In Pennsylvania’s Amish country, Daisy Swanson finds herself going back to school expecting to serve tea–only to get a crash course in criminal justice . . . The faculty of Willow Creek High School are having a get-together after the spring concert with refreshments provided, courtesy of Daisy’s Tea Garden. Oolong tea and chocolate biscuits are just what the staff needs to help them unwind … needs to help them unwind from Althea Higgins’ demanding curriculum. Her lessons on such controversial subjects as school uniforms and underqualified substitute teachers are earning her an F from her colleagues.
But a failing grade was preferable to Althea falling victim to foul play. Daisy was there when her body was discovered in the school swimming pool, murdered by strangulation. Althea was certainly a strict, opinionated taskmaster, unliked by both teachers and students, but would any of them actually want to kill her? As Daisy starts asking questions, she gets a real education in Althea’s history, discovering more than enough enemies with more than enough motives to cancel her classes permanently . . .
Includes delicious recipes!
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Althea Higgins had taught at the high school as long as anyone could remember. She was nearing retirement age but still expressed her strong opinions on every subject, especially about student attire and discipline. Some respected her but most tried to avoid her.
Daisy Swanson is delighted to be asked to cater an appreciation tea for the teachers after the spring concert. Her biggest concern is whether the refrigeration unit in her van is up to the task. No one got to appreciate the delicious refrigerated tarts, as Daisy jumped into action when she heard a terrified scream coming from the swimming pool.
Nonstop action as you turn the pages. Friendship and relationship issues arise, murder and mystery are at the center of it all, but there is so much more happening. Both of Daisy’s daughters need extra attention, Jazzi makes a new friend, with both positive and questionable characteristics.
Why does Daisy feel the need to find a killer? Her friends all believe she has a better chance at it than the police.
We get to visit with the Amish once again and are treated to wonderful recipes in this book.
You won’t be able to put this book down and I bet you don’t discover the killer until the end.
Althea Higgins had taught at the high school as long as anyone could remember. She was nearing retirement age but still expressed her strong opinions on every subject, especially about student attire and discipline. Some respected her but most tried to avoid her.
Daisy Swanson is delighted to be asked to cater an appreciation tea for the teachers after the spring concert. Her biggest concern is whether the refrigeration unit in her van is up to the task. No one got to appreciate the delicious refrigerated tarts, as Daisy jumped into action when she heard a terrified scream coming from the swimming pool.
Nonstop action as you turn the pages. Friendship and relationship issues arise, murder and mystery are at the center of it all, but there is so much more happening. Both of Daisy’s daughters need extra attention, Jazzi makes a new friend, with both positive and questionable characteristics.
Why does Daisy feel the need to find a killer? Her friends all believe she has a better chance at it than the police.
We get to visit with the Amish once again and are treated to wonderful recipes in this book.
You won’t be able to put this book down and I bet you don’t discover the killer until the end
Great book! Daisy gets involved investigating the murder of an unpopular teacher. The woman was murdered at the tea event that Daisy was catering at the high school. Many other teachers and students disliked the woman, but there were a few that she had made an impact on. Daisy also takes in a friend of Jazzi’s while the girl’s parents are out of the country and causes a rift in her relationship with Jonas after trying to mend fences between him and Zeke. I really enjoy this series. I love the setting of Amish country and the characters are fun. I look forward to reading more of this series!
Kept the reader guessing…
This was a fun, quick read. I enjoyed the setting, the character development, and plot of this cozy mystery.
Murder with Oolong Tea is another stellar entry in the delightful Daisy Tea Garden Mystery series. This time around, Daisy is a reluctant sleuth when an unpleasant high school teacher is murdered during a faculty function Daisy is catering. However, she does agree to look into things even though she is busy with her daughter’s houseguest and a rough patch with her boyfriend.
I appreciate that Daisy is a little older than the average cozy sleuth. I like the series’ emphasis on family. And, I especially enjoy the culinary theme and talk of all things tea. The characters are well developed, the pace brisk, and the plot solid.
Highly recommended.
When a teacher is found dead strangled in the pool at a school event, Daisy is determined to help her friends out and find out who the killer was.
I didn’t like this one as much as I’ve liked other books in this series. I think this one was just trying to do too much and didn’t have enough time to finish with all of the different storylines. I know I’ve enjoyed seeing a lot of Daisy’s life in previous books, but it seemed like the mystery was an afterthought in this one.
Daisy is finding that school teachers aren’t what they appear to be. In the latest addition to the “A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery” series, Murder with Oolong Tea, one teacher is murdered, and evidence points to the possibility that another teacher may be the culprit.
Daisy is a wonderful character, as are most of the recurring cast in this series. The setting could be in any town in America; it feels intimate and comforting. The tea garden, although it doesn’t play a tremendous role in this story, is inviting and sounds yummy. The victim in this book, long-time teacher Althea Higgin’s isn’t exactly a beloved member of the community, nor is she hated by most people. Yet, she is hard to take, and students and teachers won’t miss her all that much. But as with most people, Althea wasn’t what she seemed.
Suspects range from teachers and students, family members, and a possible ex-lover. Evidence is scarce. This may be a failing of the story in general but does not detract from the reader’s enjoyment. The killer, once revealed, was not hard to figure out, mainly since the character falls into that “not what they seem” category, and the motive was made apparent earlier in the book. It’s too bad that Daisy isn’t in more peril and her tea garden at the center of the action. It would have made the story more interesting. Instead, the primary setting this time is the high school and Althea’s farm. This in and of itself isn’t an issue, but readers may not feel the same connection to the locations they have for Daisy’s tea garden.
Murder with Oolong Tea is a nice read for a quiet time. The action is minimal; the characters are well developed and familiar. The suspects, including the teachers and family members, are believable, and the murder is well thought out, and there are wonderful tea flavors. I am happy to recommend this cozy to readers who can relax and enjoy a story without too much detail or complications.
It’s always comforting to settle down with a book in this series. I can’t possibly say enough good things about this book. The characters are likable and who doesn’t love Amish country. The book is so well written that it’s so enjoyable to read. It’s also nice to read a book with a group of people who care as much as these characters do. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I’m voluntarily providing an honest review.
Murder with Oolong Tea is the sixth installment in the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series by Karen Rose Smith. Daisy Swanson moved back to her hometown of Willow Creek, Pennsylvania, after the death of her husband. She has two daughters, Jasmine, who is in high school, and Violet, who has recently given birth to her first child and is married to one of Daisy’s employees. Daisy co-owns a lovely tea garden with her aunt Iris, and in this installment, is hired to cater an appreciation tea for the teachers at the local high school, when Althea, an English teacher, is found dead in the school swimming pool. Althea was disliked by many of her students and colleagues, but would any of them actually want to kill her? Daisy is determined to find out.
This is a delightful series, with well-developed characters, a sense of community and family, and mouthwatering descriptions of food and teas. Daisy is a warm and genuine protagonist, and I care about her and the people in her life. While this is more of a character-driven series, the mysteries are still very interesting and always keeps me on my toes. Definitely recommend it and of course, I will be back for another visit.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
It’s time for Daisy Swanson to go back to school. Willow Creek High School is having their spring concert and that will be followed get-together for the faculty that is being catered by Daisy’s Tea Garden. Daisy is surprised when one of her former teachers stops by the tea garden to discuss the menu because it had already been finalized, but then Althea Higgins has always been a force to be reckoned with. Students fear her and other teachers steer clear of her but when her dead body is found in the pool in the middle of the get-together no one is more shocked than Daisy. She vows not to get wrapped up in another murder case but several people ask her to get involved so she feels she has no choice. So she takes a dip into the pool of suspects in her attempt to uncover who strangled the life out of Althea Higgins.
Again this author impresses me with her ability to take on issues within her books that inform and pull you deeper into the story for more than just an excellent mystery. Relationships play a huge role in Murder with Oolong Tea. Daisy and Jonas, Jonas and Zeke, Daisy and Zeke, Vi and Foster, Tessa and Trevor, Jazzie and her new friend Brielle, Brielle and her parents, Brielle and her grandmother, Althea, and her grandson, and more. All these characters are well-crafted and strong and their interactions are never dull. There is always something happening at the tea shop, Willow Creek, and the Amish countryside to keep people on their toes.
This story was so well-plotted. Tying all the subplots to the main mystery was not an easy task but Ms. Smith does an incredible job. Equipped with her curious nature and her ability to get people to open up to her Daisy sets up several twists and uncovers some unlikely suspects. The author brings suspense in all the right places. I really enjoyed the way the whole story unfolded. The pace was brisk and I was captivated completely following along with all the clues.
The food described within these pages made my mouth water. Daisy dished up a lot of Blueberry Coffee Cake both at work and at home. Thankfully the recipe is in the back of the book and would work with a variety of fruits.
Murder with Oolong Tea is filled with great characters and a first-rate mystery. It is a wonderful addition to the must-read cozy series. The next installment, Murder with Orange Pekoe Tea will be released on August 24, 2021. I can hardly wait.
Daisy is a lovely caring woman. She wants to do what’s right and help others. When Althea Higgins, her former teacher, is murdered, she tries to keep out of the investigation. However, she’s drawn in. Will the killer target her next? Since Daisy has a way of finding the truth. I knew she was in danger. I find this series a wonderful combination of mystery, romance and family. The characters are interesting and easy to relate to. Daisy is a widow who has raised her daughters with love but even then problems come up. Daisy and Jonas are in a close relationship but they hit a rough patch. He resents her trying to help him deal with his feelings over the betrayal by his late wife with a friend. He won’t even talk with Daisy. I was worried that he would never deal with his feelings. So much is happening in Willow Creek and in Daisy’s life. I could see she was overwhelmed. I couldn’t stop reading Murder With Oolong Tea. I had to know who killed Althea and make sure Daisy was safe and happy. Karen Rose Smith has a writing style that I enjoy. I can’t wait to see what happens next with Daisy. I always enjoy a visit to Pennsylvania’s Amish Country.
I had a wonderful time visiting Daisy’s Tea Garden. The descriptions of the place and the town were quite vivid. I could really picture myself being there. I enjoyed meeting Daisy and all the different characters and thought the mystery was interesting and well-written. I’ll have to check out the other books in the series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
Murder with Oolong Tea by Karen Rose Smith is book six in the A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series.
This is an easy to read Cozy that has it all.
Daisy has been hired to cater a teacher appreciation tea at the high school. In the middle of the tea a scream is heard . Daisy runs to where it came from and finds one of the teachers face down in the pool with a rope around her neck. Also there trying to pull her out is another school employee. Althea wasn’t the most liked teacher and was quite outspoken but was that a reason for murder. Daisy starts asking questions and puts a target on her back.
Smith has plenty of suspects and twists and turns. The setting is in Pennsylvania Amish country,and is touched on just enough. There are likable main character as are most of the supporting ones. There is also a side story involving family and friends.
I was given an ARC by Kensington and NetGalley for an honest review.
Murder with Oolong Tea by Karen Rose Smith
(A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery Book 6)
In Pennsylvania’s Amish country, Daisy Swanson finds herself going back to school expecting to serve tea–only to get a crash course in criminal justice . . .
The faculty of Willow Creek High School are having a get-together after the spring concert with refreshments provided, courtesy of Daisy’s Tea Garden. Oolong tea and chocolate biscuits are just what the staff needs to help them unwind from Althea Higgins’ demanding curriculum. Her lessons on such controversial subjects as school uniforms and underqualified substitute teachers are earning her an F from her colleagues.
But a failing grade was preferable to Althea falling victim to foul play. Daisy was there when her body was discovered in the school swimming pool, murdered by strangulation. Althea was certainly a strict, opinionated taskmaster, unliked by both teachers and students, but would any of them actually want to kill her? As Daisy starts asking questions, she gets a real education in Althea’s history, discovering more than enough enemies with more than enough motives to cancel her classes permanently . . .
Includes delicious recipes
This is Daisy Swanson and Jonas’s story.
This is Althea’s story.
This is Daisy’s friends and family’s story.
“Claudia never should have been hired,” Althea Higgins proclaimed loudly enough for everyone in the teachers’ lounge to hear.
Daisy Swanson, who was consulting with the principal of Willow Creek High School along with the guidance counselor, listened in spite of herself. Mrs. Higgins had been one of her English teachers when she’d been in high school. Daisy particularly remembered Mrs. Higgins’s love of Shakespeare.
The older teacher, who Daisy gauged to be around sixty, wore her gray hair in a long ponytail that trailed down her back. With her high-necked white blouse and her midi-length tan skirt, she looked like a schoolmarm from olden days except . . . she more resembled an unhappy schoolmarm with her mouth pursed as if she’d tasted rhubarb and didn’t like it.
Daisy hurried out the door from the all-purpose room and hurried past the pool and other meeting rooms to the outside door and her van. She opened the door of the vehicle and climbed inside. The thermometer in the refrigeration unit said the temperature was on point. Relieved, she removed the mini tarts in their pastry boxes, closed the door to the van, and carried the boxes inside. As March in Pennsylvania was wont to do, the day had begun with a cold chill and it hadn’t dissipated. Wind blew across the portico leading to the inside of the building and Daisy shivered. She hadn’t bothered with her jacket to run in and out.
However, as she reentered the building, she heard a piercing scream that sent a frisson of fear up her spine. The sound had come from the pool.
Daisy dropped the boxes of tarts and ran for the double doors leading into the pool area. The frosted glass revealed nothing.
I recommend reading.
Murder with Oolong Tea by Karen Rose Smith is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Karen Rose Smith.
I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
another wonderful book in this series! love the characcters and this story keeps you turning the page! now i must try oolong tea! a must read!
In this sixth book of the series Daisy is preparing refreshments for the faculty at Willow Creek High for a small party they are holding after the spring concert. The staff is hoping to take a moment away from teaching and enjoy themselves but teacher Althea makes it difficult. She always has a problem with something whether it be substitute teachers or the clothing that the teens wear. When Althea is found dead and Daisy among the first to find her she knows she must figure out what happened. Even though she was found in the pool she was strangled to death. Althea had quite a few enemies from other faculty to students but who among them hated the woman enough to kill her. While digging into Althea’s life Daisy soon learns there were quite a few motives for people to want her dead. Follow along as Daisy puts all the pieces together in hopes of figuring out who killed Althea and why. This is such a great series that keeps you guessing the whole way through.
I love this series. Daisy has her hands full in this story. She not only has special events, a murder to help solve, a houseguest, but also tries to help Jonas renew a friendship. That’s enough to keep anyone busy. She shows time and time again just how big her heart is and what a wonderful person she is. The storyline is wonderful as are the characters. I truly hope some of the friends I met in this story will be around for a long time. I can’t wait to hang with everyone again and see what adventures they get into. I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
Murder With Oolong Tea by Karen Rose Smith is a Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery, the scone of the series I have read, and quite good. Daisy is a widow with two daughters, one a young mother, and the other a teenager. She works hard and she expects them to as well. The older, Vi, had a tussle with post-partum depression but seems to have come out the other end. She and her young husband, Foster, are stilling adjusting to marriage and parenthood but things are looking good. The younger, Jazzi, wants her friend, Brielle, to come and stay with them for a couple of weeks while her attorney parents go to Europe. Daisy is torn, but open. Her relationship with Jonas is good. Generally speaking her life is fine, until the day she is catering a thank you tea for the teachers at the high school and she hears screaming. It turns out it is the counselor trying to pull a dead teacher out of the pool. Things take a definite downturn with that development.
There is so much going on with each of the characters in this novel, just like real life. They all get handled, some of them well. Some get handled with interference, which is seldom helpful. Brielle turns out to be unexpected out come around after interaction with Daisy and Jazzi. Turns out she is looking for attention and getting none. Daisy is so sensible and can read most people really well. She isn’t a gossip, which goes a long way toward people trusting her. This is a wonderful series full of real people with real problems just trying to live their loves. The characters are well written and have depth; they grow as time moves on. Smith writes endearing characters with real-world traits and problems. It is a thoroughly enjoyable read.
I was invited to read a free ARC of Murder With Oolong Tea by Net galley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #murderwithoolongtea
It is a delight to visit Daisy’s Tea Garden in Willow Creek, Lancaster County, PA! Sixth in the series, it is a welcome addition. The characters are like old friends and are defined well through realistic dialog and actions. Picturesque descriptions invited me into each scene, and the mystery kept me guessing. Some relationships are challenged and stretched while some grow and flourish.
Daisy and her teenage daughters moved to her hometown about three years ago. Daisy and her aunt Iris own Daisy’s Tea Garden, a full-service tea house that serves various teas, soups, sandwiches, and baked goods. They offer full afternoon tea, either in the special tearoom or catered to a customer’s location.
Daisy is going to cater a tea for the high school in appreciation of the teachers. Daisy saw the English teacher she had in high school, Althea Higgins, when planning the tea with Stacy, the counselor. Althea is planning for her retirement for the following year. Mrs. Higgins was liked by very few folks, whether students or fellow teachers. She could be strict, even overbearing, and many students were afraid of her. At the next school board meeting, the topic of students wearing uniforms is on the agenda. Althea wants students to wear uniforms as she believes when students wear good clothes, they think better about themselves and tend to apply themselves more.
On the day of the tea, several of Daisy’s employees came to help serve. All was going well until Althea and a teacher she didn’t approve of had words at their table. Both women left the table. Not long afterwards Daisy was in the hallway and heard a scream. Arriving where the swimming pool is, she saw Stella, the counselor, leaning into the pool, trying to drag Althea out of the water, but it was too late. The person who wrapped the pool lane ropes around her neck made sure of that.
Daisy has helped solve murders in the past, particularly the time she was a suspect, and another when Aunt Iris was a suspect. She has no plan of getting involved this time. The Tea Garden is busy as tourist season gears up. Her older daughter, Vi, has four-month-old Sammy, and she loves spending time with them. Her younger daughter, Jazzi, is having a friend from school spend a couple weeks with them, and her birth mother will be there for a visit.
Against her best intentions, Daisy became involved in the process of gathering information from those who knew Althea, due to her friendship with one of the suspects. One of her employees has a personal interest and was willing to help with the process.
I enjoyed catching up with Daisy and her family; there is always something going on with her daughters, boyfriend, and other family members. I also enjoyed the special entertainment for one of the events at the tea garden and reading about the oolong tea and blueberry coffee cake that are highlights. The mystery kept this armchair sleuth busy trying to determine whodunit. Unfortunately, I had considered – and rejected – the real bad guy, so well are the clues planted toward other people. The resolution was satisfactory, with no outstanding items. I highly recommend this to those who enjoy well-written cozy mysteries, tea and food pairings, family relationships, and sweet romance.
From a thankful heart: I received a review copy from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.