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Tea Shop Mystery #2
Gunpowder Green
Tea shop owner Theodosia Browning knows that something’s brewing in the high society of Charleston—something other than her newest tea…
The Indigo Tea Shop, Charleston’s favorite spot of tea, has just come out with its latest flavor: Gunpowder Green. Theodosia Browning cannot wait to hear its praises as it is unveiled at the annual yacht race. But when she hears the crack of an antique gun meant to end the race, a member of Charleston’s elite falls dead. Theodosia has a hunch that his demise was no accident—and will go out of her way to prove it. But if she doesn’t act fast, Theo will find herself in hot water with some boiling-mad Charlestonians—and more than a little gun-chai…
Includes a delicious recipe and tea-making tips!
The Indigo Tea Shop, Charleston’s favorite spot of tea, has just come out with its latest flavor: Gunpowder Green. Theodosia Browning cannot wait to hear its praises as it is unveiled at the annual yacht race. But when she hears the crack of an antique gun meant to end the race, a member of Charleston’s elite falls dead. Theodosia has a hunch that his demise was no accident—and will go out of her way to prove it. But if she doesn’t act fast, Theo will find herself in hot water with some boiling-mad Charlestonians—and more than a little gun-chai…
Includes a delicious recipe and tea-making tips!
244 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
433 people are currently reading
2456 people want to read
About the author
Laura Childs
93 books2,253 followersLaura Childs is a pseudonym for Gerry Schmitt and she is the best-selling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, the Scrapbook Mysteries, and the Cackleberry Club Mysteries.
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 fund raising 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 take 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 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 fund raising 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 take 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 436 reviews
October 9, 2020
I really enjoyed this sweet and cozy second installment of the Tea Shop Mystery series, and being reunited with Theodosia, Haley, and Drayton to solve yet another "accidental death" that turns out to be murder.
Light and breezy, Gunpowder Green reads much like its predecessor: you'll want a good cup of steaming tea and a scone while you read and eliminate the suspects one by one. I found this one easy to solve, but I enjoyed it a lot nonetheless. There's something about Childs' writing style that is very soothing, even though she writes mysteries.
There's still some suspense and anticipation in all the right spots, but overall this is as cozy as cozy gets!
I love it though, and those recipes tacked on at the end are such a wonderful bonus.
Light and breezy, Gunpowder Green reads much like its predecessor: you'll want a good cup of steaming tea and a scone while you read and eliminate the suspects one by one. I found this one easy to solve, but I enjoyed it a lot nonetheless. There's something about Childs' writing style that is very soothing, even though she writes mysteries.
There's still some suspense and anticipation in all the right spots, but overall this is as cozy as cozy gets!
I love it though, and those recipes tacked on at the end are such a wonderful bonus.
May 5, 2024
I love this series, every time I read one of the books from the series I get transported to Charleston, SC which is one of my favorite cities in the south. Theodosia is a great character and she owns the tea shop in Charleston. I like reading about all the different teas Theo has in her shop as well as the yummy treats Haley bakes in the kitchen. The mysteries and the side characters are always interesting as well. A great read for fans of cozy mysteries.
July 5, 2023
Nice cozy set in Charleston SC. Lots of interesting characters & the description of many delicious teas. The murder mystery reminded me of a game of Clue. I was leaning towards the real killer for quite some time but how the reveal all comes about was fun.
October 12, 2020
Never would have guessed how this one would have ended and I love the recipes at the end of the book.
January 9, 2024
Everyone in Charleston is gathered for the annual Isle of Palms yacht race. They sip tea from Theodosia Browning's Indigo Tea Shop at the "tea by the sea" event waiting for the yachts to come into harbor. Just as the winner is about to be announced, 61-year-old Oliver Dixon picks up an antique pistol and poises to fire to signal the end of the race. As he does, the pistol explodes and Oliver is dead. While everyone thinks it was a tragic accident, Theodosia is not so sure. What if someone rigged the pistol to explode on purpose? Detective Tidwell seems to think it was an accident but won't rule out murder. He sets his sights on Ford Cantrell, a drunken party crasher who had words with Oliver just before Oliver's death. Ford's sister, Lizbeth Cantrell, calls on old ties to Theodosia's family and asks Theodosia to prove her brother innocent. Theodosia feels compelled to help but she wants to see justice done and to do that and possibly clear Ford's name, she has to catch the real killer. At Drayton's mystery tea event, Lizbeth wants to know who killed Oliver Dixon but before the fortune teller can answer, the power goes out and the tea cup is shattered. It's up to Theodosia to keep ferreting out clues, sending them to Detective Tidwell and hoping he'll catch the killer.
I liked this mystery better than the first one. I had an inkling of who it might be at first when that person was introduced but then I quickly changed my mind. I never guessed who the murderer was. There really aren't any solid clues. I loved the themed teas concept and this book introduced me to some new teas I haven't heard of before. I may even order some South Carolina tea to try. The head jumping is less than in the first book but still jarring and weird. Also very unnecessary. The plot of this one is very dated. It's the early 00s when PDAs were becoming all the rage and the world is going wireless. These people act like they've never heard of the internet before, let alone wifi. Invest in Apple, not Grapevine, or perhaps Grapevine is a fictional Apple? What did we do without our Smart Phones? It's weird to read landlines ringing and answering machines picking up!
The characters still don't wow me though. I kept hearing some of them speak in BBC period drama accents because they came across as stuffy and old-fashioned. I don't like the third person narration. Theodosia is nice enough. She's kind and hospitable. She's a little too nice and a bit of a pushover. She's also very nosy. She really has no reason to investigate this potential murder but she feels compelled to because Lizbeth Cantell helped take care of Theo's mother and played with young Theo while her mother was dying. Sure that's nice but it sounds like it was Lizbeth's job, maybe she's a hospice nurse and that was a long time ago. Theodosia shouldn't feel beholden to anyone just because they were kind and helpful when it was the right thing to do. She's an ex-marketing manager turned tea shop owner, not the police. Her potential romance seems to have fizzled out. They're both too busy for a relationship right now it sounds like. Theodosia is not the most effective sleuth but she does share her findings with the police, even if it leads to the wrong person being accused.
Drayton is the master tea blender and basically the mastermind behind the whole operation. He blends the teas, chooses the packaging and has come up with themes for events. He has some great ideas and if they didn't serve food, I'd absolutely attend an event. He comes across as super old-fashioned and stuffy, a relic from another era. I love history and I'm all about historic preservation but I also love modern technology and it's very necessary to our lives, sadly. He won't be able to do anything without a computer, the internet and soon, an iPhone yet he resists. Come to the dark side! Haley, the young employee, is more with it. She has a Palm Pilot and is eager to try any new technology. She's cheeky and a lot of fun though she complains about doing her job when she's given extra work to do. That's not the way it works!
Another series regular is Delaine, a clothing boutique owner and the neighborhood gossip. She's horrible! She's nosy and needs to know literally everything about a person and then promptly shares that information with everyone else without a thought. She doesn't understand there may be consequences. She also doesn't understand that some people are on a budget and can't afford her shop. She keeps pushing Theo to make a purchase Theo can't afford! Delaine talks the ears of people until they buy something just to get away from her. Yikes! I do not like her one bit. I also don't like Timothy Neville much. He's the president of the Heritage Society and very strange. He's rude, mysterious and odd. He improves by the end of the story but he is not someone I want to know either. Miss Dimple, Theodosia's bookkeeper, is a kind, elderly woman who seems to have a sense of fun and playfulness. She is happy to be asked to help investigate. A Miss Marple fan perhaps? Or Jessica Fletcher wannabe? Detective Tidwell is a blustery sort of man. He talks the talk and tries to flummox Theodosia. He's paid to find the most likely suspect, not prove their innocence or guilt. He's not very pleasant but I think he and Theo are coming to an understanding. I think he respects her intelligence and knows she has the gossip hotline operating next door. A big shout out to Early Grey, the bestest good boy ever! He's a therapy dog who visits the elderly at their assisted living/nursing home. They love to spoil him and treat him to a special liver brownie cake. Lucky dog to have found Theodosia who is willing to take him to places where he will get extra attention and treats.
New characters include the victim, Oliver Dixon, a 60-something year old newlywed. He's a beloved member of the community and involved in a tech start up company manufacturing add-ons for PDAs. (I'm channeling my inner fortune teller and telling him to invest in Apple! ;-) ) Oliver seems smart and rich. He's active in one of the local yacht clubs, hence the honor of closing the race. Oliver also seems devoted to his new and much younger wife. Doe Belvedere is 25 if she's a day and a former beauty queen, sorority girl and most likely, a gold digger. She's the type who has everything handed to her and coasts through life based on looks alone. Looks don't last honey. Take your hubby's money and invest it in Apple! Theodosia has an iMac (more dated than a Palm Pilot), she sees what's what! Doe does not act like the grieving widow at all. She's young and maybe it hasn't hit her or maybe she's acting a role for the public or maybe she was a gold digger and doesn't care her husband is dead. I'm leaning towards gold digger because she's selling off her late husband's possessions ALREADY, before the funeral! She's selling with the help of Oliver's second cousin, Giovanni Loard, an eccentric, pretentious antiques dealer. He seems charming, knowledable about antiques but not tea and very charming. Theodosia likes him a lot. He seems distressed at first that his cousin has been killed and is the first to jump into action. That doesn't make him seem like a murderer but then he's helping Doe sell things which could be kind of him or calculating. How does she know she can trust him?
Ford Cantrell shows up at the yacht race drunk to argue with Oliver. Their families are long standing rivals like the Hatfields and the McCoys. What was the argument about? Ford has a hunting and nature preserve out in the country. Aunt Libby is skeptical because she's never seen any of the more normal creatures he advertises, let alone wild boar! The man sure likes his guns and is a little creepy. Is he merely eccentric or warning Theodosia off her investigation? Either way, he's creepy and not someone I would like to cross. Billy Manolo is a handyman who works for the yacht club. He was at the race setting up. He even borrowed a tablecloth from Theodosia. The man is cranky and has a short temper. He even threatens Theodosia. I really think some of the clues point to him as the murderer. He has the opportunity and has the temper to do it. Did he have the knowledge? I hope the murderer was Booth Crowly, another prominent member of Charleston society. He's a wealthy businessman and likes to throw his weight around and threaten people. He's seen arguing with Billy and is a yacht club big wig. UGH This guy is just awful. Toss him in jail for being an all around horrible person. I don't think he's bluffing when he threatens Theodosia so what is he hiding he doesn't want her to know about? Did he load the pistol that killed Oliver?
I liked this mystery better than the first one. I had an inkling of who it might be at first when that person was introduced but then I quickly changed my mind. I never guessed who the murderer was. There really aren't any solid clues. I loved the themed teas concept and this book introduced me to some new teas I haven't heard of before. I may even order some South Carolina tea to try. The head jumping is less than in the first book but still jarring and weird. Also very unnecessary. The plot of this one is very dated. It's the early 00s when PDAs were becoming all the rage and the world is going wireless. These people act like they've never heard of the internet before, let alone wifi. Invest in Apple, not Grapevine, or perhaps Grapevine is a fictional Apple? What did we do without our Smart Phones? It's weird to read landlines ringing and answering machines picking up!
The characters still don't wow me though. I kept hearing some of them speak in BBC period drama accents because they came across as stuffy and old-fashioned. I don't like the third person narration. Theodosia is nice enough. She's kind and hospitable. She's a little too nice and a bit of a pushover. She's also very nosy. She really has no reason to investigate this potential murder but she feels compelled to because Lizbeth Cantell helped take care of Theo's mother and played with young Theo while her mother was dying. Sure that's nice but it sounds like it was Lizbeth's job, maybe she's a hospice nurse and that was a long time ago. Theodosia shouldn't feel beholden to anyone just because they were kind and helpful when it was the right thing to do. She's an ex-marketing manager turned tea shop owner, not the police. Her potential romance seems to have fizzled out. They're both too busy for a relationship right now it sounds like. Theodosia is not the most effective sleuth but she does share her findings with the police, even if it leads to the wrong person being accused.
Drayton is the master tea blender and basically the mastermind behind the whole operation. He blends the teas, chooses the packaging and has come up with themes for events. He has some great ideas and if they didn't serve food, I'd absolutely attend an event. He comes across as super old-fashioned and stuffy, a relic from another era. I love history and I'm all about historic preservation but I also love modern technology and it's very necessary to our lives, sadly. He won't be able to do anything without a computer, the internet and soon, an iPhone yet he resists. Come to the dark side! Haley, the young employee, is more with it. She has a Palm Pilot and is eager to try any new technology. She's cheeky and a lot of fun though she complains about doing her job when she's given extra work to do. That's not the way it works!
Another series regular is Delaine, a clothing boutique owner and the neighborhood gossip. She's horrible! She's nosy and needs to know literally everything about a person and then promptly shares that information with everyone else without a thought. She doesn't understand there may be consequences. She also doesn't understand that some people are on a budget and can't afford her shop. She keeps pushing Theo to make a purchase Theo can't afford! Delaine talks the ears of people until they buy something just to get away from her. Yikes! I do not like her one bit. I also don't like Timothy Neville much. He's the president of the Heritage Society and very strange. He's rude, mysterious and odd. He improves by the end of the story but he is not someone I want to know either. Miss Dimple, Theodosia's bookkeeper, is a kind, elderly woman who seems to have a sense of fun and playfulness. She is happy to be asked to help investigate. A Miss Marple fan perhaps? Or Jessica Fletcher wannabe? Detective Tidwell is a blustery sort of man. He talks the talk and tries to flummox Theodosia. He's paid to find the most likely suspect, not prove their innocence or guilt. He's not very pleasant but I think he and Theo are coming to an understanding. I think he respects her intelligence and knows she has the gossip hotline operating next door. A big shout out to Early Grey, the bestest good boy ever! He's a therapy dog who visits the elderly at their assisted living/nursing home. They love to spoil him and treat him to a special liver brownie cake. Lucky dog to have found Theodosia who is willing to take him to places where he will get extra attention and treats.
New characters include the victim, Oliver Dixon, a 60-something year old newlywed. He's a beloved member of the community and involved in a tech start up company manufacturing add-ons for PDAs. (I'm channeling my inner fortune teller and telling him to invest in Apple! ;-) ) Oliver seems smart and rich. He's active in one of the local yacht clubs, hence the honor of closing the race. Oliver also seems devoted to his new and much younger wife. Doe Belvedere is 25 if she's a day and a former beauty queen, sorority girl and most likely, a gold digger. She's the type who has everything handed to her and coasts through life based on looks alone. Looks don't last honey. Take your hubby's money and invest it in Apple! Theodosia has an iMac (more dated than a Palm Pilot), she sees what's what! Doe does not act like the grieving widow at all. She's young and maybe it hasn't hit her or maybe she's acting a role for the public or maybe she was a gold digger and doesn't care her husband is dead. I'm leaning towards gold digger because she's selling off her late husband's possessions ALREADY, before the funeral! She's selling with the help of Oliver's second cousin, Giovanni Loard, an eccentric, pretentious antiques dealer. He seems charming, knowledable about antiques but not tea and very charming. Theodosia likes him a lot. He seems distressed at first that his cousin has been killed and is the first to jump into action. That doesn't make him seem like a murderer but then he's helping Doe sell things which could be kind of him or calculating. How does she know she can trust him?
Ford Cantrell shows up at the yacht race drunk to argue with Oliver. Their families are long standing rivals like the Hatfields and the McCoys. What was the argument about? Ford has a hunting and nature preserve out in the country. Aunt Libby is skeptical because she's never seen any of the more normal creatures he advertises, let alone wild boar! The man sure likes his guns and is a little creepy. Is he merely eccentric or warning Theodosia off her investigation? Either way, he's creepy and not someone I would like to cross. Billy Manolo is a handyman who works for the yacht club. He was at the race setting up. He even borrowed a tablecloth from Theodosia. The man is cranky and has a short temper. He even threatens Theodosia. I really think some of the clues point to him as the murderer. He has the opportunity and has the temper to do it. Did he have the knowledge? I hope the murderer was Booth Crowly, another prominent member of Charleston society. He's a wealthy businessman and likes to throw his weight around and threaten people. He's seen arguing with Billy and is a yacht club big wig. UGH This guy is just awful. Toss him in jail for being an all around horrible person. I don't think he's bluffing when he threatens Theodosia so what is he hiding he doesn't want her to know about? Did he load the pistol that killed Oliver?
March 14, 2017
This is the second book in the Tea Shop Mystery series that takes place in Charleston, South Carolina. I enjoy the setting in this book as well as its focus on the Tea Shop and the antique shops of old town Charleston. Once again tea shop owner, Theodosia, finds herself in the middle of a mysterious death. Oliver Dixon, one of the elderly socialites of the town, fires the finish gun at the local regatta, the gun explodes, and Oliver is dead. While most think it's just an accident, Theodosia feel sthat there has been foul play. Along with her employees, Drayton and Haley, twists and turns take them on an enjoyable sleuthing adventure as they try to determine if there was indeed a murder; and if so, who was behind it. A quick, easy to read cozy mystery.
May 25, 2017
This sequel is tighter paced (bless her for having the murder happen in chapter 1), but Theodosia becomes even more ridiculously luminous and amazing, if such were possible. The mystery is again subsidiary to long sentences that are just lists of things, and the characters resist growth or introspection. It's basically Murder She Wrote plus tea, minus charm.
May 26, 2021
I like Theodosia. I like her tea shop. I don't know that I'm completely okay with the low country families, or Charleston's cafe society as Delaine describes them. This one was full of it, and by the end I was kind of sick of it. I hope the next one doesn't have a similar cast. I want to see more of the low country than just the cobbled streets of Charleston.
February 1, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this second book in the series. I read this over 10 years ago and i still remember searching the library for the next book. The tea shop mysteries as well as the Scrapbooking mysteries were my go to books. Now that I am starting my book collection again I plan on buying the whole collection.
Everything about it just got me wrapped up in protagonist Theo's Indigo Tea Shop, Drayton, and Haley. The authors description of charleston has made me want to live in the South. Own my own tea shop/book store just like Theo. As for the mystery itself I found it intriguing, and well thought out. If you are looking for a light, fun read then this series fits the bill.
Everything about it just got me wrapped up in protagonist Theo's Indigo Tea Shop, Drayton, and Haley. The authors description of charleston has made me want to live in the South. Own my own tea shop/book store just like Theo. As for the mystery itself I found it intriguing, and well thought out. If you are looking for a light, fun read then this series fits the bill.
September 23, 2016
Einfach nicht meine Serie. Ich mag Theodosia nicht, die anderen Personen sind mir zu klischeehaft und flach. Die Handlung fand ich langweilig und den Täter vorhersehbar.
May 15, 2021
These books make me realize how little I know about tea and all the corresponding accoutrements.
It it’s a nice little mystery to spend some lazy afternoons reading.
It it’s a nice little mystery to spend some lazy afternoons reading.
June 26, 2025
This second installment of the Tea Shop Mystery series was an overall enjoyable read. Childs does a wonderful job combining intelligent characters, a beautifully atmospheric setting, and well-plotted mystery while incorporating interesting cultural and historical details to keep readers engaged. I consider this series a perfect "comfort" read.
October 14, 2022
This is the second book in the series and I've enjoyed both books so far and I'm looking forward to reading on. As a coffee drinker, I must say I'm thinking about trying out some teas after reading this series.
August 24, 2023
Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop in Charleston, South Carolina, is catering Tea by the Sea at this year's Isle of Palms Yacht Race. Theodosia is delighted to have this catering opportunity, as are two of her employees who add their talents to every aspect of the shop's successful business. Drayton Conneley, assistant and master tea blender, is always ready to challenge his creativity in creating a unique tea blend for the event. Haley Parker, baker extraordinaire, will add summer taste delights as well. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in every respect until firing an antique gun to signify the race winner instead triggered loss and chaos.
The charm of this cozy series is the uniquely crafted blend of cozy delights. The ingredients include:
• Female and male staff of varying ages naturally have diverse life/work experiences that enjoy camaraderie guided by Theodosia's appreciation for everyone's knowledge and talents.
• The more extensive staff of the tea shop allows a broader scope of offerings for locals and tourists through the pleasures of delectable seasonal menus, shopping, offerings of in-house special events, and reservations for catering available for public and private events.
• The mystery to unravel beginning during one event becomes more intriguing for exploring the suspect list of the cozy crime through waves of detours with various locations as possibilities where the reveal will take place.
Of equal importance to the ingredients is the kitchen and, in this case, the setting in historic Charleston. Indeed, for armchair travelers, the tour of Charleston through the tea shop activities and events is unlike any tour book. And the tea. The lovely joys of tea from around the world. There are delights from page to page, bringing awareness, sensory images of aroma and taste, and offering tips that make possibilities seem like opportunities. It is my favorite tea shop series.
Recipes and tips for a lovely tea at home are provided at the end of the cozy.
The charm of this cozy series is the uniquely crafted blend of cozy delights. The ingredients include:
• Female and male staff of varying ages naturally have diverse life/work experiences that enjoy camaraderie guided by Theodosia's appreciation for everyone's knowledge and talents.
• The more extensive staff of the tea shop allows a broader scope of offerings for locals and tourists through the pleasures of delectable seasonal menus, shopping, offerings of in-house special events, and reservations for catering available for public and private events.
• The mystery to unravel beginning during one event becomes more intriguing for exploring the suspect list of the cozy crime through waves of detours with various locations as possibilities where the reveal will take place.
Of equal importance to the ingredients is the kitchen and, in this case, the setting in historic Charleston. Indeed, for armchair travelers, the tour of Charleston through the tea shop activities and events is unlike any tour book. And the tea. The lovely joys of tea from around the world. There are delights from page to page, bringing awareness, sensory images of aroma and taste, and offering tips that make possibilities seem like opportunities. It is my favorite tea shop series.
Recipes and tips for a lovely tea at home are provided at the end of the cozy.
February 22, 2017
I enjoyed my return to this cozy tea house in Charleston. I love the descriptions of the different teas that are interspersed throughout the story. I would visit this tea shop in a heart beat if I could. Also the idea of special tea events is so creative, especially the mystery tea. The characters are interesting, but I feel like we know nothing about them. I hope they get more developed as the series continues because I'm having a little bit of trouble connecting with them. The mystery was tricky, but I had an idea about the true suspect from the day of the murder.
Overall I enjoy this series, but don't love it....yet? I'm hoping as I get more invested in the characters I'll enjoy it more because the setting is wonderful and what drew me in.
Overall I enjoy this series, but don't love it....yet? I'm hoping as I get more invested in the characters I'll enjoy it more because the setting is wonderful and what drew me in.
June 12, 2011
Cute cozy mystery series. The tea information is fascinating and the descriptions of Charleston are wonderful. The mystery itself is engaging without be too taxing, pretty much what I expect from a cozy. My one issue is that the characters can be a bit too precious at times, but it's a minor irritant and easily glossed over to spend some time in the charming tea shop.
October 10, 2016
I enjoyed this book. Theodosia finds herself in another murder mystery where the murder was set up to look like a tragic accident. As a favor to a childhood friend she looks into the mystery and discovers the actual killer. I continue to enjoy the characters in this series and I'm looking forward to reading other books from this series.
November 3, 2023
4 stars
This book was a major improvement from the last one. In it, Theodosia is serving tea for a boat race. The newlywed husband who was chosen to fire the starting gun shoots, and the gun explodes, killing him. Whenever I start a food related mystery series, I am worried that almost all the murders will be poison, becoming repetitive. Because of this, I really enjoy Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swenson mysteries. I was glad that the murder this time was not poison. I also felt that the setting was better this time around too. While I still guessed the killer, this time it was a sneaking suspicion instead of being sure. My biggest drawback was the inclusion of the heritage society president as a suspect again. Once a mystery series establishes the main characters, they will almost never be a murderer. Maybe killed off though… I feel he should have been there more as a historian on the workings of a gun, and for the reveal he was included in at the end, but too much time was spent on ruling him out it seems. The characters developed more which was good. I don’t think I could eat the recipes included at the end though, which is bad because normally I make them all.
This book was a major improvement from the last one. In it, Theodosia is serving tea for a boat race. The newlywed husband who was chosen to fire the starting gun shoots, and the gun explodes, killing him. Whenever I start a food related mystery series, I am worried that almost all the murders will be poison, becoming repetitive. Because of this, I really enjoy Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swenson mysteries. I was glad that the murder this time was not poison. I also felt that the setting was better this time around too. While I still guessed the killer, this time it was a sneaking suspicion instead of being sure. My biggest drawback was the inclusion of the heritage society president as a suspect again. Once a mystery series establishes the main characters, they will almost never be a murderer. Maybe killed off though… I feel he should have been there more as a historian on the workings of a gun, and for the reveal he was included in at the end, but too much time was spent on ruling him out it seems. The characters developed more which was good. I don’t think I could eat the recipes included at the end though, which is bad because normally I make them all.
October 3, 2019
I read this cozy mystery for a readers advisory course I’m taking as the genre is very much out of my wheel house. I greatly enjoyed Theodosia’s whit and tea knowledge throughout the story. I understand why people would continue to read about her sleuthing adventures. I don’t know if I’ll read any in the future but it was really nice change and The Indigo Tea Shop made such a lovely home base that it felt like I was truly there sipping tea and uncovering murderers.
February 14, 2021
This is a so-so murder mystery; the attraction to this series is the Indigo Tea Shop and the rarified world of historical Charleston. I'll keep reading these because I really enjoy the tea references, the recipes (the Earl Grey Sorbet sounds wonderful!) and a glimpse at what certainly is an idealized version of life in great historical homes and gardens. Theodosia, her perfect tea shop, perfect dog, perfect apartment, etc. is starting to get on my nerves.
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February 13, 2018The second book in the Tea Shop Mystery series by Laura Childs. A man is killed at a yacht club event and the suspected killer is his partner at work. Theodosia Browning promises the sister of the partner he is not guilty. And Theodosia is as good as her word. The reader learns interesting things about antique guns and what Garden Week in Charleston, South Carolina is like. Laura Child's books are good, light reading.
October 12, 2018
A pretty good book. I enjoyed the idea for the mystery tea and it would be an enjoyable event. The mystery was well done and I didn't guess the killer until the reveal. We learned a little more about the characters and I'd like to continue reading more.
July 6, 2024
Laura Child writes such great quaint mysteries. Theo is a spunky lady and I love her determination. The tea shop events are described so well that I long to visit the Indigo Tea Shop. The setting shows pride for Charleston NC history. The murders are well crafted. I look forward to each book in the ongoing series and will be sad when I am caught up.
April 15, 2025
This book, Gunpowder Green, is 2nd in the series Tea Shop Mystery series. Theodosia Browning owns a tea shop in the historic district of Charleston South Carolina. She finds herself at a sailboat race where someone has been murdered. She and her employee/friends at the tea shop embark on a journey to find out who the killer was. A very easy, quick cozy mystery read.
January 18, 2019
Another intriguing mystery set in Charleston. The teas and themed teas sounded delicious and fun. I still like the main characters. They and their relationships make the story more interesting.
July 22, 2019
Enjoyable series!
January 14, 2020
Another solid mystery from the series. Not my favorite but still engaging.
August 22, 2021
Das zweite Buch der "A Tea Shop Mystery" Series. Ich fand es besser als das erste.
January 10, 2022
Great cozy mystery. I'm really enjoying this series. Well done Laura Childs
July 14, 2022
I enjoyed this book better than the first one. These books are like classic mysteries, with charming characters, set in a quaint atmosphere. On to the third book.
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