In Childs's diverting ninth Tea Shop cozy (after 2007's Dragonwell Dead
), Theodosia Browning, proprietor of Charleston's Indigo Tea Shop, is in the audience of the recently restored Belvedere Theater when someone shoots celebrated movie director Jordan Cole on stage during Charleston's first film festival. Theodosia glimpses the murderer escaping in the theater's old dumbwaiter, but doesn't see enough to identity the culprit. Cole, a handsome rake, had more than his share of enemies, including his recently ditched girlfriend, Isabelle, granddaughter of curmudgeonly Timothy Neville, the festival's organizer, who asks Theodosia to fill in for a judge who quits. Despite being burdened with catering duties as well, Theodosia feels compelled to investigate the crime, much to CPD Det. Burt Tidwell's consternation. The savory recipes at the end will leave readers hungry for more. (Mar.)
