Catch Me If You Candy by Ellie Alexander (Bakeshop Mystery #17) 3.5 stars

It’s time for Halloween and the citizens of Ashland, Oregon go all out and that includes the owner of Torte, Jules Capshaw. Her and her crew bake up ghoulish treats that are delicious and addicting. During the annual Halloween parade festivities, Jules discovers a dead body outside of her bakery. The victim was a recent acquaintance and had dealings with the OSF. Did his death have anything to do with a production in rehearsals or was there another motive? You’ll have to read to find out.

As always Ms. Alexander offers descriptions of tantalizing baked treats along with tips and techniques for their creation. For me, that is always the highlight of her books. As to the mystery, there are plenty of red herrings as to motive, means and opportunity. I have to say the plot kept me guessing at times. I enjoyed this mystery and look forward to the next book, A Smoking Bun.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for this ARC.

I thought this series is off to a luscious start. The world building is quite descriptive in this enchanting book. The characters are well developed and relatable. Its a relatively quick read and perfect for reading in between appointments during the day. I loved it.

A fun Halloween themed cozy mystery book. The main character Jules follows twists and turns to discover who has murdered the dog trainer outside her bakery after the big parade. With mahjong, dog actors, and yummy sounding recipes this story is another winner for Ellie Alexander.

This book is very entertaining and cozy. The story is straightforward and easy to follow and keeps me interested. I find myself reaching out to this book over other current reads. I am a mood reader but this book puts me in a good mood. The plot of this book is amazing. The description of the food makes me super hungry and does not help with my diet. But I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my copy. All opinions are my own.

I love Halloween and this series, so this was a great book. As usual Jules and her team are cooking up lots of yummy treats and solving a mystery as well. As I've come to expect, the book was extremely well-written and was a quick read. I've read this series from the first one so I regard these characters as my friends that I look forward to visiting them in Ashland. The characters are 'real', they are likeable and their relationships just keep developing.

Oh my, I missed so much! How did I not know this is the 17th book in the series? I HAVE to go back and read them from the beginning!

I love the townsfolk and the feeling of family woven throughout the story. I feel if I had started with the first book this would be amplified. While I was hooked and will recommend this title to others, I can't wait to read them all and reread this book to see if my assumptions are correct and I will be unable to sleep wanting to find out what happens after the "Dragon dies," and if it feels the same as it does now.

Oh, so back to that, Jules, the owner of the local Torte shop, is surprised to find a man in a dragon costume dead outside her shop right after, Helen, a lady in her mother's Mahjong group finds a warning note about the death of a dragon in an antique game set. Now Jules is determined to find the link between the note, murder, and who could have committed such a crime outside her shop during the annual Halloween festivities.

I was given the opportunity to read this title through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This book was AMAZING! I loved the storyline and the characters were interesting! The mystery had my guessing the whole book! I would highly recommend this book and series to everyone!

This book had all the things that make a cozy mystery cozy. I really enjoyed all of the bakery descriptions (talk about making you hungry) and the little small town during fall time. I love books centered around Halloween and this one definitely hit the mark! CATCH ME IF YOU CANDY is book 17 in this series but can be read as a standalone. I also have a dogs so I really enjoyed having those parts in the story. Such a great series and you can bet I’m going to go back and read all the other books in this series I have missed.

3.5 stars: Catch Me If You Candy is the 17th book in the Bakeshop Mystery Series, set in Ashland Oregon. Jules is the owner of Torte, the local bakeshop and café. It is Halloween time and lots of costumed people and pets are dressed up for the annual parade. There is even a dragon as part of the festivities. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is winding down, with just one more production to go. The last performances will have a dog, and the honor goes to King George, a pug belonging to a friend of Jules' mother. Torte's staff has been baking up a storm to have goodie bags available for sale. The day is wonderful with lots of fun, until the dragon is found slumped against the door of Torte, the man inside dead. He is the local dog trainer that has been working with King George and others whose owners were hoping their dogs would be chosen for the part. The curious thing about the death was a note found in the drawer of an antique majong set that predicted the death of a dragon. Who is responsible for the murder and why?

I have enjoyed this series, but for some reason, this one didn't hold my interest as much as the ones in the past. I missed some of my favourite characters in this one, and something fell flat for me. There seemed to be a lot going on in this one and it seemed disconnected at times. The mystery was interesting and there was more than one suspect. Of course motive is what will point to the culprit, but it took right until the end to find it. There were a few twists and some red herrings until the crime is solved. This one has a lot of new characters as well, and I missed some of the regulars in the series. Overall, this was a quick read, with an interesting mystery.

Thank you Minotaur and NetGalley for the eARC of Catch Me If You Candy! All opinions in this review are my own.

Catch Me If Your Candy is a solid cozy mystery. It is well-paced and has enough suspects to keep you guessing throughout the story. This was my first Bakeshop Mystery but it won't be my last!

I love visiting Ashland and Torte along with Jules and the other characters. This particular story line felt a bit "off" to me. I am not sure if it was the mystery or the extra characters involved in it. While the book was enjoyable and dealt with my favorite holiday, I just did not love it as much as previous books. I will still be back for the next installment of the series and hope things are back on track.

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!

A delightful cozy mystery! I enjoyed it very much. If you enjoy mysteries or stories with an amateur sleuth, and do not need the graphic reality with descriptions of gore and violence, this is a good choice. You can follow the clues to solve the mystery without any threat of nightmares.

I have been provided with a review copy of Catch Me If You Candy from NetGalley for an impartial review. I was just drawn into this story and I just couldn’t get enough of it. I was so disappointed to turn the last page and I immediately wanted more. I can’t wait to see what's next from this author.

Catch Me if You Candy is the 17th book in Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop Mystery series and the third one I’ve read. Out of the gate, I can tell you that you can jump into the series at any point without getting lost. The more you get to know the cast of characters, the town of Ashland, Oregon, and its surroundings, the more you’ll want to return. Catch Me if You Candy takes place at Halloween and, of course, the whole town turns out and everyone is ready to make a splash. The creative staff of Jules Capshaw’s bake shop, Torte, whips up Halloween-themed treats. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is wrapping up its season and this year’s parade will feature costumed canine actors whose owners are fighting to be the top dog.

With all these festivities, it’s no wonder a murderer was able to make their move in plain sight – and right in front of Torte – making Jules feel responsible for solving the crime. Fortunately, she’s got plenty of help. Start this series anywhere. You’ll find yourself backtracking to see what you missed.

I received this Advanced Reader Copy of Catch Me If You Candy from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A fun cozy coinciding with Halloween, my favorite holiday!


I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Ellie Alexander's "Catch Me If You Candy" is a delightful romp through Halloween in Ashland, Oregon, where sugarcoated treats meet chilling murder on Main Street. Jules Capshaw, owner of the Torte bakeshop, finds herself in the center of a macabre mystery when a costumed dragon collapses dead outside her door. With a cryptic warning note as the only clue, Jules, along with her trusty team and a dash of family drama, embarks on a quest to unmask the killer before things get a little too sour.

Witty as a Buttercream Quip: Alexander's writing is both charming and funny, liberally sprinkled with puns and references to Shakespearean plays that feel perfectly at home in the setting of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The dialogue is snappy and engaging, making even the most mundane scenes a pleasure to read.

A Mystery with Layers Like a Croissant: The whodunit aspect of the story is well-paced and intriguing. Clues are cleverly hidden and red herrings aplenty, keeping you guessing until the satisfyingly twisty reveal. However, the focus isn't solely on the mystery; the character relationships and personal journeys add depth and emotional resonance to the narrative.

A Cast of Quirky Characters: The characters are truly the icing on the cake in this cozy mystery. Jules is endearingly flawed yet relatable, and her supporting cast – from the sassy Ramiro to the ever-worried Carlos – is a colorful bunch that provides plenty of laughs and heartwarming moments.

Not Just Spooky, but Sweet: While the mystery and Halloween setting provide the chills, the heart of the story lies in the warmth of community and the joy of baking. The descriptions of the delicious treats from Torte are enough to make your mouth water, adding a touch of whimsy to the darker elements.

I absolutely LOVED this newest installment of the bakeshop series! We finally have a Halloween book in Ashland! It was glorious!

This was a fun seasonal read. I thought the MC was likable and believable. Sometimes in cozy mysteries like this one, I find the pacing to be too slow, but I didn't find that to be the case with this one. I enjoyed it and will read the other books in the series.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. Book 17 in the series and I have not read the others. I think it stood alone okay. Defiantly cozy, instead of thriller, for a murder mystery. The Halloween theme is heavy, so better to read in October than December.