Murder in a Cup - (A Crystals & Curiositeas Mystery) by Lauren Elliott (Paperback)

About the Book

"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. 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.

Book Synopsis

As the descendant of an Irish witch and the owner of a New Age tea shop, intuitive gemologist Shay Myers has been living her most authentic life since moving home to California's scenic Monterey Peninsula. But in the latest Crystals & CuriousiTEAS Mystery from USA Today bestselling author Lauren Elliott, 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 . . .

At first, the evening goes off without a hitch--until 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. 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 . . .

Review Quotes

Praise for Lauren Elliott's Mysteries

"Elliott delivers appealing characters, surprising twists, a bit of magic, and the promise of romance. Lovers of paranormal cozies are sure to get on board." --Publishers Weekly on Steeped in Secrets

"Opening a tea shop brings surprises welcome and unwelcome for a recent divorcée...A promising series debut." --Kirkus Reviews on Steeped in Secrets

"With a tangle of murder, lies, and family secrets, STEEPED IN SECRETS is perfect for cozy lovers who enjoy the touch of the supernatural with their mystery." --Laura Eckert, Clermont Public Library (Clermont County, OH) on Steeped in Secrets

"A Margin for Murder really does have it all. A delightfully dogged heroine and an enjoyable cast of characters make this another winner for Lauren Elliott." --Criminal Element

"A nice combination of savvy detective work, old friends turning up to create wrinkles in the plotline, and the overarching fact that Addie is waiting for her boyfriend to put a ring on it, all making for a fast and fun read." --Mystery Scene on A Margin for Murder

"Plenty of specialized knowledge, local color, and romance." --Kirkus Reviews on A Margin for Murder

"A fun, festive whodunit!" --Woman's World Book Club Pick for To the Tome of Murder

"A well-delineated cast of characters and plenty of information about rare books enhance the story." --Booklist on Under the Cover of Murder

"Her highly organized approach to sleuthing will be a hit with cozy fans who like a strong emphasis on the puzzle." --Kirkus Reviews on A Page Marked for Murder

"This lighthearted, wintertime mystery [is] the perfect story to pair with hot cocoa and a night spent curled up on the sofa." --FIRST for Women on Murder in the First Edition

"With a quirky heroine, a lovely setting and a literary crime, this is a story that will intrigue cozy readers." --The Parkersburg News & Sentinel on Prologue to Murder

About the Author

Lauren Elliott is the USA Today bestselling author of the Crystals & CuriousiTEAs Mystery Series and the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mysteries. She grew up devouring Nancy Drew, graduated to Agatha Christie, and then began writing her own mysteries, as well as bringing her passion for storytelling to careers in professional theater and journalism. She can be found online at LaurenElliottAuthor.com.