The silver needle murder

In Childs's diverting ninth Tea Shop cozy (after 2007's Dragonwell Dead), Theodosia Browning, proprietor of Charleston's Indigo Tea Shop, is in the audience of the recently restored Belvedere Theater when someone shoots celebrated movie director Jordan Cole on stage during Charleston's first film festival. Theodosia glimpses the murderer escaping in the theater's old dumbwaiter, but doesn't see enough to identity the culprit. Cole, a handsome rake, had more than his share of enemies, including his recently ditched girlfriend, Isabelle, granddaughter of curmudgeonly Timothy Neville, the festival's organizer, who asks Theodosia to fill in for a judge who quits. Despite being burdened with catering duties as well, Theodosia feels compelled to investigate the crime, much to CPD Det. Burt Tidwell's consternation. The savory recipes at the end will leave readers hungry for more. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

The Charleston Film Festival brings business-and death-to Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning in her ninth brew-haha. Childs lives in Plymouth, MN. Five-city tour. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The first annual Charleston Film Festival may be the last unless a clever killer is quickly unmasked. The crew at the Indigo Tea Shop are feeling the heat, and not just from Charleston's sultry summer. The pressure is on for owner Theodosia Browning, tea expert Drayton Conneley and pastry chef Haley Parker to stage a series of tea-inspired parties. Theodosia is delighted to be involved with the opening night gala at the recently renovated Belvedere Theater until well-known director Jordan Cole is shot dead as he makes his way to the stage. Theodosia, no stranger to murder (Dragonwell Dead, 2007, etc.), agrees to look into the problem for festival organizer Timothy Neville. She quickly discovers that Cole had a long series of spurned lovers, the last of whom may have been Neville's granddaughter. Theodosia feels threatened herself when she falls into several spine-chilling traps arranged to warn her to stop sleuthing. There'll be another murder and a night in a dangerous swamp before the killer is brought to justice. The latest in Childs's Tea Shop series is again a love letter to Charleston, tea and fine living, with the usual addition of recipes. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.