Murder with Clotted Cream by Karen Rose Smith

Welcome!  I have been under the weather the last few days courtesy of my Fibromyalgia.  I am slowing gaining my energy back.  If you are a fan of paranormal mysteries, you should check out Chili Cauldron Curse by Lynn Cahoon. It is the prequel for a Kitchen Witch Mysteries and releases August 25.  One Poison Pie publishes January 26, 2021 will be the first full-length book in the series.  Ink and Shadows by Ellery Adams is the next A Secret, Book and Scone Society Novel.  It will be out on January 26 as well.  I love being able to pre-order books and have them pop up on my kindle on release day (I know, I am a book geek). 

Murder with Clotted Cream by Karen Rose Smith has Daisy Swanson happily anticipating the birth of her first grandchild.  In the meantime, Daisy has been hired by Margaret Vaughn to cater tea for the people involved in the Willow Creek Little Theater.  There has been tension in the group because Margaret brought in two people from New York City to oversee the production of the play Christmas in the North Woods.  The tea goes well until dessert when people disappear from the table for various reasons.  Daisy goes to the butler’s pantry where she finds Margaret dead on the floor.  Daisy works with her beau and former detective, Jonas Croft to unmask the killer.

Murder with Clotted Cream by Karen Rose Smith is the 5^th A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery.  It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series.  Daisy Swanson has her hands full in this story.  I thought the story contained good writing and it had steady pace.  The characters are developed and continue to evolve as the series progresses.  A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series is character driven.  Daisy has two children who are each going through different issues.  There is also her mother, Rose and her aunt, Iris.  I find the family experiences to be realistic and relatable.  The author touches on PTSD, postpartum depression, and moving on after losing a spouse.  Jazzi, Daisy’s youngest daughter, is reconnecting with her biological mother, but the husband has thrown a wrench in the works.  I like how Daisy’s relationship with Jonas Croft is progressing. I was happy to see that they are not rushing matters.  I enjoy the author’s descriptions of Willow Creek, Pennsylvania. Her word imagery brings the town alive for me.  I like that there are English and Amish elements.  The mystery was stimulating.  There are multiple suspects who could have committed the crime.  There are threats made against Daisy that provides action and suspense.  This was my favorite whodunit of the series. I will, though, be avoiding clotted cream!  It was fun following Daisy as she asked questions and assembled the clues.  There are mouthwatering descriptions of the food served at the tea shop and at the catered tea.   I am amazed at the variety of tea blends available.  The author even mentions tea blends that pregnant women can and cannot imbibe.  My favorite line from Murder with Clotted Cream is, "Tea calms the soul."  Murder with Clotted Cream is an enjoyable cozy mystery that has theater theatrics, clotted cream, a bouncing baby, missing memories, and tasty teas.  

Murder with Clotted Cream is available from Amazon*.  The 6th A Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery is Murder with Oolong Tea which releases on December 29.  Thank you for reading my review today.  I am sharing Stories That Bind Us by Susie Finkbeiner tomorrow.  I do hope you have an uplifting day.  I am off to relax for a while and read.  My father liked to tell people that he never saw me without a book and later my kindle.  Do you take a book with you wherever you go?  Take care, stay safe, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

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Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches by Karen Rose Smith

Good Day!  Sweet Tea and Secrets by Joy Avon comes out on June 11 along with Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner.  Murder's No Votive Confidence by Christin Brecher releases June 25 with Left Fur Dead by J.M Griffin and Clause & Effect by Kaitlyn Dunnett.  Plain Truth by Susan Simpson publishes on June 30.  It is the third book in the Plainly Maryland series.

Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches by Karen Rose Smith has readers enjoying March in Willow Creek, Pennsylvania.  Daisy Swanson and her aunt, iris co-own Daisy’s Tea Garden where they are preparing for a visit from food critic and blogger, Derek Schumacher.  He is widely known for his malicious reviews which has everyone at the tea garden on edge.  Derek eats and drinks heartily from the offerings and even gets a to-go order of Daisy’s cucumber and pimento sandwiches.  The next day, Detective Morris Rappaport arrives just as they are opening to question the staff about the death of the critic who perished after eating his take home munchies.  When words leaks out, business at the tea garden drops dramatically.  Daisy needs to serve up the killer before her business expires. 

 

Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches is the third book in A Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery series.  I recommend reading the series in order to avoid confusion (there are a number of characters and ongoing personal situations).  Karen Rose Smith has a relaxed writing style which makes for an easy to read story.  I like the various characters that include the kindly Aunt Iris, the kitchen manager Tessa Miller, Foster Cranshaw, Jazzi, Violet, Daisy’s Amish best friend Rachel and various townspeople.  While Daisy is busy looking into Derek’s death, she is also dealing with personal drama at home and at work.  Foster Cranshaw, an employee & her social media expert, is acting unlike himself and needing extra time off.  He refuses to tell Daisy what is bothering him.  Jazzi, Daisy’s teenage daughter, wants to have a close relationship with her biological mother, Portia.  First, though, Portia needs to come clean to her husband about Jazzi.  Sean, Daisy’s father, has concerns and needs some helpful advice.  Jonas Croft, Daisy’s boyfriend, is not happy when Daisy cancels plans with him for Violet (Daisy’s eldest daughter).  Daisy wonders if Jonas is the right man for her.  Violet has some important news to share with Daisy and it is going to change all of their lives.  There is a regular customer interested in dating Iris, but first he needs to work up the nerve to ask her out.  Murder with Cucumbers Sandwiches is heavy personal drama and light on mystery.  There are multiple suspects for Daisy to question in her attempt to identify Derek’s killer.  Detective Rappaport wants to keep her nose out of the investigation (as he tells her several times).  I do wish the author had put more work into the mystery and had made it the focus of the story.  My favorite quote from Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches is “children give us hope that a new generation will treat the world more kindly than we did”. There are recipes at the end for dishes mentioned. Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches is a light cozy mystery with an unpleasant food critic, a jittery employee, a tearful teen, a hopeful beau, delectable delights, two affectionate felines, tasty tea, and a worried mom with a penchant for sleuthing. 

The fourth book is Murder with Cherry Tarts which comes out November 26.  The other novels in A Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery series are Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes and Murder with Cinnamon Scones.  Thank you for joining me today and reading my review.  Tomorrow I am featuring The Right Sort of Man of Allison Montclair (great characters).  Take care, stay cool and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Murder with Cinnamon Scones: A Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery

Good Day!  Falcon's Prey by Terry Odell is the eighth book in A Blackthorne Inc. series and is now available.  Arms of Mercy by Ruth Reid along with A Daring Venture by Elizabeth Camden will be published on June 5.  

Murder with Cinnamon Scones by Karen Rose Smith is the second book in A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series.  Daisy Swanson co-owns Daisy’s Tea Garden with her Aunt Iris in Willow Creek, Pennsylvania.  The town is getting ready for Quilt Lovers Weekend in three weeks.  Daisy has been working with Reese Masemer, owner of Revelations Art Gallery and Tessa’s boyfriend, on the preparations.  Unfortunately, Reese will not get to enjoy the fruits of his labors.  He is found dead in the woods near the covered bridge and Tessa finds herself at the top of the suspect list.  Matters are not helped when Chloie Laird, Reese’s attractive assistant, openly accuses Tessa of the crime at the tea shop.  Knowing that Tessa did not commit the crime, Daisy takes a deep dive into Reese’s life.  It seems that Reese had some secrets and one of them could have gotten him killed. 

Murder with Cinnamon Scones is well-written and has steady pacing.  There is a lovely cast of characters and a charming town.  Daisy is friendly, smart main character who is moving on with her life after the death of her husband.  I think she is handling her adopted daughter’s (Jazzi) search for her biological mother very well.  It is sensitive issue that the author handled thoughtfully.  Daisy has starting dating Jonas Graft, but their path is bumpy.  I could have done with less romance and more mystery.  I prefer a romance that plays out slowly in the background.  There are beautiful quilt descriptions in the book especially of the Baltimore Album Quilt.  There are many cozy moments with cooking, baking, eating, tea events, family time, town events, quilting plus more.  I especially like that Daisy and her kids live in a converted barn.  Foster Crenshaw’s father is worried about him working at the tea garden and his relationship with Daisy’s daughter, Violet. Mr. Crenshaw does not want Foster’s college plans derailed.  The mystery had some good components, a couple of suspects and misdirection.  I am not a fan of Detective Morris Rappaport who is a cliché cozy mystery detective.  Murder with Cinnamon Scones can be read alone if you have not had the opportunity to pick up Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes.  I am rating Murder with Cinnamon Scones 4 out of 5 stars.   I thought Murder with Cinnamon Scones was an engaging cozy mystery that will delight readers of this genre and Karen Rose Smith.

Thank you for reading my review.  I am featuring Confessions of a Red Herring by Dana Dratch next time.  I hope that you have a day filled with joy.  Please take a moment to follow my blog (upper right).  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader