Book 10, 2021

[chez_jae]

The Lavender Teacup by Mary Bowers

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I finished reading The Lavender Teacup by Mary Bowers last night. It's the 12th part of the "Tropical Breeze" cozy mystery series. The main character is Taylor Verone, head of Orphans of the Storm animal rescue and an in-denial psychic medium.

Taylor's friend, Edson Darby-Deaver, asks her to come to Key West to give her impression of an allegedly cursed teacup. Taylor wants nothing to do with it, but her significant other, Michael, talks her into it, insisting it will be like a much-needed vacation. Taylor reluctantly agrees, and they travel to Key West to join Ed and the 'Haunted or Hoax?' team in a B&B.

Taylor had thought the teacup was a bit of a joke, but even she agrees that there's something off about it. She's not ready to call it cursed, but when someone else who'd handled it dies under mysterious circumstances, even Taylor must admit that there's more to the cup, and the story, that needs to be investigated. So much for enjoying her time in Key West.

I love these stories. Ed is so adorably oblivious, Taylor is calm and competent, Michael helps keep her focused, and Teddy is an over the top ham. Other familiar characters returned, and the new ones we met were fully realized. The plot flowed smoothly and kept to a steady pace, neither bogging down nor pelting along.

Favorite lines:
♦ "Murder mystery...Cozy. You know, the nice kind. Tea and crumpets and mayhem..."
♦ "Five days is my absolute limit for dealing with possessed teacups."
♦ "It's writing itself...They always do. It's as if somebody else is telling me the story as I write."

Fantastic! Five stars!