I knew I'd love this book as much as I do the author's other series, and it didn't disappoint. The setting is amazing, and I really enjoyed the main characters. Rose is another grandmother character I've read recently that isn't quite the loving or huggified grandma that we're all used to in cozy mysteries--she'll take some getting used to, but she's growing on me already because she's clever and likes to use the old lady card to her advantage sometimes--but she knows her limits and doesn't abuse it.

Rose had a tremendous love for Lily that she expressed just by looking at her. It was fun that Lily's bestie, Bernie just moved to Cape Cod to write a book, and she provided a lot of the comic relief by her constant outbursts of how she was changing the book. I got such a kick out of her final decision! She and Rose made the best sleuths, while Lily tried to attend to her tearoom. More than a few times though, they wrangled her into their sleuthing circle. Lily and Bernie had a couple of cute guys interested in them as well, so I hope that progresses well. I liked how Lily evolved in her thinking regarding guys. I could tell she was mellowing ;) Simon was a sweetie.

I hadn't guessed the killer, and I liked the little twist dealing with the detectives toward the end. The showdown was great with everyone pitching in to help and catch the killer. I'm really anxious for the next book whenever that happens.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

Tea and Treachery by Vicki Delany is the first in a promising new series, taking place at a B&B (Victoria-on-the-Sea) and tea house (Tea by the Sea) on Cape Cod. Lily is the owner of the tea house which sits on the property of her grandmother, Jane's, B&B. She also cooks the breakfast at the B&B with the help of Edna, a cohort of her grandmother's. This is the first summer for the tea house and expectations are high and the work is all consuming. Lily loves it. Her friend, Bernie (Bernadette) from Manhattan has just rented a house nearby in order to (ostensibly) write a novel. Their gardener, Gerry, has just quit, having called from the car on his way out of town. Scared of Grandma Jane. He had informed her grandmother that his nephew was at odd and would be happy to take over. A glitch, but not too big a one. The big one was the ratty old house next door: a developer wanted it to tear done and build a hotel and golf course. The zoning change hadn't gone through yet so there was still hope...until the developer went and got himself killed on Grandma's property.

Delany has begun, what will be, a wonderful series full of interesting characters, including potential love interests for both Lily and Bernie; a new-to-town, talented detective; and a fun cast of characters rounding out the list with Robert the Bruce, a cat and Eclair, the dog. The setting is spectacular on several fronts and the characters are typical of a small town. All masterfully written. Lily, the protagonist, is a reluctant investigator, pushed into it by Bernie and Jane. Jane is the quintessential quirky old lady and Bernie is the comic relief. They are a great bunch and this will be a terrific series. Who would expect less from Vicki Delany? I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free ARC of Tea and Treachery by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #teaandtreachery

Tea and Treachery by Vicki Delany
Book #1: Tea by the Sea Mystery Series
Source: NetGalley and Kensington
Rating 4½/5 stars

It’s not every day one finds a traditional English tearoom in the United States, but Lily is bound and determined to make her shop, Tea by the Sea a roaring success. With a wide range of culinary skills, beautiful place settings, a plethora of tea, and all the formalities met, Lily is tired but thoroughly pleased with her initial success. If she can pull off a hugely successful and profitable first season, she and her little shop just might make it through the winter and into the next season.

When Lily isn’t scurrying around Tea by the Sea and prepping for the next, and the next, and the next event, she is working as the chef at her grandmother’s bead and breakfast. Lily’s grandmother, Rose is a proper Englishwoman with no filter and no edit button. Each morning, Rose watches over the kitchen as her beloved granddaughter churns out a proper English breakfast for her guests. Rose runs a tight ship so when a man turns up dead on her property and Rose is accused of his murder, she has more than a few thoughts to share with the police.

To keep her fiery grandmother out of jail, Lily must take on yet another responsibility, poking around into the man’s murder so her grandmother will not. Lily is positive her grandmother had nothing to do with the murder, but her outspoken nature about the area she lives in has caused her to jump to the top of the suspect list. Rose wants nothing to do with big development and she certainly doesn’t want to see the old, ramshackle house next door torn down to make way for an ugly hotel or resort. Rose will have none of her idyllic location and view being spoiled.

As Lily begins to poke around, she uncovers all kinds of ugly truths along with bits and pieces of information that are seemingly unconnected. What’s more, she’s got her best-friend egging on and aiding her grandmother in their own investigation and the utterly handsome lawn guy always showing up to rescue her. Between her shop, the B&B, her crazy friends and relatives, and a hot savior lawn keeper, Lily has more than she can handle and if she doesn’t the murder soon, more than a little time in jail is going to come to pass.

The Bottom Line: Straight away I knew I was going to enjoy this book. Rose is one feisty old lady and when she has something to say, it just comes right out, totally unfiltered. Even more endearing than Rose’s attitude and mouth is her close relationship with Lily. I also very much enjoyed the overall setting, but particularly the tearoom and the descriptions of all the yummy things Lily turns out for her customers. The plot is quite suitable for a cozy mystery and I found myself simply letting it unfold for me rather than trying to work it out prior to the big reveal. In short, I sank into this read and just let it play out in wonderful fashion. I anticipate many more mysteries and menus for Rose and lily in the future!

I was excited when I first heard about this series and definitely excited when I got a chance to read it! This book is an excellent start to a new series and I'll eagerly await the next one. Full of gorgeous settings and descriptions and characters that are great fun, it's certainly easy to feel like you're right there. If you like cozy mysteries with tea, food, murder, and a bed and breakfast this book is for you.

This is the debut book of the delightful new cozy series " Tea by the Sea Mysteries" by author Vicki Delaney, The author also writes The Lighthouse Mystery series as Eva Gates. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own. I enjoy the author's previous works and was thrilled to receive this for review as a new cozy series.

Lily Roberts is our protagonist and a professionally trained pastry chef, She has moved back in with her feisty Grandmother Rose to her historic Victorian B&B and opened a traditional English tearoom on the coast of Cape Cod Maine. I love the description of the area the author brings to life. The tea room is heavenly and somewhere we all wish we could go for tea .
The B&B is located next to a property that is coveted for development. When they see a man stalking the property adjacent to Rose’s B&B they find out he is a real estate develop[er who wants to build a golf resort much to the dismay of Rose and Lily. Rose very publicly, protests the anticipated development at a city council meeting and confronts the developer. When he falls to his death from a high cliff near the property Rose is primary suspect number one. Lily sees the detectives not investigating to clear her Grandmother so she steps up herself to clear her Grandmother's name and save their business. Soon Lily finds out his business dealings were nefarious and he had enough enemies to want him dead. With her Grandmother in peril by the police Lily acts quickly with her savvy and intelligence to piece together the clues.

I enjoyed this marvelous blend of coastal beauty of Cape Cod and a unique tea room by the sea . The tea cakes and food the author writes of here are divine. The charcters are all enjoyable and add to the fun of the series. I love Rose portrayed as a independent feisty Grandmother who stands on her own .. The sleuth was well crafted to the story and Lily is a promising new protagonist . I look forward to the next in series of this delightful series.

This new series by Vicki Delany is another winner. It has everything I require in a cozy, especially these days of self-isolation. To escape to Cape Cod and hang out in a lovely traditional English tea room with Lily and her grandmother, Rose - well, it's my cup of tea.
Rose owns a Victorian B&B next door to Lily's tea room and trouble is brewing in town. The property next door is on the market and a not very nice developer has his eye on it and other land with the plan to build a golf course with all of the extras that go with such a venture. He's making enemies all over the place and soon the bill comes due and one of them chucks him over the sea cliff in front of Rose's B&B. She rockets to first place on the police's list of prime suspects after they learn that Rose and the dead man had gotten into a heated argument over his plans to spoil the beauty of the community. To call Rose outspoken and a bit of a handful is being kind. Lily has her hands full trying to take the focus off Rose and place it firmly on the real killer.
Lily is a wonderful character and even though I sometimes became a bit annoyed with Rose'e behavior, I liked her, too. Add the lovely setting of a small Cape Cod town and various supporting characters with a well crafted mystery to unravel - I was a happy reader and am looking forward to seeing what Lily has to investigate next.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wouldn’t it be nice to sit in Tea by the Sea and enjoy a nice cup of tea and some yummy treats? I always wanted to stay in a B&B, but I’m feel certain I would gain 10 pounds enjoying all the food I would be enjoying. I loved being with Rose, Lily, Bernie, and crew as the dealt with all the obstacles and situations that came their way. I love the relationship between Rose and Lily. How lucky are they to have each other? The story line kept my interest and I just wanted to keep reading. I hope I get to visit with the good folks in North Augusta again soon. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Death on Cape Cod
This fun, cozy mystery is the first of a series. The story centers around a grandmother who runs a Bed and Breakfast, her granddaughter who runs the kitchen for the B&B as well as her own Tea Room. There are assorted friends and employees that figure in, too. Let's see, a dog, a cat, a couple of undercurrent romances, cops and politicians with dubious ethics and a new woman cop with big-city experience. Doesn't that sound like a fresh setting that no one else has ever written? The author includes some recipes at the end. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Lily Roberts has relocated from New York City to Cape Cod to run a traditional English tearoom. Her grandmother Rose owns a bed and breakfast next door to Lily’s restaurant. Rose is livid that the property next to hers may be developed into a golf resort and is outspoken about her opinions. When the real estate developer is found dead on Rose’s property, she becomes the primary suspect in his death. Lily knows her grandmother isn’t guilty, and her own investigation uncovers several possible suspects. Lily has plenty of help from Rose and her friend Bernie, an aspiring writer. The three of them are determined to find the real killer and clear Rose’s name before it’s too late.

I have enjoyed many other books written by Vicki Delany as well as those written under her pen name Eva Gates. I like the main character and the setting of this debut book in a new series by the author. The descriptions of the area sets the stage for the story. They are so vivid, I wish I could have joined Lily for afternoon tea. The different teas and pastries Lily prepares sound delicious and further add to the cozy atmosphere of the book. There are a couple of recipes at the back of the book, including one with instructions on how to make your own tea-scented bath salts. I like the pace of the book and the fact that there are plenty of suspects that could be guilty of the crime to add some suspense. I liked how the case was resolved and appreciated that the book didn’t end abruptly after the killer is identified and instead there are a couple of additional chapters afterwards to wrap the book up as a whole.

I really like the main character of Lily and how hard she is working to establish a successful business, while finding time to help her grandmother. The police are portrayed as completely incompetent, so it makes sense Lily would feel compelled to do some of her own sleuthing on the side. However, as the story went on, I found Rose’s character to be so annoying, it detracted from the book as a whole. It’s fine that she is outspoken, but she takes it too far and just comes across as rude and childish. Since I like Lily and because Vicki Delany is a talented writer, I think there is a lot of potential to this new series. If Rose tones things down a bit in future books, I think she and Lily could make a good team. I also like the hint of romance for Lily, but glad it is starting slowly to give the reader something to look forward to in future books. Tea & Treachery is a great choice for readers who enjoy Vicki Delany’s other cozy mysteries or for fans of Laura Childs.

~ Christine

Vicki Delany is one of my favorite writers so I always look forward to a new book/series by her. For starters, I like the setting and plot. The B&B and the teahouse sounded like places I'd like to visit. My biggest problem is the grandmother and the best friend. Both expect the lead to neglect her own business to run down a clue because they think she should do it. The lead needs to quit letting people walk over her. It will be interesting to see how the next book goes.

What a great location for a cozy: a tea house (next to a B&B) by the sea! Lily, the protagonist, is the owner and pastry chef of the tea shop, and granddaughter to Rose, owner of the B&B. Her friend Bernie is visiting for the summer, trying to write her first book. The three characters couldn't be much more different, but I found they complemented one another well and really liked Bernie. When the owner of the house next door wants to sell, a local developer makes a big deal about wanting to buy it and his plans for a golf resort... and he winds up mysteriously dead. Rose, the most outspoken opponent of the golf resort, seems to be the prime suspect and Lily just can't let that happen.

This was an engaging story in a charming setting and I had a hard time putting it down. The mystery is well written and I did suspect the culprit (but I suspect everyone at some point, especially in a series debut). It moved at a good pace and gave just the right amount of details.

I received an advance copy of this book. This review contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

Tea & Treachery by Vicki Delany is the 1st book in the Tea by the Sea Mystery series, and it's off to a good start. Lily owns the tea shop in Cape Cod, which keeps her busy enough, and her grandmother, Rose, owns the Victorian B & B next door. Rose tends to speak her mind and get into trouble. When an aggressive real estate developer is murdered after fighting with Rose, Rose becomes the prime suspect. Lily is determined to find the truth. I enjoyed this new cozy mystery except the way Rose treats her granddaughter Lily, I'm hoping that treatment improves as the series goes forward. I highly recommend this book, and am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Lily Roberts has relocated from New York City to Cape Cod to run a traditional English tearoom. Her grandmother Rose owns a bed and breakfast next door to Lily’s restaurant. Rose is livid that the property next to hers may be developed into a golf resort and is outspoken about her opinions. When the real estate developer is found dead on Rose’s property, she becomes the primary suspect in his death. Lily knows her grandmother isn’t guilty, and her own investigation uncovers several possible suspects. Lily has plenty of help from Rose and her friend Bernie, an aspiring writer. The three of them are determined to find the real killer and clear Rose’s name before it’s too late.

I have enjoyed many other books written by Vicki Delany as well as those written under her pen name Eva Gates. I like the main character and the setting of this debut book in a new series by the author. The descriptions of the area sets the stage for the story. They are so vivid, I wish I could have joined Lily for afternoon tea. The different teas and pastries Lily prepares sound delicious and further add to the cozy atmosphere of the book. There are a couple of recipes at the back of the book, including one with instructions on how to make your own tea-scented bath salts. I like the pace of the book and the fact that there are plenty of suspects that could be guilty of the crime to add some suspense. I liked how the case was resolved and appreciated that the book didn’t end abruptly after the killer is identified and instead there are a couple of additional chapters afterwards to wrap the book up as a whole.

I really like the main character of Lily and how hard she is working to establish a successful business, while finding time to help her grandmother. The police are portrayed as completely incompetent, so it makes sense Lily would feel compelled to do some of her own sleuthing on the side. However, as the story went on, I found Rose’s character to be so annoying, it detracted from the book as a whole. It’s fine that she is outspoken, but she takes it too far and just comes across as rude and childish. Since I like Lily and because Vicki Delany is a talented writer, I think there is a lot of potential to this new series. If Rose tones things down a bit in future books, I think she and Lily could make a good team. I also like the hint of romance for Lily, but glad it is starting slowly to give the reader something to look forward to in future books. This book is a great choice for readers who enjoy Vicki Delany’s other cozy mysteries or for fans of Laura Childs.

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Kensington Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Tea & Treachery is a delightful opener to Vicki Delany’s newest cozy mystery series, Tea by the Sea. I hesitate to use the word “charming,” because the blurb already did… but I can’t help it: it is charming!

Take one pastry-chef-cum-teashop-proprietor. Add a feisty, wily English gran (who owns a B&B), the teashop owner’s best friend (a would-be writer and a force of nature), a hot English gardener, an unscrupulous developer, and an unpleasant property owner and his very pleasant son. Season with a suspicious death, a smattering of B&B guests and several local authorities, from police to the mayor and a councilman, who may or may not have agendas of their own. Stir until well mixed, pour into a Cape Cod village, and bake. Ice with summer breezes, the sound of the waves, and delectable descriptions of afternoon tea treats. Pour yourself a cup of Creamy Earl Grey, and enjoy!

One of my pet peeves in cozy mysteries is when the heroine has no real reason to get personally involved in the investigation, other than curiosity. Delany neatly avoids that problem in Tea & Treachery. Lily would rather concentrate on baking treats and running her teashop (not to mention cooking breakfasts for the guests at her grandmother B&B). But between her grandmother Rose’s position as chief suspect, Rose and Lily’s friend Bernie’s determination to find the real culprit, and Lily’s own doubts about the detective in charge of the case, she has little choice but to join Bernie and Rose in investigating. And the trio prove surprisingly good at it.

Lily is a sympathetic main character: intelligent, caring, and loyal. She doesn’t make the classic TSTL (too stupid to live) mistake of going off to meet a suspect alone, and she doesn’t withhold information from the police (which are two of my other pet peeves. I suppose you could say this book is peeve-free.) Rose is feisty, stubborn, and not above pulling the old-lady sympathy card when it suits her purposes. Bernie is one of those would-be writers who is more interested in having written a book than actually writing it; she’s constantly changing everything from plot to characters to setting. But she, too, is as loyal as they come, and loves Rose nearly as much as Lily does. There are other secondary characters who seem destined to become regulars; all have just enough presence and detail to play their roles in this book, while leaving plenty of room for character development as the series progresses.

The plot is pretty typical of a cozy mystery: plenty of suspects, including a few who don’t turn up until Lily and Co. have been detecting for a little while, and several possible motives, ditto. The clues are all there for the reader (the mark of a good mystery!) The one thing that kept this from being a 5-star cozy for me is that Lily doesn’t really figure it out; instead, the killer is revealed by their own actions. There are also one or two potential clues that weren’t followed up as thoroughly as I’d like, and a couple of people I wasn’t sure of but Lily seemed to trust—which is fine, but I wasn’t sure why she didn’t see them as suspects. But these are very minor quibbles, and didn’t impact my overall enjoyment of the book.

Tea & Treachery is a perfect summer confection: a light, entertaining book that should keep you absorbed for several hours. But don’t read it without a pot of tea and a large plate of scones or teacakes handy! The descriptions of food, particularly afternoon tea, are mouthwatering. You have been warned. (Hint: there are recipes in the back for light scones and coconut cupcakes.)

Thank you so much Kensington and Netgalley for this arc.

Lily runs a small tea shop and cooks for the Bed & Breakfast her grandmother Rose owns. She also helped her out with everything else; even Rose is very rude to her. Then there’s Lily’s best friend Bernie, who moved to Cape Cod to write her book and was also very accustomed to Rose’s unsolicited comments and advice. Did I say the grandmother is mean and loves to push her buttons? I love my grandmother so much, and she’s the best, so I cant believe how Rose can act so horrible towards Lily, who always goes above and beyond for her.
Anyway, there’s also Jack Ford, who wants to transform the little town to something more commercial, which includes buying the properties as well as Rose’s beloved house, which she also uses as her B&B business and, of course, highly opposed the whole commercial plan. One day, Jack Ford was found dead right in the foot of the B&B and guess who the suspect is? Yes, Rose. Of course, Lily will not let her grandmother suffer the consequence of a false accusation conducted her investigations and started to unravel very shocking things.
This is the first book in the series, and I am looking forward to reading the rest. The characters were well introduced and very relatable except for Rose, who calls herself straightforward, but I really think she doesn’t care about other people’s feelings, but it may just be a mask. The setting of the story is charming and wonderfully described. The story also made me hungry because Lily seems to know her ways to pastries and teas. Well, duh, it’s her business. If you like cozy mysteries and relatable read, this one is for you.

This is the first book in a new series by author Vicki Delany. As such it takes some time to introduce all the players and set up the background and setting. I feel like I didn’t understand what was going on for a while. I’m not even sure when I learned the main characters name. It’s Lily, so you know. This may be because the story is mostly told first person by Lily.
I have mixed feeling about the three main women - Lily, Rose and Bernie.
I’m not sure how much I like Rose, Lily’s grandmother. Rose takes advantage of Lily. She is a force of nature and dictatorial.
Lily lets Rose walk all over her and take advantage in the name of love. I don’t really see that as love. I think Lily is going to need to develop more in the next books for me to make a call on how much I like her.
Bernie is Lily’s friend. She is really flighty and unfocused.
I like the two young men, Simon and Matt, who come into the story better than any of the three women. I like Cheryl and Marybeth too. They help run Lily’s tea shop.
The mystery revolves around a property that a group of men want to develop next door to Rose’s B&B. The developer is murdered. The good old boy detective Williams wants to pin the murder on Rose or Lily. The way the story ends makes me wonder if I missed some clues along the way. Or if the vital information we were missing only came out at that end point.
I think the new detective Redmond from Boston will make a great foil for future mysteries Lily becomes involved in.
I enjoyed reading this story, even though I had those mixed feelings about the three main women. I think the Tea by the Sea mysteries have great potential. Spend a few hours along Cape Cod and enjoy a traditional English Tea.

What an amazing start to a very promising series! I loved the main character and fell in love with her life and the town itself. I can’t wait to read more in this series.

There’s a lot to like in this opening volume of a new series by cozy mystery author, Vicki Delany. The Cape Cod setting and a tea shop as one in a pair of businesses run by the main character are not new elements. In fact, readers of Delany’s Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries series will recognize them at once.

I will admit to being skeptical about the repeat foundations. However, the voice of the narrator, the supporting cast of characters, and the flavor and pacing of the plot line are fresh and engaging. Red herrings are sufficient but not excessive, and the romance element adds a feel-good element in a believable manner, avoiding pitfalls that abound in the genre.

Finally, a good culinary cozy has to invoke cravings in its readers and offer some recipes at the end. Check and check. Delany appears to be onto another winner. If I had Book #2 available, I would begin it immediately. I enjoyed this one very much.

I love a proper afternoon tea service, but since I haven’t been able to attend one in ages (thanks, pandemic,) reading Vicki Delaney’s Tea And Treachery while sipping on a cream tea and nibbling on cake was a delightfully atmospheric substitute. Bonus: I got to vicariously enjoy the Cape Cod seaside and solve a murder in the process!

Our heroine Lily Roberts has left Manhattan behind to open a traditional English tea room, Tea by the Sea, on the grounds of her beloved grandmother’s Victorian B&B, on the picturesque Cape Cod bluffs. So far, business has been pretty good, even if Grandma Rose keeps pushing for Lily to expand her responsibilities to include managing the B&B instead of just making breakfast for the inn guests every morning. Rose is a force of nature (and at least to me an acquired taste.) As a teenager, she went into service with a landed English family. By the time she turned 25, she’d worked her way up to being the manor’s assistant cook, but then met Lily’s grandfather and emigrated to the United States, starting her family in Iowa. After her husband died, Rose took their savings and bought the B&B, and now Lily has joined her.

Lily already has her hands full cooking for both the inn and the tea room when developer Jack Ford shows up to take a look at the property next door. He wants to raze the dilapidated home there and put up a resort complete with golf course, a prospect that makes Rose absolutely livid. Rose writes an ill-advised letter to the local paper, and Jack threatens her with a slander suit. When he’s found dead at the base of the rickety stairs that links the B&B to the beach dozens of feet below, Rose becomes prime suspect. In the face of an investigating police detective who seems more interested in finding evidence to convict the senior citizen instead of finding the real killer, Rose along with a reluctant Lily and Lily’s far more enthusiastic best friend Bernie must try to uncover the truth themselves.

The beleaguered Lily makes for a wonderful protagonist as she balances running her family businesses with sleuthing. Thank goodness for Cheryl, Marybeth and the long-suffering Edna, who make sure that food service at the tearoom and B&B run smoothly no matter what shenanigans their bosses get into. Their assistance makes it possible for Lily to puzzle out the killer’s identity, as well as providing some of the novel’s best passages of dialog.

Tea And Treachery includes recipes for two of the baked goods featured in the text, as well as a recipe for tea-scented bath salts. I decided to try out the first one:

QUOTE
Traditional British Afternoon Tea Scones
Makes 12 scones

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for flouring work surface and cutter
4 teaspoons baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into cubes
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
¾ cup milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½ teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the butter cubes to the flour mixture and rub them in with your fingers until the mixture looks like fine crumbs. Add the sugar and stir it in.

Heat the milk in a small bowl in a microwave oven for about 30 seconds, or until warm, but not hot. Add the vanilla extract and the lemon juice to the milk and stir until blended.

Place a baking sheet into the oven to heat it.

Make a well in the flour-butter mixture, add the milk, and combine quickly with a spoon. The dough will seem very wet at first. Sprinkle flour on a work surface and place the dough on it. Sprinkle the dough with flour and then fold it over 2 or 3 times, or until it is smooth. Pat it into a round about 1 ½ inches thick.

Dip a 2-inch smooth-edged cutter in flour and cut the dough into circles. Rework the remaining dough and cut it into circles.

Place the dough circles on the preheated baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes, or until the scones have risen and are golden on top. The scones should be eaten the day of baking, accompanied with jam and clotted cream. Or freeze the scones the day of baking and serve them later.
END QUOTE

I did a much better job of making the prescribed 8 scones this week than I had with last week’s biscuits! These came out so beautifully, and I learned a new trick about not getting baked goods to stick by using a preheated baking sheet. I was also pleasantly surprised by the unexpected use of lemon juice in this recipe: I didn’t notice any particular tartness in the end result, but loved it all the same. These scones were very quickly gobbled up by my family, especially once spread with butter and cherry preserves. I’ll definitely want to make these scones again.

Next week, we come back down to my neck of the woods and dive into the latest installment of one of my favorite culinary cozy series, while also diving into a bowl of delicious soup! Do join me!

Tea & Treachery by Vicky Delany is the first book in Tea by the Sea Mystery series.

Even though this is the first book Ms. Delany is a well known and successful writer so there were no beginner's mistakes.
Mystery is solid, well presented, characters are realistic and believable.
The story flows nicely, at the beginning we have the chance to familiarize with main characters and the beautiful setting before murder happens which I think is very nice especially with the first book in the series.

Main characters are Lily, who owns tea shop and Rose, her grandmother owner of Bed and Breakfast. Another important protagonist is Lily's best friend Bernie, who is an aspiring writer. There are many side characters, mostly their employees and neighbors.
Lily is trying to make a success of her tea shop and working part time at Rose's B&B as well. When they hear that next door propriety is about to be sold to an unscrupulous developer who plans to turn in into resort Rose is livid. She argues with him and next day he is found dead at her propriety.
She immediately becomes person of interest as the detective in charge is not inclined to look for any other suspects. So Rose and Bernie start looking into things trying to find out the truth. Reluctantly Lily agrees to help, she however thinks that investigation should be left to the detectives working on the case.

I enjoyed this well though out cozy, but I have to say that I am not a fan of Rose at all. She is unbelievably rude, but hides behind the mask of telling it as it is, even when her opinion was not asked for, she is behaving ridiculously, throwing tantrums, stepping on people's toes, firing employees left and right and expecting Lily to sort things out without the second thought. She is thoughtless, spoilt and horrible old woman. She annoyed me to no end, so much so that I thought of putting the book down just because of her.
I hope that she will change for the better in next installments.

All in all, great start to a new series.