I’m a huge fan of the baking contests that are featured in cozies because in between making amazing baked goods, they’re trying to catch a killer – multitasking at its finest. This one was no exception. There was a lot of action and still Lily had to run her tea room, help out at the B&B and clear her friend’s name. It makes for a very busy day and a very fast paced mystery. Her grandmother, Rose, continues to annoy me with her obliviousness to what kind of work is entailed in running the businesses but other than that, the characters are fun and lovable. Recipes in the back for some yummy treats.

I love the Tea by the Sea Mysteries.


Murder Spills the Tea has us back to our favorite tea shop in Cape Cod. Lilly is nervously gearing up for a cooking competition. Her grandma Rose and friend Bernie have convinced her that this is a fantastic idea. Lily is already at the point that she regrets her decision. With a potential exposure for the tea shop being very high but yet a TV crew making havoc in the busiest time of the year has Lily finding it a most unpleasant experience. The experience has become agitating and aggravating and Lilly is about done with the whole experience. Things just seem to get a bit worse when a body is found in the kitchen and one of the staff of the tea room is accused of murder. Lily along with the help of grandma Rose and Bernie make it their mission to discover who the real killer is.


I have been very fortunate and have gotten to read each of the Tea by the Sea mysteries as arcs for review for the blog. I genuinely love this series. Usually it takes me more than three books to say that but Lily and grandma Rose have made a little place in my heart for themselves. Murder Spills the Tea Is a fantastic addition to this cozy mystery series. The atmosphere is amazing, the characters are well developed and grow with each book and are extremely entertaining. The mysteries are written well and the stories are well played. Vicky Delany Knows how to weave a good mystery story to catch your attention and give her characters much personality and charisma that you can’t help but to enjoy your time with them.

I read the first two books in Vicki Delany's Tea by the Sea mystery series so I jumped at the chance to read this, Murder Spills the Tea.

I got to meet Lily Roberts in book one, 'Tea & Treachery'. In Murder Spills the Tea, Lily has entered her tearoom, Tea by the Sea, in a competition - America Bakes! which is a TV cooking show. When celebrity judge, Tommy Greene is found dead after being clobbered with a rolling pin, Lily's sleuthing cap is aired.

Set on the Massachusetts coast, I really enjoyed this intriguing story and I continue to find both Granny Rose and Lily very pleasing. Granny Rose is spirited and has vivacity, whereas Lily is smart, caring and considerate. The writing was smoothly paced, and the mystery itself was very well executed, with misdirection and twists to sustain my interest. The mystery was quite challenging; I found myself switching suspects frequently as a few had motives to have been the murderer and I only worked out whodunnit just before the reveal. All in all, a top-notch instalment with snippets of humour, some well-hidden motivation and plenty of sniping, drama and bickering. I will certainly be returning to Cape Cod to see what Lily is getting herself into next and I am eagerly anticipating book four.

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

This is the 3rd book in the Tea by the Sea series, and I really enjoyed it. I love the Cape Cod setting and a tea shop and B&B just strike the right note with me. The characters are developing nicely, and I really get a kick out of Rose. This book was full of red herrings and that just kept it enjoyable. The book moves along at a fast pace, and it definitely kept it me guessing.

Murder Spills the Tea is the third book in the Tea by the Sea cozy mystery series by Vicki Delany. I absolutely loved it! I read the first book but somehow missed the second. This didn't take anything away from my enjoyment, so don't be afraid to read it as a stand alone!

In Murder Spills the Tea, main character Lily has been roped into participating in "America Bakes!" If you're like I am, you are or have been slightly addicted to baking shows like The Great British Bake-off. This show is quite similar, though I sincerely hope that someone behind the scenes isn't setting up "accidents" to shake things up. That's what happens in Lily's tearoom during filming. One of the judges subtly causes a waitress's accidental mishap and then reacts by yelling and belittling her. Did someone tell him to do it? Regardless, none of Lily's staff are in the know, and they're all very rattled and angry. So when one of the judges ends up dead, Lily's staff are the most likely suspects.

The author does a wonderful job of making us feel as if we're really seeing a TV show being produced. The way she describes the different shots and angles, the interaction among the judges as well as with the customers, Lily's anxiety, all make the TV production scenes come to life. We also get the feeling we're actually in Cape Cod by the descriptive language the author uses.

I love the characters in this series, and as in the first book, Rose, Lily's grandma, is my favorite. She's in great health though she uses her "old age" to her advantage when it comes to police business. She can fake old and feeble with the best of them. In my review of Tea & Treachery, I'd said I wanted to be Rose when I grow up....that is still true. Our TV viewing habits are already similar. While being questioned by the police as to her whereabouts during the murder, she replies, " I was watching Death in Paradise, season five, not one of the best in my opinion. I switched off the telly and read in bed..." Same, Rose, same. I love Death in Paradise and am always reading in bed. Of course, that isn't much of an alibi... If I've learned anything from British mystery shows it's that I can never live alone as I'd never have an alibi!!! But I digress. All of the characters are well-developed and easy to see as real people.

The murder mystery is quite challenging, and I kept switching suspects. A lot of people could have been the murderer, and I only figured out whodunit right before the reveal.

I highly recommend this book to all cozy mystery lovers! You'll come away from it craving tea and scones (and other goodies), so prepare yourself for an outing unless you bake the goodies yourself! There are a few recipes included, so you can satisfy your cravings if you are more motivated than I am. I'll stick with the bakery for now...

Murder Spills the Tea is so enjoyable, and I think you'll love it as much as I did!

Murder Spills the Tea by Vicki Delany takes us back to Cape Cod and Tea by the Sea. Bernie and Rose convinced Lily to sign up for a reality TV series focusing on baking and it was Lily’s biggest mistake ever. All she wanted to do was bake for her customers. That was the furthest thing from the minds of these folks. And telling the truth was a concept totally beyond them. Everything was fake. Thankfully she only has two more days! Four of them were staying at Rose’s B & B so there was no respite from them. The assistant director tripped Marybeth so she spilled tea on one of the judges, and got reemed for it (on camera), Bernie got propositioned by the mayor’s husband, and the other local contestant showed up and was beyond rude. Who needed this? Then, one of the judges was murdered AND they thought her waitress Cheryl might have done it.

Lily doesn’t really investigate. She and Bernie, and Rose gather information and pass it along. That doesn’t always keep her safe, however. True, Simon and Matt were close by and often appeared when she needed them the most. This is a close knit little group. Bernie was here ostensibly to write a book, but she kept changing the setting, the time period, the characters, ever mind the plot. She was formidable at 6 feet and always good for an adventure, not good for getting a book written. Rose is Lily’s grandmother and was an English war bride who spent most of her life in Iowa, raising five children. She is gracious and clever, and an excellent addition to this story. Lily is a single lady with a small dog, named Eclair. She lives in a cottage on the B & B grounds, just up the way from her tea shop, which is also on the grounds. This is definitely a character driven series. Too many murders are associated with the tea shop but no one remembers that. This story opened the books on reality TV, which is fodder for both exposés and murder. I didn’t see it coming. I am usually more astute than that. Good book!

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Murder Spills the Tea by Kensington, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #kensington #vickidelany #murderspillsthetea

Lily is taking part in a show for CookingTV called America Bakes! The judges and directors are staying at Victoria-on-Sea. There seems to be some animosity among them from what Lily has observed. When Lily finds a body in the kitchen of Tea by the Sea. She puts her sleuthing hat on to try to figure out who the killer is when one of her staff is accused of the murder. Can Bernie, Rose and Lily figure out who did it before anyone else get hurt? I enjoyed all of the new characters in this book, and finding out more about some of the secondary recurring characters. The mystery kept me guessing with several red herrings. Another great book by Vicki Delany.

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Murder Spills the Tea by Vicki Delany is the third book in the Tea by the Sea Mystery series. Once again Rose takes advantage of her granddaughter---with Bernie's full support, when a reality baking show wants to feature Cape Cod. Lily is roped into the event as a contestant. The worst happens when a judge is murdered, and Lily must help out to find the actual murderer. The mystery is twisted and not easily un tangled. There are yummy recipes included at the end, too.
I enjoy this series with its fun characters and setting. Lily is getting better with keeping her grandmother in check--which I appreciate--her soft heart has allowed others to push Lily into situations she would rather avoid. I am looking forward to more in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC I requested and received. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
#MurderSpillstheTea #NetGalley

All Lily Roberts wants to do is run her tearoom and cook breakfast for her grandmother's B&B, but her best friend Bernie and her grandmother Rose have entered her into a televised cooking contest. The filming crew, director and his assistant arrive en masse to the tearoom, along with the show's three judges. The director and his assistant immediately cause trouble, and one of the judges, English chef Tommy Greene, intentionally trips Marybeth, one of Lily's employees and server for the filming, causing her to spill tea on him. As he berates Marybeth her mother Cheryl steps in and gives Tommy his own tongue lashing. Unfortunately, Tommy is found dead the next day and Cheryl becomes the prime suspect. Lily, Bernie and Rose join forces to find out who the real murderer is before Cheryl is arrested.

Murder Spills the Tea is a wonderful addition to the Tea by the Sea series. In addition to a mystery that kept you guessing until the end, the main characters are likeable (Lily, Bernie, Rose, Simon) and developed enough to leave room for growth in future additions to the series. Lily definitely has faults - she needs to learn to stand up for herself - and one can only hope she develops this trait in future books. The description of the B&B and tearoom make you want to visit, particularly when the food Lily is serving is described in detail!

I found it very easy to determine who was going to be the victim early in the story, however any of the people involved in the tv show could have been murdered and some of their behavior made you wish they had been the victim! Each of the judges has a past story, connected to each other or another member of the show crew, which further complicates the solving of the crime.

Murder Spills the Tea is an enjoyable read and engaging from the start - the story is definitely different! I will look forward to the next installment in the series.

I have not had a great experience with this series - there have been quite a few negatives for me in each book and they have never moved beyond a [weak] 3 stars for me. Apparently, that trend is going to continue and we are now 3 for 3. I will say that the pluses are what keeps me reading and that goes for this one as well. Lily is a great main character and she apparently grew somewhat of a backbone from the last book [though she does get roped in to do the cooking show that she wanted to steer clear of], but I like her and her relationships and how she runs her business. She does her job and THEN she snoo...I mean, has clues fall into her lap. ;-) Thankfully, the cops have gone back to being cops as opposed to the previous book [though this means more of the stupid buffoon, who really should retire. WHAT a waste and the perfect example of misogyny as its very worst] and that makes the whole thing much more believable.

The whole story was filled with unlikeable characters that I wasn't sure which one was going to end up dead [unfortunately, its the only person who was remotely likable], so there were plenty of red herrings [which are great things] and that made the reveal a huge surprise for me. I was pretty sure I knew who it was and was wrong and that bumped this up to a three star read [though the reason behind the reveal was...meh]. Add in that the reveal was edge-of-your-seat [I may or may not have taken a breath though some of it], the bumbling buffoon does something completely unexpected at the end, and I finally have gotten through my dislike of Rose and actually liked her in this book, and it stayed at three stars, and with all the crappy reads I have had lately, I will absolutely take that. And again, it is enough to keep me reading.

Thank you NetGalley, Vicki Delany, and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fun addition to the series; it's nice to revisit everyone and see how the romantic relationships are shaping up. Also fun to see some other business owners in the area that were upset by the tea room and more info on the lesser side characters. The murder was definitely twisty with a lot of people having reasons and it was a good conclusion when the murderer was revealed.

Murder Spills the Tea by Vicki Delany is the third A Tea by the Sea Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. Lily Roberts finds herself on America Bakes! thanks to her grandmother, Rose and her best friend, Bernie. Lily soon learns there is nothing real about reality television. Lily arrives for her final day of filming to find Tommy Greene, one of the judges, dead in her tearoom kitchen. Cheryl, one of Lily’s servers, ends up the prime suspect. When the lead detective arrests Cheryl for the crime, it is up to Lily with help from Rose and Bernie to prove Cheryl’s innocence. I found Murder Spills the Tea to be well-written with developed characters. I like the cast of regulars (Lily, Rose, Bernie, Cheryl, Simon, and MaryBeth). The television people are a mixed bag. There are some nice people and some you would like to toss into next week (and hope they get lost on their way back). I enjoyed the descriptions of the Cape Cod as well as Rose’s bed and breakfast, the tearoom, and the lovely gardens. The whodunit had good suspects plus misdirection. There are clues to help readers solve the crime before the reveal. Avid mystery readers will have no problem solving the crime. I love Éclair, Lily’s labradoodle but I do not feel he should be allowed in the bed and breakfast’s kitchen (health department would have a field day). Of course, Rose’s snooty cat should not be allowed free reign either. The descriptions of Lily’s enticing pastries (lemon tarts, scones, cookies) will have your mouth watering. There are recipes at the end of the book. I was delighted with my latest visit to Cape Cod, and I look forward to returning in the next A Tea by the Sea Mystery. Murder Spills the Tea is charming Cape Cod cozy with tasty tea, a bothersome baking competition, a derisive rival, a foul flirt, a bashed baking judge, a disdainful detective, and a killer to catch.

Lily Roberts owns and runs Tea by the Sea tearoom on Cape Cod. Her grandmother Rose (who owns the nearby B&B) and Lily's best friend, Bernie, talk her into becoming a contestant on the show America Bakes! The show will be filmed at the tearoom which will be great advertising and therefore good for business. Lilly is more than a bit reluctant but agrees. What could go wrong? Something over cooked, some friction between the contestants? Rain on a day they want to film outdoors? Those would be of no importance when the real issue becomes the not at all nice top chef acting as one of the show judges who makes an enemy of just about everyone he encounters on the set. So which one of them decided to shut him up for good? Lily has her hands full with the original show going ahead and trying to reveal the killer. The police are focused on her friend Cheryl who, unfortunately, not only had a very public ugly encounter with him but also has history with him. The tearoom was already closed for the filming but the murder could very well shut it down for good.
This is the third in this wonderful series and can be read out of order. The cast of recurring characters along with Lily's dog and Rose's cat makes the reader want to get to know them better.....over a pot of tea and some yummy baked goods. As for the mystery, it has the needed twists, turns and red herrings to keep you guessing. I'm ready for the next book.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Lily Roberts is entering America Bakes with her Tea by the Sea tearoom. During the shooting, one of Lily's staff spills tea on one of the judges' lap. The judge purposely tripped the staff thus causing them to spill hot tea. But he still picks up a fight, blames the staff for hurting him and belittles them. The next day, the nasty judge is found dead in a pool of blood in the tearoom's kitchen.

One of Lily's staff becomes the main suspect in the murder. But Lily is not convinced that they are guilty. As she starts to dig deeper into the victim's life as well as those of the fellow judges and the producers, she learns a thing or two about their 'well-hidden' secrets.

I loved the TV-show murder plot. People would do anything for 15 minutes of fame but would they commit a crime? What about the celebrity judges - they seem so nice on camera but off camera, they are quite mean. Not to forget, Tommy was quite 'famous' with the opposite gender - well, women did not like his flirtatious behavior but that didn't stop him from trying.

The mystery behind the murder kept me guessing till the end. The identity of the perp was a huge shocker. The same can be said about the events that leads to Lily coming face-to-face with the killer.

If you are looking for an entertaining and enjoyable cozy mystery, I recommend you to give Murder Spills the Tea by Vicki Delany a try.

Another fun and entertaining episode in the Tea by the Sea tearoom, owned and run by Lily Roberts in the grounds of her grandmother's B&B - Victoria by the Sea. Lily had been convinced to enter her tearoom into a baking competition and already she was wishing she hadn't agreed. The disruption in the midst of their biggest season of the year and the aggression and aggravation coming from the TV crew made them grit their teeth. But it was when one of the judges, famous chef Tommy Greene, got into a verbal altercation with one of the waitress that everything went to pieces. And then the following morning Tommy was found dead in Lily's tearoom's kitchen.

With the police chief immediately honing in one of Lily's waitresses, Lily, her best friend Bernie and grandmother Rose, decided they should find the killer as the known-to-be-lazy police chief wouldn't look elsewhere. Of course, they didn't realise they were drawing danger their way...

Murder Spills the Tea is the 3rd in the Tea by the Sea Mysteries by Vicky Delany and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was good to catch up with the group from the previous book, and I know I'd love to visit Tea by the Sea for afternoon tea. Delicious food, precious pets - Eclair the labradoodle, and Rose's snooty cat - and some delightful recipes at the end of the book. Highly recommended.

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

I really enjoy this series! The tea theme is fantastic, and the author does a great job of fleshing out the characters and the setting. The story was well-paced, and I had so much fun trying to solve the mystery.

Murder Spills the Tea by Vicki Delany is a fun mystery murder story set in a very pleasant B&B and Tea by the Sea tearoom. Lily is the owner of the latter, and her grandmother owns and runs the B&B.

Vicki is right up to her ears in the chaos of a TV filming of a baking tearooms contest. She is not all that pleased to be taking part and even less so when a murder happens one night in her tearooms. And what is worse one of her staff is accused of the murder.

The TV crew and judges are an interesting lot and most, if not all of them, not that likeable, and some even less likeable than the others. Added to that the other competitor in the town is not that sweet either. Just as well that Lily's friends and staff are far more likeable.

I didn't really spot any clues along the way that would lead to the murderer, however when the murderer was finally revealed that person had been at the top of my list, only one other had made me question it, but I couldn't see any motive for that person.

So an enjoyable story and I would happily try another one in the series. 3.5 stars

Another delightful series from Vicki Delany. I do wonder how I missed it until book three, as I have read several of her other books. I want to read the first two. Engaging characters. Clever cozy mystery. Lovely tea shop and B&B. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

3.75 stars

Trained culinary baker Lily has started her own tea shop on Cape Cod, next to her eccentric grandmother's B&B. Lily is struggling as a contestant in a TV cooking show after entering against her better judgment.

The TV crew spends time sniping at each other and jockeying for position. Lily just wants them all to go away, but she has signed a contract. When one of the judges is found murdered in the tea shop kitchen, police focus on one of Lily's employees as a suspect.

This is a series with an interesting setting and nicely developed characters. Lily, her grandmother, her staff, gardener Simon and best friend Bernie are a fun group to spend time with. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Lily Roberts is happy running her tearoom, Tea by the Sea, and helping out with breakfasts at her grandmother's B&B, Victoria on Sea. Against her better judgment she has also reluctantly agreed to participate in the successful TV cooking show America Bakes! The resulting disruption during Lily’s busiest season has meant an overcrowded kitchen, staffing problems, disgruntled film crew and staff, along with unfamiliar deadlines playing havoc with her schedules.

After a body is found in the tearooms Lily, her grandmother, Rose, and best friend, Bernie begin their own investigation not convinced the police department's main suspect had anything to do with the killing. When another person is attacked it's clear they're getting closer to the truth but time isn't on their side as the murderer gets more desperate to cover their tracks.

It was lovely to be back in Vicki Delany's English themed tearooms once again and this was a quick and easy read I devoured in one sitting. The main protagonists are becoming more familiar now but the additional characters this time around may put you off working in television for life!

The televised bake-off style contest is a popular theme in cosy crime circles at the moment and I am enjoying reading the different interpretations on offer. There are recipes included once again at the end which all seem very nice indeed.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I love this series and the third installment doesn't disappoint.