The amazing amateur sleuthing team of Lance and Jules were at it again—I absolutely love when they investigate together. Lance is such a dramatic hoot, gotta love that guy! Jules and her family and extended family were at the resort where Steph and Sterling were launching a new restaurant, so they were there as support but where there’s Jules, there’s usually a murder. This time it was Steph and Sterling’s bosszilla who had a ton of people who’d’ve liked to see him gone. Jules and Lance were in the thick of the showdown but it all worked out and ended in food, fellowship and fun when they gathered for a final night’s bonfire. I can’t wait to see what the next book brings!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin/Minotaur via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

I love just about every visit with Jules and the gang at Torte. This one was particularly interesting because it is set at a resort away from Torte but it is just as fun. It’s nice to see the development of Stephanie and Sterling’s characters, especially since Sterling was so rough around the edges in the beginning. While the setting was different, the mystery was still full of suspects and while I figured it out early on, it was also still satisfying. While I enjoy reading about the treats they serve and the occasional baking tip, I find the step-by-step narration of the recipe bothersome and usually skip these sections. Looking forward to the next in the series.

I’ve been a long time fan of Jules and the rest of the Torte family, so I was excited to see the newest release, Killing Me Soufflé. I was a little nervous going into the book as “on location” books are usually my least favorite books in cozy mystery series. However I had no reason to be, Killing Me Soufflé was just as fantastic as the rest of the series!

Sterling and Steph are venturing out on their own to take over the restaurant at Whaleshead Resort and Jules and Carlos (and some other Torte faces) are there to support their grand opening! The weekend doesn’t go as planned and Jules adds investigating to her weekend. 

The mystery, story, and setting were all great, but what I loved most about this book was hearing the ongoing stories of the Torte family. It was great to spend time with Steph and Sterling as they start this new venture. It is fun to see the changes happening for Jules and her family. And it’s always sweet to get a peek into the lives of the other Ashland friends. This was a great book and I can’t wait for more Bakeshop Mysteries!



I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Minotaur Books. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a fun read which is always expected from this series. I liked that the setting was a bit different than the usual Ashland Torte setting. A mismanaged resort was a fun change and seeing Steph and Sterling in leadership positions was also enjoyable.

The victim was one who wouldn't me missed and more than a few people weren't sad to see him gone. Jules and Carlos and the rest of the crew are quickly drawn into the investigation and I really enjoyed seeing them in "vacation mode".

This is a very long running series with a likable group of characters and mouthwatering food descriptions. The mysteries are enjoyable and well laid out. This was a nice addition to the series and I like seeing the changes in the life of the main characters. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with foodie descriptions this series is a must read.

In this installment of the Bakeshop Mysteries, Juliet and friends visit former employees Sterling and Steph at their new job on the Oregon coast. Lots is going at Whaleshead Resort - a restaurant reopening, a vote to sell the resort, and a murder of the manager. As Juliet and Lance try to solve the murder, many secrets are revealed. A nice solid entry in this series.

Baking scenes, murder scenes, what else could you ask for?

This was a super cute book. Super easy read, and full of wonderful baking scenes. I could read about them baking and running Torte and SeaBreeze all day!

I liked the premise of the story, and the characters were all interesting. I was invested in seeing SeaBreeze succeed!

I thought the ‘who dunnit’ part of the story went on slightly too long with the off the cuff guessing by the main characters, and all the side characters having very solid motives and highly suspicious activity. And I was bothered by every character having a name except mom and the professor.

But, overall it was enjoyable and if you are looking for a low stakes, baking vibes type of mystery then look no further!

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Torte’s loss is the Whaleshead Resort’s gain. Stephanie and Sterling have new jobs bringing a cliffside restaurant back to life. The restaurant has been scrubbed and refreshed with a little paint. Sterling and Stephanie have updated the menu with fresh fish entrees, vegan dishes, and a variety of desserts including “every chef’s nightmare – a fluffy chocolate soufflé-“. Reservations for opening night are plentiful and long-term residents and resort guests are excited to see what these kids have come up with. As are Jules, Carlos, and others from Ashland. All are ready to help make the restaurant a success and help Sterling and Stephanie shine.

While all are prepping for the big night, Jules makes a quick trip to the garden, she hears a scream. Following the sound she finds the manager of the Whaleshead Resort has fallen down an exposed cliffside trail to his death. In the short time Jules and Carlos have been there they saw there was a real problem with management especially with the manager Erik Morton so it was no surprise when his death was ruled a homicide. Did he push one of his staff too far? Did one of the Whaleshead residents have a reason to give the man one good push?

The Professor is on the case and Jules’ bestie Lance is ready to team up with her again to solve another murder. Carlos, Arlo, and Helen will help however they can.

The people who work together at Torte are family so it was hard for Sterling and Stephanie to venture out on their own. Family shows up for each other for support and celebrations so of course, Jules, Carlos, Helen, the Professor, Lance, and Arlo came for the reopening of the restaurant at the Whaleshead Resort. After 20 books these characters feel like old friends. Ms. Alexander allows them to continue to evolve in true-to-life ways. This story is character-driven as many things are happening in their lives including the latest murder.

The murder of resort manager Erik Morton was not going to be easy to solve. There are several suspects with motive. They have shady alibis, are not forthcoming with information, and are strangers to the crew from Ashland. The Professor offers his assistance to the local police which is accepted. He asks Jules to keep her eyes and ears open. Lance takes that as he usually does – an invitation to snoop. Snooping that can lead to trouble and dangerous situations. I love the banter between Lance and Jules as they work to get to the truth but I was a little nervous about Jules investigating as she now has another life depending on her. The author did an excellent job of twists and misdirection. I figured out the guilty party right along with Lance and Jules.

It was nice to have the characters take a weekend getaway from Ashland to a place where Jules had some fond memories. The resort’s lodge and cabins may need a little updating and renovating but the views, cliffs, and beach sounded amazing. It will now carry fond memories for everyone. Some maybe more than others.

Killing Me Soufflé is a delightfully entertaining story. I love the family feeling that runs through this book and the entire series. These genuine characters immediately pulled me into this story. The murder mystery kept me 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 Laying Down the Latte! It is set to be released on August 26, 2025!

"Killing Me Soufflé" the 20th instalment in the A Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander. 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.

I really enjoyed this story, seeing the Torte family grow and expand. Visiting the Oregon Coast where Jules use to go as a child and now where Stephanie and Sterling are starting their own journey was a nice change. The future is full of changes for all of Torte's family with Jules pregnant, new staff , Ramiro going back to Spain...

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and there were just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. Needless to say I cant wait for the next book.

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from St. Martin's Press and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was entertaining, sweet, and the mystery was there. I thought the step away from torte was a great change of pace and as Juliet prepares for twins, her sending some of her workers out on their own made sense. The mystery was really strong and there were multiple suspects until the culprit was revealed. I really enjoy this series.

I really enjoyed seeing Steph and Sterling stretch their wings in this newest installment in the Bakeshop Mysteries. Seeing them grow in an unfamiliar environment but with the love and support of Jules and the rest of the Torte team was so fun! Unfortunately, the mystery fell flat to me. In a cozy mystery, I love being able to go along with the sleuth and gather clues and try to figure out the killer with the sleuth. However, I felt that the killer didn't make a lot of sense and was just picked based on convenience, rather than the clues actually pointing to them. It felt very all of a sudden when the killer was revealed and the book was wrapped up, and I felt frustrated by the end of the book because the mystery just seemed brushed aside. I hope mystery becomes more of a focus for these books, and not just the characters! While I do adore the characters, I am also wanting a good mystery!

In this latest addition to the Bakeshop mystery series, Chef Jules and husband Carlos travel to the Oregon coast, intending to help their former employees Steph and Sterling launch their chef careers at a resort restaurant. However, the resort itself might be doomed, as real estate deals and under the table plans may derail their new venture. When the resort owner goes over a cliff, was it murder or an accident? Throw in an eccentric artist, disgruntled employees, and unscrupulous business owners, to add many suspects to the list.

Readers familiar with the series will find some of their favorite characters here, although the setting is far from that of the previous novels. This can be read as a stand alone novel. Readers who enjoy lots of detail and recipes will find this a good choice, although the characters are what really draw one's interest. The last chapter is a blatant nod to the next book in the series.

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

4.25⭐
Instead of Ashland, Oregon, where most of the books in the series have been located, the action moved to the beautiful Oregon coast. Sterling and Steph, two beloved ex-employees of Torte, are spreading their wings and relaunching a restaurant at a popular resort that is experiencing some issues. High on the issue list is their volatile, and perhaps larcenous, boss. Jules, queasy and pregnant with twins, and Carlos arrived to lend a hand. But with murder on the menu, are their friends' new jobs in jeopardy? A solid mystery enhanced by the wonderful characters that we call friends. Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This latest in the long running series (which will be fine as a standalone) sees a pregnant Jules (twins!) trying to help Steph and Sterling, who have left Torte to open a new restaurant. This is always a stressful endeavor but....murder? Yep. The victim was thoroughly unlikable so which among the various people he harassed is the killer? Jules, Carlos, and the rest are on the case sorting through the red herrings to get to the truth. As always. this series soars on the characters and the descriptions of the treats at Torte as well as on the puzzle. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Can't wait to see what happens in the next one.

Although I love good heavy-duty edge-of-your-seat thrillers by my favorite authors, sometimes I get too much suspense and want to read something a little lighter. There are dozens of good cozy mystery series by excellent authors. My favorites tend to be culinary mysteries, and most include recipes. One series I like to read is Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop Series, with Jules, the protagonist who worked as a chef on a cruise ship with her husband before taking over her family business, Torte, a high end bakery in Ashland, Oregon. The 21st installment of this delightful series is Killing Me Soufflé, where two long-time employees Sterling and Stephanie have been hired to run the kitchen at the Whaleshead Resort on the coast. Although Jules, et al are saddened by their departure, Jules and her husband travel to the resort on opening day to support them and help. There is, of course, a murder, and Jules must work to solve the murder before one of her beloved employees takes the blame.

Alexander does a good job of building suspense while telling a light tale. She includes scenarios that are believable, and some that are dangerous. Most readers who are familiar with the series know the characters, since they have been well developed throughout the books. Alexander has a way of presenting the characters so they seem real, and even readers who don’t know the characters, will have enough information to know and understand them.

There are enough suspects that readers won’t know who did it until the very end. After the dénouement readers will be tempted to start cooking immediately, while waiting for the next installment. There are enough food references to keep readers of all ages hungry throughout. This is definitely a fun one.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Thank you to Net Galley for the advance copy of this book. My opinion is my own.

This is book 20 in the Bake Shop Mystery. I have read some of the others. I love all the characters and the bake shop with the Shakespeare thrown in for good measure.

Jules travels to Whaleshead with her family while pregnant with twins to visit her two star bakers who have struck out on their own. She is helping the two bakers get their opening night started when she finds on the trail leading to the beach a dead body. The Whaleshead resort is in trouble and she is determined to find the clues to solve this mystery.

All the characters are lovable, fun and interesting! Elle Alexander pulls this off with her usual style of writing which pulls the reader in from the first page.

I recommend this whole series!

Juliet "Jules" Capshaw, owner of Torte, the bakeshop in Ashland, OR is going away for the weekend. She, her husband, Carlos, stepson, Ramiro, mom, Helen, and step-father, Doug (The Professor) are going to the grand opening of former Torte employees, Steph and Stirling's new venture, the SeaBreeze Bistro. Steph and Stirling are stressed by not only the opening of the bistro, but by the antics of Erik Morton, the manager of the resort and rumors of a buy out and razing of the resort for high-end condos. Jules is pleased by the surprise appearance of her friends Lance and Arlo.
Just hours before the opening, Jules hears a scream and runs down the trail to spot Erik dead below, apparently having fallen. As Erik had clashed with practically everyone at the resort, there is no shortage of suspects. The is Hoff, the handyman, artist Mary Beth, Jess, receptionist, Travis, the fish supplier, Lucy Clarke, who was trying to get the owners to sell and may or may not be in cahoots with Erik.
As Jules, pregnant with twins, Carlos, and the Professor (who is assisting the police as he works for Ashland PD) look for clues and try to keep themselves and each other safe, Steph and Stirling open the bistro to rave reviews, even as they wonder if they will have the opportunity to keep it open.
As the suspects shaky alibis are proven or disproven, several other problems that could have bearing on the case are revealed. Finally, Jules talks to the wrong person, who confesses to her and then tries to kill her and her babies. Fortunately, she is saved at the last minute.
This is another great addition to the series. I was so sad that Steph and Stirling were leaving, but this book shows how they are making good on all the confidence and skills aquired while working at Torte. So great to see the character development of Jule's family and how she nurtures her employees and offers support even when they leave to go out on their own.
I have very much enjoyed this series from the first book to now, and can't wait to meet the twins.

A different setting is a fun change of pace for one of my favorite cozy series. Juliet (Jules), her husband Carlos and most of the core characters leave Ashland for the stunning Oregon coast to support two of their own as Sterling and Steph have left their Torte family to run a restaurant at beachside resort tnat has seen better days. Not changed in this 20th book in the series is the sense of family….some blood and some chosen, support and warmth for each other and strangers tnat makes the characters so likable. As usual Jules gets drawn into a death that is quickly determined to be a murder, and has Lance at her side, Descriptions of delicious foods and the beautiful coastal forest painted pictures in my mind as I read, adding to the fun of trying to sort through the suspects in my head. As much as I love the series as it is I’m looking forward to seeing how all the changes happening in Jule’s life play out in future books, while certain aspects of the books stay the same the series never gets stale.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for an advance copy, I’m recommending it to foodies and mystery lovers!

Another great installment of one of my favorite cozy mystery series! Jules & company hit the road for the Oregon coast to help with the opening of Steph & Sterling's new restaurant - the change in scenery was fun and fortunately most of the gang was along for the ride. As usual, I enjoyed the mystery and delicious sounding recipes, but that is often secondary to how much I love all of these characters! This book really seemed to set the stage for future books with lots of big changes for Jules, Carlos, Lance and the rest. Can't wait to read the next one!

Juliet “Jules” Capshaw is called to the Oregon coast to assist her former chefs, Sterling and Stephanie in the grand reopening of the SeaBreeze Bistro.

Nestled within the confines of the Whaleshead Resort, the SeaBreeze Bistro has gone through a number of chefs without much success. Hopefully, Sterling and Stephanie could transform the restaurant into a successful venture for the owners.

But as luck would have it, Erik, the new manager hasn’t been cooperative or helpful with Sterling and Stephanie’s transition. In fact, Erik was becoming part of the problem for the restaurant’s failings. It came as no surprise when Erik was found dead — an apparent fall from a cliff. An accident or murder? It’s up to Juliet’s sleuthing skills to help solve the mystery.

Killing Me Soufflé is author Alexander’s 20th installment in her popular Bakeshop Mystery series. Even though it’s the 20th installment, I didn’t have a problem reading it as a standalone. However, I did wish I knew more about Jules’, Carlos’ and Ramiro’s background. I could only infer that they were in a second marriage relationship with a somewhat stormy past.

The story like most cozy mysteries is more about atmosphere — creating a slow and cautious mystery encompassed in warm and comfortable surroundings. But author Alexander has managed to balance the coziness with enough twists to keep the reader engaged.

I loved the characters in this novel. From what I gathered, many are carryovers from prior installments. But nothing was lost in their development over the years. They all seemed to maintain their sense of humor and snark.

Now that I’ve read my first cozy mystery from this author, I just have to read the rest from the first installment. Five stars.

I was invited to read a DRC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

This was a fun addition to the long-running cozy mystery series--and there's an added bonus of several yummy-sounding recipes at the end! There's a change of venue for the setting, which makes the story seem fresh. Steph and Sterling have taken new jobs at a resort on Oregon's southern coast and Jules and her husband go there to help out on opening day. All the rest of the usual cast of characters come to support them too. Unfortunately everything is in chaos due to their rather nasty boss. When Jules finds a dead body, she and her best friend Lance are eager to help the local police find the killer. Light plot--entertaining with delightful characters and fantastic-sounding meals. If you enjoy baking or cooking, this series is for you! I'll be trying some of the recipes included soon, especially Rhubarb Crumble Cake and Breakfast Lasagna.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this latest in the Bakeshop Mystery series. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.