I love the Tea Shop Mysteries.
Theodosia, Drayton and Hayley are like old friends now.
This title is highly recommended for fans of the series.

The Indigo Tea Shop, located in Charleston, has been hired by Peregrine Pictures to provide food for a movie crew filming Dark Fortunes. Since there is no official lunch hour and free time is at a premium, food has to be fresh and available all day. Theodosia and her tea sommelier, Drayton, keep the tables filled with tea sandwiches, lemon scones, brownie bites, banana muffins, cranberry tea bread, handmade chocolate fudge, and a variety of tea choices.

During a scene with a fortune teller, the director decides she should read the tea leaves before delivering the fateful line but she makes a mess of it. Theodosia is, as they say, ‘discovered.’ Makeup, hair, and costume aren’t as bad as she feared and she soon finds herself on set, ready to hear ‘Action!.’

Sadly, there was more action than anyone anticipated. There’s a crackle in the air and then the film’s director is dead. Detective Tidwell is on the scene. EMTs say electrocution. Theodosia thinks murder.

Theo’s been involved in murder investigations before but plans to steer clear of this one. After all, she has a business to run. That was, until Delaine Dish, a rather overbearing, dramatic friend, is implicated. It seems she and the director had been an item until they had a very loud, very public argument. Now Delaine demands Theo investigate and find the real killer before they suspect her. Sometimes, all the time, it’s easier to give in to Delaine than it is to argue.

This is book 27 in the popular series, many reviewed for KRL. If you like a fast-paced read, fun characters, good food, a dog, and a whodunit mystery, this series will keep you busy.

At the back of the book, find Haley’s recipes for cinnamon coffee cake, pineapple crisp, lemon chicken, strawberry tea sandwiches, double chocolate scones, Waldorf tea sandwiches, Drayton’s egg clouds, ham and sweet potato casserole, Haley’s super easy fudge (six ingredients if you add nuts), no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies, seafood bake, and peach puffs.

Want to hostess your own tea party? There are suggestions for themes: Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Craft Party, Yorkshire Tea, Poetry Tea, or a Vintage Tea. Serving scones? How about these scone toppers? Strawberry jam and Devonshire cream, ricotta cheese and honey, sun-dried tomatoes, smoked salmon with cream cheese, Brie cheese and chutney, herbed butter, guacamole and diced tomatoes, melted gruyere, bacon and egg, blueberry and maple syrup, Black Forest scone, or fig and blue cheese. There are suggestions for presentation or mixing.

If you’d like to learn more about tea, there’s a list of tea resources—which magazines to read, the website address, and a brief description. An added treat is a list of tea websites and interesting blogs, a list of tea sellers, plus if you’re visiting Charleston, a list of sights to see.

Oh Theo, always getting yourself into trouble and taking Drayton with you. This was another great installment in the A Tea Shop Mystery series. I was able to guess the killer shortly before the reveal.

I love the tea parties that they host, they are so creative and I would totally attend one if the tea house was in my town. One of these days I will have to try the recipes at the back of the book because they all sound tasty.

In the latest installment of the Tea Shop Mystery series, Theodosia finds herself on the set of a movie called, Dark Fortunes. Reading the tea leaves is her easiest task, but now she must find out if the death of the film’s director is actually an accident or a real murder.

I absolutely love coming back to this world. Reading about Theodosia and Drayton always puts a smile on my face. There’s just something very comforting about their friendship and I have always loved Theodosia’s way of thinking. She’s never too rash, but she’s interesting enough that the book never feels too slow-paced or boring.

We have Laura Childs’ writing to thank for that. Out of all the Cozy Mystery authors out there, I have to say that my favorite is Laura Childs. I love how she unravels the story and mystery a bit at a time and keeps readers on their toes until the very end.

If you’re looking for a fun cozy mystery, I would highly recommend this one. There are so many amazing books already in this series and MURDER IN THE TEA LEAVES is so exception. Laura Childs’ Tea Shop Mysteries series is a definite must-read!

I've been reading this series forever and it's always the same but that's okay - I enjoy the fact that every book is basically the same exact plot, characters with zero growth and that it's like a cartoon series where no one ages, changes or develops any real personality changes. Each book has the exact same formula: Theodosia intercepts herself into a murder investigation that has nothing to do with her tea shop and goes about solving the murder. And then she put herself in the path of danger for absolutely no reason and uses zero common sense. Great entertainment!

Murder in the Tea Leaves is another Tea Shop mystery.
I'm a tea drinker and always make it a point to try different kinds of teas, I like most kinds but do have my favorites. When I see a cozy mystery series taking place in a tea shop, I know it's on my to read list at the top.
Tea shop owner Theodosia Browning has hit the big time, and a movie is being filmed in her tea shop. Because she has such knowledge of tea, she is put in at the last minute to read the tea leaves by the movie director. The lights are low and though she was there she didn't see who set the wires up to electrocute the director in his metal chair. When a friend of hers is the prime suspect she knows she must take matters into her own hands to solve this case. Quick read, I enjoyed the clues presented. The descriptions of the delightful different types of teas, and desserts was divine and even the talk about the different cups and tea pots and how they were acquired, how fun. Earl Gray was her dogs name, loved it. There are delightful recipes included plus tea plantations to visit and other things to do while traveling. I really enjoyed the information in the back of the book and look forward to visiting Charleston, such a wonderful travel guide. I always look forward to more books in this series, it's a favorite of mine.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I’ve enjoyed reading The Tea Shop Mysteries series and this latest book shows that the series keeps improving. In this book, Theo and her staff are providing tea and food to a movie shoot when someone is gruesomely murdered. Theo tries to solve the murder, putting herself and her staff/friends in danger. I like visiting the familiar characters, and the descriptions of Charleston are so vivid it makes me want to visit. The delightful recipes at the end are a great bonus!


Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Murder in the Tea Leaves by Laura Childs has Theodosia Browning on a movie set!

Who had the right motive to kill the film's director?

Theodosia Browning and the Indigo Staff
Theo and the Indigo Tea Shop had been hired to be the craft services table while they were filming scenes at a location within the city. Except when she wasn't on set, Theo was at her shop making it work there. I have to say that I love Theodosia as a character, and how, in each installment, she gets wrapped up in a mystery is hilarious. I love learning about the different teas and things as well. Theo is a remarkable character, and I would like to be her friend. There is also the benefit that I could taste Haley's creations and sip all the tea that I want.

Drayton is always Theo's sidekick when she goes on adventures. These adventures involve searching for clues related to the mystery. Haley had a smidge of a bigger part this time, as she actually helped Theo keep sleuthing.

The Mystery
Theodosia was in the scene being filmed when the film's director was getting killed. She kind of already set herself on the task of solving it because that is just a horrible way to go. However, the next day, Delanie asked Theo to solve it. Theodosia had a hard time solving this mystery as there were a lot of red herrings. I must admit I fell for one, but the real culprit was behind the red herring. Mostly, it was because the culprit seemed iffy to me.

Five Stars
I am giving five stars to Murder in the Tea Leaves by Laura Childs. I recommend this book because I always love popping into the historic district of Charleston, South Carolina, to solve a mystery. I plan on making one of Haley's recipes, as they all sound so good. I swear, no matter which book I read in this series, as long as Haley is in it, I will need a lot of snacks.

Now, remember there are recipes, tips, and a way to make scones seem less boring in the back of the book. The recipes are Killer Cinnamon Coffee Cake, Pineapple Crisp, Lemon Chicken, Strawberry Tea Sandwiches, Double Chocolate Scones, Waldorf Tea Sandwiches, Drayton's Egg Clouds, Ham and Sweet Potato Casserole, Haley's Super Easy Fudge, No Bake Chocolate-Oatmeal Cookies, Seafood Bake, Peach Puffs, Tea Time Tips from Laura Childs, and Get Creative with Scones.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Murder in the Tea Leaves by Laura Childs.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

Theodosia Browning owns a charming little tea shop in Charleston. When she works on a local movie set, she witnesses a frightening murder as the film's director is electrocuted. One of her friends is a suspect, and Theodosia steps in to solve the crime - despite all the danger this entails.

I wanted to read Murder in the Tea Leaves because I have enjoyed the books I've read in the Tea Shop Mystery series. I love the Charleston setting and the tea details.

This was one of my favorite mysteries in this series. The murder happened early on and the pace of the mystery was brisk. There were several plausible suspects, and I enjoyed Theodosia's sleuthing. She is a fun amateur detective. I also enjoy her relationship with her boyfriend Riley, her friends, and her lovable dog Earl Grey.

As always, I loved the tea shop details, like the Poetry Tea and the Breakfast at Tiffany's Tea. The foodie descriptions in this series are sublime!

I recommend Murder in the Tea Leaves (and this entire series) for cozy mystery fans, and especially for anyone with an interest in tea or foodie mysteries.

MURDER IN THE TEA LEAVES by Laura Childs
The Twenty-Seventh Tea Shop Mystery

The movies have come to Charleston, South Carolina and Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop, has landed the sweet gig of providing craft services. Josh Morro, the film's director, is disgusted with the actors and the script and Theo soon finds herself on set as a tea leaf reader! The scene is running smoothly until there's a hiss, crack, and sparks, resulting in a dead director. Who had it in for Josh? The scriptwriter he accused of plagiarism? The new director who was so conveniently available? The electrician with a debt? Even Delaine Dish is a suspect. When Theo finds a member of the Charleston Film Board murdered she's determined to dig even deeper until she finds a killer and justice is served.

Making movies can be murder, as Theodosia Browning discovers in the twenty-seventh Tea Shop Mystery. Theo is at it again, running her tea shop, creating new and inventive tea parties, expanding her catering business, helping friends, and solving murders! I don't know how she manages to cram so much activity into a day. I thoroughly enjoy the tea events and the description of the teas and food, plus the fact that recipes and tips are included at the end of the book.

In MURDER IN THE TEA LEAVES we also get involved in movie making. I enjoyed the realistic portrayal of the filming of Dark Fortunes and the harsh reality of production. As for the mystery, I loved the misdirection and how everything finally came together. As usual there were fast paced, pulse pounding scenes making the book a quick read. There were also times I shook my head at Theo is disbelief. Why not report the attack to the police? It's not like you were in a restricted place. And the whole breaking into places to snoop. Ugh.

Cozy teas and thrilling action combine in MURDER IN THE TEA LEAVES making a fun addition to this long running series.

Laura Childs continues her Tea Shop mysteries with Murder in the Tea Leaves. Theodosia is supplying tea and snacks for a movie set in Charleston when the director is electrocuted and she begins to sleuth out suspects. Then another body drops, a local business owner. Is there a connection? Wonderful tea party scenes, possible ghosts and danger. Read and enjoy.

Dollycas's Thoughts

Theodosia Browning's Indigo Tea Shop is hopping hosting their regular customers but also hosting special teas like a Poetry Tea and a Breakfast at Tiffany’s Tea.  The shop has also been hired to cater the craft services for the spooky movie set of Dark Fortunes. Theodosia even gets in on the action when she steps in to read tea leaves as a fortune teller. But her acting career comes to an abrupt halt when the lights go out and electrical sparks fly as the film's director is killed. Was it a freaky accident? or was it murder? The cast and crew are shocked but claim to have seen nothing because the lights were out.

When the death is ruled a homicide and Theodosia's friend, Delaine finds herself at the top of the list of suspects Theodosia starts an investigation of her own. Then the killer strikes again and Drayton and Theodosia find themselves hot on their trail. They need to catch the killer before the tables are turned and they are fighting for their own lives.

______

I enjoy getting back to historic Charleston, South Carolina, to catch up with Theodosia, Drayton, Haley, Miss Dimple, Riley, Detective Tidwell, Delaine, and the lovable Dallbrador, Earl Grey. The characters Ms. Childs has created are so engaging and aside from chasing down killers feel very true to life. Even after so many close brushes with death, Theo is always ready for anything and she usually has Drayton right by her side trying to talk her out of her latest scheme to catch a killer. Haley, Miss Dimple, and now Haley's cousin Beth Ann handle the tea shop while Drayton and Theo follow the clues. Riley isn't happy when Theo gets involved but he is never going to change her. Earl Grey is quite a dog and will protect his person in any way he can.

I love the way the author sets a scene. Her descriptions create vivid pictures. The movie was being filmed in "dilapidated" supposedly haunted Brittlebank Manor. Theodosia just has to check the place out from top to bottom to see if the legends about the place are true and readers get to see things through her eyes. She also describes Deliane's goofy fashion show, all the fabulous special teas including the decor, teas, food, and at the Breakfast at Tiffany’s Tea what everyone is wearing. We travel along on her runs and walks through the city with Earl Grey and to her and Drayton's homes. We also get to tag along as she tries to solve a murder or two. It is so easy to escape to all these places in the pages of this story.

Theodosia has a knack for questioning people in her quest to get to the truth. She also has a way are getting herself and Drayton in some situations that can quickly turn deadly.  Ms. Childs has written a mystery with many twists and turns and what turns out to be a surprising motive. A motive Theo starts to put together a little too late but it leads up to an exhilarating and at points hilarious chase and an even funnier takedown. The ending was a little abrupt but there were no loose strings.

Book 27, Murder in the Tea Leaves is a hit! I was completely entertained from beginning to end and even a little breathless after the last few pages. Bring on Book 28, Peach Tea Smash, has a release date of August 6, 2024! I can't wait! You will find Murder in the Tea Leaves on my Best Reads of 2024.

Theodosia, her lovable dog Earl Grey and her delightful group of friends are back in the 27th entry into Laura Childs’ Tea Shop Mystery series. Readers can easily pick this cozy mystery up as a standalone, but I encourage everyone to dive into the backlist for even more charming reading.

Hollywood has come to historic Charleston, South Carolina with the filming of the movie Dark Fortunes at the old Brittlebank Manor. Theo has agreed to stock the craft services with her delicious baked goods and of course tea. Only days into the filming and there is an electrical accident that kills the film’s director. But was it an accident? It’s hard for the police to know since everyone on set claims to have not seen a thing.

The fast build of the mystery, the second murder and list of suspects and clues had me turning pages so quickly. I inhaled this mystery in a day and a half. In addition to the pacing, I adored all the characters–each so unique and loveable. Theo is especially fearless as a sleuth, unafraid to ask the hard questions or go where she’s not allowed just to find the truth.

The descriptions of the historic city and buildings within felt like arm-chair travel. The special tea parties that Theo hosts at her shop added a whimsical touch to the story, and as a tea lover myself, I found these details fascinating. I wish so much I could attend a tea party at Theo’s shop. The recipes included at the end are mouth-watering, and I appreciated the author’s inclusion of information about tea and South Carolina as additional resources.

No spoilers here, but the ending of this mystery was a lot of fun to read. I could easily picture the breath-taking escape from the bad-guys and their pretty funny capture. So looking forward to book 28!

A movie is filming in Theodosia’s town, but a murder on set is brewing. When the director is killed, Theodosia and her friend (and tea sommelier) Drayton are on the case, whether the police want them there or not.

This is such a warm, cozy mystery series, one I’m always happy to curl up with. The characters are fantastic, the mystery is always a good one, there’s friendships and romance, and you will absolutely want to visit that tea shop. I definitely recommend this book.

Murder In The Tea Leaves is the twenty-seventh book in the A Tea Shop Mystery series by Laura Childs.

Theodora, Drayton, and Hayley are some of my favorite characters, and they are back once again to provide the reader with an exciting story.

Delaine Dish, Theodora’s friend, has convinced her to provide sandwiches, pastries, and tea for the movie crew shooting a film at the reportedly haunted Brittlebank Manor. The movie producer, Josh Morro, is so impressed with Theadora’s appearance and knowledge of teas that he can convince her to appear in the film and do a tea reading. As the crew is about to start the reading, Morro sits on a metal chair when loud pops and flashes of light begin. Then Morro falls dead on the floor, having been electrocuted. It is learned that the chair had been jerry-rigged so that when Morro sat on it, he would be killed. Theodora vows not to get involved in the investigation until her friend, Delaine Dish, who had had a loud argument with Morro in a restaurant the evening before and witnessed by a room full of people, becomes a prime suspect.

Theodora will soon find many suspects, including the lead actress who wanted out of her movie contract so she could star in a reality show, and also possibly the Charleston Movie Board who was responsible for bringing the movie company to Charleston.

This book is well written and plotted. It is very descriptively written, and I am actually witnessing what is happening. The characters are well-developed and believable.

Recipes and tea facts are also included in the book.

I am looking forward to the next book in this exciting and enjoyable series.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the free book!

A suspicious death on a film set and a cast and crew of potential suspects thrust Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia and her tea sommelier Drayton into a new investigation.

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series, and this 27th installment is an excellent example of why this series is bestselling and beloved. It is well-written, has a charming setting, lots of tea and food references, and wonderful characters.

The world-building in this series is fantastic. Set in Charleston, SC, each book feels like a little tour of that beautiful city with lots of history, architecture, and amazing food. Charleston is a place I love visiting, and the vibe of that city really comes through in the pages of these books. There's even a potentially haunted attic and a ghostly legend in a historic home in this one.

While this is book 27 in the series, a reader could jump in here easily. The characters are warm and relatable. I love Theodosia, Drayton, and the rest of the crew. Theo is a bright and likable FMC, and Drayton is charming and full of personality. Sleuthing along with them feels like going on an fun adventure with old friends. They are surrounded by an engaging group of secondary characters, including Haley, who is always baking the most mouth-watering treats, and Theo's adorable pup, Earl Grey.

As a tea lover, the tea parties, special events, and all the tea talk in these books are irresistible to me. The Breakfast at Tiffany's and poetry-themed tea parties in this one sounded delightful. Set against the backdrop of all the lovely tea shop activity is a dysfunctional movie set with several suspects and plenty of motives. The mystery was fast-paced, with some twists and a bit of danger. I was hooked from the start to the action-packed finish! Highly recommended to cozy mystery lovers and those who want to try a cozy!

Tea shop proprietor Theodosia Browning has been hired for her most glamorous gig yet, providing craft services to the set of a Hollywood movie filming near her shop in Charleston, South Carolina. The film crew has rented out the haunted Brittlebank Manor for the shoot, and Theo wouldn’t be her usual incurably nosy self if she wasn’t at least a little interested in poking around the building to see if there’s any truth to the rumors of a ghost haunting the top floor.

She’s somewhat taken aback, then, when director Josh Morro decides to cast her in the movie itself as a tea leaf-reading fortune teller, due to her intimate knowledge of tea and her general presentability. Despite her protests, she’s hustled into hair and make-up, and is soon ready for her close-up. Alas that a huge power surge electrocutes Morro before he can proceed to immortalize her on film.

It quickly becomes clear that his death was no accident. Theo is willing to leave the investigating to the professionals, but her friend Delaine Dish has other plans. Delaine is a fixture on the Charleston Film Board, and originally tapped Theo for the catering job. Now she needs Theo’s help in turn. Delaine had been dating Josh until they’d had a spectacular and very public falling out while at a trendy restaurant. Afraid that the police will think that she killed Josh, she begs Theo for help in finding the real killer before her own reputation is in ruins.

Theo has always had a hard time saying no to Delaine, but when it quickly becomes clear that the murderer is on to her, she has no idea how to back out of the investigation either. Finding another dead body only raises the stakes. Will Theo and her friends manage to overcome the threats to their lives, and successfully set their own trap for a ruthless killer?

Full of loving descriptions of both tea and the city of Charleston, this cozy also continues the series’ tradition of action-packed set pieces. It’s a wonder that Theo is able to host the delightful themed tea services that she does some days, considering the cinematic spills she undergoes! I also very much feel for the wardrobe of her dapper tea sommelier Drayton Conneley, as it takes a continuous beating in the pursuit of justice.

There were twelve recipes included in this volume, along with teatime tips and suggestions. I had a hard time deciding which recipe to try out, as all of them were so delectably described in the novel itself! I finally settled on a meal for the whole family:

QUOTE
Lemon Chicken

1 frying chicken (2 ½ to 3 lbs.), cut into pieces
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
½ tsp. grated onion
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. thyme
Sprinkle of garlic powder
Butter
Chopped parsley and paprika for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend together olive oil, lemon juice, onion, salt, and thyme. Arrange chicken pieces in a buttered casserole dish. Brush chicken thoroughly with lemon-oil mixture. Sprinkle lightly with garlic powder. Cover and bake for 50 to 60 minutes until tender, basting occasionally. Take cover off casserole for the last 20 minutes to allow chicken to brown. Garnish with parsley and paprika and serve with rice or a vegetable. Yields 4 servings.
END QUOTE

I first want to register my appreciation as to how clear cut these instructions are, and how they demystify the whole process of roasting chicken. I cheated a bit and used bottled lemon juice, onion powder and parsley from a jar, but the result was already so amazing, I can barely even imagine how this would taste with fresh versions of those ingredients. The sauce came out so deliciously that I spooned up the extra like soup when I was done packing away leftovers.

I served this with mashed potatoes and (overcooked, alas) asparagus for a complete and balanced meal. My picky kids even ate a bunch of the chicken! This was a surprisingly fuss-free recipe that produced a truly excellent entree, and is one I’ll be happy to make again and again.

Next week, we celebrate March by traveling all over the world to solve three different mysteries, while whipping up a sweet Irish-inspired treat. Do join me!

I’m always excited to settle in with a new Tea Shop Mystery by Laura Childs. The historic Charleston setting, the adorable tea shop, and the brazen tea maven, Theodosia Browning, never disappoint! In the latest cozy mystery from Laura Childs, Murder in the Tea Leaves, Theo is helping provide craft services for a movie filming nearby, when a murder in the dark sends the whole production to a screeching halt!

Theodosia "Theo” Browning is one of my favorite leading ladies from a cozy mystery series. She’s spunky but refined, and has a knack for investigation that perturbs the police (including her boyfriend) to no end. I always like to hear the goings on at the tea shop sprinkled in throughout the mystery, and this was no exception. In fact, I didn’t count but it seemed to me that this book had more tea party breaks than previous mysteries. This is fun for fans of the series, but new readers may find those a bit meandering.

The book opens on the set of a movie, where Theo and her tea sommelier (and Watson to her Holmes) Drayton Conneley are providing craft services in the form of delectable teas, coffee cakes, scones, and tea sandwiches to the cast and crew. The film Dark Fortunes is in its first day of filming, but director Josh Morro is already unhappy. He’s cuing the actress dressed as the fortune teller to read the tea leaves for the leading actress, Andrea Blair in the opening scene. But when a tea bag plops ungracefully out of the teapot onto the table, Theo can’t help but offer her advice.

After showing the director that loose leaf tea would give the desired tea leaves and look for filming, Morro takes a look at Theo and switches her into the fortune teller role. Theo isn’t an actress but has no choice. Only just as she is performing her part with the cameras rolling, everything goes dark and a series of loud pops and bright flashes fill the set. When the lights are back on, the director Josh Morro has been electrocuted and it’s clear it’s a murder!

With her boyfriend out of town, the case falls to his boss in the police department, Burt Tidwell. Tidwell and Theo connect about what she witnessed before the murder, and he cautions her strongly to not involve herself in the investigation. Of course, long time readers of this series know that Theo absolutely won’t be following that instruction!

There are plenty of people who may have motives to murder Josh Morro. Actress Andrea Blair allegedly wanted to leave to star in a high-profile reality show, but Morro wouldn’t let her out of her contract for the movie. Screenwriter Craig Cole also didn’t have a great relationship with his director. Meanwhile local clothing shop owner Delaine Dish is worried she might be a suspect (or the next murder victim) after she had a fling with the director that ended poorly. Charleston Film board member Helene Deveroux has been involved with the production and had information on tax rebates and other incentives tied to the film. Executive producer Lewin Usher was also involved with the contract situation with Andrea. Meanwhile the entire lighting crew are considered suspects. It seems that many people had motive, means, and opportunity!

The mystery takes plenty of twists and turns along the way. Theo has a knack for detective work, and she had no problem questioning people she thinks may be suspects or digging for information. The police may not like it, but Theo has a way with solving murder mysteries that can’t be denied!

One of my favorite aspects to this series are the ties to the historic city of Charleston. The historical society tends to make some sort of appearance in every book which adds that fun element of research and history to the investigation. In this book, the filming location is the Brittlebank Manor. In addition to rumors of hauntings that plague the historic mansion, there’s also a legend that a woman was held prisoner in the manor’s attic. And she may not be the only person who found themselves imprisoned there!

Plenty of motives to go around, and the key is figuring out which one fits the murders. I always enjoy following the investigation and trying to figure out which leads I’d follow if I were Theodosia. The tea parties are fun—in this case there were several—but in this mystery they were less-relevant to the sleuthing than in some others. Childs always includes some fabulous recipes at the end, including Haley’s Killer Cinnamon Coffee Cake!

I will never turn down a chance to enjoy one of the Tea Shop Mysteries. With a creepy setting, a film production in town, links to a haunted mansion, and plenty of suspects—this is a winner!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.

This is the 27th book in this series, but the first I have read. Though it works as a standalone book, my appreciation for it may have been affected by the fact that I was unfamiliar with the series.

The mystery was good, though the ending was much too abrupt. Theo catches the killer and then the story ends. There was no final explanation to help readers put all the pieces together. It remains unclear why certain attacks took place and why some suspects acted the way they did.

I didn’t care for Theo. At least in this book, she seemingly has no personality. That’s where I think meeting her in other books might have helped give me a clearer picture of who she was. I do know she runs a successful business and enjoys taking risks.

Unfortunately, her risk-taking is one of the things I liked least about her. She was brutally attacked and didn’t bother to let the police know. She never seemed to make the intelligent choice if there was a foolhardy option available. I don’t admire that in characters.

Some of the side characters were more appealing to me. Drayton was full of personality, and Miss Dimple seemed charming.

The parts of the book I really enjoyed were the descriptions of the tea parties, the food, and the locations. At the end of the book there is an excellent collection of recipes, tea party suggestions, scone topping ideas, and resources for tea and Charleston.

This book didn’t work for me, but I know that many people love this series. If you find it exciting when characters put their lives on the line to solve a case, and if you are more interested in the action of the mystery rather than putting together all the pieces of the puzzle, this book might be a better fit for you.

Laura Childs' Tea Shop mysteries are such a fun series read. Theo and her friends are just trying to run their tea shop, and support their community, but murder is always happening. This time is on the set of a movie being shot in their town! Who even Knew the victim? Why is Theo attacked just visiting people? An enjoyable read for the weekend.