I had the pleasure of being able to read an early copy of PEKOE MOST POISON, the eighteenth book in the Tea Shop Mystery series by Laura Childs! For some unexplained reason, that I seriously need to remedy, this is the first book of this series that I’ve read…and I found I’ve been missing out! The good news is I won’t be short of pleasurable reading for a long time while I catch up.
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Theodosia Browning owns the Indigo Tea Shop in Charleston, South Carolina. Her very good friend, sixty-plus-year-old Drayton Conneley, is her tea sommelier and sidekick. They make a great team and I enjoyed their friendly banter and the way they interacted and cared for each other. Drayton invites Theodosia to attend a ‘Rat Tea’ at the Calhoun Mansion. I found the historical tidbits the author includes on why Charleston society holds Rat Teas, complete with the waitstaff wearing rat costumes, to be intriguing and a bit creepy. She gives the reader a glimpse into a genteel tea party…until the story starts off with a bang and the host drops dead right in front of Theodosia, murdered by poison. The plot continues at a fast pace and I was kept both entertained and guessing as clues were placed throughout the story.
Drayton is ‘blackmailed’ by the widow, who threatens to withhold a large financial grant for his Heritage Society, unless he convinces Theodosia to find the real killer. Theodosia is miffed about the widow using ‘blackmail’ but realizes that she is inherently curious and would be asking questions anyway. I liked that the protagonist is a fix it type of person. When anyone has a problem, they come to her for help in finding resolutions to their sticky issues. She provides assistance from the generosity of her heart and not for financial gain. Theodosia is a very caring person yet manages to retain a sassy attitude. I chuckled out loud as she calls a disagreeable publicist the “Wicked Witch of the West on a nuclear-powered broomstick”! Laura paints vivid pictures using words to describe people and scenes, making the reader feel like they are right there.
Indigo Tea Shop serves all sorts of delectable treats and tea. Fortunately, Laura Childs includes many recipes and tea party tips at the back of the book. She has graciously allowed me to share her recipe for Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies. I’ve eaten these cookies numerous times before but I have never made them myself! They are much easier to make than I thought they would be and the combination of peanut butter and chocolate are a long time favorite. The cookie itself is slightly crispy on the outside yet soft and chewy on the inside. This recipe is definitely a keeper in my household!
Amazon Synopsis
In the latest Tea Shop Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs, Theodosia Browning attends a “Rat Tea,” where the mice will play…at murder.
When Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning is invited by Doreen Briggs, one of Charleston’s most prominent hostesses, to a “Rat Tea,” she is understandably intrigued. As servers dressed in rodent costumes and wearing white gloves offer elegant finger sandwiches and fine teas, Theo learns these parties date back to early twentieth-century Charleston, where the cream of society would sponsor so-called rat teas to promote city rodent control and better public health.
But this party goes from odd to chaotic when a fire starts at one of the tables and Doreen’s entrepreneur husband suddenly goes into convulsions and drops dead. Has his favorite orange pekoe tea been poisoned? Theo smells a rat.
The distraught Doreen soon engages Theo to pursue a discreet inquiry into who might have murdered her husband. As Theo and her tea sommelier review the guest list for suspects, they soon find themselves drawn into a dangerous game of cat and mouse…
A very special thank you to Laura Childs for providing a signed hardcover copy of PEKOE MOST POISON for one lucky winner! Contest ends Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 11:59 pm PST, and limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, room temperature*
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus extra
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1-1/2 cups flour
- Milk chocolate or Hershey's Kisses
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F).
- In a large bowl, cream together butter, white sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla.
- Add egg and beat well.
- Stir in peanut butter, baking soda, and flour until well mixed.
- Using a spoon, form mixture into small balls, then roll in granulated sugar.
- Bake for approximately 8 - 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and quickly place a piece of milk chocolate in the center of each cookie (chunk of milk chocolate or Hershey's Kiss).
- Let cool and serve.
- Yields 12 to 15 cookies, depending on size.
- *If using unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon salt to dough.
- If dough is too sticky to work with, refrigerate for 30 minutes before forming into balls.
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Drink a variety of teas. But my favorite is white tea.
I love chai and lapsang souchong 🙂
I am a tea drinker but nothing fancy just plain old Lipton for me
I prefer Teavana’s Golden Monkey loose tea and drink it with some honey and a splash of milk.
I have 2 favorites: Chamomile and Sweet Cinnamon.
I’m not much of a tea drinker, but when I do, I like cinnamon spice. I enjoy reading books by Laura Childs. Thanks for a chance to win her new book!
I love plain Lipton tea. I’m not much into different flavors.
Thank you for the chance to win this great book.
I drink a cup of tea every morning with my breakfast . My current favorite is Tazo Awake black tea blend . I also enjoy Twinings Irish Breakfast blend . kathambre@yahoo.com
I drink a variety of teas. Favorites are: Tilleul Citron & Chamomile
My favorite flavor of tea is Chai tea. I drink tea all day. Hot tea in the morning and at night and iced tea during the day. Love it!
This is a great recipe. I love Laura Child’s teashop books!
I enjoy this series and would be happy to win this book! Thank you for the recipe and the contest!
I like tea both hot and cold and have a collection of teapots . I have both 2cup and 4 cup teapots and a friend made me a wonderful tea cozy so my tea stays hot. Hoping to add a 2 cup Brown Betty from England one day.
Tea is my favorite beverage! For ht tea I like English Breakfast tea with a little honey. For cold tea I like just plain brewed cold.
I keep trying different teas but so far none has caught my fancy—I want something with a stronger flavor that tea seems to have.
I enjoy Bigelow’s Constant Comment to warm me up when it’s a blustery cold day here in the north. Thank you
for the opportunity to enter this giveaway.
I love chai tea lattes and lapsang souchong tea ~
I am a tea drinker; I like it strong, hot, and sometimes with a int of honey. I recently found a great flavorful blend that meets my criteria from Beekman 1802…Brace the Day. It comes in these little silky pyramid bags that steep to a dark, rich color. I also enjoy Lady Grey and Constant Comment, hot or cold, plain or sweet, solo on a quiet morning or accompanying a delightful brunch. TEA!
I am not a tea nor a coffee drinker although i make my hubbys coffee everyday he says it tastes better when i make it and i say the same thing about my hot chocolate! Thank you so much for offering a print to us that is so nice of you and also it sounds so good,.Oh i forgot we do keep tea in the cupboard for anyone who comes over in case they are tea drinkers and we have a special cup for them otherwise we just rotate it after a few months or when it expires hubby will drink it when he is sick. I do drink tea when i was at the Japenese Tea Garden in SF as that would be a disgrace if someone didn’;t.
Those cookies look so good. I would love to read this book. Thanks for sharing the recipe and a chance to win the book!
I like to try different varieties of hot tea. Thanks for a chance to win a copy of your book.
I drink tea on occasion and when I do I like a tea with a fruity note to it; orange, blackberry, raspberry, and cherry are favorites.
I love tea, it’s my drink of choice. I drink Tetley, and also Constant Comment. I also love peanut blossoms. 🙂
Not a tea drinker but I love these cookies! That’s a lot of chocolate so I always used 1 to 3 chocolate chips instead.
I drink Sweet Tea every day & lots of hot tea,also. I prefer black teas & fruit teas. My favorite tea is Constant Comment!
I’m not a tea drinker.
I drink a variety of teas. I like sleepy time and chai among others. Thanks for chance
I love all different flavors of tea just not sweet tea. I do only like to drink cold tea as well.
I love both hot and cold tea. Black tea is my favorite. I enjoy reading Laura’s books!
My favorite tea is a black tea called P G Tips from Ireland.. I order it online and it is sent from the factory in Ireland. It is always much fresher than what I can buy in a grocery store so I order directly. Cute triangular shaped tea bags too.
I like English Breakfast and Jasmine green tea. This bus a great series, thanks for the chance to win!
I love hot or cold tea….preferable is Earl Grey
Peppermint tea!
I’m an ice tea drinker, I like iced tea with lots of lemon.
Growing up in the south, we’re more of the sweet iced tea variety but I do love a cup of hot tea every now and then with some cookies. I love orange pekoe & earl grey in particular.
I love my tea, especially iced tea and I drink way too much of it. My favorite brand is just ordinary Lipton black tea. I did discover that I like some flavored teas within the last year so I’ve been trying different flavors. I love Trader Joe’s black mango tea. It is so good. I mix it with my Lipton because on it’s own, it’s a bit too strong but one tea bag of each and yum!
I drink Lipton tea with a little sugar. I would to Love win this book,Thanks for this generous chance.
I drink sweet iced tea. I especially like the peach flavored.
There’s a loose tea called Red Velvet Cupcake that one of our gourmet shops sells that’s really yummy. Right now I have a box of Lady Grey.
I love peach tea and I’m sure it would go well with peanut butter cookies (and a new murder mystery!)
I would love to win this book. I have some of her books they are awesome. I know I don’t have a chance but I thought I would give it a try. You have a wonderful day.
I am much more of a coffee drinker but after discovering Fava Tea shops, I’ve enjoyed sampling various flavors and types of tea. A current favorite is a roobious tea, Peanut Butter Cookie Kiss.
Being a tea lover this is one of my go to comfort series!
I’m a fan of Earl Grey.
Love Sweet Tea
I love Earl Grey & English Breakfast teas. My all time favorite cookie is Peanut Butter Blossom, by the way!
Must bake today!!_ love the series!!!
Oneponychick66@hotmail.com
I love Orange Ginger tea and Chai tea. I have been drinking a lot of Citrus green tea recently. A cup of tea and a Peanut Butter Blossom would be a perfect snack.
I live tea. Peppermint is my favorite then green tea. Peanut butter cookies are my favorite although I rarely make them anymore.
I love drinking hot tea in winter and cold ice tea in summer. I like the regular black tea I get at Walmart.
I am not a tea drinker. I wish I were.
I love tea. I really don’t have a favorite..I love most kinds.
my guilty pleasure that i grew up on is hot cinnamon tea with milk and a smidge of sugar. i do like all other teas be they iced or not with no sugar. some of my favorite hot teas are ginger, earl grey and lemon and jamaica and tamarind.
I only usually drink tea when I’m sick (sorry!) but I found a tea I like at Trader Joe’s. It’s a vanilla peppermint green tea, probably seasonal. I also like the samples of fruity iced teas at Teavana!
This is a fun series and I have used some of the ideas for tea with granddaughter.
Ooo one of my favorite cookies! And as far as tea, it has to be iced. Sweet tea is good or I like diet green tea (not really green lol) with ginseng and honey.
I love any kind of tea. I am a tea freak. LOL!!!
I want t try your peanut blossom cookies. They look so good. Thanks for the amazing generous chance.
Yes, I like both hot and iced tea. My two favorite hot teas are white and pomegranate green tea. But I would love to visit your tea shop(I know it’s fiction) and sample all your fun blends!
I am a tea drinker. I like it iced the best but love a good cup of Earl Gray.
I like peppermint tea and usually drink regular tea when I go to the Senior Center.
Just plain old Lipton for me.
I’m not very big on tea. My son however, was part of a tea club when he was in high school.
My husband is English so we drink Englist tea called P.G. Tips love it, I also drink hurbal teas too
Penney
I used to be a tea drinker. It was Lipton instant tea. Thank you for a chance to win a Hardcover copy of Pekoe Most Poison.
I enjoy a good cup of tea, I am not a coffee drinker. My favorite hot tea is English Breakfast Tea. I also really like Iced Tea. The Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies look yummy! Thank-you for the chance to win a copy of Pekoe Most Poison. Laura Childs is a new to me author, and I look forward to reading her books.
I would love to win a copy of this book. The best part of the prize is Laura’s autograph on it! Fingers crossed!
I drink lots of different kinds of tea. Lately i am liking The salted caramel one by Bigelow! love it.
I am delighted that there are so many tea lovers here. Kim, your cookie video is amazing. Thanks so much for having me visit. Love, Laura Childs
Thanks so much for allowing me to sharing your delectable book and your delicious cookie recipe, Laura! It’s always a pleasure to host you!
I am a traditional southern sweet tea drinker. I have tried some different teas but have yet to find one that I would want to drink. I saw someone else’s comment on here about red velvet tea…..now that sounds good 😉
I enjoy tea especially Earl Grey and chai
I drink all kinds of teas
We drink both tea and coffee in our house. We have many brands and flavors of tea to accommodate everyone’s taste and mood. I love mysteries that incorporate things we use in our everyday life, it brings the story to life. Thank you for your generosity, and good luck to all.
I do drink tea occasionally, usually just plain Lipton. Haven’t really had much chance to experience the different flavors out there. Thank you for sharing this delicious cookie recipe, as well as offering us all the chance to win.