Laura Childs Blood Orange Brewing

Blood Orange Brewing

Theodosia Browning owns the Indigo Tea Shop in the historical section of Charlotte, South Carolina. Her business has become so successful that she caters civic events with her latest assignment taking place at Augustus Chait House, whose owner Charles Chait donated it to the Heritage House. The latter is hosting a gala to raise funds to restore the house to its former glory. Unfortunately the evening ends in a tragedy when the murdered body of retired businessman Duke Wilkes is found near where Theodosia and her friends are serving refreshments.

Duke's widow Pookie, encouraged by Charlotte businesswoman Delanie, the organizer of the event, asks Theodosia to look into the murder of her husband. Theodosia wants to refuse, but cannot say no to the bereft woman. When another high profile business mogul is killed and Theodosia finds the corpse, her dog Earl Grey is abducted. She thinks the dog-napping and the two homicides are related and believe that when she discovers how she will know who.

Laura Childs has written an exciting who-done-it made more critical to the heroine when Earl Gray is stolen as readers feel Theodosia's heartbreak and fears though she believes her beloved canine companion will lead her to the killer. The mystery is cleverly plotted so that the steps Theodosia takes to try to resolve the case and rescue Earl seems realistic. BLOOD ORANGE BREWING is a delightful invigorating cozy.

Laura Childs

Berkley, Apr 2006, $23.95, 304 pp.

ISBN: 0425208079

Harriet Klausner