by Victoria Tait (Author) 

A Book Review by Jackie Houchin

Sergeant Keya Varma’s Waterwheel Cafe is doing very well and getting praises for the delicious foods she serves. Fortunately for Keya, her superb cook Mother and newlywed sister manage most of the work, freeing up Keya to work at her part-time police job.

In VANILLA CHAI AND A VANISHING VICTIM, a little boy from a family who frequents her cafe goes missing. The Cirencester police are called in to help find him, and then to investigate when a ransom note arrives.  Actually more than one request for money comes in!  Are there copycats?  Is there a real and dangerous kidnapper?

There are several suspects, including the Nanny who was carring for the boy when he disappeared. But she seems even more upset than the family, especially when the parents seem reluctant to give out any money.

Keya and her team double down, splitting the investigation betwenn cyber leads and questioning villagers who might have seen something…anything.  After the boy is returned (almost anti-climatic) the real game is on.  Tracing the money is a seeming impossible task.

I felt truly stressed as Keya is pulled from both sides – the care and supervision of her cafe and her concern for the police investigation. More than once, I felt like telling her, “Choose one!”  But our gal Keya is made of stronger stuff and with the Cirencester team, they pull of the shocking impossibility and close the case!  How long will the part time police work entice Keya from the delectible food and her cafe business?  Or is it, once a policeman, alway a policeman?

Victoria Tait’s writing pulls us readers along with Keya from one adventure and crisis to another, with only a few breathers. She makes her characters so believable and likable that we can’t wait for the next adventure!

4 1/2 STARS