Vanilla Chai and A Vanishing Victim (A Waterwheel Cafe Mystery) by Victoria Tait | Book Review and Character Guest Post

Hiya, I’m Keya Varma, or Sergeant Keya Varma, the Cotswold’s Rural Engagement Officer, to give you my full title and role.

I’m also the owner of the Waterwheel Café, in the old mill building at Akemans antique and auction house, near Coln Akeman.

I’m rather an anomaly in the Cotswolds, as the only Indian police officer, although I do have Indian colleagues in Gloucestershire Police’s headquarters. This has made it an interesting and, at times, challenging journey.

I was born in Gloucester and I’m the oldest of three girls. I’m now 34, Zivah is 29 and our younger sister, Maitri, is 18 and has just finished school. Our parents are Yojit and Chandra Varma, who we affectionally call Appa and Amma.

When I was younger, we all lived above the small newsagent shop my parents ran. My father took evening classes in bookkeeping and accounting, to help him run his business, but friends started to ask him to help them. Eventually his bookkeeping work kept him so busy that he sold the shop and flat and we moved into a new three-bedroom detached house on an estate on the edge of Gloucester.

I remember how proud my father was, and my mother too, with a proper garden. And I had my own small bedroom, which was such a luxury. My parents still live in the same house although most of their neighbours have moved to newer, more upmarket estates, but they are happy with what they have.

I did well at school and left with decent qualifications, but, as the oldest daughter, my parents were keen for me to get married. They didn’t want me to go away to university, so I went to college locally, but I didn’t feel challenged or fulfilled. Then one day I walked past a table in the college foyer where two Gloucestershire police officers were marketing a career in policing.

I didn’t intend to stop, and wouldn’t have if the policewoman hadn’t stepped forward and spoken to me. She was respectful and treated me as an equal, which was unusual in those days. She spoke of her work in the community and how satisfying her job was helping others. I was drawn in. And then I discovered the police offered its own training, which I’d be paid to do, not the other way around, and there’d be job security, a stable salary and career progression prospects.

Of course, it wasn’t as easy as that. Although I joined at the age of 20, and did well during my training program, but I remained a constable for ten years. I tend to be clumsy, especially when I’m nervous, and I didn’t have the confidence to push for promotion.

I was starting to feel jaded, working the same streets and dealing with the same issues and people in Gloucester, when an opening came up in the smaller Cirencester station. I applied and was chuffed to be transferred to Inspector Evan’s small team. I didn’t realise until after I accepted the position that I was the only one who applied, as nobody wanted to work for the grumpy Welsh inspector.

But over the years, we’ve developed a tolerant and, I’d say, respectful working relationship. The inspector may be gruff and curt with others, but he’s very loyal to his team, and protective of us. And I finally took and passed my sergeant’s exams.

After a stint in the Rural, Heritage and Wildlife Unit, which ended badly as our boss was accused of embezzlement, I asked if I could have the role as the Cotswold’s Rural Engagement Officer. It was supposed to be a for a constable, but Inspector Evans persuaded the powers-that-be to make it a sergeant’s role. They agreed, but on the condition it became a part-time role.

I was delighted, as it finally gave me the opportunity to realise a dream I’d had for a while of opening a small delicatessen and café, selling locally produced goods. I still haven’t opened the deli, but the café is proving surprisingly successful.

It’s not as easy as I anticipated, juggling my police and café work, particularly when I’m called in to help with a major case, like the kidnapping of a child. So I’m very grateful to my sister Zivah, for stepping in and working as front of house, and for Amma who’s taken over the kitchen.

When I look back, I know I’ve come a long way, not only with my job, but with my confidence and self-assurance. Amma and Appa still want me to marry, and perhaps I will, but it will be on my terms and to a man I choose. But in the meantime, I shall continue to serve people in the Cotswolds, in both my role as a community police officer and in my café.

My review of Vanilla Chai and a Vanishing  Victim

If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries set in an idyllic small-town, you’ll love Vanilla Chai and a Vanishing Victim by Victoria Tait. It’s the third book in the Waterwheel Cafe Mystery series starring Keya Varma. If you’ve read any of the Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series, you’ll recognize Keya as Dotty’s good friend. If this is your first foray into this charming cozy mystery world created by Tait, you can enjoy Vanilla Chai and a Vanishing Victim as a standalone book. 

The series is set in a small English village in the Cotswolds where Keya has worked as a police officer in Cirencester for several years. She’s now a sergeant, Rural Engagement Officer, and recently opened the Waterwheel Cafe. She doesn’t get to spend much at her cafe, so thankfully her sister and mom see to the day to day business when Keya’s on a case. In this case, a little boy has been kidnapped, and it’s all hands on deck. 

I love the characters in this book (and the whole series)! The team at the Cirencester station feel like old friends to me now. They are well-written with unique qualities and personalities which make them good at their jobs. I especially like Ryan who is pretty much a computer genius and is teamed up with Keya often. It’s like they’re siblings though, of course, Keya’s mom has hinted to Keya that she should be dating him. Her mom is always trying to fix her up since Keya is the oldest daughter in an Indian family! However, as Ryan is 11 years younger than Keya, I don’t think her mom will succeed! Characters from the Dotty Sayers series pop up lots in these books, but like I said, you don’t need to already be familiar with them! They’re very easy to get to know. 

The kidnapping case has the team very busy, but as it happens, Keya is a bit familiar with the parents and toddler since they have visited her cafe. She knows things aren’t all sunshine and rainbows in the family which casts suspicion their way. Ransom notes come in, clues are followed, and thanks to some information from outside sources, this puzzling case is finally resolved. It’s always fun “helping” the characters solve the crimes by following where the clues lead. 

I’ve loved every Victoria Tait book I’ve read, and Vanilla Chai and a Vanishing Victim is no exception. This is a cozy mystery series that makes me want to jump into the books and live there, and I think you’ll feel the same! I highly recommend this book for its lovely small town setting, wonderfully written characters, and its well-plotted kidnapping case. 

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

About Victoria Tait