enjoyable reading for science nerds and mystery lovers.“—Shelf Awareness

“Margaret is a delight… The ending leaves the possibility for more from Margaret and Joe, which would be a fine addition to the genre.“—First Clue

Peggy Townsend is an award-winning journalist and author. Her work has appeared in Catamaran literary magazine, Santa Cruz Noir, Globe Magazine, and the San Francisco Chronicle, among other publications. Twice she lived for seven weeks in her van, traveling to Alaska and along the back roads of the US.

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