The Botanist’s Assistant

An introverted scientist investigates the death of her boss in this gentle whodunit from Townsend (The Beautiful and the Wild). Research assistant Margaret Finch idolizes her boss, Dr. Jonathan Deaver, who leads their lab in developing a plant-based cure for cancer. She’s also a stickler for details, so when Deaver is found dead in his office, irregularities in the scene make Margaret unwilling to accept the official explanation that his heart condition caught up with him. Her rigid ethics make her even more unwilling to support university administrators who want to keep a lucrative grant by removing Deaver’s name from his research and crediting his colleagues instead. Though the social aspects of sleuthing are difficult for her, Margaret enlists the support of an ex-journalist currently working as the lab’s janitor to help her piece together the clues. Townsend’s plotting is straightforward, the novel’s supporting characters play close to trope, and the climactic reveal lacks surprise. Still, Margaret is an endearing enough heroine that readers will be gratified to see her hard work vindicated. Though familiar, this is sweet enough to charm cozy fans. Agent: Heather Jackson, Heather Jackson Literary. (Nov.)