3.5/5.0 Stars

STICKS AND SCONES – Bakeshop Mystery – Book 19 – by Ellie Alexander

‘It’s late spring in Juliet's charming hamlet of Ashland. Spotted deer are nibbling on lush green grasses in Lithia Park, the Japanese maples are blooming, and Torte is baking a bevy of spring delights …’

And, of course, a murder mystery to be solved.

The storyline around the murder is pretty good, but it’s the characters that keep me coming back for more—Plus, the bonus recipes are in the back of the book. Yes, Please, And Thank You!

I love the ending, and can’t wait to read book twenty, KILLING ME SOUFFLÉ, scheduled for release on February 25, 2025, though subject to change.

Thank you, NetGalley and St Martin’s Press, for providing me with an eBook of STICKS AND SCONES at the request of an honest review.

Another wonderful adventure in Ashland, Oregon with Jules Capshaw and the gang at Torte. This series just continue to get better with each book. The characters are well developed and you will come to care for them and the relationships they have developed. The murder mystery will keep you guessing until the very end. Lots of clues and teasers as you flip through the pages to see if you can find out who is guilty. This one will leave you a little sad as you see some of the characters grow and consider leaving the nest.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Ellie Alexander has created another great Bakeshop Mystery cozy with well-crafted characters and recipes. All of the core characters have a heart like Jules, but only Lance has panache and a dash of devil-may-care making Lance the perfect person to head up an acting troupe. In addition to being the artistic director at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and head of his new production company the Fair Verona Player, Lance is Jules partner in crime solving. In addition to Jules and Lance there is the Torte team which is one great big family. Then there are the other characters such as the victim who is an egomaniac but when on stage, he is one heck of an actor, as well as Tom the investor who is an insufferable wine snob with one too many opinions that he can’t seem to keep to himself. To round it out there is a drab seamstress, a love struck stage assistant, and more than a few people who are not necessarily sad that the understudy is stepping in. Know who else is stepping in? Lance goes straight into investigatory mode and while he doesn’t drag Jules, he gently tugs her into joining him. The story holds your interest and character interactions do a great job of eliciting emotions. For example, I literally rolled my eyes when Jules has the “opportunity” to interact with Tom at the local pub. Other times I found myself chuckling over Lance’s comments about morning jogging. Last but not least is the sighing brought on by the way Carlos tends to Jules when she is feeling a little “off.”

This is a cozy thriller with the sweet addition of being near my hometown. It was fun to read about parts of Ashland that are familiar and the parts dreamed up by the author. The characters are endearing. I’m also a sucker for recipes at the end of the book. A great cozy read.

Sticks and Scones is another fantastic addition to Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop Series. I’m thrilled to see what comes next, especially with Juliet's news revealed at the book's end! I can't wait for Book 20!

This installment had more of Lance, whom I love. His scenes are always entertaining. The mystery was fun but did seem a bit secondary to Jules’ journey and character development, which I didn’t mind. Lots of changes coming to Ashland! Another well done installment!

I enjoyed reading this and thought it was a good story. Good character development and good story line. I think my library patrons would like this title.

Great addition to Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop series. Juliet and Lance once again unite to help solve a murder. While Juliet is a little under the weather, she keeps going to find justice. This has been a delightful series and this volume does not disappoint. The writing is vivid enough that you actually feel like you are visiting Ashland. While NetGalley was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reader copy, the opinion is my own..

I love Ellie Alexander's books. They are always just a cozy delicious vibe.

I love that this book is leading into a lot of character growth for some of the characters that we have followed now for 17 books. These can get a little repetitive as the story goes on and I'm glad that we are getting some different storylines!

This one had a lot of nostalgia and made me a little teary.

Juliet’s life is about to change both personally and professionally. Changes often come with growing pains and in Juliet’s case it also includes a death. Her friend Lance is starting a new venture in collaboration with the Juliet and Carlos’ winery. On opening night, the lead is murdered with a corkscrew. His ego and his treatment of others did not win him many friends so the question is, who had enough to kill him.

Always known for having a full plate, Juliet may have overdone things. She is not feeling well and the stress of all the changes and the murder are not helping matters any. She realizes that she is taking on too much but how does she cut back and to whom does she hand the mantles. Her decisions are thrust upon her just as she is trying to determine the killer’s identity. I confess I did figure it out quite early but there were several red herrings that made mew question it. I have always said about this series that the mysteries come second to the relationships of the characters. This is true in this one too. I have enjoyed watching the characters interact and grow. It will be interesting to see where the author will take this next.

Four purrs and two paws up.

Baker Jules is busy whipping up fall treats while her friend Lance is preparing for a new outdoor theatrical performance in their winery, Uva. But the show seems cursed, with issue after issue plaguing the production, culminating in the murder of their lead actor right after the opening night performance! Jules, Lance, and the local police work to figure out who killed the obnoxious star who had many enemies.

I've read about half this series (mostly the second half, with a few gaps and additions) and am so impressed with how long Alexander has managed to keep it going. Each book brings a new avenue, character, business venture, or twist--even nineteen books later. And this book sets up SEVERAL possible arcs for a next book, so I'm excited to see where things go. This book fits right in with the rest, not really breaking much new ground, and a little chaotic, but a fun read with an interesting mystery. At this point, these characters feel like family, so it's always nice to see what they're up to.

Thanks to St. Martin's for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars - 8/10

Another great book in the bake shop mysteries series. Jules and her team are back again to solve another mystery. There is some change coming with the team . I can’t wait for the next book!

I love cozy mysteries and I love this series so I was excited to read the new installment. It follows Juliet, a baker, who is friends with Lance, who is directing a Shakespearian play, The Taming of the Shrew. However, when the play starts, strange occurrences start too, including the death of the leading actor.

This book was filled with deliciously divine baking and I love Juliet's sleuthing skills. A cast of characters makes you wonder whodunit. Red herrings pop up until the end. I look forward to reading more about Juliet and her baking mysteries.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

It is always great to be back in Ashland with characters that feel like old friends. In this book Jules and her crew at Torte are catering the opening night for the Fair Verona Play's production of The Taming of the Shrew when a cast member is found dead. I enjoyed the mystery and investigation in this book. There were several suspects and all seemed to be hiding something. Mixed in with the mystery is the daily life of the characters, lots of food. The authors descriptions are so vivid and make this series very enjoyable to read.

Book review: 4/5 ⭐️
Genre: cozy mystery
Themes: community, power of food, poverty in the arts

I am new to this series and while reading the previous books may give you some insight into the relationship between various characters it wasn’t necessary to enjoy this instalment. Imagine a murder mystery in a quaint town like Stars Hollow where coffee and sustenance are basically given freely at the local cafe, the community is an extended family where everyone looks out for one another and food forms its own narrative. Now you have the foundations for this book.

This was the perfect light and cozy read when I had a lot going on and was at my emotional limit. As a baker, I adored the tips and descriptions of food and confection. It was as much about the food culture as it was about the murder mystery, which actually took a back seat in my mind. “Sometimes having coffee with a friend is as good as therapy” really formed the ethos to this book. The healing power of food and someone to listen to you is really how these sleuths went about their investigation that is when they weren’t making food or art!

The mystery itself had several possible leads, but wasn’t necessarily a big shock nor full of thrills. The cast of friends and their wholesome relationships really played the supporting role to the power of food that really took centre stage. As the author states, “We agreed on the transformative power of a good, hand-crafted meal served with love. There was no denying the emotional quality of food” - need I say more?

I also really appreciated the theatrical references and discourse on wine snobs - I know the type. The message on those in the artistic community being underpaid is one that can always use further endorsement. This is basically a town that I would love to live in, even with the occasional murders! There is a burgeoning theatre group, the nicest people, a cozy cafe with delicious treats and a vineyard a short drive away. All it needs is a nice bookstore and I would be set. I will also say that this series would translate well to TV in that cozy Hallmark mystery style - hint hint networks.

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for an ARC of this novel. It was just what I needed and I surprised myself by really enjoying it.

After the lead actor in Lance's most recent production is found dead at Uva, Jules dives in to help find the culprit. Lots of changes for the Torte family as well as happy news for Jules and Carlos.

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for my honest review.*

My second book in this Bakechop Mystery series and I really want to go back and start from the beginning! Jules and Carlos are working with Lance and his Fair Verona Players theater troupe in the Uva vineyard when one of the actors is murdered in the wine cellar. And Jules is dizzy on and off the whole book.

I like how the story progresses from the monotony of everyday life in the bakeshop to a murder and investigation and then back to the bakeshop to make adjustments to everyday life as needed. The supporting characters seem to be well rounded and fit in to help with the mysteries and to keep things running at Uva and the bakeshop. The recipes also sound wonderful! And this is why I want to read all of the books in the series. And visit Oregon!

This is my all time favorite cozy mystery series and the latest installment does not disappoint. Set in Ashland, Oregon- the home of the Oregon Shakespeare festival and centered around local bakeshop Torte, you cannot help but fall in love with the town and ALL of the characters! I literally miss this place when I’m not reading one of the books. Ellie Alexander develops the setting and characters so well that it peaked my interest in Shakespeare. And when I found out Ashland and the festival are real— well let’s just say I’ve had to had it to my places to visit! I highly recommend you read the series in order and jump into the first one now…. You won’t be disappointed !

I generally love this series and really enjoyed this book overall! The ending of this book was a little weird and not my favorite…. I’m interested to see how the next book goes. I do really love that Alexander appears to be breaking some of the standstill that the series and character development have been dealing with. Having more of the mystery take place at Uva was a fun change!

This was my first cozy mystery! I read a lot of domestic thrillers, so I enjoyed reading a different type of mystery--one where everyone is nice and no one has any secrets. I felt that the resolution was a bit predictable, and frankly the stakes weren't compelling to me, but I enjoyed the lovely descriptions of food and the setting.