Tea is for Toxin

Haunted Tearoom #2

by Karen Sue Walker

In this small town, everyone has secrets…

…but one person will kill to keep the truth hidden.

When has turning fifty been so deadly?

Trouble is brewing as April May approaches her fiftieth birthday and the opening of her tearoom. When word gets around that a local reporter is penning a tell-all, everyone in town is on edge that their secrets may be revealed.

A murder exposes how far one desperate person will go to keep the truth hidden, and April must team up with the new deputy to find the killer. As outsiders, they’re the only two unbiased observers.

As if that’s not enough, a new love interest rattles her tearoom’s resident ghost, and his snide remarks and snooty tantrums could threaten all her hard work.

But no one knows that April has her own secret. She has something the killer wants. Will she be the next victim before she can uncover the truth?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal, Cozy, Fantasy, Ghosts, Audiobook

200 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 8, 2021

About the author

Karen Sue Walker is a lover of cozy mysteries, from Agatha Christie to Joanne Fluke. When not working or writing, she spends time with her very talented daughter and ever so fun granddaughter.

Reviews

[Sandee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great second book in this series. April May is having the grand opening of the Tea Room when a local reporter is murdered. A good solid mystery with interesting clues and really great characters. I especially enjoy the ghost of a French chef hanging out in the tea room kitchen. Rumours say that the reporter was writing a tell-all book revealing the secrets of several townspeople. April May has a new romantic interest and there is a new police detective in town.

[Sassy Mystic Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like that the heroine campaigns to save a Library amidst figuring out a murder. A fun read

[G.Terenzio · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great 2nd book in the haunted tea room series and this time April is celebrating her grand opening of her brand new teashop. She receives a gift of pickled peppers - which she hates but others love and eat and when several guests are falling sick and one even dies after eating the peppers it is quite obvious that they have been tampered with.

The victim is Kyla who has the whole town up in arms because she is going to expose in her new book every secret the people are holding and before she collapsed she had put a flash drive with her manuscript in April's pocket. Reading accusations about her friends is very difficult for April and she has to decide what is fiction or distortion of the truth to find Kyla's murderer.

Very entertaining and great fun to accompany April, her friends and the ghost Emile through cooking lessons and food preparations.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love a good cozy, murder mystery, with just a little paranormal thrown in, this book checks all the boxes. The characters are endearing, with plenty of laughs, and a little snark, and the plot has enough twists to keep it from becoming "just another cozy". See if you can solve the murder before April May, her friends and Deputy Molina can get to the bottom of it. Oh, and the paranormal? A French, food snob, chef that died in the 1960's. He's teaching April how to cook properly! All in all a great read to take you away and invite you to spend time in April's world

I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Lori Guerrieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Who-Done-It!

Had a hard time putting this down. Love all the characters, especially the 4 main friends, who solve the mysteries. I highly recommend this book.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

April May is turning 50! And she’s trying to put the finishing touches on the tearoom she’s opening in the old Victorian house she bought on a whim when she came into town that first day. She didn’t know at the time that the house came with a Bengal cat, Whisk, who lived in the attic and a ghost, Chef Emile, who hangs out in the kitchen. At her birthday celebration, three of the guests become very ill and one of them, Kayla, dies later at the hospital, and it wasn’t an accident! April knows the killer has to be found before it derails her grand opening. This book is full of twists and turns and an abundance of suspects and a little romance. A very enjoyable read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Very much enjoyed getting to visit with April May and her tearoom once more. Interesting twists with the ghostly French chef visiting while others are around, causing April to reconsider her mental state all over again. I did not see the solution coming right away with this cozy mystery, and I liked that. Walker continues with character development, creating very realistic and (mostly) likable people from Serenity Cove.

Can't wait for the next installment!

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Judy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second in the series, this book is as delightful and fun as the first. April May is opening a tea room in a Victorian mansion, that should be easy, right? Wrong! Plenty of suspense and twists and turns staring a cat and a ghost of course, along with the unexpected events, including a murder! It is because a tell-all is about to be published? You'll just have to read to find out! Fun characters are well developed in this super fun cozy, so if you didn't read the first book, you can still enjoy this book without difficulty. Completely recommend.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Good Cozy with Recipes

The 2nd entry in the Haunted Tearoom Mystery Series finds our protagonist, April May, preparing for the grand opening of her new tearoom, SereniTea. With help from her new friends, April is busily baking to refine her recipes & menu. Of course, she has a personal instructor, the ghost of a famous French Chef, who may not be able to cook, eat, or even smell food; but Emile is able to critique April's efforts.
Also, April's birthday is just days before SereniTea opens and Irma (the irascible owner of the Mermaid Cafe), hosts a party to celebrate. When tragedy strikes, April again begins to investigate--along with checklists for the opening, she begins to poke around and starts spending time with a handsome man who's visiting his hometown to check out renovations to his family home.
April has plenty on her plate, and add dealing with a new "acting chief of police", lots of angst, and being unsure just who can be trusted.

An easy day's read which furthered the nascent relationships from the debut of the series and brought a couple of new folks to Serenity Cove and April's life. Old rumors, hurts, and wounds are exposed, past and present.

Readers will be a bit more invested in April & those in her orbit after finishing Tea is for Toxin...and the recipes! Easy to follow (& make!) Palmiers--the French puff pastry "palm leaves" & a quick version of French Onion Soup, along with others will have your mouth watering & your shopping list in your hand!
Recommend to those readers who enjoy a smidgen of paranormal along with their mystery, and a heaping cup of cooking/baking.
Looking forward to #3, Tea is for Tragedy. Happy Reading!

[Kat Lebo · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝑻𝒆𝒂 𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑻𝒐𝒙𝒊𝒏, A Haunted Tearoom Cozy Mystery, Book #2
Karen Sue Walker

I enjoyed this little cozy mystery with a paranormal character. More like a regular cozy mystery than a paranormal mystery, it checked all my boxes: Good plotting and pacing, excellent proofing and editing, likeable characters who were well fleshed out, and, maybe most of all, no cliffhanger ending.

It also has recipes, but I'm not much for cooking, so I haven't looked at them, yet!

The only comment I noted was at 957 on my Kindle. At 925, April says that Chef Emile is nowhere to be found, but at 957, without any mention of the Chef since 925, April does this: I glanced over at Chef Emile who said, "She has a point, you must admit." I re-read the 4 pages about 4 times. And though I know a ghost can pop up any time, I would have expected a mention that he was in the kitchen, but I didn't find one. Not really a big problem, but still a bit perplexing to me.

So, no stars off for this cozy. It was a fun, quick, read.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve actually come to like the ghostly Chef Emile much better in this second book, and I believe if he was a flesh and blood guy, he and April might be a couple. He was sure jealous when a new friend April made came and cooked in his kitchen, lol. I suspected someone early on as the killer but wasn’t sure why or if it even had anything to do with Kyla’s novel that mirrored real life for a lot of locals. Even though as April read the file of it, she could tell there was a ton that was just made up. But from this made up stuff, was someone willing to kill the author? What was so secret from someone’s past?

April’s own life was in danger at one point, but she managed to take care of herself really well, and after a successful fundraiser, the library looked like it’d get a new beginning. Hopefully that nasty mayor won't try and block any efforts now that April came up with a stipulation in the library's deed.

[Imjussayin · Rating 3 out of 5]

: A Cosy Event Mystery
Suggested Rating: 2.5 stars 🌕🌕🌗

In a Nutshell:

This cosy mystery revolves around the chaos of hosting a large event while juggling intrigue, secrets, and, of course, a murder to solve. While the premise holds potential, the execution leaves something to be desired.

Why Read It?:

The mystery itself is decent, with a few twists to keep you engaged.
The characters have charm, though none particularly stand out.
However, the idea of self-catering for a large event, especially a party, was laughable. It felt too far-fetched to take seriously and distracted from the story’s plausibility.

Summary:

While the book has its moments, the implausibility of certain plot points, like the self-catering party, makes it hard to immerse in the story fully. It’s an okay read, but it may leave you rolling your eyes more than once.

Would I read the next one? Yes, but I’d hope for a more grounded premise.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

April May was met with another mysterious murder by pickled peppers! Her friend, the journalist was the lastest victim who was about to do an exposé on the residents of Serenity Cove! Armed with nothing but her novice clue following skills and a bunch of odd , rag tag friends, April rounded up her search to uncover and solve the murder of Kyla. An attempt to her life did not deter her as Detective Molina, Mark, the town's handyman/ carpenter, and a French ghost supplied great supportive roles, and one charming, handsome man seemed to have a keen interest in April, gave it a touch of short lived romance. Karen's mysteries are cozy and light without the need to inject grisly scenes of violence. It stays within the forum of pure mystery that have us guessing who the culprit might be. This is why I enjoy Karen Sue Walker's books!

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This main character is truly insufferable. This book wasn’t as cozy as the first, but it got a “box” set of the first 3 e-books so I’m determined to finish.

April May, not a month after the first book, finds herself the center of another murder investigation. This time at Irma’s restaurant instead of her home, to some relief. It’s a lot of bad detective work and our main ignoring the red flags that the random hot stranger that introduced himself to her at her birthday party turned out to be the murderer. Even though Emile, her friends, her handyman, the detective, and pretty much everyone around her is asking her how well she knows him (which is literally not at all). Hopefully in the next one she learns how to respond to a giant red flag waving.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I am really enjoying this cause he mysteries series. I was utterly shocked by who the victim was, and it threw me for a loop for a second, as her body was discovered during the grand opening of the tea room. But as the mystery became clear, and beyond to make a lot more sense. I liked how April put the pieces together through the manuscript as well as other things along the way. I figured out who the murderer was, but not the motive behind it until the end. There was just a great element of surprise, yet predictability. It was quite a quick read, and an easy read to get through which I really liked. I enjoyed the unique elements as well with the cat and the ghost, as well as the tea room set up. I am becoming hooked on the series.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpected Culprit
Trouble is brewing as April May approaches her fiftieth birthday and the opening of her tearoom. When word gets around that a local reporter is penning a tell-all, everyone in town is on edge that their secrets may be revealed. A murder exposes how far one desperate person will go to keep the truth hidden, and April must team up with the new deputy to find the killer. As outsiders, they’re the only two unbiased observers.
The culprit was an unexpected person. Multiple people were suspected in this murder but the actual murderer wasn't even a suspect. I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in this series, which is set in Serenity Cove. April May is turning 50 and has a party at Mermaid Cafe.

Someone is writing a book based on the people in the town, but someone wants to keep that book secret and is prepared to go to extreme lengths to keep it so.

There's a new sheriff in town, and he is an outsider like April May. Can they work together to find yet another murderer?

Then there's the resident ghost at the tea rooms teaching April May to cook.

I liked this book a lot better than the first one. The books are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and wider storyline.

[Jean Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable reading about April May and her tearoom. Nice touch of a ghostly chef who mostly visits when nobody else is near. At her birthday celebration, several people get sick and one dies. The dead woman had hinted that she was writing a book about the town and its inhabitants, which led to her death. Most of the characters are likeable and realistic. The story is full of twists and turns, many suspects to choose from, and a little romance. I had my doubts about one character but didn't totally believe they were the guilty one until near the end. I received an ARC copy of the book and this is my honest, voluntary review.

[Short, Sweet and Cozy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Haunted Tearoom Cozy Mysteries! In Tea is for Toxin, April May is getting ready for the grand opening of the tearoom. At the event, a friend of April's is found dead. I guessed the culprit early on but wasn't sure until the end. I really enjoy the friendship between April, Irma, Jennifer, and Freddie. It really makes the book so enjoyable! I requested and received an audiobook from Karen Sue Walker. The narrator Mary Castillo did an awesome job with the various voices and brought the characters to life. Very enjoyable!.#TeaIsForToxin #AHauntedTearoomCozyMystery

[Paulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a lot happening in this enjoyable cozy.
April May is busy getting ready to open her tea room but that doesn’t stop her from hunting down a murderer and have a little fun with an oh so handsome and rich new beau…to the consternation of a certain French chef whose food is out of this world. I received an advanced copy of this book from the author and BookFunnel. The comments and review are my honest opinion. 4.5 stars

[Maricle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fun, light reading cozy mystery has a bit of the paranormal with the inclusion of a French chef from the 1960’s who is helping April with her cooking. I found this book to be well written and entertaining. This series is quite enjoyable and the characters are delightful. The plot kept my interest, includes some humor and unexpected twists to keep the reader engaged. Recommended. Thanks to the author, I received a copy of this book. My review is voluntary.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kitchen chef

I realized something while reading this book, get rid of the kitchen chef and I might not enjoy it as much. Each book contains a good mystery, a great main character, wonderful friendships, and intriguing side stories, but for me the chef and his attitude make the whole story. If you try reading the series you’ll see what I mean.

[Celest · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Love This Series

This was a very intriguing mystery for April and her friends to solve. But first April has to eliminate her friends as suspects. Tell all books can be dangerous and a great source of facts or fiction. This was a fun adventure and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries. Karen Sue Walker has become one of my favorite authors.

[Vicki Chicago-Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this cozy mystery. It was a change from the sort of books I typically read, but I still found it heartwarming & I loved the recipes at the end of it. I especially liked the cat Whisk & his mischievous antics & the handsome dead French chef that no one else can see that gives the heroine cooking lessons. I read this book on Kindle.

[Kathy Wortham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends should be cherished

April is settling in and has a small group of good friends. That is until one of them is murdered. Kayla was planning on publishing a book of town secrets thinly disguised as fiction. Unfortunately in a small town secrets are hard to keep and for those who do nothing is out of bounds.

[Sarah Baines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series!

I'm absolutely loving this series and I love the recipes in each book!
The stories are brilliant, the characters are exceptional and I'm desperately hoping the Mayor gets her comeuppance soon!!!!

[Brenda Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who can you trust?

So many suspects and motives. I enjoy all the banter between these friends and their sleuthing techniques. Maybe April can run her tea room between solving crimes.

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satisfying cozy mystery

Tea Is For Toxin does not disappoint, as April May begins the process of a soft and then full opening of her tea room dream. Digging in deeper to the lives of her close friends gives us further insight. And of course a murder to solve.

[Deb Sheldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone is suspect

The cast of characters is adorable. The setting idyllic. And all the mention of food makes me want to cook! I love how there are recipes in the back of each book. I can’t wait to try them.

[Allison Kohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

This is. Or only an interesting mystery filled with even more interesting characters, it is a book filled with taste, touch, and feel that will leave the reader wanting more.