I've read (and enjoyed) other books in this series and am going back to read ones I missed along the way. This is one of those.

The Indigo Tea Shop sounds like a place I would like to visit. I'd like to have a tea tasting with Drayton and learn about the various types of teas (moreso than the little we get in the book's descriptions). Most of the food offerings in this book didn't strike my fancy as much as ones in other books did, but . . .

For this book though, the beginning of the book and the end of the book don't seem to connect well. And many questions seem left unanswered.

WARNING: SPOILERS MAY FOLLOW. READ ON AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.

*****

*How and why did the Chaits get into the exotic animal smuggling?
*Which of them (or was it both) was the murderer?
*How did they get the dirk from the historical society?
*What happens to Parker's "kitten"? Is it the jaguar cub Delaine believed it to be or the designer cat Parker was convinced it was? Is he allowed to keep it? Does he have to apply for an exotic breed permit to do so? Does nobody think about it?
*What happens to Haley's recipe book deal? Does a lawyer ever look over the contract? Was the offer legitimate?
*Why did the Chaits dognap Earl Grey? Was it just to distract Theodosia? What did they intend to do with him? Were they going to sell him? Or were they eventually going to return him once they didn't have any animals to hide (at least for a while)?

I agree with another reviewer who felt Theodosia feels (incorrectly) that she's the only one capable of solving crimes. I also agree that she's interfered with crime scenes and that instead of passing leads on to the authorities, just goes and investigates them herself . In real life, I agree, she'd probably have been arrested or at least charged with interference or obstruction.

I also agree with another reviewer who says Theodosia makes foolish choices. She suspects the Chaits might be smuggling animals, but goes to their house all by herself, apparently without telling anyone else where she's going. She doesn't ask Drayton or Haley to go with her, she doesn't alert the authorities or anyone from shelters/animal groups to her suspicions. (Heck, she could have insisted someone who knows look at Parker's "cat" and if they confirmed it was an exotic cat, that would have been a bit of evidence for some group to go to the area where he found it and search.

Then, when she does discover Earl Grey and the exotic animals, instead of alerting the authorities and letting them handle it, she decides to go to the warehouse herself--again, alone. Though at least this time she does tell Tidwell. ( )

I continue to enjoy these cosy mysteries because of the smartness and sassyness of Theodosia and her colleagues Drayton and Hayley. ( )

Synopsis: One of the most loved characters has been murdered in a house that has been donated to the Historic Society. A female CEO of a new television station has also been murdered. And Earl Grey has been dognapped. Are all three of these crimes connected? Theo et al believe so.
Review: The premise that lovely people commit crimes is explored as is the topic of illegally importing exotic animals. There are lots of loose ends left in this one. ( )

Another fast fun Tea Shop mystery by Laura Childs. ( )

This was OK. Good enough to finish. But even though I like tea (a theme that runs through this series), I found the book slow and the setting of the genteel South in Charleston not that interesting and rather one note. I won't be reading any more books by this author. She did have a genuine mystery and the perpetrator did not explain everything that happened when he was caught, which is a pet peeve of mind in mysteries. ( )