Thursday, May 20, 2021

A Body at the Tea Rooms

Title: A Body at the Tea Rooms
Author: Dee MacDonald
Published: May 10, 2021 by Bookouture
Format: Kindle, 275 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Kate Palmer #3

First Sentence: No matter how great a holiday was, it was always good to come home, Kate thought, as she got her first glimpse of the wild Cornish Atlantic coast again at close quarters.

From the Publisher: If the village gossip is to be believed, the unfortunate man was connected to the wealthy Hedgefield family. Kate is reluctant to get caught up in the investigation but a curious card in the victim’s jacket pocket sparks her interest. Not to mention the ridiculous rumour Angie is somehow involved! Keen to clear her sister’s name so she can finally eat cake in the charming tea rooms, Kate teams up with handsome retired Detective ‘Woody’ Forrest to untangle the baffling case.

After quizzing the locals over copious cups of tea, Kate begins to realise the Hedgefields, who live in a grand mansion and own half the village, are not as perfect as they make out. They’re hiding a long-buried family secret and plenty of people have a grudge against them, including a number of their ex-employees.

But who could have murdered a member of Lower Tinworthy’s most enviable family? Was it the old gardener? The seemingly sweet cook? Or the bitter maid?

Just as she inches closer to the truth, Angie goes missing. Does amateur sleuth Kate have what it takes to get to the bottom of this extraordinary puzzle and save her sister at the same time? (Goodreads)

My Opinion: If you have read cozies for a while, you will have figured out the central part of the mystery midway through the book, but Dee MacDonald does have one more twist up her sleeve. I can’t say that you couldn’t see that part coming, but you did have your doubts as to how deep the ruse went.

I enjoy this series. Kate Palmer may not always make the wisest decisions, but her heart is in the right and she brings a maturity that is missing in so many other cozy mysteries. With the combination of Kate and her wacky sister Angie, there is a balance that creates a delightful melding of personalities and insights.

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