Cute ( )

Gemma Rose, owner of the Little Stables Tearoom in Oxford, has had her cat, Muesli,
entered in the village fete cat show by her well-meaning mother, Evelyn Rose. Muesli, a common moggie cat, has no chance of winning this pure breed expedition. Dame Claire Eccleston, a snobbish, uppity opponent in the contest, makes this fact clearly known when she scornfully insults Muesli with the common farmhouse moggie designation. As Gemma anxiously awaits the judging of the cats, a scream rings out, and Dame Claire is knocked down in the crowd. But the woman doesn't get back up. She's dead, presumably of a heart attack, clutching an angina pill in one hand as she lay on the ground. She was at risk after all, being overweight and continually warned by her doctor to watch her intake of fattening desserts. She'd callously ignored his advice, even wolfing down rich cake she brought to the fete. But when her manner of death is called into question, Gemma sets out to uncover the real cause of death and the culprit behind the murder. This will prove to be a daunting task since Dame Claire Eccleston, Gemma quickly learns, was disliked by almost everyone she'd come in contact with.

Till Death Do Us Tart is another entertaining instalment in the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries series. H.Y. Hanna delivers yet another solid mystery, infused with intellect and wit that keeps you engaged from start to finish. Her audio narrator for the series, Pearl Hewitt, is outstanding. Her portrayal of the characters' emotions—astonishment, exasperation, horror, chagrin, further enhances the story. Her impersonations can't be beat, from the old biddies, to the maid at Eccleston House, and even Muesli the cat, are some of the best I've ever heard. An intrinsic quality that serves this series well.

If you enjoy well-crafted British cozy mysteries, you'll love Till Death Do Us Tart. And for those who like listening to audiobooks, this one is a winner. ( )

Another fun read in the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries.
The identity of the killer was a real mystery and kept me guessing until the end.
All my favourite characters make an appearance and Gemma and Devlin's relationship motors along at a nice sedate pace. I love how the writer brings Muesli, the cat, into the main story line as well. A cat show was a completely different setting for a murder.
I liked that Devlin was working on another case at the same time. He had a high profile agri crime case to solve and I felt that it could have had more of an impact on the story than merely facilitating an official reason for his presence at a village fete. There wasn't much of a resolution to the crimes he was investigating and I thought it would have been more interesting if the Gemma's murder investigation had been connected more. I would have liked Gemma to have faced some danger along the way or to have crossed paths with Devlin's criminal gang to add a little bit of excitement.

A nice, charming mystery with humour. I would recommend this series.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. ( )

Gemma may have been frustrated by not being able to get away for the weekend with Devlin but she keeps busy with a cat show to attend with Muesli and her mother. Well, at the show someone dies…but is it from normal causes or could it have been murder? With Gemma and the Old Biddies believing it is murder they are back on the hunt to find out who the murderer might be. In addition to the mystery to be solved Gemma is looking for a new home to rent, dealing with her mother’s shenanigans, taking care of her shop, interacting with her friends and continuing her relationship with Devlin.

This was a fun, interesting and very enjoyable addition to the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries and I look forward to finding out what will happen next – in Tea with Milk and Murder.

Thank you to the author for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 Stars ( )