Pastry chef and amateur sleuth Juliet Capshaw finds herself on thin ice as she attempts to solve her latest case of small-town murder in Ellie Alexander’s Chilled to the Cone: A Bakeshop Mystery. The deep freeze has thawed in Ashland, Oregon and Torte is gearing up for a busy spring. When a surprise opportunity to launch a pop-up ice cream shop comes her way, Jules jumps at the chance to … at the chance to showcase Torte’s signature iced drinks and cold custards. But selling the desserts of her dreams comes at a price. . .and, before she knows it, Jules’s life swirls into a nightmare. One of the town’s most colorful characters, a street performer known for wearing capes and a cone-shaped hat, turns up dead just as Torte 2.0 is set to open its doors. Can Jules get the scoop on what happened to “The Wizard” of Ashland before her new business venture reaches a chilling conclusion?
The Bakeshop Mysteries are:
“Delicious.”—RT Book Reviews
“Marvelous.”—Fresh Fiction
“Delectable.”–Portland Book Review
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Chilled to the Cone by Ellie Alexander takes us back to Ashland, Oregon when the theater season is about to begin. Jules Capshaw has an opportunity to open a seasonal shop in the Railroad District. It would give her a chance to expand Torte’s offerings into iced coffee’s and ice cream. Jules is worried about taking on more work while Carlos is in town. She can tell that he is debating about where he wants to spend his future and Carlos has been keeping secrets recently. With encouragement from her mother and her staff, Jules signs the lease and work begins on the new space (and it needs it). Plans are derailed when a local eccentric homeless man named Wizard is murdered. Jules cannot help but delve into the death and the other misdeeds that have been happening in the area. Chilled to the Cone is the 12th A Bakeshop Mystery. If you have not read the previous books in the series, I do not suggest you start with Chilled to the Cone. The storyline regarding Carlos and Jules’ future is finally resolved. Will Carlos stay in Ashland or return to the cruise ship? I like that we are seeing growth in the characters. Jules, Andy, Sterling, Stephanie, Lance, and Thomas are growing in their careers and in their personal lives. I like how Jules, Helen, the Professor, the Torte staff, and their friends have become one big family. They support each other and are there for each other in times of need. The identity of the killer was a no brainer (it would have been nice if it had not been so obvious). I would have liked a more complex mystery as well, but I know that it does not go with this series. There are good details, a couple of suspects, and helpful clues. Cooking, baking, eating, coffee drinking, and romance abound in this cozy mystery. I liked the idea of Scoops. The Torte gang came up with some clever ideas for this pop-up shop. The ending will leave readers smiling. Chilled to the Cone is a sweet treat with chilled coffee confections, blooming romances, teen trouble, pop-up problems, a furtive figure, and long anticipated answer.
This series keeps getting better & better!! So much love in this one and the mystery was good. I did not guess who the killer was. I loved how this one ended and I cannot wait to start the next one.
You guys, this is one of my favorite series && on my reread list. Read it if you haven’t already!
This book was a good solid read. I’d totally try another future book by this author!
You can check out my booktube video review at https://youtu.be/Cb4Hm7ZKAkA
or read my review on my blog at https://lisasiefert.com/book-review-chilled-to-the-cone-by-ellie-alexander-a-bakeshop-mystery-book-12/
Chilled to the Cone is the twelfth book in Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop Mystery series, and another enjoyable addition. In this installment, Jules and the Torte gang are given an opportunity to launch a pop-up ice cream shop in the Railroad District and they decide to take it. Jules’s husband Carlos is also back in town, and she realizes that the time has come for them to make a final decision on their relationship. Unfortunately for Jules, her marriage isn’t the only thing she has to worry about. When a well-known homeless man is found dead, she quickly finds herself caught up in yet another murder investigation.
This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series, and I always look forward to spending some time with Jules and the gang. From the vivid descriptions of Ashland to the delectable goods being baked at Torte and the heartwarming friendships and relationships, it truly feels like catching up with old friends when I read a new installment. Ellie Alexander has done a wonderful job of developing these characters and making her readers care not only about them but also about Torte and Ashland. Romance-wise, there’s a lot of exciting news and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for these couples.
As for the mystery, I thought it engaging and it definitely kept me guessing. The culprit was on my radar, so the reveal didn’t come as a huge surprise but overall it didn’t away from my enjoyment of the book. I adore this series and can’t wait for the next installment.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ellie Alexander is my favorite cozy mystery author, but this book missed the mark for me. The first half of the book was a little slow for me. I just couldn’t get into all the renovation and construction talk. The second half of the book was better, especially once a few characters made relationship decisions. I will still support Ellie and read more of her books, but this one just wasn’t one of my faves.
Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for a free digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
mental-illness, homelessness, small-business, small-town, family-dynamics, friendship, relationship-issues, Oregon, amateur-sleuth*****
This is the most recent entry in a prolonged series. There are changes to be made in the family business, issues with her marriage, strange things happening among the local merchants, and then comes the murder of a local homeless character. The sleuthing is good and the plot twisty.
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Torte is growing again. This time across town in a pop-up space. Scoops will feature Torte’s signature iced drinks and frozen concrete custards as Andy and Sterling take their delicious creations to the new venue. The place needs some updating but the Torte crew is up to the task. That is until The Wizard, one of Ashland’s colorful characters known for his cape and cone-shaped hat, usually seen riding his bike is killed near the new pop-up shop. The murder gives Jules the chills but with a little help, she is confident she can take the killer down.
I am so excited that I finally got all caught up on this series and was able to read this book the day it was released.
Chilled to the Cone takes us back to Ashland as the busy season is about to take off. All the characters I have come to love are back and Spring seems to be a time of romance for several. I was pleased to see Carlos in town and that he and Jules are working on their relationship. It has reached the time for them to make some hard decisions. I also enjoyed how Andy and Sterling are growing in their jobs at Torte. The way Jules and her mom encourage their employees is really satisfying. The staff truly is an extended family and each person is valued for their unique talents and personalities. Lance and Jules continue to lean on each other and join in a little sleuthing. They are a fun team. All the characters have really grown over the course of the series in realistic ways but there’s still room for future growth.
Ms. Alexander gives readers a nice mystery with plenty of suspects and twists and turns. Several characters were involved in trying to solve the murder. The killer was at the top of my personal suspect list but the motive didn’t completely lock in until the very end. They shared the spotlight with a couple of other viable individuals but this person never fell from my top spot. The way the mystery played out was very exciting and I was totally engaged from beginning to end.
The story was very well-plotted. The author takes on a theme of homelessness and mental illness in a way to bring awareness without detracting from the mystery.
As usual, the author tempts our taste buds with several food and drink descriptions. Thankfully we have a Culver’s here in town so I could satisfy my custard cravings with one of their concrete mixers. They have a wide variety of flavors but none as creative as Sterling’s.
Chilled to the Cone is a delightful addition to the Bakeshop Mystery Series. Ellie Alexander never disappoints. Her characters draw you in and the mysteries hold on tight.
The bad thing about being all caught up on this series is that I now have to wait for the next story to be released. Mocha, She Wrote will be released on June 29, 2021. But the author does have another series for me to investigate. The Sloan Krause Mysteries will be headed to my Kindle soon.
Torte, the Bakeshop owned by Jules Capshaw and her mother, is geraing up for Spring in Ashland Oregon. When the chance to rent a pop up space becomes available Jules and her team jump at the chance for a way to sell their delicious ice cream. Not all goes as planned though as an arsonist sets fire to the new space and a homeless man is found murdered nearby. Jules starts her own investigation into the murder and finds several suspects. Who wanted the homeless man, known as the Wizard, dead? Why would someone try and burn down the ice cream stand? You won’t want to stop reading! Great characters and descriptive writing. And we finally find out what decision Jules makes regarding her love life! I definitely recommend this book!
Chilled to the Cone by Ellie Alexander is book 12 in the A Bakeshop Mystery series. This is one of the favorite Cozy series. This book did not disappoint. It can be read as a stand alone.
Jules is looking into opening a pop up seasonal pop up stand in a different neighborhood from Torte. While there she witnesses one of Ashland’s homeless being yelled at by a couple of business owners. She can’t understand why they would be doing that, after all, no one else in Ashland seem to have a problem with him. When he turns up dead, Jules starts asking questions. Then the stand she is renting for the summer becomes a target being vandalized. She feels she is on the right track or will she be next.
This story has enough suspects to have you guessing to the end, a great cast of characters, romance, and humor. Alexander will have you wanting to visit Ashland, Oregon.
I was given an ARC from St, Martin’s Press via NetGalley for an honest review.
Spring is on the horizon in Ashland, OR and Jules Capshaw has a very busy life. She has the chance to open a seasonal location in the Railroad district, perfect for Torte 2 to sell cold drinks, ice creams and various baked goods from Torte. All it needs is some TLC and a lick of paint. Her husband, Carlos is back on dry land but how long will he stay? Will the call of life at sea draw him back to the cruise line or will he and Jules start a new chapter as a couple after too long apart? Soon things turn ugly with some of her new neighbors. Not all are happy with the local homeless population, especially a colorful older man known as The Wizard. Harsh words and confrontations occur but that is tame when The Wizard is found murdered. Was it because he was homeless or was it more personal? Jules feels compelled to get justice for the man.
I love Ashland, OR in real life and I have enjoyed every one of the books in this wonderful series. It’s like visiting friends who make you feel right at home. The mystery is well crafted, full of fair clues and the required twists and red herrings. As for the food, well maybe it’s a good thing Torte is not real or I would have real issues with the waistband of my jeans.
My thanks to the publisher St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Chilled to the Cone by Ellie Alexander takes us back to Ashland and to Torte where the expansion has settled and business is good. Carlos has returned to try to make their marriage a reality again and is running that winery that she and Lance had invested in. Life was good when her friend Laney arrived to announce that she had found the perfect opportunity for Jules in a outdoor/garden space in the up-and- coming Railroad District where she parked her food truck. It needed work but was perfect for their concretes and cold drinks, with maybe a few baked goods. Jules, Andy, and Sterling took off to see it and agreed. It needed work, mostly elbow grease, but could really be something. Since it would be seasonal it would be easy to hire part-time help to staff it and fill in at Torte. Then things started happening down there. Graffiti, theft, and then, a murder. It was a homeless man who had been riding his bike around for years, entertaining people. Why would someone do such a thing?
This whole gang is lovable and interesting. Sterling and Stephanie are moving forward in their relationship; Jules’ mom and the Professor are very happy and the professor is thinking of retirement; Carlos is a hand and Jules loves him more than every, but is worried he misses the cruise ship too much, and Lance may have fallen for someone. As always the crime comes together and allows the correct people to pay for their crimes. All out friends are working and living and are well. Alexander has a good series here and a good book in this one. One of its themes is the way a portion of the population feels about homeless people and tens to blame things on them, often unjustly. Her characters show growth and movement, which keeps them relevant. Good book. Worth the read. Start at the beginning, if you have time. I recommend.
I was invited to read a free ARC of Chilled to the Cone by Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #chilledtothecone
Look, I am a HUGE Ellie Alexander fan–I love her Bakeshop and Sloan Krause series and will generally read anything by her. But this just wasn’t my favorite of hers. It’s still a super solid cozy mystery and better than many I have read, but when compared against Alexander’s other works isn’t quite at the same level.
Jules and the gang decide to open Torte 2–an ice cream and coffee stand–but when a homeless man is murdered behind their new location, Jules is, as usual, tossed into the middle of the investigation. Meanwhile, love seems to be in the air for everyone in Asheville–will the same be said for Jules?
The mystery itself was pretty good. I enjoyed the overall plot elements and while I suspected who the killer was fairly early on, there were enough red herrings and other plot elements to not make it super predictable. It’s really the other plot elements that made me like this book less so. First, seems crazy that after expanding and buying a vineyard that they’re going to expand again into an ice cream shop. The beginning of the book laid the foundation for this plot point, and it wasn’t super exciting, and I could have done without it. Two, everything wrapped up super neatly in this book. It almost felt like an end of series? Trust me, I hate cliff hangers and love a good bow, but it was just strangely settled for nearly every character. I don’t want to say more without spoiling certain plot elements!
This is still Ellie Alexander and it’s still great and still worth a read, it’s just not quite as good as, say, Cup of Holiday Fear or Beyond a Reasonable Stout.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
4 stars – 6/10
This book is exactly what I have been wanting. I loved getting to catch up with Juliet and the gang at Torte. I loved getting to see where Juliet and Carlos relationship is going. I also loved seeing the relationships of some of the other characters. The mystery is once again very well written. I had a slight inkling of who might have done it but not why they did it. I can’t wait to see what is next for Juliet.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley, St Martin’s Press, and Ellie Alexander in return for my honest review. Thank you for the opportunity.
Chilled to the Cone, the 12th book in the Bakeshop Mystery series is a delicious addition to a wonderful series. I continue to return to Ashland and the Bakeshop Mystery series for the characters. By now, when I pick up each book it is like visiting with old friends and catching up on what’s new in their lives. However, just because this is the 12th book in the series doesn’t mean that the author doesn’t have a few surprises in store for us in terms of character growth. Fans are going to be thrilled with the changes in several of the relationships and we finally get a resolution to Jules and Carlos’ relationship. I have to admit, based on previous books I thought I know how Ms. Alexander was going to resolve their relationship, but as I said she still can surprise her readers with where she takes the characters.
The mystery was engaging. There are a few viable suspects to choose from and the clues are laid out nicely. I have to say, I did have the killer on my radar but it didn’t detract from the enjoyment, and frankly, it’s nice for me to be right every once in a while.
This is a really terrific series, and I will continue to return to Ashland and Torte for as long as the author continues to write the series. Fans of the series won’t want to miss this sweet treat, which is scheduled to be released on December 29th.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.