Steeped in Secrets is a cute little cozy mystery with a paranormal twist. It was written by Lauren Elliot. It is the first in a new series, “Crystal & CuriosiTEAS Mysteries.”
Shay Myers returns to the town in which she grew up, taking over a house and a business that she has inherited from a woman she barely knew. This business is an unexpected one that specializes in herbs, teas, and items related to the occult. It also appears that she has inherited a spirit-guided dog to show her the lay of the land.
While Bridget Early, who left Shay the inheritance, is already dead when the book begins, she is a strong secondary character. Bridget had secrets, and Shay must begin the journey of uncovering them in order to understand all of the events taking place around her. Joining Bridget as secondary characters are: Liam, a handsome man who runs the pub next door; Jen, Shay’s sister; and Tassi, a young woman with her own special talents and problems. Each character is distinctive and adds dimension to the story.
Shay runs into problems right away with the discovery of a body on the roof of her new business. However, the plot is not your usual cozy mystery formula. It has the unusual discoveries of an amulet with magical power and a box of old photos that make no sense to Shay at all to take the book on a different course. Steeped in Secrets is a promising first serving in a new series. This debut takes the main character on a less-traveled path than in the usual cozy mystery.
I enjoyed reading this book, and I think there is plenty of room for the series to grow. I look forward to seeing what happens next. I hope you check it out yourself!