Ellie Alexander has another wonderful cozy mystery! This one is perfect for the winter. Jules is baking her scrumptious delicacies, this time it's a lot of savory buns! She's hosting Carlos' son and his ex-wife's family. She's busy as usual and makes it look easy! They go up to the ski lodge to snow snow and hike. After seeing some mysterious things happening on the trail and in the dummy competition, Jules and her friend is out to solve another mystery. The mystery was pretty good and I enjoyed the winter vibes!
(Read February 2024, reviewed December 2024)

A Smoking Bun is all you need for the holiday...murder, mystery and a lot of fun. What better way to spend the day. This is such a fun read, I finished it in one day. Perfect one for Cozy Mystery fans.

I sincerely appreciate the author and NetGalley for the review copy.

I have fallen in love with Ashland, Oregon and the people of Torte. This 18th book in the series allows you to meet Ramiro’s family from Spain. It was fun getting to know them and watch the relationships grow. The characters are well developed and the relationships are genuine. I find my stomach growling by the end of the books because of all of the tasty treats that are featured. Between Jules and her husband, Carlos, Lance, and the gang who work at Torte, you are in for some delightful adventures. This one had me guessing until the very end. There was a lot of edge-of-your-seat excitement that kept me invested in the story from the very beginning. This is definitely a series to get lost in as you discover all Ashland has to offer.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Paperbacks for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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Another delicious installment in the Bakeshop Series set in Ashland, OR!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for sending me a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I’ve decided to DNF this book after reading 91 pages. I’m not connecting with the characters and I can’t get into the story. I also haven’t read the other books in the series so that’s probably why I can’t connect with the characters but either way, I don’t think this book is for me.

A post-Christmas visit with Carlos’s family has Jules both excited and slightly nervous. I am not sure how she pulls it all together but I sure do like Jules’s attitude toward the visitors/new family. I started reading this series halfway in and have really enjoyed the story arc and how much Jules has changed the way she looks at things. She has learned that change happens and sometime it is hard but usually it is needed and it is good. For example, so much has changed since she returned to Ashland. The Torte bakeshop is doing gangbusters and the folks that work that are quite a gang. Actually, they are more like family. They are a well-oiled machine the way they work together, laugh together, build a jump dummy together…and so the mystery begins. The victim, Fitz Baskin, was a rather rude and unscrupulous person and was obviously up to no good. Unfortunately barista extraordinaire Andy’s good friend, Ski Patrol Shawn, is number 1 on the suspect list. Andy can’t help himself but to ask Jules to look into things. Not that Lance needs an invitation to get himself and Jules involved. I am actually surprised that given the cold weather and Lance's flair for the dramatic that he doesn't take to donning a deerstalker caps and get to investigating.

Suspects include an eco-activist, an auditor, the lodge owner who is working hard to keep the historic family run mountain lodge going, and tenacious tour guide. Jules has hosting duties and bakes to be baked, when is she supposed to find time to sleuth? The situation is chilly but the mystery and the food is hot. Yummy dishes and desserts are described in detail and also found at the back of the book. I chose to make the Chicken and Chickpea Buns recipe and can report back that they are easy to make as the perfect meal for a chilly day. The story is like a well groomed slope but be careful that the red herrings don't lead you off the path and into the trees. There is more to this mystery than just a dead obnoxious opportunist. A great read with great descriptive food scenes that are thankfully followed up with recipes at the end. I am looking forward to the next Bakeshop Mystery.

A Smoking Bun was an intriguing foodie cozy mystery that genuinely had me guessing who the murderer was until the final reveal. Juliet is preparing for her step son's family to visit so she has planned a lot of fun adventures for them. One of those adventures is watching the annual Downhill Dummy contestant race at the local ski lodge which involves different groups sending decorated dummies on skis down a big slope. However, things go very wrong when an unliked mountain tour guide is killed during the contest.

This was a well paced story that had a little bit of everything. We got to follow along with Juliet's personal life, she and her team at Torte made some delicious sounding food, and the intrigue and drama of the ski resort. Also, I know this book is officially set in Ashland, Oregon but I think she also has it based on an area close to me in California. Which was fun because I've actually been to Mount Shasta and spent some time there so it was easy to picture everything in my head.

If you are looking for a fun cozy mystery that will have your mouth watering then you can never go wrong with one of Ellie Alexander's Bakeshop Mysteries. This one in particular was one of my favorite cozies I've read since I had no clue who the killer was. Alexander did a great job making everyone look believably guilty. Also I've had a huge craving for chai cookies since reading this book!

This is another delightful installment in her cozy Bakeshop Mystery series. Fans of Jules Caplin and the charming town of Ashland will not be disappointed.

This time around, the annual winter carnival brings a chilling twist. As the community gathers for the excitement of the ski jump competition, a tragic accident occurs, and Jules finds herself once again drawn into the heart of a mystery. With her keen observational skills and a knack for uncovering hidden truths, she navigates a world of suspects, each with their own secrets and motivations.

Alexander's writing is as warm and inviting as a freshly baked loaf of bread. The vivid descriptions of the snowy landscape and the mouthwatering baked goods create a cozy atmosphere that draws readers in. The characters continue to be endearing and relatable, adding depth and complexity to the story.

While the mystery itself is engaging, it's the character development and the charming small-town setting that truly shine. Jules' personal growth and the evolving relationships between the characters add layers to the narrative.

If you're looking for a cozy escape with a touch of suspense, *A Smoking Bun* is the perfect choice. It's a satisfying read that will leave you craving more from the Bakeshop Mystery series.

I love a good cozy mystery! One that incorporates all of my favorite topics (i.e. genealogy, bookstores, libraries, cooking, painting, inn keeping, animals, etc.), throwing in some action-suspense, a who-done-it, interesting characters, and a plot that keeps me guessing, then you’ve got me hooked. I will say, I am one of those people who like to read a series from the beginning, but I often find you don’t have to… either way I highly recommend reading A Smoking Bun by Ellie Alexander.

*I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.*

A great cozy mystery, I enjoyed this book. It's a quick read, as I read it in a few hours.. It was my first time reading this series, and I look forward to reading more in this series.

Thank you Minotaur and NetGalley for the eARC of A Smoking Bun! All opinions in this review are my own.

Despite this being the 18th book in the Bakeshop series, A Smoking Bun is my first and it won't be my last! I really enjoyed this snowy cozy mystery and look forward to reading more about this cast of characters. A Smoking Bun had quite a few twists which made it hard to put down!

I have enjoyed a few of the books in this series and it was good to see characters again that I have enjoyed in the past. (note that this book can be read as a standalone. The book is a quick read featuring a low key mystery and baking tips embedded in a work/family life that we can connect with.

I really enjoy The Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander and look forward to every new addition to the series. In this 18th outing in the series, Juliet and Carlos are hosting family members from Spain just before New Years. Part of the entertainment they are planning for their guests are events at the local ski lodge, including a fun dummy ski jump contest. But plans go awry when a young man, Fitz Baskin, a local mountain guide, ends up dead at the bottom of the mountain. Fitz is not well liked due to his back stabbing and sneaky deals, so there are a lot of suspects. With so many motives, Jules has to sort through a lot of suspects and their stories if she hopes to help find the killer.

I enjoy that Ellie Alexander isn't afraid to take her characters out of the bakeshop. Juliet aka Jules loves to help her stepfather, the professor, solve crimes. Of course, Lance is there to help Jules and he always adds fun to the sleuthing. When the reveal happens, I was once again surprised. The ending of this book was a lovely way to tie all the characters together with a great meal and festive atmosphere.

Sometimes it’s fun to read a book in the middle of the summer that is set in the midst of winter. That was the case with A Smoking Bun, which takes place between Christmas and New Year’s Day in the lovely town of Ashland, Oregon. This is the 18th book in Ellie Alexander’s long-running Bakeshop Mystery series and it’s a good one. The story centers around “Mount A”, the ski and snowboard area just outside the town of Ashland. It reminded me how much I used to love skiing when I was younger!

Because it’s the middle of the winter, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival is not running but we still get to have Lance in the mix, along with Juliet’s mom and step-dad (“The Professor”), her husband Carlos and others. This time, Carlos’ ex, Ramiro’s mother and the rest of their family are visiting Ashland for the first time, from Spain. Among the adventures planned for their visit is a moonlight snowshoe trek on Mount A.

I enjoyed the mystery in this one and had trouble figuring out “whodunit.” Every guess I made was wrong!

As usual, along with the familiar returning characters, there are lots of descriptions of the food and drinks made at Torte. There are recipes for some of the treats at the end of the book and I just might try to make those Chai Cookies!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Paperbacks for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is the next addition to the Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander. At the start of this episode dear readers, Jules Capshaw is eagerly anticipating the arrival of Ramiro's family from Spain. She has made painstaking plans to take the family to Mount A for a break and enjoy time taking in the beautiful scenic trails and night sky, then continuing to the rustic lodge to wait for the dummy competition. Her employees at Tarte bakery have joined the annual competition of creating a "dummy" of a large cake and sending it down the hill to a large ski jump. People from all over town have gathered for the festivities and are having a great time, until tragedy strikes, and someone lands up dead.

Jules and the gang get immersed in this mystery once again pulling us into the action. The snowy atmosphere and the addition of Ramiro and his family give a coziness to yet another case. If you have been following this series from the start these characters have probably found a place in your heart like mine and are starting to feel nostalgic like an episode of Scooby Doo. If you are looking for a light cozy mystery this series is one for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC for review. 3 1/2 stars

Ellie Alexander once again did not disappoint me with this latest book "A Smoking Bun" I enjoyed every minute of the book. It went so fast I couldn't put it down. Exciting Moving fast paced. Jules was really amazing how she has accepted Carlos's son and now the family came for a visit to meet. It is beautifully written and amazing how they all got along. Looking forward to what happens next with Jules and the bakery and even Richard Lord. Watching out for the next Book. Ty.

I couldn’t get into the story just as I thought. Not disappointed but need more depth, I think. I can't remember when was the last time when I read a book in which the whole plot was 100% equal to what was written in the blurb and nothing more. There was no surprise there, no resolution to any of the plot threads and the whole story was blatantly predictable and painfully dull.

This is book 18 in the Bakeshop Mystery series. It could be read as a stand alone but this one does concentrate on family so you might need some background. Ms. Alexander does a good job of including enough info from previous books to follow the story. It's winter in Oregon and Ramiro's mother and step family are visiting from Spain. Jules has lots of plans including the moonlight hike at the nearby ski lodge and the downhill dummy run which the bakery has an entry. Another great addition to this fun series.

Fun wintery murder mystery! I was guessing the whole time who had done it. Lots of food descriptions that made me hungry and I love the recipes at the end.

This is a new-to-me cozy series, and I really liked it. However, jumping in at the 18th book, I missed a lot in the backstory. I enjoyed the setting, characters, and mystery, so I bet I would have liked it even more if I had started from the beginning.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Jules has loved having Carlos’ son with them for the year and is looking forward to the rest of the family arriving just before Christmas. Many of the activities she has planned revolve around Mount Ashland or Mount A. It becomes evident that there are some serious issues going on behind the scenes. Things get out of hand when a young man is murdered and the suspects all appear to be connected to the mountain.

While she has the best intentions not to get involved, between the Professor, her step-father cop, Andy her employee and the overall welfare of the tourist driven community, she is drawn into the investigation with her best friend, Lance. Trying to figure out who is the villain is nigh impossible since everyone seems to be somebody else. It is a rather complex mystery with lots of dead ends and false clues. But Jules is able to bring the killer to justice and possibly save the beloved Lodge and Mountain.

I have enjoyed this series as the characters have evolved and grown. This one did not disappoint. Four purrs and two paws up.