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(A Caribbean Island Mystery)
by Ashley-Ruth Bernier
Culinary journalist Naomi Sinclair is cooking up a maelstrom of trouble upon her return to the blue waters of her native Saint Thomas.
Food journalist Naomi Sinclair doesn't expect a side of murder with her passion fruit juice. But when her return to Saint Thomas heralds a series of troubling cases, ranging from petty theft to cold-blooded murder, that threaten her tight-knit community, that is exactly the kind of unsavory treat she must sink her teeth into.
Luckily for her neighbors, Naomi is as adept at solving puzzles as rolling johnnycake dough—a good thing, since her island community, though small, keeps serving up plenty of trouble. With the help of her friends and her crush, Mateo, Naomi must navigate the tumultuous turquoise waters of life in the Caribbean, all as her beloved father battles an illness that keeps tugging her back to her island amid her rising career stateside.
Rich with mouthwatering recipes, lush landscapes, and a hefty dose of fun under the sun, The Bush Tea Murder has all the ingredients to make up the perfect beach read.
"Zigzagging between Charlotte, North Carolina, and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, this debut offers plenty to enjoy ... Fun-filled and fulfilling." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier's The Bush Tea Murder is the perfect blend of intrigue, family drama, mystery and Caribbean culture. You'll want to savor it to the last drop." —Olivia Matthews, author of the Spice Isle Bakery Mysteries.
"At its heart, this is a charming, immersive cozy mystery steeped in Caribbean culture, vibrant characters, and sun-drenched intrigue—a fresh and flavorful delight. The mystery unfolds at a measured, satisfying pace, allowing the rich worldbuilding and character dynamics to shine. I especially loved the subtle tension between Naomi's stateside ambitions and her deep-rooted love for her island home, which adds emotional depth beyond what's typical for the genre. With engaging twists, well-developed characters, and a beautifully flowing plot, this is a cozy mystery that lingers long after the final page." —Debra Sennefelder, author of the Food Blogger mystery series
This information about The Bush Tea Murder was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier's short fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Black Cat Weekly, Stone's Throw, Smoking Pen Press, The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2023, Malice Domestic's Mystery Most Devious and Mystery Most Humorous, and The Caribbean Writer. Originally from Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands, Ashley-Ruth writes mysteries highlighting the vibrant culture of her home. Ashley-Ruth is a 2023 Derringer nominee (novelette category, Short Mystery Fiction Society), a 2023 and 2024 Killer Nashville Claymore finalist (Best Short Story Collection), and one of the 2024 recipients of MWA's Barbara Neely grant for Black mystery writers. She is an active member of Sisters in Crime, Crime Writers of Color, the Short Mystery Fiction Society, Mystery Writers of America, and the North Carolina Writers Network. Ashley-Ruth currently lives with her husband and four children in North Carolina, where she teaches first grade and finds very few things more valuable than uninterrupted writing time.
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