Customer Reviews

Shades of Earl Grey

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This was an enjoyable read. Laura Childs delivers yet again a wonderful cosy setting with descriptions of different teas and desserts to make your mouth water. The characters are great and everything is so lighthearted that it makes me happy to read her books.

The only drawback is the mystery itself. I was able to guess the identity of the cat burglar long before the ending and the plot is slow throughout the book. Then again this is not meant to be a thriller. The beautiful setting, the teashop atmostphere and the delightful characters more than make up for the flat mystery.

If you love cosy mysteries, Laura Childs Tea Shop Mystery Series is a MUST READ.

I love this mystery series. Why? It's not gory, for one thing. If you're hoping for the next Stephen King, this isn't for you. And also, it's set in gorgeous, historic Charleston, SC. Theodosia and friends draw you into their cozy, warm circle and compel you to linger. The characters are warm and charming, though not always truly believable. Theodosia's pals are almost too devoted to believe. But, if you take this for what it is - a cute little cozy mystery, you won't be disappointed. I read this book straight through in one sitting because I got so comfortable with the characters and the their little world. Well worth your time if you are a fan of light-hearted mysteries.

I have thoroughly enjoyed Laura Childs' Tea Shop Mysteries from the first. However, *Shades of Earl Grey* is not quite up to par with the previous two.

Sure, the setting is still just as cozy, and the little pieces of tea knowledge just as interesting, but the story is lacking. The characters, for some reason, seem too breezy this time round. There is little depth to any of them. To be honest, they come across as almost silly. They are constantly going around spouting "poor him," "poor her," "poor baby." The repetition of the word poor is bad enough, but the rest of the dialogue is also rather unrealistic. And there really is no mystery. There are crimes and suspects, but the investigation in no way reveals any true talent on the part of Theo Browning and it's basically pure luck that catches the thief.

*Shades of Earl Grey* is a very, very light mystery. It's enjoyable, but by no means engrossing or even particularly satisfying. It's a nice little book that would be great for killing some time. But even though this particular title in the series wasn't the best, I'd have to say that I'll still read the ones that follow.

Theodosia is enjoying herself at an engagement party hosted by her friend and fellow business woman Delaine Dish. Delaine can't stop talking about the wedding ring her niece will be wearing soon, but a sudden crash from the next room alerts then to bad news. There is a huge hole in the glass ceiling, the groom is dead, and the valuable ring is missing. When a guard is attacked during another robbery at the historic society a few days later, Theo is convinced that there is a cat burglar loose in the area. Is she right? Will the police listen to her if she is? Or will one of her friends take the blame for the robberies?

This series is strongest in atmosphere. The historic district of Charlestown comes to life and the cozy setting of the tea shop and characters of Theo and her friends make for a fun read. This book has one of the better mysteries of the series, with red herrings all over the place. I was confused and constantly kept shifting who I thought had done it.

This series will appeal best to the die hard cozy crowd. I enjoy them when I'm looking for something light and entertaining.

I didn't actively dislike this book, but I came close. As another reviewer noted, the characters all seemed one-dimensional and silly, and the mystery, such as it was, wasn't all that puzzling.

What made this a less than average mystery was the way Theo went about unraveling the mystery. She puts forth ideas that at best could be called unlikely (and at worst ridiculous), and no one calls her on it. Everyone she talks to seems to agree with her, even when she's putting forth something that is at base a physical impossibility.

I really enjoyed the first two in this series and had high expectations for this one. I was disappointed.

In Charleston's historic district, the Indigo Tea Shop is doing so well that they have added lunch and delectable pastries to the menu. The owner Theodosia Browning has also catered many society events including those held at The Lady Goodwood Inn. Now she is taking a holiday and is a guest at the engagement party of Camilla Cantroux and Marine Captain Corey Buchanan at the inn. The roof of the room where dinner is to be served caves in.

The groom dies and the $70,000 wedding ring disappears. When Theo and her friends go looking for it, it is nowhere to be found so the tea shop entrepreneur thinks cat burglar. She is sure that the events are linked. When more items disappear, Theo and her friends set a trap for the stealthy felon, one that could lead to new flavor of tea named for a intrepid perhaps foolish amateur sleuth served at a funeral.

Readers should not read this book when they are hungry or thirsty because the mouth watering recipes will just aggravate the condition. The heroine is a likable person who goes out of her way to get involved with a criminal investigation and though it may seem odd, that's Theo. Her need to see justice done and enjoin in the process as a participant is just one the reasons that she endears herself to the audience. There is a surplus of suspects with means and opportunity so readers will want to finish the book in one sitting to see who the perpetrator is in this delicious cozy.

Harriet Klausner

Theodosia Browning is enjoying herself at the glitzy engagement party for her friend Delaine's niece when a horrible crash gets everyone's attention. The ceiling to the Garden Room of the Lady Goodwood Inn has come crashing down and the unfortunate groom-to-be has been killed. In addition, the expensive heirloom ring which was to be presented to the bride, has gone missing. As usual, Theo can't resist a good mystery and she begins investigating on her own. She uncovers some likely suspects and sets a trap for the possible murderer. Unfortunately, she gets caught up in her own trap and the murderer almost gets away with another crime. This series is especially enjoyable for its tidbits of information on tea and for its beautiful setting of Charleston, South Carolina.

Laura Childs has a great series going with her "Tea Mysteries." I especially enjoyed this one as it features the dog, "Earl Grey" a little more.

I enjoyed the characters so much and I felt that the plots/subplots had some depth to them.

As usual, the recipes are really great as well!

Laura Childs' Tea Shop Mysteries are fun to read and "Shades of Earl Grey" was no exception. The characters are well-drawn and likeable. The settings and descriptions are colorful and easy to imagine. The plots require a bit of suspension of belief - mainly because of the coincidental aspect of certain events happening to the characters in quite the way they do. Nonetheless, The book is one I have recommended to friend - particularly those who also like tea. They remind me of an adult Nancy Drew series and I don't mean that in a negative way since I thoroughly enjoyed those books years ago.

The best thing about this book is the beautiful descriptions of historic Charleston that the author crafts with vivid and colorful prose. You can almost feel the fog coming off the Cooper and Ashley rivers as her character jogs through the cobble stone streets at The Battery. Or the smell of flowers, blooming after the rain in a hidden garden of an old inn.

Her characters are fun and interesting for the most part, but the development is light and her male characters seem a bit off somehow, too passive. Also for most people the insightful discussions of tea maybe slightly boring after awhile.

The worst thing about the series is the mysteries, they are shallow, and full of factual mistakes regarding criminal investigations and law enforcement! Her main character frequently commits obstruction of justice/ hindering a police investigation, by willfully withhold information/ evidence/ or contaminating a crime scene! She has no clue about basic police procedures, rules of evidence, warrants, or criminal law. Theo wonders why a homicide detective is interested in a case that's "just a robbery", well perhaps because someone died in the robbery, thus a homicide (felony murder) had been committed. There are a great deal of such inaccuracies, it actually fun looking for them and getting a laugh.