The
gang at the Indigo Tea Shop is back, and they’re about
to put a unique twist on Halloween. First, Theodosia has to
attend a black tie affair at the local museum. Her boyfriend
Max put the celebration together, and Charleston’s old
money families and newly crowned Titians are in attendance.
The museum is celebrating the donation of an eighteenth century
Chinese tea house by Edgar Webster, a prominent businessman.
Max and Edgar are the center of attention in more ways than
one concerning the Tea House. The two didn’t agree on
how the advertisement of the celebration was handled; they
had words before and during the celebration. If that isn’t
enough, it’s Theo who finds Edgar’s body in the
photo booth Max ordered for the celebration. It’s Max
who suffers in the aftermath of the murder and the failed
celebration, though. Detective Burt Tidwell considers him
a suspect, which puts Theo on the defensive. Anyone using
Max and suspect in the same sentence suffers the verbal wrath
of Theo. It's Drayton who tells Theo to do what she does best
– detect. Theo makes a list of suspects and moves between
them. Just when Theo thinks she has a firm suspect list someone
else grabs her attention and she has to start all over. Theo
and Tidwell spar with each other but do so with respect because
they both want to solve the murder.
Theo
is the ultimate multi-tasker. While solving the murder and
hobnobbing with the rich she helps Drayton and Haley with
some nontraditional Halloween tea parties; Haley slips in
a little traditional decor at one point. Drayton celebrates
Halloween by adding some eerie sophistication to his Titanic
tea party then goes Brit with the Tower of London Tea. Theo
volunteers to take over the Bloody Mary Crawl, the Haunted
Hayride and the Gateway Walk. Her dog, Earl Grey, even joins
in on the fun when Theo signs him up for Big Paw Five-k run,
with a costume. Needless to say, this is one Halloween they
won’t soon forget.
Childs’
gives readers plenty of entertainment with the local celebrations
and the tea parties, but they don’t overpower the mystery.
Theo’s character doesn’t have a moment’s
peace; having a cup a tea turns into a major scene, like the
one between the victim’s wife and girlfriend (holy cow).
Childs’ offers plenty of twists and turns, and suspects
abound. The Tea Shop gang pull together to entertain the reader,
and the scones and tea combinations are limitless. In reading
number sixteen -- as Theo describes her home, her life, and
her Tea Shop - I’m reminded of how much the series and
her character has developed and how well off her character
is now; Rubbing elbows with the rich, living large in a new
home, etc and boldly taking Max to task about being a murder
suspect. Theodosia has come a long way, and I hope there is
more to come.
If you
enjoy Laura Childs’ work or Halloween mysteries you
should try Laura Childs’ Gossamer
Ghost (Scrapbooking mystery #12).
INCLUDES
DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!
Reviews
of other titles in this series
Death
by Darjeeling, #1 [review]
Chamomile Mourning, #6 [review]
Blood Orange Brewing, #7 [review]
The Silver Needle Murder, #9 [review]
Oolong Dead, #10 [review]
The Teaberry Strangler, #11 [review]
Agony of the Leaves, #13 [review]
Sweet Tea Revenge, #14 [review]
Steeped in Evil, #15 [review]
Ming Tea Murder, #16 [review]
Devonshire Scream#17 [review]
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