Rating: 
Summary: Dump this tea book into the harbor
Review: A true disappointment from the first two dozen pages, this writer doesn't know enough about having tea to be writing about it, even as a subplot to a mediocre murder mystery. You would think while researching various names of expensive teas to include in the book, she would have also read the proper descriptions for Cream Tea and Afternoon Tea and no, High Tea is not the kind where you eat finger sandwiches and scones. Anyone who knows anything about English afternoon tea knows 'high' doesn't mean 'fancy.' I wouldn't ordinarily be so persnickety about it but if you're going to call a book 'A Tea Shop Mystery' for heaven sake, know something about it!
As for the murder mystery? Lacking in suspense, overwritten, and generally boring with a wrap-up at the end that would appall Jessica Fletcher.
Rating:
Summary: Dump this tea book into the harbor
Review: A true disappointment from the first two dozen pages, this writer doesn't know enough about having tea to be writing about it, even as a subplot to a mediocre murder mystery. You would think while researching various names of expensive teas to include in the book, she would have also read the proper descriptions for Cream Tea and Afternoon Tea and no, High Tea is not the kind where you eat finger sandwiches and scones. Anyone who knows anything about English afternoon tea knows 'high' doesn't mean 'fancy.' I wouldn't ordinarily be so persnickety about it but if you're going to call a book 'A Tea Shop Mystery' for heaven sake, know something about it!
As for the murder mystery? Lacking in suspense, overwritten, and generally boring with a wrap-up at the end that would appall Jessica Fletcher.
Rating: 
Summary: Another Great Mystery
Review: I found this book just as good as the previous Indigo Teahop mysteries and read it in two days flat. The characters are nicely drawn and beautifully described, there is the usual information and discussion about tea and the suspense is kept going right to the very end. We are given more of an insight into the characters of Theo, Haley and Drayton as well as Delaine Dish, although I found Delaine a little irritating this time round. The only character I really did not like was Delaine's sister Nadine. The receipes at the end sound just gorgeous and Ms Childs describes the atmosphere and culture of Charleston so well that she has made me want to visit the place. I just wish I could visit the Indigo Teashop!
Rating:
Summary: Great Series...
Review: I have thoroughly enjoyed all four of the Laura Childs' tea mystery books. The English Breakfast Murder defines the characters to an even greater level. The plot is intense as always and the subplots ever present. As always, I really enjoyed the recipes. I have especially loved reading about Charleston and the various bits of information about teas.
Rating:
Summary: Great Series...
Review: I have thoroughly enjoyed all four of the Laura Childs' tea mystery books. The English Breakfast Murder defines the characters to an even greater level. The plot is intense as always and the subplots ever present. As always, I really enjoyed the recipes. I have especially loved reading about Charleston and the various bits of information about teas.
Rating: 
Summary: Tea Shop Mysteries a hit!
Review: I really like this series. They are a quick read. This series is not for you if you like blood and guts. These are clean, leave it to your imagination, mystery books that are a pleasure. I am only giving this book a four star rating because I think it moved a little slow at times. I have read several of the other books and they are great as well.
Rating:
Summary: Great, until the end
Review: I thought this book was truly exciting, but I was disappointed with the ending as she didn't clarify some of the events that happened. Why did Jory's boat get vandalized? Why was the killer at the house of Harper Fisk's when the killer already had all the information the killer needed? Some of the ending really needed to be clarified. But overall, I wasn't deeply disappointed. The plot kept me guessing right until the end! It was hair raising when Theo found the body, when she swam out to see it and it was hair raising when the killer cornered her and tied her up! And as for the tea part, the recipes and learning how to do the tea dyeing, that was SUCH an added bonus! I can't wait to read her next one, Jasmine Moon Murder. It is worth the time to read this book, that is if you LOVE to be kept in the dark on who the killer is until the end! ENJOY!
Rating:
Summary: Better than the last, but still...
Review: I'm not entirely sure this installment in the Tea Shop Mystery series deserves a full four stars, but it was certainly better than the last book. The major problem with both 'The English Breakfast Murder' as well as the previous book in the series is that the crime (or murder) just can't be taken seriously because of the pursuit of the killer. The guilty party inevitably falls into the laps of both reader and Theodosia Browning. To the credit of 'English Breakfast' Theo did attempt to take threads and weave them together in order to solve the murder. But, unfortunately, it wasn't enough to make the reader (or at least myself) feel very satisfied with the conclusion. And speaking of conclusions, the end of this little novel seemed far too rushed. It seriously read as though Ms.Childs was under the stress of a looming deadline and slapped a last chapter on the end just to get it over with and to the publisher. Despite that, though, I actually did enjoy the book. Moreso than the last. Yes, it had its whiny moments and it is indeed one of the lightest mysteries I'll ever read, but still. It made for a few pleasant hours.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Sip
Review: I've read four of Laura Childs' books in the Tea Shop series: Death by Darjeeling, Gunpowder Green, Shades of Earl Grey, and The English Breakfast Murder. I purchased the first one in her scrapbook series, but haven't read it yet. So far, Ms. Childs skills as an author are growing decidedly better with each book. If you are new to the Tea Shop mysteries, Ms. Childs books are refreshing, entertaining mysteries in light of how horrific real-life has become over the past decade. I prefer mysteries with more substance and greater character development, but I gladly read Ms. Childs' books because I can expect them to be clean, wholesome, and entertaining. To date, Ms. Childs' books are not gruesome or down-right wicked. Again, this is a welcome relief from the majority of mysteries being sold today. The main character is a young woman who balances her business success and yet makes time for a real life besides. I am not a tea-drinker, but I love to read about the tea shop and wish it were a real place. I'd travel all the way to Charleston just to visit her shop if it were real. I heartily recommend you try Laura Childs' books.
Rating: 
Summary: Strong on atmosphere, No plot to speak of
Review: In this fourth outing for Theodosia and her cohorts at the Indigo Tea shop, the atmosphere is everything. Forget about a coherent plot! The book just ends, the killer is unmasked by accident, and Theodosia as usual flounders from suspect to suspect without ever coming to any conclusion. Delaine Dish's sister is an annoying subplot, even if she does wind up doing the wrong thing at the right time to point Theodosia to the real culprit. Perry Mason, where are you? Paging Ellery Queen!
| 
