There is always drama in Hollywood. In this novel, Hollywood brings the drama to Charm, NC. Everly’s great aunts are excited to be a part of a documentary about the American Honeybees. The actress doing the voiceover work has die hard fans who go searching for clues when someone dies.

Sea Side Café Mysteries book #4. Sun Sand and Tea shop owner, Everly makes the reader want to drink iced tea and visit coastal North Carolina. Even with another murder in town! The Pear Ginger Tea is so refreshing. I even show you a modified version with caffeine.

A Call for Kelp by Bree Baker

Cozy Mystery Novel with Recipes

Book Review

Outline and Tone:

For some years now scientists have been concerned about the health of the American Honeybee. Everly’s great aunts, Clara and Fran, are concerned too since bees and honey are their business. Fortunately for the honeybee, in this novel, a Hollywood documentary team has come to Charm, NC to make a film about their plight. The documentary team even has a celebrity to do the voice-over work, Mitzi, an actress famous for her role as Blackbeard’s Wife. Mitzi was also great friends with Everly’s beloved grandmother and has come to town to connect with Everly. Although the actress’s films are decades old, they have a strong cult following. These die hard fans follow Mitzi to Charm for a rare glimpse of the retired actress.

Publicity for Aunt Clara and Fran and their beloved bees plus a connection to Everly’s grandmother, what could go wrong? Enter the reason for the novel, the cozy mystery. A mysterious death was heavily foreshadowed in the novel, but the killer does remain a mystery. Everly works once again with the reporter, Ryan, from NYC that she worked with in a previous novel. This time, Ryan’s character develops even more when the reader discovers he and Amelia, Everly’s best friend, are keen for each other. Everly also learns more about Denise, little Denver’s nanny.

The tone and characters of this novel make it a hit. Even the over confident Ryan is a character that I would want to see more of. I hope that he and Amelia continue to grow their relationship. Ryan makes a good partner for Everly.

The author:

Julie Anne Lindsey writes as Bree Baker, Julie Chase, and Jacqueline Frost. She writes both mystery and romance novels. As Bree Baker, she is an award winning author. Her website highlights all of her book series and even a cozy mystery reading club. Ms. Lindsey is also active on Facebook and Twitter (@julieALindsey). She is a prolific writer and even has a mystery series starring cats titled Kitty Couture Mysteries that have rave reviews on Amazon.

What is not to like?:

Mitzi brings letters that Everly’s grandmother wrote. I wish we knew what was in those letters!

The verdict:

This is book three, I have told so many of my friends they need to read this fun series. Each time I make an iced tea from the recipes in these books, my family tells me I need to make them more often. Whether you are looking for a good mystery or great recipes, Bree Baker’s books are winners.

Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you).

Ginger Pear Iced Tea with or without Caffeine

Assemble the Ingredients

Decide if you want caffeine free tea or with caffeine. If you want caffeine, get out 6 bags of black tea to use for the recipe.

Slice the pear, peel and chop the ginger and get out one cinnamon stick and 4 dates.

Combine all ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat, partially cover the pot, and simmer up to 2 hours, until the pears are soft. If you want the added black tea, put the tea bags in for the last 5 minutes to steep.

Remove from the heat, cool, and strain out the solids.

Pour over ice and sweeten with sugar as desired.

The tea on the left is just herbal, no caffeine. The darker tea on the right was made with the additional black tea. I preferred the tea with the black tea. I found the taste to be bolder and I am used to drinking tea with caffeine.

Pear Ginger Iced Tea from a novel with recipes

Pear Ginger Tea: from a cozy mystery novel with recipes

A Swan family favorite that's sure to be yours too!

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 2

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Ingredients

8 cups water
2 ripe pears, cored and cut into slices or chunks
1 ginger root
4 dates
1 cinnamon stick
6 bags black tea (optional)
sugar (optional)

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat, partially cover the pot, and simmer up to 2 hours, until the pears are soft.
If using black tea, add tea bag for the last 5 minutes of boil.
Remove from the heat, cool, and strain out the solids.
Pour over ice and sweeten with sugar as desired.