Dark and Stormy Tea

By: Laura Childs

Narrated by: Barbara McCulloh

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

A possible serial killer on the loose sends tea maven Theodosia Browning into a whirlwind of investigation in this latest installment of the New York Times bestselling series.

It was a dark and stormy night, but that was the least of Theodosia Browning's troubles. As she approaches St. Philips Graveyard, Theodosia sees two figures locked in a strange embrace. Wiping rain from her eyes, Theodosia realizes she has just witnessed a brutal murder and sees a dark-hooded figure slip away into the fog.

In the throes of alerting police, Theodosia recognizes the victim—it is the daughter of her friend, Lois, who owns the Antiquarian Bookshop next door to her own Indigo Tea Shop.

Even though this appears to be the work of a serial killer who is stalking the back alleys of Charleston, Lois begs Theodosia for help. Against the advice of her boyfriend, Detective Pete Riley, and the sage words of Drayton, her tea sommelier, amateur-sleuth Theodosia launches her own shadow investigation. And quickly discovers that suspects abound with the dead girl’s boyfriend, nefarious real estate developer, private-security man, bumbling reporter, and her own neighbor who is writing a true-crime book and searching for a big ending.

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!

©2022 Laura Childs (P)2022 Recorded Books

I was pleasantly surprised

This one kept me interested until the end. I really enjoyed this story very much.

Few issues

I really really enjoyed the Christmas Tea Murders (the one just before this one) so I was hot on reading the this one. Just some things bothered me. Finding a body in the pouring rain and the EMTS don’t check u for shock? And maybe give you an emergency blanket? No immediate questioning of what happened? Putting yourself in obvious harm’s way (yes I know she does that but this is almost like a pantomime—you know “look behind you!”). I can’t go into detail without spoilers. Also Riley is annoying me. Like stop acting like her father, always scolding her. It’s annoying. I really liked the last one cause there were so many teas and lots of discussion of the decorations and the menus, It was very Christmassy and the plotting was good. I just feel like this one wasn’t as tight and had too many predictable episodes. Still a lot of good things, don’t get me wrong, But when you have read the whole series you get vested in the characters and want the plot to be better. That said I’ll still be reading the next one, :) Narrator excellent as usual!

Dark and stormy

Awesome book, wonderfully read. My first Tea Series book and I wasn’t sure how it would be. Definitely listen to more.

Oh my. What was that?

Where to start. This was a hot mess. I don’t know if the author outsourced this story to some ghost writer or if she forgot what the main characters were suppose to be like. Theo and Drayton acted like completely different people.

Drayton is swearing and egging Theo on to do illegal things. The police is feeding her info instead of citing her for hindering an investigation and endangering people. Theo has turned into a rather mean spirited woman who cries “wolf” not once but constantly and not even close to be the super sleuth she keeps being called in this story. She morphed from a quick witted woman into an insufferable busy body, who is acting and behaving entitled, mean and downright stupid.

Has this series truly jumped the shark??
I have read and listen to every single tea shop book and yes, several have a bit of a weak story, but at least the characters were charming and intelligent even if not always believable.

The story had great potential but aside from the main characters behaving out of character, there were way too many poorly fleshed out suspects and way too many wild goose chases by a mindless, bumbling wanna be detective who won’t listen to friendly advice.

This particular story can be skipped.

On a happy side note, the narrator is doing an awesome job as always.