Murder at the Tea Shop — Alice Castle

This cosy seaside village may seem picture perfect, but there are sketchy secrets hiding in plain sight...Having left the big city behind, Sarah Vane is fully embracing her calmer life in the quaint coastal town of Merstairs. With more time for hobbies, she joins a very popular life drawing class at the local tea shop. But when their usual model, the ever-punctual Mr Williams, doesn't turn up, Sarah's worried. He'd been complaining of a cough just last week so she decides to check up on him.Arriving at his crooked little cottage, it appears the front door isn't quite shut. Stepping inside, Sarah is shocked to find Mr Williams slumped in his armchair. Casting her eyes down to his coffee table she sees a generous slice of Victoria sponge with one perfectly sized bite taken from it. Is this a case of death by cake?As Sarah hunts around the cluttered cottage for clues, she finds that Mr Williams had a rather peculiar hobby. It seems that he was an avid collector of ladies' delicates, and from the looks of it, all the washing lines of Merstairs have been raided. But could his quirky collection really be a motive for murder?But then the case takes a darker turn when another elderly resident is found dead after eating a slice of red velvet cake. Sarah starts to wonder - why would anyone target pensioners with a sweet tooth? And in a village known for some of the best cakes in the county, can Sarah find the culprit before another life is taken?A delightfully cozy, utterly compulsive and gripping murder mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Betty Rowlands and Katie Gayle who are looking for their next addictive read. Readers love Alice Castle: 'Wow!!! Absolutely LOVED this cozy murder mystery... Brilliant... Completely sucked me in from beginning to end... Truly is a page-turner and I felt myself walking around with my Kindle in my hand every chance I could get.' Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'EXCELLENT!... I read this book in one day and I didn't regret a thing about that!... When you think the story is solved there comes more twists and turns... A page-turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Highly recommended.' Nat's Bookish Corner, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I am crazy about this series!... The modern Miss Marple... Witty and charming... I wish there was more mysteries like this... The perfect blend of a fun cozy feel and a murder mystery that keeps you turning pages late through the night! #WorthIt!... I highly recommend this series... A definite 5+ out of 5 freakin' fantabulous stars!' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Absolutely brilliant... Fabulous.' NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Wow, what a page-turner... The best... A winner... It packs quite a punch.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Coming back to this series is like coming home... I love this series!... Five glowing stars and one I happily recommend to all lovers of really excellent cosy mysteries.' Reviewerlady, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐