Death by Darjeeling by Laura Childs

Published: 2001
Pages: 242
Genre: Mystery
Series: Tea Shop Mystery book 1

Theodosia is the proud owner of the Indigo Tea Shop, a quaint and comfortable town gathering spot. When the shop becomes the caterer to a large tea party with 200 guests, Theo doesn't suspect anything wrong. But an infamous local man soon drops dead after drinking his tea, and all the signs are pointing to Theodosia and her employees. To protect her innocence and to satisfy her curiosity, Theo starts to investigate and unravel the mystery!

This book was a natural choice for me - I love drinking tea and I love cozy mysteries! It's also a relatively short book so I wasn't sure what to expect from it. But after reading, I can officially say that I've found another great book series!

There's something instantly comforting about reading a book like this one. The writing was surprisingly eloquent and well-structured, the characters are lovable, and it revolves around tea! For me, it was instant love. Death by Darjeeling is one of those books that begs to be read while you're bundled up in a blanket with, of course, a cup of tea by your side.

The actual mystery wasn't original at all, and I have to say that it wasn't suspenseful like I'm used to. There weren't many clues along the way so I found it hard to play along and figure out the "solution" on my own. I merely waited until the end to be enlightened - and even then I wasn't that surprised to find out who committed the crime! But don't let this turn you off; the book makes up for it with its sheer coziness and warmth.

Recommendation: A fan of cozy mysteries would surely enjoy this. Also, if you're in the mood for a light and cheery short novel, give Death by Darjeeling a shot!