When a cozy series has 19 books in it, and I haven't read any of them yet, I have to weigh things in my mind about whether I want to jump in and start reading or not. 19+ books is a big commitment. So, I decided to jump out of my comfort zone and read book #18 before deciding to commit to the entire Bakeshop Mystery series or not.

And.....I now have 18 more books to read. :) A Smoking Bun was an entertaining and fun cozy mystery!

It's a bit rough jumping in at Book 18, but I soon had the setting, characters and basic premise figured out. So, this book can definitely be read as a standalone by anyone who hasn't read this entire series. I liked the background premise - the bakeshop. Culinary cozies are some of my favorites! I enjoyed the characters and the basic plot. Jules is a great MC. She's smart, a great businesswoman and an excellent amateur sleuth.

The basics: It's time for the annual Downhill Dummy celebration at a local ski resort. One by one, those participating strap dummies to skis and send them hurtling down a ski jump to see which one gets the best air and most spectacular crash landings. When one of the dummies goes off course and lands on top a local guide, Jules finds herself smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation.

I'm definitely backtracking to start this series at Book 1. :)

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St Martins Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**

Another fun cozy mystery, featuring baking and skiing.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Another great addition to the Torte Bakery series. The setting added to the story. It was filled with a good amount of mystery and characters/suspects. Thanks to NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this book.

Ellie Alexander continues the Bakeshop mysteries in a Smoking Bun; Jules and her husband are cooking for her visiting relatives who are going on a night snowshoe tour. The tour is interrupted by off trail activities by a skier who ends up dead the next day at the Downhill Dummy ski event. Whodunit? The ski lodge owner in financial trouble, the environmentalist? and others. Cozy with cutting edge.

A new Bakeshop mystery always fulfils my need for cozy foodie good times :) Another fun installment, this one with a very wintery setting!

<i>ARC Provided by NetGalley<i>

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and St. Martin's Paperbacks for my honest review.*

Jules and Carlos are hosting Carlos' ex and her family for a few days at New Year's and Jules is excited to be spending time with the whole family and showing them Mount Ashford. they take a midnight snow shoe excursion that is interrupted by a rude party pushing past them. The next day, there is a Downhill Dummy event and everyone is having a grand time until someone is killed by a dummy. So Jules investigates the death that might be a murder or might just be an accident.

What a cast of characters! This was my first time reading Ellie Alexander and I was surprised to see it was the 18th book in the series. I have a lot of catching up to do!

I enjoyed the descriptions of the events and the mountain! And the employees of Torte - seems like there could be a lot of side stories there. Even from not reading the prior books in the series, I didn't feel like I missed anything and I enjoyed what character development there was with the family from Spain and all of the employees in the bakery. I felt like the pacing of the mystery and all of the other happenings in the town were spot on and the re-hashing of the mystery every few chapters was great to keep up on the details that were important.

I will be reading the series to catch up soon!

An entertaining and fun mystery. The characters are engaging and realistic, I especially love the extended family feel of the book. The mystery itself is intriguing with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. All in all, a great book. This is the first book of the series that I've read, but I'm definitely going to read the others.

Jules is excited to be baking up some wonderful treats for the upcoming snowshoe tour. She can't wait to show the Ramiro family the things that she loves about the Ashland Oregon countryside. There is also the Downhill Dummy contest coming up the next day which can be exciting as well as funny. The day of the contest has.come and all is going well until one of the dummies takes a detour and lands on top of Fitz Baskin killing him. Jules begins to look into things to figure out who would have wanted to kill Fitz and she learns he had quite a few enemies. Follow along as Jules comes across several secrets that could be the reason why he was killed. Can Jules find the killer before someone else ends up dead like Fritz?

# 18 in the Bakeshop Mystery Series, this is still very readable as a stand alone cozy mystery. If you read the previous books you would be much more acquainted with the characters,but I had not read any of the previous books and was able to engage with the characters and story quite easily. Jules, along with a large crowd, witnesses the death of Fritz, a mountain guide at one of the annual events in their small skiing town. There are many suspects, Fritz was pretty much hated, but can they find the right one? A lovely cozy mystery to pass the time with engaging characters and a mystery to be solved.
Thanks so much to #NetGalley#ASmokingBun#StMartin'sPaperbacks for the EARC

My thoughts
Characters
I enjoyed reading “A Smoking Bun.” The mountain town of Ashland, Oregon, nestled in the Rogue Valley in the southern Oregon mountains, is snowy, cold, and an ideal setting for the days between Christmas and New Year’s. It’s festive, a welcoming atmosphere for pastry chef Jules Capshaw to host important out-of-town guests.
Her stepson’s family is visiting from Spain, and she wants them to have a good time.
It's important to her that the two families become friends. That task becomes more difficult when Jules finds herself caught up in a murder.
The importance of relationships carries throughout the book. The relationships between Jules and her staff are a strong component of the book. It’s obvious the friendships are strong between the staff and Jules. She trusts them enough to take care of the bakery while she takes time off. She has a strong, loving relationship with her husband, has built a good relationship with her stepson, and is well on her way to building new relationships with her stepson’s family.
Mystery
The red herrings and mis-directions were well done. I was kept guessing up until the final reveal. There were plenty of suspects and secrets to hold my interest.
Recommendation
4/5 stars. This is a solid cozy mystery.

A Smoking Bun is the 18th book in the Bakeshop Mystery series and the lovable characters are still going strong. Consistent characters, tense situations, and of course, delicious baked goods make for an easy, quick read.

Jules and her family are once again thrown into another mystery as they are getting ready to celebrate the New Year. While it is always thrilling to watch Jules and her friends get embroiled in the mysteries that never seem to stop in small town Ashland, it is starting to get to the point where even the suspension of disbelief is not enough to convince me that she should be getting involved in cases that really have nothing to do with her. That being said, it is always wonderful to see how Jules is able to put compassion into her time investigating. Her warmth and kindness is part of what keeps me coming back to the series.

Speaking of warmth and love, the side characters and employees at Torte never disappoint. Their banter and relationships with one another always leave me wanting more. The problem with this book was that there were simply too many characters that deserved time in the spotlight. It was nice to get to see more of Andy’s personality, but given that he was the one closest to the actual case, it would have been nice to see even more of him.

It was an exciting concept to see more of Ramiro’s family, but despite the numerous activities that they were involved in, there was very little in the way of character development or growth for any of them, including Ramiro. It would have been great to see more of their personalities shine beyond hearing about how much Jules loved them all.

Overall, this is an enjoyable addition to a fun cozy mystery series and a great, quick winter read. I’d love for some more character development, but this book is still a nice piece of dessert!

⅗ stars

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Important details about A Smoking Bun

Pace: Medium

POV: 1st person (Jules)

Series: A Bakeshop Mystery. It can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the previous books to understand backstories and relationships.

Trigger Warnings: A Smoking Bun contains themes that include alcohol consumption, blood, dead bodies, fire & arson, explosions, and murder & attempted murder.

Language: There is mild swearing in A Smoking Bun. There is also language used that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is no sexual content in A Smoking Bun.

Setting: A Smoking Bun is set in Ashland, Oregon.

My Review

After several weeks of reading books that were often difficult to read (because of the content), I was ready to read something lighter. When I saw that A Smoking Bun was next on my TBR, I initially had an “Oh no” reaction. I had thought this would be another book with heavy subject matter. But, since I have a weekly reading schedule, I started reading. I was pleasantly surprised! A Smoking Bun was a perfect balm to a mind that previous books had overloaded.

A Smoking Bun is the eighteenth book (yes, I had the same reaction you did when I saw the number) in the A Bakeshop Mystery series. Because I hadn’t read the previous books, I was expecting some confusion over the characters, their backstories, and how they related to the storyline I was reading. Again, I was pleasantly surprised. There was minor confusion, but the author quickly explained the characters’ relationships to Jules. The explanations occurred within the two to three chapters, and the author moved on after the explanations were given. The focus was solely given to the mystery.

The storyline of A Smoking Bun centers on Jules and her investigation into the murder of Fitz Baskin. Fitz was horrible, with many people who didn’t want him around. The author hones the focus on four main suspects: two former clients of Fitz who he left on the side of the mountain, off the trail and in subzero temperatures, on purpose, an outspoken member of the ski rescue team, and the owner of the ski chalet/resort. All four suspects had the motive and opportunity to kill Fitz. Jules started looking into the case when one of her employees begged her to (plus, she was there, along with most of the town, when the body fell off the sled during the dummy run). His best friend was one of the four, and her employee was sure he had nothing to do with it.

I am fond of mysteries set in restaurants, bakeries, and other food stores. I enjoy reading about the delicious food that these fictional places make. I also appreciate the recipes usually included at the end of the book. I don’t know if this is because I got an ARC copy; none was included here. There were some recipes included that I would have loved to copy down.

The mystery angle of A Smoking Bun was well written. It was predictable, but overall, I enjoyed it. Jules had a unique way of looking into the case. She also had a connection with the suspects and used that to ferret out clues. Now, I was surprised at who the killer was and why that person killed Fitz. The killer was on my list of suspects, but there wasn’t enough for me to go, “Yes, it is that person.” So, when everything was revealed (and it was revealed dramatically), I was astonished.

The end of A Smoking Bun was your typical mystery ending. The author wrapped up that storyline in a way I liked but left an opening for book 19.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Paperbacks, NetGalley, and Ellie Alexander for allowing me to read and review this ARC of A Smoking Bun. All opinions expressed in this review are mine.

I’ve enjoyed every Bakeshop Mystery that I’ve read, but not all of them have been 5 stars. A Smoking Bun is the Bakeshop Mysteries at its finest. Cozy with good characters and an enthralling plot. Firstly I loved this book because it has Lance at his finest, in vintage 80s ski gear à la House of Gucci. Also the action gets going pretty quickly, which is always important for this ADHD reader. and I’m obsessed with the Dummy Downhill Run, and I genuinely enjoyed meeting Ramiro’s family. Lance stole every scene, as per usual, and his and Juliet’s investigation was top notch, no silly pushback of “oh it’s not our business” this time. And thankfully the suspects this time were all definitely suspicious, a few cozy mysteries I’ve read have suspects that the motive boils down to “they didn’t like the victim, and they’re a rude person”. Which is not at all interesting for a mystery. Thankfully, that is not the case here, and this mystery kept me guessing and had twists I never expected!

This cozy mystery has everything I want
Twists and turns, recipes, winter activities I can vicariously live through from the comfort of my warm house, a very well dressed gay character being my favorite sleuth, and multiple suspects with a variety of motives. It is well worth the read.

Once again, Alexander created another delightful mystery for us to enjoy! The wintery setting is perfectly cozy, with the fun addition of seeing Jules and crew be Ashland tour guides. The mystery itself was nicely complex, keeping me guessing throughout. Another highly successful addition to one of my favorite mystery series.

This cozy was a delight to read! It makes me want to spend a weekend in Ashland, Oregon exploring the town during the Shakespeare Festival. This isn't my first Bakeshop Mystery, but even so, the characters and storyline are easy to pic up as a stand alone. This is the 18th book in the series and takes place during a winter festival. I am looking forward to the next in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

Juliet is hours from welcoming Ramiro's family from Spain. She has planned eventful days and nights highlighting the best that her hometown Ashland, Oregon has to offer. There will be tons of delectable sweets, a midnight snowshoe, a downhill dummy, wine tasting, and...murder? Ashland's amateur sleuth and premier baker, guides readers on a quest to find the person responsible for killing troublemaker and general nuisance, Fitz Baskin. There is no shortage of suspects. Once the ball gets rolling on this one, the story moves about as fast as a Downhill Dummy.

This is the first book I've read in this series and I don't feel like I missed a beat. The character introductions were perfect and the author wove details about the character's pasts into the narration seamlessly. Alexander is a wonderful storyteller. I am eagerly awaiting book #19, "Sticks and Scones" expected August 2024. I'm confident I won't need to go back to read the earlier books in the series in order to enjoy upcoming installments, but I plan to go back and read them anyway. Juliet, Carlos, and the gang from Torte were a joy, but I just loved Lance's humor and wit.

This series is perfect for foodies, cozy suspense lovers, and those who just like a well-told tale. Don't read without a snack! All those descriptions of the desserts will make you hungry.

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's for the opportunity to preview this book in exchange for an honest review.

Visiting the scenic town of Ashland and Torte, the bakery, is always a delicious adventure as the crisp winter air blends with special coffee roasts. In the post-Christmas downtime, Jules awaits for the Torres family to come to visit Ramiro, her stepson and their son. Plenty of fun activities are scheduled showing off Ashland, until a tragic event happens up on the mountain during a colorful and comic "dummy" race. While getting to know the Torres family and showing them a good time, Jules' natural curiosity and empathy draw her into the investigation. Always a well-plotted mystery with a cast of characters you love visiting.

This was a really good cozy mystery! Great if you are wanting a good mystery, but want something lighter to read than a thriller. It is also especially good to read during winter months with all the descriptions of winter throughout it.

Really enjoyed the small town setting. The characters were very likable and fun. The plot was solid with a good mystery to solve.

It is a culinary mystery, so be prepared for descriptions of lots of food that will leave you hungry and wishing you had that food nearby!

This is part of the Bakeshop Mystery series, but can definitely be read as a stand-alone like I did! I have heard that it is nice reading in order as you get to see the characters develop and grow, but you definitely don’t have to, but I am interested now in going back and reading the series from the beginning.

Recommend this one if you are in the mood for a cozy mystery!💜

This latest addition to the Bakeshop Mystery series features the return of familiar characters. Juliet and crew continue to produce exquisite goodies in the bakeshop as the New Year's Eve celebrations are in the offing. Juliet and Carlos welcome a visit from the family of Ramiro, who is the son of Carlos and currently lives with Carlos and Juliet. The town of Ashland, Oregon enjoys winter sports and the annual "dummy ski run," which sadly results in an accidental death that might not be an accident. Juliet and friends get involved in gathering intel to help find out what might be going on behind the scenes at the ski lodge and ski runs. The mystery takes some twists and turns as it heads to the final surprising ending.

For readers new to this series, enough background information is provided to allow this novel to be read as a stand-alone. For fans of this series, the author does a good job of keeping things moving along, as the characters mature and relationships change. Characters from the past novels will seem like old friends, although the novel ends with room for future changes as the series continues.

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

A Smoking Bun by Ellie Alexander is a fun visit to Ashland and all our friends at Torte. It is winter, right after Christmas and Jules’ gang is gearing up for the downhill dummy while Jules herself is gearing up for a visit from Ramiro’s mother, her husband, and his half sister. It is an odd situation but since their friendship had been developing on the internet, Jules felt good about it. She had promised herself that she would take more time for Carlos and her family and this was just the beginning. The downhill dummy was the second of the outdoor events she had planned for them. It was exactly what it sounded liked: a dummy built on skis to race down a slope. The winner was the dummy that held up the best, and her staff promised that Torte’s could be spectacular. Meanwhile, odd things were going on up on the mountain, including a man named Alex, who appeared to be both obnoxious and willing to break all the rules of the mountain putting the lives of skiers and snowboarders at risk, not to mention tour groups.

This series is the epitome of cozy mystery wherein it is all centered around family, both by blood and by choice. The staff at Torte is just as much family to Jules as are her mother and the Professor. And then of course, there is Lance, the artistic director of the Shakespeare festival and her good friend. Excellent and developing characters. They were all on the mountain when one of the dummies broke loose and ran over someone. Shocked to find out who the victim was, Jules was certain it was no accident and was worried for her friends on the mountain. I turned out to be an interesting crime with a variety of people as suspects, although the culprit eventually rose to the top and a crime rooted in history was revealed. It’s a good book, although not the best of the series as Jules and her friends come together to root out the evil doer. Kudos for keeping this wonderful series alive, Ellie Alexander!

I was invited to read A Smoking Bun by St Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #EllieAlexander #ASmokingBun