The Bush Tea Murder by Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier

THE BUSH TEA MURDER

by Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier

April 20 – May 15, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

The Bush Tea Murder by Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier

A CARIBBEAN ISLAND MYSTERY

Culinary journalist Naomi Sinclair is cooking up a maelstrom of trouble upon her return to the blue waters of her native Saint Thomas.

Food journalist Naomi Sinclair doesn’t expect a side of murder with her passion fruit juice. But when her return to Saint Thomas heralds a series of troubling cases, ranging from petty theft to cold-blooded murder, that threaten her tight-knit community, that is exactly the kind of unsavory treat she must sink her teeth into.

Luckily for her neighbors, Naomi is as adept at solving puzzles as rolling johnnycake dough—a good thing, since her island community, though small, keeps serving up plenty of trouble. With the help of her friends and her crush, Mateo, Naomi must navigate the tumultuous turquoise waters of life in the Caribbean, all as her beloved father battles an illness that keeps tugging her back to her island amid her rising career stateside.

Rich with mouthwatering recipes, lush landscapes, and a hefty dose of fun under the sun, The Bush Tea Murder has all the ingredients to make up the perfect beach read.

Praise for The Bush Tea Murder:

“Zigzagging between Charlotte, North Carolina, and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, this debut offers plenty to enjoy . . . Fun-filled and fulfilling.”
~ Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Rich in history and culture . . . Fans of Joanne Fluke, Vivian Chien, and Mia P. Manansala will delight in this mystery-plus-food concoction.”
~ First Clue Reviews

“Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier’s The Bush Tea Murder is the perfect blend of intrigue, family drama, mystery and Caribbean culture. You’ll want to savor it to the last drop.”
~ Olivia Matthews, author of the Spice Isle Bakery Mysteries

“At its heart, this is a charming, immersive cozy mystery steeped in Caribbean culture, vibrant characters, and sun-drenched intrigue—a fresh and flavorful delight. The mystery unfolds at a measured, satisfying pace, allowing the rich worldbuilding and character dynamics to shine. I especially loved the subtle tension between Naomi’s stateside ambitions and her deep-rooted love for her island home, which adds emotional depth beyond what’s typical for the genre. With engaging twists, well-developed characters, and a beautifully flowing plot, this is a cozy mystery that lingers long after the final page.”
~ Debra Sennefelder, author of the Food Blogger mystery series

Book Details:

Genre: Culinary Cozy Mystery
Published by: Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: April 21, 2026
Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 9798892425230
Series: A Caribbean Island Mystery, Book 1
Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Penguin Random House

Read an excerpt from The Bush Tea Murder:

Chapter One

Present

I’ve been told my entire life that the perfect cup of bush tea is magic, and this morning I hope with every fiber of my being that this is true. There are some hard truths I have to spill, and I’ll take every ounce of help I can get. I’m settled in one of the scarlet chairs in the EAT TV conference room, directly across the table from Travis Spriggs and his nauseating brand of bright, crisp-cut perfection—just right for television, but less like sunshine and more like a fluorescent spotlight at four in the morning. He’s flanked by two people whose names I’ve only seen in producer credits at the end of some of the highest performing shows on network television: my boss’s bosses, both sporting dark suits and expressions like cliff faces. Bronwyn, the studio exec who oversees me, Travis, and the other on-air talent at EAT TV, sits in the plush chair at the head of the table, her usual pleasant expression as drained as the tumbler of coffee in her hand.

They’re all here for me.

“I’ll get things started, Miss Sinclair,” Bronwyn says, looking at me but speaking to the executives. She hasn’t called me Miss Sinclair since the interview when she hired me three years ago. “Mr. Revilla and Ms. Abbott called this meeting. I’m sure you know why. They’re very ready to start work on the show—”

“My show,” Travis murmurs with a smug smile.

“That hasn’t been officially decided,” Bronwyn says. “We can’t have a conversation about our next steps because—well— because we don’t have your ending yet, Naomi.”

“You’ve given us a lot, Miss Sinclair. Lord knows—” Mr. Revilla gestures with a meaty hand at the chunky beige file folder in front of him. “You’ve given us a hell of a lot here.”

“But you haven’t closed the case,” Ms. Abbott speaks up. Woman’s got a twist-out with impressive volume, and I’m glad I’m not the only hair naturalista in the room. Her coils jiggle as she leans toward me. “You still haven’t told us who killed Ursula Merchant.”

I glance at my mug. The Universe seems to be following a recipe for an uncomfortable morning, blending each ingredient together artfully like the chefs I interview on A Word from the Kitchen. But if there’s a recipe for a poisonous morning afoot, I’ve got the antidote here in the cup in front of me. Bush tea—balsam, mint, and lemongrass—picked from the window herb garden in my townhouse kitchen, and brewed fresh daily the way my parents and Virgin Islanders before me have done for generations. Even with the early morning, smarmy coworker and hard truths, one sip can take my mind away from the over

cast Charlotte cityscape beyond the conference room window straight to the sunny green hills of Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. I’ve lived in North Carolina for eight years now, but St. Thomas will always be home—and anything that gets me there this fast is magic indeed.

But not right now. I need to stay here, in everything this moment means. Immersed in all that’s led to it. Focused on the possibilities it will usher through. A sip will have to wait.

“That’s what you’ll get from Naomi, Ms. Abbott,” Travis says, injecting his tones with the most bored affect he can muster up. “She’s supposed to be giving you the details for one story, but instead you’ve got—what, five of them in here?” “Six,” Mr. Revilla mutters.

Travis’s brown eyes go wide. “Well, damn, sir, she’ll go off on a tangent or two, but I wouldn’t have guessed as high as six! For a journalist like me, who focuses like hell on the one story he’s got, that’s incomprehensible.”

“We read all six. And we enjoyed them,” Ms. Abbott is quick to assure me.

“But that’s not the point, is it?” Travis asks. “We were each asked to investigate one unsolved food-based mystery for this show you conceived. I gave you that. Naomi’s brought more stories than you can count on one hand, but she hasn’t given you what you asked for. She hasn’t answered the big question.” There’s enough sauce in the smile he beams at me to cover ten full racks of ribs. “You even know who killed her, Nay?”

Bronwyn looks caught between checking Travis’s tone and waiting out my answer. Her bosses follow suit. I sip my tea, still piping hot, and decide to address both. “Of course I know who killed Ursula Merchant,” I answer. “It’s right there in that folder I gave Mr. Revilla. That’s what these are—my notes on the investigation.”

Mr. Revilla and Ms. Abbott exchange a look. She’s ultimately the one who responds. “There’s . . . certainly a story here. Several. You’ve solved quite a few problems on St. Thomas over the past year. But when it comes to the story of Ursula Merchant, the one you were supposed to be investigating the whole time . . . there doesn’t seem to be much of anything.” “Nothing at all,” Mr. Revilla echoes.

“Naomi, they’d really like to make a decision,” Bronwyn says. “Travis presented a fine investigation on the Barbecue Sauce Killings—”

“The Carolina Barbecue Murders,” Travis speaks up. Bronwyn waves him away.

“He’s given us history, interviews, and a compelling hypothesis . . . along with a deep sense of the process, flavor, and sizzle of both styles of Carolina barbecue,” Bronwyn says. “The case you’ve been investigating, this—tea maven in St. Thomas being shot to death in her locked office—it’s equally intriguing. But while you’ve given us so much, you still haven’t given us an ending.”

“You’re right. I haven’t,” I say. “That was intentional. I’m hoping to do that today. Right now, as a matter of fact.” I clasp both hands around my mug.

Travis leans back in his seat, pressing the tips of his fingers together. “You sure that’s what you want? Naomi’s going to take you on a circular journey, which is the way she operates on A Word from the Kitchen. A ton of loose threads—”

“—which she always weaves together. The connections are there,” Bronwyn interrupts. “The best thing we can do right now is just hear you out, Naomi. You say you know how the story ends and what happened to Ursula Merchant. So let’s hear it. Who killed her, and how did all of this lead you there?”

I’m not at the head of the table, but all eyes are on me— Bronwyn’s perfectly lined and shadowed gray eyes are full of hope and curiosity, Mr. Revilla’s and Ms. Abbott’s are expectant behind their eyeglasses, and Travis seems to be trying to will his into lasers capable of slicing me to shreds. I take a deep breath, letting the scent of the brew in my cup ground and fortify me. I’d had a hot cup of bush tea that morning, too. The morning that started it all. The magic in my mug was what set this whole thing into motion—as bush tea always manages to do.

***

Author Bio:

Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier’s work has appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Black Cat Weekly, Stone’s Throw, Smoking Pen Press, Malice Domestic’s Mystery Most Devious and Mystery Most Humorous, The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2023, and other esteemed anthologies. Originally from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Ashley-Ruth writes mysteries highlighting the vibrant culture of her home. Ashley-Ruth is a 2022 winner of NCWN’s Jacobs-Jones award, a 2023 SMFS Derringer finalist, a Killer Nashville Claymore finalist, a 2024 recipient of MWA’s Barbara Neely grant for Black mystery writers, and a 2026 Agatha Award nominee. THE BUSH TEA MURDER (Crooked Lane Books, 2026) is her first novel-length work. She currently lives with her family and teaches first grade in Apex, North Carolina.

Catch Up With Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier:

www.ashleyruthbernier.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
YouTube – @ashley-ruthm.bernierauthor7192
Instagram – @armbernier
Threads – @armbernier
X – @armbernier
Facebook

Tour Participant Reviews:

‘A cozy mystery rooted in community, culture, and food with a Caribbean setting that pulls you all the way in. The community and cultural richness in this one is genuinely immersive. If you love food, community, a sun soaked setting, and a mystery that unfolds in layers rather than a straight line, this one is absolutely for you.’
~ Cozy Home Delight Book Reviews

‘This debut mystery was such a refreshing read. What I loved most was how the story blended food, culture, and crime into one seamless narrative. The atmosphere made the mystery feel unique.’
~ Bibliophile Foodie

‘What a fun and engaging foodie mystery! Full of family, food, community and a locked room mystery from the past. This story is more than just a mystery, it is also about family and love and finding ways to create the life you want that includes them. I enjoyed this Caribbean Island Mystery and Naomi and hope that this is the start of a series with many, many chances to return to Saint Thomas with Naomi’
~ Marbooks88

‘The Bush Tea Murder by Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier is everything I love in a good read! There’s murder, mayhem, romance, and delicious foods all in one great novel. This writer creates a book in which the readers travels to and escapes reality.’
~ The AR Critique

‘The celebrations, the people, the language, and especially the food, There is a liberal use of the local dialect, something I found fascinating. This is a good cozy mystery in an interesting location.’
~ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader

‘I felt as if I’d been on an island vacation. I enjoyed this series debut quite a bit, with its engaging characters and interesting, unusual storylines. Naomi comes across as relatable and realistic, a woman who would be fun to know, and she was easy to root for and follow.’
~ Guatemala Paula Loves to Read

‘THE BUSH TEA MURDER takes its time revealing itself, reveling in a relaxed Caribbean atmosphere, even when tensions run high and danger lurks… a delightful trip to the tropics loaded with delicious food, savory characters, and a splash of murder. ‘
~ Cozy Up With Kathy

‘This was a blast to read. The characters were so genuine. This was a super fun reading experience. Couldn’t have asked for more.’
~ fuonlyknew

‘I enjoyed the Caribbean Island culture revealed through the mysteries, the different foods shared throughout made me want to go to St. Thomas and try bush tea. Loved the setting. A little romance, intrigue, food, friends and family – you get it all! So many island friends!’
~ meloplanner

‘Murder, mayhem… and my Keurig working overtime because apparently solving crimes pairs best with multiple cups of coffee. The Bush Tea Murder is the perfect cozy escape—sun-soaked, flavorful, and just twisty enough to keep you hooked. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Saint Thomas. A delightful start to a cozy mystery series that feels like a mini tropical getaway.’
~ Review Thick & Thin

‘It is one of my favorite things to get in on the ground floor of a new cozy mystery series. And what a unique and interesting start to a series we have here! I was sailing along and turning pages quickly. This would be a great summer read!’
~ Sarah Can’t Stop Reading

‘I love the setting of St. Thomas and the US Virgin Islands, I have always wanted to visit though! The characters are well written as a reader you find yourself really liking Naomi and her parents.’
~ Country Mamas With Kids

‘The author has captured all the beauty of the tropical island in such wonderful descriptive imagery with regards to the beautiful ocean, culture, and scrumptious Caribbean foods. An enjoyable mix of light-heartedness and suspense. The Bush Tea Murder makes an excellent beginning to what I hope will be a great series.’
~ Sudeshna Blogs

Tour Host Info:

Book Formats: ePub, Print, Netgalley
Hosting Options: Review, Interview, Guest Post, Showcase
Giveaway: There will be a tour-wide PICT Giveaway
More: According to the author The Bush Tea Murder is considered to be R-level content or less. Readers may still encounter potentially sensitive material. If you have specific trigger or content concerns, please contact Partners in Crime Tours directly for more detailed information.