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A Spice Shop Mystery #3
Killing Thyme
In Seattle’s Pike Place Market, Spice Shop owner Pepper Reece is savoring her business success, but soon finds her plans disrupted by a killer in the latest from the national bestselling author of Guilty as Cinnamon.
Pepper Reece’s to-do list is longer than the shopping list for a five-course dinner, as she conjures up spice blends bursting with seasonal flavor, soothes nervous brides fretting over the gift registry, and crosses her fingers for a rave review from a sharp-tongued food critic. Add to the mix a welcome visit from her mother, Lena, and she’s got the perfect recipe for a busy summer garnished with a dash of fun.
While browsing in the artists’ stalls, Pepper and Lena drool over stunning pottery made by a Market newcomer. But when Lena recognizes the potter, Bonnie Clay, as an old friend who disappeared years ago, the afternoon turns sour. To Pepper’s surprise, Bonnie seems intimately connected to her family’s past. After Bonnie is murdered only days later, Pepper is determined to uncover the truth. But as Pepper roots out long-buried secrets, will she be digging her own grave?
Pepper Reece’s to-do list is longer than the shopping list for a five-course dinner, as she conjures up spice blends bursting with seasonal flavor, soothes nervous brides fretting over the gift registry, and crosses her fingers for a rave review from a sharp-tongued food critic. Add to the mix a welcome visit from her mother, Lena, and she’s got the perfect recipe for a busy summer garnished with a dash of fun.
While browsing in the artists’ stalls, Pepper and Lena drool over stunning pottery made by a Market newcomer. But when Lena recognizes the potter, Bonnie Clay, as an old friend who disappeared years ago, the afternoon turns sour. To Pepper’s surprise, Bonnie seems intimately connected to her family’s past. After Bonnie is murdered only days later, Pepper is determined to uncover the truth. But as Pepper roots out long-buried secrets, will she be digging her own grave?
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 2016
202 people are currently reading
1285 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Budewitz
33 books787 followers*Also publishes as Alicia Beckman*
Leslie Budewitz is the three-time Agatha Award winner and bestselling author of the Food Lovers’ Village and Spice Shop mysteries, continuing with the 9th installment, LAVENDER LIES BLEEDING (July 2025). Her historical short mystery collection, ALL GOD'S SPARROWS AND OTHER STORIES: A STAGECOACH MARY FIELDS COLLECTION (September 2024), featuring a remarkable figure from Montana history, is a finalist in the 2025 High Plains International Book Awards. She also writes standalone moody suspense as Alicia Beckman.
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What a delight to return to the Spice Shop, a fictional shop in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, a place I fell in love ages ago as a college freshman. I made it my mission to eat my way through the place, and since it’s constantly changing, I’ll never be done!
In LAVENDER LIES BLEEDING, Spice Shop owner Pepper Reece is shocked when vandals destroy the greenhouse at her friend Liz Giacometti’s lavender farm. But then Liz is killed, and Pepper digs in to solve the crimes. As her questions threaten to unearth secrets others desperately want to keep buried, danger creeps closer to her and those she loves. Can Pepper root out the killer, before someone nips her in the bud?
Writing about Seattle and its surroundings never gets old. Plus it's an excuse to keep up with places I love, and to make regular research trips. And by research, you know I mean eat!
ALL GOD’S SPARROWS AND OTHER STORIES imagines the life and heart of Mary Fields (1832-1914), a real-life woman born into slavery who spent her last 30 years in Montana, where she found freedom and community, and her own place in the West, bringing solace and justice to those in need. The collection brings together three stories originally published in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, and a new novella, “A Bitter Wind,” set in 1897 and 1914, in which Mary helps a young picture bride solve the mystery of her fiancé’s death, his homesteading neighbors’ bitterness, and her own future. The title story won the 2018 Agatha Award for Best Short Story; others were finalists for awards from the Short Mystery Fiction Society and the Western Writers of America. The collection is a finalist for the 2025 High Plains International Book Awards.
I’m also the author of the Food Lovers' Village Mysteries, set in fictional Jewel Bay, Montana. DEATH A DENTE, first in the series, won the 2013 Agatha Award for Best First novel. My guide for writers, BOOKS, CROOKS & COUNSELORS: How to Write Accurately About Criminal Law & Courtroom Procedure, drawing on my long career as a lawyer, won the 2011 Agatha for Best Nonfiction.
I’m a past president of Sisters in Crime and former regional and national board member of Mystery Writers of America. I love to cook, eat, hike, travel, garden, and paint—not necessarily in that order. My husband and I live in northwest Montana.
For regular updates, please visit my website, http://www.LeslieBudewitz.com, and click on the newsletter tab to sign up for emails crammed with book news, peeks inside the writing life, and more, along with two free short stories.
Readers are my favorite people. Drop me a line at Leslie at LeslieBudewitz.com. Join me at my website, LeslieBudewitz.com, or on Facebook at Leslie Budewitz & Alicia Beckman.
Leslie Budewitz is the three-time Agatha Award winner and bestselling author of the Food Lovers’ Village and Spice Shop mysteries, continuing with the 9th installment, LAVENDER LIES BLEEDING (July 2025). Her historical short mystery collection, ALL GOD'S SPARROWS AND OTHER STORIES: A STAGECOACH MARY FIELDS COLLECTION (September 2024), featuring a remarkable figure from Montana history, is a finalist in the 2025 High Plains International Book Awards. She also writes standalone moody suspense as Alicia Beckman.
–
What a delight to return to the Spice Shop, a fictional shop in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, a place I fell in love ages ago as a college freshman. I made it my mission to eat my way through the place, and since it’s constantly changing, I’ll never be done!
In LAVENDER LIES BLEEDING, Spice Shop owner Pepper Reece is shocked when vandals destroy the greenhouse at her friend Liz Giacometti’s lavender farm. But then Liz is killed, and Pepper digs in to solve the crimes. As her questions threaten to unearth secrets others desperately want to keep buried, danger creeps closer to her and those she loves. Can Pepper root out the killer, before someone nips her in the bud?
Writing about Seattle and its surroundings never gets old. Plus it's an excuse to keep up with places I love, and to make regular research trips. And by research, you know I mean eat!
ALL GOD’S SPARROWS AND OTHER STORIES imagines the life and heart of Mary Fields (1832-1914), a real-life woman born into slavery who spent her last 30 years in Montana, where she found freedom and community, and her own place in the West, bringing solace and justice to those in need. The collection brings together three stories originally published in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, and a new novella, “A Bitter Wind,” set in 1897 and 1914, in which Mary helps a young picture bride solve the mystery of her fiancé’s death, his homesteading neighbors’ bitterness, and her own future. The title story won the 2018 Agatha Award for Best Short Story; others were finalists for awards from the Short Mystery Fiction Society and the Western Writers of America. The collection is a finalist for the 2025 High Plains International Book Awards.
I’m also the author of the Food Lovers' Village Mysteries, set in fictional Jewel Bay, Montana. DEATH A DENTE, first in the series, won the 2013 Agatha Award for Best First novel. My guide for writers, BOOKS, CROOKS & COUNSELORS: How to Write Accurately About Criminal Law & Courtroom Procedure, drawing on my long career as a lawyer, won the 2011 Agatha for Best Nonfiction.
I’m a past president of Sisters in Crime and former regional and national board member of Mystery Writers of America. I love to cook, eat, hike, travel, garden, and paint—not necessarily in that order. My husband and I live in northwest Montana.
For regular updates, please visit my website, http://www.LeslieBudewitz.com, and click on the newsletter tab to sign up for emails crammed with book news, peeks inside the writing life, and more, along with two free short stories.
Readers are my favorite people. Drop me a line at Leslie at LeslieBudewitz.com. Join me at my website, LeslieBudewitz.com, or on Facebook at Leslie Budewitz & Alicia Beckman.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
July 27, 2020
Spices are essential to making our food and drinks taste better. Leslie Budewitz's 'A Spice Shop Mystery' series is essential to making our cozy mystery reading schedules even better. I want to kick myself for waiting several years before picking up this series, but at the same time the next book doesn't release until June 2019, so I might have been frustrated waiting that long if I had finished them sooner. With all 3 published ones under my belt, I can say two things: (1) I'm a definite fan and (2) It's time to move on to her next series which takes place in the NW USA too.
In Killing Thyme, Pepper's finally got everything under control. Her shop is doing well, Pepper has two great employees to replace the ones she lost in the last book, her mom is coming for a visit from South America, and she's dating a cute and kind reporter. But with her mom comes a secret from the past hurling quickly like a typhoon at Seattle's Pike Place Market where you'd never expect one to appear. A fellow store artisan is not who she appears to be... and when she's found dead early one morning, Pepper's forced into protecting her mother from being punished for a crime she didn't commit (at least we think so). Throw in a few cute 'dates' with the reporter, a couple of accidents with her friends, and a very curious bracelet that appears from nowhere and you've got quite a mystery to solve.
I think the series' setting has fully fallen into place. We have a wonderful group of supporting characters and stores that make each book connective and fun. My favorite parts besides the murder mystery occur when Pepper goes for her daily walk around the market and catches up with friends we've come to adore. Having Arf, her awesome dog, makes it all the more enticing, too. Sometimes she learns a clue, others it's just more confusion. Budewitz knows how to drop just enough to make us squint and scratch our chin over what's the truth and what's a lie. I enjoy this series and was glad to get to know some of Pepper's family. Her mom's a hoot and I can only imagine what she was like as a pseudo-hippie nearly 40 years earlier. The best part... we finally learn Pepper's REAL NAME! Another great installment in the lives of the curious and 'glamorous' life in Seattle's finest market... can't wait to visit again in June. Thanks for an amazing and strong beginning to my 2019 reads, LB!
In Killing Thyme, Pepper's finally got everything under control. Her shop is doing well, Pepper has two great employees to replace the ones she lost in the last book, her mom is coming for a visit from South America, and she's dating a cute and kind reporter. But with her mom comes a secret from the past hurling quickly like a typhoon at Seattle's Pike Place Market where you'd never expect one to appear. A fellow store artisan is not who she appears to be... and when she's found dead early one morning, Pepper's forced into protecting her mother from being punished for a crime she didn't commit (at least we think so). Throw in a few cute 'dates' with the reporter, a couple of accidents with her friends, and a very curious bracelet that appears from nowhere and you've got quite a mystery to solve.
I think the series' setting has fully fallen into place. We have a wonderful group of supporting characters and stores that make each book connective and fun. My favorite parts besides the murder mystery occur when Pepper goes for her daily walk around the market and catches up with friends we've come to adore. Having Arf, her awesome dog, makes it all the more enticing, too. Sometimes she learns a clue, others it's just more confusion. Budewitz knows how to drop just enough to make us squint and scratch our chin over what's the truth and what's a lie. I enjoy this series and was glad to get to know some of Pepper's family. Her mom's a hoot and I can only imagine what she was like as a pseudo-hippie nearly 40 years earlier. The best part... we finally learn Pepper's REAL NAME! Another great installment in the lives of the curious and 'glamorous' life in Seattle's finest market... can't wait to visit again in June. Thanks for an amazing and strong beginning to my 2019 reads, LB!
March 28, 2021
Finished this re-read just in "thyme" lol. Sorry couldn't not take the pun opportunity lol. Today @ 2pm es time I'm sitting down to interview Leslie. This will be a live chat on my YouTube channel, and everyone is encouraged to join us and the discussion!
https://youtu.be/_Aq5lT2JB2k
https://youtu.be/_Aq5lT2JB2k
October 8, 2016
Book Review/Giveaway Oct 8
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Pepper Reece has spice, a feisty amateur sleuth that will do anything to protect her family and friends from a killer. She's not just killing thyme, she stop's at nothing, something that detectives Spencer and Tracy somehow cannot do even their names are a joke.
With all jokes aside, the first thing I love about The Spice Shop Mysteries is The spice shop, imagining the tempting aromas of the sweet and savory spices is enough having me wanting to venture the fictional shop and Pike Place Market, in the hustle and bustle. The second thing I love is Pepper mostly for what I explained about above.
Bonnie Clay is a Potter of sculptures and is a vendor in the market. Bonnie Clay came to town with a secret in her past and Lena, Pepper's mother is coming to visit but, they meet up and something is off when Lena thought Bonnie Aka Peggy Manning was dead and there's tension with the pair.
Pepper found Bonnie/Peggy dead in her artist's studio amid fragments of a think clay platter. Trauma to the head found to be her cause of death. With a not-so-nice foodie columnist visiting the spice shop for a review and the theft of Pepper's BFF's family heirloom necklace, it could possibly be a connection, when Pepper shakes up some suspects, it leaves her to wonder until the killer has a spicy taste in their mouth when Pepper sniffs him out.
I love Peppers savvy and energy. Her instincts make Killing Thyme a not to put down mystery. With her failing love life, and a killer to catch you think she won't be able to do it until she discovers not only who the killer is but she unlocks a missing link to her families past and ends up bringing them together. I can't wait to read and review the next book in the series.
FTC Disclosure: Thank you to the publisher and/or author or Net Galley for providing us with a copy of this book for review.This did not influence our thoughts in any way. All the opinions of the book are our own.
Please follow,like and share
http://acozygirlreads.blogspot.ca/
Pepper Reece has spice, a feisty amateur sleuth that will do anything to protect her family and friends from a killer. She's not just killing thyme, she stop's at nothing, something that detectives Spencer and Tracy somehow cannot do even their names are a joke.
With all jokes aside, the first thing I love about The Spice Shop Mysteries is The spice shop, imagining the tempting aromas of the sweet and savory spices is enough having me wanting to venture the fictional shop and Pike Place Market, in the hustle and bustle. The second thing I love is Pepper mostly for what I explained about above.
Bonnie Clay is a Potter of sculptures and is a vendor in the market. Bonnie Clay came to town with a secret in her past and Lena, Pepper's mother is coming to visit but, they meet up and something is off when Lena thought Bonnie Aka Peggy Manning was dead and there's tension with the pair.
Pepper found Bonnie/Peggy dead in her artist's studio amid fragments of a think clay platter. Trauma to the head found to be her cause of death. With a not-so-nice foodie columnist visiting the spice shop for a review and the theft of Pepper's BFF's family heirloom necklace, it could possibly be a connection, when Pepper shakes up some suspects, it leaves her to wonder until the killer has a spicy taste in their mouth when Pepper sniffs him out.
I love Peppers savvy and energy. Her instincts make Killing Thyme a not to put down mystery. With her failing love life, and a killer to catch you think she won't be able to do it until she discovers not only who the killer is but she unlocks a missing link to her families past and ends up bringing them together. I can't wait to read and review the next book in the series.
FTC Disclosure: Thank you to the publisher and/or author or Net Galley for providing us with a copy of this book for review.This did not influence our thoughts in any way. All the opinions of the book are our own.
May 25, 2019
Dollycas’s Thoughts
We are back in Seattle again. Just in time for a visit from Spice Shop owner Pepper Reece’s mother, Lena. Pepper also has a lot on her plate at work. Grabbing a few minutes with her mom they take a tour around the Market. Pepper wanted to connect with a new pottery vendor and was surprised when her mom recognized the potter from their past. She has thought the woman was dead. Sadly a few days later she was murdered in her studio. Pepper does remember some snippets of the woman and is afraid that her mother is going to be at the top of the suspect list. She also knows that her friend Kristen’s family could be implicated. The more she digs in the more secrets she seems to uncover. At first, she may just have been Killing Thyme but as her investigation continues she needs to worry about someone killing her.
Ms. Budewitz has created a wonderful cast of characters. Pepper has hired two new employees, Matt Kemp, and Cayenne Cooper. Matt has retail experience and with a name like Cayenne, this has to be the perfect job. Pepper’s mom also arrives from South America, her dad is nearby too, off on a fishing trip with Kristen’s dad. We also meet the woman who becomes the victim, Bonnie Clay. A woman with a lot of secrets. Secrets that may have led to her death. A couple of characters have moved on but all my favorites are back, including Detectives Spencer and Tracy, but they are joined by a cold case detective, John Washington. Pepper’s dog Arf is back too.
The mystery is very intriguing and could harken back to the 1980s when Bonnie and several others including Pepper, Kristen, and their families lived communally in the house where Kristen now lives. A house that has just had major renovations and where Kristen made a wonderful discovery. A discovery that may have played a big part in Bonnie’s death. A discovery that could play a part in a cold case. The author plotted everything out so well. I was kept guessing right up to the very end.
I really enjoyed getting to know about Pepper’s past and her mother’s too. I think her mom and I would be fast friends. We also find out Pepper’s real name!!!
Another shining visit to Seattle’s Pike Place Market. This is my favorite book in this series so far. Chai Another Day comes out soon and I can’t wait!
We are back in Seattle again. Just in time for a visit from Spice Shop owner Pepper Reece’s mother, Lena. Pepper also has a lot on her plate at work. Grabbing a few minutes with her mom they take a tour around the Market. Pepper wanted to connect with a new pottery vendor and was surprised when her mom recognized the potter from their past. She has thought the woman was dead. Sadly a few days later she was murdered in her studio. Pepper does remember some snippets of the woman and is afraid that her mother is going to be at the top of the suspect list. She also knows that her friend Kristen’s family could be implicated. The more she digs in the more secrets she seems to uncover. At first, she may just have been Killing Thyme but as her investigation continues she needs to worry about someone killing her.
Ms. Budewitz has created a wonderful cast of characters. Pepper has hired two new employees, Matt Kemp, and Cayenne Cooper. Matt has retail experience and with a name like Cayenne, this has to be the perfect job. Pepper’s mom also arrives from South America, her dad is nearby too, off on a fishing trip with Kristen’s dad. We also meet the woman who becomes the victim, Bonnie Clay. A woman with a lot of secrets. Secrets that may have led to her death. A couple of characters have moved on but all my favorites are back, including Detectives Spencer and Tracy, but they are joined by a cold case detective, John Washington. Pepper’s dog Arf is back too.
The mystery is very intriguing and could harken back to the 1980s when Bonnie and several others including Pepper, Kristen, and their families lived communally in the house where Kristen now lives. A house that has just had major renovations and where Kristen made a wonderful discovery. A discovery that may have played a big part in Bonnie’s death. A discovery that could play a part in a cold case. The author plotted everything out so well. I was kept guessing right up to the very end.
I really enjoyed getting to know about Pepper’s past and her mother’s too. I think her mom and I would be fast friends. We also find out Pepper’s real name!!!
Another shining visit to Seattle’s Pike Place Market. This is my favorite book in this series so far. Chai Another Day comes out soon and I can’t wait!
April 6, 2018
This book didn't add spice to my life.
I think the basis for the story, secrets from the past was a good idea.
For me it just got lost along the way. To much cloak and dagger and keeping Pepper in the dark from when she was a child.
As for Pepper she seemed to be running around like a chicken without a head.
Not my favorite this time around. Hope the next book is back on track.
I think the basis for the story, secrets from the past was a good idea.
For me it just got lost along the way. To much cloak and dagger and keeping Pepper in the dark from when she was a child.
As for Pepper she seemed to be running around like a chicken without a head.
Not my favorite this time around. Hope the next book is back on track.
February 7, 2017
A lot of my favorite Cozy Mysteries are ones involving food. So it comes to no surprise that I would love this series by Leslie Budewitz. I read GUILTY AS CINNAMON and fell in love with Pepper and the gang, but I think KILLING THYME might actually be my new favorite now.
If you don’t read it for the cute dog on the cover, then let me tell you some other reasons why you should be reading this series. Firstly, Pepper Reece is a great amateur sleuth but she isn’t as pushy as some of the other sleuth out there so if you find with other series that the main heroine is too nosy, then Pepper might be the girl for you. That being said, this series is a little bit slower in pace (and I don’t mean that in a bad way). There’s a bit less snooping around and a little more time spent on mentally putting the timeline together.
In this particular book, an old family friend reappears in their life and this concerns Pepper because everyone, including her mother, thought Bonnie was dead. It isn’t until a few days later that she really does turn up dead and now Pepper is determined to find out her connection with her mother.
Another reason why I liked this book was because there’s more to the mystery that is going on in this book. There’s a subtle romance, nothing too over the top, but it’s there in the background. Pepper also has to keep up her work at the shop as well so there’s a lot going on there too. So although this book is slightly slower in pace, I wasn’t bored at all. In fact, I devoured this book so quickly and now I’m looking forward to reading the other series by Leslie
Read my alternate review atFresh Fiction
October 11, 2016
Holy cardamon! I won a copy from a Goodreads Giveaway.
I enjoy a cozy mystery every now and then; its a refreshing change from the murder, mayhem and bloody mysteries I usually read.
I haven't read the first two books in the series and this is the first book I've ever read by the author but it did not dilute my reading enjoyment. The third book can be read as a standalone since Ms. Budewitz's offers enough background info to fill in the gaps from earlier novels.
Killing Thyme was an enjoyable mystery with a likable protagonist, the aptly named Pepper Reece, her diverse array of friends and staff members and the wonderful descriptions of Seattle, entrepreneurial artists and shop owners, not to mention the delicious recipes included at the back of the book.
In this third installment, Pepper Reece's mom's past is at the heart of the mystery and Pepper, being the loyal, tenacious busybody she is, vows to seek justice for a murdered woman and unravel and solve a two decades old murder.
Pepper is a good person, someone I would want get to know, hang out at her shop and drink a cup of tea and be friends with. I think most readers would enjoy this series, not just me.
I enjoy a cozy mystery every now and then; its a refreshing change from the murder, mayhem and bloody mysteries I usually read.
I haven't read the first two books in the series and this is the first book I've ever read by the author but it did not dilute my reading enjoyment. The third book can be read as a standalone since Ms. Budewitz's offers enough background info to fill in the gaps from earlier novels.
Killing Thyme was an enjoyable mystery with a likable protagonist, the aptly named Pepper Reece, her diverse array of friends and staff members and the wonderful descriptions of Seattle, entrepreneurial artists and shop owners, not to mention the delicious recipes included at the back of the book.
In this third installment, Pepper Reece's mom's past is at the heart of the mystery and Pepper, being the loyal, tenacious busybody she is, vows to seek justice for a murdered woman and unravel and solve a two decades old murder.
Pepper is a good person, someone I would want get to know, hang out at her shop and drink a cup of tea and be friends with. I think most readers would enjoy this series, not just me.
October 14, 2016
Another great visit to the Seattle Spice Shop with owner Pepper and her merry crew, but while the bridal registry is in full swing and the new spice blends including cocoa are delicious there is a killer on the loose that is dredging up the past in a big, bad way! Can Pepper figure out the mystery before someone does in her family or will she be the next one to go! This is a wonderful series with a great cast of characters that are well developed with personality galore. The plotting is great as you think you have it figured out, but there are enough twists to keep you guessing while staying true to the storyline. I love that the main character is in her early 40's and has started her life over by buying the spice shop and figuring out how to be single. Even her dog has a great personality! Kudo's to the author for great imagery and development of not only the characters and plot, but the setting as well. I'm so glad that I have discovered this author and can't wait to read the next book in the series!
October 11, 2016
Pepper Reece continues to promote her spice shop in Seattle's Pike Place Market, providing variety spice packets to the local butcher, and setting up wedding registries for Bridezillas and their mothers. Setting out for lunch in the local Market, Pepper and her mom explore a new pottery shop, recommended by one of Pepper's helpers. But to her surprise, the owner, Bonnie Clay, turns out to be an old acquaintance of her mother's...one her mother thought was long dead under a totally different name. Circumstances intervene shortly thereafter, resulting in not only a theft of a valuable bracelet from her friend's home, but also to the murder of Bonnie. Is there a connection between the two crimes? And what is the connection with Pepper's mother? This story kept the reader guessing until the final twist is revealed. One of the things that intrigued me about this particular story was the throwback to the 80's and protests and communal living. I attended college in the mid-70's so this era is very familiar to me and proved interesting reading. I enjoyed the relationship between Pepper and her friends/helpers, as well as that of her mother. Her dog, Arf, is totally adorable. I look forward to reading the next book in this series to follow Pepper's next adventure. Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
October 4, 2016
KILLING THYME is the perfect book to add seasoning to your reading list!
Leslie Budewitz is an amazing author. Every new book she writes is better than the one before. Her unique style entices you to savor every word. Being set in Seattle in famous Pike Place Market, her Spice Shop Mysteries may not sound like a typical cozy. Be assured, all the elements of a cozy are present. Being set in such a big place only serves to spice things up.
I have enjoyed getting to know series lead, Pepper Reece, as well as her staff, and the rest of the cast of characters. The addition of Pepper’s mother in this installment brought a new and welcome dynamic.
In KILLING THYME, the sudden appearance, and even more sudden murder of a friend from the past has Pepper determined to get to the bottom of things, and me trying hard to solve the mystery with her. I never did. This clever plot had me so fooled I never saw the exciting reveal coming. Well done Ms. Budewitz!
Make sure to check the back of your book for some amazing recipes!
Leslie Budewitz is an amazing author. Every new book she writes is better than the one before. Her unique style entices you to savor every word. Being set in Seattle in famous Pike Place Market, her Spice Shop Mysteries may not sound like a typical cozy. Be assured, all the elements of a cozy are present. Being set in such a big place only serves to spice things up.
I have enjoyed getting to know series lead, Pepper Reece, as well as her staff, and the rest of the cast of characters. The addition of Pepper’s mother in this installment brought a new and welcome dynamic.
In KILLING THYME, the sudden appearance, and even more sudden murder of a friend from the past has Pepper determined to get to the bottom of things, and me trying hard to solve the mystery with her. I never did. This clever plot had me so fooled I never saw the exciting reveal coming. Well done Ms. Budewitz!
Make sure to check the back of your book for some amazing recipes!
October 9, 2016
A roller coaster ride and two murders - one cold case and one present day to solve!
This is book 3 in a fun and exciting trilogy. I Loved this book and the roller coaster ride it took me on. I love Pepper and her strength and intuition which takes her to finding a killer of a person she thought she knew in her "other life" and who her mother knew back in the days of communes and revolts. Actually, there were two murders that Pepper had to try and figure out since in a funny way it would answer some questions about her childhood. Was her parents involved, was her best friend, Kristin? How was Josh and Hannah involved? I was happy to have the cast of characters in the front of the book since as the author added a name to the storyline, sometimes I forgot who they were and what was their relationship to the market or story. There were many characters in this one. That would be my only complaint and I handled it. I am definitely looking for book number 4.
This is book 3 in a fun and exciting trilogy. I Loved this book and the roller coaster ride it took me on. I love Pepper and her strength and intuition which takes her to finding a killer of a person she thought she knew in her "other life" and who her mother knew back in the days of communes and revolts. Actually, there were two murders that Pepper had to try and figure out since in a funny way it would answer some questions about her childhood. Was her parents involved, was her best friend, Kristin? How was Josh and Hannah involved? I was happy to have the cast of characters in the front of the book since as the author added a name to the storyline, sometimes I forgot who they were and what was their relationship to the market or story. There were many characters in this one. That would be my only complaint and I handled it. I am definitely looking for book number 4.
October 10, 2016
I have found my a new series to catch up on! Killing Thyme by Leslie Budewitz is the newest book in the Spice Shop Mystery Series.
Pepper Reece is the owner of Seattle Spice Shop in Pike Place Market, her side kick is an Airedale Terrier named Arf. It's going to be a busy season with a full to-do list. She's got nervous brides worrying over the gift registry, prickly food critic that doesn't mind bending the truth to get her way, and a welcome visit from her mother Lena.
Lena and Pepper take a stroll through the market to return some pottery to Bonnie Clay, a potter from the Market, things head south quickly. Lena immediately recognizes Bonnie as Peggy from her past. Days later Bonnie is found dead in her apartment and things start to heat up. It's up to Pepper to find out who killed her before she too ends up dead.
I received an Advanced Review Copy for an honest review.
Pepper Reece is the owner of Seattle Spice Shop in Pike Place Market, her side kick is an Airedale Terrier named Arf. It's going to be a busy season with a full to-do list. She's got nervous brides worrying over the gift registry, prickly food critic that doesn't mind bending the truth to get her way, and a welcome visit from her mother Lena.
Lena and Pepper take a stroll through the market to return some pottery to Bonnie Clay, a potter from the Market, things head south quickly. Lena immediately recognizes Bonnie as Peggy from her past. Days later Bonnie is found dead in her apartment and things start to heat up. It's up to Pepper to find out who killed her before she too ends up dead.
I received an Advanced Review Copy for an honest review.
October 15, 2016
This is the third book the the series, but the first I have read. It was very easy to read as a stand alone book as the author gives plenty of background and gives a 'cast of characters' list at the front of the book.
Spice shop owner Pepper Reece is awaiting a visit from her mom, a shop visit by a food critic and struggling with her love life, or lack thereof! When she stumbles across the dead body of someone her mother knew years ago, her skills as a sleuth take over her life.
As Pepper uncovers clues and secrets from the past, she struggles to figure out who the killer is. It had me guessing almost to the end.
I enjoyed this book and the descriptions of the spice shop the author spins, made me wish it was a real place to go visit. I will be looking for the previous books in the series and look forward to future installments.
Spice shop owner Pepper Reece is awaiting a visit from her mom, a shop visit by a food critic and struggling with her love life, or lack thereof! When she stumbles across the dead body of someone her mother knew years ago, her skills as a sleuth take over her life.
As Pepper uncovers clues and secrets from the past, she struggles to figure out who the killer is. It had me guessing almost to the end.
I enjoyed this book and the descriptions of the spice shop the author spins, made me wish it was a real place to go visit. I will be looking for the previous books in the series and look forward to future installments.
October 11, 2016
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I wasn't sure when I began this book that I would enjoy it because it was the first Spice Shop Mystery I had read and there were so many characters. I was very thankful for the cast of characters in the front of the book that allowed me to keep everyone sorted out. As I progressed however, I really enjoyed the story. Pepper is funny and fierce. The mystery elements kept me guessing, the narrative made me feel like I was walking through Seattle and the Market along with Pepper and the references to other books of this genre was a great addition. I may have been a slow started but now that I have a firmer grasp on the characters, I will go back and catch up on this series and the progress with each new book.
November 16, 2018
This is a very enjoyable series. I like Pepper (I won't tell you her real name either) and her every changing Pike Place market. I liked how this book included a cold case, although there were a lot of characters to try and keep track of. Glad to know there will be another book.
March 3, 2020
The Seattle Spice Shop is located in
the famous Seattle Marketplace in the
state of Washington.
The shop is owned and run by Pepper
Reece. Pepper lives in a loft nearby the
Shop with her Airedale Terrier named,
Arc.
The beginning of the book introduces
the characters involved in the story to
follow. I always find the character intro
a helpful to start any book.
It was interesting learning about all the
spices Pepper and her staff mix together
for various teas, rubs, salads bake goods
and drinks.
Pepper’s mother surprises her by coming
from Costa Rica to visit. Then a friend of
her mother’s from the past turns up at a
stall at the market selling her pottery.
The potter goes by the name Betty Clay.
But she had been known to Pepper’s
mother as Peggy Manning. That was
before Peggy disappeared years ago.
Meanwhile Pepper best friend finds an
expensive bracelet in the house where
they grew up.
When the bracelet is stolen and the
potter turns up dead, Pepper begins her
own investigation.
Pepper’s digging opens up the past days
in the lives of her parents and friends. It
also open up a cold case.
The author blends the past and present
in a suspenseful, puzzling, well plotted
mystery. Dark secrets come to light.
Murder, robbery, danger and drama season
the adventures that Pepper and her friends
manage to get involved.
The characters are well defined, colorful,
interesting and entertaining.
Come along with Pepper and cast to get a
tour of the Seattle Marketplace and the
surrounding city.
Recipes included at the end.
the famous Seattle Marketplace in the
state of Washington.
The shop is owned and run by Pepper
Reece. Pepper lives in a loft nearby the
Shop with her Airedale Terrier named,
Arc.
The beginning of the book introduces
the characters involved in the story to
follow. I always find the character intro
a helpful to start any book.
It was interesting learning about all the
spices Pepper and her staff mix together
for various teas, rubs, salads bake goods
and drinks.
Pepper’s mother surprises her by coming
from Costa Rica to visit. Then a friend of
her mother’s from the past turns up at a
stall at the market selling her pottery.
The potter goes by the name Betty Clay.
But she had been known to Pepper’s
mother as Peggy Manning. That was
before Peggy disappeared years ago.
Meanwhile Pepper best friend finds an
expensive bracelet in the house where
they grew up.
When the bracelet is stolen and the
potter turns up dead, Pepper begins her
own investigation.
Pepper’s digging opens up the past days
in the lives of her parents and friends. It
also open up a cold case.
The author blends the past and present
in a suspenseful, puzzling, well plotted
mystery. Dark secrets come to light.
Murder, robbery, danger and drama season
the adventures that Pepper and her friends
manage to get involved.
The characters are well defined, colorful,
interesting and entertaining.
Come along with Pepper and cast to get a
tour of the Seattle Marketplace and the
surrounding city.
Recipes included at the end.
October 4, 2016
Killing Thyme is the third book in A Spice Shop Mystery and it does not disappoint. There were one or two spots that it seemed to bog down a bit but then it picked back up. Pepper Reece left her job in a law practice to dive all the way into buying a spice shop and is making a go at it. She has a great crew holding down the shop while she is out looking for clues. Pepper’s mom Lena makes a surprise visit to Seattle, Pepper has no idea what she is there for. Pepper takes her mom on a walk through the market place and they find some pottery that they both fall in love with. Lena then recognizes the potter as a woman that she thought was dead 30 years ago, she was going by the name Bonnie Clay at the time. Needless to say there must have been some bad blood between the two, but Lena will not say what had happened.
Bonnie is murdered a few days later and Pepper is trying to find clues to what happened and her mom is no help at all.
To many secrets and not enough answers, Bonnie has several alias, Bonnie Clay; Bonnie Pretty Pots and finally Peggy Manning. Like she has been on the run for the last 30 years but no one has any idea why. What is discovered throws everyone in disbelief. I won’t go into any more detail here because it would spoil the fun.
Pepper’s best friend Kristen finds a very expense bracelet in the old house they used to all live together in when it was a commune. Kristen takes off the bracelet during a tour of their house and someone on the tour or one of her friends steals the bracelet. Pepper needs to solve both mysteries quick before her mother could be accused of murder.
Pepper’s love life is rocky and she is not totally sure where her and Ben stand on the subject. Her ex-husband Tag is not helping at all; he keeps popping up at the most appropriate times to be there for Pepper.
All the twist and turns and Pepper has no idea what she will discover next and hopes her family is not involved.
There is a handy list of characters in the front of the book, which I referred to a few times.
I was given a copy of Killing Thyme from the author for a fair and honest review.
Bonnie is murdered a few days later and Pepper is trying to find clues to what happened and her mom is no help at all.
To many secrets and not enough answers, Bonnie has several alias, Bonnie Clay; Bonnie Pretty Pots and finally Peggy Manning. Like she has been on the run for the last 30 years but no one has any idea why. What is discovered throws everyone in disbelief. I won’t go into any more detail here because it would spoil the fun.
Pepper’s best friend Kristen finds a very expense bracelet in the old house they used to all live together in when it was a commune. Kristen takes off the bracelet during a tour of their house and someone on the tour or one of her friends steals the bracelet. Pepper needs to solve both mysteries quick before her mother could be accused of murder.
Pepper’s love life is rocky and she is not totally sure where her and Ben stand on the subject. Her ex-husband Tag is not helping at all; he keeps popping up at the most appropriate times to be there for Pepper.
All the twist and turns and Pepper has no idea what she will discover next and hopes her family is not involved.
There is a handy list of characters in the front of the book, which I referred to a few times.
I was given a copy of Killing Thyme from the author for a fair and honest review.
October 4, 2016
I so enjoy visiting Seattle’s Pike Place Market vicariously through the Spice Shop Mystery series by Leslie Budewitz! The smells and tastes of this landmark is a food lovers' dream and I was delighted to have the chance to read KILLING THYME, Leslie’s newest release in this series. The author knows how to flavor her book with a mesmerizing plot and interesting characters, making me want seconds!
Starting out at the beginning of the book is a handy list of the characters involved in the story. I liked the convenience of having it there, especially since I had to put the book down for several days due to other obligations. (Let me tell you, it was very difficult putting the book down too!) Quickly rereading the list of characters immediately brought me right back to the story. I think it is also very helpful for those who haven’t started with reading the very first book in the series. While this is the third book in the series, it is easily read as a standalone.
Leslie has created some very strong characters and I enjoyed seeing how Pepper Reece has grown and developed from the first book. Her supporting cast of characters are personable and her mother, Lena Reese, adds a depth to the story and to Pepper’s personal life. I love when plots can combine old crimes with present day crimes and KILLING THYME effortlessly does that. It’s like getting two mysteries in one. She also provides some fun facts such as it takes eight years from start to finish to create vanilla, which is part of the orchid family…I love learning as I read!
Of course a Spice Shop book series must have recipes and Leslie Budewitz generously provides several delicious ones! I made her lovely Lemon Thyme Cookies. These delicately scented shortbread style cookies melt in your mouth providing a refreshing taste for a simple dessert. The author's recommendation to serve with lemon sorbet is the perfect pairing for these delightful treats!
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Starting out at the beginning of the book is a handy list of the characters involved in the story. I liked the convenience of having it there, especially since I had to put the book down for several days due to other obligations. (Let me tell you, it was very difficult putting the book down too!) Quickly rereading the list of characters immediately brought me right back to the story. I think it is also very helpful for those who haven’t started with reading the very first book in the series. While this is the third book in the series, it is easily read as a standalone.
Leslie has created some very strong characters and I enjoyed seeing how Pepper Reece has grown and developed from the first book. Her supporting cast of characters are personable and her mother, Lena Reese, adds a depth to the story and to Pepper’s personal life. I love when plots can combine old crimes with present day crimes and KILLING THYME effortlessly does that. It’s like getting two mysteries in one. She also provides some fun facts such as it takes eight years from start to finish to create vanilla, which is part of the orchid family…I love learning as I read!
Of course a Spice Shop book series must have recipes and Leslie Budewitz generously provides several delicious ones! I made her lovely Lemon Thyme Cookies. These delicately scented shortbread style cookies melt in your mouth providing a refreshing taste for a simple dessert. The author's recommendation to serve with lemon sorbet is the perfect pairing for these delightful treats!
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 3, 2016
Book 3 in the series.
This is truly one of my favorite cozy series! I love visiting Pepper in Seattle and the Pike Place Market, which is one of the most amazing places I have ever been. And I don't have to deal with Seattle traffic to get there!
In Killing Thyme, always busy Pepper has even more on her plate, with a visit from her mother and a blast from the past that ends in murder. Pepper vows to stay out of it, but with her mother connected to the victim and secrets from Pepper's childhood coming to light, she feels she has to find justice for the dead woman.
I read this book in one sitting, because I did not want to put it down. One thing happens after another, keeping things moving at a satisfying pace. The mystery within the mystery was intriguing, and I loved the resolution of everything. The characters are strong and well developed, and most importantly, likeable!
As always, the recipes in the book sound delicious. I really want to make the Herbed Black Bean Pasta Salad, which sounds both yummy and EASY, haha.
*I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review*
This is truly one of my favorite cozy series! I love visiting Pepper in Seattle and the Pike Place Market, which is one of the most amazing places I have ever been. And I don't have to deal with Seattle traffic to get there!
In Killing Thyme, always busy Pepper has even more on her plate, with a visit from her mother and a blast from the past that ends in murder. Pepper vows to stay out of it, but with her mother connected to the victim and secrets from Pepper's childhood coming to light, she feels she has to find justice for the dead woman.
I read this book in one sitting, because I did not want to put it down. One thing happens after another, keeping things moving at a satisfying pace. The mystery within the mystery was intriguing, and I loved the resolution of everything. The characters are strong and well developed, and most importantly, likeable!
As always, the recipes in the book sound delicious. I really want to make the Herbed Black Bean Pasta Salad, which sounds both yummy and EASY, haha.
*I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review*
October 4, 2016
This book will take you on a wild ride. This is the third installment of the Spice Shop Mysteries, set at Pike Place Market. The reasons I love this series are all present in this installment, Pepper, her shop, her friends and her employees. I always enjoy the rich details of food, spice, the Market experience and relationships. While each story gives us more details and background this volume explodes with family, friends, and mystery present and past. Is this whole mystery set up by Pepper's Mom's unexpected visit or is it just a coincidence? What part does Kristin and her family's redo of the old Grace House community house play in it all? What does the "woman potter" from the past know that Pepper's Mom won't share? When murder happens is it about past or present? I found this to be a very fast paced ride, maybe not as much time on background things I enjoy, but you really want to know what happened so the book is hard to put down. I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
October 5, 2016
This is the third book in Leslie Budewitz's Spice Shop mystery series. Set in Seattle, the books follow the daily life and adventures of Pepper Reece, her friends and family, and her spice shop employees. In this installment, a chance encounter between Pepper, her mother Lena, and potter Bonnie Clay at the daily market leads to the uncovering of decades-old secrets and murder. The police investigate, but only Pepper can unravel all the strings of the past to solve the crime.
This book came across as well-plotted, and the characters continue to feel real and decently-developed. I enjoyed reading about the different spice blends whenever the story dipped into the shop; it made me want to cook!
Reading the previous books in the series may add to the experience of reading this book; however, it's not a deal-breaker. A new reader could easily start with this one and not feel lost.
*FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book via author giveaway in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This book came across as well-plotted, and the characters continue to feel real and decently-developed. I enjoyed reading about the different spice blends whenever the story dipped into the shop; it made me want to cook!
Reading the previous books in the series may add to the experience of reading this book; however, it's not a deal-breaker. A new reader could easily start with this one and not feel lost.
*FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book via author giveaway in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Read
October 10, 2016This book not only captured my interest as a mystery but got my taste buds humming! The description of the scents in the Spice Shop were enticing plus Seattle's coffee smells.
Leslie Budewitz creates a picture of the Emerald City's Pike Place Market that beckons you to visit. The characters are interesting and real with various interests, talents and problems.
It was not easy to figure out who was the guilty party or parties as the story unfolded due to not being certain of the motive. I had several theories and wanted to read more to find out what happened 30 years ago to lead to the present day murder.
Lots of interesting side stories that add spice to the book and further your understanding of the central characters.
I plan to read the first 2 books in this series and highly recommend Killing Thyme!
Leslie Budewitz creates a picture of the Emerald City's Pike Place Market that beckons you to visit. The characters are interesting and real with various interests, talents and problems.
It was not easy to figure out who was the guilty party or parties as the story unfolded due to not being certain of the motive. I had several theories and wanted to read more to find out what happened 30 years ago to lead to the present day murder.
Lots of interesting side stories that add spice to the book and further your understanding of the central characters.
I plan to read the first 2 books in this series and highly recommend Killing Thyme!
October 3, 2016
I call Leslie Budewitz "Spice Shop" series my intelligent escape. This series is just a notch above the normal cozy with astute writing that combines intrigue and historical events with ease. Peppered with spice tidbits and accompanied with fabulous recipes, this book is a feast for the senses. Love it.
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unbiased review
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unbiased review
February 8, 2017
i love all of the books in the series, but this was my Favorite!
October 15, 2016
I received a copy of this book and voluntarily offer this review.
Another visit to Seattle with spice shop owner, Pepper Reece, and a full and exciting trip it is. Pepper is prepared for a fun and busy summer...getting the shop bridal registry into full swing, developing new blends, pitching her wares to vendors and a visit from her mother from her current home in Costa Rica.
Cayenne, one of Pepper's latest hires, is enamored of the work of a Market potter and suggests selling some pieces in the shop. Unfortunately, that's against Market rules so Pepper packs up the items and she and her mother, Lena, head out with a stop at the potter's stall on the way to lunch. As soon as they meet the potter, Bonnie Clay, Pepper can tell something's up. Lena greets Bonnie but calls her Peggy and says she thought the woman was dead. Bonnie says she thought Lena was living in Guatemala. There are weird vibes, but Lena's not giving anything away to Pepper.
Pepper's BFF, Kristen, hosts a get-together at her finally-finished remodeled house...the same house Pepper's family and Kristen's lived in together in the 70's. Bonnie agrees to go but doesn't get very social. Kristen shows off her "find" from the remodel, a beautiful diamond and sapphire bracelet, but has no idea where it came from. After the party, the bracelet is missing.
Pepper looks for Bonnie at the Market the next day, but she's not there. Pepper knows Bonnie's landlord so she calls Josh to ask him to check. He calls back to say she was right to worry and he'd called 911. Pepper rushes to the building and manages to peek in a window to see Bonnie on the floor, surrounded by dark liquid which is definitely not glaze.
This twisted tale involves the protest movements in the 70's, multiple identities and more. Soon it's apparent Pepper's getting too close as she and people she meets are targeted by someone. Lena knows more than she's telling, and even Kristen is holding back from Pepper. Secrets from over 40 years ago are coming to light, affecting Pepper's relationships with those she holds most dear.
Oh, and throw in a food critic known for being vicious in her reviews at times, plus Pepper trying to figure out her relationship with Ben. This is a wild ride.
As always, there are recipes and tips on spices to inspire you.
Another visit to Seattle with spice shop owner, Pepper Reece, and a full and exciting trip it is. Pepper is prepared for a fun and busy summer...getting the shop bridal registry into full swing, developing new blends, pitching her wares to vendors and a visit from her mother from her current home in Costa Rica.
Cayenne, one of Pepper's latest hires, is enamored of the work of a Market potter and suggests selling some pieces in the shop. Unfortunately, that's against Market rules so Pepper packs up the items and she and her mother, Lena, head out with a stop at the potter's stall on the way to lunch. As soon as they meet the potter, Bonnie Clay, Pepper can tell something's up. Lena greets Bonnie but calls her Peggy and says she thought the woman was dead. Bonnie says she thought Lena was living in Guatemala. There are weird vibes, but Lena's not giving anything away to Pepper.
Pepper's BFF, Kristen, hosts a get-together at her finally-finished remodeled house...the same house Pepper's family and Kristen's lived in together in the 70's. Bonnie agrees to go but doesn't get very social. Kristen shows off her "find" from the remodel, a beautiful diamond and sapphire bracelet, but has no idea where it came from. After the party, the bracelet is missing.
Pepper looks for Bonnie at the Market the next day, but she's not there. Pepper knows Bonnie's landlord so she calls Josh to ask him to check. He calls back to say she was right to worry and he'd called 911. Pepper rushes to the building and manages to peek in a window to see Bonnie on the floor, surrounded by dark liquid which is definitely not glaze.
This twisted tale involves the protest movements in the 70's, multiple identities and more. Soon it's apparent Pepper's getting too close as she and people she meets are targeted by someone. Lena knows more than she's telling, and even Kristen is holding back from Pepper. Secrets from over 40 years ago are coming to light, affecting Pepper's relationships with those she holds most dear.
Oh, and throw in a food critic known for being vicious in her reviews at times, plus Pepper trying to figure out her relationship with Ben. This is a wild ride.
As always, there are recipes and tips on spices to inspire you.
November 19, 2016
A lot of my favorite Cozy Mysteries are ones involving food. So it comes to no surprise that I would love this series by Leslie Budewitz. I read GUILTY AS CINNAMON and fell in love with Pepper and the gang, but I think KILLING THYME might actually be my new favorite now.
If you don’t read it for the cute dog on the cover, then let me tell you some other reasons why you should be reading this series. Firstly, Pepper Reece is a great amateur sleuth but she isn’t as pushy as some of the other sleuth out there so if you find with other series that the main heroine is too nosy, then Pepper might be the girl for you. That being said, this series is a little bit slower in pace (and I don’t mean that in a bad way). There’s a bit less snooping around and a little more time spent on mentally putting the timeline together.
In this particular book, an old family friend reappears in their life and this concerns Pepper because everyone, including her mother, thought Bonnie was dead. It isn’t until a few days later that she really does turn up dead and now Pepper is determined to find out her connection with her mother.
Another reason why I liked this book was because there’s more to the mystery that is going on in this book. There’s a subtle romance, nothing too over the top, but it’s there in the background. Pepper also has to keep up her work at the shop as well so there’s a lot going on there too. So although this book is slightly slower in pace, I wasn’t bored at all. In fact, I devoured this book so quickly and now I’m looking forward to reading the other series by Leslie.
*Review copy provided by publisher
Reviewed by Annie
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October 9, 2016
Pepper Reece’s hands are full, as she’s busy making her Spice Shop profitable. Pike Place Market offers lots of opportunities for collaboration and inspiration, but a recent newcomer to the Market is causing some division. Bonnie Clay’s pottery is exceptional, but what is her tie to Pepper’s mother? Pepper’s mother, Lena, won’t divulge her secrets, but did those secrets lead to murder?
KILLING THYME is the third book in Leslie Budewitz’s Spice Shop Mystery series, and each new book is just as charming as the prior books! KILLING THYME can easily be read as a standalone story, particularly since Leslie Budewitz provides us with a helpful “Market Roll Call” of all the various characters in her story. The first two books in the series focused more on Pepper’s immediate issues (both with her store and her love life) while KILLING THYME digs deeper into Pepper’s past.
I love the setting of KILLING THYME, as we see Pepper experimenting with various scrumptious sounding blends. Leslie Budewitz offers readers tantalizing recipes, even as Pepper samples other delightful wares in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. In fact, a large part of the appeal of the Spice Shop Mystery series is the delightful atmosphere Leslie Budewitz crafts for the readers. Her world is one I want to visit time and time again.
KILLING THYME is yet another fun installment in the Spice Shop Mystery series. Pepper’s feisty personality coupled with phenomenal world building make KILLING THYME and the rest of the Spice Shop Mystery series a definite hit. Easily recommended!
*I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book*
KILLING THYME is the third book in Leslie Budewitz’s Spice Shop Mystery series, and each new book is just as charming as the prior books! KILLING THYME can easily be read as a standalone story, particularly since Leslie Budewitz provides us with a helpful “Market Roll Call” of all the various characters in her story. The first two books in the series focused more on Pepper’s immediate issues (both with her store and her love life) while KILLING THYME digs deeper into Pepper’s past.
I love the setting of KILLING THYME, as we see Pepper experimenting with various scrumptious sounding blends. Leslie Budewitz offers readers tantalizing recipes, even as Pepper samples other delightful wares in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. In fact, a large part of the appeal of the Spice Shop Mystery series is the delightful atmosphere Leslie Budewitz crafts for the readers. Her world is one I want to visit time and time again.
KILLING THYME is yet another fun installment in the Spice Shop Mystery series. Pepper’s feisty personality coupled with phenomenal world building make KILLING THYME and the rest of the Spice Shop Mystery series a definite hit. Easily recommended!
*I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book*
October 5, 2016
Pepper Reece's Seattle Spice Shop is keeping her busy enough, but when her mother comes back from Costa Rica, the two of them run into an old friend of her mother's, who seems to be hiding some secrets from the past. When that woman is murdered shortly after attending a party at Pepper's childhood home, Pepper delves into the past, uncovering some of the secrets that her mother, the murdered woman and even her best friend have been keeping from her for 30 years.
Leslie Budewitz has created another great story, combining Seattle's past and present and exploring both the idealism of the 70s and 80s and the anger that ran below the surface. Her characters are well drawn, as are the relationships among them. The life Pepper leads, at her store, with her friends and family, among the shopkeepers and the community, draws you in, as do her shop's eclectic mix of spices and brews and her lovely dog Arf. Her relationships with her boyfriend and her ex-husband are also fun to watch.
Budewitz helps you care about the characters without the reader wanting to shake them and tell them to grow up, a skill not all authors have learned. Most of the people around Pepper are trying to do the right thing, though for some knowing what is right is harder than for others.
I received an advance copy of the book as part of a FaceBook contest, with no obligation to review. But I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to more Spice Shop Mysteries.
Leslie Budewitz has created another great story, combining Seattle's past and present and exploring both the idealism of the 70s and 80s and the anger that ran below the surface. Her characters are well drawn, as are the relationships among them. The life Pepper leads, at her store, with her friends and family, among the shopkeepers and the community, draws you in, as do her shop's eclectic mix of spices and brews and her lovely dog Arf. Her relationships with her boyfriend and her ex-husband are also fun to watch.
Budewitz helps you care about the characters without the reader wanting to shake them and tell them to grow up, a skill not all authors have learned. Most of the people around Pepper are trying to do the right thing, though for some knowing what is right is harder than for others.
I received an advance copy of the book as part of a FaceBook contest, with no obligation to review. But I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to more Spice Shop Mysteries.
September 13, 2017
Pepper Reece, owner of the Seattle Spice Shop, who has gotten involved in two murders in the previous year, finds herself embroiled in another mystery, this time one that reaches back to get childhood in Killing Thyme by Leslie Budewitz. Learning of a potter who makes the best spice jars, Pepper goes to meet Bonnie Clay, only to have her mother, visiting from Costa Rica, recognize the potter as Peggy Manning, a woman from her young adulthood whom Pepper’s mother thought was long dead. Pepper notices serious tension between the women and overhears part of a conversation in which her mother warns someone else about Peggy/Bonnie. Pepper grew up in Grace House, the large family home of her best friend, Kristin, which became the center of social activism in the 1970s, and Peggy was a friend who visited sometimes. So Pepper brings Peggie/Bonnie to a big open house celebrating the remodeling of this house. That night Kristin shows off a valuable diamond and sapphire bracelet she found in the basement. The next morning, Bonnie is found murdered, smashed in the head by a piece of her pottery. Further, Kristin discovers that her bracelet has been stolen.
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
October 14, 2016
Killing Thyme is the 3rd book in the Spice Shop Series. Unfortunately for Pepper, things hit very close to home when a new comer to the market is murdered. When Pepper starts investigating, it becomes apparent that those nearest and dearest to her are somehow linked to the victim, but no one is willing to provide her with any information. When things in the past start coinciding with present, Pepper knows that she must solve the crime in the name of justice despite how it effects the people who surround her.
I enjoyed this installment in the series. The descriptions provided make you feel like you are actually in Seattle with Pepper. Pepper is starting to really shaping up to be a great character. She is coming into her own and the spice shop is growing and expanding. The secondary characters are great. I personally think Cayenne's grandfather is a scene stealer but I am typically a sucker for an older spunky character. I hope that he continues to make appearances in the future. Overall, a very satisfactory read and I look forward to the next book in the series.
I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review!
I enjoyed this installment in the series. The descriptions provided make you feel like you are actually in Seattle with Pepper. Pepper is starting to really shaping up to be a great character. She is coming into her own and the spice shop is growing and expanding. The secondary characters are great. I personally think Cayenne's grandfather is a scene stealer but I am typically a sucker for an older spunky character. I hope that he continues to make appearances in the future. Overall, a very satisfactory read and I look forward to the next book in the series.
I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review!
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