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Tea Time Troubles #1
A Spot of Earl Slay
When Naomi Front moves her teenage daughter, Ella, to the small town of Fayette, all she hopes for is a new start after an ugly divorce. But the mother-and-daughter duo have a rocky start on day one—finding the corpse of the local busybody in their storage shed.
Welcomed into their neighbors’ house when the police arrive, Naomi and Ella quickly learn that the victim on their property is not likely to be missed. Gossiping over Earl Grey and biscuits, Barbara and Ingrid spill the tea about Fayette’s notoriously nosy citizen—Yasmin LeFluer. She never knew how to mind her own business and was even quicker to make enemies. Among her ex-husband, her sibling, and her friends, it seems the list of suspects will run long.
Adjusting to a new home is hard enough. Faced with a murder victim having been shoved into her shed, though, Naomi struggles to get her footing. To make matters worse, Ella seems too intrigued, teaming up with Barbara and Ingrid, both to learn more about Fayette and how Yasmin wound up dead in their shed.
As the case drags on, more danger lurks in the shadows. It’s plenty to worry Naomi, and it’s fodder for her ex-husband to stir up more trouble about Ella’s custody.
With the help of their tea-loving neighbors, can Naomi and Ella find Yasmin’s killer? If they don’t, there’s no telling if their new take on life will be over before it truly begins.
Welcomed into their neighbors’ house when the police arrive, Naomi and Ella quickly learn that the victim on their property is not likely to be missed. Gossiping over Earl Grey and biscuits, Barbara and Ingrid spill the tea about Fayette’s notoriously nosy citizen—Yasmin LeFluer. She never knew how to mind her own business and was even quicker to make enemies. Among her ex-husband, her sibling, and her friends, it seems the list of suspects will run long.
Adjusting to a new home is hard enough. Faced with a murder victim having been shoved into her shed, though, Naomi struggles to get her footing. To make matters worse, Ella seems too intrigued, teaming up with Barbara and Ingrid, both to learn more about Fayette and how Yasmin wound up dead in their shed.
As the case drags on, more danger lurks in the shadows. It’s plenty to worry Naomi, and it’s fodder for her ex-husband to stir up more trouble about Ella’s custody.
With the help of their tea-loving neighbors, can Naomi and Ella find Yasmin’s killer? If they don’t, there’s no telling if their new take on life will be over before it truly begins.
181 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2023
143 people are currently reading
470 people want to read
About the author
Aubrey Elle
21 books33 followersAubrey Elle is an author of cozy mysteries. While she also writes romantic suspense under the pen name of Amabel Daniels, Mischief Over Mums is her debut cozy novel, featuring a landscaper in a small town in Ohio. By day, Aubrey chases after her young daughters and tries to keep up with her own landscaping, and by night, she writes until the midnight hour. Aubrey lives with her family and many pets in Ottawa Hills, OH.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
November 30, 2024
I never thought that I would read a murder mystery that actually got solved by spilling tea….
May 6, 2023
After a contentious divorce, Naomi Front and her teenage daughter move to Fayette to start over. What they do not expect to see when they arrive is a dead body. With her daughters vast knowledge, from crime shows, she finds her opinions on the crime embraced by locals Barbara and Ingrid. As they investigate and Naomi tries to keep her daughter in line, which is impossible considering her ex is making waves, they begin to close in on their suspect. Will it be too late though?
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Ella, she is a bit of snark and blunt to the point opinions which has Naomi pulling her hair out in times. Cozy mysteries I enjoy, but have not really found one I would read again, this one I would. It had a little bit of everything I love in a mystery book and humor as well.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Ella, she is a bit of snark and blunt to the point opinions which has Naomi pulling her hair out in times. Cozy mysteries I enjoy, but have not really found one I would read again, this one I would. It had a little bit of everything I love in a mystery book and humor as well.
December 14, 2023
This was a cozy mystery, and I really loved the main characters, but it was a bit of a slow burn. I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy it, but about 90% of the plot was on a timeline of events that happened in the span of just a few days. I feel like this book in a series of three was mainly focused on character building. I absolutely loved the chitchats over tea though! I’ll have to read the other two books!
~~~
It’s winter in the Midwest. After the finalization of her divorce, Naomi moves to a new town, Fayette, where she has inherited a house from a deceased family member. It’s just her and her teenage daughter, Ella. Upon their arrival at the new house, unforeseen events have delayed them from moving in. This is when they meet their new neighbors, Barbara and Ingrid.
~~~
It’s winter in the Midwest. After the finalization of her divorce, Naomi moves to a new town, Fayette, where she has inherited a house from a deceased family member. It’s just her and her teenage daughter, Ella. Upon their arrival at the new house, unforeseen events have delayed them from moving in. This is when they meet their new neighbors, Barbara and Ingrid.
March 28, 2024
Escaping her failed marriage, Naomi Front moves to a home far from her affluent ex-husband. Her seventeen-year-old daughter is indifferent to the change in their circumstances and is as snarky as ever. Their hopeful positivity is shattered when they arrive at their new residence only to find a fresh corpse in their shed.
Except for Naomi's new neighbours and the sheriff, The personalities of most of the characters ranged from uninteresting to downright objectionable. Naomi's daughter was one of the worst offenders with her unfiltered, uncaring attitude. Naomi was gutless and yet felt proud that though she had withstood seventeen years of emotional abuse, she had finally broken free of it. That is too much time to waste in one's life. Worst still, Naomi had endured the suffering for the sake of her daughter, a child who was not at all fond of her father. Such. A. Waste. Even more disheartening, Naomi repeatedly told people that she had not been abused. She had.
In this case, the "detective" was investigating a group of strangers. Naomi's work was satisfactory, . Her wonderment at the reason behind a body being hidden in an abandoned shed did stretch credibility.
For the most part, I had hoped for a light-hearted read as subtly promised by the playful pun in the book's title. This was not the read I had anticipated. Though A Spot of Earl Slay was not for me, it was well-written and kept my attention.
Except for Naomi's new neighbours and the sheriff, The personalities of most of the characters ranged from uninteresting to downright objectionable. Naomi's daughter was one of the worst offenders with her unfiltered, uncaring attitude. Naomi was gutless and yet felt proud that though she had withstood seventeen years of emotional abuse, she had finally broken free of it. That is too much time to waste in one's life. Worst still, Naomi had endured the suffering for the sake of her daughter, a child who was not at all fond of her father. Such. A. Waste. Even more disheartening, Naomi repeatedly told people that she had not been abused. She had.
In this case, the "detective" was investigating a group of strangers. Naomi's work was satisfactory, . Her wonderment at the reason behind a body being hidden in an abandoned shed did stretch credibility.
For the most part, I had hoped for a light-hearted read as subtly promised by the playful pun in the book's title. This was not the read I had anticipated. Though A Spot of Earl Slay was not for me, it was well-written and kept my attention.
April 23, 2023
A Spot of Earl Slay is the first book in this fun new series by Aubrey Elle, the Tea Time Troubles series. I have not read anything by this author before and it was an easy read to settle into.
What exactly does the small town of Fayette hold in store for our characters hoping for a change of pace and a new start? The town is full of quirky characters and town gossips and the like.
This short story starts out with a corpse, an ex who wants to play hardball, and a plethora of suspects for this mother daughter duo to delve deep into investigating. It’s hard not to laugh when a teenager gets involved.
This fun cosy mystery finds amateur sleuths Naomi and Ella and their tea-loving friends trying to solve the mystery of the death of the town gossip. What kind of danger do they find lurking in the shadows?
If you like cosy mysteries pop in with a cup of tea and a biscuit and say hi to the gang.
What exactly does the small town of Fayette hold in store for our characters hoping for a change of pace and a new start? The town is full of quirky characters and town gossips and the like.
This short story starts out with a corpse, an ex who wants to play hardball, and a plethora of suspects for this mother daughter duo to delve deep into investigating. It’s hard not to laugh when a teenager gets involved.
This fun cosy mystery finds amateur sleuths Naomi and Ella and their tea-loving friends trying to solve the mystery of the death of the town gossip. What kind of danger do they find lurking in the shadows?
If you like cosy mysteries pop in with a cup of tea and a biscuit and say hi to the gang.
December 18, 2023
An easy cozy mystery read. It needed some additional editing though. I liked Barbara and Ingrid although I kept getting them confused. I found the other characters to be flat.
August 10, 2024
I wanted to like this one, but it was a but too slooooow, maybe a bit tooooo cozy. Lol. Itnwas a decent story though. I did enjoy the characters. At least Barbara and Ingrid.
May 6, 2023
A Spot of Earl Slay is Book One in the Tea Time Troubles Series. Naomi has decided that she wants a fresh start after having just divorced her husband. She moves her and her teen daughter, Ella, to the small community of Fayette. Her uncle left Naomi a house after he passed away and she figures that living mortgage free will be a good way for her and her daughter to get back on their feet. Her ex-husband has been less than generous in the divorce proceedings and Naomi needs to find a job and start saving money.
As Naomi and Ella arrive at their new home a fierce storm starts knocking branches off trees and blows open the door on their shed. When the women go to close the shed door, they are horrified to discover a dead body laying inside the shed. While they wait for the police to arrive, they meet the neighbor ladies, Barbara and Ingrid who invite them over for Earl Grey tea and biscuits. Over tea Naomi and Ella learn about the townsfolk and who the deceased person is in their shed. As the women discuss the discovery of the body Naomi and Ella learn it was the town gossip who made a lot of enemies over the years.
Naomi and Ella feel uncomfortable with the idea of staying in their new house so when the neighbors offer for them to stay with them, they decide it is a good idea. As they discuss how hated the deceased person, Yasmin, was they learn that even her own family and friends hated her. Yasmin always had her nose in everyone’s business so it could have been any number of people who murdered her. The list of suspects is long, and the investigation drags on, so the four ladies set out to solve the mystery themselves. As they start digging into the suspect list Naomi has her hands full worrying about if their lives are in danger and fighting with her ex-husband who wants custody of Ella.
The title of this book drew me in immediately and from the first few pages I was invested in the storyline. The author did a great job describing the small-town vibe and how everyone within a small community seems to know everyone else’s business. The characters were beautifully written and relatable. Anyone who has gone through a messy divorce can relate to Naomi and the emotions, stress, and pressure she felt as she tried to do what was best for her daughter, Ella. As if leaving a loveless marriage was not stressful enough, Naomi discovers a murder victim in the shed of her new home. Her new life does not seem to be off to a great start. Naomi was courageous and put on a brave face throughout everything that was thrown at her. Ella helped her mom through things with her wit and humor. As a bonus the neighbors seem nice enough and Naomi and Ella make fast friends with them so that helps the women feel comfortable in their new surroundings. This was a cozy little mystery with action, drama, suspense, intrigue, and danger.
As Naomi and Ella arrive at their new home a fierce storm starts knocking branches off trees and blows open the door on their shed. When the women go to close the shed door, they are horrified to discover a dead body laying inside the shed. While they wait for the police to arrive, they meet the neighbor ladies, Barbara and Ingrid who invite them over for Earl Grey tea and biscuits. Over tea Naomi and Ella learn about the townsfolk and who the deceased person is in their shed. As the women discuss the discovery of the body Naomi and Ella learn it was the town gossip who made a lot of enemies over the years.
Naomi and Ella feel uncomfortable with the idea of staying in their new house so when the neighbors offer for them to stay with them, they decide it is a good idea. As they discuss how hated the deceased person, Yasmin, was they learn that even her own family and friends hated her. Yasmin always had her nose in everyone’s business so it could have been any number of people who murdered her. The list of suspects is long, and the investigation drags on, so the four ladies set out to solve the mystery themselves. As they start digging into the suspect list Naomi has her hands full worrying about if their lives are in danger and fighting with her ex-husband who wants custody of Ella.
The title of this book drew me in immediately and from the first few pages I was invested in the storyline. The author did a great job describing the small-town vibe and how everyone within a small community seems to know everyone else’s business. The characters were beautifully written and relatable. Anyone who has gone through a messy divorce can relate to Naomi and the emotions, stress, and pressure she felt as she tried to do what was best for her daughter, Ella. As if leaving a loveless marriage was not stressful enough, Naomi discovers a murder victim in the shed of her new home. Her new life does not seem to be off to a great start. Naomi was courageous and put on a brave face throughout everything that was thrown at her. Ella helped her mom through things with her wit and humor. As a bonus the neighbors seem nice enough and Naomi and Ella make fast friends with them so that helps the women feel comfortable in their new surroundings. This was a cozy little mystery with action, drama, suspense, intrigue, and danger.
May 6, 2023
After finally escaping a loveless marriage, Naomi takes her daughter, Ella, to the small town of Fayette. Naomi’s uncle left her his house after he passed. Naomi took it as a means to start fresh.
Things go wrong almost instantly when a dead body is found in their shed upon arrival. Not wanting to stay in the house, when the nice older neighbours, Barbara and Ingrid, invite the duo to stay with them, Naomi is quick to say yes. The 4 women get along immediately and start to talk about their theories of whodunit. Turns out the Victim is the town’s busybody, Yasmin. Yasmin is known to be sticking her nose in everyone’s business which makes a lot more enemies than friends.
Ella is instantly excited and warms up to the older ladies instantly. Meanwhile Naomi is stuck on the what ifs. What if her ex husband finds out and tries to take Ella? What if they aren’t actually safe here? Etc…
As time goes on, more and more suspects pop up as Naomi gets to meet the townsfolk. It being a small town, everyone knows everyone and their business too so everybody she talks to has to put in their own two cents. Can the ladies figure out who the murderer is over tea? Maybe.
This book was an exciting cozy mystery that hits close to home for me. I grew up in a very small town where everyone knew everyone and when someone died, the whole town would be in cahoots, speculating everything. The author did a wonderful job portraying the small town mindset. There is one thing I wish the author did differently. I feel like the author was running out of time and rushed the ending. There were a few things mentioned but then never mentioned again making me wonder what happened there.
I must admit that the title alone is what drew me in. I love play on words and this is a clever one. The story was very realistic. I also liked how it was a woman escaping her life to start anew. She showed up with nothing and slowly built up her life again all while investigating a murder!
Things go wrong almost instantly when a dead body is found in their shed upon arrival. Not wanting to stay in the house, when the nice older neighbours, Barbara and Ingrid, invite the duo to stay with them, Naomi is quick to say yes. The 4 women get along immediately and start to talk about their theories of whodunit. Turns out the Victim is the town’s busybody, Yasmin. Yasmin is known to be sticking her nose in everyone’s business which makes a lot more enemies than friends.
Ella is instantly excited and warms up to the older ladies instantly. Meanwhile Naomi is stuck on the what ifs. What if her ex husband finds out and tries to take Ella? What if they aren’t actually safe here? Etc…
As time goes on, more and more suspects pop up as Naomi gets to meet the townsfolk. It being a small town, everyone knows everyone and their business too so everybody she talks to has to put in their own two cents. Can the ladies figure out who the murderer is over tea? Maybe.
This book was an exciting cozy mystery that hits close to home for me. I grew up in a very small town where everyone knew everyone and when someone died, the whole town would be in cahoots, speculating everything. The author did a wonderful job portraying the small town mindset. There is one thing I wish the author did differently. I feel like the author was running out of time and rushed the ending. There were a few things mentioned but then never mentioned again making me wonder what happened there.
I must admit that the title alone is what drew me in. I love play on words and this is a clever one. The story was very realistic. I also liked how it was a woman escaping her life to start anew. She showed up with nothing and slowly built up her life again all while investigating a murder!
May 3, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery novel, and was hooked from start to finish. Naomi Front and her teenage daughter Ella, move to the small town of Fayette, looking for a new start after an ugly divorce. However, they didn’t expect to find the corpse of the local busybody Yasmin LeFluer in their storage shed on, day one. Whilst waiting for the police to arrive their new neighbours, Barbara and Ingrid welcome them into their home, and over Earl Grey and biscuits they learn the gossip about the locals. Apparently, Yasmin will not be missed as she was extremely nosy and made plenty of enemies, making the list of suspects a long one, including her ex-husband, her sibling and even her friends.
As if adjusting to a new home isn’t difficult enough, the mother and daughter have to deal with the aftermath of having a murder victim in their shed. Whilst Ella seems keen to team up with Barbara and Ingrid and discover who murdered Yasmin, Naomi struggles to settle in. With the case dragging on and the murderer still not caught, Ella and Naomi worry that they might be in danger. This gives Ella’s ex-husband a reason to stir up trouble regarding custody of Naomi, and so along with their tea loving neighbours they try to solve Yasmin’s murder. This is an enjoyable and engaging, easy, lighthearted read, with an intriguing storyline and plenty of plot twists which kept me happily turning the pages. The characters are wonderful and the setting really came to life through the descriptive narrative, making me feel immersed in the storyline.
As if adjusting to a new home isn’t difficult enough, the mother and daughter have to deal with the aftermath of having a murder victim in their shed. Whilst Ella seems keen to team up with Barbara and Ingrid and discover who murdered Yasmin, Naomi struggles to settle in. With the case dragging on and the murderer still not caught, Ella and Naomi worry that they might be in danger. This gives Ella’s ex-husband a reason to stir up trouble regarding custody of Naomi, and so along with their tea loving neighbours they try to solve Yasmin’s murder. This is an enjoyable and engaging, easy, lighthearted read, with an intriguing storyline and plenty of plot twists which kept me happily turning the pages. The characters are wonderful and the setting really came to life through the descriptive narrative, making me feel immersed in the storyline.
May 27, 2023
How cute is the cover !?
All I want is London Fog ! I tried making it myself and it didn’t quite hit the spot , then I tried out local barista and she looked at me like I’ve gone quite mad 🤣 the craving is strong !!!!
Naomi snd Ella move to Fayette after she inherited a house and they’re in need of a fresh start and after living a sad but luxurious life this will do them both good . Naomi was married to a real snob and after the divorce he manipulated everything , she couldn’t find a job and the settlement was pathetic and because money is power she was having a time finding a job no thanks to her influential ex so this move was the perfect opportunity…,
I think they’ll enjoy this adventure …. Then they find a body in their shed and my heart drops but then they meet their neighbours , Barbra and Isabel and my heart starts beating again 😍
Barbra and Ingrid are the best , they loves their tea , Ingrid collects teapots and tea is the solution to any crisis or celebration! …..
Ella and Naomi stay with Barbra and Isabel while they wait for the heating to be fixed in their house and that’s how a beautiful friendship is formed and the sleuthing begins ….
I read this , finished it and read it again straight after ,
that’s how much I enjoyed this read !
I can’t wait to read every other book in this series !
I laughed at the banter between these people , the copious amounts of tea made and drunk and the mystery of who and why a woman was murdered was most entertaining 🫶🏼
All I want is London Fog ! I tried making it myself and it didn’t quite hit the spot , then I tried out local barista and she looked at me like I’ve gone quite mad 🤣 the craving is strong !!!!
Naomi snd Ella move to Fayette after she inherited a house and they’re in need of a fresh start and after living a sad but luxurious life this will do them both good . Naomi was married to a real snob and after the divorce he manipulated everything , she couldn’t find a job and the settlement was pathetic and because money is power she was having a time finding a job no thanks to her influential ex so this move was the perfect opportunity…,
I think they’ll enjoy this adventure …. Then they find a body in their shed and my heart drops but then they meet their neighbours , Barbra and Isabel and my heart starts beating again 😍
Barbra and Ingrid are the best , they loves their tea , Ingrid collects teapots and tea is the solution to any crisis or celebration! …..
Ella and Naomi stay with Barbra and Isabel while they wait for the heating to be fixed in their house and that’s how a beautiful friendship is formed and the sleuthing begins ….
I read this , finished it and read it again straight after ,
that’s how much I enjoyed this read !
I can’t wait to read every other book in this series !
I laughed at the banter between these people , the copious amounts of tea made and drunk and the mystery of who and why a woman was murdered was most entertaining 🫶🏼
June 14, 2024
Now that her divorce has been finalized, Naomi uproots with her teenage daughter, Ella, and moves to the small town of Fayette, where she's inherited a house from an uncle. Naomi is nervous and excited. She's thrilled to be out of the shadow of her disapproving husband and his high-handed family, but she's anxious about settling in with Ella. Naomi didn't expect to arrive at their destination and discover a dead body in the dilapidated shed in the yard. Now her property is a crime scene, and she's at her wit's end until the kindly neighbor women invite her and Ella over for a cup of tea. Meeting Barbara and Ingrid has been a godsend, as Ella takes to them immediately, and they offer Naomi and Ella the use of a guestroom until their own house gets sorted. As Barbara and Ingrid gossip about the victim and who may have wanted to kill her, Naomi gets sucked into the drama of investigating. The four of them put their heads together, sifting through motives in search of a killer.
This was a charming story. I liked Naomi's moxie and grit, and Ella was the perfect combination of vulnerability and teenage snark. Barbara and Ingrid were lovely, mothering figures who were also quite funny. In between bouts of brainstorming, Naomi was busy getting her new home to rights and interviewing for a job. Characterizations were wonderful, and the narrative moved at a good pace.
Delightful, four stars.
This was a charming story. I liked Naomi's moxie and grit, and Ella was the perfect combination of vulnerability and teenage snark. Barbara and Ingrid were lovely, mothering figures who were also quite funny. In between bouts of brainstorming, Naomi was busy getting her new home to rights and interviewing for a job. Characterizations were wonderful, and the narrative moved at a good pace.
Delightful, four stars.
April 16, 2023
Imagine moving to a new place, because you are so tired of your old life and want a break in a new small town. You buy a house and you enter in the night, and all you want is to take a break. Instead you have the shed door moving back and forth, and what you find, a dead body.
Naomi decides to a move to a small town Fayette along with her teenage daughter Ella after an ugly divorce. When all she is looking for is a new start, she finds a dead body in the shed of the very house they were planning to begin their new life in. Before they know it, the police is in your house investigating the murder. The neighbors give them tit bits of information over tea meetings. The case gets murkier as the list of suspects increase and the old personal problems re surface.
Old problems stir up when her ex-husband files for custody of her daughter Ella. Deep in trouble , it is upto Naomi and Ella to find the murderer along with their new tea time friends.
I loved this book. I did not pick this book, it was given to me and I read it with no expectations. And I enjoyed every bit of it. Writing is a little casual, but I thoroughly enjoyed the plot.
Naomi decides to a move to a small town Fayette along with her teenage daughter Ella after an ugly divorce. When all she is looking for is a new start, she finds a dead body in the shed of the very house they were planning to begin their new life in. Before they know it, the police is in your house investigating the murder. The neighbors give them tit bits of information over tea meetings. The case gets murkier as the list of suspects increase and the old personal problems re surface.
Old problems stir up when her ex-husband files for custody of her daughter Ella. Deep in trouble , it is upto Naomi and Ella to find the murderer along with their new tea time friends.
I loved this book. I did not pick this book, it was given to me and I read it with no expectations. And I enjoyed every bit of it. Writing is a little casual, but I thoroughly enjoyed the plot.
April 23, 2023
4 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Fun, easy cozy mystery to curl up to and such an enjoyable story. What happens when Naomi Front finally divorces her husband and uproots her daughter to a new home in a small town of Fayette? Nothing like arriving with what is the next step in their journey to hopefully come to a better place but rather be talk of the town moments upon arrival....yes a dead body at their new home's shed. Who is this person and what happened?
Naomi's neighbors, Ingrid and Barbara, whom are tea lovers at heart, try and "spill the tea" so to speak and try and piece together the puzzle of what become the newly deceased while also welcoming both Naomi and Ella into their little town. Secrets, money, lies and danger as trying to piece the clues together....will the ladies be able to solve this mystery before the the police while Naomi is battling her ex-husband and his family at the same time.
This is a very fun read...very enjoyable and the story really captured you right from the beginning. Can I say that Ingrid and Barbara (the neighbor ladies) were a total hoot! I am looking forward to getting my hands on book 2 of this series!
Fun, easy cozy mystery to curl up to and such an enjoyable story. What happens when Naomi Front finally divorces her husband and uproots her daughter to a new home in a small town of Fayette? Nothing like arriving with what is the next step in their journey to hopefully come to a better place but rather be talk of the town moments upon arrival....yes a dead body at their new home's shed. Who is this person and what happened?
Naomi's neighbors, Ingrid and Barbara, whom are tea lovers at heart, try and "spill the tea" so to speak and try and piece together the puzzle of what become the newly deceased while also welcoming both Naomi and Ella into their little town. Secrets, money, lies and danger as trying to piece the clues together....will the ladies be able to solve this mystery before the the police while Naomi is battling her ex-husband and his family at the same time.
This is a very fun read...very enjoyable and the story really captured you right from the beginning. Can I say that Ingrid and Barbara (the neighbor ladies) were a total hoot! I am looking forward to getting my hands on book 2 of this series!
May 6, 2023
A Spot of Earl Slay
By: Aubrey Elle
This is such an enjoyable mystery book. This is my first book I’ve read written by Aubrey Elle and it most definitely will not be my last. Also, this is the first in the Tea Time Troubles series and I definitely cannot wait for more. It was so well written and easy to read. I kept reading way past my bedtime and I was sad to see it end. Naomi is recently divorced and has moved her teenage daughter to a brand new city. However, what she is hoping to be a brand new fresh start is nothing of the start as on their very first day they discover a dead boy in their shed. This is definitely not how they anticipated starting a new town. To top this off, the furnace in their new house isn’t working and they have nowhere else to go. Their neighbors, who are eccentric and gossipy but also kind, offer for them to come over for some tea and dessert to warm up. This ends up as the beginning of a wonderful new friendship. This book definitely went by way too fast as I was determined to not only find out who the killer was but also to read more about these women and their friendship. I definitely recommend this cozy mystery.
By: Aubrey Elle
This is such an enjoyable mystery book. This is my first book I’ve read written by Aubrey Elle and it most definitely will not be my last. Also, this is the first in the Tea Time Troubles series and I definitely cannot wait for more. It was so well written and easy to read. I kept reading way past my bedtime and I was sad to see it end. Naomi is recently divorced and has moved her teenage daughter to a brand new city. However, what she is hoping to be a brand new fresh start is nothing of the start as on their very first day they discover a dead boy in their shed. This is definitely not how they anticipated starting a new town. To top this off, the furnace in their new house isn’t working and they have nowhere else to go. Their neighbors, who are eccentric and gossipy but also kind, offer for them to come over for some tea and dessert to warm up. This ends up as the beginning of a wonderful new friendship. This book definitely went by way too fast as I was determined to not only find out who the killer was but also to read more about these women and their friendship. I definitely recommend this cozy mystery.
January 25, 2024
This was a pretty good book! Naomi and Ella who are mother and daughter, along with their neighbors, Ingrid and Barbara become involved with the mystery of who murdered the busybody in their small town.
I actually loved the interactions of Naomi and Ella with their neighbors and Ella is great. She's just great. She's just the right amount of sass while being a caring a determined person. The whole part when Ella picked up her mom's phone to talk her her father and take the brunt of his questions was just so sweet and protective. Because that's what I would do for my mom if someone was constantly calling and making her more stressed out.
There is just a hint of romance and it's not the detective or police officer! I'm actually shocked lol.
However, and this is probably just me, and I know this is a murder mystery so there has to be suspects but I kinda got confused at who was who. There's this one guy who's in a relationship with a character, but also had a relationship with the victim and then another relationship with a different character... I got somewhat lost on which women was who.
I look forward to reading the next one.
I actually loved the interactions of Naomi and Ella with their neighbors and Ella is great. She's just great. She's just the right amount of sass while being a caring a determined person. The whole part when Ella picked up her mom's phone to talk her her father and take the brunt of his questions was just so sweet and protective. Because that's what I would do for my mom if someone was constantly calling and making her more stressed out.
There is just a hint of romance and it's not the detective or police officer! I'm actually shocked lol.
However, and this is probably just me, and I know this is a murder mystery so there has to be suspects but I kinda got confused at who was who. There's this one guy who's in a relationship with a character, but also had a relationship with the victim and then another relationship with a different character... I got somewhat lost on which women was who.
I look forward to reading the next one.
May 3, 2023
Naomi Front and her teenage daughter, Ella, are moving to a new town. A place away from Naomi's ex-husband and Ella's dad, along with his crazy mother. No more expectations to meet that are somewhat unrealistic for Naomi but rather moving to where she and Ella can make their own decisions about life.
Upon arrival at their new home, which was bequeathed to Naomi from her uncle, they are instantly met with tragedy. When a dead body is found in their backyard shed, they soon become leery of even going into their home. The next door neighbors, Ingrid and Barbara, are quick to invite them into their own home until things can get settled down. They discuss the town gossip over a cup of tea. Barbara and Ingrid come to love Ella as a grandchild and become a source of strength and encouragement to Naomi.
This is a cozy mystery that I was able to read in a few short hours. I do wish that the author would have included recipes for the teas and the desserts mentioned in the book. That would have added an additional layer of fun to this read.
Upon arrival at their new home, which was bequeathed to Naomi from her uncle, they are instantly met with tragedy. When a dead body is found in their backyard shed, they soon become leery of even going into their home. The next door neighbors, Ingrid and Barbara, are quick to invite them into their own home until things can get settled down. They discuss the town gossip over a cup of tea. Barbara and Ingrid come to love Ella as a grandchild and become a source of strength and encouragement to Naomi.
This is a cozy mystery that I was able to read in a few short hours. I do wish that the author would have included recipes for the teas and the desserts mentioned in the book. That would have added an additional layer of fun to this read.
April 27, 2023
A Spot of Earl Slay is the first book in the Tea Time Troubles series. I chose to read it simply off the name and cover art. I thought it was very cleaver and it sounded interesting. It is the first time I have read this author, and I am impressed. I was pulled in instantly, and kept engaged throughout. I love the characters and the quick connection they have with each other. Ella is hilarious, Naomi is brave and strong, and Barbara and Ingrid are super entertaining. They seem like they have a lot of history, and I liked hearing bits and pieces revealed. The ending was left a mystery, and I was no where near solving who the murderer was. That being said, I struggled with so many secondary characters. I am not sure I kept them all straight. Everyone seems to be related to someone else. In true small town way. It took me a while to mentally outline who everyone was to make the ending click. I look forward to the rest of the series. It was a quick cozy mystery that I enjoyed.
May 2, 2023
I fell in love instantly. There’s a murder, obviously, but this whole story just kept me in a good mood. I love starting over in a new town trope, and I’m honestly glad we didn’t have a lot of stress in the story from the ex husband. The characters all had different personalities that fit so well together, my favorite are Barbra and Ingrid. I want to be these ladies when I’m older. The mystery was great, you learn about some of the people in town which leads you guessing who is our murderer. I honestly wasn’t even thinking of this person at the end, so it was nice to see I was wrong. In the book our main character speaks of a tv show which I believe is a great way of describing the book: “Great for slapstick humor and easy on the stressed mind.” The story isn’t all laughs but there are some funny moments that I think all readers will enjoy. A great book to read if you’re looking to get into Cozy Mysteries.
May 4, 2023
A Spot of Earl Slay is the first book in the Tea Time Troubles series. I love tea, mysteries and wordplay so was immediately drawn to this book, and it did not disappoint! It’s a fun cozy mystery series set in a small town. The main characters are a mother-daughter duo who are close to each other but going through a difficult patch in their life.
My favourite characters are Barbara and Ingrid, the neighbours who look after Naomi and Ella when they arrive and get straight into gossiping about the murder and the town in general. There’s such a good dynamic between them and I love how they intuitively find ways to connect with Ella.
This is a great comfort read for snuggling up with a cup of tea and a baked treat (and I would recommend getting the tea and treat ready before you start reading as it won’t be long before you’re craving them!). It gets five stars from me, I’d recommend it to cozy mystery fans! I’m looking forward to reading more of this series.
My favourite characters are Barbara and Ingrid, the neighbours who look after Naomi and Ella when they arrive and get straight into gossiping about the murder and the town in general. There’s such a good dynamic between them and I love how they intuitively find ways to connect with Ella.
This is a great comfort read for snuggling up with a cup of tea and a baked treat (and I would recommend getting the tea and treat ready before you start reading as it won’t be long before you’re craving them!). It gets five stars from me, I’d recommend it to cozy mystery fans! I’m looking forward to reading more of this series.
May 5, 2023
A Spot of Earl Slay (Tea Time Troubles Book 1) by Aubrey Elle. This is such a fun read. I can't wait to read the next one. This is the story of Naomi and her teenage daughter Ella who have moved to Fayette a small town to get away from their family drama. When they arrive to move into their house they find a dead body in their storage shed. Everyone comes to their house to find out what is going on and when they find out the victim is the town gossip most people are not too sad. When more bodies start turning up Naomi gets worried because along with neighbors Ella has become very interested in the investigation. With all the drama Naomi's ex is making trouble for her again. All she wanted was to move to a small quiet town and this has been anything but. Read this cozy mystery filled with murder and mystery. You won't be disappointed.
May 6, 2023
5 Stars
A Spot of Earl Slay (Tea Time Troubles Book 1) by Aubrey Elle
A Spot of Earl Slay is the first book in Tea Time Troubles Series and is the perfect Cozy Mystery to curl up on the couch on a rainy day. I couldn’t put it down once I started reading. This is a new author to me and I must say I like her style of writing and attention to detail. Her characters are real fully developed and relatable plus they make the story come to life. This is about a mother and daughter sleuthing team who move to a new town to start over after a divorce. What they find when they arrive is a body in their storage shed. Let the investigating begin. What will they discover in this small town? I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens next. I can’t wait to read more from this Author and this series.
A Spot of Earl Slay (Tea Time Troubles Book 1) by Aubrey Elle
A Spot of Earl Slay is the first book in Tea Time Troubles Series and is the perfect Cozy Mystery to curl up on the couch on a rainy day. I couldn’t put it down once I started reading. This is a new author to me and I must say I like her style of writing and attention to detail. Her characters are real fully developed and relatable plus they make the story come to life. This is about a mother and daughter sleuthing team who move to a new town to start over after a divorce. What they find when they arrive is a body in their storage shed. Let the investigating begin. What will they discover in this small town? I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens next. I can’t wait to read more from this Author and this series.
April 23, 2023
4 Stars
A Spot of Earl Slay is the first book in the Tea Time Troubles series by Aubrey Elle. This is the first book in a new cosy mystery series, and if this book is anything to go by, the series is set to be great. A Spot of Earl Slay is a fun cozy mystery with all the ingredients needed to keep me flipping the pages to find out what happens. It introduces mother and daughter sleuthing team who, even though they are new to the area, take up the case when murder comes to town.
Full of intrigue, tension, quirky characters, crime and investigation, plenty of suspects danger, drama, ex-husband troubles, and a tea or two- really made for a fun read.
Bring on Book #2- Death and Deja Brew!
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Aubrey Elle!
A Spot of Earl Slay is the first book in the Tea Time Troubles series by Aubrey Elle. This is the first book in a new cosy mystery series, and if this book is anything to go by, the series is set to be great. A Spot of Earl Slay is a fun cozy mystery with all the ingredients needed to keep me flipping the pages to find out what happens. It introduces mother and daughter sleuthing team who, even though they are new to the area, take up the case when murder comes to town.
Full of intrigue, tension, quirky characters, crime and investigation, plenty of suspects danger, drama, ex-husband troubles, and a tea or two- really made for a fun read.
Bring on Book #2- Death and Deja Brew!
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Aubrey Elle!
May 6, 2023
A Spot of Earl Slay is the first book in the Tea Time Troubles series. This is my first book by this author, and I look forward to reading more in this series. We are introduced to Naomi and Ella Front, who are new to Fayette. Upon their arrival at their new home, they are greeted with more than they expected. After discovering a corpse on their property, they quickly meet their new neighbors, Barbara and Ingrid.
As the cozy mystery progresses, we get to meet a lot of quirky characters, learn about the relationships in this small town, and more. I enjoyed the story and the characters. I first got drawn in by the book's name but quickly enjoyed it more than expected. After reading this book, I look forward to getting the next book in this fun, cozy series.
As the cozy mystery progresses, we get to meet a lot of quirky characters, learn about the relationships in this small town, and more. I enjoyed the story and the characters. I first got drawn in by the book's name but quickly enjoyed it more than expected. After reading this book, I look forward to getting the next book in this fun, cozy series.
May 6, 2023
A Spot of Earl Slay by Aubrey Elle is book 1 of the Tea Time Trouble book series. We follow teenager Ella and her mother Naomi as they move to the small town of Fayette. The mother and daughter have moved into a house left to them by Naomi’s uncle, to start over after Naomi’s divorce from Ella’s father. As they get settled in the pair find the dead body of the town busybody in their shed. This was a fun cozy mystery that well…cozy. The neighbors are great and the small town atmosphere is spot on. Watching Naomi deal with the stressors of being newly divorced on top of the murder is very relatable. I also enjoyed reading about Naomi and Ella’s interactions. This was the best cozy mystery that I have read in a while.
August 21, 2023
Naomi moves to a small town with her teenage daughter Ella and before they even unpack they discover a dead body in their shed. They are invited into the neighbour's home for a cup of tea while they wait for the police to finish their investigation and end up staying there for several days.
Their neighbours Barbara and Ingrid are happy to have them and fill them in on all the neighbourhood gossip.
Eventually they move into their home and Naomi with the help of her daughter and the neighbours start to investigate. I found the book was a little too slow moving for me and I wasn't crazy about the mother/daughter relationship. At the end of the day I felt like I still hardly knew anything about the town and the people living there.
Their neighbours Barbara and Ingrid are happy to have them and fill them in on all the neighbourhood gossip.
Eventually they move into their home and Naomi with the help of her daughter and the neighbours start to investigate. I found the book was a little too slow moving for me and I wasn't crazy about the mother/daughter relationship. At the end of the day I felt like I still hardly knew anything about the town and the people living there.
March 17, 2024
It is an entertaining story and a good, cozy mystery. The book is about a mom, Naomi, and her daughter, Ella, moving to a small town after a divorce. When they arrive at their new home, they find a dead body in the shed! Their new neighbors are friendly and invite them over for tea, both the drink and the gossip. The neighbors end up inviting them to stay for as long as they need, and they all share tea with each other.
I rated the book 4 stars only because there were multiple spelling, grammar, and other errors in the book. There were a couple times when the wrong word was used, which pulled me out of the book.
Regardless, I enjoyed the story. People looking for cozy mysteries with tea, cats, or small towns, they may enjoy this book.
I rated the book 4 stars only because there were multiple spelling, grammar, and other errors in the book. There were a couple times when the wrong word was used, which pulled me out of the book.
Regardless, I enjoyed the story. People looking for cozy mysteries with tea, cats, or small towns, they may enjoy this book.
April 28, 2023
What a wonderful read this book was. Firstly I have to say I loved the title of the story, it certainly grabbed my attention and the cover for the book is so pretty. I don’t usually pay much attention to book covers but this one is lovely. This was a fun cozy mystery read and one that kept my attention from beginning to end. It was really entertaining to read. The main characters Naomi and Ella were great to read about and I loved Ingrid and Barbara too!
I am so excited for this new series and if this first book is anything to go by its going to be a brilliant one! I can’t wait for book 2!
I am so excited for this new series and if this first book is anything to go by its going to be a brilliant one! I can’t wait for book 2!
April 30, 2023
This was such a great start to a new series! I loved the small town of Fayette and all of the colorful people who live there. The author did a great job of drawing me into the story and describing the town and townsfolk. I loved how realistic the characters all were. Like they are people you could imagine in your everyday life. Naomi, her daughter Ella and their very helpful tea drinking neighbors Barbara and Ingrid, make up an amazing quartet of women that just works. This was a delightful cozy murder story, with plenty of heart and humor. I can’t wait to see what happens next in the town and I am hopeful for a bit of romance for Naomi in the coming novels.
April 30, 2023
This was such a fun story to read! Naomi and her daughter Ella are ready for a fresh start in a new town.. until their arrival is shaken by the discovery of a murder in their shed. Taken in and supported by welcoming neighbors, they quickly learn the gossip of small town life over cup after cup of tea. Will they be able to solve the mystery murder and get settled in their new home or does danger continue to lurk?!
I love the way each quirky character compliments the next. They intertwine beautifully to bring the story to life! I couldn’t wait to keep turning pages and get the answers!This is the first book of a series that I can not wait to continue reading!
I love the way each quirky character compliments the next. They intertwine beautifully to bring the story to life! I couldn’t wait to keep turning pages and get the answers!This is the first book of a series that I can not wait to continue reading!
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