Being a police detective in Misty Bay, Oregon must be the most frustrating job around. It’s an area with not much serious crime, so when a man falls of a hotel balcony dressed only in a pink negligee, it’s the biggest case around. The dead man’s ex-wife hated him, and her employer and co-worker are determined to investigate the crime. (The identity of the murderer was obvious to me almost from the beginning). Two of the women get death threats, and they find out that the deceased was involved with a shady escort service-- but they don’t bother to inform the police. They go into a lingerie shop, and the clerk gives them the names of people who purchased negligees, and a working escort discloses the names of her clients. This requires a major suspension of disbelief—why would anyone provide this kind of personal information to a tea shop owner and her employees? I did like the characters and the seaside setting, but not the lame plot. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I've read, and enjoyed, a number of the other Kate Kingsbury mysteries and so I thought I'd love this first book in the Misty Bay Tea Room series as well. I liked it, but didn't love it.

I loved the characters and think there's a lot of potential with this tea shop on the Oregon coast but the book was slow starting and somewhat haphazard for me. In the end, though, I'm glad I stuck with it and would likely read further books in the series.

This is a first in series by this author. I have read her other series and love The Merry Ghost in series wish she would continue that one as well. The Willow Pattern tea house is getting ready to celebrate their second anniversary and Vivian Wainwright’s dream of owning a tea house has been fulfilled. Her two assistants, Jenna and Gracie, are like daughters to her. When Jenna’s ex husband is murdered and the police view her as the primary suspect, the three women agree to find who killed the man so that Jenna doesn’t get put away for a crime she didn’t commit. Vivian’s heart is in the right place, but will they save Jenna or doom all three of themselves for interfering in a police investigation…or even face the wrath of the murderer? I can not wait for this next book in this series please keep them coming.

Thank you NetGalley, Kate Kingsbury and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC of In Hot Water. This is my personal review.
This is the first book in the new series A Misty Bay Tea Room Mystery.
Vivian owns a tearoom in the small town of Misty Bay, Oregon. The tearoom is getting ready to celebrate its second anniversary when a body is found, and it is the ex-husband of one of the employees of the tearoom. Jenna is thought to be the one who killed him, but Vivian and her other employee Gracie know that Jenna could not have done the deed. So, the three of them set out to solve the murder and clear Jenna’s name.
The twists and turns in the mystery left me wondering a few times what exactly was happening. I am looking forward to the next book in the series to get to know the characters a little better.

In Hot Water by Kate Kingsbury is the first in a new cozy series and I was excited to read new book by Ms. Kingsbury.

Unfortunately, I was somewhat disappointed in this book. Vivian, Jenna and Gracie are all likable characters but their investigation seemed to be all over the place. They would start on one path, then divert to another and another. Although the plot moved smoothly the trio got themselves into some tight situations which shouldn't have happened if they had progressed in a more logical manner. Yes, I know they are amateur sleuths but it became almost comical to see them stumbling into one situation after another usually ill prepared to handle the situations. I really wanted to like this book but I was disappointed. An interesting mystery for an afternoon read.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.0 stars

This was a fast paced cozy mystery with low key elements yet has the setting of a charming English tea room. This is a great fast pace series with unique characters.this has all the ingredients needed for an entertaining red from start to surprising finish.

This new series isn’t quite my cup of tea. It didn’t leave a big impression on me probably because some of the characters I was suppose to like I didn’t
Thank you netgalley and the pu lusher for this arc

I enjoyed this first outing of a new series . It’s an enjoyable read with an interesting variety of characters. I thought the plot was well written and I look forward to more in this series.

This cozy mystery was fun to read. It had likeable characters in it, and a well written plot. The finale of the book was suspenseful. It also had a hint of romance in it. I highly recommend this book to other cozy mystery readers.

In Hot Water by Kate Kingsbury is the first book in a new series set in Misty Bay, Oregon! I was a big fan of Kingsbury's Merry Ghost Inn Series and this one has her same whit and British charm! Vivian opened a tearoom two years ago after her husband passed away. With the tearoom's two year anniversary approaching and one of her employees in hot water when her ex-husband is found dead under suspicious circumstances, Vivian jumps in to help clear her friend's name. Will Vivian and her other employee, Gracie's, hard work payoff or will the celebration be ruined and Jenna behind bars? Pick up the book to find out!

The first book was really fun and quick to read. I enjoyed the set up that Kingsbury put into it, didn't feel like a first book at all but rather one in a series I had enjoyed before. I can't way for the next Misty Bay Tearoom Book!

I enjoyed this first outing of a new series. The protagonist and secondary characters are well developed, and the plotting is pretty complex, which I like. This is well written and a good escape mystery.

Review provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this cozy mystery.
There are three main characters, Vivian, Jenna, and Gracie, who are all different ages, and dealing with different personal issues. They have the best chemistry of any three friends I've read in a long time. Vivian owns and runs a tea room, and Jenna and Gracie work for her. When one of them is accused of murder, the other three will go to great lengths to figure out who the real killer is. Nothing will prepare them for the information they uncover along the way.
Light, fun, quick read filled with enjoyable characters, and a few plot twists.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the formality and comradery of the three main characters in Kate Kingsbury's debut A Misty Bay Tea Room Mystery series. 'In Hot Water' has three delightful characters, all different ages and stages of their lives. They bond together to solve the mystery of the death of one's ex-husband. There is humor, charming budding romance, and a great mystery. There are many unanswered questions that have me anxious for more. I highly recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I enjoyed this book and thought the characters were well developed. The pacing was good and kept the story moving. Can’t wait to read another book by this author.

A great read. I loved the book. The plot was very well written and I cannot wait for another book. This was from a new to me and great author. I really enjoyed the book.

In Hot Water is the first in a new cozy series by bestselling author Kate Kingsbury. Set in the small town of Misty Bay on the Oregon coast, the series centers on Vivian, the owner of the Willow Pattern Tea Room.

When a man's body is found under suspicious circumstances, his ex-wife Jenna, one of Vivian's employees, becomes the main suspect in the murder investigation. So it's up to Vivian, Jenna, and Vivian's other employee, Gracie to solve the murder and clear Jenna's name.

Perhaps it's because Kate Kingsbury's other mysteries are historicals but despite having a contemporary setting, this felt very old-fashioned to me. The characters using words like "hussy" and blushing over using a curse word just felt like it belonged in another time period.

Otherwise, this was a charming whodunit of the classic cozy type. Lots of delicious descriptions of Vivian's pastries and tea. Lots of small-town politics and scandals to be investigated. One or possibly two budding romances. And towards the end, we get the introduction of Felix, the canine companion!

I enjoyed this book. It's a cozy, but it's about as spicy as a cozy can be and still be a cozy. I liked the recipe at the end. I did have a question concerning the plot. Maybe I missed it, but how did both Jenna's and Reggie's cars end up at the lookout when Jenna was unconscious? The story works out better with both cars there, but who drove it there? Also, there is a reference, made by an American, who refers to going up to the first floor. I couldn't work it out in my head how that was possible if it was an American giving the directions.

This was an OK read for me. The characters were decent, there weren't many issues with the plot and the writing style was good. I don't have anything bad to say about it, but I'm not going to go out of my way to recommend it.
For me, it was rather slow and I kept forgetting I had it on my e-reader.
On the other side, this has been my first contact with the cozy mystery genre and I think I'll keep reading it since it was enjoyable.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A short book (under 200 pages) but it felt longer. At times reading it was like wading through treacle .... lots of description of running a tea shop and the life of it's owner, Vivian. Then suddenly the story came to an end . The scene is set well and life in Misty Bay is in some ways old fashioned, every one seems to know every one else. Then the body of the ex husband of one of Vivian's assistants is found on the beach below the modern hotel. Did his ex wife kill him ? It looks as if she is the main suspect.
The police investigation is rarely mentioned, instead we get the tea shop ladies running around talking to people of interest . Why ? In the meantime they are running the sucessful tea shop. Sometimes the description of making sandwiches and tea gets repetetive. Having been married to a lawyer, Vivian sees herself as a sleuth and introduces herself as a counsellor, which could be interpreted in a number of ways. That people involved in the case then disclose a lot of information left me scratching my head .
In some ways I can see that readers would be charmed by the old fashioned style of the book. May be I am too much of a realist to enjoy this book. OK, but not really a crime novel, more of a who dunnit where the outcome is fairly predictable.
Thank you to Net galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Misty Bay Tearoom series debut.

Vivian Wainwright who owns the Misty Bay Tearoom is living the life she wants on the Oregon coast. On the second anniversary of the shop’s anniversary her dreams could be shattered when a man falls to his death from the hotel balcony.

Dan Ramsey the man who fell is the ex-husband of Vivian’s assistant, Jenna. Detective Tony Messina suspects Jenna of the murder, because she was seen leaving the hotel before the murder.

Vivian and Gracie set out to find the real killer, using criminology that Vivian picked up from her late lawyer husband. Detective Messina starts have feelings for his prime suspect, but he still has questions that need to be answered like who’s clothes was Dean wearing when he took his fall?

Hal Douglas, Vivian’s pet shop friend and owner seems to have knowledge that could add a list of suspects including his own. If Vivian doesn’t work fast it could mean Jenna could face a murder charge or something worse.

I loved this book. I liked how Vivian went about solving the mystery and the location came alive for me. I can’t wait for the next book in this series. Be sure to check this book out you won’t be disappointed.