On Thin Icing
Series: A Bakeshop Mystery Book #3
Author: Ellie Alexander
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Page Count: 270
My Rating:
Book Summary
Welcome to Torte-a small-town family bakeshop where the treats are killer good.
It’s the dead of winter in the sleepy town of Ashland, which means no tourists-and fewer customers-for Jules Capshaw and her bakery. But when she’s asked to cater an off-season retreat for the directors of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, business starts heating up…until Jules finds a dead body in the freezer.
Someone at the retreat has apparently iced the bartender, a well-known flirt with a legendary temper-that is, before a killer beat him to the punch. Then, from out of nowhere, Jules’s own ex-husband shows up at the shop-and soon becomes a suspect. With accusations piling up higher than the snow-and thicker than a chocolate mousse cake-Jules has to think outside the (recipe) box to find the real culprit…and make sure he gets his just desserts.
More Facts for Readers about our Sleuth & Setting:
Main Sleuth: Juliet (Jules) Montague Capshaw
Best friend/Sidekick: Doesn’t really have one
Physical Description: White female, active, green eyes, white-blonde hair
Location: Ashland, Oregon
Business: Torte, a Shakespeare inspired bakeshop
Time of Year: January
Pet: None
Love Interest: Detective Thomas Adams (?), although she is still married to but separated from her husband Carlos – she’s confused!
Family: Mom, her Dad is deceased
Diversity? Yes! Juliet’s family is white, non-Hispanic, and while most all of the characters in this book are white, she is married to her Spanish (he’s from Spain) husband Carlos and so we learn quite a bit about Spanish cooking and baking. Juliet has adopted much of his culture not only when it comes to food but when it comes to music and attitudes.
My Review
Warning! Possible spoilers!
I’m happy to report that although it’s been a few years since I read the first two books in this series (and I’m only just now jumping back in) that it was easy to pick up right where things left off! The author starts us off with a nice little recap of who our main sleuth is, where they are, and where we left off in the last book (but not in stuffy too much info kind of way). Reading this book and jumping back into this series was like putting my favorite cozy sweater again – it just fits and makes you feel homey!
In this third book we FINALLY meet Carlos, the estranged husband of our main sleuth and he brings with him all of his cooking wisdom and charm. His character’s dialogue is written in authentic broken English for someone who speaks it as a second language and it’s nice to have that representation. I’m happy to say that Carlos feels just as real and non-stereotypical as the other characters. Although he’s estranged he comes across as a warm and kind character who could fit in with the established cast – should he stick around and stay married to Jules.
Once again, the food that is described made me SO HUNGRY while reading! Thankfully the author gave us seven recipes in the back of the book for some of the most details dishes. I genuinely want to try them all!
And can I just say how much I appreciate just having a wintery cozy mystery not tied to a holiday? Thank you! This book was set in January, I read it in February and it was just what I needed to feel a winter-time vibe while reading without it being Christmas, or New Years, etc. Although luckily I read this at home and not at a lodge or ski-resort where I likely would have been a little freaked out about finding a frozen body. Could you imagine?
This book have 5 stars from me and I look forward to reading more in the series!
