Recipe and Spotlight for Antiques and Adversities by Victoria Tait

 

Antiques and Adversity in the Azores
(A Treasured Journey Mystery)
by Victoria Tait

About Antiques and Adversity in the Azores

Antiques and Adversity in the Azores (A Treasured Journey Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Azores, Portugal
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kanga Press (March 14, 2025)
Number of Pages c. 240
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DRY16XMQ

Beneath a tranquil island’s charm, a deadly mystery emerges from the lake. Can an amateur sleuth uncover the truths hidden within decades of tradition before the past claims another victim?

Troubled antiques expert, Georgina Carey, is reeling from the loss of her husband, her job, and her self-assurance. When she’s offered a commission to value the estate of a deceased Portuguese collector in the Azores—wherever that is—she reluctantly accepts.

A lakeside house nestled in the lush greenery of São Miguel Island seems like the perfect retreat to confront her past and prepare for her future. But her tranquillity is shattered when a body is found floating in the lake, echoing a mysterious death from over 30 years ago.

Despite her best intentions to focus solely on the commission, Georgina finds herself drawn into the secrets of the local town as residents unexpectedly confide in her. As she pieces together their stories, she starts to wonder if the deaths were as accidental as they seemed or if something more unsettling is at play.

Can Georgina stay on task, find an heir to the estate, and uncover the truth behind two mysterious deaths on this beguiling island in the Atlantic?

If you enjoy enchanting locations, small-town mysteries, and an intelligent sleuth grappling with self-doubt as she finds the strength to reshape her future, then you’ll love Victoria Tait’s Antiques and Adversity in the Azores, the captivating first book in The Treasured Journey Mystery series.”

Traditions, secrets, and a deadly mystery. Buy Antiques and Adversity in the Azores today!

RECIPE

Passion Fruit Jam

In my story, my amateur sleuth, Georgina Carey, discovers a recipe for passionfruit jam tucked into the back of an old journal.

She knows it was written with love and care, as the handwriting is deliberate, with curly flourishes, and small sketches of flowers decorating the border.

Passion fruits (maracujás) in the Azores are at their best from late spring to early autumn, typically from May to October. The peak season is in summer (June to August), when the fruits are most abundant, ripe, and flavourful.

The Azores are particularly known for their purple passionfruit (maracujá roxo) and banana passionfruit (maracujá banana), both of which thrive in the islands’ mild, humid climate.

Summer is the ideal time to find fresh passion fruits at local markets for making jam.

Passion Fruit (Maracuja) Jam Recipe

(Makes 4–5 medium jars)

Ingredients:

• 12 passion fruits (about 1¼ cups / 300ml of pulp, including seeds)
• 4 large oranges (zest + juice, about 1½ cups / 350ml juice)
• 1 lemon (zest + juice, about ¼ cup / 60ml juice)
• 4 cups (800g) granulated sugar
• 1½ cups (375ml) water

Method:

Prepare the fruit:

• Cut the passion fruits in half and scoop out the pulp, seeds included.
• Finely grate the zest from the oranges and lemon.
• Juice the oranges and lemon, straining out any pips.

Simmer the passionfruit shells (Optional, but great for extra pectin)

• If you want a thicker jam or to help it to set, boil the empty passionfruit shells in water for 10 minutes, then strain.
• Scrape out the softened inside pulp and add it to the jam mixture.

 

Cook the jam:

• In a large heavy-bottomed pan, combine the passionfruit pulp, orange juice, lemon juice, and water.
• Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
• Add the sugar and stir until dissolved.
• Increase to a rolling boil and cook for 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Check for setting point: (You can use a jam thermometer, but I prefer this method)

• Place a small plate in a fridge or freezer for 5 minutes.
• When you think it is close to setting, spoon a little jam onto the plate, let it cool for a minute, then push with your finger.
• If it wrinkles, it’s ready. If not, boil for 5 more minutes and test again.

Jar and store:

• Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes (this helps prevent the seeds from all sinking).
• Pour into warm, sterilised jars and seal.
• Allow to cool, then store in a cool, dark place.

Serving Ideas:

• Spread on toast, scones, or crumpets.
• Swirl into yogurt or porridge.
• Use as a cake filling or drizzle over cheesecake.

About Victoria Tait

Victoria Tait was born and raised in Yorkshire, England, where she developed a lifelong love of tea and British traditions. Inspired by the works of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Murder, She Wrote, she writes cozy mysteries infused with her signature British charm.

Her determined and hard-working female sleuths are joined by colourful but realistic teams of helpers, and her settings are vivid and evocative. With intrigue, surprises, and gentle humour, Victoria’s page-turning stories are the perfect blend of mystery and charm—best enjoyed with a cup of tea and a slice of cake.

Read the FREE prequel to her Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series at her website.

Or click Follow for updates.

Author Links
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Purchase Link
Amazon

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