Dragonwell Dead (A Tea Shop Mystery) by Laura Childs

This is a month for the Tea Shop Mysteries for me.  Another one to devour - book eight of the series.  This time, murder calls much closer to home for comfort.  Theodosia's sorta boyfriend, Parker Scully, owner of Solstice Bistro and Wine Bar, said to her as they were walking to a meeting at the Heritage Society, that he was curious as to why Theodosia was "such a lightning rod for this stuff?...somebody in this town drops dead and you're Johnny on the case."  Well, how astute, I have been wondering that myself!  Then again, if not for Theodosia and her curious and inquisitive nature, there wouldn't be any Tea Shop mysteries for us to sit back and enjoy in a delightful way like a good cup of tea does.  As always, Charleston is a historically beautiful setting for these mysteries.  Happy reading!

Why not introduce this book with the last line in the book for a change?  Here it is:

Last line in the book:  Placing one of Miss Maybelle's needlepoint pillows behind her head, Theodosia leaned back against the couch and said, "There's always time for tea."

Taken from the book blurb:  Each spring, Charleston's upper crust opens its sprawling gardens to the public for the Spring Plantation Ramble, an occasion for flower shows, rare-plant auctions, and contagious spring fever.  Although Theodosia Browning barely knows a Phalaenopsis from a bog rose, she still enjoys the Ramble, especially since she can promote her Indigo Tea Shop and her latest conconction, Dragonwell Sweet Tea.  But the festivities come to a screeching halt when commodities broker Mark Congdon wins a bid for a rare monkey-face orchid - and promptly dies.  It looks like a simple heart attack, but both Theo and his widow suspect that someone purposely turned his green thumb blue...
Includes delicious recipes and tea time tips!

Rating: 3/5 (Enjoy!)