4-STAR REVIEW: HONEY DROP DEAD by Laura Childs

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The Description

A Tea Shop Mystery: Book 25
Publication Date: August 8, 2023

The murder of a political bigwig at a Honey Bee Tea sends Theodosia Browning buzzing for answers in this latest installment of the New York Times bestselling series.

Theodosia’s Honey Bee Tea was an elegant affair set in Charleston’s new Petigru Park amid newly planted native grasses and a community beekeeping project. But when a phony beekeeper shows up and sprays toxic smoke at the guests, the party erupts in chaos. Worse yet, a shot rings out and Osgood Claxton III, candidate for state legislature, falls to the ground—dead.

Holly Burns, the gallery owner who asked Theodosia to cater the tea, is understandably heartbroken. A man is dead, her guests are angry and injured, and the paintings that were on display are left in tatters. When the police don’t seem to have a clue, when old-line politicos don’t want questions asked, Holly begs Theodosia to run a shadow investigation and help restore her gallery’s good name.

Between hosting a Wind in the Willows Tea and a Glam Girl Tea, Theodosia questions everyone that had a bone to pick with Claxton. This includes Booker, an angry outsider artist; Lamar Lucket, Claxton’s political opponent; and Mignon Merriweather, the dead man’s soon-to-be ex-wife. But the investigation becomes a political hot potato following a second murder, the revelation of a messy affair, a chase through a swamp, and a vandalized shop.

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!

The Review

When I started reading this Honey Drop Dead by cozy mystery author Laura Childs, I knew there were other books before this one, but I had no idea there were 25 others! That’s a lot of books, stories, and tea. One doesn’t need to read the other novels to follow the story’s plot.

The idea of owning a tea shop for the main character was fantastic, and I loved the fact that her name should be something different and unique. Theodosia is a different and unique name. Theodosia was quirky and marched to the beat of her own drum. A lot of the characters in the story had different and unique names. I thought that made this book stand out from many of the other mystery books I’ve read.

I love the themes the author came up with for the different teas the shop catered to. A Glam girl Tea sounds like lots of fun. A Wind in the Willow’s Tea sounds so magical, too! The food sounds yummy, and that’s usually my motivation for any kind of function.

I also thought it was clever that the killer wore a beekeeper’s outfit so that no one would know who they were or if they were a man or a woman. It was almost the “perfect” crime.

I thought Theodosia could be a little off-putting, but I understand she was trying to help her friend. What I found interesting was that Theodosia was so strong emotionally and capable, but her baker friend was fragile, needy, and helpless. The owner of the art business was weak and needy as well. I wonder why they couldn’t be stronger and help Theodosia also solve the case.

Some recipes in the back of the book look delicious, and I might have to make the ricotta cookies. I love cookies.

Tea, food, and mysteries make Honey Drop Dead an entertaining read, and I was all in. If this sounds like something you might be interested in, then this book may be for you. Buy Links