Customer Reviews

The Final Crumpet (The Royal Tunbridge Wells Mystery Series #2)

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4 star:		(2)
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"The Final Crumpet" is the second offering in the marvelous "Royal Tunbridge Wells Mystery" series written by Ron and Janet Benrey. Once again, the Benreys allow us to share the adventures of Nigel Owens and Flick Adams, the director and the curator of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Tea Museum in Tunbridge Wells, England.

While tending to some rather sick Assam bushes in the museum's garden, a body is uncovered. It turns out to be the remains of Britain's noted "Tea Sage," Etienne Makepeace, missing for forty years. When news gets out that the famous tea expert has been found, the media descend like locusts upon the hapless museum staff. As Nigel and Flick try valiantly to handle the situation, the bank that funds the museum threatens to withdraw their support, appalled by the unwelcome notoriety. Nigel and Flick, who are falling in love, must discover just how Makepeace found his way into their garden. It is clear that solving the mystery might be their only chance to save the museum. But the secrets that may have led to the tea expert's early demise are not the love struck pair's only problem. They each house their own deeply held secrets. The real mystery lies not only in the truth about Etienne Makepeace but in the ability of the wily sleuths to handle the truth about each other.

Written in a style reminiscent of Agatha Christie, this cozy is a mystery lover's delight. Nigel's British sensibilities create the perfect foil for his American partner's lovable spontaneity. "The Final Crumpet" is a novel that requires a cozy fire, a comfy chair, and a delicious cuppa. It is highly recommended.

I loved the Benrey's first tea mystery, Dead as a Scone, so I had high expectations of The Final Crumpet. It didn't disappoint me! While keeping many of the delightful elements from the first book - Nigel and Flick, and the English town of Royal Tunbridge Wells - Crumpet's plot is larger, reaching back to the 1960's to spies and missing persons. How this all relates to the world of tea and its museum is thoroughly entertaining and intriguing. I highly recommend it.

This was the first book I read by these authors and I was so thrilled with it! I love both cozy mysteries and christian fiction and this book is both. The characters are wonderful, believeable and make you want to reach out and hug them. I read this entire book in one day, I just couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read more by these delightful authors!

I've read both "Dead as a Scone" and "The Final Crumpet". Both were very entertaining mysteries with satisfying endings that make sense. It is neat to see Flick muddle her way through the different culture and how English is spoken in England rather than here. ( a torch is flashlight, etc). The passages on tea are very educational and the book reads fast.

The only strange thing is that in the middle of "The Final Crumpet" both characters and a supporting one (Polly) start talking about their religious beliefs (Jesus is something like a dustbin--I know that's not the actual quote but something akin to it). I really like some analogies and thoughts about their faith but it seemed the authors threw those paragraphs in there to add some Christian basis to the novels. There was no preliminary buildup--it happened in the middle of muddling in the mystery. The first book had a reason why the Bible was quoted that was vital to the mystery but this book, though very good, had spots of Christianity thrown it as if an afterthought and it was somewhat distracting. If the authors can manage to weave in the character's faith throughout the book, it would be fantastic and add a whole new dimension and depth to the entire mystery.

I recently read Dead as a Scone, the first book in this series, and I wasn't overly impressed. However, this book was much better written and I found that it didn't have the same flaws as the first book. It kept my interest throughout and the historical parts of the book were implemented into the story instead of being a break from the rest of the book. The mystery was captivating and it was thoroughly enjoyed.

The one problem I had with the book was the fact that there was a short "Christian" section in the middle and vague references throughout but it didn't really tie into the story. I don't appreciate authors throwing Christian content into books just to market it to a specific audience and that is what this felt like. It didn't turn me off of the book or story I just felt that it could have been written differently. If it had tied into the story better I would have no problem with it. As it was, the content felt as if it was added into the story and didn't feel natural to the book or the characters.

Otherwise, this was a great cozy and I liked it very much. Now I'm off to find some tea and scones as the many references to such in the book has made me long for an English tea!

This couple has a way of giving you several options of killers, and then come up with a totally surprising ending, at least for me. I tend to be an anglophile, so I love learning the British terms for some items. Using a tea museum is a quaint and creative setting. The ending wasn't as heartpounding for me as "Dead as a Scone", but I thouroughly enjoyed reading this sequel.

The story flows well as told through the experiences and thoughts of Nigel and Flick, a couple that complements each other in story telling, sluething and personally. Their characters are developed well and it is easy to become swept up in the mystery through them. The dialoque is fun, the plot believable and the comfortable way the story is built and unfolds made me sorry that the story couldn't have gone on and on. A great book to read if you are, or want to be, relaxed and taken away from reality for a bit.

It was enjoyable. I look forward to the next one in the series.