Review: The Pumpkin Vice Cafe

THE PUMPKING VICE CAFE by Ellie Alexander
Fiction, Cozy Mystery
4****

Blurb: As autumn settles over the charming hamlet of Ashland, Oregon, ushering in cool, crisp breezes and a stunning show of color, everyone at Torte is keeping warm by whipping up a bevy of fall treats and spicy lattes. Jules is nearing her due date, and the whole town is abuzz—placing bets on when the twins will make their grand debut. Helen and the team are working on a secret surprise baby shower, complete with cupcakes, cookies, and a feast fit for royalty, or maybe just a mother-to-be. Meanwhile, Lance and Arlo are busy planning their nuptials in what is sure to be as close to a royal wedding as Ashland has ever seen. But when the high-end wedding planner they hired is found dead in the frigid waters of Ashland Creek, what looks like a tragic accident, a slip on an icy bridge, quickly reveals itself as something much more sinister. Jules knows at once—this was no mishap. A killer is loose in Ashland, and they may be ready to strike again.

THOUGHTS: This was a fun story, #23 in the Bakeshop Mystery series. While some series are hard to get into if you haven’t read the books from the beginning, this one was fine. The author has a deft hand when describing the characters and their relationships with each other. And the description of the town is spot on. The only thing I had a tiny bit of trouble with was the “Mount A” as I had no clue what this was until I asked a friend who had been to Ashland. You might want to let newbies know that it is Mount Ashland. But this is a minor issue. I love that everything in the story is related to the Shakespeare Festival.

In this story, the main character, Jules, is very pregnant and due any day. Which kind o amazed me. How is she still standing at the bakery and doing all this work when she’s ready to drop twins? Most nine-monthers are not into doing that kind of hard work. But I love that her team is doing a lot of the heavy lifting. Her best friends Arlo and Lance are making plans for their wedding and hire a planner to help them. Unfortunately, she is a no-show, so they hire someone else–someone who is less than ethical in her dealings. When she ends up murdered, there are a lot of suspects and Jules wants to make sure the right person gets caught so she goes on the case–much to her husband’s (and a lot of other people) dismay.

A fun read, a good cozy, lots of interesting characters and great setting, and a satisfying ending. What could be better? Pick this one up to add to your collection.

Recommended.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this ARC.