When an American tourist is murdered with a scone in Gemma Rose’s quaint Oxfordshire tearoom, she suddenly finds herself apron-deep in a mystery involving long-buried secrets from Oxford’s past.Armed with her insider knowledge of the University and with the help of four nosy old ladies from the village (not to mention a cheeky little tabby cat named Muesli), Gemma sets out to solve the … mystery–all while dealing with her matchmaking mother and the return of her old college love, Devlin O’Connor, now a dashing CID detective.
But with the body count rising and her business going bust, can Gemma find the killer before things turn to custard?
(**Traditional English scone recipe included)
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Combining running a restaurant with some detective work. Facing an old lover, who seems to have changed considerably. Getting to know a possible new love interest while being badgered by your mom to get married quickly to someone she picks out-a daunting task, but a fun read
Such a delightful cozy! This book has everything you could ask for in a good cozy mystery: an English tearoom, a wily cat, multiple murders, nosy octogenarians, and even a hint of romance. I would happily pick up another in this series.
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery set in England! I loved all the British slang, and the narrator did an excellent job. The writing was excellent, and I’m definitely continuing on with the rest of the series.
kept you going great read
Enjoyable reading
I enjoy H Y Hanna’s books
Cute story line, easy reading
“A Scone to Die For” earns 5/5 Delicious English Scones!
Read Sept, 2016
I loved this audiobook version…LOVED IT! And having the eBook, too, I had the luxury of following along at times. H.Y. Hanna kept me engaged with a truly delightful story with more than a few quirky characters, provided marvelous descriptions of the village that I almost felt like an ex-pat residing alongside the locals, and gave me a bit of a lesson in Oxford etiquette. With a few unforeseen twists and a reference to my favorite detective dramas—Morse and Midsommer Murders—I was hooked! In the back of the eBook/Print version definitions for some of the British vocabulary are provided along with a recipe for the Traditional English Scones.
The narrator Pearl Hewitt is ‘Absolutely Fabulous!’ Her British accent is the perfect dialect for Gemma’s educated manner, and the tone changes helped add a bit to the other characters: proper English for the ‘old biddies’ and Oxford Dons, street English for the pub owner and some questionable villagers, and the change she mastered for the Americans. She gave me more than a few giggles when referring to some purely British idiosyncrasies…even murder sounds great with an English accent.
I’ve read this whole series of books, and I HIGHLY recommend them. They are light reading, but they’re very well-written and I thoroughly enjoyed them.
Scone to Die For
This book is good on so many levels. If you’re looking for a realistic mystery with a believable storyline and dialog, this is an excellent choice.
The main character, Gemma, is someone I think everyone can relate to. She is a person who deviates from what is expected of her to do what her heart desires, and I find that admirable. She is authentic in her actions and interactions with the other characters. Besides being smart, she is also funny and tenacious, which I appreciate in a heroine. Not only is Gemma’s character well-written, but the remaining cast is credible too. Some wonderful members are the “Old Biddes” and Gemma’s mother. These characters really add to the humor factor and are written in a way that made the story that much more entertaining. There are also some possible love angles being played out, but if you are looking for a fairy tale, this is not that. The relationship aspect of the story is spot on/real life, and I enjoy the accuracy in that.
Besides wonderful characters, the plotline is very engaging. The story starts off with a vivid and detailed background, but in an engaging way. The author is able to paint an amazing picture for the reader and allow the story to unfold in a natural manner. I think this murder/mystery is fluid and never really has a dull moment. I found myself fully invested in figuring out who did it and why.
Overall, I enjoyed the authenticity in this story and felt like I was watching a movie. Everything is clearly laid out for the reader and interesting. I was hooked from the first chapter, and I think this book left room for character and relationship development in the future. If you are looking for something that is witty, humorous, practical, and puzzling, then A Scone to Die For is for you.
Another enjoyable cozy mystery about Emma Rose at her tearoom. This kept me guessing all through the audiobook until the very end. Also love how Pearl Hewitt narrated the story.
This book was a happy coincidence.
I had just returned from vacation in Oxford when I bought this book. Not knowing that it was set in Oxford. I loved all the references to places I had just visited and the Oxford University system which I hadn’t known about before seeing it in person.
Also, I love scones.
If we’re being completely honest, I got the book because I knew it involved scones and had a recipe at the end.
Bottom line: Loved the characters. Great mystery in a rich setting. Planning to make the scone recipe this week for breakfast. Can’t wait to read more.
Fun read!
Gemma Rose has returned to Cotswolds’ village
of Meadowford-on-Smythe.
She has opened the Little Stables Tearoom. You
can get teacakes, hot cross buns, home-made
sticky toffee pudding but they are most famous
for their warm buttery scones topped with jam
and clotted cream served with with English
Breakfast or Earl Grey tea. The tea is served in
bone China.
Muesli is the cook’s cat. She has silky, pale dove
gray fur with a series of darker grey around her body.
Muesli has white on her chest and paws.
An American tourist enters the tearoom giving the
staff trouble from the get go. He is rude making
crude remarks. He has a lot of knowledge about the
area for a regular tourist. Why is he really in the area?
Then he ends up dead outside the tearoom in the
courtyard with a scone stuck into his throat.
Gemma decides to investigate to bring business
back to the Little Stables Tearoom.
Along with four older ladies with their white hair,
spectacles and wooly cardigans, the investigation
starts. These four know everything that happens
and everyone in the area.
An intriguing and interesting array of characters
with small town charm. Some quirky, some colorful,
some with secrets…keep the reader guessing who
the culprit could be.
Get a Traditional English scone recipe included
at the end.
In addition, a Glossary of British Terms is included
at the end of the story.
a fun read with interesting characters.
Nice English murder mystery set in Oxford with great descriptions
I really liked this author. Not a run-of-the-mill Cozy Mystery. Enjoyed the end of the book informational notes. Well done!
Every once in a while I’ll read a light-hearted mystery for a break from the other heavier books i usually read. This one was funny, cute and still with a mystery to solve. It was fun!
A very fun book that takes place in Oxford England. A lite cozy mystery, that keeps you entertained. Not great literature, but some thing to read in between the “heavier” books you need to read. A good escape.
Great author to read, and I love all of her dog books, they are such fun characters that add so much fun.