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haleybbauso's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
plaidpladd's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The tea garden setting of this book is the best part by far. It was fun to read about the different teas and foods. The mystery plot line at times felt like an afterthought to the other subplots, and the writing style was very "my grandma sending me an email" instead of polished prose.
Part of this might be the bizarre attitudes of the supposedly 37-year-old protagonist. This was published in 2017, but she mentions "younger generations, like Gen X and millennials" (Gen X is like mid-40s in 2017?? The protagonist herself is a Gen X/millennial cusper although she acts like she's 900). She is weirdly, consistently judgemental about women dyeing their hair or (gasp!) their roots showing to the point where I thought it was some sort of clue. It was distracting but also unintentionally pretty funny.
Part of this might be the bizarre attitudes of the supposedly 37-year-old protagonist. This was published in 2017, but she mentions "younger generations, like Gen X and millennials" (Gen X is like mid-40s in 2017?? The protagonist herself is a Gen X/millennial cusper although she acts like she's 900). She is weirdly, consistently judgemental about women dyeing their hair or (gasp!) their roots showing to the point where I thought it was some sort of clue. It was distracting but also unintentionally pretty funny.
emmylamptey's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 ⭐️/ 5, rounded up
This book has been on my TBR for a couple years. I’ve gotten really into the Cozy Mystery genre and love ones centred around food. I have picked this book up from the library a number of times but just can never get into it. Finally I picked up the audiobook to give it a fair shake.
Honestly it’s not my favourite. The main character Daisy is very reserved in her views (doesn’t like that her aunt is dating a man who’s been separated from his wife for 2+ years, thinks divorce is problematic, doesn’t like when people drink alcohol, etc etc.). It comes off a bit judgmental and it took away from my enjoyment.
The mystery itself was decent. The killer caught me off guard and it felt very rushed (literally not revealed until the final chapter and there’s not a lot of lead up to who it is). I probably won’t keep on with the series even though the book names are very cute.
This book has been on my TBR for a couple years. I’ve gotten really into the Cozy Mystery genre and love ones centred around food. I have picked this book up from the library a number of times but just can never get into it. Finally I picked up the audiobook to give it a fair shake.
Honestly it’s not my favourite. The main character Daisy is very reserved in her views (doesn’t like that her aunt is dating a man who’s been separated from his wife for 2+ years, thinks divorce is problematic, doesn’t like when people drink alcohol, etc etc.). It comes off a bit judgmental and it took away from my enjoyment.
The mystery itself was decent. The killer caught me off guard and it felt very rushed (literally not revealed until the final chapter and there’s not a lot of lead up to who it is). I probably won’t keep on with the series even though the book names are very cute.
junoja's review against another edition
2.0
Might have enjoyed this more if I had read instead of listening to the audiobook. Thought the narrator, while having a pleasant tone of voice, over enunciated speech was distracting and took away from the book.
ssfoster95's review against another edition
5.0
Delightful
What a great new series. I absolutely love all of the characters. I had narrowed it down to two suspects but was wrong. I totally missed the clues as to who the killer was. I can't wait to read book 2. I am so glad Karen included the Lemon tea cake recipe. They sound divine. I am excited to try them.
What a great new series. I absolutely love all of the characters. I had narrowed it down to two suspects but was wrong. I totally missed the clues as to who the killer was. I can't wait to read book 2. I am so glad Karen included the Lemon tea cake recipe. They sound divine. I am excited to try them.
alise410's review against another edition
4.25
Loved the atmosphere and the characters and the mother daughter relationship. I love tea so I enjoyed all the talk of tea. It ended a little too suddenly with almost no investigation
raye_loves_reading's review against another edition
1.0
I have recently grown more interested in the cosy-crime genre and this book was recommended by a few people when I went onto a Facebook group and asked for new author suggestions. Unfortunately, I wish I hadn't. What I discovered was that while I like the ones based in cosy little English villages (think Miss Marple and Agatha Raisin) the ones based in America don't seem to have the same tone to them.
I didn't much care for the characters into whose lives I was shoved rather abruptly. If I heard things once I was exposed to them multiple times, and the killer was obvious from the moment they were introduced, despite the fact that multiple red herrings were pushed into the position of prime suspect by the rude and (as is always the case with this genre) relatively useless police detective in charge.
I won't be reading another of these as they clearly aren't a series that I am going to enjoy, but it did bring up my 'new author' figure for 2021, and if I don't read a book by an author how will I know whether they're for me or not?
I will stress that this review is my very personal opinion and I know that everyone is different. What's not good for me will definitely be on the list for someone else.
I didn't much care for the characters into whose lives I was shoved rather abruptly. If I heard things once I was exposed to them multiple times, and the killer was obvious from the moment they were introduced, despite the fact that multiple red herrings were pushed into the position of prime suspect by the rude and (as is always the case with this genre) relatively useless police detective in charge.
I won't be reading another of these as they clearly aren't a series that I am going to enjoy, but it did bring up my 'new author' figure for 2021, and if I don't read a book by an author how will I know whether they're for me or not?
I will stress that this review is my very personal opinion and I know that everyone is different. What's not good for me will definitely be on the list for someone else.
jupiter2932's review against another edition
3.0
This was cute. I enjoyed it while I read it, and I'll probably pick up the next book in the series, but I read it a couple of weeks ago and have forgotten a chunk of it already. Not a bad book, and entertaining while I was in it, but it didn't stick with me.
iceyreads74's review against another edition
3.0
This book was definitely more of a 2.5 stars for me. I was not a big fan of the writing style. I found it to be simple, child-like, and incredibly repetitive. There were things I did enjoy, particularly with the subplot focusing on the daughter of our main character. The love interests were relatively boring until the end, and I felt that the majority of the book focused on everything but the murder until the last 10 pages. Anytime someone mentioned it before that point it was mostly, "We have to find the killer," or "Stay out of the investigation, let the cops handle it." I just spent more than half of this book perpetually annoyed. The concept is cute, but there are so many small things that just didn't have that "it" factor for me. I also guessed the killer, so that kind of ruined some of the fun for me. As far as continuing with this series, that is still to be determined.