by Laura Childs
Part of Tea Shop Mystery, book 20
First published 2019
Theodosia Browning and Drayton are catering a formal tea service at a Charleston hot-air balloon rally when disaster strikes from above. A drone emerges from the gray clouds and deliberately crashes into a nearby balloon, creating a massive explosion that kills all three passengers. Among the dead is Don Kingsley, CEO of software company SyncSoft, who owned a valuable Revolutionary War Union Jack flag that had attracted fierce bidding competition. The police believe Kingsley was the primary target, but they have no shortage of suspects. His soon-to-be ex-wife is renovating an expensive mansion. His personal assistant curated his prized Americana collection. Two antiques dealers are known for underhanded tactics. Most troubling for Theodosia, the fiancée of one of her close friends works at SyncSoft as a whistle-blower. As the investigation unfolds, Theodosia must navigate the murky waters of corporate secrets, valuable collectibles, and personal vendettas to discover who turned a peaceful afternoon into a deadly crime scene.
Genres: mystery, thriller, 21st-century, americana, cozy-mystery, amateur-sleuth
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, corporate-intrigue, murder-investigation
Setting: Charleston
Period: 21st-century
327 pages · Kindle Edition · Penguin Publishing Group