Oh, Peter Rabbit, look what kind of trouble you got Lily into this time. All she wanted to do was buy a children's set of Beatrix Potter inspired Peter Rabbit teacups. Who know it'd lead to murder?
Not long after she's brought the tea set home (who knew there are tea cup shortages?) and it into use, a woman shows up claiming the tea set is rightfully hers. The woman, Kimberley, insists it was sold without permission. Assuming it has sentimental meaning, Lily is agreeable to giving it to her but not right that moment. She's busy. Kimberley becomes demanding, attempting to bully Lilly into giving the tea cups immediately, which are at that moment in use at a child's party. Lily gets her back up and refuses. Kimberley finally stomps away after Lily promises to return the cups after closing. I'm a bit fuzzy on how Lily could think someone that nasty about it all could be sentimental over it but, well, nevertheless, she gives it to her later.
Much to Lily's surprise, the woman simply slices open the silk covering in the basket the cups came in and removes an envelope and leaves with just that, even paying Lily $100 as she leaves. Lily is bemused but, again, oddly enough in my mind, doesn't think twice about it. That is, until another woman arrives wanting the box, Rachel, who Lily knew from a former work place. Even then, Lily is determined to stay out of it, even when the women launch into a fight in her shop.
Do you see what's coming? Yep, one of the women winds up being murdered. Again, it was a stretch to me to imagine Lily just ignoring shouting and arguing outside her house given the earlier near fist-a-cuffs, but she does....until her dog, Eclair, a labradoodle, raises such a fuss she does decide to look. She finds Kimberley dead. And that's when the story takes off. And, oh, did I mention Kimberley was married to an obnoxious, stuck-on-himself man named Wesley? No? Well, he is Lily's ex. Ah, complications.
Lily finds herself investigating. I'll admit to not quite figuring out whodunit until the final reveal. Hunches don't count, sigh. So, who killed Kimberley? For a man who has just lost his wife, Wesley seems to be stuck on snidely thinking he can woe Lily back. How about Rachel? Turns out there is a complicated, fractious family relationship between Kimberley, a brother, and her. What is in that envelop Kimberley grabbed and practically ran out of the tea shop with? Should she have taken the tea cups, too? How is Rose staying so grounded through all this? Why is Simon the gardener always hanging around? Is presentation really important for a traditional British tea party? Since I was reading this during the coronation of Great Britain's King Charles, traditional English teas seemed an ideal topic to be reading about.
Anyway, enough teasers. Although, as noted, I had to stretch my belief a few times, this was a fun, intriguing read. Excellent red herrings and a variety of suspects woven together by a skilled author. Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks - #KensingtonCozies for inviting me for tea. After that ending, can't wait till my next visit.
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