Customer Reviews

Blood Orange Brewing (A Tea Shop Mystery)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Blood Orange Brewing was a pleasant comfortable outing with Theodosia and friends. Although the murder occurred at the very beginning of the book, the sleuthing seemed to fall flat. I did not find the solution very satisfying. It seemed to be randomly selected because it was time to end the book. I missed the explanation of the why behind the plot development concerning Earl Grey even after rereading the end of the book looking for the answer. I found that loose end troublesome. I did enjoy the interactions between Theodosia, Drayton and Haley. And as usual, the descriptions of the food and teas were mouth-watering as well as the included recipes. The tea shop mysteries are still engaging and a recommended read however I would not consider this its best outing.

This book seems to miss the mark in an otherwise enjoyable series. While the descriptions of the teas and food are good, the mystery falls short. Throughout the whole story, Theo moans that she's having trouble finding clues and solving the murder; then suddenly at the end it comes to her and she goes racing off to find the proof. There is never any mention as to how the murder was done in that house during a concert with numerous people or how the secret rooms played into it. It was not a satisfying conclusion at all. The characters seem to be acting as they normally do, and Haley's manic character has been toned down at last, although she has some expressions that don't really ring true: "Pop a chill pill, Drayton!" Who talks like that? In general, the characters are likable, but they're not enough to carry this poorly planned mystery.

This was a solid addition to Childs' tea series, but not the best. The plot was somewhat slow and almost plodding at times. While I don't mind slow, this just didn't have the punch of some of the earlier books. We lost Theodosia's romantic interest in the last book and this one seems to be unsure where to go with that. I really thought she might develop something with the detective, but this book seemed to leaning towards Parker...not though with any major changes. I think some additional story on Drayton and Haley would be a nice addition to future books...Haley is working on a recipe book in this book and that adds to her character somewhat, but should continue to build. This book is more of a stagnation in the series than a continuation on the ladder. Definitely something to read if you have read the rest of the series, but not a good place to start if you are just joining the series.

I have been anxiously awaiting this next book in the tea shop series for a long while. I really love the wonderful descriptions of Charleston and the antics of the cast of characters in these books - Drayton is my absolute favorite - and then Delaine.

Having said all this, I came away from this book truly frustrated with the abrupt and disconnected ending. As other readers have suggested, the ending seemed to come out of nowhere - and it didn't fit well with the book's plot. Meanwhile, many questions were left completely unanswered - how did the murder actually happen? What is the background and connection of the secret room? How did murder #2 occur? Why was Earl Grey abducted and how?

Now, as readers, we can fill in some of the blanks with our imaginations - but truly - I expected to be paid off with a LOT more detail than what was given. When I reached the book's conclusion, I started looking frantically through the recipes trying to be sure I hadn't missed another chapter that would fill in the blanks.

As well, I find it strinkingly odd that so many of the main characters in this series are unmarried - Theo, Drayton, Haley, Delaine, Dectective Tidwell, Jory Davis, Parker Scully. That's a lot of unattached people milling about romantic Charleston!

I adore this series - and I plan to keep reading it - but I sure hope Ms. Childs goes back to her earlier novels to remind herself of why they were so cozy and fun to read. Something was truly missing in here.

In the 7th book in the Tea Shop Mystery series, another of Theodosia Browning's catered events is thrown into mayhem with the addition of a dead body. As a group of shocked onlookers watch, Duke Wilkes, topples face forward onto the floor of the Augustus Chait House during an event for the Restoration Committee. He has been murdered, and Theo starts to see the case as a locked room murder mystery. It appears as though someone from within the Heritage Society had an issue with Duke, and Theo, Haley, and Drayton once again throw caution to the wind and help the Charleston Police Department with this baffling case.

I love this series, although I do agree with several other previous reviews regarding the ending of the book. The "how" and the "why" of the murders were not explained well, and the ending to the book seemed a bit rushed. However, I read these books more for the characters than I do the mysteries themselves. I like the way that Haley, Theo, and Drayton work together, and I enjoy the descriptions of the teas and the goodies they serve at the Indigo Tea Shop (yum!). I look forward to future installments getting back on track with the previous books, as they were all a delight.

The first book in the series is called "Death by Darjeeling". Enjoy!

Theodosia Browning and her Indigo Tea Shop are serving at the Candlelight Concert socialite Delaine Dish throws to raise money for a Victorian home donated to the Heritage Society. Everyone who is anyone is there as Delaine plans to hit them up to donate to restore the house.

Unfortunately retired CEO and beloved politician Duke Wilkes is murdered before refreshments can be served. Detective Burt Tidwell is on the case and in no uncertain terms tells Theodosia to stay off the case.

That's what Theodosia plans to do until Duke's widow begs her to look into things. Since everyone who was at the concert is a suspect, she has her work cut out for her. It doesn't take long before she finds herself in the thick of things and apparently getting too close. Can she solve this murder without putting herself and those she loves in danger?

I really enjoyed this book. The Charleston setting is always relaxing to me. The story kept moving and made me want to read another chapter and not put it down. Theodosia and her associates, Drayton and Haley, are such wonderful characters. I'm not a tea drinker, but I'd love to go to their shop just so I could meet them!

I can't wait to read the next installment in this series. I highly recommend this book.

What a wonderful cozy read. I love Theo, Drayton and Haley. What starts out as a great mystery, falls flat in my opinion in the end. Just ended because we need to end the story?

I gave it four stars because I do love all the tea talk. Theo is asked to help who murdered Duke during the concert and starts snooping around. The murderer is not going to take that too nicely. Everywhere Theo goes she is on her toes looking for clues, but never would have guessed!

All in all a good book. I can't help myself. These are cute cozy mystery reads!

Overall, I found this book to be an annoying read. This is the first book I've read in this series; based on this selection, I would flip straight to the recipe sections if I came across another!

Pluses: The descriptions of various teas was quite interesting and definitely made me wish to learn more about tea. The recipes, which all seem to have been incorporated into the story, sound quite delicious.

Minuses: I agree with other reviewers that the conclusion was completely unsatisfying. However, I found the entire story so implausible that I kept getting jerked out of the story & saying out loud 'You've got to be kidding!' Theodosia, the amateur sleuth, comes across as wooly-headed, yet strident. Why is Theodosia trying to compete with the the police by attempting to find & withhold evidence? Especially one or two days into a murder investigation. Her actions throughout this book seem so poorly thought out, it seems wildly unlikely that she could run a successful business. Perhaps in earlier books in this series, Theodosia shows an insightful character that leads folks in Charleston flock to her for help - but I don't see it in this book.

I have been a great fan of these teashop mysteries from the moment they appeared, but I was so very disappointed in the latest one. The plot didn't seem as well thought-out as in previous books, but what really drove me mad was the huge (and unacceptable) number of typographical errors in the book. I am always slightly addled by Ms. Childs' refusal to use the word "of" after the word "couple" (a couple pots of tea, as opposed to a couple OF pots of tea), but the excessive errors in this book simply showed a sloppy level of proofreading. Now that we are asked to pay for hardback editions of the books, I expect quality to be better, not worse. I may give the series one more chance, but I have refrained from recommending this book to other tea lovers, as I normally would do.

I had a chance to read this latest Childs Tea Shop Mystery while I was cruising in the western Carribean. Despite the numerous offerings on ship and shore, I found it hard to put this book as enticing as the author's previous efforts in this series. Theodosia, Haley, Drayton, and even the tough, highly profession, but occasionally showing a human side, Chief Dective Burt Tidwell, were all in fine form. In Blood Orange Brewing the reader experiences not only murder, but hidden passageways/rooms, coupled with an every building, but at first subtle, tension that comes to a dramatic culmination. Even Theodosia's faithful dog Earl Gray gets mixed up in this caper; though no fault of his own. What continues to appeal to me in this latest offering (I have read every Tea Mystery to date) is the Charleston, SC setting, with some real street names and towns included by the author. This cannot help but add to the book's overall successful action and ambience. I recommend Blood Orange Brewing to all lovers of a good, well organized, mystery. I look forward with much anticipation to Laura Childs next tea shop offering! And, in closing, let us not forget to mention the tasty offerings from Haley's kitchen; even while on a cruise ship they made my mouth water.