Fudge and Jury, Book 5 of the Bakeshop Mystery, has Torte hustling and bustling to prepare the upcoming Chocolate Festival. March is the month for Ashland's festival and Torte is a showcase vendor this year. As recipes are being tried and compiled for the festival, Torte is also undergoing a some remodeling. While balancing both endeavors, a world-renowned confectioner has a deadly allergic reaction to something he ate while visiting each station at the festival. As it happened right after sampling food from Torte, Juliet finds herself having to defend her team against against accusations surrounding the preparation of their food. Knowing that it wasn't anything from Torte, Juliet is on the hunt for a killer.

I enjoyed book 5 in the series just as much as the first 4. I love how Jules has acclimated to Torte and works so well with her mom and all of their employees. Being the showcase vendor for the festival is such a wonderful achievement for Torte. Unfortunately, all of that prestige and praise has the potential to go down the drain when Evan Rowe turns up dead right after visiting Torte's station.

The Bakeshop Mystery series is great and each story is different, containing not just the murder mystery but other threads. The author does a fantastic job weaving multiple stories within each book. Each thread makes sense as you move along in the book, some intersecting with the murder and others just additional everyday life. The books are descriptive and I am able to immerse myself into the town of Ashland and the lives of its residents.

The world building continues as new events or businesses begin to take shape and new characters are introduced. The familiar favorites are always a pleasure to see on the pages; Jules' mom, Stephanie, Sterling, Lance, Andy, Thomas, and The Professor. I connected with all of the favorites on some level and can't imagine these books without them.

The story was fast paced and engaging. I enjoyed trying to unravel the murder mystery. Every time I thought I had things all figured out, the author tossed in a complication that changed my mind. Ellie Alexander did a great job keeping everything under wraps and revealing things methodically and at the right time.

I actually like the mystery. The love triangle though is a turn of for me.

I love books that contain recipes. This delightful book combines murder and food -a great combination.

Juliet (Jules) Montague Capshaw lives in Ashland, Oregon. This little town is home to a Shakespearean Festival and this story takes place during the off season. Juliet is her mother's partner in the family bakery/cafe, Torte. She has returned from working on a cruise ship where she met and married Carlos. Juliet is still trying to figure out where her marriage with Carlos stands, but he is back on the cruise ship and she is in Ashland. Jules and her Mother are participating in the Chocolate Festival in Ashland, Oregon. Jules meets Evan, a famous chocolatier and obnoxious chef to boot, for the first time and is not impressed. When he suffers anaphylactic shock and dies in front of Jules she is extremely upset. Even though she did not like him, no one deserved to die like that. She begins to help the police with the investigation. With all this going on, Torte is undergoing minor renovations with new ovens being put in, Jules' old boyfriend Thomas seems to be attempting to become more than a friend, she finds out that her mother is developing arthiritis, a pastry magazine wants to do a cover story on Jules and Torte, and they are trying to decide if they want to lease the bottom floor of the bakery and do an addition. There is a lot adding stress to Jules' life, can she handle it all? Will they figure out who killed Evan?

This is the fifth book in this series and I love visiting Torte and Ashland. I love the relationship between Jules and her mom, as well the one between Helen and the Professor. The employees at Torte are very different from one another, but they work so well together and they are like a family. The plot moves quickly and kept me reading quickly until reaching the conclusion. The mystery was interesting and I was surprised to see who the killer was, as well as the reason and the method used to do it. This is a fun, interesting series that will leave you wanting more and with your stomach growling. Cozy mystery readers will enjoy this one.

The fifth Bakeshop Mystery
By Ellie Alexander
Available now from St. Martin's
Review copy

Ashland, Oregon is a small town that's built up a Shakespearean tourist industry, as well as an annual chocolate festival. As the co-owner of Torte, Ashland's resident bakeshop, Jules is cooking on all burners. She's considering expanding the business, and using the festival as a chance to renovate her current storefront. She's also got a couple of guys vying for her attention, but she's not ready to move on from her estranged husband.

When Evan Rowe, the infamously mean owner of Confections Couture, dies of an allergic reaction during the festival, everyone suspects foul play. The desserts he was served were supposedly nut free. Jules would be interested in the case just to clear her own name, but her friend Lance pushes her to become even more involved in probing for answers. As is the case in many mysteries where the victim is a real jerk, there's a plurality of suspects.

I haven't read the previous four Bakeshop Mysteries, but I was able to dive right into this tale. There is some exposition at the beginning about Jules' business and husband which helped me understand the basics of the setting, although it made me think Jules' husband would actually show up in the story. The series has a fairly standard cozy mystery set up, which made stepping into the series in the middle still feel familiar.

What I found stood out about FUDGE & JURY is the importance of Jules' career. Her professional development often overtook the murder mystery as the most important part of the book. I don't think that's a bad thing, since there's a new murder per book but investment in Jules is what will keep readers coming back. I know I'm thinking about checking out the previous four books from the library. I find that most cozy mysteries are centered around hobbies, or people starting new careers, so it was unusual to read one about a woman who is excelling in her field and finding increasing success.

I thought the cast was likeable. The array of romantic options seemed like a bit much, although Ellie Alexander sold the scene where Jules turns one of her suitors down. I felt for the guy and appreciated how maturely Jules handled the situation, by making her feelings clear but being compassionate. That's always a rough situation.

The details of the various confections are lush and mouth-watering. I know I wanted some chocolate pasta of my own! (And I greatly enjoyed Jules' defense of cocoa-powder based brownies. This Smitten Kitchen recipe proves they don't have to be grainy.) The solution to the mystery surprised me, and will certainly make me more careful about serving one of my favorite sauces to guests. The denouement happened quickly, since FUDGE & JURY does focus on so much more than the mystery, but I found the clever solution satisfying.

Summary from Goodreads:

"It’s almost spring in Ashland, Oregon, and the town is preparing for the Shakespeare and the annual Chocolate Festival. Business is cookin’ at Torte, and the store is expanding as Jules’ team whips up crèpes filled with mascarpone cheese and dark chocolate. Torte stands a chance of being this year’s confectionery belle of the ball! Life couldn’t be sweeter—unless murder taints the batter.


Evan Rowe, of Confections Couture, makes a chocolate fountain that would put Willy Wonka to shame, and his truffles are to die for—literally? Yes, the world-renowned chocolatier has just turned up dead…right after sampling a slice of Jules’ decadent four-layer chocolate cake. Now all eyes are on Jules as she tries to find the mysterious ingredient in her own recipe. Can she sift out the truth before another contestant bites the buttercream?"

My Thoughts:

Fudge and Jury is the latest installment in one of my favorite cozy mystery series! I have so been looking forward to this book and it didn't disappoint in the least. I was so excited when I managed to snag a copy on NetGalley but I had to wait to read it just so that I could savor it. Because we all know how impatient I am and the wait for the next book is going to feel SO long! This book had everything that I love about this series, and I enjoyed every minute while I was reading it. I read this series for the characters and the food period. Both are so great and something that I just can't get enough of! After five books now, I've come to really love the characters in this series but especially Jules. I love that throughout the series we have watched her both struggle and grow as she tries to figure out her life and what she wants out of it. In this book, we got the chance to see her struggle with the decision on whether or not to expand Torte. With everything still up in the air in regards to Carlos, expanding Torte will be a major commitment to her life in Ashland. I won't say what is decided as that would definitely be a spoiler but as always I love how real this series feels. Jule's life isn't perfect but it comes to life in the pages of these books.

Of course I can't share my thoughts on this book without talking about the food that is described throughout. Every book in this series has just left me craving desserts of any and all kinds and this book was no different. I would gain thirty plus pounds if I attempted baking all of the wonderful recipes that Jules creates throughout the books. They all sound so delicious and it is no wonder that I'm constantly hungry while reading. This book was particularly decadent as chocolate played such a prominent role in the Chocolate Festival that Jules is participating in. I have a particular weakness when it comes to anything chocolate so this was right up my alley. I could read all day long about the different types of cakes and pastries that are baked in Torte. Yum, yum yum! The mystery portion of this book was also intriguing. I find that with this series that I'm sometimes less interested in the actual mystery than I am with everything else that is going on. I guess that is what happens when you come to adore a series so much! The actual mystery is secondary to everything else. LOL! It was still an intriguing story line though and I liked the way it ended as it just felt true to life. I'm trying not to spoil anything so I won't say any more than that.

Overall this was another amazing addition to this series and one that I can highly recommend. I cannot say enough good things about this series- each book is just so, so good! I'm just bummed that I now have to begin the long wait for book six. This book was worth the wait though and I'm sure that one will be as well. With such great characters and delicious food, what else could I ask for in a cozy series like this? For those readers who haven't tried this series yet, I do think that you could probably read this book without having read the beginning books. The author does a great job of giving bits of the back story in each book so you could read this by itself. I would recommend reading them all though because they are just that good. Highly recommended to fans of mysteries and cozies alike!!

Bottom Line: Another amazing addition to one of my favorite series. Read it!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

A definitive cozy mystery that is delectable and transports the reader !!!
Fudge And Jury is the fifth book in the Bakeshop mystery series by Ellie Alexander. Each book is a delight and I highly recommend the entire series for your reading enjoyment. This book can stand alone but you would enjoy knowing the cast and bakery from the wonderful previous books in the series.
In this edition, our beloved protagonist and talented baker Jules is asked to participate in a chocolate festival. Jules and her Mother set up a booth with their best tastings from their bakery "Torte". During the event a famous chef visits their booth, eats a sample and promptly drops dead. Jules must investigate in order to save her reputation and solve the mystery. The sleuth is off and running as clues abound that kept this avid mystery fan guessing until the end. I am intrigued by these books because the mysteries are so detailed and well done.
I love this series set in Ashland Oregon in the famous bakery Torte. The recipes are divine intervention . The characters are all strongly centered into the mystery and add to the story. Each character finely drawn with personalities that add depth and enjoyment to the story. The protagonist is written as someone we all want to be friends with and visit in the bakery. The setting and location make this "cozy perfection." As a reader this is a series I am transported by and enjoy every delicious page cover to cover.
Thank you with gratitude for the advance reading copy. I look forward to the next in series. Cross posted to Amazon. Well Done Ellie Alexander ! Cannot wait for the next delicious book. This is my favorite of all the food cozies .

This is a very cute cozy mystery. It takes place in Oregon at a Chocolate Festival. The owners of a local bakery take part in the festival and end up embroiled in a murder mystery when one of the other vendors at the festival dies under suspicious circumstances. This is the first book I have ever read in the series, even though it's the fifth book released. It really didn't matter, I had no problem following what was going on and with the bit of explanation about other characters, I could jump right in. So it can be read as a stand alone. I plan on reading other books in the series, especially since it is so hard to find cozy mysteries that keep you guessing on "whodunnit" until almost the end. I really enjoyed this one.

Juliet and Lance are at it again trying to solve the murder of a chocolatier. Arrogant and not well liked, Evan didn't deserve to die from anaphylactic shock. Who knew he was allergic to nuts and who fed them to him? When the autopsy reveals no nuts were in Evan's system, the mystery deepens.

Ellie Alexander's mysteries always combine suspense with sweet treats, and her latest novel had plenty of both! When the judge at a chocolate contest drops dead, the contestants are all suspects. Meanwhile, Jules and her mother deal with renovations and consider expanding Tarte. Alexander does a great job mixing in the mystery investigation with all the baking, and there's plenty of twists and turns in store.

Fudge and Jury by Ellie Alexander is the 5th book in the Bakeshop Mystery series, and another excellent addition. I strongly recommend this book and the whole series if you love cozy mysteries. Reading this book was like going to Oregon to visit all friends, who happen to solve murders and make wonderful treats. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for a fair and honest review.

Warning: Reading this book will cause chocolate cravings. Not only does the main character run a bakery specializing in chocolate, but they are currently participating in their local chocolate festival! Chocolate galore.

Fudge and Jury is a cute culinary cozy mystery. (How’s that for alliteration?) Though perhaps it leans a bit more toward the culinary & the cozy than the mystery, that doesn’t make it any less entertaining. It’s full of great chocolate and great characters (Lance is so intriguing!) and seriously your mouth will be watering from all the food and chocolate discussions. The setting – small town Ashland, Oregon – is vividly established in your mind, and even though this is the fifth book in the series it can easily be read as a standalone.

Bottom Line: There’s a bit more fudge than jury in the latest Bakeshop Mystery from Ellie Alexander, but you get so caught up in the delightful back and forth of life in Ashland and at Torte that you almost don’t realize that nothing much is being said about the murder investigation. Juliet is a compelling and likable main character/narrator, and her various relationships (platonic on her end except for one) are complicated and intriguing. I’m definitely following this series to see how this all plays out!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)

The fifth book in the series, Fudge and Jury begins in March, when Ashland hosts an annual Chocolate Festival and Jules and team are getting Torte ready to represent. They are also taking time to renovate the bakery and put in the new ovens that will help them keep up with the demand they hope will continue to increase. Jules is creating new chocolate creations and planning on moving into custom wedding cakes, so a good showing at the festival is important. Unfortunately, a famous local chocolatier appears to have a fatal allergic reaction immediately after trying a few bites of Torte's chocolate cake sample and Juliet is plunged into another investigation.

The only thing better than baked goods are baked goods and chocolate and with the descriptions of the dishes Jules and friends make and eat, you won't want to read Fudge and Jury on an empty stomach. I liked that this mystery had a couple of small twists that I didn't see coming and that kept things interesting. In addition to the recipes and food descriptions, I like the little cooking and baking tips that the author peppers into the story. I consider myself to be fairly knowledgeable about chocolate but I picked up some good tips and ideas. I think Fudge and Jury (and the whole series) does a great job of balancing the food and characters with the mystery plot and keeps everything engaging and entertaining. I am looking forward to the next book, A Crime of Passion Fruit, (another great title) which comes out in June.

Well this is definitely a series I'll need to catch up on. The food descriptions were to die for (sorry, couldn't resist), and I am dying to try out those recipes (I know, that joke was even worse). The mystery was great, with no shortage of believable suspects. I also loved how connected I felt to the characters. I could feel how much hard work they put into Torte, and I wanted to cheer them on as they worked on improving it.

This is my 5th visit to Ashland, Oregon and the amazing sounding bakery Torte. I was very much looking forward to spending more time with Jules, her mom Helen, Sterling and everyone else who inhabits the world Alexander has created. Visiting with these characters is almost like visiting with old friends and I always look forward to catching up with them.
The food talk is amazing. This is not a book to be read on an empty stomach - particularly if you have a sweet tooth. In this book because of the Chocolate Festival (this needs to be a real thing and it needs to be near me!) the focus is most definitely on the sweet and the treats described are amazing sounding! Luckily, there's several recipes in the back of the book which I'm hoping to attempt. I was pleased not to see much of Jules' usual nemesis, Richard Lord, in this book, but would have loved some more time with Sterling, Andy, and Stephanie. I'm super curious about the plans for Torte that are discussed some in this book. I can't wait to see what happens next in that area!
The mystery was intriguing and I always love it when there are tons of suspects but the way it was done seems impossible. I was pleased with the solution and enjoyed how it was done. My only complaint there was that I had a hard time believing that Evan who knew he would be eating from different vendors and knew he had life threatening allergies wouldn't have an epi-pen with him but that's only a small piece.
While I like Jules there was a lot of complimenting her in this book and that got a little towards the eye rolling side. Yes, I get that she's a brilliant pastry chef and attractive but it seems to be commented on a lot. As well, I'm about ready for the subplot involving her estranged husband Carlos to be wrapped up. While it isn't overwhelming it does take up space that I would have rather been focused on the mystery or the inner workings of Torte.
Despite a few small issues this is a series that I consistently enjoyed and am always left looking forward to my next visit to Torte. While it is the 5th in the series I think it could be read on its own without any problem though the previous books are fantastic!

Still one of my favourite cozy mystery series!

We are back in Torte and it's time for the Chocolate Festival (mentioned in book 4). Torte is closed for the festival as the kids are painting the kitchen updating the stores, while Jules and her mother are busy with their booth at the festival. One of the vendor's (a famous chef) is found dead after sampling a number of chocolate dishes. Which one of the vendor's is to blame or was it someone close to the chef?

I love reading about Torte and Ashland, there is something cozy about the town. I really like Jules and her mom and their relationship. The mystery was pretty good and I was surprised about who the killer was, and the method used to kill the chef.

Bonus: there was no Carlos!!

Juliet “Jules” Montague Capshaw is back in Fudge and Jury, the fifth book in Ellie Alexander’s A Bakeshop Mystery series. This installment of the series finds Jules and her mother Helen participating in the annual Chocolate Festival that is being held at the Ashland Springs Hotel. They are also mulling over the idea of expending Torte, their family bakery/restaurant.

As the Chocolate Festival is about to start, Jules and her mother have a run in with Evan Rowe, the famous chocolatier and owner of Confections Couture. It seems Evan isn’t happy with the “little people” being showcased at the festival alongside himself and his company. After belittling and embarrassing an up and coming baking entrepreneur, Evan turns his sights on Torte. To pacify Evan, Helen offers him one of their signature desserts, chocolate pasta topped with a cream sauce, pistachios, and fresh raspberries. To their surprise, Evan is horrified and informs them that he’s allergic to nuts. They then offer him a sample of their chocolate cake. Evan eats it up and then proceeds to have a severe allergic reaction and dies.

Having watched a man take his last breathe is really hard on Jules and she wonders who would have wanted Evan dead. The problem is Evan was a tyrant and not well liked. Jules and her friend Lance, the artistic director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, set out to get information and catch a killer.

Ellie has once again written a page turner. Her cast of characters are all likeable and you can’t help but want to be apart of the book, just to know them. As I said, there is definitely a long list of suspects who had some issues with Evan. But Jules and Lance soon learn things are not as they seem with Evan and those he knew. The story had me guessing up until Jules herself figured it out. I can say I definitely learned something about cooking that I never knew before. Of course, Jules and Lance find themselves in a bad situation, but the way they get out of the sticky situation is classic. I’m seriously crushing on Lance.

Fudge and Jury is a standalone read, but I love reading this series. I can’t wait to devour the next book.

Author Ellie Alexander is guilty! Guilty of the crime of writing a brilliant mystery full of sweet chocolaty delights, and bittersweet murder!

Don’t ever say the cover of a book can’t lead you to a wonderful read. When I saw the cover of book one in the Bakeshop Mysteries, MEET YOUR BAKER, in the bookstore, I just had to read the back of it. And of course reading the back of it led to me buying it. Since that first book, I have eaten up each title as fast as they can come out!
FUDGE & JURY (another great cover) finds Jules and the gang at Torte, the bakery, taking part in the annual Chocolate Festival. Let me tell you, the entire time I was reading this story, I wanted chocolate! I could smell the tasty, rich scent with every description. Just writing this review I can smell it in the air. (Dabbing a little drool from the corner of my mouth.)

I always love returning to Ashland, Oregon, and spending time with the cast of characters in this series. With each book I have watched them change and grow as author Alexander continues to give readers more glimpses into their lives. These characters are people I want to be friends with. Heck, I want Jules mother to adopt me! I don’t want to come across all the dead bodies, and danger that they do, but I’d be willing to risk it.  And it brings this review the latest murder in Ashland.

Ellie Alexander set this story up perfectly. She let readers get comfortable with everything and feel like part of the story before bringing in the murderous mayhem. My favorite books are the ones that let the story play out for a while, before the death scene/body discovery. I like reading about the characters, and their daily lives pre-murder, the victim included. The author’s timing was perfect.

As for the mystery of the murderer, Ms. Alexander kept me wide eyed and alert, and looking at every potential suspect convinced that they were the killer. I was even suspicious of a few non-suspects. FUDGE & JURY was an assortment of intrigue, action, and a chocolaty swirl of guessing, that kept me stumped right up until the shocking reveal.

Every time I finish a book in the Bakeshop mystery series, I am breathless, happy, and hungry! FUDGE & JURY left me feeling all that and more.

And of course, there are amazing recipes at the end of the book!

A fun cozy mystery almost as sweet as the treats in the story.

Ashland, Oregon is known for its Shakespeare and Chocolate Festival. Torte is a local family bakery hoping to make a name for itself at the festival. Jules and her team have been cooking up specials and are ready to show their best. The festival promises to be a sweet event and everything is looking to be perfect, until a murder happens in front of the Torte booth. Evan Rowe, of Confections Couture, is one of the top names in the chocolate world. He is at the festival and is quick to let others know if they are not good enough they will be gone. It is easy to see how he has many enemies and that list is sure to be examined when he turns up dead after sampling cake from Jules and the Torte booth. Jules is on a mission to not only clear her name and that of her bakeries, but to also find out who among them is a murderer.

Fudge and Jury is the fifth book in the Bakeshop mysteries. I didn’t realize that when I started, so I haven’t read any others in the series. Even so, that didn’t affect my enjoyment of this one. This was an extremely fun and entertaining read. The characters were witty and engaging, the mystery was realistic and not over the top. There was a unique method to the murder that made it more enjoyable than if it was just a normal shooting, stabbing or one of the commonly used methods. Jules and Lance should have had more scenes in my opinion. When they were together, there was something about their interaction that kept the pages turning faster than when most of the other characters were together. There were a few points that were left unanswered, maybe they will be answered in the final book of the series, but I do wish there had been a little closure on those points. That has to be one of my only critical points. This is the kind of read that I think of sitting by the fire at a bed and breakfast or at the beach somewhere. Just a fun enjoyable read that is clean and able to put a smile on your face throughout. I recommend this to mystery lovers and chocolate lovers alike.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

This wonderful cozy series is fun to read. Fudge and Jury is book 5 in the Bakeshop Mystery series and it's not necessary to read the previous books. Set in Oregon, Jules and the Torte Bake Shop staff are getting ready for the Chocolate Festival. When a fellow competitor is murdered it throws a kink into Jules and her mother's tight remodeling schedule. Between installing the new ovens, fighting the constant rain and presenting their confections to the judges they have a murder to solve. Catch up with the theater, mom and the rest of the staff with this fine new installment by Ellie Alexander.