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Tea by the Sea Mysteries #2
Murder in a Teacup
National bestselling author Vicki Delany's delightful Tea by the Sea mystery series continues, as Cape Cod tearoom proprietress and part-time sleuth, Lily Roberts, stirs up trouble when she unwittingly serves one of her grandmother's B&B guests a deadly cup of tea...
Lily has her work cut out for her when a visit from her grandmother Rose's dear friend, Sandra McHenry, turns into an unexpected--and unpleasant--McHenry family reunion. The squabbling boils over and soon Tea by the Sea's serene afternoon service resembles the proverbial tempest in a teapot. Somehow, Lily and her tearoom survive the storm, and Sandra's bickering brethren finally retreat to Rose's B & B. But later that evening, a member of their party--harmless Ed French--dies from an apparent poisoning and suddenly Tea by the Sea is both scene and suspect in a murder investigation!
Mercifully, none of the other guests fall ill. They all ate the same food, but Ed insisted on bringing his own special blend of herbal teas. So it seems, amid the whining and dining, someone snuck up to one of Lily's cherished teapots and fatally spiked Ed's bespoke brew, but who? Was it Ed's long-estranged sister-in-law? Did teenage troublemaker Tyler take a prank too far? Or perhaps the family's feuds have been steeping for longer than anyone realizes? It's up to Lily, Rose, and their friends to get to the bottom of the poisoned pot and bag the real culprit behind the kettle murder plot.
Lily has her work cut out for her when a visit from her grandmother Rose's dear friend, Sandra McHenry, turns into an unexpected--and unpleasant--McHenry family reunion. The squabbling boils over and soon Tea by the Sea's serene afternoon service resembles the proverbial tempest in a teapot. Somehow, Lily and her tearoom survive the storm, and Sandra's bickering brethren finally retreat to Rose's B & B. But later that evening, a member of their party--harmless Ed French--dies from an apparent poisoning and suddenly Tea by the Sea is both scene and suspect in a murder investigation!
Mercifully, none of the other guests fall ill. They all ate the same food, but Ed insisted on bringing his own special blend of herbal teas. So it seems, amid the whining and dining, someone snuck up to one of Lily's cherished teapots and fatally spiked Ed's bespoke brew, but who? Was it Ed's long-estranged sister-in-law? Did teenage troublemaker Tyler take a prank too far? Or perhaps the family's feuds have been steeping for longer than anyone realizes? It's up to Lily, Rose, and their friends to get to the bottom of the poisoned pot and bag the real culprit behind the kettle murder plot.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 27, 2021
423 people are currently reading
1063 people want to read
About the author
Vicki Delany
58 books1,927 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 289 reviews
March 6, 2021
Murder in a Teacup is the second book in Vicki Delany's Tea by the Sea Mysteries series. I've read the first book as well as three of the author's other series, all of which are wonderful books filled with great characters and charming settings. In this new series, we're swept away to the Massachusetts coastline where Lily Roberts has returned with her grandmother, Rose, to run a B&B and tea shop. Rose's friends from the Midwest are visiting this week, and one of them is murdered. Whodunnit?
Delany's an excellent storyteller. From the first few chapters, you're immediately drawn into a family of eight who have major communication issues and personality disorders. Each has an argumentative one of a different shade, and alliances aren't very clear. Rose's friend Sandra attempts to control her children, grandchildren, their spouses, and two great-grandchildren. Heather is hoping to bring the family back together after her husband passed away, but when her in-laws also show up, there is definitely gonna be a showdown. Someone, or maybe a few, has something to hide. And we need to uncover why poison was put in the victim's teacup. Poor Lily is forced to close shop again... and the local police can be quite difficult to manage.
This is a prime example of why cozies can be such delightful reads. Whether you prefer the difficult family, the lush setting, the comical relationships between the main characters, or solving a murder, you get a bit of everything. This murder was mostly straightforward in terms of solving family secrets, but there was definitely a shocking twist. I 100% admit I was wrong in identifying the killer, and when it all unfolds... clearly, we weren't meant to solve this one on our own. We're meant to watch the characters have a go at it, and even they were stymied with the reason why. I mean this in a good way, because it's not predictable, and it makes you think about the possibilities of this happening in reality. I cannot say anymore because I don't want to spoil anything. That said, discovering the killer's identity and his/her motivation, is a nice surprise... and it will make me open my net of analysis in the future.
I'm excited to see where this story goes. There are a few couples lining up. I see the potential for a Lily / Rose family mystery coming together. And I am learning about teas and flowers, so it's a big win for me. 4.5 stars. Bring on some more!
Delany's an excellent storyteller. From the first few chapters, you're immediately drawn into a family of eight who have major communication issues and personality disorders. Each has an argumentative one of a different shade, and alliances aren't very clear. Rose's friend Sandra attempts to control her children, grandchildren, their spouses, and two great-grandchildren. Heather is hoping to bring the family back together after her husband passed away, but when her in-laws also show up, there is definitely gonna be a showdown. Someone, or maybe a few, has something to hide. And we need to uncover why poison was put in the victim's teacup. Poor Lily is forced to close shop again... and the local police can be quite difficult to manage.
This is a prime example of why cozies can be such delightful reads. Whether you prefer the difficult family, the lush setting, the comical relationships between the main characters, or solving a murder, you get a bit of everything. This murder was mostly straightforward in terms of solving family secrets, but there was definitely a shocking twist. I 100% admit I was wrong in identifying the killer, and when it all unfolds... clearly, we weren't meant to solve this one on our own. We're meant to watch the characters have a go at it, and even they were stymied with the reason why. I mean this in a good way, because it's not predictable, and it makes you think about the possibilities of this happening in reality. I cannot say anymore because I don't want to spoil anything. That said, discovering the killer's identity and his/her motivation, is a nice surprise... and it will make me open my net of analysis in the future.
I'm excited to see where this story goes. There are a few couples lining up. I see the potential for a Lily / Rose family mystery coming together. And I am learning about teas and flowers, so it's a big win for me. 4.5 stars. Bring on some more!
June 20, 2021
I am finding that I really like the way this author writes. This is a good thing since I have now managed to start part way through two of her series so I have plenty of back reading to catch up on! I also just learned that she writes the Lighthouse Library series under the name of Eva Gates - another series I really enjoy.
Murder in a Teacup is set in and around Lily Roberts' tea shop named Tea by the Sea. Set in the beautiful grounds of her grandmother's guesthouse, this is a genuine tea shop serving only afternoon tea, coffee and cake and special High Teas. They sound delicious especially as it is all baked on the premises by Lily herself.
When Grandma Rose is visited by a close friend and seven family members they are bound to have High Tea one afternoon at Tea by the Sea and unfortunately one of them dies apparently from poisoning. Could it have been from something consumed at the meal? The police are involved, much trouble ensues and of course Lily, Rose and friend Bernie get together to try and solve the crime.
This was a really entertaining, light hearted read. The mystery is intriguing, the possible culprits are many and the solution totally surprising.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Murder in a Teacup is set in and around Lily Roberts' tea shop named Tea by the Sea. Set in the beautiful grounds of her grandmother's guesthouse, this is a genuine tea shop serving only afternoon tea, coffee and cake and special High Teas. They sound delicious especially as it is all baked on the premises by Lily herself.
When Grandma Rose is visited by a close friend and seven family members they are bound to have High Tea one afternoon at Tea by the Sea and unfortunately one of them dies apparently from poisoning. Could it have been from something consumed at the meal? The police are involved, much trouble ensues and of course Lily, Rose and friend Bernie get together to try and solve the crime.
This was a really entertaining, light hearted read. The mystery is intriguing, the possible culprits are many and the solution totally surprising.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 21, 2021
Murder in a Teacup by Vicki Delany is the second book in the cozy Tea by the Sea Mysteries series. As with most cozies each book of the series will contain a new mystery that will solved so this could be read as a standalone if choosing to do so. Of course there will be character development that carries over from book to book for those that read the series from the beginning.
Some days Lily Roberts doesn’t know what keeps her busier, running her own business, Tea by the Sea, a traditional English tearoom, or keeping up with her feisty grandmother. Thankfully for Lily her tearoom is right by her grandmother Rose’s bed and breakfast so most days she can do both.
And old friend of Rose has decided to visit and has brought most of her family along with her. Lily hosts the group in her tearoom before they head back to her grandmother Rose’s B&B. Later that night one of the guests begins to fall ill and after he passes away Lily’s tearoom falls under suspicion. With the police looking her way Lily vows to find out who actually poisoned her customer’s tea before she ends up behind bars herself.
The Tea by the Sea Mysteries series is another that I started at the beginning and with returning I felt back at home with the characters. This is one of those series that while you follow along and try to solve the mystery you will also be chuckling along the way. When you combine the mystery and humor with a wonderful setting I find myself enjoying every minute I spend reading and will definitely return.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Some days Lily Roberts doesn’t know what keeps her busier, running her own business, Tea by the Sea, a traditional English tearoom, or keeping up with her feisty grandmother. Thankfully for Lily her tearoom is right by her grandmother Rose’s bed and breakfast so most days she can do both.
And old friend of Rose has decided to visit and has brought most of her family along with her. Lily hosts the group in her tearoom before they head back to her grandmother Rose’s B&B. Later that night one of the guests begins to fall ill and after he passes away Lily’s tearoom falls under suspicion. With the police looking her way Lily vows to find out who actually poisoned her customer’s tea before she ends up behind bars herself.
The Tea by the Sea Mysteries series is another that I started at the beginning and with returning I felt back at home with the characters. This is one of those series that while you follow along and try to solve the mystery you will also be chuckling along the way. When you combine the mystery and humor with a wonderful setting I find myself enjoying every minute I spend reading and will definitely return.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
August 5, 2021
Lily’s grandmother Rose owned the B&B next door to Lily’s café, Tea by the Sea, and during tourist season both were filled to capacity with visitors. When Rose’s old friend Sandra McHenry arrived with all her family, for the family reunion which had been decades in the making, little did everyone know that before too many days were over, someone would be dead. But between the McHenry’s and the French’s, the reunion was filled with arguing, back-biting, bickering, snarling at one another folks who shouldn’t have attended. And Lily and Rose couldn’t work out why they all came.
But it was Lily’s café and Lily’s teapot and delectable foods which came under fire when one of the family members died. And the police closing both places until they had the evidence they needed would see both Rose and Lily out of pocket in peak tourist season. So Lily, Bernie and Rose decided to do their own investigation to speed things up. But would they flesh out the killer before someone else was hurt?
Murder in a Teacup is the 2nd in the Tea by the Sea Mysteries by Vicki Delany and I enjoyed it. Light, entertaining and fun, the mystery was good – I didn’t pick the perpetrator at all! The location on the edge of the sea at Cape Cod was delightful – I could visualize the beauty of the place. I’d love to stay at that B&B as well – well written and satisfying, I’m looking forward to #3. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
But it was Lily’s café and Lily’s teapot and delectable foods which came under fire when one of the family members died. And the police closing both places until they had the evidence they needed would see both Rose and Lily out of pocket in peak tourist season. So Lily, Bernie and Rose decided to do their own investigation to speed things up. But would they flesh out the killer before someone else was hurt?
Murder in a Teacup is the 2nd in the Tea by the Sea Mysteries by Vicki Delany and I enjoyed it. Light, entertaining and fun, the mystery was good – I didn’t pick the perpetrator at all! The location on the edge of the sea at Cape Cod was delightful – I could visualize the beauty of the place. I’d love to stay at that B&B as well – well written and satisfying, I’m looking forward to #3. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2021
Audiobook - For me, the narration was bad. Like almost DNF'd a few times bad. The voices were not good and every sentence seemed to end in a question.
The story - I enjoy the tea shop by the sea, next to the seaside bed and breakfast. It took me a bit to remember who the characters were (I got it confused with another shop by the sea cozy series for a few minutes). Overall, the plot was over the top. Some of it may be related to the narration in the audiobook but the characters were like caricatures of terrible personalities. The way the cops interacted with Lily and gang isn't enjoyable, we go from them being super rude to her, which I don't enjoy in a cozy, to them basically letting her run an investigation. The cop/Lily interaction didn't work for me and I recall it being an issue in the first book as well. The ending was a surprise, the whodunit was unexpected for me, possibly because it didn't hold my interest so I wasn't paying attention.
Not sure I will continue on with the series. I love other series by this author but this one isn't working for me.
The story - I enjoy the tea shop by the sea, next to the seaside bed and breakfast. It took me a bit to remember who the characters were (I got it confused with another shop by the sea cozy series for a few minutes). Overall, the plot was over the top. Some of it may be related to the narration in the audiobook but the characters were like caricatures of terrible personalities. The way the cops interacted with Lily and gang isn't enjoyable, we go from them being super rude to her, which I don't enjoy in a cozy, to them basically letting her run an investigation. The cop/Lily interaction didn't work for me and I recall it being an issue in the first book as well. The ending was a surprise, the whodunit was unexpected for me, possibly because it didn't hold my interest so I wasn't paying attention.
Not sure I will continue on with the series. I love other series by this author but this one isn't working for me.
February 17, 2021
4.5 stars
Lily Roberts is a restaurant chef👩🏻🍳 and owner of a tearoom called Tea by the Sea which is on a bed and breakfast property called Victoria-on-Sea owned by her maternal grandmother Rose Campbell. Lily moved to Cape Cod from Manhattan to help her grandmother run her B&B and stayed back to open her tearoom.
At Victoria-on-Sea Lily offers her guests a traditional full English breakfast every day along with cereal and yogurt, pastries and fruit 🍳 🥞 The B & B consists of eight rooms and suites.
Rose is expecting a longtime friend named Sandy and her family who are coming on a vacation: Sandy’s son Brian McHenry and his wife, Darlene. They are Heather’s parents; Heather’s brother, Lewis, his wife, Julie-Ann, and their two children.
Heather married her part-time college teacher Norman who was twenty years older than her. He had a small internet start-up company which he later sold to a huge computer conglomerate for megabucks and was kept on by them as a consultant. Unfortunately, he lost his life while crossing the street outside their apartment building.
While at breakfast, Lily couldn’t help but notice some tension between the McHenry family. Not to mention how Heather’s family all treat her like their personal ATM: they expect her to take them shopping, spa, fishing trips and so on.
The last guests who were expected to arrive the previous day finally show up. Ed French and his wife, Trisha. Turns out Ed is Heather’s former brother-in-law and Heather had invited them.
Heather and her family—including Lily’s friend Bernie who’s a writer—are scheduled to have the Royal Tea at Lily’s tearoom the next day.
Later that evening, after the tea, one of the guests takes ill and is taken to the hospital. Later he’s reported dead.
Moments later, the police storm into the B & B kitchen and slap Lily with a search warrant. The police suspect Ed was poisoned. Earlier Ed had given one of Lily’s staff his herbal tea—which he brought with him—to make it for him. They think his tea was poisoned.
With her tearoom temporarily closed, and the police are not close to identifying who poisoned Ed, Rose decides to do some digging of her own with the help of Lily’s friend Bernie.
Some recipes served at the B & B include bran muffins, Edna’s jam and preserves—Edna is the breakfast assistant; scones made with fresh orange zest 🍊and served with clotted cream and Edna’s orange marmalade. Darjeeling-poached chicken, curried egg salad, cucumber with cream cheese, and thinly sliced roast beef served with fresh arugula.
Pastries include coffee cake 🍰, pistachio macarons, strawberry tarts, mini coconut cupcakes, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and buttery shortbread 🧁 🥥 🍫 🍬 🍭 .
Fun mystery filled with beautiful descriptions of Rose’s B & B and other furry characters. Éclair, Lily’s Labrador 🐕 , and Rose’s cat Robert the Bruce 🐈
Included in this book are recipes such as Chocolate Chip Cookies, Shortbread Cookies, and Curried Egg Salad Sandwiches
Definitely recommend this cozy mystery. Thank you to Vicki Delany, NetGalley, and Kensington for the ARC of this book.
Lily Roberts is a restaurant chef👩🏻🍳 and owner of a tearoom called Tea by the Sea which is on a bed and breakfast property called Victoria-on-Sea owned by her maternal grandmother Rose Campbell. Lily moved to Cape Cod from Manhattan to help her grandmother run her B&B and stayed back to open her tearoom.
At Victoria-on-Sea Lily offers her guests a traditional full English breakfast every day along with cereal and yogurt, pastries and fruit 🍳 🥞 The B & B consists of eight rooms and suites.
Rose is expecting a longtime friend named Sandy and her family who are coming on a vacation: Sandy’s son Brian McHenry and his wife, Darlene. They are Heather’s parents; Heather’s brother, Lewis, his wife, Julie-Ann, and their two children.
Heather married her part-time college teacher Norman who was twenty years older than her. He had a small internet start-up company which he later sold to a huge computer conglomerate for megabucks and was kept on by them as a consultant. Unfortunately, he lost his life while crossing the street outside their apartment building.
While at breakfast, Lily couldn’t help but notice some tension between the McHenry family. Not to mention how Heather’s family all treat her like their personal ATM: they expect her to take them shopping, spa, fishing trips and so on.
The last guests who were expected to arrive the previous day finally show up. Ed French and his wife, Trisha. Turns out Ed is Heather’s former brother-in-law and Heather had invited them.
Heather and her family—including Lily’s friend Bernie who’s a writer—are scheduled to have the Royal Tea at Lily’s tearoom the next day.
Later that evening, after the tea, one of the guests takes ill and is taken to the hospital. Later he’s reported dead.
Moments later, the police storm into the B & B kitchen and slap Lily with a search warrant. The police suspect Ed was poisoned. Earlier Ed had given one of Lily’s staff his herbal tea—which he brought with him—to make it for him. They think his tea was poisoned.
With her tearoom temporarily closed, and the police are not close to identifying who poisoned Ed, Rose decides to do some digging of her own with the help of Lily’s friend Bernie.
Some recipes served at the B & B include bran muffins, Edna’s jam and preserves—Edna is the breakfast assistant; scones made with fresh orange zest 🍊and served with clotted cream and Edna’s orange marmalade. Darjeeling-poached chicken, curried egg salad, cucumber with cream cheese, and thinly sliced roast beef served with fresh arugula.
Pastries include coffee cake 🍰, pistachio macarons, strawberry tarts, mini coconut cupcakes, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and buttery shortbread 🧁 🥥 🍫 🍬 🍭 .
Fun mystery filled with beautiful descriptions of Rose’s B & B and other furry characters. Éclair, Lily’s Labrador 🐕 , and Rose’s cat Robert the Bruce 🐈
Included in this book are recipes such as Chocolate Chip Cookies, Shortbread Cookies, and Curried Egg Salad Sandwiches
Definitely recommend this cozy mystery. Thank you to Vicki Delany, NetGalley, and Kensington for the ARC of this book.
July 27, 2021
I'm a huge fan of Vicky Delany and loved Murder in a Teacup. I this this is not her best book as I found it a bit repetitive and the mystery seemed a bit weak to me.
I was happy to catch with Lily, Rose and Bernie. The descriptions of food were mouthwatering but somehow the book didn't keep my attention.
The dysfunctional family would be perfect in a domestic thriller, they were a bit over the top and grated on my nerves.
I guessed who-did-it soon in the book but I love Lily investigating.
I want to read other books in this series, this one is not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I was happy to catch with Lily, Rose and Bernie. The descriptions of food were mouthwatering but somehow the book didn't keep my attention.
The dysfunctional family would be perfect in a domestic thriller, they were a bit over the top and grated on my nerves.
I guessed who-did-it soon in the book but I love Lily investigating.
I want to read other books in this series, this one is not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
July 16, 2021
This cozy mystery takes a while waking up fully. The first 25% reviews characters and settings from the series, while introducing a large, dysfunctional, Iowan family full of murder suspects (and one victim). Once the poisoning occurs in the tearoom, the investigation is underway. I was disappointed when the plot continued to crawl along. I expect the genre to err towards cozy over mysterious. I don't expect thrills, but I look for setting and characters to do the work of making things welcoming. However, I think this book focused too much on unnecessary details with no relevance to the murder or to characterization. Because of it, I grew bored and testy the further I read. For example, I liked delicious descriptions of Lily's cooking and baking, but repetitive reminders of her daily work routines did not add value to the story.
One thing I enjoy about the setup of this series is that protagonist Lily isn't the intrepid amateur investigator. She begrudgingly supports her grandmother and best friend's sleuthing while she herself provides food, a certain naïveté, and tries to put on the brakes when scheming goes too far. Where this diverges from the first book is that Lily comes across as very underappreciated in this one. She works herself to the bone, but she is often talked down to, her help is assumed rather than asked for, and her opinions are sidelined.
Overall, the promise of these characters and their relationships from the first book is betrayed by stagnation in this sequel. Lily ultimately doesn't grow closer to her best friend, grandmother, or romantic interest. We see a slight shift when people are reacting to the dramatics of the murderer reveal right at the end, but I would guess that this is a temporary response and everything will go back to square one in the next novel.
There's one more aspect of the book that I wish to discuss because it's actually problematic and not just about preference. There are several scattered instances of fat-shaming in this book. Sometimes, weight was the main feature of a character shared with readers. In fact, it's suggested by one helpful armchair detective that the murder victim wasn't poisoned but rather so fat that he died of a heart attack (logic!). This is furthered when Lily's grandmother doesn't want people to know a murder occurred on her property, so she tells someone in town that he was overweight to let them infer it was his own fault he died.
I'm just really disappointed.
One thing I enjoy about the setup of this series is that protagonist Lily isn't the intrepid amateur investigator. She begrudgingly supports her grandmother and best friend's sleuthing while she herself provides food, a certain naïveté, and tries to put on the brakes when scheming goes too far. Where this diverges from the first book is that Lily comes across as very underappreciated in this one. She works herself to the bone, but she is often talked down to, her help is assumed rather than asked for, and her opinions are sidelined.
Overall, the promise of these characters and their relationships from the first book is betrayed by stagnation in this sequel. Lily ultimately doesn't grow closer to her best friend, grandmother, or romantic interest. We see a slight shift when people are reacting to the dramatics of the murderer reveal right at the end, but I would guess that this is a temporary response and everything will go back to square one in the next novel.
There's one more aspect of the book that I wish to discuss because it's actually problematic and not just about preference. There are several scattered instances of fat-shaming in this book. Sometimes, weight was the main feature of a character shared with readers. In fact, it's suggested by one helpful armchair detective that the murder victim wasn't poisoned but rather so fat that he died of a heart attack (logic!). This is furthered when Lily's grandmother doesn't want people to know a murder occurred on her property, so she tells someone in town that he was overweight to let them infer it was his own fault he died.
I'm just really disappointed.
March 23, 2021
I dove into the series here instead of starting with the first! It's not difficult to figure out what's going on in the tea room, and the setting of the historic inn on the Massachusetts seaside is well described. It definitely meant I was ready to hop over and visit for a week! Tea rooms and old inns are a weakness of mine.
I didn't care for the overblown drama of the family who's going to lose a member to the murder. It worked to make plenty of suspects, but it wasn't pleasant to read their shrill feuds on the page. I had to skim over some of it until finally getting to the murder at 35% in. After that the crime-solving got more interesting. Yes, some was a little bit of a stretch for believability, but I still enjoyed the puzzle of solving the crime. I'll definitely be reading others from this series.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.
I didn't care for the overblown drama of the family who's going to lose a member to the murder. It worked to make plenty of suspects, but it wasn't pleasant to read their shrill feuds on the page. I had to skim over some of it until finally getting to the murder at 35% in. After that the crime-solving got more interesting. Yes, some was a little bit of a stretch for believability, but I still enjoyed the puzzle of solving the crime. I'll definitely be reading others from this series.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.
July 21, 2021
Murder in a Teacup by Vicki Delany is the 2nd A Tea by the Sea Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you have not had time to indulge in Tea & Treachery. Everything a new reader needs to know is included. The author provides beautiful descriptions of North Augusta, Massachusetts where Lily’s grandmother, Rose runs Victoria-on-Sea Bed and Breakfast and Lily Roberts has her cozy teashop, Tea by the Sea. Rose has her friend, Sandra visiting from Iowa along with her family. Her granddaughter, Heather is footing the bill for the family reunion. Their bickering and backbiting is fraying the staff’s nerves. Lily is happy she has her cottage to retreat to at the end of the day. Unfortunately, one of the family members end up dead from poisoning casting suspicion on Lily and her staff. Lily wonders which one of the family members committed the evil deed. She intends to find out since another death has once again closed down her tea shop. I found Murder in a Teacup easy to read with a fun cast of characters. I love Lily’s grandmother, Rose. She is a classy lady. I also like Lily who is an excellent baker and her cute dog, Éclair. There are some good secondary characters that include Simon, the English gardener, and Matt, the new neighbor. I am not as enamored with Lily’s friend, Bernie. I find her flighty and annoying. The mystery was straightforward. There was a family of suspects along with misdirection. A piece of information early in the book provided me with the killer’s identity. It also helped me guess some secrets that would be revealed at the end of the book. I wish the whodunit had been more of a challenge (I love a good puzzle). There are mouthwatering descriptions of Lily’s baked goods that includes orange zest scones. I like learning about the various types of tea, foods served at teatime, and the different types of tea pots. I loved the description of Lily’s special china she received when she was eighteen. There are recipes at the end of the book for the tempting teats featured in the book. I enjoyed reading this lighthearted cozy mystery set by the sea. Murder in a Teacup is a cute Cape Cod cozy with bickering brethren, delectable delights, a gifted gardener, a bespoke brew, a cat conundrum, and a malicious murder.
February 17, 2021
Kindle Copy from Net Galley and Kensington Books.
I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.
Lily’s grandma friend pays her an unexpected visit which includes an unpleasant family reunion of her grandma’s friend. Her tearoom becomes a hot spot with bickering during afternoon tea leading to poisoning of one of the guests.
It just what Lily needs bad press with a death poisoning and her tearoom is a scene of the crime. No one else got sick and the victim always brought his own mixture of herbal tea. Who could have spiked his tea as Lily will find the answers to save the reputation of her business?
It is a picture perfect setting for murder. A charming cozy read.
I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.
Lily’s grandma friend pays her an unexpected visit which includes an unpleasant family reunion of her grandma’s friend. Her tearoom becomes a hot spot with bickering during afternoon tea leading to poisoning of one of the guests.
It just what Lily needs bad press with a death poisoning and her tearoom is a scene of the crime. No one else got sick and the victim always brought his own mixture of herbal tea. Who could have spiked his tea as Lily will find the answers to save the reputation of her business?
It is a picture perfect setting for murder. A charming cozy read.
August 1, 2022
Lily runs a Cape Cod tea shop with her grandmother Rose, and her grandmother's neighboring B&B has booked a family reunion with Rose's oldest friend, Sandra's family and a few others. They are a cranky bunch, sponging off of the generosity of Sandra's granddaughter, Heather. Then one of the guests dies unexpectedly, and everyone is a suspect, so Lily, Rose, and Bernie decide to investigate--but someone wants to stop them, and takes drastic steps to do so. I enjoyed the Cape Cod setting and the likable characters in this cozy mystery.
March 1, 2022
Well written book but I'm still left wanting more. Not that it wasn't entertaining...it just wasn't engaging? I hope the next book is better!
July 31, 2021
NOT my favorite read as of late. There were too many negatives for me to fully enjoy the book [I really dislike Rose and I am not 100% sure why, but every time she's in a scene I find myself grinding my teeth and waiting for her to leave the scene, which is tough when she is in most of the book. There were too many characters shoved at you at the beginning to deal with and NONE OF THEM WERE LIKEABLE, Lily is a workaholic AND lets people walk all over her and never stands up for herself, especially with Rose etc etc etc] and I had a lot of the murder plot figured out early on [the who and the what and the how and the why, though I did get a teeny bit of it wrong, if you an call it that] and the fact that the police were totally just working with Lily was such a turn off for me [why would the cops all of the sudden be okay with giving them TONS of info and be okay with Lily doing work for them? It was totally a 180 that was very jarring and so not believable].
I will probably read one more of these because I totally am about waiting to get into a series and its been proven to me over and over that sometimes it takes until book 4 for it all to settle; I am hoping that this the case here. I so want to enjoy these books, because the good about them is VERY good. Who wouldn't want to stay in Cape Cod and have high tea [orange scones!! Yes please] amongst friends and sunshine and the water? The way these scenes are written make you want to be RIGHT THERE RIGHT NOW and that is a huge bonus with this series. If the focus was on this and the mystery, it would almost be a perfect book IMO. So here's hoping.
Thank you to NetGalley, Vicki Delany, and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I will probably read one more of these because I totally am about waiting to get into a series and its been proven to me over and over that sometimes it takes until book 4 for it all to settle; I am hoping that this the case here. I so want to enjoy these books, because the good about them is VERY good. Who wouldn't want to stay in Cape Cod and have high tea [orange scones!! Yes please] amongst friends and sunshine and the water? The way these scenes are written make you want to be RIGHT THERE RIGHT NOW and that is a huge bonus with this series. If the focus was on this and the mystery, it would almost be a perfect book IMO. So here's hoping.
Thank you to NetGalley, Vicki Delany, and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2022
3.5 stars
Lily is busier than ever running her tea shop and cooking breakfast for her grandmother's B&B guests. Grandma Rose is eager for Lily to meet her old friend Sandra from Iowa and Sandra's granddaughter Heather. They're on the Cape for a family reunion. Since Heather married, moved to New York and became a wealthy widow, they haven't seen much of each other. When unexpected guests arrive, Heather's in-laws, the you-know-what hits the fan when they all start complaining and yelling. When Heather's brother-in-law Ed dies after eating at Tea By the Sea, the police suspect it was something he ate or drank and once again have to close the shop and go through everything. Lily is horrified and terrified the incident will negatively affect her business. Bernie is certain it was murder as everyone ate the same thing and no one else got sick. Only Ed. He was the only one to drink some kind of healthy herbal tea conconction. Someone had to have poisoned Ed but how could they have done so in plain sight of everyone? It had to have been one of the family members. Bernie sets out to investigate the family's financial dealings and pushes Lily to interview suspects. It's just like a novel! Poor Lily really doesn't want to get involved but if it helps the police wrap things up sooner, the sooner she can open her business again. When Lily, Bernie and Rose are nearly killed, they know they must be close but they don't have a clue! Who could have done such a horrible deed?
I liked this mystery much better than the previous one but I still didn't love it. The mystery part is excellent. The clues weren't there pointing the way and I never guessed. I didn't see the twist coming either. The thought crossed my mind that a certain character was the murderer but then I thought "Oh guess not." I was certain it was someone obvious for obvious reasons. I almost never get distracted by red herrings like that wow!
Cozy wise, this story is a bit lacking. I LOVE tea! I love scones, I love clotted cream and jam on my scones, I love pastries... I do not love Cape Cod so you would think this barely there Cape Cod locale would appeal to me. It doesn't because I know the Cape well enough not to get a Cape Cod vibe. My Cape smells like low tide, shellfish and pollution. My Cape has sandy dunes, beach grass, seagulls eating trash, sandbars for miles at low tide, boats, diging for clams, lobsters, stuffies, clam bakes, salt water taffy and always always sand everywhere! Miraculously there's NO sand in Victoria-On-Sea. The only thing Cape Cod to me, which is still generic, is going to the candy shop in town for ice cream. My siblings, cousins and I all have happy memories of the penny candy store. Never tea rooms. I've never even passed by a tea room but I Googled and there are a few. I would have placed Lily's tea room at a historic inn not adjacent to a Victorian house turned B&B.
The other thing I don't like about the story is the characters. They're very flat and unrealistic. Lily is Ok but she's kindof a pushover. She finally loses her cool a bit in this book with Bernie but mostly she lets everyone else tell her what to do. I appreciate how hard she works though and how dedicated she is to her business. Bernie annoys the heck out of me! She is obnoxious as all get out. She comes into her best friend's place of business- a business Lily needs to SELL food to survive- and proceeds to stand around the kitchen eating the food meant for paying customers and prevents actual employees from doing their actual jobs. She also hangs around the B&B kitchen eating food meant for paying guests, then offers said food to the police without asking or checking to see if there's any more food left! Bernie lacks an understanding of how hard Lily has to work to stay afloat. She thinks Lily should just be able to take off any time she wants to go on a hare-brained fishing for clues expedition. Bernie changes her mind about her book 18 times a day based on whatever is happening. Lily does tell her to quit it and come up with an outline. Why doesn't she plan a series? She can have her romance be a slow burn, have zany unrealistic adventures throughout multiple books each with a different plot. She could plot more books and not a series and cover all her ideas. PICK ONE to start with and set the ball rolling. Bernie's chronic procrastination is going to bite her on the butt some day soon. At least she seems to be getting along better with Matt even if she won't date him yet.
Rose also annoys me. She's awful to her granddaughter and seems to prefer Bernie. Rose also prefers sleeping in, gossipping with Edna and listening in on police investigations more than she likes work. She's toned down a bit in this book since her friend is visiting. I think she doesn't want to scare off her friend by being too caustic and rude. Simon is a prince! He jumps in to help out when Lily needs him, no questions asked, no favors needed, he just does it. They have an easy relationship with witty banter now. I agree with Lily that she doesn't have time for a summer fling but I bet he sticks around. Edna is toned down too. She likes to gossip but this time her gossip is helpful and useful. She knows she's contributing to the investigation and promises not to reveal anything they tell her to her husband, the newspaper editor. Cheryl and Marybeth, Lily's only two employees, work nearly as hard as Lily. Marybeth has an accident in this one and it seems pretty serious but it's never fully addresses after the fact. I like her. She and her mom have a great relationship. They trade barbs but they have a bond that shows they love each other, unlike the McHenry clan.
The police are awful. Detective Chuck Williams is a moron and should have been sacked for bungling the last case. He shouldn't have even been involved in the first place. He's lazy, stupid and incompetent. Detective Amy Raymond is a strong, intellgent woman. She's tough but willing to keep an open mind and listen to what citizens have to tell her. She respects Lily and doesn't dismiss Lily's concerns the way Williams does. If he doesn't get fired after this I will be disgusted.
There are SOOO many new characters. Rose's friend Sandra is the matriarch of a large clan. She's a wealthy Iowan on the board of many charities and non-profits. She and Rose go way back to their early married days but haven't seen each other since Rose's husband died and she moved to Cape Cod. Sandra seems nice. She's a loving grandmother but also concerned for the behavior of her great-grandchildren who are out of control. Sandra is closest to her granddaughter Heather. Heather is a young widow. Her husband invented something with computers and made a fortune but he was promptly killed by a taxi leaving Heather a wealthy widow. Heather doesn't seem to miss him too much. Bernie thinks Heather enjoys showing off her wealth and I agree. She mentions money a lot, her NYC connections and wears designer clothing. Still, she must be lonely. Her parents and brother didn't approve of her marriage to a much older man and only her grandmother stood by her. Heather proves to be kind and generous to her extended family, even inviting her late husband's brother and his wife to the family reunion.
Sandra's children are grown and still act like teenagers. Her son Brian doesn't seem to appreciate the family reunion at all. He's non-confrontational but does have opinions about what he wants to do and who is going to pay for it. His wife Darlene is a gold digger and mooches off Heather. Darlene is kind of whiny and not very pleasant. Their son Lewis is a terrible father who has spoiled his son. He is cranky and always complaining. His wife Julie-Anne is toxic. She's absolutely horrid. Julie-Anne is unnecessary cruel, taunting her enemy. She's so spoiled she wants what she wants and gets what she wants. She is also mooching off Heather's money. She has a past with Ed, Heather's brother-in-law, and Sandra won't gossip but it's obvious these two had a relationship and he chose to marry Tricia, who is the nicest of the bunch. Ed is one of those HAW-HAW men who ignores the advice of his doctor he doesn't like, thinks he knows best and is an air dreamer. Tricia is lovely though. I feel so bad for her when her husband dies and she's left alone without friends or family. Everyone is horrid to her when all she can do is lie in bed and cry. I don't believe she killed her own husband but she had the means-the bag with the gross grassy tea was in her purse! I don't want her to be the killer. She seems so nice.
Lewis's daughter Amanda is a typical teen, needing her phone glues to her face or ear 24/7. She's your average eye rolling, like OMG get me out of this place teen. Her brother, Tyler, is horrid. He's spoiled, selfish, stupid and doesn't learn from his mistakes. He ignores his father with a smirk because his awful mother smothers and spoils him. I don't think either of them murdered Ed though. They're too self-absorbed.
So who did kill Ed?
I might read the third book. I might save it for summer or next time I visit the Cape and see if being there helps me feel the setting more. I'd love to go to afternoon tea instead of being forced to look at and smell seafood and grilled meat. (There's always pasta though which I do love but I get enough of that at home.)
There are a couple of recipes included. You can guess how the author spent the COVID quarantine period of 2020!
Lily is busier than ever running her tea shop and cooking breakfast for her grandmother's B&B guests. Grandma Rose is eager for Lily to meet her old friend Sandra from Iowa and Sandra's granddaughter Heather. They're on the Cape for a family reunion. Since Heather married, moved to New York and became a wealthy widow, they haven't seen much of each other. When unexpected guests arrive, Heather's in-laws, the you-know-what hits the fan when they all start complaining and yelling. When Heather's brother-in-law Ed dies after eating at Tea By the Sea, the police suspect it was something he ate or drank and once again have to close the shop and go through everything. Lily is horrified and terrified the incident will negatively affect her business. Bernie is certain it was murder as everyone ate the same thing and no one else got sick. Only Ed. He was the only one to drink some kind of healthy herbal tea conconction. Someone had to have poisoned Ed but how could they have done so in plain sight of everyone? It had to have been one of the family members. Bernie sets out to investigate the family's financial dealings and pushes Lily to interview suspects. It's just like a novel! Poor Lily really doesn't want to get involved but if it helps the police wrap things up sooner, the sooner she can open her business again. When Lily, Bernie and Rose are nearly killed, they know they must be close but they don't have a clue! Who could have done such a horrible deed?
I liked this mystery much better than the previous one but I still didn't love it. The mystery part is excellent. The clues weren't there pointing the way and I never guessed. I didn't see the twist coming either. The thought crossed my mind that a certain character was the murderer but then I thought "Oh guess not." I was certain it was someone obvious for obvious reasons. I almost never get distracted by red herrings like that wow!
Cozy wise, this story is a bit lacking. I LOVE tea! I love scones, I love clotted cream and jam on my scones, I love pastries... I do not love Cape Cod so you would think this barely there Cape Cod locale would appeal to me. It doesn't because I know the Cape well enough not to get a Cape Cod vibe. My Cape smells like low tide, shellfish and pollution. My Cape has sandy dunes, beach grass, seagulls eating trash, sandbars for miles at low tide, boats, diging for clams, lobsters, stuffies, clam bakes, salt water taffy and always always sand everywhere! Miraculously there's NO sand in Victoria-On-Sea. The only thing Cape Cod to me, which is still generic, is going to the candy shop in town for ice cream. My siblings, cousins and I all have happy memories of the penny candy store. Never tea rooms. I've never even passed by a tea room but I Googled and there are a few. I would have placed Lily's tea room at a historic inn not adjacent to a Victorian house turned B&B.
The other thing I don't like about the story is the characters. They're very flat and unrealistic. Lily is Ok but she's kindof a pushover. She finally loses her cool a bit in this book with Bernie but mostly she lets everyone else tell her what to do. I appreciate how hard she works though and how dedicated she is to her business. Bernie annoys the heck out of me! She is obnoxious as all get out. She comes into her best friend's place of business- a business Lily needs to SELL food to survive- and proceeds to stand around the kitchen eating the food meant for paying customers and prevents actual employees from doing their actual jobs. She also hangs around the B&B kitchen eating food meant for paying guests, then offers said food to the police without asking or checking to see if there's any more food left! Bernie lacks an understanding of how hard Lily has to work to stay afloat. She thinks Lily should just be able to take off any time she wants to go on a hare-brained fishing for clues expedition. Bernie changes her mind about her book 18 times a day based on whatever is happening. Lily does tell her to quit it and come up with an outline. Why doesn't she plan a series? She can have her romance be a slow burn, have zany unrealistic adventures throughout multiple books each with a different plot. She could plot more books and not a series and cover all her ideas. PICK ONE to start with and set the ball rolling. Bernie's chronic procrastination is going to bite her on the butt some day soon. At least she seems to be getting along better with Matt even if she won't date him yet.
Rose also annoys me. She's awful to her granddaughter and seems to prefer Bernie. Rose also prefers sleeping in, gossipping with Edna and listening in on police investigations more than she likes work. She's toned down a bit in this book since her friend is visiting. I think she doesn't want to scare off her friend by being too caustic and rude. Simon is a prince! He jumps in to help out when Lily needs him, no questions asked, no favors needed, he just does it. They have an easy relationship with witty banter now. I agree with Lily that she doesn't have time for a summer fling but I bet he sticks around. Edna is toned down too. She likes to gossip but this time her gossip is helpful and useful. She knows she's contributing to the investigation and promises not to reveal anything they tell her to her husband, the newspaper editor. Cheryl and Marybeth, Lily's only two employees, work nearly as hard as Lily. Marybeth has an accident in this one and it seems pretty serious but it's never fully addresses after the fact. I like her. She and her mom have a great relationship. They trade barbs but they have a bond that shows they love each other, unlike the McHenry clan.
The police are awful. Detective Chuck Williams is a moron and should have been sacked for bungling the last case. He shouldn't have even been involved in the first place. He's lazy, stupid and incompetent. Detective Amy Raymond is a strong, intellgent woman. She's tough but willing to keep an open mind and listen to what citizens have to tell her. She respects Lily and doesn't dismiss Lily's concerns the way Williams does. If he doesn't get fired after this I will be disgusted.
There are SOOO many new characters. Rose's friend Sandra is the matriarch of a large clan. She's a wealthy Iowan on the board of many charities and non-profits. She and Rose go way back to their early married days but haven't seen each other since Rose's husband died and she moved to Cape Cod. Sandra seems nice. She's a loving grandmother but also concerned for the behavior of her great-grandchildren who are out of control. Sandra is closest to her granddaughter Heather. Heather is a young widow. Her husband invented something with computers and made a fortune but he was promptly killed by a taxi leaving Heather a wealthy widow. Heather doesn't seem to miss him too much. Bernie thinks Heather enjoys showing off her wealth and I agree. She mentions money a lot, her NYC connections and wears designer clothing. Still, she must be lonely. Her parents and brother didn't approve of her marriage to a much older man and only her grandmother stood by her. Heather proves to be kind and generous to her extended family, even inviting her late husband's brother and his wife to the family reunion.
Sandra's children are grown and still act like teenagers. Her son Brian doesn't seem to appreciate the family reunion at all. He's non-confrontational but does have opinions about what he wants to do and who is going to pay for it. His wife Darlene is a gold digger and mooches off Heather. Darlene is kind of whiny and not very pleasant. Their son Lewis is a terrible father who has spoiled his son. He is cranky and always complaining. His wife Julie-Anne is toxic. She's absolutely horrid. Julie-Anne is unnecessary cruel, taunting her enemy. She's so spoiled she wants what she wants and gets what she wants. She is also mooching off Heather's money. She has a past with Ed, Heather's brother-in-law, and Sandra won't gossip but it's obvious these two had a relationship and he chose to marry Tricia, who is the nicest of the bunch. Ed is one of those HAW-HAW men who ignores the advice of his doctor he doesn't like, thinks he knows best and is an air dreamer. Tricia is lovely though. I feel so bad for her when her husband dies and she's left alone without friends or family. Everyone is horrid to her when all she can do is lie in bed and cry. I don't believe she killed her own husband but she had the means-the bag with the gross grassy tea was in her purse! I don't want her to be the killer. She seems so nice.
Lewis's daughter Amanda is a typical teen, needing her phone glues to her face or ear 24/7. She's your average eye rolling, like OMG get me out of this place teen. Her brother, Tyler, is horrid. He's spoiled, selfish, stupid and doesn't learn from his mistakes. He ignores his father with a smirk because his awful mother smothers and spoils him. I don't think either of them murdered Ed though. They're too self-absorbed.
So who did kill Ed?
I might read the third book. I might save it for summer or next time I visit the Cape and see if being there helps me feel the setting more. I'd love to go to afternoon tea instead of being forced to look at and smell seafood and grilled meat. (There's always pasta though which I do love but I get enough of that at home.)
There are a couple of recipes included. You can guess how the author spent the COVID quarantine period of 2020!
September 4, 2021
"Do you suppose this is what heaven smells like?"
This is the second book in the Tea by the Sea series. Lily's tea room is doing well with the influx of tourists. Rose has friends visiting from Iowa. The family bickers about every little thing. Lily must clear the tea room's reputation after a family member dies in Tea By The Sea.
This is a very good series that keeps your attention. I love the setting! I am a bit of a tea snob so I really appreciate the eye to detail about the tea service.
The characters are well rounded and it feels like visiting with friends as you read. The ongoing grumbling between Rose and Edna make me laugh. I love that Edna stands up for herself and doesn't let Rose browbeat her.
Rose's friend, Sandra, has a most obnoxious family. The family took advantage of Heather simply because she has more money than they do. It was often hard to read.
Bernie cracks me up with her writing. It is amusing to watch her flit from one subject to another as she attempts to write her novel. Perhaps Matt will settle her down a bit both personally and professionally.
Simon is a great character. I like that in addition to gardening that he will jump in to help Lily with baking. Gotta love a man that can cook.
The revelation of the murderer took me a bit by surprise. I was looking at several other suspects.
The recipes at the end of the book sound delightful. I regret that I am not much of a baker. I do love a good shortbread.
This is a quick easy series to read. I look forward to catching up with the characters in the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is the second book in the Tea by the Sea series. Lily's tea room is doing well with the influx of tourists. Rose has friends visiting from Iowa. The family bickers about every little thing. Lily must clear the tea room's reputation after a family member dies in Tea By The Sea.
This is a very good series that keeps your attention. I love the setting! I am a bit of a tea snob so I really appreciate the eye to detail about the tea service.
The characters are well rounded and it feels like visiting with friends as you read. The ongoing grumbling between Rose and Edna make me laugh. I love that Edna stands up for herself and doesn't let Rose browbeat her.
Rose's friend, Sandra, has a most obnoxious family. The family took advantage of Heather simply because she has more money than they do. It was often hard to read.
Bernie cracks me up with her writing. It is amusing to watch her flit from one subject to another as she attempts to write her novel. Perhaps Matt will settle her down a bit both personally and professionally.
Simon is a great character. I like that in addition to gardening that he will jump in to help Lily with baking. Gotta love a man that can cook.
The revelation of the murderer took me a bit by surprise. I was looking at several other suspects.
The recipes at the end of the book sound delightful. I regret that I am not much of a baker. I do love a good shortbread.
This is a quick easy series to read. I look forward to catching up with the characters in the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 24, 2021
OMG, that was awful! The mystery itself was fine, although nowhere near the quality of Delany’s Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series. The characters are fine, although, again, not nearly as charming as her other series. The teashop is delightful. If the series has kept its original narrator, this would’ve been a simple, 3 star, cute read. The narrator for this audiobook was dreadful. I played a few seconds of it for my children, and they begged me to turn it off. Her voice was incredibly grating!
August 5, 2021
This was normal. Calm quick read with a cute mystery.
July 30, 2021
This is a wonderfully well-written cozy mystery! It invited me in from the start and held my attention throughout. Rose’s Victoria-by-Sea B&B overlooking Cape Cod Bay sounds like an elegant, scenic vacation destination. Her beloved granddaughter Lily’s tearoom, Tea by the Sea, has been open a couple months, and her afternoon tea service sounds worth the trip. Bernie, Lily’s best friend, is renting a house for the summer, hoping to write a novel after success with short stories. These ladies and their staffs are delightful and well-defined, and the mystery is quite challenging.
Rose, 80, and Lily, in her early 30’s, have a close, loving relationship despite having lived in different states until recently. Rose reached out to Lily, a talented chef, to help her with the luxurious B&B. They also renovated a small building on the grounds for the fabulous tearoom. Both are fit for a queen and well they should be, since Rose was born and raised in England and is incredibly savvy.
Rose has special guests coming in from Iowa, where she and her late husband had lived their married life. Her close friend Sandra McHenry, also in her 80’s, and the granddaughter she is close to, Heather, their family, and Heather’s in-laws are coming for a family vacation. Heather’s husband was killed in an accident when crossing a busy Manhattan street shortly after they moved there. Her husband had been much older than her; she was still in contact with his brother and sister-in-law, so the Frenches would join them for a reunion of sorts.
The McHenry and French families had a falling out many years ago that had even resulted in Heather’s parents not attending her wedding. This week isn’t looking any better. There is bickering between the two families and bickering within the McHenry family. They are even bickering because Heather paid their travel and room expenses and they want more. Her late husband had sold his company for many millions, and they want all they can get. When Ed, Heather’s brother-in-law, dies of poisoning after they all had afternoon tea at Lily’s, most of the family agree on one thing: it must be Lily’s fault.
The detectives couldn’t be more different from each other. One is older, looking forward to retirement, and the fastest way to solve the case. The other is younger, building a career, and wants justice for the victim. Bernie and Rose, and finally Lily, take things into their own capable hands again, as they aren’t convinced the arrest made is the right person. Especially when sabotage occurs that had the potential to kill Rose, Bernie, and Lily, and the older detective’s best suspect is in jail.
I enjoyed spending time with these three ladies again! They are the kind of women I would want as friends. They genuinely care about others, can laugh together and be serious when necessary, and go to great lengths to help others. Bernie has a few challenges getting her book moving, but she is as knowledgeable in her former field as the other ladies are in their professions. They are not women to be underestimated. Whodunit is also not to be underestimated, as this person is very good at covering evidence. So good that I did not consider the person for more than a second or two. I was stunned at whodunit and was very pleased with the outcome. I highly recommend this to those who enjoy well-written cozy mysteries, New England settings, B&Bs, and tearooms.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel; a review was not required.
Rose, 80, and Lily, in her early 30’s, have a close, loving relationship despite having lived in different states until recently. Rose reached out to Lily, a talented chef, to help her with the luxurious B&B. They also renovated a small building on the grounds for the fabulous tearoom. Both are fit for a queen and well they should be, since Rose was born and raised in England and is incredibly savvy.
Rose has special guests coming in from Iowa, where she and her late husband had lived their married life. Her close friend Sandra McHenry, also in her 80’s, and the granddaughter she is close to, Heather, their family, and Heather’s in-laws are coming for a family vacation. Heather’s husband was killed in an accident when crossing a busy Manhattan street shortly after they moved there. Her husband had been much older than her; she was still in contact with his brother and sister-in-law, so the Frenches would join them for a reunion of sorts.
The McHenry and French families had a falling out many years ago that had even resulted in Heather’s parents not attending her wedding. This week isn’t looking any better. There is bickering between the two families and bickering within the McHenry family. They are even bickering because Heather paid their travel and room expenses and they want more. Her late husband had sold his company for many millions, and they want all they can get. When Ed, Heather’s brother-in-law, dies of poisoning after they all had afternoon tea at Lily’s, most of the family agree on one thing: it must be Lily’s fault.
The detectives couldn’t be more different from each other. One is older, looking forward to retirement, and the fastest way to solve the case. The other is younger, building a career, and wants justice for the victim. Bernie and Rose, and finally Lily, take things into their own capable hands again, as they aren’t convinced the arrest made is the right person. Especially when sabotage occurs that had the potential to kill Rose, Bernie, and Lily, and the older detective’s best suspect is in jail.
I enjoyed spending time with these three ladies again! They are the kind of women I would want as friends. They genuinely care about others, can laugh together and be serious when necessary, and go to great lengths to help others. Bernie has a few challenges getting her book moving, but she is as knowledgeable in her former field as the other ladies are in their professions. They are not women to be underestimated. Whodunit is also not to be underestimated, as this person is very good at covering evidence. So good that I did not consider the person for more than a second or two. I was stunned at whodunit and was very pleased with the outcome. I highly recommend this to those who enjoy well-written cozy mysteries, New England settings, B&Bs, and tearooms.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel; a review was not required.
July 11, 2021
MURDER IN A TEACUP, the second book in the Tea By the Sea Mysteries by Vicki Delany, is a charming and inviting addition to the series. The protagonist, Lily Roberts, is up to her elbows in baking scones and other delectable treats for her tearoom during the busy Cape Cod summer season. The author does an admirable job in making her workday realistic – it’s nonstop with not a lot of time for sleuthing – but yet she manages to find snippets of time to ask questions and find answers. Joining the core cast of characters is Lily’s grandmother, Rose, who owns the B & B next to the tearoom. I’m happy that Rose’s personality shifted from mostly abrasive to simply feisty in this new book. I found her antics enjoyable and her zest for helping in the murder investigation made the scenes fun. Lily’s sidekick and best friend, aspiring author, Bernie, is a hoot. Her very humorous approach to trying to write a novel as each scene unfolded during Murder in a Teacup, kept me chuckling.
With a bickering family staying at the B & B for a reunion to contend with, Lily and her grandmother have their hands full. When one of the guests is poisoned during tea served by Lily, she and her grandmother are left scrambling to find out who did it after the police shut down the tearoom. Ms. Delany writes a tight plot with enough suspects to keep the reader guessing and enough intrigue to keep the reader turning pages. As the story unfolded, I was entertained and delighted with each passing scene and had a difficult time putting the book down to tend to other responsibilities. With a surprising reveal, Ms. Delany has proven once again, to be an expert storyteller!
You’ll be absolutely drooling over all the delicious goodies Lily serves at her tearoom. The author has thoughtfully provided several recipes at the back of the book.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
With a bickering family staying at the B & B for a reunion to contend with, Lily and her grandmother have their hands full. When one of the guests is poisoned during tea served by Lily, she and her grandmother are left scrambling to find out who did it after the police shut down the tearoom. Ms. Delany writes a tight plot with enough suspects to keep the reader guessing and enough intrigue to keep the reader turning pages. As the story unfolded, I was entertained and delighted with each passing scene and had a difficult time putting the book down to tend to other responsibilities. With a surprising reveal, Ms. Delany has proven once again, to be an expert storyteller!
You’ll be absolutely drooling over all the delicious goodies Lily serves at her tearoom. The author has thoughtfully provided several recipes at the back of the book.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 29, 2021
Murder in a Teacup is the second in this cozy mystery series. I enjoyed the tea shop setting, great food descriptions, and there are a number of interesting characters. I recommend reading the series in order but I believe Murder in a Teacup can be read as a standalone.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions are honest and my own. #CozyMystery
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions are honest and my own. #CozyMystery
July 15, 2022
3.5, on to #3 in the series.
May 31, 2025
I'm really enjoying this series. They are a quick cozy read with bonus recipes at the end of the book. What's not to like!
January 6, 2021
Awesome story. I love most of her other series and this one is just great.
September 24, 2021
Different narrator than the first book in the series - I much preferred the first. I couldn't keep listening.
December 3, 2022
Murder in a Teacup by Vicki Delany has us in the middle of the tearoom and the bed and breakfast's busiest time of the year. Yep, that means it is set in the summer, and now they also have a murder to solve.
Will Lily reign in Rose and Bernie regarding this newest case?
Lily Roberts, Rose, and Bernie
Lily Roberts has her hands quite busy with her mornings, starting at the bed and breakfast, making the breakfast for the guests, and then running her tearoom at the front of the property. Just add in the murder of Rose's old friend's granddaughter's brother-in-law, then Lily sadly has an overwhelming full plate. Her grandma Rose decides they need to investigate because it is her friend's family, and she wants to take care of it. Bernie because it gives her another chance to procrastinate on her book. Sadly, Lily gets roped into helping them solve this case because people always seem to talk to her, and she always seems to figure out the clues before Bernie and Rose.
The Mystery
Sandra, Heather, and their guests have a tea party at Lily's tearoom, where a member of their party, Ed French, is poisoned and dies later that day. So, of course, to save their businesses, Lily and Rose, with the help of Bernie, decide to solve the case. I was stumped throughout the mystery, trying to figure out who could have done it. Even though part of me thought I knew who it was but didn't want to admit to it. That part of me was correct. I feel bad for many of the people in this story who had to deal with the McHenry and French families.
Five Stars
Murder in a Teacup by Vicki Delany is the second book in this beautiful series. I can't wait to read the next book. Ms. Delany has a great way of getting the reader to think that they are there trying to solve the case with the characters. It's always a fun time going into one of her stories. I am giving Murder in a Teacup by Vicki Delany five stars and a recommendation to anyone that loves an excellent cozy culinary mystery.
At the back of the book, Ms. Delany gives us three recipes. They are Chocolate Chip Cookies, Shortbread Cookies, and Curried Egg Salad Sandwiches.
Tea by the Sea Mysteries
Will Lily reign in Rose and Bernie regarding this newest case?
Lily Roberts, Rose, and Bernie
Lily Roberts has her hands quite busy with her mornings, starting at the bed and breakfast, making the breakfast for the guests, and then running her tearoom at the front of the property. Just add in the murder of Rose's old friend's granddaughter's brother-in-law, then Lily sadly has an overwhelming full plate. Her grandma Rose decides they need to investigate because it is her friend's family, and she wants to take care of it. Bernie because it gives her another chance to procrastinate on her book. Sadly, Lily gets roped into helping them solve this case because people always seem to talk to her, and she always seems to figure out the clues before Bernie and Rose.
The Mystery
Sandra, Heather, and their guests have a tea party at Lily's tearoom, where a member of their party, Ed French, is poisoned and dies later that day. So, of course, to save their businesses, Lily and Rose, with the help of Bernie, decide to solve the case. I was stumped throughout the mystery, trying to figure out who could have done it. Even though part of me thought I knew who it was but didn't want to admit to it. That part of me was correct. I feel bad for many of the people in this story who had to deal with the McHenry and French families.Five Stars
Murder in a Teacup by Vicki Delany is the second book in this beautiful series. I can't wait to read the next book. Ms. Delany has a great way of getting the reader to think that they are there trying to solve the case with the characters. It's always a fun time going into one of her stories. I am giving Murder in a Teacup by Vicki Delany five stars and a recommendation to anyone that loves an excellent cozy culinary mystery.
At the back of the book, Ms. Delany gives us three recipes. They are Chocolate Chip Cookies, Shortbread Cookies, and Curried Egg Salad Sandwiches.
Tea by the Sea Mysteries
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Murder in a Teacup by Vicki Delany.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
November 21, 2021
Big excitement at Tea by the Sea when long-time friend of Lily Roberts’ grandmother, Rose’s, Sandra is coming to visit and stay at Rose’s charming B&B. Not only is Sandra coming to visit-her entire family is coming for a big reunion and all being paid for by her granddaughter, Heather. Heather had the good fortune to marry a very wealthy man, Norman, and move to New York. That was good fortune until Norman died in a car accident. Now the widow is trying to bring the family together and mend old wounds and slights. While there is still some minor family squabbles things seem to be going along pretty well. That is, until, during a tea at Lily’s shop one of the family members suddenly dies. Heather’s brother-in-law, Ed has his own blend of tea he drinks and when he falls over dead, it appears the tea may be the culprit. Ed has been drinking his special tea for some time, so how did it suddenly cause his death? Did someone tamper with the tea? Or was it just his time? As Sandra and Heather’s family squabbles turn to accusations it soon becomes clear Ed’s death was no accident. Not about to let her tea shop fall under suspicion, Lily finds herself, along with grandmother Rose and friend Bernie, investigating yet another murder.
I have to admit that when I read a book like Vicki Delany’s MURDER IN A TEA CUP I get led down more roads than just “whodoneit.” In this case, it’s about tea. In the first book of this series TEA AND TREACHERY Lily talked quite a bit about her favorite brew, Creamy Earl Grey. I found myself looking to buy some and then stumbled on a host of other intriguing sounding tea brews and bought myself quite a selection. I was drawn to MURDER IN A TEA CUP not just because I happen to like Delany’s writing and get pulled into her stories, but I was looking for more “tea info.” This one focuses more on Sandra’s family’s dynamics and just who had it in for Ed and it made for a “gotta find out who did it” read.
I like Lily. She’s smart, observant, kind and practical. She doesn’t rush into things but looks at all the angles and when to turn for help. I’m not a fan of Rose or Bernie – Bernie annoys me with her never ending book plotting that goes nowhere. SPOILER …..Heather was willing to give Bernie an in with a publisher but Heather’s role in the book kind of puts an end to that so Bernie no longer has incentive to write even a chapter. She’s been plotting a book and changing direction every other day through two books and it’s getting old. I go back and forth liking Rose for her inner strength and attitude and her refusal to listen to anything anyone tells her. I’m all for strong minded women, but occasionally they need to back down.
Delany presents her readers with some interesting and at times typical family dynamics as the reunion moves along. I definitely could relate to aspects of it and I’m sure most readers will too.
You do not have to read book 1, TEA AND TREACHERY to enjoy MURDER IN A TEA CUP because not only does Delany give readers enough back story to catch up, the mystery stands on its own.
I have to admit that when I read a book like Vicki Delany’s MURDER IN A TEA CUP I get led down more roads than just “whodoneit.” In this case, it’s about tea. In the first book of this series TEA AND TREACHERY Lily talked quite a bit about her favorite brew, Creamy Earl Grey. I found myself looking to buy some and then stumbled on a host of other intriguing sounding tea brews and bought myself quite a selection. I was drawn to MURDER IN A TEA CUP not just because I happen to like Delany’s writing and get pulled into her stories, but I was looking for more “tea info.” This one focuses more on Sandra’s family’s dynamics and just who had it in for Ed and it made for a “gotta find out who did it” read.
I like Lily. She’s smart, observant, kind and practical. She doesn’t rush into things but looks at all the angles and when to turn for help. I’m not a fan of Rose or Bernie – Bernie annoys me with her never ending book plotting that goes nowhere. SPOILER …..Heather was willing to give Bernie an in with a publisher but Heather’s role in the book kind of puts an end to that so Bernie no longer has incentive to write even a chapter. She’s been plotting a book and changing direction every other day through two books and it’s getting old. I go back and forth liking Rose for her inner strength and attitude and her refusal to listen to anything anyone tells her. I’m all for strong minded women, but occasionally they need to back down.
Delany presents her readers with some interesting and at times typical family dynamics as the reunion moves along. I definitely could relate to aspects of it and I’m sure most readers will too.
You do not have to read book 1, TEA AND TREACHERY to enjoy MURDER IN A TEA CUP because not only does Delany give readers enough back story to catch up, the mystery stands on its own.
August 9, 2021
-Genre
Culinary cozy mystery
-Opening Lines
“Do you suppose this is what heaven smells like?”
“I wouldn't be at all surprised, but I hope once I get there, I don't have to do all the work. I love baking, but I wouldn't want to think it's all I'll do throughout eternity.”
Simon McCracken sipped his tea. “Maybe you'll have an enormous staff of assistant bakers and kitchen helpers. I wouldn't mind being heaven's chief gardener.”
I smiled at him as I patted a ball of dough with sticky, floury hands. As I did several times a day, I was making currant scones for afternoon tea. “If we can't be in heaven, then North Augusta, Massachusetts, in late June is a pretty close second.”
Simon drained his cup and put it in the dishwasher. “I'll second that. Time to get back at it. Thanks for the tea." I looked up at the hesitation in his voice, then followed the direction of his eyes.
“Yes,” I said, “you may have a strawberry tart.”
-My description
Lily, owner and chief baker at her tearoom located on the grounds of grandmother Rose’s B&B overlooking Cape Cod, is looking forward to a busy summer season when an old friend of Rose comes to stay and her extended family joins her. Tension abounds, culminating in an afternoon tea where one member of the family is poisoned and dies. Lily is forced to shut down and all her baked goods are seized. Lily and Rose are joined by gardener Simon and best friend Bernie to solve the murder and save the tearoom.
-How it made you feel
Like booking a stay at a Cape Cod B&B (minus the family dram and murder, of course!)
-Favorite part
The ending, I didn’t see it coming at all.
-One-word description
Charming
-Would you recommend?
A big thank you to whichever bookish friend suggested reading at least 3 volumes of any cozy mystery series before passing judgement. I liked, didn’t love, the first in this series. But book 2 is a fantastic read. The recurring characters—Lily, Rose, Bernie, Simon and others—really start to click and the Cape Cod setting is lovely, not to mention all the descriptions of baking, food, and tea. Sprinkle in some witty dialogue and throw in a family where almost everyone has a reason to dislike someone else. And a murder, of course.
Thank you @kensingtonbooks and @netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Culinary cozy mystery
-Opening Lines
“Do you suppose this is what heaven smells like?”
“I wouldn't be at all surprised, but I hope once I get there, I don't have to do all the work. I love baking, but I wouldn't want to think it's all I'll do throughout eternity.”
Simon McCracken sipped his tea. “Maybe you'll have an enormous staff of assistant bakers and kitchen helpers. I wouldn't mind being heaven's chief gardener.”
I smiled at him as I patted a ball of dough with sticky, floury hands. As I did several times a day, I was making currant scones for afternoon tea. “If we can't be in heaven, then North Augusta, Massachusetts, in late June is a pretty close second.”
Simon drained his cup and put it in the dishwasher. “I'll second that. Time to get back at it. Thanks for the tea." I looked up at the hesitation in his voice, then followed the direction of his eyes.
“Yes,” I said, “you may have a strawberry tart.”
-My description
Lily, owner and chief baker at her tearoom located on the grounds of grandmother Rose’s B&B overlooking Cape Cod, is looking forward to a busy summer season when an old friend of Rose comes to stay and her extended family joins her. Tension abounds, culminating in an afternoon tea where one member of the family is poisoned and dies. Lily is forced to shut down and all her baked goods are seized. Lily and Rose are joined by gardener Simon and best friend Bernie to solve the murder and save the tearoom.
-How it made you feel
Like booking a stay at a Cape Cod B&B (minus the family dram and murder, of course!)
-Favorite part
The ending, I didn’t see it coming at all.
-One-word description
Charming
-Would you recommend?
A big thank you to whichever bookish friend suggested reading at least 3 volumes of any cozy mystery series before passing judgement. I liked, didn’t love, the first in this series. But book 2 is a fantastic read. The recurring characters—Lily, Rose, Bernie, Simon and others—really start to click and the Cape Cod setting is lovely, not to mention all the descriptions of baking, food, and tea. Sprinkle in some witty dialogue and throw in a family where almost everyone has a reason to dislike someone else. And a murder, of course.
Thank you @kensingtonbooks and @netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2021
This is the 2ne book in the debut cozy series "Tea By The Sea" by cozy author Vicki Delany. Delany also writes the Lighthouse cozy series under the pen name of Eva Gates. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley. My review opinions are my own. I had read the first in series and always enjoy returning to a cozy set by the sea in Cape Cod where a tearoom is the highlight of the series. Delicious foods, lovely tea,, great charcters and of course a fun sleuth set this series apart for the ultimate reader enjoyment.
Our protagnist Lily is happily managing her popular tearoom and settling into her new life on Cape Cod as the tearoom owner and creator of wonderful high teas for the tourist and locals. When a visit from a family friend turns into a family fracas at the tearoom, a death occurs and the tearoom is under suspicion for a deadly poisoning. . Lily must utilize all her skills to save her business and find the real; suspect.
This was a enjoyable next in series with a fun sleuth. The charcters all add to the fun and the tearoom descriptions are wonderful. This avid cozy reader was surprised by the ending that kept me turning pages to conclusion. A fun addition to this new cozy series.
Our protagnist Lily is happily managing her popular tearoom and settling into her new life on Cape Cod as the tearoom owner and creator of wonderful high teas for the tourist and locals. When a visit from a family friend turns into a family fracas at the tearoom, a death occurs and the tearoom is under suspicion for a deadly poisoning. . Lily must utilize all her skills to save her business and find the real; suspect.
This was a enjoyable next in series with a fun sleuth. The charcters all add to the fun and the tearoom descriptions are wonderful. This avid cozy reader was surprised by the ending that kept me turning pages to conclusion. A fun addition to this new cozy series.
May 21, 2021
“Murder in a Teacup” by Vicki Delany the 2nd instalment in the “Tea by the Sea Mysteries”. This was a great follow up to the first book and firmly placed it in my favourites. Vicki Delany has become one of my favourite cozy mystery authors, I’m never disappointed when I pick up one of her books.
I found myself engrossed in the story and reading in couple days. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and delectable food.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and kept me guessing till the very end. I love the main character of Lily, her grandmother Rose, Simon, and her BFF Bernie. Bernie still has trouble focusing on one thing when comes to her novel, but I think she is just easily distracted and wants to do it all.
I won’t go into detail about the mystery as the book blurb does an amazing job of it but I will say if you like afternoon tea, the seaside, and a great mystery then this series is for you. Includes recipes at back of book ... yummy
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
I found myself engrossed in the story and reading in couple days. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and delectable food.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and kept me guessing till the very end. I love the main character of Lily, her grandmother Rose, Simon, and her BFF Bernie. Bernie still has trouble focusing on one thing when comes to her novel, but I think she is just easily distracted and wants to do it all.
I won’t go into detail about the mystery as the book blurb does an amazing job of it but I will say if you like afternoon tea, the seaside, and a great mystery then this series is for you. Includes recipes at back of book ... yummy
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
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