THE BUSH TEA MURDER

Zigzagging between Charlotte, North Carolina, and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, this debut offers plenty to enjoy.

There’s a lot on the line for Naomi Sinclair, star of A Word From the Kitchen, when her boss, Bronwyn Friedrich, pits her against fellow cooking-show celebrity Travis Spriggs in a contest to determine which of them will host the network’s new culinary mystery show. They each have 12 months to develop a pilot episode that solves a food-related crime. Travis stays in his hometown of Charlotte working on The Carolina Barbecue Murders, and readers see very little of him. But Naomi chooses to investigate the unsolved murder of her Aunt Ursula, the late owner of a tea shop in Charlotte Amalie. Toggling back and forth in both time and place, Bernier artfully crafts her puzzle—really a nested box of half a dozen puzzles. She gives Naomi a sharp tongue, which comes in handy when crossing swords with oafish Travis, along with a keen mind and a tender heart. Naomi solves six other crimes in the run-up to unearthing Ursula’s killer, showing compassion for many of those whose misdeeds she exposes. Through Naomi’s eyes, Bernier also provides a comprehensive look at the culture of St. Thomas. Naomi celebrates the particular joys of growing up in the U.S. Virgin Islands, with their breathtaking seascapes, beloved foodways, and close-knit communities. In the end, Naomi’s investigation is not so much a battle against a rival but a journey into herself, her family, and what it means to grow up Caribbean.

Fun-filled and fulfilling.