I received this book for free for an honest unbiased review from Netgalley.

I wish more books were this well written. Characters were witty and the setting fantastic.

The second book in this series, the story follows Shay as she tries to run her tea shop, solve a murder, and figure out her feelings for the handsome neighbor.

The plot had promise and I do like the magical elements in this series. I wish that had been fleshed out a bit more. Unfortunately, I really don’t care for Shay, and I found it hard to connect with most of the characters. I also found the over-emphasis on Gran’s accent distracting. I’m obviously in the minority, but I’m not planning to continue the series.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the complimentary digital review copy of this book.

I didn't read the first book in the Crystals & CuriosiTEAs Mystery series, but after reading Murder in a Cup, I've added the first one to my list of books to read. I love cozy mysteries. Add, anything witchy or paranormal to them and it makes the book even better, at least in my opinion. I highly recommend this book, as well as, the series.

The second book in this series is just as exciting as the first! I love the character development by this author and she continues to give her readers wholesome fun and a little bit of mystery! Our protagonist, Shay, is doing well in her tea shop with many visitors from town spending their mornings and afternoons over great cups of tea and some intrigued by having their tea leaves read. While everything seems to be going well, in blows Tassi's estranged father and soon to be stepmom, making strong accusations towards Shay and her intentions towards Tassi and the business she practices. As words are being thrown and restraining orders are being served, another murder happens. There are plenty of suspects around and our author skillfully pieces everything together for us up until the very last page. Woven through the pages are fun family dynamics, heritage and a little bit of magic for every reader.

Murder in a Cup has just what you need to keep you guessing all the while thoroughly enjoying the story.

Shay is the owner of a quaint little tea shop by the name of Crystals & CuriositiTEAS. In Bray Harbor, CA. She inherited the shop along with a little cottage from a mother she did not know. Come to find out she has quite the family history that she was unaware of. Shay is a searer and is still learning who and what she is.

Murder in a Cup is almost two stories in one. Shay’s teenage assistant comes under the thumb of the law when her father returns to town, trying to take her back with him. And we get another dealing with Shay’s background, and who she is. The story is made up of fantastic characters.

Although this is a cozy mystery, there are some complex parts to the story that I thoroughly enjoyed. The book was at a good pace, and Devon kept me guessing.. This series 2 books in is starting off with a bang and our wonderful Author, I feel as set up quite the series just within these first two books. The more we learn of Shay the more interested and invested I get.

Murder in a Cup by Lauren Elliott is a cozy mystery steeped in Irish folklore. Shay Meyers had inherited the tea shop from her mother, a woman she had really never known. It was a rat’s nest at first: all kinds of oddities, plus the dried plants and all the other things that came with running a tea/herb/occult shop. They had cleaned it from top to bottom, thrown away a lot, and given plenty away. Now painted, with cute tables, chairs, and table cloths, it was a charming little tea shop and its business was growing. Shay was slowly getting rid of the reputation her mother had had as a witch and establishing her own. There were things sometimes, though, that she couldn’t explain. She had learned a lot from her mother’s journals and now that Liam had brought his widowed grandmother from Ireland, there was even more to learn. Gran had known her mother and her grandmother and was full of Irish stories and myths. Then, Tassi, her young employee’s father, Peter, had come to town and things rapidly fell apart. His girlfriend has wormed her way into the Little White Glove Society which met for tea at 10 every morning. This particular morning, Tassi was pouring when her father’s girlfriend, Jasmine fell over dead right at the table. It wasn’t long before Tassi was accused and Peter, starting his vendetta against Shay and her shop. What a mess.

Shay is a pretty normal woman. She kind of hankers after Liam, her Irish ex-cop friend, but he is living with Zoey so she keeps still. When Gran arrives, she moves in with Liam and Zoey and you can just imagine how that works out. Shay is intrigued by her Irish ancestry and the notes from her mother and things did happened that she couldn’t quite explain, but yet… She had also inherited a dog from her mother, a big dog named Spirit, who hadn’t been around a lot lately. He seemed to know Tassi needed him and so had been with her. The mystery was a complex one, and truthfully was only solved using a little magic. The characters in this book are beyond intriguing and the Irish magic and mythology is fascinating. As always, Elliott keeps the attention of the reader who is driven to turn the pages and move through the book. Great read!

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Murder in a Cup by Kensington Books, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonBooks #LaurenElliott #MurderInACup

A cute cozy mystery.
This book was steeped in Irish folklore and I loved that aspect of the story!
I also loved the crystal magic that was more present in this book than the first.
As far as the cozy vibes and the actual story, I think I liked the first book better, but this one is a good, reliable cozy mystery when you need a palate cleanser or just something fun and lighthearted!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for the copy of this eARC!

Murder in a Cup by Lauren Elliott takes us back to Bray Harbor where Shay Myers has reopened Crystals & CuriosiTEAS. I wanted to give Crystals & CuriosTEAS Mysteries a second chance after its lackluster beginning. I began reading Murder in a Cup and I struggled with the writing (I believe a technical manual would have been more interesting). I did not find many of the characters to be likeable. I find Shay to be annoying (let’s just say that if I lived in that town, I would avoid visiting her shop and head the other way if I saw her on the street). I did not feel any chemistry between Liam and Shay (it is only the second book so why is there a rush for romance). The paranormal aspect of the story is lacking. I read Steeped in Secrets and I still find the magic confusing. It needs to be explained better. I get tired of Shay fluctuating between wanting to learn more about her power and finding a scientific explanation for her mysterious powers. I would like Shay to embrace her special gift (it would be a nice change) and learn how to use it. The mystery was okay. The method of murder was obvious from the beginning as well as who die. Tassi is one whiny teenager (Tassi and Shay have something in common). Shay works with Liam (of course) to prove Tassi’s innocence. I am amazed that Shay managed to solve the crime. She does not believe in herself (and she will need confidence to use her powers). Shay often ran away instead of getting the answers she needed (which led to more issues). The whodunit is neatly wrapped up at the end. Murder in a Cup is the second book in A Crystals & CuriosTEAS Mysteries. I recommend reading Steeped in Secrets before embarking on Murder in a Cup. Murder in a Cup was not a happy reading experience for me (I was eager to reach the end).

Oh this was so good and had so many awesome twists and possibilities. I absolutely adore Gran’s character, what a great addition to an already stellar cast. I was so happy that Shay finally and someone who could explain things to her about her abilities and actually had memories of Shay’s family.

The author cleverly created a loathable character in Tassi’s father who was trying to get custody of her. I wanted to send that guy to the moon, one way lol. But all worked out well for the sweet teen. I’d partially figured out whodunit as clues started coming together and wow, that was one heck of a showdown! I loved how Shay’s dog Spirit rushed in and helped save the day too.

There was a fun, family type ending and a continuing thread was brought back in so I’m eager to see how that plays out. And a new business to thr then showed up…was this gonna cause Shay any harm? Guess we’ll just have to be patient and wait on the next book!

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

Murder in a Cup is book #2 in the Crystals & CuriosiTEAS Mystery series by Lauren Elliott.

This was another entertaining book in the series. I like Shay and Spirit and felt bad for Tassi. Her father is something else. I enjoyed the magical element in the story. The mystery was intriguing and I didn’t guess who the guilty party was. I look forward to the next book.

Thank you to the author, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This is the second in the series but the first one I have read. I could understand what was going on but it is obvious there is a lot of carry over from the first book and I would know a lot more nuances if I had read the first book.

Shay is the owner of a tea and crystal shop that offers tea readings and some other psychic offerings. Shay is new to her powers and is not completely comfortable with them but is settling down and enjoying her new life. When her young assistant is accused of killing a customer, of course Shay gets involved to prove her innocent.

The mystery is solid and I liked that Shay's powers help her but don't solve the mystery. She and others do a lot of investigating. There are also a lot of subplots that are not tied in this book, and in fact, there is every indication they are going to become bigger and more complicated in future books.

I like Lauren Elliott's writings. This series has promise but at times I had a little problem getting into the characters. Maybe because there was a lot to digest not just what was going on with the main mystery. That said, I would probably read another one.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

MURDER IN A CUP is the second entry in the Crystals and CuriosiTEAS mystery series, and it did not disappoint.

The characters, especially protagonist Shay and her friend/potential romantic interest Liam, are well drawn and interesting. I can already tell that newly introduced character Gran, Liam’s grandmother, is going to be my favorite. Other characters central to this story include Shay’s shop assistant Tassi’s despicable father and his girlfriend. When the girlfriend Jasmine drops dead during a tea leaf reading, Tassi becomes the prime suspect, Shay steps up to find the real killer.

Author Lauren Elliott has become one of my favorite authors. This mystery is compulsively readable with plenty of twists and turns, a few red herrings, and subplots that keep the story moving along at a quick pace. At this point, I consider it lightly paranormal, but I think as Shay’s abilities progress there will be more weight given to the mystical. I do love the growing emphasis on Irish lore, and learning about poisonous plants.

MURDER IN A CUP is well worth seeking out. I highly recommend it to any cozy mystery reader.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lauren Elliott for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Murder in a Cup coming out November 28, 2023. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I didn’t read the first book, but I thought it might be a fun book. I love cozy mysteries and I love stories about witches. I loved the Irish folklore and the cozy small town feel of the book. The characters weren’t my favorite though. They made some odd decisions at times. I didn’t find the murder mystery part very interesting. I didn’t really understand their motives. I didn’t think it was strong enough for me. I would check out other books by this author though.

Murder In A Cup is the second book in A Crystals And CuriosTEAS Mystery series by Lauren Ellicott.

Shay enjoys growing tea for and packaging various blends she sells in her shop. There were some poisonous plants in her greenhouse on the roof of her building, and she donated them to her friend Dr. Mia Harper, a botanist at the local university, so they weren’t accidentally used when she packaged her tea blends. A group of women called the White Gloves come in for tea every morning. One day, a new member, Jasmine, the girlfriend of Peter Graham, the father of Shay’s part-time teenage employee, Tissi, joined the White Gloves. Peter is in Bray Harbor to take custody of Tassi and take her home to Carmel. Peter wants her to meet and get to know her soon-to-be stepmother, but Tassi wants nothing to do with Jasmine. In addition, Peter doesn’t want her working for a witch. Shay doesn’t feel comfortable reading tea leaves yet, but Jasmine finally talks Shay into reading her tea leaves. Tassi serves Jasmine her tea, and just as she is about to hand the cup to Shay, she collapses and dies. It seems that Jasmine had been poisoned. Tassi is quickly considered a suspect as she served the tea and made a comment that was construed as threatening.

Liam, who owns the pub next door to Shay’s shop, has returned from Ireland and has brought his Gram to Bray Harbor. Gram is also a seer and knew Shay’s grandmother and mother and will share Shay’s family history with her. Gram will also support Shay as she works to develop her powers.

The book is well-written, plotted, and exciting. The story also reads at a nice pace. Most of the characters from the first book are back again. The characters are well-developed and believable. The reader will also learn more about the backstory of Shay and Tassi. Once again, Shay’s German Shepard will play an integral part.

I’m looking forward to more visits to Bray Harbor.

Shay is learning more each day about her magical powers, but when a woman drops dead during a cup reading, she is helpless to explain why it happened. With the woman's fiance threatening to sue her and put her on trial as a witch, there is a lot weighing on Shay's mind. A well written, complex mystery with interesting subplots. I cannot wait for the next installment!

Gemologist Shay is settling into running her inherited New Age tea shop, growing herbs for tea blends, and learning to hone her gifts as a seer. Her friend Liam's psychic Gran is visiting from Ireland and encourages Shay to do a group reading, which ends in a murder, with Shay's tea shop and one of her employees coming under suspicion. So, Shay must track down the real culprit while processing her own major family drama.

I enjoyed the first book in this series. And book two is a fun and twisty mystery as well! Set in California on the beautiful Monterey Peninsula, the world-building is excellent, with a charming setting that is also a bit mysterious, thanks to the magic in the air and the New Age vibe. I like Elliott's writing style; this was well-paced and plotted and kept me guessing, with a few surprises along the way.

Shay discovers she is a descendant of a famous Irish witch from long ago, and seeing how Shay's psychic gifts play into her sleuthing is interesting. I look forward to seeing where the storylines about Shay's magical lineage are headed in future books!

The tea shop and town inhabitants are vividly depicted. I love the addition of Liam's Gran to the cast; she is delightful and teaches Shay about Irish folklore, the fae, and Shay's lineage and gifts. Hopefully, she's a permanent addition! The character development and relationships among the core group are progressing, and I enjoyed spending time with them. Agatha Christie's famous Poison Garden is mentioned as Shay has some poisonous plants, too, and I loved that reference!

An entertaining and quick read! Perfect for anyone who enjoys paranormal cozy mysteries!

Thank you to Kensington Books for the gifted ARC. I enjoyed it!

Murder in a Cup by Lauren Elliott the 2nd instalment in the "A Crystals & CuriosiTeas Mystery " series. What a great follow up to book one! As with Lauren’s other series, I’m now a huge fan of this one and just as invested in the characters.

Another thing I enjoyed was the ongoing close relationship between Shay and Tassi. I love the introduction of Gran from Ireland and can see her playing a big part in helping Shay.

The story is well-written and I found it entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Shay did.

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 2 to come out!

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have enjoyed the books I have read in the Crystals and CuriosiTEAS series. I am not really a huge paranormal fan, but this series is entertaining and has such wonderful characters that I don’t mind that aspect of the books. I love the family dynamics between the characters, the small town feel between the individuals in Bray Harbor, California, and the typical murder mystery. I enjoyed getting to know Liam’s grandmother. Her visit ... or possibly permanent stay ... from Ireland adds a good twist to the story line. The murder mystery kept me guessing until the very end. Lots of twists and turns and family issues that has you flipping through the pages to get to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Murder In A Cup is the 2nd book in Lauren Elliott's A Crystals & CuriosiTeas Mystery series. It is a good paranormal with likeable characters and a cozy mystery that kept me guessing. Shay Myers owns the New Age tea shop and she offers tea leaves readings, and she can read emotions. Shay inherits the shop from her birth mother Bridget. She has a lot to learn about tea, poisonous plants, and her paranormal abilities. Shay's sister Jen and friend Tassi work at the shop. Shay gets talked into doing a tea leaves reading for a group of local women. One of the women ends up dead and.Tasks is a suspect. Shay's neighbor and friend Liam returns from Ireland with his grandmother. Gran and Shay hit it off but Gran causes a few problems for Liam. The story moves along at a.good pace and there are several things happening that keep the story interesting. It centers a lot on the paranormal, familiars, inky feelings and trusting instincts. Overall, this was a good paranormal cozy mystery. #MurderInACup #Crystals&CuriosiTEASMystery #KensingtonCozies

I absolutely loved book 1 and was so excited to get an arc copy of book 2 through @netgalley. I love Elliot’s cozy mysteries. And I really enjoyed this one too! I like the development of the characters. I love Liam and can’t wait to see what’s to come for their friendship for now, hopefully. I had my suspicions about the guilty party in this one, but it didn’t take away from the story. You could probably read this as a standalone, but it would be extremely better if you read Book 1 first.