Wonderful series that just gets better. The characters have really developed and I like to read what they are all doing. Highly recommend this series!

This book in the series focuses on a coffee competition where Jules’ employee barista extraordinaire Andy is selected to compete. The West Coast Barista Cup is a prestigious competition with awards. Andy makes it through the first cut and the competition is fierce. When one of the judges pans his coffee he makes a new one and convinces him to try it again. The judge dies from the drink. Jules knows Andy is not a killer. With the of her cohort Lance she proceeds to clear Andy’s name and discover the real killer.

While I have not read all of the books in the Bakeshop series, I have enjoyed the ones I have read. The characters are richly developed and the setting is awe inspiring. When you factor in the food and drink sprinkled throughout the pages, you will have your head buried in the fridge or pantry to satisfy your need to find something tasty to eat. The dynamics of the relationships of those who work at Jules’ bakery, Torte, will have you smiling. Their love and support has you trying to figure out how to book a flight to Ashland, Oregon. I can’t wait for another tantalizing tale in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

The author takes the reader on a journey into summer in Ashland! The author invites us farther into one of the most beloved characters as he competes in the barista competition! Murder, coffee, and fan favorites come together to make a wonderful read!

4.5 Stars

Mocha, She Wrote, the thirteenth book in Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop Mystery series puts the spotlight on Torte’s resident barista, Andy Howard. Andy has made the difficult decision to drop out of college and pursue his desire to focus on all things coffee. Andy’s decision pays off sooner than expected when he’s invited to participate in The West Coast Barista Cup, which just happens to be taking place in Ashland, Oregon this year.

Jules the co-owner of Torte Bakery and the rest of the staff couldn’t be more excited and proud of Andy. While nervous, Andy is confident he has a chance. Andy’s confidence is shattered when in the first round, on the first-day head judge Benson Vargas spits out Andy’s coffee creation, declaring it dreadful. Benson is highly respected in the coffee community, and his word carries a lot of weight. Wanting to prove that he knows coffee and deserves to be competing at the cup, Andy presents another latte to Benson. Later that evening, Benson is found dead with Andy’s latte nearby. Once it’s determined Benson was murdered, Andy moves to the top of the suspect list.

It’s a good thing that Jules’ stepfather, The Professor, is the head detective of the Ashland PD and knows Andy well enough to know that he wouldn’t kill anyone. The Professor knows Jules has superb observation skills and asks her to pay attention to things while she’s watching Andy compete. With her best friend and partner in crime solving, Lance, Jules does just that and starts to uncover more than she thought imaginable.

Ellie has once again written a really good mystery, filled with just enough misdirects to keep you guessing until the big reveal. The premise of the next book in the series is also revealed and it promises to shake Ashland.

~ Favorite Quote ~

“Love all, trust few, do wrong to none.”

I absolutely LOVE the Bakeshop Mystery series, and this book was no exception. Andy is one of my favorite characters in the town of Ashland and him being one of the main characters was so fun to read. Ellie Alexander knows just how to mix in the mystery with the small town charm, charming characters and of course Torte (the bakeshop at the center of the stories). I recommend this title and every single other book in this series. If you are new to the cozy mystery genre this is a great place to start!

Great book, love this author and how they can keep my attention to the end! The plot is well developed, characters are believable and they obviously paid attention to detail to make the story worth your time to read.

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. It is always so much fun getting back to Ashland with Jules, Carlos, their friends and family. Mocha, She Wrote didn't disappoint. It was a fun story to read.

A good cozy mystery! Loved it!

Description
When a barista competition comes to town, Torte's favorite pastry chef finds herself sleuthing once again—in the next installment of Ellie Alexander's beloved Bakeshop Mystery Series, Mocha, She Wrote!

Summer has ushered in a new season in the charming hamlet of Ashland, Oregon. Torte is bustling with tourists taking in star-drenched shows at the Elizabethan, setting out to hike in the surrounding Siskiyou Mountains, and sampling the bakeshop’s summer lineup of raspberry lemon tarts and mint mojito cold brews. Jules and the team are buzzing with excitement when they learn that Andy, Torte’s head barista, has been selected to compete in the West Coast Barista Cup.

The prestigious competition draws coffee aficionados from up and down the coast to Ashland. The winner will not only claim to be best-in-brew, but also be awarded a hefty cash prize. Andy’s nervous about his chances, but Jules is confident that her star barista will shine. However, things take a grim turn when head judge Benson Vargas spits out Andy’s first offering, claiming it to be the worst thing to ever touch his lips—and hours later, is found dead clutching Andy’s creamy latte. Suddenly Torte’s favorite barista becomes the number one suspect. There’s no roast for the weary. Jules will have to sleuth out whodunit to clear Andy’s name and catch a killer before she ends up with one foot in the grounds.

This was the first book I have read in Ellie Alexander's Bakeshop Mysteries series. Though it's part of a series, I don't feel like I messed much by starting with book 13. Although I would like to read more! I really enjoyed my journey with Torte, a small bakery in Oregon. This cozy mystery was centered around the West Coast Barista competition, which Torte's head barista was a participated in. But when a judge ends up dead, and sketchy things start happening, will they figure out who done it? If you enjoy foodie cozy mysteries, this would be a good one! And I loved the recipes included at the end of the story. The Strawberry Cheesecake Bar recipe was the sweetest, and yummiest, way to end this fun story.

This is the thirteenth book in the Bakeshop Mystery series. I have read many of the books in the series but not all. It's like visiting old friends when I come back and read this series when a new book is released. I've seen the characters grow in their thoughts and actions and have met new ones along the way.
The focus of this book is on Head Barista Andy who represents Torte in the West Coast Barista Cup competition. He's pretty nervous about it but Jules has all the confidence in the world in him.
When the main judge spits out Andy's drink in one of the rounds Andy is humiliated but is that enough to make him kill the judge who is found dead with another cup of Andy's specialty latte by his side?
Quick paced, I was not expecting who turned out to be the murderer. Lots of yummy drinks and baked goods mentioned in here and so many delicious recipes for you to try in the back of the book.

Pub Date 29 Jun 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Mocha, She Wrote by Ellie Alexander

When a barista comes to town, Torte’s famous pastry chef finds herself sleuthing once again.

I love Ellie Alexander’s books. Well-written story with many delightful characters. Many twists until we arrived at the arrest of the murderer. I recommend this book.

Ellie Alexander has done it again! A new Torte mystery!

As Andy competes for the West Coast Barista Cup, a judge is found murdered and Andy is a suspect. Of course, Jules and the professor end up going after the killer! With a good dose of yummy treats and fabulous detective skills to boot, I have to say this was a fun read as always!

Dollycas’s Thoughts

It’s summertime and an exciting event is coming to Ashland, Oregon. The West Coast Barista Cup is about to start and Torte’s own Barista Extraordinaire Andy will be competing in the prestigious competition. The Best-in-Brew title is rewarding in itself but the winner also receives a nice cash prize too. The entire Torte staff plans to take turns supporting Andy with Jules attending all the events to cheer him on.

Andy gets a bit of a rough start but quickly finds his footing right up until head judge Benson Vargas spits out Andy’s signature coffee creation. He rips into Andy saying it is the worst he has ever tasted. The head judge’s drink is clearly different from the other judge’s coffee. Determined to win the judge over he brews another latte and vows to get it to the judge. Hours later Benson Vargas is dead and it appears that he is holding Andy’s second effort. This means Andy is suspect #1 but he is allowed to continue to compete. Jules, with a little assistance from Lance, vows to find out what really happened and prove what she already knows, Andy is innocent and someone else is brewing up trouble.

I was so happy to see Andy featured in Mocha, She Wrote. This storyline has been building for a while because Andy is really a genius at blending up some truly terrific coffee drinks, He really knows his flavors and is well known in the area for his expertise. I hated to see him high on the suspect list but we all knew he was innocent of the crime. The camaraderie that has been built by the characters of the Bakeshop Mysteries is heartwarming. With the exception of one character who is such a sad sack, the people within these books really care about each other and that was clearly seen in this story. When I load these books up on my Kindle I feel like I am checking in on old friends and know it is time to get comfortable, and enjoy my visit.

I am a huge fan of cooking competition shows on television so I loved the barista cup theme of this story. The judges for the competition seemed true to life. You know there is always one boisterous judge with a differing opinion. Benson Vargas truly fit that bill. He rubbed many people the wrong way and now pushed someone to kill.

Ms. Alexander has given readers a well-plotted mystery with a roomful of suspects. Everyone knew Andy was innocent but police including the Professor have to follow the evidence. But he is smart enough to trust Jules eyes and ears. Sabotage and twists run rampant and Jules gets a little diverted at one point. As she and Lance try to pare down the suspects they find it is not an easy task. I had a couple of theories of my own and one turned out to be correct as proven with a very exciting climax to the mystery.

The author’s descriptive voice continues to bring each location to life. There have been some changes to Torte that have been very well received. I love the new area and can easily picture myself enjoying a pastry and one of Andy’s concoctions and people watching. The people in the kitchen, and all the people who find their way into this amazing place. For Mocha, She Wrote, she had to create the perfect setup in a local space. Each contestant’s station, the judge’s table, and the audience, some contenders have their own groupies, were all clear in my mind.

Mocha, She Wrote is a delightful addition to this series. I really liked this story and can tell you it was A Perfect Escape. The next book in this series, Bake, Borrow, and Steal will be released on December 28.

This is a well written cozy series that ranks in my top 5 favorites. We don't spend a lot of time at Torte this time, instead we are at a barista competition. The book is full of well rounded, likable characters and a storyline that flows smoothly and wanting more.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

Pastry chef and business owner, Juliet “Jules” Capshaw is looking forward to a summer of possibilities. Her bakery, ice cream shop and winery are all thriving, and she has reconciled with her husband, Carlos. But then, she has to solve a murder very close to home. Her employee, Andy is the main suspect when a judge in the Barista Cup contest is murdered and the weapon appears to be the Spiced Honey Latte that Andy made for him. Jules uses her well-honed sleuthing skills to investigate the suspects in the competition to determine who has the biggest ax to grind with the judge who was known for his mean reviews and spiteful temperament. Along the way, delicious food is made.

Mocha She Wrote is tailor-made for foodies who love sumptuous, mouthwatering descriptions of food and drink. The beautiful scenery of smalltown Oregon is also a feast for the senses. The characters are well-drawn with Alexander’s gift for writing vivid imagery. The mystery is on the straightforward side, leaving the reader plenty of breadcrumbs along the way, without making it too easy to guess whodunnit. This is a book for cozy mystery readers who like the atmosphere just as much as the mystery. Readers will find themselves hungry and thirsty when they finish the book, so it’s a good thing that there are recipes included.

This is my favorite cozy mystery series.. However, this book fell just a little flat for me. I knew who the bad person was halfway through the book. I appreciated the small touches setting up books to come and it was nice to see Carlos and Jules relationship be solid and stable finally.

Mocha, She Wrote takes us on a quick tour of the bake shop, Torte, and The Hills hotel and restaurant while the protagonist, Jules, and her many friends, rush to solve a murder that could ruin barista Andy.

This was my first cozy mystery by the author. I was okay picking up number thirteen in the series — didn’t feel like I was missing out on any key information. And, I like how she got straight to the meat of the story and left out a lot of the fluff that so often fills the pages.

Thank you to the author, Ellie Alexander, publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for providing an Advanced Readers Copy for me to preview.

As expected, book lived up to my expectations. Fun, believable characters you can relate too easily. Well written, well plotted, and just pure fun to read and lose a couple of hours in a story. Delighted to recommend it to family and friends.