Tea Shop Cozy Mysteries: 1-6

This series was my first taste of the cozy mystery genre. It certainly made me a fan! Book 1 was a great introduction to the characters. It gave a wonderful sapling of them to help you fall in like with them, and it left you wanting to know more. This title gave us the start of the tea shop and the origins of our beloved kitten, Mavis. Book 2 is a lovely continuation of the characters’ lives while helping the reader to become more aware of their pasts. It is a fast read with a new murder all its own. Just made me more hooked. Book 3 gave me a cozy sense of homecoming. It frustrated me a bit with a few small inconsistencies about Hilary’s house, but overall, I loved it. With the opening of the tea shop along with another adventure, how could I not? Book 4 brings our protagonist, Willow, face-to-face with her idol, but the actress might be a murderer. This was great because it was when I finally grasped the feel of the trope and the formulation of a cozy mystery. I also enjoyed seeing the more relaxed side of Willow. Book 5 was the most unpredictable mystery for me. That gave it more excitement. It made me happy that the author chose not to wrap everything up cleanly. She left some details open-ended, which is how life really is, and it worked brilliantly for this tale. Book 6 was a perfect ending for this series. This was one of my favorite mysteries, and like book 5, I felt it was unpredictable. I loved how the friendships arched through the series and their care for one another. Just well done! I hate the series ending, but I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

A great collection of books with lovable characters. Stories are varied, interesting and surprising. I’ll be back for more at teatime!

Enjoyable reading with a splash of humor. Suitable for middle age and elderly readers. Two old friends putting two and two together to figure out the mystery of “who done it”.

When I finished the 1st book, I tried to review it but looks like one is to review the entire series at the same time? Not sure if I can separate each book. The 1st one did not have a tea shop....just a widow, Willow Foxglove, w/a lovely garden who dried her own tea leaves & made her own specialty tea for friends. By the end of the 1st book, she was left money by a murder victim she had been secretly dating (maybe not as secret as she thought) & decided to modify her property to begin a tea shop. Willow is a former model & has 2 close friends....Harmony LOVES to read & is frequently at the library, Reg is a retired school grounds/bldg. keeper who spends his evenings looking for UFO's. First murder is a Realtor who has made some enemies & is found in Willow's garden. Murder is solved & Willow inherits. Second book's murder victim is the crooked, corner-cutting owner of the construction company she's hired to build her shop. Willow usually finds the dead bodies but not always. By now Willow has met Charlie, a construction worker that likes to fix himself a cuppa (he becomes a close friend of Willow's). The team of friends assists the local sheriff solve murders....he was a year behind Willow in school. Book 3 starts w/the opening of the tea shop....however, the road is blocked because of a death at the local hotel. By now Willow has staff, 2 waitresses, Wendy & Tiffany. Once again the little group helps find the killer by putting together gossip & clues. #4 is exciting for Willow because she loves a TV show that solves mysteries & the star who plays Miss Walsham Investigates is coming to town to film an episode. Harmony & Reg aren't fans but another villager is so they decide to take a picnic to the site & watch the actors & tech staff. A sound man is electrocuted but the intended victim was really the star of the program. Each story line finds the group of friends tracking down clues, confronting suspects & finds the real killer. Next book has one of the shop's waitresses disappearing, her husband being a victim of hit & run & the waitresses dad being accused of the accident. Willow finds the missing waitress & saves her life. The final book in the series has Reg taking tour groups around & giving the history of the town along w/stories of unusual happenings in town. Reg thinks he's seen an alien....he hasn't but you'll have to read the series to find out what he discovers. His tours end at the tea shop so Willow's business increases. And, Charlie proposes....probably because his mates at the local bar suggest it....find out whether or not Willow accepts. Hopefully I've given an overview of the series. I learned what a pikelet is (if I've spelled it correctly....had to google it when a customer ordered them). A sweet set of mysteries in a small town with a group of friends that stick together.

The main character seems to be immature and takes on issues she has no responsibility in their making. She also seems ,for her age, irresponsible and worries unnecessarily over things she has no control over. when does she actually run her business and do the baking. Hardly a word about that part but she yammers on about what her cat "thinks". I guess this series is not my cup of herbal tea.