Cozy Up With Kathy: High Tea and Misdemeanors

Sunday, March 16, 2025

High Tea and Misdemeanors - A Review & Giveaway

Review

HIGH TEA AND MISDEMEANORS by Laura Childs
The Twenty-Ninth Tea Shop Mystery

It should have been a glorious autumnal wedding, even if Delaine Dish was running around like a chicken with her head cut off. Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop, and Drayton Conneley, her friend and tea sommelier had the catering well in hand and the dining space was all set up in the greenhouse when a mighty crash sent the pair rushing out to see what happened. The walls and roof of the greenhouse collapsed killing a bridesmaid and seriously injuring the groom who was sent to get her. This was no accident, however. A killer fully intended to disrupt the wedding. Theodosia, never content to sit by the sidelines decides to run her own shadow investigation. The killer hasn't finished and Theodosia just might become the next victim.

HIGH TEA AND MISDEMEANORS pits a killer against tea shop owner and sleuth Thedosia Browning. What's unusual is that readers are privy to part of the killer's point of view. Although not given the exact motivation or plans, readers are privy to some of the thoughts, ideas, and actions, as well as the killer's thoughts about Theo! I really enjoyed this aspect of the novel as it brings something fresh to the twenty-ninth book in the series!

One of my favorite aspects of this book, indeed the whole series, is the description, be it the scenery, design, and architecture of Charleston, or the amazing food, teas, and events at the Indigo Tea Shop! Those food descriptions, as well as the recipes and tips found at the end of each book, make my mouth water and have me dreaming of my own tea parties.

The mystery was compelling, but yet again Theo takes matters into her own hands, running her "shadow investigation". Asking questions is one thing, but it seems she thinks breaking and entering is fine now. She's even cajoled Drayton into helping her against his better judgement. I wish she'd stop breaking the law in order to solve the crime. She's also developed a know it all attitude which is off putting. I wish she'd take a vacation and let Drayton and Miss Dimple solve a mystery on their own!

HIGH TEA AND MISDEMEANORS is a fast paced thrillzy that will have you wondering just who-dun-it as your mouth waters over the delectable food and tea offered by Theo and her friends at the Indigo Tea Shop.

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High Tea and Misdemeanors (A Tea Shop Mystery) by Laura Childs

About High Tea and Misdemeanors

High Tea and Misdemeanors (A Tea Shop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 29th in Series
Setting - South Carolina
Publisher: ‎ Berkley (March 4, 2025)
Hardcover: ‎ 320 pages

When a wedding is tragically averted by the death of the bridesmaid, Theodosia is determined to prove that it was murder in the latest entry in this New York Times bestselling series. Theodosia Browning and her tea sommelier, Drayton Conneley, are tapped to cater the elegant wedding of Bettina and Jamie. Theodosia and Drayton are setting up when they hear a crash from the greenhouse. Shockingly, they discover that part of the roof has collapsed trapping a bridesmaid and the groom. He will pull through but the bridesmaid is no more. Theodosia is convinced it was murder. INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!

About Laura Childs

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fundraising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:

The Tea Shop Mysteries – set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.

The Scrapbooking Mysteries – a slightly edgier series that takes place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries – set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.