by Laura Childs
Part of Tea Shop Mystery, book 26
First published 2023
Theodosia Browning hosts an elegant Honey Bee Tea in Charleston's Petigru Park, complete with native grasses and a community beekeeping project. The afternoon turns deadly when a fake beekeeper attacks guests with toxic smoke and someone shoots Osgood Claxton III, a state legislature candidate. The chaos leaves Holly Burns devastated. Her gallery's reputation lies in ruins, her guests are hurt and furious, and her displayed paintings are destroyed. When police make no progress and political insiders resist questions, Holly asks Theodosia to conduct her own investigation. Between organizing a Wind in the Willows Tea and a Glam Girl Tea, Theodosia interviews everyone who had conflicts with Claxton. She questions Booker, an angry outsider artist, Lamar Lucket, Claxton's political rival, and Mignon Merriweather, the victim's almost ex-wife. The case becomes more dangerous after a second murder occurs, an affair comes to light, Theodosia chases someone through a swamp, and vandals attack her shop. Theodosia must solve both murders to clear Holly's name and protect her own business.
Genres: mystery, contemporary, cozy-mystery, amateur-sleuth
Vibes: cozy, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, found-family
Setting: Charleston, Petigru Park
316 pages · Kindle Edition · Berkley Prime Crime