Killing Me Souffle is the entertaining next installment of Bakeshop Mystery. This installment takes place at the cliffside Whaleshead Resort, where former Torte staff Sterling and Stephanie have taken the roles of head chef and pastry chef, respectively. The hotel's manager is a rude and difficult person to deal with and quickly turns out to be the victim of this installment's murder. We follow Jules and her friends while she works to determine who killed Erik and the real reason for the murder. It's an interesting continuation of the series and, as usual, is filled with mention of the delicious foods and treats created in the kitchen.

This series has been around for awhile. It was refreshing to have it located at a different place. Jules and group go to the coast to support Stephanie and Sterling in their new endeavor. They have taken over the management of a restaurant at a resort. Of course, a murder happens and they must solve it to save Stephanie and Sterling from being accused. I was sorry to see the two of them leaving Torte and going elsewhere. The mystery itself was a great cozy mystery

I loved this latest book in the series and that it took us to the Oregon Coast to one of my favorite towns. While we didn't get as much from the normal secondary characters, I loved the closer spotlight on 2 of them. The setting descriptions and mystery were written so well and I can't wait to see what's next for Jules and see her as a mother. Now off to bake a soufflé.

Killing Me Soufflé is book 20 in Ellie Alexander's Bakeshop Mysteries series. However, it is the first book I've read in the series. It is also only the second book of Alexander's that I read. Last month, I reviewed A Victim at Valentine's, the fifth book in her Secret Bookcase series.

I really liked Killing Me Soufflé. Culinary cozies are my favorite type of cozy mystery. And this one is really good. It was difficult to figure out the characters. Perhaps because this is set at Stephanie and Sterling's new restaurant which is at a resort. It cut down on the characters I had to get to know and there are new to every reader characters.

Jules is a great character who reminded me a little of Carolyn Haines's Sarah Booth Delaney. She is sure and confident and gets the business done kind of gal.

The murder mystery is interesting as there are a lot of things going on at the resort that come out during the investigation.

This is a fun book and even though I really don't need another cozy mystery series I'll keep my eyes open for more books.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Thursday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2025/03/killing-me-souffle-by-ellie-alexander.html

Every time I start the next book in this series, I always feel like I am catching up with old friends. Jules, Carlos and their extended family and friends come across as real three dimensional people. This time they are off to a coastal resort to support former employees, Sterling and Steph, as they begin a new page in their careers, running the kitchen themselves. All is not well when Jules arrives as the manager of the hotel is in conflict with everybody and when Jules finds his shattered body has fallen from a cliff, there is no shortage of possible suspects. Thankfully the Prof, Jules’ step-dad is there and the local detective is delighted to have his professional assistance.

When Lance arrives Jules is once again drawn into an investigation in spite of being pregnant. She does try to use caution but when Lance gets the bit between his teeth, he is unstoppable. The mystery is solved but both Jules and Lance may not be able to tell anyone. It was an enjoyable read that further developed the relationships that have been at the heart of my enjoyment of the series. Five purrs and two paws up.

This new addition to the Bakeshop Mystery series has Jules and family taking a trip to the coast to help Steph and Sterling during the grand reopening of the SeaBreeze Bistro located on the stunning Oregon coast at the Whaleshead resort. The resort holds fond memories for Jules, times when she was a child and would enjoy the surf and the sand with her parents. Jules and Carlos can may have a difficult time trying to imagine bringing their children. The resort looks like it hasn’t been updated or maintained since Jules last long ago visit as a child. The bistro on the other hand, has been given a new coat of paint, some updated accents and a temptingly tasty menu.

One of my favorite things about the Bakeshop Mystery series is the amazing food and the generosity of Ellie Alexander to share many of those recipes with readers. I decided several books ago that I did not need cookbooks anymore since I have so many culinary cozies. In addition to the recipes at the end of the stories, the characters, mainly Jules, actually explain the processes, like how to make the chocolate soufflés. That is the recipe which I am most looking forward to giving a try.

As with the other installments in this series, Lance; Jules BFF, has a flair for drama and what appears to be an inability to not snoop. He often gets Jules involved in the “sussing out” of clues when a mystery is afoot…not that she really needs much of a push or pull to get caught up in an instigation. Truth be told it is better to sleuth as a dynamic duo than to go it alone. Especially in this mystery. Almost everyone who is a suspect has what appears to be some serious anger issues. Erik, the resort’s manager, whom no one likes because of his acerbic attitude, I didn’t even like him so it makes perfect sense that he is the victim. No one seemed to miss him, not Hoff the handyman, nor Travis the seafood supplier who is acting fishy. Mary Beth Wells the artist in resident had some really colorful thing to say about Erik.

The reveal snuck up on me while I was still trying to get the facts, clues, and motives straight. All in all it was another fun and entertaining mystery with characters who are like friends. Friends who make you laugh, make you tear up, and make you hungry. I am really looking forward to when Jules and Carlos welcome their new little bundles of joy. I can only imagine how spoiled they are going to be by uncles Lance and his partner Arlo. So many wonderful things to look forward to in the next book.

A fun, and cozy mystery that was easy to read, follow and of course enjoyable. I personally love backing and puns, so this book was right on the mark for me! I love that the stories are easy to follow without lacking details, rather, they are simply entertaining.
I want to go back and read the rest of the backlist now!

Killing Me Souffle is the fantastic next installment of the Bakeshop cozy mystery series. Steph and Sterling are finally celebrating opening weekend at the restaurant at Whaleshead Resort, where they just took over as head chefs. Jules, Carlos, and Ramiro can't wait to be a part of the exciting weekend. However, Jules is soon hearing concerns from Steph and Sterling about the resort's manager, Erik. They fear he may tank the entire opening weekend. Yet, what no one expected was to find Erik's body at the bottom of a cliffside. With Steph and Sterlings' futures at risk, Jules is determined to solve the mystery of Erik's death, despite the overly long list of people who disliked (hated) him.

Killing Me Souffle is a fantastic cozy mystery. I absolutely love the characters, the setting (even though this one took place a bit aways from Ashland), and the delicious food discerptions and recipes. The author has done a great job of developing all of the characters, the town, and the business over the past couple of books. The mystery in each book is unique and well crafted. I can't wait to see what Jules and the team are up to next! I absolutely love this series!

The recipes at the end of the book are a secret gem!

I love the title of this latest by Ellie Alexander. I assume that the similarity to Roberta Flack’s song is intentional and it clearly is clever.

Wow! This is number 21 in the long running bake shop mysteries. It still feels like a fresh and enjoyable read which is an accomplishment.

This is a book in which, despite murder, a reader can be forgiven for being hungry and wishing that the restaurant that is featured was real. That said, in addition to the food, I enjoyed the setting and the characters. The mystery itself is involving as well.

Recommended to those who enjoy traditional mysteries. Note that it is not necessary to have read the earlier books to enjoy this one. However, readers who enjoy this one can look forward to many good books in the backlist.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press-Minotaur for this title. All opinions are my own.

In Killing Me Soufflé, Jules and friends go visit the soon-to-be-opened restaurant that hired Stephany and Sterling. It just happens to be in a resort where Jules used to spend summers with her family. Jules and Carlos want to help out, but S&S seem to have most everything under control. Everything but the nasty resort manager, Erick, who is making everyone's life miserable. Then Jules finds Erick dead at the bottom of a cliff near the resort, and the search is on. Lance and the Professor soon get roped in to help, both opening the restaurant and finding the killer. Good plot, and I didn't figure out the killer until just before the reveal. However, I missed Ashland and Torte. They have become characters of their own. I can't wait to meet the new staff hired to replace those who left.

I had a difficult time getting through this book. It just didn't capture my interest. I found it to be an average mystery. It's really a matter of personal taste. Didn't work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read Killing Me Soufflé by Ellie Alexander.

This was a fun time! From the descriptions of the environment to the details of the food, I felt I was present with Jules experiencing everything for myself.

Ellie Alexander did a great job between the balance of cozy, mystery and mouth watering descriptions of baked goods.

I love this series. I haven't read all the books or in order but they work as cute little standalones.

Steph and Sterling have accepted new jobs but their boss.... is a royal pain in the butt!!! There is a murder at the grand opening of the restaurant and its up to the gang to figure out who did it.

I love the cute characters. One of the things about the series is the characters are all likeable and you can't help adoring them. The book is well written and cozy and I cannot wait for the next installment

4 stars

I can’t quite believe there are 20 Bakeshop books! Maybe there have been too many murders in Ashland, but Alexander is taking some of the Torte crew to the coast for this mystery. I love how the characters have been able to grow and develop - some series get stuck in a rut with everyone doing the same thing. With the departure of Steph and Sterling, there’s now room for new folks. In this book, the mystery was fairly solid. A little bit chaotic feeling from a plot perspective, but it wrapped up in a very lovely manner. I’m super curious to see what happens next!

In Killing Me Soufflé, Jules and friends go visit the soon-to-be-opened restaurant that hired Stephany and Sterling. It just happens to be in a resort where Jules used to spend summers with her family. Jules and Carlos want to help out, but S&S seem to have most everything under control. Everything but the nasty resort manager, Erick, who is making everyone's life miserable. Then Jules finds Erick dead at the bottom of a cliff near the resort, and the search is on. Lance and the Professor soon get roped in to help, both opening the restaurant and finding the killer. Good plot, and I didn't figure out the killer until just before the reveal. However, I missed Ashland and Torte. They have become characters of their own. I can't wait to meet the new staff hired to replace those who left.

This series is the most wonderful I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Ellie Alexander has once again created magic with the town of Ashland. I was pulled into this book and only put it down when I finished it. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

I really enjoyed this fast paced cozy mystery filled with family and friends and food. I enjoyed all the twists and turns that Jules went through as she tries to help her protégés, Steph and Sterling, as they try to open a new restaurant at a resort. I loved how Jules works to solve the murder. I received a copy of the book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Bakery owner Jules Capshaw is looking forward to taking a few days off from running her popular cafe, Torte, so that she can enjoy a long weekend at the Whaleshead Resort on the Oregon coast, where she spent so many joyful vacations as a child. This time, she’ll be accompanied by her chef husband Carlos and her stepson Ramiro as the family enjoys their last few days together before Ramiro heads back to Spain. With her own mother and stepfather coming to join them soon, it looks like it’s going to be an idyllic getaway.

The main draw for Jules and Carlos, however, is the official opening night for the resort’s newly restructured restaurant, the SeaBreeze Bistro. Sterling and Stephanie, two of Jules’ and her mother’s former employees, have finally struck out on their own to helm their very first restaurant. They’ve invited their beloved former bosses to come celebrate the experience with them. Jules, of course, has also offered to help in the kitchen, an offer that turns out to be entirely necessary due to the strange behavior of the rest of the staff, and especially of the resort’s general manager Erik Morton.

Erik has few friends and fewer allies among the staff and inhabitants of Whaleshead, but most crucially to the SeaBreeze has been skimping on payment to their fish supplier. While Sterling manages to secure enough seafood for opening weekend – with Carlos and Jules helping him brainstorm alternatives, just in case – Erik makes it very clear that he has no interest in making life easy for his newest hires. And why should he, when he hasn’t done any favors for his other employees either? So when Jules finds him at the bottom of a cliff, the clear victim of foul play, there’s no shortage of suspects who might have wanted to do him in.

When Jules’ stepfather, a celebrated police detective on the verge of retirement, offers to help the short-staffed local police with the murder investigation, Jules soon finds herself involved as well. Trouble is, there are so many suspects, with an equally bountiful array of motives. Will Jules and her loved ones be able to keep Whaleshead safe even as a killer threatens to strike again?

This was another transporting installment of the Bakeshop mystery series, as what should be a joyous celebration of a professional milestone turns into a somber murder investigation. Sterling and Steph’s experience will strike a chord with anyone who’s ever embarked on a new career path only to find themselves face to face with a boss awful enough to make you rethink all of your life choices. Luckily, they can rely on their friends – and some amazing food – to help see them through!

There were seven food and drink recipes included here, of dishes deliciously described in the novel. I decided to try out this one:

QUOTE
Peach Cobbler Muffins

2 cups unsalted butter, softened
1 ½ cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
2 ½ cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 cups peeled, chopped fresh peaches
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ cup butter, chilled and cut into small squares

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a muffin tin with paper liners or grease the muffin cups. In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and 1 cup of the sugar together. Beat in the vanilla extract and eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Gradually add the buttermilk, mixing until the batter is smooth and well combined. Sift 2 cups of the flour, the salt, and baking powder into a separate bowl. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a batter forms. Gently fold in the chopped fresh peaches.

Make the crumble topping in a new bowl by combining the remaining ½ cup each flour and sugar with the cinnamon. Add the cold butter squares and use a fork to incorporate the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, filling each about ¾ full. Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over each muffin. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Allow the muffins to cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm.
END QUOTE

Despite not having fresh peaches available to me – canned worked just fine, though, in my opinion – these are easily some of the best cupcakes I’ve ever made! Perhaps I’ve finally mastered the art of the crumble? Regardless, these muffins were outrageously good, really evoking both the taste and texture of a peach cobbler while still maintaining the fluffiness and portability of the muffin form.

I did wind up making 24 of these, with enough extra batter to fill two mini tart pans, but that was unequivocally a good thing in my family’s book. These muffins aren’t too difficult to make and do provide a delicious twist on – or merger of, if you will – two classic sweets.

Next week, we travel southeast all the way to the opposite coast to investigate the shocking death of a bride, while baking up more muffins. Do join me!

Another entertaining entry into this popular series. With Sterling and Steph branching out on their own, Juliet is feeling like a mother hen worrying about her ducklings. When the Torte group heads up to the resort where the pair are working, of course there is a murder. I liked the recipes at the back of the book. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

Ellie Alexander serves up another satisfying mystery in Killing Me Soufflé, the latest installment in the Bakeshop Mystery series. This time, Jules and the Torte crew head to the stunning but treacherous Oregon coast to support Sterling and Stephanie as they take on their dream restaurant at Whaleshead Resort. But the excitement of their opening weekend quickly turns to shock when the resort’s manager, Erik Morton, is found dead at the bottom of a steep cliffside trail. With suspicious circumstances surrounding his fall, Jules can’t resist digging into the mystery—especially when the restaurant’s future is at stake.

As always, Alexander’s writing excels in crafting an immersive, cozy atmosphere. The descriptions of the oceanfront setting are breathtaking, and the food—oh, the food!—is as mouthwatering as ever. From flaky pastries to fresh seafood, the culinary details make this a delight for foodie mystery lovers.

The mystery itself is well-paced, with plenty of red herrings and small-town intrigue. Jules’ investigative skills are sharp, though at times, the case takes a backseat to the rich character interactions and the heartwarming theme of new beginnings. Sterling and Stephanie’s journey as young chefs striking out on their own adds an extra layer of charm and stakes to the story.

The only slight drawback is that some aspects of the mystery felt predictable, but the strength of the characters and the cozy, food-filled setting more than make up for it. Fans of the series will love this latest addition, and newcomers can jump in without feeling lost. If you enjoy a mix of culinary delights, small-town charm, and lighthearted sleuthing, Killing Me Soufflé is a treat worth savoring!