Tea Shop Mysteries
About the Series
Theodosia Browning runs the Indigo Tea Shop on Church Street in Charleston, South Carolina. The series is one of the longest-running and most popular in the cozy genre, and Laura Childs' love for Charleston shines through every page. The city itself is practically a character — the historic architecture, the gardens, the waterfront, and the distinct culture of the Low Country.
Theodosia is a knowledgeable tea enthusiast, and each book includes information about different tea varieties, brewing methods, and tea customs. The books also feature recipes and tea party menus. Drayton Conneley, the tea sommelier at the Indigo Tea Shop, is a fan favorite supporting character — dignified, erudite, and endlessly quotable.
The mysteries often involve Charleston's high society, art world, and historical preservation community, which provides a rich pool of suspects and motives.
Complete Reading Order
1. Death by Darjeeling (2001)
2. Gunpowder Green (2002)
3. Shades of Earl Grey (2003)
4. The English Breakfast Murder (2003)
5. The Jasmine Moon Murder (2004)
6. Chamomile Mourning (2005)
7. Blood Orange Brewing (2006)
8. Dragonwell Dead (2008)
9. The Silver Needle Murder (2008)
10. Oolong Dead (2009)
11. The Teaberry Strangler (2010)
12. Scones & Bones (2011)
13. Agony of the Leaves (2012)
14. Sweet Tea Revenge (2013)
15. Steeped in Evil (2014)
16. Ming Tea Murder (2015)
17. Devonshire Scream (2016)
18. Pekoe Most Poison (2017)
19. Plum Tea Crazy (2018)
20. Lavender Blue Murder (2019)
21. Haunted Hibiscus (2020)
22. Twisted Tea Christmas (2021)
23. A Dark and Stormy Tea (2022)
24. Lemon Curd Killer (2023)
25. Peach Tea Smash (2024)
Reading Notes: Each mystery is self-contained, but character relationships develop over the series. Can be read in any order, though starting at the beginning is recommended.
Back to all reading orders. Learn more about Laura Childs.