Blood Orange Brewing

I have read most of the Tea Shop mysteries to date now. The recipes are always luscious, and tea shop descriptions detailed and interesting. The characters seem like people I know. I love Drayton! My kind of man! The only criticism I have with these books is that the endings always seem to stretch my credulity. This one is no exception. Spoiler alert!! Think "releasing wild exotic animals into their non-native habitats." Really?? Isn't that against the law? What would the animal rights folks have to say about that idea? Just sayin'.

I've read (and enjoyed) other books in this series and am going back to read ones I missed along the way. This is one of those.

The Indigo Tea Shop sounds like a place I would like to visit. I'd like to have a tea tasting with Drayton and learn about the various types of teas (moreso than the little we get in the book's descriptions). Most of the food offerings in this book didn't strike my fancy as much as ones in other books did, but . . .

For this book though, the beginning of the book and the end of the book don't seem to connect well. And many questions seem left unanswered.

WARNING: SPOILERS MAY FOLLOW. READ ON AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.

*****

*How and why did the Chaits get into the exotic animal smuggling?
*Which of them (or was it both) show more was the murderer?
*How did they get the dirk from the historical society?
*What happens to Parker's "kitten"? Is it the jaguar cub Delaine believed it to be or the designer cat Parker was convinced it was? Is he allowed to keep it? Does he have to apply for an exotic breed permit to do so? Does nobody think about it?
*What happens to Haley's recipe book deal? Does a lawyer ever look over the contract? Was the offer legitimate?
*Why did the Chaits dognap Earl Grey? Was it just to distract Theodosia? What did they intend to do with him? Were they going to sell him? Or were they eventually going to return him once they didn't have any animals to hide (at least for a while)?

I agree with another reviewer who felt Theodosia feels (incorrectly) that she's the only one capable of solving crimes. I also agree that she's interfered with crime scenes and that instead of passing leads on to the authorities, just goes and investigates them herself . In real life, I agree, she'd probably have been arrested or at least charged with interference or obstruction.

I also agree with another reviewer who says Theodosia makes foolish choices. She suspects the Chaits might be smuggling animals, but goes to their house all by herself, apparently without telling anyone else where she's going. She doesn't ask Drayton or Haley to go with her, she doesn't alert the authorities or anyone from shelters/animal groups to her suspicions. (Heck, she could have insisted someone who knows look at Parker's "cat" and if they confirmed it was an exotic cat, that would have been a bit of evidence for some group to go to the area where he found it and search.

Then, when she does discover Earl Grey and the exotic animals, instead of alerting the authorities and letting them handle it, she decides to go to the warehouse herself--again, alone. Though at least this time she does tell Tidwell. show less

This one could be nickname : Theo and Delaine excellent adventure. It's a fun romp. Houses with secret rooms, Earl Grey missing, scams and fraud abound. Parker Scully makes his move. Lots of nice tea scenes and lots of yummy recipes from Haley. A solid plot that doesn't wander.

Another good addition to the series.

I do really enjoy this series. Theo and her friends are always getting into the most interesting situations and most of them don't seem all that incredible! This time a long time friend and Civil War buff is killed while Theo and her group are serving tea. His wife asks Theo to "help" the police and, of course, Theo can't help but get involved.

Plenty of twists and turns in this one and with them lots of red herrings are thrown the readers way. I had a brief moment of "I wonder if either of those are involved" but dismissed it early on as other red herrings led me away. So, no, I didn't figure it out and I certainly didn't get a glimmer of the motive until Childs was ready to start the reveal.

Interesting, fun and I love the characters. show more I'll keep reading this series. show less

Theodosia Browning seems to have the uncanny knack of being the one to find the victims, which normally would've had the police all over her, but not in this book. It's was good, except for the ending in which Theodosia does not exhibit common sense. The issue of the exotic animals, in which I'll refrain from spilling too much details here, really bothers me as to what Theodosia did with them. It is illegal for a reason folks...

I have to admit, I adore this series, but out of the line so far, this is the weakest. The characters seem a bit forced, and the situations a bit less than plausable. Admittedly, part of the problem is inherent in *having* a mystery series; if there really was this one person who was around when every local murder happened, she or he would either be locked up in jail or be friendless as you'd never know when you'd be next. :D

*possible spoilers*I felt the author may have been tuckered out from writing her different series, and it wasn't as attention-consuming until the part with Earl Grey. The side plot about the animals could have been fleshed out a little more, but I understand the author wanting to put it in for exposure's sake. Still, a good mystery for some brain-clearing time during 'report card week.'