Theodosia and her partner Drayton run a tea shop and have solved a lot of mysteries up to this point. The volume revolves around a skull cup purportedly made out of Blackbeard's skull which is owned by the Heritage Society. It is stolen while on display and a young intern is murdered. The cup also is rumored to contain clues to a buried treasure. Theo continually sticks her nose in and acts like a PI or detective rather than an ordinary citizen and people respond to her questioning that way. Not believable. There are logistic questions that seem improbable (ie the number of things and places one person can be in one day). I have not read the series in order, just 3 entries over time and I find myself feeling blah about looking for any others. ( )

I have read other books in this series, including some later in the series--I've been going back to read the ones I missed along the way.

So here we are at book 12. Theodosia (everytime Delaine says her name I imagine it being Hermione Granger's voice when she instructs Ron Weasley on the correct pronunciation of leviosa!) Anyway, Theodosia is finally in her new house. As usual, the tea shop has quite a few commitments to fulfill as well as Theodosia and Drayton having multiple social gatherings to attend. One does start to wonder how they do it all--especially since Earl Grey is no longer above the tea shop where Haley or Mrs. Dimple could take him out if needed.

The title coincides with the book a bit better than some of the previous ones: scones for the tea room and bones for the skull cup and bone beach.

I wonder why the author decided to take Theodosia's love life away from Parker Scully and to Max (well, if it does go to Max...it certainly seemed like that was the plan). We don't get much clue in this book other than both characters having busy (separate busy in most cases) lives. Parker does make an appearance at the tea shop's tea and cheese tasting--though I think he misses at least one other event he and Theodosia were supposed to do together. Theodosia doesn't seem to put his restaurant's event high in her priority list, however, and I understand Parker's disappointment in that.

The author attempted to have several different suspects who could be the thief: antique dealers, treasure hunters, collectors of pirate antiquities, historians interested in the legend, etc.

I half expected someone else to be the thief than who it was eventually revealed to be.

I was upset when Theodosia ruined Drayton's birthday gift--but then again, I half expected that too but that expectation came closer to the time it happened rather than earlier in the book like the one in my former paragraph did.

I hope that the author tones Delaine down a bit in future books though. She's getting a bit strident in this book. ( )

Delaine and Nadine are getting extremely annoying as characters. If, as a writer, I had those two characters roaming in my head they would be the victims in my next murder mystery. ( )

I can't believe that i am one book away from being all caught up with this series. I am having tons of fun with these characters. ( )

The newest book in the Tea Shop series was a nice little cozy excursion for the brain, but I don't think it was one of the author's best. I had figured out the culprit a few chapters before the end, and I wasn't as impressed with the ending as I have been with other books in the series. ( )

I have enjoyed the Tea Shop Mystery series. I love the setting, characters, recipes, etc. The previous 11 books have been really good.

That being said, I struggled to get through Scones & Bones. The plot was thin and the dialogue was aggravatingly juvenile. I made myself finish the book because I do like the characters. Hopefully, book 13 will be better. ( )

Interesting premise, but the author needs to learn more about how museum's construct displays. No one in their right mind would set up a museum display with a costly and rare item and then leave it unguarded. No one would set up a display like this without proper security measures and having the case armed. The tea shoppe and historical information about pirates and Charleston are interesting, and Drayton is a doll!

The use of 'cute' slang terms annoyed me greatly--what will future readers think of the words and will they understand them? "Goosed" the Jeep around a corner? "Plopped" into a seat? Give me a break!

The ending also happened rapidly and there was no explanation of motive on the part of the killer thief--maybe just greed. Some of the scenes stretched my sense of "suspending disbelief" to the max. So throwing a teapot at a speeding car will make any difference whatsoever? Perfectly stupid waste of a rare antique. ( )

Another good entry in the Teashop Mystery series. Love all of these books. Set in Charleston, the locale is interesting and historic and the characters are familiar and comfortable. And the main character changes love interests enough to make it interesting! Very good read. ( )

This cozy is an interesting blend of fact and fiction. Blackbeard’s skull, now a silver encrusted cup enhanced with a stunning diamond, is taken out of storage and becomes the kingpin of the Heritage Society’s Pirates and Plunder party. But not for long. Amid mayhem and murder it is stolen, and Theodosia is hot on the trail. Theo and her trusty sidekick Drayton may have bitten off more than they can chew, putting themselves and others in danger. And could there a new romance brewing for Theo? If you like your mysteries on the lighter side, you will like this tea shop series, both for its mystery and its tea tidbits. ( )

I think this series is starting to lag a bit, but it was still a charming, fairly mindless read. The hostage taken was a new one, at least-- I don't think we've seen that particular formulation of a resolution before. I'm hoping that Childs does something to shake up the series-- marry off a character, kill off a major character, something like that, because it's starting to get a bit stale. ( )

Laura Childs writes 3 different series, this series is set in Charleston, SC, and features an owner of a Tea Shop. The Tea Shop Mystery series centers on historic Charleston and all the finer aspects of that old town with quaint shops, fine dining, gala parties, and charming gentry. Childs seems to write formula novels with each following the same pattern, which by number twelve has lost a little of the charm of this series. This story centered on pirates, especially Blackbeard and his supposed treasure. I enjoy the historic jaunt, but the formula mystery is trite and boring. ( )

Charleston's history includes a lot of pirate lore, espeically stories of the pirate Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard. A Pirate show at the Heritage Soceity rather quickly becomes a murder scene and Timothy Neville asks Theodosia to nose around as usual. Never too busy at the tea shop to say no to that, Theodosia and good-natured co-worker Drayton delve into the mystery of a skull purported to be a clue to the whereabouts of Blackbeard's long lost treasure.
I think the Charleston setting for Childs' tea shop mystery series is one reason the series, twelve books deep, remains so fresh. Their meddling doesn't seem fraudulent and getting to the end was a pleasure. ( )

Drayton Conneley, master tea blender for the Indigo Tea Shop, escorts its owner, Theodosia Browning, to the Heritage Society's Pirates and Plunder Party and in doing so, exposes Theo to the exploits of a murderer searching for Blackbeard's buried treasure. When murder threatens her friends, Theodosia and Drayton learn the mysteries of Blackbeard's Skull Cup following the clues and legends of old, while at the same time preparing for the Food & Wine Festival activities in Charleston. We've all heard Wine & Cheese, well, the Indigo Tea Shop is serving Tea & Cheese pairing different teas with exotic cheeses. But that's not all that brews up before the end of the book. A fun read bringing old friends (this is the 12th installment of the Tea Shop Mysteries) back to us with new and interesting revelations. ( )

Author Childs offers up another tea shop mystery, and it's a good one. There's lots of action and not so much brewing of tea as usual. The murder happens within the first few pages, which is always a plus for me. There's a pirate exhibit opening party at The Heritage Society, and someone kills an intern in order to make off with Blackbeard's skull, which had been made into a cup. Theodosia and Drayton promise Heritage director Timothy Neville that they will do what they can to find out who killed his intern and what happened to the skull. The rest of the book details their quest. It's an amusing outing with lots of Charleston ambiance thrown in. A winner in my book! ( )

Theodosia and Drayton are attending a Heritage Society "pirate" event when the featured item, a skull cap of Blackbeard inlaid with a sizable diamond, goes missing and an intern turns up dead. When Detective Tidwell is injured in an accident on his way to investigate, Theodosia realizes that important clues may be missed without Tidwell to guide the investigation so at Timothy Neville's request, she sets out to investigate. With suspects ranging from pirate enthusiasts to antique collectors, she has her work cut out for her. The conclusion may have been a bit rushed, but it was not quite as predictable as some cozies. I always enjoy my visits with the folks at the Indigo Tea Shop. I just wish that it were a real place and not a fictional one so I could taste the tantalizing treats and teas mentioned throughout the book on an upcoming Charleston visit. I do intend to try one or more of the recipes at the end of the book. ( )

Reading a new Tea Shop Mystery is like visiting with old friends. Even though this is the 12th installment in the series, it is a stand alone book. New readers will be able to keep pace with the unique cast of characters without feeling lost.

Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop, is talked into attending the Heritage Society’s ‘Pirates and Plunder’ party by Drayton Conneley, master tea blender for the shop and Heritage Society booster. One of the main attractions of the gala is an antique skull drinking cup set with a huge diamond. It’s alleged to be the actual skull of Blackbeard.

The party takes a horrible turn when the skull is stolen, the society’s office manager is injured, and a history intern is killed.

Theodosia can’t help but get involved to find the skull and bring the killer to justice. Along the way she is also busy hosting a housewarming party to show off her new carriage house, participating in the Charleston Food and Wine Festival by sponsoring a tea and cheese tasting, having tingling feelings for the handsome new PR Director of the Gibbes Museum of Art, and of course, running her tea shop.

Author Laura Childs blends pirates, secret societies, buried treasures, mystery, murder, and mayhem with a touch of humor. Just when you think you have figured out who the killer is, a new twist introduces another possible suspect and another clue as to why the skull was taken.

This is a fast pace, enjoyable read from beginning to end. You don’t have to be a tea drinker to enjoy this delightful cozy mystery. But if you do enjoy tea, Drayton may just tempt you with a new flavor or two. Though I’m a huge coffee drinker, Theodosia and the gang at the Indigo Tea Shop have lead me to try some wonderful new tea blends and even collect a tea pot or two.

As an added bonus to SCONES & BONES, readers will find delicious recipes (such as Lemon Chess Pie), tea time tips and tea resources in the back of the book. There is also a preview of Laura Childs’ next Scapbooking Mystery, SKELTON LETTERS, coming in October from Berkley Prime Crime ( )

Laura Childs, author of the series "Tea Shop Mystery" has written another book title "Scones and Bones" to entertain readers. Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning attends the Hertiage Society's Pirates and Plunder party. Blackbeard's skull cup withe a diamond is stolen and during the theft a young history intern is murdered. As Theodosia investigates and solves the murder, she is busy running her teashop, hosting a party at her house, handling social commitments, and enjoying a new romance. The book is replete with sights and sounds of Charleston. It is a delightful read!

I am starting to realize that I really enjoy Cozy Mysteries. They are a lot of fun with out all the sometimes gruesome details of other mystery and suspense novels and it's also fun to watch an amateur solve the case. And Ms. Childs makes some very interesting characters in her books that I found endearing and I enjoyed watching through the book.

This is the first book I have read in The Tea Shop Mystery series, and it's the 12th book in the series. But don't let that stop you if you haven't read any in the series. I know I would know and understand the characters more if I had read the earlier books, but I never felt lost and I got to know the characters well and found that this book is a good stand-alone cozy mystery. Will I go back and read the series now? Sure I will and I will continue to read from this point. The characters and the setting have really drawn me in and I look forward to having another series to read.

Let's talk a little about characters. Theodosia, Drayton and Hayley seem to be the main characters. They are the owners and workers at their tea shop in Charleston, South Carolina. I loved getting to know them a little in this book and found I really liked all three of them and liked how the work together even though they are all three very different people. Theodosia (Theo) takes the lead role in the book and she and Drayton work together to solve the mystery with help from some other friends, while running the tea shop and participating in the Food and Wine week that is going on in the city. To go along with the mystery there may also be some romance brewing.

I also found the setting to be fascinating. Charleston is a town I would like to visit and since I live just a few hours north on the North Carolina coast I loved the setting. I also loved the pirate lore in this book. Using Blackbeard is a great plot device. Everyone knows about Blackbeard and I loved seeing our own beloved Beaufort Inlet mentioned in the book (I live and work just a few miles from there and that is where the Queen Anne's Revenge, Blackbeard's ship has been found). Ms. Childs does a wonderful job with pirate lore and incorporating it into the story and into the Charleston area.

The mystery was fun. I liked following Theo and Drayton around as they met other people and began to put the pieces together. Though I did somewhat suspect who did it, it still came as a surprise once they figured it out. It makes a great cozy mystery and I enjoyed reading every minute of it.

My only problem with the whole book was I felt the ending was a little rushed. I understand that this happens sometimes. Even though I was a bit disappointed with this, it did not take away from my overall love for the book. And I will definitely be picking up the next one in this series to see where a storyline from this book goes and to see what kind of mystery Theo and Drayton get to solve next. ( )

Love all her books!!! ( )