Introduction

Tea shop entrepreneur Theodosia Browning dashes down Charleston’s famed Gateway Walk in an attempt to outrun an oncoming storm. But lighting, thunder, and pelting rain soon overtake her, and the normally picturesque ramble of hedges, statuary, and flowers becomes a twisted labyrinth of fog and driving rain.

As she approaches St. Philips Cemetery, Theodosia sees two figures locked in a strange embrace. Wiping rain from her eyes, Theodosia realizes she’s just witnessed a brutal murder and sees a dark hooded figure slip away into the fog.

In the throes of alerting police, Theodosia recognizes the victim – it’s the daughter of her friend, Lois, who owns the Antiquarian Bookshop next door to her own Indigo Tea Shop.

Even though this appears to be the work of a serial killer that’s stalking the back alleys of Charleston, Lois begs Theodosia for help. Against the advice of her boyfriend, Detective Pete Riley, and the sage words of Drayton, her tea sommelier, amateur sleuth Theodosia launches her own shadow investigation. And quickly discovers that suspects abound with the dead girl’s boyfriend, nefarious real estate developer, private security man, bumbling reporter, and her own neighbor who’s writing a true crime book and searching for a big ending.

Between a raging storm, real-life murder investigation, and staging her Murder Mystery Tea at Chillingham Manor, Theodosia worries that she could be the next victim!

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!

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Excerpt

“Holy smokes!” Theodosia shouted as a police car suddenly rounded the corner up ahead, swerved crazily, and came screaming down the middle of the street. The siren whooped and blatted as light bars pulsed red and blue.

“Watch it, watch it!” Drayton shouted.

Theodosia cranked the steering wheel hard as adrenaline shot through her like white lightning, and pulled to the curb just as the cruiser roared past.

“Whoa,” she said as she tried to catch her breath and get her blood pressure back to normal.

No dice. Ten seconds later another cruiser screamed by them. WHOOP, WHOOP, SCREECH!

And then a third rocketed past, siren blaring, also going full tilt. The racket was deafening.

“Something big is happening,” Drayton said as they squirmed around in their seats trying to see where the cruisers were headed.

“You don’t suppose . . .” Theodosia threw Drayton a worried look, a look that said Has there been another murder?

Drayton grimaced, immediately reading her thoughts.

“You’re thinking another murder?” he asked. “I sincerely hope not.”

“There’s only one way to find out.” Theodosia was already making a tight, hurried U-turn in the middle of the block.

“How are we going to . . . oh, just follow the sirens,” Drayton said.

Theodosia floored it, sent her Jeep rocketing down Legare Street, got to the end of the block and spun left, picking up speed.

Three blocks down East Battery it looked like a cop convention. Lights, sirens, black and white cruisers, and a few slickbacks thrown in for good measure.

“This looks bad!” Drayton cried.

“Maybe we should . . .” Theodosia’s words were interrupted by a tinkle from her cell phone. She pawed in her bag, pulled it out, and said, “This is Theodosia.”

“Stay where you are!” a voice shouted.

“Riley?” Theodosia recognized his voice immediately. At first she didn’t understand why he was yelling at her, telling her to sit tight. “Why are you . . . ?”

Seconds later, she put it all together. Something had happened right here in White Point Gardens. And Riley, her boyfriend and police detective, was babbling at her, warning her to stay away.

Nope, that’s not going to happen.

“I can hardly hear you,” Theodosia said. “I’m afraid we have a terrible connection.”

“Theo!”

But she’d already clicked off her phone and dropped it back in her bag. view abbreviated excerpt only...

Discussion Questions

From the author:

What was most exciting about the opening of A Dark and Stormy Tea? Did the murder mystery get off to a fast start? Did the description of St. Philip’s Cemetery and the girl’s murder prickle the hairs on the back of your neck?

Does the author create enough of a “sense of place” that you were able to picture Gateway Walk, the Indigo Tea Shop, and the city of Charleston? How about Theodosia’s tea shop cohorts Drayton and Haley?

Did you feel there were enough suspects to investigate? Were there enough twists and turns in the mystery?

Did you enjoy reading about all the various event teas with their menus and décor? How about the different varieties of tea that were mentioned? How about the English Tea Biscuits, Banana Cake, Cranberry Scones, Drunken Chicken, and Carrot Bread? Since the author includes these recipes, would you try making them?

Do you think the historic city of Charleston serves as a sort of character in the story? Did you like the descriptions of the harbor, narrow lanes, and stately homes?

Did you enjoy the fact that the author combined mystery with humor?

Do you think Theodosia is able to balance her busy tea shop life with her personal life as well as find time to be an amateur detective? Do you think most working women are able to achieve a good sense of balance in their lives? In not, why not?

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