I am an avid reader of cozy mysteries, and I know what I like. The setting and description of this book sounded interesting so I requested an ARC on Netgalley.
I have preferences for when the murder occurs - it should happen within the first 1/4 of the book but never right in the first chapter. This book opens with the murder. Strike 1.
The book interestingly has three sleuths with Vivian taking the lead. It's an interesting premise and makes for interesting action in the storyline. But Vivian refuses to go to the police when death threats are received and again when they get vital information. This creates a book where there is a great amount of anxiety and worry that could have been allayed just by taking appropriate action. Strike 2.
The setting on the Oregon coast was lovely and the occupation of the three ladies in a tea house was very nice too.
One main problem was a main character who thinks she knows so much better than the police that she puts the very friend she is trying to protect in danger of losing her life.
This is a nice enough story and I know it will have it's enthusiasts, however this story didn't provide a single wow moment for me so 3 stars.

"In Hot Water” the first instalment in A Misty Bay Tea Room Mystery series by Kate Kingsbury set in the town of Misty Bay, Oregon. A good start to a new series, I did have trouble getting into it at first but do recommend going past the 20% mark as it does pick up.

Vivian Wainwright the proprietress of a British-style tea shop must draw on her love for mystery novels to sleuth a murder.

I enjoyed this story, and it has made me want to give book 2 a try. I liked how it was centred around an older protagonist and a tea room. Vivian, Jenna and Gracie are all from different age groups so we see the different perspectives, I also like the banter between Jenna and Gracie almost like sisters. We also get the perspective of detective Tony which was kind of neat to see how his mind was working.

There are two possible romances forming which I look forward to seeing how they develop in the next book. Close to the end we have an addition of a furbaby named Felix which I always enjoy.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I liked the characters. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit but in the end I was correct.

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Crooked Lane and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What an awesome mystery featuring three otherwise unlikely friends who were coworkers to begin with at Vivian's tearoom. Vivian was settled into life as a widow but still missed her husband a lot. Jenna was divorced and somewhat jaded, but she was overall an awesome friend and worker for Vivian. And Gracie was like the bubbling-over, super happy little sister, who I guessed was about twenty-something. (and Jenna maybe thirty-something with Vivian around ten years older than Jenna.) I loved Gracie's character, and when they started investigating the murder, she reminded me of Scrappy Doo with her enthusiasm lol! All three ladies had each others' backs and would've done anything for the others.

I really enjoyed Vivian's friendship with Hal, a super sweet, somewhat-older-than-her, man who had the pet store. He was so kind to her and gave her friendship and platonic companionship when she needed it. I have a feeling they'd both like to explore a more serious relationship though, so it'll be interesting to see how it plays out in the next book. The usual trope switch-up was Jenna and the detective seeming to like each other. And Gracie was cheerleader for both of them. She had a fun little side story going on that turned out very sweet.

It was easy to be torn between some good suspect candidates as the threats ramped up and the ladies got closer to the answer. When Vivian had the answer, it was a race to the showdown. I enjoyed this book so much and can't wait now for the next to come along.

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

A tearoom owner doesn't sound like she would be a sleuth but The Willow Pattern Tearoom's owner, Vivian Wainwright steps up to find a murderer when her friend and employee is named the prime suspect in the murder of her ex-husband. Vivian's and her two employees'sleuthing is a very entertaining read. I totally enjoyed this book and look forward to more stories in this series.

New series from an author of other really good series. I look forward to more in this one. We have an older MC and a tearoom. Her worker's are younger and willing to help in solving the murder. We do have a love interest as well.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

In Hot Water is the first book in a new cozy mystery series. Since, I am still new to the genre I am on a constant lookout for brand new series which I can follow from the start. The blurb of this book sounded interesting so I decided to give it a try but it fell flat for me. The plot line was weak and rushed with a lot of points not explained satisfactorily. There were also too many repetitive scenes of running the tea shop, drinking large amounts of tea and eating scones which took away from the mystery aspect of the story.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author for the e-Arc of the book.

Rating: Lower side of 3⭐.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the chance to read an early copy of this book.

I love tea and cozy mysteries, so I gave this ARC a try. However, my heart sank as soon as I read the first paragraph, which talks about a dead man wearing a pink dress, because I knew this actually was not going to be my kind of book. This is a really outdated kind of "shock value" and even aside from how societal understanding of gender has evolved, it's a tired trope. (We quickly learn the victim is cis and it is not his clothing.) I was never able to get past my discomfort with this premise, though aside from that I found the book a fine but forgettable mystery. You might say....it wasn't my cup of tea (ba dum tss).

In Hot Water by Kate Kingsbury is the 1st book in the Misty Bay Tearoom Mystery series. I really enjoyed this author's other series, Merry Ghost Inn, so I was excited to read this book. Vivian Wainwright, a middle aged women owns Misty Bay Tearoom on the Oregon coast. When Vivian's assistant, Jenna, ex-husband falls from a hotel balcony. When Jenna becomes the prime suspect, the sluething begins. This was a fun book, but there is a lot of room for improvement. At times I wasn't sure I even liked the main characters. I will be reading the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is the start of a new cozy series and I think there's a lot of potential if if this one wasn't a favorite.
Even if I had fun I found that the characters were a bit too reckless and some details required a lot of suspension of belief.
It can become a good cozy series but this one wasn't my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

As a longtime fan of Kate Kingsbury’s Pennyfoot Hotel Mysteries and her Belle Haven House Mysteries written as Rebecca Kent, I was eager to read this debut in a new series. In Hot Water is about Vivian Wainwright who runs a British-style tea room, with the help of her two assistants, Jenna and Gracie. Vivian is shocked when Jenna is questioned by Detective Tony Messina for the murder of Vivian’s ex-husband who fell to his death from a balcony of the hotel at which he worked. The three women decide they are going to investigate the murder to keep Jenna from going to prison for a crime she didn’t commit.

This is a light, fun cozy mystery that fans of the author will really enjoy. The three women find out there are several motives for the murder of Dean Ramsey and are determined to get to the bottom of it, even when there is the potential for danger. Vivian is smart and loyal and makes a likable main character. I like that there are several chapters from Detective Tony Messina’s point-of-view, as well, which unlike in some cozies, makes him a vivid, relatable character and not just the stereotypical small-town detective who gets the investigation wrong. I also like that even though Jenna is the prime suspect, there are some sparks between Jenna and Tony. Jenna isn’t the only one with a possible romance in her future. Vivian enjoys spending time with Hal Douglass who owns a pet shop. I like that their growing friendship could lead to romance in the future. My least favorite character is Gracie who is very sweet, but sometimes so clueless she gets annoying. Hopefully, more of her positive qualities will come out in future books. I think the book is a great start to the new Misty Bay Tea Room series and one that cozy mystery readers will enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an advance copy of this ebook. The book was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

In Hot Water by Kate Kingsbury is the first in a new series, Misty Bay Tea Room Mysteries, featuring Vivian Wainwright, in her early sixties, a widow, who had opened the tearoom for something to do. Her two employers were Gracie, just out of her teens and a little flighty, and Jenna, mid-thirties and a hard worker. Things go south when Jenna's ex-husband is discovered dead, after having flown through the sixth floor window of the hotel where he worked. He was wearing a woman's negligee. Of course, the first person they talked to was Jenna, who had been seen at the hotel that morning. Detective Messina did not engender a lot of confidence in Vivian so they "girls" decided to investigate themselves.

There was something not quite right about this book. It had all the components of a cozy mystery, but the pacing was off . . . not quite sure how. The three women who worked at the tearoom were all good characters, entertaining in their own ways. Vivian had a potential suitor in Hal, who was certainly a good companion and always helpful when she called on him. The plot was decent enough, with plenty of misdirection and lesser plotlines to keep a reader busy. With all this said, the book was bland. Kingsbury has written many books, so I am sure she will catch her stride with the next book in the series.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of In Hot Water by Crooked Lane, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #crookedlane #inhotwater #katekingsbury

In Hot Water is the first in the Misty Bay Tearoom series. Vivian Wainwright, Jenna and Gracie set off to save Jenna from being accused and convicted of her murdered dead ex-husband. This is a fast cozy mystery that can easily be read in an afternoon while the three women set off to solve a murder.

In Hot Water is the first book in The Misty Bay Tea Room Mystery series by Kate Kingsbury.

Vivian Wainwright has dreamed of owning an English tearoom. Now she is getting ready to celebrate the second anniversary of the Misty Bay Tea Room in Misty Bay, Oregon. Her two employees, Jenna Ramsey, who prepares the sandwiches, scones, and pastries, and Gracie Jackson, who acted as server and handled the English items on sale.

On the anniversary eve morning, the talk around town was about the body of a dead body that had fallen from the top balcony of the Blue Surf Hotel clad only in a negligee.

It turns out the victim is Dean Ramsey, the ex-husband of Jenna, and Detective Messina arrives and takes Jenna to the police station for questioning. Jenna readily admits to being at the hotel that morning to meet with her ex to collect past due alimony. She adds that if she wanted to kill her ex, she wouldn’t have waited three years after their divorce.

Since Detective Messina still considers Jenna his prime suspect, Vivian and Gracie will work with Jenna and do their own investigation. They don’t have a lot of success until Vivian learns from a friend and nearby pet shop owner, Hal Douglass, about possible secrets at the hotel.

The book is an excellent start in this new series. I found the book well-written and plotted, with enough twists and turns, which kept me guessing until the end. The characters are believable and exciting. I would like to learn more about the characters and the community of Misty Bay.

A delicious-sounding recipe is also included in the book.

I will be watching for the next book in the series.

Considering how I enjoying reading other Kate Kingsbury series, I was rather disappointed in this book. Something didn't seem to gel. Vivian's life is too established. There is almost no 'call to adventure'. Not to happy with the way our investigators withhold evidence from the police. I do want to read the next book in the series to see if things get better.

I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher and/or author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I could not make it past the first 13%. A large man found dead in a woman’s nightie after grabbing the first thing available to him? Would it fit? A woman in her early 30’s being too old to have children? No, that is just insulting. I am sure if I had read further there would have been an explanation as to why a new hotel didn’t have working security cameras, but I just gave up with the silliness at the beginning of the book.

This is the first book in a new series by a very well established author of many other series. As such I had hoped for a bit more.

In Hot Water features Vivian, owner of the Misty Bay Tearoom, and her two assistants Jenna and Gracie. When Jenna's separated husband is found dead she is suspected of his murder. Vivian and Gracie jump in to help her find the real culprit. I thought the mystery aspect of the book was interesting and the reveal at the end was exciting.

I had a few problems with the characters who did not seem fully formed to me. I felt as though I was joining a series at book 2 or 3 and had missed all the background details. Their methods of sleuthing were more effective than they deserved to be, and their reasons for not telling the police several important facts were weak and in the end dangerous.

Basically a readable and interesting book but lacking that certain something which makes me rush out to look for the follow up.

It’s a 2.5 stars for this first instalment in a series.

I picked that book because I remembered enjoying the books I’ve read in Ms. Kingsbury’s Pennyfoot series but I didn’t get the same enjoyment with this new series.
The resume seemed promising and what one expects of a cozy mystery is there but it gets lost in the overflow of unnecessary details and some characters are such stereotypes that they don’t sound like anyone that could come to life.
Also, the three female characters were kind of getting on my nerves after a while, especially Grace or Gracie who’s like an overexcited puppy, especially when it comes to food. Jenna, the tough cookie of the three was the one I tolerated better. Vivian and her teenage attitude towards her friend Hal was a bit tedious.
Overall, I think this book would be better with a little less details and characters that acts like everyone else.

Vivian Wainwright had had her tea rooms open for almost two years in Misty Bay and was loving it. The Misty Bay Tearoom was popular in town and her two helpers, Jenna and Gracie, kept things running smoothly. With Vivian’s mother originally from England, she had set her tearoom up with a lot of English ways, food and items for sale. But the morning a body was found near the beach was when the nightmare began for the three women in the Misty Bay Tearooms.

The victim was Jenna’s ex-husband Dean, and she was immediately in the sights of the police. Detective Messina was determined to prove Jenna was guilty of Dean’s murder; Vivian was equally determined to prove Jenna’s innocence. As the three women questioned many locals, the secrets they learned was putting them in danger. And with Jenna’s tyre slashed and a note on her windscreen, then Vivian’s kitchen window smashed, and a death threat written, the women were nervous. Would they discover who killed Dean, or would it be too late?

In Hot Water is the 1st in the Misty Bay Tearoom series by Kate Kingsbury and I quite enjoyed it as they took some incredible risks and didn’t ring the police when they should have. Vivian is a widowed middle-aged woman so should have known better, but her heart is definitely in the right spot. Plenty of twists, a burgeoning love interest and a sweet pup called Felix make In Hot Water an entertaining cozy mystery which I recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Since I enjoyed reading the author's Manor House Mystery series, I thought that I would enjoy this book. Unfortunately within a couple of the chapters, I knew who the murderer was and quickly lost interest. I enjoyed the setting, but I didn't feel like the characters were well rounded enough to be believable. I ended up skimming most of the book. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher. This is my honest and voluntarily given review.

This is a book I read in a short period of time as it is so easy to read and such a fun, enjoyable yet interesting book to read. I was drawn to it as I love a good Tea Room and I am really getting into the Cosy Mystery genre of books now.

This book incorporated all the things I love, books, tea rooms, mystery and great characters. Vivian is a great main character who is likeable, relatable and has a great since of humour. She takes it upon herself to use the knowledge she has learned from reading books to solve a murder.

This is not a deep, dark, gory mystery. This is a fun amateur sleuth mystery which to me is what cosy mysteries are all about. They are fun and easy to read and that is what draws me to read them in amongst other books that are harder and more in-depth to read. It makes a great change and a fun way to spend an afternoon.