An enjoyable cozy mystery. I loved the town in autumn. I really enjoy the town and the townspeople so much. With this author you can jump right in and understand what happening. The food descriptions are always a hit, and have me hungry while reading. I also enjoyed the mystery. This is a great book to get you into the fall season. I cannot wait to read what comes next in this series. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It’s Halloween in Ashland, Oregon, and the local bakery Torte is in full production. They have orders for cakes and cookies and pastries on top of keeping their displays stocked with the pastries that customers come to buy for breakfast. Owner and baker Juliet Capshaw knows just how much work they have ahead of them, and that’s not even including the Halloween goodie bags they plan on handing out after the town’s giant Halloween parade.

The holiday always brings hundreds of extra tourists for the celebrations, as all of the restaurants and shops close for the parade and then open afterward to hand out treats. And since the town is known for its Shakespearean theater, the costumes are top notch. Jules will be dressing as Jelly, with her husband Carlos as peanut butter. But as they’re closing up Torte after an extremely busy Halloween, they find a man in a dragon costume who is not moving. A closer examination makes them think that something that happened to him, and Jules calls for help while Carlos tries to help the man. However, there is nothing more that can be done, and it’s time for Jules’s stepfather, a local detective, to take over.

It turns out that the dragon was Anton Dudley, a dog trainer and the in-house animal consultant for the theater. He had recently held auditions for their upcoming play, A Play About a Dragon, for the canine part. A member of Jules’s mother’s mahjong group owned the pup who won the part, but Marcia said that the audition process had been very difficult for herself and for her pug George. Anton had been his trainer and had been a big help in getting George ready for the stage. It was his help that meant they could beat out poodle Pippa and her owner Jax.

George’s place in the play also got him a prime spot in the Halloween parade, which upset Jax. She was still in the parade though, dressed in the iconic pink suit from Legally Blonde and walking with Anton and a couple of other canine celebrities. But Jules didn’t miss it when Marcia confronted Jax and dog groomer Trey Kelly about what had happened earlier. Apparently a dye mishap had turned George’s tail purple, and without Trey’s quick thinking, would have dyed the entire pug. Marcie was convinced that Jax was behind it, but she had no proof.

Jules was especially concerned about Anton’s death, as he had been wearing a dragon costume at the time. When Jules had visited her mother’s mahjong group, her mother’s long-time friend Wendy had shown off a new mahjong set she had found at a local charity shop, a beautiful antique set with artisan tiles. But when she was trying to close the drawer to put it away, something caught in the drawer. She pulled it out and found a note saying, “The dragon is dead.” In hindsight, Jules couldn’t tell if it was a strange clue to lead them to Anton’s killer? Or was it just a strange coincidence?

Catch Me If You Candy is book 17 in Ellie Alexander’s beloved Bakeshop Mystery series, and this one has gone to the dogs, but in the best way. There are dog stars, dog trainers, dog groomers, dog art, puparazzi, and plenty of pupper puns. I found the dog theme to be lots of fun, but there is still enough talk about food, coffee, and cake to make a foodie fiction fan—like me—hungry with anticipation.

I’ve been reading Alexander’s Bakeshop Mysteries for several years now, and I do love these characters. I think she has a way with food descriptions that are mouth-watering, and she can plot a mystery novel with thoughtful creativity. I’m always happy to spend time in Ashland, and I look forward to seeing what Jules and her team come up with next.

Egalleys for Catch Me If You Candy were provided by Minotaur Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Halloween is a great time to celebrate in cozy mystery villages. The Bakeshop Mystery series takes place in Ashland, Oregon, and features a Shakespearian festival, sweets and coffee. In the seventeenth book in the series, Catch Me If You Candy, Jules Capshaw and her friends and family are celebrating the holiday when a dead body is discovered. To solve this mystery, Jules must deal with dogs, drama, and Mahjong. I prefer to read a series in order, but time constraints did not allow reading fifteen other books (I read #16 last year). However, Author Ellie Alexander provides enough background and context that the book stands alone as a fun caper. Looking forward to having the time to go back and read the back catalogue.

Really enjoyed this story and the amateur sleuth Jules. It is Halloween and Jules and Carlos find Anton murdered outside her bakery(Torte), where she also sold lunches etc. She was so upset upon finding him. Then she started with questioning everyone and trying to find a motive for each of them , Jax and Marcia fighting over their dogs being in the play. Perry, an actor, Trey the dog groomer . Then there was Camille who ran the hospice 2nd. hand store who Marcia bought the Majong tile. Well this was interesting and there was a lot going on as soon as yo thought you knew something else popped up. A VERY GOOD COZY.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Catch Me if You Candy is the seventeenth book in the Bakeshop Mystery series. While I usually enjoy this series a lot, this latest entry was not as enjoyable as the previous books. While the reader can really feel the beauty of autumn and Halloween in Ashland, and the food descriptions are mouth watering, the dog theater part of the book just killed the fun for me. I paid little to no attention to these parts because I found it just plain boring. The rest of the book was good, but I was left disappointed with the book as a whole. I hope the next book will keep me interested better than this one.

Halloween has arrived in picturesque Ashland, Oregon, and all of the ghouls and goblins have descended on Main Street for the annual parade. It’s a giant street party and Torte is right in the mix.

Jules mom's friend, Wendy, has bought a new mahjong set. Inside they find a note about a dragon being killed. Soon a dragon is killed, was the note a premonition? Jules soon finds herself and Lance, her best friend, in another mystery. There's so many suspects. Can they find the killer before it's to late?

I enjoyed this cozy mystery. I would say before you read it make sure you are full because it is going to make you hungry. Torte Cafe is always making delicious sounding food, and it made me hungry throughout the book. 😅

Tentative Publishing Date: August 22, 2023

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Alexander for the E-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#netgalley
#stmartinspress
#elliealexander
#catchmeifyoucandy

Indulge in a town going all out for Halloween with a big costume parade and street party, enjoy the delicious food cooked up in the bakeshop, and, of course, in the trick or treat bag there is a murder. The story also delves into the some obsessive dog owners and the world of dog actors. That part goes on a bit overboard in my opinion, but, overall a solid story.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Halloween has arrived and all of the monsters are out on Main Street for the annual parade, a giant street party. Jules and her team have been baking autumn treats for all to enjoy. It's the end of the season and all of the costumes for the parade are going to be extraordinary. Jules is excited to experience this tradition with Carlos and Ramiro but then things take a turn. She finds a slumped dragon in front of the bakeshop and soon realizes the dragon is dead. But she then remembers her mother's partner, Helen, discovered a note warning of a dragon in an antique game set. Is this a coincidence or are they connected?

Catch Me If You Candy is a fun read that'll get you in the Halloween spirit. It is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. With its fun treats, decorative costumes, and autumn feels, it sure does make you want fall to hurry up and get here. There's something about cozy mysteries that are just so dang comforting and this one felt just like that. Catch Me If You Candy will set up that autumn atmosphere, we all love and crave. If you enjoy a cozy mystery and are looking for a book that'll get you in the Halloween spirit, give this one a go! Happy Publication Day!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Book for the ARC and the chance to read and review it honestly.

In the #17 Bakeshop Mystery series, it’s Halloween in Ashland ,OR and the entire town is going all out for the holiday. Jules Capshaw the owner of Torte Bakery and staff are making spooky treats . Seriously I must have gained 10 pounds just reading these parts . When Jules ‘ mother and her Mahjong friends discovered a notes in an antique Mahjong set is discovered at first it seems like a prank but when the prediction comes true Jules once again finds herself looking foe a killer .


This is a great addition to the series, the characters are quirky and entertaining characters. My only complaint is the constant references to Shakespeare, but I get it , it is a Shakespearean town .

I just reviewed Catch Me If You Candy by Ellie Alexander. #NetGalley #CatchMeCandy

Another entry in Ellie Alexander's Bakeshop Mystery series, and it never gets tiresome. This is book 17, and by this point a lot of authors of cozy series are starting to drag, but the gang in Ashland are always fun. It's also always nice that you're usually not quite sure who the culprit is- most of the time, it's obviously the one new person who's turned up in town, after the other new person is the victim.

Juliet and her crew are getting ready for Halloween, which Ashland goes all out for. When a murder victim is found by the bakeshop after a town-wide parade, Jules naturally jumps into action, feeling guilty about not finding the person soon enough to potentially save their life. There's dogs and crazy dog people, yummy sounding treats, and plenty of suspicious characters. Always look forward to an Ellie Alexander book!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book which is set in Ashland, Oregon home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The time is Halloween and there’s a big parade with outstanding costumes. Jules is owner of Torte a bakeshop and is married to Carlos. They met working on a cruise ship. This is an unusual murder mystery where dogs and a mahjongg set are at the center of the mystery. The mystery is a puzzle but arriving there is fun. I enjoyed this read as the story reads quickly and is well-written.

“Torte Spooktacular”, indeed! Finally we get to attend Ashland’s Halloween parade, and of course there’s a murder to solve! This book has everything a fall cozy needs, a parade, spooky treats, a murder, a bonfire picnic by the lake, and a spooky Sunday Supper that’s probably my favorite so far! I can’t wait for my next visit to Ashland and a chance to catch up with Jules and her whole crew!

Catch Me If You Candy is the 17th Bakeshop Mystery series.. The whole town of Ashland, Oregon is preparing for Halloween and the celebration includes a parade with elaborate costumes worn by kids, adults, and even some dogs. Jules Capshaw owns a bakery/coffee shop and her whole staff is looking forward to the festivities. The fun comes to an end for Jules and her husband Carlos when they discover a dead body outside the bakery.

Jules once again teams up with her best friend, Lance, to investigate the crime. Their friendship is one of the highlights of this series. Clues include a hidden message in an antique Mahjong set and sabotage of a canine actor, possibly by a jealous dog mom. Another highlight is the relationship between Jules and Carlos. They have had ups and downs, but I love them together. The murder case is more complicated than it looks like at first and the investigation becomes dangerous.

I always enjoy spending time with these characters and am intrigued by upcoming changes that a couple of the characters hint about. I can't wait to see what's in store for Jules and her friends and family.

I received an advance copy of this ebook from NetGalley and Minotaur Books, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

This is a very delightful book as well as a delicious read. Taking place in the small town of Ashburn, OR the town is all decked out for Halloween. Jules is a baker at Torte bakery and finds herself looking for the murderer of a dog trainer that was found murdered at the front door of her bakery.

There seems to be pets involved as her mother friend found a hidden note in a Mahjong set she purchased at an antique second hand store. Was this a warning? Was it a threat? There is some jealously over a dog winning a part in a production so it is exciting to read this and find out how far someone will go for their pet.

This is a must read for the cozy mystery lovers.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Jules is ready for Halloween and all that comes with it, parades, spooky desserts, warm coffees, and... murder? When a man turns up dead in front of the Torte, Jules feels responsible for helping hunt down the killer, especially when some of her own friends become the target of violence.

This was the first book I've read in this series and though I enjoyed it, I definitely missed out on some things by not knowing the backstories. There are lots of references to Jules's job working with Carlos on the Amour of the Seas, Jules and Lance have clearly done a TON of sleuthing together that I'm completely in the dark about, and Ramiro is living with them (I think he's Carlos's son from a previous relationship, though that is never explicitly stated). All that being said, the story was still easy to follow and very enjoyable, though I do think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I'd read the series in order.

This book centers mainly around the Torte, a small bakery and coffee shop in the small town of Ashland, Oregon. The characters are a quirky bunch who all have special skills and some have a special affection for one another. People who have recommended this series have raved about Carlos and how wonderful he is. I have to agree and wish he'd played a larger role in this book. I would also love to read more about the winery where he works. Jules's mom is sweet and her friends are a fun group of women who have basically devoted their retirements to having a good time hanging out together, which is awesome.

Overall, I'm definitely hooked on this series but I will start at the beginning and work my way up and I would recommend that to anyone interested in starting this series.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Catch Me if You Candy is Book 17 in the A Bakeshop Mystery by Ellie Alexander. I haven't read any of the series until this book, yet. I really enjoyed the writing and characters. The food descriptions were detailed and sounded so yummy. And there were dogs!

I love reading Halloween cozy mysteries as they are almost always fun and enjoyable reads. The staff at the bakeshop are busy baking and getting ready for the festivities. After the parade, Jules finds a body in a dragon costume dead in front of the bakery. Jules sets up to find out the culprit and find out if there is a connection between the murder and what her mother and friends found in a mahjong game.

Catch Me If You Candy is book 17 in A Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander.
A very clever, fun and entertaining cozy mystery.
I thought this was a fun story and a very well developed book with amazing characters. The book has great characters and an excellent plot, and the descriptions are fantastic.
This was a hard cozy mystery to put away!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Minotaur Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I really enjoyed this book which wasn't a big surprise as this series has been a winner for me from the very first book. I really enjoyed spending Halloween in Ashland and it being Ramiro's first American Halloween was an extra bit of fun. Mixed in with all the Halloween fun is more than a little drama between two canine actors and their very devoted owners.

The food descriptions are absolutely amazing and make me wish that Torte was a real place. I love the characters in this book. They've had a nice amount of growth as the series has gone on but not so much that they are unrecognizable. I also like seeing a bit more of Jules' mom as she finds her footing in her new retired life.

There were a few issues with pacing as the mystery developed and I can't say that this was my favorite book in the series partly because of this. That said, this was a fun read with lots of Halloween fun, great characters, and an interesting mystery.

This is book 17 in the Bakeshop Mystery series. I have read several of the earlier books but also have missed a good chunk of the series but this doesn’t take away from being able to follow or enjoy the story. I love the descriptions of the amazing and creative food and I also love this series because it is set in Ashland Oregon a place I have spent a fair amount of time in over the years. I thought this mystery wasn’t as compelling as the mysteries in previous books. I wanted to like the inclusion of animals, but that part of the story line grew old. I didn’t think the big reveal was very twisty but it was a satisfying end to the mystery. Overall I gave this one 3.5 stars.

Juliet "Jules" Capshaw came home to her family's bakeshop in Ashland Oregon after 10 years as a pastry chef on a cruise ship. Her husband, Carlos, soon joined her and they worked out the problem that caused her to leave him.
Ashland has a huge Halloween celebration every year with everyone in costume and lots of food and drink. Much to Jules' dismay, a man was stabbed in front of the bakeshop during the celebration. He was much disliked in his job at the local theater.
Jules keeps finding out little bits of information as she goes about her day (and angles for more if she can) but tries to report it all to the local law enforcement, which includes her much loved step-father and childhood best friend. None of that will keep her out of trouble since it seems to follow her. But the evil-doer is unmasked at the end and all works out, except for the victim.
I loved the interaction of Jules and her family and friends and how the community works together. There were hints that Jules and Carlos might be thinking of adding to the group. I enjoy seeing the characters grow and change as the series continues. I just wish samples came with the book!
I would give it 10 stars if I could.