My English mother used to say that anything can be resolved over a cup of hot tea. Since she survived an earthquake, a flood, an aircraft emergency landing in Iceland and the London Blitz of W.W. II, I guess she knew what she was talking about. After all, what could possibly be more British than a hot brew served in a china teacup and saucer and a plate of scones?

My mother brought all her traditions and superstitions to Oregon when she moved to the U.S. She also brought her love of baking, and I grew up devouring her delicious cakes and pastries. Which probably explains why I’m always fighting my weight.

So, it’s not really surprising that when my husband died, I decided to open an English-style tearoom. It had always been my dream, and I knew exactly where I wanted it to establish it – in the quiet, picturesque seaside town of Oregon’s Misty Bay.

Using my mother’s recipes, her British common sense and my own sense of adventure, I plunged into the business world and opened the Willow Pattern Tearoom. Maybe a bit rash, considering I’d said goodbye to my sixtieth birthday, but I’ve always been a risk taker.

My day begins at six a.m., when I stumble out of bed. After a shower has woken me up, I take Felix, my shelter dog, out for a quick stroll, then it’s back for a bowl of cereal before I go downstairs to the kitchen. Then I get to the serious work of the day.

I make lemon curd tarts, maids of honor, Banbury cakes, custard tarts, Battenburg cake, Bakewell tarts, Chelsea buns, Eccles cakes – if it’s made in England, I make it here. I get most of my ingredients from a grocer who imports British foods. When I’m done with the baking, I make fillings for the tea sandwiches, and by the time I’m finished, my two assistants have arrived.

We open at noon, since we serve only afternoon tea. Jenna, who’s about the same age as my youngest daughter, and just as stubborn, prepares the eight tables for our customers. Gracie, who’s young enough to be Jenna’s daughter, takes care of the shelves, where we sell souvenirs and foods from the U.K. They both wait on tables, while I stay in the kitchen, making pots of tea and sandwiches. We close at six, by which time I’m pretty tired, but satisfied that I’ve made a few people happy that day.

My life isn’t all work, of course. For one thing, I have Felix. I adopted him when his previous owner moved to France, and that dog is a joy and a blessing. He’s playful, yet obedient, and knows my every mood. He comforts me when I’m down, and celebrates with me when I’m happy.

Actually, the same could be said of Hal Douglass. He owns the Furry Fun Pet Supplies shop down the street. He’s been a great friend to me. I know he would like to be more than that, and I’m definitely warming up to the idea.

Then there’s the murder. As if I don’t have enough to keep me occupied. I wouldn’t have stuck my nose in, but when Jenna got accused of shoving her ex-husband off a hotel balcony, well, I couldn’t let her go to jail for something she didn’t do.

My husband was a prosecuting attorney, so I have an inkling of how the law works, and what leads up to a conviction. Plus, I’m an avid reader, and never could resist a good mystery. So, of course, I plunged right in to find out who really killed Jenna’s ex. Jenna and Gracie helped, of course. Gracie likes to call us The Three Rookies – a take on The Three Musketeers. It fits, since we are all for one and one for all. Even if it does get us into trouble now and then.

Then again, if I’d known about the danger we would land in, I might have thought twice about hunting down a killer. Maybe. After all, if I’m going to see justice done, I should expect a drawback or two. Right?

*  * * * * *

I hope you will enjoy the antics of a diverse trio of women as we stalk suspects, irritate the local police detective (who I think has a crush on Jenna) and generally blunder our way through an intriguing murder case in the quaint little town of Misty Bay.

Wishing you all a safer, brighter tomorrow,

Kate Kingsbury

In Hot Water, A Misty Bay Tea Room Mystery #1
Genre: Cozy
Release: October 2021
Purchase Link

In bestselling author Kate Kingsbury’s Misty Bay Tea Room series debut, the proprietress of a British-style tea shop must draw on her love for mystery novels to sleuth a murder.

Vivian Wainwright is living her dream. The middle-aged widow owns the Misty Bay Tearoom, a quaint, English-accented shop on the Oregon coast. But on the eve of the tearoom’s second anniversary, the dream turns nightmarish when a man falls to his death from a hotel balcony.

The body belongs to Dean Ramsey, ex-husband of Vivian’s assistant, Jenna. Detective Tony Messina quickly zeroes in on Jenna as prime suspect, since she was seen leaving the hotel shortly before the body was found.

Vivian and her other assistant, Gracie, set out to help clear Jenna’s name, using their wit and a bit of criminology know-how Vivian picked up from her late attorney husband. Detective Messina is on board, but he’s starting to develop feelings for his number one suspect. Puzzling questions persist–chief among them, whose clothes was Dean wearing when he landed on the rocky shore?

To complicate matters, Vivian’s friend, pet shop owner Hal Douglass, seems to know some secrets about the hotel that could add a long list of names to the suspect list. . .including Hal’s own. Vivian must work quickly because if she can’t, Jenna faces a murder rap. . .or worse.

About the author
Kate Kingsbury is the national best-selling author of seventy books. She grew up in England and now lives close to the Oregon coast with her husband, Bill and Bella, a nine-pound Chihuahua who thinks she’s a Great Dane.

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