Another wonderful mystery by Laura Childs. I was kept guessing as to who the murderer was until the very end. Excellent plot development and a familiar and cozy cast of regulars. I would invite anyone that is not familiar with this author to definitely give her a try.

This book is much better than the last one in the series, to my relief. The story is about a groom and bridesmaid who are killed just before the wedding Theo and crew are catering. The bride-to-be is Bettina, Delaine's niece, who has been in other books in the series. I like it when the crime isn't about totally new people. Of course, Theo has to investigate and hijinks ensue. The pacing is pretty good and the evildoer doesn't completely come out of the blue at the end, so it's pretty satisfying. A fun read.

There are days or times as a reader that we just need to curl up with a book for an afternoon and shut out the world. The twenty-ninth title in the 'Tea Shop Mystery' series, Theodosia is catering a wedding where the reception will take in the greenhouse. Everyone has been requested not to enter it until the bride and groom do after the wedding. Unfortunately, the maid-of-honor is known for being impatient and she decides to get a peak. Jamie, the groom, tries to run after her to cut her off, but the roof collapses as they enter. One lives, one dies. Theodosia is convinced the roof was rigged to collapse to murder the bride and groom, but why? Which one was the intended target?

Readers of this series will brew a pot of tea, make scones, and curl up with characters they know. This is the best type of comfort reading. Oh, and reading about the themed tea parties at the shop with the recipes in the back of the book makes an especially comforting read.

My thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc in return for an honest review.

I have read all of the books in this series. One thing I liked about this one is that Delaine doesn’t play a big part. She appears a few times but only screeches once. Drayton plays a bigger part and Haley seems to just be in the kitchen. I did guess who the murderer was on their second appearance in the book. Theodosia does some ridiculously dangerous things as usual. The ending stretches the lines of believability. I’m always amazed that Theo just “steps out” and leaves a busy tearoom so that she can drop into someone else’s workspace to ask questions. She gets annoying but I keep reading so the author is doing something right,

I continue to enjoy this series and feel quite protective of the characters. I also enjoy the recipes included at the end of the book and the information about tea resources.

This book stands out not just for its thrilling plot but also for its richly drawn characters and immersive setting. The delicate balance of mystery and emotional depth makes it an engrossing read that leaves you eagerly turning pages, all while contemplating the darker undercurrents of human nature.