When the weather is dreary, what better is there to do than to curl up with your next favorite book and your hot beverage of choice?
Christmas is long past, but for many places, the cold still lingers in those winter doldrums. Our team member Megan Alms has a remedy. She has curated some of her favorite cozy mysteries from Mountain Brook Ink, and exactly the right steaming cup to pair them with!
1. The Sleuth’s Miscalculation by Kimberly Rose Johnson
The book: This book’s protagonist is not only a sleuth—she’s a strong-willed librarian! Nancy Daley loves a good mystery and enjoys moonlighting as a consultant for the sheriff’s department. When license plates go missing in Tipton County, she’s on the case. But this time things are different—she’s been partnered with the new deputy, and he’s not interested in her help. To make matters worse, she’s angered the wrong person and is now being threatened. Wrapped in intrigue with a touch of romance, this book is a must-read for mystery lovers.
The beverage: Earl Grey tea. This quintessential black tea infused with bergamot oil screams “librarian.” What sort of small town librarian doesn’t love a cozy sweater and some Earl Grey?
2. Make Haste Slowly by Amy K. Rognlie
The book: In this book, you’ll meet Callie Erickson: a gal looking for a calm, predictable life in Short Creek, Texas. But when a gift bag and a dead body appear on the doorstep of her shop, Callie is determined to get to the bottom of things with the help of her indomitable Aunt Dot and her new friends in Short Creek. This is only book one of the Short Creek Mysteries series—you’ll love spending all three books with this quirky cast of characters!
The beverage: Jasmine tea. Since Callie owns a flower shop, it’s only fitting to sip a flowery beverage. Jasmine tea might have a base of green white, or black tea, but its unique flavor comes from jasmine blossoms.
3. The Courtship of Harry’s Wife by Jeanette-Marie Mirich
The book: Delilah Morgan plans to mourn in private after Harry passed. But he had other ideas—specifically, leaving his wife in good hands and protected from the elite of their small Kentucky town. Harry selected judge Lyle Henderson to court his widow. Lyle acquiesces to Harry’s wishes until his life spins out of control with the discovery of bodies in his long absent wife’s car. The FBI begins to suspect him of murder. Determined to clear Lyle’s name, Delilah resolves to hunt down the true story.
The beverage: Vanilla buttermint tea. Though the iconic Kentucky beverage may be the mint julep, we’re more inclined to go with this minty drink, a hot, smooth tea great for sipping under an afghan.
4. A Caffeine Conundrum by Angela Ruth Strong
The book: Solving a murder mystery is harder when you don’t trust your partner…or their taste in beverages. Sassy city girl Tandy Brandt moves to the small town of Grace Springs to start a coffee shop, never imagining she’ll be competing with local beauty queen Marissa Alexander and her dream of running a tea house. But the current store owner dies before selling the shop to either of them, and they both become murder suspects. The unlikely pair team up to discover the real killer. Read on to discover whether they’ll be able to figure out whodunit and prove their innocence!
The beverage: Coffee, of course! Sip some caffeine while devouring this coffee shop mystery. Bonus points if you try blueberry coffee–it’s delicious!
5. No Greater Gift by Teresa Morgan
The book: This book tells a story of treason and truth-seeking, all while transporting the reader between current era and World War II. You’ll meet history professor Grace Ryan as she moves back to her hometown, expecting to help her grandmother turn her memories and journals of WWII into memoirs. But Grace arrives to find her grandmother being loaded into an ambulance. When Gramma Annie begs Grace to find the truth about a decades-old crime, Grace is left to separate fact from fiction.
The beverage: English breakfast tea. This only seems fitting, as Grace’s grandmother hails from Britain. This robust black tea goes great with milk and sugar.
What are your favorite mysteries and cozy drinks? Let us know in the comments!
Megan Alms is the social media marketer for Mountain Brook Ink. She has experience in many areas of the publishing industry, including writing book proposals for a literary firm and publishing her own writing. Megan is a graduate of Taylor University’s Professional Writing program. During her free time, she can be found scrapbooking and working on craft projects at home in Indianapolis.
Do you want to get cozy with your newfound favorite teas and listen instead? Check out our line of Mountain Brook Ink audiobooks as well.
