Haunted Hibiscus by Laura Child's

 

About the book 

Tea maven Theodosia Browning brews up trouble in the latest Tea Shop Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs.

It is the week before Halloween and Theodosia Browning, proprietor of the Indigo Tea Shop, and her tea sommelier, Drayton, are ghosting through the dusk of a cool Charleston evening on their way to the old Bouchard Mansion. Known as the Gray Ghost, this dilapidated place was recently bequeathed to the Heritage Society, and tonight heralds the grand opening of their literary and historical themed haunted house.

Though Timothy Neville, the patriarch of the Heritage Society, is not thrilled with the fund-raising idea, it is the perfect venue for his grandniece, Willow French, to sign copies of her new book, Carolina Crimes & Creepers.

But amid a parade of characters dressed as Edgar Allan Poe, Lady Macbeth, and the Headless Horseman, Willow's body is suddenly tossed from the third-floor tower room and left to dangle at the end of a rope. Police come screaming in and Theodosia's boyfriend, Detective Pete Riley, is sent to Willow's apartment to investigate. But minutes later, he is shot and wounded by a shadowy intruder.

Timothy begs Theodosia to investigate, and shaken by Riley's assault, she readily agrees. Now, she questions members of the Heritage Society and a man who claims the mansion is rightfully his, as well as Willow's book publisher and her fiancé, all while hosting a Sherlock Holmes tea and catering several others.

But the Gray Ghost holds many secrets, as do several other key suspects, while this murder mystery plays out on the eve of Halloween.

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!

And I thought

I got the chance to enjoy this great title through the YouTube App. 

For me listening  to a book has really more negatives than positives. 

I enjoy listening  and doing other things.  Frees me up!

One negative in listening to this title is the recipes that are included in print copies are not included  in the audio version.  ( some titles by other authors do include recipes)

One thing I really  like and enjoy about this series is the food that is served at Theodosia's Tea shop. 

Author Laura Childs describes a place that almost seems real and you wish it was. 

I enjoyed the story and plot. 

There were lots of twists and turns that keeps the reader involved and kind of thinking abit to keep up with the suspects Theodosia  uncovers. 

Halloween is my least favorite  holiday but the ghosts and eerie happenings are well written and not graphic.  References to Edgar Alan Poe make an interesting  read. 

The catered Tea Party at the end which unravels the mystery is set in a Poe theme even included a Raven cake which is depicted  on the cover. 

I enjoyed reading Haunted Hibiscus and plan to search for a print copy. 

My review will appear on Amazon and Good Reads. 

This review is my opinion about the  book.   No on one asked me to review. 

About the Author

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbooking Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO of her own marketing firm, authored several screenplays, and produced a reality TV show.