Another great mystery by Laura Childs. Always great good fun and wonderful characters. Love the shop, the teas they give and the descriptions to go with them. The shop is wonderful and always a good story with the afternoon tea specials to read about.
To see the nineteenth book in a series published ⦠what a credit to the creative writing of Laura Childs! I came late to the tea shop mysteries, having only read the last two or three, but became an instant fan. This is my favorite series of all that Childs writes and each book can stand alone, but it is so great to visit with old friends Theodosia, Haley, and Drayton in Plum Tea Crazy. And kudos to the design team for creating such an attractive cover!
I love all things southern, so the Charleston setting that Childs conveys so well is one of my favorite parts. This story is filled with delightful charm and gentle humor â along with the sights, sounds and tastes of the city. Theodosia is a warm, caring lead character who solves some great murder mysteries.
Secondary characters add lots of interest. In fact, Timothy Neville is the catalyst for getting Theodosia involved, and he's quite a character himself ⦠âthe octogenarian director of the Heritage Society, a multimillionaire, and old guard Charlestonite.â And Delaine is back in full force, a little rough around the edges, to say the least. According to Drayton, âshe was one of those women that most men â and some women, too â considered difficult. Which, of course, was code for crazy as a loon.â
Theodosia's method is different from many protagonists who solve the murder by slowly gathering evidence as they chat with characters, listening and observing. But Theodosia kind of runs from one character or social event to another, making wrong assumptions and keeping readers totally off track, which is what makes this story unique and enjoyable. I didn't really try to figure out the murderer's identity and just enjoyed going along for the fun ride.
I thoroughly enjoyed Plum Tea Crazy and hope this series keeps on going. Recommended to all cozy mystery fans.
I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I love all things southern, so the Charleston setting that Childs conveys so well is one of my favorite parts. This story is filled with delightful charm and gentle humor â along with the sights, sounds and tastes of the city. Theodosia is a warm, caring lead character who solves some great murder mysteries.
Secondary characters add lots of interest. In fact, Timothy Neville is the catalyst for getting Theodosia involved, and he's quite a character himself ⦠âthe octogenarian director of the Heritage Society, a multimillionaire, and old guard Charlestonite.â And Delaine is back in full force, a little rough around the edges, to say the least. According to Drayton, âshe was one of those women that most men â and some women, too â considered difficult. Which, of course, was code for crazy as a loon.â
Theodosia's method is different from many protagonists who solve the murder by slowly gathering evidence as they chat with characters, listening and observing. But Theodosia kind of runs from one character or social event to another, making wrong assumptions and keeping readers totally off track, which is what makes this story unique and enjoyable. I didn't really try to figure out the murderer's identity and just enjoyed going along for the fun ride.
I thoroughly enjoyed Plum Tea Crazy and hope this series keeps on going. Recommended to all cozy mystery fans.
I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
The latest offering in the Tea Shop series by Laura Childs. As always, a very good read. I love Theodosia's wild antics in tracking down the killer and this installment does not disappoint. The descriptions of Old Charleston and surrounding areas, the events and galas makes you yearn to travel. Not to mention, the fantastic teas and offerings at the Indigo Tea Shoppe.
Plum Tea Crazy by Laura Childs is the nineteenth story in A Tea Shop Mystery series. Theodosia âTheoâ Browning owns the Indigo Tea Shop in Charleston, South Carlson. Theo is aided by her tea sommelier, Drayton Conneley and chef, Haley Parker. Drayton and Theo are enjoying the Gaslights and Galleons Parade from the widow's walk of Timothy Neville's Archdale Street mansion. When the cannon volleys begin a scream rings out, and Carson Lanier slides down the roof to his death atop a fleur-de-lis fence finial. Upon inspection of Carson's body, it is discovered he was shot by a quarrel (type of arrow used in a crossbow) which caused him to tumble over the railing of the widow's walk. Timothy requests that Theo use her skills to investigate Carson's murder. It turns out that there are several viable suspects that include a protestor of the upcoming antique firearms display at the Heritage Society, Carson's estranged wife, a co-worker, and the manager of a local bed-and-breakfast. Who shot Carson and why? Theo works in her sleuthing in between working at the tea shop, handling catering gigs, taking care of Earl Grey, and specialty tea events they have scheduled at the Indigo Tea Shop. The killer, though, does not appreciate Theo's snooping and attempts to dissuade her (the person evidently does not know Theo). Will Theo be able to expose the guilty party before she ends up the next victim?
Plum Tea Crazy may be the 19th book in the series, but it can be read alone. I do, though, highly recommend reading each book in this charming cozy mystery series. A Tea Shop Mystery series is one of the first cozy mystery series I discovered. I found the books in my local bookstore (before e-books) and quickly devoured Death by Darjeeling. I then returned to the store and purchased the other books in the series that were out at the time. I look forward to a new book in this series each year. Plum Tea Crazy is well-written, has a steady pace and engaging. I love when I am drawn into the books world as I was with Plum Tea Crazy. The book contains delightful characters that are well established, and they continue to grow as the series progresses. Theo is an intelligent woman who is warm, thoughtful and has a big heart. I like the interactions between Theo, Haley, Drayton and Earl Grey is just adorable. The only character that I dislike is Delaine Dish. She is overbearing, pushy, annoying and seemed a little off balance (she grates on my nerves) in this book. Delaine is one of those people that can only be taken in small doses. The setting of Savannah, South Carolina sounds just lovely. Laura Childs provides beautiful descriptions of the area, homes, the featured stores and the Indigo Tea Shop. The mystery is complex, and it will perplex readers. There is a clue to the killer's identity, but you will need a keen eye to spot it. The book contains delectable food and tea descriptions. I especially enjoyed the cozy moments in Plum Tea Crazy. I did feel that Plum Tea Crazy needed an epilogue to tie up all the loose threads (details seemed to be lacking). There are recipes and tea tips at the end of the book as well as a preview of Glitter Bomb. Plum Tea Crazy is an engaging, light hearted cozy mystery that will delight fans of Laura Childs.
Plum Tea Crazy may be the 19th book in the series, but it can be read alone. I do, though, highly recommend reading each book in this charming cozy mystery series. A Tea Shop Mystery series is one of the first cozy mystery series I discovered. I found the books in my local bookstore (before e-books) and quickly devoured Death by Darjeeling. I then returned to the store and purchased the other books in the series that were out at the time. I look forward to a new book in this series each year. Plum Tea Crazy is well-written, has a steady pace and engaging. I love when I am drawn into the books world as I was with Plum Tea Crazy. The book contains delightful characters that are well established, and they continue to grow as the series progresses. Theo is an intelligent woman who is warm, thoughtful and has a big heart. I like the interactions between Theo, Haley, Drayton and Earl Grey is just adorable. The only character that I dislike is Delaine Dish. She is overbearing, pushy, annoying and seemed a little off balance (she grates on my nerves) in this book. Delaine is one of those people that can only be taken in small doses. The setting of Savannah, South Carolina sounds just lovely. Laura Childs provides beautiful descriptions of the area, homes, the featured stores and the Indigo Tea Shop. The mystery is complex, and it will perplex readers. There is a clue to the killer's identity, but you will need a keen eye to spot it. The book contains delectable food and tea descriptions. I especially enjoyed the cozy moments in Plum Tea Crazy. I did feel that Plum Tea Crazy needed an epilogue to tie up all the loose threads (details seemed to be lacking). There are recipes and tea tips at the end of the book as well as a preview of Glitter Bomb. Plum Tea Crazy is an engaging, light hearted cozy mystery that will delight fans of Laura Childs.
