Book Reviews: In Hot Water by Kate Kingsbury

 

This is the first book in Kate Kingsbury's newest mystery series called the Misty Bay Tea Room Mysteries. Vivian loves the Misty Bay Tearoom which has given the Oregan coast much-needed English accents. But when the tearoom's second anniversary rolls around, instead of celebrating Vivian must put on a sleuthing hat and solve a murder. The dead man who fell from a hotel balcony also happened to be her assistant's ex-husband and now her assistant is the leading suspect. She turns to her friends for help, including her second assistant and Hal - a pet shop owner who has secrets that could point Vivian toward other suspects while adding him to the list. Matters get complicated quickly but Vivian won't give up until she catches the killer and clears her assistant's name. You can find the book on Amazon here.

Kingsbury is also the author of the Merry Ghost Inn Mystery series (found here), the Pennyfoot Hotel Mystery series (which has spanned twenty-one books that can be found here), and the Manor House Mystery series (found on Amazon here). She has also written under the pen names Allison Kingsley (those books can be found here) and Rebecca Kent (which can be found here). 

Learn more about the author on her website. 

REVIEW

"This wasn't Chicago or even Portland. This was Misty Bay - a quiet, sleepy town where anything more disastrous than a winter storm rarely happened."

- Kate Kingsbury, Chapter 8

The book starts with a bang when a body is found lying sprawled in the rocks. The opening delves straight into the mystery starting with the first paragraph by immediately setting up the victim and the prime suspect. The story weaves between Vivian - our amateur sleuth - and Detective Lieutenant Tony Messina as he investigates the murder. His part of the plot becomes increasingly complicated as his interests shift from detective interrogating a suspect to a growing attraction to Jenna - her assistant. Jenna has a strong connection to the victim who turns out to be her ex-husband Dean - who also has a long list of enemies. From the women he's cheated on to the woman - and owner of the nightgown he was found in - he was with before he died to a gambling 'friend,' there is no storage when it comes to suspects. The growing list of suspects and motives creates a compelling mystery full of twists and turns. 

Kingsbury has a flair for capturing the attitudes and personalities of her characters which provides a well-rounded picture of them through the eyes of her protagonist, specifically her two assistants. Jenna is described as rarely showing emotion and having a talent for startling other people. But while she's blunt - even rude at times - she's also loyal and always willing to lend a helping hand. Her backstory is tragic with an abusive father, the death of her brother, foster homes, and a miserable ex-husband - the murder victim. These elements are what push her desire to bury the past and create a balance to Vivian's other assistant Gracie who is described as being in a constant state of excitement with an impulsive and unpredictable nature that has her always ready to embark on an adventure. Every character has a vivid personality - for example, Natalie of the Sophisticated Grape wine shop is described as being onstage everywhere she went and "out to impress everyone who entered her realm." 

Vivian has made her lifelong dream come true - which took more than sixty years to achieve - so the story has a strong voice that incorporates the pride she has. The descriptions of the tearoom are elegant, vivid, and beautifully capture the English aesthetic. Vivian is living her dream though she still carries a weight of grief around her from the loss of her husband three years prior. Despite this, she has a playful way about her that adds to the lighthearted tone of the story which pairs well with the lovely Oregan coast as a setting. Moments are provided that take you into the peacefulness of the setting through vivid details such as the fragrance of seaweed and the salty air. Reading Kingsbury's descriptions always delivers a strong presence in every scene that easily takes you into the setting with the humorous names of shops (Furry Fun pet supplies shop) and the whimsical shops such as the Beach Bums Cafe description of having a Hawaiian theme that's overdone with gaudy decor.