The Fair Botanists: Could one rare plant hold the key to a thousand riches?

Review Sheridan creates an evocative, enjoyable portrait of 1820s Edinburgh and of two women determined to lead independent lives. ― Sunday Times Completely enchanting and fascinating . . . a rollicking and immensely readable tale . . . Sheridan succeeds in what very few have attempted before; in imagining early 19th century Edinburgh as a genuine if imperfect city of enlightenment, a thrilling, optimistic and romantic landscape where science flourishes, beauty is created, wrongs are righted, possibilities are infinite, and women can begin to dream, at last, of how it might feel to be free. ― Scotsman Lush, seductive and scandalous, this is a gorgeous read. ― Daily Mail Compelling, fascinating and incisive about its social context. A cracking good read -- Val McDermid What a beautiful, immersive gem of historical fiction this is! ― Good Housekeeping An absolute treat for fans of historical fiction and rich storytelling. ― Red Magazine A vibrant mix of history, romance and mystery ― I Paper Dazzling, original, full of wonderful characters and so interesting! Anyone who's ever looked at a flower will love it as much as I do. -- Katie Fforde Joyously seductive prose with evocatively-drawn characters, The Fair Botanists is a beautiful tale of scandal and intrigue firmly rooted in the capital of 1820s Scotland. -- Susan Stokes-Chapman Beautiful . . . Every sentence is a gift. If you love The Doll Factory or The Binding, you'll love this -- Miranda Dickinson I loved this vivid evocation of Enlightenment Edinburgh - a city in the throes of tumultuous change - filled with a cast of fascinating characters, both real and imagined. Highly recommended. -- Fiona Valpy A charm of a book. A spirited tale of female empowerment set amongst the blossoms of enlightenment Edinburgh, it is suffused with the rich perfume of its historical era. Lively and generous-hearted, with an array of utterly engaging characters, this enchanting novel reads like a warm tonic for the soul -- Mary Paulson-Ellis Delightfully original, sensuous historical fiction, led by a charge of female characters as captivating and complex as the brightest of botanical flowers -- Cari Thomas Enchanting and absorbing . . . [I enjoyed it] because it's about women and women's lives, people I know and talk to, and am -- Anstey Harris Sara Sheridan weaves a vivid, bewitching tale of scandal and female empowerment. ― Woman's Own Pacy and beautifully realised historical fiction. ― Best Lush, seductive and scandalous, this is a romantic tale of two intriguing women and their evolving friendship. ― Psychologies With a cast of colourful characters, there's much to enjoy here. ― Choice The storyline is compelling, the pace perfect, and the characters consistently engaging, but what made this a stand-out book for me was the quality and quantity of the research, and the skilful way that this is interwoven throughout the narrative. ― Buzz Magazine A seductive, sensory romp through Georgian Edinburgh. Hugely enjoyable. Highly recommended -- Ambrose Parry 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 Impressively researched, The Fair Botanists weaves incredible fact - the transfer of the Botanic Gardens to a new site and the incredible journey of the trees across the city, and the much-anticipated flowering of the century aloe - with the intricately-plotted loves and fortunes of Belle, a forward-thinking courtesan and perfume maker, and Elizabeth, a widow who steps out of the shadows of her unhappy marriage to learn her own worth. -- Claire Gradidge The Fair Botanists beguiles all the senses in this tale of intrigue in Enlightenment Edinburgh. An entertaining read -- Sarah Maine A cleverly crafted novel offering a heady mix