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Tempest in a Teapot
A Teapot Collector Mystery #1
Amanda Cooper

Berkley Prime Crime
June 2014 / ISBN 0425265234
Mystery - Cozy

Reviewed by Cheryl Green

 

After her New York City restaurant- In Fashion fails, Sophie Taylor comes home to Gracious Grove, NY. She has moved into the attic apartment in Auntie Rose's Victorian Tea House. The tea house is on the ground level and her Grandmother Rose (who owns the building) lives on the second floor. Sophie is going to lend Rose a hand since it is becoming too much work for her. Sophie has even agreed to do the tea presentation at the bridal shower of her former summer friend Cissy Peterson. This is very strange since Cissy's Grandmother,Thelma Mae, owns La Belle Epoque - an inn and tea room right next door. Plus Rose and Thelma Mae have rarely spoken in the past 60 years. It seems Thelma Mae has never forgiven Rose for stealing Harold Freemont away from her.

To make up for having the bridal shower at Auntie Rose's - Cissy is having a tea for her future mother-in-law and several others at La Belle Epoque. With her attic windows open to get the breeze, Sophie hears screams from La Belle Epoque. She rushes over to see if there is anything she can do. Vivienne Whittaker is on the ground. The ambulance takes her to the hospital. The guests are all questioned. Wally Bowman gets a call and moves everyone next door to Auntie Rose's. Vivienne Whittaker has died. La Belle Epoque's tearoom is now a crime scene. Sophie had better be careful if she plans on solving this murder. She could very well end up steeped.

Things to ponder: Who really wanted to change Cissy's bridal shower venue? Who was having a heated discussion at Auntie Rose's Victorian Tea House? Who poisoned the food at La Bell Epoque party? Will Rose and Thelma Mae ever end their 60 year feud?

In Tempest in a Teapot we are introduced to a charming and quirky cast of characters. This includes our feisty protagonist - Sophie Taylor. She is always willing to lend a hand - even to her Grandmother's archenemy Thelma Mae. This light-hearted mystery becomes a page-turner of a read that I could not put down. It is well-plotted and kept me wanting to find out whodunit. So if you like a cup of tea with your mystery, you should be reading Tempest in a Teapot.

 
Reviewed 2014
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