MURDER IN A TEA CUP by Vicki Delaney

 

Publisher:      Kensington
Published:      July 27, 2021
ISBN:      ‎ 978-1496725097
Genre:     Cozy Mystery
Format:     Print from Publisher
Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina  myreviewbooks@aol.com

 

THREE-1/2 HEARTS

 

Big excitement at Tea by the Sea when long-time friend of Lily Roberts’ grandmother, Rose’s, Sandra is coming to visit and stay at Rose’s charming B&B.  Not only is Sandra coming to visit-her entire family is coming for a big reunion and all being paid for by her granddaughter, Heather. Heather had the good fortune to marry a very wealthy man, Norman, and move to New York. That was good fortune until Norman died in a car accident. Now the widow is trying to bring the family together and mend old wounds and slights. While there is still some minor family squabbles things seem to be going along pretty well.  That is, until, during a tea at Lily’s shop one of the family members suddenly dies. Heather’s brother-in-law, Ed has his own blend of tea he drinks and when he falls over dead, it appears the tea may be the culprit. Ed has been drinking his special tea for some time, so how did it suddenly cause his death?  Did someone tamper with the tea?  Or was it just his time? As Sandra and Heather’s family squabbles turn to accusations it soon becomes clear Ed’s death was no accident. Not about to let her tea shop fall under suspicion, Lily finds herself, along with grandmother Rose and friend Bernie, investigating yet another murder.

 

I have to admit that when I read a book like Vicki Delany’s MURDER IN A TEA CUP I get led down more roads than just “whodoneit.”  In this case, it’s about tea. In the first book of this series TEA AND TREACHERY Lily talked quite a bit about her favorite brew, Creamy Earl Grey. I found myself looking to buy some and then stumbled on a host of other intriguing sounding tea brews and bought myself quite a selection.  I was drawn to MURDER IN A TEA CUP not just because I happen to like Delany’s writing and get pulled into her stories, but I was looking for more “tea info.”  This one focuses more on Sandra’s family’s dynamics and just who had it in for Ed and it made for a “gotta find out who did it” read.

 

I like Lily. She’s smart, observant, kind and practical. She doesn’t rush into things but looks at all the angles and when to turn for help. I’m not a fan of Rose or Bernie – Bernie annoys me with her never ending book plotting that goes nowhere.  SPOILER …..Heather was willing to give Bernie an in with a publisher but Heather’s role in the book kind of puts an end to that so Bernie no longer has incentive to write even a chapter.  She’s been plotting a book and changing direction every other day through two books and it’s getting old. I go back and forth liking Rose for her inner strength and attitude and her refusal to listen to anything anyone tells her. I’m all for strong minded women, but occasionally they need to back down.

 

Delany presents her readers with some interesting and at times typical family dynamics as the reunion moves along. I definitely could relate to aspects of it and I’m sure most readers will too.

 

You do not have to read book 1, TEA AND TREACHERY to enjoy MURDER IN A TEA CUP because not only does Delany give readers enough back story to catch up, the mystery stands on its own. 

 

 

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

 

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