It's basically a good cozy and the characters are interesting. But it just doesn't read like a series debut, there are disconnects that made me hunt around for parts of the backstory. Callie makes a good protagonist, and an excellent job is done in portraying Sheila as an insecure, thoughtless, controlling person who has to push her own agenda without a care for her daughter or for the person who really initiated the party. Initially there seems to have been no reason to single out the man who was murdered, but after some interesting twists and red herrings there really is a solution.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley.

In this book, Callie Aspen, a road weary tour guide, whose job has taken her to distant historical venues, has returned to her home in Heart’s Harbor, ME. While there, Callie has planned to help out her great aunt, who runs a tearoom, where every treat contains a clue to some book out there. Callie is working on a catering of a special tea party for the town’s rich, old and lonely widow, Dorothea Finster, who has invited relatives and town’s folk to a tea, during which she will reveal her newly updated will. Of course, everyone, expecting to be named as recipient in the new will, is eagerly awaiting the event. However, in the middle of things, an elderly, well-known gardener, who is currently staying in the mansion cottage, is found dead. Naturally, everything falls to pieces. Callie jumps right into the investigation of who killed this elderly gentleman and why. Her search for answers takes her on a variety of adventures within the town, uncovering many clues and some red herrings, as Callie works to figure out why someone killed the elderly gardener and what other motives could there have been.

This is a pretty good cozy mystery. Callie is a sensible woman, who carefully goes about her sleuthing in an orderly but interesting way. I particularly enjoyed the careful way she uncovered clue after clue, discarding some while keep the others, to discover the answer to her questions about the murder. The characters, all of whom are well-done, are also definitely colorful and interesting. The setting and characters reminded me of the Agatha Christie novels I devoured years ago, but I suspect that was intentional on the part of the author. This is a good book to sit back with and lose yourself in, which is quite easily done. If think this is a great cozy for someone looking for a break and for someone who enjoys well-done mysteries. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

I had a bit of time getting my bearings on this first in a new series by Joy Avon. I felt like the characters were scattered and the plot was all over the place. As I got into the rhythm and the characters started to settle down my enjoyment level went up. There was an Agatha Christie theme going on which was eventually revealed. There is also romance, heartwarming family back stories and enough humor to have me looking forward to more.

IN PEPPERMINT PERIL (Book Tea Shop Mystery #1) by Joy Avon is the start of a new cozy mystery series. A murder, a missing heirloom ring and greed over a new will to be announced by the dame of Haywood Hall all threaten the holiday spirit in Heart’s Harbor.
Callie Aspen has returned to Heart’s Harbor for the holidays to help her great aunt, Iphy run Book Tea, a vintage tea and pastry shop where every pastry is based on a mystery story or includes a mysterious clue to be solved. Callie travels the world as a tour guide, but has fond childhood memories of Haywood Hall and its occupants so she is excited to be helping her great aunt prepare for a special party at the hall. Instead of a surprise engagement and the announcement of the will’s new terms, a dead body is found in the conservatory.
Callie and Iphy use their love of mystery books to follow all the clues, but a certain deputy finds Callie’s interest intrusive. Callie persists because of her love for all involved and even Deputy Falk comes around to aid her in a mutual quest for the killer. Can Callie help the residents of Heart’s Harbor find a killer and help to reveal their secrets and true desires to celebrate a joyous Christmas?
This book was a fast and easy read that kept me guessing the identity of the killer. Callie, as the main character had to deal with her own emotional baggage on returning to the hall besides the murder mystery which gave her character depth. All of the secondary characters were interesting and entertaining including Callie’s foster Boston terrier. There are many twists and red herrings in the mystery plot. Overall, an enjoyable and entertaining cozy holiday mystery read.
Thanks very much to Crooked Lane Books and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Really cute book. Didn't really understand the switch in motive for the murder but it's possible I just need to process it a bit more. Very enjoyable cast. Each person had secrets and surprises up their sleeve and it was fun to watch everything unfold. Looking forward to reading more in this series!

In this first book of the series we are introduced to Callie Aspen who has come back to Heart's Harbor, Maine for the holidays. After arriving her Aunt, who owns Book Tea, asks her to help with the catering for a party at Haywood Hall. The old woman who lives there, Dorothea, is having a gathering to share with all what her new will says and thinks a tea is the perfect setting. When a murder occurs during the party everyone starts looking at each other wondering who the culprit could be and are they finished with killing. After the police arrive Callie wonders if they will be able to do their job and find a killer among all those who hated the victim, they don't seem to be adept at the job they were hired to do. She decides she must try to figure out who the killer is before something else bad happens but is she canny enough to do just that? Follow along as Callie weaves her way through a murder, old relationships, and wonders where her life is headed. Will she be able to figure out who the killer is? Will she fix old relationships? Can she decide where she wants her life to be? The characters were interesting and the setting was great. I felt like I got to know them a bit but look forward to learning more about them in the future.

In Peppermint Peril is a fun, cozy mystery. This is the first in the new Book Tea Shop Mystery series.

I liked the main characters and the “whodunit” was clever enough. The plot was good, with twists and turns and a surprise ending, I enjoyed the setting of the Tea Book shop and the mouth-watering descriptions of Aunt Iphy’s scrumptious treats. Would recommend to readers who love cozy mysteries. 

I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my ARC in return for an honest review. I'm looking forward to more books in this series

She's catering a big event at a home she used to frequent as a child. The lady who owns the house is going to read her new will to them. Before that happens a diamond goes missing and the gardener is found dead in the conservatory. Maybe they shouldn't have catered this event!

Crooked Lane Books and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published November 23rd.

The man was killed with a screwdriver so they go after the handyman first. Then they go after Ben who walked by the conservatory. The cops are jumping into solutions that don't work out. Callie decides she better do some sleuthing of her own. She finds out the gardener was not a nice man and he was blackmailing several people. But it wasn't just him. Who else was involved?

This was an interesting cozy mystery that I enjoyed. Why don't you give it a try?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are engaging and fun. The mystery really kept me guessing, with twists and turns that were unexpected, but believable. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A very good first installment of a new cozy series. I found the story entertaining with twists and turns and a surprise ending. The characters are well developed and the plot satisfying. I will anxiously await the next book in the series. Thanks you to netgalley snd the publisher for the ck complimentary Arc of this book. The opinion is my own

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book. The characters and the story were fantastic. Enjoyed all the twists and turns. Would highly recommend this book.

This first in a new series was a solid cozy mystery.
However, I found the "book themed tea party' was really not a factor and I was waiting for it to tie into the story. It's a nice premise but really felt like an aside to the story and not a part of it.
There was more than one mystery going on, and although they were written well, I found I would have enjoyed it more, if there had been just one.
I would read the next in the series to see what happens next to the characters.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

All I expect from a cozy mystery book. A very enjoyable read with a surprising ending and twists and turns along the way. It includes old friendships, greedy fortune seeking people and a lovely surprise for all involved, especially the heroin of the story, Callie Aspen

The storyline was interesting in this cozy mystery, and I think this has the potential to be a good series. I liked the author’s writing style.
Despite the fact that I had a hard time at first connecting with these characters, I’ll be interested to see what happens in the next book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. Al opinions are my own.

A mystery set in a book/tea shop located in a quaint town, and at Christmas! It's a cozy reader's dream come true! I was in cozy heaven. I really liked this book--it's definitely got me ready for the holidays! A, absolute recommendation for all cozy readers.

This book ticked off all the required elements for a cozy/Christmas read.
A grand hall covered in snow and colorful decorations.
Mugs of frothy hot chocolate, served with mystery novel inspired sweets of course.
And a tea time murder.

Best of all it's a fast read, including light action and a small cast of easy to remember characters. It's exactly the kind of relaxing book I reach for during the crazy holiday season.

In Peppermint Peril is the debut of the A Book Tea Shop Mystery series featuring tour guide Callie Aspen and set in the town of Heart's Harbor, Maine. Callie has come to visit her Great Aunt Iphy for the Christmas holiday and is caught up in helping her aunt cater a tea for Iphy's wealthy friend, Dorothea Finster, at her luxurious Haywood Hall.

Dorothea is planning on revealing the contents of her will, but one of the guests has plans of her own. Sheila Du Bouvrais is the wife of Dorothea's only living relative, Stephen, and she has planned a surprise engagement party for her daughter Amber. With Callie's help Sheila hides the ring box inside the cake with the idea that when Amber's beau, Ben sees the box he'll propose. However, things go horribly wrong when the cake box is found to be empty.

The guests are in shock and begin milling around the mansion on their own. It's not long before Callie hears Amber screaming for help in the conservatory. Running to the girl she finds her hovering over the body of the manor's long time gardener, Leadenby. Known for his harsh demeanor there are plenty of people that wanted to see the old man gone. Callie soon finds herself drawn into the investigation alongside Deputy Falk.

I had a really hard time getting into this story, in fact I was tempted to just quit reading at several points. The characters are very hard to relate to, there is basically no background regarding the relationship between Iphy and Callie, and with the exception of a couple of brief mentions of the Tea Shop and the cakes that Iphy is famous for, the entire plot takes place outside of the Tea Shop. The premise is very similar to an old Agatha Christie. By the time I got to the last page I had warmed up a little bit to Callie, so will look for the next in the series just to satisfy my curiosities on what happens next.

I received an advanced copy of In Peppermint Peril from NetGalley via Crooked Lane Books. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

A cute book. A good read for around Christmas time. I don’t really like the name of the series, it just doesn’t have a good flow to it.

Now I need some chocolate! The tea room sounds divine and the cleaver cakes and cookies make my mouth water. The mystery has so many suspects! And I certainly did not see the ending coming. Callie is a delightful character. Would not mind reading more of her and her Aunt Ipsy. Falk is also an interesting character with his seemingly tough ways but with a bit of heart showing through. This is a good mystery with a delightful setting and cast of characters.

Callie Aspen travels the World as a tour guide, but when she spends the holidays with her Aunt Iphy in Heart’s Harbor, the small town speaks to her heart. Old friends, new friends, a Boston Terrier, a family all wrap Callie up in a murder. Sometimes the past doesn’t haunt us as much as the present and the future isn’t always as we had planned.

This first book in the new Book Tea Shop Mystery series is a great start to a new series. Looking forward to the next book in the series.