Book : Haunted Hibiscus (a Tea Shop Mystery) - Childs, Laura

-Titulo Original : Haunted Hibiscus (a Tea Shop Mystery)

-Fabricante :

Berkley

-Descripcion Original:

Tea maven Theodosia Browning brews up trouble in the latest Tea Shop Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs.It is the week before Halloween and Theodosia Browning, proprietor of the Indigo Tea Shop, and her tea sommelier, Drayton, are ghosting through the dusk of a cool Charleston evening on their way to the old Bouchard Mansion. Known as the Gray Ghost, this dilapidated place was recently bequeathed to the Heritage Society, and tonight heralds the grand opening of their literary and historical themed haunted house.Though Timothy Neville, the patriarch of the Heritage Society, is not thrilled with the fund-raising idea, it is the perfect venue for his grandniece, Willow French, to sign copies of her new book, Carolina Crimes & Creepers.But amid a parade of characters dressed as Edgar Allan Poe, Lady Macbeth, and the Headless Horseman, Willows body is suddenly tossed from the third-floor tower room and left to dangle at the end of a rope. Police come screaming in and Theodosias boyfriend, Detective Pete Riley, is sent to Willows apartment to investigate. But minutes later, he is shot and wounded by a shadowy intruder.Timothy begs Theodosia to investigate, and shaken by Rileys assault, she readily agrees. Now, she questions members of the Heritage Society and a man who claims the mansion is rightfully his, as well as Willows book publisher and her fiance, all while hosting a Sherlock Holmes tea and catering several others.But the Gray Ghost holds many secrets, as do several other key suspects, while this murder mystery plays out on the eve of Halloween.INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS! About the Author Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbooking Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO of her own marketing firm, authored several screenplays, and produced a reality TV show. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. 1 Dark clouds bubbled across a purple-black sky, then lifted gently, like a velvet curtain in a darkened theater, to reveal the top two floors of a dilapidated old mansion. Thats it, Theodosia said. The place they dubbed the Gray Ghost. I cant say it looks particularly charming, Drayton said. In fact, its slightly off-putting. Theodosia gazed at a corner turret that was bathed in green and purple lights. At one time the home had whispered wealth and taste. Not anymore. Now the exterior, the balustrades and finials, even the third-floor widows walk displayed the battering it had received from a century of Atlantic hurricanes, salt-infused sea air, and industrial-strength humidity. Haunted houses generally arent that attractive, Theodosia said. But at least this ones being put to good use. It was the week before Halloween, and tea maven Theodosia Browning and her tea sommelier Drayton Conneley were strolling down Tradd Street in Charleston, South Carolina, heading for the old Bouchard Mansion. It was a property that had recently been bequeathed to Draytons beloved Heritage Society. The Heritage Society wasnt all that happy about inheriting this old place, Drayton explained. But it was donated by one of the last remaining Bouchards. Written into his will. And you know our fearless leader Timothy is loath to turn down any sort of gift. Still, I love how your curators and marketing folks figured out how to make the most of it, Theodosia said. What an amazing idea to create a literary- and history-inspired haunted house. And then to launch it the week before Halloween? She gave a little shiver of anticipation. Its a fabulous concept. People will be standing in line. They rounded a tall hedge of crepe myrtle and arrived at the front walk where at least five dozen people were clustered, waiting to get in. Actually, people are standing in line. Opening night, Drayton said as they shuffled up the sidewalk with the