20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A pleasant visit with old friends, March 8, 2008
This review is from: The Silver Needle Murder (A Tea Shop Mystery) (Hardcover)
The Silver Needle Murder is a solid addition to the tea shop mystery series by Laura Childs. Although I figured out who did it fairly early into it, I did not find guessing distracted from my enjoyment. I read this series more for the descriptions of Charleston and the wonderful food served at the Indigo Tea Shop as well as the interaction between Theo, Drayton, and Haley. You sometimes wonder how they manage to run that tea shop and have a finger in every pot of Charleston activities! The mystery itself tends to take a back burner to everything else. I thought the events leading to the denouement were a little over the top and the reason behind the murderer's actions a little mediocre but that isn't why I read this series. A welcome diversion to a snow filled weekend. 3.5 stars
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21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not up to par, May 31, 2008
This review is from: The Silver Needle Murder (A Tea Shop Mystery) (Hardcover)
SPOILERS FOLLOW:
As much as I usually enjoy this light reading series, for some reason this particular book just annoyed me.
Yes, fashion, tea history tidbits, and Charleston society doings are mildly interesting, but the 'mystery' was lost this time and the characters acted stupid!
I knew 'who done it' early in the book and am sure most readers figured it out, too. The usually well written heroine needs to get back to some semblance of reality and I'm truly beginning to dislike these gossipy, snoopy people.
We had way, way, way too much description of clothing, jewelry, shoes, table settings, glassware, crystal, wine, & antique furniture. It's like the author is going overboard to let readers know these people have good taste, are wealthy, and, supposedly, are well-bred.
It felt like the author needed to get the length of the novel up and increase the word count, so readers wouldn't feel cheated.
But, what bothered me the most this time was that the character of Theodosia acted like a stupid heroine from a B-rated horror movie.
More than once she went, alone, into the empty theater, scene of the murder, without letting anyone know where she was going. Like a female horror movie character going alone down to the cellar or up to the attic where you KNOW something awful is going to happen. If this book had sound track it would be a slasher-type theme.
Then, Theodosia, wearing 3" high heels, **runs**, with her dog on leash, away from someone who's following her home down the darkest, loneliest street in Charleston. Running in high heels. Sure!
Toward the (very bad, unbelievable) end, again, wearing Prada slides with 3-1/2 heels, she follows a wooded path off a dirt road. Only after walking quite a way, with no light, does she remove her shoes.
Come on! Any woman who wears heels knows there is no way you can easily walk on non-pavement without twisting your ankle. And slides -- no backs, no straps, no support! Just totally unreal.
Maybe it's time for a good editor to step in. Perhaps the author has run out of ideas for murders. If so, that's OK. Start a new series with new characters and let this one die a well deserved death.
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Tea, Scones and Murder, March 9, 2008
This review is from: The Silver Needle Murder (A Tea Shop Mystery) (Hardcover)
Laura Childs continues to provide pleasure with her latest Indigo Tea Shop mystery. Theodosia Browning is a very likable main character, for she is beautiful, smart, gutsy, talented and a true friend. Theo is what we always look for in keeping good company. To our delight, the author entertains us with not only a cute who-done-it - but also a wealth of knowledge about teas and provacative menus. She includes recipes, (good thing), for her most special foods and in this volume, suggests a variety of tea occasions one might consider.
Mostly, Laura Childs does a wonderful job with all of her characters. The little bit crazy ones, dignified, older Drayton, her tea master and her hard-working, creative clever chef (I have advanced her position) Haley. Of course, the love interest, Parker, also increases the pace of the book.
My recommendation, always, would be start with the first "tea" book, Death by Darjeeling and work your way thru the next 8, ending with this great rendition.
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