A Tomes & Tea Mystery Murder Marks the Page, (Hardcover)

Murder Marks the Page by Karen Rose Smith is the debut of A Tomes %26 Tea Mysteries. This series is a spin-off of A Daisy Tea Garden Mysteries. I did not find myself liking Jazzi. She had a mother who loved her and supported her, but Jazzi does not seem to appreciate it. There is the implication that Jazzi has a strained relationship with her mother, but it is not explained. Jazzi wants to do things on her own (she makes that abundantly clear). The main characters need more development (need details on Jazzi for those who have not read A Daisy Tea Garden Mysteries). The pacing is slow which is due to the repetition and detailed descriptions. Character's outfits are described in detail (especially the type of braid Jazzi was sporting that day) plus we get to learn about every plant Jazzi encounters. As expected, food and tea are itemized as well. I wanted more substance and less filler. Adoption and locating birth parents are a major part of the story, and it overwhelms the whodunit. Jazzi does some investigating by questioning the various men in the victim's life. There is a good wrap up at the end. While Jazzi makes it abundantly clear that she is not ready for a romantic relationship (mentioned repeatedly), she interprets interactions with men as romantic interest. Jazzi will analyze her feelings for that person (does she like them, does that person have a crush on her, should she step back from this individual, etc.). I liked the community of Belltower Landing. It sounds like a charming town. The kittens are adorable, and we get to know all about them (how they look, their antics, what they eat, the bells on the door, and so much). As you can tell, Murder Marks the Page was not my cup of tea.