A Tea Shop Mystery: Book 22
Publication Date: March 2, 2021
Tea maven Theodosia Browning brews up trouble in the latest Tea Shop Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs.
It is the week before Halloween and Theodosia Browning, proprietor of the Indigo Tea Shop, and her tea sommelier, Drayton, are ghosting through the dusk of a cool Charleston evening on their way to the old Bouchard Mansion. Known as the Gray Ghost, this dilapidated place was recently bequeathed to the Heritage Society, and tonight heralds the grand opening of their literary and historical themed haunted house.
Though Timothy Neville, the patriarch of the Heritage Society, is not thrilled with the fund-raising idea, it is the perfect venue for his grandniece, Willow French, to sign copies of her new book, Carolina Crimes & Creepers.
But amid a parade of characters dressed as Edgar Allan Poe, Lady Macbeth, and the Headless Horseman, Willow’s body is suddenly tossed from the third-floor tower room and left to dangle at the end of a rope. Police come screaming in and Theodosia’s boyfriend, Detective Pete Riley, is sent to Willow’s apartment to investigate. But minutes later, he is shot and wounded by a shadowy intruder.
Timothy begs Theodosia to investigate, and shaken by Riley’s assault, she readily agrees. Now, she questions members of the Heritage Society and a man who claims the mansion is rightfully his, as well as Willow’s book publisher and her fiancé, all while hosting a Sherlock Holmes tea and catering several others.
But the Gray Ghost holds many secrets, as do several other key suspects, while this murder mystery plays out on the eve of Halloween.
INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!
HAUNTED HIBISCUS is the twenty-second book in the TEA SHOP MYSTERY series. Although this is the first book in the series that I’ve read it won’t be my last. Set in Charleston, South Carolina I was drawn in by the characters, the city, the mystery, and all things Halloween. The descriptions of the food, the teas, the city, the architecture, the businesses, and the people made me feel like I was there. There was a vividness and colorfulness throughout.
The Indigo Tea Shop owned by Theo with her coworkers, Drayton the tea sommelier, and Haley, the chef who prepared delightful foods and desserts, was front and center. Theo’s boyfriend Pete is a detective and she’s an amateur sleuth who is always in the thick of things no matter who thinks she should be on the sidelines. There are many stories being told and they are woven seamlessly together. The story had a wonderful flow with lots of twists and turns and a multitude of characters. There are family and friends, acquaintances, murders, crimes committed, injuries, parties, and festivities along with some mysteries to solve. There is nice closure and I didn’t guess whodunnit even with lots of clues given throughout the telling of the story. The cover was apropos and successfully fit the season portrayed in the book. The many recipes in the back of the book piqued my interest and I will definitely give some of them a try. The Tea Time Tips were a nice addition and I could see readers giving some of the suggestions a try.
Ms. Childs is a new to me author and I look forward to reading more of her books and not just those in this series.
Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life, she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fundraising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs
Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:
The Tea Shop Mysteries–set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.
The Scrapbooking Mysteries–a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!
The Cackleberry Club Mysteries–set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.
