I like the title of this book with its invitation to think about coffee drinks. I also found the cover to be a fun one with it spilled coffee skull, delicious looking pastry, and sense of a beautiful location.

The trip that Jules, Carlos and Andy took sounded like fun and started out so promisingly with its offer of relaxation, good food and drink in a gorgeous setting, and a lovely host. Of course, all of this was disrupted by murder

It was enjoyable to watch the mystery unfold. I enjoyed spending time with the characters and liked the location.

This title will, I think, appeal to those who enjoy traditional mysteries.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this title. All thoughts are my own.

This is another win for Ellie Alexander. I love this series and the character development just gets better and better along with the writing and plot. Highly recommend!

This book has two distinct locations which I found interesting because they are totally different.
I enjoyed the cultural coffee farming in Costa Rica with the background being unique and educational. Fun cast of characters and lots of food and coffee drink references. It had me guessing until the end.

Another great addition to the Bakeshop Mystery series! I love coming back to Ashland and visiting all the folks at Torte, but this time Jules, Carlos and Andy are traveling to Costa Rica. Jules' pregnancy is moving along well, Carlos is spoiling Jules rotten and Andy is along for the ride to see the other end of his passion, coffee. Vacation is put on hold to figure out who killed one of the workers at the coffee farm. I don't like giving away who did it, you have to read the book to find out for yourself! This was an easy read, would have been quick if I had time to just sit at read. Certainly would have been an easy and quick weekend read! Can't wait to see what's happening at Torte in the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.

Couldn’t put this one down! Such a cute and cozy story with the perfect mix of coffee shop vibes, delicious baking, and a dash of mystery. Ellie Alexander blends warmth and intrigue so well that you feel like you’re right there sipping a latte while trying to solve the puzzle. A fun, comforting read!

This next in series takes place in Costa Rica on a coffee plantation. Jules, Carlos and Andy have traveled to be invited guests at a family farm. Jules was hoping to relax but is busy cooking and experimenting with recipes. Their host is hoping to open a bakery and and needs their assistance.
When murder occurs Jules is on the case. A interesting look at the coffee business in another culture. This is the 21st in series. It's always enjoyable when authors write about their travels.

Laying Down the Latte is #21 (?) in A Bakeshop Mystery series. I have read perhaps the last dozen of Ellie Alexander's novels. This series of books are cozy mysteries, with Jules helping to solve a crime, usually murder. In Laying Down the Latte, Jules, her husband Carlos, and coffee genius Andy leave Ashland, Oregon to travel to Costa Rico to visit a friend and learn more about coffee roasting. There is, of course, a murder for Jules to help solve. But readers also learn a lot about coffee production and coffee culture.

As is always the case with Alexander novels, there is plenty of good detail and descriptions to help fill out the story. There is an important comparison between small family coffee bean farming and the big commercial businesses, who are trying to buy out and swallow small farmers. This discussion about small family farming certainly strikes a contemporary chord for readers to consider. As is often the case, not everything needs to be bigger. Jules spends a lot of time cooking, and so there are several recipes at the conclusion of the novel.

Although I did miss Ashland, the trip to Costa Rico was a good choice. Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for proving this ARC for me to read and review. Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries will enjoy this series of books.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Torte’s star barista, Andy, is heading off on an adventure with his boss, Jules Capshaw, and her husband, Carlos, to visit their friend Valentina at her coffee farm in Costa Rica. The plan is for a very immersive experience and a tasting tour because they have big plans for expansion when they return to Ashland. Jules was hoping for a tropical vacation full of inspiration and relaxation. But the holiday away takes a deadly turn when one of Valentina’s top employees is tragically killed. Was it an accident? Or was it murder? Soon things get up close and personal, giving Jules no choice but to get involved, but she has to remember it’s no longer just her life that could be in jeopardy.

Ms. Alexander takes both her readers and her characters on an extraordinary adventure to Costa Rica, with its coffee culture and passion for high-quality brews. From the open-air markets and local cafés to the pros and cons of running a coffee farm and the pressure exerted by huge companies wanting to take over farms that have been in family ownership for generations. I enjoyed the detailed descriptions of the homes, the fields, and the production areas, high in the mountains where the best beans are grown. The farm, Finca las Nubes, translates to The Cloud Farm, and the virtual visit was a wonderful experience.

It was great to see Jules and Carlos in a different setting. Just because they were away from home didn’t mean they stayed out of the kitchen. Baking helps Jules center herself and think things through. Carlos is always ready to show love through his cooking, and both made themselves right at home in Valentina’s kitchen. Andy’s joy in all he took in was palpable. Andy tried his best to document every moment. They did keep in touch with the people in Ashland, but Torte was running like a well-oiled machine.

A murder in a foreign land surrounded Jules with people she didn’t know, so it was hard to know who to trust. She made the best of every situation to ask questions and understand every person’s position on the farm and beyond. Environmental issues facing coffee farms were woven into the tapestry of Finca las Nubes, and it gave Jules a different focus. Ms. Alexander plotted this story with precision, which introduced each person/suspect while dropping clues to move the mystery along at a perfect pace. I enjoyed and could feel Lance’s anguish at not being able to sleuth alongside Jules, but she and Carlos were rock stars.

Laying Down the Latte is another marvelous addition to this long-running series. It’s always entertaining when our favorite characters travel to interesting locales without their normal co-horts to help them solve the mysteries. I am excited for fall in Ashland. The Whisking Hour is set to be released on February 24, 2026. Who knows what Jules and her friends and family will get into next? Will it be a Perfect Crime?

3.75 stars

Fans of this long-running series like the great ensemble cast of characters, the strong relationship between bakery owner Juliet and her chef/vintner husband Carlos, and the varied plots they untangle.

This outing takes place in Costa Rica, where Jules and Carlos have gone to see an old friend and tour her coffee growing operation along with their uber barista Andy. But they arrive to find everything in disarray. Their friend is co-owner of the family business with her cousin but he is threatening to sell out to a conglomerate and jeopardize their whole employee centered, artisan, organic culture.

It isn't long before the cousin has a horrible fatal accident. And there are suspects galore: the family, their organic consultant, their labor liaison with their workers, the conglomerate representative and more. Trust Jules and Carlos to get to the bottom of things.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"Laying Down the Latte" the 21st instalment in the A Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander. Jules will have to put her vacation on hold to try and uncover the murderer before one of Torte's beloved workers becomes the next body thrown into the mix.

This time around we visit Costa Rica and one of Jules and Carlos old friends Valentina’s organic coffee farm. Andy is in his element among all the coffee beans and learning about the growing process until one of Valentina’s employees is found dead in the pulping machine.

I really enjoyed this story, seeing how the Torte family is adapting to Jules having twins, new staff and how the business is expanding its horizons. 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 “The Whisking Hour” available on February 24, 2026.

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.

4.25⭐
Jules and her husband head to Costa Rica along with their head barista, Andy, to visit a coffee farm. Almost immediately upon arrival, they become embroiled into a family dispute over the future of the farm. When death occurs, Jules finds herself trying to find the truth. The rich colorful descriptions of the beauty of the land, the coffee growing process and the mouthwatering food enhanced the clever mystery plot. Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review of the book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my first time stepping into Ellie Alexander’s long-running Bakeshop Mystery series, and it was such a treat. The atmosphere is everything you’d want from a cozy mystery warm, inviting, and sprinkled with just enough intrigue to keep you turning pages. Even though I jumped in mid-series, it was easy to follow and felt like joining a circle of friends at the coffee shop. The setting, the food descriptions, and the community charm made it cute, cozy, and full of good vibes. Definitely one I’ll keep coming back to when I need a comfort read with a dash of murder.

I love the normal setting for this series in Ashland, Oregon, but I was excited to get a new setting and see a coffee farm in Costa Rica!
Juliet, Carlo, and our own favorite barista, Andy, are headed to Costa Rica to visit their former cruise ship colleague, Valentina. They will not only help her with some ideas for her coffee farm but also gather new ideas for Andy to implement at Torte.

The setting was beautiful, very lush and vivid. I love Juliet, Carlos, and Andy. The mystery was very well done, full of twists and red herrings. And I had no idea where the story was going from one moment to the next.
As always, I love the recipes at the end of the book, and I am determined to make one of them this time! I'm shooting for the peach cobbler.
This series is a lot of fun, and I look forward to the next one!

Laying Down the Latte, Ellie Alexander’s newest Bakeshop mystery, has a new different and delightful twist with a trip to Costa Rica for Jules and Carlos to their old friend Valentina’s coffee farm.

They take Andy with them as a surprise because they want him to learn much more about coffee so he can run the new roastery they want to open near Torte.

But of course while they are there there’s a murder and Jules wants to solve it before she leaves with Carlos and Andy’s help.

The story gets bumpy and sticky as only Ellie can write it and you’ll absolutely love the windy path and the delicious recipes along the way! Read the book for this rocky and wild ride! You’ll definitely be glad you did!

Jules, pregnant with twins, and Carlos are off to Costa Rica to visit Valentina, an old shipmate of theirs from their cruise days. Valentina and her brother, Miguel, own a coffee plantation so Jules and Carlos bring along Andy, their barista. They are planning to begin roasting coffee beans for their cafe and want Andy to be in on the whole process. Andy is enthusiastic about the process, but traumatized when Miguel dies in a horrific way in front of him. Jules begins investigating since Miguel was thinking of selling his half of the farm to an industrial conglomerate who would change and ruin their lovely farm.
The group is away from Ashland for this story, though email and texts keeps them in touch back home. Costa Rica is a fantastic backdrop and you can almost smell the coffee and the cooking! Everything sounds so wonderful!
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

*Book review: Ellie Alexander’s Laying Down the Latte.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur and NetGalley for my gifted ARC of this cozy treat.

Opening a new book in Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop Mystery series feels like catching up with old friends—the kind you don’t see often but always pick right back up with, latte in hand. Laying Down the Latte is the 21st installment, and instead of staying grounded in the Shakespearean charm of Ashland, Oregon, this time Jules Capshaw, her husband Carlos, and beloved barista Andy take us on a tropical detour to Costa Rica. It’s a bold change of scenery, and it works beautifully. Even as murder brews beneath the surface, this story still manages to feel like a warm hug in book form.

The plot kicks off when Valentina, an old colleague from Jules and Carlos’s cruise ship days, invites them to her family’s organic coffee farm in Costa Rica. It’s supposed to be a relaxing weekend—part tasting tour, part business reconnaissance, part vacation. Jules is heavily pregnant with twins, Andy is buzzing with excitement (and probably actual caffeine), and Carlos is ready to reconnect with his friend. But almost immediately, there’s a shadow over the sunshine. Valentina is struggling. Her cousin Miguel, co-owner of the farm, is threatening to sell his stake to a corporate coffee giant. The staff is tense, the atmosphere strained, and before long Miguel is found dead in the pulping machine. “Gruesome” doesn’t usually make it into a cozy mystery—but somehow, Alexander balances it with heart, humor, and just enough danger to keep the stakes real.

What this book does better than most in the genre is location. The descriptions of Costa Rica are lush and cinematic—steamy air, volcanic soil, chirping birds, sunsets that spill gold over the mountains. You can feel the mist and taste the boldness of every bean. Ellie Alexander has a gift for writing settings you want to live in, and this is no exception. The coffee farm is both idyllic and fraught, a perfect contrast to the calm, controlled world of Torte back in Oregon. And don’t worry—though we’re away from Ashland, familiar voices still come through in texts and calls. Lance, as always, steals the scene without even showing up. His wedding planning texts are absurd in the best way and provide much-needed comic relief.

I especially loved the character arc for Andy in this book. He’s long been a standout side character, but here he really gets to shine. Watching him soak up every detail of the coffee production process and take tentative steps toward becoming more than “just” a barista felt rewarding. It’s clear Jules and Carlos see something big in his future—and so does the reader. Jules herself is still the cozy mystery gold standard: intelligent, intuitive, and full of quiet strength. She’s not quite waddling (yet), but the pregnancy is ever-present, and it gives her sleuthing a fresh emotional weight. She’s solving for two now, and that comes through in every decision she makes.

The mystery is layered enough to keep you guessing but not so complex it gets muddy. Ellie Alexander has a firm grasp on pacing—she knows when to slow down for a quiet moment by the pool with a pastry, and when to crank up the tension as Jules closes in on the truth. The suspect list is solid, and while I sniffed out the killer earlier than I’d hoped, the “why” still delivered a twist. And the final confrontation? Classic Jules: calm, clever, and just dangerous enough.

Of course, no Bakeshop book would be complete without food, and Laying Down the Latte delivers. From flaky empanadas to cloud-soft suspiros cookies, to the Pura Vida Latte that had me seriously contemplating roasting my own beans—this is a story that cooks while it kills. The included recipes at the end are a lovely bonus, and you’ll want to try at least one. Probably while rereading your favorite chapters.

This book is everything a great cozy should be: heartfelt, atmospheric, and rich with flavor—in both plot and food. It also subtly touches on serious themes like sustainability, family legacy, and what happens when tradition meets corporate ambition. Yet it never loses its comforting tone. As Jules says, “Even in the darkest roast, there’s room for a little sweetness.”

Five steaming stars from me. Laying Down the Latte is proof that this series still has plenty of bold flavor left, even after twenty-one books. Ellie Alexander never phones it in—each story is crafted with love, skill, and a deep understanding of why readers keep coming back: not just for the mystery, but for the community, the comfort, and the croissants.

#LayingDownTheLatte #BakeshopMystery #EllieAlexander #CozyMysteryBooks #CoffeeAndCrime #MysteryReaders #CulinaryCozy #NetGalley #StMartinsPress #TorteTime #BookReview #MysteryBookReview #CostaRicaSetting #LatteLoversUnite #PregnantSleuth #CozyBookClub

This is one of my favorite cozy series & coming back to it is always like seeing old, familiar friends. Luckily Alexander is prolific so we get books often!

Jules, Carlos & Andy are headed to
Costa Rica for a coffee excursion, to see one of their former colleagues & experience her organic coffee farm. Of course a dead body turns up & leaves Jules to use her vacation to sleuth. While I miss Ashland, it’s nice every once in a while the books take place elsewhere to keep it fresh. The location lends itself to rich descriptions of food & foliage. It’s the perfect cozy to end off the summer reading for me. The mystery as always is taut & well thought out. and I love that this one features Andy so much, he’s one of the best supporting characters. This one is very coffee-centric so if that’s your cup of tea (pun intended) you will enjoy it immensely.

You truly can’t wrong with this series. Or anything Alexander writes. She is consistently one of the most imaginative & strongest authors I read.

☕️

Read if you like:
* Noodle Shop series by Vivien Chien
* Beacon Bake Shop series by Darci Hannah
* Cheese Shop series by Korina Moss

It was fun reading about Jules, Carlos and Andy being in Costa Rica and even cooler when I read Ellie Alexander’s newsletter the same day telling how she’d gone there last year. I figured she must’ve been there at some point since the coffee facts and everything was described like someone who’d actually seen all this firsthand. Obviously except for the murder, lol.

Jules found herself investigating a murder even while on vacation and getting a little help/encouragement from back home from her mom and Lance. Lance was a hoot without even being there while he was energetically searching for a wedding venue for him and Arlo, and bouncing ideas off Jules probably the same way he was bouncing on caffeine.

My final guess for the killer was right (after a couple fails and my suspects didn’t pan out), and it was awesome what Jules did to said killer. The ending was filled with food and fellowship as everyone was now at home celebrated Andy’s trip to Costa Rica with Jules and Carlos and their safe return. Can’t wait to see what happens next!

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

Even though beloved baker Jules Capshaw and her husband Carlos are having twins, they are also looking to the future of Torte and wanting to expand their business. Specifically, the coffee business. They have an award-winning barista, Andy, who has expanded to roasting his own beans for the perfect blend. Jules and Carlos want to find a commercial place where they can set Andy up to roast all their beans in-house. But first, a trip to the beans.

Jules and Carlos met years ago while working on a cruise ship. On the ship, they met Valentina, who since left the ship to help run her family’s organic coffee farm in Costa Rica. Valentina has invited Jules and Carlos to visit the farm, and they extended the invitation to Andy as well. Andy is excited to visit the coffee capital of the world and stuffs his bag with notebooks, so he can makes notes of everything he learns while he’s there. But they had no idea that it would be Jules’s expertise that most comes in handy on the trip.

Jules is really looking forward to a vacation, but as soon as they meet up with Valentina in Costa Rica, she can tell that something is wrong. Valentina and her cousin Miguel have shared the farm for ten years. They used to share a vision for what they want to do with the farm, how they treat their employees, what the future looked like. But recently Miguel had been talking about wanting to sell to a corporate developer, and Valentina doesn’t want to. The farm had been in their family for three generations, and she wants to hold on to it. They had been going back and forth about that for weeks, and the stress of that was showing.

Valentina had invited Jules and Carlos to Costa Rica because they were wanting to set up a tasting room and coffee bar and wanted to learn from Jules how to keep a steady supply of homemade pastries available for customers. But now that Miguel is wanting to sell the farm, Valentina isn’t sure the coffee bar is going to happen at all.

Later, after Jules and Carlos and Andy got settled into their rooms at the farm, Valentina took them on a tour. Andy stays back with farm manager Alex as he does some routine maintenance on the machines processing the beans, while Jules and Carlos move on with Valentina. Not too long after that, a terrible accident leaves Miguel dead. But the more Jules learns about what happened, she’s not so sure it was an accident. And the police agree.

Jules has helped solve a murder or two back in Ashland, Oregon, so she knows what to do. She asks questions and gets answers, honing her list of suspects until there is just one left. But doing that will put her in the sight lines of a killer. Will Jules be able to find a murderer and get herself and her babies back home safely, or will Costa Rica be the end of the line for her?

Laying Down the Latte is book number 21 in Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop Mystery series. This one is especially fun with the tropical location. In addition, Jules’s best friend Lance has proposed to his boyfriend Arlo, and he’s constantly peppering her with questions about their upcoming wedding. And there are bonus recipes at the end, including Torta Chilena with Dulce de Leche, flank steak Pepito Sandwiches, Arroz con Leche, light-as-air Suspiros Cookies, and Empanadas with suggested fillings (I would definitely go with the bananas and Nutella myself). There is even a recipe for Andy’s Pura Vida Latte.

I do love hanging out with Jules in Ashland, with its mountain charm steeped in Shakespeare. But this long weekend in Costa Rica was a real treat. It felt like a vacation, and was so interesting to learn more about the culture of the country and coffee farming. But now I’m ready to get back home to Torte and talk brownies, Lance’s wedding preparations, and babies.

Egalleys for Laying Down the Latte were provided by Minotaur Books through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.

This was a wonderful addition to the bakeshop mysteries! I loved seeing Jules, Carlos, and Andy in Costa Rica. This series is such a comfort read for me and I love revisiting these characters!