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Oxford Tearoom Mysteries #3
Two Down, Bun to Go
A sinister phone call in the middle of the night throws tearoom owner, Gemma Rose, straight into the heart of a new murder mystery-this time with her friend, Seth, arrested as the key suspect! The grisly killing in the cloisters of an old Oxford college points to a bitter feud within the University-but Gemma finds unexpected clues popping up in her tiny Cotswolds village.
Meanwhile, her love life is in turmoil as Gemma struggles to decide between eminent doctor, Lincoln Green, and sexy CID detective, Devlin O'Connor... whilst her quaint English tearoom is in hot water as she struggles to find a new baking chef.
With her exasperating mother and her mischievous little tabby cat, Muesli, driving her nutty as a fruitcake-and the nosy Old Biddies at her heels-Gemma must crack her toughest case yet if she is to save her friend from a life behind bars.
** Traditional English Chelsea Bun recipe at the end of the story!
This book follows British English spelling and usage.
Clean read: no graphic violence, sex, or strong language.
Genre: humorous culinary, cat cozy mystery series / women amateur sleuth / British mystery
Meanwhile, her love life is in turmoil as Gemma struggles to decide between eminent doctor, Lincoln Green, and sexy CID detective, Devlin O'Connor... whilst her quaint English tearoom is in hot water as she struggles to find a new baking chef.
With her exasperating mother and her mischievous little tabby cat, Muesli, driving her nutty as a fruitcake-and the nosy Old Biddies at her heels-Gemma must crack her toughest case yet if she is to save her friend from a life behind bars.
** Traditional English Chelsea Bun recipe at the end of the story!
This book follows British English spelling and usage.
Clean read: no graphic violence, sex, or strong language.
Genre: humorous culinary, cat cozy mystery series / women amateur sleuth / British mystery
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 8, 2016
1689 people are currently reading
1017 people want to read
About the author
H.Y. Hanna
61 books1,072 followersUSA Today bestselling author H.Y. Hanna writes fun cozy mysteries filled with quirky characters, lots of laughs, clever twists—and cats with big personalities! She is known for bringing wonderful settings to life, whether it’s the historic city of Oxford, the beautiful English Cotswolds or the sunny beaches of coastal Florida.
After graduating from Oxford University with a BA in Biological 카지노싸이트s and a MSt in Social Anthropology, Hsin-Yi tried her hand at a variety of jobs including advertising, modelling, teaching English and dog training… before returning 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 Dubai to Auckland, London to New Jersey—but is now happily settled in Perth, Western Australia, with her husband and a rescue kitty named Muesli (who is the real-life inspiration for the feline star of her Oxford Tearoom Mysteries). She loves gardening, has a morbid fear of cockroaches and adds chili to everything she eats!
Join her newsletter for a glimpse into her life as an author, sneak previews of upcoming books and notifications of new releases:
After graduating from Oxford University with a BA in Biological 카지노싸이트s and a MSt in Social Anthropology, Hsin-Yi tried her hand at a variety of jobs including advertising, modelling, teaching English and dog training… before returning 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 Dubai to Auckland, London to New Jersey—but is now happily settled in Perth, Western Australia, with her husband and a rescue kitty named Muesli (who is the real-life inspiration for the feline star of her Oxford Tearoom Mysteries). She loves gardening, has a morbid fear of cockroaches and adds chili to everything she eats!
Join her newsletter for a glimpse into her life as an author, sneak previews of upcoming books and notifications of new releases:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
July 3, 2021
Book three in this excellent series and a pleasure to read, especially since I am in Covid lockdown - again! Honestly, this pandemic is doing great things for my reading experience this year.
Anyway there is no nasty Covid in Oxford when this book takes place, and tourists are pouring into Gemma's olde English tea room. She serves proper teas with cucumber sandwiches (white bread and lots of butter of course), scones with jam and clotted cream, and cakes. Those scones in particular make my mouth water.
In this episode one of Gemma's friends finds himself accused of murder and of course she has to investigate despite the fact that her boyfriend is heading up the real police investigation. Not surprisingly this causes some difficult moments in their developing relationship.
All beautifully nonsensical, as cosy crimes usually are, and all the more enjoyable for that. Plus it is nicely written with good characters and an interesting mystery. I will be reading #4 very soon!
Anyway there is no nasty Covid in Oxford when this book takes place, and tourists are pouring into Gemma's olde English tea room. She serves proper teas with cucumber sandwiches (white bread and lots of butter of course), scones with jam and clotted cream, and cakes. Those scones in particular make my mouth water.
In this episode one of Gemma's friends finds himself accused of murder and of course she has to investigate despite the fact that her boyfriend is heading up the real police investigation. Not surprisingly this causes some difficult moments in their developing relationship.
All beautifully nonsensical, as cosy crimes usually are, and all the more enjoyable for that. Plus it is nicely written with good characters and an interesting mystery. I will be reading #4 very soon!
August 31, 2019
.
It was a pleasant surprise to discover this excellent cozy mystery series by H. Y. Hanna. Gemma Rose, the main character, recently returned to Oxford and opened a tea shop, saying goodbye to the corporate world she had been engrossed in for the previous eight years.
Oxford Tearoom Mysteries is the prime example of a formula many cozy mysteries seem to contain. It includes a woman sleuth, small pet, two love interests - one of which is a detective with the local police department that makes her blook hum and her heart pitter patter, interfering mother, and her own business.
A sinister phone call in the middle of the night throws tearoom owner, Gemma Rose, straight into the heart of a new murder mystery--this time with her friend, Seth, arrested as the key suspect! The grisly killing in the cloisters of an old Oxford college points to a bitter feud within the University--but Gemma finds unexpected clues popping up in her tiny Cotswolds village.
This is a clean and wholesome read that is able to stand on its own, although the reader might glean additional insight by reading the series in order.
It was a pleasant surprise to discover this excellent cozy mystery series by H. Y. Hanna. Gemma Rose, the main character, recently returned to Oxford and opened a tea shop, saying goodbye to the corporate world she had been engrossed in for the previous eight years.
Oxford Tearoom Mysteries is the prime example of a formula many cozy mysteries seem to contain. It includes a woman sleuth, small pet, two love interests - one of which is a detective with the local police department that makes her blook hum and her heart pitter patter, interfering mother, and her own business.
A sinister phone call in the middle of the night throws tearoom owner, Gemma Rose, straight into the heart of a new murder mystery--this time with her friend, Seth, arrested as the key suspect! The grisly killing in the cloisters of an old Oxford college points to a bitter feud within the University--but Gemma finds unexpected clues popping up in her tiny Cotswolds village.
This is a clean and wholesome read that is able to stand on its own, although the reader might glean additional insight by reading the series in order.
September 23, 2020
When Gemma Rose was woken in the middle of the night by a phone call from her good friend Seth, she had no idea she would be soon embroiled in a murder once again, searching for clues, desperate for answers. This time it was Seth who was arrested for murder.
Gemma had opened her tearooms in Meadowford-on-Smythe in Oxford only a few months earlier, and she was amazed and gratified that it was doing so well. CID Detective Devlin O’Connor was in charge of the murder case and he was also a person Gemma had a history with, and was very fond of – more than fond perhaps. But Doctor Lincoln Green, another good friend, had both his mother and Gemma’s mother trying to match make. Gemma wasn’t sure what she would do, but the importance of proving Seth’s innocence was foremost in her mind. Would she solve the murder? And would she manage to find another chef for the tearooms before her mother returned?
Two Down, Bun to Go is the 3rd in the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries by Aussie author H.Y. Hanna, and I really enjoyed it. It was light and entertaining, with plenty of clues; Gemma’s four elderly friends, the Old Biddies (so much fun) getting fully involved in the mystery – and of course Muesli the kitten getting up to his usual hijinks. Great fun and highly recommended.
Gemma had opened her tearooms in Meadowford-on-Smythe in Oxford only a few months earlier, and she was amazed and gratified that it was doing so well. CID Detective Devlin O’Connor was in charge of the murder case and he was also a person Gemma had a history with, and was very fond of – more than fond perhaps. But Doctor Lincoln Green, another good friend, had both his mother and Gemma’s mother trying to match make. Gemma wasn’t sure what she would do, but the importance of proving Seth’s innocence was foremost in her mind. Would she solve the murder? And would she manage to find another chef for the tearooms before her mother returned?
Two Down, Bun to Go is the 3rd in the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries by Aussie author H.Y. Hanna, and I really enjoyed it. It was light and entertaining, with plenty of clues; Gemma’s four elderly friends, the Old Biddies (so much fun) getting fully involved in the mystery – and of course Muesli the kitten getting up to his usual hijinks. Great fun and highly recommended.
May 4, 2019
I really enjoyed this third book in the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries series. Muesli doesn't play as big a role as she did in the last book, but her climbing in the vent and getting "stuck" in the wall of her parents house did give Gemma some ideas about hidden stairwells, so well done Muesli! I love that . Great cozy mystery set in Oxford.
April 1, 2018
Two down, bun to go by H.Y.Hanna is the 3rd book in the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries series. An Oxford professor is murdered and her friend Seth is found standing over the body with the murder weapon, forcing tea room owner, Gemma to investigate to help prove his innocence. Another very enjoyable book in the series. I love the authors descriptive writing style and I love the humour with the actions of her mother and the old biddies. The narrator for this audible book is perfect making it am easy, fun and very entertaining book to listen to. A perfect cozy mystery.
July 2, 2017
Better and better
Great cast, including Gemma's mother and the Biddies. Lively pacing, interesting plot, and an adorable cat. Oh, and the perfect touch of romance, too. On to the next book in this fun series.
Great cast, including Gemma's mother and the Biddies. Lively pacing, interesting plot, and an adorable cat. Oh, and the perfect touch of romance, too. On to the next book in this fun series.
March 14, 2018
Good but not as fun as the others.
Gemma Rose is in trouble. Her friend Seth calls her in the early hours of the morning asking her to retrieve a note out of Professor Barrow's pigeon hole at college. He neglected to tell her he has been arrested for the man's murder.
As usual Devlin asks Gemma to stay out of it and she and the old biddies do anything but. And when Devlin finds out she withheld information, well you can imagine.
While this is going on, Gemma's mom and her best friend travel to Indonesia leaving the baking to Cassie.
Of course the girls are looking for a new baker and things aren't looking good in that area either.
After a few red herrings and a second murder Gemma realises who the murderer is and why.
The subplot throughout the story is about homelessness and people's preconceived about the homeless.
And I feel because of that there was less humor.
Gemma Rose is in trouble. Her friend Seth calls her in the early hours of the morning asking her to retrieve a note out of Professor Barrow's pigeon hole at college. He neglected to tell her he has been arrested for the man's murder.
As usual Devlin asks Gemma to stay out of it and she and the old biddies do anything but. And when Devlin finds out she withheld information, well you can imagine.
While this is going on, Gemma's mom and her best friend travel to Indonesia leaving the baking to Cassie.
Of course the girls are looking for a new baker and things aren't looking good in that area either.
After a few red herrings and a second murder Gemma realises who the murderer is and why.
The subplot throughout the story is about homelessness and people's preconceived about the homeless.
And I feel because of that there was less humor.
June 6, 2020
Book #3 in the Oxford Tearoom mysteries, “Two Down, Bun to Go” is a satisfying cozy mystery, a good palate cleanser after days spent in Stephen King’s pandemic.
Gemma’s friend Seth is found holding a dagger pulled out of the neck of a fellow Oxford college don. But Seth swears he’s innocent of the murder even though he and the murdered don were seen arguing at High Table amd Seth had borrowed the dagger only hours before from another professor. Can Gemma convince the handsome Detective O’Connor of Seth’s innocence? Of course she noses her way into the investigation b/c Seth is her friend—and in cozy mysteries, running a bakery/tea room/any other business is never enough to keep nosy women busy.
Other smaller plot lines weave through as well. Gemma’s partner in the tearoom is her best friend, Cassie, who has eyes for Seth (and vice versa). Gemma has a love-interest triangle going w/ the handsome detective and a local doctor, the son of her mother’s best friend. And the tearoom needs a new pastry chef to replace Gemma’s mother.
Suspects are trotted forward and discarded. The climax is pretty tense and I wasn’t completely sure of the identity of the murderer until told. That fact is my requirement for a GOOD cozy mystery, so this one gets 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.
Cozy mysteries aren’t high literature and cannot compare to some of the fine fiction I have read, but I enjoy them for what they are. This was a pretty good one.
Gemma’s friend Seth is found holding a dagger pulled out of the neck of a fellow Oxford college don. But Seth swears he’s innocent of the murder even though he and the murdered don were seen arguing at High Table amd Seth had borrowed the dagger only hours before from another professor. Can Gemma convince the handsome Detective O’Connor of Seth’s innocence? Of course she noses her way into the investigation b/c Seth is her friend—and in cozy mysteries, running a bakery/tea room/any other business is never enough to keep nosy women busy.
Other smaller plot lines weave through as well. Gemma’s partner in the tearoom is her best friend, Cassie, who has eyes for Seth (and vice versa). Gemma has a love-interest triangle going w/ the handsome detective and a local doctor, the son of her mother’s best friend. And the tearoom needs a new pastry chef to replace Gemma’s mother.
Suspects are trotted forward and discarded. The climax is pretty tense and I wasn’t completely sure of the identity of the murderer until told. That fact is my requirement for a GOOD cozy mystery, so this one gets 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.
Cozy mysteries aren’t high literature and cannot compare to some of the fine fiction I have read, but I enjoy them for what they are. This was a pretty good one.
June 20, 2016
How I love Hsin-yi Hanna's Oxford Tearoom Mystery series. The characters have started to feel like old friends that I'm dropping in on, with the little band of old dears already to fill me in on all of the local gossip that I have missed. The way Hsin-yi fits in so many different threads in the story makes it even more charming, ensuring that every reader gets a little something extra be it romance, mystery, humour or delicious recipes.
The murder is supplied with the death of an Oxford lecturer, with romance never far away from Gemma's doorstep and the laugh aloud moments are always in abundance. I love how these stories develop so clues can be picked up by the reader. I was close this time! Congratulations Hsin-yi Hanna, a wonderful book again!
I wish to thank the author for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
The murder is supplied with the death of an Oxford lecturer, with romance never far away from Gemma's doorstep and the laugh aloud moments are always in abundance. I love how these stories develop so clues can be picked up by the reader. I was close this time! Congratulations Hsin-yi Hanna, a wonderful book again!
I wish to thank the author for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
October 21, 2016
Come mi piace questa serie! L'ambientazione e Muesli (la gattina che appare in tutte le copertine) mi hanno conquistata.
In questo libro Gemma rischia di perdere ogni possibilità con Devlin, l'uomo che ha amato follemente al tempo dell'università, cercando di indagare su un omicidio, il cui unico indagato (da Devlin che è il detective incaricato del caso) è Seth, uno dei suoi migliori amici. Stavolta non avevo azzeccato il colpevole e ne sono quasi felice perché, in caso contrario, rischio di diventare troppo brava e non godermi più i vari mysteries...
In questo libro Gemma rischia di perdere ogni possibilità con Devlin, l'uomo che ha amato follemente al tempo dell'università, cercando di indagare su un omicidio, il cui unico indagato (da Devlin che è il detective incaricato del caso) è Seth, uno dei suoi migliori amici. Stavolta non avevo azzeccato il colpevole e ne sono quasi felice perché, in caso contrario, rischio di diventare troppo brava e non godermi più i vari mysteries...
June 28, 2021
These books are a whole lot of fun! It took me a while to warm to Gemma in the previous books. I felt she was rather immature. But in Two Down, Bun to Go she shows she's not only a loyal friend but truly compassionate and down to earth. This particular story has a lot of interesting characters and really takes advantage of and showcases the Oxford setting.
A fun and thoroughly enjoyable cozy!
A fun and thoroughly enjoyable cozy!
May 7, 2022
Troisième tome de cette série et toujours aussi bien. Quel plaisir de retrouver tous les personnages et d'en découvrir de nouveaux. Humour, enquêtes, Oxford, amitié, amour... Et toujours ces adorables vielles chouettes ! Vivement le prochain !
March 14, 2021
These are just fun. I like some of the latest developments and new characters in this one.
April 28, 2016
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review
The first two books in this series were great and the third book is just as good. Again we follow Gemma while she helps solve another murder mystery in and around Oxford while managing her tearoom as well. This time one of Gemma her friends Seth is the main suspect, he is found holding the murder weapon and blood all over him when they find the corpse. It seems a simple case, but Gemma is going to make sure the police also considers other suspects.
I liked the mystery in this one, like I've come to expect from this series there are some interesting twists and fun revelations. I kept switching from suspects alongside Gemma and in the end there was a nice twist and reasoning for the murder ad everything fell on it's place. I thought it was well written. It was nicely wrapped up at the end.
The characters are one of the highlights on this book. First we have Gemma who can't help but stick her nose into the murder mystery, she's a great main character. Although I was appalled in one scene when she asked Devlin to go against his ethics and job. I thought she went a bit too far, but I did like how she stood up for her friend Seth and did everything she could to help the police find the real murderer.
Then there are the old Biddies, a group of elderly ladies who also get involved in the murder mystery and I just love these feisty old ladies. They add some fun scenes to the book. And ofcourse Gemma her mom has something new in this book, namely an obsession with travel sites and she is continuing her matchmaking ways as well. Then there are a few new characters we meet, most noteworthy a lady with little money that Gemma keeps running into and Owen, an homeless guy with a dog. They were both great characters and while I predicted a twist concerning the first one, I still liked getting to know them and hope we see more of them in the next book. And Cassie, Gemma her best friend, plays a role as well and there are hints about a new romance for her.
There is also a bit of romance surrounding Gemma, the love triangle continues in this one. It frustrated me a bit because I thought she was leading one of them along while it was obvious who she was going to pick, even her own reasons for it sounded weak to my ears. And then there was that nasty comment she made to Devlin, so I wasn't a big fan of the romance in this book, but luckily it's only a side plot. At the end though I think the love triangle is finally resolved and it will be obvious for who she goes. And the man who "lost" handled it quite nicely too.
To summarize: Another great instalment in this series. The murder mystery is interesting and kept me switching suspects and I liked how the mystery was handled. There were some nice twists and turns. I really like the characters in this series and come to like them more with each book. There are also some new fun characters introduced. I also liked the main character Gemma and how she's doing her best to help her friend Seth. I wasn't a big fan of how the romance was handled as it was a love triangle and I thought it was obvious who she would pick. I do think it's finally resolved at the end of the book. All in all a great cozy mystery and I am looking forward to the next book!
The first two books in this series were great and the third book is just as good. Again we follow Gemma while she helps solve another murder mystery in and around Oxford while managing her tearoom as well. This time one of Gemma her friends Seth is the main suspect, he is found holding the murder weapon and blood all over him when they find the corpse. It seems a simple case, but Gemma is going to make sure the police also considers other suspects.
I liked the mystery in this one, like I've come to expect from this series there are some interesting twists and fun revelations. I kept switching from suspects alongside Gemma and in the end there was a nice twist and reasoning for the murder ad everything fell on it's place. I thought it was well written. It was nicely wrapped up at the end.
The characters are one of the highlights on this book. First we have Gemma who can't help but stick her nose into the murder mystery, she's a great main character. Although I was appalled in one scene when she asked Devlin to go against his ethics and job. I thought she went a bit too far, but I did like how she stood up for her friend Seth and did everything she could to help the police find the real murderer.
Then there are the old Biddies, a group of elderly ladies who also get involved in the murder mystery and I just love these feisty old ladies. They add some fun scenes to the book. And ofcourse Gemma her mom has something new in this book, namely an obsession with travel sites and she is continuing her matchmaking ways as well. Then there are a few new characters we meet, most noteworthy a lady with little money that Gemma keeps running into and Owen, an homeless guy with a dog. They were both great characters and while I predicted a twist concerning the first one, I still liked getting to know them and hope we see more of them in the next book. And Cassie, Gemma her best friend, plays a role as well and there are hints about a new romance for her.
There is also a bit of romance surrounding Gemma, the love triangle continues in this one. It frustrated me a bit because I thought she was leading one of them along while it was obvious who she was going to pick, even her own reasons for it sounded weak to my ears. And then there was that nasty comment she made to Devlin, so I wasn't a big fan of the romance in this book, but luckily it's only a side plot. At the end though I think the love triangle is finally resolved and it will be obvious for who she goes. And the man who "lost" handled it quite nicely too.
To summarize: Another great instalment in this series. The murder mystery is interesting and kept me switching suspects and I liked how the mystery was handled. There were some nice twists and turns. I really like the characters in this series and come to like them more with each book. There are also some new fun characters introduced. I also liked the main character Gemma and how she's doing her best to help her friend Seth. I wasn't a big fan of how the romance was handled as it was a love triangle and I thought it was obvious who she would pick. I do think it's finally resolved at the end of the book. All in all a great cozy mystery and I am looking forward to the next book!
January 15, 2022
Two Down, Bun to Go by H.Y. Hanna AA
Synopsis /
A sinister phone call in the middle of the night throws tearoom owner, Gemma Rose, straight into the heart of a new murder mystery—this time with her friend, Seth, arrested as the key suspect! The grisly killing in the cloisters of an old Oxford college points to a bitter feud within the University—but Gemma finds unexpected clues popping up in her tiny Cotswolds village.
Meanwhile, her love life is in turmoil as Gemma struggles to decide between eminent doctor, Lincoln Green, and sexy CID detective, Devlin O’Connor… whilst her quaint English tearoom is in hot water as she struggles to find a new baking chef.
With her exasperating mother and her mischievous little tabby cat, Muesli, driving her nutty as a fruitcake—and the nosy Old Biddies at her heels—Gemma must crack her toughest case yet if she is to save her friend from a life behind bars.
My Thoughts /
The cozy-mystery, Two Down, Bun to Go by Aussie author, H.Y. Hanna, is the third book in the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries series.
All the favourites are back - Mabel Cooke and her friends, Glenda Bailey, Florence Doyle and Ethel Webb - who are affectionately known around the Tearoom as the "Old Biddies". All retired and in their eighties - they all have a taste for detective novels and are all too ready to jump in 'orthotics-first' into any murder investigation they can find. CID Detective Devlin O’Connor. The dashing, Doctor Lincoln Green. Muesli, the cat.
We open book 3 with Gemma Rose being woken from sleep by a phone call from her good friend Seth Browning. In a state of panic, Seth pleads with Gemma to go to Wadsworth College immediately and retrieve a note from a Professor Barrow's pigeon hole located in the Porter's office. But when she arrives at the College, Gemma discovers there has been a murder. Professor Barrow is dead. Seth Browning has been arrested. The police state, Seth was found standing over the suspect, covered in blood, holding the murder weapon. Told to leave the 'real' investigating to the police, Gemma decides it's up to her to exonerate her friend by finding and exposing the real killer.
Author, H.Y. Hanna, certainly has the recipe for a great cozy down pat. The mystery:- while not overly convoluted, moved along at a moderate pace. There were plenty of suspects; towards the end, a nice twist and, everything was nicely wrapped up at the end. The characters:- as in the first two books, the characters are great highlights in this series. They add some fun dialogue and scenes to what otherwise would be a drab murder mystery. The romance:- yep, there is a bit of a light love triangle connection going on in book 3. The subplots:- Apart from the main murder investigation, there is a subplot throughout where the author looks at the circumstances and attitudes revolving around the issue of homelessness. This in turn, led to quite the in-depth discussion in our household about homelessness in general and what things Governments could improve upon in that regard.
Looking forward to the next instalment in the series Till Death Do Us Tart.
Synopsis /
A sinister phone call in the middle of the night throws tearoom owner, Gemma Rose, straight into the heart of a new murder mystery—this time with her friend, Seth, arrested as the key suspect! The grisly killing in the cloisters of an old Oxford college points to a bitter feud within the University—but Gemma finds unexpected clues popping up in her tiny Cotswolds village.
Meanwhile, her love life is in turmoil as Gemma struggles to decide between eminent doctor, Lincoln Green, and sexy CID detective, Devlin O’Connor… whilst her quaint English tearoom is in hot water as she struggles to find a new baking chef.
With her exasperating mother and her mischievous little tabby cat, Muesli, driving her nutty as a fruitcake—and the nosy Old Biddies at her heels—Gemma must crack her toughest case yet if she is to save her friend from a life behind bars.
My Thoughts /
The cozy-mystery, Two Down, Bun to Go by Aussie author, H.Y. Hanna, is the third book in the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries series.
All the favourites are back - Mabel Cooke and her friends, Glenda Bailey, Florence Doyle and Ethel Webb - who are affectionately known around the Tearoom as the "Old Biddies". All retired and in their eighties - they all have a taste for detective novels and are all too ready to jump in 'orthotics-first' into any murder investigation they can find. CID Detective Devlin O’Connor. The dashing, Doctor Lincoln Green. Muesli, the cat.
We open book 3 with Gemma Rose being woken from sleep by a phone call from her good friend Seth Browning. In a state of panic, Seth pleads with Gemma to go to Wadsworth College immediately and retrieve a note from a Professor Barrow's pigeon hole located in the Porter's office. But when she arrives at the College, Gemma discovers there has been a murder. Professor Barrow is dead. Seth Browning has been arrested. The police state, Seth was found standing over the suspect, covered in blood, holding the murder weapon. Told to leave the 'real' investigating to the police, Gemma decides it's up to her to exonerate her friend by finding and exposing the real killer.
Author, H.Y. Hanna, certainly has the recipe for a great cozy down pat. The mystery:- while not overly convoluted, moved along at a moderate pace. There were plenty of suspects; towards the end, a nice twist and, everything was nicely wrapped up at the end. The characters:- as in the first two books, the characters are great highlights in this series. They add some fun dialogue and scenes to what otherwise would be a drab murder mystery. The romance:- yep, there is a bit of a light love triangle connection going on in book 3. The subplots:- Apart from the main murder investigation, there is a subplot throughout where the author looks at the circumstances and attitudes revolving around the issue of homelessness. This in turn, led to quite the in-depth discussion in our household about homelessness in general and what things Governments could improve upon in that regard.
Looking forward to the next instalment in the series Till Death Do Us Tart.
April 25, 2021
This wasn’t my favourite thus far. Emma was very unreasonable in what she asked Devlin to do and Cassie was pretty awful too. The only things I liked about this book were the mystery and Lincoln. :)
June 28, 2017
Loved it! As the narrator of this, the third in the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries, I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting the characters I've come to know and love in
You'll be held captive till the end wondering who the murderer is. A truly fun and engaging cozy murder mystery.
You'll be held captive till the end wondering who the murderer is. A truly fun and engaging cozy murder mystery.
October 11, 2017
H.Y. Hanna produces another fun cozy mystery in Two Down, Bun to Go. Gemma Rose has now owned her tea room in Oxford for four months, and it is proving a big success. But one night she gets a call from her close friend Seth, one of the youngest senior professors in Oxford, begging her to sneak to his particular college, evading the police, to retrieve a letter that he had left in the pigeon hole of another professor in the anger of the moment. Gemma does as he begs, but it doesn’t take long before she learns that the professor, with whom Seth had a very public fight, was found stabbed and Seth discovered standing over the body. Naturally he gets arrested.
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at
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May 9, 2018
This was book 3 in the Oxford cozy mystery series. Gemma Rose owns the Little Stables Tearoom outside of Oxford in England, and in the beginning of this installment a prominent local figure is found dead at the local college, and Gemma's best friend Seth is presumed to be the killer as he was found standing over the body! Gemma knows Seth didn't kill anyone, so she and her group of "old biddie" friends get involved in investigating the case so they can help to clear his name. Throughout, Gemma butts heads with her boyfriend, who is a detective investigating the case and who feels that Gemma should stay out of things. When another local ends up dead too, the plot thickens even more and Gemma has to dig deeper to find out who the real killer is before someone else gets hurt. I enjoyed this installment of the series and will continue to read more from this series.
April 7, 2021
Ugh. 
I spoke too soon about liking this series. Gemma's nosing around is expected, of course, since that's what cozy mysteries are about - amateur sleuths playing detective. I didn't mind it when the evitable confrontation between the bona fide and Gemma happened - and happens in every book. BUT...I get extremely annoyed with the protagonist starts getting angry with the detective for bugging her. Gemma, in this installment has already pissed me to the point I'm laying this series aside and will resume when I've gotten over my irritation with her.
I spoke too soon about liking this series. Gemma's nosing around is expected, of course, since that's what cozy mysteries are about - amateur sleuths playing detective. I didn't mind it when the evitable confrontation between the bona fide and Gemma happened - and happens in every book. BUT...I get extremely annoyed with the protagonist starts getting angry with the detective for bugging her. Gemma, in this installment has already pissed me to the point I'm laying this series aside and will resume when I've gotten over my irritation with her.
July 27, 2022
3.5 stars
Another cute instalment of this cosy mystery series. Gemma’s friend Seth is accused of murder, and Gemma with the help of friends try to prove his innocence while staying out of the way of the official investigation (which does not always work out – especially when the detective is her ex!). A very easy, entertaining read.
Another cute instalment of this cosy mystery series. Gemma’s friend Seth is accused of murder, and Gemma with the help of friends try to prove his innocence while staying out of the way of the official investigation (which does not always work out – especially when the detective is her ex!). A very easy, entertaining read.
October 20, 2019
This was a nice, quick read. I liked it, but the lead detective on a case sharing so much information with a friend, just bugged me for some reason. I thought the other two books were better, but I’m still looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
March 1, 2021
This book seemed to be a little slower at the start than others however once it go going I was in. This series continues to combine cozy mysteries, delightful characters and all of this is set in historical Oxford.
October 24, 2024
Cette lecture était parfaite pour la saison automnale. Le mélange de tea time à l'anglaise et d'enquête pour meurtre nous tient en haleine du début à la fin. L'héroïne, Gemma est aussi attachante qu'agaçante. Je suis conquise par cette écriture fluide et j'ai envie de découvrir les autres tomes de cette saga!
March 2, 2018
I'm not really sure why, but I just couldn't get into this very easily. Odd, as I've liked the previous ones in the series.
August 29, 2018
Truly a fun cast of characters. I love returning to Oxford!
April 22, 2025
The story itself was fun again and I still really like the characters. This book did contain some weird comments made by the characters though, it gave me some xenophobic vibes.
June 1, 2017
Another good book
This series only gets better with each book. Muesli is the hit of the books. I cannot wait to see what Gemma gets into next with Devlin.
This series only gets better with each book. Muesli is the hit of the books. I cannot wait to see what Gemma gets into next with Devlin.
January 31, 2019
When Gemma receives a late night call from her dear friend, Seth, she never imagined it was going to lead her to the center of a murder investigation with Seth as the prime suspect and now she will stop at nothing to clear his name and find the real killer. Although that’s not the only plate Gemma has in the air; it’s time for her to finally choose which man has her heart—the dashing doctor, Lincoln Green, or the sexy CID detective, Devlin O’Connor. Then there’s the little matter of her tearoom having no baker.
While it was fun to be back in the tearoom, this one wasn’t my favorite and I struggled to finish it.
I didn’t care for Gemma’s attitude. She was demanding, demeaning, and just plain rude for most of the book. Sure, she had a lot on her but that’s no excuse for treating people that way. She eventually figures out she’s being a cow but it was too late to save this book for me.
The mystery was actually decent and there were a few red herrings thrown in here and there, which made things interesting. While I was pretty sure I knew who the killer was early on, I found myself guessing until the end because I couldn’t work out the motive.
The love triangle finally comes to an end in this one. Gemma makes her choice and I was rather pleased by the man she chose. I’m hoping that things go well but I have a feeling her choice is going to cause some rocky roads in the books to come.
This one wasn’t as light as the previous books in the series as it focused on the homeless crisis. While I think it was a worthy cause, I feel like there was so much focus on the cause that it took away from plot. I would have much rather seen the cause blended into the plot so it gave the book a smoother feel.
While I do enjoy Pearl Hewitt’s narration, I still feel that the voice she lends to Gemma is just a bit too old.
Overall, not my favorite in the series. I feel like the author tried to change the direction of the characters and plot and fell flat. Hopefully the next book will set everything to rights.
While it was fun to be back in the tearoom, this one wasn’t my favorite and I struggled to finish it.
I didn’t care for Gemma’s attitude. She was demanding, demeaning, and just plain rude for most of the book. Sure, she had a lot on her but that’s no excuse for treating people that way. She eventually figures out she’s being a cow but it was too late to save this book for me.
The mystery was actually decent and there were a few red herrings thrown in here and there, which made things interesting. While I was pretty sure I knew who the killer was early on, I found myself guessing until the end because I couldn’t work out the motive.
The love triangle finally comes to an end in this one. Gemma makes her choice and I was rather pleased by the man she chose. I’m hoping that things go well but I have a feeling her choice is going to cause some rocky roads in the books to come.
This one wasn’t as light as the previous books in the series as it focused on the homeless crisis. While I think it was a worthy cause, I feel like there was so much focus on the cause that it took away from plot. I would have much rather seen the cause blended into the plot so it gave the book a smoother feel.
While I do enjoy Pearl Hewitt’s narration, I still feel that the voice she lends to Gemma is just a bit too old.
Overall, not my favorite in the series. I feel like the author tried to change the direction of the characters and plot and fell flat. Hopefully the next book will set everything to rights.
December 30, 2020
Gemma wird mitten in der Nacht von Seth aus dem Schlaf geklingelt. Als sie seinen Auftrag am College in Oxford ausführt, bekommt sie langsam eine Ahnung, dass Seth in Schwierigkeiten ist. Am nächsten Morgen wird klar, dass ein Mord auf dem Gelände stattgefunden hat und Seth der Hauptverdächtigte ist.
Charaktere/Handlung:
Gemma, die Besitzerin des Little Stables Tearooms, eilt ihrem Freund zu Hilfe und stellt fest, dass das Ganze nicht so einfach ist. Auf dem Gelände treiben sich so manch zwielichtigen Gestalten herum.
Aber ihr Charakter ist es, der sie so sympathisch macht. Sie ist loyal, freundlich, hat ein mitfühlendes Herz und ist doch etwas stur. Gerade wenn es um Devlin geht. Dieser geht ihr immer noch, nach all den Jahren, unter die Haut. Auch im Tearoom kündigen sich Veränderungen an, denn ihre Mutter hat eine Reise gebucht und wird mit einer Freundin wegfahren. Kann das gutgehen?
Devlin hat meiner Meinung hier nicht so viele Auftritte, aber er ergänzt Gemma und gibt ihr auch Wiederworte. Er ist aber ein gründlicher Ermittler und versucht alles in seiner Macht stehende um den richtigen Mörder zu fassen.
Lincoln hatte wieder seine kurzen Auftritte und war mir persönlich mit seiner Art sehr sympathisch. Hier gibt es eine Entwicklung, bei der ich einfach sehr beeindruckt war und hoffe, dass er in den nächsten Bücher immer mal wieder in Erscheinung tritt.
Müsli ist auch wieder von der Partie und hat mit ihren Auftritten die ganze Sache oft aufgelockert. Aber auch die Silberlocken – die Szenen waren stellenweise absurd und absolut komisch.
Der Schreibstil war wie immer unterhaltsam, lustig und spannend. Der Erzählstil ist in der Ich-Form.
Mein Fazit:
Ich bin seit dem ersten Band einfach begeistert und auch diese Geschichte rund um Gemma, Müsli und ihre Freunde hat mich wieder eingenommen. Ich liebe es! Also ja, Tee & Mord passt in diesem Fall sehr gut zueinander, denn der Tearoom wird quasi zur Einsatzzentrale von den Silberlocker und Gemma.
Denn die Suche nach dem Mörder gestaltet sich hier etwas schwierig. Auch die Vertretung von Gemmas Mutter in der Backstube war eine sehr kurzweilige, aber lustige Suche. Gemma beweist Herz und Verstand und steht zu ihren Freunden. Auch entdeckt sie in Oxford noch etwas und ich denke, dass das evtl. ein Thema in einem anderen Buch sein wird.
Wieder wurden kleine Wendungen eingebaut, die so nicht abzusehen und absolut unterhaltsam waren. Es war stellenweise ernst, aber auch komisch und die Situationen wurden so gut beschrieben, dass man manchmal schon stellvertretend rot anlief, weil es gerade so peinlich war. Die Lacher kommen aber auch nicht zu kurz und gerade die Siberlocken taten hier ihr Bestes.
Der vierte Band: Wer den Teelöffel abgibt erscheint leider erst am 01.05.2021, ist aber bereits vorbestellt. Ich freue mich darauf wie es mit Gemma, Müsli und Devlin weitergeht! Bitte mehr davon!
Charaktere/Handlung:
Gemma, die Besitzerin des Little Stables Tearooms, eilt ihrem Freund zu Hilfe und stellt fest, dass das Ganze nicht so einfach ist. Auf dem Gelände treiben sich so manch zwielichtigen Gestalten herum.
Aber ihr Charakter ist es, der sie so sympathisch macht. Sie ist loyal, freundlich, hat ein mitfühlendes Herz und ist doch etwas stur. Gerade wenn es um Devlin geht. Dieser geht ihr immer noch, nach all den Jahren, unter die Haut. Auch im Tearoom kündigen sich Veränderungen an, denn ihre Mutter hat eine Reise gebucht und wird mit einer Freundin wegfahren. Kann das gutgehen?
Devlin hat meiner Meinung hier nicht so viele Auftritte, aber er ergänzt Gemma und gibt ihr auch Wiederworte. Er ist aber ein gründlicher Ermittler und versucht alles in seiner Macht stehende um den richtigen Mörder zu fassen.
Lincoln hatte wieder seine kurzen Auftritte und war mir persönlich mit seiner Art sehr sympathisch. Hier gibt es eine Entwicklung, bei der ich einfach sehr beeindruckt war und hoffe, dass er in den nächsten Bücher immer mal wieder in Erscheinung tritt.
Müsli ist auch wieder von der Partie und hat mit ihren Auftritten die ganze Sache oft aufgelockert. Aber auch die Silberlocken – die Szenen waren stellenweise absurd und absolut komisch.
Der Schreibstil war wie immer unterhaltsam, lustig und spannend. Der Erzählstil ist in der Ich-Form.
Mein Fazit:
Ich bin seit dem ersten Band einfach begeistert und auch diese Geschichte rund um Gemma, Müsli und ihre Freunde hat mich wieder eingenommen. Ich liebe es! Also ja, Tee & Mord passt in diesem Fall sehr gut zueinander, denn der Tearoom wird quasi zur Einsatzzentrale von den Silberlocker und Gemma.
Denn die Suche nach dem Mörder gestaltet sich hier etwas schwierig. Auch die Vertretung von Gemmas Mutter in der Backstube war eine sehr kurzweilige, aber lustige Suche. Gemma beweist Herz und Verstand und steht zu ihren Freunden. Auch entdeckt sie in Oxford noch etwas und ich denke, dass das evtl. ein Thema in einem anderen Buch sein wird.
Wieder wurden kleine Wendungen eingebaut, die so nicht abzusehen und absolut unterhaltsam waren. Es war stellenweise ernst, aber auch komisch und die Situationen wurden so gut beschrieben, dass man manchmal schon stellvertretend rot anlief, weil es gerade so peinlich war. Die Lacher kommen aber auch nicht zu kurz und gerade die Siberlocken taten hier ihr Bestes.
Der vierte Band: Wer den Teelöffel abgibt erscheint leider erst am 01.05.2021, ist aber bereits vorbestellt. Ich freue mich darauf wie es mit Gemma, Müsli und Devlin weitergeht! Bitte mehr davon!
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