Agony of the Leaves (2012)

I had been debating whether or not to keep reading the Tea Shop series - it seemed to be getting formulaic for me, but then I thought about how quickly these tend to read and how they are a reading palate cleanser - nice, light, shorter than a main course. So, I picked up the latest yesterday and read it (there's that quick to read part). The killer stayed hidden behind a bunch of red herrings until near the end, when certain events gave me pause to think about this person [but then, there weren't many clues or reasons to support this person as the killer - I didn't care for that as much - just one thing almost thrown out near the beginning].

Things I continue to enjoy: Drayton and Haley's back and forth banter, anything with Earl Grey (the dog), the tea party ideas in the story and the back of the book, Delaine's comic relief interruptions.

Things I could do without: more descriptions of Charleston [it's the 13th book, for crying out loud, it's been described pretty well already], clothing descriptions [that's just a personal issue, as I'm not a big clotheshorse], and how Theo is intimidated/threatened in similar ways to many of the other books in the series [yes, one of the ways was novel in this book, but it immediately followed one that has been really overused]. ( )

Childs comes through with another win in this series. Every now and then I enjoy reading a cozy and this series never disappoints. In addition, there are recipes at the end of each book for the food described in the story.

Theodosia's former boyfriend Parker Scully has been murdered at a fund-raising event for the local aquarium. Theo, of course, is investigating. Several people, customers and a few unsavory characters, turn up as suspects. We also get a further lesson in our tea education. ( )

It's an OK mystery -- the identity of the killer was a surprise to me and I expect it will to most readers because it seems totally random. There are several loose ends left after the murder is solved and I suspect these may be carried over to the next in the series to add some momentum. This is the 13th in this series and it looks to me if it may be running out of steam. ( )

Laura Childs presents a mild mystery that does not contain graphic violence or sex. Sometimes, Childs uses a heavy hand in pitching charities. The recipes and description of Charleston are exquisite. I wish that Childs would publish a book of the recipes included in the Tea Shop Mysteries. In this caper, Theodosia's ex boyfriend, Parker Scully is killed. The parties and expeditions in Charleston create a worldly atmosphere. I thoroughly enjoy this simple, yet delicious sojourn in Charleston. ( )

The Agony of the Leaves is the latest Tea Shop Mystery featuring Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning and her staff Drayton Connelley and Hayley Parker. Author Laura Childs has written another fabulous story for this 13th book in the series.

Theo and her group are catering the opening of the new Neptune Aquarium in Charleston, when Theo's ex-boyfriend, Parker Sculley, is found floating in the aquarium's Ocean Wall exhibit. Before the EMT's move the body into an ambulance Theo insists on seeing his body. The EMT's oblige and unzip the body bag. Theo immediately notices that Parker's hands are cut up badly. She instinctively knows that this was not an accident and begins her search for the truth.

Reading a mystery is more satisfying for me when the crime is committed early in the story and all of the clues and character involvement are completely fleshed out at the end of the story. Ms. Childs did all that in Agony of the Leaves. Parker was discovered dead on page 6 and all of the clues were explained by the end of the story. However, I feel that detective Tidwell was not believable in this story. He left all of the investigation to Theodosia to handle. This is a big change from the earlier novels and I don't know what to make of it. Anyway, still a great story. ( )

We are thrown into a lot of activities in this Tea Shop mystery outing.The suspicious death of Theodosia's ex-boyfriend is sad, but she hardly seems like she would have the time to investigate much in this busy story. The alleged murder at an Aquarium opening leads to charity scavenger hunts, tea ceremonies, a coffee/tea Expo, bees, visits to Aunt Libby and more charity events. I always like to visit Theodosia, Haley and Drayton, but book thirteen made me a little tired! Yummy recipes and a teaser for another tale at the end make it all worthwhile! ( )

The Tea Shoppe Mysteries by Laura Childs is one of my favorite series, so when I received it in the mail from the author I was excited to read it, but I wanted to have the right amount time to savor it. So it was at the top of the pile when I headed off to my Florida vacation. It barely made it to Florida before I was finished having entertained me in the airport and on the plane.

Theodosia Browning and her friends at the Indigo Tea Shop are front and center trying to solve the murder of Theo's former boyfriend Parker Scully. The same background characters allow the reader to snuggle in and concentrate on the villains du jour and solve the murder.

SPOLIER Here in lies my problem with this installment. The mystery lacked a gel that would hold it together. The murderer isn't even introduced until well into the book and the clues just weren't there for the reader to solve the mystery along with the characters. A disappointment - yes. Bad book - definitely not for those that love the series. I hope that the future books are back on track because, no matter what I enjoyed it and that's all that's necessary IMHO. ( )

Theodosia is at the grand opening of the Neptune Aquarium. As she stares into a tank, she suddenly sees something that doesn't belong there -- the lifeless body of her former boyfriend, Parker Scully. Everyone assumes he somehow fell in the tank, but Theodosia is convinced otherwise although she has no idea why anyone would want him dead. There is a missing folder of his "current projects" when his office is searched for clues. The autopsy does reveal that he was murdered. As usual, Theodosia investigates in her own way. As with all the books, there is a lot of information about tea, lots of travel in the Charleston area, and the delicious menus Haley creates. While the conclusion caught me by surprise, it was one I should have seen coming. I really hate that Parker was the victim. I'm not real crazy about her new boyfriend Max. I love all my visits with the Theodosia, Drayton, Haley, and the dog Earl Grey. Do I really have to wait another year for the next one? ( )