We are halfway through the week and then we get to enjoy a three day weekend! The Fourth of July will be here before you know it. I am giving up on the plumbing. If it was anywhere but the attic (where it is so very hot), I would keep going. But I have had enough of the itchy insulation (I break out in a horrible rash). I am calling a plumber and letting them fix it. I admit defeat! I believe I should have taken a plumbing course in college (silly me, I took computer classes).
Tea Cups and Carnage by Lynn Cahoon is the seventh book in A Tourist Trap Mystery series. Jill Gardner lives in South Cove, California
and owns Coffee, Books, and More (CBM).
It is a shop that sells coffee, treats, and books (she combined two
things she loves and enjoys). Jill is
getting ready for the Summer Beach Blast Party that the town is hosting. CBM will have their mobile coffee annex at
the beach which will stretch their staff thin (she really should have hired
more help). There is a new business in
town. Kathi Corbin is from Melaire, Texas (a small town) and opening a store
called Tea Hee (a very odd name for a shop).
The men in town are fascinated by Kathi and her Southern accent (much to
the other women’s puzzlement). Things
are looking up until a motorcycle riding man starts causing havoc around
town. The police keep trying to catch
him, but they have not succeeded. Aunt
Jackie ended up hurting her ankle trying to avoid being hit by this
maniac. Then a woman is going around to
the various shops looking for a job. Ivy
Corbin has followed her sister to South Cove from Texas (she is supposed to be
taking care of their father). There is
evidently difficulty between the sisters.
Then the police are called out to a dead body at The Coastal Inn. At first they do not know his identity, but,
after a little investigating, they find out that it is Daryl Corbin (another
Corbin). He is a cousin to the sisters. Something smells fishy in South Cove, and it
is not from the nearby ocean. When Kathy
ends up at the top of the suspect list, Jill tries to clear her name. Kathi
seems to be running from her past, and it has caught up with her in South Cove.
Jill’s boyfriend, Greg King (and South
Cove Police Detective) does not like her investigating (even though it usually
helps his case). Jill is also having an
issue with CBM. A check for the library
event that Jill helping organize goes missing.
The bank knows it has been cashed, but they are unable to provide any
further information at this time (which is extremely odd). In the meantime, Jill is worried and looks
into the matter. Could one of her loyal employees taken the check? It is going to be a busy week in South
Cove. Join Jill and her friends for
another adventure in Tea Cups and Carnage!
Tea Cups and Carnage was a cute
story. It is easy to read and had a good
flow. The mystery, though, was simple
and easy to solve (I wanted it to be more complicated). I also did not understand why Jill would
accuse her loyal employees of taking the check (can you imagine). There is a perfectly logical explanation for
the missing check staring her in the face (spoiler), but it does not seem to
occur to Jill. There were several things
happening in the book (too much). I did
not mention everything (yes, there is more).
The novel was a little all of the place.
It needed more focus (and not on the check). The mystery was shoved in the background in
this novel instead of being center stage.
There also needs to be less focus on the romances of the various
characters. I like a little romance in a
cozy mystery, but it should not be the focal point. I give Tea Cups and Carnage 3 out of 5
stars. I will be reading the next book
in A Tourist Trap Mystery series when it comes out (a writer can have an off
book now and then). I do hope that Lynn
Cahoon gives her characters more than cheesecake in the next novel (there was
quite a bit of it in Tea Cups and Carnage).
I believe Coffee, Books, and More needs a variety of treats for its
customers (and readers)!
The other novels in A Tourist Trap Mystery series are Guidebook to Murder, Mission to Murder, If the Shoe Kills, Dressed to Kill, Killer Run, and Murder on Wheels. I received a complimentary copy
of Tea Cups and Carnage from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an
honest evaluation of the book.
I am currently reading Fixin to Die by Tonya Kappes. It is the first book in A Kenni Lowry Mystery series. I hope all of you had a great Wednesday. Take care and Happy Reading!
Kris
The Avid Reader
I am currently reading Fixin to Die by Tonya Kappes. It is the first book in A Kenni Lowry Mystery series. I hope all of you had a great Wednesday. Take care and Happy Reading!
Kris
The Avid Reader
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