I loved this book!! I found it very entertaining with great characters, and the mystery was well written!! This is another great addition to a wonderful series! I would highly recommend this book to everyone!

This was my first cozy murder mystery book, and honestly it was such a fun read. I was especially happy to learn that I didn't need to read any of the previous books to understand the story or the characters, and this could just be seen as a stand alone novel. The characters were fun and each had their own very unique personality. I also thought it was really cute that since the book is mostly set in a bakery, that the readers are given some baking advice when ever she's talking about food.

They murder mystery had me on my toes, and I definitely wouldn't have guessed the killer on my own. I like that for a book with a murder, it felt pretty chill and low-stakes, which is exactly what I wanted. The mystery was thrilling enough, but not enough to make me scared or stressed out when reading. I never felt like the main characters were in danger, and honestly that was a relief and let me just enjoy watching the story unfold.

My only complaint about the book would be that the main character's husband and son both seemingly speak Spanish, but the only Spanish word they use is "si" instead of "yes". I feel like they could just say "yes" and we would still understand that they're from Spain.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would definitely check out the other books in the series.

Princess Fuzzypants here: I have enjoyed this series as Juliet returned home to her family’s bakery to grow and expand the business, reconnect with her estranged husband, start a winery and now is getting to know her Spanish step son better as he spends a year with her and Carlos. It had been rewarding to follow the development of the various relationships which are at the heart of this series.

So when Juliet signs on to provide catering for a big firm doing a team bonding week, she is aghast at the toxicity of the relationships she witnesses. The prime cause is the bully boss of the group. When Juliet sees a corpse floating in the lake wearing the diva’s life jacket, she understandably thinks someone has murdered the woman. As it turns out things are more complicated than that and Juliet’s step father, The Professor, enlists her observations in figuring out who did what to whom.

As usual, while the mystery is being solved, we also become involved with the changing lives of Juliet, her family, friends and employees. It is the glue that binds everything together. It makes for a satisfying read. Five purrs and two paws up.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Paperbacks for accepting my request to read and review Muffin But the Truth.

Published: 12/27/22


Whoa -- #16 in the Bakeshop Mystery Series. I don't recall knowing that when I asked to read. This was a miss for me, and actually there is a small part of me that is not disappointed. There are 15 books before this one, 15. If I had enjoyed this, I would be kicking myself wondering how I'm going to add 15 books to a never-ending stack.

There is a need, love and life for this series. It just didn't work for me. I have found through reading a cozy here and there that I gravitate to nonfood series: knitting, antiques, and books. I didn't know that about myself prior to trying this series.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of this book for my honest review. Juliet Capshaw is a baker and together with her husband and stepson is hired for catering for an event. The event is outdoors in a scenic area by a river and the leader of the event is very hard to please and work for. In the midst of all this her step-son is starting high school and leading new experiences and friends. And then the unimaginable happens a body of one of the executives is found in the water; bringing on a huge investigation. A perfect read for a lazy afternoon.

Another cozy installment in this mystery series by Ellie Alexander. I gave it 3 stars - because I enjoyed it, and it's a nice light read

I love that it takes place in the PNW. I loved the recipes and ideas for cooking. I love the fact that the characters are so diverse. Sometimes, it's hard to keep track of the minor players, but the author does an excellent job of reminding you who they are without rehashing previous books.

The plot in this story was okay. The main antagonist is an abrasive, cantankerous, bully of a CEO/President/owner. OMG !!!!! Of course, this is a whodunit and you are left guessing who did the deed and if the victim was a case of mistaken identity or the victim all along (you need to read it as I won't spoil the book).

Juliet and the team quickly get to combing for clues, both at the "Glamp" site on the river and in Ashland proper, and by 90% of the book, the culprit is caught.

Ellie Alexander always writes comforting stories with nice endings. I can't wait to read the next installment.

A fun cozy mystery setting with lots of recipes that make you hungry! A great read for readers that want a mystery but not heavy reading. The series is better read with previous books read first instead of going into these stand alones/series with out knowing the characters first from previous books which may have newer readers confused if haven't read any of the previous books in this murder series.

Another phenomenal addition to the Bakeshop Mystery series! This is one of my absolute favorite cozy mystery series and I hope that it keeps going! These characters are ones that you just fall in love with and want to be friends with. The mystery is always one that is great fun to unravel and moves at a decent pace. I’ll literally read anything that Ellie Alexander writes.

Muffin But the Truth takes us back to beautiful Ashland, Oregon where the staff at Torte has been hired to cater a weekend event for a dysfunctional group of execs from a California marketing firm during a retreat. When Jules Capshaw discovers one of the execs floating in the river, she, once again, puts on her sleuthing hat to try and solve the crime. Meanwhile, Carlos and Jules prepare for the harvest at their winery while enjoying having his son live with them for a year, putting baby on the brain. Could a growing family be the next adventure for our favorite baker in this Bakeshop Mystery series?

Cute, cozy rom-com meets murder mystery. But very wordy to the point of over describing almost every scene, thought and interaction.

I voluntarily agreed to read and honestly review this book.
This is my first book by Ellie Alexander, and now I need to go find the series to start from the beginning. Even though I knew it was a Cozy Mystery, it was a lot more enjoyable than others I have read in the past. The descriptions of the murder weren’t over the top, but there were some tense moments in the storyline.

I read this as a stand alone - despite it being a series. I felt it was not necessary to have read the others to enjoy this one!

I love a good cozy mystery - especially one that has any kind of baking or cooking involved. This one did not disappoint!

Perfect for foodies and mystery lovers!

Muffin But the Truth is the 16th book in Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop mysteries, but the first book I have read of the series or by the author. It makes a great stand-alone book that anyone can easily pickup and be fully engaged in enjoying. Jules, the owner of a bakery and restaurant called Torte, is readying for a special catering job at a campsite on the nearby Rogue River as the book begins. Even before the client’s group arrives Jules has realized this job will be a lot of trouble, not simply to handle a gourmet menu at a camp but to deal with dysfunction among her client’s team. But none of that was as bad as the discovery Jules makes early on a morning walk near their camp when she discovers the body of one of the company’s staff members.

There is a large cast of engaging characters, ranging from Jules’ young stepson to her staff at Torte, who form a tremendous circle of positive support for each other and their work. A big highlight is that the book is set in Ashland, Oregon, the home of the Shakespeare Festival. Of course, not all people in Ashland are happiness and light, making the read uplifting, yet a realistic look into life and living in heavily tourist-visited Ashland. The mystery plot also has some great, unexpected twists. I plan a return trip to Ashland and to read about Jules and Torte and again.

Book Review of Muffin but the Truth by Ellie Alexander

Muffing but the Truth is a culinary cozy mystery filled with delectable dishes and a decadent plot twist that will leave savoring for more. The book part of the Baker Shop Mystery is part 16. It is my first time reading one of Ellie Alexander’s books and it will not be my last. The story centers around a pastry chef turned sleuth, Juliet Montague Capshaw, and her staff. Her shop is called Torte and it is located in Ashland, Oregon. The Torte was hired to cater a company retreat and this is where the mystery begins.

The plot literally had me at the edge of my seat as I couldn’t wait to turn the page to see what was going to happen next. I love how the author allowed context for the characters allowing the reader to become acquainted with the characters within the story, which makes it a great stand-alone read even if it is book sixteen in the series. Jules is a level-headed person trying to make her business a success. She was excited when her shop was recommended to cater to Josie and her staff. What an opportunity this was for Jules to stretch her baking skills, yet at what cost? Jules's work ethic was very different from the individuals she was hired to cater. There was dysfunction, chaos, toxic leadership, and a lack of teamwork that literally drained the Team of Torte. Then when you least expected bam! Jules finds a dead body! This is where the plot thickens and your emotions will go through a rollercoaster. Who did it and why? Is it a case of mistaken identity? Now it is up to Jules to find the murderer and believe me once you start reading you are in for one twisted road of who has done it!

I loved all of the food and desserts mentioned throughout the book. I would have loved a more traditional sharing of the recipes yet, the author does share the ingredients within the story. One of the recipes that stuck out to me can be found in chapter five, “Our cowboy beans were a favorite at the bakeshop. We started with a base of honey-cured bacon, garlic, and onions that we let saute on low heat. Then we added kidney, black, and great Northern beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, chili powder, paprika, brown sugar, and salt and pepper.” Now tell me this does not sound delicious? I did not like that there were no measurements to follow since I like to cook the dishes mentioned in the books I read. I did however appreciate the cooking tips along the way. Like I never knew that dusting chocolate chips with flour will not allow them to sink when adding them to cupcake batter.

I give this book a 4 out of 5 only because I wanted to have a list of the recipes, especially for the Chocolate Pumpkin muffins but then again the book did have all the right ingredients for a cozy mystery!

I received an ARC from NetGalley all opinions are my own.

Muffin But the Truth is the 16th book in the Ellie Alexander Bakeshop Mystery series. This series just gets better and better. Ellie Alexander is a queen of not only writing captivating and unique mysteries in a picturesque setting, within a close-knit, caring community, but she also writes an overarching story that sucks the reader into the character’s lives and makes the series that much more meaningful. Though each book can be read as a standalone, the series is more impactful when you’ve had a chance to grow with the characters and see them evolve over time.

In Muffin But the Truth, the Torte team is hired to cater a Rogue River adventure weekend; a team-building event for Bamboo’s executive team. It is fraught with tension before the trip even begins, with incessant, unrelenting demands, a controlling and demeaning boss, and dysfunctional group dynamics. When Juliet Capshaw, owner of Torte, finds a body in the water, she is not only shaken by the event, causing some deeper, contemplative thoughts, but she also does her part to work with her local police friends to help solve the crime.

Ellie Alexander’s writing is descriptive, introspective and thoughtful. Her stories have a depth that most cozy mysteries don’t contain. Not only do her mysteries feel plausible, her stories feel cozy, and her characters are people you want to know, but they also carry meaningful life messages. I hope the Torte team continues with their friendship and capers for many books to come.

Jules, Carlos and Ramiro are glamping and catering a corporate team-building event. When one of the executives' bodies is found floating in the river, it seems like an accident. But the Professor soon rules it murder, and they must find the killer before they strike again.

Another cute story about Juliet finding her way into another murder. Torte is working with Bamboo for their company retreat where each employee has a different personality but someone winds up dead. Juliet is determined to figure out which team member did it and enlists helps along the way.

This latest offering in the Bakeshop Mystery series features Juliet and her family catering a team event for a high end company. Despite the beautiful forest setting and the comfortable accommodations in the woods, troubles abound as the dysfunctional team members engage in spiteful behaviors. Things heat up for the group when one of their members is found dead. Juliet again involves herself in trying to solve the crime.

This book contains a lot of descriptions of how food is prepared, even though the recipes are included at the end. Readers who enjoy this kind of reading will probably gobble this one up, although the endless descriptions can become tedious. (I skipped over them.) This novel seemed to drag out the investigation and did not seem to offer many clues to help readers puzzle out the mystery. Although this is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. Readers who are returning to this series will find familiar characters and settings. The novel contains no vivid descriptions of violence, no swear words, and no descriptive intimacy.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Muffin But the Truth is the next book in the Bakeshop Mystery Series. The gang are back at Tarte and have an opportunity to cater a wilderness weekend for a big city firm. Jules, Carlos and Ramiro join the group camping in the woods. When Jules wakes up the first morning, she finds a body floating in the river. The professor jumps into action and takes control of the scene and the investigation.

I loved having the regular beloved characters back and finding out what is happening in their lives. It was fun to have an adventure out of the setting of Torte the bakeshop however I would have enjoyed a little more time in the wilderness with a big more of a spooky wood's vibe.

Such a fun read and kept me guessing. I’d love to read more from this author. I’m a fan! I thought I had it figured out - but I didn’t!