Agony of the Leaves

Nora Blackbird may have been to the manor borne, but these days money is so tight, she cant afford to lose her job as a society columnist. So when her new boss at the Philadelphia Intelligencer—Australian tabloid editor Gus Hardwicke—tells her to work the celebrity gossip beat or start checking the want ads, the choice is easy.

Now Noras writing a profile on billionaire fashion designer Swain Starr, who recently retired to build a high-tech organic farm with his new wife, Zephyr, a former supermodel. But before Nora can get the story, the mogul is murdered. And now Gus wants her to snap up an exclusive on who killed Starr before the cops do.

But solving a celebrity murder isnt easy with a home life as colorful as Noras. Her sort-of-husband, Mick, a former mobster, is associating once again with unsavory characters. Her sister Libby is on a mission to get her diabolical twins on stage or screen with the help of an unscrupulous former child star. And the youngest Blackbird sister, Emma, just got kicked out of the house by Mick—who refuses to explain why.

If anything can bring the blue-blooded Blackbird sisters together, its a murder investigation involving high-society events, glamorous people, and the disappearance of a genetically perfect pig that may or may not be basking in the sun at Blackbird Farm. Theyll all have to pull together this time, because if Nora cant bring home the bacon, she might have to exchange her bucolic estate for a cramped walk-up. 

andldquo;Just the right blend of cozy fun and clever plotting.andrdquo; andmdash;Susan Wittig Albert

andldquo;Murder suits Laura Childs to a Tea.andrdquo;andmdash;St. Paul (MN) Pioneer Press

andldquo;Childs has a great eye for local color.andrdquo;andmdash;Publishers Weekly

andldquo;Just the right blend of cozy fun and clever plotting.andrdquo; andmdash;Susan Wittig Albert

andldquo;Murder suits Laura Childs to a Tea.andrdquo;andmdash;St. Paul (MN) Pioneer Press

andldquo;Childs has a great eye for local color.andrdquo;andmdash;Publishers Weekly

“Hilarious repartee and zany characters.”—Library Journal (Starred Review)

“Smart intrigue dressed in cool couture.”—New York Times Bestselling Author Susan Andersen

“Nancy Martin knows the inner workings of blue-blooded Philadelphia and she lets us in on the fun with style and panache.”—New York Times Bestselling Author Margaret Maron

“Great clothes, great mystery, great fun!”—New York Times Bestselling Author Jennifer Crusie

“Thoroughly entertaining.”— New York Times Bestselling Author Jane Heller

“Highly entertaining….What a hoot! What a treat!”—Rhys Bowen, Author of the Royal Spyness Mystery Series

 “A delicious mix of murder, sex, and cupcakes on the Philadelphia Main Line.”—Pittsburgh Magazine

“A fizzy, entertaining adventure.”—Publishers Weekly

and#8220;Tea lovers, mystery lovers, [this] is for you. Just the right blend of cozy fun and clever plotting.and#8221;and#8212;Susan Wittig Albert, national bestselling author of Death Come Quickly

and#8220;With humor, plenty of action, and a tantalizing array of teas and recipes, Theodosia is sure to win more followers with this enjoyable whodunit.and#8221;and#8212;Publishers Weeklyand#160;

and#8220;Murder suits [Laura Childs] to a Tea.and#8221;and#8212;St. Paul (MN) Pioneer Press

and#8220;Will leave readers feeling as if they have shared a warm cup of tea on Church Street in Charleston.and#8221;and#8212;The Mystery Reader

and#8220;Kept me hooked from opening page to ending.and#8221;and#8212;Central Oregonian

and#8220;A love letter to Charleston, tea, and fine living.and#8221;and#8212;Kirkus Reviews

In the latest novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Scones and Bones, Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning finds herself in hot water when a body surfaces at the grand opening of Charleston's Neptune Aquarium...

The opening of the aquarium is a major Charleston event, and Theodosia has been hired to cater tea, scones, and sandwiches for the private party to honor dignitaries and big buck donors. Things are going swimmingly, until Theodosia escapes the party for a momentary rest, only to discover the body of a man entangled in a net, drowned in one of the aquarium's state-of-the-art tanks.

To make matters worse, the victim is Theodosia's former boyfriend Parker Scully. The EMTs on the scene think Parker's drowning was an accident, but when Theodosia notices what look like defense wounds on his hands, she realizes that someone wanted Parker dead. The local police aren't keen on hearing her theory-especially because of her ties to the victim-so Theodosia knows that if she wants Parker's killer brought to justice, she'll have to jump into the deep end and start her own investigation...

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!

Normally Theodosia wouldnand#8217;t attend a black tie affair for all the tea in China. But she can hardly say no to her hunky, handsome boyfriend, Max, who directs public relations for the Gibbes Museum in Charleston. Max has organized an amazing gala opening for an exhibit of a genuine eighteenth century Chinese teahouse, and the crand#232;me de la crand#232;me of Charleston society is invited.

In the exotic garden staged in the museumand#8217;s rotunda, a Chinese dragon dances to the beat of drums as it weaves through the crowd. The guests are serenaded by a Chinese violin as they sample an assortment of tempting bites. And to give them a memento of the occasion, thereand#8217;s even a photo booth. But Theodosia makes a grim discovery behind the boothand#8217;s curtains: the body of museum donor Edgar Webster.

While Theodosia prefers tea service over the service of justice, this case is difficult to ignoreand#151;especially after Max becomes a suspect. Now she must examine the life of the fallen philanthropist and find out who really wanted him to pay upand#133;

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!