Trouble at the Christmas Tea

by DeAnna Drake

Rebecca Cuthbert is ready to enjoy her adopted town's most anticipated winter gathering—the annual Christmas Tea at the Old Towne Victorian Tearoom. With twinkling garlands, fresh scones, and the much-loved holiday hat contest, the celebration promises cheer in every cup.

But when the star of the show—a burgundy hat adorned with a golden feline ornament—suddenly loses its prized decoration, chaos brews faster than the kettle. Whispers ripple through the crowd, tempers flare, and long-kept secrets begin to surface.

It’s up to Rebecca—and the clandestine help of her talking cat, Aneksi—to sift through finger sandwiches, festive fliers, and false alibis to uncover the culprit. Is the missing piece simply misplaced, or has someone fallen under the spell of its dangerous charm?

Brimming with seasonal spirit, small-town intrigue, and a touch of feline magic, Trouble at the Christmas Tea is a cozy holiday mystery perfect for readers who love clever sleuths, whiskered sidekicks, and heartwarming endings wrapped in Christmas cheer.

Genres: Christmas, Cozy Mystery

ebook

Published January 1, 2025

About the author

DeAnna Drake writes charming, magic-touched cozy mysteries filled with small-town secrets, heart, humor, and feline companions who always know more than they let on. Her interconnected series—Purr-fect Relic and Laguna Bay Midlife Witch—blend twisty mysteries with enchanted relics, family bonds, and talking cats with centuries of history. If you love cozy escapes with found family, a touch of danger, and a whole lot of magic, you’ll feel right at home in the Magical Cats Universe.

Reviews

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taking time out from hunting down stolen cursed objects from their antique store, Rebecca Cuthbert and her grandpa, Stirling, attend a Christmas tea at his paramour's well-heeled establishment. When a brooch goes missing, Rebecca begins an investigation to find the item before the joyful occasion is derailed.

Trouble at the Christmas Tea is a delightful novella perfect for this time of year. I adored the main characters, especially Aneksi, the talking ancient Egyptian cat. Despite its short length, the story managed to pull off some hefty plot twists. Highly recommended.

[Ruth McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this novella, Rebecca, Aneksi, and half the town are all headed to Vee's for the annual Christmas tea and hat contest. Aneksi, hidden away in Rebecca's purse, realizes that there's an artifact somewhere in the tea room and tries to alert Rebecca.
Vee is behaving strangely and next thing, someone has removed the artifact. What ensues is an often humourous and sometimes serious investigation by Rebecca with Aneksi's help.
I really enjoyed this story and I read it all in one sitting. I look forward to more Cursed Relics stories (full length, perhaps? Wink wink)
I really recommend reading this book. I think you'll love it.

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a Christmas cozy - so it's a theft instead of a murder.

A local Christmas hat competition brings out rivalry between the locals. Then a decoration disappears from one of the hats and Rebecca and her talking cat need to solve the mystery.

Nice and light

[Christmas Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short story glowing with Christmas magic and warmth of the season. There are a few bumps in the road but all ends well. Highly Recommended.

[Cynthia Woodlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great short story. I loved the storyline.