It’s love at first light on a golden Sri Lankan beach… until the tide turns deadly.Café owner, Keya Varma, is overjoyed to escape the English Cotswold winter for tropical sunshine, and her happiness soars when her CSI partner surprises her with a marriage proposal. A quiet ceremony on a golden beach seems the perfect start to their life together. But paradise loses its sparkle when a priceless sapphire disappears, and a body is found on the sand.
With the local police quick to accuse the newlyweds, Keya’s honeymoon takes a disastrous turn. Caught between suspicion and island bureaucracy, she must depend on logic, courage, and the support of her calm and capable husband to clear their names.
From sacred temples to moonlit beaches, clues glitter amid lies and deception. But as truth proves hard to uncover, Keya learns that even the most precious gems can hide deep flaws.
Can the newlyweds prove that justice, like love, is worth pursuing?
A Honeymoon of Havoc is the next charming cozy mystery in Victoria Tait’s Cotswold Antique Mystery world. It offers a logical, closed-circle whodunnit filled with red herrings, eccentric suspects and clues hidden in plain sight. Readers can follow the clues step-by-step as gossip, misdirection and Sri Lanka’s vivid setting guide this determined sleuth’s investigation.
Pack your suitcase and join Keya for A Honeymoon of Havoc today!
I was born and raised in Yorkshire, England, and never expected to travel the world. I've drawn on my life’s experiences of following my military husband, and a love of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Murder She Wrote, to write British-based cozy mysteries.
My determined and hard-working female sleuths are joined by colourful but realistic teams of helpers, and my settings are vivid and evocative. As you’re compelled to keep turning the pages, you’ll be irresistibly drawn into a world of intrigue, surprises, and humour, as well as a delectable helping of mystery, because tea and intrigue are a perfect blend.
Keya and Sujin are visiting Sri Lanka on holiday. As you may surmise from the title it turns into a wedding proposal, elopement and honeymoon. Unfortunately for the newlyweds on the day after their ceremony they find a deceased man on the beach and get caught up in an investigation. Well Keya does Sujin is more advising. While I never would have guessed how the murder investigation turned out I did have a strong feeling on the theft of the jewel and I was right lol. Lovely story. So happy for Keya and Sujin and what an idyllic place for a wedding/honeymoon. I was entranced by the locals, their customs and the vivid descriptions of the various locals the couple visited. Also baby elephants too cute!!! Can’t wait for the next book!
On holiday in Sri Lanka, what could possibly go wrong? A surprise. Will Keya accept?
This story highlights the hard work of miners. How they risk their lives so we get our jewellery. I have so much respect for them and the work that they do. It also shows the difference between the lives the miners and how the rich live and how unfair this is.
Arguments and disputes over who owns gems.
Clear research has been done on Sri Lanka. It sounds like a lovely place. I can almost picture myself in the warm water. “The sun began to rise over the horizon, the surface turned more translucent, catching hints of gold and pink.” A contrast to “It was a person.” “Is he dead?”
In a twist of fate the detectives become the suspects, how will this play out? An interesting take on a Murder Mystery. Missing Jewelry.
Keya and Sujin have such a lovely relationship. Their story really adds to the book. Their characters and personalities and how they bounce off each other gives the story a comical element whilst also remaining serious about the mystery and dangers ahead, great foreshadowing.
With every character suspicious, whodunnit? This is written so well, I'm suspicious of everyone.
“Arjun did what he did for the sake of the family” but what could that be? Are the dead innocent?
Someone's watching.
This story highlights how women are favoured less than men. An important topic. It hints that women are not good enough for the family business. It's so nice to see Delani prove herself and become successful on her own, though it should never have come to this. The question is could all this anger lead to murder. Each person's story leads to motive, whoodunnit?
This book also serves as educational. I have learnt a lot about Buddhism. Learning about other cultures and religions is always interesting.
Wow, I kept guessing until the very last thread. It's very well written.
I have been looking forward to this book since I finished the previous book in the series! I love the two main characters, and have enjoyed following their relationship. I didn't know how the issue of Keya's mother wanting a huge wedding and the couple NOT was going to be resolved, but this was Excellent! Enjoyed reading about Sri Lanka and the places they visited. My traveling days are over so I get my thrills thru books. The part about seeing the baby elephants was wonderful. I wasn't exactly sure what a "sloth bear" was, so had to look that up. I like books that encourage me to learn new things. Sujin buys Keya some beautiful jewelry to wear at their wedding, and as she is heading to the venue, she is accosted by a gem dealer who more or less insists she wear something from his collection that is much more gaudy and expensive. I actually thought he was going to take her jewelry and leave her wearing his, which would turn out to be fake. And if he tried that with me, he would have gotten punched. I would have wanted to wear what my future husband bought me and not something that a crass salesman thought I should. Of course Keya always manages to get herself involved in a murder. Things look really bad for awhile when she and Sujin are more or less arrested for killing a man they found dead on the beach, who turns out to be the gem dealer. The missing gemstones were fairly easy to figure out, but still a cute resolution! A big thanks to the author for letting me be on her ARC team so I got to read this early! The opinions expressed are my own. I'm looking forward to the next book because I don't think it's going to go over well that Keya had her small private wedding and not the huge blow out that Mama wanted!
I'm always excited when a new book from Victoria Tait comes out. The characters have become so familiar to me that I feel as if I really know them. This latest edition to the Cotswold Antique Mystery Series only stars two of these familiar characters as they are on a trip to Sri Lanka. Keya and Sujin have taken a vacation from their busy schedules to relax and much to Keya's surprise, get married! Sujin proposes and knowing how Keya feels about a big wedding, they get married on the beach. However, rather than a relaxing honeymoon, they find a body on the beach. With their CSI experience, they believe the death wasn't an accident. Keya, as a former police officer, helps suss out clues and suspects along with Mahinda, Superintendent of the Kandy Police, who happens to be related to Sujin.
I loved visiting Sri Lanka with Keya and Sujin! It sounds like a beautiful place to read and relax and hopefully not come across any bodies! Now if only it fit into my budget... Since I probably won't ever travel there, I enjoyed the descriptions that the author shares of the tourist spots that they visit. I'd love seeing baby elephants walk right in front of my tour vehicle! I learned an important tip too: don't sit under a coconut tree! Fortunately, no one does because of this advice. I definitely wouldn't want a coconut falling on my head.
I highly recommend A Honeymoon of Havoc! I loved the closed circle mystery, the characters, the setting, and "watching" Keya and Sujin's wedding. Their vows are so sweet! Though I loved visiting Sri Lanka, I'm excited for them to go home and get caught up in the next mystery that awaits!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Keya Varma and Sujin Kerr escape the Cotswolds winter for the beauty and history of Sri Lanka. Between meeting Sujin’s relatives and visiting sacred sites, Keya is surprised with a proposal and intimate wedding on the beach. A Sri Lankan gem company holding an exhibition at the same hotel asks Keya to wear a spectacular necklace in the ceremony so that they can use the pictures for promotional materials. Also on exhibit is a rare and contested sapphire, the Tear of Ceylon. The following morning, Keya and Sujin discover a dead man on the beach and are accused of murder by the local police sergeant. They also learn the Tear of Ceylon has gone missing. Suddenly, their honeymoon turns into an investigation, as Keya and Sujin work with his uncle to solve the case. Was it murder or an accident? And how is the missing gem connected?
Another charming and engaging mystery from Victoria Tait. I felt that I was traveling along with Keya and Sujin through Sri Lanka. The vivid descriptions of the sights and sounds, as well as the foods, made the island come alive. The history of Sri Lanka was woven into the fabric of the story with the sacred sites, the plight of the miners, the effects of colonization, and the family dynamics adding depth. The supporting characters were all well drawn and I enjoyed getting to know them. Sujin’s proposal was so beautiful and the wedding exactly what Keya wanted. It will be interesting to see how her parents react when they return home. I have loved seeing Keya grow throughout the books and her relationship with Sujin is so real and supportive.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I always look forward to Victoria Tait novels. A Honeymoon in Havoc is a pure delight. Although this book is actually the fourth entry in the Cotswold Antique Mystery series, it is more similar to her destination mysteries, the Treasured Journey Mystery Series. Tait's mysteries are always well written with plenty of clues and suspects. and her destination cozies are well researched and filled with local color and history.
This story centers on Keya and Sujin who have escaped the cold Cotswold winter to spend New Years in Sri Lanka. Keya is looking forward to visiting Sujin's relatives, tourist sites and relaxing on the beach, but she doesn't know that he has also planned a quite beach wedding. But a missing jewel and a dead body cause a change in plans during the usual honeymoon, and Keya's role changes from suspect to investigator.
I learned a lot about the mining industry, the inequity between the miners and land owners, and the treatment of women in Sri Lanka. Although Sujin is not particularly religious, he visits several shrines and the reader learns a little about Buddhism.
I was fortunate to receive a review copy from the author, but I would recommend this story to anyone who loves cozy mysteries and especially to destination cozy mystery fans.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the author. Keya Ravi and her boyfriend Sujan are on holiday in Sri Lanka , he surprises her with a proposal and the suggestion that they get married there without all the interference she is worried about from her mother. They have a romantic beach ceremony and Keya has the opportunity to wear a priceless sapphire necklace and earrings on loan from a gem merchant who wanted some pictures of them on a real model. Great start to their married life but as usual they run into a mystery. The next morning they are having a walk on the beach when they find a body. The local police arrest them. Sujan’s relative, Mahinda ( a police superintendent ) gets them released and takes over the case. Since Keya is a trained police investigator Mahinda asks her to help out. Sujan provides help with the crime scene. They also find out there is another mystery. A priceless sapphire has disappeared. A great logical, cozy mystery. There are lots of red herrings, real clues and eccentric suspects. A new setting for me and I found it interesting to read about the food and the sights of Sri Lanka. Looked a few places and foods up.
Looking forward to a tropical vacation, Keya Varma and boyfriend Sujin Kerr are heading to Sri Lanka where he has family. When he proposes marriage, Keya happily agrees and as they marry in a lovely location, she knows that she has found her forever mate. On an early morning walk Keya and Sujin find the body of a man on the beach and the local police are more than thrilled to blame them for the death. Luckily Sujin is related to Mahinda Attanayake, Superintendent of the Kandy Police Division who helps in having them released from police custody. Keya is excited to help Mahinda with the investigation whereas her new husband does not want to get involved. Searching for a killer won’t be easy and the newlyweds may now have a target on their back. A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.
Victoria Tait’s books are an escape for me, as I usually read darker thrillers. These books are full of twists and turns and are an easy read. What I loved most about this one was the setting. Sri Lanka is on my travel wish list, and this felt like a wonderful introduction. The descriptions really bring it to life, and you can tell the author has done her research - everything feels authentic. I really like the descriptions of the food as well. Of course, even on honeymoon, Keya can’t seem to avoid crime. It was nice to meet some of Suin's family, along with some quirky local characters. It’s a good addition to Keya's series. I’m looking forward to reading about Keya's mother's reaction to the wedding in the next book… I have a feeling that will be entertaining! I received an ARC from the author. This is my honest review.
Book 4 of the A Cotswold Antique Mystery series. For maximum enjoyment read the books in series order.
'A Honeymoon of Havoc is the next charming cozy mystery in Victoria Tait’s Cotswold Antique Mystery world. It offers a logical, closed-circle whodunnit filled with red herrings, eccentric suspects and clues hidden in plain sight.'
The characters were very appealing and likeable and quirky and absolutely perfect together. Plot was intriguing and intense and exciting and well paced. World building was solidly drawn and impressive. Another great addition to the series. Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A holiday turned honeymoon. Keya and her partner Sujin go on holiday in Sri Lanka to escape the English weather and meet some of Sujin's family. Atop a special religious monument Sujin asks Keya to marry him. As they continue their holiday they decide to get married and use this as their honeymoon. The next day they go for a walk on the beach and find the body of gem dealer Arjun Perera. As Sujin's uncle is a high ranking police officer he brings Keya and Sujin's expertise into the investigation. The story is well done, the characters excellently portrayed, and the countryside and foods wonderfully described. An excellent addition to the Cotswald series. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I very much enjoy, Keya, the man character of this series. I was able to follow the story even though I hadn’t read the previous books in the series (but recognized her from the Dotty Sayers Antique Mysteries.) The story is set in Sri Lanka and the descriptions of the scenery and food were enough to let the reader see the scene without being too wordy. I also and the storyline to be different and quite interesting. There are a lot of characters in Sri Lank to keep track of which, of course, leads to all kinds of possibilities, and kept me guessing all the way through. I received an ARC copy and started reading yesterday and had to finish it today. Nice job Ms. Tait!
This was a great story. I love that the author takes the time to make you feel like you're in the location where the book takes place (in this case, Sri Lanka) and also that she presents so much history and background on the places where the characters go. Keya and Sujin are on holiday and they meet a man and his family who are gem merchants. The head of the family business has been found dead on the beach and Keya and Sujin end up assisting in the investigation to find the killer, of which there are several who would've had motive and opportunity. This is a great story and I definitely recommend it. I was given an ARC of this book and am leaving my voluntary review.
Keya and Sujin go on holiday together to Sri Lanka. Due to the mounting family pressure Keya agrees to get married there even though she hadn't planned on eloping with Sujin. The last minute wedding leads to some surprises like her modeling a special necklace and finding a dead body. Much to Sujin's chagrin, Keya helps with the investigation. There are a number of twists and turns which I love in this series. There is also a lovely relationship which Keya and Sujin have based on friendship and respect. An enjoyable series. This can be read as a standalone.
A trip to exotic Sri Lanka, a wedding, a beautiful necklace, a precious stone, a family struggle for control of their business, the death of the son who runs the family business makes this an intriguing story. The author weaves these together with an introduction to the culture of precious stone mining and a travelogue of an exotic land.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved this cozy mystery! I felt like I was taking a trip to Sri Lanka without ever leaving my couch. I loved the mix of vacation (honeymoon) with helping to solve the mystery. Great characters. Looking forward to reading the earlier works in this series and hopefully many more after this one. Enjoy!
A thoroughly enjoyable story as Keya and Sujin honeymoon in beautiful Sri Lanka. As always, no story is complete unless Keya finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation. Some very clever twists and unexpected revelations in the story lead to a fascinating conclusion.
I read this book as part of an advance reader team. I am voluntarily writing this review.
An enjoyable cosy mystery where Keya and Sujin take a trip to Sri Lanka, where they find a body on the beach and of course Keya can’t help but get involved with solving the mystery.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.