Darjeeling Dead

Tea and Tarot #8

by Kirsten Weiss

Turkey, Pie, and A Thanks-filled Tearoom Whodunit

It’s Thanksgiving time, and tearoom owner Abigail Beanblossom is not overflowing with gratitude. Her boyfriend is out of town. A gang of birdwatchers have been leaving nasty reviews about Beanblossom’s Tea and Tarot. And a body on the beach points the police directly to the tea and Tarot room.

Will Abigail and Hyperion be able to solve the case in time for the Thanksgiving feast? As the clock ticks down to turkey time, Abigail must rely on her wits, her partner’s trusty Tarot deck, and a little help from her quirky friends to brew up the truth.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Novella, Contemporary, Cozy

111 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 4, 2024

About the author

Kirsten Weiss writes laugh-out-loud, page-turning mysteries. Her heroines aren’t perfect, but they’re smart, they struggle, and they succeed. Kirsten writes in a house high on a hill in the Colorado woods and occasionally ventures out for wine and chocolate. Or for a visit to the local pie shop.

She is best known for her cozy and witch mystery novels. So if you like funny, action-packed mysteries with complicated heroines, just turn the page…

Kirsten sends out original short stories of mystery and magic to her mailing list. If you’d like to get them delivered straight to your inbox, make sure to sign up for her newsletter at kirstenweiss.com

Feel free to follow her on Twitter @KirstenWeiss or Bookbub, get in touch on Facebook, post a picture of this book to Instagram and tag her @kirstenweissauthor, or send her an email. She’ll answer you personally…which may be a good or a bad thing, depending on your perspective.

Reviews

[Nancy Bradford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book in the series.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abigail Beanblossom is a bit short on gratitude at the moment - her new commercial oven is malfunctioning, her boyfriend is out of town, and her tearoom is getting review bombed by a disgruntled group of birdwatchers. She certainly isn’t going to get involved in another murder investigation, just because her business card was found on the victim. Hyperion has other intentions and is soon off and running. Leaving her partner to solve it alone just won’t do. But digging into the birdwatchers reveals a dark side to the hobby and corruption at its core. Trapped by a desperate killer, has Abigail baked her last scone?

It’s always a pleasure stepping into Beanblossom’s Tea and Tarot. The dynamic between Abigail and Hyperion sets the tone for the series. The mystery is well plotted and hard to predict. Throughout the humor shines through. The bird pun themed bad reviews were a treat. The ending was particularly heartwarming and brought home the Thanksgiving theme wonderfully.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Searching for the Truth . . .

Tearoom owner Abigail Beanblossom had turned away a birdwatcher group who were insisting on bringing live birds into her food place as they attended their meeting. She was perfectly correct to refuse, but the birdwatchers are retaliating by giving her bad reviews, calling the menu ‘monotonous and uninspired’, and insulting everything they can think of. She then has to explain to visitors that the so-called reviews were full of lies, as they could see for themselves if they looked around or even just tried the food and enjoyed the activities going on in the bustling tearoom. Hyperion, her Tarot reading business partner, walked over to tease her out of her gloomy mood. Unfortunately, it’s not over yet as Detective Baranko shoved open the door and glowered at them, handing Abigail a plastic evidence bag with her business card in it -- which he then told her he found on the dead body of a man on the beach nearby. He wouldn’t let her ask any questions, yet expected answers when he wouldn’t even tell her who had died. (Hyperion helpfully interjected that he wouldn’t be able to assist since he was a Tarot reader, not a psychic. I had to take a 5-minute break to stop laughing.)

The story line was fast-paced, well-written, and the characters were amazing. With Detective Baranko hoping to name Abigail as his suspect for the death of Robin Starling from the birdwatchers group, she and Hyperion will need to step in and find the real killer before they lock her up and close down the tearoom. Encouraged by her friends, will they expose the truth?

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't normally like novellas as they are usually over before they begin but in this book the author packs in so much that it didn't feel like a quick read and I enjoyed it. We don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in England but I am thankful for good stories and talented authors, like this one. The mystery was good with plenty of suspects to keep me guessing over who the killer was and who the bad reviewer was, as I said a lot going on. The author even managed to fit in a disaster at the tea room, leaving Abigail and Hyperion plenty of time to investigate. A fun investigation and a good introduction to the series if this is your first time at the tea shop or another good mystery for long time fans. I can't wait for the tea shop to be back in business, in other words for the next book.
Thanksgiving is a busy time at Beanblossom's Tea and Tarot and the last thing the owners want is bad reviews showing up but that is exactly what happens when Abigail turns away a local bird group, when they want to bring birds to the meeting. It only gets worse when there leader is found dead in the beach not to far from the shop. Abigail and Hyperion set out to ruffle a few feathers with his fellow bird watchers by finding the real killer before the big day of the tea shop has to close.
I was given this free review copy book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abigail of Beanblossom’s Tea and Tarot isn’t very thankful this Thanksgiving . She’s been targeted by by a gang of Birdwatchers who have been writing scathing reviews and Beanblossom’s Tea and Tarot and now someone has been found dead on the beach and the finger points at the Tea room …doom and blunder ,who has seen fit to put asunder .Abigail feels the dread as she does gaze upon the beach where the body did lay full of dismay she sniffs out clues Hyperion to help . Hopefully they can solve before their feast at Thanksgiving because that is for the healthy , the living . No misgivings just set the record straight that she’s not guilty nor her shop at any rate. The truth will brew and the Tarot discussed to find the truth they must. In her friends she must trust to get the job done and the case won.Splendid story by Kristen Weiss . I really enjoyed this splendid tale , a really well written book, worthy of a second look .

[Ericka · Rating 5 out of 5]

And Weiss has done it again! I was needing something to push my focus back onto gratitude and "Darjeeling Dead" was perfect. I started the book with an attitude similar to Abigail's and ended it on an up beat just like Abigail's. It's a quick but satisfying read and the way Abigail handles the climax is new and I really enjoyed it. I also like how the bad person jumped to conclusions. Weiss makes her books more believable because she pumps little details like this into them. I've already pre-ordered the next book!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gabrielle Hashimoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun and quick mystery and although it’s the first one I’ve read in the series, it was fine as a standalone. I enjoyed the tearoom setting and the author did a good job painting a picture of the cozy atmosphere. I liked Abigail and her relationship with Hyperion and the rest of her community. This book was well written, with a nicely paced mystery and it didn’t feel too short. Overall this was a solid and enjoyable read and I definitely look forward to the next book. Four and a half stars for me.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle Cornish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abigail Beanblossom is a tearoom owner with a knack for getting into trouble. This time, Thanksgiving festivities are overshadowed by a murder mystery that hits close to home, leaving Abigail to untangle the web of intrigue threatening her beloved Beanblossom’s Tea and Tarot. Darjeeling Dead is a charming, witty, and suspenseful read with delightful characters, perfect for anyone looking to cozy up with a book and a hot cup of tea this holiday season. It’s a book that will leave you grateful for the laughs, suspense, and warmth it brings.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella has plenty going on. Beanblossom Tea Room is being bombarded by bad reviews. Then there is a dead body on the beach which leads investigators to the tearoom. Do they really want to look further. It’s hard to tell.

I found it well-written, action -packed, and no time to waste. I was surprised at who the culprit was but it was to be expected. I held on tight and just enjoyed the ride.

I would recommend this book to turn a frown to a smile.

I did receive an e-copy ARC from Booksprout. I am not required to leave a positive review.

[Grinning Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cat’s Stats
Detective- Abigail Beanblossom, Tea and Tarot room owner (on the tea side of things)
Sidekick- Hyperion Night (partner on the tarot side of things)
Crime- murder
Victim- Robin Starling, bird watching maven
Cause of Death- blunt force trauma causing asphyxiation
Mewsings
This is a charming story. I enjoyed the premise. I liked the main characters, particularly Abigail, who is very relatable. And I thought that her relationship with Brik was a nice counterpoint to murder.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tea and Tarot Room faces some crazy challenges in the face of equipment failure and a dissatisfied party booking.

some bookings really are literally for the birds, and review bombing is a thing.

Twisted friendships might destroy as much as they build

With her beau away and Razzzor in zen therapy, more than average chaos reigns at Beanblossoms.

Fun and frantic reading adventures.!

[Carla Zanghellini · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a small tea shop where customers can exchange ideas and have their tarot cards read. The small, cozy shop has haters and therefore comes under the scrutiny of a detective.
I enjoyed reading this book and joining the cozy group. It offers a moment of relaxation from hectic life and brings good thoughts.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Valeri Sullivan (vsulvn29) · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘I boiled water.’

Beanblossom’s at any time of the year is a warm and cozy hug but this one felt especially meaningful as the year winds down and it reminds us to appreciate the ones around us no matter what life throws at you. And hopefully in your case it isn’t the dead body or bodies Abigail and Hyperion deal with regularly! A broke oven....maybe.

[Anteia Consorto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun, fast paced read. This novella may be short lengthwise but is packed with plenty of heart, humor and mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed this brief glimpse into the holidays at Beanblossoms, where murder is always on the menu.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just want to say how much I enjoy reading Kirsten Weiss's books. They are entertaining and her characters are engaging. This one was no exception. It was more of a novelette, but I appreciate a quicker story from time to time. I popularly enjoy that Hyperion has a thing for big words and I occasionally have to look one up.

[Katherine Daugherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darjeeling Dead is a wonderful, quick read. I love Abigail and her quirky cuteness. I ended the book with a huge smile on my face. I enjoyed the mystery. The characters in the book are great and I'd love to live there.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darjeeling Dead: A Cozy Thanksgiving Mystery (Tea and Tarot Cozy Mysteries Book 8)

Darjeeling Dead: A cozy Thanksgiving Mystery (Tea and Tarot Cozy Mysteries Book 8) written by Kirsten Weiss. Excellent story in a nice setting.

[AMBER CLARK · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short Thanksgiving mystery, this is book eight in the Tea and Tarot Cozy Mysteries series. It's interesting, engaging, and suspenseful. You will be kept guessing right up until the end. Can be read as a standalone but the entire series is so fun that you will definitely want to pick it up.

[Jennifer Laird-Lord · Rating 5 out of 5]

Birdwatching and murder seem to be on the menu. It's a short fun read as Abigail and Hyperion get in the middle to solve. The characters are wonderful. I would recommend it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kris]

I've read all the books in this series, this was another great story. The two main characters compliment each other well. As usual, it is a light, fun mystery.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set aside four hours for this contemporary cozy Thanksgiving mystery in San Borromeo, California where Abigail Beanblossom's oven at Beanblossom's Tea and Tarot is not working in November.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book with Abigal having an oven not working, trying to not worry about the reviews she received online from the bird lovers. Abigal and Hyperion are busy trying to solve some murders and a fire at the tea room.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

A bit short but I very much like the Tea and Tarot Mysteries Series so any chance I get to read a new book about this crew of characters I enjoy it.
Keep them coming Kirsten.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Questions, action and answers!

Abigail and Hyperion at it again, they can't seem to get free of murder, mayham and broken down equipment. What's a person to do?

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read

It’s good to be involved with Abigail and Hyperion any time. I’m thankful for this entertaining series. I recommend any of Kirsten Weiss series.