Haunted Hibiscus (Tea Shop Mystery, #22)

by Laura Childs

Laura Childs (Photographer)

Tea maven Theodosia Browning brews up trouble in the latest Tea Shop Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs.

It is the week before Halloween and Theodosia Browning, proprietor of the Indigo Tea Shop, and her tea sommelier, Drayton, are ghosting through the dusk of a cool Charleston evening on their way to the old Bouchard Mansion. Known as the Gray Ghost, this dilapidated place was recently bequeathed to the Heritage Society, and tonight heralds the grand opening of their literary and historical themed haunted house.

Though Timothy Neville, the patriarch of the Heritage Society, is not thrilled with the fund-raising idea, it is the perfect venue for his grandniece, Willow French, to sign copies of her new book, Carolina Crimes & Creepers.

But amid a parade of characters dressed as Edgar Allan Poe, Lady Macbeth, and the Headless Horseman, Willow's body is suddenly tossed from the third-floor tower room and left to dangle at the end of a rope. Police come screaming in and Theodosia's boyfriend, Detective Pete Riley, is sent to Willow's apartment to investigate. But minutes later, he is shot and wounded by a shadowy intruder.

Timothy begs Theodosia to investigate, and shaken by Riley's assault, she readily agrees. Now, she questions members of the Heritage Society and a man who claims the mansion is rightfully his, as well as Willow's book publisher and her fiancé, all while hosting a Sherlock Holmes tea and catering several others.

But the Gray Ghost holds many secrets, as do several other key suspects, while this murder mystery plays out on the eve of Halloween.

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!

• ISBN10: 0451489691
• ISBN13: 9780451489692
• Publish Date: 2 March 2021
• Publish Status: Remaindered
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Berkley Publishing Corporation,U.S.
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 336
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780451489692

Reviews

[Baroness Book Trove]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Haunted Hibiscus by Laura Childs is quite the doozy of a Halloween read.

Will Theodosia figure out who killed Willow for Timothy's sake?

Theodosia Browning

Our sleuth is Theodosia Browning, and she is quite the character. I would have to say I wouldn't mind having her job. Okay, minus the sleuthing that she has to do. Theo, as a lot of people call her, is at the opening of a new haunted house when as she is leaving for the night, she sees the young lady who was signing books earlier die. She is thrust into the world of sleuthing not only because she wants to know herself who would do that to Willow French but also because someone hurt her boyfriend. I have to say that Theo is a lovely character, and it was a fabulous treat to have someone like this as a sleuth.

Pete Riley

Pete Riley is the boyfriend of Theodosia but also her police contact. Okay, and more of the whole reason with why Theo is even more thrust into the world of solving this crime. She wanted to find out who would shoot at her boyfriend and if it was connected. Pete is a great character as well, and I love how concerned he is for Theo. He would make a marvelous boyfriend.

The Mystery

The mystery all starts with who would kill Willow French on the opening night of a haunted house. There are a whole lot of red herrings and so much sleuthing going on in this book. I thought I had it, but then I was like, no, that has to be red herring. There were many suspicions, though, I had about a certain character, and I was right. Be careful of those red herrings. While reading this book, be sure to have a notebook handy to write down the suspects. I had to do that. Also, have food handy. I found that I eat a bit more than I needed to.

5 Stars

Haunted Hibiscus by Laura Childs is a great book to start in on this series. Granted, I didn't mean to start on the 22nd book, but it sounded so good. I loved everything about this book, from the characters to the mystery, to the food they were touting off in there and everything that Theodosia does at her tea shop. It just sounded all so sublime. I can't wait to read another book in this series.

Don't forget to check out the recipes in the back, and if you want to host your own tea time, there are tips back there. The recipes include Haley's Pumpkin Soup, Tarragon Chicken Salad, Chai-Flavored Cupcakes, Crab and Avocado Tea Sandwichs, Southern Peach Crisp, Ham, and Corn Muffins, Herbed Chevre Butter, Haunted Hibiscus Cooler, Charleston Apple Pudding, Best Banana Bread Ever, and Haley's Pork Tenderloin. All of these sound so good. I might have to try one of these recipes in the future.

A Tea Shop Mystery Series

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Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Haunted Hibiscus by Laura Childs. Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Until the next time,



Happy Reading!



Victim/Toe Tag #1: Willow French (W)

Beachcomber Weapons: Rope

Beachcomber Crime Scene: High Place

Detectives: Theodosia Browning (T)

Victim/Toe Tag #2: Henry Curtis (H)

Beachcomber Weapons: Asphyxiation

Beachcomber Crime Scene: Kitchen

Detectives: Theodosia Browning (T)

This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove