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Jewish Regency Mystery #1
Tempest in the Tea Room
Jane Austen meets Sherlock Holmes when a crime wave sweeps through 19th-century London's Jewish community and the adventures of wealthy-widower-turned-sleuth Ezra Melamed are recorded for posterity by Miss Rebecca Lyon, a young lady not quite at the marriageable age.
In this third volume of the series, tragedy strikes when the Jewish orphanage's children are stricken with a mysterious and nearly fatal stomach ailment. When the ailment travels to the Mayfair home of Lady Marblehead, a young Jewish physician is accused of poisoning his patients - a suspicion that is further fueled when a priceless pearl bracelet is discovered missing from Lady Marblehead's jewellery box.
As more outbreaks occur, an increasingly hysterical community turns to Mr Ezra Melamed to investigate the case. But once again there are too few clues and too little time, especially since the littlest victim, a frail orphan boy, is already almost at death's doo
In this third volume of the series, tragedy strikes when the Jewish orphanage's children are stricken with a mysterious and nearly fatal stomach ailment. When the ailment travels to the Mayfair home of Lady Marblehead, a young Jewish physician is accused of poisoning his patients - a suspicion that is further fueled when a priceless pearl bracelet is discovered missing from Lady Marblehead's jewellery box.
As more outbreaks occur, an increasingly hysterical community turns to Mr Ezra Melamed to investigate the case. But once again there are too few clues and too little time, especially since the littlest victim, a frail orphan boy, is already almost at death's doo
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First published January 1, 2012
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About the author
Libi Astaire
37 books56 followersI am a mystery writer and explorer of Jewish history who was born in Kansas and now lives in Jerusalem.
The first book in my Ezra Melamed/Jewish Regency Mystery Series, The Disappearing Dowry, was named a Sydney Taylor Notable Book for 2010. Other books in the Jewish Regency Mystery Series, which revolves around Regency London's Jewish community, include The Moon Taker (2015) The Doppelganger's Dance (2013) Tempest in the Tea Room (2012), and Jewish Regency Mystery Stories (2015).
I also work as a journalist, where I frequently write about Jewish history. A topic dear to my heart is the Anusim - Spanish Jews who were forced to convert during the Middle Ages and who became the target of the Spanish Inquisition. My novel about modern-day descendants of Anusim living in Catalonia, Terra Incognita, was published by Targum Press in 2010 and is now available as an ebook and paperback at Amazon.com, etc.
My other books include The Banished Heart, a novel about Shakespeare's writing of The Merchant of Venice; Day Trips to Jewish History, a collection of essays about lesser known people and places in Jewish history; and several ebooks for the Jewish holidays, including: Choose Life! 8 Chassidic Stories for the Jewish New Year, 36 Candles: Chassidic Tales for Chanukah, Pass Over to Freedom: 15 Jewish Tales for Passover, and The World Is Built With Kindness: 15 Chassidic Tales for Shavuos, which bring Chassidic masters such as the Baal Shem Tov and Zusya of Hanipoli into the eReader era.
The first book in my Ezra Melamed/Jewish Regency Mystery Series, The Disappearing Dowry, was named a Sydney Taylor Notable Book for 2010. Other books in the Jewish Regency Mystery Series, which revolves around Regency London's Jewish community, include The Moon Taker (2015) The Doppelganger's Dance (2013) Tempest in the Tea Room (2012), and Jewish Regency Mystery Stories (2015).
I also work as a journalist, where I frequently write about Jewish history. A topic dear to my heart is the Anusim - Spanish Jews who were forced to convert during the Middle Ages and who became the target of the Spanish Inquisition. My novel about modern-day descendants of Anusim living in Catalonia, Terra Incognita, was published by Targum Press in 2010 and is now available as an ebook and paperback at Amazon.com, etc.
My other books include The Banished Heart, a novel about Shakespeare's writing of The Merchant of Venice; Day Trips to Jewish History, a collection of essays about lesser known people and places in Jewish history; and several ebooks for the Jewish holidays, including: Choose Life! 8 Chassidic Stories for the Jewish New Year, 36 Candles: Chassidic Tales for Chanukah, Pass Over to Freedom: 15 Jewish Tales for Passover, and The World Is Built With Kindness: 15 Chassidic Tales for Shavuos, which bring Chassidic masters such as the Baal Shem Tov and Zusya of Hanipoli into the eReader era.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
October 16, 2017
Solid 'meh.'
The concept is lovely, but the execution left something to be desired. The multiple plots don't quite hang together and the culprit in the main mystery was painfully obvious. Most of the characters are fairly flat, and the Judaism of the characters and the community was heavy-handed without adding much texture. For example, five mentions of a particular coffeehouse as a "kosher establishment" in such a short space are too much, doing nothing to impart new information to the reader, just serving as a reminder of "See, it's JEWISH!"
Most disappointing to me was the complete absence of the London Sephardic community, which was thriving at the time, but doesn't seem to exist in this narrative, even for a passing mention. As a Western Sephardic reader, the predominance of Ashkenazi Jews can feel quite like erasure; it was all the more disappointing from the author of Terra Incognita, whom I would expect to be aware of the presence of the Sephardic community.
I am not inclined to pick up the next book in the series.
The concept is lovely, but the execution left something to be desired. The multiple plots don't quite hang together and the culprit in the main mystery was painfully obvious. Most of the characters are fairly flat, and the Judaism of the characters and the community was heavy-handed without adding much texture. For example, five mentions of a particular coffeehouse as a "kosher establishment" in such a short space are too much, doing nothing to impart new information to the reader, just serving as a reminder of "See, it's JEWISH!"
Most disappointing to me was the complete absence of the London Sephardic community, which was thriving at the time, but doesn't seem to exist in this narrative, even for a passing mention. As a Western Sephardic reader, the predominance of Ashkenazi Jews can feel quite like erasure; it was all the more disappointing from the author of Terra Incognita, whom I would expect to be aware of the presence of the Sephardic community.
I am not inclined to pick up the next book in the series.
July 4, 2014
Tempest in the Tea Room is an entertaining read--a mystery set in London in the early 1800's, and written in a style that captures the flavor (or should I say "flavour") of the time. Replete with well-researched historical details and colorful characters, the book takes the reader into the heart of the Regency era Jewish community. While the reader has all the clues as to "whodunit" long before the characters in the story, the quest for answers reveals schemes within schemes.
The story is told with sensitivity and humor, and the characters are well-drawn and believable, from the cynical heiress to the tragicomic gang of altruistic pickpockets. True to its Regency era charm, this would be a fun book to read aloud in a family setting.
The story is told with sensitivity and humor, and the characters are well-drawn and believable, from the cynical heiress to the tragicomic gang of altruistic pickpockets. True to its Regency era charm, this would be a fun book to read aloud in a family setting.
January 2, 2014
Ezra Melamed is a Jewish detective in London of the 1800s. In Libi Astaire’s Tempest in the Tea Room, Melamed must discover why otherwise healthy orphans are becoming deathly ill. In this tale, set against the backdrop of London’s Jewish community, complete with jealousy, revenge, unrequited love, and snobbish pretensions, we meet a character who is understated, and at the same time, larger than life.
Astaire does a deft job of describing the social milieu in which a cast of interesting characters act out their roles in ways that sometimes surprise us. She brings the historian’s in depth understanding of the period skillfully together with the hand of a master storyteller to weave a tale that is as intricate as the stitches sewn by the Jewish matriarchs who hold court in their sitting rooms.
I received a free copy of Tempest for review, and while I found the prologue a bit long, once Astaire got revved up, it was worth the wait. Agatha Christie fans will identify with Astaire’s tone and style, but make no mistake – she’s no Christie clone – she’s in a class all her own.
Astaire does a deft job of describing the social milieu in which a cast of interesting characters act out their roles in ways that sometimes surprise us. She brings the historian’s in depth understanding of the period skillfully together with the hand of a master storyteller to weave a tale that is as intricate as the stitches sewn by the Jewish matriarchs who hold court in their sitting rooms.
I received a free copy of Tempest for review, and while I found the prologue a bit long, once Astaire got revved up, it was worth the wait. Agatha Christie fans will identify with Astaire’s tone and style, but make no mistake – she’s no Christie clone – she’s in a class all her own.
March 5, 2020
I enjoyed the last 15% the best, and I don’t know if I’ll read any more of this series. I just didn't find it captivating. I wanted to! I wanted fantastic Jewish historical fiction! But I didn't find most of the characters that charming (except for the little criminal scamps, who make me want to read more of the series), and the mystery was easily figured out. Unfortunately, I wasn't content to be along for the ride as the characters took the entire book to figure out what was clear to the reader from the start. I got very impatient and began to find it tedious. I don't know—It's just okay. Big historical fiction fans will surely enjoy it more.
May 14, 2017
Ok so mysteries aren't my usual cup of tea, well written, well rounded, interesting and altogether loveable Jewish characters are, so I gave this a shot.
I'm so glad I did, its a delightful little read just dripping with Jewishness and gd that's hard too find.
The mystery part could have done with some work, I knew who and how not far into the book, however, the motives of all the characters and watching Ezra figure it out was delightful and unexpected.
I'm so glad I did, its a delightful little read just dripping with Jewishness and gd that's hard too find.
The mystery part could have done with some work, I knew who and how not far into the book, however, the motives of all the characters and watching Ezra figure it out was delightful and unexpected.
May 2, 2017
Just FUN, as well as a refreshing counterpart to Regency novels about financially comfortable Christians who only go to London for social seasons. This is London as it might have been for a permanent resident of the merchant class (Caroline Bingley spins in her literary grave), or for business-holders and their families. The network of doctors, petty criminals, orphanages, charities, lawyers, and landlords is richly drawn without being overwhelming, and Melamed is written very well.
In addition, the fourth-wall wallpaper of a pre-debut young lady with a passion for Gothic romance as the author - oh, I love Rebecca.
Finally, actual attention to the Napoleonic Wars, most delightfully by General Well'ngone of Gravel Street.
Off to find the rest of Astaire's books. I got this one free, but it would have been worth paying for!
In addition, the fourth-wall wallpaper of a pre-debut young lady with a passion for Gothic romance as the author - oh, I love Rebecca.
Finally, actual attention to the Napoleonic Wars, most delightfully by General Well'ngone of Gravel Street.
Off to find the rest of Astaire's books. I got this one free, but it would have been worth paying for!
Read
July 25, 2021DNF
Nope. Didn't work for me. It should have. I'm Jewish myself, but even for me, too much Jewish flavor is a flaw. Too much of any ethnicity is a flaw in my view. Fiction is not about ethnicity. It is (or it should be) about the characters and the plot. It should all be about STORY.
I understand the author's motivation. She wants to make sure nobody could forget that this book is about Jewish people. The problem is that the nationality of her characters shouldn't be a writer's main concern. The story itself should be much more important, but I can't even get at it, hidden as it is behind all the excessive Jewishness.
Nope. Didn't work for me. It should have. I'm Jewish myself, but even for me, too much Jewish flavor is a flaw. Too much of any ethnicity is a flaw in my view. Fiction is not about ethnicity. It is (or it should be) about the characters and the plot. It should all be about STORY.
I understand the author's motivation. She wants to make sure nobody could forget that this book is about Jewish people. The problem is that the nationality of her characters shouldn't be a writer's main concern. The story itself should be much more important, but I can't even get at it, hidden as it is behind all the excessive Jewishness.
May 22, 2017
A WONDERFUL STORY...A TRUE BUBBY MIENTZA
A story rich as my Bubbe's chicken soup. Full of the richness of the times.
Humor abounds as does suspense , n a tear or two and much joy in meeting these wonderful people.
MAZEL TOV .
A story rich as my Bubbe's chicken soup. Full of the richness of the times.
Humor abounds as does suspense , n a tear or two and much joy in meeting these wonderful people.
MAZEL TOV .
May 9, 2018
A pleasant enough read, but it was easy to guess the source of the mystery illness right from the early stages of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2021
Regency mystery novel set in the Jewish community of London in 1811. A wealthy businessman who knows everybody at all levels of economic status in the community uses his connections (which include street urchins) to solve crimes. In this case, a middle-class family, a member of the peerage, and children in a Jewish orphanage all experience near-fatal symptoms of poisoning. What they have in common is visits from a new doctor in town, but our elderly sleuth thinks something else is in play. This was pleasant reading and a nice change of pace from the usual Regency mysteries, but not sufficiently engaging that I would make an effort to read more in the series.
August 4, 2020
I enjoyed seeing Regency London from a different perspective in this fairly light historical crime novel. The close-knit Jewish community, taking in every rank in society, clashes with non-Jewish high society when a new young doctor is accused by a lady of trying to poison her. I'd have liked a little more about the family we started with, but I suspect they appear in other books. A very pleasant read, and interesting.
January 9, 2014
“Jane Austen meets Sherlock Holmes when a crime wave sweeps through 19th-century London's Jewish community and the adventures of wealthy-widower-turned-sleuth Ezra Melamed are recorded for posterity by Miss Rebecca Lyon, a young lady not quite at the marriageable age.
In this third volume of the series, tragedy strikes when the Jewish orphanage's children are stricken with a mysterious and nearly fatal stomach ailment. When the ailment travels to the Mayfair home of Lady Marblehead, a young Jewish physician is accused of poisoning his patients - a suspicion that is further fueled when a priceless pearl bracelet is discovered missing from Lady Marblehead's jewellery box.
As more outbreaks occur, an increasingly hysterical community turns to Mr Ezra Melamed to investigate the case. But once again there are too few clues and too little time, especially since the littlest victim, a frail orphan boy, is already almost at death's door.”
A great pleasurable mixture of British and Jewish existence in London that just sparkled! The author’s prologue just made me chuckle and made me hope that everyone reading the book would not miss it. An assembly of tea party guests that just sets the story off and running. The characters were so unique in each of their own ways that I enjoyed them all. I felt so sorry for all the children that lived in orphans at that time and worse for all the little street urchins just trying to keep alive. I even made room in my heart for the poor elderly people of the street, such a horrible way to live and yet so very common at the time. Story has a great mixture of history, culture at the time! This is a short unique story that I truly believe will make everyone think, chuckle and enjoy! I have never read a book like this and thoroughly enjoyed it, enough that I went and bought the other three in the series!
In this third volume of the series, tragedy strikes when the Jewish orphanage's children are stricken with a mysterious and nearly fatal stomach ailment. When the ailment travels to the Mayfair home of Lady Marblehead, a young Jewish physician is accused of poisoning his patients - a suspicion that is further fueled when a priceless pearl bracelet is discovered missing from Lady Marblehead's jewellery box.
As more outbreaks occur, an increasingly hysterical community turns to Mr Ezra Melamed to investigate the case. But once again there are too few clues and too little time, especially since the littlest victim, a frail orphan boy, is already almost at death's door.”
A great pleasurable mixture of British and Jewish existence in London that just sparkled! The author’s prologue just made me chuckle and made me hope that everyone reading the book would not miss it. An assembly of tea party guests that just sets the story off and running. The characters were so unique in each of their own ways that I enjoyed them all. I felt so sorry for all the children that lived in orphans at that time and worse for all the little street urchins just trying to keep alive. I even made room in my heart for the poor elderly people of the street, such a horrible way to live and yet so very common at the time. Story has a great mixture of history, culture at the time! This is a short unique story that I truly believe will make everyone think, chuckle and enjoy! I have never read a book like this and thoroughly enjoyed it, enough that I went and bought the other three in the series!
November 4, 2012
The Tempest in the Tea Room is a light, entertaining mystery of the cozy sub-genre. Despite the period setting and details, this book is more like an Agatha Christie than like an Austen classic or a Georgette Heyer novel. Each character--including our eventual suspects--is introduced slowly, one-by-one, at the beginning of the novel. Two mysteries are introduced (poisoning and a missing bracelet) and then Mr. Melamed must discover the perpetrator.
Ms. Astaire writes her characters to be both humorous and sympathetic, and leaves just enough clues along the way to hint at the ending...but not so many as to entirely give the solution away. Unlike most books of this type, there are no actual murders, all relationships between the genders are entirely modest, and the secrets revealed during the investigation are nothing that would scandalize a reader. The details about Jewish life are handled so they are a part of the text and don't overwhelm the characters or plot. A slower pace with more suspense in the last third of the book--perhaps with a false solution that turns out to be wrong, or maybe a greater threat of arrest to the innocent doctor--would have improved the book, but I do recommend it for readers (especially but not exclusively ladies) 12 years old through adult.
Ms. Astaire writes her characters to be both humorous and sympathetic, and leaves just enough clues along the way to hint at the ending...but not so many as to entirely give the solution away. Unlike most books of this type, there are no actual murders, all relationships between the genders are entirely modest, and the secrets revealed during the investigation are nothing that would scandalize a reader. The details about Jewish life are handled so they are a part of the text and don't overwhelm the characters or plot. A slower pace with more suspense in the last third of the book--perhaps with a false solution that turns out to be wrong, or maybe a greater threat of arrest to the innocent doctor--would have improved the book, but I do recommend it for readers (especially but not exclusively ladies) 12 years old through adult.
June 14, 2018
As I am reading this book, I found some elements of minor inconsistencies in it which I prefer to forgive since I keep on chuckling after almost every chapter of this delightful and fun read. I also prefer this style of writing for this genre since it is not much of a departure from Georgette Heyer's. Recommended for those who love Georgette Heyer and her sense of the ridiculous found similarly in the hilarious descriptive narrative and dialogues in this work. This is written from the point of view of a young miss (who is fond of Ann Radcliffe's literature with the imagination to match) just out of the schoolroom but not yet out into society (as she should have been if she was a member of the ton). So this may be the reason for the aforementioned inconsistency that I have previously noted ~ that of the dialogues of the master pickpocket, self~styled as the Earl of Gravel Lane and his righthand 'man' General Well'nGone and even the other younger orphans are maybe not in keeping with their station in life and the lack of literacy that goes hand and hand with means and opportunity. At least the orphanage, aside from feeding and housing its orphans, takes care of their education as well, in preparation for the earning of a useful and productive trade.
December 3, 2022
The Jewish community in London is all a-flutter at the arrival of an eligible young lady and her accomplished brother, Dr Taylor, to their close-knit society. Everyone is delighted by the family's kindness, and while the young lady doesn't have a dowry, it seems obvious that the two will become an essential part of the community. When Doctor Taylor's patients start coming down with serious cases of food poisoning, it begins to look like he might not have such noble intentions as initially thought. Accusations run rampant as more and more people grow ill. If the good folks of the area can't find out the truth, more than one life might be at stake.
I picked this book up on a whim and couldn't be more delighted. It's told in a smart Austen style with plenty of puns and shrewd observations that border on silly but remain brilliantly austere. While there were a few more characters than I could initially keep track of, everything else was perfectly delightful. The mystery was solvable, but there were a few twists and red herrings to keep me guessing. Overall, a brilliant series starter that leaves no doubt that I'll be picking up other volumes by Libi Astaire very soon.
I picked this book up on a whim and couldn't be more delighted. It's told in a smart Austen style with plenty of puns and shrewd observations that border on silly but remain brilliantly austere. While there were a few more characters than I could initially keep track of, everything else was perfectly delightful. The mystery was solvable, but there were a few twists and red herrings to keep me guessing. Overall, a brilliant series starter that leaves no doubt that I'll be picking up other volumes by Libi Astaire very soon.
April 25, 2018
I downloaded this book at the beginning of the year and then forgot all about it. Since I’m making my way through my TBR, I decided it was time to read it. This mystery novel had an old-timey feel that made me think it had been written a long time ago. I rechecked the book summary and was surprised to find it was written by a contemporary author in 2014.
I do love mysteries and the idea of inserting Jewish culture into London’s Regency Era appealed to me. This ended up being an interesting element.
The story was a little slow and it took me a couple or so chapters to really get into the book. From there I became easily immersed in the story. I did figure the mystery out very early on, but that didn't matter too much. The book is short and entertaining enough to be worth reading through to the end.
I do love mysteries and the idea of inserting Jewish culture into London’s Regency Era appealed to me. This ended up being an interesting element.
The story was a little slow and it took me a couple or so chapters to really get into the book. From there I became easily immersed in the story. I did figure the mystery out very early on, but that didn't matter too much. The book is short and entertaining enough to be worth reading through to the end.
July 2, 2023
Let me open by saying that this is the first book in a bundle called "Jewish Regency Mysteries 1-5". It is however, the third in the series. There's two more and this book is inexplicably the third in that series but also the first in the Jewish Regency Mysteries. A fact I noticed, because the book is full of characters it expects me to know already and also makes references to past events and even mentions the title of a previous book in the narration. Why the weird numbering? I have no idea and no intention to find out because this book was just very very dull and bland. The solution was obvious from very early on and none of the characters made enough impression on me, to care what's going to happen to them in future books.
November 8, 2018
The characters had potential, but the solution to the mystery was made obvious to the reader very early on, which made the MC’s efforts to solve it painful to watch. Further, a lot of extraneous material bogged down the pace, which was already snail-like since the reader knew the solution so far in advance.
Very little was done to give life to the historical era, and far too much effort went into promoting the writer’s agenda.
I gave the book a second star just because some of the characters were appealing.
Very little was done to give life to the historical era, and far too much effort went into promoting the writer’s agenda.
I gave the book a second star just because some of the characters were appealing.
July 18, 2017
wonderfully mysterious and enjoyable
I really enjoyed this story, and it was fun to read. It was a mystery that had an edge of humor and hint of culture within it. It's a first story and I hope there will be many more in his series. Ezra is a great character, and has a great chemistry. I like his backstory and how he goes about solving the crime. His mismatched pair of partners is a wonderful aspect of the story. I also like the sense of community within the story.
I really enjoyed this story, and it was fun to read. It was a mystery that had an edge of humor and hint of culture within it. It's a first story and I hope there will be many more in his series. Ezra is a great character, and has a great chemistry. I like his backstory and how he goes about solving the crime. His mismatched pair of partners is a wonderful aspect of the story. I also like the sense of community within the story.
May 13, 2018
Quite good
I received this book free from one of the book sites. I do not remember which one! This is my honest review.
An enjoyable book, Tempest in the Tearoom takes the reader to the community of Jews living in Regency London. There is mystery in the Jewish community, as children, families, and peerage are getting horribly ill. What is happening and can Mr. Melamed figure out what is going on behind these illnesses.
Recommended
I received this book free from one of the book sites. I do not remember which one! This is my honest review.
An enjoyable book, Tempest in the Tearoom takes the reader to the community of Jews living in Regency London. There is mystery in the Jewish community, as children, families, and peerage are getting horribly ill. What is happening and can Mr. Melamed figure out what is going on behind these illnesses.
Recommended
January 18, 2018
An Intriguing Tale
I loved all of the characters in this story and look forward to revisiting them in additional stories. Spoiler alert - I knew it was the tea, but I wasn’t sure why anyone would do such a dastardly deed.
I loved all of the characters in this story and look forward to revisiting them in additional stories. Spoiler alert - I knew it was the tea, but I wasn’t sure why anyone would do such a dastardly deed.
November 27, 2017
This is an enjoyable little mystery. The reader solves it almost immediately, but the fun is in watching the characters fumble around as they try to reach the correct conclusion!
October 20, 2018
Very interesting story. Good character development. I knew something about Jewish community but this story added to my understanding. A good read
November 28, 2018
Lightest of light reading. A nice break from "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich."
October 12, 2025
This book disappointed me on almost every level. I give it a star instead of none, because of its brevity and its topic - flawed as it is. I much prefer David Liss, version of early Jewish lfe in the UK.
I have no interest in reading any more of this silly series. I know it is about a Jewish community in London in 1811. I do not have to be reminded about it on just about every page. And I emphasize "a" because there was another, greater Jewish community. The Sephardi community about Bevis Marks synagouge, the great man, Moses Montefiore, the metchant families -- Da Costa, Franco, Lamego, Azevedo, Rodrigues, Mocatta. The economist, David Ricardo and even the result of a mixed Ashekenaz-Sephard marriage, Sir Isaac Goldsmid, played such an important role in English life, that to narrow this down to the simpler Ashkenaz community and to dare to call it the Jewish community is smimply sad. It is even sadder than the Ashkenazi habit of converting the holiest day of the Jwish calendar into a day of fish. Yom kipper.
As a msystery, as soon as the tins of tea appear in the scenario as well as in the title, the mystery is solved. At various points, I wanted to scream out -- it is the tea, examine the tea. The comings and goings of the some rich lady's will is an unnecessary bit of flummery that made the novel longer than necessary. Her bracelet is to giggle at.
The cast of characters, in its enormity, was too much for any reader to absorb. Isaac cried a lot but played no major role in the novel. Messes. Lyon and Baer need not even be a part of the story. Too many people, not enough depth.
I did not order (even though they were free) any further books by this author in this series.
I have no interest in reading any more of this silly series. I know it is about a Jewish community in London in 1811. I do not have to be reminded about it on just about every page. And I emphasize "a" because there was another, greater Jewish community. The Sephardi community about Bevis Marks synagouge, the great man, Moses Montefiore, the metchant families -- Da Costa, Franco, Lamego, Azevedo, Rodrigues, Mocatta. The economist, David Ricardo and even the result of a mixed Ashekenaz-Sephard marriage, Sir Isaac Goldsmid, played such an important role in English life, that to narrow this down to the simpler Ashkenaz community and to dare to call it the Jewish community is smimply sad. It is even sadder than the Ashkenazi habit of converting the holiest day of the Jwish calendar into a day of fish. Yom kipper.
As a msystery, as soon as the tins of tea appear in the scenario as well as in the title, the mystery is solved. At various points, I wanted to scream out -- it is the tea, examine the tea. The comings and goings of the some rich lady's will is an unnecessary bit of flummery that made the novel longer than necessary. Her bracelet is to giggle at.
The cast of characters, in its enormity, was too much for any reader to absorb. Isaac cried a lot but played no major role in the novel. Messes. Lyon and Baer need not even be a part of the story. Too many people, not enough depth.
I did not order (even though they were free) any further books by this author in this series.
November 6, 2021
I enjoy reading several genres, and Tempest in the Tea Room offers a buffet in one book. This well-written historical mystery opens a window into the daily life of the Jewish community of 1811 London. Author Libi Astaire pens her story from a narrator's point of view reminiscent of classics like The Great Gatsby and uses period language that transports the reader back to London at the start of the Regency Era.
The cast of characters spans several scenarios from an orphanage to a wealthy widow's home, the synagogue, several Jewish families, an old-clothes man and a newly arrived doctor and his unmarried sister, and more. The star of the story is a wealthy-widower-turned-sleuth, Ezra Melamed, who tasks himself with figuring out who is poisoning people in the Jewish community and how they are doing it.
This book is a page-turner. One of those books you read instead of doing what needs to be done. I recommend it to people who enjoy cozy mysteries, historical fiction, or Jewish literature.
I give this book five stars because there is nothing I didn't like about it. The story is entertaining and well written. Astaire drops little breadcrumbs to build the mystery. At first, you don't recognize them as such. Then when people start to fall sick, those breadcrumbs come into question. Could it be this? It is an easy read that engages the reader.
The cast of characters spans several scenarios from an orphanage to a wealthy widow's home, the synagogue, several Jewish families, an old-clothes man and a newly arrived doctor and his unmarried sister, and more. The star of the story is a wealthy-widower-turned-sleuth, Ezra Melamed, who tasks himself with figuring out who is poisoning people in the Jewish community and how they are doing it.
This book is a page-turner. One of those books you read instead of doing what needs to be done. I recommend it to people who enjoy cozy mysteries, historical fiction, or Jewish literature.
I give this book five stars because there is nothing I didn't like about it. The story is entertaining and well written. Astaire drops little breadcrumbs to build the mystery. At first, you don't recognize them as such. Then when people start to fall sick, those breadcrumbs come into question. Could it be this? It is an easy read that engages the reader.
March 6, 2019
This was the book club book for March this year. I actually read-read this, as opposed to listening on audible or text-to-speech.
The first part of the book was BORING, introducing several irrelevant personages and an irritating style of speech, although it may have been pretty authentic. I didn't like the fact that the young teacher was basically accused of poisoning, simply because he had visited with most of the victims. Of course, MANY people had visited with them, but the stereotypes and lack of true judicial procedure in the time period probably accounted for it. One man member of our book club really didn't like the overall depiction of Jews, but I didn't see that: there was a particular character who had a horrible prejudice and concept of Jews overall, but I didn't get that feeling about the whole book. In the end, the "bad guy" had been determined by most people in book club well before the end of the book – mostly near the beginning!
The book wasn't thrilling, but it wasn't horribly bad. To be honest, though, I have no desire to read other books in the series.
The first part of the book was BORING, introducing several irrelevant personages and an irritating style of speech, although it may have been pretty authentic. I didn't like the fact that the young teacher was basically accused of poisoning, simply because he had visited with most of the victims. Of course, MANY people had visited with them, but the stereotypes and lack of true judicial procedure in the time period probably accounted for it. One man member of our book club really didn't like the overall depiction of Jews, but I didn't see that: there was a particular character who had a horrible prejudice and concept of Jews overall, but I didn't get that feeling about the whole book. In the end, the "bad guy" had been determined by most people in book club well before the end of the book – mostly near the beginning!
The book wasn't thrilling, but it wasn't horribly bad. To be honest, though, I have no desire to read other books in the series.
May 19, 2023
The 19th century background and the detective plus the lady detective plus the
Jewish overtones throughout the story made this different from other Regency
mystery stories.
The Jewish community in London at the time was a flourishing one and we come across
so many diverse characters in this story. The new immigrants from Jamaica, the
doctor and his sister are crucial to the story, the unwittingly made suspects for
murder, we get the cunning Amos & Amos brothers, marketing a new brand of tea,
we have established families and the mothers whose focus is matchmaking and we have
seniors in the group who maintain links with outsiders, keeping a balance and
being fair by all.
This made the story though it was a mystery also a very interesting account of
Jewish centric London. I enjoyed this aspect of the story - community ties, traditions
added great interest to the story.
This was a free download from Amazon.
Jewish overtones throughout the story made this different from other Regency
mystery stories.
The Jewish community in London at the time was a flourishing one and we come across
so many diverse characters in this story. The new immigrants from Jamaica, the
doctor and his sister are crucial to the story, the unwittingly made suspects for
murder, we get the cunning Amos & Amos brothers, marketing a new brand of tea,
we have established families and the mothers whose focus is matchmaking and we have
seniors in the group who maintain links with outsiders, keeping a balance and
being fair by all.
This made the story though it was a mystery also a very interesting account of
Jewish centric London. I enjoyed this aspect of the story - community ties, traditions
added great interest to the story.
This was a free download from Amazon.
November 19, 2021
Outstanding.
4/5 is exactly what this novel deserves, nothing less, the way each chapter flows ever so harminiously with the one to follow, the story is simply palatable to the mind, no errors in word spellings, chapters aren't too lengthy or too short.
Dialogues are presented not in their traditional way of literature as one would expect, especially when it comes to differentiating, sometimes the narrations the story and the dialogues therein between.
One would pick out this novel as a way of passing time while commuting either aboard a long hour plane, even a train journey or otherwise or just at home at spare time after work, or on vacation.
It's a true simple read, one to help a wanderous and weary mind to keep to its calmenss.
All thanks to Alibi Astaire - "Tempest in the Tea Room. "
4/5 is exactly what this novel deserves, nothing less, the way each chapter flows ever so harminiously with the one to follow, the story is simply palatable to the mind, no errors in word spellings, chapters aren't too lengthy or too short.
Dialogues are presented not in their traditional way of literature as one would expect, especially when it comes to differentiating, sometimes the narrations the story and the dialogues therein between.
One would pick out this novel as a way of passing time while commuting either aboard a long hour plane, even a train journey or otherwise or just at home at spare time after work, or on vacation.
It's a true simple read, one to help a wanderous and weary mind to keep to its calmenss.
All thanks to Alibi Astaire - "Tempest in the Tea Room. "
November 22, 2021
A different kind of story
This is the first Jewish cozy mystery that I have ever read, and it was different from others previously read. The characters were predominantly male and were interesting and well developed, I could form a picture in my mind's eye of Mr. Melamed going about the streets of London carrying out his investigations. Another difference is that this mystery didn't involve any murders. The street urchins were a treat, fighting to create a life for themselves in the London underbelly. I also like the narrator, Miss Rebecca Lyon, whose narrative prompted quite a few laughs from me.
Good clean fun if you, like myself, do not mind glossing over the Jewish words and customs.
This is the first Jewish cozy mystery that I have ever read, and it was different from others previously read. The characters were predominantly male and were interesting and well developed, I could form a picture in my mind's eye of Mr. Melamed going about the streets of London carrying out his investigations. Another difference is that this mystery didn't involve any murders. The street urchins were a treat, fighting to create a life for themselves in the London underbelly. I also like the narrator, Miss Rebecca Lyon, whose narrative prompted quite a few laughs from me.
Good clean fun if you, like myself, do not mind glossing over the Jewish words and customs.
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