Murder with Clotted Cream

Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery #5

by Karen Rose Smith

A catering job has come in for Daisy's Tea Garden in Pennsylvania's Amish country--but death will be served before dessert . . . Margaret Vaughn has hired Daisy to provide afternoon tea for her theater group. A local girl who left long ago for an acting career in New York, Margaret has returned home--with a multimillionaire husband in tow. But while Daisy bustles around Margaret's historic farmhouse, she senses that there's tension behind the scenes. Then she discovers the hostess on the floor of the pantry--dead and covered with clotted cream. Barely recovered from her previous sleuthing adventure, Daisy joins forces with the former detective she's been dating to help solve the case. Should she cast suspicion on the stars of the upcoming play? Can Margaret's sister shine a spotlight on potential culprits? Or are there clues to be found in the victim's past? With plenty of family stress of her own to deal with, all Daisy knows is she better act fast . . . Includes delicious recipes!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Family

397 pages, Paperback

First published May 26, 2020

About the author

Award-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.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder with Clotted Cream by Karen Rose Smith is a 2020 Kensington publication.

An absorbing page turner!

In troubling times, it is often comforting to turn to something familiar. Some folks binge watch favorite series, others are re-reading favorite books instead of searching for something that will hold their divided, distracted attention. For me, I have found reading new installments in my favorite mystery series to be very calming and cathartic.

This book happens to be the latest chapter in one of my favorite series, and is also an upcoming release- a win-win! I am also happy to report this book not only held my attention, it kept me guessing from beginning to end!

In this fifth installment, Daisy accepts a catering job for Margaret Vaughn, who is hosting a tea for her theatre group. Margaret has recently moved back to Pennsylvania after pursuing a career in acting in New York. Now she is residing, with her millionaire husband, in her historic farmhouse.

Margaret isn’t exactly the warmest person, but when Daisy finds her body in the pantry, covered in clotted cream, she is shocked to the core- believing she might 'never view clotted cream the same way again'…

One of the great things about cozies is that they are 100% pure 'whodunits'. Trying to figure out who the culprit is and what the motive might be amongst the suspects is always challenging and fun. But the other great thing about cozies is checking in on the personal lives of the recurring characters, who over time begin to feel like old friends.

In this episode, Daisy is experiencing some anxiety due to the impending birth of her first grandchild, her mother’s odd behavior, and the prospect of her younger daughter’s first visit with her birth mother and her family.

The author does a magnificent job with balancing the mystery with the family drama. Both threads are interesting and compelling and kept me turning pages past my bedtime. I also appreciate the depth and maturity of this installment, which addresses some important mental health issues, without becoming too heavy. In fact, the writing here is so good, I’d go so far as to say this book would appeal to a broader audience, including those who enjoy contemporary or women's fiction.

The story has a few nice twists and some big surprises you won't want to miss out on.

Of course, it goes without saying, there are some delicious recipes included and I want to try all of them!!

Overall, this is another great addition to what has quickly become one of my very favorite cozy series. You can bet I will be the first in line for the next chapter! I can hardly wait!!

5 stars

[Natalia R · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Daisy Swanson moved back to her hometown of Willow Creek, Pennsylvania, after the death of her husband. She has two daughters, Jasmine, who is in high school, and Violet, who is expecting her first child with her husband, Foster Cranshaw. Daisy co-owns a lovely tea garden, Daisy's Tea Garden, with her aunt. In this fifth installment in the Daisy Tea Garden Mystery series, Daisy is hired by former actress, Margaret Vaughn, to provide afternoon tea for her theater group. During the event, Daisy senses that there's tension behind the scenes. When she finds Margaret's body on the floor of the pantry, covered in blood and clotted cream, she decides to do her own investigation.

I thought this was a wonderful and relaxing read. The characters are well-developed, and the setting is delightful and easy to visualize. The mystery was interesting and kept me guessing until the reveal. Daisy is an admirable character. She's hardworking compassionate, and a wonderful mother and friend. She's smart in her sleuthing and does not rush into dangerous situations. Her family experiences are real and relatable, and the author shines a light on some very important topics - PTSD, postpartum depression, and losing a spouse. The relationship between Daisy and Jonas is progressing at a good pace. I really enjoyed the descriptions of different tea blends and the mouthwatering recipes. Overall, this was a light, enjoyable mystery, and I forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

There is tension in the ranks as the 1st play starts rehearsals at the new Little Theater. So Margaret Vaughn hires Daisy to cater a tea at her home to bring all the players together. Daisy is everything under control until she finds her hostess dead in the butler’s pantry covered in her special clotted cream.

Margaret’s husband, Rowan has heard Daisy has solved murders before and begs her to find his wife’s killer. So with Thanksgiving quickly approaches she teams up with Detective Rappaport and Jonas Groft to find the killer, but someone is making it difficult for Daisy. Are they pranking her or is she really in danger?

Karen Rose Smith continues to top herself giving her readers a really good story about family life and a top-notch mystery too.

The characters in this series continue to grow, face struggles and persevere, and support each other. The author takes on some heavy issues too and presents them in a clever informative way. She has created some of the strongest characters in this genre and I enjoy the time I get to spend with each of them within each story.

There are plenty of suspects and I really enjoy that Daisy thinks things through and tries to measure her response. She is such a smart sleuth even with the police trying to keep her out of the loop. I followed along with her each step of the way and was surprised when the actual killer was revealed.

This entire series is fun and entertaining and I highly recommend them all.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Much more of Daisy's family issues and incredibly chaste romance here than of the murder, which felt like a bit of an afterthought. At this point I am invested enough to read that stuff, I guess, but it felt a bit after school special-ish at times.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder with Clotted Cream earns 5/5 Gingerbreads...Engaging Fun!

Karen Rose Smith has penned another well-written, delicious cozy with an engaging mystery, well-developed characters over the five books, endearing friendships, fascinating information on tea, and realistic issues surrounding the upcoming birth of Daisy’s first grandchild. Daisy’s Tea Garden is expanding into catering, and their upcoming event is an afternoon tea hosted by Margarett Vaughn, a former New York actress whose multi-rich husband built her a theater making herself director. All that privilege results in a very “persnickety” attitude demanding Daisy serve genuine clotted cream. But, oh what trouble one invites when friends aren’t really friends...the hostess is found dead covered in “genuine” clotted cream! The murderous event is disturbing and Daisy feels that the victim deserves justice, but don’t say it didn’t cross your mind, this could ruin their business, too. Therefore Daisy is compelled to uncover the motive and the killer. Partnering with Jonas Groft and Detective Rappaport with whom she has fostered a pleasant rapport and banter about tea. I love it! Entertaining. Full of fascinating information. Characters well worth spending time with. Don your apron! These original recipes straight from Daisy and her aunt’s catering menu are easy-to-follow and perfect for your own gathering of friends and family: Apple Gingerbread (with clotted cream, of course), Beef and Lentil Soup, and Fall Fruit Salad.

Disclosure: I received an ARC from Kensington thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.

[Taryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this next book of the series Daisy has been bored to do an afternoon tea for the local theater group run by Margaret Vaughn. Margaret was a local girl at.one time but she hated the simple life and ran off to bigger and better things. She has finally returned home and with the help of her multimillionaire husband opened up her own theater. On the day of the tea Daisy sensed tension among the group, the tea was suppose to help bring the actors together but it doesn't look like it is actually helping much. When Daisy goes to get the items she needs to setup the next course she finds the hostess dead. Who would have wanted to kill Margaret and why? Even though she went through a bad experience with her last investigation she can't help but stick her nose into this one. There are plenty of people to look at; there are the actors in her upcoming play, her sister who she hadn't seen in years before moving back, there is even her husband who could be tired of shelling out money for everything. Meanwhile Daisy's daughter has had her baby and seems to be having problems. Follow along as Daisy deals with everyday life, her daughter and new grandhcild, and an investigation that she feels she must help solve!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great installment in the series. Daisy tries to stay out of this murder mystery as hard as she can, but of course she’s not entirely successful at that. This is, after all, a cozy mystery and Daisy is the lead. But she does try and a lot of the page time is devoted to her becoming a grandmother and exploring where she and Jonas want to take their dating relationship.

The mystery definitely kept me guessing and I appreciated the strong message about responding to post-partum depression. I also really love that this series continues to be clean with no descriptions of violence, sex, or any bad words. Can’t wait for the next in the series to come out!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

[Robin Leslie Coxon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder with Clotted Cream is the fifth book in Daisy's Tea Garden series by Karen Rose Smith. Daisy Swanson the key character in this series returns and is anticipating the birth of her first grandchild. As co-owner of Daisy's Tea Garden in Willow Creak, Pennsylavania, Daisy has began catering events do to business being lower during the off peak tourtist times. One such event is an Afternoon Tea at Margaret Vaughn's historic farmhouse. Margaret was a former New York City actress and was known for her high expectations. Daisy and her Aunt Iris (the other co-owner) knew this could either make or break Daisy's Tea Garden's catering business.
Having read the previous books in this series, I was knowledgeable of each of the characters and how well rounded they are depicted. This book will also address the matter of baby blues and of course the support needed after a baby is born to first time parents. Ms. Smith has written this in a very fitting way. Daisy's growing relationship with Jonas is included too. And of course there is a murder and Daisy feels she must work to find the killer. I guarantee you will not get bored.

[Patrizia · Rating 5 out of 5]

In questo libro è molto più importante quello che accade nella vita della protagonista e della sua famiglia che risolvere l'omicidio di una ex-attrice. E va bene così. Mi ha davvero interessato scoprire nuovi aspetti della vita di Daisy e degli altri, ma sono rimasta in sospeso su cosa avverrà nella sua relazione con Jonas.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent series and this is an excellent instalment, engrossing and entertaining.
I loved the solid mystery and the mix of women's fiction and mystery is balanced and works well.
It was great to meet again the cast of characters and read about the changes in their life. The setting as lovely as usual and the characters fleshed out and likeable.
I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Sue Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite things about the best cozies is the balance between a well constructed mystery and a deep dive into relationships and personalities. MURDER WITH CLOTTED CREAM does this successfully. Daisy and her Aunt Iris plan to cater a tea for a hometown success story whi has returned home to establish a community theater. All was going according to plan until the hostess is found dead. While Daisy attemps to stay out of any investigation, she keeps getting drawn into it. Plenty of suspects and I missed picking the true guilty party. Along the way, Daisy deals with issues with both her daughters, her mother and her boyfriend. All are treated sensitively with an awareness of how easily relationships and situations can turn prickly if you aren't careful. Definitely recommended. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Daniele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder with Clotted Cream is a solid entry in Daisy's Tea Garden Cozy Mystery series. I enjoyed the mystery but found the characters' personal lives overpowered the rest of the story. Overall, I liked it.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It is my favorite in the series so far.
Daisy is still recovering from her last altercation with a murderer, so when she discovers another body during a catered tea party, she has to find out what happened. In Daisy’s opinion, no one deserved to die such a brutal death.
Partnering up with her special guy Jonas, Daisy begins to unravel the mystery and discover the truth.
I read this book from cover to cover, I could not put it down.

[Sandy Bartles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I waited forever for this book and it was definitely worth the wait. I loved seeing the changes in the lives of everyone in the family. Some wonderful, some not quite so wonderful, but workable. We get to meet a new member of the family and I felt like I was loving on him as much as everyone else! Leave plenty of time when you pick up this book. You won’t want to put it down.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love being back at Daisy’s Tea Garden where tea is elegant, treats tasty, and family comes first! Willow Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is a great location that includes local, hand-crafted living items, cooking, and values. The characters are well-defined and grow through the seasons of their lives. This season includes a women’s health challenge approached with tenderness and dignity. I love Daisy, her family and friends and their concern for others. Daisy doesn’t want to be involved in investigating the recent challenging murder, yet events kept drawing her in.

Daisy and her teenage daughters moved to Willow Creek, where she grew up, after her husband passed. Daisy and her mother’s sister, Aunt Iris, co-own Daisy’s Tea Garden, which is successful with locals and tourists alike. Along with elegant afternoon tea service and catering, their menu includes many blends of tea, sandwiches, fresh soups, and pastries. Jazzi, her sixteen-year-old daughter, is going to visit her birth mother and her family, and older daughter Vi and husband Foster are soon to be first-time parents. Family relationships are explored, and Daisy wants to improve communication with her mom and sister.

Daisy is catering a tea at the home of Margaret, a woman who left the area years ago to pursue an acting career. She married a wealthy developer and returned to Willow Creek. She is producing the opening play written by a former actress turned playwright, at the Little Theater her husband built for her. The tea is attended by a few of those involved with the production, including Glenda, the playwright, and a New York City duo who travel to do stage management and lighting. Daisy went to the pantry while the guests take a brief break to find Margaret on the floor, murdered, with clotted cream poured over her.

Rowan, Margaret’s husband, wants Daisy to find who killed his wife, as he heard about what she has done in the past. Daisy’s plate is full with the tea garden, family, and Jonas, her beau. She still suffers from PTSD after coming too close to a killer in recent months and doesn’t want to get involved again for the sake of her loved ones.

It is mid-November, time for Thanksgiving and celebrating family and friends. As Daisy chooses tasks most suited for the season, her curiosity also keeps her questioning what happened to Margaret. The police are narrowing their search, with her husband in focus. An ‘accident’ occurred at the theater, and a ‘prank’ with her baking supplies shows someone is feeling threatened. One by one, the people Daisy sees as most suspect are eliminated, but she has no idea who the police are looking at. I was unable to pick whodunit, or even why. I was quite surprised to see who the killer really was, and relieved with the final resolution to the mystery. All loose ends were tied up, and I am looking forward to the next in series. The recipes look fabulous, especially the gingerbread! The only thing that I was disappointed with is bringing up whether Daisy and Jonas are sleeping together, or at least in those terms, TMI in a cozy, and just my own opinion. I highly recommend this novel and series to those who enjoy well-crafted cozy mysteries with tea, family situations, and delightful recipes!

From a thankful heart: I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder with Clotted Cream by Karen Rose Smith has Daisy Swanson happily anticipating the birth of her first grandchild. In the meantime, Daisy has been hired by Margaret Vaughn to cater tea for the people involved in the Willow Creek Little Theater. There has been tension in the group because Margaret brought in two people from New York City to oversea the production of the play Christmas in the North Woods. The tea goes well until dessert when people disappear from the table for various reasons. Daisy goes to the butler’s pantry where she finds Margaret dead on the floor. Daisy works with her beau and former detective, Jonas Croft to unmask the killer.

Murder with Clotted Cream is the 5th A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. Daisy Swanson has her hands full in this story. I thought the story contained good writing and it had steady pace. The characters are developed and continue to evolve as the series progresses. A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series is character driven. Daisy has two children who are each going through different issues. There is also her mother, Rose and her aunt, Iris. I find the family experiences to be realistic and relatable. The author touches on PTSD, postpartum depression, and moving on after losing a spouse. Jazzi, Daisy’s youngest daughter, is reconnecting with her biological mother, but the husband has thrown a wrench in the works. I like how Daisy’s relationship with Jonas Croft is progressing. I was happy to see that they are not rushing matters. I enjoy the author’s descriptions of Willow Creek, Pennsylvania. Her word imagery brings the town alive for me. I like that there are English and Amish elements. The mystery was stimulating. There are multiple suspects who could have committed the crime. There are threats made against Daisy that provides action and suspense. This was my favorite whodunit of the series. I will, though, be avoiding clotted cream! It was fun following Daisy as she asked questions and assembled the clues. There are mouthwatering descriptions of the food served at the tea shop and at the catered tea. I am amazed at the variety of tea blends available. The author even mentions tea blends that pregnant women can and cannot imbibe. My favorite line from Murder with Clotted Cream is, “Tea calms the soul.” Murder with Clotted Cream is an enjoyable cozy mystery that has theater theatrics, clotted cream, a bouncing baby, missing memories, and tasty teas.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fifth book in 'Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery' series by Karen Rose Smith and the first one for me. I adored the title of the novel so I decided to give it a whirl and was not disappointed!

In Murder with Clotted Cream the reader is introduced to Daisy Swanson who runs a tea garden she co-owns with her aunt. Daisy moved back to her hometown of Willow Creek, Pennsylvania, after the death of her husband. Daisy is hired by a former actress, Margaret Vaughn, to provide afternoon tea for her theatre group, however, as the event gets underway, there's some backstage tension. When she finds Margaret's body on the floor of the farmhouse pantry covered in blood and clotted cream, she takes it upon herself to investigate.

Author, Karen Rose Smith's characterisation was excellent and I found Daisy to be a great mother and friend, as well as being compassionate and level-headed, showing very smart sleuthing skills. The easy to visualise setting sounded delightful and the mystery itself was well done as I was kept guessing until the big reveal. Daisy's family issues felt real and the author spotlighted core topics of depression, PTSD, and loss. I enthused over the delightful descriptions of different tea blends and scrummy sounding recipes. Murder with Clotted Cream was a relaxing, light, and thoroughly enjoyable mystery, and I eagerly anticipate reading more by Karen Rose Smith.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

[PugMom · Rating 5 out of 5]

An abso

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little cozy mystery series.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder with Clotted Cream by Karen Rose Smith is the 5th book in a Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery, and another great addition.  Daisy Swanson is a widowed mother of two daughters, and along with her Aunt Iris own Daisy's Tea Garden, in Willow Creek, Pennsylvania. When a well known actress, Margaret Vaughn, returns to town with her rich husband, she hires Daisy to cater afternoon tea in her home for her theater group. The tea is going well until Daisy finds Margaret dead in her pantry. Daisy is determined to solve the murder with the help of her boyfriend Jonas, who is an ex detective. I love that Daisy accepts help from Jonas, and does not put herself in dangerous situations. Once I started this book I could not stop reading it. It was a quick read that kept me guessing. I look forward to the next book in the series. I recommend this book for all cozy mystery book lovers, you will not be disappointed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Tabitha G · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series has become dull and predictable. Daisy makes tea, someone gets killed, daisy is somehow connected to the crime, daisy makes tea, her bf hugs her, her daughters share a bit of their drama with her, her cats ask for a snack, daisy makes tea, end of the book daisy comes face to face with the killer , her bf hugs her.

[RO G'ma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder with Clotted Cream is the fifth book in Karen Rose Smith’s Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series. This is an enjoyable read, with a great cast of characters and an interesting murder mystery. 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 the books in this series can be read as standalones.

Daisy Swanson, a widow, lives in the small town of Willow Creek, Pennsylvania, and has two daughters, Jasmine, who’s in high school, and Violet, who recently married one of Daisy’s employees, Foster Cranshaw, and is expecting their first child. Everyone is eagerly awaiting the baby’s arrival but concerned that Violet has decided to give birth at home with a midwife attending rather than in the hospital. Daisy and her deceased husband, Ryan, adopted Jasmine, who is trying to build a relationship with her birth mother, Portia Smith Harding, but is having trouble connecting with Portia’s husband, Colton. Daisy’s been seeing Jonas Groft, a retired Philadelphia detective and the owner of Woods, a handcrafted furniture store. Daisy co-owns a quaint tea garden, Daisy’s Tea Garden, with her aunt, Iris Albright. Not only is Daisy working in the tea garden, but she’s also dealing with the birth of her first grandchild and issues with her daughters, her mother, and Jonas. Daisy and Iris decided to accept catering events in order to increase their revenue, which is why Daisy finds the body of their client, Margaret Vaughn, in her butler’s pantry during an afternoon tea. Margaret recently returned to Willow Creek with her millionaire husband, Rowan Vaughn, who built a theater for her, and was hosting the afternoon tea for the theater group. Rowan learns of Daisy’s success in helping to solve murders in the past and asks her to find his wife’s killer, and she agrees to talk to a couple of people. While Daisy doesn’t work with the police, if she gleans any important information about a case, she shares it with the detective assigned to the investigation. Even though Daisy tries to stay out of this investigation, she finds herself pulled in, finally stops resisting the urge to get involved, and looks into Margaret’s past.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fifth installment in the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series has the main character trying to balance her increasingly complex personal life with a murder investigation, one that she became entangled in by a quirk of fate. Though Daisy did not intend to look for any clues when a client is killed, one situation after another just seems to draw her into the case. More and more questions arise, and finding answers to these many unknowns is imperative to solving this very complicated murder. Karen Rose Smith once again expertly comes up with one clever development after another, and these incidents sometimes gave me needed facts while other occurrences only added to the uncertainty.

Since business is often a little slower in the fall, the co-owners of Daisy’s Tea Garden would take on catering jobs while also selling from the shop. The latest undertaking that Daisy Swanson and her aunt have accepted is for a resident who became an actress in New York and now lives in a large home in their hometown of Willow Creek, Pennsylvania. Knowing how particular her client is about details, every aspect is checked to make sure all goes as planned. Needing to clarify a potential problem, Daisy goes to speak with the woman, and all seems to be worked out. When the event takes place, everything goes well until near the end when the hostess is found dead. With Daisy being the person to locate the body, she is caught up in a murder case once more.

There are several serious issues that Daisy and her family are facing in this story. They range from matters involving her daughters to something which seems to be bothering her aunt and mother. As she and her loved ones navigate through the ups and downs of these true-to-life topics, I felt as though I was caught up in the lives of people who come across as so realistically genuine. There is also the relationship that Daisy has with Jonas Groft, a former cop and now woodworker in her town, and whether their connection will grow closer or not.

In this book, Daisy finds herself in the middle of the murder case because she was at the scene of the crime. She is still haunted by what took place when she tried to track down proof of what happened when another person was killed, but current circumstances seem to put her in the position to ask relevant questions without being in any danger. Yet she also has no way of knowing what might be kept hidden from her. I had a great time trying to decide what was actually factual in this story, and Karen Rose Smith had me guessing all the way through until all is revealed. Some disclosures were certainly unexpected. MURDER WITH CLOTTED CREAM is a highly entertaining cozy mystery with believable characters and unanticipated events.

I voluntarily reviewed the book, and all comments are my honest opinion

[Rosemary K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy's latest catering job has put her in the middle of another murder investigation. She found the body of Margaret Vaughn, who left Willow Creek years ago to become an actress. Now she and her wealthy husband are back and to show his love he built Margaret a theater where she can stage plays for the town to enjoy. Why would someone murder her? Daisy is wary of becoming involved. Her last case almost ended her life but Daisy's heart tells her she needs to help find the culprit. I admire her strong values and her character. She's always there to support her family. Her advice is practical and well thought out. Her daughters know they can come to her for advice. Her romance with Jonas is progressing nicely. The former policeman is there to support and encourage her. I liked that. Unfortunate family matters, the tea room and murder are a heavy load for Daisy to juggle. Karen Rose Smith has a writing style that pulls me in. I like the characters and find it easy to relate to them. The mystery is well written and interesting but it doesn't obscure Daisy's personal life which is good. I want to know the real woman. I hated to see Jonas suffering. He never expected his world to be upended as it was. I hope that he can put his past in perspective. This series keeps getting stronger. I'm anxious to see what happens next in the Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery series.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy is looking forward to catering an afternoon tea hosted by former actress, Margaret Vaughn, for the cast and crew of her upcoming theater production. To add a touch of elegance to the event, the hostess had requested genuine clotted cream. But things don't go smoothly when Daisy discovers Margaret's dead body in the pantry, covered in blood and clotted cream. As always, this is more than just a cozy mystery, exploring the who and the why. This series also presents the realities of family life, with Daisy dealing with her own relationships with her parents, and those with her two daughters, one of whom has just recently given birth. But what I found wonderful with this series, besides solving the murder, is the attention given to postpartum depression...an often ignored and misunderstood condition. As a society, we need to be more aware of how this can effect not just the mothers and their newborns, but also the entire family, and this story helps shine a light on some of those effects and support options. I look forward to more stories in this series. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book and all opinions are strictly my own.

[Ileana Renfroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder with Clotted Cream is a great read.

Here we find Margaret Vaughn as she hires Daisy to provide afternoon tea for her theatre group.

A local girl who left long ago for an acting career in New York, Margaret has returned home with a multimillionaire husband. But while Daisy bustles around Margaret’s historic farmhouse, she senses that there’s tension behind the scenes. Then she discovers the hostess on the floor of the pantry dead and covered with clotted cream.

A fun cozy mystery with very well-crafted characters. A great series and a pleasure reading this author's work.

[Sara Piesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Haven't read any of the other series but am going too now. There are so many different things going on in this book you are constantly entertained. Five stars, couldn't fault it it would be a great holiday read.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always fun to revisit this cosy mystery series and Murder with Clotted Dream didn't disappoint. I like Daisy's reluctancy in getting involved, in addition to the fact that the book highlights PTSD and post-partum depression. The characters in general is also well written, which is a bonus.

[Kaylee Nizza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy has tons of suspect's in this book. Just when you think you have it figured out and BAM plot twist and you get the wrong suspect.
Karen Rose Smith will keep you on your toes with this read. Definitely will keep her readers looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes I’m so happy for her daughter that her mom’s husband is coming around to accepting the fact she has another daughter and gets to be surrounded by more family. I also love shining the light on postpartum depression I feel like it’s not talked about enough.