Karen Rose Smith

Murder Marks the Page by Karen Rose Smith is the debut of A Tomes & Tea Mysteries. This series is a spin-off of A Daisy Tea Garden Mysteries. I did not find myself liking Jazzi. She had a mother who loved her and supported her, but Jazzi does not seem to appreciate it. There is the implication that Jazzi has a strained relationship with her mother, but it is not explained. Jazzi wants to do things on her own (she makes that abundantly clear). The main characters need more development (need details on Jazzi for those who have not read A Daisy Tea Garden Mysteries). The pacing is slow which is due to the repetition and detailed descriptions. Character’s outfits are described in detail (especially the type of braid Jazzi was sporting that day) plus we get to learn about every plant Jazzi encounters. As expected, food and tea are itemized as well. I wanted more substance and less filler. Adoption and locating birth parents are a major part of the story, and it overwhelms the whodunit. Jazzi does some investigating by questioning the various men in the victim’s life. There is a good wrap up at the end. While Jazzi makes it abundantly clear that she is not ready for a romantic relationship (mentioned repeatedly), she interprets interactions with men as romantic interest. Jazzi will analyze her feelings for that person (does she like them, does that person have a crush on her, should she step back from this individual, etc.). I liked the community of Belltower Landing. It sounds like a charming town. The kittens are adorable, and we get to know all about them (how they look, their antics, what they eat, the bells on the door, and so much). As you can tell, Murder Marks the Page was not my cup of tea.… (more)

This spinoff series centers on Jazzi as the main protagonist. Now out of college and co-owner of a tea and book shop, Jazzi is determined to make it on her own. She and co-owner Dawn have to increase their business by drawing in more customers. They also adopt two homeless kittens who are sometimes a diversion from the endless brainstorming. Jazzi befriends a young woman who recently found her birth father. Jazzi, also adopted, shares her experiences in looking for her own birth parents. Just when she thinks she’ll have a new friend, Brie is murdered, and Jazzi finds herself, like her mom before her, involved in solving a murder. This is a nice follow up to Daisy’s Tea Garden mystery series. The characters are still growing and developing. The mystery was pretty good, although most of the story was about the characters themselves. It will be interesting to see where the author takes these characters, and if Jazzi’s family will play a part in future stories.… (more)

Daisy is busy with her upcoming wedding plans and with her daughter Jazzi who is going off to college as well as being on call to help out with her grandson Sammy. And, oh yes, she still runs a tea shop. Despite all this, she finds time to be a guest on Trevor’s crime podcast. A tip comes in with a clue to a cold case that is twenty years old. A teenager from their town disappeared one night and was never seen again. Did he run away or did he meet with foul play? Daisy gets drawn into the case when a man, possibly the tipster, is found murdered. The police ask for her unofficial help, and it leads her down a path that no one should take. After a slow start, this mystery picked up speed in a hurry. The conclusion of the story is both exciting, and then heartwarming. It will be interesting to see where the series goes from here. These characters are delightful and likable. I would love to spend some time in a tea shop like Daisy’s.… (more)

Daisy hosts a delightful Alice in Wonderland tea event, but her pleasure is short lived when a friend of hers is murdered. She needs to find the killer for her own mental health, since she nearly was a victim, too. She also has other, more pleasant tasks to think about, like planning her own wedding. She is definitely being pulled in all directions, and it’s a wonder she doesn’t snap. This mystery is well written and quite gripping, but the author hasn’t neglected the family aspect in the telling of the story. These characters will seem like old friends to regular readers.… (more)