At book 4, this series is really hitting its stride; the mystery was fun and engaging, with plenty of red herrings and characters to suspect. The peek into our MC’s background was nice, and as always, the food was delicious. Looking forward to the next one!

This new adventure in North Augusta has suspects abound and everyone seems to have motive. Lily Roberts is content to run her tearoom, but trouble seems to follow her. In her quest to replace damaged teacups for her tearoom, Tea-by-the-Sea, she buys a darling Peter Rabbit tea set that turns out to contain much more than just tea accoutrements.

I read this book fairly quickly and I must say that each book gets better in the series. Not to mention all the scrumptious offerings of Lily's tearoom, which make me hungry for delicate pastries. I was definitely guessing all the way through and the whodunit was not on my radar, which is the best kind of mystery.

I see why Ms. Delany has been successful in publishing over 50 books. I hope to continue more in this series as well as all other charmers. One not to be missed!

Lily finds a lovely child's tea set at a sale, only to have the owner wish to have it back. The pushy owner only wants something hidden in the box, a hand written will. When another woman claims to want the box, she blames Lily for giving her sister the will. Lots of back and forth between family in this story and Lily tries to stay out of it all but keeps getting drawn back into investigating. I love the setting and characters in this series. It's like visiting old friends when I pick up the book. A good mystery and the killer uses all the tricks to try to weasel out of the charges. Lily's ex is also a weasel in the story.
I was given a copy of this book by netgalley in exchange for a review.

3.75 stars

Lily Roberts runs a proper English tea shop next door to her grandmother's Victorian B&B on Cape Cod. She fled the city and a job as a pastry chef in a Michelin starred restaurant after her relationship with the chef - her boyfriend - imploded. She works very hard but has no regrets and has her life arranged quite pleasantly.

But her peace is disrupted when a random china purchase embroils her in a family dispute and one of the players is found murdered nearby. And the victim's husband is none other than the bad-tempered chef Lily left behind.

There is a great ensemble cast including Lily's grandmother and her staff. The descriptions of the exquisite food she serves at her high teas will provoke extreme hunger. Fun setting and appealing characters. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Tea by the Sea owner Lily Roberts notices that she is running low with her supply of fine china teacups and decides to visit an antiques fair for replacements. Lily buys a charming Peter Rabbit-themed tea set in a wicker basket, perfect for children’s events. She is surprised when a woman named Kimberly enters her tearoom and demands to buy it back. Then another woman named Rachel arrives in search of the same tea set. Rachel is Kimberly's half-sister & Lily is dismayed when her ex-boyfriend turns out to be Kimberly's new husband. When Kimberly is found dead on the B&B grounds by Lily, she wonders why the coveted tea set was worth killing for.

This is another strong entry and delightful read in the Tea by the Sea mystery series.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Kensington. All opinions are my own.

The fourth book in this series about Lily Roberts and her delightful tearoom called Tea by the Sea.

This episode begins with Lily out shopping for secondhand teacups. She purchases a Peter Rabbit themed set in a wicker basket which she plans to use for the children's tables. Unfortunately there is something else in the basket which a number of people want for themselves and pretty soon a murder occurs. Lily and her team, friend Bernie, grandmother Rose, and gardener (and possible love interest) Simon set themselves the task of finding the killer.

The mystery is involved and there are several suspects. The characters and dialogue are well written. There are recipes, a cute dog, a choosy cat and an ending which makes you look forward to the next book. All is well in Cosyland.

Steeped in Malice by Vicki Delany is due to be published July 25th 2023 by Kensington Cozies is the 4th book in the Tea by the Sea Mystery Series.

Steeped in Malice is the 4th book in the Tea by the Sea Mystery series. The story takes place in the town of North Augusta on Cape Cod. Lily Roberts is the main character who owns The tea shop called Tea by the Sea. She lives in a small cottage on her grandmother, Rose's Campbell property and owns a B&B called Victoria by the Sea. Simon McCraker is the B&B gardner who also helps Lili with the baking when needed. He is also her boyfriend. They need new tea cups so they go to the North Augusta Antique show with her grandma. Kimberly comes to the tea shop to buy the tea set back that belongs in her family and lily tells her to come back after closing and she’ll give them back to her.
Kimberly is staying at Rose's B&B along with her husband, Wesley Schumann who is Lili's ex=fiancé. The next morning Rachael, Wesley and Kimberly have a fight in the dining room about the envelope. That night outside of Lili's cottage she hears a fight and goes to investigate. She finds Kimberly dead and calls the police. Detective Amy Redmond ad Detective Chuck Williams arrive. Lili has a bad relationship with Detective Williams. Is this a simple case of greed boiling over, or are there other suspects in the blend? It'll take some savvy sleuthing from Lily, Rose, and their allies to find the answers before a killer shatters more lives.
I cannot wait to read more from this author because she is amazing! Only other book I’ve read is Have yourself a Deadly Little Christmas. And I gotta say she is one of my favorite cozy mystery authors!!!
I highly recommend this book and all of her others!

Kimberly and Rachel- half sisters who hate one another and who are looking for a will- put Lily in the middle when Lily buys a Peter Rabbit tea set that has a piece of paper inside. And then Kimberley is found murdered on the grounds of Rose's B&B. So who killed her? Lily, Rose, Bernie, and Simon all help figure this one out. It's a classic cozy in a nice New England setting, Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read that will be fine as a standalone.

We return to Cape Cod (North Augusta) for the fall. Lily is doing well with her tea house. When she goes to a sale to replenish her tea cup stock, she buys a children’s tea chest that puts her firmly into another mystery.
The mystery is twisty and has an interesting outcome.
There are several characters that the reader cannot help but dislike. Lily’s ex-boyfriend Wesley plays a big role in the book and he is beyond irritating. Detective Williams is a twit. Rachel and her sister Kimmy take far too much of Lily’s time. At the end of the day, I was wishing there had been something to take care of Wesley so he wouldn’t be back to plague Lily at some future date.
In contrast, Simon, gardener at the B&B, is quite lovely.
I enjoyed this 4th Tea by the Sea mystery. It isn’t absolutely necessary to have read the previous books in the series, but I do think your enjoyment will be greater if you’re acquainted with the main group of characters.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to review this book.

STEEPED IN MALICE is the fourth book in the Tea by the Sea Mysteries by Vicki Delany. The author knows how to weave a tantalizing tale to tempt your tastebuds and tease your deducing skills with all the twists and turns in this newest release. Using the spectacular setting of the Cape Cod Bay, protagonist Lily Roberts owns a charming tea shop set alongside her grandmother’s Victorian B&B. Let me tell you, Lily is a hard worker, up at the crack of dawn to cook for her grandmother’s guests and then back to her tea room to bake for her own customers. The author shows the realistic side of owning your own business and fitting in all the work that goes into it. When there’s a murder to solve, it’s not unusual for Lily to be up late at night, trying to fit it all in.
I love that Lily, her grandmother, Rose, and Lily’s best friend, Bernie, have such a close relationship. Early in the series, I found Rose to be annoying by the way she steamrolled over Lily and anyone else she crossed paths with. As the series has progressed, Rose has mellowed while retaining her spunky personality. I especially like that she’s quick to jump into helping Lily investigate. There’s much humor throughout the book with Rose and Bernie, who are “thick as the currants in the fruit scones”, getting into mischief.

Ms. Delany starts the conflict early in the book, keeping the reader engaged with “what’s going to happen next”. This time the catalyst is a darling Peter Rabbit-themed children’s tea set, complete with a wicker basket. The adorable cover of Steeped in Malice perfectly captures the theme! Lily becomes involved when she acquires the tea set and two feuding half-sisters insist that the set belongs to them. When one sister is murdered on the grounds of the B&B, Lily can’t help but become involved. There are several suspects to consider and some twists I didn’t see coming. The author’s clever plot kept me turning pages late into the night until I’d read the last page. There’s a hint or two that more portend what’s coming next for Lily, and I can’t wait to see how it all plays out!

Lily’s delightful tea time goodies and B&B breakfast dishes sound utterly delicious, so be prepared to drool as you read! Fortunately for the home cook, there are a few recipes at the back of the book to try out.

The cute cover on this cozy mystery grabbed my attention first and I was in the mood to read a new cozy so I grabbed this one. This is the fourth book in the Tea by the Sea series, and although I haven't read any of the previous books, this one can easily be read as a stand alone. This book involves a tea set purchased by Lily for her shop Tea by the Sea. Soon a very demanding woman shows up and tries to purchase the tea set from her. This woman is extremely irritating and demanding - I immediately disliked her. Lily refused to sell it. Then another woman comes into the picture wanting the tea set as well. What is so important about this tea set? These two women turn out to be sisters. Then there's a murder and Lily and her grandmother Rose (who owns the adjacent bed and breakfast) have to find out what's going on and they start investigating.

This was a fun cozy that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries. I would like to read the earlier books in this series as well. I liked the author's writing style and I enjoyed the characters.

Thanks to Kensington Books through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on July 25, 2023.

Steeped in Malice by Vicki Delaney was a lovely vacation to the Cape! I was enthralled the cozy mystery and didn’t guess it like I have in previous mysteries. It’s a the perfect cozy to curl up with a nice cuppa and something sweet!

Steeped in Malice is the fourth cozy mystery in the "Tea by the Sea" Mysteries series. This is my favorite of this wonderful series. Our protagnist Lily is the owner of a tearoom in a Bed and Breakfast. She is an occasional sleuth. This next sleuth is mysteriously set around tea as it is about a tea set she bought at a antique fair. Two different people want the tea set and one removes a envelope from the basket. Lily is and friends are sharing clues and determined to find out what the story is behind the envelope and the tea set.

This is fun series for cozy lovers as the author has a masterful way of including all the perfect elements of a cozy mystery. I enjoyed the sleuth, the tea room and the referances to tea cups and tea pots in this book. The sleuth was engaging to conclusion and the supporting charcters all add to the fun. Well done to the author.
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Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity.

Steeped in Malice is the fourth cozy mystery in the Tea by the Sea Mysteries series. Lily Roberts, owner of a tearoom and amateur sleuth, finds herself wrapped up in another investigation when a hidden envelope turns up in a tea set she bought. As always, Lily, her friend, Bernie, and her grandmother, Rose, stick their noses into the case and solve the mystery before the police.

I have enjoyed this series from the beginning and this book is no different. I love the tearoom and B&B setting and am always excited to be pulled back here. The main characters are fun and engaging and the mystery keeps you guessing as you move from suspect to suspect. This was a very fun read and I look forward to seeing what comes next for Lily and the gang!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

Vicki Delany's 'Steeped in Malice' had a perfect blend of mystery, great characters and romance. Yes, romance. I LOVED how this book ended. It's about time! The mystery was engaging, with missing wills and intrigue with former boyfriends. There were recipes at the end of the book that I will try. I look forward to more in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Steeped in Malice is the 4th book in the Tea by the Sea Mystery series, and it is even better than the last. The cozy setting of a B&B, engaging characters, and a sense of warmth in this cozy community are what draws me into these mysteries.
Lilli and Rose have their hands full in this one. The tea room is low on tea cups so they are shopping antique stores to replenish their supplies. A Peter Rabbit child- size tea set captures Lilli's heart and starts the cycle of the murder mystery. I guessed the killer early on, but still enjoyed the tangled path to the truth that the characters raced down. Though it can easily be read as a standalone, I urge you to read from the start of the series for good character development. I recommend this book to all who enjoy cozy mysteries, tea, and fun.
I want to thank NetGalley, Kensington Cozies for the advanced readers ecopy to read and review. All opinions are my own.
#SteepedinMalice #NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #VickiDelany

Cute and well-written cozy series set in CapeCod.

Great characters and a wonderful plot. Who would have thought an adorable Peter Rabbit children's tea set could bring so much chaos? But it does. Missing wills, deceitful and arrogant husband, family drama. and sibling rivalry all work together to make this a cozy you can't put down.

I love Vicki Delany books. And like all her books in a series, they can also be read as a stand alone.

What begins as visit to an antique show to replenish the dwindling tea cup supply at Tea By the Sea puts owner, Lily Roberts in the middle of a family feud that results in murder. At the antique fair Lily is entranced by a charming Peter Rabbit themed tea set that comes in it's own wicker basket. Despite her friend, Bernadette and Grandmother Rose telling her it's impractical Lily can't be dissuaded.
A few day later a woman shows up demanding that Lily sell it back to her. Lily refuses and is intrigued when another woman, Kimberly, also comes with the same demand. Kimberley, is the new bride of Wesley with whom Lily had a relationship with before she moved to Cape Cod to open Tea By the Sea. An awkward situation, to say the least!
Neither woman cares about the tea set but both desperately want what's hidden in the lining of the wicker basket. Rachel and Kimberly are half-sisters whose Mother has recently died and had changed her will on her deathbed. The problem is the will is missing!
When Kimberly is murdered near Lily's cottage not only the police, but Lily, Rose and Bernadette are on the search for the killer.
This is the fourth Tea By the Sea mystery and it's terrific! Multiple suspects, all in search of the will, give Lily and friends a complex and dangerous puzzle to solve.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the advanced readers copy.

Love the setting in these Tea by the Sea mysteries that keep me coming back for more. Cute, fun, keeps you guessing.

This was a solid cozy mystery. The setting and tea room details of the Tea by the Sea mysteries are irresistible to me. I also really like the main character, Lily. The side characters I’m not always sure about, but they mostly behaved in this book.

As in the 2nd book, a family brings lots their drama and murder to stay with them at the B&B. But this time, Lily knows the husband of the murderer victim - he is her ex-boyfriend! The scenes with him were painful for me because he is a jerk. Luckily, Lily stands her ground, and her friends have her back.

What I liked about this mystery was that different family members told completely conflicting stories about the family dynamic. The reader has to figure out who is lying. The pacing was good too. Overall, this is a series that I recommend and will continue reading.