Murder in a Teacup

Vicki Delany

Jul 2021 · Tea by the Sea Mysteries Book 2 · Kensington Cozies

About this ebook

In national bestselling author Vicki Delany’s delightful Tea by the Sea mystery series, Lily Roberts—Cape Cod tearoom proprietress and part-time sleuth—stirs up trouble when she unwittingly serves one of her grandmother’s B&B guests a deadly cup of tea . . .
 
Lily has her work cut out for her when a visit from her grandmother Rose’s dear friend, Sandra McHenry, turns into an unexpected—and unpleasant—McHenry family reunion. The squabbling boils over and soon Tea by the Sea’s serene afternoon service resembles the proverbial tempest in a teapot. Somehow, Lily and her tearoom survive the storm, and Sandra’s bickering brethren finally retreat to Rose’s B & B. But later that evening, a member of their party—harmless Ed French—dies from an apparent poisoning and suddenly Tea by the Sea is both scene and suspect in a murder investigation!
 
Mercifully, none of the other guests fall ill. They all ate the same food, but Ed insisted on bringing his own special blend of herbal teas. So it seems, amid the whining and dining, someone snuck up to one of Lily’s cherished teapots and fatally spiked Ed’s bespoke brew, but who? Was it Ed’s long-estranged sister-in-law? Did teenage troublemaker Tyler take a prank too far? Or perhaps the family’s feuds have been steeping for longer than anyone realizes? It’s up to Lily, Rose, and their friends to get to the bottom of the poisoned pot and bag the real culprit behind the kettle murder plot.


 

Ratings and reviews

Murder in a Teacup by Vicki Delany is the 2nd A Tea by the Sea Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you have not had time to indulge in Tea & Treachery. Everything a new reader needs to know is included. The author provides beautiful descriptions of North Augusta, Massachusetts where Lily’s grandmother, Rose runs Victoria-on-Sea Bed and Breakfast and Lily Roberts has her cozy teashop, Tea by the Sea. Rose has her friend, Sandra visiting from Iowa along with her family. Her granddaughter, Heather is footing the bill for the family reunion. Their bickering and backbiting is fraying the staff’s nerves. Lily is happy she has her cottage to retreat to at the end of the day. Unfortunately, one of the family members end up dead from poisoning casting suspicion on Lily and her staff. Lily wonders which one of the family members committed the evil deed. She intends to find out since another death has once again closed down her tea shop. I found Murder in a Teacup easy to read with a fun cast of characters. I love Lily’s grandmother, Rose. She is a classy lady. I also like Lily who is an excellent baker and her cute dog, Éclair. There are some good secondary characters that include Simon, the English gardener, and Matt, the new neighbor. I am not as enamored with Lily’s friend, Bernie. I find her flighty and annoying. The mystery was straightforward. There was a family of suspects along with misdirection. A piece of information early in the book provided me with the killer’s identity. It also helped me guess some secrets that would be revealed at the end of the book. I wish the whodunit had been more of a challenge (I love a good puzzle). There are mouthwatering descriptions of Lily’s baked goods that includes orange zest scones. I like learning about the various types of tea, foods served at teatime, and the different types of tea pots. I loved the description of Lily’s special china she received when she was eighteen. There are recipes at the end of the book for the tempting teats featured in the book. I enjoyed reading this lighthearted cozy mystery set by the sea. Murder in a Teacup is a cute Cape Cod cozy with bickering brethren, delectable delights, a gifted gardener, a bespoke brew, a cat conundrum, and a malicious murder.

About the author

Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers and a national bestselling author in the United States. She is currently writing four cozy mystery series: the Tea by the Sea mysteries, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series, the Year-Round Christmas mysteries and, as Eva Gates, the Lighthouse Library series. Vicki lives and writes in bucolic Prince Edward County, Ontario. She is a past president of Crime Writers of Canada and a co-organizer of Women Killing It, a crime writing festival. Her work has been nominated for the Derringer, the Bony Blithe, the Ontario Library Association Golden Oak, and the Arthur Ellis Awards. She is the recipient of the 2019 Derrick Murdoch Award for contributions to Canadian crime writing.