Dragonwell Dead

Tea Shop Mystery #8

by Laura Childs

It's springtime in Charleston and just about every species of South Carolina's flora is in full and glorious bloom at the Spring Plantation Ramble. Once a year, the upper crust open their sprawling gardens to the public, the site of flower shows, rare plant auctions, and a contagious spring fever. Although Theodosia Browning barely knows a Phalinopsis from a Bog Rose, she still enjoys the Ramble, especially since she can pour tea and promote her Indigo Tea Shop-and her latest concoction, Dragonwell Sweet Tea.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Tea, Crime, Southern

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Laura 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.

Reviews

[✨ Gramy ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

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This woman sleuth happens to own a tea shop. Who knew there were so many different types of tea and ways to serve them? Not me, this series has taught me something there.

Theo stays busy, busy, busy. But she always finds time to investigate the current murder. Each book delivers a cozy read for enjoyable entertainment. This one did not really appeal to me for reasons I'm unable to pinpoint at this time.

Each book is able to stand on its own and deliver an HEA, which is an important attribute in a series when I chose to read it.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this outing with Theo and the gang. I'm not a tea drinker but don't mind the tea talk and especially always love hearing about what Haley is serving in the tea shop that day. The lemon jumbles she was making sounded so good I had to go peek in the back to see if the recipe was there (it was!). The mystery was good and while I didn't figure it out ahead of time I could tell when they were suspecting the wrong person.

[Patrizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stelle e mezza
Altra bella addizione a questa serie. Mi devo essere persa qualche indizio perché stavolta non ho proprio capito chi fosse il colpevole... Anche perché sono stata attratta da tutte le notizie relative al tè e ai gustosi sandwiches e dolcetti che sono serviti con esso. Io stessa mi sono fatta due belle tazze di tè fumante che ho sorseggiato mentre leggevo questo libro! E mi è venuta una voglia matta di provare, almeno una volta nella mia vita, un afternoon tea o, comunque, di entrare in una tea room...

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This read better than the last couple. I hope the new character, Charlie, stays around.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

Theodosia and her friends are enjoying the springtime Plantation Ramble and drinking iced tea. Drayton is excited for the rare orchid auction. He's hoping to pick up a fine specimen to exhibit in an upcoming show/fundraiser for the Heritage Society. Drayton has stiff competition in bidding from Mark Congdon, co-owner of the Featherbed House B&B who has now returned to business. Drayton doesn't want to compete with Mark who is a real orchid enthusiast but rare book dealer Harlan Noble isn't so noble. Mark emerges as the winner only to suddenly drop dead. His death was a huge shock to everyone in the community, especially Angie. Even Theodosia, Drayton and Haley are unable to concentrate on work. With Detective Tidwell on vacation and the murder occurring outside his jurisdiction, Theodosia has to rely on Sheriff Billings to solve the crime. But when Angie learns her husband died of an unspecified toxin, Theodosia volunteers to find out more information and snoop around Mark's office. She doesn't come up with any answers but someone seems to think she has and is determined to stop her! Meanwhile, Drayton has to deal with a brand new intern in the shop on top of finding a new orchid for the show and mourning the loss of his friend.

This was a crazy mystery. I thought for sure I knew who it was but that person ended up on the suspect list so I wasn't sure. The murderer seemed to have an alibi and was discounted. They came out of thin air! Some of the things that happen to Theo are wildly improbable. Drayton too. As always, the tea sounds lovely and some of the recipes are going in my notebook to try later. I disliked the Plantation Ramble focus on the beautiful home and grounds without any mention of how they got to be that way. There's such a decided absence of people of color and complete history in this series. I hope the newest ones are better. Yes I WOULD like to live on that plantation WITH an army of servants who are paid a living wage for their work. No I would NOT like to live on that plantation in the colonial period, thank you.

Theo is losing her investigative skills. She doesn't manage to figure anything out. She's TSTL at the end when she falls for a ploy and goes off alone with the murderer. HELLO! Haven't you learned your lesson? Plus she's supposed to be working so I don't know why she would have to go do that thing so urgently! That doesn't make sense. I don't think her relationship with Parker is going anywhere. She seems to enjoy his company at the restaurant once in awhile but she won't let him worry about her and lies to him about what happened. Not to mention what happened to his canoe. Haley is empathetic but also fierce when it comes to her friends. She's the most loyal and caring friend. Not to mention an amazing baker. I was happy she finally found a way to manage Delaine. Delaine is selfish, rude, pushy and generally annoying. She's eager to PLAN a fundraiser but when it comes to actually WORKING, she doesn't want to work. All she wants to do is hobnob with Society people. What century is she living in?

Drayton is feeling threatened by the new intern. He must feel like he's being pushed aside as he ages. Or is confronted with his own mortality. The intern must remind him he won't be there forever. He's really mean and tough on Charlie who seems very nice. She works hard and learns quickly but as she's only in two scenes, her character development is limited. Drayton also is mourning the loss of his friend Mark. In Mark's honor Drayton wants to exhibit an orchid at the Heritage Society and Orchid society event. Angie offers Mark's beloved orchids but Drayton is a mere amateur and wasn't so close to Mark he doesn't feel he can accept. Nor does he want the orchids to go to Harlan Noble though. I think he should care for them at Featherbed House as a tribute to Mark.

Mark was a beloved community member, devoted husband and orchid obsessed and a good friend. His death is a terrible tragedy. Everyone will miss Mark. I'm a little suspicious about why he went back to work in finance but doesn't seem to be putting any of that money into the B&B. Is he spending it all on orchids? That's NOT good business. What are commodities anyway and why would anyone invest in future foreign currency? In 2007? There's also something Theo finds in Mark's office that makes me suspicious he may not have been the most devoted husband. Angie is devastated and in shock over the death of her husband. She's always been nice and generous with Theo and the community. I like her a lot and my heart breaks for her. YET I suspect with Mark back at work, she may be a little lonely. Her assistant, Teddy Vickers, gives me bad vibes. I think he's in love with Angie. I hope they're not having an affair. Either that or he's in love with the house and blames Mark for not caring for it the way he should and spending all his money on orchids instead. I don't trust Teddy.

Harlan Noble is not very pleasant. Why oh why does the rare book dealer have to be so awful? Can't he be passionate and wonderful? He's rude, unfriendly and acts like a shark circling a bloody seal after Mark dies. I can't believe he would be so rude as to ask Angie about Mark's orchids when she's still in shock. He was mad about Mark winning the monkey face orchid and he was there on site when Mark died. I don't want him to be the murderer. If he is, I hope someone worthy comes and takes over his shop. Another excellent suspect is Leah Shalimar, a senior vice president at the firm where Mark worked. There was an opening for a promotion and one of them was to be chosen. Now the job is Leah's by default. She's ambitious, pushy and rather rude. Like Theo, I want to applaud her for being a woman in a business of mainly men but I don't like her at all. She seems too over eager to clear Mark's office and move in herself. His body hasn't even been released for burial yet! Leah belittles Theo's small business more than once and tries to push Drayton into working for her even though he has his dream job and she doesn't know he's a Luddite. She tries to push everyone into buying whatever it is she's selling. I think the current thing she's selling is cryptocurrency! It sounds up her alley. I don't trust her one bit. I think she's a sketchy businesswoman.

I don't think Mark's assistant Faye Hamilton murdered him unless they were having an affair, he ended it and she killed him because she was angry. Or maybe they were having an affair and she's pregnant and he rejected her and the baby? Or maybe she's just infatuated with him and genuinely mourning his death. I don't get a bad vibe off her, just a nervous disposition vibe. One last new character is Delaine's man of the moment, Bobby Wayne Loveday. He was Mark's boss and seems genuinely upset at Mark's death. He also seems into Delaine more than some of her other beaux. I doubt that will last. He's a businessman and I'm sure work comes first. Delaine won't tolerate being second.

Sheriff Billings is a good guy but he does not play by the book. He keeps Theo in the loop and doesn't rail at her for being nosy and giving him information. The fire marshal is more tough but also keeps Theo in the loop.

The murderer was very clever and careful. Also a psychopaths! Theo barely escaped with her life this time with the help of her tea strainer! What kind of tea strainer does she have? Mine wouldn't do what hers did and I have a couple of different kinds.

I'll pick up the next later in the week to read on Sunday if I'm not too tired.

[ML Blair · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seemed to be trotting along and then all of a sudden, she used up her word quota and it was just over.

[Cynthia Beckmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series and following the characters and their lives.

This book was a little different because they used a new sheriff and the usual detective was on vacation. I missed him somewhat.

The actual murderer was a complete surprise until the very end! I look forward to the next book.

[Angela Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another edition of the Tea Shop Mysteries by one of my favorite authors. I love each visit I can make to the tea shop with Theo and Drayton. Again I do not care for Haley. There was a new character in this book that I did like and hope to see more of - the intern Charlie. I really like how Parker and Theo get to work events together and that we see them interacting together. Delanie continued to annoy me with her antics. There were two people - one more so than the other that I had pegged for the murder but I was way off base after the author revealed who the killer was. One thing I did find a little off was how much Sheriff Billings let Theo be involved in the investigation and how much information that he shared with her. It was nice for her though. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 8 in the Tea Shop Mysteries. Theodosia is a successful entrepreneur who runs a tea shop in beautiful Charleston, South Carolina. The theme for this book is orchids. The Indigo Tea Shop is catering a Spring event where society members are showing off and auctioning on prized orchids. Things are going smoothly until Theo's friend, Mark Congdon, suffers what appears to be a heart attack. Mark's widow, Angie, suspects her husband was poisioned, so Theo and the gang set out to unravel the mystery. I was definitely surprised by the ending!!

[Lisa Cornelius Ashby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 8th book in The Tea Shop Mystery series. I love this series. It is one of my favorites! This story was simply great! I loved revisiting Theodosia’s tea shop along with all of her wonderful friends. The mystery had me stumped until the last part of the book. I highly recommend this series if you haven’t tried it.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one involves a rice mill, a hedge maze, a rare orchid, a plant auction, arson, and murder. I liked the plant hunt and old house. The owners were humorous. The mystery was intriguing. I knew who did it but no why. That was a surprise. Of course, the setting and food and teas were delightful. That's stayed consistent.

[Ms. Bryant · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good cozy series. The mysteries aren't impossible to figure out, the cast of characters is quirky, and the tea shop is delightful. I keep hoping Delaine Dish will eventually become one of the murder victims but not so far.

[McCullough Tarner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had an excellent plot twist and kept me on my toes!

[Cherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The usual easy reading. The characters in this series seem like caricatures. There's Delaine, proprietor of a clothing shop (no doubt a classy boutique) who flounces around melodramatically, coercing everyone else into doing her bidding. There's Drayton, who likes very tailored clothes, antiques of a certain calibre and flouncing around the teashop melodramatically, and being far ruder than I would expect from any adult, let alone the distinguished type Drayton is meant to be, if someone else is allowed to encroach upon his tea shop territory. There's a woman called Celerie, there's Timothy Neville, the pushy old guy who runs the Heritage Society, and there's Haley (relatively normal except for her cooking ability), and Theodosia, who investigates the frequent deaths of acquaintances, and who goes above the actual detectives' heads if she doesn't believe that they are up to scratch.

Theodosia gets a few ideas about who might have dunnit, but as seems to be the case with lots of these 'cosy' mysteries, she doesn't actually work it out, just antagonises and accuses a few other people, and then she finds out who the perpetrator is when he lures her away, somehow believing that she knows (or will know) that it was him. This, despite his so-far-successful attempt to frame someone else for the murder, and her willingness to be lured, which shows that she doesn't see him as a lunatic killer.

The frequent lack of speech marks and such sloppiness was less than I would expect from a novel. Don't think too hard about it, and this is a good book.

[Guera25 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was much better than the last few entries in the series, but that's no lofty bar to clear. Once again, a solid buildup was ruined by a wobbly conclusion. I'm well aware that these are the literary equivalents of Murder, She Wrote episodes, with the town do-gooder and busybody sussing out the unexpected villain and engaging in a pulse-pounding denouement in a dark, secluded spot where nothing can save her but her pluck and wits, but Childs' conclusions are especially formulaic and one-note, and I'm tired of the obligatory scene wherein everyone gathers around to coo and twit over how amazing and perfect and heroic Theodosia is. I get it. She farts truth and justice, and it smells like tea and scones(with thick Devonshire cream, natch). I just don't care.

So many loose ends never get resolved. What was the significance of those matching elephants? Or the box Theo never looked through. Why did Gwyn think Theodosia pointed the finger at Angie Congdon for the arson at Featherbed House? Did Angie share that suspicion, or was Gwyn just popping off on her sister's behalf? Why did Drayton's pique at having an intern dissolve with neither explanation nor acknowledgment? Why was the idea of a buying trip never mentioned again? Those two things seemed to be setting the stage for Drayton to have a crisis of faith, but nothing ever came of them.

Childs has solid ideas, but her execution often fails her, and it's a shame. Thank heavens for the library because these aren't worth paying for.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book in the series. I didn't have to read the first seven to enjoy this one. The author describes each setting perfectly. You can turn the words into a picture of each area. The characters' dynamic was easy to pick up on and you get a sense of who they are. There are several suspects and when you think you have it figured out, WHAM! A surprise is thrown in there. I didn't see the that one coming and I am usually pretty good at figuring out who the killer is.
I enjoyed the book. I think that is the only fact that matters.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this off the new book shelf at the library and enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. While a bit of a light read, it was very entertaining. I've already got her other books in this sereis on hold.

[K Lynn Roderick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Laura Childs has great descriptive talent to allow you to visualize settings. You can pratically taste and smell the foods at the tea shop. I was surprised as to who the murderer was. Really enjoyed the part where they went searching for the orchids in the swamp.

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't think I'll read more of this series. It's just too dry for me.

[Susan Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Theodosia!! She can sure get into some messes.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Laura Child's eighth tea shop mystery, Theodosia and Drayton are taking part in the annual spring Plantation Ramble. Privately owned plantations invite groups to host teas, flower shows, and rare plant auctions. Drayton's contribution is a sweet tea recipe that combined Dragonwell green tea from China with fresh-squeezed lemon juice and locally grown honey. Friend Delaine Dish handed their friend Mark Congdon the first glass of the tea. And within seconds, Mark was dead! Who would want to kill Mark? Mark and wife Angie were former commodity brokers in Chicago who had moved to Charleston to run the Featherbed House Bed & Breakfast. Six months ago, Mark had returned to life as a commodity broker when he joined Loveday & Luxor. Theodosia is also busy planning her refreshment table at the upcoming Orchid Lights. This is a combination orchid show/fund raiser being staged by the Heritage Society. This eighth cozy installment is full of action and surprises. I enjoyed it and am ready to read The Silver Needle Murder to see what happens next!

[Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. The book covers a week of time so events are quite compressed. And really, could Delaine be more annoying? As usual, beautiful descriptions of Charleston, the tea, the foods, the atmosphere. Finally they have added an extra person to the Tea Shop staff, but it should have been someone to help in the kitchen or on the floor. As usual, Theodosia spends a lot of time away from her business, but it all seems to work out alright. As Delaine's comeuppance, once again the culprit is her romantic interest. The death of a continuing character adds poignancy. And I was very very sad for Angie. Disappointing that Detective Tidwell did not have a bigger part; he is such an interesting character.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Charleston's upper crust is enjoying the Spring Plantation Ramble, an occasion for flower shows and rare plant auctions, commodities broker Mark Congdon drops dead moments after purchasing an extremely rare orchid. When an unknown toxin is found during his autopsy suspicion lands on his widow, owner of a local Bed & Breakfast. Theo is certain her friend, Angie, did not kill her husband. Then the B & B burns to the ground and Angie is suspected of arson as well. Did the killer want to destroy something he thought might be in the house? Theo and Drayton go into the swamps to find a replacement for Mark's rare orchid and someone shoots at them. Did Mark know something that got him killed?

[Crystal Toller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theodosia and crew are at the Spring Plantation Ramble at Carthage Place Plantation when their friend, Mark Congdon drinks some iced tea and suddenly dies of a heart attack. Theodosia decides to find out what is going on after her friend, Angie Congdon, Mark's wife asks her for help. How Theodosia unravels the mystery of Mark's death and other circumstances makes for a great read. I guess I should have figured out the murderer earlier than I did since that person made the most sense out of all the suspects. Really enjoyed the mystery, learning about orchids, and Theodosia and company's new adventures. So sorry that Mark died in this book; he was a great character and will miss him a lot in the other books.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun read from Laura Child's. she is my favourite cosy mystery author and her books never disappoint. I really like the tea shop mystery series with Theodosia Browning and her friends, Drayton and Haley. She always has a romantic interest , but it never actually dominates the story, it is just a "side " interest for Theodosia.
I also really enjoy Laura Child's descriptions of Charleston and the surrounding areas, it seems like such a beautiful city and I would love to visit it one day !
The hunt for a rare orchid was very interesting in terms of the countryside that Theodosia and Dayton travelled in the canoe...fun and exciting !

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still loving this series (and I got a bunch of tea for Christmas).... Exciting; keeps your interest!!

It's springtime in Charleston and just about every species of South Carolina's flora is in full and glorious bloom at the Spring Plantation Ramble. Once a year, the upper crust open their sprawling gardens to the public, the site of flower shows, rare plant auctions, and a contagious spring fever. Although Theodosia Browning barely knows a Phalinopsis from a Bog Rose, she still enjoys the Ramble, especially since she can pour tea and promote her Indigo Tea Shop-and her latest concoction, Dragonwell Sweet Tea.

[Koivula]

I'd love to visit Indigo Tea Shop! Tea served by Drayton and all the delicious little things baked by Haley! (Obviously Theodosia would be somewhere else solving a murder case and I wouldn't meet her...) Yes, this was a nice read, in the kitchen with a cup (well, many...) of tea while it was raining outside.
Helmet: 44 (kirjassa on reseptejä; aion kokeilla seuraavia: Lavender Egg Salad, Profiteroles, Bacon and Red Pepper Quiche)
Popsugar: 28 (set in a restaurant; actually it is a tea shop but they serve lunch, too)
Matkustan... USA (this is set in South Carolina, but I stayed the summer weeks in Pennsylvania)
P.S. Teeleidi Jyväskylässä 😍

[Judine Brey · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the beginning, I knew Theo's list of "suspects" weren't correct because they were all too obvious. While I appreciated several of the twists (especially surrounding the maze hedge), it sometimes felt like it took too long to get there. I liked that Mark, the murder victim, was a character we met in earlier books rather than someone who was just introduced to us because it made the stakes feel higher. I'm not sure how I feel about the cameo by Jory's cousin; unless it's a harbinger of Jory's return, it seemed an unnecessary distraction.

[Julie Trapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Although Theodosia Browning barely knows a Phalinopsis from a Bog Rose, she still enjoys Charleston's Spring Plantation Ramble, especially since she can promote her Indigo Tea Shop and her latest concoction, Dragonwell Sweet Tea. But the party's over when Mark Congdon wins a bid for a rare orchid-and promptly dies. It looks like a simple heart attack, but Theo suspects that someone purposely turned his green thumb blue. [amazon synopsis]

I do not care about tea brewing or tea bath products, but the mysteries are enjoyable. As are the recipes.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theodosia Browning owns a tea shop in Charlestown and has a propensity to become involved in murder investigations, frequently endangering her own life as she becomes closer to identifying the murderer. In this episode, she and her friend, shop manager, and tea Master, Drayton, go on a search for a wild orchid and find themselves fleeing gun shots while trying to control a canoe caught in rapids.