High Tea and Misdemeanors
(A Tea Shop Mystery)
by Laura Childs
Cozy Mystery
29th in Series
Setting: South Carolina
Publisher: Berkley
(March 4, 2025)
Hardcover: 320 Pages
When a wedding is tragically averted by the death of the bridesmaid, Theodosia is determined to prove that it was murder in the latest entry in this New York Times bestselling series.
Theodosia Browning and her tea sommelier, Drayton Conneley, are tapped to cater the elegant wedding of Bettina and Jamie. Theodosia and Drayton are setting up when they hear a crash from the greenhouse. Shockingly, they discover that part of the roof has collapsed trapping a
bridesmaid and the groom. He will pull through but the bridesmaid is no more. Theodosia is convinced it was murder.
INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!
Purchase Links
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Sheriff Joe Ambourn and his two deputies were the first to arrive, followed by two ambulances that came screaming in. The EMTs tumbled out and, with barely a wasted motion, were down on their hands and knees, pulling equipment from their medical packs. Two of them started working on Jamie; two went to the aid of Celeste. Because Jamie appeared to be semi-conscious and was mumbling responses, Theodosia hurried over to where Celeste, pale and still, was being tended to.
“Priority one,” the first EMT said to his partner. Theodosia figured priority one must be code for a big bad problem as both EMTs worked feverishly on Celeste. They bagged her and started chest compressions, worked on her for a good ten minutes, but Celeste didn’t seem to be responding to anything they did. In fact her lips were beginning to turn blue.
Drayton walked up behind a stunned Theodosia and said, “How is she doing?”
“Not good,” Theodosia said. Her own heart was thudding with worry, working overtime, and she wished she could magically imbue Celeste with some of her own precious energy.
Drayton took Theodosia’s arm and gently pulled her away. “Let them work on her while we check on Jamie,” he said. Drayton was managing to stay calm and unflappable even in the midst of a crisis.
They found Jamie lying flat on a gurney and in the process of being loaded into the back of one of the ambulances. Theodosia knew Jamie was alive, and maybe even kicking, by the sounds of his groans and hoarse mumbles.
“Jamie!” Theodosia called out. “Hang in there.”
Jamie lifted his head momentarily, moaned, “Uhh,” and then disappeared into the ambulance.
“How is he really?” Theodosia asked the EMT who’d loaded him.
“His breath sounds are decent, and his heart is strong,” said the EMT, a young man whose name tag read S. Griffin. “But his nose is broken, he’s sustained some serious cuts and abrasions, one very bad cut on his right hand, and there are possible skull and rib fractures. So the ER docs have to take a careful look at him.” Then the EMT vaulted into the ambulance, pulled the door closed, and they sped off, siren wailing, lights flashing.
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2 Print Copies of High Tea and Misdemeanors (A Tea Shop Mystery) by Laura Childs (United States Only)
Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fundraising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.
Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:
The Tea Shop Mysteries – set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.
The Scrapbooking Mysteries – a slightly edgier series that takes place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!
The Cackleberry Club Mysteries – set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.
Laura’s Links:
Website – Facebook
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This sounds like such a delightful mix of charm and mystery! A tea shop setting with a side of crime-solving feels just as satisfying as enjoying a Freddy’s frozen custard with crispy fries—unexpected, but the perfect combo. What’s the most intriguing clue or twist in the story so far?
Her tea mysteries have been on my radar for a bit.
Tea and cozies… two of my favorites!
I love cozy mysteries.