by Laura Childs
Part of Tea Shop Mystery, book 9
First published 2008
Theodosia Browning expects a profitable week when the Charleston Film Festival brings catering opportunities to her Indigo Tea Shop. She and her staff handle the opening night gala at the restored Belvedere Theatre. Hollywood stars mix with Charleston society in the elegant lobby, but Theodosia senses trouble brewing behind the scenes. The backstage crew radiates tension despite the celebratory mood out front. When renowned director Jordan Cole approaches the podium to address the crowd, a gunshot rings out. The entire audience watches in horror as Cole's silhouette collapses against the theater scrim. What should have been a glamorous festival launch becomes a murder scene. Theodosia finds herself caught between the glittering world of cinema and the dark reality of violence that has shattered the evening's festivities.
Genres: fiction, mystery, contemporary, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-detective, small-town
Setting: Charleston, Belvedere Theatre
Period: Contemporary
274 pages · Hardcover · Berkley Hardcover
Content warnings: violence