What an enjoyable book! I love this cozy mystery, it is believable, fast paced, interesting, fun, heart warming, lovable characters! Rose is eighty - five years old, owns a beautiful Victorian B & B, her granddaughter Lily owns the nearby Traditional Tea Shop on Cape Cod. Lily's best friend Bernie, is an aspiring writer! I love Simon, Matt, Edna, the whole crew! I cannot wait until the next book is out, this one will be the third book chosen for my top twenty! It is that entertaining!
I highly recommend! Thank you Netgalley!
carolintallahassee.com

As the proud proprietor and head pastry chef of Tea by the Sea, a traditional English tearoom on the picturesque bluffs of Cape Cod, Roberts has her hands full, often literally. But nothing keeps her busier than steering her sassy grandmother, Rose, away from trouble. Rose operates the grand old Victorian B & B adjacent to Lily's tea shop . . . for now. An aggressive real estate developer, Jack Ford, is pushing hard to rezone nearby land, with an eye toward building a sprawling golf resort, which would drive Rose and Lily out of business.

Tempers are already steaming, but things really get sticky when Ford is found dead at the foot of Rose's property and the police think she had something to do with his dramatic demise. Lily can't let her grandmother get burned by a false murder charge. So she starts her own investigation and discovers Ford's been brewing bad blood all over town, from his jilted lover to his trophy wife to his shady business partners. Now, it's down to Lily to stir up some clues, sift through the suspects, and uncover the real killer before Rose is left holding the teabag.
The mystery was well done, which is what we expect from this author. The victim is a land developer who is not well-liked so the author sets up plenty of suspects, including Rose, who have both motive and opportunity to kill him. The author does provide some twists and misdirection to throw the reader off track while trying to follow the clues.

This was an enjoyable read and with the exception of a few characters. I am delighted with this new series and look forward to seeing what antics these characters bring in the future!

culinary, amateur-sleuth, Massachusetts, bed-and-breakfast, small-business, small-town, law-enforcement, greed, murder, situational-humor

When a detested developer is found dead on her grandmother's seaside property things get even crazier than before. The gardener quits abruptly but recommends his visiting nephew from England who becomes quite the sleuthing partner along with Lily's wacky best friend who is spending the summer trying to get a career in writing off the ground. Then there are the Tea Room employees, the B&B employees, a dodgy neighbor, a former Boston detective, a local detective with visions of retirement, and lots more interesting characters. Come for a good cozy mystery and stay for the real characters! I loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

Vicki Delany is one prolific writer. Just as I began reading this book, she's released two more in other series. No wonder I had to pick up this one when I saw it on NetGalley... she's incredible in the cozy mystery genre. In this latest series, Tea by the Sea, she releases the debut, Tea & Treachery. The books revolve around Lily Roberts, granddaughter of Rose, who left the Midwest to open a B&B in Massachusetts. Lily followed her out there, organized a tea room, and now looks after Rose. And it ain't easy!

In Tea & Treachery, the neighboring property is for sale. The owner wants to sell to a local developer who will undoubtedly put in a resort. While it might bring some business to the tea room and Rose's B&B, it will also change the landscape of the area and bother many of the inhabitants who sought peace and comfort. When one of the developers falls down a cliff on Rose's property, she's immediately deemed guilty by the police. Unfortunately, she told him she would see him dead before he bought the property. Fortunately, she walks with a cane and could hardly hobble down those treacherous stairs to knock him over. So... whodunnit?

While I'm more of coffee drinker, I do enjoy a cup of afternoon tea a few times a month. I sat for High Tea in England in the Cotswolds years ago, and I'd love to go back. I adore the little cakes and sandwiches. Delany shares so many wonderful facts about tea and the foods, as well as the history of tea, that you can't help but love the charming setting and backdrop. The mystery is classic... we know Rose didn't do it, but what about the man's wife? Or his girlfriend? Or someone he screwed over in a property deal? Or the son of the neighbor who wants to keep the property in his family? Lots of suspects... but the supporting cast is strong too.

A new gardener starts, and there's a bit of a flirtation with someone in the books, plus Lily's writer best friend makes us laugh. All leads to a fantastic debut. I will definitely continue this series. The book was easy to read and shows lots of promise as a series. Can't wait to share more on the blog tour too next month. Hope you enjoy it too.

Lily Roberts left a high-powered career in the big city to join her feisty grandmother, Rose, at her Victorian B&B in Cape Cod. She transformed a workman's cottage on the grounds into a successful tea room, Her best friend Bernie has rented a place nearby for the summer, and Lily is expecting to continue her life of hard work and serenity.

Then an accident takes place on the property, and a local man lies dead on the beach.

Suddenly, things look different in the sleepy town of North Augusta. Are the friendly, down to earth people really what they seem? Is the real estate developer as public-spirited as he claims? What about the two handsome young men who suddenly showed up at the B&B? The mayor and the police chief have secrets -- and what about the new police officer, who also left a high-powered career in the city to work in this tiny Cape Cod town?

Lily tries to keep her mind on her tea shop, but Rose and Bernie are determined to discover the truth... and when Rose is accused of murder, Lily can't stay out of the fray.

The book is well written and filled with appealing details. The characters are well developed and believable. There are recipes and tea-making tips, and romantic overtones which might be developed further in later books in the series. I hope there are later books -- I expect these characters to have plenty more adventures.

Tea and Treachery by Vicki Delany.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Kensington Books and Vicki Delany for sending me this book for review.
I really enjoyed this book and will definitely read more of Vicki’s work.
The main character is Lily and she runs a lovely tearoom in the grounds of her Grandmother’s B&B, she also cooks the breakfasts at the house every morning. Her Grandmother is a feisty lady who is more than happy to give her opinion about everything.
Lily’s friend Bernie comes to Cape Cod for the summer, renting a house to write her book. The two friends are happy to be back together. Things take a turn when something happens on Lily’s Grandmother’s land and the police become involved. This is a fun cosy mystery that I would recommend.
Some quotes for you that might whet your appetite for this novel.
“This was a mighty big house, with eight rooms for B&B and a private suite”.
“Robbie sat in Rose’s lap, glaring at the detective. Éclair was still standing on the window seat”.

Tea and Treachery is the latest book that combines two of my loves: food, and a good whodunnit. Lily is a great protagonist thrown into the heat of a mystery when her grandmother becomes the suspect in the murder of the local land developer. Of course, Lily's best friend helps her grandmother find clues to figure out the truth. But, Lily is often too busy working at her tea shop to do anything but follow them around. I didn't like the way the cops were portrayed. They seemed very amateurish and ignorant. I was confused as to why Lily was confronted by the killer instead of her grandmother. But, the ending was satisfying when the culprit was caught in the end.
I received an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A great debut for this series and author. Love the Tea room and B&B combination with the Cape Cod setting and family. Well written with interesting characters, I am so looking forward to more of this series.

Love this author. Lily owns the tearoom and her grandma owns the bed and breakfast. When a murder happens Lily and her friends sets out to find the killer before they kill again

"Tea & Treachery" has a rich cast of characters that stars Lily Roberts, a former Manhattan pastry chef who has recently fulfilled a dream of opening her own tearoom, Tea by the Sea, on the property of her grandmother's B&B, Victoria-on-Sea, in a small town near Cape Cod. Her tea-loving British grandmother, Rose, is a feisty 85-year-old who is charming when she wants to be but also quite meddlesome. Other characters include Lily's friend Bernadette (aka Bernie), a writer trying not so successfully to finish her book, and assorted helpers in the tearoom and nearby gardens.

Things seem to be going just swimmingly until Jack Ford, a local real estate developer, becomes determined to build a golf resort and convention center next door to Rose, disturbing the very serenity she most loves about the area. Alas, Lily's grandmother is unable to hold her tongue, and soon, Ford is suing Rose for slander. That should give her cause for concern, but of even more concern is the fact that Ford's lifeless body is discovered at the bottom of some stairs on Rose's property. Naturally, she is considered the prime suspect. Lily, Rose, and Bernie are determined to find the real killer, and when police don't seem to be having any luck, the three women are quite clever at conducting a shadow investigation of their own. (The B&B itself, it turns out, has a particularly delightful feature that assists the sleuths, and readers will look forward to learning more about this in future books.)

Tea & Treachery is a fast-paced cozy that has lots of suspects and red herrings that will keep readers guessing right up until the end. Tea lovers in particular will enjoy the new world Delany has created there at the seaside, and the fine sense of place makes this book a lovely way to while away an afternoon or two with a nice cup of tea at hand.

I had a hard time staying engaged with this book. It didn't keep my attention. I really didn't like the characters that much, except Simon. The ending surprised me as I had not a clue who the killer was. #TeaTreachery #NetGalley

This book is amazing! It is charming, witty, entertaining, and cozy-mysterious. Whenever I picked up "Tea and Treachery", I was whisked away to seaside Cap Cod, and so wanted to have a hot cup of tea and a scone (some some of Lily's cookies!) along with this novel!

This is the first book in a new series by Ms. Delany, and I hope there are many more! She truly knows how to bring a story to life. There are many visceral descriptions of locations, and I could hear the waves crashing on the rocks, and I could imagine I was at the tea shop myself. I also loved reading about the various types of teas and pastries, and it is so clear the author knows what she is talking about. This book made me quite hungry at times!

The main cast of characters in this book are AMAZING. Lily is such a strong, brave, smart, and fun protagonist, and her relationship with her grandmother Rose is beautiful. When Rose is accused of murdering Jack Ford, the man who wants to rezone the land their B&B and tearoom are on, Lily, her friend Bernie, and Simon, among others, must figure out who actually killed him, and why. What ensues is a puzzle that slowly unfolds, and lots of witty banter, clues, and lots of surprises.

I absolutely adore Robert the Bruce and Éclair. They are just so adorable!

If you enjoy cozy mysteries, I highly recommend this book! I could not put it down! There are many twists and turns that kept me guessing up until the very end, and I was so surprised by the whodunit. And without spoiling anything, I love the little sparks of romance that are starting as well. I hope we see these bloom in this series, and, again without spoilers, I love what the author includes at the end of the book! And as a book lover myself, it was so interesting to see Bernie's ideas about her book come together, and the reveal of another character at the end made me so happy!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC of this novel, I so enjoyed it! I can't wait to read more books in this series! All opinions expressed in this review are my own!

This is the first in a new series.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I tend to stay away from cozies that have a plot involving real estate and shady developers; however this was an interesting cozy.
Great characters and a well written whodunit.
I look forward to reading the next in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

This book is a good start to a new cozy mystery series. The characters grew on me as the book went on, and I'd love to stay at the bed and breakfast then go to the tearoom! I look forward to the next book in the series.

Vicki Delany's Tea & Treachery is a solid first book in a new series by this veteran cozy author. Tea house owner and pastry chef, Lily Roberts, lives in a unique situation where her tearoom, her modest bayside cottage, and a lavish B&B run by her British grandmother Rose sit on the same Cape Cod property ripe for tourists. Not everyone in the neighborhood is able to keep their property and buildings in the exquisite standards expected by Cape Cod locals of North Augusta. It's because the grand house next door has fallen into a nearly condemned state that powerful land developer Jack Ford becomes a regular presence and pest for the ladies of Victoria-on-Sea B&B and Tea by the Sea.

Delany takes this common practice of pushy land developers wanting to desecrate quiet neighborhoods and intertwines it with nepotism and corrupt low level municipal politicians. Even if the opulence of Cape Cod isn't relatable some other element of the plot may be. But if nothing is familiar to you, the dreamy landscape, the hunky gardener, the quirky best friend and the hard-working staff of these women-owned businesses will hook readers looking for an escape from the stress of real life.

Rose and Lily have a wonderful dependable relationship. It's the connection between their old friend Bernie and Rose -- and basically anyone else with Rose -- that allows breathing room and chances for relief at witty repartee.

Vicki Delany makes it hard to read through one particular series when she continues to astound with multiple mystery series that are each unique and lovable.

An intriguing new series set in the Cape Cod area. Lily runs a tea shop that offers an authentic afternoon tea as well as makes breakfast for her Aunt Rose's B&B that she also lives in a small cottage behind. When the property next door is up for rezoning into an ostentatious resort and golf course, Rose is fighting mad and goes on the offensive which lands her in hot water when the developer ends up dead at the bottom of the cliff behind Rose's home. Lily and crew must work quickly to solve the case before a potentially crooked and/or lazy cop calls Rose guilty and closes the case! Very entertaining plot with a very likable main character who is competent, calm, intelligent and hard working while trying not to loose her mind chasing down her overzealous elderly Aunt and best friend. I am delighted with this new series and look forward to seeing what antics these characters bring in the future!

Tea and Treachery will find you following the clues as you enjoy tea and sconces. You'll find it hard to pick the good from bad characters until the clues start pointing out the bad from the good. Enjoy teas as you read

I've enjoyed all of the other Vicki Delany/Eva Gates mysteries I've read. In fact, she is one of my favorite cozy mystery authors of all so I knew I'd be in for a treat when I had the chance to read the first book in Delany's new Tea by the Sea Mysteries series and it most definitely did not disappoint. I absolutely loved it and might go so far as to say it's my favorite cozy mystery series debut of the past few years.

Lily owns a traditional English tearoom right near her grandmother's B&B on Cape Cod. While she seems to spend much of her time cooking breakfast for the B&B and baking for the tearoom, Lily manages to solve the crime in this brilliant series debut.

Best of all are the absolutely terrific secondary characters.

I hope this delightful Tea by the Sea series has a long, long run. Highly recommended!!

This is the first in a brand new series. Lily Roberts just opened her Tea Room and shop and she is right next door to her Grandmother Rose who is running a B&B on Cape Cod, Lily does the breakfast and pastries for the B&B and then goes to the tea room. Her friend Bernie is in town for the summer to work on a book that she has been working on. The B&B has a beautiful view of the bay and the Tea Room has been doing a steady business since she opened but all that is in jeopardy when the estate next door which has been left in ruin for the last couple of decades is up for sale and a developer Jack Ford is planning a hotel, conference center and golf course. Rose and Jack get into a heated argument along with the owner and one of the town councilmen. Jack Ford ends up dead the next day at the bottom of the stairs on the beach on Rose’s property and Rose becomes the prime suspect. The detective on the case is a local and known for taking the easiest path, and Lily is concerned. Bernie and Rose along with Lily (to keep the other two in check) begin to look into the developer and all the enemies he has in town. I think Rose is a hoot and at 84 years old I cannot believe she is up to running a B&B but she is a feisty one. I love the relationship between Lily and Rose. I enjoyed the mystery and look forward to the next in the series.

Thank you, Netgalley and Kensington Books, for this opportunity!

What I Loved:

The Setting. Cape Cod is an absolutely beautiful, magical place, and I would stay at a cliffside B&B with an old-fashioned tea room in a heartbeat. This sounds like a dream come true. While the book doesn’t discuss the town or surrounding areas as much, the onsite location was so well written you don’t even notice. Also, how can you beat the name of the tea room? “Tea by the Sea” is perfection.

The Mystery. I feel like recently, most of the mystery books I’ve read didn’t provide an intriguing enough mystery, or felt random and irrational. Tea and Treachery provided a good roadmap, but also didn’t give the mystery away too quickly. It made sense, and the list of suspects were engaging. Vicki Delany really knows how to write a mystery.

The (hint of) Romance. I loved that Delany included a potential love interest early, presented the issues that could be associated with the pursuit, and then allowed the attraction to bloom organically. Lily (the main character) and the head gardener Simon show those first signs of a romance – sideways looks, lingering longer than needed, and helping out when the other is in need, just because. Simon is only supposed to be “in town” for the summer, but I am looking forward to seeing how well that plan goes. Similarly, the hints are there for best friend Bernie and next door neighbor Matt. It is never as obnoxious as “will they, won’t they,” but something more fresh and light.

What Didn’t Work for Me:

Bernie and Rose. That was a little broad, so let me specify – I love that Lily has a grandmother who dragged her out to New England, and has a delightful British accent, and I love how Bernie is the flighty friend always chasing dreams but never getting her feet firmly under her. However, the two of them were like a dog with a bone throughout the mystery, and they walked all over Lily trying to solve it. Rose treats Lily sometimes like her servant, while other times she treats her as though she runs the entire business; and Bernie seems to think that she can barge into Lily’s life whenever she wants to drag her into a hairbrained scheme regarding the murder, even if Lily is in the middle of work. Lily seems to lose backbone whenever she is confronted with the two of them, also. It made Rose and Bernie much more unlikeable in my eyes, even though they set up to be fun and engaging side characters. Simply put, they are both selfish, and it is hard to like them while also liking Lily.

The Archetypal Bumbling Detective. Normally I am all for a detective that doesn’t seem to be doing their job, since it gives room for our savvy amateur sleuths to show their worth. However here, Detective Williams seems downright crooked, on top of being a womanizer, incompetent, and rude. I do appreciate that it provided a foil for the competent and worldly female cop “from the city,” but I did feel it was laid on thick with both accusations of bribery, and being a shitty human being.

Bottom Line:

I think with a few edits and maybe some character development, Tea and Treachery is going to be another out of the park cozy by Vicki Delany. Her writing style just works for the genre in ways a lot of other authors can’t pull off – she always balances the female sleuth’s naturally amateurish detecting style with intuition and savvy, and puts a healthy dose of “real world” elements into her books so that you want to like the characters as well as the mystery itself. Four stars out of five!