First book in a series so spends time developing the characters. The mystery was interesting and the relationship between the great-aunt (Iphy) and the main character (Callie) was done well Although I'm not sure about the clues in the book themed teas.

I received an eARC from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley for an honest review. - I look forward to more in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this adorable new series! I will admit initially I was having a hard time getting into it but I stuck with it and thoroughly enjoyed this debut. Of course whats not to like? Takes place in Maine at Christmastime - thats a win win right there. I look forward to seeing how the characters develop in the next installment.

A wonderful start to what promises to be a intriguing new series! The characters are well developed and easy to love or hate. Even though the premise of the story has been done before, the author does a really good job of keeping it fresh for the reader. Overall, a great read and I am hopeful it will do nothing but get better as the series hits its stride.

Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. The main character, Callie, was very rough and I couldn't relate to her at all.
The story felt disjointed and I felt like I was missing something.
I couldn't finish it, so I have no idea how it ends.

I did volunteer to read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
I will not be reading more in this series.

I loved the characters and the setting of this book. What a great start to a new series!Thanks to crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

A lovely introduction to the Book Tea Shop Mystery series. It sets up the foundation for future stories perfectly and introduces characters I already love. This begins in very much an Agatha Christie vent with all the suspects brought together for a will reading, before finding the obligatory dead body in the (of course) conservatory. The characters develop as the murder is solved. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

First of ...I finished this 175 pgs novel (let's round it to 200 shall we?) In ±6 hours...on a road trip!
It's been so difficult for me to binge books lately that this is an achievement!
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Review time.
<I> Earc recieved from Netgalley </I>
This story revolves around a woman in her 40's returning to her childhood town to assist her aunt in a pre- Christmas gathering in an ancient manor...while the main reason behind the party is of the aged owner's will reading but our MC is more involved in a more intimate setting of the party...which is to be a surprise.

But things don't turn out anyone hopes it to be, starting from one small amiss to a full-blown murder case, this story never bored me even for a minute.

She seemed to depend on her wits most her time, although she tended to go about impulsively snooping but she wasn't that nosy...the characters whose meaningless dialogues fill out pages...but enough tid bits to piece together the mystery at then end.

I really liked how the emotional aspects of the book was dealt with, slow burn and with sensibility when needed. Really appreciated that in contrast to the usual tropes where either every is either too fast or too dramatic to make any sense.

Look forward to more of such stories!

What a Joy this book was, the author is aptly named. It was unlike anything that I've read before, truly refreshing. It had drama with the murder mystery, which I never guessed who it was. And then there are the wonderful characters that came alive in my head. One particular storyline made me tear, in a good way..

I don't want to write much more as I don't want to give anything away. If you love a good plot-line with no gory parts, just a good old who dunnit, with a grand house, and an ensemble of very different characters who you get to know well, you will love the Peppermint Peril. I so hope that there is a second book very soon. A gem of a new author..

In Peppermint Peril is the debut book in Joy Avon new series: A Book Tea Shop Mystery.

The book takes place in a charming little town in Maine called, Hearts Harbor. The main character of the story, Calliope (Callie) returns to Hearts Harbor to spend Christmas with her Great Aunt Iphigenia, (affectionately referred to as Aunt Iphy). Aunt Iphy runs a Book Tea Shop that serves up loads of yummy treats all with a "book clue" in them.

As you get into the book you discover that a special Tea Party has been set up at Haywood Hall where Callie spent many happy times as a child. Callie is now a Travel Tour Guide but is spending the Christmas Holiday with her Great Aunt.

As the town all gathers at Haywood Hall for what they believe to be the reading of the owner's new will a murder takes place.

Callie takes it upon herself to help solve this crime because it involves people she cares about. She meets up with the town Deputy Sheriff Falk , whom at first she isn't even sure he's qualified to solve a murder. As the story unfolds they end up more or less working together to put the pieces of puzzle together to solve the murder.

There are a couple of "subplots" in the story that tie into the story line without distracting the reader from the main plot.

After the inital confusion of trying to figure out what a Book Tea Shop actually was I started to really get into the story. The characters were easy to follow and relatable. There seemed to be a hint of a "romance" to possibly follow between Callie and the Deputy in future books in this series.

It's an, easy to read book free from foul language and explicit sexual situations. If you are looking for a charming read with a bit of mystery I would recommend trying this new series. Available here on Amazon for Pre-Order.

Thank you to Net Galley and Joy Avon for an ARC in exchange for an honest review of this book. - I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out. I give this book a 4 Star Rating.

A lovely book. I don't actually understand the title, but it is a rewarding read. Love the people, the atmosphere and the place. Very Agatha Christie. A real old fashioned who-dunnit.

A great start to a charming, adorable series! I can't wait to read the rest!

Callie is a book tea organizer (no, I didn't know it was a job either and now I really want to be one!) When the a dead body shows up in the conservatory at the big Christmas tea, Callie (and her adorable Jack Russell terrier) are on the case.

Sprinkle in a bit of romance with the handsome, stubborn police investigator and you have the perfect cozy Christmas treat.

Can't wait to read more books by Ms. Avon.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Review of In Peppermint Peril by Joy Avon



I think the secret to really enjoying a cozy mystery is understanding the genre when you begin reading. Yes, there will likely be some dubious evidence. Yes, the super sleuth will often act in ways that make you go "hmmmmm." All of that is par for the course when you have a book genre that typically involves an amateur (usually with a job that either involves book or baking) solving a crime. Because let me put it this way: if you are reading this blog, you are probably into books, right? Does your bibliophile status qualify you to solve crime? I think not.

In Peppermint Peril, a first novel by Joy Avon, was not super different than other cozy mysteries I've read and, to be completely fair, the things that slowed my enjoyment of the book were pretty much all genre convention issues. Why is Callie butting into a police investigation of people she barely knows at this point in her life? How is she so nosy that she can just barge into people's lives and insist they answer personal questions? Beyond that, WHY are these people answering her? Especially considering the fact that to be forty years old, she seems a little naive.

Here's the other thing... the romance is weird. She spends a lot of time with this policeman that she initially butts heads with and even though he resents her totally unsolicited and overbearing presence in his police case, they seem to fall in love (it's open-ended). I thought about putting a spoiler warning here, but honestly, if you've ever read a book you'll smell it from their first interaction. Still, it was a cute romance, Falk seems like a nice guy who loves his family, and he tolerates Callie's busybody tendencies (that extend beyond amateur sleuthing) very well.

I would read this book. I know I'm not selling it, but again, you have to know what it is: it's a quick read; it's a whodunit without gore or excessive violence; it's charming.

Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!

3.5/5

In Peppermint Peril is A Book Tea Mystery by Joy Avon. The murder takes place at a Christmas party at Haywood Hall in Maine. Family and friends as well as the mayor, and important city officials are all invited. The supposedly rich matriarch of the estate, Dorthea Finster, is planning to read her will while her niece-in- law is planning to force a suprise engagement on her daughter and boyfriend . The big surprise is that Dorthea plans to leave the mansion to the woman ( Great Aunt Iphigenia) who owns a vintage tea shop and is catering the holiday party along with her visiting niece,Callie Aspen. Dorthea thinks they can use the mansion as an events center and museum to salvage the estate. The engagement doesn't occur, an expensive heirloom engagement ring is missing, and before Dorthea can read her will, the body of the murdered elderly groundskeeper is found in the conservatory. Callie is determined to solve the murder and help Dorthea find a solution for saving Haywood Hall.

Can Haywood Hall be saved? Will Callie help solve the murder? Is Maine in her future? Hopefully the murderer will be discovered and solutions for saving the estate will be found before Christmas arrives. This cozy may be a good choice for a holiday themed read but was not one that I really liked.

I am a HUGE Christmas lover (literally, I love anything and everything Christmas), and I love a good mystery, so I was very excited to get the opportunity to read this book! With "In Peppermint Peril", Avon was able to give an amazing mystery and still leave you with warmth in your heart at the end.

**spoilers**
Callie is home for the holidays and to help at Book Tea, her great-aunt's (Iphy) vintage tea room. Iphy and Callie host a tea party in Haywood Hall for Dorothea Finster (the old, wealthy widow of Heart's Harbor). Dorothea has called upon friends and estranged family to hear the reading of her new will. This causes quite a stir and everyone wants a piece of her wealth. Things go awry when a family ring goes missing and someone winds up murdered.

In Peppermint Peril will keep you guessing, along with the characters, in its many twists. The background theme of Christmas is also relevant enough to smell the cinnamon and pine through the pages! Definitely an interesting read if you love mysteries and Christmas all rolled up together like I do!

I'd like to thank Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Joy Avon (the author) for allowing me to have this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

This book is full of twists and turns. The plot line is easy to follow and interesting. This is a nice relaxing and enjoyable read.

I enjoyed book one of this new series. First of all I loved the idea of a Book Tea Shop and the tea party with the book themed cake. I read the book in one sitting. I liked the author's descriptive writing style and enjoyed the Christmas details. There were lots of characters and subplots that the author expertly weaved into a fast paced storyline and I was surprised at the revelation of the real killer. I look forward to seeing where Callie and Falk's relationship goes and look forward to reading more of this charming series. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of the book

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this author's debut cozy.

Callie is a tour guide, and is home for the holidays. Her aunt runs a tea shop. Callie is hosting a tea for a family in their home, supposedly to hear about a new will for the elderly owner. But there's a stolen ring and a dead body discovered. Who did it? There's no shortage of suspects, and Callie has expressed doubts as to the ability of the deputy who is investigating (to his face, no less). Plenty of suspects and no end of dead ends.

I'd love to be able to say I really liked this book, but the best I can go is 2 1/2 stars. For a debut it isn't bad, but I think the author assumes we understand more than we do. The tea room is called Book Tea, because every sweet treat has a book theme. But we really don't understand the concept (and I am not sure I still do) when introduced to book themed cakes when the story immediately starts with a tea with a book themed cake. I never felt that the character of Callie's aunt was developed. Callie is supposed to be helping in the tea shop, but is constantly running off to help solve the case. She even shows up unannounced at the deputy's home to share her clues.

Unfortunately, for me, this was a bit formulaic with a predictable MC and thus I can only go for an OK rating. The premise for the story was a good one, which is what drew me to the book. I just wish it had been better executed.

A new author for me, I have enjoyed this cozy mystery from start to finish. The characters are quite well done and the plot line also entertaining with hope for more to follow with Callie and company. I received an e-book in return for an unbiased review.

A fun cozy mystery that was a treat to read. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys fun mysteries.

This was a nice first installment of the series. The murderer wasn't obvious. And having it look like there could be two potential men in Callie's life added an interesting little bit of subplot, as did the questions around the will.

I look forward to seeing what happens in the next book and what amazing cakes they'll create next.