Murder in a Cup 

Lauren Elliott 

A Crystals & CuriosiTEAS Mystery Series, Book 2

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 28, 2023

As an eclectic tea shop owner descended from an Irish witch, intuitive Shay Myers has been living her most authentic life since moving home to California’s scenic Monterey Peninsula. Yet not even her heightened senses can predict how to run a business—or catch a killer . . .

Self-taught “seer” Shay has much to learn as autumn hits the quaint coastal town of Bray Harbor. Since attempting the art of blending herbs at her popular shop, Crystals & CuriosiTeas, she’s set on growing ingredients in the mysterious greenhouse on the second floor—if only she can separate the medicinal plants from the deadly ones. Her new skills are put to the test when she meets pub owner and ex-detective Liam Madigan’s Gran. A psychic from Ireland known for interpreting tea leaves and people, Gran encourages Shay to build upon her natural talents and hold her own group reading . . .

Despite Shay’s reservations about putting herself in the spotlight, the evening goes off without a hitch. At least, until she does a reading and a customer goes from chatty to dead in a flash, poisoned after sipping a toxic substance recently grown in the greenhouse. Worse, Shay’s assistant is suspected of intentionally serving the lethal brew and committing cold-blooded murder. Now, aided only by Liam and her dog Spirit, Shay must exonerate her employee and save the future of Crystals & CuriosiTeas. But when clues start lining up like leaves in a teacup, she’ll need to understand the signs right in front of her to catch the manipulative murderer before it’s too late . . .

4 Stars

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.