Scones & Bones

A Tea Shop Mystery

By: Laura Childs

Narrated by: Barbara McCulloh

Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning is lured into attending the Heritage Society's "Pirates and Plunder" soiree. But it's an antique diamond skull ring that gets plundered by someone who murders a history intern in the process. Theodosia knows she'll have to whet her investigative skills to find the killer among a raft of suspects.

©2011 Gerry Schmitt & Associates, Inc. (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Ok as a Plus listen, not worth a credit.

Main character is great, right up until she starts solving mysteries. She's a good friend and is creative with her tea business. Otherwise, she's just randomly picking suspects and asking questions and destroying police procedure. So it's doubtful how any of the guilty people would be convicted, any lawyer would find multiple technicalities to get the case tossed out.

Also, she (and the whole town) are always down on the police for no real reason, like corruption for example. It's a very worn stereotype to just assume they're incapable just because they can't immediately solve a crime within 16 minutes of it happening. And why would detectives share confidential information with a clumsy, nosy woman with no investigator's license? I suppose as a fantasy story we're not supposed to worry about that?

Narrator tries to create distinctive voices, some are more successful than others. Her southern drawls are fun. But there's also a lot of shrieking that has me scrambling for the volume down button.

Nice details about Charleston's landscape, architecture, and shops.

voice

Poor voice choice. no southern softness . not the voice of a vibrant young woman. irritating.

Terrific Novel!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This audiobook is outstanding. The first time I have felt so drawn in by the reader, Barbara McCulloh.The cast came alive! It was a new dimension in reading.
Barbara brought Theo, Drayton, Haley, and Det. Tidwell to life right in front of my ears

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

I have read and enjoyed many of the Tea Shop mysteries by Laura Childs. I read Death by Darjeeling back in 2006. I knew Laura had a winner.
I love Charleston and Laura brings us into her town and all its history.

Have you listened to any of Barbara McCulloh’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I've only heard three other readers before. She is the best! I will certainly look up her other performances

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A novel of suspense and pirate intrigue.

Any additional comments?

Thanks for giving me a new experience in reading.

Just not my cup of tea

I had high hopes for this series because I love cozy mysteries and am a tea aficionado. This is cozy enough I guess, just not quite what I was hoping for. Not complex enough, too easily solved. I liked the recipes after the story better than the story itself. Narration was just ok. I tend to prefer a male voice for some reason though; all my favorite narrators are male. I don't think I will continue this series even though I used several credits for multiple volumes from it, thinking I would love it. Maybe I'll come back after some time passes and try another of these. Maybe not.

Love tea and mysteries but this was NOT my cup of tea

The narrator should have been southern. She was too clipped and the characters were just off

The story makes the police seem inept and totally lacks any idea of true police procedures. The characters are flat and stereotyped

Read some of this series many years ago but it seems much now it is just dreary and tried to hard. I really wanted to like it too.

The recipes at the end aren’t even that good.

Not worth a credit so glad this was free