Broken Bone China
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4.4 • 69 Ratings
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
Theodosia Browning serves tea and solves crimes in Charleston, a city steeped in tradition and treachery in the latest Tea Shop Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs.
It is Sunday afternoon, and Theodosia and Drayton are catering a formal tea at a hot-air balloon rally. The view aloft is not only stunning, they are also surrounded by a dozen other colorful hot-air balloons. But as the sky turns gray and the clouds start to boil up, a strange object zooms out of nowhere. It is a drone, and it appears to be buzzing around the balloons, checking them out.
As Theodosia and Drayton watch, the drone, hovering like some angry, mechanized insect, deliberately crashes into the balloon next to them. An enormous, fiery explosion erupts, and everyone watches in horror as the balloon plummets to the earth, killing all three of its passengers.
Sirens scream, first responders arrive, and Theodosia is interviewed by the police. During the interview she learns that one of the downed occupants was Don Kingsley, the CEO of a local software company, SyncSoft. Not only do the police suspect Kingsley as the primary target, they learn that he possessed a rare Revolutionary War Union Jack flag that several people were rabidly bidding on.
Intrigued, Theodosia begins her own investigation. Was it the CEO's soon-to-be ex-wife, who is restoring an enormous mansion at no expense? The CEO's personal assistant, who also functioned as curator of his prized collection of Americana? Two rival antiques' dealers known for dirty dealing? Or was the killer the fiancée of one of Theodosia's dear friends, who turns out to be an employee—and whistle-blower—at SyncSoft?
INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Bestseller Childs's 20th Tea Shop mystery (after 2018's Plum Tea Crazy) opens with Theodosia Browning, the proprietor of the Indigo Tea Shop in Charleston, S.C., and tea sommelier Drayton Conneley enjoying a hot air balloon ride, until, to their horror, a drone strikes a nearby hot air balloon, killing Don Kingsley, CEO of a technology company, as well as his client and the pilot. Theodosia learns through her judicious questions, not entirely unwelcomed by Det. Burt Tidwell of the Charleston PD, that Kingsley, the apparent target, was possibly misusing company funds, and that his estranged wife needed money for the luxurious B&B she was planning to open soon. That a famous Revolutionary War flag, the object of a bidding war, has gone missing from Kingsley's home adds to the intrigue. Suspects abound, including the wife, a pair of hostile antiques dealers, and a museum representative. Tea-related recipes and a list of tea resources round out a volume sure to appeal to cozy fans.)
Customer Reviews
Charming asalways
I love the tea shop series and this was no exception. The characters feel like old friends! Without giving any spoilers, I would have liked to gotten to know a few of the suspects a bit better. I’m already looking forward to returning to Charleston in the next book!
20th book in series!
Broken Bone China may be the twentieth A Tea Shop Mystery, but you can read alone. I highly recommend reading this entire delightful cozy mystery series. I am happy that I discovered Laura Childs’ A Tea Shop Mystery (and the cozy mystery genre) while perusing a bookstore eighteen years ago. I thought Broken Bone China was well-written and proceeds at a steady pace. The book contains developed characters like Theo, Drayton, Haley and Detective Tidwell. I just love Theo’s adorable dog, Earl Grey. Haley, Drayton and Theo have become close friends and have a good working relationship. I enjoy the interactions between the three of them. I appreciate Laura Childs wonderful descriptions of the Indigo Tea Shop, Charleston, the beautiful antiques, books, Haley’s tasty dishes and the entrancing teas (I can just imagine how they would smell). The authors descriptive prose transports me into the world of A Tea Shop Mystery series. I wanted to attend the charming Nancy Drew tea that the shop hosted with the creative decorations and I liked the reference to Trixie Belden (I am a Cherry Ames girl myself). The mystery was multifaceted with a murder and a missing flag. I loved the ingenious method of killing employed by the author. There are good clues to assist readers in solving the mystery with misdirection to throw you off track. There is one little loose end at the end of the book regarding the secret sipper from Tea Faire magazine (I am hoping the author will address it in the next book with a positive review for the tea shop). There are recipes from the tea shop at the end along with tea time tips. A preview of Mumbo Gumbo Murder is included (the next A Scrapbooking Mystery). Ms. Childs has created another winner with Broken Bone China. The only sad part is that I now must wait a year to revisit Theo and the Indigo Tea Shop. If you are looking for an uplifting cozy mystery, look no further than Broken Bone China.