Broken Bone China by Laura Childs: A Review and a Giveaway!

Broken Bone China

(A Tea Shop Mystery) 
by Laura Childs

About the Book

Broken Bone China (A Tea Shop Mystery)

Cozy Mystery

20th in Series

Berkley (March 5, 2019)

Hardcover: 336 pages

ISBN-10: 0451489632

ISBN-13: 978-0451489630

Digital ASIN: B07DMZPLWY

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!

About the Author

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fundraising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:

The Tea Shop Mysteries – set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.

The Scrapbooking Mysteries – a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries – set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.

Laura’s Links:  Website and Facebook

My Thoughts

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 out on October 1). 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. 

Broken Bone China is out today and can be purchased at Amazon, B&N, Kobo, and Google Play  In honor of the tour, there is a giveaway of two (2) print copies of Broken Bone China (sorry--US only). Enter using the Rafflecopter form below or click here.  Good Luck! Please take the time to visit the other stops on the tour (schedule below) author interviews, spotlights, book reviews, and a guest post. I will return tomorrow with my review of The Spitfire Girls by Soraya M. Lane.  The story of three female pilots who fight to help the war during World War II.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Participants

March 5 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

March 5 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

March 6 – Reading Authors – REVIEW

March 6 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

March 7 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW

March 7 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

March 8 – My Journey Back-The Journey Back - REVIEW

March 8 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog – REVIEW

March 9 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW

March 9 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 10 – Cozy Up With Kathy - REVIEW

March 10 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 11 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 11 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW

March 12 – Nadaness In Motion – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

March 12 – I'm Into Books – SPOTLIGHT

March 13 – The Book Diva's Reads – SPOTLIGHT  

March 13 – Valerie's Musings – REVIEW

March 14 – The Book's the Thing – REVIEW, GUEST POST

March 14 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

March 15 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW

March 15 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT

March 16 – Here's How It Happened – REVIEW

March 16 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST

March 17 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

March 17 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

March 18 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW

March 18 – The Montana Bookaholic – GUEST POST

March 18 – Lisa Ks Book Review – REVIEW