I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Peach Tea Smash
by Laura Childs
Series: Tea Shop Mystery #28
Series Rating:
Published by Berkley on August 6, 2024
Setting: Charleston, South Carolina
Genres: Cozy Culinary Mystery
Pages: 314
Format: Audible Audiobook, Hardcover, Kindle
Source: Great Escapes Book Tours
Goodreads
Bookhype
BookBub
Storygraph
Get Your Copy at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, BookShop.org, Penquin Random House
Also in this series: Haunted Hibiscus, A Dark and Stormy Tea, Lemon Curd Killer, Honey Drop Dead, Murder in the Tea Leaves
Murder at an Alice in Wonderland–themed event threatens to send Theodosia Browning through the looking glass in the latest entry in this New York Times bestselling series.
During the Mad Hatter Masquerade, a fundraiser hosted by the Friends of the Opera on the grounds of the old Pendleton Grist Mill, Harlan Sadler, husband of Cricket Sadler, the chairwoman, is killed. He’s been hit in the head with a croquet mallet, and his body hung on the chains and paddles of the grist mill. Nobody can figure out why since Harlan was much beloved by everyone. It’s only after Cricket and Delaine beg Theodosia to investigate that she realizes the killer might have mistaken Harlan for his crazy son, Duke. After all, Duke is a slum landlord and recently injured a woman in a boating accident.
INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!
Peach Tea Smash by Laura Childs has Theodosia solving another murder for a friend.
Who would kill Harlan Sadler?
Theodosia Browning
Theo gets talked into solving this murder. I really liked Theo a lot in this novel since she took what she had learned from the previous books to figure out this mystery. Not only that, but she is still learning new things about herself, Drayton, and Haley. Theo and her relationship with Pete Riley are going well. It’s fun to watch it continue to grow.
The Mystery
Theo and Drayton find Harlan Sadler’s dead body. Theodosia gets talked into solving the mystery by her friend, Delaine, and she’s okay with that. She ends up trying to figure it out while also putting herself at risk of getting hurt—not only herself but everyone she cares about. I have to say that I didn’t guess who did it, and I was shocked when it was revealed. Except I have the person on my suspect list. So, there is that.
Five Stars
I am giving five stars to Peach Tea Smash by Laura Childs and recommending it to anyone who likes a good, cozy culinary mystery. Ms. Childs is an excellent writer, and I love deep-diving into Theodosia’s world. One note that I have to say, no matter what is not to read this book on an empty stomach or have snacks near you. Reading about Haley’s food makes me so hungry while reading it.
Don’t forget to check out the recipes! They are Drayton’s Peach Tea Smash, Indigo Tea Shop Lemon Curd, Haley Bailey’s Chocolate Truffles, Grilled Salmon with Honey Mustard Brown Sugar Crust, Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms, Veggie Tea Sandwiches, Decadent Bourbon Chocolate Pie, Peach Cobbler, Applesauce Brownies, and of course Tea Time Tips from the Author.
A Tea Shop Mystery Series
Giveaway
Prize: 2 Hardcover Copies of Peach Tea Smash (A Tea Shop Mystery) by Laura Childs, US only
Tour Organized by:
To find all the tour information, click the banner at the top of the page.
Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!
Thank you for dropping by! What do you think of Peach Tea Smash by Laura Childs?
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
Baroness’ Book Trove is an Amazon affiliate, meaning that if you click on a link that takes you to that retailer and purchase something, this blog gets a tiny percentage back. Mainly, this helps with the cost of the website and a few giveaways.
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 take 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.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2024 Cloak and Dagger
- 2024 Craving the Cozies
- 2024 Cruisin' thru the Cozies
- 2024 Goodreads RC
- 2024 Medical Examiner Mystery RC
- 2024 Six Shooter RC
Sounds like a great read.