A Bitter Tea

Description:

In the quiet town of Willowdale, a group of lifelong friends harbors a secret so dark it threatens to destroy them one by one. When mysterious deaths begin to strike, each connected by a shared cup of tea, suspicion brews and trust shatters. A Bitter Tea is a gripping small-town drama filled with suspense, betrayal, and the haunting consequences of buried truths. As secrets rise to the surface, the question remains: who will be the next to sip the poison?

subjects: suspense,  mystery,  small-town drama,  betrayal,  secrets,  poison,  friendship,  murder mystery,  psychological thriller,  dark past,  haunting,  emotional twists,  small-town secrets,  tea poisoning,  gripping fiction,  female protagonist,  crime drama,  revenge,  hidden truths,  whodunit,  contemporary fiction

People: Rachel Morgan – Main protagonist; a determined woman unraveling the town’s deadly mystery • Noah Briggs – Town sheriff and Rachel’s secret lover • Mira Collins – Mysterious friend with a hidden agenda • Ben Wexler – Presumed-dead ex-friend with a vengeful past • Eleanor “Ellie” James – Elderly neighbor and keeper of old secrets • Deputy Harris – Loyal to Noah but skeptical of the case • Dr. Linda Cray – Medical examiner noticing strange patterns • Mayor Dalton – Town official trying to keep things quiet • Sasha Greene – Victim and friend; her death sparks the investigation • Detective Rowan – Outside investigator with suspicions about everyone

Places: Willowdale – A quiet,  fictional small town where the story unfolds • Rachel’s Cottage – A cozy but secluded home near the woods,  hiding emotional scars • The Tea Room – Once a beloved gathering spot for the group of friends; now a place of suspicion • Willowdale Police Department – Where Noah and Deputy Harris work to piece together the truth • Ben’s Cabin – An abandoned and remote location tied to the group’s dark secret • Mira’s House – Modern,  sharp-edged home that mirrors her guarded personality • Town Square – The heart of community events and gossip • Eleanor James’s Porch – A quiet place where truths are whispered and memories linger • Willowdale General Hospital – Where victims are taken and medical truths are uncovered • The Cemetery on Hawthorne Hill – A final resting place—and a clue buried in plain sight

Times: 2024 with reflections to the 1999’s