What can be creepier than finding a dead body? How about finding a portrait painted of yourself, in someone else’s house!Helena Carson’s tea shop sells four things: piping hot tea, fresh-baked pastries, hand-picked antiques–and supernatural mystery!When an old acquaintance with a long-standing crush on her dies she can’t help but attend the estate sale to find bargains for her tea shop and say … for her tea shop and say some final goodbyes, but it’s her old crush that gets the final word.
Helena and her friends Bettina, Jessamine and Gertrude soon find that something is out of place when a portrait of Helena is found hanging on the wall and deep inside is a buried secret that has been intended for Helena all along.
The four old friends find themselves on a hunt for answers that lead them to a dead body and something magical, but is it worth the risk or will they all end up him, dead?
Love an old friend’s cozy mystery? You will fall in love with these ladies and their ability to solve a mystery. A Last Gift is the first book in the Teatime Treasure Hunters series and can be read as a standalone book.
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This was the first book I’ve read by this author and it was fast and entertaining. I couldn’t give it 5 stars because there is a cliffhanger, and just too many loose ends to be completely satisfied as I prefer to be at the end of a book. It gives you the mystery and twists you would look/hope for in a well-written book, it involves a treasure map found by accident, and of course the dead body where the main character(s) would least expect it. Four likable and (here’s a nice touch) older women stick their noses into a murder/death that seemingly no one else is interested in investigating…and a hidden treasure. So, apart from that, a nice start to a new series and I am looking forward to reading the next book so I can see how everything wraps up. There is certainly potential for a wonderful new mystery series here! I received an ARC of this book and am providing my honest opinion.
Helena Carson and her friends Bettina, Jessamine and Gertrude are all babysitting a jewel with magical properties, they are being hunted by an old adversary who wants the jewel, and the jewel is guiding them to who knows what, in their dreams!!
Within the first chapter there is so much going on my head is spinning, (though the police chief does not seem to believe that they are in danger in the beginning!) so I really think it is best if you start at the beginning and read the first book “A Last Gift” I found myself playing catch up for a lot of the beginning and not understanding the character of Helena or any of her friends (or how indeed they ARE friends!)
That being said, the storyline is not bad, once I got into it and understood what was happening, the writing is good. well worth reading
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was kept wondering what was going to happen next the whole time! And then there is a cliffhanger! Ugh! But I still really enjoyed it and I can’t wait for the next book!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Interesting characters, fun concept unfortunately a cliffhanger . Cannot wait to read more of this series
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Tea shop owner Helena Carson attends the estate sale of an old acquaintance and finds more than she bargained for. Why would there be a portrait of her hanging on the wall and what secrets are about to be opened?
Helena and friends Bettina, Jessamine, and Gertrude find themselves once again in the middle of a mystery and on the hunt for the answers. Along the way, they discover a dead body, something quite magical, and long ago buried secrets bubbling to the surface.
This is a magical cozy mystery with all the key elements; mystery, suspense, a bit of paranormal, quirky characters, humorous moments, madcap misadventures, and a great storyline.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is book one in a new series and the first book I’ve read by this author. Strong and well developed characters, a story line that’s well written and a bit of mystery and danger added in. A treasure hunt, 4 friends and the finding of a dead body create a story you won’t want to put down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Good start to a new series!
I found this book to be entertaining and a quick read. It does end on a cliff-hanger as not all the loose ends are tied up. I find the characters to be likable but would like to see some more backstory on how they all get together. Our main characters are somewhat older and this is portrayed well. Love the small town feel. Will need to read the next one to clear up the cliff-hanger!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Loved following Helena and her friends on this murder mystery adventure! Each “old” lady has their own quirky, uniqueness about her. It made for them such a fun-loving group hunting for treasures! Excellent start to the series and can’t wait to read more!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
He had been a friend of her youth and an admirer long past when it was seemly.
When Gerry suddenly passes without a will, Helena is taken aback.
Perhaps there was something to her mid range medium friend and her wacky predictions, as well as to the crazy ideas of her deceased occultist admirer after all.
A sleuthing circle of friends – quite a nifty read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
As opposed to being book 1 in this series, it actually should have been a prequel. Four senior friends Helena, Bettina, Jessamine and Gerturde, when finding one of their friends has died, presumably by natural causes sees a painting of Helena in his house. When Helena obtains the painting and finds a strange map stashed in back of the picture, she calls her friends together and they ask a new friend of Jessamine’s to do some research on it to see if the map which is of an old closed mine is still real. When the all go to his house to see why he is not answering his phone, they find him dead at the bottom of his stairs. Now things are starting to get strange. The four friends decided they should follow the map and search for the treasure which turns out to be a legendary special Sapphire. The adventure grows and it seems they may not get out of the mining cave with their lives and without the special Sapphire when they are faced with a gun and a very angry robber. We are left with a very large cliff hanger or two which is why I said this should be a prequel. I would love a little more backstory on the four friends and Helena which seems to be a leader of the group and Jessamine who seems to have a little supernatural vision whether self-proclaimed or not we don’t know. I will look forward to the next book in this series for some answers, and to get to know the characters who could be very endearing in their own way. I received and ARC from the author but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.