Cozy Mystery Review: Haunted Hibiscus | Laura Childs

After reading Lavender Blue Murders, I couldn’t seem to stay away from the Tea Shop Mysteries by Laura Childs! I talked a bit in that post about how I grew a fondness for the elegance of tea from my grandmother, and reading this series has delighted me by bringing back many lovely memories of her (not to mention the fantastic mysteries that accompany it!).

This is only the second book I’ve read in Laura Childs’ Tea Shop Mystery series, the first was Lavender Blue Murders which was the 21^st book. I was excited to find that the next book in the series (Tea Shop Mystery #22) was set at Halloween, so this was the perfect time to continue the series! I find that it is fairly easy to jump in at any book in the series, though I did appreciate knowing a bit more about the characters this time.

In Haunted Hibiscus, Halloween has fallen on the historic city of Charleston and a visit to a haunted house ends up with a murder, a theft, and a new case for tea maven Theodosia Browning!

About the Book | Haunted Hibiscus

It is the week before Halloween and Theodosia Browning, proprietor of the Indigo Tea Shop, and her tea sommelier, Drayton, are ghosting through the dusk of a cool Charleston evening on their way to the old Bouchard Mansion. Known as the Gray Ghost, this dilapidated place was recently bequeathed to the Heritage Society, and tonight heralds the grand opening of their literary and historical themed haunted house.

Though Timothy Neville, the patriarch of the Heritage Society, is not thrilled with the fund-raising idea, it is the perfect venue for his grandniece, Willow French, to sign copies of her new book, Carolina Crimes & Creepers.

But amid a parade of characters dressed as Edgar Allan Poe, Lady Macbeth, and the Headless Horseman, Willow’s body is suddenly tossed from the third-floor tower room and left to dangle at the end of a rope. Police come screaming in and Theodosia’s boyfriend, Detective Pete Riley, is sent to Willow’s apartment to investigate. But minutes later, he is shot and wounded by a shadowy intruder.

Timothy begs Theodosia to investigate, and shaken by Riley’s assault, she readily agrees. Now, she questions members of the Heritage Society and a man who claims the mansion is rightfully his, as well as Willow’s book publisher and her fiancé, all while hosting a Sherlock Holmes tea and catering several others.

But the Gray Ghost holds many secrets, as do several other key suspects, while this murder mystery plays out on the eve of Halloween. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

My Review | Haunted Hibiscus

The Tea Shop Mystery series is set in Charleston, South Carolina, and the historic, elegant setting is perfect for these mysteries which have a vintage, British feel to them. This series reminds me more of classic Agatha Christie mysteries and UK cozy mysteries where the sleuthing of the crime is accomplished largely through the cleverness of the detective and the powers of deduction.

I was glad to see that the Heritage Society featured prominently in the setting up of this mystery, and I loved the Halloween vibes. The book opens with tea shop owner Theodosia (Theo) Browning and her tea sommelier (the Watson to Theo’s Holmes) Drayton attending a fundraiser at an old mansion that was recently bequeathed to the Heritage Society. Timothy Neville, the patriarch of the Heritage society, has turned the Bouchard Mansion into a haunted house experience and is allowing his grandniece Willow French to promote her new true crime book at the event.

The mansion is decked out for the party and actors dressed as literary figures such as Edgar Allan Poe and Lady Macbeth add to the fun of the party. But things take a deadly turn when Willow French found dangling from a rope out of the third story window. It seems that Willow is set to become the subject of a true crime story, rather than the author of it.

I’ve learned reading this series that Theodosia can never resist an opportunity to engage in some sleuthing of her own, and this book is no exception. She’s already agreed to help as she is able to support her friend Timothy when her boyfriend, Detective Pete Riley, is shot at Willow’s apartment and winds up in the hospital. Before the shooting, he observed that Willow’s place had been ransacked and her computer has gone missing.

The Halloween theme is woven throughout the mystery, but it is never heavy-handed. Rumors that the mansion may be haunted don’t frighten Theodosia, who jumps straight into the investigation with Drayton, tracking down suspects and finding ways to extract information and clues from them. As with the previous mystery I read by Laura Childs, there are a number of viable suspects and it was engaging to follow along with Theo as she investigates the murder.

There are a variety of possible motives so part of the mystery is parsing out which aspects of the crime are related, from the missing Edgar Allan Poe book to the ownership dispute of the mansion to Willow herself and of course the hibiscus diamonds. I enjoyed following along the mystery and figuring out how all the pieces would come together. A fun note was the Halloween tea party that Theo throws at the Indigo Tea Shop. The tea parties are a hallmark of the series, but they always link in somehow to what is going on with the current mystery.

Another great mystery and one I’m so glad I read in October—perfect for the Halloween season!

About the Author | Laura Childs

Laura Childs is a pseudonym for Gerry Schmitt and she is the best-selling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, the Scrapbook Mysteries, and the Cackleberry Club Mysteries.

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 fund raising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Laura Childs specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller, and has three series to check out!

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.