In All-Butter Shortdead, the prequel to the Oxford Tea Room Mysteries by H.Y. Hanna, Gemma Rose has decided to give up her high-power job in Australia to move back to Oxford, where she grew up. Her plan is to start a tea room, and the bank has assured her that she will have no trouble getting approved for the loan to purchase the tea room. On the airplane, Gemma sits next to a woman who shows a really strong fear of flying and drinks heavily, ostensibly to ease her fears. With 20 hours sitting next to each other, the pair get to know each other, with Gemma’s learning that the woman is named Jenn Murray and will be staying close to Gemma’s home with her parents in Oxford.
When Jenn leaves her scarf on the plane, Gemma calls her hotel, and finding her in, takes the scarf to Jenn. Jenn invites Gemma to join her for drinks, and though Gemma has lemonade, Jenn drinks at least four vodka martinis. Soon Jenn gets too drunk to walk up to her room on her own, leading Gemma to take her up there. However, upon arriving in Jenn’s room, Jenn realizes she doesn’t have her handbag with her, causing Gemma to go downstairs after it. When Gemma returns, she hears Jenn brushing her teeth so puts the handbag on a chair and leaves.
The next day Gemma is alarmed to get a phone call that not only is Jenn dead but she has been murdered, and Gemma was the last person to see Jenn alive. When a newspaper publishes a story hinting that Gemma murdered Jenn, her lover, the bank backs out of offering its loan. Gemma’s complaint about this article to Inspector Glenn reveals to her that he sees her as the chief suspect. As Gemma shows her anxiety over the whole situation, four old ladies, privately known as “The Old Biddies” to Gemma and her best friend, Cassie, determine to help Gemma do her own investigating to find a solution.
I have already loved all the books in the Oxford Tea Room series, so it was with excitement that I saw that All Butter Shortdead has been released on audio. It is not a stand-alone audio release, but comes as a box set with the prequel and first two books in the series. Pearl Hewitt is a terrific narrator, sounding so much as I’d imagine Gemma sounding. She uses strong expressions and good voices for each of her characters.
This prequel to the Oxford Tea Room series was fun to listen to. I recommend that people new to the series start with the first book, A Scone to Die For, but you can enjoy the prequel by itself too. As a novella, the book has a shorter, less involved plot, though it still thoroughly satisfies.
It is the characters that really drive this book. Gemma comes across as very likeable and relatable. Her mother has curious behaviors, always asking for help with her “iTap,” which Gemma keeps reminding her is really called an iPad. But it is the Old Biddies, namely Mabel, Glenda, Florence, and Emma, who truly steal the show. The old ladies show their eccentricity and make us laugh.
I was really happy to get to revisit Gemma in her return to England in All Butter Shortdead. It had a fun plot and even more fun characters. The audio edition with Pearl Hewitt”s narration makes the book all the more fun. I give this book five stars.
To purchase this book for yourself, click here on Amazon.
