Book Review: Chamomile Mourning

Reviewed By: Dawn Dowdle

Chamomile Mourning     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Laura Childs
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Amateur Sleuth   Cozy   Woman Main Character
Series: Theodosia # 6
Berkley, Hardback, 5/05, 306 pages, $22.95

Theodosia Browning’s Indigo Tea Shop in Charleston, South Carolina, is a great success. The Poet’s Tea is forced inside. Auction house owner Roger Crispin falls off the balcony and onto Theodosia’s cake when a shot rang out during a presentation given by Drayton Conneley.

Since Theodosia was the last one to see Roger alive when she took a cup of tea to him up in the balcony, she is questioned. The police also question Grace Venable who is opening a store near the tea shop. Haley, a co-worker of Theodosia’s, is friendly with Grace and is upset when Grace becomes a suspect because she had been having an affair with Roger who was married.

Theodosia and friends begin investigating as Roger’s wife is putting lots of pressure on the police to look at Grace. Theodosia does not believe Grace did it, but she isn’t positive.

The investigation leads her into the swamps of South Carolina where she uncovers art forgery, fraud, and murder. Can she escape with her life to be able to alert the authorities.

This was the first I have read in this delightful series. It won’t be the last. Even though I’m not a tea drinker, I really enjoyed this book. I found the information about tea enjoyable. The author didn’t describe it in such depth that non-tea drinkers would be bored.

I really like Theodosia and her friends. They are great characters and having it set in Charleston was great. I have visited there once. She really has the ambiance down.

I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more.

Dawn Dowdle

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Dawn Dowdle

Please visit Dawns website at www.mysteryloverscorner.com