Karen S. (BoysMom) - My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Great characters return in this riveting debut to Victoria Tait's spin-off series, the Waterwheel Café Mysteries.
Earl Grey and Shallow Graves is the debut novel in veteran author Victoria Tait's latest work, the Waterwheel Café Mysteries, a spin-off of her popular Dotty Sayers mystery series featuring Police Sergeant Keya Varma. The plot is complex, with good investigations and familiar characters that feel like old friends, and there are twists and turns that kept me reading until all was revealed. I was completely delighted with this story, and Keya is now one of my favorite cozy mystery characters.
I'm so glad Keya keeps getting more assured and confident in her bookish appearances. She still questions herself, but her instincts are good. She's still a bit of a klutz and makes a spectacular splash at a crime scene early in the book. I don't know if that makes her feel like such a kindred spirit, but I felt like I was catching up with a real-life friend as I read. There have been some changes in the department, and I enjoyed Keya's travels around her district in addition to the mystery, which is the book's focus. She and Ryan do well together, and I liked seeing Keya's relationships with series characters from the Dotty Sayers series that appear here as well.The plot was intriguing, along with Keya trying to get her new café opened. What starts as a sad and baffling cold case revs up when a current murder is discovered, which really puts pressure on Keya's bunch to find the killer. With more than one victim to vindicate, there are quite a few contacts to make.
With its familiar and engaging characters and wonderfully vivid sense of place, I recommend EARL GREY AND SHALLOW GRAVES to cozy mystery readers who enjoy a better-than-amateur sleuth, intriguing plots, and a Cotswolds' setting. I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.