First, it appears that somehow I might have skipped one or two of Vicki's Tea by the Sea books. Not intentional. But luckily it didn't matter.

Soooo... we're back to recipes for raisin scones and lemon squares interspersed with murder most foul. I admit I am finding the baking details rather tedious, and the descriptive stuff (following the writerly rules to involve all the senses) heavy handed. Just a few too many tinkling teacups, cinnamon and sugar baking, the salt-air of the sea, clinking cutlery, etc. etc.

But still, Ms. Delany is a good writer, with interesting characters and plots, and I find her books a cut above the run-of-the-mill cozies that rely on cats, dogs, and sweets. So I found this a good, satisfying read and look forward to more of her series. ( )

Steeped in Malice by Vicki Delany has Lily Roberts on the hunt for teacups and saucers for her Cape Cod tearoom, Tea by the Sea. The find of a darling Peter Rabbit children’s tea set ends up sending trouble to Lily’s doorstep. I thought Steeped in Malice was well-written with developed characters. The author’s vivid descriptions allows me to envision the Victorian bed and breakfast, the charming tearoom, and Lily’s quaint cottage that overlooks Cape Cod Bay. The mystery was entertaining. The Peter Rabbit tea set ends up being a hot commodity. One person is willing to kill for something hidden inside the wicker basket that holds the children’s tea set. There are a handful of suspects (I was surprised there were not more considering the victim’s horrid attitude). Lily, with help from her bestie, Bernie and her grandmother, Rose ask questions and search for clues. Wesley, Lily’s ex-boyfriend (the chef with a big head), turns up like a bad penny. Wesley was married to the victim (and hoping for a large inheritance). The whodunit can be solved before the reveal if you pay close attention. There is a good reveal and wrap up. This was my favorite mystery in this series. There are some interesting developments at the end, but I will have to wait for the next book to see how they impact Lily. Steeped in Malice is the fourth A Tea by the Sea Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. Bernie, Lily’s best friend, is a character that I found irritating in previous books. I did not find Bernie as trying this time (she is growing on me). Bernie is flighty especially when it comes to her writing (I wonder if she will ever finish a manuscript). However, Bernie does have a heart of gold and is always there for Lily when she is needed. I love Lily’s labradoodle, Éclair. Rose’s cat, Robert the Bruce, suits her. I enjoyed the humor sprinkled through the story. Rose can always be counted on for a chuckle or two. There are tasty treats mentioned throughout the books with recipes for a couple of the mouthwatering morsels at the end. Steeped in Malice is a tantalizing tale with a rare Peter Rabbit tea set, a slain sibling, a missing missive, a self-centered ex-suitor, scrumptious scones, and a new advent. ( )

Lily Roberts runs her tea shop with pure joy and loves to show off her various tea sets so when she purchases a special set starring Peter Rabbit for her Easter tea she isn't surprised when someone shows up claiming it was a family heirloom and wasn't meant to be sold. The ensuing drama and events were terrifically written and totally entertaining. ( )

I enjoy this series of Cape cod mysteries. The characters are people I would want to know, the romance is barely alluded to, and the stories are complex and entertaining. The only thing I question is the teacups hanging in the trees. We have way to much wind here for that to be feasible ! 😉 ( )

Lily loves buying china for her tea shop, and can’t resist buying a Peter Rabbit themed set at a antiques shop. Mere days later, a rude and pushy woman insists that Lily has to sell it back to her, that it was sold to the antiques shop by someone who had no rights to it. And so begins a chase for this set by more than one person in this family. Yes, there is an important reason behind the need to possess it. And as it turns out, Lily is acquainted with some of the other people involved, including her ex-boyfriend. It involves a will and a lot of wealth, and results in a dead body and more than one person claiming the money. This mystery is off-the-charts great. There are clues that the author drops, but she is cagey with them, and it’s hard to tell when the suspects are really telling the truth, since their comments change direction, according to whoever is listening. Very clever, indeed. This series just keeps getting better and better. ( )