Not Delany’s best plotted mystery, but a fun read with an interesting change of setting.

I like that Delany took Lily and the gang on a trip for this installment, and though I would have liked more York-centric atmosphere and history, the setting still works well and it provides a nice change from the series’ central location.

The mystery here isn’t Delany’s finest. She’s usually worlds better than most cozy writers when it comes to the actual mystery, but this one is just okay and also leans on the horrendously overused food allergy death that pervades cozies.

I hope the next installment is a bit more in line with Delany’s usual work in terms of quality, but it’s always enjoyable to spend time in her world and with her characters, and this book is no exception.

Tea With Jam and Dread by Vicki Delany finds Rose, Bernie, and Lily in England far from the teashop and B&B back in Cape Cod. They were here at the invitation of the Dowager Countess of Frockmorton in whose home Rose had worked so many years ago as a maid. Now they were at Thornecroft Castle and Hotel to celebrate her 100th birthday. She apparently remembered Rose fondly and both were somewhat of an age at which many of their contemporaries were gone. What they found was a well-run hotel, the manager being the grandson of Elizabeth, the dowager and a plethora of other family members, some of whom were likable, some of whom were not. Lily overheard a conversation between another pair of grandchildren to the effect that they wanted to have Elizabeth declared incompetent and take it all from her. There was a lot of greed and hostility brewing in this family, as well as ennui. Then, at the birthday party, the current earl, Elizabeth’s son passed out. An ambulance was called and he was taken to the hospital but it was not good. He was dead. Was this a murder? Of course, the trio felt compelled to investigate.

These ladies are all excellent characters with individual personalities of their own. They worked well together, especially Rose and Bernie, who tended to proceed without caution. There was a lot to unpack. This was a family that was land rich and cash poor. Elizabeth had one final piece of tine jewelry which she had retrieved from the bank and worn that evening. Then it was gone. Were the two “crimes” related? The plan had been for Lily to leave the hotel for a few days to see Simon who worked nearby, but she was too worried to leave her grandmother. This was a multi-pronged investigation which ended, at least partially, happily. It was a good mystery and gave us a closer look at our favorite characters in a different setting. This book is well-worth the read.

I was invited to read Tea With Jam and Dread by Kensington Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonPublishing #VickiDelany #TeaWithJamAndDread

Really good cozy mystery. This addition has everyone going to England for Rose's friends 100th birthday celebration. With the celebrations comes a death and robbery and lots of escapes with the visitors. This is one of my favorite series. A really good summer read.

Although I have not read all the books in this series I did enjoy this book for what it is. A great cosy, a good mystery and a lot of fun to read. I am also a lover of a good tea shop so this appealed to me as well. I do love Lily and Rose and love all the quirkiness, the twists, the relationships and a great setting of course.

I think I will go find the books I haven't read and start from scratch so I am right up to date before the next book comes out. Give me more, I love them.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is the 6th book in the tea by the sea mysteries. I like the series and because I have read so many in the series, I feel like I am invested and I want to keep going. I also love a good tea shop book because the scenery of the book just whisks me away. Overall I like this book, the grandma in the book, she is a tad bit of a turn off. I don’t know what it is about her but I don’t like her attitude.

Lily, Rose (the grandmother) and Bernie take a trip to the UK because Rose was invited to the Dowager Countesses’ 100th birthday party. The Dowager’s family is something to be desired. They are greedy and back stabbing, some of them even think they are sooo much better than everyone else. The Dowager is so kind and thoughtful. This book did shed some light on Rose and painted her in a softer light.

Of course there was a murder because it wouldn’t be a cozy mystery with out one 😊 The gang helps solve the mystery and while doing uncover the dynamics of the family and who supports who. Lily also uncovers a bit about her self and he love life 😊

Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for an advanced copy of this book.

From all the times Rose had ever talked about working Lady Frockmorton, I wasn’t sure I’d ever like that woman. But when we actually got to meet her, she seemed even more down to earth sometimes than Rose herself did. It was more like two old friends reuniting instead of former employer/employee. Lily got to help out in the hotel kitchen and got a taste of how massive their prep was for afternoon tea at the hotel.

Of course no adventure with Lily would be complete without the requisite murder—although I’m pretty sure Lily wouldn’t agree with that statement because this time the police seemed to believe she was involved. It was sleuth or be accused. In true Lily and Bernie style, the friends did their sleuthing together, had a near miss and ended with Lily confronting the killer. It was a fairly non-eventful showdown but it could’ve gone sideways. I thought the ending was really sweet. I can’t honestly say this was one of my favorites in the series, but it was still a good mystery with some quirky and interesting characters.

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

Tea with Jam & Dread is book #6 in the Tea by the Sea Mysteries series by Vicki Delany.

Lily, her grandmother Rose, and friends leave Cape Cod to go to England to celebrate the 100th birthday of Rose’s former employer. When they get there, things have changed. The home is now a hotel. There is a lot of drama about finances and then family jewels disappear. When there is a death, and Lily is a suspect, they need to investigate and clear her name. This was a challenging investigation because they are in a foreign country and don’t have their usual connections. I enjoyed the mystery and seeing the characters in a new location.

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

I have loved this series from the very beginning. I love the location, but having the ladies travel to England? Brilliant! Who would’ve thought that Rose would go back where it all began for her and have the lady of the manner actually welcome her open arms. Unfortunately, it turns out that murder and thievery is on the menu and it turns out the ladies will be paying for their stay through soothing and trying to figure out whodunit. And that’s what they do best.

Well, I’m ready for the ladies to be back home, because I do love the tea shop, this is a really fun Reid. I love the setting. I love the characters but most of all I love the mystery. I’ll be back for more than more than this series.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Vicki Delany for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Tea with Jam & Dread coming out July 29, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own..

I definitely love this series. She is one of my favorite authors. I love the cozy setting and this was really great because they travel to England. I definitely loved the setting. The castle and the proper tea parties were awesome. I hope there are many more books in the series.

I dove into Tea with Jam and Dread craving Vicki Delaney’s signature cozy vibes, and oh, did it deliver! Lily, Bernie, and Rose trading their Cape Cod tearoom for a London estate felt like stepping into the heart of their England-inspired dreams. The setting sparkled, think grand manors and proper tea times, making every page feel like a warm hug from a British granny. The mystery was engaging, with a satisfying conclusion that tied up the chaos neatly, leaving me smiling.

Delany’s knack for quirky characters shone, but oof, the Frockmorton family tree was a tangle! Even with a character list, I struggled to keep everyone straight and eventually just rode the story’s flow. The pacing was steady, though the crowded cast slowed me down a bit. Still, the transatlantic charm and Lily’s sleuthing kept me hooked.

Tea with Jam & Dread, the sixth Tea By the Sea mystery by Vicki Delany, is a complex combination of two mysteries set in a country manor in the English countryside.
Delany takes her quirky cast of characters from New England in the USA to Yorkshire in England, providing numerous funny fish-out-of-the-sea moments that serve as comic relief for the more serious crimes of murder by allergic reaction and theft of, literally, the family jewels. In the process, Delany comments on the merits and short fallings of the British caste system, as well as on the drama that can be found in families. The Yorkshire countryside is richly described, and as one can imagine with such a setting and the 100th birthday celebration of countess, suspects are as plentiful as the tea that is served.
The book is well written, the characters plentiful and full of personality, and the mystery keeps you guessing. I enjoyed i, but found myself skipping over sections, such as those examining the suspects, later in the book that I felt I had read already.
Thank you for the ARC of #TeawithJamDread to #NetGalley and #KensingtonPublishing.

Tea with Jam & Dread is the 6th book in Vicki Delany's Tea by the Sea Mysteries and it is a good addition to the series. I really enjoy this series and in this book Lilly, Rose, and Bernadette (Bernie) go to England for Rose's friend Elizabeth, Dowager Countess of Frockmorton's 100th birthday celebration. Thornecroft Castle House is a hotel but is closed to the public for the family event. Most of Elizabeth's family is there for her birthday weekend and are all staying at Thornecroft as well as Rose, Lilly and Bernie. There are a lot of people to keep track of but there is a Character List at the beginning which helps and the author periodically reminds the reader who the people are. There is rivalry and personality conflicts among the family members. Lilly wants to help out with Elizabeth's Afternoon Tea so she can get ideas for her own Tea Room. One of the family members ends up dead and Lilly is a suspect. Lilly was supposed to visit her boyfriend Simon who is working at an estate garden near Thornecroft for the winter. Bernie's boyfriend Matt is an author and is doing research for a book and they are supposed to meet up after the birthday celebration. With the death and some missing valuable family jewelry, Lilly and Bernie decide they need to stay at Thornecroft with Rose so Simon and Matt arrive. It is nice to see Lilly and Simon's relationship progress. I enjoyed the two couples and Rose investigating and there is very little peril which is an added bonus. I guessed fairly early on about the missing jewelry but wasn't sure about the culprit for the murder. It is difficult to take a series to a new location with new characters and to balance the old with the new and this book hit that balance for the most part. I enjoyed this book and it was fun to visit England but the plethora of characters bogged down the story. I look forward to the next book and I really enjoy this series. #TeaWithJam&Dread #TeaByTheSeaMysteries #KensingtonCozies

I really enjoyed the change of setting for this installment of Tea by the Sea. It was fun for everyone to visit England, and of course I appreciated the Downton Abbey feel of the Yorkshire estate. Plus, we get two sassy older ladies with the addition of Elizabeth, Rose’s employer from long ago. Sometimes I had trouble keeping track of Elizabeth’s many shady relatives; they kind of all blended together. But overall I thought this was a good one!

I need to start this series from the beginning.
This really was a delight to read with its fun characters.
The writing was great and smoothly paced, and the mystery itself was very well executed.
The setting is charming and you can tell well-researched.

I anxiously await Ms. Vicki Delany's new books 4 times a year. She has been able to publish one book per year in her 4 most cozy mystery series.

This is the sixth book in the Tea By The Sea Mysteries, and it is one of my favorites, because the main characters are by now BFF's. Ms. Delany has such a smooth writing style, and she makes each character come alive...especially the "meanies" that one does not mind if they get killed. ...and boy does she know how to write nasty characters!!!

Once the murder (s) happen, Lilly, her grandmother Rose, and her friend (the wannabe autor) Bernie go to work, and I am right there with them...we are all trying to solve the murder as we uncover a myriad of issues, intrigues and sinister subplots until we find out whodunnit and whydunnit at the end ina most satisfying way. It is refreshing that Grandma and Bernie are less annoying as the books develop, and that they have an active role in solving the murder!

I do so appreciate all the research that Ms. Delany has done for this book, which takes our heroines to England. I follow Ms. Delany on Facebook, and was so glad to see her postings with photos about the areas she visited in preparation for this books' story.
I give this book an Outstanding - 5 Stars!!!

Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Cozies for making an advance readers' copy available for me to read and post a personal review. I also wish to thank Ms. Delany for writing this thrilling book!

5/5 stars: This is the sixth entry in Delany's Tea by the Sea Mysteries series, which is a Culinary Cozy Mystery and follows a Massachusetts tearoom owner who travels to England with her grandmother and best friend to attend an aristocratic centenarian's birthday party only to find herself turning sleuth after the woman's family jewels go missing and the lady's grandson dies from an allergic reaction that someone smuggled into the coronation chicken sandwiches she helped make. She'll have to work fast to discover who stole the jewels and unmask the killer before it's time for her to return home. With plenty of twists and turns, Delany has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Heartfelt and humorous, Delany's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. Lily's great and it's a joy to catch up with her friends and family. I especially got a kick out of her best friend, Bernie, who's a definite character and has been hilariously been “writing” a novel for several books. I also really liked seeing Lily sleuthing in a new setting, the Yorkshire, England mansion-turned-hotel where her grandmother Rose worked as a young woman. Additionally, it's great to see Lily's relationship with her gardener paramour, Simon, progressing. Oh and you won't want to miss all of the absolutely delicious sounding recipes included. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Tea & Treachery.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing | Kensington Cozies in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Lily Roberts was just trying to have a wholesome little English getaway. Tea, scones, her boyfriend Simon (who is basically a golden retriever in motorcycle boots), and her grandmother’s vibes-only reunion with a literal countess. And for about two and a half seconds, it’s cute. They’re in Yorkshire! There are sheep! There are terrifying roundabouts and casual aristocratic power plays! And then someone keels over at a fancy tea and everything goes full Downton Abbey meets Clue with a side of almond-induced mayhem.

This is “Tea with Jam & Dread,” the sixth book in Vicki Delany’s “Tea by the Sea” series, and it catapults our cozy Cape Cod queen straight into British manor house chaos. Lily, her ride-or-die best friend Bernie, and her absolutely iconic grandma Rose hop across the pond for the 100th birthday of Elizabeth, dowager countess of Frockmorton. Why? Because back in the day, Rose was a kitchen maid at Thornecroft Castle and apparently made such a lasting impression she’s now VIP guest list material. It’s like if Mrs. Patmore got invited back as royalty and immediately sensed something was murdery.

The vibes? Immaculate, at first. Think old-money grandeur meets lowkey tension you can cut with a butter knife. The castle has been turned into a hotel, but it’s closing for a week to host this full send-off to nobility and the family is NOT on the same page about it. Cue passive-aggressive conversations, generational grudge matches, and exactly the kind of rich people nonsense you just know is going to end in police tape and finger-pointing.

And oh yes, it does. After one very dramatic tea party, someone ends up very not alive, and Lily suddenly finds herself in the hot seat thanks to some highly unfortunate catering. Meanwhile, priceless family heirlooms mysteriously vanish, suspicions swirl like clotted cream in hot tea, and everyone at the party is giving big “I have something to hide” energy. If you guessed the plot would boil over like an oversteeped Earl Grey, congrats, you’re smarter than half the suspects.

What really works here is the fish-out-of-water tension. Lily’s a pro at sniffing out shady motives in small-town Cape Cod, but here she’s playing mystery bingo with a bunch of aristocrats she just met, on turf where she doesn’t know the rules and the cops aren’t exactly cozy. And with the stakes higher, international incident higher, she has to rely on intuition, a lifetime of tea service know-how, and her two ride-or-dies who absolutely cannot stay out of trouble even when legally advised to do so.

Simon, back from his English countryside gardening job that feels suspiciously like he was sent away to mope in cable-knit sweaters, returns in full protective mode. He broods, he drives, he provides moral support like a man whose entire personality is “don’t touch my girlfriend or the lavender.” He’s is very much a reminder that Lily is in her competent queen era, even when the locals are treating her like a sandwich with criminal intent.

Grandma Rose, bless her emotionally resilient heart, gives us the warm fuzzies AND the investigative juice. Her backstory with the countess adds real depth, and watching her walk the halls of her former workplace like a ghost who came back to stir the pot? Chef’s kiss. Bernie is pure cozy chaos as always. Doing light social espionage, interrogating dinner guests over scones, and dragging Lily deeper into the mystery with a look that says, “We could die, but it’d be fun.”

Now, fair warning: there are a lot of characters. Like, "Game of Thrones" at a garden party levels. You will use the Dramatis Personae at the front. It's a lifeline. And while the plot twists are engaging, the final answers come a little fast, like a polite British person suddenly yelling “MURDER!” at the end of a dinner party. It works, it’s satisfying, but it could’ve used one more chapter of tension-filled tea sipping before the boom.

This one brings the cozy drama, international flair, and character growth, even if it occasionally gets tangled in its own tea leaves. It’s sharp, funny, full of posh murder energy, and gives Lily room to shine outside her usual turf. 3.5 stars.

Whodunity Award: For Featuring the Only Birthday Party Where the Real Gift Was Multiple Felonies

Big thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. You really know how to serve murder with a side of scones. This book made me crave tea, judgmental grandmothers, and mild aristocratic scandal in that exact order.

Number six in the Tea by the Sea Mystery series.

Lily, who runs a Cape Cod tea room, takes a trip to the UK to attend a very special party. Her grandmother, Rose, used to work as a kitchen maid in an English castle many, many years ago and she is invited to the celebrations for the Dowager Countess's one hundredth birthday. What should be a fun occasion turns sour when a family member is murdered and then the family jewels are stolen.

Lily is one of the police suspects so she, Bernie and Rose begin their own investigation. There are many possible culprits and lots of red herrings. It is an entertaining mystery and I enjoyed the author's own research into English society, especially the little things she imagined American readers would not understand. Four stars.

In TEA WITH JAM & DREAD , written by Vicki Delany, Lily is driving a car in England with her grandmother, Rose, and her best friend, Bernie (Bernadette). The GPS leads them to Thornecroft Castle House and Hotel in Yorkshire, England, where Lily, Rose, and Bernie will help Lady Elizabeth Crawford, the Dowager Countess of Frockmorton, celebrate her 100th birthday. I want to know what happens.

I like the list of characters at the beginning of the book. The story takes a while to get going with many chapters before the main incident occurs. The plot, while slow-moving, is good once it gets going. I want to know what happens with Lily and Simon and look forward to reading the next book in the Tea by the Sea series. Thank you, Kensington Publishing and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of TEA WITH JAM & DREAD.

Lily's grandmother Rose used to be a kitchen maid at Thorncroft Castle, outside Halifax, England. That was many, many years ago. Now Rose has been invited to the matriarch's one hundredth birthday celebration and Lilly and her best friend Bernie are going with her. As soon as they arrive and are introduced to Elizabeth, the matriarch, they notice a lot of tension between several family members who are in attendance. At the celebration tea, that tension is brought to the forefront when the oldest grandson, Julien, slumps over dead. Then when Elizabeth returns to her room she finds that the family jewels, which were retrieved from the bank vault after nearly fifty years for the celebration have been stolen. Of course Lily, Bernie and Rose all start their own side investigation outside the police and have several suspects, but no hard proof. And are the two crimes even connected...That is what they have to figure out.