This time, Torte’s pastry chef and amateur sleuth finds herself coming out of the oven and straight into the fire in Ellie Alexander’s Nothing Bundt Trouble: A Bakeshop Mystery. Spring has sprung in Ashland, Oregon, and everything at Torte seems to be coming up buttercream roses. But just when Juliet Capshaw seems to have found her sweet spot–with her staff set to handle the influx of tourists … handle the influx of tourists for this year’s Shakespeare festival while she moves back into her childhood home–things take a dramatic turn. Jules discovers a long-forgotten dossier in her deceased father’s belongings that details one of the most controversial cases in Ashland’s history: a hit-and-run accident from the 1980s. Or was it?
Now it’s up to Jules to parse through a whole new world of details from another era, from unraveling cassette tapes to recipes for Bundt cakes, before an old enemy brings the Capshaw “pastry case” to a modern-day dead end.
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Dollycas’s Thoughts
Spring in Ashland means Juliet Capshaw is getting settled in her childhood home that was given to her by her mother and the Professor after they moved into their new home. While going through boxes in the basement she finds her father’s journal detailing a time in the ’80s when he assisted the Professor on his first case. A hit and run death of a young actor. Juliet’s parents had recently opened Torte and they had taken on a side job provided desserts for a new dinner theatre. This brings her dad into contact with all the players, one of which could be a killer.
Juliet is excited to read the journal after losing her dad all those years ago but is surprised the case had not been solved. After going over the case with her step-dad she decides to ask Lance to help her revisit the suspects and the evidence to try to solve the cold case.
After reading the first ten books in this series we have gotten to know Juliet and her mom quite well. Now we get to travel back in time to get to know Will Capshaw. We also see how much the city of Ashland has changed and the things that have stayed the same. With the journal, the author takes an interesting approach entwining the past and present with a focus on the same mystery. I really liked the time Doug, aka The Professor, and Jules took reading the journal together. Her father’s words were not only focused on the murder case but expressed the love he had for his wife and their daughter. We learn that Jules is so much like her dad. She has always been inquisitive and curious about what happens around her. The apple did not fall far from the tree. For her to pick up the unsolved case made perfect sense.
In the present times, the staff at Torte are also planning a 1980’s themed dinner complete with costumes, a disco mirror ball, music, and recipes including the pineapple inside down cake that was served in many households including mine back in the day. All the ’80’s references brought back a ton of memories, like the mirror ball my graduating class purchased for our school prom, along with the crazy clothes and hairstyles. What a delightful trip back in time.
Nothing Bundt Trouble is a unique story that tugged on my heartstrings. This series features some of my favorite cozy characters. It was a real treat to get to know Helen, Jules, Doug, and finally Will’s stories from the past. It makes them more complete. The love story between Helen and Will just shines. Thank you, Ms. Alexander for writing this book. I loved it.
Nothing Bundt Trouble earns 5/5 Elizabethan Treats…Engaging Fun!
Elle Alexander penned her eleventh delightful murder mystery in her Bakeshop Mystery series and has sent fans into the past. Juliet Capshaw’s bakeshop, Torte, is in overdrive preparing for all the tourists coming to enjoy Ashland’s Shakespeare Festival, and added to the busyness, she’s also settling into her new/old home. There she makes a discovery that sets her off on a fascinating journey; her late father’s journal from 1988 chronicles an unsolved murder dubbed “The Pastry Case.” Unfortunately, deciding to look into the details and honor her father’s memory, everyone “presently” finds themselves in jeopardy. The mystery was clever intertwining the past and present together and offering compelling motives and a few suspects to ponder. The characters were realistic in manner and reactions and Juliet is a strong female lead, but with flaws that make her endearing to follow. The final revealing of the killer was a delightful surprise. Elle’s writing style is filled with descriptive language painting well the town, the people, and the bakery along with entertaining banter. I enjoyed the investigative style of the main character which did include some perilous situations, and Juliet’s experience provides her with the strength to make important decisions in her life. The story has lots of tasty talk about desserts, but sadly no real recipes for readers to explore, not even a Bundt recipe. So, be prepared to enjoy a vicarious trip to Torte…smell vision not included.
I love dual time line books and the author did a great job with this one. There’s a wonderful mystery threaded through both times. The characters are well developed and you find yourself getting lost in the story. This is the first book I’ve read in the series, but it worked well as a standalone. However, it was also good enough that I will go back and read the earlier books and future books in the series.
There are tense moments while the crime is trying to be solved. But the depth of the new and rekindling relationships with Juliet keeps things lighter. I really enjoyed the story, the delicious food descriptions, and the mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Nothing Bundt Trouble by Ellie Alexander is the 11th instalment in the “A Bakeshop Mystery” series. I really enjoyed this story and diving into the past history of Torte and Ashland. It starts with Jules discoverIng her father’s old journal in the basement of her childhood home, which talks about an unsolved murder from the 1980s. With the help of Lance and the professor, she becomes determined to solve the cold case.
This was a good read, but wasn’t what I expected as it was more a back story of Torte and Ashland. Don’t get me wrong I rather enjoyed hearing about how it all started and Jules looking into the cold case that had haunted her father and stepfather.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed. There is plenty of humour too with the staff and the whole 80’s them.
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving 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.
4.5 Stars
In this eleventh installment in Ellie Alexander’s A Bakeshop Mystery series, Jules discovers her father’s old journal in the basement of her childhood home, which talks about an unsolved murder from the 80s. With the help of Lance and the professor, she becomes determined to solve the cold case.
I thought this was a wonderful addition to the series. The plot is unique, the setting is enchanting, and the characters are well-written and feel like old friends. I really enjoyed learning about Ashland’s past, as well as getting to know Jules’s dad. It was easy to see where Jules got her personality from, and I teared up at the end when she read his final journal entry. The mystery kept me engaged and the culprit’s identity was a surprise. This is a delightful series, with mouthwatering descriptions of food, heartwarming relationships, and a sense of community and family. I eagerly await the next book. You can never go wrong with a book by Ellie Alexander.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fun story! Despite this being the 11th book in the Bakeshop Mystery series, I had no problems reading this as a standalone mystery. I enjoyed this book because the mystery is an unsolved case from the 1980’s when Juliet Capshaw’s parents are establishing the family bakeshop, Torte in Ashland. Juliet has recently moved into her childhood home and finds a diary of her father’s in the basement.
Juliet starts reading the diary and realizes her father Will was amateur sleuthing, just like she does. Juliet’s father has been dead for many years, but through the journal entries in his words, she feels re-connected to him. Will was working with his friend, Doug on a hit and run case. Doug was a police detective at the time, and Will’s best friend. Juliet connects with Doug about the case and that time in their lives.
This was a different way of telling the backstory, which I really enjoyed. The journal entries are interspersed with today’s happenings which made for an interesting read. I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a cozy mystery with a different spin.
Thanks to #NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book.
Great book! My favorite of the series, so far! Can’t wait for the next one!
Very good with a visit to the past in this latest book. Jules is settling in to her childhood home and comes across a journal of her father’s. After reading the first page, she realizes it is about a murder investigation and she needs to talk with the professor. Reading the journal together, Jules becomes closer to her deceased father and is intrigued by this cold case. She and Lance set out to see if they can solve the case and give some closure to the professor. Intriguing and I loved the glimpse into the past and getting to hear Jules’s father’s thoughts. Can’t wait to See what’s next for the Torte family!
Nothing Bundt Trouble finds us in Ashland, Oregon just as Spring is beginning. Juliet Capshaw and her mom own Torte, a bakeshop, where everything is going according to plan. With the Shakespeare Festival fast approaching they are all busy gearing up for the many tourists who will be arriving in town soon. When Juliet finds an old journal of her dads regarding a long ago police case she turns to her mother’s husband, known as the Professor, who is an Ashland police detective for answers. As she travels thru the journal to another era she learns things about her dad and her questions start to get her in trouble. Will Juliet solve the decades old unsolved case? And at what cost to her? I love this series! The characters grow and evolve from book to book. The writing is descriptive which I love. As an added bonus there are some delicious recipes included in the book. I definitely recommend this series and this book! It’s a must read for cozy mystery lovers!
I haven’t read this series before so I was excited to receive a galley from the publisher. I have to admit that I started this book a couple of times before I actually read it all the way through. I just really couldn’t get into it.
After reading some of the reviews, I don’t think this is usual for this series. I’ll happily give the next book another chance.
Thanks to publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
Nothing Bundt Trouble by Ellie Alexander is the 11th A Bakeshop Mystery. It can be read on its own if you are new to this culinary mystery series. Juliet “Jules” Capshaw found her deceased father’s journal in a box in the basement. She reads how he was conflicted about getting involved in The Pastry Case and decides to discuss it with Doug (aka Professor) who was her father’s best friend. Ashland, Oregon is always a charming town to visit with Torte, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and its friendly residents (except Richard Lord). I like the family feel inside Torte, among the staff, and the descriptions of the tasty treats they whip up. Nothing Bundt Trouble is different from the other ten books in this series. Roughly two-thirds of the book involves Doug and Jules sitting at a table in Torte reading William Capshaw’s journal. Jules seems to go into a haze while they are reading. She fails to notice the lively atmosphere of Torte with people coming in and out getting coffee and pastries. The pacing is sluggish courtesy of the detailed journal entries and lack of action. With all that William had going on in his life, I do not know how he found the time to write such lengthy, detailed entries (would you really write about the food people ate). I missed the lightheartedness that is the norm for the books in A Bakeshop Mystery series. When the story returns to the present Jules and Lance work to solve the case. Chuck Faraday was not a well-liked man which provides some good suspects. The whodunit can be solved easily before the reveal. I did like getting to know more about William. We also get to learn what Helen and Jules were like in 1988. It seems that Jules was inquisitive even as a child. The 1980s gives Jules inspiration for a fun party. Nothing Bundt Trouble just missed the mark for me. I look forward to reading Chilled to the Cone when it comes out later this year. Nothing Bundt Trouble is a blast from the past cozy mystery with a discovered diary, fabulous sugar flowers, clashes at the Cabaret, decorating dilemmas, and a cold case.
Nothing Bundt Trouble takes us back to the wonderful world of Torte–but with a difference–Jules solves a mystery from her father’s past. I love cold cases so this plot was a hit with me.
Nothing Bundt Trouble is book,#11 in the A Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander and is an enjoyable addition to the cozy series. Juliet Capshaw is moving back into her family house where she grew up as her mother has remarried. Juliet (Jules) and her mom, Helen, own and run Torte bakery. Jules’ father died when she was younger. She finds a journal of her father’s when she is settling into the house. It opens up a lot of memories and mentions an old controversial case that her father and stepfather Doug, who she calls The Professor, were both knowledgeable about. The professor helps Jules sort through the info in the journal. The mystery is revealed through the journal and we get a glimpse of Jules and the history of Torte through the journal. There is a Shakespeare festival in Ashland which is evident around town and is a big part of tourism in town. It all adds up to an enjoyable cozy mystery! This book is ok as a stand alone but is best read in order. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an honest review. #NerGalley #StMartinsPress #NothingBundtTrouble
Nothing Bundt Trouble by Elle Alexander is book eleven in the Bakeshop Mystery series. This is one of my favorite series and I was not disappointed. What made this story interesting was Juliet tackles a cold case.
When Jules comes across a journal her late father had kept regarding a hit and run death cold case, she knows she has to find answers. What I enjoyed going into the past was the memories it brought up for me from the 80’s.
This story is well written with twists and turns that have you guessing until the end. The main characters are likeable and relatable. You also have love family and friends along with humor. I’m already ready to return to Torte!
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an honest review.
Nothing Bundt Trouble by Ellie Alexander is the 11th in the Bakeshop Mystery series and is a totally different kind of book for this series. The opening pages we are totally in Juliet’s head, remembering and dreaming, but as enjoyable as a day in the bakeshop would be. She’s in her bedroom, at her house, the one her mother and Doug gave her when they married, wanting a new place for their new life. This had been her childhood home. The she had to get up and get going so she decided to tackle the basement where she cam upon a box full of her father’s things, including an old journal. She was enthralled., but as she started reading it she realized that she could not do it by herself. The story was mostly about Doug and her dad so she called Doug to ask him to meet her. When she mentioned that she had the journal and what it was about, they decided to read it together so that he could explain it to her. It turns out it was a casebook of a murder investigation, Doug’s first, from the 80s. It was entertaining to hear about her parents getting the shop started, how hard it was. Reading it brought Juliet so much closer to her dad than she could ever have imagined. It was well past the middle of the book when modern day intercepted and the murder investigation, from 40 years ago, popped into the forefront.
Juliet and the Bakeshop crew are so much fun to be with. They are so full of personality and life. It’s fun to see the differences that have happened over the life of the bakeshop and the town. This was definitely a divergence for Alexander and it shows how good a writer she truly is. The transition were smooth and made sense, People that were not involved back then, still fit into the story even as it came into the present. The mystery was good, especially since the murderers thought they had gotten away with it. That’s always a good story. She understood so much more about her father and about her mother and Doug’s relationship. It all made her very happy, once everything was resolved. It was a good read. I recommend it.
I was invited to read an ARC of Nothing Bundt Trouble by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #nothingbundttrouble
While writing this review, I discovered that Nothing Bundt Trouble is number 11 in the Bakeshop Mysteries series. I had no clue that there were 10 other stories before this. I’d had an inkling that it might not be the first one, but the writing is so good, that you don’t know you’ve stumbled into a lengthy series. I never felt lost at all.
In this story, Juliet stumbles upon an old diary of her father’s that talks about the Pastry Case. Confused, she approaches her stepfather, who was a police detective at the time. After talking with him, she discovers that her father had tried to help him solve a hit and run that to this day remains unsolved. Determined to figure out what happened two decades ago, she enlists the help of her best friend and attempts to solve the long-standing mystery.
Like I stated above, the writing is really well done. You can smell the melting brown sugar and butter in the pot on the stove while they’re working to make Pineapple Upside Down cake, the smell of the bread baking, the pizza’s cooking in the woodfire stove, the coffee and milk steaming for your drinking pleasure. There are many wonderful, friendly characters that you want to get to know better, and a story arc that I can’t wait to dive fully into. What a wonderful read!
*I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Book eleven in this Bake shop series and another good read. In this one Juliet moves back to her old home after her father‘s death and ends up trying to investigate an old case that her father had worked on while at the same time getting her bakery ready for the Shakespeare festival really good cozy mystery. Loved the characters