Customer Reviews

Oolong Dead (A Tea Shop Mystery)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The proprietor of the Charleston Tea Shop Theodosia Browning is having a great time competing in the Charleston Point-to-Point Race. All of a sudden her horse becomes riled and out of control. Theodosia Browning leaps off and does a controlled roll limiting her injuries. However, her sudden landing leads to the discovery of the body of TV reporter Abby Davis with a bullet wound in the victim's forehead.

The last time they met, Abby tried to bait Theo into a cat fight, but the storeowner refused to be play Abby's game. Detective Burt Tidewell shocks Theo, who has solved several homicides, when he tells her to investigate. Her former boyfriend, Abby's brother Jory, is back from New York and also asks Theo to make inquiries. When she goes to the old plantation what Abby and her husband Drew donated to a historical trust corporation, she finds the remains of a bride who vanished a hundred years ago. In the present she learns that several people benefited from Abby's death as the reporter made many enemies on her climb to the top.

Putting aside the coincidence of another corpse in Theo' path and the cop encouraging her to investigate, this is another delightful amateur sleuth in which readers obtain a taste of the South. The heroine is an easy going person but her demeanor hides her steel spine and independent heart. Theo does what she belies is right even when it may harm a relationship she cherishes. Besides a wonderful look at Charleston and surrounding Low Country, fans will relish drinking tea with Theo as she tries to solve the homicide of someone she disliked.

Harriet Klausner

I truly love cozy mysteries and have followed this series since it began. This is one of the better series out there and if you enjoy this type of book, I would definitely recommend you pick up the first one ("Death by Darjeeling") and get started since you are in for a treat.

This is the tenth book and, while not the best, is a solid book that continues the story of Theodosia Browning, the proprietor of The Indigo Tea Shop of Charleston. The book has the strong sense of place that Laura Childs typically delivers and I really enjoy that. The reader gets to experience the historical district of Charleston and a bit of the surrounding low country/culture since the action is not geographically limited to Charleston proper. The murder portion of this is also strong since it actually has plausability. Many times cozies stretch the imagination on the motive for the murder, but in this case it all makes sense once you reach the end. As far as the characters, I don't think this one was as strong as some of the others and I didn't feel that I learned any more about Drayton and Haley (employees/friends of Theodosia) -- I would have enjoyed that. In particular, Drayton is an intriquing character and I would have liked to have him further developed.

Overall, a good fast read that is a solid contribution to the Tea Shop Mysteries.

I have read all of Laura Childs' Tea Shop Mysteries and her latest cozy mystery is an easy and fun read. The Tea Shop Mysteries take place in Charleston, South Carolina and the lead character, Theodosia, owns her own business, a tea shop in Charleston.

As well as being a successful small business owner, Theo is an amateur sleuth. In this venture, Theo is riding in the annual hunt club event and stumbles across a dead body.

Theo is pulled into helping to solve the mysterious murder by an old boyfriend who returns to Charleston.

This series is fun and light reading and includes recipes for tea as well.

I just love the teashop mystery series by Laura Childs. I've been to that area of the country, bought a Sweetgrass basket from a roadside vendor lady, and breathed in the sumptuous fragrant air. Perhaps that's why I love them so. Who knows. What I do know is I find Laura Childs an authoress who thinks very much like I do and therefore I find her books very easy to read. I've already finished the book! I just received it in my mail on February 23rd or so.

This tea mystery book is actually, my first attempt at reading
Laura Childs's Tea Shop mystery.
It was truly a tea lovers delight.
Taking place in a well to do southern town, it seems tea and murder go hand in hand. Theodosia, owner of a Tea Shop, has her hands full with a social tea event looming near the future, old boyfriends,
and a murder to solve.
It all starts out with Theodosia, competing in a horse jumping competition, and finding a body on her path. Unfortunately, it is her arch nemesis, Abby Davis she finds.
So, with a lavish tea social event coming up, she has her hands full.
Looking for a murderer,and dealing with an old flame,
and arranging a tea event,is keeping Theodosia on her toes and in up to neck with suspects. A well written cozy, with characters that keep you guessing "who did it" until the end.
I am looking forward to the next book called,"The Teaberry Strangler".
Meanwhile, I am in the mood for a nice cup of tea.
Oolong tea sounds good to me.

This book is more for readers who enjoy tea and chatter than for mystery fans. There are some nice descriptions of Charleston, and the characters are pleasant enough, but neither they nor the simple plotting create much real interest. This author provides a decent way to spend a few hours but gives the reader little to digest or remember other than the carefully crafted teas.

-Lynn Michelsohn, Author of Tales from Brookgreen: Folklore, Ghost Stories, and Gullah Folktales in the South Carolina Lowcountry

It's a great book-I love Laura Childs and always wait for the next book to come out-she did not disappoint-it lives up to the wait!!

I finished it in two days excellent read as always looking forward to the next one I have purchased all of the tea shop mysteries

Oolong Dead, Tea Shop Mystery #10, by Laura Childs didn't disappoint this reader. I enjoyed every minute of her latest and it is a keeper. Always interesting to read her tea mysteries, her latest recipes and history information about Charleston and tea products.

Over the years, I have grown to love the Laura Childs' Tea Shop mysteries, and their descriptive tales of life and murder in Charleston, South Carolina. Childs' case of delightful characters -- Theodosia, Drayton, Haley, Delaine, Timothy Neville and even a cameo appearance by Theodosia's ex, Jory Davis, are back in a tale where murder hits a bit too close to home.

Theodosia is participating in a horsing event one county over when she literally falls of her horse and stumbles onto the body of Abby Davis, Jory's sister, and someone who is a sworn enemy. Having exchanged harsh words when Theodosia and Jory broke it off, there is no loved lost between the two women. Theodosia is soon drawn into solving Abby's murder by Jory, who implores her to help him in getting to the bottom of her death. As Theodosia starts investigating, she discovers that there is a lot more to Abby than meets that eye, and that buried secrets, a possible extra-marital affair, jealousy and the kidnapping of a prominent South Carolinan's son could be what got her killed.

Oolong Dead is entertaining and delightful, and a must-read for fans of the cozy genre.