Kate Kingsbury is back with a new series, again set in Oregon. I have read every book in her other series so I was eager to read In Hot Water. As it is a debut mystery and the stage needs to be set I was willing to go along with some weak points figuring that they will not be repeated in the next book. Overall an enjoyable read with an older (sixtyish) main character, Vivian Wainwright, recent widow and owner of the Willow Pattern Tearoom. With the help of her two employees, Jenna and Gracie, they are getting ready to celebrate their second year in business. There might never be a third year when Jenna's ex-husband falls to his death from the sixth floor balcony of a beach front hotel. As Jenna was seen at the hotel having a heated argument with him the police focus on her as the obvious suspect. Of course Vivian and Gracie are certain she didn't do it. Having read so many mysteries, Vivian launches into her own investigation, convinced that the police don't have the imagination to focus beyond Jenna for the real killer.
There were some unresolved bits like the dead man's strange attire at the time of his death and that's a shame as it took me a bit out of the story and lost a review star for it. Then the issue of his finances. I wanted to know more and the police should have pushed with their questioning. On the other hand the main characters were realistic with assorted character flaws - Jenna often being downright rude and Vivian's manner of questioning townsfolk as she tracked the killer. All things considered I will happily give the next book in this series a try as it has the potential of becoming a good series to follow.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and t0 NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

In Hot Water is a good cozy mystery revolving around three women that work at a tea room. Most of the main characters were likeable, although I didn’t like Jenna’s attitude much. She seemed very depressed and didn’t want to do anything to help herself. I felt the plot was drawn out, and/or needed a little more action. I loved the tea room setting, but instead of looking at the positive side of the business, all the reader saw was how much work needed to be completed each day. It seemed the women were not having any fun, which led me to feel a little bored with this story. I received an advanced reader’s copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Kate Kingsbury's In Hot Water is the first book in a new series by her and this is the first book of her's I have ever read. This is also the first Cozy thriller I have ever read. Having also read too many dark, psychological and fast- paced thrillers, I must say I do prefer the dark thrillers little bit more than these cozy types.

Leaving aside my preference, looking at just the story, I surprisingly quite liked In Hot Water. It features some principal characters, one of whom is a woman of about 45 years, Vivian Wainwright, a widow of a prosecuting attorney, who is not unfamiliar with the legal processes. This leads in her involvement of a murder investigation, of which one of her employees, has become the prime suspect. The way she goes about investigating what actually happened seemed too amateurish - I guess it makes sense, she is just an amateur. But I guess it's just not my cup of tea.

For all that, I quite liked the twists and turns in the story and author has narrated the story in a compelling and engaging way. And the book definitely deserves 5 stars. All the opinion expressed in the review are completely my own given in exchange for an ARC from the publishers and Netgalley.

The first in the Misty Bay Tearoom series, In Hot Water is a cozy mystery that is set in a tearoom on the Oregon Coast. While I thought the mystery itself was interesting, the writing style wasn't for me. The characters were bland, the story wasn't that engaging, and the pace seemed very slow at times. I'm not sure I will continue with the next book in the series. Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane books for the advance digital copy.

Vivian is certain that her friend and assistant Jenna did not kill her ex-husband Dean, who is dressed in someone else's clothes when he falls from a hotel balcony. Det. Tony Messina isn't so sure but he's open to help from Vivian and Grace, in part because he's kind of touches by Jenna. Vivian thinks she knows how to investigate-her deceased husband was an attorney (that doesn't really make sense but hey-it's as good a reason as any)- but she finds herself dealing with red herrings and her technique leaves a lot to be desired. Dean was involved in nefarious activities and there were lots of people who didn't like him. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. An interesting debut for a new cozy series.

In Hot Water was amazing until the last page. I enjoyed partnering with Vivian and Gracie while the tried so desperately to clear Jenna’s name of the murder of her ex Dean.

The characters were so well rounded that they felt real to me. And don’t even get me started on an English Tea Shop for a setting! It doesn’t get any cozier.

I will say that I had it figured out before the big reveal but that didn’t stop me one but from finishing the story. I highly recommend this novel!

If you enjoy reading cozy mysteries set in tearooms you won't want to miss this one! I have enjoyed other cozy mysteries by this author so I was eager to read this new first in series! The main character is likeable and an older sleuth which sets it apart from many other cozies. I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters and this well-planned mystery kept me guessing until the very end. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series.

In Hot Water by Kate Kingsbury
Book #1: Misty Bay Tearoom Series
Source: NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books
Rating: None, DNF at 15%

The Bottom Line: Historically, Crooked Lane Books has been a great publishing house for me, and I have fallen in love with several of their series. Unfortunately, this series isn’t going to fall into that category. At 15% I realized all the characters were reading as the same person for me and I couldn’t really connect to the story. Even with an early murder, I found the pacing to be incredibly slow and with no real sense of urgency. It was easy for me to set this book aside and move on to the next offering.

New series and author for me. This book I could not put down. I highly recommend reading this book. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

2.5 stars
This is the debut to a series set in an Oregon tea shop, featuring widowed retiree Vivian and her staff Jenna and Grace. Jenna's ex-husband is found murdered and she is the last one to have seen him, so she becomes the chief suspect.

Often we have to suspend our disbelief in cozies while the characters decide to investigate on extremely flimsy excuses. While the three protagonists were pleasant enough, it didn't appear particularly well researched and the plot didn't hang together well. The amateur investigators withheld much crucial information from the police and basically bumbled their way through.

Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In Hot Water is a new teashop cozy mystery by Kate Kingsbury. I love her Merry Ghost Inn series and was excited to read this book. Vivian has lived in Misty Bay for 2 years and owns Willow Pattern Tearoom.. Her assistants are Jenna and Gracie, whom she thinks of as daughters. Jenna's ex-husband Dean is found dead in a pink negligee on the lawn of the local upscale Blue Surf Hotel, and that is in the 1st chapter! There are a few slow spots, but the ending was exciting and I wasn't sure who the culprit was until the end. It took me a few chapters to warm up to Vivian, Jenna and Gracie. They all have very different personalities and are different ages. Vivian is a widow with grown children and grandkids. Jenna is divorced with no kids but is 40ish and Gracie is young, late 20's. I liked Vivian's friend Hal and Police Detective Messina. The book was enjoyable and I look forward to the next book. #NetGalley #InHotWater #CrookedLaneBooks #KateKingsbury

Interesting start to a new cozy mystery series. Since it's the first book, you get alot of information about characters and such, surprisingly though, there wasn't as much information about the tea room. I haven't decided yet if this series is gonna be my cup of tea (no pun intended), but I'm willing to read the next book in the series and see.

Many thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

In Hot Water is the first novel in Kate Kingsbury’s new Misty Bay Tea Room series. It follows Vivian Wainwright who opened up the Willow Pattern Tea Room about a year ago in Misty Bay, Oregon after her husband passed away. She gets dragged into a mystery when the ex-husband of her friend and employee, Jenna, is found dead under suspicious circumstances. The police immediately suspect Jenna is involved in someway and it's up to Vivian, Jenna and fellow employee Gracie to get to the bottom of things before Jenna ends up falsely accused.

Although the book had some interesting twists and a great setting, I could not get over the feeling like this was book two in the series and I had missed something. The relationships between the characters were established, but not developed for the reader. I didn't get Hal and Vivian's relationship and I had a hard time connecting to the characters. The flow of the story felt choppy and odd at times. Overall, I didn't dislike the book, but it left me wanting more.

A cute, quick, easy first in series read. I hope to see more of the tea room as the series continues.

This is a cute cozy that is set on the Oregon Coast. Vivian owns a little tea shop, which she opened after her husband passed away. She has two assistants, Jenna and Gracie. One day a man plummets to his death from a new hotel in town. As it turns out, it is Jenna's ex-husband. The detective has Jenna in his sights. Vivian, Gracie, and Jenna set out to prove her innocence.

Such an entertaining plot. I love the Oregon Coast and I always imagine being there. The town is quaint and some of the town folk are quite the characters. This is a little love interest between a few of the characters, which is always enjoyable.

This is a fun and easy read. I really liked Vivian and her friends. Throw in the dog, Felix and I have my perfect mix. The mystery is good and kept me guessing as each new clue was revealed.

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this Cozy and offer my unbiased opinion.

I like this is the first in the series but the story is not about the main character making a few life changing decisions (or they are made for her) and she starts a new life. The life changing events happened a few years before the story starts. The MC has even met the detective in charge already.

My likes stopped soon after that. The police detective told Vivian to “butt out” when she advised her friend to have a lawyer present during questioning - which could possibly be considered denying a suspect access to legal counsel. Bad form if the police do that. Then Vivian claims she knows how to go about an investigation because she’s “read enough mystery novels.”

Cozy mysteries are a poor choice when it comes to crime investigation text books.

Badly plotted stories, however, can have a certain entertainment value. (If not in the actual story, then at least in writing a fitting review.) Which is reason enough to read on. I had to put this book aside often, though, to be able to deal with the stupid.

The story is told mostly in close third person from Vivian’s point of view, and some of it in close third person from detective Messina’s POV. This rarely works well in women’s fiction. The men are already idiots from the woman’s perspective. They’re even bigger idiots when they get their own perspective. As is the case here.

Messina is convinced the most logical explanation for a man to be killed is to be killed by his ex-wife. In a jealous rage. While the victim is described as muscular. It would have been his sole line of investigation had there not been something about the woman. Ugh.

I might have been able to accept his questioning of Jenna in regard to killing her ex-husband if there had been any evidence other than that she was seen at the hotel where her ex got killed. So were a dozen or so other people, I am sure. A few hours after the murder, the cop should still be open to all possibilities and question Jenna as a possible witness. As an ex-wife she might know about the sort of company he keeps and any illegal business he was involved in. But to assume a woman kills her ex because she’s jealous, when she did not kill him over the affairs he had during their marriage, that takes some suspension of disbelieve on my part.

Yet, there is a reporter that buys into the same story. For real? I thought the whole point of a crime reporter was to question the official reading. If they repeat the police’s story they are spokespersons, not journalists.

*facepalm*

Anyway, when the professionals are clearly incompetent, it’s no wonder the amateurs - Vivian and her employees - set out to investigate the murder of Dean themselves and to clear Jenna’s name.

I’m not much impressed by the way Vivian, Jenna and Gracie go about their investigation. Vivian’s style is confrontational to say the least (and none of the people she confronts should be playing poker). Very unlikely I will pick up another in this series.

It was a fast and easy read. I more or less knocked it out in just over a single work shift during one of the busiest weeks of the season. Unfortunately, this may have been a negative. I would have gladly taken a longer read in exchange for certain plot points being completely ignored or rushed through. So many questions still linger in my head that I doubt will ever be resolved. I would also have taken a lot more of Tony Messina ... and a lot more of the ins and outs of the tea room. There wasn't enough of either for me so I'll probably grab the next one in the series just to get more .... and to see if someone ever mentions the pink negligee again.

A great plot with an equally great storyline, with a minor flaw, Vivian, Jenna, and Gracie, well mostly, Vivian and Jenna’s parts were a bit rushed. Not thinking things through seemed to be the norm of the day.
“Oh, come on, Vivian, with a warning like that, you should have called the popo, and wanting some to talk to, you go to the popo, there you go not thinking things through.
I believe these ladies were going about this sleuthing thing the wrong way, but no matter it was an engaging, interesting, and intriguing book.

Congratulations to the author on this debut series. It is charming and a well crafted sleuth with fun charcters.
Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley. My review opinions are my own.

We are introduced to a charming British style tearoom. The protagnist Vivian is a widow who opened the shop on the picturesque Oregon coast. The tea room is doing well until a murder occurs of the ex husband of her assistant who is now under suspicion. Vivian and her friends must clear her assistants name to save her and the tearoom from further scandal. Vivian proves to have a talent to find clues and suspects and soon is on track of a killer.
This was a excellent debut cozy mystery with all the right elements readers enjoy. The author has likable characters, a fun sleuth and a atmospheric setting. Well done to the author. I look forward to the next in series.

Thanks for the arc. I was hoping to enjoy it from beginning to end. Sadly I sort of stopped being invested in the plot by 25% in. A miss for me. 😥