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peacefrog's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
My issues were more with the narrator than with the story itself. Rose is still beyond annoying, which is probably as design, but something I found tiring.
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review
4.0
Murder Spills the Tea by Vicki Delany is the third A Tea by the Sea Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. Lily Roberts finds herself on America Bakes! thanks to her grandmother, Rose and her best friend, Bernie. Lily soon learns there is nothing real about reality television. Lily arrives for her final day of filming to find Tommy Greene, one of the judges, dead in her tearoom kitchen. Cheryl, one of Lily’s servers, ends up the prime suspect. When the lead detective arrests Cheryl for the crime, it is up to Lily with help from Rose and Bernie to prove Cheryl’s innocence. I found Murder Spills the Tea to be well-written with developed characters. I like the cast of regulars (Lily, Rose, Bernie, Cheryl, Simon, and MaryBeth). The television people are a mixed bag. There are some nice people and some you would like to toss into next week (and hope they get lost on their way back). I enjoyed the descriptions of the Cape Cod as well as Rose’s bed and breakfast, the tearoom, and the lovely gardens. The whodunit had good suspects plus misdirection. There are clues to help readers solve the crime before the reveal. Avid mystery readers will have no problem solving the crime. I love Éclair, Lily’s labradoodle but I do not feel he should be allowed in the bed and breakfast’s kitchen (health department would have a field day). Of course, Rose’s snooty cat should not be allowed free reign either. The descriptions of Lily’s enticing pastries (lemon tarts, scones, cookies) will have your mouth watering. There are recipes at the end of the book. I was delighted with my latest visit to Cape Cod, and I look forward to returning in the next A Tea by the Sea Mystery. Murder Spills the Tea is charming Cape Cod cozy with tasty tea, a bothersome baking competition, a derisive rival, a foul flirt, a bashed baking judge, a disdainful detective, and a killer to catch.
kimdavishb's review
5.0
MURDER SPILLS THE TEA is the third book in the Tea by the Sea Mysteries by Vicki Delany. This charming cozy mystery features a reality baking show, America Bakes! with, much to her dismay, protagonist Lily Roberts as one of the contestants. Her grandmother, Rose, and best friend, Bernie, pushed her into it and, as she feared, anything that could go wrong does, despite the judges enjoying her baking. Ms. Delany brings tension to the pages as conflicts mount between the production staff and Lily’s employees. The filming scenes feel authentic and the interaction between the players makes me feel like I’m watching a reality show with all the drama that ensues. One of the author’s strengths—across all of her series—is her character development. Each core character is memorable and well-developed, making the reader care about what’s happening. And when Cheryl, one of Lily’s employees, is accused of killing one of the judges, Lily (and the reader) can’t help but want to see Cheryl’s proven innocent.
The plot of the mystery is well-executed and I jumped from suspect to suspect, thinking I’d figured it out. There was misdirection amongst the drama surrounding the filming of the cooking show and clues craftily placed for the armchair detective to suss out. As Lily converses with the film crew and the celebrities, and eavesdrops as much as possible to find out the truth, she manages to bake up loads of tea room goodies. With a spine-chilling reveal that had me on the edge of my seat, the pieces of the puzzle come together in a satisfying conclusion.
Running a tea room along with cooking breakfast for her grandmother’s B & B guests each morning, Lily spends a huge amount of time baking. There are mouthwatering mentions of baked goodies throughout the book, and Ms. Delany has thoughtfully included a couple tempting recipes at the back of the book for the home cook to try out.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The plot of the mystery is well-executed and I jumped from suspect to suspect, thinking I’d figured it out. There was misdirection amongst the drama surrounding the filming of the cooking show and clues craftily placed for the armchair detective to suss out. As Lily converses with the film crew and the celebrities, and eavesdrops as much as possible to find out the truth, she manages to bake up loads of tea room goodies. With a spine-chilling reveal that had me on the edge of my seat, the pieces of the puzzle come together in a satisfying conclusion.
Running a tea room along with cooking breakfast for her grandmother’s B & B guests each morning, Lily spends a huge amount of time baking. There are mouthwatering mentions of baked goodies throughout the book, and Ms. Delany has thoughtfully included a couple tempting recipes at the back of the book for the home cook to try out.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
booklovingmom_'s review
5.0
I received a copy of Murder Spills the Tea through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Murder Spills the Tea by Vicki Delany is the third installment in the Tea by the Sea Mystery series. Lily Roberts, owner of the tearoom Tea by the Sea, is entered in a reality baking contest and when things go astray, Lily finds herself on the case. With the help of her friend, Bernie, and grandmother, Rose, Lily helps to track down the murderer and get her friend off the hook.
I enjoyed Murder Spills the Tea, just like I have every other mystery in this series. I liked the baking reality show angle and seeing how that affected Lily’s usual vibe. I find the characters relatable and the setting calming, minus the murder! This is a series that I look forward to reading and I would recommend it to any cozy mystery lover!
Murder Spills the Tea by Vicki Delany is the third installment in the Tea by the Sea Mystery series. Lily Roberts, owner of the tearoom Tea by the Sea, is entered in a reality baking contest and when things go astray, Lily finds herself on the case. With the help of her friend, Bernie, and grandmother, Rose, Lily helps to track down the murderer and get her friend off the hook.
I enjoyed Murder Spills the Tea, just like I have every other mystery in this series. I liked the baking reality show angle and seeing how that affected Lily’s usual vibe. I find the characters relatable and the setting calming, minus the murder! This is a series that I look forward to reading and I would recommend it to any cozy mystery lover!
thisandthatwithkaren's review
5.0
Murder Spills the Tea” by Vicki Delany the 3rd instalment in the “Tea by the Sea Mysteries”. Vicki Delany is one of my favourite cozy mystery authors, I’m never disappointed when I pick up one of her books. Lily Roberts pores over the clues in a piping hot new case when a confrontational celebrity chef is murdered at her Cape Cod tearoom during the filming of a popular baking show
I found myself engrossed in the story and reading in couple days. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and delectable food.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and kept me guessing till the very end. I love the main character of Lily, her grandmother Rose, Simon, and her BFF Bernie. Cheryl and her daughter are starting to feel like family not just employees and I like where it’s heading. Romance is starting to brew with Lily and Simon as well as Matt and Bernie …
I won’t go into detail about the mystery as the book blurb does a wonderful job of it but I will say if you like afternoon tea, the seaside, and a great mystery then this series is for you. Includes recipes at back of book ... yummy
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
I found myself engrossed in the story and reading in couple days. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and delectable food.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and kept me guessing till the very end. I love the main character of Lily, her grandmother Rose, Simon, and her BFF Bernie. Cheryl and her daughter are starting to feel like family not just employees and I like where it’s heading. Romance is starting to brew with Lily and Simon as well as Matt and Bernie …
I won’t go into detail about the mystery as the book blurb does a wonderful job of it but I will say if you like afternoon tea, the seaside, and a great mystery then this series is for you. Includes recipes at back of book ... yummy
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
sg911911's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
lebron_librarian's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5