Kristina A. reviewed on 2/2/2016 + 1528 more book reviews

The Grim Steeper by Amanda Cooper is the third book in the Teapot Collector Mystery series. Sophie Taylor returns to Gracious Grove, New York when she received word her beloved Nana (Rose Freemont) is ill (possible heart attack). Sophie was not enjoying the job at Bartleby's in the Hampton's (obnoxious employer) and when they would not give her time off for her grandmother's illness she quit (I do not blame her). Thankfully, Rose is on the mend and just needs to take it easy. Sophie slips back into her routine at Auntie Rose's Victorian Tea House. The town is getting ready for the Fall Fling Townwide Tea Party. People will be able to stroll through the town for tea tastings (and goodies). But there is some trouble brewing for Sophie's boyfriend, Jason Murphy. Jason is a professor at Cruickshank College (and working on his dissertation). He is being accused of taking a bribe to alter the grade of the star basketball player, Mac MacAlister. Jason would never jeopardize his job or the college (he is a straight arrow). On the day Dean Dale Asquith is going to announce the person responsible for the grade change, he turns up dead on the front lawn of Auntie Rose's Victorian Tea House. Whoever killed the Dean is trying to set up Jason. Sophie (with the help of Nana and friends) will have to sift through the clues and find the culprit to prove Jason's innocence.

The Grim Steeper was a fun cozy mystery to read. The book has great characters, lovely setting, and a good mystery (with clues along the way to help solve the mystery). The Grim Steeper is well-written and can be read without having enjoyed the other two books in the series (though you will want to read them). There are a lot of characters and it can be hard to keep them all straight at first. I give The Grim Steeper 5 out of 5 stars. I cannot wait to read the next book in A Teapot Collector Mystery series. There is a recipe at the end of the book and a discussion on tea strainers and infusers. The Grim Steeper does a superb job of combining romance, friendship, tea (and goodies), and mystery into one delightful book.

I received a complimentary copy of The Grim Steeper from the author (care of Cozy Mystery Review Crew) in exchange for an honest review.

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