Tea and a Murder, Oh My!

Sit down and make yourself comfy. Have a cup of tea and some pecan coffee cake. I want to tell you about a terrific mystery I just finished reading. Imagine a charming tea shop in historic Charleston, South Carolina. The owner, beautiful Theodosia Browning has just locked up her Indigo Tea Shop for the night after a busy evening serving tea and goodies to long time customers and tourists. She is walking down a dimly lit alley when to her horror, she witnesses a murder! The victim is fellow merchant, Daria Shand, owner of the Antiquarian Map Shop! The stage has been set for New York Time's Best Selling author, Laura Childs' latest ... The Teaberry Strangler!!

I have read several of Laura Child's Tea Shop Mysteries and am never disappointed. Theodosia Browning and her lovely Indigo Tea Shop in Historic Charleston provides the backdrop for tea and mystery. She contemplates suspects while sitting in a cozy apartment above her shop. It is filled with the items we cottage girls love, cozy chintz covered chairs, antique tea cups, a prized Staffordshire dog. She is aided in her detective work by her employees and friends. The elegant southern gentleman, Drayton, tea connoisseur extraordinaire. The talented chef Miss Haley. Theodosia's ever faithful and loving dog Earl Grey. Who could have wanted to murder dear Daria? Did someone want to take over her Antiquarian Map Shop? Was someone else interested in the location to expand an existing shop? No butlers are suspects, but Daria's recently hired employee may be, or perhaps another shop owner? Maybe it is someone after a specific antique map. Perhaps someone confused Daria for Theodosia and Miss Browning may be the next victim!

To find out the answer to these questions, just go out and get a copy of The Teaberry Strangler. You will be glad you did. Check out the Laura Childs site for a complete list of all her Tea Shop Mysteries and her other series as well. When you are done with that, sit back and enjoy another cup of tea and visit Terri's Tea Cup Tuesday at her blog Artful Affirmations, Marty's Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life, and lovely Lady Katherine's Tea Time Tuesday at Lady Katherine Tea Parlor.

I'm ready for another cup of tea, how about you? What's that Bentley? How did Earl Grey get his name? Well you see, Theodosia found this cute little pup and he was homeless and sad ... I'll whisper the rest of the story to you and our blogging friends will just have to read the book to find the answer. Now say goodbye to all our friends!

Bentley says woof!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo