Muffins and Mourning Tea (Oxford Tearoom Mysteries ~ Book 5)
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And that’s just the start of her worries: there’s her little tabby, Muesli, who is causing havoc at the local nursing home… and what should she do with the creepy plants that her mother keeps buying for her new cottage?
But the mystery that’s really bothering Gemma is her boyfriend’s odd behaviour. Devlin O’Connor has always been enigmatic but recently, the handsome CID detective has been strangely distant and evasive. Could he be lying to her? But why?
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ALL-Butter ShortDead
(Oxford Tearoom Mysteries Prequel)
Gemma ditches her high-flying job and returns to Oxford to follow her dream: opening a traditional English tearoom serving warm buttery scones with jam and clotted cream... Only problem is--murder is the first thing on the menu and Gemma is the key suspect! And the only people Gemma can turn to for help are four nosy old ladies from her local Cotswolds village - not to mention a cheeky little tabby cat named Muesli. Who was the mysterious woman Gemma met on the flight back from Australia and why was she murdered? Now Gemma must find the killer, solve the mystery and clear her name if she's to have her cake--and serve it too.
This PREQUEL to the OXFORD TEAROOM MYSTERIES is shorter than the rest of the series - which are all full length novels - and can be read as a standalone, before or after any other book in the series.
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OTHER BOOKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR:
See all H.Y. Hanna’s books at:
http://www.hyhanna.com/amazon-authorpage
Have you tried my other mystery series?
TENDER DECEIT (The Tender Mysteries # 1)
It was the phone call she had been dreading. Leah always knew that she would have to go back home one day but she never thought it would be like this. Was her father's death really an accident or was it... murder? And who is the dark, handsome stranger who looks like the boy she once loved? He says he is Toran James... but how can that be when Toran has been reported dead?
As Leah begins to unravel the mystery of her father's death and follow the trail of clues left for her, she finds that the past holds more secrets than she realised. A sinister Asian dagger. A cryptic message in a concealed safe. A beautiful woman with something to hide.And someone is watching her every move. Someone who wants to silence her... Someone who could be the man who was her first love--and who she is now falling in love with again...
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GLOSSARY OF BRITISH TERMS
This book follows British English spelling and usage.
* “in / to hospital” – in British English, this phrase is used without the article, for example, “take him to hospital” or “my sister is in hospital”
“a shambles” – a mess, a chaotic situation
A&E – Accident & Emergency department at the hospital (American: ER)
Biscuits – small, hard, baked product, either savoury or sweet (American: cookies. What is called a “biscuit” in the U.S. is more similar to the English scone)
Blast! - an exclamation of annoyance
Bloke – man (American: guy)
Bloody – very common adjective used as an intensifier for both positive and negative qualities (e.g. “bloody awful” and “bloody wonderful”), often used to express shock or disbelief (“Bloody Hell!”)
(a poor) Bugger – there are several meanings for “bugger” but in this context, it refers to an unfortunate person, similar to “poor sod”
(to have a) Bust-up – to have a big fight or argument
Bollocks! – rubbish, nonsense, an exclamation expressing contempt
Bonkers – crazy
Bum – the behind (American: butt)
(to) Chuck – to throw
Clotted cream - a thick cream made by heating full-cream milk using steam or a water bath and then leaving it in shallow pans to cool slowly. Typically eaten with scones and jam for “afternoon tea”
Cow – a derogatory term for a woman who is unpleasant, stupid or annoying
Cripes – an exclamation of surprise or dismay
Cuppa – slang term for “a cup of tea”
Cut up rough – to become very angry
Drongo (Australian) – idiot
Elevenses – a break for a snack taken mid-morning, usually around 10:30a.m. to 11a.m., also known as “morning tea”
(to) Fob someone off – to appease someone by evasion or deceit
Get stuck into – to do something very enthusiastically
Git – a despicable person
Grub (Australian) – food
Guv’nor – an informal term for one’s boss or someone in a position of authority (particularly used in the police force to refer to a higher ranking officer); occasionally still used as a respectful term of address
Half-arsed – half-hearted, not done with proper effort or thought (American: half-assed)
Hoo-ha – a fuss, a disturbance
(to be / to have been) “in the wars” – to have suffered in some way, particularly in terms of physical injuries or dishevelled appearance
Joe Bloggs – the everyday man on the street (American: Joe Nobody)
Jumper – a warm, often woolly garment, which is worn by being pulled over the head, similar to a sweater. Contrast this with a cardigan, which has buttons down the front. (NOTE: this word has a different meaning in the United States, where it refers to a type of girl’s dress, a bit similar to a pinafore)
Knackered - very tired, exhausted (can also mean “broken” when applied to a machine or object); comes from the phrase “ready for the knacker's yard”—where old horses were slaughtered and the by-products sent for rendering, different from a slaughterhouse where animals are killed for human consumption)
Knickers – underpants, panties (usually for women)
Knobhead – idiot
Lift – a compartment in a shaft which is used to raise and lower people to different levels (America: elevator)
Miffed – to be offended and annoyed
Natter – to gossip, have a friendly chat
(to) Nick - to steal
Plonker – an annoying idiot
Poncy – pretentious, affected
Porter – usually a person hired to help carry luggage, however at Oxford, they have a special meaning (see Special terms used in Oxford University below)
Post shop – post office combined with a shop selling a variety of everyday items and groceries, often found in small towns and villages
Prat – idiot, often a superior, condescending one
Ring – call (someone on the phone)
Row – an argument
(to do a) Runner – to run away, escape
Sod – a term used to describe someone foolish, idiotic or unfortunate. Can be used in both a contemptuous manner (“He’s a lazy old sod!”) or in an affectionate or pitying way (“Poor sod—he never saw it coming.”)
Sodding – am adjective used as an intensifier, usually in a negative context
Stuffed shirt – a pompous, righteous person
Take a punt – to take a gamble at something, make a guess, give it a go
Takeaway – food that’s taken away from the restaurant to be eaten elsewhere (American: takeout)
Telly – television
Tosser – a despicable person
Twit – an idiot, often used in an affectionate context
***
Special terms used in Oxford University:
College - one of thirty or so institutions that make up the University; all students and academic staff have to be affiliated with a college and most of your life revolves around your own college: studying, dining, socialising. You are, in effect, a member of a College much more than a member of the University. College loyalties can be fierce and there is often friendly rivalry between nearby colleges. The colleges also compete with each other in various University sporting events.
Don / Fellow – a member of the academic staff / governing b
ody of a college (equivalent to “faculty member” in the U.S.) – basically refers to a college’s tutors. “Don” comes from the Latin, dominus—meaning lord, master.
Fresher – a new student who has just started his first term of study; usually referring to First Year undergraduates but can also be used for graduate students.
Porter(s) – a team of college staff who provide a variety of services, including controlling entry to the college, providing security to students and other members of college, sorting mail, and maintenance and repairs to college property.
Porter’s Lodge – a room next to the college gates which holds the porters’ offices and also the “pigeonholes”—cubby holes where the internal University mail is placed and notes for students can be left by their friends.
Quad – short for quadrangle: a square or rectangular courtyard inside a college; walking on the grass is usually not allowed.
BANOFFEE PIE RECIPE
INGREDIENTS:
(U.S. measurements are in brackets but be aware that results may vary since the recipe will not be as accurate as weighing the ingredients.)
For the base:
100g butter, melted (7 tablespoons)
250g digestive biscuits (2-1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs in the U.S. can be substituted)
For the topping:
1 tin of sweetened condensed milk (14 ounces) eg. Nestlé Carnation or Eagle Brand
100g butter, melted (7 tablespoons)
100g dark brown soft sugar (1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons)
3 tablespoons water
300ml whipping cream (1-1/4 cups)
4 small bananas (this can be increased or decreased according to taste)
Grated chocolate
+ Approx 9 inch loose-bottomed cake tin, greased
INSTRUCTIONS:
1) Crumble the digestive biscuits (or graham crackers) in a food processor until they become fine crumbs. Pour in the melted butter and combine well, until the crumbs stick together when pressed.
2) Press the crumbs into the bottom and sides of your cake tin. This is the base of the pie. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes.
3) Melt the dark brown sugar and 3 tablespoons of water in a non-stick pan, over a low heat, stirring continuously until the sugar has completely dissolved. Add the remaining butter and condensed milk and bring to rapid boil, for at least 1 minute. Stir continuously until the mixture forms a thick, golden toffee sauce. (This step is important for creating a delicious, thick caramel / toffee)
4) Remove the toffee sauce from the heat and spread most of it over the pie base (reserve a small amount to keep at room temperature for drizzling over the pie at the end). Refrigerate for at least an hour – until the toffee is semi-firm. (It can be kept in the fridge until ready to serve)
5) Beat the whipping cream using an electric mixer, until it is very thick and forms soft peaks.
6) Carefully remove the pie base from the cake tin and place it on a serving plate.
7) Slice the bananas thinly. Arrange them on top of the toffee sauce in the pie, followed by a layer of the whipped cream (alternatively, you can fold them gently into the soft whipped cream, then spoon the mixture over the toffee sauce). Keep a few slices back for decoration on top.
8) Decorate the top of the pie with the last few slices of banana and sprinkle with grated chocolate. You can also drizzle some more toffee sauce on top (you may need to rewarm it slightly if it has thickened too much to drizzle)
9) Enjoy!
Tips
Thoroughly chill the mixing bowl and beaters before whipping the cream.
Use a vegetable peeler to make chocolate curls. Drag the peeler across the edge of a chocolate bar.
Enjoy!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
H.Y. Hanna is an award-winning mystery and suspense writer and the author of the bestselling Oxford Tearoom Mysteries. She has also written romantic suspense and sweet romance, as well as a children's middle-grade mystery series. After graduating from Oxford University with a BA in Biological Sciences and a MSt in Social Anthropology, Hsin-Yi tried her hand at a variety of jobs, before returning to her first love: writing.
She worked as a freelance journalist for several years, with articles and short stories published in the UK, Australia and NZ, and has won awards for her novels, poetry, short stories and journalism.
A globe-trotter all her life, Hsin-Yi has lived 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. You can learn more about her (and the real-life Muesli who inspired the cat character in the story) and her other books at: www.hyhanna.com.
Sign up to her mailing list to be notified about new releases, exclusive giveaways, early reader discounts and other book news: http://www.hyhanna.com/newsletter
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thank you as always to my wonderful beta readers: Basma Alwesh, and Rebecca Wilkinson for their tireless enthusiasm and for always finding time to squeeze me into their busy lives. Special thanks also to my proofreaders, Connie Leap and Jenn Roseton, for their eagle eyes in checking the manuscript and their helpful suggestions.
A special thank you to Olga Devitskaya for helping me check the Russian phrases and words used in the story. I am also very grateful to the talented Kim McMahan Davis of Cinnamon and Sugar… and a Little Bit of Murder blog, for acting as my “baking consulant” and helping me test the Banoffee Pie recipe, and providing the U.S. measurement equivalents.
And last but not least, to my wonderful husband for his patient encouragement, tireless support, and for always believing in me—I couldn’t do it without him.
***
Copyright © 2016 by H.Y. Hanna
All rights reserved.
ISBN-13: 978-0-9945272-95
www.hyhanna.com
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, business establishments, persons or animals, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the author. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author