Retro Reading: Tempest in the Tea Leaves by Kari Lee Townsend
You know how after the holidays your ambition level rises in an attempt to have a great year? Well, Sunshine “Sunny “ Meadows has that same hope.
After the first of a new year, she leaves the hustle and bustle of New York City and buys an old Victorian upstate. She hope to have a thriving psychic business.
When frazzled librarian Amanda Robbins shows up for a reading, Sunny sees a murder in her future. Amanda’s murder.
Less than an hour later, Sunny hears sirens and soon learns of the murder from Detective Mitch Stone and becomes the main suspect. So far, Sunny’s year isn’t starting off the way she had hoped.
If being the main suspect in a murder investigation wasn’t enough, Sunny’s parents show up on her doorstep in an attempt to bring her back to the city. Of course once her high power attorney mother proves her innocence.
As Detective Stone’s investigation points to Sunny as the murderer, she sets about to prove her innocence by trying to stay one step ahead by using her psychic gift. But will she be successful and also fight her feelings for Detective Stone?
Like many crimeozies, author Townsend sets the action in a small town and plants the seed for a relationship between the main character and the lead detective. She also sprinkles some humor into the story, but, it’s not enough. More humor would have made this an exceptional read.
After awhile, the characters become mundane and predictable (along with figuring out true murder). Had one scene not been written, I probably wouldn’t have been thrown off as to the identity of the murderer.
If you’re looking for something to read, this is an okay debut for a mystery series.
