In Peppermint Peril: A Tea and a Read Mystery

by Joy Avon Narrated by Laurel Lefkow

Overview

This Christmas, Callie Aspen returns to her childhood hideout Heart's Harbor, Maine where her great aunt runs Book Tea, a vintage tearoom where every sweet treat contains a bookish clue. Upon arrival in the fairy-tale snowy town, Callie is drawn into the preparations for a special tea party at Haywood Hall, the rambling house of Heart's Harbor's oldest resident, rich but lonely widow Dorothea Finster, who invited her estranged relatives, old friends and the elite of the town to make a mysterious announcement about her will. Believing they can touch a part of her fortune, everybody is determined to come, despite not liking each other or even their hostess. And Callie's old friend Sheila complicates things by using the tea party to announce her daughter's engagement, even though her daughter isn't sure she's in love with the young lawyer her mother thinks so perfect for her. Catering to people who each have their own agenda isn't easy for the Book Tea crew, especially once the valuable engagement ring goes missing and a dead body turns up in the conservatory. Can Callie and her great aunt use their love of clues to dig into the crimes and show their unhappy hostess and squabbling guests the true Christmas spirit?

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

09/17/2018
Callie Aspen, the heroine of Avon’s so-so debut and series launch, decides to return to her home town of Heart’s Harbor, Maine, to spend the Christmas holidays with her great-aunt Iphy, an accomplished baker, who owns the Book Tea Shop. Callie is asked to deliver a fancy cake to Haywood Hall for an exclusive party at which Dorothea Finster plans on revealing the contents of her will. Before that can happen, the old gardener, Leadenby, is found murdered in the conservatory. Handsome Deputy Falk arrives and is soon arresting various suspects only to release them for lack of evidence. Avon ticks all the cozy boxes—fairy tale small town, mystery-loving aunt, a tea shop with extravagant chocolate cakes, potential boyfriend cop (who wants the heroine to leave the detecting to the professionals), a cast of eccentric suspects—but the parts don’t add up to a satisfying whole. The characters remain superficial, changing mood and direction with alarming ease, and the resolution seems forced. A sprightly style suggests Avon is capable of doing better next time. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary. (Nov.)

From the Publisher

Praise for In Peppermint Peril:
“A delightful debut that combines the ambience of the board game Clue with whodunits in the family-secrets mold of Mary Roberts Rinehart and Leslie Ford.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Will appeal to fans of Molly MacRae and Jenn McKinlay.”
—Booklist

"Joy Avon’s In Peppermint Peril will fill your holiday with Christmas spirit, charm, and intrigue."
—Paige Shelton, New York Times bestselling author of the Scottish Bookshop mysteries

"The quaint setting drew me in, the characters captivated me, the mystery kept me turning the pages—a perfect cozy read.”
—Lucy Arlington, New York Times bestselling author of the Novel Idea mysteries

“Joy Avon’s Tea and a Read mystery, In Peppermint Peril, is a delightful Christmas cozy. Ms. Avon’s charming descriptions draw the reader into the village of Heart’s Harbor and holiday celebrations.”
—Karen Rose Smith, USA Today bestselling author

“Callie Aspen is home for the holidays but a murder wasn’t in her plans. With a fierce determination and sleuthing skills to leave the local police in awe, she makes a strong debut in In Peppermint Peril. This is a new cozy series to watch.”
—Linda Wiken (aka Erika Chase), author of the Dinner Club mysteries

"Heart’s Harbor, Maine is a charming town where murder never happens—until it does...Cozy to the core!"—Terrie Farley Moran, Agatha and Derringer winning author of the Read ‘Em and Eat mysteries

"She has assembled an interesting cast of characters, her plot moves along at an enjoyable pace with enough twists and turns to satisfy, there is just enough romance to spice things up, not to mention the mouthwatering descriptions of the confections coming out of the tea shop make one wish it was around the corner. All in all, a pleasure to read.”
—Isis Crawford, author of A Catered Costume Party

Kirkus Reviews

2018-09-02

A world traveler goes home to Maine for a Christmas visit that will change her life forever.

Tour guide Callie Aspen has returned home to spend Christmas in Heart's Harbor and visit with her great-aunt Iphy, who runs a tearoom whose delightful treats contain literary clues. As Callie plans to deliver a magnificent cake to Haywood Hall for a special party, her thoughts linger on the days when she spent a great deal of time at the hall and had a crush on Stephen Du Bouvrais, the heir of owner Dorothea Finster. At 93, Dorothea has decided to throw a party to announce the provisions of her newest will. Callie has stayed away ever since Stephen married Sheila, another old friend, but she's immediately thrust back into family problems when Sheila shows her the heirloom ring to be hidden in the cake so that Ben Matthews, whom she wants to marry her daughter, Amber, can find it and propose at the party. Instead, Ben opens the box to find the ring gone, and soon after Amber discovers the body of Mr. Leadenby, who lives on the estate, stabbed to death in the conservatory. The police arrive in the attractive form of Deputy Falk, whom Callie crosses when he thinks she's questioning his experience. Almost everyone invited to hear the reading of the will has a personal stake in learning its provisions, from the presumptive heirs to the mayor and a teacher who want money to spend on improvements for the town. The police investigation identifies handyman Cole Merton, Amber's true love, as the leading suspect. Much to Falk's chagrin, Callie continues to ask questions that turn up some startling revelations.

A delightful debut that combines the ambience of the board game Clue with whodunits in the family-secrets mold of Mary Roberts Rinehart and Leslie Ford.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940175458306
Publisher:	Dreamscape Media
Publication date:	09/06/2019
Series:	A Tea and a Read Mystery , #1
Edition description:	Unabridged

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