My Review
Theodosia Browning owns a charming little tea shop in Charleston. When she works on a local movie set, she witnesses a frightening murder as the film's director is electrocuted. One of her friends is a suspect, and Theodosia steps in to solve the crime - despite all the danger this entails.
I wanted to read Murder in the Tea Leaves because I have enjoyed the books I've read in the Tea Shop Mystery series. I love the Charleston setting and the tea details.
This was one of my favorite mysteries in this series. The murder happened early on and the pace of the mystery was brisk. There were several plausible suspects, and I enjoyed Theodosia's sleuthing. She is a fun amateur detective. I also enjoy her relationship with her boyfriend Riley, her friends, and her lovable dog Earl Grey.
As always, I loved the tea shop details, like the Poetry Tea and the Breakfast at Tiffany's Tea. The foodie descriptions in this series are sublime!
I recommend Murder in the Tea Leaves (and this entire series) for cozy mystery fans, and especially for anyone with an interest in tea or foodie mysteries.
Book Synopsis
When Theodosia Browning reads the tea
leaves on the set of the movie, Dark Fortunes, things go from spooky to
worse. Lights are dimmed, the camera rolls, and red hot sparks fly as
the film’s director is murdered in a tricky electrical accident.
Or was it an accident? Though the cast
and crew are stunned beyond belief, nobody admits to seeing a thing. And
when Theodosia’s friend, Delaine, becomes the prime suspect, Theodosia
begins her own shadow investigation. But who among this Hollywood cast
and crew had murder on their mind? The screenwriter is a self-centered
pot head, the leading actress is trying to wiggle out of her contract,
the brand new director seems indifferent, and nobody trusts the
slippery-when-dry Hollywood agent.
Between hosting a Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Tea, a Poetry Tea, and trying to launch her own chocolate line,
Theodosia doggedly hunts down clues and explores the seemingly haunted
Brittlebank Manor where the murder took place. And just when she’s ready
to pounce, a Charleston Film Board member is also murdered, throwing
everything into total disarray. But this clever killer will go to any
lengths to hide his misdeeds as Theodosia soon finds out when she and
her tea sommelier, Drayton, get caught up in a dangerous stakeout.
INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!
Author BioLaura 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 takes 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.
Laura’s Links: Website – Facebook
Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Bookshop.org – PenguinRandomHouse –
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