Theodosia Browning is headed to visit her close friend, Daria Shand, after the first successful back alley crawl. The back alley of the row of popular shops looks different after closing, and Theo discovers it's a lot more dangerous when she stumbles upon a murder in progress. Most disturbing is the identity of the victim -- Daria!

Daria's antique map shop has been ransacked. Had Daria interrupted a robbery in progress? Was there something hidden in the collection of maps and antiques Daria had painstakingly collected and displayed; something worth killing for? Or, as Detective Tidwell suggests, was Daria killed mistakenly? Theo and Daria have similar builds and coloring. In the dark Charleston night, had the killer mistaken Daria for Theo?

There's no shortage of suspects as Theo begins looking into the life of her friend. With only a few clues and the elusive scent of teaberry to guide her, Theo soon finds herself in the sights of a cold-blooded killer.

Laura Child's THE TEABERRY STRANGLER is a neatly plotted, entertaining read. The characters are a bit eccentric and clever; people the reader can easily imagine wandering the streets of historic Charleston. Ms. Childs quickly draws the reader into the story, leading the reader through several plot twists to a satisfying ending. As a bonus, there are several recipes included at the end of the book. I highly recommend the Pecan Pie Muffins. This was my first visit to Theodosia Browning's world...it won't be my last!