Murder with Clotted Cream

Murder with Clotted Cream is the 5th A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. Daisy Swanson has her hands full in this story. I thought the story contained good writing and it had steady pace. The characters are developed and continue to evolve as the series progresses. A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series is character driven. Daisy has two children who are each going through different issues. There is also her mother, Rose and her aunt, Iris. I find the family experiences to be realistic and relatable. The author touches on PTSD, postpartum depression, and moving on after losing a spouse. Jazzi, Daisy’s youngest daughter, is reconnecting with her biological mother, but the husband has thrown a wrench in the works. I like how Daisy’s relationship with Jonas Croft is progressing. I was happy to see that they are not rushing matters. I enjoy the author’s descriptions of Willow Creek, Pennsylvania. Her word imagery brings the town alive for me. I like that there are English and Amish elements. The mystery was stimulating. There are multiple suspects who could have committed the crime. There are threats made against Daisy that provides action and suspense. This was my favorite whodunit of the series. I will, though, be avoiding clotted cream! It was fun following Daisy as she asked questions and assembled the clues. There are mouthwatering descriptions of the food served at the tea shop and at the catered tea. I am amazed at the variety of tea blends available. The author even mentions tea blends that pregnant women can and cannot imbibe. My favorite line from Murder with Clotted Cream is, “Tea calms the soul.” Murder with Clotted Cream is an enjoyable cozy mystery that has theater theatrics, clotted cream, a bouncing baby, missing memories, and tasty teas.

I love being back at Daisy’s Tea Garden where tea is elegant, treats tasty, and family comes first! Willow Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is a great location that includes local, hand-crafted living items, cooking, and values. The characters are well-defined and grow through the seasons of their lives. This season includes a women’s health challenge approached with tenderness and dignity. I love Daisy, her family and friends and their concern for others. Daisy doesn’t want to be involved in investigating the recent challenging murder, yet events kept drawing her in. Daisy and her teenage daughters moved to Willow Creek, where she grew up, after her husband passed. Daisy and her mother’s sister, Aunt Iris, co-own Daisy’s Tea Garden, which is successful with locals and tourists alike. Along with elegant afternoon tea service and catering, their menu includes many blends of tea, sandwiches, fresh soups, and pastries. Jazzi, her sixteen-year-old daughter, is going to visit her birth mother and her family, and older daughter Vi and husband Foster are soon to be first-time parents. Family relationships are explored, and Daisy wants to improve communication with her mom and sister. Daisy is catering a tea at the home of Margaret, a woman who left the area years ago to pursue an acting career. She married a wealthy developer and returned to Willow Creek. She is producing the opening play written by a former actress turned playwright, at the Little Theater her husband built for her. The tea is attended by a few of those involved with the production, including Glenda, the playwright, and a New York City duo who travel to do stage management and lighting. Daisy went to the pantry while the guests take a brief break to find Margaret on the floor, murdered, with clotted cream poured over her. Rowan, Margaret’s husband, wants Daisy to find who killed his wife, as he heard about what she has done in the past. Daisy’s plate is full with the tea garden, family, and Jonas, her beau. She still suffers from PTSD after coming too close to a killer in recent months and doesn’t want to get involved again for the sake of her loved ones. It is mid-November, time for Thanksgiving and celebrating family and friends. As Daisy chooses tasks most suited for the season, her curiosity also keeps her questioning what happened to Margaret. The police are narrowing their search, with her husband in focus. An ‘accident’ occurred at the theater, and a ‘prank’ with her baking supplies shows someone is feeling threatened. One by one, the people Daisy sees as most suspect are eliminated, but she has no idea who the police are looking at. I was unable to pick whodunit, or even why. I was quite surprised to see who the killer really was, and relieved with the final resolution to the mystery. All loose ends were tied up, and I am looking forward to the next in series. The recipes look fabulous, especially the gingerbread! The only thing that I was disappointed with is bringing up whether Daisy and Jonas are sleeping together, or at least in those terms, TMI in a cozy, and just my own opinion. I highly recommend this novel and series to those who enjoy well-crafted cozy mysteries with tea, family situations, and delightful recipes! From a thankful heart: I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.