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Last year's Death by Darjeeling was a good first mystery by Laura Childs, but Gunpowder Green is even better. Theodosia Browning owns the Indigo Tea Shop, a popular little tearoom in Charleston's Historic District, assisted by tea maven Drayton Conneley and pastry chef extraordinaire Haley Parker. As the story begins, spring has sprung, and the Indigo Tea Shop is catering the picnic accompanying Isle of Palms Yacht Race. Oliver Dixon, prominent businessman and patron of the arts, is given the honor of shooting the antique pistol signaling the race is won. When he does so, it backfires, killing him on the spot. While most people view this as a tragic accident, Theodosia and crew see too many people who could benefit from his death, from business associates to his young beauty queen wife. And when the first suspect is the brother of someone that Theodosia is beholden to as only a Southerner could be, the tearoom starts doubling as detection central. Gunpowder Green is an equally good read as a mystery or as a study in Southern manners. The recurring characters are more fully developed than in Death by Darjeeling, and Charleston and its social scene star in the novel as much as the murder. There are many delightful scenes in the tearoom, including a "mystery tea" that's one of the social events of the session. The kickoff event for the spring garden tour is the setting for the novel's resolution. And, of course, the book is complete with recipes. Gunpowder Green should have great appeal to readers of cozy mysteries, tea lovers, Southerners, or anyone with fond memories of a vacation in such a gracious unhurried setting. Let's hope this series has a nice long run.
Reviewed by Debbie Bogenschutz, March 2002
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