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Fun beach read. Enjoyable series. Finished it a while ago--no details now--thought I had reviwd it.

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Pastry chef Jules is visiting a picturesque resort where two of her former students now work. Sounds like a relaxing trip, right? Until their smug, condescending manager Erik winds up dead. And let’s be honest—everyone had a motive.

But who better to crack the case than a pastry chef with a knack for solving sticky situations? Jules is on the case!

This was a cute intro to the Bakeshop Mystery series. Can a murder mystery be cute? Apparently, yes. Does the plot always make sense? Not particularly. Is the ending a twisty, shocking mystery? Also no.

But if you’re in need of a cozy palate cleanser after too many reads filled with gore, trauma, and psychological torment—this is your cupcake-sweet antidote. I’ll definitely be diving into more of this series!

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The resort’s manager, Erik Morton—a toxic boss with plenty of enemies—takes a fatal fall, and Jules suspects foul play. Despite being pregnant with twins, she jumps into sleuth mode alongside her stepfather, a detective, to untangle the mystery.

Recurring characters like Jules, Carlos, Lance, and Jules’s stepdad bring warmth and depth. Even newcomers fit seamlessly into the story.

With a steady flow of clues and red herrings, the plot keeps readers guessing. The resolution is satisfying and neatly tied together .

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Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I love love loved this book, possibly my favorite so far of this series that I've read. I also think that the title works really well as a pun.

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Another great mystery featuring the gang at Torte! I love the attention the author pays to her characters and their relationships. Ellie Alexander is a queen of cozy mysteries.

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Note: Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and author Ellie Alexander for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review will also be posted on NetGalley. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.

Killing Me Soufflé is the 20th book in the Bakeshop Mysteries series by author Ellie Alexander. I don’t know what was going on way back in book number one, but this book is accessible if you haven’t read anything else in the series. Ellie Alexander recounts enough information and background that I had some ideas about the characters and could follow the story. After reading this, I’d like to know more. I’ve added the series to my “want to read” list.

Jules and Carlos are the proprietors of a bakeshop/cafe in Oregon, as well as a winery. Two of their proteges have left their employment to revitalize a restaurant at the popular Whaleshead Resort on the Oregon Coast. Jules has memories of summer vacations there with her parents and has volunteered to come help out at the restaurant’s grand reopening.

They learn the Resort has been suffering under mismanagement. Maintenance is not being performed on a timely basis, the staff seems to disappear at a whim and leave the front desk empty, and bills haven’t been paid. The manager, Erik Morton, is rude and dismissive, blaming everyone else for his shortcomings. There are also rumors of the resort being sold.

No sooner have Jules and Carlos arrived than Erik’s body is found, seemingly pushed off a cliff on the trail down to the beach. Jules’ mother and stepfather are also guests this weekend. Her stepfather is just known as The Professor and apparently has some ties to law enforcement, as he is tapped by the local police chief to help in the investigation. The Professor has used Jules in investigations before, and has no problem sending her out to talk to people who might open up more easily to a civilian than to the police.

There are a number of suspects present at or near the resort. Some of them engage in suspicious behavior. Jules chases down leads and helps her friends have a successful opening weekend, while at the same time being pregnant with twins.

The overall story in Killing Me Soufflé is good. You have a mystery with a closed number of suspects. I didn’t guess who the killer was, as it really doesn’t come together until the end. It’s not like the clues were there and I missed them or guessed wrong. There was no way to know until all was revealed. It kept me roped in this way.

I don’t know if some of it is jumping into a series so far along, or the author’s style, but I struggled to stay engaged in the parts of the story that weren’t based on the murder. Information was given repetitively. If Jules discovered something, she would repeat the information again and again. I lost count of how many times it’s mentioned that she will be cutting back at work once the twins arrive.

The story was fun and light, though, and the descriptions of the menu items would make anyone hungry. I like that the author includes recipes at the end of the book. If we weren’t in the middle of a heat wave, I might have tried some of them. The characters are interesting enough that I wanted to find out how they arrived at this point. The author manages to include just the right amount of background to whet the appetite for new readers to go back and check out earlier books in the series.

While not the best cozy mystery I’ve read, Killing Me Soufflé was a quick, light read that kept me entertained. It makes a great bit of summer reading. If you’re looking for another series to rope you in, this is definitely a contender.

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I found this book enjoyable, as the rest of this series. I like that it’s in a different settings, it stretches the characters. I love the depths of the characters & how they relate to each other. #KillingMeSouffle #NetGalley

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The newest book in the Bakeshop Mystery series does not disappoint! Jules and her family head down the coast to visit her former chefs, Sterling and Stephanie, who have been hired to reinvent a restaurant at Whaleshead Resort. However, Sterling and Stephanie are already struggling as they adjust to their new boss, who has a completely different managerial style than Jules.

That style leads to the boss being pushed off a cliff shortly after Jules arrives. Since she was the one to find the body, she feels compelled to help solve the mystery - not just to find a killer, but also so that Sterling and Stephanie's new restaurant doesn't fold!

The pace of the book moves quickly, while still allowing Jules time with her husband and (step)son, as well as her mom and the Professor.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for a copy of this mystery!

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Thank you to the author and Netgalley for a copy of this book. This was a fun mystery to try to solve. A bit different than what i'm used to reading but still enjoyed it none the less!

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Killing Me Souffle by Ellie Alexander is the perfect beach read.

Will this be the end of Steph and Sterling's new vision?

Stephanie and Sterling are excited about their new venture: managing their own restaurant and creating a whole new menu. The only problem is that their new boss isn't quite an easy person to work for. He died on the restaurant's opening weekend, which isn't good for business.

Juliet and Carlos
Juliet and Carlos make a great team in the kitchen and even out of the kitchen. I love seeing these two in these books since they are the perfect wife and husband duo when it comes to these mysteries. Carlos knows by now that when Juliet gets her mind up about solving a case, he will let her do her thing while keeping an eye on her. He is also like that when it comes to being in the kitchen. Juliet is pregnant with twins, and she's delighted. From what I've read, she is a great mother when caring for Ramiro - Carlos' teenage son.

I love how they make a great family unit, and I can't wait to see how they do with twins.

The Mystery
Juliet was first on the scene to find Erik Morton's body after he fell. She then phoned the police and wanted to help bring his killer to justice even if her stepfather and the local police were handling it. Juliet's suspect list didn't dwindle down, as everyone they talked to had a motive to kill the guy. Erik wasn't a saint, and everyone had a reason to dislike him.

I had a feeling on who did it, but I just didn't put two and two together fast enough to be sure.

Four Stars
I am giving four stars to Killing Me Souffle by Ellie Alexander. Ms. Alexander has done a fantastic job of transporting me to the beach with Juliet, Carlos, Ramiro, and some of their friends. I felt like I was out there on the south Oregon coast solving this mystery with all of them. Juliet is quite a character, but I'm glad that despite being a wife and now soon-to-be mom, she isn't changing and still wants to solve mysteries. Carlos can also be at peace knowing that Lance will be there with Juliet most of the time in solving these mysteries.

Remember that Ms. Alexander put recipes in the back of the book. They are Chocolate Cherry Sponge Cake, Sterling's Sunday Sauce, Rhubarb Crumble Cake, Breakfast Lasagna, Peach Cobbler Muffins, Chocolate Souffle, and Andy's Decaf Chocolate Cherry on Top Latte.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Killing Me Souffle by Ellie Alexander.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

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Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop Mysteries are always a must-read and never disappoint! The character, the plot, and the setting always deliver. Killing Me Soufflé was no exception. I hope this series continues for a long time! Can’t wait for the next one!

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This is the latest entry in the Bakeshop Mystery series, and I think it’s one of the best in the series. Two of the employees have left Torte to go a resort where they’ll run a restaurant. Unfortunately, there’s some fishy business going on behind the scenes and when Jules and the rest of the Torte crew come to visit, Jules finds a dead body and gets involved solving the crime. One of my favorite things about this series is the Oregon setting, and this book’s location is on the coast, a very beautiful part of the state. I love the outstanding recipes printed at the end.
This is a great read and a must for cozy lovers!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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I was taken in by the book blurb and thought the story was about Sterling and Stephanie in their new job at a resort. Turns out they're secondary characters as usual. The Bakeshop Mysteries hasn't expanded to cover full stories for others in the circle. The beach resort setting was a nice change. Jules, Carlos, Lance, and the gang are the same and all at the first dinner of the revamped resort restaurant; people drove hours to come and support Sterling & Steph. Of course there's a murder, of course there are lots of suspects - some seeming more guilty than others, and of course Jules can't help herself and gets involved.

Halfway through the book I started skipping around. I was 90% sure I knew who the killer was and sure enough I was right; I thought it obvious. The plot was moving at a snails pace and the telling and retelling of information like in the children's game of telephone where you pass on a message to see what it becomes after making the rounds. There's lots of food instructions and descriptions as you would expect in a culinary mystery but to me it went into overkill. There are some recipes for food made during the story at the end of the book which sound yummy. I've only read two other novels in this series and had a hard time placing some characters as they wove in and out of the story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#KillingMeSouffle #BakeshopMystery #NetGalley #EllieAlexander #MinotaurBooks #mystery #cozymystery #culinarymystery #murdermystery

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Jules and her husband, Carlos, are owners of Torte, a bakeshop. As happens in food service, their two best bakers, Stephanie and Sterling, are moving on to a restaurant where they’ll be able to serve fresh caught fish alongside vegan dishes and signature desserts. For the opening, Jules, Carlos, and the rest of the team will be on hand to provide morale.

Things haven’t turned out as promised. Eric, the manager, isn’t managing, deliveries are late or don’t show up at all, there are rumors of mismanaged money and it’s a stressful atmosphere, far more than the usual stresses of a working kitchen. Jules volunteers to pitch in to help when the kitchen receives a fish order with very little time to prep before service.

Stephanie is in the middle of making chocolate souffles and Sterling is whipping up a quick shrimp with linguini and a pan-seared halibut entrée when loud screams are heard. Jules runs to find the cause and discovers Eric’s body at the bottom of a steep and treacherous cliff. It soon becomes apparent that this was no accident.

Will the killer be found before the restaurant flounders? Jules is determined to help the two young chefs any way she can.

This is book 20 in the series. Jules is someone you’d want for a friend and not just because she’s a great cook. She and Carlos have a good relationship, a prime example of supporting each other. I enjoyed reading about what goes on in the kitchen, out of sight of diners. It’s a bonus that Jules shares recipes with readers too.

The recipes are at the back of the book: chocolate cherry sponge cake, chocolate whipped cream, Sunday sauce (for pasta), rhubarb crumble cake, breakfast lasagna, peach cobbler muffins, chocolate souffle, and decaf chocolate cherry on top latte (regular works too.)

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This novel takes place away from Ashland and on the coast, as Juliet sets out to help Sterling and Stephanie With their new restaurant venture. But once again, Juliet will stumble upon a body and attempt to solve the murder. Like the others in the series, this cozy mystery is enjoyable, but I found myself missing the other characters from Torte.

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Killing Me Soufflé is a delightfully funny story. I love the family feeling throughout this book. These genuine characters immediately pulled me into the story. The murder mystery kept me really much engaged. The ending put a huge smile on my face. There are some exciting times ahead, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the rest of the series.

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Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my copy of Killing Me Soufflé by Ellie Alexander in exchange for an honest review. It published February 25, 2025.
I loved the setting of this story! The Oregon Coast has my heart, so I definitely was all in! That being said, this wasn’t my favorite in the series. I felt like it was rushed in some parts. The recipes had me very hungry and I definitely can’t wait for the next book!

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I love this series. This is book 20 of A Bakeshop series, set in the Pacific Northwest. All your favorite characters are back. You can read this as a new book but you'll want to discover all the previous books. Torte’s beloved Sterling and Stephanie have been hired to take over the aging restaurant at the cliffside Whaleshead Resort. They’re nervous about striking out on their own, but excited by the opportunity to put their own spin a new menu. From fresh fish caught the very same day to vegan options and handcrafted pastries, they’re buzzing with ideas. What’s even better is that Jules and the team from Torte have come out for opening weekend to cheer them on.Despite some opening night jitters, the dinner is off with a bang. Guests and long-term residents of Whaleshead Resort are eager to taste the young couple’s creations. As the tickets begin to line up and guests pile in the front door, Jules and Carlos offer to roll up their sleeves and help in any way they can.Stephanie is taking on every chef’s nightmare—a fluffy chocolate soufflé—and Sterling is fast at work prepping shrimp linguini and pan-seared halibut when they suddenly hear screaming. Erik Morton, the manager of Whaleshead and their new boss, has taken a fatal fall down the steep and dangerous cliffside trail leading to the beach. Jules and her young protégés quickly realize this was no accident. Now, the team will have to juggle the investigation while keeping the restaurant—and Steph and Sterling's new jobs—from crashing like the waves along the cliffs.

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Another well plotted, entertaining and compelling solid cozy mystery by Ellie Alexander. Loved it as it kept me guessing and having fun
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

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I love this series. I enjoy the characters and always find the mystery predictable but very entertaining. The writing style is easy and gives details with out going overboard. It is a standout in the cozy mystery market.

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