What do you think?
Rate this book
Tea by the Sea Mysteries #1
Tea & Treachery
In this charming new cozy mystery series from nationally bestselling author, Vicki Delany, a New York City expat-turned-Cape Cod tea shop owner must solve the murder of a local real estate developer to help her feisty grandmother out of a jam . . .
As the proud proprietor and head pastry chef of Tea by the Sea, a traditional English tearoom on the picturesque bluffs of Cape Cod, Lily Roberts has her hands full, often literally. But nothing keeps her busier than steering her sassy grandmother, Rose, away from trouble. Rose operates the grand old Victorian B & B adjacent to Lily’s tea shop . . . for now. An aggressive real estate developer, Jack Ford, is pushing hard to rezone nearby land, with an eye toward building a sprawling golf resort, which would drive Rose and Lily out of business.
Tempers are already steaming, but things really get sticky when Ford is found dead at the foot of Rose’s property and the police think she had something to do with his dramatic demise. Lily can’t let her grandmother get burned by a false murder charge. So she starts her own investigation and discovers Ford’s been brewing bad blood all over town, from his jilted lover to his trophy wife to his shady business partners. Now, it’s down to Lily to stir up some clues, sift through the suspects, and uncover the real killer before Rose is left holding the tea bag.
As the proud proprietor and head pastry chef of Tea by the Sea, a traditional English tearoom on the picturesque bluffs of Cape Cod, Lily Roberts has her hands full, often literally. But nothing keeps her busier than steering her sassy grandmother, Rose, away from trouble. Rose operates the grand old Victorian B & B adjacent to Lily’s tea shop . . . for now. An aggressive real estate developer, Jack Ford, is pushing hard to rezone nearby land, with an eye toward building a sprawling golf resort, which would drive Rose and Lily out of business.
Tempers are already steaming, but things really get sticky when Ford is found dead at the foot of Rose’s property and the police think she had something to do with his dramatic demise. Lily can’t let her grandmother get burned by a false murder charge. So she starts her own investigation and discovers Ford’s been brewing bad blood all over town, from his jilted lover to his trophy wife to his shady business partners. Now, it’s down to Lily to stir up some clues, sift through the suspects, and uncover the real killer before Rose is left holding the tea bag.
259 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 20, 2020
About the author
Vicki Delany
52 books1,531 followers“It’s a crime not to read Delany,” so says the London Free Press.
Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most varied and prolific crime writers.
She is the author of four cozy mystery series: The Tea by the Sea series from Kensington Books, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series from Crooked Lane and the Year Round Christmas series from Penguin. Under the pen name of Eva Gates she writes the Lighthouse Library Series.
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com , www.facebook.com/evagatesauthor, and twitter: @vickidelany
Vicki is part of Mystery Lovers Kitchen (http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com) and Killer Characters (http://www.killercharacters.com)
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com
Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most varied and prolific crime writers.
She is the author of four cozy mystery series: The Tea by the Sea series from Kensington Books, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series from Crooked Lane and the Year Round Christmas series from Penguin. Under the pen name of Eva Gates she writes the Lighthouse Library Series.
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com , www.facebook.com/evagatesauthor, and twitter: @vickidelany
Vicki is part of Mystery Lovers Kitchen (http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com) and Killer Characters (http://www.killercharacters.com)
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 427 reviews
June 27, 2020
Vicki Delany is one prolific writer. Just as I began reading this book, she's released two more in other series. No wonder I had to pick up this one when I saw it on NetGalley... she's incredible in the cozy mystery genre. In this latest series, Tea by the Sea, she releases the debut, Tea & Treachery. The books revolve around Lily Roberts, granddaughter of Rose, who left the Midwest to open a B&B in Massachusetts. Lily followed her out there, organized a tea room, and now looks after Rose. And it ain't easy!
In Tea & Treachery, the neighboring property is for sale. The owner wants to sell to a local developer who will undoubtedly put in a resort. While it might bring some business to the tea room and Rose's B&B, it will also change the landscape of the area and bother many of the inhabitants who sought peace and comfort. When one of the developers falls down a cliff on Rose's property, she's immediately deemed guilty by the police. Unfortunately, she told him she would see him dead before he bought the property. Fortunately, she walks with a cane and could hardly hobble down those treacherous stairs to knock him over. So... whodunnit?
While I'm more of coffee drinker, I do enjoy a cup of afternoon tea a few times a month. I sat for High Tea in England in the Cotswolds years ago, and I'd love to go back. I adore the little cakes and sandwiches. Delany shares so many wonderful facts about tea and the foods, as well as the history of tea, that you can't help but love the charming setting and backdrop. The mystery is classic... we know Rose didn't do it, but what about the man's wife? Or his girlfriend? Or someone he screwed over in a property deal? Or the son of the neighbor who wants to keep the property in his family? Lots of suspects... but the supporting cast is strong too.
A new gardener starts, and there's a bit of a flirtation with someone in the books, plus Lily's writer best friend makes us laugh. All leads to a fantastic debut. I will definitely continue this series. The book was easy to read and shows lots of promise as a series. Can't wait to share more on the blog tour too next month. Hope you enjoy it too.
In Tea & Treachery, the neighboring property is for sale. The owner wants to sell to a local developer who will undoubtedly put in a resort. While it might bring some business to the tea room and Rose's B&B, it will also change the landscape of the area and bother many of the inhabitants who sought peace and comfort. When one of the developers falls down a cliff on Rose's property, she's immediately deemed guilty by the police. Unfortunately, she told him she would see him dead before he bought the property. Fortunately, she walks with a cane and could hardly hobble down those treacherous stairs to knock him over. So... whodunnit?
While I'm more of coffee drinker, I do enjoy a cup of afternoon tea a few times a month. I sat for High Tea in England in the Cotswolds years ago, and I'd love to go back. I adore the little cakes and sandwiches. Delany shares so many wonderful facts about tea and the foods, as well as the history of tea, that you can't help but love the charming setting and backdrop. The mystery is classic... we know Rose didn't do it, but what about the man's wife? Or his girlfriend? Or someone he screwed over in a property deal? Or the son of the neighbor who wants to keep the property in his family? Lots of suspects... but the supporting cast is strong too.
A new gardener starts, and there's a bit of a flirtation with someone in the books, plus Lily's writer best friend makes us laugh. All leads to a fantastic debut. I will definitely continue this series. The book was easy to read and shows lots of promise as a series. Can't wait to share more on the blog tour too next month. Hope you enjoy it too.
July 26, 2020
Tea and Treachery is the first book in Vicki Delany's A Tea by the Sea Mystery series. The protagonist, Lily Roberts, runs a traditional English tearoom on the grounds of her grandmother Rose's B&B. Rose, who enjoys the peace and quiet of her neighborhood, is furious because the property next door to the B&B may be sold to an aggressive real estate developer who plans to use the land to build a fancy golf resort. Rose is outspoken and hot-tempered and threatens the real estate developer as well as writing an angry letter to the local newspaper. When he is found dead on her property, she immediately becomes the main suspect. With the help of her grandmother and best friend, Bernie, Lily is determined to find the real culprit.
I thought this was an enjoyable and easy read. The setting is charming and the English tea traditions are well-researched. As a tea lover, I enjoyed the descriptions of various teas as well as the mouth-watering pastries and sandwiches that accompany them. The main character, Lily, was easy to like. She was friendly, level headed, and hardworking. I look forward to seeing how her business grows and how the relationships in her life develop, particularly with Simon and the new detective. The secondary characters were well-developed and mostly likable. I wasn't the biggest fan of Bernie and Rose. Instead of supporting Lily, they spent the entire book pushing her around and expecting her to drop everything for them. This didn't affect my enjoyment of the story, however, I hope to see a stronger Lily in book two.
The mystery was well done and kept me guessing. While the culprit wasn't a complete surprise, I enjoyed the action-packed reveal. Overall, this is a wonderful start to a new series and I look forward to my next visit to North Augusta.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this was an enjoyable and easy read. The setting is charming and the English tea traditions are well-researched. As a tea lover, I enjoyed the descriptions of various teas as well as the mouth-watering pastries and sandwiches that accompany them. The main character, Lily, was easy to like. She was friendly, level headed, and hardworking. I look forward to seeing how her business grows and how the relationships in her life develop, particularly with Simon and the new detective. The secondary characters were well-developed and mostly likable. I wasn't the biggest fan of Bernie and Rose. Instead of supporting Lily, they spent the entire book pushing her around and expecting her to drop everything for them. This didn't affect my enjoyment of the story, however, I hope to see a stronger Lily in book two.
The mystery was well done and kept me guessing. While the culprit wasn't a complete surprise, I enjoyed the action-packed reveal. Overall, this is a wonderful start to a new series and I look forward to my next visit to North Augusta.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 19, 2020
This book was an alright read. I expected to like it better than I did because Delany's year-round Christmas series is one of my favorites! There was a lot to like. The setting was great....Cape Cod, a B&B, and a tea shop...im in! The mystery was interesting and written with plenty of twists and turns. My problem was the characters, and particularly Rose! I love elderly characters in books...and especially feisty, sassy, full of spunk elderly characters, BUT there is a BIG difference between these things and being rude, hateful, and just plain mean! I feel like I have been seeing this trend a lot lately, and hope it is NOT HERE TO STICK AROUND. There is no room for mean in my cozies!! It really takes away from the entire cozy experience! I do not know if I will check out book two....I might give this author another chance out of loyalty.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Vicki Delany, and the publisher for this opportunity.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Vicki Delany, and the publisher for this opportunity.
January 5, 2022
This is a cozy mystery, and this is the first book in the Tea by the Sea Mystery series. I found this book hard to get into because it kind of felt like I was dumped into the middle of something I do not know what was going on. I have to say I got into it pretty quickly. I really enjoyed the mystery part of this book and the character where developed. I really loved Rose's character. Lily is the main character and this book is being told for her point of view. The ending was really good, but I saw some of it coming. I won a kindle edition of this book from goodreads giveaway, but this is my own opinion and a honest review of this book.
June 26, 2021
Tea & Treachery by Vicki Delany is the first book in the new cozy Tea by the Sea Mysteries series. As with most cozies each book of the series will contain a new mystery that will solved so this could be read as a standalone if choosing to do so.
Some days Lily Roberts doesn’t know what keeps her busier, running her own business, Tea by the Sea, a traditional English tearoom, or keeping up with her feisty grandmother. Thankfully for Lily her tearoom is right by her grandmother Rose’s bed and breakfast so most days she can do both.
One day the quaint area that Lily and Rose run their business is being scouted out by Jack Ford, a developer who wants to buy up the land nearby. Rose is not happy about the whole plan and let’s the developer know so when his body turns up the police believe Rose may have played a part to stop his project. Lily can’t let her elderly grandmother be carted off to jail so she vows to find the killer herself.
This opening book of the Tea by the Sea Mysteries is the first I’ve picked up from Vicki Delany even though she has several prior series so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I did enjoy this one though even not being a tea drinker myself. The characters were fun to get to know and the mystery was a solid one so I’ll definitely return for the second book of the series.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Some days Lily Roberts doesn’t know what keeps her busier, running her own business, Tea by the Sea, a traditional English tearoom, or keeping up with her feisty grandmother. Thankfully for Lily her tearoom is right by her grandmother Rose’s bed and breakfast so most days she can do both.
One day the quaint area that Lily and Rose run their business is being scouted out by Jack Ford, a developer who wants to buy up the land nearby. Rose is not happy about the whole plan and let’s the developer know so when his body turns up the police believe Rose may have played a part to stop his project. Lily can’t let her elderly grandmother be carted off to jail so she vows to find the killer herself.
This opening book of the Tea by the Sea Mysteries is the first I’ve picked up from Vicki Delany even though she has several prior series so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I did enjoy this one though even not being a tea drinker myself. The characters were fun to get to know and the mystery was a solid one so I’ll definitely return for the second book of the series.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
November 16, 2021
I'm a fan of Vicki Delany so when I was notified that she had a new series about an English Tea room set in Cape Cod, I was excited to jump into this new world. The writing, plot, and mystery are what we have come to expect from the author. It is an easy and enjoyable read. Lily Roberts has left behind the world of Manhattan for a quieter life running a tea room that is adjacent to her grandmother's bed and breakfast. Lily is joined by her grandmother Rose and her best friend Bernie, who has come to Cape Cod after ditching the corporate life to become a writer. The secondary cast is rounded out nicely by the employees of the tea room and the bed and breakfast, as well as possible romantic interests for Lily and Bernie. While I did like the story, I found myself becoming annoyed with Rose and Bernie. I found Rose to be rude and a bit selfish at times, and I found Bernie to be a bit annoying. Both of them expected Lily to drop everything for them when she had a business of her own to run as well as cook breakfast for her grandmother's bed and breakfast. Perhaps they are characters that will grow on me, but I'm not used to this author writing characters that I don't find engaging.
The mystery was well done, which is what we expect from this author. The victim is a land developer who is not well-liked so the author sets up plenty of suspects, including Rose, who have both motive and opportunity to kill him. The author does provide some twists and misdirection to throw the reader off track while trying to follow the clues.
This was an enjoyable read and with the exception of a few characters, I think fans of this author will enjoy it. It wasn't my favorite book by this author and I haven't decided if I will continue with the series when the next book is released.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley.
The mystery was well done, which is what we expect from this author. The victim is a land developer who is not well-liked so the author sets up plenty of suspects, including Rose, who have both motive and opportunity to kill him. The author does provide some twists and misdirection to throw the reader off track while trying to follow the clues.
This was an enjoyable read and with the exception of a few characters, I think fans of this author will enjoy it. It wasn't my favorite book by this author and I haven't decided if I will continue with the series when the next book is released.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley.
June 17, 2020
Um....I really wanted to like this book. The plot is fun, the setting is gorgeous, the food is lovely, but I HATED the secondary characters of Rose, the grandmother, and Bernie, the best friend. Instead of being supportive of Lily, they spend all their time ordering her around, getting her to do their work, taking her away from her business and generally being PITAs.
If your tolerance for narcissists is higher than mine, you may enjoy this book, but I will not be reading the next books in this series.
If your tolerance for narcissists is higher than mine, you may enjoy this book, but I will not be reading the next books in this series.
July 22, 2020
Lily's grandmother, Rose, runs a B&B on Cape Cod, and Lily, a pastry chef, is in charge of the neighboring tea room. A large home on the adjoining lot is falling apart, and a developer wants to tear it down and build a conference center,.When there is a murder and Rose is implicated, Lily tries to do some investigating with the help of her friend Bernie, and of course, Rose. I look forward to reading more by this author--I enjoyed this fun new cozy series with appealing characters. Thanks to Netgalley and to the publisher for providing me with an ARC.
June 19, 2020
When real estate developer Jack Ford is found dead on grandmother’s B & B property, tea shop owner Lily Roberts tries to help, but running Tea by the Sea tea shop in tourist season on Cape Cod while keeping her grandmother out of trouble is big job. The police are determined grandmother Rose has committed the crime, so Lily carves out time for some private investigating.
Tea & Treachery is first installment in Vicki Delany’s Tea by the Sea Mysteries series published by Kensington Books. The contemporary plot is set in fictional town North Augusta, in Cape Cod. We follow Tea by the Sea teashop owner Lily Roberts when a murder happens on her grandmother’s B & B property, Victoria by the Sea. The victim is property developer Jack Ford who has made a lot of enemies in the area because of his dodgy business practices. He has tried to force Grandmother Rose Campbell to sell her B & B but Rose has resisted by some intense verbal altercations, so police suspect she has motive for murder. Granddaughter Lily has her hands full, but carves out time to help her grandmother by doing her own private investigation. Soon secrets come to light which changes the case entirely.
Main character Lily Roberts is pastry chef and owner of local tearoom. She has grown up in New York, but has recently moved to The Cape to help her grandmother and have a better lifestyle. I liked her a lot, and found her a suitable character to calm her grandmother down.
Supporting character Rose Campbell is the temperamental, opinionated and demanding English grandmother who insults the police and not is helping her case at all. She refuses to sell her property because she is passionate about environmental issues. I loved her feisty and eccentric character. She kind of “makes” this story and is my absolute favorite.
For me the best part of this story was the vivid nature descriptions of the Cape Cod area which drew me in and made me feel I was actually there. The descriptions of the baking involved in the running of the tea shop and the recepies at the back was very enjoyable. I felt the dialogue was light and humorous. A perfect summer read.
I felt the worst part was when property developers and council members turned up to force Rose into selling her grand stately home promising her progress, money and jobs. -Whatever would get them the property. I felt bad for Rose, but she certainly didn’t cave. I appreciated the dramatic element.
Tea & Treachery was an entertaining plot set in The Cape with focus on environmental vs property development issues. Well developed characters and good descriptive writing and dialogue made for a perfect summer read. The ending was a total surprise to me. I suspected plenty of people along the way, but the actual culprit evaded my attention.
Fans of Vicki Delany would love this new series. As will readers who enjoy cozy mysteries. Similar authors to explore might be Victoria Gilbert or Kirsten Weiss. Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for this eARC which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Tea & Treachery is first installment in Vicki Delany’s Tea by the Sea Mysteries series published by Kensington Books. The contemporary plot is set in fictional town North Augusta, in Cape Cod. We follow Tea by the Sea teashop owner Lily Roberts when a murder happens on her grandmother’s B & B property, Victoria by the Sea. The victim is property developer Jack Ford who has made a lot of enemies in the area because of his dodgy business practices. He has tried to force Grandmother Rose Campbell to sell her B & B but Rose has resisted by some intense verbal altercations, so police suspect she has motive for murder. Granddaughter Lily has her hands full, but carves out time to help her grandmother by doing her own private investigation. Soon secrets come to light which changes the case entirely.
Main character Lily Roberts is pastry chef and owner of local tearoom. She has grown up in New York, but has recently moved to The Cape to help her grandmother and have a better lifestyle. I liked her a lot, and found her a suitable character to calm her grandmother down.
Supporting character Rose Campbell is the temperamental, opinionated and demanding English grandmother who insults the police and not is helping her case at all. She refuses to sell her property because she is passionate about environmental issues. I loved her feisty and eccentric character. She kind of “makes” this story and is my absolute favorite.
For me the best part of this story was the vivid nature descriptions of the Cape Cod area which drew me in and made me feel I was actually there. The descriptions of the baking involved in the running of the tea shop and the recepies at the back was very enjoyable. I felt the dialogue was light and humorous. A perfect summer read.
I felt the worst part was when property developers and council members turned up to force Rose into selling her grand stately home promising her progress, money and jobs. -Whatever would get them the property. I felt bad for Rose, but she certainly didn’t cave. I appreciated the dramatic element.
Tea & Treachery was an entertaining plot set in The Cape with focus on environmental vs property development issues. Well developed characters and good descriptive writing and dialogue made for a perfect summer read. The ending was a total surprise to me. I suspected plenty of people along the way, but the actual culprit evaded my attention.
Fans of Vicki Delany would love this new series. As will readers who enjoy cozy mysteries. Similar authors to explore might be Victoria Gilbert or Kirsten Weiss. Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for this eARC which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 14, 2020
Tea & Treachery by Vicki Delany is the debut novel in A Tea by the Sea Mystery series. Tea & Treachery is set in Cape Code, Massachusetts where Rose Campbell, Lily’s grandmother, settled after the death of her husband. She purchased a large Victorian home on the cliffs above the sea which provides her with a beautiful view and plenty of peace. When Lily saw the little cottage on the property, she thought it was the perfect place for a tea shop which has been her dream. When not busy whipping up delectable delights and tea for Tea by the Sea, Lily is helping her grandmother with the bed and breakfast. I like that the author took the time to establish the main characters and provide beautiful descriptions of the B&B, tea shop, Lily’s little cottage, and the beautiful gardens. I could just imagine strolling along through the gardens and hearing the waves below. There are great facts about the history of tea, the various teas Lily’s serves, and food Lily’s whips up. It was interesting to learn about the different types of teas, and how tea time started. The mystery had a variety of suspects from the mayor, the victim’s wife, the mistress, to the son of the man trying to unload the land next to Rose. If you pay close attention to the details, this whodunit can be solved before the reveal. I liked that the mystery had a good wrap up (no questions left unanswered). The new head gardener, Simon McCracken seems to have taken a liking a Lily. There was some mild flirting between Lily and Simon. Bernie Murphy, Lily’s writer friend, provided humor while Éclair, Lily’s labradoodle, gave readers cuteness. Rose, Lily’s grandmother, was a hard character to like. She is stubborn, feisty, set in her ways, selfish, and opinionated. I found her frustrating with her “its my way or its my way” approach. Rose and Bernie together were a bit much. I hope both women will grow on me in future books. Also, Lily need to develop a backbone and learn to say no, or her grandmother will run roughshod over her. Tea & Treachery is an easy to read book and a good start to this new cozy mystery series. There are recipes at the end for coconut cupcakes, scones, and tea bath salts. Tea & Treachery is an engaging cozy mystery with tempting tea treats, a scarcity of scones, a dead developer, curious clues, shaky steps, a whimsical writer, and a burdened baker.
July 11, 2021
I love a feisty old lady, but there's a fine line between feisty and bitchy, and there's nothing cute about a bitchy old lady.
(Takes one to know one, yadda yadda yadda.)
Rose is the protagonist Lily's grandmother, so she's not the MC, but she's very present in this novel, and she was miserable. I loathe the phrase "tells it like it is" because whether in books or real life, 98% of the time it's code for "is a rude insufferable jerk" that people use as some kind of get-out-of-basic-human-decency-free card. Rose is mean toward everyone else in the book, and even though it was ridiculous that the detective seemed to focus in on her and her alone as the suspect, part of me was hoping he'd manage to run her in anyway.
So that really brought the whole thing down a good measure for me, and the rest of the characters didn't fare much better. Lily is so flat, there's barely anything to her outside of the fact that she likes baking and serving tea. We learn very little about her as a person, and she has the emotional range of a drugged lab rat. Her friend Bernie is obnoxious and Lily just allows it (stop letting this woman into your restaurant kitchen to stick her filthy hands into the serving trays to gobble up 10 tarts and 7 cookies and 4 sandwiches every day!). Honestly, no one had much of a personality to speak of. Simon the gardener was the only one who seemed at all interesting.
The setting was very charming, and it's always fun to have baking in a cozy, and get to read about the different things they make and how they do it. I like the idea of a place that serves traditional English afternoon and high teas, and learning more about what goes into that. It was a but weird that the scene barely ever leaves either Lily's teahouse or Rose's B&B next door and that the whole thing took place over like less than 2 weeks. There was one point late in the book where Lily mentions that it had been about a week since the victim had died, and I was like "It's only been a week?!" But at the same time, the setting is very important to the central crime, so I could understand that.
Speaking of the murder, there were really only a few logical suspects, but I did like that it could have been any of them up until the end, and the motive was believable (though a bit boring). We got a villain monologue as the person was preparing to the MC, which is just eyerolls forever, but I appreciated that Lily didn't suddenly turn into a cage fighter and just whapped at the guy with her rolling pin before running away screaming, because...yeah that's about how it would go. (It's so totally not a spoiler to mention that the killer tries to kill the MC, that's pretty much required in a cozy.)
So this was okay, but nothing recommendable or memorable. Probably won't continue with this series.
(Takes one to know one, yadda yadda yadda.)
Rose is the protagonist Lily's grandmother, so she's not the MC, but she's very present in this novel, and she was miserable. I loathe the phrase "tells it like it is" because whether in books or real life, 98% of the time it's code for "is a rude insufferable jerk" that people use as some kind of get-out-of-basic-human-decency-free card. Rose is mean toward everyone else in the book, and even though it was ridiculous that the detective seemed to focus in on her and her alone as the suspect, part of me was hoping he'd manage to run her in anyway.
So that really brought the whole thing down a good measure for me, and the rest of the characters didn't fare much better. Lily is so flat, there's barely anything to her outside of the fact that she likes baking and serving tea. We learn very little about her as a person, and she has the emotional range of a drugged lab rat. Her friend Bernie is obnoxious and Lily just allows it (stop letting this woman into your restaurant kitchen to stick her filthy hands into the serving trays to gobble up 10 tarts and 7 cookies and 4 sandwiches every day!). Honestly, no one had much of a personality to speak of. Simon the gardener was the only one who seemed at all interesting.
The setting was very charming, and it's always fun to have baking in a cozy, and get to read about the different things they make and how they do it. I like the idea of a place that serves traditional English afternoon and high teas, and learning more about what goes into that. It was a but weird that the scene barely ever leaves either Lily's teahouse or Rose's B&B next door and that the whole thing took place over like less than 2 weeks. There was one point late in the book where Lily mentions that it had been about a week since the victim had died, and I was like "It's only been a week?!" But at the same time, the setting is very important to the central crime, so I could understand that.
Speaking of the murder, there were really only a few logical suspects, but I did like that it could have been any of them up until the end, and the motive was believable (though a bit boring). We got a villain monologue as the person was preparing to the MC, which is just eyerolls forever, but I appreciated that Lily didn't suddenly turn into a cage fighter and just whapped at the guy with her rolling pin before running away screaming, because...yeah that's about how it would go. (It's so totally not a spoiler to mention that the killer tries to kill the MC, that's pretty much required in a cozy.)
So this was okay, but nothing recommendable or memorable. Probably won't continue with this series.
May 4, 2020
Tea & Treachery by Vicki Delany is a new cozy mystery by a favorite author and I was thrilled to be able to read it.
Ms. Delany's comfortable writing style allows me to become fully engaged with the setting and the characters throughout the story. Lily has her hands full in Cape Cod as she cooks breakfast for her grandmother's B&B and bakes for her tea room, Tea by the Sea. The characters are developing nicely in this first book and I felt like I got to know them a little. Lily, Rose and Bernie/Bernadette are all smart, sassy. and determined women who take the investigation into their own hands. A smoothly paced plot with plenty of suspects, red herrings, twists and a exciting reveal made for a first rate beginning to this new series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
Ms. Delany's comfortable writing style allows me to become fully engaged with the setting and the characters throughout the story. Lily has her hands full in Cape Cod as she cooks breakfast for her grandmother's B&B and bakes for her tea room, Tea by the Sea. The characters are developing nicely in this first book and I felt like I got to know them a little. Lily, Rose and Bernie/Bernadette are all smart, sassy. and determined women who take the investigation into their own hands. A smoothly paced plot with plenty of suspects, red herrings, twists and a exciting reveal made for a first rate beginning to this new series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
September 6, 2020
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
Fantabulous start to a new series by Delaney. Set in Cape Cod with ocean views and small town living we meet Lily. She runs her own adorable tea house on her grandma's property in an old cottage while she lives in another one. As well as that she cooks breakfast for grandma's B&B. Grandma Rose is a hoot and half. She has no problem speaking exactly what she has on her mind with no fact it interest in others. This makes for hilarious interactions. This especially causes problems when she goes off on the people wanting to renovate a neighboring property into a big hotel/resort. This wouldn't be an issue but one of them ends up dead on Rose's property making her the prime suspect in his murder. Lily has to clear her name to save both businesses but gran sure doesn't make things easy. This makes for a fantastic book as it all comes together. You won't want to stop reading u til you but the very end. A must read for cozy fans that includes a culinary theme to it. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars
Fantabulous start to a new series by Delaney. Set in Cape Cod with ocean views and small town living we meet Lily. She runs her own adorable tea house on her grandma's property in an old cottage while she lives in another one. As well as that she cooks breakfast for grandma's B&B. Grandma Rose is a hoot and half. She has no problem speaking exactly what she has on her mind with no fact it interest in others. This makes for hilarious interactions. This especially causes problems when she goes off on the people wanting to renovate a neighboring property into a big hotel/resort. This wouldn't be an issue but one of them ends up dead on Rose's property making her the prime suspect in his murder. Lily has to clear her name to save both businesses but gran sure doesn't make things easy. This makes for a fantastic book as it all comes together. You won't want to stop reading u til you but the very end. A must read for cozy fans that includes a culinary theme to it. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars
August 27, 2020
Tea & Treachery
Vicki Delany
Nothing I love more than a cozy mystery and starting it from the very first book of a series. This really was a delight to read with its fun characters, a Victorian Tea Room, and a Victorian Bed and Breakfast - say no more, I was sold! The location was also perfect in the beautiful fictional sea side town of North Augusta in Cape Cod - this was truly a delightful read.
Delany's writing was so vivid and rich in detail that I did feel I was part of the town as I was reading this book. The dialogue and the goings on around town was really a joy to read.
Our wonderful sleuth Lily is a fantastic character who is a pastry chef, and Rose too whom Lily is keeping out of a jam. I found the murder mystery fantastic and highly entertaining. It was the perfect summer read for me and truth be told, a fun escape read too. The nice twist in the end will surprise you.
If you love cozies, you cannot miss this one.
Vicki Delany
Nothing I love more than a cozy mystery and starting it from the very first book of a series. This really was a delight to read with its fun characters, a Victorian Tea Room, and a Victorian Bed and Breakfast - say no more, I was sold! The location was also perfect in the beautiful fictional sea side town of North Augusta in Cape Cod - this was truly a delightful read.
Delany's writing was so vivid and rich in detail that I did feel I was part of the town as I was reading this book. The dialogue and the goings on around town was really a joy to read.
Our wonderful sleuth Lily is a fantastic character who is a pastry chef, and Rose too whom Lily is keeping out of a jam. I found the murder mystery fantastic and highly entertaining. It was the perfect summer read for me and truth be told, a fun escape read too. The nice twist in the end will surprise you.
If you love cozies, you cannot miss this one.
March 9, 2021
I love Delany’s other books just this one just fell flat to me. Lily has the personality of a pile of laundry and her grandmother - whom she calls by her first name - is just plain mean. I love a crotchety, clever woman in a cozy just as much as the next, but Grandma Rose was mean and rude. I won’t be continuing this series.
But do check out her Year Round Christmas series and her series about a Sherlockian bookstore, both are superb.
But do check out her Year Round Christmas series and her series about a Sherlockian bookstore, both are superb.
August 12, 2020
The story was good, it held my interest but after the third mention of her making brownies while the mayor was making her speech at the opening, I was annoyed with the repetitiveness. Was it really that important a point?
September 24, 2021
It’s a decent start to a new series. I don’t like her grandmother or her best friend which is a shame since they are major characters but I liked the concept a lot
August 21, 2020
4.5 stars
Delany’s writing is the perfect blend of wit and mystery, and I’m always sure to laugh out loud at least once over the way she’s particularly phrased a scene to highlight its humor without dumbing it down. In Tea & Treachery, I found myself chuckling over Lily’s summing up of the chaos that ensued after a body was found on her grandmother’s property. It begins with “Whereupon the scene had descended into something out of a French farce,” continues with one intentionally (and humorously) long sentence of the kind of things one on top of the other that would make me break out into nervous laughter if I were an observer, ending with “And then the coroner arrived.” Because that’s exactly what a scene dissolving into a farce needs to make you feel better – the coroner. LOL.
I honestly loved everything about this story. I loved Lily as a protagonist. I loved her tearoom. I loved her employees. I loved Simon the gardener and his swooniness. I loved Rose (sassy grandmas are my jam) and Bernie, even though both had to grow on me a bit. I loved the Cape Cod setting & the supporting characters. Each word is smartly placed, and Delany does a great job of integrating the ‘hobby’ side without it feeling as though we’ve just stopped the story for a brief infomercial lol. The plot was nicely constructed and threw in some interesting twists that kept me on my toes, too.
Bottom Line: Tea & Treachery is a charming start to a new series, and I’m eager for future books to arrive ASAP! Engaging and relatable characters, yummy food, and a picturesque setting keep you turning the pages, trying to solve the mystery along with Lily and her crew of amateur sleuths. The story is both witty and warmhearted, and it’s sure to appeal to cozy mystery lovers all around. Perfect for fans of the author, but if you haven’t yet tried her books, this is also the perfect one to start with!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first appeared on Reading Is My SuperPower
Delany’s writing is the perfect blend of wit and mystery, and I’m always sure to laugh out loud at least once over the way she’s particularly phrased a scene to highlight its humor without dumbing it down. In Tea & Treachery, I found myself chuckling over Lily’s summing up of the chaos that ensued after a body was found on her grandmother’s property. It begins with “Whereupon the scene had descended into something out of a French farce,” continues with one intentionally (and humorously) long sentence of the kind of things one on top of the other that would make me break out into nervous laughter if I were an observer, ending with “And then the coroner arrived.” Because that’s exactly what a scene dissolving into a farce needs to make you feel better – the coroner. LOL.
I honestly loved everything about this story. I loved Lily as a protagonist. I loved her tearoom. I loved her employees. I loved Simon the gardener and his swooniness. I loved Rose (sassy grandmas are my jam) and Bernie, even though both had to grow on me a bit. I loved the Cape Cod setting & the supporting characters. Each word is smartly placed, and Delany does a great job of integrating the ‘hobby’ side without it feeling as though we’ve just stopped the story for a brief infomercial lol. The plot was nicely constructed and threw in some interesting twists that kept me on my toes, too.
Bottom Line: Tea & Treachery is a charming start to a new series, and I’m eager for future books to arrive ASAP! Engaging and relatable characters, yummy food, and a picturesque setting keep you turning the pages, trying to solve the mystery along with Lily and her crew of amateur sleuths. The story is both witty and warmhearted, and it’s sure to appeal to cozy mystery lovers all around. Perfect for fans of the author, but if you haven’t yet tried her books, this is also the perfect one to start with!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first appeared on Reading Is My SuperPower
August 4, 2020
Such an enjoyable new series! I can just imagine visiting Cape Cod and having tea at Lily's tearoom or even staying next door at Rose's B&B. It is very picturesque and the descriptions provide the motivation to visit that area at some time in the future.
Since this is the first in the series, the author does a wonderful job of sharing the character's past and how they ended up here since they were not born and raised on the Cape. I felt like that added to the depth of the characters to have information about how they ended up here and even some past situations that enhance the character's portrayal. Lily is sucked into helping solve the murder of Jack Ford especially since he was found dead on Rose's property and the ineffective police detective wants to railroad her into a conviction. Thankfully, there is a new detective on the force and she has the experience to know that perhaps something isn't right.
The mystery itself is well written and there are some clues to point you in the killer's direction but not many. The list of possible suspects is small but I couldn't figure out the motive until it was revealed. Let's just say it is one of the oldest reasons in the world, but I'll let you figure out what that reason is so I don't spoil anything for you.
I really like Lily. She is probably the most level headed character in the book. Her best friend, Bernie, is kind and caring but a bit scattered when it comes to her writing. I will admit that I don't really like Rose. I found her to be selfish and perhaps a bit too blunt. I felt like she expected everyone to cater to her whims with no questions asked.
There are a couple of potential romantic twists but no love triangle and I look forward to seeing these potential relationships develop.
This is a series that I will look for the next book to see what Lily is up to this time around. We give the book 4 paws up.
Since this is the first in the series, the author does a wonderful job of sharing the character's past and how they ended up here since they were not born and raised on the Cape. I felt like that added to the depth of the characters to have information about how they ended up here and even some past situations that enhance the character's portrayal. Lily is sucked into helping solve the murder of Jack Ford especially since he was found dead on Rose's property and the ineffective police detective wants to railroad her into a conviction. Thankfully, there is a new detective on the force and she has the experience to know that perhaps something isn't right.
The mystery itself is well written and there are some clues to point you in the killer's direction but not many. The list of possible suspects is small but I couldn't figure out the motive until it was revealed. Let's just say it is one of the oldest reasons in the world, but I'll let you figure out what that reason is so I don't spoil anything for you.
I really like Lily. She is probably the most level headed character in the book. Her best friend, Bernie, is kind and caring but a bit scattered when it comes to her writing. I will admit that I don't really like Rose. I found her to be selfish and perhaps a bit too blunt. I felt like she expected everyone to cater to her whims with no questions asked.
There are a couple of potential romantic twists but no love triangle and I look forward to seeing these potential relationships develop.
This is a series that I will look for the next book to see what Lily is up to this time around. We give the book 4 paws up.
June 27, 2020
“Tea & Treachery” by Vicki Delany the first instalment in the Tea by the Sea Mysteries. This was a great start to a new series and one that I will be adding to my favourites.
As my friends all know I love the sea and anything British so combining a seaside locale with and English B&B and a traditional English Tea Shoppe I knew I had to read this book. I am so glad I did!
I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in one go yesterday. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns as well as a few romantic sparks. I loved Robert the Bruce and Éclair. They are just so adorable!
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the main character of Lily. Her Gran Rose could be a bit abrasive but I think over time we will see that in reality the people around her (staff) do in fact like her and know she does have a heart underneath. Growing up with British patents my mums favorite line as she got older was I’m British get over it... this was because to people who didn’t know her she could come across as opinionated, arrogant etc. even though it was furthest thing from the truth. So with that said I just envisioned Rose as being an even stronger version of her.
Her BFF Bernie was very flighty and couldn’t seem to make her mind up about her goals but when it came to helping Rose she was steadfast and always there.
I won’t go into detail about the mystery as the book blurb does a great job of it but I will say if you like a tea, the seaside, and a great mystery then this series is for you.
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
As my friends all know I love the sea and anything British so combining a seaside locale with and English B&B and a traditional English Tea Shoppe I knew I had to read this book. I am so glad I did!
I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in one go yesterday. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns as well as a few romantic sparks. I loved Robert the Bruce and Éclair. They are just so adorable!
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the main character of Lily. Her Gran Rose could be a bit abrasive but I think over time we will see that in reality the people around her (staff) do in fact like her and know she does have a heart underneath. Growing up with British patents my mums favorite line as she got older was I’m British get over it... this was because to people who didn’t know her she could come across as opinionated, arrogant etc. even though it was furthest thing from the truth. So with that said I just envisioned Rose as being an even stronger version of her.
Her BFF Bernie was very flighty and couldn’t seem to make her mind up about her goals but when it came to helping Rose she was steadfast and always there.
I won’t go into detail about the mystery as the book blurb does a great job of it but I will say if you like a tea, the seaside, and a great mystery then this series is for you.
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
July 29, 2020
I knew I'd love this book as much as I do the author's other series, and it didn't disappoint. The setting is amazing, and I really enjoyed the main characters. Rose is another grandmother character I've read recently that isn't quite the loving or huggified grandma that we're all used to in cozy mysteries--she'll take some getting used to, but she's growing on me already because she's clever and likes to use the old lady card to her advantage sometimes--but she knows her limits and doesn't abuse it.
Rose had a tremendous love for Lily that she expressed just by looking at her. It was fun that Lily's bestie, Bernie just moved to Cape Cod to write a book, and she provided a lot of the comic relief by her constant outbursts of how she was changing the book. I got such a kick out of her final decision! She and Rose made the best sleuths, while Lily tried to attend to her tearoom. More than a few times though, they wrangled her into their sleuthing circle. Lily and Bernie had a couple of cute guys interested in them as well, so I hope that progresses well. I liked how Lily evolved in her thinking regarding guys. I could tell she was mellowing ;) Simon was a sweetie.
I hadn't guessed the killer, and I liked the little twist dealing with the detectives toward the end. The showdown was great with everyone pitching in to help and catch the killer. I'm really anxious for the next book whenever that happens.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
Rose had a tremendous love for Lily that she expressed just by looking at her. It was fun that Lily's bestie, Bernie just moved to Cape Cod to write a book, and she provided a lot of the comic relief by her constant outbursts of how she was changing the book. I got such a kick out of her final decision! She and Rose made the best sleuths, while Lily tried to attend to her tearoom. More than a few times though, they wrangled her into their sleuthing circle. Lily and Bernie had a couple of cute guys interested in them as well, so I hope that progresses well. I liked how Lily evolved in her thinking regarding guys. I could tell she was mellowing ;) Simon was a sweetie.
I hadn't guessed the killer, and I liked the little twist dealing with the detectives toward the end. The showdown was great with everyone pitching in to help and catch the killer. I'm really anxious for the next book whenever that happens.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
September 4, 2021
"Creamy Earl Grey."
Lily Roberts own the lovely Tea by the Sea tearoom next to her grandmother's bed and breakfast in Cape Cod. The property beside the B&B is for sale and an investor is pushing to have the area rezoned to put in a gold course. Lily's grandmother, Rose, objects strongly to this plan and has words with the developer and the owner. Rose becomes the primary suspect when the developer is found dead on her property.
This was a lovely start to the series. I adore anything about tea and the author does a great job explaining the manner of "taking tea." I'm really glad she described what a true high tea involves versus afternoon tea. The pastries and foods she prepares made me long to visit her.
Rose is a force of nature. A native of Yorkshire, she is outspoken and stands her ground. Her ongoing debate with Edna about preparing tea for her cracked me up. I loved that Edna repeatedly pointed out where the tea was kept and went about her business of serving the B&B guests.
Lily was a strong character and did not intentionally put herself at risk. Her friend, Bernie, was almost comic relief in her attempt to write the next great novel.
The plot was well done and I suspected several people before the culprit was revealed.
I wish I was a better baker because the recipes sound yummy.
A quick easy read and I look forward to the next book.
Lily Roberts own the lovely Tea by the Sea tearoom next to her grandmother's bed and breakfast in Cape Cod. The property beside the B&B is for sale and an investor is pushing to have the area rezoned to put in a gold course. Lily's grandmother, Rose, objects strongly to this plan and has words with the developer and the owner. Rose becomes the primary suspect when the developer is found dead on her property.
This was a lovely start to the series. I adore anything about tea and the author does a great job explaining the manner of "taking tea." I'm really glad she described what a true high tea involves versus afternoon tea. The pastries and foods she prepares made me long to visit her.
Rose is a force of nature. A native of Yorkshire, she is outspoken and stands her ground. Her ongoing debate with Edna about preparing tea for her cracked me up. I loved that Edna repeatedly pointed out where the tea was kept and went about her business of serving the B&B guests.
Lily was a strong character and did not intentionally put herself at risk. Her friend, Bernie, was almost comic relief in her attempt to write the next great novel.
The plot was well done and I suspected several people before the culprit was revealed.
I wish I was a better baker because the recipes sound yummy.
A quick easy read and I look forward to the next book.
July 24, 2020
Tea & Treachery by Vicky Delany is the first book in Tea by the Sea Mystery series.
Even though this is the first book Ms. Delany is a well known and successful writer so there were no beginner's mistakes.
Mystery is solid, well presented, characters are realistic and believable.
The story flows nicely, at the beginning we have the chance to familiarize with main characters and the beautiful setting before murder happens which I think is very nice especially with the first book in the series.
Main characters are Lily, who owns tea shop and Rose, her grandmother owner of Bed and Breakfast. Another important protagonist is Lily's best friend Bernie, who is an aspiring writer. There are many side characters, mostly their employees and neighbors.
Lily is trying to make a success of her tea shop and working part time at Rose's B&B as well. When they hear that next door propriety is about to be sold to an unscrupulous developer who plans to turn in into resort Rose is livid. She argues with him and next day he is found dead at her propriety.
She immediately becomes person of interest as the detective in charge is not inclined to look for any other suspects. So Rose and Bernie start looking into things trying to find out the truth. Reluctantly Lily agrees to help, she however thinks that investigation should be left to the detectives working on the case.
I enjoyed this well though out cozy, but I have to say that I am not a fan of Rose at all. She is unbelievably rude, but hides behind the mask of telling it as it is, even when her opinion was not asked for, she is behaving ridiculously, throwing tantrums, stepping on people's toes, firing employees left and right and expecting Lily to sort things out without the second thought. She is thoughtless, spoilt and horrible old woman. She annoyed me to no end, so much so that I thought of putting the book down just because of her.
I hope that she will change for the better in next installments.
All in all, great start to a new series.
I received a free copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Even though this is the first book Ms. Delany is a well known and successful writer so there were no beginner's mistakes.
Mystery is solid, well presented, characters are realistic and believable.
The story flows nicely, at the beginning we have the chance to familiarize with main characters and the beautiful setting before murder happens which I think is very nice especially with the first book in the series.
Main characters are Lily, who owns tea shop and Rose, her grandmother owner of Bed and Breakfast. Another important protagonist is Lily's best friend Bernie, who is an aspiring writer. There are many side characters, mostly their employees and neighbors.
Lily is trying to make a success of her tea shop and working part time at Rose's B&B as well. When they hear that next door propriety is about to be sold to an unscrupulous developer who plans to turn in into resort Rose is livid. She argues with him and next day he is found dead at her propriety.
She immediately becomes person of interest as the detective in charge is not inclined to look for any other suspects. So Rose and Bernie start looking into things trying to find out the truth. Reluctantly Lily agrees to help, she however thinks that investigation should be left to the detectives working on the case.
I enjoyed this well though out cozy, but I have to say that I am not a fan of Rose at all. She is unbelievably rude, but hides behind the mask of telling it as it is, even when her opinion was not asked for, she is behaving ridiculously, throwing tantrums, stepping on people's toes, firing employees left and right and expecting Lily to sort things out without the second thought. She is thoughtless, spoilt and horrible old woman. She annoyed me to no end, so much so that I thought of putting the book down just because of her.
I hope that she will change for the better in next installments.
All in all, great start to a new series.
I received a free copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
July 28, 2021
This first book is Lily having a Teahouse with her Grandmom Rose and Rose place being a B&B. There is a new developer trying sell the land which is Rose neighbor house. It it ramshacked. And they want to put a golf course or some nothing thing there. Rose had an argument with the developers and the owner. Rose said no one will is going to want it for golf course. When a developer got pushed on a side of Rose house guess who was the suspect. So Lily and her best friend Bernie ( Burnadette. A writer) and Rose and Lily friends try to find out who it is. This book was a slow 🐌read. I could not understand some of the words. I like Vicki Delany books 📚The Cozy mystery Christmas books. Maybe I read the 2 nd one
December 28, 2021
Nice start to the series. I think I was expecting a little bit more because I like this author's other series a lot, but it wasn't horrible. I think it gives room for character growth so I will definitely be continuing with this series.
August 11, 2021
3 5 stars raised to 4 because this is an ARC, I love Vicki Delany, and it is the first in the series. RTC
Review from my blog:
Thank you, Netgalley and Kensington Books, for this opportunity!
What I Loved:
The Setting. Cape Cod is an absolutely beautiful, magical place, and I would stay at a cliffside B&B with an old-fashioned tea room in a heartbeat. This sounds like a dream come true. While the book doesn’t discuss the town or surrounding areas as much, the onsite location was so well written you don’t even notice. Also, how can you beat the name of the tea room? “Tea by the Sea” is perfection.
The Mystery. I feel like recently, most of the mystery books I’ve read didn’t provide an intriguing enough mystery, or felt random and irrational. Tea and Treachery provided a good roadmap, but also didn’t give the mystery away too quickly. It made sense, and the list of suspects were engaging. Vicki Delany really knows how to write a mystery.
The (hint of) Romance. I loved that Delany included a potential love interest early, presented the issues that could be associated with the pursuit, and then allowed the attraction to bloom organically. Lily (the main character) and the head gardener Simon show those first signs of a romance – sideways looks, lingering longer than needed, and helping out when the other is in need, just because. Simon is only supposed to be “in town” for the summer, but I am looking forward to seeing how well that plan goes. Similarly, the hints are there for best friend Bernie and next door neighbor Matt. It is never as obnoxious as “will they, won’t they,” but something more fresh and light.
Swoonworthy quote from Simon (imagine with a British accent for optimal results):
What Didn’t Work for Me:
Bernie and Rose. That was a little broad, so let me specify – I love that Lily has a grandmother who dragged her out to New England, and has a delightful British accent, and I love how Bernie is the flighty friend always chasing dreams but never getting her feet firmly under her. However, the two of them were like a dog with a bone throughout the mystery, and they walked all over Lily trying to solve it. Rose treats Lily sometimes like her servant, while other times she treats her as though she runs the entire business; and Bernie seems to think that she can barge into Lily’s life whenever she wants to drag her into a hairbrained scheme regarding the murder, even if Lily is in the middle of work. Lily seems to lose backbone whenever she is confronted with the two of them, also. It made Rose and Bernie much more unlikeable in my eyes, even though they set up to be fun and engaging side characters. Simply put, they are both selfish, and it is hard to like them while also liking Lily.
The Archetypal Bumbling Detective. Normally I am all for a detective that doesn’t seem to be doing their job, since it gives room for our savvy amateur sleuths to show their worth. However here, Detective Williams seems downright crooked, on top of being a womanizer, incompetent, and rude. I do appreciate that it provided a foil for the competent and worldly female cop “from the city,” but I did feel it was laid on thick with both accusations of bribery, and being a shitty human being.
Review from my blog:
Thank you, Netgalley and Kensington Books, for this opportunity!
What I Loved:
The Setting. Cape Cod is an absolutely beautiful, magical place, and I would stay at a cliffside B&B with an old-fashioned tea room in a heartbeat. This sounds like a dream come true. While the book doesn’t discuss the town or surrounding areas as much, the onsite location was so well written you don’t even notice. Also, how can you beat the name of the tea room? “Tea by the Sea” is perfection.
The Mystery. I feel like recently, most of the mystery books I’ve read didn’t provide an intriguing enough mystery, or felt random and irrational. Tea and Treachery provided a good roadmap, but also didn’t give the mystery away too quickly. It made sense, and the list of suspects were engaging. Vicki Delany really knows how to write a mystery.
The (hint of) Romance. I loved that Delany included a potential love interest early, presented the issues that could be associated with the pursuit, and then allowed the attraction to bloom organically. Lily (the main character) and the head gardener Simon show those first signs of a romance – sideways looks, lingering longer than needed, and helping out when the other is in need, just because. Simon is only supposed to be “in town” for the summer, but I am looking forward to seeing how well that plan goes. Similarly, the hints are there for best friend Bernie and next door neighbor Matt. It is never as obnoxious as “will they, won’t they,” but something more fresh and light.
Swoonworthy quote from Simon (imagine with a British accent for optimal results):
I sometimes think my blood is made of seawater. When I’m away from it, I can feel the tides pulling at me.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
Bernie and Rose. That was a little broad, so let me specify – I love that Lily has a grandmother who dragged her out to New England, and has a delightful British accent, and I love how Bernie is the flighty friend always chasing dreams but never getting her feet firmly under her. However, the two of them were like a dog with a bone throughout the mystery, and they walked all over Lily trying to solve it. Rose treats Lily sometimes like her servant, while other times she treats her as though she runs the entire business; and Bernie seems to think that she can barge into Lily’s life whenever she wants to drag her into a hairbrained scheme regarding the murder, even if Lily is in the middle of work. Lily seems to lose backbone whenever she is confronted with the two of them, also. It made Rose and Bernie much more unlikeable in my eyes, even though they set up to be fun and engaging side characters. Simply put, they are both selfish, and it is hard to like them while also liking Lily.
The Archetypal Bumbling Detective. Normally I am all for a detective that doesn’t seem to be doing their job, since it gives room for our savvy amateur sleuths to show their worth. However here, Detective Williams seems downright crooked, on top of being a womanizer, incompetent, and rude. I do appreciate that it provided a foil for the competent and worldly female cop “from the city,” but I did feel it was laid on thick with both accusations of bribery, and being a shitty human being.
July 30, 2020
Sigh.
I wanted to like this so much more than I did [the bestie really enjoyed it so I was very hopeful]. Unfortunately, there were several things that made it just an average read for me [and I really enjoy this author typically, so this is kind of sad for me to have to write].
1. Rose. OH. MY. GOSH. Though I will admit by the end of the book that she had grown on me some, I was not impressed or enamored by her [and from what I am reading, not many are, so I feel better about that] initially [and for most of the book - for someone who worked in service for years in England, she certainly knows how to put on the airs and and snottiness better than Lady Whatshername from Dowton Abbey, which really got on my last nerve]. The way she treats Lily [and really all of those who are around her] and the expectations she has of Lily when that poor girl is up to her eyeballs in her own business....I just wasn't a fan of her.
2. The inept, overweight, incompetent, moronic, I-only-look-through-blinders cop. I mean, really? Suspecting ROSE?? SO. MANY. EYEROLLS.
3. I knew who the killer was when they were introduced in the book [this has become problematic for me, even amongst tried-and-true series that I adore, but absolutely more in newer books I am reading] and I knew the why when the dead body is found. I just has to wade through the rest of the book to get there [there was a moment of hesitation, but that was quickly squashed].
4. I like Lily very much. And Simon. And Bernie [though not as much as other sidekicks that I have read]. I really like Detective Redmond - she is just what you want a cop/detective to be; smart, not easily swayed, and fair. She will be a great addition to this series [especially if they do away with #2]. I LOVE the tea room and all the fun things that they serve there. The people that work for Lily and at the B&B are great side characters and I hope that we get to see more of them [just NOT as suspects in a murder] as the series moves forward. They are really interesting and I think they add a lot to the story.
Overall, it wasn't a bad book. I can see why people are loving it and are rating it high. I have no doubt that my other friends, who read cozies. will also love this like the bestie did. And I have high hopes for the next book [WHICH I will read - I once read 5 books in a series before I got a 4 star read in it; I can be tenacious when I want to be LOL], as sometimes the characters just need to settle before everything clicks. So I am hoping that is the case here. I would still recommend this book to people because I truly enjoy this author and her books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to like this so much more than I did [the bestie really enjoyed it so I was very hopeful]. Unfortunately, there were several things that made it just an average read for me [and I really enjoy this author typically, so this is kind of sad for me to have to write].
1. Rose. OH. MY. GOSH. Though I will admit by the end of the book that she had grown on me some, I was not impressed or enamored by her [and from what I am reading, not many are, so I feel better about that] initially [and for most of the book - for someone who worked in service for years in England, she certainly knows how to put on the airs and and snottiness better than Lady Whatshername from Dowton Abbey, which really got on my last nerve]. The way she treats Lily [and really all of those who are around her] and the expectations she has of Lily when that poor girl is up to her eyeballs in her own business....I just wasn't a fan of her.
2. The inept, overweight, incompetent, moronic, I-only-look-through-blinders cop. I mean, really? Suspecting ROSE?? SO. MANY. EYEROLLS.
3. I knew who the killer was when they were introduced in the book [this has become problematic for me, even amongst tried-and-true series that I adore, but absolutely more in newer books I am reading] and I knew the why when the dead body is found. I just has to wade through the rest of the book to get there [there was a moment of hesitation, but that was quickly squashed].
4. I like Lily very much. And Simon. And Bernie [though not as much as other sidekicks that I have read]. I really like Detective Redmond - she is just what you want a cop/detective to be; smart, not easily swayed, and fair. She will be a great addition to this series [especially if they do away with #2]. I LOVE the tea room and all the fun things that they serve there. The people that work for Lily and at the B&B are great side characters and I hope that we get to see more of them [just NOT as suspects in a murder] as the series moves forward. They are really interesting and I think they add a lot to the story.
Overall, it wasn't a bad book. I can see why people are loving it and are rating it high. I have no doubt that my other friends, who read cozies. will also love this like the bestie did. And I have high hopes for the next book [WHICH I will read - I once read 5 books in a series before I got a 4 star read in it; I can be tenacious when I want to be LOL], as sometimes the characters just need to settle before everything clicks. So I am hoping that is the case here. I would still recommend this book to people because I truly enjoy this author and her books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2020
It's always a pleasure to start a brand new cosy mystery series and this one, Tea & Treachery written by Vicki Delany certainly lived up to my expectations!
The reader soon meets the star of the show, Lily Roberts, who has waved goodbye to Manhattan and settled in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She is the proud owner of Tea by the Sea, a traditional English tearoom on picturesque sea cliffs. She has plenty to keep her busy, including her Granny Rose who runs the Victorian B & B adjacent to Lily’s tea shop. Rose, who enjoys the peace and quiet, is incandescent because the building next door to the B & B may be sold to Jack Ford, a property developer with plans to build an expansive golf resort on the land. With tempers fraying, things really hot up when Ford is found dead on Rose’s premises and the police think she had something to do with his demise.
I thought this was a highly entertaining, really solid start to the series. I enjoyed reading the author's wonderful descriptions of the tea shop, B & B, Lily’s little cottage, and the beautiful gardens. I could easily envisage strolling through the gardens and delighting at the sound of the waves below. Vicki Delany has laid the the foundations of a marvellous set of characters to whom the reader was gradually introduced. Apart from Lily herself who I found to be smart, caring and considerate, I also liked Granny Rose for her spirit and vivacity, though she could be rather caustic and brusque.
The writing was comfortably and smoothly paced, and the mystery itself was very well executed, with abundant red herrings to sustain my interest. All in all, a top-notch opening instalment with snippets of humour, some fascinating facts about tea, and a soupçon of romance as a cherry topping. I will certainly be returning to Cape Cod to see what Lily is getting herself into next and I am eagerly anticipating book two.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
The reader soon meets the star of the show, Lily Roberts, who has waved goodbye to Manhattan and settled in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She is the proud owner of Tea by the Sea, a traditional English tearoom on picturesque sea cliffs. She has plenty to keep her busy, including her Granny Rose who runs the Victorian B & B adjacent to Lily’s tea shop. Rose, who enjoys the peace and quiet, is incandescent because the building next door to the B & B may be sold to Jack Ford, a property developer with plans to build an expansive golf resort on the land. With tempers fraying, things really hot up when Ford is found dead on Rose’s premises and the police think she had something to do with his demise.
I thought this was a highly entertaining, really solid start to the series. I enjoyed reading the author's wonderful descriptions of the tea shop, B & B, Lily’s little cottage, and the beautiful gardens. I could easily envisage strolling through the gardens and delighting at the sound of the waves below. Vicki Delany has laid the the foundations of a marvellous set of characters to whom the reader was gradually introduced. Apart from Lily herself who I found to be smart, caring and considerate, I also liked Granny Rose for her spirit and vivacity, though she could be rather caustic and brusque.
The writing was comfortably and smoothly paced, and the mystery itself was very well executed, with abundant red herrings to sustain my interest. All in all, a top-notch opening instalment with snippets of humour, some fascinating facts about tea, and a soupçon of romance as a cherry topping. I will certainly be returning to Cape Cod to see what Lily is getting herself into next and I am eagerly anticipating book two.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
June 1, 2020
An intriguing new series set in the Cape Cod area. Lily runs a tea shop that offers an authentic afternoon tea as well as makes breakfast for her Aunt Rose's B&B that she also lives in a small cottage behind. When the property next door is up for rezoning into an ostentatious resort and golf course, Rose is fighting mad and goes on the offensive which lands her in hot water when the developer ends up dead at the bottom of the cliff behind Rose's home. Lily and crew must work quickly to solve the case before a potentially crooked and/or lazy cop calls Rose guilty and closes the case! Very entertaining plot with a very likable main character who is competent, calm, intelligent and hard working while trying not to loose her mind chasing down her overzealous elderly Aunt and best friend. I am delighted with this new series and look forward to seeing what antics these characters bring in the future!
July 27, 2020
What a great location for a cozy: a tea house (next to a B&B) by the sea! Lily, the protagonist, is the owner and pastry chef of the tea shop, and granddaughter to Rose, owner of the B&B. Her friend Bernie is visiting for the summer, trying to write her first book. The three characters couldn't be much more different, but I found they complemented one another well and really liked Bernie. When the owner of the house next door wants to sell, a local developer makes a big deal about wanting to buy it and his plans for a golf resort... and he winds up mysteriously dead. Rose, the most outspoken opponent of the golf resort, seems to be the prime suspect and Lily just can't let that happen.
This was an engaging story in a charming setting and I had a hard time putting it down. The mystery is well written and I did suspect the culprit (but I suspect everyone at some point, especially in a series debut). It moved at a good pace and gave just the right amount of details.
I received an advance copy of this book. This review contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
This was an engaging story in a charming setting and I had a hard time putting it down. The mystery is well written and I did suspect the culprit (but I suspect everyone at some point, especially in a series debut). It moved at a good pace and gave just the right amount of details.
I received an advance copy of this book. This review contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 427 reviews