# 18 in the Bakeshop Mystery Series, this is still very readable as a stand alone cozy mystery. If you read the previous books you would be much more acquainted with the characters,but I had not read any of the previous books and was able to engage with the characters and story quite easily. Jules, along with a large crowd, witnesses the death of Fritz, a mountain guide at one of the annual events in their small skiing town. There are many suspects, Fritz was pretty much hated, but can they find the right one? A lovely cozy mystery to pass the time with engaging characters and a mystery to be solved.
Thanks so much to #NetGalley#ASmokingBun#StMartin'sPaperbacks for the EARC

My thoughts
Characters
I enjoyed reading “A Smoking Bun.” The mountain town of Ashland, Oregon, nestled in the Rogue Valley in the southern Oregon mountains, is snowy, cold, and an ideal setting for the days between Christmas and New Year’s. It’s festive, a welcoming atmosphere for pastry chef Jules Capshaw to host important out-of-town guests.
Her stepson’s family is visiting from Spain, and she wants them to have a good time.
It's important to her that the two families become friends. That task becomes more difficult when Jules finds herself caught up in a murder.
The importance of relationships carries throughout the book. The relationships between Jules and her staff are a strong component of the book. It’s obvious the friendships are strong between the staff and Jules. She trusts them enough to take care of the bakery while she takes time off. She has a strong, loving relationship with her husband, has built a good relationship with her stepson, and is well on her way to building new relationships with her stepson’s family.
Mystery
The red herrings and mis-directions were well done. I was kept guessing up until the final reveal. There were plenty of suspects and secrets to hold my interest.
Recommendation
4/5 stars. This is a solid cozy mystery.

A Smoking Bun is the 18th book in the Bakeshop Mystery series and the lovable characters are still going strong. Consistent characters, tense situations, and of course, delicious baked goods make for an easy, quick read.

Jules and her family are once again thrown into another mystery as they are getting ready to celebrate the New Year. While it is always thrilling to watch Jules and her friends get embroiled in the mysteries that never seem to stop in small town Ashland, it is starting to get to the point where even the suspension of disbelief is not enough to convince me that she should be getting involved in cases that really have nothing to do with her. That being said, it is always wonderful to see how Jules is able to put compassion into her time investigating. Her warmth and kindness is part of what keeps me coming back to the series.

Speaking of warmth and love, the side characters and employees at Torte never disappoint. Their banter and relationships with one another always leave me wanting more. The problem with this book was that there were simply too many characters that deserved time in the spotlight. It was nice to get to see more of Andy’s personality, but given that he was the one closest to the actual case, it would have been nice to see even more of him.

It was an exciting concept to see more of Ramiro’s family, but despite the numerous activities that they were involved in, there was very little in the way of character development or growth for any of them, including Ramiro. It would have been great to see more of their personalities shine beyond hearing about how much Jules loved them all.

Overall, this is an enjoyable addition to a fun cozy mystery series and a great, quick winter read. I’d love for some more character development, but this book is still a nice piece of dessert!

⅗ stars

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Important details about A Smoking Bun

Pace: Medium

POV: 1st person (Jules)

Series: A Bakeshop Mystery. It can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the previous books to understand backstories and relationships.

Trigger Warnings: A Smoking Bun contains themes that include alcohol consumption, blood, dead bodies, fire & arson, explosions, and murder & attempted murder.

Language: There is mild swearing in A Smoking Bun. There is also language used that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is no sexual content in A Smoking Bun.

Setting: A Smoking Bun is set in Ashland, Oregon.

My Review

After several weeks of reading books that were often difficult to read (because of the content), I was ready to read something lighter. When I saw that A Smoking Bun was next on my TBR, I initially had an “Oh no” reaction. I had thought this would be another book with heavy subject matter. But, since I have a weekly reading schedule, I started reading. I was pleasantly surprised! A Smoking Bun was a perfect balm to a mind that previous books had overloaded.

A Smoking Bun is the eighteenth book (yes, I had the same reaction you did when I saw the number) in the A Bakeshop Mystery series. Because I hadn’t read the previous books, I was expecting some confusion over the characters, their backstories, and how they related to the storyline I was reading. Again, I was pleasantly surprised. There was minor confusion, but the author quickly explained the characters’ relationships to Jules. The explanations occurred within the two to three chapters, and the author moved on after the explanations were given. The focus was solely given to the mystery.

The storyline of A Smoking Bun centers on Jules and her investigation into the murder of Fitz Baskin. Fitz was horrible, with many people who didn’t want him around. The author hones the focus on four main suspects: two former clients of Fitz who he left on the side of the mountain, off the trail and in subzero temperatures, on purpose, an outspoken member of the ski rescue team, and the owner of the ski chalet/resort. All four suspects had the motive and opportunity to kill Fitz. Jules started looking into the case when one of her employees begged her to (plus, she was there, along with most of the town, when the body fell off the sled during the dummy run). His best friend was one of the four, and her employee was sure he had nothing to do with it.

I am fond of mysteries set in restaurants, bakeries, and other food stores. I enjoy reading about the delicious food that these fictional places make. I also appreciate the recipes usually included at the end of the book. I don’t know if this is because I got an ARC copy; none was included here. There were some recipes included that I would have loved to copy down.

The mystery angle of A Smoking Bun was well written. It was predictable, but overall, I enjoyed it. Jules had a unique way of looking into the case. She also had a connection with the suspects and used that to ferret out clues. Now, I was surprised at who the killer was and why that person killed Fitz. The killer was on my list of suspects, but there wasn’t enough for me to go, “Yes, it is that person.” So, when everything was revealed (and it was revealed dramatically), I was astonished.

The end of A Smoking Bun was your typical mystery ending. The author wrapped up that storyline in a way I liked but left an opening for book 19.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Paperbacks, NetGalley, and Ellie Alexander for allowing me to read and review this ARC of A Smoking Bun. All opinions expressed in this review are mine.

I’ve enjoyed every Bakeshop Mystery that I’ve read, but not all of them have been 5 stars. A Smoking Bun is the Bakeshop Mysteries at its finest. Cozy with good characters and an enthralling plot. Firstly I loved this book because it has Lance at his finest, in vintage 80s ski gear à la House of Gucci. Also the action gets going pretty quickly, which is always important for this ADHD reader. and I’m obsessed with the Dummy Downhill Run, and I genuinely enjoyed meeting Ramiro’s family. Lance stole every scene, as per usual, and his and Juliet’s investigation was top notch, no silly pushback of “oh it’s not our business” this time. And thankfully the suspects this time were all definitely suspicious, a few cozy mysteries I’ve read have suspects that the motive boils down to “they didn’t like the victim, and they’re a rude person”. Which is not at all interesting for a mystery. Thankfully, that is not the case here, and this mystery kept me guessing and had twists I never expected!

This cozy mystery has everything I want
Twists and turns, recipes, winter activities I can vicariously live through from the comfort of my warm house, a very well dressed gay character being my favorite sleuth, and multiple suspects with a variety of motives. It is well worth the read.

Once again, Alexander created another delightful mystery for us to enjoy! The wintery setting is perfectly cozy, with the fun addition of seeing Jules and crew be Ashland tour guides. The mystery itself was nicely complex, keeping me guessing throughout. Another highly successful addition to one of my favorite mystery series.

This cozy was a delight to read! It makes me want to spend a weekend in Ashland, Oregon exploring the town during the Shakespeare Festival. This isn't my first Bakeshop Mystery, but even so, the characters and storyline are easy to pic up as a stand alone. This is the 18th book in the series and takes place during a winter festival. I am looking forward to the next in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

Juliet is hours from welcoming Ramiro's family from Spain. She has planned eventful days and nights highlighting the best that her hometown Ashland, Oregon has to offer. There will be tons of delectable sweets, a midnight snowshoe, a downhill dummy, wine tasting, and...murder? Ashland's amateur sleuth and premier baker, guides readers on a quest to find the person responsible for killing troublemaker and general nuisance, Fitz Baskin. There is no shortage of suspects. Once the ball gets rolling on this one, the story moves about as fast as a Downhill Dummy.

This is the first book I've read in this series and I don't feel like I missed a beat. The character introductions were perfect and the author wove details about the character's pasts into the narration seamlessly. Alexander is a wonderful storyteller. I am eagerly awaiting book #19, "Sticks and Scones" expected August 2024. I'm confident I won't need to go back to read the earlier books in the series in order to enjoy upcoming installments, but I plan to go back and read them anyway. Juliet, Carlos, and the gang from Torte were a joy, but I just loved Lance's humor and wit.

This series is perfect for foodies, cozy suspense lovers, and those who just like a well-told tale. Don't read without a snack! All those descriptions of the desserts will make you hungry.

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's for the opportunity to preview this book in exchange for an honest review.

Visiting the scenic town of Ashland and Torte, the bakery, is always a delicious adventure as the crisp winter air blends with special coffee roasts. In the post-Christmas downtime, Jules awaits for the Torres family to come to visit Ramiro, her stepson and their son. Plenty of fun activities are scheduled showing off Ashland, until a tragic event happens up on the mountain during a colorful and comic "dummy" race. While getting to know the Torres family and showing them a good time, Jules' natural curiosity and empathy draw her into the investigation. Always a well-plotted mystery with a cast of characters you love visiting.

This was a really good cozy mystery! Great if you are wanting a good mystery, but want something lighter to read than a thriller. It is also especially good to read during winter months with all the descriptions of winter throughout it.

Really enjoyed the small town setting. The characters were very likable and fun. The plot was solid with a good mystery to solve.

It is a culinary mystery, so be prepared for descriptions of lots of food that will leave you hungry and wishing you had that food nearby!

This is part of the Bakeshop Mystery series, but can definitely be read as a stand-alone like I did! I have heard that it is nice reading in order as you get to see the characters develop and grow, but you definitely don’t have to, but I am interested now in going back and reading the series from the beginning.

Recommend this one if you are in the mood for a cozy mystery!💜

This latest addition to the Bakeshop Mystery series features the return of familiar characters. Juliet and crew continue to produce exquisite goodies in the bakeshop as the New Year's Eve celebrations are in the offing. Juliet and Carlos welcome a visit from the family of Ramiro, who is the son of Carlos and currently lives with Carlos and Juliet. The town of Ashland, Oregon enjoys winter sports and the annual "dummy ski run," which sadly results in an accidental death that might not be an accident. Juliet and friends get involved in gathering intel to help find out what might be going on behind the scenes at the ski lodge and ski runs. The mystery takes some twists and turns as it heads to the final surprising ending.

For readers new to this series, enough background information is provided to allow this novel to be read as a stand-alone. For fans of this series, the author does a good job of keeping things moving along, as the characters mature and relationships change. Characters from the past novels will seem like old friends, although the novel ends with room for future changes as the series continues.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

A Smoking Bun by Ellie Alexander is a fun visit to Ashland and all our friends at Torte. It is winter, right after Christmas and Jules’ gang is gearing up for the downhill dummy while Jules herself is gearing up for a visit from Ramiro’s mother, her husband, and his half sister. It is an odd situation but since their friendship had been developing on the internet, Jules felt good about it. She had promised herself that she would take more time for Carlos and her family and this was just the beginning. The downhill dummy was the second of the outdoor events she had planned for them. It was exactly what it sounded liked: a dummy built on skis to race down a slope. The winner was the dummy that held up the best, and her staff promised that Torte’s could be spectacular. Meanwhile, odd things were going on up on the mountain, including a man named Alex, who appeared to be both obnoxious and willing to break all the rules of the mountain putting the lives of skiers and snowboarders at risk, not to mention tour groups.

This series is the epitome of cozy mystery wherein it is all centered around family, both by blood and by choice. The staff at Torte is just as much family to Jules as are her mother and the Professor. And then of course, there is Lance, the artistic director of the Shakespeare festival and her good friend. Excellent and developing characters. They were all on the mountain when one of the dummies broke loose and ran over someone. Shocked to find out who the victim was, Jules was certain it was no accident and was worried for her friends on the mountain. I turned out to be an interesting crime with a variety of people as suspects, although the culprit eventually rose to the top and a crime rooted in history was revealed. It’s a good book, although not the best of the series as Jules and her friends come together to root out the evil doer. Kudos for keeping this wonderful series alive, Ellie Alexander!

I was invited to read A Smoking Bun by St Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #EllieAlexander #ASmokingBun

I wrote about this on The Storygraph and Goodreads and sent links to various social media sites. Recommended. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6293469688

Smoking Bun is number 18 in Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop Mysteries.

Jules Capshaw is preparing for the rest of Ramiro’s family from Spain to arrive in Ashland, Oregon. With the holidays and plenty of “powder” on Mount A, Jules and Carlos plan for a moonlit snowshoe tour. Except the plan goes awry when another tour group needs to be rescued. Jules is introduced to Fitz Baskin, a shady individual with a reputation to boot. Whom Jules was not impressed by. The midnight tour is cut short, but there’s always the Downhill Dummy Competition to bring back the excitement.

And the last dummy entry does just that, when it lands on top of Fitz. Then a member of the ski patrol is accused of murder, and Jules is pulled into investigating.

I liked this novel! I was really excited to see more of Ramiro’s family, and that Jules is thinking of her own. It’s been 18 novels of where do they go from here, and it's nice to finally see more personal character progression.

I figured out the murderer early, but I also read a lot of mysteries. The motive was kept very close to the vest, meaning it wasn’t actually revealed until the final thirty pages.

Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars.

Dollycas's Thoughts

Winter in Ashland Oregon means there are all kinds of fun things to do, especially if you go up on Mount A where you will find a rustic lodge, backcountry trails, skiing, a moonlight snowshoe tour, and this weekend, the annual Downhill Dummy Competition. Jules is excited to share everything with Ramiro's family as they arrive from Spain.

Jules has prepared a meal of spiced curry buns and chai cookies for a moonlit snowshoe tour but their evening doesn't end the way Jules had hoped. The group is still planning to return to see the Downhill Dummy Competition the next day. Several groups including Jules' Torte staff have created an entry for the event. It has been kept a secret from Jules but she is delighted to see the tiered cake with a baker who looks just like her attached to skis hit the ski jump and come flying down the hill.

The last entry hits the slope but it barrels down the hill and lands on top of Fitz Baskin, a guide on the mountain who has ruffled more than a few feathers. Jules finds herself in the thick of the investigation into who caused the dummy to go off course and kill the man. She finds plenty of suspects, secrets, and motives that could change everything on her beloved mountain.

Can Jules find the killer? or will the winter wonderland loved by so many be gone forever?

____

All my favorite characters return in this 18th Bakeshop Mystery with fun and interesting things happening in their lives. They have all enjoyed having Ramiro for the school year but now his mother, Sophia,  stepfather, Luis, and twelve-year-old sister, Marta, are coming to Ashland to ring in the new year. Jules was a bit nervous but she and Sophia's friendship has grown as they have been communicating regularly about Ramiro, his school activities, and how much it has meant to have him be able to spend so much time with his dad and Jules. Jules has such a big heart so the way she welcomed them, made them feel at home, and planned fun things for them to do was not unexpected. Ms. Alexander has created such genuine characters that is very easy to get invested in their lives.

The author blended an intriguing mystery with what was happening in the community and Jules's life. The mystery was interesting but harder to solve as the suspect's backgrounds are revealed slowly throughout the book. One character felt off to me from the start and as I continued reading my suspicions became more firm. Then, a nice twist lead to the big reveal where all my clues slid right into place. This was a fun one with so many things happening over the course of just a few days.

I always enjoy my little trips to Ashland and all the events. With the theatre dark for the winter, the murder and mayhem moved to the mountains. The Downhill Dummy, sans the murder, and the Moonlight Snowshoe Tour both sounded like good times. Of course, a lot of yummy food was made and eaten.  Good thing the calories don't transfer from the book, but they do give me cravings for things to try here at home. This time cheesecake was calling my name loudly.

I enjoyed the ending so much. Friendship and fellowship always stir up good feelings. Jule's thoughts for the new year were heartwarming with things always evolving in her life. She feels changes coming and she realizes that she is ready for whatever that means as long as she is surrounded by family and friends. Something I find very true in my life.

A Smoking Bun was a captivating cozy mystery filled with characters that feel more like old friends with each book in this series. I am excited to return to Ashland to see what Ms. Alexander has planned for Jules and her friends and family next. Sticks and Scones is set to be released on August 20, 2024.

It's almost hard to write reviews for anything Ellie Alexander writes, because I truly love her so much.
She has built this world in Ashland, Oregon that lives to be true in my heart.

This go around, we follow Jules & Lance, as they take on another investigation in solving the murder of bad boy ski tour guide, Fitz.

Once again, we sleuth along, with The Professor, as one mysterious thing happens after another. In between all of the "who done it" guessing, we get to enjoy scenes with Mrs. Professor, Carlos, Ramiro & family visiting from Spain and all the Torte favorites. There was a scene in Chapter 10 where Marty pulled on my heart strings - so don't miss that! What I would give to enjoy an afternoon sipping on one of Andy's favorite roasts and nibbling on a fresh pasty from Torte.

I hope this series never ends. Five stars, always!

Another great novel by Ellie Alexander in the Bakeshop Mysteries series. I love visiting Ashland, Oregon and Torte Bakery. Jules Capshaw is busy with her bakery and hosting her husband’s family from Spain when once again she finds herself investigating a murder.

What I love most about Alexander’s books is the method of murder . In this installment Ashland is hosting the Annual Downhill Dummy competition- Contestants strip makeshift dummies to skis and send them sailing down a mountain. What could possibly go wrong?

Long time fans of the series will not be disappointed. My only complaint about this book is that it makes me hungry with the way Alexander describes all of Torte’s baked goods.

I just reviewed A Smoking Bun by Ellie Alexander. #ASmokingBun #NetGalley

I’m obsessed. I can’t put these down. The premise, the locale, the characters! I’m in love with these people and I want them to be real. I want to work at Torte and solve mysteries.

It’s after Christmas, and Jules Capshaw is ready to take a little time off to spend with her family. Her bakery Torte can run on its own for a few days while she spends time with her husband Carlos and his family, who are visiting from Spain. Jules wants to welcome them to Ashland, Oregon, and have some fun while they’re visiting, so she’s got some fun activities planned.

First up is the moonlight snowshoe tour on the mountain, where they are led by their experienced guide Hero through some beautiful scenery. Jules brings lots of food from Torte, including their new savory buns. However, their tour gets cut short when a local on cross-country skis comes through with a couple of women. Hero recognizes the skier immediately as Fitz, who is known for taking risks. He has two women with him, and he’s leading them off the trail.

Hero stops the tour for Jules and her gang, in order to let ski patrol know what Fitz is doing and where he went. Ski patrol has to rescue Fitz and his group, making one member of ski patrol in particular very upset. Shawn is his name, and he recognizes Jules because his best friend Andy is Torte’s award-winning barista. He tells her about how dangerous Fitz is on the trails, clearly resenting how he has to rescue the man again.

Jules and Carlos make it back home safely, going back the way they came, not even too disappointed that their tour had gotten cut short. The next morning, after all, is the downhill dummy competition, and Jules is going for the first time. Contestants create a dummy, strap it to skis, and then shoot it down the ski jump to see how high and how far it can go. Torte has created a special dummy for the occasion, a baker who looks a lot like Jules with a six layer cake. It sails down the ski jump to the delight of the crowd (the cookies the Torte bakers threw into the crowd helped too).

The final dummy to go down the ski lift was put together by the ski patrol. It looked like a tree made of metal branches, and while it was impressive, it looked like it could be dangerous too. And as it turned out, it was. Somehow, it landed on someone at the bottom of the hill, and after everyone had been so careful to stay clear of the landings.

When Jules goes to find out what happened, she discovers that the victim was Fitz. And one of the locals who was there immediately pointed out Shawn as the murderer. Andy is certain that Shawn would never kill anyone, no matter how much he disliked someone, so Andy asks Jules to please help his friend. Jules has been known to help out with an investigation, and she finds that she can’t say no to Andy. So once again, Jules is on the case. But will she be able to get to the bottom of the crime, or will a killer decide to ice her next?

A Smoking Bun is book 18 in Ellie Alexander’s popular Bakeshop Mysteries, and it’s still making me just as hungry as the first one I read. These books are dangerous, filled with delicious treats, coffee drinks, soups and savory dishes, and just about every kind of delicious food you can think of. No matter what you like to eat or drink, you will find something that sounds delicious here. But not only that, you’ll find a well-plotted mystery and a large family around Jules and Torte.

I love these mysteries for the relationships that Jules has developed in her family, with her found family at the bakery, with the police, and with her best friend Lance, who runs the local theater. This group of people keep things interesting, and the foods keep things savory. But of course, I’m also here for the mystery, and I get hungry for justice when Jules starts to put the ingredients together to pull the case together.

Egalleys for A Smoking Bun were provided by St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, with many thanks.

"A Smoking Bun" by Ellie Alexander whisks readers away to the picturesque setting of Ashland, Oregon, where pastry chef turned amateur sleuth, Jules Capshaw, once again finds herself knee-deep in a deliciously suspenseful mystery. Set against the backdrop of the snow-covered mountains, Alexander crafts a story that is as cozy as a warm fireplace on a winter's night yet as thrilling as hurtling down a ski slope.

In this installment, Jules is at the helm of a festive adventure, filled with spiced curry buns, chai cookies, and the exhilarating Downhill Dummy competition. The author effortlessly immerses readers in the heartwarming camaraderie of Jules's friends and family, making them feel like cherished guests at Torte. However, when the competition takes a deadly turn, Jules's baking skills are put to the test as she navigates a maze of secrets and motives to uncover the truth.

Alexander's narrative is sprinkled with twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. Her vivid descriptions evoke the sights and sounds of the mountain lodge, from the star-filled skies to the crisp crunch of snow underfoot, transporting readers to a winter wonderland where danger lurks beneath the surface.

But it's not just the captivating plot that shines in "A Smoking Bun"; it's also the endearing characters that steal the show. From the charming Jules to the enigmatic Fitz Baskin, each character is expertly drawn with depth and nuance, making them feel like old friends by the book's conclusion.

With its blend of mouthwatering treats, snowy landscapes, and spine-tingling suspense, "A Smoking Bun" is a delectable delight from start to finish. Ellie Alexander has once again served up a tantalizing mystery that is sure to leave readers hungry for more.