Pekoe Most Poison
By Laura Childs
Have you ever attended a “rat tea”? Well, you’re invited, in the recently
released, eighteenth book in Laura Childs’ cozy tea shop mystery series. If you’re already a fan, you’ll be delighted with
this return to Charleston and the world of the Indigo tea shop, which blends
beautifully with mystery. If this is
your first trip to this series, you can comfortably jump right in with Pekoe Most Poison.
You’ll learn, along with our protagonist Theo, that rat teas
are parties dating back to twentieth century Charleston where the cream of
society would sponsor teas to promote city rodent control and better public
health. You’ll also have a seat at the
table for murder. Now it’s up to you and
Theo to follow the clues and puzzle out which of the suspects has committed
this crime.
As a reader I was devouring the clues eagerly, between
enjoyable tidbits of history and color around Charleston. It’s the core characters that surrounded me
like old friends. The tea shop trio
personalities are so interesting they resonate, and their interactions are
laced with humor and fun. And the
suspects are abundant and varied. You’ll
be challenged working through potential motives and opportunity, but follow the
clues to the thrilling ending, let your theories brew a little, and you just
may solve this mystery along with Theo and her friends.
Little Girl Gone
By Gerry Schmitt
For this thriller, the author tossed aside the pseudonym of
Laura Childs, and she began a new Afton Tangler thriller series. This first
book in the series introduces her protagonist who is a family liaison officer
with the Minneapolis Police Department.
Afton works closely and empathetically with families that are crime
victims, and is also very tough in her developing investigative skills.
The mystery in this book is abduction. In a thriller, different than a cozy, the
mystery for the reader isn’t who did it.
Now the mystery is if the hero can catch the villain, and the clock is
ticking from the moment this baby’s abducted.
In the meantime, you learn family secrets revealed. And the movements and motives of the
abductors are fascinating.
This book is an incredible, raw ride that you’ll be excited
to read. Be sure you have time to finish
the last fifty pages in one sitting, because you won’t be able to put it down. The next in the Afton Tangler series, Shadow Girl is available in stores and online.
To hear more from the author of both series, and over 40 mysteries,
listen to our episode Kendall & Cooper Talk Mysteries with Laura
Childs/Gerry Schmitt. In honor of that,
our sweet 16 podcast episode and in tribute to our tea shop series author, the
Treasures and Teas Shop in Edmonds created custom, first taste mystery tea
blends. These are wonderful for sipping
while listening to Kendall & Cooper, or while reading your favorite
mysteries.
Phyllis Carlton, tea sommelier at Treasures and Teas blended
the Queen’s Mystery #2. Like a good
mystery, this blend beckons to you to chase it.
The second blend for our sweet 16 is the Evening Shadow which is
particularly soothing while enthralled in thrillers, and well suited to those
cozy mysteries. The Podners were invited
to a tea tasting by Phyllis and were delighted.
We left after enthusiastically purchasing each. And we were excited to send samples to Laura
Childs for her to enjoy for our episode.
Chamomile Mourning
By Laura Childs
This author serves up a savory blend of herbal teas,
pastries, and murder. This novel is just
one in a series of “cozy” mysteries that revolve around Theodosia Browning who
owns Indigo Tea Shop in Charleston, South Carolina. I’m such a fan of the series, I’ve read them
all. I’ve read some of them more than
once. Chamomile Mourning is early in the series, and one of my favorites.
Laura Childs gives delightful Charleston the feeling of a small
town, and the characters surrounding Theodosia are so intriguing. This book begins at a catered tea party at
the Heritage Society’s annual Poetry event.
But murder becomes a dramatic verse of its own. The victim is one of the Heritage Society’s
own, prominent members. When clues lead
the local police to accuse one of Theodosia’s friends, she is motivated to
prove them wrong. But maybe Theodosia is
wrong?
The clues will lead the reader toward several potential murderers
and motives. You’ll enjoy the chase, and
during more relaxed moments you’ll also enjoy the detailed descriptions of
Charleston. The author really engages
you in the challenges and appeal of running a small business too. Several of Theodosia’s friends are small
business people in the city, and she is so proud of her tea shop. You’ll get an enjoyable glimpse into the
varieties, history and social niceties of teas.
Haley and Drayton, who both work at the tea shop, are each artists at
work. Haley is the baker and Drayton is
the tea mixologist. They help Theodosia
in many ways. And there is an extra
treat in the book! You’re treated to
recipes that are supposedly from Haley for pastries and from Drayton for
teas. Do yourself a favor and try these. The ones I’ve tried have been delicious.
Laura Childs was a writer/producer at several
national ad agencies, before forming her own company, Mission Critical
Marketing. She wrote four screenplays,
got one read by Paramount, but never actually sold one. She then thought to try writing mysteries. How
fortunate for fans like me! She really
enjoyed the writing, and was so happy when she sold her first couple of
books. A prolific writer, she now has two other
entertaining series in addition to the tea shop mysteries. They are the Scrapbook Mysteries and
Cackleberry Club Mysteries, and she’s not done yet.
Put your feet up with a cup of tea, or a
glass of ice tea, and enjoy an entertaining flight of
murderous fancy, mull over your clues, and then chase down your suspect.
