The Fair Botanists

'Hugely enjoyable' Ambrose Parry 'Dazzling, original, full of wonderful characters' Katie Fforde 'Historical fiction at its best' Frances Quinn 'Seductive and sensual' Essie Fox *** Could one rare plant hold the key to a thousand riches? It's the summer of 1822 and Edinburgh is abuzz with rumours of King George IV's impending visit. In botanical circles, however, a different kind of excitement has gripped the city. In the newly-installed Botanic Garden, the Agave Americana plant looks set to flower - an event that only occurs once every few decades. When newly widowed Elizabeth arrives in Edinburgh to live with her late husband's aunt Clementina, she's determined to put her unhappy past in London behind her. As she settles into her new home, she becomes fascinated by the beautiful Botanic Garden which borders the grand house and offers her services as an artist to record the rare plant's impending bloom. In this pursuit, she meets Belle Brodie, a vivacious young woman with a passion for botany and the lucrative, dark art of perfume creation. Belle is determined to keep both her real identity and the reason for her interest the Garden secret from her new friend. But as Elizabeth and Belle are about to discover, secrets don't last long in this Enlightenment city . . . And when they are revealed, they can carry the greatest of consequences. 'Perfectly paced, romantic and full of intrigue. A truly wonderful story' Vikki Patis 'Evocative and sumptuously imagined. Not since Perfume has a book had such a strong sensory impact on me. I was intoxicated! A feast for the senses... Dazzling' Celia Reynolds 'Sprinkled with deliciously tantalising scandal and intrigue, and colourful, engaging characters. A sheer joy to read' Sue Lawrence 'There's no enlightenment without enlightening women, and Sara Sheridan gives us two great ones to reckon with in Belle and Elizabeth. The Fair Botanists gives us a glimpse into the complex life of Edinburgh in the 1820's with joyous female characters at the heart of the story' Annie Garthwaite

Sara Sheridan has written more than 20 books including novels, non-fiction, TV tie ins, and ghost writing. Her work has been the First Minister's Summer Pick at the David Hume Institute, shortlisted for the Saltire Prize, the Wilbur Smith Prize and the CWA Dagger in the Library, and she has also won a Scottish Libraries Award. Her novel The Fair Botanists was the Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year 2022 and featured in series seven of the Queen's Reading Room. Sara has also written two plays for BBC Radio 4 and has reported from both Tallin and Sharjah for Radio 4's Our Own Correspondent.