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A Dash of Deception: A small-town cozy whodunnit
A seaside celebration, a fierce storm and a killer lurking among the guests…
Meet Lilly Tweed – former Agony Aunt, purveyor of fine teas, and accidental sleuth.
When Lilly is invited to celebrate the wedding anniversary of two close friends, she jumps at the chance. A party by the sea, a luxury family-run bed-and-breakfast, and a well-earned break – what could go wrong?
Quite a lot, as it turns out. Behind the cheerful festivities, old tensions simmer and secrets begin to surface. As tempers fray, a violent storm sweeps in, cutting power, blocking the only access road, and trapping everyone inside The Palms with no way to call for help.
When a body is discovered, Lilly realises the danger outside is nothing compared to what’s happening within. Someone in the house is a murderer – and unless she can unmask them, they won’t stop at one.
More titles in this series
A Blend of Murder ( 9782386192012)
A Sip of Suspicion ( 9782386192029)
This work was previously published as Tiffin & Tragedy by J. New.
Meet Lilly Tweed – former Agony Aunt, purveyor of fine teas, and accidental sleuth.
When Lilly is invited to celebrate the wedding anniversary of two close friends, she jumps at the chance. A party by the sea, a luxury family-run bed-and-breakfast, and a well-earned break – what could go wrong?
Quite a lot, as it turns out. Behind the cheerful festivities, old tensions simmer and secrets begin to surface. As tempers fray, a violent storm sweeps in, cutting power, blocking the only access road, and trapping everyone inside The Palms with no way to call for help.
When a body is discovered, Lilly realises the danger outside is nothing compared to what’s happening within. Someone in the house is a murderer – and unless she can unmask them, they won’t stop at one.
More titles in this series
A Blend of Murder ( 9782386192012)
A Sip of Suspicion ( 9782386192029)
This work was previously published as Tiffin & Tragedy by J. New.
151 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 5, 2026
4 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
J. New
46 books220 followersClaim your FREE book at www.jnewwrites.com
WRITER OF BRITISH MYSTERIES. Historical, contemporary, paranormal, cozy, humorous. Featuring memorable protagonists, their unusual side-kicks and an eclectic ensemble of supporting cast members. They usually include spirits (all varieties) a little bit of magic, a spot of romance and copious amounts of tea. At regular intervals they involve steam trains and sometimes bicycles.
SERIES:
THE YELLOW COTTAGE VINTAGE MYSTERIES, traditional English whodunits with a twist, set in the 1930s. Known for their clever humor as well as the interesting slant on the traditional murder mystery.
THE TEA & SYMPATHY series featuring Lilly Tweed, former newspaper Agony Aunt, now purveyor of fine teas at The Tea Emporium in the small English market town of Plumpton Mallet. Along with a regular cast of characters, including Earl Grey the shop cat.
THE FINCH & FISCHER series featuring mobile librarian Penny Finch and her rescue dog Fischer. Follow them as they dig up clues and sniff out red herrings in the six quintessential English villages and hamlets that make up Hampsworthy Downs.
Jacquie was born in West Yorkshire, England. She studied art and design and after qualifying began work as an interior designer, moving onto fine art restoration and animal portraiture before deciding to pursue her lifelong ambition to write.
WRITER OF BRITISH MYSTERIES. Historical, contemporary, paranormal, cozy, humorous. Featuring memorable protagonists, their unusual side-kicks and an eclectic ensemble of supporting cast members. They usually include spirits (all varieties) a little bit of magic, a spot of romance and copious amounts of tea. At regular intervals they involve steam trains and sometimes bicycles.
SERIES:
THE YELLOW COTTAGE VINTAGE MYSTERIES, traditional English whodunits with a twist, set in the 1930s. Known for their clever humor as well as the interesting slant on the traditional murder mystery.
THE TEA & SYMPATHY series featuring Lilly Tweed, former newspaper Agony Aunt, now purveyor of fine teas at The Tea Emporium in the small English market town of Plumpton Mallet. Along with a regular cast of characters, including Earl Grey the shop cat.
THE FINCH & FISCHER series featuring mobile librarian Penny Finch and her rescue dog Fischer. Follow them as they dig up clues and sniff out red herrings in the six quintessential English villages and hamlets that make up Hampsworthy Downs.
Jacquie was born in West Yorkshire, England. She studied art and design and after qualifying began work as an interior designer, moving onto fine art restoration and animal portraiture before deciding to pursue her lifelong ambition to write.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 6, 2026
When Lilly is invited to celebrate the wedding anniversary of two close friends, she jumps at the chance. A party by the sea, a luxury family-run bed-and-breakfast, and a well-earned break – what could go wrong? Quite a lot, as it turns out - old tensions simmer and secrets begin to surface. As tempers fray, a violent storm sweeps in, cutting power, blocking the only access road, and trapping everyone inside The Palms with no way to call for help.
When a body is discovered, Lilly realises the danger outside is nothing compared to what’s happening within. Someone in the house is a murderer and unless she can unmask them, they won’t stop at one.
This book is part of the Tea and Sympathy series, featuring the loveable Lilly Tweed, former Agony Aunt and now owner of The Tea Emporium in Plumpton Mallet. She has a gorgeous stay cat she has adopted, named Earl Grey (don't you love animals with great names?!). This is my first read by this author - the book is a relatively short story, so the pacing is fast and the revelations come fairly quickly. It's a fun, cozy mystery that's easily and quickly read. I look forward to reading more about Lilly Tweed's adventures. ⭐⭐⭐.5
Thank you @digitalpublishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
When a body is discovered, Lilly realises the danger outside is nothing compared to what’s happening within. Someone in the house is a murderer and unless she can unmask them, they won’t stop at one.
This book is part of the Tea and Sympathy series, featuring the loveable Lilly Tweed, former Agony Aunt and now owner of The Tea Emporium in Plumpton Mallet. She has a gorgeous stay cat she has adopted, named Earl Grey (don't you love animals with great names?!). This is my first read by this author - the book is a relatively short story, so the pacing is fast and the revelations come fairly quickly. It's a fun, cozy mystery that's easily and quickly read. I look forward to reading more about Lilly Tweed's adventures. ⭐⭐⭐.5
Thank you @digitalpublishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
January 23, 2026
🫖 Short Summary
Lilly, a former agony aunt turned tea shop owner, is attending a five-year wedding anniversary at The Palm, a cozy bed-and-breakfast. What starts as a beautiful celebration takes a dark turn when John, the groom’s insufferable brother, causes a scene during a storm-induced blackout. By early morning, John is found stabbed to death, and the intimate gathering becomes a closed-circle cozy mystery with no shortage of suspects.
⸻
⭐️ Short Review
This book gave me wedding party meets Glass Onion vibes. While the writing felt repetitive at times with noticeable info-dumping, the characters quickly became engaging once introduced and John was the perfect insufferable victim. A few technical quirks (misused ellipses and the overused word “sack”) pulled me out of the story, but the premise and setting were strong enough that I’d love to see this adapted into a movie. An enjoyable, cozy mystery.
Lilly, a former agony aunt turned tea shop owner, is attending a five-year wedding anniversary at The Palm, a cozy bed-and-breakfast. What starts as a beautiful celebration takes a dark turn when John, the groom’s insufferable brother, causes a scene during a storm-induced blackout. By early morning, John is found stabbed to death, and the intimate gathering becomes a closed-circle cozy mystery with no shortage of suspects.
⸻
⭐️ Short Review
This book gave me wedding party meets Glass Onion vibes. While the writing felt repetitive at times with noticeable info-dumping, the characters quickly became engaging once introduced and John was the perfect insufferable victim. A few technical quirks (misused ellipses and the overused word “sack”) pulled me out of the story, but the premise and setting were strong enough that I’d love to see this adapted into a movie. An enjoyable, cozy mystery.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews