Murder With Chocolate Tea

Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery #10

by Karen Rose Smith, C.S.E. Cooney (reader)

Daisy Swanson, bride-to-be and owner of Daisy’s Tea Garden in Pennsylvania’s Amish country, may have one or two more murders to solve before she says “ I do . . .”

Daisy has a lot to celebrate this summer. She’s supervising a special tea event to help commemorate the 100-year-anniversary of her town’s historic covered bridge. But the main event is her upcoming wedding to her beloved fiancé Jonas. Somehow Willow Creek’s busiest brewer of specialty teas and amateur sleuth still finds time to be a guest on local journalist Trevor Lundquist’s crime podcast to discuss the last murder she solved.
 
After the podcast, Trevor receives an anonymous tip from a caller who claims a travel chest that’s about to be auctioned holds a clue to a twenty-year-old unsolved murder. Is it a hoax or a genuine lead? When a body turns up in Willow Creek, Trevor suspects a connection between this current homicide and the cold case. Has the murderer killed again to cover their tracks? Now Daisy has another mystery steeping and Trevor may just have his next podcast . . .
 
Includes delicious recipes!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Tea, Audiobook, Fiction, Cooking

Audio CD

Published November 28, 2023

About the author

Award-winning author Karen Rose Smith was born in Pennsylvania. Although she was an only child, she remembers the bonds of an extended family. Family is a strong theme in her books and she suspects her childhood memories are the reason.

In college, Karen began writing poetry and also met her husband to be. They both began married life as teachers, but when their son was born, Karen decided to try her hand at a home-decorating business.

She returned to teaching for a while but changes in her life led her to writing relationship novels. Now she writes romances as well as mysteries full time. Her first book was published in 1992; her 110th novel will be published in 2024. A winner of New Jersey's Golden Leaf Award in Short Contemporary Romance, Colorado Romance Writers Award Of Excellence for short contemporary, as well as the Phoenix Desert Rose Chapter's Golden Quill for Traditional Romance, she has also been honored with Cataromance.com's award for Best Special Edition and Washington Romance Writers Career Achievement Award. Her romances have made both the USA TODAY list and the Amazon Romance and Contemporary Romance Bestseller lists. Her mysteries have made the USA TODAY and Barnes and Noble bestseller lists.

She has written for Meteor/Kismet, Kensington, Silhouette and Harlequin. Readers can contact Karen through her website, on Facebook (Karen Rose Smith Author) and on Twitter @ Karenrosesmith, on TIKTOK at karenrosesmithauthor and on Instagram. They can also follow her monthly e-zine IN TOUCH with KAREN ROSE SMITH which has the latest news about her books, recipes and contests.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here I am jumping in at number ten of A Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery Book series. It is a good story with nice characters and I need to go back and read the earlier nine books!

In Murder with Chocolate Tea Daisy Swanson, owner of Daisy's Tea Garden, is preparing to for her wedding to Jonas. Meanwhile she becomes involved in a twenty year old cold case and a brand new murder. Are they related and who dunnit?

There is an Amish angle to the book which is nice. The mystery is twisty and intriguing and it is altogether an excellent read.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was first posted on Mystery & Suspense Magazine. Check it out for features, interviews, and reviews. https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/mu...

3.5 stars

In this 10th book in the 'Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery' series, tearoom owner/amateur sleuth Daisy Swanson helps investigate a disappearance and a murder.



When she was left a widow with two teenage daughters, Daisy Swanson moved from Florida to her hometown of Willow Creek in the Amish region of Pennsylvania. There Daisy and her Aunt Iris run 'Daisy's Tea Garden,' a charming eatery that serves soup, salad, sandwiches, pastries, and tea.



When Daisy's Aunt Iris was suspected of murder, Daisy helped the police find the real culprit, and Daisy has subsequently helped the police solve eight additional homicides.

As the story opens, journalist Trevor Lundquist is interviewing Daisy for his podcast, called Hidden Spaces. Trevor and Daisy talk about investigating murders, and before signing off, Trevor tells his listeners, "If you know a secret that involves our community or if you have evidence of a crime, call my tip line, and I'll follow up."



A few minutes later, a caller, who insists on anonymity, tells Trevor that several chests will be auctioned off at Bonner's Storage next weekend, and one of the chests holds a secret to a twenty-year-old murder. Daisy and Trevor arrange to attend the auction along with Daisy's fiancé, Jonas Groft - a former police detective who now makes and sells custom furniture;



and Daisy's friend Amelia Wiseman - who runs a bed-and breakfast. Jonas and Amelia plan to use the chests after they're searched for clues.



Daisy and the others acquire five chests at the auction, and before the chests can be thoroughly examined, someone tries to tamper with them.



This confirms the suspicion that one of the chests harbors a secret, and - after careful examination - Daisy finds a hidden space containing notebook papers, newspaper clippings, and a photo of a teenage boy and his parents. The boy is identified as Axel Strow, who vanished twenty years ago.



In the meantime, a murdered physical therapist named Henry Kohler is found in Willow Creek, and the police determine that Kohler's phone made the anonymous call about the chest.



Daisy and podcaster Trevor Lundquist believe Henry Kohler's homicide is connected with Axel Strow's disappearance, but Police Detective Morris Rappaport isn't convinced.



So Daisy and Trevor do their own investigation, which involves interviewing people who knew Axel twenty years ago. These include former high school students who were on the track team with Axel;



a woman who had a crush on Axel when she was fourteen;



and vendors at the farmer's market where Axel's mother sold baked goods.



At one point Daisy comes across an important clue that helps solve the case.

While all this is happening, Daisy is busy with many other things, including managing Daisy's Tea Garden, which is currently promoting chocolate tea; making plans for her and Jonas's wedding, scheduled to take place in two weeks; helping her daughter Jazzi get ready for college; giving marital advice to her daughter Vi and son-in-law Foster, who have a toddler son named Sammy; helping Jonas design his new backyard workshop; assisting with a tea party for the 100th anniversary of Willow Creek's covered bridge; and more.

In the course of the story, Daisy serves many cups of chocolate tea accompanied by comestibles like snickerdoodles, rhubarb muffins, chocolate chip cookies, blueberry coffee cake, lemon tea cake, and cheese biscuits. To add to the book's charm, there are descriptions of the fine china used for serving tea, such as a Stechcol Gracie teapot with a black background decorated with colorful flowers in orange, red, yellow, and white;



Royal Copenhagen blue-flowered braided cups and saucers;



vintage Aynsley Marine Rose cups and saucers;



Churchill Blue Willow cups and saucers; and more.




At the end of the book there are recipes for ham and cabbage soup, egg and olive salad, and rhubarb muffins.


Ham and Cabbage Soup


Egg and Olive Salad


Rhubarb Muffins

This is an entertaining cozy mystery with likable recurring characters, including Jonas's golden retriever Felix, who enjoys being petted and pampered.



Thanks to Netgalley, Karen Rose Smith, and Kensington Books for a copy of the book.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas's Thoughts

Life sure is busy from Daisy Swanson. She works at her tea garden every day where she holds many special events too. She is finalizing all the plans for her upcoming wedding. Her daughter Jazzi is preparing to leave for college and her son-in-law Foster seems to be burning the candle at both ends to provide for what he thinks his family needs.

With all that on her plate, she takes time to be a guest on Trevor Lundquist’s crime podcast to talk about the last murder she solved. After the program, an anonymous tip comes in telling Trevor a chest is soon to be auctioned off and that it contains a clue that could solve a cold murder case. Then the police have a new homicide to deal with, but podcaster Trevor thinks it is connected to the 20-year-old murder and he is going to prove it.  When the police ask Daisy for help with the deceased wife, she can't say no. Soon after Daisy is investigating too and running interference between Trevor and Detective Morris Rappaport. Can she solve another murder and make it to her wedding on time?

____

The author continues to breathe life into her true-to-life genuine characters. Daisy has such a big heart, she will always help everyone in any way she can, even with her own wedding quickly approaching. Her journey to find the perfect dress, making sure fiancé Jonas is part of every decision and his building the perfect place to have the ceremony just warmed my heart. Witnessing their relationship grow throughout several books and evolve so naturally is a true credit to the author. She has shown us how relationships have their ebbs and flows too. Vi and Foster's life had a bumpy start but with help from family and friends, they too have moved forward realistically. They have some rough times in this story but again family is right there for them. Jazzi has had an interesting life too. Daisy's support of her finding her birth mother, Portia, and including the woman in family events like her wedding is more evidence of Daisy's huge heart. Ms. Smith has created a remarkable cast of supporting characters as well. I have enjoyed all the time I have spent peeking into these character's lives.

The mystery was complicated and took some research and true investigation before the clues started to come together in a way that made sense but evidence to pin down the killer may have been lost forever. It may end up being another cold case.  But Trevor wasn't letting the case go and Daisy may not make it to her wedding. This book is so well-plotted and written. Each twist and turn pulled me deeper into the story and kept me guessing. An interesting visit to Daisy did push me toward a certain character but I still had several questions.  Happily, when all was revealed they were all answered.

I am very sad that this appears to be the last book in this series as the author begins a new spinoff series featuring Daisy's daughter Jazzi. I am intrigued to see her in a different way and seeing things from her point of view as the lead character. I do hope her family visits her often though. They are all characters I have become invested in after 10 books. I am holding out hope though that we will return to Willow Creek and Daisy's Tea Garden someday. It is such a great fictional setting.

Murder with Chocolate Tea is a wonderful addition to this series. Wonderful characters, a stirring mystery, set in a charming place where Amish and Englishers come together, along with a lot of chocolate tea make this a must-read for cozy mystery lovers. I have enjoyed every book in this series and highly recommend them all.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder with Chocolate Tea is the tenth and most recent Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery. Daisy and Jonas are only a short time away from their upcoming wedding. She is also supervising the special tea event to help commemorate the 100-year-anniversary of her town’s historic covered bridge, participating in a podcast about her crime solving and helping her daughters deal with some situations in their own lives. Shortly after the podcast, someone calls in a tip about a 20 year old crime and then a man is found dead in a creek. Who killed him and is it because of the tip? This time around, Detective Rappaport asks for Daisy's help in calming the wife of the dead man so he can question her. He knows that Daisy has a way with people and that gets her involved in another murder. Will they find out who killed the man and will they solve a cold case as a result?

This book introduces us to Trevor Lundquist, the podcaster and Tessa's boyfriend. Tessa is an assistant manager at the Tea Garden. He drops hints, gets calls and interviews people who stir things up. Did his podcast cause the death? Daisy sticks her nose into the investigation and talks to friends of the two men, those who knew both of them years ago. Unfortunately, this puts Daisy in the crosshairs of the murderer. Will the wedding go off as planned? As always I enjoyed the mix of mystery and personal storylines. I don't know if this will be the last book in the series or not, but all the personal stories are well wrapped up, if it is. I enjoyed this mystery with it's plot, and intriguing story. It was not an easy one to solve and it was one little clue that leads Daisy in the right direction. One thing I like about Daisy, is that she is always in contact with the police, sharing what she learns and letting them know what she is doing. It might just save her life.

I listened to this book, narrated by C.S.E. Cooney. Although I have become used to her voice with this series, I still find that beyond the main characters, all her voices sound the same. I do speed them up to 1.5 and find that a very enjoyable speed to listen to with this series. If you enjoy a good cozy mystery, with not only a mystery, but great personal side stories, then I recommend you give this series a try.

[Taryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The towns historic covered bridge has been around for a hundred years and Daisy has been asked to hold a special tea event. She is happy to help but what really has her excited is her wedding to her fiance Jonas. With all this going on she makes the time to be a part of a podcast done by a local journalist Trevor Lundquist. The discussion surrounds the last crime she helped solve. When Trevor receives a tip that may help solve a twenty year old mystery Daisy is intrigued. Is the tip real or is someone making things up? When someone is murdered Trevor begins to think it may be tied in with the unsolved murder from twenty years ago. Daisy jumps at the chance to help Trevor figure out who the killer is and whether the murder is link to the one from so many years ago.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

#MurderwithChocolateTea #NetGalley is an incredible addition to this series by one of my favorite authors. Daisy is getting ready to marry her fiance Jonas, but a 20 year mystery piques her curiosity and soon Daisy finds herself wrapped up in another murder investigation. I love the balance of these characters a lot. I've grown fond of all of them and I'm looking forward to the next phase of life for these special people. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.

[Deborah Almada · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I am really sad this series is coming to an end, I have to say the author finished it in wonderful fashion. Daisy and all the usual suspects are involved in a cold case that comes from a tip to Trevor's podcast, after Daisy had given an interview. Following the twenty year old tip eventually ties them to a current murder. Can Daisy, Trevor and the police figure everything out while Daisy, Jonas and family prepare for their wedding? With everyone we have come to know and love in the series involved, a very interesting mystery and a beautiful wedding, this was a wonderful read that will touch everyone who has enjoyed this series!

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the best instalment in this series I read in some times: well plotted, twisty and entertaining.
I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and the evolution of the relationship of Daisy's extended family and friends.
I was glad to catch up with the characters and enjoyed the plot that I found entertaining and enjoyable.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Stacey (Bookalorian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder with Chocolate Tea was read as a standalone book and it worked just fine for me.

The characters are well developed and I liked them all very much. The plot was really solid and clues will lead you to an excellent conclusion.

I love small town so that made it a winner for. I didn't think I would enjoy it this much

4 stars

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

#MurderwithChocolateTea #NetGalley is an incredible addition to this series by one of my favorite authors.
Daisy is getting ready to marry her fiance Jonas, but a 20 year mystery piques her curiosity and soon Daisy finds herself wrapped up in another murder investigation.
I love the balance of these characters a lot.
I've grown fond of all of them and I'm looking forward to the next phase of life for these special people.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars

A twenty year old murder, a current murder and an upcoming wedding keep Daisy Swanson very busy in this installment of the Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery series. Using well established primary and secondary characters. Ms. Smith manages to keep you guessing from start to finish. Will Daisy solve both murders and still make it to her own wedding?

Daisy Swanson, tea shop owner and amateur sleuth, is planning her upcoming wedding and dealing with an upcoming anniversary celebration for a covered bridge in Willow Creek. Trying to help a local reporter, Trevor Lundquist, who is dating her best friend, she's the focus of a podcast interview about her amateur sleuthing and crime solving efforts. At the end of the podcast, Trevor receives an anonymous call about a 20 year old unsolved disappearance/murder. Vowing to be careful, and aware of her time constraints, Daisy somewhat reluctantly finds herself drawn into another mystery.

Daisy, her fiancee Jonas, and many of the secondary characters in this book are well established and likeable characters. The small town police department is competent and doing the best they can with current cases, so they are somewhat reluctant to try to investigate a 20 year old murder without knowing the identity of the victim. Something the anonymous caller left out of his "clues". Of course this being Willow Creek, someone else gets killed and the burner phone discovered near the body just happened to be the number of the anonymous caller.

While the mysteries, obviously tied together, are interesting, the pacing is a little slow. I also find it somewhat annoying that Daisy continues to let herself loose track of her own safety in each installment. At this point in the series, she really needs to take some serious self defense classes and possibly carry at least a can of mace!
All of that aside, the author does a good job of keeping the reader engaged, if for no other reason than to find out how Daisy manages to solve the crime.

Will Daisy uncover the killer's identity? Will all of her loved ones stay safe? And will Daisy and Jonas' wedding take place? You'll have to read Murder with Chocolate Tea to find out.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder With Chocolate Tea by Karen Rose Smith is a Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery and a great entry into the series. Daisy and Jonas’ wedding is just days away. She is totally preoccupied, so much so that she decides to let Abigail be the lead on planning a tea to celebrate the reopening of the local covered bridge. She was also involved slightly with her friend Tessa’s boyfriend, Trevor Lundquist, who was trying to get his podcast off the ground with an interview with Daisy. After the podcast, he got a call from an unknown number giving him a tip about a clue to a twenty-year-old disappearance being in a trunk that was being auctioned this Saturday by a storage place. He was determined, so Daisy and Jonas, plus their friend who owned a bed and breakfast, went, bid, and won two units, both of which had trunks. They found nothing in the trucks but someone had come to their home and tried to break into Jonas’ SUV where their two were until he had help to bring them in, and someone had broken into the shed at the bed and breakfast. Trevor was not letting this go. Then, there was a murder, and Trevor connected the anonymous call to the burner phone found with the body. Despite police warnings, he was ramping up the podcast, and mentioning Daisy’s name far too often.

This is a cute series and Daisy is a good lead. She is a widow and has found love a second time with Jonas, who is an ex-police detective turned woodworker, who owns his own business. They are a wonderful couple and he backs her up, while worrying, every step of the way. The wedding is small, in their back yard. Jonas build a gazebo for them to be married under and she is wearing her grandmother’s wedding dress. Everything is perfect, but the case gets more and more complicated. Of course, things eventually fall into place and Daisy is able to give the correct clue to the police and they solve both the twenty-year-old disappearance and the current murder. It’s never easy though, and things almost go awry. This is a terrific cozy series and this was a good book!

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Murder With Chocolate Tea by Kensington Books, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonBooks #KarenRoseSmith #MurderWithChocolateTea

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

First there was an anonymous tip to the podcaster regarding an antique trunk with revelations in it about a cold case murder. Then there were attempted robberies and a current murder. All this plus the countdown to her wedding, helping her friends' families, both Amish and Englisher. Daisy is an Englisher in an Amish neighborhood, has many friends, both Amish and Englisher, an ex-cop/woodworker for a boyfriend, and operates a tea shop in their small town.
Good sleuthing with interesting twists and red herrings. Nice addition to a fine series. This is not an unbiased review because I love this series!
I requested and received an EARC from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Jenna (readinginjennaland) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daisy and Jonas are preparing for their wedding. Daisy does an interview with Trevor's podcast. When an anonymous phonecall comes in with a tip on the hotline. A storage shed is about to be sold with chests and one of the chests has information on a twenty year murder. Trevor, Daisy and Amelia jump at the chance to buy the contents. A dead body is found in the creek. Trevor wonders if they are connected. Trevor and Daisy start their own investigation.
I enjoyed following the clues with Daisy. I wish I knew all the characters better. Sometimes I was confused as to who was who. Probably better to read the series in order.

[Courtney Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this cozy murder mystery. I read it as a standalone but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I read the others as I feel like some of the storylines carried over.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mostly enjoyed this book. I did find parts of it slow, especially when they were trying to get the detectives to investigate Axel’s death. I also did think they really overdid the mentions of the chocolate tea. I don’t think a tea house would be serving to one type of tea. I liked the characters, there isn’t any one obvious suspect for the murders. I like the relationships between the core characters. #MurderwithChocolateTea #NetGalley

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fabulous mystery is the best in the series! Her wedding is a few short weeks away, and Daisy has important things to do before that special day, like choose a dress, select flowers, and help her younger daughter, Jazzi, get a bridesmaid dress. Daisy’s Tea Garden keeps her busy, also. There is no time to get involved with another murder.

Since moving back to Willow Creek, in Lancaster County, Daisy helped solve several murders. It just kind of happened, such as when the main suspect was her beloved Aunt Iris. From then on, if somebody she was close to was involved with a murder, whether as a suspect or a victim, Daisy asked questions and found whodunit.

Daisy’s fiancé, Jonas, is a former detective from Philadelphia who moved here when he left the force. Being an excellent craftsman, he opened a shop called Woods, where he sold or took commissions for furniture he builds. He also sells furniture made by local Amish craftsmen. With his background, Jonas’s help was invaluable to Daisy.

This time, Jonas and Daisy can be valuable to Trevor. He is a reporter, dates Daisy’s best friend, Tessa, and is trying to establish his niche in podcasting. After interviewing Daisy regarding murders she helped solve, he got a call on his tip line. A man called anonymously to report that the contents of two storage units would be auctioned in a few days. A trunk containing evidence of a murder from twenty years ago was in the units.

Trevor, Daisy, Jonas, and a friend, Amelia, went to the auction. It was poorly attended, allowing them to obtain both units, five trunks, and furnishings. Amelia and her husband owned a B&B, so she could use some of the furniture. Jonas would take the rest to repair, refinish, and sell at his shop. They would split the trunks, as long as Jonas and Daisy were able to thoroughly search Amelia’s. All they found was an older photograph with no information on it.

A couple days later, the body of a man with no ID was found in Willow Creek, having been murdered and dumped there. A burner phone was found on the river bank. The phone number of it matched the one used to call Trevor’s hotline with the tip. Daisy helped the police by helping calm down the victim’s wife so they could interview her.

Trevor was stubborn, and didn’t want to share any information with the police. He believed he and Daisy could solve the crimes before the police could. He was taking critical risks on his podcasts, including clues he’s found, names of people he’s talked to, and indiscreet use of Daisy’s name.

I enjoyed watching the friends discuss their finds and concerns about the current case even as they struggled to find who was murdered twenty years ago and by whom. The cold case is one of the things I found fresh and exciting. I also enjoyed seeing how far the main characters have come since Daisy and her daughters arrived, not long after the death of her first husband. I appreciate how Daisy, her family, and her friends act with wisdom and maturity. I wish I hadn’t abandoned my favorite suspect as a red herring, but I did…and I was surprised, and very saddened at the motives and the years of deception. I highly recommend this novel and series to those who appreciate clever sleuths, well written mysteries, tea rooms, and romance.

From a thankful heart: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Murder with Chocolate Tea is an engaging shopfront cozy and the 10th book featuring Daisy Swanson and her friends and family by Karen Rose Smith. Released 28th Nov 2023 by Kensington, it's 320 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU.

This is a well-established and long running series with characters who have developed over the series run and are believable and well rendered. Despite that, the mystery is self-contained in this volume and it works quite well as a standalone, with the understanding that the interrelationships have developed and reading them out of order could spoil some developments (but nothing game breaking).

Daisy is busy preparing for her upcoming nuptials, guest interviewing on a true-crime podcast about her previous "cases", running the tea shop, and preparing for an upcoming centenary celebration for a local landmark, when an anonymous tip to a clue about a long ago cold case draws her into another mystery.

This is a fun small town shopfront cozy series. It's full of slightly eccentric characters, clean language, and off page violence.

Four stars. It would make a good binge or buddy read. Light and entertaining.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Cozy Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 10th book in the series and one of my favorites of the author. This is a long running cozy series we readers adore. I love the kindness theme of this series and empathy for neighbors. This series is set in Pennsylvania Amish country and the Amish have a large part in this series as does the culture and food of the Amish. Thank you to Net Galley and to the publisher for the opportunity for review of this ARC prior to publication.

In this next in series the sleuth kept me guessing to conclusion. The clues of a cold murder are based around a new local podcast tips that involve Daisy when she decides to take action. Daisy becomes involved and soon finds herself in the middle of solving another murder with the help of her community.

Daisy and her soon to be husband are busy planning their wedding complete with a gazabo in their backyard for their vows. Daisy has a successful busy business in her adorable tea shop and I love the descriptions of the high teas and different teas they serve. Reading this series one can imagine the beautiful appointed tea shop and garden. I enjoy how Daisy convinces the most anti tea drinkers to try her chocolate tea in this next in series. The chocolate tea is one you will immediatly order after reading how delicious it is in this book and pars well with desserts. Each book includes wonderful descriptions of baked goods and tea shop featured foods to delight the reader.

Before her wedding day Daisy solves the murder for the local police. She has the wedding of her dreams at the end of book which we readers have been hoping for . The supporting characters of her family and neighbors center largely in this book as always all add to the theme of helping thy neighbor and contributing to their community. This series is a lovely place to spend time . I hope the author will continue the series.

[June Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a fan of "Only Murders in the Building" on Hulu television, I found the use of a true crime podcast as part of the plot intriguing. That said, if Trevor continues with the podcast, he really, really needs to tone down both the name dropping and be smarter himself about the possible danger. Words matter. It probably goes without saying that the mystery storage trunks mentioned to Trevor after his initial podcast relating to the murder wind up with Daisy and friends.

The story centers around Daisy Swanson and podcast journalist Trevor Lundquist investigating not just a 20 year-old murder case but a modern one, too. Both become targets. Daisy should be focused on her upcoming wedding but can't seem to stop thinking of anything other than the investigation. She keeps asking questions, many pointed, and, well, this is a cozy mystery. You know she'll eventually face danger. In-between, there's a 100 year anniversary of the local covered bridge to celebrate, finding the perfect gown for her wedding, getting her daughter ready for her first year of college, trying to help her oldest daughter mend her worrisome marriage, and more.

I won't detail the plot further. The characters were largely likable and the setting sounds charming. I mean, carriage rides? Well, this does take place in Pennsylvania's Amish country. Daisy's soon-to-be husband, Jonas, is a former cop, now woodworker/furniture maker, and provides a solid foundation for Daisy's sometimes over zealousness. The wedding planning seems to be frequently interrupted for murder matters but I hope to hear more about that gazebo in future books. Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks - #KensingtonCozies for inviting me to the wedding. I'm looking forward to Daisy's next adventure. This one was a fun read that kept me guessing until the very end.

[Jessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Release Date: November 28, 2023
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Daisy has a lot to celebrate this summer. She’s supervising a special tea event to help commemorate the 100-year-anniversary of her town’s historic covered bridge. But the main event is her upcoming wedding to her beloved fiancé Jonas. Somehow Willow Creek’s busiest brewer of specialty teas and amateur sleuth still finds time to be a guest on local journalist Trevor Lundquist’s crime podcast to discuss the last murder she solved. After the podcast, Trevor receives an anonymous tip from a caller who claims a travel chest that’s about to be auctioned holds a clue to a twenty-year-old unsolved murder. Is it a hoax or a genuine lead? When a body turns up in Willow Creek, Trevor suspects a connection between this current homicide and the cold case. Has the murderer killed again to cover their tracks? Now Daisy has another mystery steeping and Trevor may just have his next podcast . . .

I enjoyed this book. I do feel like I missed a lot of context and backstory. The wedding planning seems to be frequently interrupted for murder matters but I hope to hear more about that gazebo in future books. I would read this series again.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

#murderwithchocolatetea #Daisysteagardenmystery #karenrosesmith
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[Lghiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chocolate Lovers Unite! At Daisy’s Tea Garden, the featured tea this month is Chocolate Tea which Daisy serves with a variety of sweet treats. It seems to go particularly well with chocolate chip cookies.

As always, delicious foods from soups and salads to high tea are served at Daisy’s teahouse. Daisy has a lot of things going on in Murder with Chocolate Tea. She and Jonas are planning their wedding, and she has put one of her enthusiastic employees, April, in charge of a tea celebrating a local covered bridge. Most importantly for the reader, Daisy is trying to solve a recent murder and a cold case. Is there a connection between the two? Daisy finds herself in danger as she draws closer to discovering the truth.

Daisy’s friends and family have their share of difficulties. Her daughter Jazzi is preparing to go to college. Her daughter Vi’s husband is overworking and over stressing over his new job. Aunt Iris still has two suitors who are getting impatient. Her kitchen manager’s boyfriend has begun a true crime podcast. He endangers many in his efforts to discover the truth including those he interviews.

As you can see, there is a lot going on in this mystery. Many friends of the the murder victims are suspected of the crimes, but we don’t get to know them as well as I would like. It’s mind boggling to watch Daisy juggle work and home commitments, but with the help of supportive employees and relatives, she manages well.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy agrees to participate in a podcast by Trevor Lundquist, and during the course of the interview, he receives a tip about evidence of a 20 year-old crime to be found in a chest coming up for auction. Out of curiosity, Daisy and Jonas go to the auction with Trevor and buy all 4 of the trunks for sale. There seems to be nothing them, yet someone tries to break into the storage area where they were kept. And then a murder, possibly connected to the anonymous call. Daisy is resolved not to get involved. After all, her wedding is coming up in a few short weeks, her daughter Jazzi is getting ready to leave for college, her other daughter is having some issues in her relationship with her husband, and there's another township event coming up. But she soon gets pulled in, first by the police, asking for help calming down the victim's wife. And then by Trevor, as he keeps recklessly pursuing this mystery for his podcast, often dropping her name as being part of it. Once again, the author has provided an enjoyable and challenging mystery, while focusing on family and friends relationships. This series truly meets the challenge of a cozy mystery - minimal violence and bloodshed, and tons of personal interactions (rated PG), typical personal issues, and sheer joy at maintaining good relationships. Looking forward to the next story in this series. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book received through NetGalley and all opinions are strictly my own.

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Murder with Chocolate Tea (Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery #10)" by Karen Rose Smith is able to be read on its own but could probably be better appreciated with having read the other nine books first. I didn't feel like I didn't understand anything from missing information given in past book, I just didn't feel attached to the characters reading this one without the others. Also, only one mention of the characters drinking chocolate tea with many missed opportunities to expand on the chocolate tea theme. Like, I have zero idea why chocolate tea would be good, give me some ideas how to use it.

The mystery was interesting. A true crime podcast is incorporated into how information is gathered and given out. I feel this theme was also under utilized. Could have done more mid chapter interludes of characters listening or while their recording to give the info they found. Instead we get a lot of "have you heard of Trevor's podcast?" snd "listen to Trevor's podcast for details". In the end I was mostly right about who the killer was but I thought it was their parent. Kinda felt like the motive was barely there for the second, newer killing if the first was technically an accident. Sorry, tiny spoiler there but saw that coming.

[Suzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to spend time with Daisy, Jonas, and friends in the Amish country of Pennsylvania in the latest installment to the Tea Garden Mystery Book series, Murder With Chocolate Tea. Chocolate tea is one of my favorite flavored teas, while the Tea Garden Mystery series is also a favorite---I knew I was instore for a good read.
So much is happening in Willow Creek in this fast-paced story, but the biggest interest to me are the preparations for Daisy and Jonas' wedding. A local podcaster discovers a tip that causes Daisy to jump in and investigate. As illustrated in the blurb there are two cases--one is twenty years old, and one is current. The mystery is twisted, the clues are helpful---though I did not quite guess the culprit correctly. A very enjoyable read.

I recommend this book and series to other cozy mystery lovers, tea drinkers, and to those who enjoy trying new recipes. I am waiting for Spring to try the rhubarb muffins. Yum!

What a pleasure to have received a copy of this novel from #NetGalley, #KensingtonBooks, #KensingtonCozies, #KarenRoseSmith to read and give an honest review. #MurderWithChocolateTea #NetGalley

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the tenth and possibly the last book in the series. Daisy is finalizing her plans for a close intimate wedding to Jonas, trying to get Jazzy ready to go off to college, and of course, solving a twenty-year old mystery.

Trevor ropes her into trying to solve the current murder after a caller to his podcast tells him some trunks are linked to a death twenty years ago and the caller winds up dead.

The series is set in Pennsylvania Amish country. Throughout the series, the Amish culture has a large part. The series and this book are well-plotted, the characters are a great mix and balance each other out, and the look into the culture in this Pennsylvania town quite charming.

I highly recommend this book and the series to those wanting a no-nonsense cozy. The people seem genuine, realistic, and do not go running towards danger.

As an added bonus, each story comes with recipes.

I received an advance copy from Netgalley and am not required to leave a positive review.

[Lorraine Kraft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this entire series and loved all of them but in this conclusion of the Daisy Teagarden series, I have to say is my favorite. It is so good!

In this book, Daisy is busy planning her wedding and helping with the 100th year anniversary of the towns covered bridge, Jazzi is getting ready to go to college and guests on Trevor's podcast. After the podcast, Trevor receives a call from an unidentified caller concerning some travel chests about to be auctioned off with a clue to a 20 year old murder. When a body is found in Willow Creek, Trevor thinks it is connected to the murder of 20 years ago. Daisy and Trevor start digging into what happened 20 years ago, but someone is determined to hide it at all costs; up to and including stopping Daisy anyway they can.

I highly recommend this book and series for those who love cozy mysteries. I am happy to say all loose ends are tied up. I wish the series would continue and I will miss it.

I received an ARC from the publisher and Netgalley for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Susan Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Fuzzypants here: Daisy’s wedding day is fast approaching and there is so much to be done. Pick out dresses, flowers etc…. And solve a murder, possible two. Daisy has proven her mettle to the local cops in helping to solve murders and they often depend upon her help to find the killer. But it is a supposed friend, who is trying to build his brand as a podcaster, who seems determined to thrust Daisy right into the cross hairs of the murderer. The police also ask for her help in interviewing the wife of one of the deceased. It seems, her good intentions or not, Daisy is going to be drawn into the mystery and she will be put in danger.

I like the way that Daisy and the local police work together. They each respect one another but the so called journalists who is after the big scoop seems hell-bent at getting his scoop whatever the cost. But he does redeem himself a bit by the end. In spite of a tense standoff with the villain, Daisy does make it to her own wedding. Four purrs and two paws up.

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy is busy with her upcoming wedding plans and with her daughter Jazzi who is going off to college as well as being on call to help out with her grandson Sammy. And, oh yes, she still runs a tea shop. Despite all this, she finds time to be a guest on Trevor’s crime podcast. A tip comes in with a clue to a cold case that is twenty years old. A teenager from their town disappeared one night and was never seen again. Did he run away or did he meet with foul play? Daisy gets drawn into the case when a man, possibly the tipster, is found murdered. The police ask for her unofficial help, and it leads her down a path that no one should take. After a slow start, this mystery picked up speed in a hurry. The conclusion of the story is both exciting, and then heartwarming. It will be interesting to see where the series goes from here. These characters are delightful and likable. I would love to spend some time in a tea shop like Daisy’s.

[LittleRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy and Jonas’ wedding is quickly arriving and there’s so much to do. When a cold case mystery is laid at her feet, Daisy can see herself not getting involved, almost. But when a murder that may be tied to the cold case happens, all bets are off.

With promises to keep herself safe, Jonas and Daisy team up to solve the case. Will they get their happily ever after, or will the killer strike again, putting an end to their nuptials?

Another solid entry in this series. I see a new book coming from the author that focuSes on Jazzi’s sleuthing and I hope that marriage hasn’t put this series on ice. Daisy and the gang have so much more to share and I’d love having two series in this family!