A relaxing afternoon, sipping your tea and enjoying the time with your local theater group. Enter stage left a former local who returns to her home with a multimillionaire hubbie! Daisy has been hired to provide the tea and feels like there's more to this home than meets the eye. Unfortunately, she discovers the hostess, dead, covered up with clotted cream.

Daisy teams up with the former detective she's been seeing to solve this case. Are the local theater stars to blame? Could the former theater actresses sister help? Or are there some things in the past that need to be dug up? Daisy knows she better move on this fast, before its too late.

Book 5 in Karen Rose Smith’s popular Daisy’s Tea Garden series is
Murder with Clotted Cream where Daisy is hired for a catering job in a historic farmhouse by Margaret Vaughn, an actress with a rich husband. Vaughn and her husband have just returned from New York, and Daisy is serving Margaret’s theater group, but finds Margaret dead on the pantry floor covered with clotted cream.

This cozy is set in Amish country, and Daisy, the protagonist and amateur sleuth has plenty to do with her tea garden restaurant, as well as her family matters that take up much of her time. It is refreshing to read this novel as well as the other books in the series, since they don’t contain any language, sex, or violence. This novel is suitable for all ages, and is well-written and easy-to-follow. The storyline is well thought out, and readers will enjoy the ups and downs that help build the suspense while Daisy tries to keep her family happy and pursues a romantic relationship. Daisy’s girls have typical problems and Daisy puts them first to keep them happy. Smith does an excellent job of developing her characters; the primary characters evolve and change for the better in each of the novels, and it is a good idea to read them in order. However, this novel can be read as a standalone novel and readers will still know what’s going on.

Because this novel is a culinary mystery, it contains recipes from Daisy’s Tea Garden that are simple and mouthwatering. Not only is that a bonus, it makes the novel fun for anyone who loves food. Readers who are fans of light, fun, cozy mysteries will enjoy this novel and the entire series.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

An absorbing page turner! Such a wonderful "whodunit" series, and adorable recipes included! I will definitely be looking for the rest of this series with close eyes and snactch them up as soon as I can!

Murder with Clotted Cream is a great read.

Here we find Margaret Vaughn as she hires Daisy to provide afternoon tea for her theatre group.

A local girl who left long ago for an acting career in New York, Margaret has returned home with a multimillionaire husband. But while Daisy bustles around Margaret’s historic farmhouse, she senses that there’s tension behind the scenes. Then she discovers the hostess on the floor of the pantry dead and covered with clotted cream.

A fun cozy mystery with very well-crafted characters. A great series and a pleasure reading this author's work.

Murder with Clotted Cream follows the story of Daisy Swanson and her family as well as adding a mystery to their lives. Daisy and her aunt own Daisy's Tea Garden in Willow Creek, Pennsylvania. Daisy's oldest daughter Violet (Vi) is expecting her first child, Jazzy, her other child is still dealing with getting to know her birth mother and family, while Daisy is growing more comfortable in her relationship with Jonas. All seems to be going well, until Daisy finds the body of former actress, Margaret Vaughn on the floor of her pantry while the Tea Room is catering an afternoon tea. When Margaret's husband asks Daisy to find the murderer, she steps in and begins her own investigation.

I enjoy this series with its well-developed characters, great small-town setting and interesting mysteries. Daisy is a great protagonist. She is hardworking, a wonderful mother, a loyal and caring friend, and a smart sleuth. I like that she doesn't rush into situations that could put her in danger. Her life situations are real and relatable. The secondary characters in the stories are also developed and realistic. The mystery was interesting and well paced. The investigation was parallel to the normal goings on in the lives of the characters and was well-balanced. There were some red herrings and few twists that kept me from guessing the culprit until just before the reveal. In this installment, Karen Rose Smith touched upon some important issues such as PTSD, postpartum depression and grief, that she handled in a positive and gentle way. This series continues to be one that I look forward to and recommend to other cozy mystery lovers.

Murder with Clotted Cream

by Karen Rose Smith

You can jump right into Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery Series with Murder with Clotted Cream, the fifth book in this series by Karen Rose Smith. The author does an outstanding job of providing information on the characters for the new or returning reader.

Daisy Swanson is co-owner of Daisy’s Tea Garden. In this book, Daisy is hired to provide a tea for the actors preparing a play for the Little Theater, newly built by a real estate developer and his actress wife. When a murder occurs at the tea, Daisy finds herself in the middle of yet another investigation. Other major parts of this plot are relationship oriented: Daisy and her boyfriend Jonas, Daisy’s daughter Jazzi and her biological mother, Daisy and her own mother Rose, and Daisy’s other daughter who suffers from postpartum depression. As you can see, Daisy has a lot on her plate, and it doesn’t help that the detective on the case has an ax to grind with Daisy’s boyfriend.

There are a lot of suspects to keep you guessing and some danger along the way for Daisy. The book also deals with important parenting issues across the generations. Some of Daisy’s investigations are digital or local to her town, but others involve a train trip to New York City. We get to view her not as a one-dimensional heroine but as an independent businesswoman, a caring mom, a widow exploring a friendship blossoming slowly into romance, and a careful observer of those around her.

I would like to extend my thanks to Netgalley and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1. #5 in the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery Series, but great as a standalone.
2. Includes 3 original recipes

Publication: May 26, 2020—Kensington Books

Memorable Lines:

“She knows how to ask questions, and she doesn’t treat everyone she meets as if they were hostile witnesses. You might be better served to do the same.”

November has descended with a cold grip, and today was a perfect example of a steel-gray day with the reminder of winter in any wind that blew.

Daisy heard Jonas gasp as if Zeke had punched him in his solar plexus. In that one statement Zeke just might have changed Jonas’s attitude about life, about love, and about moving forward.

A well planned mystery with relatable characters and a quaint setting. I especially love the recipes that the author includes at the end.

What a fun book! Living close to the setting of the series (and one of my favorite places to visit!), Pennsylvania's Amish County, I felt a connection that only recognition can bring. The characters themselves were wonderfully drawn. I especially felt drawn to the portrayal of the various family relationships, in particular those of the lead character, Daisy. The mystery itself drew me in and, as a good cozy mystery should, kept me going back and forth regarding who the murderer was, right up until the big reveal. Although it is book 5 of the Daisy's Tea Garden Mysteries, this was the first book of the series that I've read and I cannot wait to go back and read the rest of them!

This book, Murder with Clotted Cream, is the 5th book in the Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery series but is the first in the series for me. Overall, I enjoyed the story, particularly the tea shop and the theater elements, as well as the characters, particularly Daisy herself and her family and in particular, her budding romance.

However, as the first book I've read in this series, I had an unusually hard time keeping track of who's who among the secondary characters. I've gone back and obtained the first book in the series, Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes, and hope to get caught up with this series by the time the next book comes out.

Recommended but with the caveat that it didn't work as well as it ought to for someone jumping into the series with this book.

I adore this series. The setting of a small town tea shop, the cast of characters, and the sweet and sinister plot lines have made the Daisy's Tea Garden Mysteries one of my top series.

First and foremost, I love any book, especially a cozy, that has a middle aged (give or take a few years) protagonist. Also, when said protagonist is a single woman battling her own insecurities while trying to keep it together for her family, that's the perfect recipe to connect emotionally with the books.

In this series, Daisy, a widow with 2 teenage daughters, returns to her small, home town to be closer to her family. In need of a fresh start, Daisy and her aunt Iris open a Tea Shop. Although the business is very successful, its seems a dark cloud has been hovering around the town, especially the tea shop. With murder and mystery popping up in town, Daisy or someone she cares about always seem to be a suspect

This is the fifth book in 'Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery' series by Karen Rose Smith and the first one for me. I adored the title of the novel so I decided to give it a whirl and was not disappointed!

In Murder with Clotted Cream the reader is introduced to Daisy Swanson who runs a tea garden she co-owns with her aunt. Daisy moved back to her hometown of Willow Creek, Pennsylvania, after the death of her husband. Daisy is hired by a former actress, Margaret Vaughn, to provide afternoon tea for her theatre group, however, as the event gets underway, there's some backstage tension. When she finds Margaret's body on the floor of the farmhouse pantry covered in blood and clotted cream, she takes it upon herself to investigate.

Author, Karen Rose Smith's characterisation was excellent and I found Daisy to be a great mother and friend, as well as being compassionate and level-headed, showing very smart sleuthing skills. The easy to visualise setting sounded delightful and the mystery itself was well done as I was kept guessing until the big reveal. Daisy's family issues felt real and the author spotlighted core topics of depression, PTSD, and loss. I enthused over the delightful descriptions of different tea blends and scrummy sounding recipes. Murder with Clotted Cream was a relaxing, light, and thoroughly enjoyable mystery, and I eagerly anticipate reading more by Karen Rose Smith.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

This has been a fun “cozy mystery” series, and I always enjoy reading books by Karen Rose Smith. I don’t want to give away details in the plot, but the mystery will hold your attention all the way through to the end. I’ve come to love these characters. This book works as a stand-alone story, but once you’ve read this one, you’ll want to go back and read all the other books in the series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Murder with Clotted Cream by Karen Rose Smith is the fifth book in the Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery series. This is a good series, but the daily life of the characters and everything that goes along with that takes away from the mystery. That does not make the book bad. However if you are looking for a series heavy on the mystery, this is not it. If you are interested in something that is a novel with a bit of mystery tossed in, this is a great series for you.

Murder with Clotted Cream is the 5th A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. Daisy Swanson has her hands full in this story. I thought the story contained good writing and it had steady pace. The characters are developed and continue to evolve as the series progresses. A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series is character driven. Daisy has two children who are each going through different issues. There is also her mother, Rose and her aunt, Iris. I find the family experiences to be realistic and relatable. The author touches on PTSD, postpartum depression, and moving on after losing a spouse. Jazzi, Daisy’s youngest daughter, is reconnecting with her biological mother, but the husband has thrown a wrench in the works. I like how Daisy’s relationship with Jonas Croft is progressing. I was happy to see that they are not rushing matters. I enjoy the author’s descriptions of Willow Creek, Pennsylvania. Her word imagery brings the town alive for me. I like that there are English and Amish elements. The mystery was stimulating. There are multiple suspects who could have committed the crime. There are threats made against Daisy that provides action and suspense. This was my favorite whodunit of the series. I will, though, be avoiding clotted cream! It was fun following Daisy as she asked questions and assembled the clues. There are mouthwatering descriptions of the food served at the tea shop and at the catered tea. I am amazed at the variety of tea blends available. The author even mentions tea blends that pregnant women can and cannot imbibe. My favorite line from Murder with Clotted Cream is, “Tea calms the soul.” Murder with Clotted Cream is an enjoyable cozy mystery that has theater theatrics, clotted cream, a bouncing baby, missing memories, and tasty teas.

Another great installment in the series. Daisy tries to stay out of this murder mystery as hard as she can, but of course she’s not entirely successful at that. This is, after all, a cozy mystery and Daisy is the lead. But she does try and a lot of the page time is devoted to her becoming a grandmother and exploring where she and Jonas want to take their dating relationship.

The mystery definitely kept me guessing and I appreciated the strong message about responding to post-partum depression. I also really love that this series continues to be clean with no descriptions of violence, sex, or any bad words. Can’t wait for the next in the series to come out!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

This is an excellent series and this is an excellent instalment, engrossing and entertaining.
I loved the solid mystery and the mix of women's fiction and mystery is balanced and works well.
It was great to meet again the cast of characters and read about the changes in their life. The setting as lovely as usual and the characters fleshed out and likeable.
I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Margaret Vaughn left her religion and her hometown to move to New York to become an actress. Now she's back with her super rich husband to build a local theater. She hires Daisy's Tea Garden to cater a tea for the cast a play, But things turn nasty when Daisy finds Margaret dead and covered with clotted cream. Still facing issues from her last mystery, Daisy and her boyfriend Jonas join forces to get to the bottom of things.

One of the best things about a book in the Daisy's Tea Garden series is the mixture of mystery and family. The mysteries are well drawn. They feature a great array of suspects, and I always find myself saying, "That's the killer," and then a few chapters later saying, "Um, no, it's not." By the time I got to the end of this one I thought, "I should have seen that coming." But half the fun of it is being fooled.

This book also features a lot of home life for Daisy, as her daughter gives birth to Daisy's first grandchild and has problems adjusting. I enjoyed watching Daisy juggle sleuthing and helping Vi adjust to being a mother, and her other daughter, Jazzi, forge a relationship with her birth mother.

Karen Rose Smith intricately weaves a story that keeps the reader enthralled and turning the pages. I love this series, and can't wait for more.

Daisy is hired by the town's wealthiest resident to serve an afternoon tea for the local theater group. Things seem a bit tense but Daisy tries to keep things upbeat. However all goes wrong once Daisy finds the woman's body. Now she must team up with her boyfriend, a former detective, to get the case solved before someone else is killed.

Princess Fuzzypants here: This has been an enjoyable series from the beginning, What sets it apart from some cozies is there is an emphasis on the characters and the evolution of their relationships with each other. While there is always a good murder to solve, which Daisy does, sometimes without even trying, it becomes secondary to Daisy and her daughters and now her son-in-law and grandson as well as Daisy’s interactions with other members of her family and the folks around her. She is a kind woman who tries to do her best for her family and friends.

She and her aunt run a successful tea shop that everyone except her mother and sister admire. Some of the really interesting subplot involves the reason why she and her mother seem at odds and how times have changed, for the better, in dealing with certain issues. Other subplots rife with emotion involve her beau Jonah and her daughters as all three try to sort out thorny situations. As a reader, I get invested in their stories.

But it is the murder of a rich woman who has returned to her home town and invested in a theatre that takes centre stage. The woman has so many secrets that there are few if any who know who she is and who she was. It comes full circle when the truth is revealed and it all goes back to family. Daisy manages to get herself into danger but never count this resourceful lady out. She’s a good person to have in a pinch.

Five purrs and two paws up.

I really love this series. This is the fifth book in the series and as Daisy really does not want to get involved with investigating the murder pulled she keeps getting pulled in. She is also dealing with her new granddaughter and the problems her daughter is having, as well as all other aspects of her life. The mystery was great and even though there were hints I still had a hard time figuring out who the murderer was.

** I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**