The Fair Botanists: The bewitching and fascinating Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year pick full of scandal and intrigue

'Hugely enjoyable'

Ambrose Parry

'Dazzling, original and full of wonderful characters'

Katie Fforde

'Seductive and sensual'

Essie Fox'Historical fiction at its best'

Frances Quinn

***

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 revealed, they can carry the greatest of consequences . . .

***

'Perfectly paced, romantic and full of intrigue. A truly wonderful story' Victoria Hawthorne

'Evocative and sumptuously imagined. Not since Perfume has a book had such a strong sensory impact on me. A feast for the senses... I was intoxicated! Dazzling' Celia Reynolds

'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 1820s Edinburgh with joyous female characters at the heart of the story' Annie Garthwaite

'Sprinkled with deliciously tantalising scandal and intrigue, and colourful, engaging characters. A sheer joy to read' Sue Lawrence