Death at a Firefly Tea by Laura Childs

 

Death at a Firefly Tea

 

Death at a Firefly Tea (A Tea Shop Mystery) by Laura Childs

About Death at a Firefly Tea

 

Death at a Firefly Tea (A Tea Shop Mystery) 

Cozy Mystery 

30th in Series 

Setting - South Carolina 

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley 

Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 10, 2026 

Print length ‏ : ‎ 336 pages 

 

A brazen killer sparks Theodosia Browning’s sense of justice in this latest installment of the New York Times bestselling series.

As fireflies dazzle like tiny glowing lanterns, tea maven Theodosia hosts an elegant evening tea on the patio of the Tangled Rose B and B. But in this gentle darkness an intruder has made their way in and slipped deadly drugs into the baked Alaska of Mrs. Van Courtland, one of Charleston’s local grande dames. Shocked by this brazen act, urged on by Mrs. V’s grieving son, Theodosia begins her own shadow investigation. Soon, she finds herself at odds with a greedy developer, the questionable residents of Honey Badger House, a vengeful ex-daughter-in-law, ne’er do well relatives, and a housekeeper who knows all the secrets.

As Theodosia hosts a Moulin Rouge Tea and a Queen Victoria Tea, her tea sommelier Drayton is assaulted by a masked stranger and the fiancé of Mrs. V’s son is kidnapped. It’s only at the Starry Starry Night black tie ball that Theodosia stumbles upon the killer and gets pulled into a dramatic life and death chase.

About Laura Childs

 

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the A Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbooking Mysteries, and A 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 takes 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 – Facebook 

My Thoughts

Death at a Firefly Tea by Laura Childs is the thirtieth A Tea Shop Mystery.  I look forward to a new A Tea Shop Mystery each year.  This series is one of the two that introduced me to cozy mysteries and made me love them.   The story is accessible and features likable, relatable characters.  It was great to catch up with Theo, Drayton, Haley, and Earl Grey.  The author's vivid descriptions bring the tea shop, city, and characters to life. The mystery is straightforward.  I was surprised that Theo was reluctant to investigate this time around.  It seemed out of character for her.  The takedown was entertaining.  There are ideas for tea parties as well as recipes at the end of the book.  Death at a Firefly Tea can be read as a standalone.   Death at a Firefly Tea  is a diverting tale with mouthwatering morsels, tasty teas, a poisoned patron, chasing a suspect, hesitant sleuth, absent boyfriend, a Victorian visitor, and fashionable reveal. 

Would you like to win a hard copy of Death at a Firefly Tea?   Use the form above to enter or click here to enter.  Leave a comment for an extra entry.  Good Luck!

Death at a Firefly Tea can be obtained from Amazon*, B&N, Kobo, Bookshop.org, and PenquinRandomHouse.  You can find the other books in A Tea Shop Mysteries here.  You should check out Laura Child's A Scrapbooking Mystery series (they are entertaining).  You can find Laura Child's other cozy mysteries here.  You can follow the author on Amazon and they will notify you when she has a new book release.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I will return tomorrow, March 11 with Tangled Past by Mary Alford.  I am off to an appointment (hopefully--I gave my mother the wrong time in the hopes that we will get there on time).  I hope that you have a fantastic day.  Don't forget to enter the giveaway (you will see a little pop up in the lower right hand of the screen).  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

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