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Bakeshop Mystery #16
Muffin But the Truth
In Muffin But the Truth , Torte's pastry chef and amateur sleuth Juliet Capshaw finds herself in deep water... in another delicious installment in the Bakeshop Series from author Ellie Alexander, set in Ashland, Oregon!
Ashland is known for its Elizabethan charm and touches of Shakespeare around every corner, but the surrounding Rogue Valley draws adventure enthusiasts to its outdoor wonderland of high alpine lakes, mountain ranges, and pristine rivers. Jules Capshaw and the team at Torte have been hired to cater a weekend getaway on the mighty Rogue River. Jules is going to have to put her culinary skills to the test while baking gooey chocolate chip skillet cookies over an open flame and preparing extravagant feasts under a canopy of stars. The executive team at a big city firm will be rafting the Rogue’s rapids and gathering around the campfire for spooky stories, but their dysfunction quickly begins to show. Between constant bickering and heavy drinking, Jules wonders how the team can accomplish anything. She’s happy for a brief reprieve when they zip up their lifejackets and head out in their boats, but the serenity of the scene quickly vanishes when Jules discovers one of the execs floating face down in the water. She’s going to have to uncover the truth before she gets pulled under.
Ashland is known for its Elizabethan charm and touches of Shakespeare around every corner, but the surrounding Rogue Valley draws adventure enthusiasts to its outdoor wonderland of high alpine lakes, mountain ranges, and pristine rivers. Jules Capshaw and the team at Torte have been hired to cater a weekend getaway on the mighty Rogue River. Jules is going to have to put her culinary skills to the test while baking gooey chocolate chip skillet cookies over an open flame and preparing extravagant feasts under a canopy of stars. The executive team at a big city firm will be rafting the Rogue’s rapids and gathering around the campfire for spooky stories, but their dysfunction quickly begins to show. Between constant bickering and heavy drinking, Jules wonders how the team can accomplish anything. She’s happy for a brief reprieve when they zip up their lifejackets and head out in their boats, but the serenity of the scene quickly vanishes when Jules discovers one of the execs floating face down in the water. She’s going to have to uncover the truth before she gets pulled under.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 27, 2022
125 people are currently reading
4232 people want to read
About the author
Ellie Alexander
75 books2,958 followersEllie is a voracious storyteller and a lover of words and all things bookish. She believes that stories have the ability to transport and transform us. With over forty published novels and counting, her goal is to tell stories that provide points of connection, escape, and understanding.
She loves inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and is passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, she guides writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them.
Find out more about Ellie and her books by visiting her website at: http://www.elliealexander.co/ or following her on social media—
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_alexa...
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elliealexande...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/elliealexande...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliealexand...
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/elliealexan...
She loves inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and is passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, she guides writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them.
Find out more about Ellie and her books by visiting her website at: http://www.elliealexander.co/ or following her on social media—
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_alexa...
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elliealexande...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/elliealexande...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliealexand...
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/elliealexan...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews
November 21, 2022
3.5 stars
Muffin But the Truth is the 16th installment in the A Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander and the first book I read by the author. Torte where our main character, Jules works as a pastry chef, is preparing the catering for a corporate retreat on the beautiful Rogue River. The executive team of the corporation is full of dysfunctional and uninteresting people. One of them is found dead floating in the river by Jules. Was it murder or an accident?
The elements I liked about the story were Jules and the gang and the setting in the beautiful state of Oregon. The mystery itself was disjointed and fell flat for me. All the people from the corporate team were obnoxious and we never got to find out much about their backstory except for one person.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Muffin But the Truth is the 16th installment in the A Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander and the first book I read by the author. Torte where our main character, Jules works as a pastry chef, is preparing the catering for a corporate retreat on the beautiful Rogue River. The executive team of the corporation is full of dysfunctional and uninteresting people. One of them is found dead floating in the river by Jules. Was it murder or an accident?
The elements I liked about the story were Jules and the gang and the setting in the beautiful state of Oregon. The mystery itself was disjointed and fell flat for me. All the people from the corporate team were obnoxious and we never got to find out much about their backstory except for one person.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 28, 2022
I have been reading the Bakeshop Mystery series since 2016. I have fallen in love with not only the characters but the world that Ellie Alexander has created. She has made Ashland feel like a home away from home.
In this book Jules finds herself starting a new chapter in her life. Should her and Carlos start their own family? Ramiro, Carlos’ teenage son, has come to stay with them for a year and Jules is finding that she loves being a mom.
Until they decide Jules has agreed to cater Bamboo’s executive retreat in a bougie rustic camp out and rafting kind of way. The CEO is someone that you don’t mind being offed but there are twists and turns that you don’t see coming.
As always, I highly recommend this series. You come for the Murder but stay for the company.
In this book Jules finds herself starting a new chapter in her life. Should her and Carlos start their own family? Ramiro, Carlos’ teenage son, has come to stay with them for a year and Jules is finding that she loves being a mom.
Until they decide Jules has agreed to cater Bamboo’s executive retreat in a bougie rustic camp out and rafting kind of way. The CEO is someone that you don’t mind being offed but there are twists and turns that you don’t see coming.
As always, I highly recommend this series. You come for the Murder but stay for the company.
November 7, 2022
I really enjoy Ellie Alexander’s books, I have read all of them and enjoyed all of them. And I will continue reading them!
It is the first time I catch a plot error.
In one scene, we see Josie taking off her hot pink life vest and then Maddy puts it on and mocks her. The next morning we find Maddy dead, wearing the hot pink life vest. And then people wonder how she got Josie’s vest. Ummmm why are we wondering?! We saw Maddy wearing it the chapter before!
Later Marty implies he knows Superman because he has read Stan Lee….. Stan Lee is not the creator of Superman.
And finally the pacing was a little off. The conclusion of the mystery felt sudden and not much suspense leading up to it.
It is the first time I catch a plot error.
In one scene, we see Josie taking off her hot pink life vest and then Maddy puts it on and mocks her. The next morning we find Maddy dead, wearing the hot pink life vest. And then people wonder how she got Josie’s vest. Ummmm why are we wondering?! We saw Maddy wearing it the chapter before!
Later Marty implies he knows Superman because he has read Stan Lee….. Stan Lee is not the creator of Superman.
And finally the pacing was a little off. The conclusion of the mystery felt sudden and not much suspense leading up to it.
December 10, 2022
*3.5 stars rounded up.
I've only read three of the 16 books in this cozy mystery series set in a bakeshop in Ashland, Oregon, but I do enjoy them. First there's the beautiful setting, then the delicious-sounding food they create, and finally an intriguing mystery to solve. An entertaining and quick read. Jules and her friends and family are quite warm-hearted people with whom it's fun to spend a few hours.
I received an arc of this new mystery from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
I've only read three of the 16 books in this cozy mystery series set in a bakeshop in Ashland, Oregon, but I do enjoy them. First there's the beautiful setting, then the delicious-sounding food they create, and finally an intriguing mystery to solve. An entertaining and quick read. Jules and her friends and family are quite warm-hearted people with whom it's fun to spend a few hours.
I received an arc of this new mystery from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
December 11, 2022
It was a pleasure to read about the setting of the Rogue Valley and the way Ellie Alexander describes it, which sounds like a thrilling and captivating place. It's always fun to see Jules and her team cater an event, as they did in this book. Throughout her series of books, she describes food that sounds delicious and makes you hungry. In the Rogue Valley, Torte caters to a group of executives. I find these characters annoying and they are constantly bickering. It was an interesting mystery. In spite of the fact that the character who died was a horrible person, I thought Josie deserved to die more. In this mystery, I enjoyed seeing my favorite character, Lance, back to help Jules.
Thank you St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was an honest review.
Thank you St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2023
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Jules Capshaw and her team at Torte are preparing for a group of business professionals coming for a weekend retreat in the Rogue Valley. Torte has been hired to cater a welcome dinner and then Jules, Carlos, Jules’ mom and her husband Doug, aka The Professor, and Carlos’ son Ramiro will join the group in the woods to prepare campsite food as their retreat continues with glamping, rafting, ghost stories, and team building.
While Jules had worked out all the details with the CEO’s assistant, Miller, when his boss arrives on the scene she micromanages everything. Then as the welcome dinner is served Jules sees huge cracks in the team. When they arrive in the woods the dysfunction is magnified especially when the wine and liquor start to flow.
Jules is a happy camper when the group hits the rapids for an afternoon of rafting. She learns that trip was filled with drama too but she was totally shocked when she finds one of the executives dead in the water the next morning. Thankfully The Professor is quickly on the scene because the death was NOT an accident . . . It Was MURDER!
I get excited every time I start a new book in this series. It is like visiting old friends. As I have said time and time again, Ms. Alexander’s characters are genuine and their dialogues are true to life. Jules is so supportive of her employees and they are growing by leaps and bounds. They are so proficient at their jobs that she knows they will go out on their own someday but so far they have been able to take part in new opportunities while keeping their positions at Torte. They truly are like family. And speaking of family, Carlos’ son Ramiro has come to the states and is attending school as an exchange student. Jules loves having him in her home and attending her school.
The new characters introduced, members are the Bamboo executive team are quite a group. The CEO is way beyond unlikeable. If she were my boss I think I would run screaming from the building. The rest of the crew seems to be very talented but poorly utilized. It was no surprise that one of them didn’t survive the retreat.
In this story, we are taken away from Ashland to explore more of the Rogue Valley. Venturing into the woods and out onto the Rogue River sounds like such a good time. Glamping would be more my style these days and of course, we can skip the dead body. And just because we are outside of his Shakespeare realm doesn’t mean Jules’s friend Lance doesn’t make an appearance. He is around and more than ready to start an investigation with Jules into the murder.
Part of the mystery was an easy solve for me but some of the details were a bit foggy. I knew the who but not the why. Every one of the Bamboo team was suspect and there were some true red herrings. I always have fun tagging along with Jules as she tries to put the clues in order. I enjoy the way she uses Lance as a sounding board and more. But this time there was a difference in how all was revealed. A nice twist!
Muffin But the Truth comes alive with Ms. Alexander’s descriptive writing style. I love when she describes what’s baking in the kitchen. She always tempts my tastebuds.
While I am a stickler about reading a series in order the author writes the stories to stand on their own. But if you really want to get to know these fabulous characters start at the beginning and enjoy!
Jules Capshaw and her team at Torte are preparing for a group of business professionals coming for a weekend retreat in the Rogue Valley. Torte has been hired to cater a welcome dinner and then Jules, Carlos, Jules’ mom and her husband Doug, aka The Professor, and Carlos’ son Ramiro will join the group in the woods to prepare campsite food as their retreat continues with glamping, rafting, ghost stories, and team building.
While Jules had worked out all the details with the CEO’s assistant, Miller, when his boss arrives on the scene she micromanages everything. Then as the welcome dinner is served Jules sees huge cracks in the team. When they arrive in the woods the dysfunction is magnified especially when the wine and liquor start to flow.
Jules is a happy camper when the group hits the rapids for an afternoon of rafting. She learns that trip was filled with drama too but she was totally shocked when she finds one of the executives dead in the water the next morning. Thankfully The Professor is quickly on the scene because the death was NOT an accident . . . It Was MURDER!
I get excited every time I start a new book in this series. It is like visiting old friends. As I have said time and time again, Ms. Alexander’s characters are genuine and their dialogues are true to life. Jules is so supportive of her employees and they are growing by leaps and bounds. They are so proficient at their jobs that she knows they will go out on their own someday but so far they have been able to take part in new opportunities while keeping their positions at Torte. They truly are like family. And speaking of family, Carlos’ son Ramiro has come to the states and is attending school as an exchange student. Jules loves having him in her home and attending her school.
The new characters introduced, members are the Bamboo executive team are quite a group. The CEO is way beyond unlikeable. If she were my boss I think I would run screaming from the building. The rest of the crew seems to be very talented but poorly utilized. It was no surprise that one of them didn’t survive the retreat.
In this story, we are taken away from Ashland to explore more of the Rogue Valley. Venturing into the woods and out onto the Rogue River sounds like such a good time. Glamping would be more my style these days and of course, we can skip the dead body. And just because we are outside of his Shakespeare realm doesn’t mean Jules’s friend Lance doesn’t make an appearance. He is around and more than ready to start an investigation with Jules into the murder.
Part of the mystery was an easy solve for me but some of the details were a bit foggy. I knew the who but not the why. Every one of the Bamboo team was suspect and there were some true red herrings. I always have fun tagging along with Jules as she tries to put the clues in order. I enjoy the way she uses Lance as a sounding board and more. But this time there was a difference in how all was revealed. A nice twist!
Muffin But the Truth comes alive with Ms. Alexander’s descriptive writing style. I love when she describes what’s baking in the kitchen. She always tempts my tastebuds.
While I am a stickler about reading a series in order the author writes the stories to stand on their own. But if you really want to get to know these fabulous characters start at the beginning and enjoy!
May 24, 2023
Sixteenth in the Bakeshop series, and I have read 13 of them. So obviously I am a fan, and this book lives up to the high standards set throughout the series. Torte, the titular Bakeshop os the series, has agreed to cater a corporate glamping event for Bamboo. The toxic relationships within Bamboo permeate everything making each part of each event fraught with difficulty and tension. However, Jules and her posse of family, friends and co-workers manage to keep their cool with Bamboo with dealing with the everyday blips that often overwhelm us all. The characters and their relationships are stellar and the mystery has enough twists and turns to keep us turning those pages. A quick and engrossing read.
March 25, 2023
Muffin But The Truth is another good book in the long-running Bakeshop Mystery series. I have enjoyed all the books I’ve read in this series, mainly the most recent few, but I was curious enough about the origins of the series that I also went back and read the first one recently. This would probably work as a standalone but of course you won’t have all the backstory of the regular characters.
The “cast” of characters are diverse and lovable and the location in Ashland, Oregon, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, is delightful. Having visited Ashland a few years ago and attended a play at the OSF, I could picture everything easily. And I’m excited to go back again this coming June! I’ll be able to walk the streets so beautifully described by the author.
The main character is Jules (Juliet), who runs Torte, the bakeshop in the center of town. Her husband, Carlos, is now living with her in Ashland, having given up his chef’s job on the cruise line where they met. I love all the regulars at Torte, as well as Lance, the flamboyant artistic director of OSF. It was nice to learn a bit more about Ramiro, Jules’ stepson, who is spending the year with them, away from his native Spain.
The central mystery of this book involves a company from Los Angeles whose staff comes to Ashland for an executive retreat. Torte has been hired to provide food, both in town and on scene while they go white water rafting on the nearby Rogue River. Their boss is particularly awful to deal with. When someone winds up dead, there seems to be no shortage of suspects.
There are detailed descriptions of the fabulous food being prepared for both the bakeshop and the company retreat. While I love good food and drink, I felt that the detailed descriptions sometimes slowed down the action of the book. Other readers may not feel the same way. Incidentally, unlike some other culinary cozies, this book did not include any recipes at the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, even though I’m rather late to it. I bounced between the ARC and the published audiobook, courtesy of my public library. All opinions are my own.
The “cast” of characters are diverse and lovable and the location in Ashland, Oregon, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, is delightful. Having visited Ashland a few years ago and attended a play at the OSF, I could picture everything easily. And I’m excited to go back again this coming June! I’ll be able to walk the streets so beautifully described by the author.
The main character is Jules (Juliet), who runs Torte, the bakeshop in the center of town. Her husband, Carlos, is now living with her in Ashland, having given up his chef’s job on the cruise line where they met. I love all the regulars at Torte, as well as Lance, the flamboyant artistic director of OSF. It was nice to learn a bit more about Ramiro, Jules’ stepson, who is spending the year with them, away from his native Spain.
The central mystery of this book involves a company from Los Angeles whose staff comes to Ashland for an executive retreat. Torte has been hired to provide food, both in town and on scene while they go white water rafting on the nearby Rogue River. Their boss is particularly awful to deal with. When someone winds up dead, there seems to be no shortage of suspects.
There are detailed descriptions of the fabulous food being prepared for both the bakeshop and the company retreat. While I love good food and drink, I felt that the detailed descriptions sometimes slowed down the action of the book. Other readers may not feel the same way. Incidentally, unlike some other culinary cozies, this book did not include any recipes at the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, even though I’m rather late to it. I bounced between the ARC and the published audiobook, courtesy of my public library. All opinions are my own.
January 10, 2023
I have a confession to make. This is my first Ellie Alexander book! I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to catch up, but the author surprised me by giving me the background in the first few chapters! Thank you!
This is a fun cozy! First, it takes place in Oregon, which holds a place in my heart from my visit there. Second, the book is well constructed and the plot is easy to follow. Best of all, the characters are three-dimensional and a lot of fun!
I will be going back to Book 1 and catching up before her next book in the series comes out!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.
This is a fun cozy! First, it takes place in Oregon, which holds a place in my heart from my visit there. Second, the book is well constructed and the plot is easy to follow. Best of all, the characters are three-dimensional and a lot of fun!
I will be going back to Book 1 and catching up before her next book in the series comes out!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.
December 26, 2022
I have read every book in this delightful cozy series and Juliet and the entire cast of supporting characters have become like old friends and I look forward to each new book and where the new story will take me. in this new installment, Juliet and her team at the Bakeshop have been hired to organize and cater a Events for a weekend getaway for and up and coming corporation. Though the employees are there to relax and unwind a bit, they are also there to work with their team to help the company grow. There will also be an outing on the rogue river and fire side dining that evening. Juliet has created a wonderful menu and is excited for this job but upon meeting the woman in charge and her bickering employees she is having second thoughts and wondering if she’s taken on a bit too much. at the campsite that evening she witnesses arguments, excessive drinking, and all round dysfunction among her guests. early the next morning Juliet is shocked to discover one of the employees face down in the river. The police are called and the list of suspects grows with every bit of information revealed. As usual, Juliet uses her connections to learn all she can and assist with the investigation. At the same time she is adjusting to having Carlos‘s son living with them and seeing what it would be like to have a family with her adoring husband.
I really enjoyed this latest book in the series and happy to see Juliet making plans to extend her own family. The mystery was a good one, with many suspects and interesting characters even though a few of them were not very likable. As usual, the story moves along at a good pace, making this a quick, entertaining, and fun read. and of course, the pages are filled with delicious sounding recipes with a few included in the back of the book to try. All of the characters are evolving which keeps the series moving along without getting stale. cozy mysteries are a guilty pleasure of mine that I enjoy reading throughout the year amongst some other heavier content books. They always give me a lift when I need one and I feel like I’ve known these characters for a long time. This series is one of my favorite cozies and I recommend it highly.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this latest book in the series and happy to see Juliet making plans to extend her own family. The mystery was a good one, with many suspects and interesting characters even though a few of them were not very likable. As usual, the story moves along at a good pace, making this a quick, entertaining, and fun read. and of course, the pages are filled with delicious sounding recipes with a few included in the back of the book to try. All of the characters are evolving which keeps the series moving along without getting stale. cozy mysteries are a guilty pleasure of mine that I enjoy reading throughout the year amongst some other heavier content books. They always give me a lift when I need one and I feel like I’ve known these characters for a long time. This series is one of my favorite cozies and I recommend it highly.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.
November 6, 2022
I enjoyed this newest book in the series by Ellie Alexander.
The crew at Torte are family, and when things go wrong, they all work to make things better.
When a company reaches out to Jules to cater their team building weekend, things go horribly wrong when a young woman is found, dead, floating in the water.
It seems everyone has their own agenda at this company, and the suspect list continues to grow until the missing pieces are snapped together.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.
The crew at Torte are family, and when things go wrong, they all work to make things better.
When a company reaches out to Jules to cater their team building weekend, things go horribly wrong when a young woman is found, dead, floating in the water.
It seems everyone has their own agenda at this company, and the suspect list continues to grow until the missing pieces are snapped together.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.
September 30, 2022
Jules is preparing for a corporate retreat, and the clients seem impossibly picky and obnoxious. They scheduled a rafting trip with glamping, and are already complaining about everything. When one of them is murdered (and it's not the one who was the most abrasive) Jules and Lance start to investigate, of course. The characters in this series, set in a bakery in Ashland, Oregon, are always agreeable even if the murder's motive seemed a bit farfetched. Three and a half stars. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
January 15, 2023
I really enjoy this long running series but this one was not a favorite. While it is great to visit with all my favorite characters and the Torte gang, and the food and setting were as tempting as always, the mystery was just ok and to be honest. The executive group that hired Torte to do their team building retreat were all terrible people and quite honestly I didn't care who did it, I just wanted them all to go away.
January 2, 2023
"Muffin but the Truth" the 16th instalment in the A Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander. Torte's pastry chef and amateur sleuth Juliet Capshaw finds herself in deep water...
I really enjoyed this story, seeing Ramiro living in Ashland and Jules be a stepmom. Visiting Torte and Ashland is like coming home to old friends and family lots of fun with a bit of chaos thrown in for good measure.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and there were just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. Jules and Carlos have found their place, home and family of friends and now is it time to expand their family... Needless to say I cant wait for the next book.
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from St. Martin's Press and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this story, seeing Ramiro living in Ashland and Jules be a stepmom. Visiting Torte and Ashland is like coming home to old friends and family lots of fun with a bit of chaos thrown in for good measure.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and there were just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. Jules and Carlos have found their place, home and family of friends and now is it time to expand their family... Needless to say I cant wait for the next book.
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from St. Martin's Press and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 23, 2025
A lot of the main characters host a weekend retreat for a company not from Ashland. When they meet the company, Bamboo, they realize how difficult the boss is and how dysfunctional some of the staff seem with each other. When one ends up dead, there's another murder mystery to solve. I liked this one. I loved that Lance, my favorite, was there. Without giving anything away, this mystery felt a little different and I liked that. I love that this took place in the fall and out in the wilderness. Looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book. Happy reading! 🏕🏞🐝
February 22, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Paperbacks for accepting my request to read and review Muffin But the Truth.
Published: 12/27/22
Whoa -- #16 in the Bakeshop Mystery Series. I don't recall knowing that when I asked to read. This was a miss for me, and actually there is a small part of me that is not disappointed. There are 15 books before this one, 15. If I had enjoyed this, I would be kicking myself wondering how I'm going to add 15 books to a never-ending stack.
There is a need, love and life for this series. It just didn't work for me. I have found through reading a cozy here and there that I gravitate to nonfood series: knitting, antiques, and books. I didn't know that about myself prior to trying this series.
Published: 12/27/22
Whoa -- #16 in the Bakeshop Mystery Series. I don't recall knowing that when I asked to read. This was a miss for me, and actually there is a small part of me that is not disappointed. There are 15 books before this one, 15. If I had enjoyed this, I would be kicking myself wondering how I'm going to add 15 books to a never-ending stack.
There is a need, love and life for this series. It just didn't work for me. I have found through reading a cozy here and there that I gravitate to nonfood series: knitting, antiques, and books. I didn't know that about myself prior to trying this series.
December 16, 2022
I am a huge fan of Ellie Alexander. Her stories are so well written and the characters feel like family. I loved the addition of Ramiro for both an outsider and teen point of view. The mystery in this one was set outside of the shop and this is the first time I noticed an inconsistency in the story (pink life vest), which didn't ruin the story for me but did make me flip back to make sure I was correct. Otherwise, as usual, this was a good mystery with a quick (way too quick) solution and a happy ending.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
March 12, 2023
Fall is in the air in Ashland and Juliet Capshaw could not be happier. The team at Torte runs the bakeshop like clockwork, Carlos's grapes are almost ready for harvest and his son Ramiro has come to stay for an exchange year at American high school. Jules is busy getting ready to cater a big weekend retreat for Bamboo, a tech company from LA. They have requested rustic but elegant food to eat in the wilderness during a weekend retreat glamping and white water rafting. They'll also have dinner one night at Torte. Jules soon begins to regret taking the contract when Bamboo's CEO's PA, Miller, continually changes the menu. Then Miller and his boss, Josie, arrive in Ashland and Josie makes rude comments about Ashland, the menu and everything in general. When the rest of the team finally arrives, it's no picnic for the Bamboo staff either. Josie acts like a dictator and when a secret about her comes out, someone tries to take advantage of the fact and scare her. When Jules discovers a body floating in the river after a night of drinking around the campfire, she fears the prankster may have gone too far.
This story was really good. I'm happy the series has improved, finally and all is well in Ashland. The story opens with some scrumptious sounding baking and decorating, Andy's coffee creation and campfire menu planning. Bring on the skillet cookie! We get to see more of the Rogue Valley and see Lance in action as a storyteller. That was a lot of fun. Not so fun were the truly awful characters. I didn't care who the murderer was. It seemed a little obvious to me. I was not prepared for the final twist and didn't expect that at all. The reveal was a little bit of a let down in spite of the shock and the last few chapters were unnecessary and went on WAY too long.
Julies is a little too nice. She needs to grow a backbone and she also needs to request payment up front. All of it and then make sure she deposits that check right away before menu planning and cooking. She should stand up for herself. She's doing what she told and what she agreed on with Miller. It's too late to change it and I'd tell Josie if she didn't like it, she could find a last minute caterer or go back to LA. Jules tries too hard with Ramiro. She's so anxious to avoid the wicked stepmother role she'll agree to anything Ramiro wants. Granted, her first day lunch is weird for an American high schooler but it's healthier than what he wants to eat. Carlos is an easy-going parent too. He worries a bit but he knows Ramiro is a good kid and he'll be fine. Ramiro is funny. He's outgoing like his dad and makes friends easily. He's not rattled by much and quick to adapt to new situations. None of them really feel like fleshed out characters though.
Lance still annoys me with his theatrics and insistence on investigating and breaking all the rules. Arlo is much more sensible and keeps Lance in line. It was fun to see Lance do what he was born to do -perform. As director, he's usually behind-the-scenes. I feel bad for Arlo because he brought Bamboo to Ashland! He shouldn't beat himself up about it. He couldn't have predicted the toxic work environment turned dumpster fire weekend. The Professor is as sharp as ever even in semi-retirement. He trusts Lance and Jules to get to the bottom of things. Even Detective Kerry is more trusting and open now. She's relaxed a lot. I get her past trauma played a role in her acting tough and now she's trying to move forward. She's not there yet but I hope she will be some day. Thomas is so nice but he can go into cop mode too when he needs to be. Jules's mom is as serene and perfect as ever.
The Torte team runs the shop like clockwork. They're not in the story much but it advances the Andy-Bethany love drama. I think that seems forced and doesn't seem in character for Andy. Bethany has a great opportunity and she shouldn't have feared talking to Jules. I can't believe she told Andy first. That's kind of unprofessional. She annoys me all the time with her social obsession. Enjoy the moment live and in person. Not everything has to be about going viral.
The new characters aren't very well developed. They're all incredibly horrible people and Bamboo sounds like a nightmare. Josie is a dictator with a terrible temper. She treats Miller like a slave and everyone else is supposed to jump to her tune. Her phobias are realistic and logical and it was cruel of someone to take advantage of them even if she IS a truly horrible person. So let her ruin your career. If all of you stand up and walk away and get Jules to back you up as a witness, you'll be OK. Carlos, Ramiro, the Professor, Helen, Lance (OK maybe not Lance), Arlo, Thomas and Kerry can also provide witness statements that everyone was drunk and nasty to each other. It was really no shock that someone ended up dead.
I think Miller tried to kill Josie. He has the most motive and he did say Bamboo was a dumpster fire and it was up to him to save it. Is killing Josie the way to save the company? He seems devoted to the company if that's the case. He's timid but holds his ground in the face of a misunderstanding. I don't know why he lets Josie treat him so badly. She's evil to everyone but especially him. Maddie Solars looks like Josie and she may have been accidentally murdered because of it. Was it a coincidence or a case of mistaken identity? Maddy seemed like a nice person yet she meant different things to different people. To some she was a caring, thoughtful friend but to someone else, she was a backstabbing witch. Or not. That may have been how she was perceived. Probably by Josie. I think Josie killed Maddy for mocking her. Josie doesn't show any remorse or shock at Maddy's demise. Or maybe it was a case of mistaken identity. That makes the most sense.
I half expected Josie to murder Kit, the creative director. Kit is a free spirit who defies Josie whenever she can. Kit may be more of a hippie than a free spirit. Constantly drinking from a flask, she acts drunk and there are rumors of drugs. Josie is verbally abusive to Kit but if Kit is drunk she probably isn't the killer. Elisa, the marketing director, has to work hard even when tragedy strikes. She seems a little high strung but that's understandable given Josie's abusiveness. There's no love lost between Gus and Josie either. It's obvious he was behind the pranks but did he go too far? I think he might have. He has a harsh personality and takes advantage of his boss's fears to get revenge. Perhaps they argued about it after a night of drinking and he pushed her into the river? Certainly one of them did it.
The recipes look good and the next book, set during Halloween, already features a lot of delectable baked goods in just the sample chapter. I'm eager to read more.
This story was really good. I'm happy the series has improved, finally and all is well in Ashland. The story opens with some scrumptious sounding baking and decorating, Andy's coffee creation and campfire menu planning. Bring on the skillet cookie! We get to see more of the Rogue Valley and see Lance in action as a storyteller. That was a lot of fun. Not so fun were the truly awful characters. I didn't care who the murderer was. It seemed a little obvious to me. I was not prepared for the final twist and didn't expect that at all. The reveal was a little bit of a let down in spite of the shock and the last few chapters were unnecessary and went on WAY too long.
Julies is a little too nice. She needs to grow a backbone and she also needs to request payment up front. All of it and then make sure she deposits that check right away before menu planning and cooking. She should stand up for herself. She's doing what she told and what she agreed on with Miller. It's too late to change it and I'd tell Josie if she didn't like it, she could find a last minute caterer or go back to LA. Jules tries too hard with Ramiro. She's so anxious to avoid the wicked stepmother role she'll agree to anything Ramiro wants. Granted, her first day lunch is weird for an American high schooler but it's healthier than what he wants to eat. Carlos is an easy-going parent too. He worries a bit but he knows Ramiro is a good kid and he'll be fine. Ramiro is funny. He's outgoing like his dad and makes friends easily. He's not rattled by much and quick to adapt to new situations. None of them really feel like fleshed out characters though.
Lance still annoys me with his theatrics and insistence on investigating and breaking all the rules. Arlo is much more sensible and keeps Lance in line. It was fun to see Lance do what he was born to do -perform. As director, he's usually behind-the-scenes. I feel bad for Arlo because he brought Bamboo to Ashland! He shouldn't beat himself up about it. He couldn't have predicted the toxic work environment turned dumpster fire weekend. The Professor is as sharp as ever even in semi-retirement. He trusts Lance and Jules to get to the bottom of things. Even Detective Kerry is more trusting and open now. She's relaxed a lot. I get her past trauma played a role in her acting tough and now she's trying to move forward. She's not there yet but I hope she will be some day. Thomas is so nice but he can go into cop mode too when he needs to be. Jules's mom is as serene and perfect as ever.
The Torte team runs the shop like clockwork. They're not in the story much but it advances the Andy-Bethany love drama. I think that seems forced and doesn't seem in character for Andy. Bethany has a great opportunity and she shouldn't have feared talking to Jules. I can't believe she told Andy first. That's kind of unprofessional. She annoys me all the time with her social obsession. Enjoy the moment live and in person. Not everything has to be about going viral.
The new characters aren't very well developed. They're all incredibly horrible people and Bamboo sounds like a nightmare. Josie is a dictator with a terrible temper. She treats Miller like a slave and everyone else is supposed to jump to her tune. Her phobias are realistic and logical and it was cruel of someone to take advantage of them even if she IS a truly horrible person. So let her ruin your career. If all of you stand up and walk away and get Jules to back you up as a witness, you'll be OK. Carlos, Ramiro, the Professor, Helen, Lance (OK maybe not Lance), Arlo, Thomas and Kerry can also provide witness statements that everyone was drunk and nasty to each other. It was really no shock that someone ended up dead.
I think Miller tried to kill Josie. He has the most motive and he did say Bamboo was a dumpster fire and it was up to him to save it. Is killing Josie the way to save the company? He seems devoted to the company if that's the case. He's timid but holds his ground in the face of a misunderstanding. I don't know why he lets Josie treat him so badly. She's evil to everyone but especially him. Maddie Solars looks like Josie and she may have been accidentally murdered because of it. Was it a coincidence or a case of mistaken identity? Maddy seemed like a nice person yet she meant different things to different people. To some she was a caring, thoughtful friend but to someone else, she was a backstabbing witch. Or not. That may have been how she was perceived. Probably by Josie. I think Josie killed Maddy for mocking her. Josie doesn't show any remorse or shock at Maddy's demise. Or maybe it was a case of mistaken identity. That makes the most sense.
I half expected Josie to murder Kit, the creative director. Kit is a free spirit who defies Josie whenever she can. Kit may be more of a hippie than a free spirit. Constantly drinking from a flask, she acts drunk and there are rumors of drugs. Josie is verbally abusive to Kit but if Kit is drunk she probably isn't the killer. Elisa, the marketing director, has to work hard even when tragedy strikes. She seems a little high strung but that's understandable given Josie's abusiveness. There's no love lost between Gus and Josie either. It's obvious he was behind the pranks but did he go too far? I think he might have. He has a harsh personality and takes advantage of his boss's fears to get revenge. Perhaps they argued about it after a night of drinking and he pushed her into the river? Certainly one of them did it.
The recipes look good and the next book, set during Halloween, already features a lot of delectable baked goods in just the sample chapter. I'm eager to read more.
December 14, 2022
Jules and the team at Torte are back with another murder mystery. While catering an upscale camping outing for some big city executives, Jules stumbles upon a dead body. Ellie Alexander writing is full of descriptive settings and food preparations. While this is book 16, the first chapter does a nice job of refreshing who everyone is and where we are in the story. I believe a new reader can jump into the story easily.
The mystery itself is not intense. We spend a good bit of time reading baking details which, while making for a mouth watering read, don't add complexity to the story. Jules and her family are warm adding to the pleasant tone of the book. The addition of the out of town executive team provided a lot of suspects, all of which had pasts and secrets for Jules to dig out.
I enjoy reading A Bakeshop Mystery series. I recommend this book to a reader who likes a cozy mystery, especially those involving food.
Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy of the book.
The mystery itself is not intense. We spend a good bit of time reading baking details which, while making for a mouth watering read, don't add complexity to the story. Jules and her family are warm adding to the pleasant tone of the book. The addition of the out of town executive team provided a lot of suspects, all of which had pasts and secrets for Jules to dig out.
I enjoy reading A Bakeshop Mystery series. I recommend this book to a reader who likes a cozy mystery, especially those involving food.
Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy of the book.
January 9, 2023
5* for keeping this series fresh and interesting! The characters keep developing and the setting is absolutely perfect. As always, I can't wait for the next book.
January 31, 2023
This is one of my favorite series in Cozy’s. But this book left me frustrated and disappointed. There was a huge discrepancy between what happened on page 90 and page 108. I don’t want to ruin the story for anyone. But those 2 pages threw the whole book off for me. Can’t believe no one else didn’t see that too. The ending was unclimatic as well. The characters are so likable. Hope the next book is better.
August 19, 2023
Don't expect an exciting ending.
January 29, 2023
Muffin But the Truth is the 16th book in the Ellie Alexander Bakeshop Mystery series. This series just gets better and better. Ellie Alexander is a queen of not only writing captivating and unique mysteries in a picturesque setting, within a close-knit, caring community, but she also writes an overarching story that sucks the reader into the character’s lives and makes the series that much more meaningful. Though each book can be read as a standalone, the series is more impactful when you’ve had a chance to grow with the characters and see them evolve over time.
In Muffin But the Truth, the Torte team is hired to cater a Rogue River adventure weekend; a team-building event for Bamboo’s executive team. It is fraught with tension before the trip even begins, with incessant, unrelenting demands, a controlling and demeaning boss, and dysfunctional group dynamics. When Juliet Capshaw, owner of Torte, finds a body in the water, she is not only shaken by the event, causing some deeper, contemplative thoughts, but she also does her part to work with her local police friends to help solve the crime.
Ellie Alexander’s writing is descriptive, introspective and thoughtful. Her stories have a depth that most cozy mysteries don’t contain. Not only do her mysteries feel plausible, her stories feel cozy, and her characters are people you want to know, but they also carry meaningful life messages. I hope the Torte team continues with their friendship and capers for many books to come.
In Muffin But the Truth, the Torte team is hired to cater a Rogue River adventure weekend; a team-building event for Bamboo’s executive team. It is fraught with tension before the trip even begins, with incessant, unrelenting demands, a controlling and demeaning boss, and dysfunctional group dynamics. When Juliet Capshaw, owner of Torte, finds a body in the water, she is not only shaken by the event, causing some deeper, contemplative thoughts, but she also does her part to work with her local police friends to help solve the crime.
Ellie Alexander’s writing is descriptive, introspective and thoughtful. Her stories have a depth that most cozy mysteries don’t contain. Not only do her mysteries feel plausible, her stories feel cozy, and her characters are people you want to know, but they also carry meaningful life messages. I hope the Torte team continues with their friendship and capers for many books to come.
February 20, 2023
Another cozy installment in this mystery series by Ellie Alexander. I gave it 3 stars - because I enjoyed it, and it's a nice light read
I love that it takes place in the PNW. I loved the recipes and ideas for cooking. I love the fact that the characters are so diverse. Sometimes, it's hard to keep track of the minor players, but the author does an excellent job of reminding you who they are without rehashing previous books.
The plot in this story was okay. The main antagonist is an abrasive, cantankerous, bully of a CEO/President/owner. OMG !!!!! Of course, this is a whodunit and you are left guessing who did the deed and if the victim was a case of mistaken identity or the victim all along (you need to read it as I won't spoil the book).
Juliet and the team quickly get to combing for clues, both at the "Glamp" site on the river and in Ashland proper, and by 90% of the book, the culprit is caught.
Ellie Alexander always writes comforting stories with nice endings. I can't wait to read the next installment.
I love that it takes place in the PNW. I loved the recipes and ideas for cooking. I love the fact that the characters are so diverse. Sometimes, it's hard to keep track of the minor players, but the author does an excellent job of reminding you who they are without rehashing previous books.
The plot in this story was okay. The main antagonist is an abrasive, cantankerous, bully of a CEO/President/owner. OMG !!!!! Of course, this is a whodunit and you are left guessing who did the deed and if the victim was a case of mistaken identity or the victim all along (you need to read it as I won't spoil the book).
Juliet and the team quickly get to combing for clues, both at the "Glamp" site on the river and in Ashland proper, and by 90% of the book, the culprit is caught.
Ellie Alexander always writes comforting stories with nice endings. I can't wait to read the next installment.
March 21, 2023
Juliet and her team are catering a weekend retreat. She entire family including her mom, the professor, Romero, and Carlos all come along. When there is a murder during the getaway, Juliet starts investigating. This series just gets better with each book. I love the characters and loved that we got to see a different setting. The mystery was great. I can't wait to read more.
March 8, 2024
It was a fine cozy mystery, I’d read the author again. Nothing to write home about.
November 2, 2022
Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of MUFFIN BUT THE TRUTH (Book 16 of the Bakeshop Mysteries) by Ellie Alexander in exchange for an honest review. Jules Capshaw is deliriously happy in her personal and professional life, so she really should have expected something to go wrong. Jules takes a job catering a corporate team building retreat, but has huge regrets. Jules and her employees think the company's liaison is a huge pain until they meet his boss. The boss is . . . difficult and seems more concerned with tearing down her employees than with building a team. When one of the "team" members is killed, Jules finds herself working overtime to uncover information about these high-class transients in order to figure out whodunit.
I enjoyed the book and really like the series. Cozy murder mystery featuring food, a bakeshop, a small town, tourists, and special events.
I enjoyed the book and really like the series. Cozy murder mystery featuring food, a bakeshop, a small town, tourists, and special events.
December 13, 2023
Ellie can write some of the most endearing characters (the reason I always return to this series) and some of the most pretentious obnoxious ones (great for murder mysteries haha). I hated almost all of the new characters in this book and loved catching up with my favorites. Seeing more of Ramiro was fabulous, he is such a smart and fun kid! I loved the dramatic reveal and shocking ending!
April 7, 2024
Once again, in Muffin But the Truth, the team from Torte are venturing out of town to cater an event. Outside of Ashland, the Rogue Valley calls to adventurers with its lakes, mountains, and rivers. An executive team from a big city firm will be rafting the Rogue’s rapids and gathering around the campfire for spooky stories as a bonding experience. Unfortunately, they are not a unified team and it shows quickly. Jules tries her best to keep the food and group on track, when one of the executives is found floating face down in the water, she is back in sleuth mode to try and figure out what happened and who might have helped the drowning along.
Muffin But the Truth is the 16th book in the A Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander and she is still keeping the stories fresh. After reading all the books in this series, I am comfortable in the setting and with the wonderful team at Torte. The secondary characters, the Professor, Lance the director of Festival and others in town are always a welcome addition to the stories. Jules is such a great boss, family member, friend and sleuth. She is well liked by everyone except the owner of the restaurant across the way. I did miss the Shakespeare Festival goings on, but the mystery made up for that. The victim was not well liked so there are a lot of suspects, some unexpected twists, and finally a satisfying ending. Jules and Carlos personal life plays a role in all the books, but in this one, Ramiro, Carlos' son has come to stay and has Jules thinking about have a child with Carlos. This is a quick read or listen and I enjoyed another visit to Ashland.
Muffin But the Truth is the 16th book in the A Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander and she is still keeping the stories fresh. After reading all the books in this series, I am comfortable in the setting and with the wonderful team at Torte. The secondary characters, the Professor, Lance the director of Festival and others in town are always a welcome addition to the stories. Jules is such a great boss, family member, friend and sleuth. She is well liked by everyone except the owner of the restaurant across the way. I did miss the Shakespeare Festival goings on, but the mystery made up for that. The victim was not well liked so there are a lot of suspects, some unexpected twists, and finally a satisfying ending. Jules and Carlos personal life plays a role in all the books, but in this one, Ramiro, Carlos' son has come to stay and has Jules thinking about have a child with Carlos. This is a quick read or listen and I enjoyed another visit to Ashland.
November 14, 2022
It's a good thing Alexander is a prolific author of these wonderful cozy mysteries because I can't get enough of Jules and her Torte family. As always, a mild mystery surrounded by descriptions of yummy food. Recommended readers start at the beginning and follow the progression of the shop and the characters.
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