Review
"I couldn't put it down, staying up way too late last night for just one more chapter...." ~ Sheri O'Neill
"The characters in this story were fabulous...the author has a wonderful descriptive writing style that hook there reader from the start and will have you turning pages until the surprising conclusion. I will definitely be making a return visit to Gemma's tea room." ~ Peggy Rancilio, Peggy's Bookshelf
"A delightfully clever British cozy mystery set against the fascinating backdrop of Oxford" ~ Stephenie Sasse, The Mutt Cafe
"I absolutely loved this book! This is one of, if not THE, best cozy mystery I have read. The descriptions of places and people are fantastic. As I read the story I could picture being there, sitting in the tearoom, or in the University. The characters are developed really well. The relationships are explored and explained... characters aren't popping in for the sake of needing a character." ~ Katie's Reading Corner
"The Oxford Tearoom Mysteries are a real find. All three books are charming, quick reads with lovable characters and lots of humor. They bring back memories of my visits to Oxford with the descriptions of the city and the colleges. The inclusion of the four "Biddies", elderly ladies who like to meddle in murder are often hilarious. Another great"character" is Muesli, Gemma's mischievous cat who sometimes turns up a clue herself. Each of the books kept me guessing and thoroughly entertained. I am looking forward to the next in the series and highly recommend them." ~ Linda Baker, Not A Book Snob blog
"a mystery worthy of Agatha Christie lovers" ~ Amazon reviewer
"A brilliant and funny murder mystery!" ~ Susan Hampson Books
"If you're a cat lover or a fan of British mysteries, you absolutely must read A Scone to Die For"~ Melissa LaPierre, Mochas, Mysteries and Meows
From the Author
There was a rustle from inside the room, the sound of people standing up, the floorboards creaking as weight shifted. Then footsteps approached the door, faster than we expected.
Mabel jerked back from the door. "He's coming out!"
I stumbled backwards in panic. There was no time to run down the staircase - Devlin would be sure to see us in the stairwell. We looked wildly around for a hiding place. This was the top landing in the tower and there was only one other door up here. Mabel ran across and flung it open. It was a broom cupboard, filled with cleaning equipment.
"Quick! In here!" she hissed at the other Old Biddies.
They piled in, wedging themselves between the mops and brooms. I was amazed at how quickly four old ladies could squeeze themselves into such a tiny space, lavender handbags and all. The only problem was, it left no room for me.
"Sorry, Gemma, age before beauty," said Mabel ruthlessly and she yanked the door shut in my face.
I stared at the closed door in disbelief. What? They're leaving me out here to deal with Devlin alone? I'm going to kill them, senior age or not!
Whirling, I considered my options. I could hear the rumble of voices coming from Hughes's room - it looked like they had stopped to talk again just inside the door. It bought me a few more seconds reprieve. I glanced around. The only other thing I could see on the landing was a narrow Gothic window. I ran over and pulled the casement open. Instead of the sheer drop I'd expected, it led out onto a circular battlement which enclosed the tower. If I could climb out, I could crouch beneath the level of the parapet and hide from view until Devlin had gone down the stairs.
It was ludicrous and humiliating but not unsafe. I hooked a leg over the windowsill and started to push myself out through the narrow gap. It wasn't as easy as I'd thought. I was sitting astride the windowsill, half in, half out, trying to suck my stomach in... when I heard the dreaded voice.
"Gemma?"
Oh bugger. I froze, then slowly turned my head.
Devlin stood on the landing, looking at me in bewilderment. "What on earth are you doing?"
I thought of Mabel's trick and tried to act like climbing out of Oxford college windows was a perfectly normal mid-week activity for me. I gave a little trill of laughter. It was scary how much I sounded like my mother. "Ah, Devlin, ha-ha... Fancy seeing you here!"
It didn't seem to work. He came towards me, frowning. "What are you doing?"
"Um... " I wracked my brain for some excuse to explain my window-straddling position. I came up with nothing. "I... um... I was looking for my... pashmina! Yes, I've lost my pashmina, you see--and I thought I might have left it here when I came to High Table last Sunday night."
"And your pashmina managed to get by itself all the way up to the parapet outside Professor Hughes's room?" Devlin raised a sardonic eyebrow.
I flushed. "Yes... well... Funny how things end up in the strangest places."
"And I suppose you didn't know that I was interviewing Professor Hughes?"
"Oh, were you?" I opened my eyes wide, the picture of innocence.
"And naturally you didn't happen to overhear any part of my conversation with Professor Hughes..."
"Well... um... you know, the landing being so small... I did maybe overhear a bit of the conversation... not that I was really listening, of course..."
"Of course not," said Devlin blandly.
A muffled sneeze sounded next to us. Devlin turned sharply towards the broom cupboard. We could hear the sounds of shuffling coming from inside, accompanied by whispers of:
"Move over!"
"I can't! You move over!"
"There's no room!"
"It's your stupid handbag, Glenda! I told you not to buy that style."
"It's not my handbag, it's your bottom! You need to lose some weight, Florence."
"Rubbish!"
"Shh - they'll hear us!"
Devlin muttered under his breath, then stepped over and pulled the cupboard door open. It revealed four little old ladies clutching each other."Eeek!"
"Inspector O'Connor! What a surprise!" Mabel let go of the others and stepped out, recovering spectacularly.
Devlin gave a deep sigh. "Yes, another one. I don't think I can cope with any more surprises tonight. I suppose you were searching for Gemma's pashmina in the broom cupboard?"
Mabel darted a look at me. "Why, yes... of course! How clever of you to guess that! But of course, that's why you're such a brilliant detective... ha ha..."
Excerpt from A Scone to Die For (Oxford Tearoom Mysteries ~ Book 1)
© H.Y. Hanna - All Rights Reserved.
From the Inside Flap
BOOKS IN THE OXFORD TEAROOM MYSTERIES:
Each book can be read as a standalone, but it's more fun if you read the series in order! - A Scone To Die For (Book 1)
- Tea with Milk and Murder (Book 2)
- Two Down, Bun To Go (Book 3)
- Till Death Do Us Tart (Book 4)
- Muffins and Mourning Tea (Book 5)
- Four Puddings and a Funeral (Book 6)
- Another One Bites the Crust (Book 7)
- Apple Strudel Alibi (Book 8)
- The Dough Must Go On (Book 9)
- The Mousse Wonderful Time of Year (Book 10)
+ All-Butter ShortDead (Prequel)
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author H.Y. Hanna writes fun cosy mysteries filled with humour, quirky characters, clever twists-and cats with big personalities! She is known for bringing wonderful settings to life, whether it's the historic city of Oxford, the beautiful English Cotswolds or the sunny beaches of coastal Florida. After graduating from Oxford University with a BA in Biological Sciences and a MSt in Social Anthropology, Hsin-Yi tried her hand at a variety of jobs including advertising, modelling, teaching English and dog training... before returning to her first love: writing. She worked as a freelance writer for several years and has won awards for her poetry, short stories and journalism. Hsin-Yi was born in Taiwan and has been a globe-trotter all her life-living in a variety of cultures, from Dubai to Auckland, London to New Jersey-but is now happily settled in Perth, Western Australia, with her husband and a rescue kitty named Muesli. She loves gardening, has a morbid fear of cockroaches and adds chili to everything she eats!
