May 24, 2021
At the start of Delany’s beguiling sequel to 2020’s Tea & Treachery, the summer tourist trade is heating up for Lily Roberts, the owner of the Tea by the Sea tearoom in the Cape Cod town of North Augusta, and she’s looking forward to her busiest season yet. Trouble brews when the quarrelsome McHenry clan descend on the tearoom for afternoon tea. Sandra McHenry, a dear friend of Lilly’s grandmother, Rose Campbell, who runs a B&B in North Augusta, is visiting with her recently widowed and wealthy granddaughter, Heather, and several other fractious family members. When Heather’s brother-in-law, Ed French, dies of poisoning shortly after he drinks some tea, law officials shut down Lily’s tearoom and take all the baked good into custody, though they later determine that someone spiked Ed’s tea. To save the tearoom, Lily and Rose must do some sleuthing to figure out who wanted to kill Ed and why. Delany expertly blends a cunning mystery plot with diverting characters and sparkling dialogue. Laura Childs fans will have fun. Agent: Kim Lionetti, Bookends.