The Tea Shop Mystery Series stars Theodosia Browning, former advertising executive and current owner/manager of Charleston’s Indigo Tea Shop. When a customer of a local tour dies suspiciously after having a drink of Theo’s special tea blend, her business begins to suffer. To make things worse, the investigator in charge seems to think that Theo’s part time worker might be responsible… or maybe even Theo herself!
Aside from Theo herself, the Indigo Tea Shop staff includes, Drayton, somewhat fussy but nevertheless loveable master tea taster, and Haley, a part-time college students who serves as both the clerk and the baker for the shop. Also of particular note is Earl Grey, Theo’s darling adopted dog. The series also has a regular cast of backup characters such as Delaine Dish, local gossip, and Jory Davis, lawyer and love interest.
One of the great things about local based Cozies like the Tea Shop mysteries is that they give a strong sense of location. Childs works hard to make Charleston almost a character in and of itself. Childs sprinkles in plenty of verifiable facts, such as the ownership of the Charleston Tea Plantation, that quickly give her an air of authority about Charleston, helping the reader feel like they are truly immersing themselves in the location.
Overall, I would say that the one word that most summarizes the Tea Shop mysteries is charm. The Tea Shop mysteries excel because of the rich and vibrant portrayal of both the characters and the setting as well as the mysteries themselves.
P.S. If you’re interested in other entries about some highly recommended Cozy Mystery series, you can see them on the Most Recommended Cozy Mystery Series page on my site.
Rob says
I’ve just finished Death By Darjeeling and Scones and Bones. I am reading Steeped in Evil, The English Breakfast Murders and Agony of the Leaves. Also, have you tried Laura Childs Eggs in Purgatory and Eggs Benedict Arnold, Eggs in a Casket. I haven’t read Scorched Eggs yet as it is new and I have to get books at the library. All are great!
I do like her two series but never got into the Scrapbooking Series but that is just me. I’m sure they are great as the rest of Childs work is.
Also recommend Shades of Earl Grey and the rest of her Tea Shoppe books are excellent as are the recipes at the back of her books. I’ve tried several and my knitting club loves them. There is a core of Mystery readers in that club (we’re ten strong and have been meeting on Wednesday nights for almost eight years).
I also recommend Miranda James Cat in the Stacks books. Very good
amusing and with touches of romance. I have yet to read one that I didn’t like and her newest is available on Amazon-Arsenic and Old Books. Her Silence in the Library is next on my list.
Rob
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Rob, how neat that you belong to a knitting group that gets together every week, and that all (or at least most) of you enjoy mysteries!
Joyce says
Have read about three of the series and loved the quirky people in the story and I love tea so it made a good series for me to brew a cup of tea and sit and read the book.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Joyce, you’re not kidding about enjoying a cuppa tea while reading a Laura Childs’ Tea Shop mystery!
mary says
thanks for the reminder. i loved those early laura childs cozies. and i learned so much about “tea culture”.
i felt the same about the early monica ferris books, with betsy devonshire, godfrey and her crew. a window into some different types of needlework that i was not familiar with.
both series……very high ratings. in fact, a bar for other cozy writers to try to achieve.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mary, you and I have these two Cozy Mystery authors in common!
Linda H says
Hi Danna
I have been checking your blog out for a while now, and I have found many authors that I would like to try; but my sister and I are getting ready to move back to Michigan from Arizona, and she tells me I cannot have any new books right now. :{. But just wait until we get settled!! Thank you so much for the info we find on your blog.
Linda H.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda H, I’m so glad you are finding Cozy Mystery authors who you might enjoy reading. You’ll have plenty of time to read, once you’re settled in Michigan!
Margaret M. says
I agree. I am a fan of the Tea Shop Mysteries.
That is one of reasons I love Duffy Brown’s Consignment Shop Mysteries, set in Savannah and Krista Davis’ Domestic Diva Mysteries set in (Olde Town) Alexandria. I have visited both cities several times and love them. So when I read the books it takes me back for one more visit.
I understand why some authors create fictional locations, but it is always a treat when they use a real locale and then really do their homework to make that locale shine.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Margaret M, I (almost!) felt like I knew New Orleans the first time I went there. Laura Childs does such a great job of making her Scrapbooking mystery readers feel like they are right there! (I haven’t visited Charleston, but I’m guessing I will feel the same way >>> if ever I do!)
MJ says
VERY well said, Danna. The word ‘charm’ is the BEST descriptive word for this series. I love it when authors ‘take you there’ to the locations/settings of the story through their illustrative writing. As previously stated, Childs does this with New Orleans scrapbook series, too.
Ironically Child’s is ‘cryptic’ about the location of the Cackleberry Club series. I’ve been able to ascertain (from various hints in the story lines) that it’s most likely set in Minnesota, within an hour or two of the Twin Cities. Location is not an important aspect in these books.
If I recommend a book where the author has given the reader exceptional descriptive scenic writing, I try to cite this in the recommendation. This shouldn’t be a ‘travelogue’ and overpower the story, but be an unobtrusive addition. There are numerous examples, but one that immediately comes to mind is Sheila Connolly’s County Cork (Ireland) series.
BTW, of the three series, the Tea Shoppe is my favorite.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MJ, I don’t know if you remember way back in February 2012 when we all told which of Laura Childs’ Cozy Mysteries we preferred. (Here is link: Laura Childs: Tea Shop Mystery Series, Scrapbooking Series, or Cackleberry Club Mystery Series… Which one would you recommend reading first?) I just reread your really terrific comment from back then.) I totally agree with you about the difference between a travelogue that overpowers VS a setting giving that gives a tone to the book.
MJ says
I did remember that we previously discussed Childs’ three series.
I’m glad you provided the link because it was interesting to go back and reread the comments.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
(MJ, I enjoyed reading the old comments, too!)
Denise says
Love the Teashop mysteries have read them all and am eagerly awaiting the next one. You are so right about Charleston being a character. It’s a beautiful city just up the road ( hour and a half) from where I live. Will be there with friends on a girls week next month. Can’t wait to shop, eat and just enjoy .
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Denise, I would love to have access to such a wonderful city. I hope you have a great time on your girls’ week out! It sounds like lots and lots of fun!
Dorothy says
Fantastic writer love the ones i have read sofar Thank you
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Dorothy, I think that they keep getting better and better, so you’re in for a Cozy Mystery treat!
Paula says
I really enjoy the three Laura Child’s series. I have learned so much about N.O while reading the scrapbooking series. I visited N.O pre Katrina and was heartbroken to see the pictures of post Katrina. It is a great city. Series like this may encourage visitors back . I would not have the patience to do scrapbooking but her descriptions of Carmela helping her regulars really brings it home. I think Laura Childs is a great writer and I discovered her thanks to this site.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Paula, I know there is a lot of Katrina devastation still lingering in New Orleans, but the city has done a great job to get the downtown back to where they can attract a lot of visitors/tourists. (I don’t scrapbook either, but I enjoy reading about all of the crafting they do.)
Pat says
I have read all of this series so far and love them. I think they definitely fit in the cozy category.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Pat, I agree with you about Laura Childs’ series falling into the Cozy Mystery category…
Billie says
Morning, Just a quick response, I like the Tea Shop cozies and the Egg ones, but just can’t get into the Scrapbook ones. DKY. I also like the Monica Ferris Series. Right now, I am reading in the Miss Dimple series. Sorry, hadn’t written in awhile, but I do try to keep up with your blogs and Thank You very much for them.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Billie, I’m glad to see you are still enjoying the blogs, and glad you checked in with us!
Rickee says
What do you think about the latest scrap booking story that Laura Childs wrote with Terrie Farley Moran? I’ve only just started but I’m not sure about the different style. I have loved all her novels so far. How much do you think Moran wrote? Do you know why Child’s is having a co-writer? I saw where she is writing another series under her real name.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Rickee, unfortunately I’m behind on this particular series – Parchment and Old Lace and Crepe Factor have both been on my “to read” pile for quite some time now! I’m also not entirely certain why she decided to write with Terrie Farley Moran.
Rickee says
Are you familiar with the Goldy catering cozy series by Diane Mott Davidson? I think I have her name right… Love her books.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Rickee, I’m also a big fan of Diane Mott Davidson! It’s really unfortunate that she doesn’t seem to be writing as much as she used to.
Billie says
Hi, for whatever reason, I like Laura Child’s tea book series better than the scrapbooking one. Didnt know that she had taken a coauthor on.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Billie, not too surprising – Laura Childs does still have very prominent top billing!
Helen says
Love them all, can’t enough of them.
Paula says
I absolutely love the Tea Shop Mystery series. After I have read one, I want to have tea and lunch at the shop. I want to hear Drayton speak about the tea he is serving and the story behind it. I love all the series, but the tea shop is my favorite. It makes me want to find a place that has high tea.
Jacquie says
I really enjoy the Tea Shop Mysteries and the Scrapbooking ones, as well. However, with that said, I am quite frustrated that I will not be able to finish either series as not all the books are offered on Kindle which is where I have the books. I live in the Northwest Territories and the nearest book store is 12 hours away… ebooks is my best option.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Jacquie, I’m sorry to hear that! Hopefully the rest of these series will become available on Kindle eventually.
Greenway says
All the Laura Childs books are a hoot! Doesn’t bother me as much as it did that the daredevil heroines don’t LEARN (to be more prepared, just say no, etc.,) but then, acceptance: The wild & wooly crises are from the same metaverse as those of Jonathan and Jennifer Hart. Sort of like accepting that some series characters never age. This can be ensemble, like in the Spensers and late great M.C. Beaton’s top series, or it can be a more individual ‘wrinkle in time’ like those needed for various contemporary series’ WWII-experienced continuing characters and their younger generations.
Oh, the incomparable Joan Hess is now gone, so…Arly Hanks faded away pregnant, more bearable than Caron and Inez (after about 40 years) still unreleased from high school! Too Buffy-verse!