Theodosia Browning investigates a Charleston steeped in tradition and treachery in the latest Tea Shop Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs.While viewing the harbor’s Gaslights and Galleons Parade from the widow’s walk of Timothy Neville’s Charleston mansion, local banker Carson Lanier seemingly tumbles over a narrow railing, then plunges three stories to his death. But a … stories to his death. But a tragic accident becomes something much more sinister when it’s discovered that the victim was first shot with a bolt from a crossbow.
At the request of the mansion owner, Theodosia investigates the tragedy and is soon neck deep in suspects. An almost ex-wife, a coworker, a real estate partner–all had motives for killing the luckless banker, but one resorted to murder to settle accounts.
INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!
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Enjoy all her books this is no exception
The latest in the Theodosia Browning and The Indigo Tea Shop series and this has never gotten boring. Laura Childs is very inventive and creative in her writing. Plus there are delicious recipes in the back, which I use quite regularly.
I always look forward to new installments of this series. It was one of the first cozy mysteries I found and it’s like comfort food in book form. My favorite part of the book is always the imagery. Laura Childs should be paid by the Charleston, South Carolina Visitor’s Bureau because she always does an amazing job of putting Charleston on the top of my vacation list. You’ll fall in love with the characters, the town, and the Indigo Tea Shop. Two thumbs up!
https://cozyexperience.com/plum-tea-crazy-book-review/
This is a great cozy mystery.
I love each of the main characters. Theodosia, Drayton, and Detective Pete Riley come to my mind as the main ones. I really liked seeing how Theodosia is quick to get involved in dangerous situations. Her mind is sharp and she has a wonderful ability in getting people to open up and talk to her.
The plot of this mystery is incredible. There is a huge list of suspects that have to be kept track of. It was a lot of fun going on the journey with Theodosia as she tried to figure out who the culprit was.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.
Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
Good mysteries but after reading a number of her books, you’d begin to question her actions. How many times do you put oneself foolishly in danger? Becomes too predictable.
This was my very first Tea Shop Mystery book I have read and, I must admit that I received this to review as part of its book tour, I was hooked! The first time I came to the U.S., I lived in Charleston, SC near Goose Creek. I absolutely loved the Southern history aspect of the houses, not so much the alligators, palmetto bugs, and paper mills though.
The time period that follows Theodosia Browning is present day, cell phones and all. However, the feel of the book is reminiscent of at least a couple centuries ago and, admittedly, I read most of it with an English accent. The tea made me do it!
The following excerpt I found to perfectly capture the essence of this series:
“It all worked like clockwork because they had done it so many times before. Drayton brewed tea and handled takeout orders, Haley kept the luncheon entrees coming, and Theodosia… well, she simply immersed herself in the goings-on. The Indico Tea Shop was her baby, after all. Plus, aside from her dog, Earl Grey, her Aunt Libby, and her dear cohorts Drayton and Hely, this ws the thing she cared most about in all the world.”
“A cozy little shop, a bit of English, a modicum of Victorian, with a pegged wooden floor, beamed ceiling, fireplace, leaded pane windows, chintz curtains, and sturdy tables and chairs.”
Theodosia Browning (Theo) is deep in the midst of the murder of one banking vice president, Carson Lanier, whom she had never even heard of before. However, her dear friends, Drayton Conneley and Timothy Nevile do know the deceased seen as they are all members of the Heritage Society.
The twists, turns, plots had me cheering Theo on the whole way as she met new people throughout the story who in turn, unknowingly, would set themselves up as a suspect and at the same time point the finger towards someone else who was just as guilty as they were.
Round and round this vicious circle they went and, as the circle was getting tighter, lives started to become “at risk” from broken bones to tail gating and chases to rocks through windows.
The twists and turns teased me almost towards the end as I was incessantly thinking “Who done it?!”. It will not let you down, neither the “Who done it?!” nor the superb writing skills of Laura Childs.
The Favorite Recipes From The Indigo Tea Shop was definitely the cream on top! Pun intended!
Haley’s Plum Crazy Plum Crisp / Cinnamon Whipped Cream / Turkey Waldorf Tea Sandwiches / Sinfully Chocolate Tea Bread / Baked French Toast / Greek Meatload / Apple-Yogurt Chicken Bake / Old-Fashioned Griddle Scones / Drayton’s Easy-Peasy Devonshire Cream / Asparagus & Gruyere Cheese Tart
Pretty sure that was the whole lunch menu given throughout the story, sans all the various scones and other sweet breads served of course.
Even though this was my first Tea Shop Mystery as stated before, it was easy to follow right along even this being the 19th in the series due to having just the right amount of background written in at the moments when needed. Rounded out each character perfectly and am looking forward to reading more from not only this series, but the author over all.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Theodosia “Theo” Browning is enjoying the Gaslights and Galleons Parade with her friend/employee/tea sommelier Drayton Connelly. They are getting a bird’s eye view up on the widow’s walk of Timothy Neville’s Charleston mansion. There is a ruckus when local banker Carson Lanier falls over the railing finally dying when his body is impaled on the top of a fence below. All the watchers hurry to the grounds and due to some keen observation, Theo sees the fall wasn’t an accident, it was caused by the man being shot by a bolt from a crossbow.
Knowing Theo’s reputation, Timothy Neville asks that she investigate the death. Many suspects quickly come to light. With the assistance of Drayton, they try to winnow down that list and identify who killed Lanier. They also have a lot of tea to serve in the coming days but Theo juggles everything like a pro.
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I had gotten behind on this series and with the new one set to be released March 3, I knew it was time to get caught up with the two on my shelf.
The Indigo Tea Shop is one of those great cozy places. This time along with the daily business, the place has many events coming up – a black-tie affair, a fashion show, a Japanese art gallery opening, and a Plum Blossom Tea. I really love all the teas Drayton creates and all the delicious treats Haley bakes up. (Some of the recipes are included at the end of the book.) Even with all this going on Theo has murder in her own crosshairs. When Detective Tidwell shockingly asks for help she is thrilled and jumps right in. Her boyfriend, Detective Pete Riley is far from thrilled.
Ms. Childs creates diverse and memorable characters. Theo, Drayton, and Haley are engaging and fun. The dialogues are crisp and sometimes pretty funny. I really enjoy the banter between them. The supporting cast is top-notch too. They all are realistic and believable. The suspects have layers that are peeled away throughout the story. Every character is thoughtfully developed.
The murder occurs early in the story and the drama continues at a constant pace making this book almost impossible to put down. I read into the early morning, playing that “just one more chapter” game until my eyes were slamming shut. Thankfully the next day was Saturday so after a few chores, I could get back to it. It was very entertaining to follow along with Theo and all involved in the sleuthing. There were some scary moments but Theo was on a mission . . . and so was I. I was just a few steps ahead of her . . . and Yes! I was right.
Laura Childs is a phenomenal storyteller. Plum Tea Crazy was well-plotted and written. Ms. Childs brings Charleston to life with spot-on descriptions. Her characters practically leap off the page. She also gives plenty of background for new readers, so don’t be afraid to jump into this series. I will be reading and reviewing Broken Bone China soon. It is yelling at me from my To-Be-Read shelf. Then I will be ready when Lavender Blue Murder debuts.
The Japanese culture always adds a fine touch to a book. So the Haiku Shop, Theodosia ‘s worker reading of Haikus and the Plum Blossom Tea only add to the wild beauty of the Cozy. If you like marital shenanigans, it’s here. If you would like to think of rare types of guns and the part guns can play in our lives, that’s here too. The author doesn’t give her viewpoint about guns. She presents a shooting range, a gun in a man’s past life and a gun saving a life and another used as a dangerous threat to make the reader think.
Along with all of the heavy baggage Laura Childs presents a fun time at Themed tea parties and whimsical characters. There is also much information at the end of the mystery about Charleston and recipes too.
Every new headship mystery by Laura Childs is like getting together with old friends. It down with Theodosia and Drayton and have a cup of special tea while solving a unique mystery.
Twists and turns and lots of suspects. I think this is my favorite of the series thus far. A must read and lots of good recipes. Looking forward to the next book in this series.
“Plum Tea Crazy” earns 5+/5 Plum-infused Tea…Deliciously Entertaining!
Theodosia Browning is back, and I’m channeling my inner Sherlock with Laura Childs’s nineteenth book in her Tea Shop Mystery series. I have read several of her books, so I am aware of background and character connections, but newbies need not shy way even though the peripheral storylines and character development are well established. There are enough references to keep a budding fan totally engaged. “Plum Tea Crazy” begins with the Gaslights and Galleons Parade amazing residents of Charleston with a cavalcade of tall ships, and Theo, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop, and her friend/tea sommelier Dayton Conneley are enjoying a bird’s eye view atop of Timothy Neville’s building. It was unexpected to be subjected to a barrage of cannon fire from two of the tall ships, but it was even more unexpected to hear a scream and witness one of the guest falling over the ledge and becoming empaled on the wrought-iron fence below. A local banker is dead, and with Theo’s proven sleuthing skill she has been implored by Neville to uncover the truth. From high society fashion shows and a Plum Crazy Tea event to a Japanese art gallery and a black-tie charity ball, Theo has a lot on her plate, and adding a murder investigation we have fun…Laura Childs’ style!
Come for the mystery…I continue to be a big fan of Laura Childs’ Tea Shop Mystery. Her writing style with a third-person narrative is engaging gluing the reader immediately to every word—Oh, her description of the victim falling actually made me cringe with ever twist, bump, and splat!—and illustrating the settings (I think I know every inch of Charleston, by now.), personal appearances, and presentation of clues. She also pens entertaining banter between characters that serve to illustrate tones, emotions, and personality. Even after soooo many books, Laura can still create a new murder mystery: method, list of viable suspects with interesting motives, the investigation, and a solution that often I didn’t figure out myself. Although she has Theo methodical in her investigation, she uses friends and law enforcement/budding romance help, but always finds some personal peril, sometimes more than once, to put Theo in and keep the action interesting.
Stay for the tea…My two favorite words, no not “it’s murder”, but “recipes included,” and Laura has included nine easy-to-follow Favorite Recipes from the Indigo Tea Shop including the very appropriate Haley’s “Plum Crazy” Plum Crisp with Cinnamon Whipped Cream. Along with information referenced in the story, she also is unique in sharing her own Tea Time Tips including my favorite “French Tea,” and Tea Resources listing magazines, website and blogs, and information on American Tea Plantations perfect for the true tea aficionado.
Come for the mystery, stay for the tea, and enjoy the best Laura Childs can offer. Don’t forget her writing talent extends to two other series just as engaging, entertaining, and fun: the fifteen-book Scrapbooking Mysteries and the eight-book Cackleberry Club series.
Sad to say but they’re getting fairly formulaic
Great cozy mystery series
read and loved the series
Theodosia and the gang are back in another tea shop mystery that should keep you guessing until the end. The usual cast of characters are present. There’s Theo’s sidekick Drayton, who is always willing to help. Haley has plenty of yummy recipes. And don’t forget heartthrob Detective Pete Riley. Of course, Theo again crosses swords with the smart, but ever-obnoxious Detective Tidwell. Theo and Tidwell disagree over who’s a suspect and who’s not, making this mystery a virtual Charleston Who’s Who of suspects.
The fun begins when a bolt from a crossbow pierces the heart of a crooked financier. The death causes Theo and Drayton to chase after the killer in the nearby Stagwood Inn. With Theo having again inserted herself into a murder investigation, the parade of suspects and the conflict begins.
The book has a complex plot filled with asides into Theo’s tea shop that will keep fans of this series entertained. There are plenty of quirky characters in this adventure. This time, we have an unfaithful financier, a horribly dispirited handyman, and even a secret siren.
Plum Tea Crazy is classic Laura Childs—a bit of cozy mystery, a modicum of thrills, and a traditional tea party with a twist.
I really like this series
Theodosia is attending a social gathering where one of the guests falls to his death. The victim is a banker who is going through a divorce. He doesn’t die from the fall–he dies from being shot with an antique arrow. The host asks Theo to investigate the strange death. As usual, she employs the help of Drayton who works with her at the tea shop she owns. Details of both the city and the goings-on at the tea shop add depth to the story. And the romance between Theo and Detective Riley gets a chance to progress. This is an altogether satisfying story. While it stands alone, don’t deny yourself the pleasure of reading all the other books in THE TEA SHOP MYSTERY series.
There’s always a cup of trouble in the Tea Shop Mysteries. This nineteenth installment is no exception.
Some of my best times reading have been spent in the Indigo Tea Shop. I can vividly smell the smells, imagine the tastes of all the delicious offerings, hear the clink of spoons to fine bone china, as well as the voices of Theo and Drayton. When not talking about tea, they’re talking about murder. And I’m always wrapped up in every word of it!
PLUM TEA CRAZY was a great mystery. I pondered every angle of the story, reread what I felt were important clues, put forth my inner Nancy Drew, and still never guessed the killer. Well done! I honestly didn’t want this book to end. I would have read it in one setting if my tired eyes hadn’t betrayed me.
Laura Childs in an exemplary writer. Her books are always well plotted, entertaining, and interesting. This series is proof of that, and PLUM TEA CRAZY is the truest testament yet.
Another great Indigo Tea Shop mystery
I didn’t find this book up to the authors standards.