Hal Westaway is a lonely young tarot card reader who becomes involved in an inheritance with a very dysfunctional family and possible a murder as well.

Ruth Ware

Shelly's tea: Tazo Chai Latte- Dirty

Candy's tea: The Republic of Tea Blackberry Sage

Four guests come to Hill House to observe and note any unusual happenings. Hill House has a reputation for paranormal activity. Everyone experiences strange things, but only one of them begins to slip from reality.

Shirley Jackson was a prolific short story writer. She wrote while raising four children and running her household. She had a knack for gothic themed stories.

Shelly's tea: Plum Deluxe Bookshop Blend White  

Candy's tea: Vahalla Tea Santa Muerta

Other links:

Movies based on her stories https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Films_based_on_works_by_Shirley_Jackson

Winchester House https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/

https://www.insider.com/the-haunting-of-hill-house-real-life-inspiration-2018-10

While doing research for her doctorate, Connie Goodwin discovers a mystery that ties her to not only the Salem Witch trials, but her own family history.

Katherine Howe

Shelly's tea: lavender, chamomile, lemon zest

Candy's tea: Nettle Tea

The witchcraft trial of Elizabeth Howe.

After the death of Holly Gibney's mother due to COVID, Holly accepts a job to help find a mother's missing daughter. As she investigates, she realizes that the missing daughter may be one of a few victims of a serial killer.

Whew! Shelly and I are long time Stephen King fans, listen in to find out if this meets our expectations.

Shelly's tea: Turmeric Tonic

Candy's tea: Tension Tamer

Harry Crane decides to lose himself in the Endless Mountain forest of Pennsylvania after the tragic death of his wife. While there, he meets a young girl that disrupts his plans as they both are on a journey to assauge their loss. In Harry's Trees, Jon Cohen has managed to tell a touching story that ties together loss, grief, fairy tales, magic and redemption.

Shelly's Tea: Blueberry Wild Child

Candy's Tea: Wolfberry Dragon

Young Mia Jacob is raised in a strict commune in Western Massachusetts outside the town of Blackwell called "The Community".  Mia’s adventures outside the community are mostly to the town library where she finds a first edition of the Scarlet Letter that seems to describe the community and her mother’s story. This sets Mia on a larger quest after her mother dies and she runs away from the community and all that she has known.

Candy's tea: Cinnamon Apple (gifted- link is to Celestial Seasoning's brand)

Carrie Soto has only known tennis her entire life.  She is a fierce player, known for winning at all costs.  Her determination and focus have not made her popular, and have earned her the nickname Battle-Axe. Five years after her retirement, she is sitting with her father watching  the 1994 US Open.  When Nicki Chan breaks her Grand Slam title,  she decides to come out of retirement to defend her Grand Slam title record. At thirty-seven, she goes back into training with her father to win one more time.

Shelly's tea: Brunch in Paris

Candy's tea: Crystal Clarity Oolong (The link takes you to the Plum Deluxe site, but unfortunately the tea is not available.)

Marcellus is a giant Pacific octopus in an aquarium where Tova cleans at night. The two have a companionable existence together, but both have deep sadness in their lives. Cameron is a down on his luck thirty year old with a plan to meet his unknown father and have him put his life to rights. All three interact and end up helping each other. Remarkably Bright Creatures is an uplifting, entertaining novel written by Shelby Van Pelt.

Shelly's Tea: Black Caesar

Candy's Tea: Einstein's Equation

Shelby’s interview with LA public Library

Octopuses Keep Surprising Us

Dala Horse

World Market Dala Horse, Ikea

Tabitha Knight recently arrived in Paris to stay and care for her grandfather. Paris is magical and delicious- especially with Julia Child being her neighbor who willingly helps Tabitha learn to cook. A seemingly innocent party leads to murder with Julia's knife being the weapon. Tabitha decides to help with the investigation to clear not only Julia's name but her own.

Shelly's tea: ⁠Genmai Cha tea from the tea spot⁠

Candy's tea: ⁠Creme Brulee Earl Grey⁠

⁠Alex Prudhomme discusses Julia and Paul's life in Paris⁠⁠French Omelette⁠⁠Casserole Roast Chicken⁠

⁠Charade⁠⁠The French Chef SNL

Season 2 Episode 33

We love Jodi Taylor's St. Mary's Chronicles! Join our discussion of "Just One Damned Thing After Another" where they "don't do time travel. They research historical events in contemporary time". Everything at St. Mary's seems orderly and perfectly in synch till Max arrives to interview. Is she a jinx or are there other forces involved in this time traveling adventure?

Jodi Taylor's Website

Shelly's Tea: Sunrise Chi - Piper and Leaf Teas

Candy’s tea: Goddess of War- Valhalla Teas