Vivian Wainwright and her two assistants, Jenna and Gracie, have worked hard to make her Willow Pattern Tearoom a success. However, when Jenna’s ex-husband, Dean, is found murdered at a nearby hotel, she’s bumped right to the top of the list of suspects. To clear her name, Vivian and the team must set off on their own investigation that soon has them steeped in trouble.

Kate Kingsbury has authored multiple cozy mystery series, and that’s evident here. Vivian and the gang are immediately embroiled in the action from the first pages and Kingsbury runs them at a clip that doesn’t let up. Between the pacing, a tight plot, and a solid mystery, it’s clear Kingsbury has cracked the code for what makes a good cozy.

That’s not to suggest In Hot Water is formulaic or without surprises. Kingsbury occasionally swaps away from Vivian to write from the perspective of the actual lead detective on the case, Tony Messina. It’s a fresh change and it’s interesting to see how Vivian and her crew are able to uncover clues as Messina stumbles in his own investigation.

The only real issue I have is with the murder itself. When Dean is found after having been thrown from a hotel balcony, he’s wearing a pink negligee, a fact characters either treat as the most shocking thing in the world or something to joke about. Or if you’re Jenna, you breathlessly defend him as too macho to wear ‘women’s clothes’. Ultimately, this treatment feels outdated and it’s the weakest part of the book.

A straightforward cozy with a couple of new tricks, In Hot Water is strongest when it moves past worn out tropes.

Vivian Wainwright owns a tea shop in coastal Oregon. She employs two younger women. One of them has a former husband who is found dead at the base of a hotel. Was it murder or suicide? The police believe it was murder and Vivian's employee is the prime suspect.

Vivian and her two employees set out to find the real murderer. At the same time, she is spending more time with her close male friend. And she is wondering if it is time to forge a closer relationship.

This book was difficult for me to review. On the one hand, the characters were well-developed. The writing style was crisp and entertaining. But one element of the book caused me concerns. It's well known that, in cozy mysteries, the protagonist often operates at odds with the local police. But, in this book, the main character seems to operate without any connection with the police. She puts herself and her employee in great danger by her refusal to work with the local detective. And he seems like a pretty good guy! At one point, when both she and her employee have received serious threats, she refuses to share this with the police. Her rationale? It might encourage the police to strengthen their assertion that she is the prime suspect? Huh? She could lose her life. The author's justification for putting her life and the life of her employee at risk just lacked credibility.

But other than that, I thought this was a really good read.

I really loved this first book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I really enjoyed this one the plot kept me interested until the end which is not easy, and the characters were engaging and believable. I highly recommend this book.

This was a sweet cozy mystery. It had interesting characters and it was fun to read.
I do however agree with other people who say that this felt more like a second or third book in a series instead of the first one. I would personally have liked a little more depth for the characters and story.
But overall a fun read.

I love Kate Kingsbury! She writes the coziest settings with vivid descriptions and the most fun characters. This book would be wonderful for culinary cozy lovers and anyone who wants to visit a cute tea room!

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I enjoyed this little murder mystery. It had my attention the whole time and I didn't find it cheesy. If you are looking for a easy who done it story this is a good pick for you.

First books in a series can be a bit tricky as the characters are not fully developed. Vivian tea shop is a great success. Then a murder threatens the loss of one of her best employees who is the only suspect. The setting is great, and the series has potential. I want to know more about the characters rather than just broad generalizations. Some of the sleuthing involves a great deal of leniency on the part of the reader. I will be back for book two with hopes of a few improvements.

In Hot Water is the series debut for Kate Kingsbury's cozy tea-room mystery. Released 12th Oct. 2021 by Crooked Lane Books, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately; it makes it so easy to find information with the search function.

The author is experienced, with several ongoing cozy series, In Hot Water is a promising start to a new small town storefront cozy, this time set in a tea shop. Protagonist Vivian is a widow in small town touristy Misty Bay, when her friend's ex-husband falls to his death wearing a pink negligee. Local police seem determined to put Vivian's friend Jenna in the frame for the murder. The secondary characters are sometimes a bit two dimensional and I felt that some were simply written in to provide plot points and move the scene along.

The plot resolution was a little more linear than I'm used to, but all in all the denouement was okay and well written. The language is fairly clean (PG rated) and there's no on-page blood or gore. I would recommend it to fans of amateur sleuth small town cozies. There were a few plot twists which challenged my suspension of disbelief, but all in all, it's an engaging and fun book. The second book in the series is due out

Three and a half stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

In Hot Water by Kate Kingsbury is a fun, cozy mystery. Ms. Kingsbury is a new-to-me author and In Hot Water is the first book in the Misty Bay Tea Room Mystery series. Vivian Wainright started the Misty Bay Tea Room after her husband passed away. Vivian and her two young co-workers enjoy working together at the Tea Room. One day, Vivian’s co-worker, Jenna, found out that her ex-husband was found murdered and the Police believe Jenna is the one who killed him. Vivian and her co-workers take it upon themselves to clear Jenna’s name and find the real killer. In Hot Water is full of twists and turns that kept me captivated and sitting on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed getting to know the characters in the story. As a person who primarily reads cozy mysteries and suspense books, I enjoyed that, for one of the few times, I was not able to figure out how it was going to end and it left me utterly shocked. If you are looking for a great cozy mystery with a surprising ending, then I highly recommend In Hot Water by Kate Kingsbury. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next in the Misty Bay Tea Room Mystery series! Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book. My review is also on Goodreads.

Sadly, this book was not for me. I read cozy mysteries extensively and really enjoy them, particularly ones with older protagonists. This had all the markings of hitting my sweet spot, but it missed. I didn't like the characters and agree with others that this didn't feel like the first in a series.

First in a series. The characters are likable and interesting. The main character Vivian is a bit older than the traditional cozy sleuths. Vivian’s two assistants are very different in personalities and age groups. Somehow this trio works. This mystery was a little slow to start but when it took off it moved at a good pace and was full of surprises. Recommended for cozy mysteries lovers.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

Release Date: October 12th 2021

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Vivian is finally settling into her role as the proprietress of the Misty Bay Tearoom in . With her two assistants Gracie and Jenna at her side she is about to celebrate the second anniversary of her tearoom. But when a body falls from the a hotel balcony and it turns out to be Jenna’s ex husband, can Vivan clear her friends name and plan a celebration while trying to catch a killer?

I was frustrated with this book. I felt like I was missing backstory and character development that should have been in this book as the first in the series. Vivian was boring, I hate to say that cause I love series with older heroines but I just keep my attention on this book.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

#inhotwater #mysterybaytearoom #bookstagram #cozymysteryseries #netgalleyreads #bookstagram #instareads📚

I agree with a few other reviews that this seemed more like a second or third book in the series. The characters and their relationships do not feel well established. Instead of real personality, they're more of a grouping of quirks. Vivian, the owner of the Tea Room was particularly dull. I would rather the wrongly accused Jenna was the main character.

Tea shop themed cozy mysteries are a favorite and this one didn't disappoint! Vivian Wainwright, owner of the British themed Misty Bay Tearoom, in Misty Bay Oregon has a problem. Her friend and assistant Jenna has been accused of murdering her ex-husband. It's not looking good for Jenna, so Vivian decides to investigate with the help of her other assistant, Gracie.

Vivian is a relatable, middle-aged cozy character that I loved. She's practical and determined to make a success of her business. With the crime solving knowledge gained from her late attorney husband, Vivian is ready to prove Jenna's innocence. Add in Gracie and other quirky characters in Misty Bay and you have a sleuthing team that doesn't give up. Along with the tearoom setting (which made me want a cup of tea) the Oregon locale provided an excellent atmosphere for the mystery.

A new series to add to my list!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first novel in a promising new series by Kate Kingsbury, the Misty Bay Tea Room Mystery series. In Hot Water introduces us to the Willow Pattern Tearoom run by middle-aged widow Vivian Wainwright with the help of her younger employees, Jenna Ramsey and Gracie Jackson.

Jenna is divorced from ne'er-do-well Dean Ramsey, and when his body is thrown off the balcony of a local hotel—a hotel where she was seen on the morning of his death—she naturally becomes suspect number one in his murder. Vivian and Gracie are determined to clear her name, though, and even Detective Lieutenant Tony Messina seems to have doubts about Jenna's guilt. When the women start asking questions around town, they turn up the unexpected news that the hotel where Dean died was running a secret escort service, which clearly could have had something to do with his death. But lots of folks in town seem to have known about that escort service, and quite a few of them could have wanted Dean out of the picture.

The Oregon town of Misty Bay sounds charming, and we get to know a few of the local entrepreneurs, including Hal Douglass, the sweet-on-Vivian gent who runs a pet supply shop, and nosy Natalie Chastain, the town's wine seller. As expected, the book has lots of teatime baking scenes and fun food mentions in the English-style tearoom.

What I most enjoyed about this book was seeing the older-than-average main character and her concerns, which seemed quite realistic for a widow running a new business. It's refreshing to see a cozy heroine who isn't still in her thirties, and Vivian is someone I would like to know better. I look forward to checking out the next installment of this enjoyable series featuring a lovely tearoom owner and her friends.

Caution: A few uses of profanity, which could easily be omitted to make this book even better.

In Hot Water is the first book in Kate Kingsbury’s promising new Misty Bay Tea Room mystery series. Middle-aged Vivian Wainwright owns the Willow Pattern Tea Room. Vivian, a widow, has found happiness for the last two years as the proprietor of the English-style tea room located on the Oregon coastline.

Unfortunately, a man named Dean Ramsey has fallen to his death from the balcony of the local Blue Surf Hotel and is identified as the ex-husband of Vivian’s assistant, Jenna, whom police consider to be the prime suspect, as she was seen leaving the hotel shortly before Ramsey’s body was found. Convinced of Jenna’s innocence, Vivian steps up to do some investigating of her own with the help of Jenna and Gracie, her other assistant at the tea room.

Vivian’s late husband was an attorney and during their marriage, she picked up from him a handy bit of knowledge about criminals, crimes, and investigations which she, Jenna, and and Gracie put to good use. There are twists and turns and red herrings. Why was Ramsey wearing a woman’s nightgown when his body was found? And what secrets does Vivian’s friend Hal know about the hotel that could implicate several other local residents as suspects?

There are several things I particularly liked about the book. First, the characters are likable, capable, and intelligent. It was refreshing to have a woman old enough to be a baby boomer as the lead character. There are too few books - cozy mysteries or otherwise - that feature women over 55 as protagonists. The plot flowed nicely and there was appropriate use of light humor. I look forward to reading the next book in the Misty Bay Tea Room series.

This was an interesting cozy mystery read. The plot was clever and there were some twists and turns along the way. I felt that some of the characters were a little unrealistic but it was still a charming read.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The book starts with a bang when a body is found lying sprawled in the rocks. The opening delves straight into the mystery starting with the first paragraph by immediately setting up the victim and the prime suspect. The story weaves between Vivian - our amateur sleuth - and Detective Lieutenant Tony Messina as he investigates the murder. His part of the plot becomes increasingly complicated as his interests shift from detective interrogating a suspect to a growing attraction to Jenna - her assistant. Jenna has a strong connection to the victim who turns out to be her ex-husband Dean - who also has a long list of enemies. From the women he's cheated on to the woman - and owner of the nightgown he was found in - he was with before he died to a gambling 'friend,' there is no storage when it comes to suspects. The growing list of suspects and motives creates a compelling mystery full of twists and turns.

Kingsbury has a flair for capturing the attitudes and personalities of her characters which provides a well-rounded picture of them through the eyes of her protagonist, specifically her two assistants. Jenna is described as rarely showing emotion and having a talent for startling other people. But while she's blunt - even rude at times - she's also loyal and always willing to lend a helping hand. Her backstory is tragic with an abusive father, the death of her brother, foster homes, and a miserable ex-husband - the murder victim. These elements are what push her desire to bury the past and create a balance to Vivian's other assistant Gracie who is described as being in a constant state of excitement with an impulsive and unpredictable nature that has her always ready to embark on an adventure. Every character has a vivid personality - for example, Natalie of the Sophisticated Grape wine shop is described as being onstage everywhere she went and "out to impress everyone who entered her realm."

Vivian has made her lifelong dream come true - which took more than sixty years to achieve - so the story has a strong voice that incorporates the pride she has. The descriptions of the tearoom are elegant, vivid, and beautifully capture the English aesthetic. Vivian is living her dream though she still carries a weight of grief around her from the loss of her husband three years prior. Despite this, she has a playful way about her that adds to the lighthearted tone of the story which pairs well with the lovely Oregan coast as a setting. Moments are provided that take you into the peacefulness of the setting through vivid details such as the fragrance of seaweed and the salty air. Reading Kingsbury's descriptions always delivers a strong presence in every scene that easily takes you into the setting with the humorous names of shops (Furry Fun pet supplies shop) and the whimsical shops such as the Beach Bums Cafe description of having a Hawaiian theme that's overdone with gaudy decor.

I love tea-themed cozy mysteries so I hoped I'd enjoy this one, but I just couldn't get interested in these characters or the story.