Scan barcode
erebus53's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
As a cozy mystery this is an complelling setting. It's picturesque and has a couple of quirky animal denizens. The teashop is set up in a stately mansion that is well past its prime but has spectacular views of the island coastline of a small (fictional) North Carolina town.
Our main character is returning to her roots after giving up on dreams of study following the breakup of her relationship with a guy who was a competitive cowboy. Just as she is setting up a regular teashop clientele, a grumpy old town councilman turns up dead of poisoning on her property. Now the rumor-mill is going berserk. There is an attractive new cop in town, and it turns out that he is a hot-shot detective, which turns out to be a good thing as people start receiving anonymous threats.
Can this mysterious new police officer find out what's going on before more people are killed.. and is he single?
I am ok with a few tropes, but this lot is painted on a bit thickly. A bunch of Southern belles whimsically romanticising the history of this fabulous old house, makes me flinch a bit. I get the impression that the way I think of the history of that area is possibly not what they are thinking. Yes the house is huge and impressive but difficult to maintain, but that's not surprising because it was not constructed to be kept and cleaned by the owners of the house... where they see dashing and romantic, "settler" life. I see slavery and colonialism... which makes it a little hard for me to find the setting cozy.
Lovely that she adopts a cat.. but it feels like she doesn't actually LIKE cats. I mean.. I get a cat I take it to the vet, and get it chipped, not to the groomers for a claw clip and a pretty bow.
I am not the target audience.
Our main character is returning to her roots after giving up on dreams of study following the breakup of her relationship with a guy who was a competitive cowboy. Just as she is setting up a regular teashop clientele, a grumpy old town councilman turns up dead of poisoning on her property. Now the rumor-mill is going berserk. There is an attractive new cop in town, and it turns out that he is a hot-shot detective, which turns out to be a good thing as people start receiving anonymous threats.
Can this mysterious new police officer find out what's going on before more people are killed.. and is he single?
I am ok with a few tropes, but this lot is painted on a bit thickly. A bunch of Southern belles whimsically romanticising the history of this fabulous old house, makes me flinch a bit. I get the impression that the way I think of the history of that area is possibly not what they are thinking. Yes the house is huge and impressive but difficult to maintain, but that's not surprising because it was not constructed to be kept and cleaned by the owners of the house... where they see dashing and romantic, "settler" life. I see slavery and colonialism... which makes it a little hard for me to find the setting cozy.
Lovely that she adopts a cat.. but it feels like she doesn't actually LIKE cats. I mean.. I get a cat I take it to the vet, and get it chipped, not to the groomers for a claw clip and a pretty bow.
I am not the target audience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Murder, Blood, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Cancer
More...