Abbey Fisher and her best friend Pam run the 'Little Nook' tea room and curiosity shop in the sleepy hamlet of Lower Threadbury in England. It's a quiet place but the daily coach loads of visitors to the beauty spot keep them busy. Abbey is known far and wide for her delicious orange marmalade cake, and as the little café thrives, the antiques shop struggles. When an American tourist is found dead amongst the antiques one morning- the finger points at Pam; but there are many players in this mystery. Who is the rugged farm hand who keeps Pam awake at night, and is there more to the handsome baker Jo Thompson than his fresh morning rolls? Tempers can fly where tea is spilt and the motives for murder mount! Find out more in our ‘tongue in cheek’ cozy mystery, a story where only cake can save the day!
I was able to download this #book for free on my #Kindle ; book #1 is only available in paperback. From the reviews of the first book of this series, the principal complaint was mis-usage of words or bad grammar. Well it occurs in this 2nd of the series as well, but the story plot, characters, and recipe for the orange marmalade cake have me forgiving all that.
Abby and friend, Pam, are co-owners of tea and curio shops. It's not always easy dealing with the tourists that come inside, especially when they are obnoxious and full of themselves, like American Arnold Beecher. After making a scene about a vase Pam refuses to sell him, he does a "false fall" inside the tea shop and threatens to sue the ladies right out of business; that is unless Pam willingly gives him the vase.
Later that night, Abby wakes to a crashing sound down in the shop and finds the hideous Beecher dead on the floor. She is a suspect first, but then the police focus in on Pam, and her friend Ben, whom she would love to have as more than a friend. Abby has her own potential love interest in baker Jo Thompson, and together they will either help Pam and Ben be found innocent, or perhaps guilty after all?
You know you're in trouble with your choice of reading material when the name of the main protagonist is spelt differently in the Introduction compared to the rest of the story. Even though this was only a brief visit into an updated Jane Marple's England, I was disappointed all the typos hadn't been eliminated. In a 200 page novel, I don't mind if the odd glitch slips through, but in 40 odd pages there's no excuse. As for the plot? It won't test your brain too much to work out whodunnit.
Cozy who done it murder mystery. Part book store part cafe. There are editing blips that should have not been missed. Like incorrect names. Otherwise it would have been better. So 3 stars only..
When I think "cozy mysteries", I thing Agatha Christie. I do not think of a girl with a teenage crush (she's not really, which just makes it worse) and a mystery as a side story. Seriously, the day had gone from the worst day of her life to the best day of her life? She was threatened with lawsuit which would bankrupt her and destroy her dream of the little tea shop, but it was the best day because a guy she had really noticed for the first time that day kissed her on the cheek?
The second star is for the recipe for the cake, and for a rather good language, at least for the genre.
While this wasnt the best book of. Its kind that I have read, it wasnt the worst either. Yes, as other people have mentioned, it was a little silly with plot holes and a very abrupt ending. I really dont think that the book really pretended to be anything it wasnt though. It was comfortable, a bit fluffy and pleasant to read.
I had trouble with the fact that no one wanted to sell things in the stores,be it a whole piece. of cake or a teapot and as a shop worker and waitress couldn't enjoy the story sorry