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Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery #3
Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches
Daisy’s Tea Garden in Pennsylvania’s Amish country is known for its elegant finger foods—but now owner Daisy Swanson has to finger a killer . . .
Restaurant critic Derek Schumaker, notorious for his bitter reviews, is about to visit Daisy’s Tea Garden, and Daisy and Aunt Iris are simmering with anxiety. A bad word from the culinary curmudgeon could really hurt their business, but Daisy tries to stay confident. After all, how can he resist her cucumber sandwiches with pimento spread—not to mention the cheesy cauliflower soup and strawberry walnut salad?
Schumaker takes a to-go order when the afternoon tea service is done, which Daisy hopes is a good sign. But when he perishes from a seizure, it looks like his food was dosed with something deadly. Considering a threat that recently appeared on his blog—and whispers of scandal in his past—Daisy has quite an assortment of suspects to sift through . . .
Includes delicious recipes!
Restaurant critic Derek Schumaker, notorious for his bitter reviews, is about to visit Daisy’s Tea Garden, and Daisy and Aunt Iris are simmering with anxiety. A bad word from the culinary curmudgeon could really hurt their business, but Daisy tries to stay confident. After all, how can he resist her cucumber sandwiches with pimento spread—not to mention the cheesy cauliflower soup and strawberry walnut salad?
Schumaker takes a to-go order when the afternoon tea service is done, which Daisy hopes is a good sign. But when he perishes from a seizure, it looks like his food was dosed with something deadly. Considering a threat that recently appeared on his blog—and whispers of scandal in his past—Daisy has quite an assortment of suspects to sift through . . .
Includes delicious recipes!
295 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 28, 2019
253 people are currently reading
613 people want to read
About the author
Karen Rose Smith
352 books910 followersAward-winning author Karen Rose Smith was born in Pennsylvania. Although she was an only child, she remembers the bonds of an extended family. Family is a strong theme in her books and she suspects her childhood memories are the reason.
In college, Karen began writing poetry and also met her husband to be. They both began married life as teachers, but when their son was born, Karen decided to try her hand at a home-decorating business.
She returned to teaching for a while but changes in her life led her to writing relationship novels. Now she writes romances as well as mysteries full time. Her first book was published in 1992; her 110th novel will be published in 2024. A winner of New Jersey's Golden Leaf Award in Short Contemporary Romance, Colorado Romance Writers Award Of Excellence for short contemporary, as well as the Phoenix Desert Rose Chapter's Golden Quill for Traditional Romance, she has also been honored with Cataromance.com's award for Best Special Edition and Washington Romance Writers Career Achievement Award. Her romances have made both the USA TODAY list and the Amazon Romance and Contemporary Romance Bestseller lists. Her mysteries have made the USA TODAY and Barnes and Noble bestseller lists.
She has written for Meteor/Kismet, Kensington, Silhouette and Harlequin. Readers can contact Karen through her website, on Facebook (Karen Rose Smith Author) and on Twitter @ Karenrosesmith, on TIKTOK at karenrosesmithauthor and on Instagram. They can also follow her monthly e-zine IN TOUCH with KAREN ROSE SMITH which has the latest news about her books, recipes and contests.
In college, Karen began writing poetry and also met her husband to be. They both began married life as teachers, but when their son was born, Karen decided to try her hand at a home-decorating business.
She returned to teaching for a while but changes in her life led her to writing relationship novels. Now she writes romances as well as mysteries full time. Her first book was published in 1992; her 110th novel will be published in 2024. A winner of New Jersey's Golden Leaf Award in Short Contemporary Romance, Colorado Romance Writers Award Of Excellence for short contemporary, as well as the Phoenix Desert Rose Chapter's Golden Quill for Traditional Romance, she has also been honored with Cataromance.com's award for Best Special Edition and Washington Romance Writers Career Achievement Award. Her romances have made both the USA TODAY list and the Amazon Romance and Contemporary Romance Bestseller lists. Her mysteries have made the USA TODAY and Barnes and Noble bestseller lists.
She has written for Meteor/Kismet, Kensington, Silhouette and Harlequin. Readers can contact Karen through her website, on Facebook (Karen Rose Smith Author) and on Twitter @ Karenrosesmith, on TIKTOK at karenrosesmithauthor and on Instagram. They can also follow her monthly e-zine IN TOUCH with KAREN ROSE SMITH which has the latest news about her books, recipes and contests.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
May 15, 2019
Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches by Karen Rose Smith is a 2019 Kensington publication.
Buckle up folks, there is a lot going on in this third installment of the Daisy Tea Garden Series.
For starters, famed food critic Derek Schumaker is all set to write a review of Daisy’s Tea Garden, but before he can post his critique on his popular blog, he is murdered. Not only that, Foster, who happens to be dating Violet, Daisy’s oldest daughter, has refused to cooperate with the investigation.
Worried that the suspicions about the timing of the murder and the role her cucumber sandwiches, played in Derek’s demise, will hurt her business, Daisy is determined to help solve the mystery, despite the clear warnings from our not so favorite detective to stay out of the way.
Meanwhile, Jazzi may be setting herself up for disappointment after her birth mother promises to finally tell her husband, she has a daughter she never told him about. But, that’s not all- just as Jonas and Daisy’s relationship begins to solidify a little more, a sudden, shocking turn of events sends Daisy and her entire family into a tailspin.
Whew!! There was never a dull moment in this book, that’s for sure. This mystery is very intriguing, with many suspects to choose from. It would seem Derek’s harsh reviews made him a few enemies along the way.
There is no way I could have possibly guessed who the murderer was! In fact, this was one of the most puzzling cases I’ve encountered in a cozy mystery in a long time.
Yet one of the things that makes this series so solid is the family drama which gets equal billing in the book. Daisy’s personal life is more complicated than ever before, as nearly every person she cares about is encountering a crisis of some sort. While she tries to save the tea garden’s reputation, she is also coping with heavy personal problems, and her ability to remain calm and balance everything on her plate quickly becomes tenuous.
I read this book in one sitting! I couldn’t put it down without finding out what was going to happen next.
I’ve been neglecting my cozy series for a while now, not consciously, though. This book has reminded me of just how much I enjoy reading them! This series is really starting to gel, as the characters develop, and I find myself starting to care for them. Karen Rose Smith has become one my ‘go to’ cozy mystery writers in the past few years. While she writes contemporary romance novels as well, I think she’s really found her niche in this genre!
4.5 stars
Buckle up folks, there is a lot going on in this third installment of the Daisy Tea Garden Series.
For starters, famed food critic Derek Schumaker is all set to write a review of Daisy’s Tea Garden, but before he can post his critique on his popular blog, he is murdered. Not only that, Foster, who happens to be dating Violet, Daisy’s oldest daughter, has refused to cooperate with the investigation.
Worried that the suspicions about the timing of the murder and the role her cucumber sandwiches, played in Derek’s demise, will hurt her business, Daisy is determined to help solve the mystery, despite the clear warnings from our not so favorite detective to stay out of the way.
Meanwhile, Jazzi may be setting herself up for disappointment after her birth mother promises to finally tell her husband, she has a daughter she never told him about. But, that’s not all- just as Jonas and Daisy’s relationship begins to solidify a little more, a sudden, shocking turn of events sends Daisy and her entire family into a tailspin.
Whew!! There was never a dull moment in this book, that’s for sure. This mystery is very intriguing, with many suspects to choose from. It would seem Derek’s harsh reviews made him a few enemies along the way.
There is no way I could have possibly guessed who the murderer was! In fact, this was one of the most puzzling cases I’ve encountered in a cozy mystery in a long time.
Yet one of the things that makes this series so solid is the family drama which gets equal billing in the book. Daisy’s personal life is more complicated than ever before, as nearly every person she cares about is encountering a crisis of some sort. While she tries to save the tea garden’s reputation, she is also coping with heavy personal problems, and her ability to remain calm and balance everything on her plate quickly becomes tenuous.
I read this book in one sitting! I couldn’t put it down without finding out what was going to happen next.
I’ve been neglecting my cozy series for a while now, not consciously, though. This book has reminded me of just how much I enjoy reading them! This series is really starting to gel, as the characters develop, and I find myself starting to care for them. Karen Rose Smith has become one my ‘go to’ cozy mystery writers in the past few years. While she writes contemporary romance novels as well, I think she’s really found her niche in this genre!
4.5 stars
December 16, 2023
In this 3rd book in 'A Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery' series, café owner Daisy Swanson helps the police investigate the murder of a food critic. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Daisy Swanson, owner of 'Daisy's Tea Garden' in the Amish region of Pennsylvania, is anxious about an upcoming visit by restaurant critic Derek Schumacher. Schumacher has a reputation for writing harsh reviews, and his scathing blogs have been the death knell for some up-and-coming eateries.
Daisy has other things on her mind as well. She's a single mother of two daughters - Violet, a college freshman and Jazzi, a high school student.....and she strives to always 'be there' for her girls. In addition, Daisy's relationship with handsome Jonas Groft - a former cop who now makes wood furniture - is heating up.
Daisy and her staff carefully plan for Schumacher's visit, and when the critic shows up - camera and appetite at the ready - he samples a wide variety of offerings such as: Daisy's blend tea; salad with sweet and sour bacon dressing; cheesy cauliflower soup; maple and walnut scones with raspberry spread; a fresh fruit plate; bacon and cheddar puff pastry; chicken salad sandwiches; cucumber and pimento triangles; a plate of assorted sweets (cream puff; brownie; Snickerdoodles, blueberry tart) and finally a lemon sorbet.....all on Daisy's best serving dishes.
Schumacher likes the food well enough to purchase a dozen pimento and cucumber sandwiches and a half-dozen Snickerdoodles 'to go', and leaves the café with no hint of what he'll write in his blog. The next day, Daisy is nervously waiting for Schumacher to publish his review when Police Detective Rappaport shows up to ask, "Do you know who killed Derek Schumacher?"
It seems that Schumacher died after snacking on Daisy's cucumber sandwiches, which had been tainted with a foreign substance. Of course Daisy and her entire staff are under suspicion, as is anybody else who had access to the goodies. There are a lot of possible suspects because Derek was an unpopular guy who treated people badly.
News that Schumacher died from food purchased at Daisy's Tea Garden spreads like wildfire, and customers stay away in droves. Daisy can't allow this situation to continue and decides to help Detective Rappaport find the killer. Thus Daisy makes it her business to talk to Derek's relatives and other people in town, trying to winkle out the critic's secrets.
Unlike many cozy mysteries, 'Death by Cucumber Sandwiches' includes a hefty dose of family drama. In addition to looking for Derek's killer, Daisy is concerned about her family: Her younger daughter Jazzi, who was adopted as a baby, wants a closer relationship with her birth mother - and it's not quite happening; Daisy's older daughter Violet is making new plans for her future - and needs guidance; Daisy's dad Sean has something on his mind - and requires advice; and Daisy's Aunt Iris has a beau on the horizon - IF Daisy can convince the gentleman to ask Iris for a date. Daisy's also concerned about her boyfriend Jonas, thinking her family responsibilities might drive him away.
The story has an array of interesting characters, including customers who come to Daisy's Tea Garden; Daisy's employees; other business owners in the community - including some Amish residents; the church secretary who knows some secrets; and more.
This is an enjoyable light mystery, recommended to fans of the genre.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author (Karen Rose Smith) and the publisher (Kensington) for a copy of the book.
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November 16, 2021
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September 10, 2022
This was the third installment of Daisy’s Tea Garden Mysteries. It can be a standalone but it really helped that I understood all the drama and relationships from the previous two books. I loved the first two books and I enjoyed this one but more for it’s family drama and romance angst. The mystery really took a back seat and things revealed had no bearing on the mystery. Daisy’s daughters and her parents are all dealing with issues and her and Jonas continue on their slooooow burn romance 😆. I forgot midway there was a mystery in this one. Daisy continues to dodge the curveballs life throws at her while she engages in her sleuthing hobby.
April 21, 2019
Derek, a nasty restaurant critic, is coming to Daisy's Tea Garden to review the food. He takes some home and is later found dead. Business slows since people are blaming Daisy's place, so she decides to look into the case, while contending with some shocking news from her daughter and a new romance. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with recipes, give this one a try.
June 22, 2019
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Holy Cucumbers! When restaurant critic Derek Schumaker arrives at Daisy’s Tea Garden Daisy tries to stay positive. She knows the food they serve is fantastic. Aunt Iris is a little more pensive. The man is known for his derogatory reviews. Reviews that can shut restaurants down. When Schumaker requests a to-go order of cucumber sandwiches, Daisy knows they have the review in the bag.
That all changes when the police show up investigating the critic’s death pointing fingers at the sandwiches from Daisy’s Tea Garden. This is bad for business and bad for her employees especially when two of them is clearly hiding something. Daisy knows there are a plethora of suspects that should be on the list, just from all the restaurants he has critiqued badly. The man had received numerous threats, one recently on his blog. Daisy decides to delve deep into the man’s life to see if she can catch the killer before her business is tainted and out of business.
It this 3rd book of this series the author has filled Daisy’s plate with so much. She is juggling the murder, an employee that is going through something he refuses to share, her younger daughter’s relationship with her birth mom, her older daughter wants to come home from college to talk, and she is trying to have a relationship with Jonas Groft, all the while trying to keep customers coming into the tea shop while many think their food killed the critic.
The author strikes a nice balance of work, home, and murder drama. All the character’s lives are intertwined and the relationships are all evolving in a believable way. Daisy has a huge heart, but that heart is still healing from the loss of her husband. Her girls are growing up and dealing with some heavy issues. Daisy’s compassionate soul reaches out to everyone. She treats her employees and friends like family and would do anything for them.
Daisy has a way with people, they open up to her like they never would for the prickly Detective Morris Rappaport, so the murder investigation gets very interesting. Jonas is kinda caught in the middle. Ms. Smith has plotted this mystery perfectly. She kept me guessing right up until the very end.
I enjoy everything about this book/series. The characters are warm and engaging, the mystery is well thought out and presented, and Willow Creek is a place I would love to visit.
These stories are best read in order to follow the character growth but enough background is given to read each one on their own. I was excited to see this week, that the 4th book in this series – Murder with Cherry Tarts will be out later this year and is already up for preorder.
Holy Cucumbers! When restaurant critic Derek Schumaker arrives at Daisy’s Tea Garden Daisy tries to stay positive. She knows the food they serve is fantastic. Aunt Iris is a little more pensive. The man is known for his derogatory reviews. Reviews that can shut restaurants down. When Schumaker requests a to-go order of cucumber sandwiches, Daisy knows they have the review in the bag.
That all changes when the police show up investigating the critic’s death pointing fingers at the sandwiches from Daisy’s Tea Garden. This is bad for business and bad for her employees especially when two of them is clearly hiding something. Daisy knows there are a plethora of suspects that should be on the list, just from all the restaurants he has critiqued badly. The man had received numerous threats, one recently on his blog. Daisy decides to delve deep into the man’s life to see if she can catch the killer before her business is tainted and out of business.
It this 3rd book of this series the author has filled Daisy’s plate with so much. She is juggling the murder, an employee that is going through something he refuses to share, her younger daughter’s relationship with her birth mom, her older daughter wants to come home from college to talk, and she is trying to have a relationship with Jonas Groft, all the while trying to keep customers coming into the tea shop while many think their food killed the critic.
The author strikes a nice balance of work, home, and murder drama. All the character’s lives are intertwined and the relationships are all evolving in a believable way. Daisy has a huge heart, but that heart is still healing from the loss of her husband. Her girls are growing up and dealing with some heavy issues. Daisy’s compassionate soul reaches out to everyone. She treats her employees and friends like family and would do anything for them.
Daisy has a way with people, they open up to her like they never would for the prickly Detective Morris Rappaport, so the murder investigation gets very interesting. Jonas is kinda caught in the middle. Ms. Smith has plotted this mystery perfectly. She kept me guessing right up until the very end.
I enjoy everything about this book/series. The characters are warm and engaging, the mystery is well thought out and presented, and Willow Creek is a place I would love to visit.
These stories are best read in order to follow the character growth but enough background is given to read each one on their own. I was excited to see this week, that the 4th book in this series – Murder with Cherry Tarts will be out later this year and is already up for preorder.
May 24, 2019
This wonderful series continues to delight. And with MURDER WITH CUCUMBER SANDWICHES, author Karen Rose Smith has out done herself! Looking forward to the next installment.
May 28, 2019
Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches by Karen Rose Smith has readers enjoying March in Willow Creek, Pennsylvania. Daisy Swanson and her aunt, iris co-own Daisy’s Tea Garden where they are preparing for a visit from food critic and blogger, Derek Schumacher. He is widely known for his malicious reviews which has everyone at the tea garden on edge. Derek eats and drinks heartily from the offerings and even gets a to-go order of Daisy’s cucumber and pimento sandwiches. The next day, Detective Morris Rappaport arrives just as they are opening to question the staff about the death of the critic who perished after eating his take home munchies. When words leaks out, business at the tea garden drops dramatically. Daisy needs to serve up the killer before her business expires.
Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches is the third book in A Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery series. I recommend reading the series in order to avoid confusion (there are a number of characters and ongoing personal situations). Karen Rose Smith has a relaxed writing style which makes for an easy to read story. I like the various characters that include the kindly Aunt Iris, the kitchen manager Tessa Miller, Foster Cranshaw, Jazzi, Violet, Daisy’s Amish best friend Rachel and various townspeople. While Daisy is busy looking into Derek’s death, she is also dealing with personal drama at home and at work. Foster Cranshaw, an employee & her social media expert, is acting unlike himself and needing extra time off. He refuses to tell Daisy what is bothering him. Jazzi, Daisy’s teenage daughter, wants to have a close relationship with her biological mother, Portia. First, though, Portia needs to come clean to her husband about Jazzi. Sean, Daisy’s father, has concerns and needs some helpful advice. Jonas Croft, Daisy’s boyfriend, is not happy when Daisy cancels plans with him for Violet (Daisy’s eldest daughter). Daisy wonders if Jonas is the right man for her. Violet has some important news to share with Daisy and it is going to change all of their lives. There is a regular customer interested in dating Iris, but first he needs to work up the nerve to ask her out. Murder with Cucumbers Sandwiches is heavy personal drama and light on mystery. There are multiple suspects for Daisy to question in her attempt to identify Derek’s killer. Detective Rappaport wants to keep her nose out of the investigation (as he tells her several times). I do wish the author had put more work into the mystery and had made it the focus of the story. My favorite quote from Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches is “children give us hope that a new generation will treat the world more kindly than we did”. Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches is a light cozy mystery with an unpleasant food critic, a jittery employee, a tearful teen, a hopeful beau, delectable delights, two affectionate felines, tasty tea, and a worried mom with a penchant for sleuthing.
Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches is the third book in A Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery series. I recommend reading the series in order to avoid confusion (there are a number of characters and ongoing personal situations). Karen Rose Smith has a relaxed writing style which makes for an easy to read story. I like the various characters that include the kindly Aunt Iris, the kitchen manager Tessa Miller, Foster Cranshaw, Jazzi, Violet, Daisy’s Amish best friend Rachel and various townspeople. While Daisy is busy looking into Derek’s death, she is also dealing with personal drama at home and at work. Foster Cranshaw, an employee & her social media expert, is acting unlike himself and needing extra time off. He refuses to tell Daisy what is bothering him. Jazzi, Daisy’s teenage daughter, wants to have a close relationship with her biological mother, Portia. First, though, Portia needs to come clean to her husband about Jazzi. Sean, Daisy’s father, has concerns and needs some helpful advice. Jonas Croft, Daisy’s boyfriend, is not happy when Daisy cancels plans with him for Violet (Daisy’s eldest daughter). Daisy wonders if Jonas is the right man for her. Violet has some important news to share with Daisy and it is going to change all of their lives. There is a regular customer interested in dating Iris, but first he needs to work up the nerve to ask her out. Murder with Cucumbers Sandwiches is heavy personal drama and light on mystery. There are multiple suspects for Daisy to question in her attempt to identify Derek’s killer. Detective Rappaport wants to keep her nose out of the investigation (as he tells her several times). I do wish the author had put more work into the mystery and had made it the focus of the story. My favorite quote from Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches is “children give us hope that a new generation will treat the world more kindly than we did”. Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches is a light cozy mystery with an unpleasant food critic, a jittery employee, a tearful teen, a hopeful beau, delectable delights, two affectionate felines, tasty tea, and a worried mom with a penchant for sleuthing.
April 30, 2019
Daisy and her Aunt are filled with anxiety over an upcoming visit from a well known food critic. Derek Schumaker is known for his scathing reviews, he doesn't seem to have a nice thing to say about any of the restaurants he visits. A horrible review from him could definitely hurt their business which has them both worried about what he'll think. They have done everything they can to prepare now it's all in Derek's hands. When the service is over and Derek asks to take an order of tea sandwiches to go Daisy looks at this as a good sign. When he later does from a seizure the authorities think the tea sandwiches might have had something to do with his untimely death. Daisy is worried the bad publicity will hurt the business and then what will her Aunt and her do? She soon learns that there are no end to the people who disliked Derek, and a few even work for her. Daisy knows that she must dig in and find the truth or lose everything she has worked so hard for. Along the way she is dealt life changing news that she has to work through. Will this news get in the way of her investigating or can she put it aside long enough to find a killer. Follow along and see how Daisy juggles everything and whether or not she is and to put the pieces together in the end. This is such a great series filled with wonderful characters and plot lines that will keep you guessing. I look forward to seeing where the author takes the characters next!!!
I received an ARC of this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I received an ARC of this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 7, 2019
When the man doing a review on Daisy’s Tea Garden is found dead, there are lots of suspects in his murder. Daisy is run ragged what with the murder, helping her adopted daughter, Jazz, deal with a problem with her birth mother and handling daughter Violet’s big surprise. Everything flows together wonderfully and kept me up all night.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley.
June 20, 2019
Daisy and her staff at the tea garden anxiously awaited the arrival of Derek Schmaker a food blogger known his scathing review. While his meal seemingly went well, his death shortly thereafter threatens the very life of the tea garden. Daisy has to prove that neither she nor her staff are implicated. Besides the murder, problems with both her daughters and her own nascent relationship keep the pace moving and interesting. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2019
A fast-moving and agreeable story set against the Tea House with mystery, greed, jealousy, and romance to hold your interest. Derek Schumaker, a reviewer for often giving negative reports is eating at the restaurant and will be posting a review. Daisy and her staff are on tenderloins about the review. Derek eats his meal and tells Daisy to read the review on his blog. He buys a dozen cucumber sandwich from the restaurant. Later Daisy learns Derek eat the sandwichs and they contain poison. Daisy's daughters have problems that she needs to handle in addition to the rumors hurting her business at the Tea House. The ending will delight you. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND SERIES.
Recipes from the Tea House menu are included.
Disclosure: Thanks to Kensington Books for a copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
Recipes from the Tea House menu are included.
Disclosure: Thanks to Kensington Books for a copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
November 12, 2019
In the third book in the Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery series, we find restaurant critic, Derek Schumaker, dead after ingesting food he purchased at the Tea Garden. It seems someone added something extra to his food that killed him. Was it someone who works for Daisy? They are all under suspicion, so of course, Daisy begins her own investigation to make sure all her employees are cleared. While dealing with this, she is also dealing with a couple of personal family situations. She seems to do it all, even running a business, all with a smile.
I like the setting of this series. Willow Creek, Pennsylvania is a quaint town populated by a variety of characters. You have some quirky ones to add a bit of humour as well as some businesslike and annoying one. Karen Rose Smith does a great job writing multi-dimensional characters that are quite realistic. I do enjoy Daisy. She is a good protagonist, smart, business savvy, loyal to family, friends and employees and extremely personable. In turn, her employees are very loyal to her. She ans Jonas (a local detective) are moving forward in their relationship and I like how they are moving slowly. Both her daughters, Jazzy and Violet, are dealing with issues in this book and Daisy, being a great mom, deals with them in very loving and tactful ways. The mystery was well written. There were a lot of people who were unhappy with the victim, but would they kill him. It took a lot of questioning and sleuthing to uncover some of the suspects. The motive involves greed, jealousy and trust which made it hard to sift through all the clues, which were there, but not obvious. The final showdown was quick, but satisfying. I did not suspect the culprit at all. Another satisfying story in this series. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and solutions shared are my own.
I like the setting of this series. Willow Creek, Pennsylvania is a quaint town populated by a variety of characters. You have some quirky ones to add a bit of humour as well as some businesslike and annoying one. Karen Rose Smith does a great job writing multi-dimensional characters that are quite realistic. I do enjoy Daisy. She is a good protagonist, smart, business savvy, loyal to family, friends and employees and extremely personable. In turn, her employees are very loyal to her. She ans Jonas (a local detective) are moving forward in their relationship and I like how they are moving slowly. Both her daughters, Jazzy and Violet, are dealing with issues in this book and Daisy, being a great mom, deals with them in very loving and tactful ways. The mystery was well written. There were a lot of people who were unhappy with the victim, but would they kill him. It took a lot of questioning and sleuthing to uncover some of the suspects. The motive involves greed, jealousy and trust which made it hard to sift through all the clues, which were there, but not obvious. The final showdown was quick, but satisfying. I did not suspect the culprit at all. Another satisfying story in this series. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and solutions shared are my own.
May 30, 2019
I really enjoyed this trip to Willow Creek PA and to Daisy's Tea Garden. Spring was just beginning to peek out when there was another murder that Daisy felt like she needed to investigate, or her shop's reputation would suffer as well as the shop would experience financial losses. I like where she and Jonas are in their relationship. It's really sweet and right when they're together. By the end of this book, they'd both grown a lot as individuals as well as a couple. As a side story, Daisy knew that one of her employees was keeping something from both her and the police. That wasn't the only secret being kept. There were a number of suspects, and I didn't guess who the murderer was. The showdown was fairly quick, but it was a good one. After the surprises in this book, I'm really anxious now to read the next one!
July 5, 2019
Fun addition to this series, not the best of the stories, but I am looking forward even so to seeing the next adventures in the lives of Daisy and all her friends and family.
April 10, 2019
Daisy's Tea Garden is doing well, but Daisy is getting nervous about an upcoming visit from a renowned food critic, Derek Shumaker. He was famous as a chef with a popular TV show, but since then, his critic reviews have been extremely harsh. She sets out to prepare a delicate array of cucumber sandwiches for him, along with cheesy cauliflower soup, a fresh fruit plate, and assorted sweets. After his visit, Daisy hears the unsettling news that Derek has been found dead. If it is murder, there is a long list of suspects, based on his recent food critic behavior. This is the 3rd story in Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery, and once again Daisy finds herself interviewing people for motives and alibis. What I enjoy about this series is that in addition to the mystery, the main characters have lives that are filled with normal highs and lows. As each character is further enhanced throughout these stories, the reader becomes connected with their situations, sometimes rooting for a particular outcome, sometimes happy and sometimes sad...all part of the circle of life. I look forward to the next story in this series. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book received from NetGalley and all opinions are strictly my own.
April 30, 2019
Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches, #3 of the Daisy Tea Garden series. Daisy and her aunt, Iris, have heard they may have a visit by a food critic,, Derek Shumaker, to their little tea garden Other restaurants who have had a visit from Mr. Shumaker have found poor reviews on his visit. Daisy and Iris are well prepared for his visit and he even commented positively about their cucumber tea sandwiches taking some extra as he left. When he is found dead after his visit and the cucumber tea sandwiches as well as other items, Daisy's Tea Garden is suspected of murdering him. There are more twists and complications that will keep you on the edge of your seat and waiting for more.
December 2, 2020
Gran parte del libro è incentrato più sugli sviluppi nella vita privata della protagonista che sul mistero vero e proprio, ma non mi lamento perché li ho trovati molto interessanti, più della morte del food blogger. Si conferma poi che la serie è davvero ben scritta: non riuscivo a mettere giù il kindle...
May 13, 2019
3.5 Stars
Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches is the third book in the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mysteries.
Since this is my first foray into the world of Daisy and her Tea Garden I found it a bit difficult to catch up on all the basic who’s who info. I did a lot of re-reading in order to make sure I had it all down. I had a tendency to zone out in the first half of the book.
Basic premise: restaurant critic comes to the tea room, eats Daisy’s cucumber sandwiches, loves them, orders some to go and ends up dead after eating the to-go cucumber sandwiches.
The plot itself was pretty intricate. Kudos for that. I had no idea who the culprit could be the entire time I was reading it. Too many viable suspects. And since I did not know who was more of a mainstay character in the series, everyone seemed a viable option.
I thought it was a bit odd that the detective just showed up and questioned everyone. Yes, I know this is probably how it happens in the real world. But in books we usually get a heads up that the crime of murder has been detected. We get to see that person’s last moments so we know what the main character is being questioned for.
There are a lot of characters in this book. That was another reason why I was re-reading. I had to get them all in my brain so I could try and figure out whodunit. You are probably going to need a score card to keep up.
All in all, great complex mystery but the whole book didn’t quite catch me. I did not care if the suspect was caught. I did not root for Daisy and her shop. And I like when writers make me really care for their book folks. I wish she had made me care more. I probably would have liked this more.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches is the third book in the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mysteries.
Since this is my first foray into the world of Daisy and her Tea Garden I found it a bit difficult to catch up on all the basic who’s who info. I did a lot of re-reading in order to make sure I had it all down. I had a tendency to zone out in the first half of the book.
Basic premise: restaurant critic comes to the tea room, eats Daisy’s cucumber sandwiches, loves them, orders some to go and ends up dead after eating the to-go cucumber sandwiches.
The plot itself was pretty intricate. Kudos for that. I had no idea who the culprit could be the entire time I was reading it. Too many viable suspects. And since I did not know who was more of a mainstay character in the series, everyone seemed a viable option.
I thought it was a bit odd that the detective just showed up and questioned everyone. Yes, I know this is probably how it happens in the real world. But in books we usually get a heads up that the crime of murder has been detected. We get to see that person’s last moments so we know what the main character is being questioned for.
There are a lot of characters in this book. That was another reason why I was re-reading. I had to get them all in my brain so I could try and figure out whodunit. You are probably going to need a score card to keep up.
All in all, great complex mystery but the whole book didn’t quite catch me. I did not care if the suspect was caught. I did not root for Daisy and her shop. And I like when writers make me really care for their book folks. I wish she had made me care more. I probably would have liked this more.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
April 25, 2021
Another enjoyable book in the series, this one deals more with relationships, many relationships, with people we have come to know and like, the characters and the Tea House are part of what makes this series enjoyable to me so I was OK with the mystery in this book fading behind the character drama. We do get a mystery and an introduction to some new characters but the changes going on in the lives of some of the main characters takes center stage!
March 29, 2019
Daisy is a single mom with two daughters and lots of surprises on the horizon. Things heat up when a food blogger dies after he was at the tea shop.
Great series and the characters are interesting to get to know and the setting is different from most stories. Karen Rose Smith's writing makes you feel like you are there with everything happening. Hope to read more of the series soon.
Great series and the characters are interesting to get to know and the setting is different from most stories. Karen Rose Smith's writing makes you feel like you are there with everything happening. Hope to read more of the series soon.
May 24, 2019
Visiting Daisy’s Tea Garden is a sweet indulgence! The Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series is a favorite! It uses the perfect recipe of afternoon tea, mystery, family challenges, and sweet romance. Daisy, her family, and friends exemplify what we big city dwellers miss in the anonymity of crowds and traffic.
After Daisy’s husband died, she packed up her daughters and returned to Willow Creek where her family and friends are. She and Aunt Iris, a tea aficionado, opened Daisy’s Tea Garden. Daisy’s best friend and kitchen manager, Tessa, lives in the upstairs apartment. Daisy’s has been successful with locals and tourists, often preparing and serving special afternoon tea service on request.
Derek Schumacher is a food critic/ blogger, a tough one. Daisy and her staff watch his column regularly since he is coming to Daisy’s for his blog. They see the cruel things he says about other tea shops and are stunned when reading a threat in the comments of his blog.
Derek visited Daisy’s when planned, taking several cucumber and pimento sandwiches to go. Daisy anxiously awaits seeing the blog that could change their customer base. Sadly, the results weren’t what they hoped. The morning after Schumacher’s visit, a detective arrived at Daisy’s. Schumacher died the previous evening from an as-yet unidentified substance. With his visit to the Tea Garden and the sandwiches in his refrigerator, the suspect is someone at Daisy’s. The tea shop begins to look like a ghost town when it comes out he died from something in the sandwiches.
Crises are on the home front, also. Vi is making a special weekend trip home from college, making Daisy wonder if she and Foster, who works at the Tea Garden, broke up. Jazzi’s birth mother Portia is going to tell her husband about Jazzi. Since Jazzi found and met her, Portia wants to visit or talk with Jazzi with his blessing. Jazzi is on edge when she doesn’t hear back from Portia at all. Jonas, who Daisy recently began to date, struggles with Daisy’s daughters being her first priority when they need her. Daisy’s dad goes away on a week-long fishing trip alone, which is completely unlike him. I appreciated seeing how Daisy and her family handle each situation faced.
There is far more on Daisy’s plate this time than their delightful scones and delicate tea sandwiches. Almost every family member is in crisis, along with the Tea Garden. Other than those Derek had given nasty reviews to, there must be other suspects! Daisy takes the opportunity to meet Derek’s mother Harriet and Aunt June when Cora Sue, whose aunt was a good friend of Derek’s mother, took her on a condolence call. Interestingly, the family had no hard feelings against Daisy as owner of the Tea Garden. When a freelance investigative journalist came into the Tea Garden, Daisy learns about more suspects. I love the realistic family times in the novel as much as the mystery. It brings a good touch of daily reality and reflects family love and loyalty without one distracting from the other. Plot twists enhance both, and it was a challenge to guess who the killer was - and I didn’t! The end is full of surprises on all fronts. I highly recommend novel and series to those who appreciate tea and tea shop treats, hard to solve murders, close families, and sweet romance.
From a thankful heart: I received a copy of the e-ARC from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest review.
After Daisy’s husband died, she packed up her daughters and returned to Willow Creek where her family and friends are. She and Aunt Iris, a tea aficionado, opened Daisy’s Tea Garden. Daisy’s best friend and kitchen manager, Tessa, lives in the upstairs apartment. Daisy’s has been successful with locals and tourists, often preparing and serving special afternoon tea service on request.
Derek Schumacher is a food critic/ blogger, a tough one. Daisy and her staff watch his column regularly since he is coming to Daisy’s for his blog. They see the cruel things he says about other tea shops and are stunned when reading a threat in the comments of his blog.
Derek visited Daisy’s when planned, taking several cucumber and pimento sandwiches to go. Daisy anxiously awaits seeing the blog that could change their customer base. Sadly, the results weren’t what they hoped. The morning after Schumacher’s visit, a detective arrived at Daisy’s. Schumacher died the previous evening from an as-yet unidentified substance. With his visit to the Tea Garden and the sandwiches in his refrigerator, the suspect is someone at Daisy’s. The tea shop begins to look like a ghost town when it comes out he died from something in the sandwiches.
Crises are on the home front, also. Vi is making a special weekend trip home from college, making Daisy wonder if she and Foster, who works at the Tea Garden, broke up. Jazzi’s birth mother Portia is going to tell her husband about Jazzi. Since Jazzi found and met her, Portia wants to visit or talk with Jazzi with his blessing. Jazzi is on edge when she doesn’t hear back from Portia at all. Jonas, who Daisy recently began to date, struggles with Daisy’s daughters being her first priority when they need her. Daisy’s dad goes away on a week-long fishing trip alone, which is completely unlike him. I appreciated seeing how Daisy and her family handle each situation faced.
There is far more on Daisy’s plate this time than their delightful scones and delicate tea sandwiches. Almost every family member is in crisis, along with the Tea Garden. Other than those Derek had given nasty reviews to, there must be other suspects! Daisy takes the opportunity to meet Derek’s mother Harriet and Aunt June when Cora Sue, whose aunt was a good friend of Derek’s mother, took her on a condolence call. Interestingly, the family had no hard feelings against Daisy as owner of the Tea Garden. When a freelance investigative journalist came into the Tea Garden, Daisy learns about more suspects. I love the realistic family times in the novel as much as the mystery. It brings a good touch of daily reality and reflects family love and loyalty without one distracting from the other. Plot twists enhance both, and it was a challenge to guess who the killer was - and I didn’t! The end is full of surprises on all fronts. I highly recommend novel and series to those who appreciate tea and tea shop treats, hard to solve murders, close families, and sweet romance.
From a thankful heart: I received a copy of the e-ARC from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest review.
June 15, 2019
I enjoyed this third visit to Daisy's Tea Garden. I love the background of these stories, a widowed mom, trying to do her best to raise her kids, care for her business and deal with aging parents. This was a well written story and I enjoyed the parallels between the family of the murdered man and Daisy's own. Some angst and uncertainty added to the story, but well plotted and a good read!
March 15, 2020
After a series of heavy books and themes, I wanted something light, and picked this up at the library. I've read other cozy mysteries that were a delightful escape, and based on the ratings, had high hopes for this one.
The plot was thin and rather than good mystery writing, the author spent 85% of the book writing about anything BUT the mystery. Not hard to not see the whodunit when one just ignores what is supposedly the major plot line and adds in irrelevant ancillary characters and subplots with eagerness. So much so that the entire mystery was resolved in one page at the very end. Al m.j lost like thebauthor had forgotten she had to tie that portion up.
There were also editing errors, which drove me nuts on a book where the mechanics of the entire plot had issues.
Ironically, the ancillary subplot - Daisy and the challenge of raising two teenage girls - wasn't too bad. The author should stick to light family drama vs mysteries. The books would be better.
Wouldn't recommend. Gets two stars imvs one merely because of the semi-redeeming value of the subplot, which was really THE plot.
The plot was thin and rather than good mystery writing, the author spent 85% of the book writing about anything BUT the mystery. Not hard to not see the whodunit when one just ignores what is supposedly the major plot line and adds in irrelevant ancillary characters and subplots with eagerness. So much so that the entire mystery was resolved in one page at the very end. Al m.j lost like thebauthor had forgotten she had to tie that portion up.
There were also editing errors, which drove me nuts on a book where the mechanics of the entire plot had issues.
Ironically, the ancillary subplot - Daisy and the challenge of raising two teenage girls - wasn't too bad. The author should stick to light family drama vs mysteries. The books would be better.
Wouldn't recommend. Gets two stars imvs one merely because of the semi-redeeming value of the subplot, which was really THE plot.
March 29, 2019
I always enjoy a visit to Daisy's Tea Garden. Daisy, her friends, family, and growing romance are enjoyable to watch unfold. Big changes are coming.
Business is going well. The staff are all a bit on edge, as they know a reviewer will be writing up the Tea Garden soon. He has a reputation for being difficult but they have confidence in their atmosphere and products. Daisy's reputation continues to get positive response. The family of employees has a wonderful balance, even if one of them seems to be hiding something.
Daisy's adopted daughter Jazzi has been building a relationship with her birth mother and adjusting to her big sister being away at college. Fifteen is a difficult age without added stresses.
Daisy always puts her girls first, but is it time she takes a leap of faith and moves her own romantic life a step or two ahead?
Populated with wonderful characters and life like realism, the troubles that arise could happen to you or me. Hopefully without murder. Old secrets have a tendency to come to light eventually.
Business is going well. The staff are all a bit on edge, as they know a reviewer will be writing up the Tea Garden soon. He has a reputation for being difficult but they have confidence in their atmosphere and products. Daisy's reputation continues to get positive response. The family of employees has a wonderful balance, even if one of them seems to be hiding something.
Daisy's adopted daughter Jazzi has been building a relationship with her birth mother and adjusting to her big sister being away at college. Fifteen is a difficult age without added stresses.
Daisy always puts her girls first, but is it time she takes a leap of faith and moves her own romantic life a step or two ahead?
Populated with wonderful characters and life like realism, the troubles that arise could happen to you or me. Hopefully without murder. Old secrets have a tendency to come to light eventually.
August 25, 2019
https://openbooksociety.com/article/m...
Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches
Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery, Book #3
By Karen Rose Smith
ISBN# 9781617739644
Author Website: karenrosesmith(.)com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
Restaurant critic Derek Schumaker, notorious for his bitter reviews, is about to visit Daisy’s Tea Garden, and Daisy and Aunt Iris are simmering with anxiety. A bad word from the culinary curmudgeon could really hurt their business, but Daisy tries to stay confident. After all, how can he resist her cucumber sandwiches with pimento spread — not to mention the cheesy cauliflower soup and strawberry walnut salad? Schumaker takes a to-go order when the afternoon tea service is done, which Daisy hopes is a good sign. But when he perishes from a seizure, it looks like his food was dosed with something deadly. Considering a threat that recently appeared on his blog — and whispers of scandal in his past — Daisy has quite an assortment of suspects to sift through. (Goodreads)
Review:
Visiting Daisy’s Tea Garden is always a treat, and Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches finds one of my favorite imaginary shops struggling to maintain business and its reputation. Celebrity chef turned food critic/blogger Derek Schumaker is notorious for shredding the restaurants that he visits, leaving Daisy, Aunt Iris, and the whole staff on edge when he comes to review the Tea Garden. Daisy feels encouraged when David takes an order of sandwiches to go after his tea service. That optimism turns to horror when Derek dies, and her sandwiches are part of the murder weapon. Intent on saving her livelihood, she sets out to track down a killer. On top of the murder investigation, one of Daisy’s employees is acting quite atypical, her younger daughter is dealing with her birth mom, her older daughter wants to come home from college for a serious talk, and Daisy’s new relationship with Jonas is suffering under the weight of everything that is going on.
Daisy is a great protagonist. I like that she is a little older than a lot of cozy sleuths out there, and her maturity helps her be a better investigator. She is levelheaded and intelligent, balancing business, family, and murder well. All of the recurring characters are relatable and well drawn without a caricature or stereotype in sight. I particularly enjoy Aunt Iris, Daisy’s father Sean, and Jonas (even though he has an unsavory moment within these pages).
All of the personal drama takes precedence over the murder mystery this time around, and I wish there had been a little more to the mystery. Derek is a sufficiently unlikable victim, and there are plenty of suspects related to his bad mouthing habits, but the suspects closer to home seem stretched quite thin, and their motives half-hearted. I did not figure out whodunit before the big reveal, and I feel like it somewhat came out of nowhere.
All of the great things I have come to expect from this series – endearing characters, a foodie theme, and a lovely setting – are within the pages of Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches, and I look forward to reading what lies ahead for Daisy, her friends and family, and the Tea Garden. Even though it can be read as a standalone mystery, I do recommend reading the series from the beginning to fully appreciate the continuing story arc. Recommended to cozy readers who especially enjoy a culinary theme.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches
Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery, Book #3
By Karen Rose Smith
ISBN# 9781617739644
Author Website: karenrosesmith(.)com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
Restaurant critic Derek Schumaker, notorious for his bitter reviews, is about to visit Daisy’s Tea Garden, and Daisy and Aunt Iris are simmering with anxiety. A bad word from the culinary curmudgeon could really hurt their business, but Daisy tries to stay confident. After all, how can he resist her cucumber sandwiches with pimento spread — not to mention the cheesy cauliflower soup and strawberry walnut salad? Schumaker takes a to-go order when the afternoon tea service is done, which Daisy hopes is a good sign. But when he perishes from a seizure, it looks like his food was dosed with something deadly. Considering a threat that recently appeared on his blog — and whispers of scandal in his past — Daisy has quite an assortment of suspects to sift through. (Goodreads)
Review:
Visiting Daisy’s Tea Garden is always a treat, and Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches finds one of my favorite imaginary shops struggling to maintain business and its reputation. Celebrity chef turned food critic/blogger Derek Schumaker is notorious for shredding the restaurants that he visits, leaving Daisy, Aunt Iris, and the whole staff on edge when he comes to review the Tea Garden. Daisy feels encouraged when David takes an order of sandwiches to go after his tea service. That optimism turns to horror when Derek dies, and her sandwiches are part of the murder weapon. Intent on saving her livelihood, she sets out to track down a killer. On top of the murder investigation, one of Daisy’s employees is acting quite atypical, her younger daughter is dealing with her birth mom, her older daughter wants to come home from college for a serious talk, and Daisy’s new relationship with Jonas is suffering under the weight of everything that is going on.
Daisy is a great protagonist. I like that she is a little older than a lot of cozy sleuths out there, and her maturity helps her be a better investigator. She is levelheaded and intelligent, balancing business, family, and murder well. All of the recurring characters are relatable and well drawn without a caricature or stereotype in sight. I particularly enjoy Aunt Iris, Daisy’s father Sean, and Jonas (even though he has an unsavory moment within these pages).
All of the personal drama takes precedence over the murder mystery this time around, and I wish there had been a little more to the mystery. Derek is a sufficiently unlikable victim, and there are plenty of suspects related to his bad mouthing habits, but the suspects closer to home seem stretched quite thin, and their motives half-hearted. I did not figure out whodunit before the big reveal, and I feel like it somewhat came out of nowhere.
All of the great things I have come to expect from this series – endearing characters, a foodie theme, and a lovely setting – are within the pages of Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches, and I look forward to reading what lies ahead for Daisy, her friends and family, and the Tea Garden. Even though it can be read as a standalone mystery, I do recommend reading the series from the beginning to fully appreciate the continuing story arc. Recommended to cozy readers who especially enjoy a culinary theme.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
August 25, 2022
That's another mediocre cozy mystery in the bag. This was my first Daisy's Tea Garden book, but I had no trouble jumping right into the story or the lives of the small town in Pennsylvanians. As with most cozies, the narrative doesn't just focus on the murder mystery, but also delves into the main character's business, love life, family and friends. Cucumber Sandwiches went all in on Daisy's family life, to the point where I forgot there was even a murder mystery as part of the story. It felt like a peripheral storyline, and Daisy wasn't very invested in solving it and played a small part- unlike most cozies where the MC is all into sleuthing and figuring things out. I got bored and wondered when we'd get back into the meat of the story.
Several things got on my nerves. Daisy's love life, for example, was moving at a glacial pace. She's with Jonas, but they're both acting like they've got the next hundred years to figure things out. She's constantly second guessing if they should be a couple amidst the family drama that takes place. She needs constant reassurance that he will stick around, and it gets annoying fast. Secondly, there is mention of a rape in the past that resulted in a child and an unexpected pregnancy in the present. No one even mentions an abortion. Why? Why is this never an option discussed by the characters? It exists, people do it every day. Representation even in passing conversation would be nice, instead of just going right to adoption/keeping. It grinds my gears. Thirdly, the murderer (no, I won't spoil it here) is someone of little consequence to the story, someone in the background that was only mentioned a handful of times. When it was revealed, I went, "Who?" and had to flip back to see if I had missed something. It wasn't very satisfying.
The good? I really enjoyed the setting and the hook. I've never been to a tea room myself, but I really liked the atmosphere and the description of the various teas and goodies offered. I liked that Daisy was a good listener, and she loved both of her girls deeply. I also liked the representation of adoption- her daughter Jazzy was adopted, and Daisy approves of and encourages her relationship with her birth mother. That part was refreshing.
All in all, very middle of the road, and I don't think I'll be continuing in this series. Glad I dabbled, but I'm not interested in the characters enough to hunt down the rest.
Several things got on my nerves. Daisy's love life, for example, was moving at a glacial pace. She's with Jonas, but they're both acting like they've got the next hundred years to figure things out. She's constantly second guessing if they should be a couple amidst the family drama that takes place. She needs constant reassurance that he will stick around, and it gets annoying fast. Secondly, there is mention of a rape in the past that resulted in a child and an unexpected pregnancy in the present. No one even mentions an abortion. Why? Why is this never an option discussed by the characters? It exists, people do it every day. Representation even in passing conversation would be nice, instead of just going right to adoption/keeping. It grinds my gears. Thirdly, the murderer (no, I won't spoil it here) is someone of little consequence to the story, someone in the background that was only mentioned a handful of times. When it was revealed, I went, "Who?" and had to flip back to see if I had missed something. It wasn't very satisfying.
The good? I really enjoyed the setting and the hook. I've never been to a tea room myself, but I really liked the atmosphere and the description of the various teas and goodies offered. I liked that Daisy was a good listener, and she loved both of her girls deeply. I also liked the representation of adoption- her daughter Jazzy was adopted, and Daisy approves of and encourages her relationship with her birth mother. That part was refreshing.
All in all, very middle of the road, and I don't think I'll be continuing in this series. Glad I dabbled, but I'm not interested in the characters enough to hunt down the rest.
May 7, 2019
Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches is the third installment in Karen Rose Smith’s Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery series. It’s an enjoyable read, with a great cast of realistic characters and an interesting murder mystery with lots of twists and turns and possible suspects. The storyline is well plotted, the characters are well developed, and the story moves at a steady pace. There’s a good mix of the importance of family, friendship, caring and compassion, romance, and mystery. Ms. Smith provides great character background, and this book can be read as a standalone.
Daisy Swanson, a widow, lives in the small town of Willow Creek, Pennsylvania with her two daughters, Jasmine, who is in high school, and Violet, who is away at college, and like every mother, she worries about her children. Daisy and her deceased husband, Ryan, adopted Jasmine, who is trying to build a relationship with her birth mother, Portia Smith Harding, whose husband and children don’t know that she’d previously given birth. Violet, who is in a long distance relationship with one of Daisy’s employees, Foster Cranshaw, is doing well in college but has some life-changing news to share with her family. Daisy’s been seeing Jonas Groft, a retired detective and the owner of Woods, a handcrafted furniture store. The quaint tea garden, Daisy’s Tea Garden, she co-owns with her aunt, Iris Albright, is doing well, but they are nervous about an upcoming visit from a renowned food critic, Derek Shumaker, who tends to be overly harsh in his reviews. Derek dies in his home shortly after his visit to Daisy’s Tea Garden, and once the lab reports are in, Detective Morris Rappaport tells Daisy the cause of death was her pimento cucumber sandwiches. Needless to say, once that information is released to the press, customers are in short supply at the tea garden. Daisy is worried she and Iris will lose everything. Two of the tea garden’s employees are among the many suspects Detective Morris Rappaport is looking into, and Daisy looks into the death by interviewing people and looking at possible motives and alibis in an attempt to prove her employees are innocent and save her business.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
Daisy Swanson, a widow, lives in the small town of Willow Creek, Pennsylvania with her two daughters, Jasmine, who is in high school, and Violet, who is away at college, and like every mother, she worries about her children. Daisy and her deceased husband, Ryan, adopted Jasmine, who is trying to build a relationship with her birth mother, Portia Smith Harding, whose husband and children don’t know that she’d previously given birth. Violet, who is in a long distance relationship with one of Daisy’s employees, Foster Cranshaw, is doing well in college but has some life-changing news to share with her family. Daisy’s been seeing Jonas Groft, a retired detective and the owner of Woods, a handcrafted furniture store. The quaint tea garden, Daisy’s Tea Garden, she co-owns with her aunt, Iris Albright, is doing well, but they are nervous about an upcoming visit from a renowned food critic, Derek Shumaker, who tends to be overly harsh in his reviews. Derek dies in his home shortly after his visit to Daisy’s Tea Garden, and once the lab reports are in, Detective Morris Rappaport tells Daisy the cause of death was her pimento cucumber sandwiches. Needless to say, once that information is released to the press, customers are in short supply at the tea garden. Daisy is worried she and Iris will lose everything. Two of the tea garden’s employees are among the many suspects Detective Morris Rappaport is looking into, and Daisy looks into the death by interviewing people and looking at possible motives and alibis in an attempt to prove her employees are innocent and save her business.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
January 29, 2026
I haven't visited Daisy's Tea Garden since 2018! It's been too long but I fondly settled back into this series. I wish I would have countered how many times a cup of tea was mentioned; it made me smile every time. I hope to focus on more tea-centered stories this year. Tea seems to make everything better.
I'd forgotten how this cozy mystery series doesn't shy away from heavy topics. In this one book alone, it tackles finding a birth parent, aspects of an aging parent, kid off to college, unplanned pregnancy, rape, and fractured relationships. All this but it doesn't drag the story down, instead it makes the characters more relatable and rings true to some lives. I look forward to reading how the numerous characters grow, change, and work through what life throws in their direction. I really like the multigenerational relationships constantly interacting with one another. @karenrosesmith I think I appreciate this more now than I would have in 2018.
While reading I was always sipping a cup of tea and craving a treat from the Daisy's Tea Garden.
"She saw Cora Sue bringing Derek a tiered plate of tea sandwiches. She'd included a bacon and cheddar puff pastry along with chicken salad sandwiches and the cucumber and pimento pumpernickel triangles. After each course, Derek's place was cleared and Karina brought in a tiered plate of assorted sweets including a cream puff, a brownie, Snickerdoodles, and a blueberry tart. Derek finally smiled and Daisy wondered if that course was his favorite."
It certainly is mine!!
I'd forgotten how this cozy mystery series doesn't shy away from heavy topics. In this one book alone, it tackles finding a birth parent, aspects of an aging parent, kid off to college, unplanned pregnancy, rape, and fractured relationships. All this but it doesn't drag the story down, instead it makes the characters more relatable and rings true to some lives. I look forward to reading how the numerous characters grow, change, and work through what life throws in their direction. I really like the multigenerational relationships constantly interacting with one another. @karenrosesmith I think I appreciate this more now than I would have in 2018.
While reading I was always sipping a cup of tea and craving a treat from the Daisy's Tea Garden.
"She saw Cora Sue bringing Derek a tiered plate of tea sandwiches. She'd included a bacon and cheddar puff pastry along with chicken salad sandwiches and the cucumber and pimento pumpernickel triangles. After each course, Derek's place was cleared and Karina brought in a tiered plate of assorted sweets including a cream puff, a brownie, Snickerdoodles, and a blueberry tart. Derek finally smiled and Daisy wondered if that course was his favorite."
It certainly is mine!!
May 29, 2019
Daisy and her Aunt have worked hard to make Daisy's Tea Garden a success. Currently they are preparing for a food critic to come and review their establishment. Everyone is concerned . They want Derek Schumacher to like their food. Unfortunately things don't go as planned. Derek is murdered right after his visit. Now everyone there is under suspicion. I like Daisy. She's a good mom and cares for the people around her. Her romance with Jonas Groft is filled with love and caring. I liked seeing them grow as a couple. Daisy has her hands full as she deals with family issues as well as business concerns. I admired how she uses common sense and compassion to deal with her problems. The dialogue reflects this. Karen Rose Smith has done an excellent job with this cozy. I was hooked from the first page. I liked the characters and cared about them. Daisy's two fur babies add charm to the story. The victim had many enemies so it wasn't easy for me to figure out who did it. I love visiting Willow Creek. It makes the perfect setting. I'm enjoying this series. An added bonus is the delicious recipes that are included.
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