Plum Tea Crazy

January 1, 2018
At the start of Childs’s savory 19th Tea Shop mystery (after 2017’s Pekoe Most Poison), Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop in Charleston, S.C., and her debonair friend and tea sommelier, Drayton Conneley, witness the fatal fall of banker Carson Lanier from the widow’s walk of a stately mansion on the night of the annual Gaslight and Galleons Parade. Theodosia is the first to arrive on the scene, where she discovers that Lanier has been shot with a bolt from a crossbow. Suspects start springing up like mushrooms after a rain shower, among them a soon-to-be ex-wife, lovers, business partners, and a cranky handyman. Of course, of equal importance to finding out who killed the banker is matching blackcurrant scones with steaming cups of custom-blended plum-flavored Ceylonese tea. Rounding out the volume are recipes, teatime tips, and a list of tea resources, including tea websites and blogs. Childs serves dedicated cup-of-tea-and-a-cozy readers exactly what they long for. Agent: Sam Pinkus, Keystone Literary Agency.

January 1, 2018
Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop, and her tea sommelier, Drayton Conneley, are attending a party at Timothy Neville's Charleston mansion when banker and gun collector Carson Lanier is murdered during the festivities. It turns out Lanier was killed by a quarrel (medieval arrow) shot from a crossbow. Neville asks the two to investigate the murder, and the ever curious Theodosia agrees. Suspects include a gun control activist, Lanier's business partner, a possible lover, and his gleeful widow, whom he was divorcing. As Theodosia and Drayton investigate, with input from Theodosia's boyfriend, Charleston police detective Pete Riley, Theodosia finds herself and those dear to her in danger. The two persevere and uncover an unlikely killer. Familiar, well-drawn characters, the lovingly described Charleston setting, details about tea and running a tea shop, and a final plot twist make this cozy a nice addition to the long-running series. Certain to appeal to readers who enjoy southern settings, tea, and strong women protagonists.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)