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H.Y. Hanna
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A Scone To Die For: The Oxford Tearoom Mysteries - Book 1 Paperback – January 18, 2016

by H y Hanna (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars 7,327
See all formats and editions
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When an American tourist is murdered with a scone in her quaint English tearoom, Gemma must solve the mystery with the help of the nosy Old Biddies and a mischievous little tabby cat named Muesli.

Armed with her insider knowledge of Oxford University, she sets out to investigate and finds herself apron-deep in a case involving long-buried secrets from the past. But between her bossy, matchmaking mother and the return of her old college flame as the handsome CID detective leading the investigation, Gemma soon has her hands full and her head spinning... and that's before her tearoom ends up in the papers for all the wrong reasons!

Murder is bad for business, especially when customers think your scones are more deadly than delicious. With the body count rising and her tearoom going bust, can Gemma find the killer before things turn to custard?

**Traditional English scone recipe at the end of the story!**

Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 12
    Oxford Tearoom Mysteries
  2. Print length
    314 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    January 18, 2016
  5. Dimensions
    5.06 x 0.7 x 7.81 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    099429249X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0994292490
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A delightfully clever British cozy mystery set against the fascinating backdrop of Oxford" ~ Stephenie Sasse, The Mutt Cafe

"I couldn't put it down, staying up way too late last night for just one more chapter...." ~ Sheri O'Neill

"If you're a cat lover or a fan of British mysteries, you absolutely must read A Scone to Die For" ~ Melissa LaPierre, Mochas, Mysteries and Meows

"A brilliant and funny murder mystery!" ~ Susan Hampson Books

"The characters in this story were fabulous...the author has a wonderful descriptive writing style that hook there reader from the start and will have you turning pages until the surprising conclusion. I will definitely be making a return visit to Gemma's tea room." ~ Peggy Rancilio, Peggy's Bookshelf

"a mystery worthy of Agatha Christie lovers " ~ Amazon reviewer"

"I absolutely loved this book! This is one of, if not THE, best cozy mystery I have read. The descriptions of places and people are fantastic. As I read the story I could picture being there, sitting in the tearoom, or in the University. The characters are developed really well. The relationships are explored and explained... characters aren't popping in for the sake of needing a character." ~ Katie's Reading Corner

From the Author

BOOKS IN THE OXFORD TEAROOM MYSTERIES:
Each book can be read as a standalone, but it's more fun if you read the series in order!
  • A Scone To Die For (Book 1)
  • Tea with Milk and Murder (Book 2)
  • Two Down, Bun To Go (Book 3)
  • Till Death Do Us Tart (Book 4)
  • Muffins and Mourning Tea (Book 5)
  • Four Puddings and a Funeral (Book 6)
    + All-Butter ShortDead (Prequel)
Have you tried my other mystery series? BEWITCHED BY CHOCOLATE Mysteries ~ if you love chocolate, mystery and magic - and adorable kittens - these are the books for you! GO TO: hyhanna.com/bewitched-by-chocolate-amazon-seriespage

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ H.Y. Hanna - Wisheart Press (January 18, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 314 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 099429249X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0994292490
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.06 x 0.7 x 7.81 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 7,327

About the author

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H.Y. Hanna

H.Y. Hanna

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USA Today bestselling author H.Y. Hanna is the author of over 30 mystery novels, many of which have been translated into several languages. She is known for books filled with suspense, humour, and clever twists, as well as quirky characters and cats with big personalities! Her stories are often set in the historic city of Oxford, where she studied and lived for several years, as well as the beautiful English Cotswolds. After trying her hand at a variety of jobs, including advertising, modelling, teaching English and dog training, Hsin-Yi returned to her first love: writing. She worked as a freelance writer for several years and has won awards for her poetry, short stories and journalism. Hsin-Yi was born in Taiwan and has been a globe-trotter all her life, living in a variety of cultures from the UK to the Middle East, the USA to New Zealand… but is now happily settled in Perth, Western Australia, with her husband and a rescue kitty named Muesli.

You can learn more about Hsin-Yi and her books at: www.hyhanna.com And don’t forget to join her newsletter to get updates on new releases, exclusive giveaways and other book news—as well as her free Sampler Library! Go to: https://www.hyhanna.com/newsletter

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
7,327 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

DelAnne
5.0 out of 5 stars My rating of "A Scone to Die for - Oxford Tearoom Mysteries Book 1" is 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2017
Verified Purchase
Title: A Scone to Die for - Oxford Tearoom Mysteries Book 1
Author: H. Y. Hanna
Publisher: Wisheart Press
Published: 1-17-2016
Pages: 336
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Sub-Genre: Suspense, Women Sleuths, Cozy Mystery, Crafts & Hobbies, Satire & Humor, Culinary Mystery,
ISBN: 9780994292483
ASIN: B01ARMFX2U
Reviewed For Myself
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.5 Stars

Oxford Tearoom Mystery Series
1. All-Butter ShortDead (Prequel)
2. A Scone to Die For
3. Tea With Milk and Murder
4. Two Down, Bun To Go
5. Till Death Us Do Tart
6. Muffins & Mourning Tea
7. Four Puddings and a Funeral

Business is flourishing, that is until a disagreeable patron is found deceased in the courtyard of the tearoom the day after creating a big scene. Then suddenly business is non-existent . Gemma then enlist her friend Cassie's help she begins looking into the tourist's death. Perhaps the prior relationship between the detective and Gemma and the loss of income from the tearoom being closed, may have something to do with her hesitance to waiting for him to solve the case.

With numerous clues and a few red herrings readers are guided through the many suspects to the surprising ending. I was not expecting the killer to be who it was. Fun, interesting characters and a thought out plot that moved quickly and easily from scene to scene.

My rating of "A Scone to Die for - Oxford Tearoom Mysteries Book 1" is 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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K. Anders
4.0 out of 5 stars I needed to read something light and fun after finally finishing my last book
Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2017
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I was on Amazon, taking a look at what kindle books they had for free and came across this book, A Scone to Die For, (Oxford Tearoom Mysteries #1) by H.Y. Hanna. With the cheesy title and the cartoonish cover with a picture of a gray tabby cat, stack of books, tea cup, scone, and a scull, I knew this was one of those cozy mysteries. I decided to get it, why not it doesn't cost anything? I needed to read something light and fun after finally finishing my last book, a historical fiction novel that took me all summer to get through, because I really didn't like it. In A Scone to Die For, we are introduced to the lead character of Gemma Rose, an Oxford graduate whom, after spending the last 8 years in a high powered job in Sydney, Australia, realized she was unhappy and needed to make a change. She quit her job, gave up her penthouse apartment, and moved back in with her middle-class parents in Oxford. Gemma decided to open a tearoom in her old hometown, and sees it as her second chance. The story begins with an obnoxious American tourist visiting her tearoom. He is the stereotypical American, large, rude and demanding. The next morning she discovers this horrible man dead at her tearoom, choked by one of her scones. With her business threatened by tabloid reports about her killer scones, Gemma decides to take matters into her own hands and investigate the American's murder herself. A Scone to Die For, is a fun read, and a cozy book to snuggle up with on the couch. The author is considerate of American readers and prefaces the story with an explanation of differences in English and American spelling, ie: tyre = tire, and provides a glossary of British Terms at the end of the book. There is a theme of second chances in the novel. Gemma, one morning, is unable to avoid attending her mother's book club, the book they are suppose to be reading is Jane Austen's Persuasion. Gemma remarks that this is her favorite of Austin's novels, as it is about second chances. Once this is mentioned, its obvious to see Austin's influence in this book. Gemma sees her tearoom as her second chance, but not only that, the detective that is investigating the murder at her tearoom is none other than her old college boyfriend, the man she had described back then as the love of her life. Throughout the book she struggles between her present acquaintance with him and memories of their shared past. What happened when things ended is never expressly stated, only hinted at. After visiting his expensive house, she muses that their fortunes have reversed from when they last knew each other, she was a proper middle-class girl, he was working class and struggling, now she's living with her parents, while he clearly has made quite a career for himself. This is much like the reversal of fortunes in Jane Austen's Persuasion, the rich girl and poor boy, turn to poor woman and wealthy man when they meet again. The story was overall pretty good, I was a tad disappointed in the reveal of who did it. I thought (from reading different mystery books) that it would be more complex and the killer would be someone who was only briefly mentioned earlier in the book, because I found a connection between her and the victim. The killer turned out to be *possible spoiler* someone that was a suspect right from the start but that Gemma didn't believe it could be. At the end, she has a moment of discovery and realization that this person is the killer and puts the pieces together as to the how and why. As he had been cleared earlier of being a suspect, I didn't see it coming, but it was a let down because it makes me think that if she had not meddled in the investigation, then the police may have arrested him already. She did, however, uncover a lot of background information about connections between characters that led to a motive. It was an entertaining read none the less, between her interactions with the detective, the nosy "old biddies" who also made it their business to investigate, and Gemma's middle-class mother whom wanted Gemma to get a job (a "proper" job, running a teashop doesn't count to her) or failing that, get married. My favorite line ends the novel, "I had faced a maniacal murderer. Dealing with my mother should be a piece of cake..." Good luck with that Gemma. Despite the lack of complexity, it was a light hearted, fun read. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
9 people found this helpful
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Sandi
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2024
Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed this book. It was very interesting to learn about Oxford and high table. Did not realize they wore the dress gowns to dinner and classes.
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Elisabeth Carey
3.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining cozy mystery
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2017
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Gemma Rose is home in Oxford after eight years in Australia, working her way up the corporate ladder. She finally decided the corporate ladder wasn't for her, sold her flat, quit her job, and went home to Oxford to buy a tea room. She's hired her best friend, as well as a local handyman who, it turns out, is also a fantastic baker. Things are starting to go really well, even with the hassles that go with being in food service and hospitality.

Such as the really arrogant, hostile American tourist, who seems to be with the otherwise pleasant American tour group.

When she arrives at the tea room the next morning, she finds him dead in her courtyard, apparently having choked on a scone. But why was he there in the first place?

It's not an improvement in her already awful day when the Detective Inspector assigned to the case turns out to be her old university flame, Devlin O'Connor. They didn't part on the best of terms.

The dead American turns out to be not just some obnoxious tourist, but the head of an American pharmaceutical company, with all kinds of unexpected connections to Oxford. Quite a few people turn out to have reasons to dislike him. When one of the possible suspects turns out to be a beautiful woman that Gemma thinks Devlin is interested in, it's inevitable that she decides she has to investigate the case herself, with the help of her friends.

There's a great cast of characters here, likable and entertaining. There are some moments when Gemma does some very silly things, but she's presented overall as smart and capable, not as a ditzy fool.

Overall, entertaining and fun.

Recommended.

I bought this audiobook.
18 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Fun Read
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2023
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Entertaining and enjoyable characters. Good storyline. Cozy readers will enjoy it, and it is a fast read with short chapters.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Mr Iain C Goodman
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect whodunnit
Reviewed in Germany on February 15, 2024
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I love cozy englisch whodunnits, preferably with a little humour, so this book was absolutely perfect for me! I loved the characters and all the little details. There was a clever and exciting plot with a lot of plot-twists. I couldn’t put the book down because I got so invested in the investigation and the surroundings the book played in. It was all I could ask for in a whodunnit and more!
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SUMIE
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy and pleasant to read - Facile et agréable à lire :)
Reviewed in France on August 17, 2023
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A perfect cosy mystery, very easy to read, even though if you are not a native English speaker.
The sentences are shorts and easy to understand. With this novel I had a real good time.
I suggest a lot. The end of the is just surprising... ;)

Un parfait English cosy mystery, très facile à lire, même si vous ne maitrisez pas l'anglais.
Les phrases sont courtes et faciles à comprendre. Avec ce livre j'ai passé un très bon moment.
Je le conseille fortement. La fin est juste surprenante ... ;)
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Paola B.
5.0 out of 5 stars Afternoon tea e omicidi
Reviewed in Italy on April 9, 2023
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Se, come me, siete fan di Inspector Morse e Inspector Lewis l'autrice H.Y. Hanna è la scelta obbligata.
I suoi cosy mysteries sono tipicamente British, con quel pizzico di suspence che rende piacevole la lettura senza doversi guardare le spalle
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Sue Martin
5.0 out of 5 stars light and refreshing
Reviewed in Australia on June 3, 2022
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Really enjoyed the story and lots of surprises. A good read for any age. Looking forward for the next one.
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Katie Turner
5.0 out of 5 stars If you love cozy mysteries this is a must read!
Reviewed in Canada on January 19, 2016
Verified Purchase
I absolutely loved this book!

This is one of, if not THE, best cozy mystery I have read. The descriptions of places and people are fantastic. As I read the story I could picture being there, sitting in the tearoom, or in the University. The characters are developed really well. The relationships are explored and explained... characters aren't popping in for the sake of needing a character. (I love the descriptions of the exasperation that Gemma has with her mom and always forgetting her ipad password, it's bang on!)
The mystery is well played out, and kept my mind going the entire time. It wasn't obvious until it was revealed (to me anyway) and I like that in a book. And that little kitty, Muesli.... awww I didn't want to put this book down!

I can't wait to read the next book in this series!
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