Steeped in Evil (A Tea Shop Mystery) Hardcover

I've finished "Steeped in Evil" the 15th book in her Tea Shop Mystery series by Laura Childs.

In the newest mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Sweet Tea Revenge, Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning is about to learn the true meaning of terror.

Theodosia Browning has never considered herself a wine connoisseur — tea has always been her forte. But that doesn’t mean she’s going to pass up an invitation to a fancy wine-tasting party at the upscale Knighthall Winery, just outside of Charleston, South Carolina.

But a sweet evening takes on a bitter aftertaste when a dead body is discovered in one of the wine barrels. The son of proprietor Jordan Knight has been murdered.

Dissatisfied with the police investigation, Knight turns to Theo for help. She’s heard through the grapevine that there are both family and business problems at Knighthall. They say in vino veritas, but everyone at the winery seems to be lying through their teeth. Sorting through the guest list as well as family and staff, Theo has her pick of suspects. It may look like the killer has her over a barrel, but cracking tough cases is vintage Theodosia Browning.

About the Author

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 fund raising 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.

Product Details
Series: A Tea Shop Mystery (Book 15)
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley Hardcover; First Edition edition (March 4, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425252957
ISBN-13: 978-0425252956

My Review:

3.5/5

Agony of the Leaves (A Tea Shop Mystery)

I've finished "Agony of the Leaves" the book in her Tea Shop Mystery series by Laura Childs.

Product Description

In the latest novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Scones and Bones, Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning finds herself in hot water when a body surfaces at the grand opening of Charleston's Neptune Aquarium ...

The opening of the aquarium is a major Charleston event, and Theodosia has been hired to cater tea, scones, and sandwiches for the private party to honor dignitaries and big buck donors. Things are going swimmingly, until Theodosia escapes the party for a momentary rest, only to discover the body of a man entangled in a net, drowned in one of the aquarium's state-of-the-art tanks.

To make matters worse, the victim is Theodosia's former boyfriend Parker Scully. The EMTs on the scene think Parker's drowning was an accident, but when Theodosia notices what look like defense wounds on his hands, she realizes that someone wanted Parker dead. The local police aren't keen on hearing her theory-especially because of her ties to the victim - so Theodosia knows that if she wants Parker's killer brought to justice, she'll have to jump into the deep end and start her own investigation...

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!

About the Author

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Cackleberry Club, Tea Shop, and Scrapbooking mysteries. In her past life she was a Clio Award – winning advertising writer and CEO of her own marketing firm. She lives in Plymouth, Minnesota.

Product Details
Reading level: Ages 18 and up
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley Hardcover (March 6, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425245535
ISBN-13: 978-0425245538

My Review:

Theodosia Browning was hired to cater tea, scones and sandwiches for the private party to honor dignitaries and big buck donors at the opening of the Charleston Aquarium. She takes a breather and finds a man tangled in a net in a state of the art aquarium.

She discovers the body is her former boyfriend Parker Scully and he has defensive wounds on his hands when she investigates his body.  She's in shock and determined who would want to kill Parker and why?

It was a delight to see Drayton the tea expert extraordinaire and Haley the Indigo Tea Shop Chef had a bigger role in helping Theodosia solve the case. This is a great series to learn about all the different types and varieties of teas and there is always recipes at the end and ideas how to host a theme tea party.

4/5

Scones & Bones (A Tea Shop Mystery) [Hardcover]

I've finished "Scones and Bones" the 12th book in her Tea Shop Mystery series by Laura Childs.


From Publishers Weekly


Charleston tourist notes enhance Childs's charming 12th tea-themed cozy featuring Theodosia Browning, proprietor of the city's Indigo Tea Shop (after 2010's The Teaberry Strangler). During the Heritage Society's Pirates and Plunder show, someone steals a diamond-embedded skull cup possibly fashioned from the skull of pirate Edward Teach (aka Blackbeard) right beneath the noses of Theo and Drayton Conneley, Theo's master tea blender. Even worse, the robber fatally stabs college kid Rob Commers, the society's history intern, and assaults Camilla Hodges, the society's office manager. While plucky Theo, her faithful shop employees, and CPD's Det. Burt Tidwell chase a nasty killer, Theo feels romantically torn between her boyfriend, chef Parker Scully, and an attractive newcomer, Max Scofield, a local museum's PR director. As usual, everyone finds time for abundant tea breaks. Tempting recipes include creamy dreamy parfait and lemon chess pie.
 
Product Details
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley Hardcover (March 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425238962
ISBN-13: 978-0425238967


My Review:


Storyline:  Theodosia and her right-hand man, master tea blender Drayton Conneley, attend the heritage society's "Pirates and Plunder" party which features all kinds of historical pirate memorabilia but at center stage is a diamond-embedded cup made from a human skull, believed to be that of Blackbeard himself. When the cup is stolen and a guest is murdered in the process, Theodosia finds herself once again on the trail of a killer, putting herself and her friends at risk of becoming his or her next victim.


Characters:  Theodosia and Drayton both own the teashop and Haley is their chief.  All three have different personalities but work well together.  Love the way Drayon and Haley banter with one another.  Some great lines!


Romance:  Theodosia is dating chef Parker but is wildly attracted to Max the local museum PR director.  She and Max have shared a couple of spine tingling kisses which leaves her confused between her Parker and Max.


Killer:  Wow never expected the killer to be that certain person and you didn't find out until near the end who it was.  This person thought their relative was wronged and wanted revenge.


I love the way Laura incorporated the Blackbird legend into the storyline and I certainly want to go visit her Tea Shop!


4/5


Thanks Laura from Penguin Canada for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!