Murder with Oolong Tea (A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – Pennsylvania
Publisher: Kensington (December 29, 2020)
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 1496723961
ISBN-13: 978-1496723963
Kindle ASIN: B086R9HPGJ
In Pennsylvania’s Amish country, Daisy Swanson finds herself going back to school expecting to serve tea–only to get a crash course in criminal justice . . .
The faculty of Willow Creek High School are having a get-together after the spring concert with refreshments provided, courtesy of Daisy’s Tea Garden. Oolong tea and chocolate biscuits are just what the staff needs to help them unwind from Althea Higgins’ demanding curriculum. Her lessons on such controversial subjects as school uniforms and underqualified substitute teachers are earning her an F from her colleagues.
But a failing grade was preferable to Althea falling victim to foul play. Daisy was there when her body was discovered in the school swimming pool, murdered by strangulation. Althea was certainly a strict, opinionated taskmaster, unliked by both teachers and students, but would any of them actually want to kill her? As Daisy starts asking questions, she gets a real education in Althea’s history, discovering more than enough enemies with more than enough motives to cancel her classes permanently . . .
Includes delicious recipes!
Dollycas’s Thoughts
It’s time for Daisy Swanson to go back to school. Willow Creek High School is having their spring concert and that will be followed get-together for the faculty that is being catered by Daisy’s Tea Garden. Daisy is surprised when one of her former teachers stops by the tea garden to discuss the menu because it had already been finalized, but then Althea Higgins has always been a force to be reckoned with. Students fear her and other teachers steer clear of her but when her dead body is found in the pool in the middle of the get-together no one is more shocked than Daisy. She vows not to get wrapped up in another murder case but several people ask her to get involved so she feels she has no choice. So she takes a dip into the pool of suspects in her attempt to uncover who strangled the life out of Althea Higgins.
Again this author impresses me with her ability to take on issues within her books that inform and pull you deeper into the story for more than just an excellent mystery. Relationships play a huge role in Murder with Oolong Tea.
This story was so well-plotted. Tying all the subplots to the main mystery was not an easy task but Ms. Smith does an incredible job. Equipped with her curious nature and her ability to get people to open up to her Daisy sets up several twists and uncovers some unlikely suspects. The author brings suspense in all the right places. I really enjoyed the way the whole story unfolded. The pace was brisk and I was captivated completely following along with all the clues.
The food described within these pages made my mouth water. Daisy dished up a lot of Blueberry Coffee Cake both at work and at home. Thankfully the recipe is in the back of the book and would work with a variety of fruits.
Murder with Oolong Tea is filled with great characters and a first-rate mystery. It is a wonderful addition to the must-read cozy series. The next installment, Murder with Orange Pekoe Tea
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About the Author
Karen Rose Smith is the author of the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mysteries
Also by this Author
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”