Books & Bites

Take a break and join us for Books & Bites, a new monthly book club at the Owls Club designed to fit right into your lunch hour! Perfect for members who are still working or anyone looking to enjoy lively discussions, each session will focus on a different book selected by our club host to kick things off. Bring a lunch, bring your thoughts, and connect with fellow members over shared stories and ideas. 

October: The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb. Ray McMillian is a classical musician on the rise—undeterred by the pressure and prejudice of the classical music world—when a shocking theft sends him on a desperate quest to recover his great-great-grandfather’s heirloom violin on the eve of the most prestigious musical competition in the world.

November: A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari. London, 1923. Newly minted research assistant Saffron Everleigh is the first woman to hold the position at University College of London. When she attends a dinner party for the school, she expects to engage in conversations about the university’s large expedition to the Amazon. What she doesn’t expect is for Mrs. Henry, one of the professors’ wives, to drop to the floor, poisoned by an unknown toxin. Dr. Maxwell, Saffron’s mentor, is the main suspect, and evidence quickly mounts. Joined by flirtatious fellow researcher Alexander Ashton, Saffron uses her knowledge of botany as she explores steamy greenhouses, dark gardens, and deadly poisons to clear Maxwell’s name. Will she be able to uncover the truth, or will her investigation land her on the murderer’s list? In this entertaining examination of society’s expectations, debut author Kate Khavari deftly sheds a light on the struggles of women in a male-dominated field, wrapped in mystery and murder.