Article and Interview by Elise Cooper
Murder at the Lemonberry Tea by Darci Hannah has the main character, Lindsey Bakewell, hosting a British Diva author at her shop. At first, she was excited to be a part of the British cooking show, Nibbles from Across the Pond. But Lindsey is cooling rapidly toward the Diva host, Vivi, after she bans Welly, the Newfoundland dog, from the premises because she hates dogs, makes a pass at Lindsey’s boyfriend, Rory, seemingly takes pictures of Lindsey’s recipes, and gets slapped in the face by a rival cookbook author Gretta Gardiner who also accused Vivi of stealing her recipes.
The next day, after Vivi does not show up for a scheduled tea party, Lindsey gets even angrier because of the no-show status. To unwind, she and Rory go scuba diving where they find Vivi’s body with her hands tied with a dog leash and a tennis ball in her mouth. Now, all hands are on deck to find the killer.
This story has a lot of funny moving parts but is also a complex mystery with a variety of suspects all withholding or hiding something. Just when one person of interest is eliminated, there is another twist that puts them back on the list, keeping readers guessing constantly.
Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea for the story?
Darci Hannah: I love the great British baking shows. When I watched they were making a Bakewell tart, which is how I came up with the main character’s last name. I have a friend married to an Englishman. She always tries to make something British for him out of a cookbook. In the book there is a recipe for a Bakewell tart, a unique flavor.
EC: How would you describe Kennedy’s family versus Lindsey’s family?
DH: Lindsey’s mom is a character, while her father is solid. Her mother has had a public life. Kennedy’s family has a grandmother who is old school, her mother is a little more uppity, and her younger sister is trying to find her way and is jealous of Kennedy. I do not have sisters or daughters so I enjoyed the sisterly dynamic. Kennedy brings the drama to life.
EC: How would you describe the British author, Vivi Lemonberry?
DH: She has a lot of baggage, successful, a flirt, and smart. She has control issues. Vivi has a competitive nature with the other British cookbook author, Greta. They need each other, basically frenemies. Vivi is charismatic, an opportunist, and can be rude and selfish, someone who does not like dogs. I loosely modeled her on a British cookbook author, Nigella Lawson.
EC: Does Welly, the Newfoundland dog of Lindsey, play a role?
DH: I love dogs. They are a sense of comfort that brings peace of mind. Who does not like dogs? But Vivi’s attitude was pure evil and narcissistic toward Welly.
EC: What is the role of the lighthouse ghost, Captain Willy?
DH: He guides the lost souls. I am intrigued by those with ghosts’ stories. He is very protective and will warn when there is danger.
EC: Next books?
DH: This series will continue. The title is Murder at the Campfire Cookout, out in probably 2026. Lindsey’s mom and Kennedy are moving their boutique to a bigger shop. All the female characters are going to the upper peninsula in Michigan. There is a club, Mitten’s Kittens, they will be a part of with a campfire cookout. Murder happens while all the women are in the woods, which spooks all the women out.
The Free Spirits mystery series will have another book coming out titled, A Spirited Supper Dundon. A Scottish castle is investigated by a group of ghost hunters. Of course, a murder happens.
EC: THANK YOU!!
