Haunted Hibiscus

De: Laura Childs

Narrado por: Barbara McCulloh

Tea maven Theodosia Browning brews up trouble in the latest Tea Shop Mystery from New York Times best-selling author Laura Childs.

It is the week before Halloween and Theodosia Browning, proprietor of the Indigo Tea Shop, and her tea sommelier, Drayton, are ghosting through the dusk of a cool Charleston evening on their way to the old Bouchard Mansion. Known as the Gray Ghost, this dilapidated place was recently bequeathed to the Heritage Society, and tonight heralds the grand opening of their literary and historical themed haunted house.

Though Timothy Neville, the patriarch of the Heritage Society, is not thrilled with the fund-raising idea, it is the perfect venue for his grandniece, Willow French, to sign copies of her new book, Carolina Crimes & Creepers.

But amid a parade of characters dressed as Edgar Allan Poe, Lady Macbeth, and the Headless Horseman, Willow's body is suddenly tossed from the third-floor tower room and left to dangle at the end of a rope. Police come screaming in and Theodosia's boyfriend, Detective Pete Riley, is sent to Willow's apartment to investigate. But minutes later, he is shot and wounded by a shadowy intruder.

Timothy begs Theodosia to investigate, and shaken by Riley's assault, she readily agrees. Now, she questions members of the Heritage Society and a man who claims the mansion is rightfully his, as well as Willow's book publisher and her fiancé, all while hosting a Sherlock Holmes tea and catering several others.

But the Gray Ghost holds many secrets, as do several other key suspects, while this murder mystery plays out on the eve of Halloween.

©2021 Laura Childs (P)2021 Recorded Books

Good story, absurd main character

After solving so many mysteries (as her friends always remind us) and dating a homicide detective, Theo knows nothing about police procedure, or even why she can't barge into an ER operating room. Her friends who have been through all her adventures with her also stay equally naive. There's suspending belief for a good story, and there's just plain unbelievable. In the previous story, Theo got into a car chase with a friend in the car. While on the phone with her detective boyfriend and neglected to tell him where she was headed. Somehow her supposed common sense and empathy doesn't extend far.

Kept me guessing

Loved it. Will be reading more by Laura Childs. The book kept me guessing who dinner it until the very end. Great book!

"Sleight of hand" pronunciation was distracting...

I LOVE the Tea Shop mysteries, Drayton is the BEST character in my opinion. Keep writing 'em and I'll keep reading 'em. 🍵

Fun Read

I’ve been following along with these Tea Shop adventures since #1 (DEATH BY DARJEELING). When she is done, I will miss the time I spend with these characters. I truly enjoyed this one too♥️

Wow - surprise surprise ending

Love the characters, the detail descriptions and the narrator, but most of all this ones ending was a surprise to me - never would have guess the criminal. HA ! Got me this time- wonderful story- a must read or listen.
Thanks Laura and Barbara

Loved this one

I was caught by surprise at the end. This was a very good story and I especially liked the ending. I really enjoyed this story!

Disappointed

This was my first book by this author. I was looking forward to a new series but I really disliked the main character. I also felt there was very poor character development and the story was not well plotted.

The main character accused everyone, except for the murderer. She did not suspect that person at all. The murderer committed two murders without leaving any clues but acted crazy and ridiculous when she kidnapped the main character.

The main character was so condescending and judgmental. She intruded into people’s personal lives and was then insulted that people wouldn’t answer her questions. She wasn’t sure she should tell the police critical information that she had. She judged others harshly.

Very disappointed in this book.

What a disappointment!

I Love Laura Childs books and have Never read anything that wasn’t 5 stars. Until this book. I’m not sure what happened here but after the first chapter it went downhill. I was totally disappointed. After the third chapter I had lost interest. I called it quits after chapter five. I just couldn’t read it anymore. I hope others find more out of it than I did. I look forward to Laura’s next book to catch back up into her beautiful writing world.

Didn’t love the VO actress

The actor voicing this over is flat and put me to sleep…sorry I’ll
Read it instead :)