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Tea by the Sea Mysteries #7
Bubble, Bubble, Tea & Trouble
When Cape Cod tearoom owner Lily Roberts finds a group conducting a séance in her grandmother’s Victorian B&B, she has no idea the trouble that’s about to be conjured up . . .
When Lily stumbles across five middle-aged women gathered in a dark corner of the tearoom for a “book club,” she firmly reminds them that the inn’s no-smoking policy also applies to their oddly ritualistic candles. As they head outside, Lily overhears them chalking their bad luck up to the absence of their leader, Katya. Whatever they’re doing, it certainly isn’t reading—and their cover is starting to sound like weak tea . . .
While they enjoy Lily’s homemade banana bread the next morning, they make their intentions clear—grilling Lily about any past paranormal activity in the cliffside mansion. Their attempts to contact spirits have been falling flat, it seems, and the mysterious Katya is catching the heat. Levelheaded Lily thinks the real reason is that there’s no such thing as ghosts.
But Lily’s pal Bernie has found another the half-baked spirit-seekers have the wrong house. The haunted reputation belongs to the place next door—where Lily’s gardener boyfriend is currently staying. But before they can inform the luckless ladies, the missing medium shows up—dead on the rocks at the bottom of the cliff. Now, Lily has two serving afternoon tea, and solving a murder before someone else gets sent to the great beyond . . .
When Lily stumbles across five middle-aged women gathered in a dark corner of the tearoom for a “book club,” she firmly reminds them that the inn’s no-smoking policy also applies to their oddly ritualistic candles. As they head outside, Lily overhears them chalking their bad luck up to the absence of their leader, Katya. Whatever they’re doing, it certainly isn’t reading—and their cover is starting to sound like weak tea . . .
While they enjoy Lily’s homemade banana bread the next morning, they make their intentions clear—grilling Lily about any past paranormal activity in the cliffside mansion. Their attempts to contact spirits have been falling flat, it seems, and the mysterious Katya is catching the heat. Levelheaded Lily thinks the real reason is that there’s no such thing as ghosts.
But Lily’s pal Bernie has found another the half-baked spirit-seekers have the wrong house. The haunted reputation belongs to the place next door—where Lily’s gardener boyfriend is currently staying. But before they can inform the luckless ladies, the missing medium shows up—dead on the rocks at the bottom of the cliff. Now, Lily has two serving afternoon tea, and solving a murder before someone else gets sent to the great beyond . . .
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 28, 2026
About the author
Vicki Delany
60 books2,003 followers“It’s a crime not to read Delany,” so says the London Free Press.
Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most varied and prolific crime writers.
She is the author of four cozy mystery series: The Tea by the Sea series from Kensington Books, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series from Crooked Lane and the Year Round Christmas series from Penguin. Under the pen name of Eva Gates she writes the Lighthouse Library Series.
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com , www.facebook.com/evagatesauthor, and twitter: @vickidelany
Vicki is part of Mystery Lovers Kitchen (http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com) and Killer Characters (http://www.killercharacters.com)
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com
Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most varied and prolific crime writers.
She is the author of four cozy mystery series: The Tea by the Sea series from Kensington Books, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series from Crooked Lane and the Year Round Christmas series from Penguin. Under the pen name of Eva Gates she writes the Lighthouse Library Series.
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com , www.facebook.com/evagatesauthor, and twitter: @vickidelany
Vicki is part of Mystery Lovers Kitchen (http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com) and Killer Characters (http://www.killercharacters.com)
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
July 29, 2026
Thank you for this advanced readers copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Oh my gosh, how I wish I could go to Victoria-On-Sea for a week! This B&B sounds like such a cozy place to relax 😎
Now, before you read this review, please know that this book is the 7th in the series. Don't let that prevent you from jumping right in and picking up this book though! Prior to coming across this on NetGalley, I had never heard of this series, but not reading the previous books didn't cause any issues whatsoever. While I obviously didn't have all the background information on the characters, I feel like what was needed to know to understand this story, was reiterated. In terms of the mystery, this mystery is a stand alone and does not connect to any of the previous books!
For anyone that knows me, you know I am a huge sucker for cozy mysteries and this one didn't disappoint! As I previously mentioned, Cape Cod and Victoria-On-Sea came across as such a cozy and beautiful spot to go on vacation. The author did such a good job setting such a welcoming setting that is easy to imagine yourself inside. I particularly loved that all the staff at the B&B interacted and knew their guests.
The thing I adored most about this story was the characters. There are quite a few of them that are frequently mentioned, but not so much that is overwhelming. All of the characters were distinct and had their own personalities, which I really appreciated. I also really liked that the group of friends seemed so real. They weren't afraid to push and challenge each other, but always had each other's backs when needed. Overall though, they just seemed like a fun group to hang out with!
In terms of the mystery, I had a lot of fun with it! I did go in expecting that Lily would play more of an amateur detective, but I found that Bernie did a lot of the background investigating, which wasn't really an issue. A lot of pieces regarding the mystery are also given through the detectives on the case, which I actually quite liked, since it gave the main characters more time to discuss different theories as they tried to work through it. Overall, I think the mystery was well done and allowed me to keep on guessing, even if I did correctly guess the culprit at the end.
In case you need another reason to check out this book, there is a super interesting ghost story, which I think added a fun touch! 👻
So, if you enjoy cozy mysteries with a fun cast of characters, I highly recommend you check this book out!
Oh my gosh, how I wish I could go to Victoria-On-Sea for a week! This B&B sounds like such a cozy place to relax 😎
Now, before you read this review, please know that this book is the 7th in the series. Don't let that prevent you from jumping right in and picking up this book though! Prior to coming across this on NetGalley, I had never heard of this series, but not reading the previous books didn't cause any issues whatsoever. While I obviously didn't have all the background information on the characters, I feel like what was needed to know to understand this story, was reiterated. In terms of the mystery, this mystery is a stand alone and does not connect to any of the previous books!
For anyone that knows me, you know I am a huge sucker for cozy mysteries and this one didn't disappoint! As I previously mentioned, Cape Cod and Victoria-On-Sea came across as such a cozy and beautiful spot to go on vacation. The author did such a good job setting such a welcoming setting that is easy to imagine yourself inside. I particularly loved that all the staff at the B&B interacted and knew their guests.
The thing I adored most about this story was the characters. There are quite a few of them that are frequently mentioned, but not so much that is overwhelming. All of the characters were distinct and had their own personalities, which I really appreciated. I also really liked that the group of friends seemed so real. They weren't afraid to push and challenge each other, but always had each other's backs when needed. Overall though, they just seemed like a fun group to hang out with!
In terms of the mystery, I had a lot of fun with it! I did go in expecting that Lily would play more of an amateur detective, but I found that Bernie did a lot of the background investigating, which wasn't really an issue. A lot of pieces regarding the mystery are also given through the detectives on the case, which I actually quite liked, since it gave the main characters more time to discuss different theories as they tried to work through it. Overall, I think the mystery was well done and allowed me to keep on guessing, even if I did correctly guess the culprit at the end.
In case you need another reason to check out this book, there is a super interesting ghost story, which I think added a fun touch! 👻
So, if you enjoy cozy mysteries with a fun cast of characters, I highly recommend you check this book out!
March 8, 2026
A failed seance that leads to two murders, sisterly deception, and multitude of secrets. Vicki Delany delivers another great installment in the Tea by the Sea Mysteries. Can you believe she's on #7 already? While writing at least 4 other series at the same time. Great setting in New England with a history of witches and ghosts. Makes for a darkly fun story!
September 20, 2026
A tour group is staying at the inn and Rose sends Lilly to tell them to snuff out their candles- there's a no smoking policy. Lily is curious about the ladies and follows them outside at midnight. She discovers they're a group of ghost hunters trying to summon the spirits of Victoria-by-the-Sea, of which there are none. Their leader is missing and the group are fighting amongst themselves but they paid for a week in advance so they stay. After watching them in action, Simon wakes up Lily and takes off but turns around to inform Lily he's discovered a body at the base of the cliffs in the water. Matt and Bernie heard noises in the night and Bernie thinks it was the ghost hunters but why would they be prowling around without permission? The de facto new tour leader recognizes the body as Katya Ivanova, their tour leader. Then Katya shows up out of the blue, VERY much ALIVE. She identifies the body as her sister, Tatiana aka Trudy, who always wanted to copy everything Katya did. She seems unemotional and unconcerned. Lily is also unconcerned because the death has nothing to do with the inn for a change. Yet she can't help be curious about who killed Katya's sister and whether the person meant to kill Katya instead. Bernie is facing a deadline to finish her book and Matt promises to help introduce her to an agent but the lure of investigating keeps calling. Can she and Lily figure things out before the ghost hunters leave?
I have liked this series so far but this one was terrible. It's meant to be ready for spooky season which is coming up but it's not spooky. The plot seems right out of the daytime soaps but fortunately what I imagined - a soap opera worthy plot - was a little less outrageous but no less ridiculous. I wasn't sure who the murderer was but I had two suspects in mind. It turned out to be neither but the motive I imagined was more or less correct. I couldn't put the book down. I really needed to know if I was right but the whole plot was silly and unimaginative.
The best part of the story was the end which doesn't follow the usual pattern. Bernie and Rose manage not to be too obnoxious. Bernie knows the clock is ticking on her opportunity to write a novel. Her job wants her back and she can't live on her 401K forever. Matt is very sweet and generous to help her out professionally but she can't mooch off him and his house is uninhabitable. I like how Bernie sticks to research and only stirs the pot a little. I can't stand how she's always eating Lily's food, meant for paying guests and taking up space in the kitchen while Lily is trying to work. Bernie eats a banana and Lily says she needs those and Bernie, who doesn't cook, declares Lily has plenty. What the heck? That's so rude. Lily has recipes in mind and I'm sure she buys just enough for her recipes. Food isn't free unless you're a moocher like Bernie. I also can't stand how she always manages to get Lily to go along with whatever she says. Lily is very nice and I like her a lot. She's sensible and loves her grandmother but she's a pushover. I like Simon. He's very sweet and their relationship is getting serious. I love Eclair. She's the bestest goodest girl and deserves all the belly rubs and treats. I like Matt a lot too. He doesn't believe in the ghost nonsense and tries to dismiss noises as falling timber. He's mansplaining for Bernie, thinking she's a delicate flower. Puh-leaze. He's not scared of ghosts but doesn't let the cops know there was an intruder because they won't find evidence and might think he's crazy. He's generous enough to allow the group to use his property outside as long as they don't burn anything down. He keeps an eye on them and cooperates with the police.
The ghost hunters are an unusual group. I thought they were a coven at first because of the way they dress and the candles but apparently they're followers of some kind of phony psychic. Katya Ivanova aka Katherine Ivans is a fake. Her accent conveniently comes and goes in spite of the fact she claims to have been born in the U.S. and great-grandparents were immigrants or whatever. She's from New York and as long as she's not taking advantage of people, she's allowed to lead tours of supposedly very haunted places. She does have a disclaimer that she can't guarantee the spirits will come out but it does sound like she's trying to convince her followers that she does have special powers and the spirits are coming out and then she banished them. Can you believe this woman? Guess it's true what P.T. Barnum said about suckers. Lori is very into this whole power thing. She doesn't have Katya's powers but seems to wish she does. She takes over as the leader but can't keep everyone together. Lori seems to want power both in a connection to the spirit realm and also in terms of leadership. She's insecure and everyone can sense she has no clue what she's doing. She seems desperate to want to believe and then Lily accidentally plants a suggestion in her head that would have made her the prime suspect if she had thought of it first.
Marietta is also a believer. She's very kind and seems like a lovely person but goodness she truly wants to believe someone can speak to the dead. She's badly unnerved by the death of Katya who turns out not to be Katya, so her ex-husband Zane comes to stay too. They seem to be amicably divorced and care a lot about each other as friends. I get the impression Zane would like to get back together and still thinks of them as a couple but Marietta has moved on. She is enjoying traveling and trying to connect to dead people. Grace looks like she comes from money. She's there on vacation and thought the ghost tour was a cheap and fun way to see Cape Cod. She wants to get in some shopping and whale watching and doesn't seem overly concerned about ghosts. Her husband, Gordon, shows up when he hears about the murder. I don't like him. He seems controlling and a real jerk. He's just shy of physically harming Grace. Gordon worries a lot about money. I suspect he's out of it and Grace doesn't know. He may have made some unwise investments or something he didn't tell Grace about. He objects to the ghost tour and the vacation and is generally rude. Grace is nice to everyone but her husband. This marriage won't last long after this trip. I hope Grace stands up to Gordon.
Anita is a hard core skeptic. Not only that, she's out to expose phony mediums like Katya and bring them down. She wants nothing to do with Katya worship, ghosts or the other women. She's writing a book and determined that it will be a sensational expose of the spiritualist movement and modern day psychics. She has every reason to be angry but is she mad enough to kill? I don't think so. That would defeat her purpose which is to humiliate and defeat the fakers who take advantage of people. Scarlet, a clothing boutique owner, originally from the South, seems somewhere in the middle. She wants to believe but she's not sure and she's not a skeptic either. She seems nice enough, friendly.
Detective Williams does a minimum of work and eats a maximum of food. He's too dumb and lazy to solve a murder. Amy Redmond, on the other hand, is clever and knows how to do her job. She trusts Lily and Lily's observations and turns to Lily for information. Lily trusts Det. Redmond and works with her to try to help solve the crime. She is shocked to learn Amy has a life outside of the police force. LOL
I don't recommend this book but I do like the series. It's not a tea shop series, it's more of a Bed and Breakfast series also with a writer character. All that breakfast food made me hungry and craving a nice home cooked breakfast.
I have liked this series so far but this one was terrible. It's meant to be ready for spooky season which is coming up but it's not spooky. The plot seems right out of the daytime soaps but fortunately what I imagined - a soap opera worthy plot - was a little less outrageous but no less ridiculous. I wasn't sure who the murderer was but I had two suspects in mind. It turned out to be neither but the motive I imagined was more or less correct. I couldn't put the book down. I really needed to know if I was right but the whole plot was silly and unimaginative.
The best part of the story was the end which doesn't follow the usual pattern. Bernie and Rose manage not to be too obnoxious. Bernie knows the clock is ticking on her opportunity to write a novel. Her job wants her back and she can't live on her 401K forever. Matt is very sweet and generous to help her out professionally but she can't mooch off him and his house is uninhabitable. I like how Bernie sticks to research and only stirs the pot a little. I can't stand how she's always eating Lily's food, meant for paying guests and taking up space in the kitchen while Lily is trying to work. Bernie eats a banana and Lily says she needs those and Bernie, who doesn't cook, declares Lily has plenty. What the heck? That's so rude. Lily has recipes in mind and I'm sure she buys just enough for her recipes. Food isn't free unless you're a moocher like Bernie. I also can't stand how she always manages to get Lily to go along with whatever she says. Lily is very nice and I like her a lot. She's sensible and loves her grandmother but she's a pushover. I like Simon. He's very sweet and their relationship is getting serious. I love Eclair. She's the bestest goodest girl and deserves all the belly rubs and treats. I like Matt a lot too. He doesn't believe in the ghost nonsense and tries to dismiss noises as falling timber. He's mansplaining for Bernie, thinking she's a delicate flower. Puh-leaze. He's not scared of ghosts but doesn't let the cops know there was an intruder because they won't find evidence and might think he's crazy. He's generous enough to allow the group to use his property outside as long as they don't burn anything down. He keeps an eye on them and cooperates with the police.
The ghost hunters are an unusual group. I thought they were a coven at first because of the way they dress and the candles but apparently they're followers of some kind of phony psychic. Katya Ivanova aka Katherine Ivans is a fake. Her accent conveniently comes and goes in spite of the fact she claims to have been born in the U.S. and great-grandparents were immigrants or whatever. She's from New York and as long as she's not taking advantage of people, she's allowed to lead tours of supposedly very haunted places. She does have a disclaimer that she can't guarantee the spirits will come out but it does sound like she's trying to convince her followers that she does have special powers and the spirits are coming out and then she banished them. Can you believe this woman? Guess it's true what P.T. Barnum said about suckers. Lori is very into this whole power thing. She doesn't have Katya's powers but seems to wish she does. She takes over as the leader but can't keep everyone together. Lori seems to want power both in a connection to the spirit realm and also in terms of leadership. She's insecure and everyone can sense she has no clue what she's doing. She seems desperate to want to believe and then Lily accidentally plants a suggestion in her head that would have made her the prime suspect if she had thought of it first.
Marietta is also a believer. She's very kind and seems like a lovely person but goodness she truly wants to believe someone can speak to the dead. She's badly unnerved by the death of Katya who turns out not to be Katya, so her ex-husband Zane comes to stay too. They seem to be amicably divorced and care a lot about each other as friends. I get the impression Zane would like to get back together and still thinks of them as a couple but Marietta has moved on. She is enjoying traveling and trying to connect to dead people. Grace looks like she comes from money. She's there on vacation and thought the ghost tour was a cheap and fun way to see Cape Cod. She wants to get in some shopping and whale watching and doesn't seem overly concerned about ghosts. Her husband, Gordon, shows up when he hears about the murder. I don't like him. He seems controlling and a real jerk. He's just shy of physically harming Grace. Gordon worries a lot about money. I suspect he's out of it and Grace doesn't know. He may have made some unwise investments or something he didn't tell Grace about. He objects to the ghost tour and the vacation and is generally rude. Grace is nice to everyone but her husband. This marriage won't last long after this trip. I hope Grace stands up to Gordon.
Anita is a hard core skeptic. Not only that, she's out to expose phony mediums like Katya and bring them down. She wants nothing to do with Katya worship, ghosts or the other women. She's writing a book and determined that it will be a sensational expose of the spiritualist movement and modern day psychics. She has every reason to be angry but is she mad enough to kill? I don't think so. That would defeat her purpose which is to humiliate and defeat the fakers who take advantage of people. Scarlet, a clothing boutique owner, originally from the South, seems somewhere in the middle. She wants to believe but she's not sure and she's not a skeptic either. She seems nice enough, friendly.
Detective Williams does a minimum of work and eats a maximum of food. He's too dumb and lazy to solve a murder. Amy Redmond, on the other hand, is clever and knows how to do her job. She trusts Lily and Lily's observations and turns to Lily for information. Lily trusts Det. Redmond and works with her to try to help solve the crime. She is shocked to learn Amy has a life outside of the police force. LOL
I don't recommend this book but I do like the series. It's not a tea shop series, it's more of a Bed and Breakfast series also with a writer character. All that breakfast food made me hungry and craving a nice home cooked breakfast.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
#BubbleBubbleTeaandTrouble #NetGalley is a delightful addition to this well written cozy mystery series.
Lily Roberts and her Grandmother are on alert with the new guests at the B & B , who like using candles in their rituals.
The only thing the women have in common is that they are all looking for the same thing, ghosts!
When Bernie learns that they have the wrong house, things begin to get worse.
Two dead women, who was thr intended target and why?
This is fast paced and filled with plenty of action to keep the reader guessing.
Lily Roberts and her Grandmother are on alert with the new guests at the B & B , who like using candles in their rituals.
The only thing the women have in common is that they are all looking for the same thing, ghosts!
When Bernie learns that they have the wrong house, things begin to get worse.
Two dead women, who was thr intended target and why?
This is fast paced and filled with plenty of action to keep the reader guessing.
August 11, 2026
If only I could vacation at Victoria by the Sea! I would love to meet Lily, Rose, Bernie and crew as well as enjoy staying in the Victorian home and having tea at The Tea Room. The characters are so intriguing and entertaining that you will keep waiting for the next book in the series, but the mystery that is plotted is the desert that you can't go without. This book in particular has a wonderful mystery plotted with twists and turns that will keep you guessing and the red herrings will keep you delightfully on the edge of your seat! I do recommend that you start with the first book in the series so you can get to know the characters better, but you can absolutely read this book as a standalone and still enjoy it. I personally feel that the enjoyment is enhanced by knowing the characters and watching them grow and develop into more fully fleshed out people. I am eagerly awaiting the next book to see what directions the characters will go in next!
July 29, 2026
I am jumping into this series late, BUT it was so easy to do and I enjoyed this so much. The author did such a good job of making a delightful and cozy setting for both the guests and readers that I loved jumping right in and quickly got to know the sleuth and recurring characters (and adorable dog companion). This book was a lot of fun with humor along the way, even during the serious events. It moved quickly with plenty of twist and did a great job making the ghost hunting aspects feel truly creepy even to the non-believers. This was an ultimate cozy and I already am looking forward to returning!
Thanks to the publisher for a free ARC; my thoughts and review are my own.
Thanks to the publisher for a free ARC; my thoughts and review are my own.
August 17, 2026
Still like the setting and the individual mysteries, but some of the characters are getting tiresome, specifically Bernie. Lily and Simon have progressed in their relationship, and the other secondary characters have minor roles, but Bernie is put there to push the story in the most annoying ways. She barges in, does what she wants, doesn't listen to anyone, and the will she / won't she finish her book is getting old. By the end, it does seem she at last has a deadline and is making progress, but it's the same old, same old every book. By the time the next book comes out, I will most likely forget that this one annoyed me so much and carry on with the series anyway.
August 9, 2026
Vicki Delany never disappoints.
This continues to be an enjoyable cozy mystery series, and I’m always impressed with Delany’s ability to give us more original and better structured mysteries than we typically get in most cozies.
This time around we have a spiritualist group visiting the shop and the B & B who are seeking to connect with the local haunts until someone connected to the group turns up dead. I didn’t buy Lily’s fearfulness of the supernatural, but I always appreciate her slightly exasperated manner of dealing with the bodies that keep turning up at her shop and around Rose’s inn.
I think Delany could stand to diversify the offerings at the tea shop a bit (the food and setting has gotten pretty repetitive), but that’s a minor gripe with an otherwise enjoyable read in a series that still manages to be entertaining and creative seven books in.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
This continues to be an enjoyable cozy mystery series, and I’m always impressed with Delany’s ability to give us more original and better structured mysteries than we typically get in most cozies.
This time around we have a spiritualist group visiting the shop and the B & B who are seeking to connect with the local haunts until someone connected to the group turns up dead. I didn’t buy Lily’s fearfulness of the supernatural, but I always appreciate her slightly exasperated manner of dealing with the bodies that keep turning up at her shop and around Rose’s inn.
I think Delany could stand to diversify the offerings at the tea shop a bit (the food and setting has gotten pretty repetitive), but that’s a minor gripe with an otherwise enjoyable read in a series that still manages to be entertaining and creative seven books in.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
September 10, 2026
I have struggled with this series and I am afraid this one is the nail in the coffin so-to-speak for me. Too much repetition, and even more annoying than usual important secondary characters [who I always struggled with, but really had a huge issue with in this book], and an overall tepid story [Lily's grandmother, who is usually a hoot in these, barely even shows up and her acerbic wit was woefully lacking] just made this more difficult to read than it should have been.
The two caveats are, 1. a non-rushed reveal/ending [SO refreshing] that left me gasping a little, and 2. I had no idea that it how it was all going to play out [I DID think, HOW did we get here after all the chatter/roundabout nonsense that went on this book]. Unfortunately, that's not enough to induce me to continue with this series.
Thank you to NetGalley, Vicki Delany, and Kensington Publishing/Kensington Cozies for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The two caveats are, 1. a non-rushed reveal/ending [SO refreshing] that left me gasping a little, and 2. I had no idea that it how it was all going to play out [I DID think, HOW did we get here after all the chatter/roundabout nonsense that went on this book]. Unfortunately, that's not enough to induce me to continue with this series.
Thank you to NetGalley, Vicki Delany, and Kensington Publishing/Kensington Cozies for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2026
Bubble, Bubble, Tea and Trouble by Vicki Delany is a great cozy mystery that is the seventh book in one of my favorite series: Tea by the Sea Mysteries.
I have read all seven books now, and this series is as good this year as it was with book one. Lily, Rose, Bernie, Matt, Simon, and the rest of the cast are excellent characters with great banter and personality. The one-liners are perfect and their interactions are effortless.
The backdrop of Cape Cod is a personal draw for me, and I love every mention of the landscapes and weather.
This mystery was creative, had plenty of layers, had an excellent pace, and kept me interested throughout.
The recipes actually sound delicious and who doesn’t love the awesome Eclair?!?!
I love this series and cannot wait for more. Highly recommend.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Kensington Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 7/28/26.
I have read all seven books now, and this series is as good this year as it was with book one. Lily, Rose, Bernie, Matt, Simon, and the rest of the cast are excellent characters with great banter and personality. The one-liners are perfect and their interactions are effortless.
The backdrop of Cape Cod is a personal draw for me, and I love every mention of the landscapes and weather.
This mystery was creative, had plenty of layers, had an excellent pace, and kept me interested throughout.
The recipes actually sound delicious and who doesn’t love the awesome Eclair?!?!
I love this series and cannot wait for more. Highly recommend.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Kensington Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 7/28/26.
August 14, 2026
Good: I live in Cape Cod, so anytime a book is set here I am in. This is one of the best series I've read (the other being Cape Cod Foodie Mystery by Amy Pershing). The fictional town of Victoria-by-the-Sea makes you feel like you're in a hallmark town especially with Aunt Rose’s Victorian B&B. Bernie and Rose remain my favorite characters. Bernie's brand of chaos and her devotion to Lily makes me so very happy. The highlight for me was the mid book twist, I loved when something unexpected like that happens.
Not So Good: Having an entire tour group means a whole bunch of new characters and I was having a hard time remembering who was who. I understand why it was necessary for the plot to have the group come but if you haven't read any previous books (this is the 7th), having all of the newer characters then adding in the townies, it could be overwhelming keeping track.
I always recommend this series, actually I always recommend anything Vicki Delany writes because she is fantastic at what she does. I loved coming back to this series and am excited to see what happens next to Lily, Bernie, Rose and Simon (though I always call him Scott in my head for some reason).
Not So Good: Having an entire tour group means a whole bunch of new characters and I was having a hard time remembering who was who. I understand why it was necessary for the plot to have the group come but if you haven't read any previous books (this is the 7th), having all of the newer characters then adding in the townies, it could be overwhelming keeping track.
I always recommend this series, actually I always recommend anything Vicki Delany writes because she is fantastic at what she does. I loved coming back to this series and am excited to see what happens next to Lily, Bernie, Rose and Simon (though I always call him Scott in my head for some reason).
July 29, 2026
Lily’s pal Bernie doing her edits on her manuscript was cracking me up because she seemed to be doing what everyone does when a not-so-fun job is facing you: she does everything except what she’s supposed to be doing, lol. Bernie gets squirreled away easily enough as it is! And Lily always manages to get dragged into the investigation when all she wants to do is cook and bake for her grandma’s B&B and the tearoom.
When a group of ghost-loving women showed up as guests and their leader seemed to’ve ghosted them (pun totally intended), one of the women took over as leader until the tour leader showed up eventually. Things went sideways from there on out, speculations were made about an accident that seemed like a murder, and Bernie actually did come up with some good info. That led to a pretty exciting showdown where the perp actually needed rescuing, imagine that! Only in North Augusta!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
When a group of ghost-loving women showed up as guests and their leader seemed to’ve ghosted them (pun totally intended), one of the women took over as leader until the tour leader showed up eventually. Things went sideways from there on out, speculations were made about an accident that seemed like a murder, and Bernie actually did come up with some good info. That led to a pretty exciting showdown where the perp actually needed rescuing, imagine that! Only in North Augusta!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
July 28, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Vicki Delany for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Bubble, Bubble, Tea and Trouble coming out July 28, 2026. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I definitely love this series. She is one of my favorite authors. I love the cozy setting and this was really great because of the Halloween theme seance and spookiness. I definitely love ghost stories. I think the proper tea parties were awesome. I hope there are many more books in the series.
I definitely love this series. She is one of my favorite authors. I love the cozy setting and this was really great because of the Halloween theme seance and spookiness. I definitely love ghost stories. I think the proper tea parties were awesome. I hope there are many more books in the series.
August 5, 2026
As this one involves another shady séance, I was curious if the dead psychic was the same one from The Sign of Four Spirits (2024). Though similar in her chicanery, she is not the same character.
The mystery wasn't a hard to solve puzzle but it was still fun. Mostly I enjoyed watching Lily trying to deal with these ghost hunters. I'm also happy to see Bernie finally getting serious about her writing and her novel.
https://pussreboots.com/blog/2026/com...
The mystery wasn't a hard to solve puzzle but it was still fun. Mostly I enjoyed watching Lily trying to deal with these ghost hunters. I'm also happy to see Bernie finally getting serious about her writing and her novel.
https://pussreboots.com/blog/2026/com...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It is always fun to take a trip to Victoria-on-Sea on Cape Cod. Since it is just the beginning of the season, the gardens are just starting to look lovely, the Teashop is just starting to get busy, and the B & B is almost full. Lilly is optimistic, Simon is back for the gardens, and their relationship is progressing, Bernie and Matt are working hard on their books, and Rose is Rose. When a group is caught having a seance in the house, Lilly discovers that the group, though missing their leader, who broke her leg, is convinced there are ghosts in the house. Unfortunately, when Lilly and Simon head to the B & B's kitchen the next morning, they see a body over the cliffs. When the ghost hunter group identify the body as their missing leader, can they figure out what is going on??? Where has she been? How did she die? Who wanted her gone? When the death is definitely determined to be murder, can our crew figure out what happened. As always, we get some nice twists, interesting information, and delicious treats. You will definitely enjoy a trip to the Cape, and by the sea! Thanks to #Netgally, #KensingtonCozies, and the author for an opportunity to read! #BubbleBubbleTea&Trouble #TeabytheSeaMysteries #VickiDelany #bookreview ##bookideas #retiredreader
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Five women tried to hold a séance inside Rose’s Victorian B&B, and Lily’s first concern was the candle policy. Honestly, this is why she survives these books. Everyone else is trying to contact the dead, and Lily is standing there like, “Not if the spirits violate the fire code.” The women claim they are having a book club, except there are no books, the room is dark, and they are gathered around ritual candles waiting for their missing medium, Katya. Ladies, that cover story has the structural integrity of wet banana bread. Lily takes one look at the situation and knows they are absolutely not discussing the latest bestseller, but she also has afternoon tea to prepare and cannot spend all night supervising grown women who have decided the afterlife needs a group Zoom.
Then these women start questioning Lily over breakfast about paranormal activity in the house, because apparently homemade banana bread now comes with complimentary access to the innkeeper’s ghost records. Lily does not believe in ghosts. Bernie, naturally, is ready to investigate before anyone has even swallowed. Bernie has the exact personality type that hears “haunted house” and immediately starts deciding what outfit she wants to wear while trespassing.
The best part is that they have the wrong house. They booked an entire séance weekend at Rose’s B&B, only for Bernie to discover that the allegedly haunted property is next door, where Simon is currently staying. This is the paranormal equivalent of arriving for a wedding at the wrong church, except everyone brought candles and unresolved emotional baggage.
And then Katya finally shows up at the bottom of the cliff, very dead and very much not available to lead the evening session. Cape Cod apparently cannot let Lily steep one peaceful pot of tea without dropping a body somewhere nearby. Katya was drowned before she ended up on the rocks, which means the weekend has officially moved from “mildly embarrassing spiritual retreat” to “everybody hand over your phones.”
Now all five women are suspects, husbands start appearing with questions and deeply suspicious levels of concern, and every guest at the B&B has the energy of someone who absolutely left something important off the registration form. Nobody needs to summon the dead because the living cannot stop generating secrets. Sister problems, marriage problems, old grudges, missing information. This group brought enough emotional chaos to haunt the house themselves.
Lily remains the only person behaving like she has ever heard of consequences. She does not break into locked rooms, steal evidence, or wander into obvious danger wearing shoes with no traction. She asks questions, notices when stories do not line up, and tells Detective Redmond what she finds. Meanwhile, Bernie is treating the murder like bonus research material and Rose is far too interested in the possibility that the neighbors may have ghosts.
Simon continues to be the kind of boyfriend who accepts that dating Lily means murder may interrupt lunch. He is staying in the supposedly haunted house, helping with food, and generally acting like none of this is especially alarming. At this point, a transparent Victorian child could float through the garden holding a bloody teacup and Simon would probably ask whether Lily needed more scones plated.
I just started this series with book six, Tea with Jam & Dread, so coming back to Cape Cod felt like finally meeting Lily in her natural habitat. The castle in England had aristocrats, heirlooms, and fancy murder. Rose’s B&B has séance tourists, neighborhood gossip, and women lying over breakfast pastries. Different location, same exhausting refusal by everyone around Lily to behave normally.
There is also something weirdly tender under all the nonsense. These women came looking for the dead because something in their lives felt unfinished. Then one of them actually dies, and suddenly all the fake rituals and dramatic candlelight do not seem funny anymore. Grief makes people strange. Fear makes them stranger.
This was 3.5 stars for me. The amateur occultists were exactly the kind of messy suspects I wanted, Bernie remained physically incapable of treating danger like a reason to go home, and Lily kept serving food while quietly realizing half her guests might have motive. Some answers arrived a little faster than I wanted, but I stayed happily suspicious of anyone holding either a candle or a marital grievance.
Whodunity Award: For Booking a Relaxing Séance Weekend and Accidentally Summoning Two Murders, Several Husbands, and a Full Police Investigation
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. You gave me ritual candles, banana bread, a corpse below a cliff, and a B&B full of women who should never again be allowed to describe their gathering as a book club.
Then these women start questioning Lily over breakfast about paranormal activity in the house, because apparently homemade banana bread now comes with complimentary access to the innkeeper’s ghost records. Lily does not believe in ghosts. Bernie, naturally, is ready to investigate before anyone has even swallowed. Bernie has the exact personality type that hears “haunted house” and immediately starts deciding what outfit she wants to wear while trespassing.
The best part is that they have the wrong house. They booked an entire séance weekend at Rose’s B&B, only for Bernie to discover that the allegedly haunted property is next door, where Simon is currently staying. This is the paranormal equivalent of arriving for a wedding at the wrong church, except everyone brought candles and unresolved emotional baggage.
And then Katya finally shows up at the bottom of the cliff, very dead and very much not available to lead the evening session. Cape Cod apparently cannot let Lily steep one peaceful pot of tea without dropping a body somewhere nearby. Katya was drowned before she ended up on the rocks, which means the weekend has officially moved from “mildly embarrassing spiritual retreat” to “everybody hand over your phones.”
Now all five women are suspects, husbands start appearing with questions and deeply suspicious levels of concern, and every guest at the B&B has the energy of someone who absolutely left something important off the registration form. Nobody needs to summon the dead because the living cannot stop generating secrets. Sister problems, marriage problems, old grudges, missing information. This group brought enough emotional chaos to haunt the house themselves.
Lily remains the only person behaving like she has ever heard of consequences. She does not break into locked rooms, steal evidence, or wander into obvious danger wearing shoes with no traction. She asks questions, notices when stories do not line up, and tells Detective Redmond what she finds. Meanwhile, Bernie is treating the murder like bonus research material and Rose is far too interested in the possibility that the neighbors may have ghosts.
Simon continues to be the kind of boyfriend who accepts that dating Lily means murder may interrupt lunch. He is staying in the supposedly haunted house, helping with food, and generally acting like none of this is especially alarming. At this point, a transparent Victorian child could float through the garden holding a bloody teacup and Simon would probably ask whether Lily needed more scones plated.
I just started this series with book six, Tea with Jam & Dread, so coming back to Cape Cod felt like finally meeting Lily in her natural habitat. The castle in England had aristocrats, heirlooms, and fancy murder. Rose’s B&B has séance tourists, neighborhood gossip, and women lying over breakfast pastries. Different location, same exhausting refusal by everyone around Lily to behave normally.
There is also something weirdly tender under all the nonsense. These women came looking for the dead because something in their lives felt unfinished. Then one of them actually dies, and suddenly all the fake rituals and dramatic candlelight do not seem funny anymore. Grief makes people strange. Fear makes them stranger.
This was 3.5 stars for me. The amateur occultists were exactly the kind of messy suspects I wanted, Bernie remained physically incapable of treating danger like a reason to go home, and Lily kept serving food while quietly realizing half her guests might have motive. Some answers arrived a little faster than I wanted, but I stayed happily suspicious of anyone holding either a candle or a marital grievance.
Whodunity Award: For Booking a Relaxing Séance Weekend and Accidentally Summoning Two Murders, Several Husbands, and a Full Police Investigation
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. You gave me ritual candles, banana bread, a corpse below a cliff, and a B&B full of women who should never again be allowed to describe their gathering as a book club.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Lily owns Tea by the Sea, a teahouse that serves real English teas. It's adjacent to her grandmother Rose's B&B, where Lily makes the breakfasts for the guests. But on this night, Rose has asked Lily to check out the B&B, because she thinks current guests are going against the rules -- and she's right. Five women are in the house with lit candles trying to do what Lily doesn't know and doesn't care -- and tells them the no smoking rule applies to candles.
While most of the women are very nice about it, one seems irritated, and she blames someone named Katya who never showed up to lead their 'book group'. But it's not long after that Katya's body is discovered on the rocks below, and the police determine that it wasn't an accident, and she was drowned.
Now everyone staying at the B&B is a suspect. Two of the women's husbands show up, and they aren't happy about the situation, but stay anyway to support their wives. Lily wonders if either of them are the guilty party, but doesn't want to get involved.
Lily does discover that the women think the B&B is haunted by ghosts, but both she and her grandmother know this is hogwash. Her best friend Bernie, however, does some digging and finds out that it's the house next door -- home to Bernie's boyfriend Matt, a successful true crime writer, who has the 'ghosts' lingering about. With Bernie and Rose wanting to know more, they're surprised when a woman shows up and complicates the situation...
Now Lily is trying to figure out not only what is going on, but which person had the best motive to want to kill...
This is the seventh book in the series and I have read them all. This one is one of the best of those. Lily is once again involved in a murder situation where she doesn't want to be, and she's not getting as much information as she usually does. But are there ghosts? Lily doesn't believe in them, but Bernie does. Finding the truth isn't going to be easy, but the two women are determined to do so. Even if one of them might just be in danger...
I really loved the plot of this one. (As a side note, I do believe in ghosts, but I won't elaborate why). I love that Lily is so level-headed and doesn't get flustered or do anything illegal, and she shares what information that she does find with Detective Redmond as soon as possible. The two women are learning respect for each other. I also enjoy the fact that Lily is finding her way with her British boyfriend, who is their gardener, and sometime-helper of Lily in preparing food for the next days' teas.
There's a lot going on here, and finding clues isn't easy, although they are there. I had suspicions of the murderer before Lily did, but then again, I read a lot of mysteries; still, it's always fun to watch her come to her conclusion in finding the truth, and the climax was worth reading the entire book for.
I don't want to say anything else in order not to ruin the book for others, but in the end, this is a welcome addition to the series, and I would highly recommend that others read this.
I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
While most of the women are very nice about it, one seems irritated, and she blames someone named Katya who never showed up to lead their 'book group'. But it's not long after that Katya's body is discovered on the rocks below, and the police determine that it wasn't an accident, and she was drowned.
Now everyone staying at the B&B is a suspect. Two of the women's husbands show up, and they aren't happy about the situation, but stay anyway to support their wives. Lily wonders if either of them are the guilty party, but doesn't want to get involved.
Lily does discover that the women think the B&B is haunted by ghosts, but both she and her grandmother know this is hogwash. Her best friend Bernie, however, does some digging and finds out that it's the house next door -- home to Bernie's boyfriend Matt, a successful true crime writer, who has the 'ghosts' lingering about. With Bernie and Rose wanting to know more, they're surprised when a woman shows up and complicates the situation...
Now Lily is trying to figure out not only what is going on, but which person had the best motive to want to kill...
This is the seventh book in the series and I have read them all. This one is one of the best of those. Lily is once again involved in a murder situation where she doesn't want to be, and she's not getting as much information as she usually does. But are there ghosts? Lily doesn't believe in them, but Bernie does. Finding the truth isn't going to be easy, but the two women are determined to do so. Even if one of them might just be in danger...
I really loved the plot of this one. (As a side note, I do believe in ghosts, but I won't elaborate why). I love that Lily is so level-headed and doesn't get flustered or do anything illegal, and she shares what information that she does find with Detective Redmond as soon as possible. The two women are learning respect for each other. I also enjoy the fact that Lily is finding her way with her British boyfriend, who is their gardener, and sometime-helper of Lily in preparing food for the next days' teas.
There's a lot going on here, and finding clues isn't easy, although they are there. I had suspicions of the murderer before Lily did, but then again, I read a lot of mysteries; still, it's always fun to watch her come to her conclusion in finding the truth, and the climax was worth reading the entire book for.
I don't want to say anything else in order not to ruin the book for others, but in the end, this is a welcome addition to the series, and I would highly recommend that others read this.
I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
📱📖 Read on Kobo 📃 304 pages ⏱ Duration: 4 hours
Genre: Cozy Mystery 🏷️ Publisher: Kensington Cozies (ARC by NetGalley)
There is something about a Vicki Delany book that I can only consider a spell. Not the abracadabra kind. The kind where you open to the first page and suddenly the rest of your day just... isn't happening. Bubble, Bubble, Tea and Trouble pulled that off again, just like the previous seven books in the series.
I read this almost without a break, because I could not put it down long enough to do anything else. I needed to know what Bernie was going to dig up next. I needed to sit in the kitchen while Edna and Rose traded their usual barbs. I wanted to be a fly on the wall during Katya's séance, and I definitely wanted to hear Amy Redmond tell everyone to stay out of her investigation right before showing up for tea anyway (both literally and figuratively).
Here's what struck me most about this seventh installment: the mystery doesn't feel manufactured. Lily and her circle aren't racing around playing detective. They're just noticing things. Clues land more like a happenstance rather than getting chased down, and that restraint is what makes the whole thing feel real. You could imagine doing exactly what Lily or Bernie does, because most of us aren't trained investigators. We're just people who pay attention, more or less, when the situation calls for it, and researches online.
The supernatural thread running through this one is genuinely eerie, not gimmicky. The echoes between the present-day death and something from the past gave me actual chills, and Lily's own unease didn't surprise me. She's lived in that house for years without a single ghost sighting, and she knows perfectly well Katya is a fraud. And yet. There's a difference between knowing something isn't real and still feeling creepy about it, and Delany nails that gap.
Seven books in and this series hasn't lost a single step. If anything it's gotten more confident. Vicki Delany, please write faster. I am begging.
Would I recommend it?
Without hesitation. This is exactly the kind of cozy that reminds you why you fell for this author's writing in the first place: warm, funny, a little spooky, and completely un-put-downable. If you've read any of the earlier Tea by the Sea books, this one delivers everything you're hoping for. If you haven't, honestly, what are you waiting for? Mark July 28th on your calendar, because this one is worth the wait and then some.
Genre: Cozy Mystery 🏷️ Publisher: Kensington Cozies (ARC by NetGalley)
There is something about a Vicki Delany book that I can only consider a spell. Not the abracadabra kind. The kind where you open to the first page and suddenly the rest of your day just... isn't happening. Bubble, Bubble, Tea and Trouble pulled that off again, just like the previous seven books in the series.
I read this almost without a break, because I could not put it down long enough to do anything else. I needed to know what Bernie was going to dig up next. I needed to sit in the kitchen while Edna and Rose traded their usual barbs. I wanted to be a fly on the wall during Katya's séance, and I definitely wanted to hear Amy Redmond tell everyone to stay out of her investigation right before showing up for tea anyway (both literally and figuratively).
Here's what struck me most about this seventh installment: the mystery doesn't feel manufactured. Lily and her circle aren't racing around playing detective. They're just noticing things. Clues land more like a happenstance rather than getting chased down, and that restraint is what makes the whole thing feel real. You could imagine doing exactly what Lily or Bernie does, because most of us aren't trained investigators. We're just people who pay attention, more or less, when the situation calls for it, and researches online.
The supernatural thread running through this one is genuinely eerie, not gimmicky. The echoes between the present-day death and something from the past gave me actual chills, and Lily's own unease didn't surprise me. She's lived in that house for years without a single ghost sighting, and she knows perfectly well Katya is a fraud. And yet. There's a difference between knowing something isn't real and still feeling creepy about it, and Delany nails that gap.
Seven books in and this series hasn't lost a single step. If anything it's gotten more confident. Vicki Delany, please write faster. I am begging.
Would I recommend it?
Without hesitation. This is exactly the kind of cozy that reminds you why you fell for this author's writing in the first place: warm, funny, a little spooky, and completely un-put-downable. If you've read any of the earlier Tea by the Sea books, this one delivers everything you're hoping for. If you haven't, honestly, what are you waiting for? Mark July 28th on your calendar, because this one is worth the wait and then some.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The minute people start lighting candles in a Victorian B&B and calling it a book club, you already know somebody is going to end up dead. Vicki Delany’s Bubble, Bubble, Tea and Trouble had me ready for tea, ghosts, and a whole lot of bad decisions. Kensington Cozies, thank you so much for the gifted copy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“There’s no such thing as ghosts.”
Lily Roberts is just trying to keep things running between her tearoom and her grandmother Rose’s B&B when a group of women arrives claiming they’re there for a book club. They are definitely not discussing books. They’re holding séances, hunting for spirits, and asking far too many questions about whether the house is haunted.
Lily, being the practical one, thinks the whole thing is nonsense. Bernie is much more willing to believe something supernatural could be happening, and their different reactions added some of my favorite moments in the story.
Then a woman is found dead at the bottom of the cliff, and the ghost hunt suddenly becomes a murder investigation. Between mistaken identities, family secrets, suspicious guests, and plenty of red herrings, I kept changing my mind about who was responsible.
What keeps me coming back to this series is the cast. Lily is smart and grounded, Bernie always brings humor, Simon is steady and dependable, and Rose keeps life interesting. Spending time with them feels like visiting old friends.
I also love the Cape Cod setting. The tearoom, homemade treats, ocean views, and cozy B&B create the perfect backdrop for a mystery. It all feels wonderfully relaxing…until someone winds up dead.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries with memorable characters, seaside settings, amateur sleuths, light romance, and just a touch of paranormal fun, this series is well worth picking up.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Drink Pairing: A London Fog tea latte—warm, comforting, and just mysterious enough for a story filled with séances, secrets, and murder by the sea.
Have you ever read a cozy mystery that made you want to book a vacation to the setting?
#BubbleBubbleTeaAndTrouble #VickiDelany #TeaByTheSeaMysteries #KensingtonCozies #CozyMystery #BookReview #Bookstagram #MysteryBooks #CapeCod #TeaLovers #BooksCoffeeBrews
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“There’s no such thing as ghosts.”
Lily Roberts is just trying to keep things running between her tearoom and her grandmother Rose’s B&B when a group of women arrives claiming they’re there for a book club. They are definitely not discussing books. They’re holding séances, hunting for spirits, and asking far too many questions about whether the house is haunted.
Lily, being the practical one, thinks the whole thing is nonsense. Bernie is much more willing to believe something supernatural could be happening, and their different reactions added some of my favorite moments in the story.
Then a woman is found dead at the bottom of the cliff, and the ghost hunt suddenly becomes a murder investigation. Between mistaken identities, family secrets, suspicious guests, and plenty of red herrings, I kept changing my mind about who was responsible.
What keeps me coming back to this series is the cast. Lily is smart and grounded, Bernie always brings humor, Simon is steady and dependable, and Rose keeps life interesting. Spending time with them feels like visiting old friends.
I also love the Cape Cod setting. The tearoom, homemade treats, ocean views, and cozy B&B create the perfect backdrop for a mystery. It all feels wonderfully relaxing…until someone winds up dead.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries with memorable characters, seaside settings, amateur sleuths, light romance, and just a touch of paranormal fun, this series is well worth picking up.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Drink Pairing: A London Fog tea latte—warm, comforting, and just mysterious enough for a story filled with séances, secrets, and murder by the sea.
Have you ever read a cozy mystery that made you want to book a vacation to the setting?
#BubbleBubbleTeaAndTrouble #VickiDelany #TeaByTheSeaMysteries #KensingtonCozies #CozyMystery #BookReview #Bookstagram #MysteryBooks #CapeCod #TeaLovers #BooksCoffeeBrews
July 30, 2026
Bubble, Bubble, Tea, and Trouble by Vicki Delany takes the reader back to Victoria-by-the Sea on Cape Cod, where the newest group of guests is... ready? Ghost-hunting. Yes. Correct. They were a varied group of women, a variety of ages and perceived wealth. It seems the actual leader has broken her leg, but the substitute leader, Lori, claims to be in constant touch and they will continue forward. The first evening they lighted candles and tried to summon a ghost but Lily, at her grandmother’s request, had come and asked them to extinguish the candles so they moved outside. It was a little blustery so the candles didn’t stay lit well. Lily and Simon were walking the dog when they peered over the cliff edge to see a body on the rocks. Lily called 911 while Simon descended to try help. She was beyond help but as her body was being transported to the ambulance, a wind arose and her hair fluttered and her arm, with bracelets, fell off the gurney, allowing Lori to identify the body. It was the leader that supposedly had a broken leg. Things get stranger.
Terrific book. Lily is a very conservative character who really tries to mind her own business. That doesn’t always happen. She is a baker and has her own tea shop on the grounds of her grandmother’s B & B. She has a boyfriend, the English gardener, Simon. She has a best friend, Bernie, a woman who left her life in the city to move here to write a novel. There are additional peripheral characters who round out the cast, all interesting in their own ways. Like many cozies, this is a continuing story which makes it so much easier to get to know cast members in depth. This makes each story even better. These characters make it better. Good read.
I was invited to read Bubble, Bubble, Tea, and Trouble by Kensington Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonPublishing #VickiDelany #BubbleBubbleTeaAndTrouble
Terrific book. Lily is a very conservative character who really tries to mind her own business. That doesn’t always happen. She is a baker and has her own tea shop on the grounds of her grandmother’s B & B. She has a boyfriend, the English gardener, Simon. She has a best friend, Bernie, a woman who left her life in the city to move here to write a novel. There are additional peripheral characters who round out the cast, all interesting in their own ways. Like many cozies, this is a continuing story which makes it so much easier to get to know cast members in depth. This makes each story even better. These characters make it better. Good read.
I was invited to read Bubble, Bubble, Tea, and Trouble by Kensington Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonPublishing #VickiDelany #BubbleBubbleTeaAndTrouble
September 19, 2026
Di seri Bookshop, Delany yg "tribute" Doyle Holmes di sana sini mengingatkan gue pada Christie Marple dan Poirot. Di seri Tea by the Sea (TBTS) tanpa tribut pada Holmes atau Christie, tapi kerasa banget ini Christie. Judulnya saja rhyme yg biasa dipake Christie. Misal:
- Hickory Dockory Dock
- One Two Buckle My Shoe
Rumah dibeli nenek (Rose) beberapa tahun lalu. Satu univers sama Gemma. Lokasinya di Cape Cod juga. Jenis usahanya juga mirip. Ada arwah penasaran? Dari grup cenayang. Lalu muncul mayat di pantai. Mayat wanita, bos grup cenayang, si Katya yg cara matinya like sir Nigel Bellingham (The Cat of the Baskervilles). Ada satu hal uniq nyaris menggelikan hehehe, tokoh Simon bikin alusi ke "Simon Says" karena setiap kali dia bicara kan, narator kudu bilang begitu. Nah kan lebih condong ke Christie, mention Cat Among the Pigeons. Katya. Kat. Cat. Tapi kan dia yg tewas. Dibunuh like Nigel. Oh nggak semudah itu ferguzo.
Salah identifikasi. Kok bisa? Katya Ivanov asli muncul, hidup. Mayat siapa? Ternyata mereka twins. Wah, ada yg ngincar Katya tapi kena kembarannya. Sama kayak Christie yg pakai nama Arabs itu itu saja, Delany juga pakai nama Eropa Timur itu itu saja:
Katya
Svetlana
Anna
Nadya
Tatyana
Lily Roberts pov novel, owner cafe (peran Jayne Wilson di Booshop diberi porsi utama ganti nama di sini) punya ibu bernama Petunia. Hmmm, Lily & Petunia Evans kan kakak beradik karakter ciptaan Rowling. Emaknya Harry dan Dudley. Rose juga nama anaknya Ron Weasley. Deduksi Lily jelasin ke orang orang like Poirot bertele tele sampai audiens komplen suruh langsung ke intinya aja deh. Seance begini kemungkinan besar urusannya dengan duit--Christie juga lakukan itu. Apalagi clue udah dikasih pas mention Cat Among the Pigeons. Cat di tengah burung dara. Cat.
- Hickory Dockory Dock
- One Two Buckle My Shoe
Rumah dibeli nenek (Rose) beberapa tahun lalu. Satu univers sama Gemma. Lokasinya di Cape Cod juga. Jenis usahanya juga mirip. Ada arwah penasaran? Dari grup cenayang. Lalu muncul mayat di pantai. Mayat wanita, bos grup cenayang, si Katya yg cara matinya like sir Nigel Bellingham (The Cat of the Baskervilles). Ada satu hal uniq nyaris menggelikan hehehe, tokoh Simon bikin alusi ke "Simon Says" karena setiap kali dia bicara kan, narator kudu bilang begitu. Nah kan lebih condong ke Christie, mention Cat Among the Pigeons. Katya. Kat. Cat. Tapi kan dia yg tewas. Dibunuh like Nigel. Oh nggak semudah itu ferguzo.
Salah identifikasi. Kok bisa? Katya Ivanov asli muncul, hidup. Mayat siapa? Ternyata mereka twins. Wah, ada yg ngincar Katya tapi kena kembarannya. Sama kayak Christie yg pakai nama Arabs itu itu saja, Delany juga pakai nama Eropa Timur itu itu saja:
Katya
Svetlana
Anna
Nadya
Tatyana
Lily Roberts pov novel, owner cafe (peran Jayne Wilson di Booshop diberi porsi utama ganti nama di sini) punya ibu bernama Petunia. Hmmm, Lily & Petunia Evans kan kakak beradik karakter ciptaan Rowling. Emaknya Harry dan Dudley. Rose juga nama anaknya Ron Weasley. Deduksi Lily jelasin ke orang orang like Poirot bertele tele sampai audiens komplen suruh langsung ke intinya aja deh. Seance begini kemungkinan besar urusannya dengan duit--Christie juga lakukan itu. Apalagi clue udah dikasih pas mention Cat Among the Pigeons. Cat di tengah burung dara. Cat.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm going to lead with I was disappointed in this book because despite the title, it has nothing to do with Halloween. I understand the use of the spiritual tagline given the book is about ghost hunting, but I was disappointed the book takes place over several spring evenings with nary a pumpkin to be found.
A group of women has come to Rose Campbell's B&B on the Cape to search for supposed ghosts. Lily, her granddaughter and chef de breakfast, doesn't believe in such nonsense but paying guests are paying guests. However, when they disrupt the rules by lighting candles in the B&B, a no no for fire hazard reasons, Lily learns that their guide has bailed on them and the women are trying to salvage the trip. When Lily finds a dead body the next morning, who apparently looks like their missing in action guide, the women are obviously distraught. Even more so when the guide magically appears claiming not to be dead and it was her twin sister that sailed over the cliff. Was it murder or an accident? And who is to blame when the correct guide meets the same fate?
I enjoy these books for the tea offerings and the mystery. Unfortunately, I felt like this book went on too long and as I said, I was looking forward to a Halloween cozy based on the title. Ms. Delany is a talented writer and I am impressed at the variety of plot twists she is able to come up with given her extensive catalogue of work. However, this was not one of my favorites but still worthy of four stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
A group of women has come to Rose Campbell's B&B on the Cape to search for supposed ghosts. Lily, her granddaughter and chef de breakfast, doesn't believe in such nonsense but paying guests are paying guests. However, when they disrupt the rules by lighting candles in the B&B, a no no for fire hazard reasons, Lily learns that their guide has bailed on them and the women are trying to salvage the trip. When Lily finds a dead body the next morning, who apparently looks like their missing in action guide, the women are obviously distraught. Even more so when the guide magically appears claiming not to be dead and it was her twin sister that sailed over the cliff. Was it murder or an accident? And who is to blame when the correct guide meets the same fate?
I enjoy these books for the tea offerings and the mystery. Unfortunately, I felt like this book went on too long and as I said, I was looking forward to a Halloween cozy based on the title. Ms. Delany is a talented writer and I am impressed at the variety of plot twists she is able to come up with given her extensive catalogue of work. However, this was not one of my favorites but still worthy of four stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
August 14, 2026
Good book. Always great to read the next in a series and to visit old friends.....
When Cape Cod tearoom owner Lily Roberts finds a group conducting a séance in her grandmother’s Victorian B&B, she has no idea the trouble that’s about to be conjured up . . .
When Lily stumbles across five middle-aged women gathered in a dark corner of the tearoom for a “book club,” she firmly reminds them that the inn’s no-smoking policy also applies to their oddly ritualistic candles. As they head outside, Lily overhears them chalking their bad luck up to the absence of their leader, Katya. Whatever they’re doing, it certainly isn’t reading—and their cover is starting to sound like weak tea . . . While they enjoy Lily’s homemade banana bread the next morning, they make their intentions clear—grilling Lily about any past paranormal activity in the cliffside mansion. Their attempts to contact spirits have been falling flat, it seems, and the mysterious Katya is catching the heat. Levelheaded Lily thinks the real reason is that there’s no such thing as ghosts.
But Lily’s pal Bernie has found another the half-baked spirit-seekers have the wrong house. The haunted reputation belongs to the place next door—where Lily’s gardener boyfriend is currently staying. But before they can inform the luckless ladies, the missing medium shows up—dead on the rocks at the bottom of the cliff. Now, Lily has two serving afternoon tea, and solving a murder before someone else gets sent to the great beyond . . .
When Cape Cod tearoom owner Lily Roberts finds a group conducting a séance in her grandmother’s Victorian B&B, she has no idea the trouble that’s about to be conjured up . . .
When Lily stumbles across five middle-aged women gathered in a dark corner of the tearoom for a “book club,” she firmly reminds them that the inn’s no-smoking policy also applies to their oddly ritualistic candles. As they head outside, Lily overhears them chalking their bad luck up to the absence of their leader, Katya. Whatever they’re doing, it certainly isn’t reading—and their cover is starting to sound like weak tea . . . While they enjoy Lily’s homemade banana bread the next morning, they make their intentions clear—grilling Lily about any past paranormal activity in the cliffside mansion. Their attempts to contact spirits have been falling flat, it seems, and the mysterious Katya is catching the heat. Levelheaded Lily thinks the real reason is that there’s no such thing as ghosts.
But Lily’s pal Bernie has found another the half-baked spirit-seekers have the wrong house. The haunted reputation belongs to the place next door—where Lily’s gardener boyfriend is currently staying. But before they can inform the luckless ladies, the missing medium shows up—dead on the rocks at the bottom of the cliff. Now, Lily has two serving afternoon tea, and solving a murder before someone else gets sent to the great beyond . . .
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Finding guests sat together in a corner isn't unusual in a Victorian B&B unless, of course, candles are lit and they are trying to contact the spirits of the dearly departed! Lily Roberts, tearoom owner and granddaughter of Rose, who owns the B&B, didn't think she would have any more than the normal amount of contact with these slightly unusual guests, until a body is found on the beach beneath her clifftop business! As the ghost hunters continue looking for paranormal activity, especially around Lily’s friend Matt's house the local police advise them to step back! Unable to find a reason for the death the four friends reluctantly decide to accept police advice and stop investigating until there is a second death and, once again, their expertise is needed!
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing, Kensington Cozies, but the opinions expressed are my own. This was so good, I loved the concept and, even though the paranormal is a common trope in crime fiction, there was much more going on here. The part written novel Lily’s best friend, Bernie, is forever trying to finish, gets a bigger part than usual, while her boyfriend Simon isn't as involved this time round, and Lily’s staff at the tearoom are, once again, a pleasure to read about. Recommended.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing, Kensington Cozies, but the opinions expressed are my own. This was so good, I loved the concept and, even though the paranormal is a common trope in crime fiction, there was much more going on here. The part written novel Lily’s best friend, Bernie, is forever trying to finish, gets a bigger part than usual, while her boyfriend Simon isn't as involved this time round, and Lily’s staff at the tearoom are, once again, a pleasure to read about. Recommended.
August 12, 2026
This was my first read in this series, and I really enjoyed it. Lilly runs the local tearoom while also preparing breakfast at her Aunt Rose’s B&B in Victoria-by-the-Sea. When a group of five women arrives for a ghost-hunting trip, hoping to connect with the afterlife, things quickly take a deadly turn. Katya, the woman who arranged the trip, doesn't show up. A body believed to be hers washes up on shore. But then Katya turns up alive! It turns out the victim is actually her sister. So, who killed her, and why?
I loved the setting of this book. I could easily imagine Aunt Rose’s B&B, Lilly’s tearoom, and this group of ghost-hunting ladies trying to make contact with the afterlife. The revelation that the body wasn't Katya, but her sister was a great surprise and really added to the mystery.
There were plenty of suspects, and I was surprised by the ending. I also enjoyed the secondary characters, especially Lilly’s friend Bernie, her boyfriend Simon, and, of course, Aunt Rose. Lilly gets some help from Bernie and Simon as she works to solve the mystery.
I did have a little trouble at times keeping everyone straight, but I think that was more on me than the story, especially since this was my first book in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the opportunity read and give my opinion.
I loved the setting of this book. I could easily imagine Aunt Rose’s B&B, Lilly’s tearoom, and this group of ghost-hunting ladies trying to make contact with the afterlife. The revelation that the body wasn't Katya, but her sister was a great surprise and really added to the mystery.
There were plenty of suspects, and I was surprised by the ending. I also enjoyed the secondary characters, especially Lilly’s friend Bernie, her boyfriend Simon, and, of course, Aunt Rose. Lilly gets some help from Bernie and Simon as she works to solve the mystery.
I did have a little trouble at times keeping everyone straight, but I think that was more on me than the story, especially since this was my first book in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the opportunity read and give my opinion.
September 3, 2026
3.5 When Lily stumbles across five middle-aged women gathered in a dark corner of the tearoom for a “book club,” she firmly reminds them that the inn’s no-smoking policy also applies to their oddly ritualistic candles. As they head outside, Lily overhears them chalking their bad luck up to the absence of their leader, Katya. Whatever they’re doing, it certainly isn’t reading—and their cover is starting to sound like weak tea. While they enjoy Lily’s homemade banana bread the next morning, they make their intentions clear—grilling Lily about any past paranormal activity in the cliffside mansion. Their attempts to contact spirits have been falling flat, it seems, and the mysterious Katya is catching the heat. Levelheaded Lily thinks the real reason is that there’s no such thing as ghosts. But Lily’s pal Bernie has found another explanation: the half-baked spirit-seekers have the wrong house. The haunted reputation belongs to the place next door—where Lily’s gardener boyfriend is currently staying. But before they can inform the luckless ladies, the missing medium shows up—dead on the rocks at the bottom of the cliff. Now, Lily has two jobs: serving afternoon tea, and solving a murder before someone else gets sent to the great beyond. [amazon synopsis]
Okay addition to the series. Last 1/4 of the book is too wordy. Poor editing throughout.
Okay addition to the series. Last 1/4 of the book is too wordy. Poor editing throughout.
July 11, 2026
Steep a pot of tea and settle in—Cape Cod is calling again. I was delighted to return to Cape Cod in Bubble, Bubble, Tea and Trouble by Vicki Delany. The author’s vivid descriptions made it easy to picture the seaside setting, and I loved spending time with the charming cast of characters, including Lily Roberts, Rose, Bernie, Simon, and Matt. Their banter and easy back-and-forth gave the story a cozy, lively feel. The mystery was creative, action-filled, and moved along at a steady clip, with a failed séance, two murders, hidden secrets, and plenty of layers to untangle. It was a fun whodunit to solve, complete with clues to spot and red herrings to chase. The ghost hunters staying at the B&B added a playful splash of humor, while Bernie’s struggle to finish her book brought in a relatable thread. I do hope Bernie wraps up that book soon, because it would be a wonderful chance for her character to grow. Bubble, Bubble, Tea and Trouble is the seventh book in the A Tea by the Sea Mystery series, but it can easily be read on its own. That said, I recommend enjoying this charming series in order—and this one was my favorite yet. Bubble, Bubble, Tea and Trouble is a spirited, cozy treat with just the right amount of mischief in the teacup.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
To begin, let me thank Kensington Publishing Corp. and NetGalley for this ARC.
This is my first foray into the “Tea by the Sea” mystery series by Vicki Delany. I was unaware at the time there are six other novels with the same theme. Nicely done however, I was able to pick up this installment and enjoy it as a stand-alone book.
I enjoyed the location setting in the book of Cape Cod, which lends a nice atmosphere for the premise of ghosty things. I thought going in there would be more of a Halloween theme since the title leads me to thoughts of witches. This did not occur, however, and it wasn’t even set in the season, so it gives me pause as to the title choice.
It’s a twisty novel with unexpected developments. I didn’t foresee the ending! Good writing by author Delany keeps you guessing.
I did observe there wasn’t too much character development in this book. Perhaps because it’s already been covered in previous installments.
There’s a lot to pull from the novel but it all works together. Sisterly animosity, murder, greed, ghosts, detective work…all this to keep you guessing.
I believe the reader can enjoy this book on its own, but knowing there are previous introductory novels ahead of it, I’d go back and begin at the beginning.
Happy reading!
This is my first foray into the “Tea by the Sea” mystery series by Vicki Delany. I was unaware at the time there are six other novels with the same theme. Nicely done however, I was able to pick up this installment and enjoy it as a stand-alone book.
I enjoyed the location setting in the book of Cape Cod, which lends a nice atmosphere for the premise of ghosty things. I thought going in there would be more of a Halloween theme since the title leads me to thoughts of witches. This did not occur, however, and it wasn’t even set in the season, so it gives me pause as to the title choice.
It’s a twisty novel with unexpected developments. I didn’t foresee the ending! Good writing by author Delany keeps you guessing.
I did observe there wasn’t too much character development in this book. Perhaps because it’s already been covered in previous installments.
There’s a lot to pull from the novel but it all works together. Sisterly animosity, murder, greed, ghosts, detective work…all this to keep you guessing.
I believe the reader can enjoy this book on its own, but knowing there are previous introductory novels ahead of it, I’d go back and begin at the beginning.
Happy reading!
September 1, 2026
Bubble, Bubble, Tea, & Trouble by Vicki Delany is the 7th book in the Tea by the Sea Mysteries series. I have not read the previous installments in this series, but this book worked really well as a standalone. The main character, side characters, location, and environment were all introduced well and I didn’t feel lost or confused. I plan on reading the previous books in the series because I enjoyed this read and would love to read how the relationships and businesses began.
This book had all the cozy mystery vibes! The main character, Lily, and the side characters were a really fun and entertaining cast of characters. I absolutely loved the Cape Cod setting as well as the Bed & Breakfast and Tearoom environments. I would love to stay at Victoria-on-the-Sea, and listen to a ghost story or two! This book packed plenty of cozy vibes, cozy companions, and of course, a spooky cozy mystery to investigate. I was able to solve this one, and had a fun time doing so.
4.25/5.0 stars!
Thank you to Kensington Publishing/Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Bubble, Bubble, Tea, & Trouble by Vicki Delaney. My comments are an independent, honest review.
This book had all the cozy mystery vibes! The main character, Lily, and the side characters were a really fun and entertaining cast of characters. I absolutely loved the Cape Cod setting as well as the Bed & Breakfast and Tearoom environments. I would love to stay at Victoria-on-the-Sea, and listen to a ghost story or two! This book packed plenty of cozy vibes, cozy companions, and of course, a spooky cozy mystery to investigate. I was able to solve this one, and had a fun time doing so.
4.25/5.0 stars!
Thank you to Kensington Publishing/Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Bubble, Bubble, Tea, & Trouble by Vicki Delaney. My comments are an independent, honest review.
September 25, 2026
I accidentally jumped into this series in book 7, but most cozy mysteries can be read out of order, so I didn’t worry about it. According to some other reviewers, I appear to have jumped in on the worst book of the series so far. I’ve read other books by Vicky Delaney, and have been hit or miss on her other series…when she hits, I really enjoy them, but when she misses, it’s always a BIG miss for me. That was the case with this one.
The characters felt flat to me, and were pretty obnoxious to each other. I didn’t feel any warm fuzzies towards ANY of the characters, which for me is a big need from cozy mysteries. And tbh, I don’t know if my total disconnect with this book was because of the book itself, or the fact that the audiobook narrator was HORRIBLE. She overacts everything, and comes off as shallow and unlikable in her narration. And my biggest pet peeve…narrators who cannot do accents should NEVER be allowed to narrate books that contain characters with accents. Simon’s accent was sometimes there, but often not, and the narrator’s British pronunciation was abysmal. Rose’s accent was more present, but she comes off as stuffy and aristocratic, even though her character doesn’t seem to be that. And don’t even get me started on the narrator’s crack at Russian. Oh well.
The characters felt flat to me, and were pretty obnoxious to each other. I didn’t feel any warm fuzzies towards ANY of the characters, which for me is a big need from cozy mysteries. And tbh, I don’t know if my total disconnect with this book was because of the book itself, or the fact that the audiobook narrator was HORRIBLE. She overacts everything, and comes off as shallow and unlikable in her narration. And my biggest pet peeve…narrators who cannot do accents should NEVER be allowed to narrate books that contain characters with accents. Simon’s accent was sometimes there, but often not, and the narrator’s British pronunciation was abysmal. Rose’s accent was more present, but she comes off as stuffy and aristocratic, even though her character doesn’t seem to be that. And don’t even get me started on the narrator’s crack at Russian. Oh well.
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