A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari (HC, 35.99) is set in 1920s London where a young female scientist is fighting for a foothold within the botany department at the University College of London. After the wife of a professor is poisoned at a party, Saffron Everleigh's supervisor is arrested - based on his previous study on the suspected poison. With the help of a young male professor, Saffron tries to prove his innocence. Definitely skews towards historical romance, this debut is perfect for fans of Sulari Gentill or Anna Lee Huber.

The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark (TP, 24.99) is a domestic thriller told from the perspectives of two women - one, an experienced con-woman capable of fleecing high-profile individuals out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, the other an investigative reporter devoted to tracking her down. As the two find themselves entrenched in each other's lives, they begin to understand each other's motives better.

The Honey and the Sting by E.C. Fremantle (TP, 19.99) is a historical thriller following the saga of three sisters in 17th century England. Subject to societal pressures around chastity, religious fervour, and their place as women, the sisters must stick together to protect themselves. I've been waiting for some time to get my hands on a copy of this book and am excited to finally dig into it on the long weekend!