Nothing Bundt Trouble

Bakeshop Mystery #11

by Ellie Alexander

This time, Torte’s pastry chef and amateur sleuth finds herself coming out of the oven and straight into the fire in Ellie Alexander's Nothing Bundt Trouble: A Bakeshop Mystery.

Spring has sprung in Ashland, Oregon, and everything at Torte seems to be coming up buttercream roses. But just when Juliet Capshaw seems to have found her sweet spot—with her staff set to handle the influx of tourists for this year’s Shakespeare festival while she moves back into her childhood home—things take a dramatic turn. Jules discovers a long-forgotten dossier in her deceased father’s belongings that details one of the most controversial cases in Ashland’s history: a hit-and-run accident from the 1980s. Or was it?

Now it’s up to Jules to parse through a whole new world of details from another era, from unraveling cassette tapes to recipes for Bundt cakes, before an old enemy brings the Capshaw “pastry case” to a modern-day dead end.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Audiobook, Contemporary, Adult

313 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 30, 2020

About the author

Ellie is a voracious storyteller and a lover of words and all things bookish. She believes that stories have the ability to transport and transform us. With over forty published novels and counting, her goal is to tell stories that provide points of connection, escape, and understanding.

She loves inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and is passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, she guides writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them.

Find out more about Ellie and her books by visiting her website at: http://www.elliealexander.co/ or following her on social media—
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_alexa...
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elliealexande...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/elliealexande...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliealexand...
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Reviews

[Natalia R · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

In this eleventh installment in Ellie Alexander's A Bakeshop Mystery series, Jules discovers her father's old journal in the basement of her childhood home, which talks about an unsolved murder from the 80s. With the help of Lance and the professor, she becomes determined to solve the cold case.

I thought this was a wonderful addition to the series. The plot is unique, the setting is enchanting, and the characters are well-written and feel like old friends. I really enjoyed learning about Ashland's past, as well as getting to know Jules's dad. It was easy to see where Jules got her personality from, and I teared up at the end when she read his final journal entry. The mystery kept me engaged and the culprit's identity was a surprise. This is a delightful series, with mouthwatering descriptions of food, heartwarming relationships, and a sense of community and family. I eagerly await the next book. You can never go wrong with a book by Ellie Alexander.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[JEN A · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher in return for an honest review. The release date for this book is 30 June 2020

This is definitely not a book to read if you are on a diet. Food is intertwined throughout the story and frankly made me quite hungry. This was your standard cozy mystery with characters that felt familiar and a story line that brought back fond memories of the 1980s. It wasn’t hard to figure out who the murderer was but that didn’t take away from the enjoyment I got from the book. This is a series that I hope to read more of in the future.

[Laura Salas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always enjoy my forays into Ashland, Oregon, the charming theater town and home to Torte Bakeshop. The mysteries in this series are charming and light and delicious, and they're always a solid 3-1/2-4 stars for me. Until now.

The decision to make almost 2/3 of the ENTIRE book Jules and Douglas sitting at a table in Torte and reading Jules' (long-dead) father's newly found diary aloud is ludicrously slow and ridiculous. Business at this hopping joint goes on all around them, while Jules is in some kind of daze listening to her father's retelling of the past. Meanwhile, that retelling is SO detailed and not written at all like a diary...like someone sorting out their thoughts.

Ugh. I almost gave up on it several times, but my history of liking this series a lot kept me chugging through.

Sadly, even once we leave the past and come to present day, the depiction of Jules and Lance trying to figure out the killer feels kind of...dry and dusty. This just isn't really good enough to be part of this series, in my opinion. I'm crossing my fingers that the next entry is back up to par, because I really do look forward to visiting Torte!

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Spring in Ashland means Juliet Capshaw is getting settled in her childhood home that was given to her by her mother and the Professor after they moved into their new home. While going through boxes in the basement she finds her father’s journal detailing a time in the ’80s when he assisted the Professor on his first case. A hit and run death of a young actor. Juliet’s parents had recently opened Torte and they had taken on a side job provided desserts for a new dinner theatre. This brings her dad into contact with all the players, one of which could be a killer.

Juliet is excited to read the journal after losing her dad all those years ago but is surprised the case had not been solved. After going over the case with her step-dad she decides to ask Lance to help her revisit the suspects and the evidence to try to solve the cold case.

After reading the first ten books in this series we have gotten to know Juliet and her mom quite well. Now we get to travel back in time to get to know Will Capshaw. We also see how much the city of Ashland has changed and the things that have stayed the same. With the journal, the author takes an interesting approach entwining the past and present with a focus on the same mystery. I really liked the time Doug, aka The Professor, and Jules took reading the journal together. Her father’s words were not only focused on the murder case but expressed the love he had for his wife and their daughter. We learn that Jules is so much like her dad. She has always been inquisitive and curious about what happens around her. The apple did not fall far from the tree. For her to pick up the unsolved case made perfect sense.

In the present times, the staff at Torte are also planning a 1980’s themed dinner complete with costumes, a disco mirror ball, music, and recipes including the pineapple inside down cake that was served in many households including mine back in the day. All the ’80’s references brought back a ton of memories, like the mirror ball my graduating class purchased for our school prom, along with the crazy clothes and hairstyles. What a delightful trip back in time.

Nothing Bundt Trouble is a unique story that tugged on my heartstrings. This series features some of my favorite cozy characters. It was a real treat to get to know Helen, Jules, Doug, and finally Will’s stories from the past. It makes them more complete. The love story between Helen and Will just shines. Thank you, Ms. Alexander for writing this book. I loved it.

[Amanda McGill · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a fan at all of the newest Bakeshop mystery.

The majority of the novel takes place in the bakeshop where Juliet and the Professor read over Juliet's late father journal where he was helping the professor solve a hit and run crime in the 1980s. I was so bored reading from his journal since it was so detailed and just went on and on. I would of rather had just the key points and have the rest of the novel focused on the present day and solving the mystery.

So around the 75% mark, we finally finish reading the journal and Juliet wants to solve the mystery of the hit and run. The novel then spends the next 10% having Juliet and Lance go around to all of the suspects to see if anyone seems guilty.

I was just so bored by the end of the novel that I didn't care at all who the killer was. I just wanted the novel to be over with, which is a shame since I really enjoy this series.

Thank you to Netgallery and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really loved the last book in this series so much. The majority of this book took place in a booth and with the professor and Jules reading her father’s diary entries, which read like he was writing a book and not diary/journal. It was kinda boring and nothing much happened :( disappointed.

[Heidi Prockish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series will always be a favorite of mine! I love visiting Ashland through the eyes of Jules. This book was extra fun because it gave us a glimpse of Jules dad, who passed away when she was in high school. I HIGHLY recommend this series to all cozy lovers. If you are new to cozies, this is the perfect series to start with.

[Kim Reads (Read Your Writes Book Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop Mystery series is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I literally wish Torte and the characters were real.

Nothing Bundt Trouble is the eleventh book in the series. I would like to say it’s a standalone read, but I don’t believe it is. At its heart, the story is a much-needed journey for the series protagonist, Jules Capshaw. The story goes back in time to 1988. Readers are introduced to Will, Jules’s father and are able to see the town of Ashland, Oregon, and Torte in their infancy.

Now that Jules’s mother, Helen, has married Ashland’s Police Detective Doug Curtis aka The Professor, Jules moves back into her childhood home. While looking in the basement, Jules discovers a diary written by her father. The diary details events starting on March 14, 1988, where Will and Doug witness a hit and run accident, resulting in the death of a stage actor. At the time, The Professor was fairly new to the department and this became his first solo investigation. Wanting to make a good impression, he asked Will to help with his investigation. The two dub the case “The Pastry Case” and attempt to find out what happened. Unfortunately, this was the first case The Professor wasn’t able to solve. While Doug and Jules sit down together to go over the diary, it gives them an opportunity to bond and reminisce about Will. In the end, Jules knows that she has to attempt to solve the case for both her father and The Professor.

Nothing Bundt Trouble is my most favorite book of the series so far. I knew Ellie was going to write a book set in the 80’s and I knew the book was going to feature Jules’s father who hasn’t been introduced until now. I couldn’t imagine how she was going to pull this off. But she did and did an amazing job in the process. The story allows you to get to know Will and see him and Helen open up Torte. You also get to witness Will’s love for Helen and Jules, which comes through the pages of the story. Jules has so many of her father’s qualities that I don’t think she ever picked up on until now. Nothing Bundt Trouble was definitely a book this series and Jules herself needed. I can’t wait to read the next book, Chilled to the Cone.

~ FAVORITE QUOTES ~

“Always trust your instincts.”

“Your instincts will never lead you astray. That’s a lesson for work, for love, for life.”

**Received a copy from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed the book.**

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing Bundt Trouble by Ellie Alexander is the 11th A Bakeshop Mystery. It can be read on its own if you are new to this culinary mystery series. Juliet “Jules” Capshaw found her deceased father’s journal in a box in the basement. She reads how he was conflicted about getting involved in The Pastry Case and decides to discuss it with Doug (aka Professor) who was her father’s best friend. Ashland, Oregon is always a charming town to visit with Torte, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and its friendly residents (except Richard Lord). I like the family feel inside Torte, among the staff, and the descriptions of the tasty treats they whip up. Nothing Bundt Trouble is different from the other ten books in this series. Roughly two-thirds of the book involves Doug and Jules sitting at a table in Torte reading William Capshaw’s journal. Jules seems to go into a haze while they are reading. She fails to notice the lively atmosphere of Torte with people coming in and out getting coffee and pastries. The pacing is sluggish courtesy of the detailed journal entries and lack of action. With all that William had going on in his life, I do not know how he found the time to write such lengthy, detailed entries (would you really write about the food people ate). I missed the lightheartedness that is the norm for the books in A Bakeshop Mystery series. When the story returns to the present Jules and Lance work to solve the case. Chuck Faraday was not a well-liked man which provides some good suspects. The whodunit can be solved easily before the reveal. I did like getting to know more about William. We also get to learn what Helen and Jules were like in 1988. It seems that Jules was inquisitive even as a child. The 1980s gives Jules inspiration for a fun party. Nothing Bundt Trouble just missed the mark for me. I look forward to reading Chilled to the Cone when it comes out later this year. Nothing Bundt Trouble is a blast from the past cozy mystery with a discovered diary, fabulous sugar flowers, clashes at the Cabaret, decorating dilemmas, and a cold case.

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stupid, stupid, stupid
This was the dumbest book I've ever read. Ellie Alexander obviously doesn't know how journaling works. Who retells events in their journals as if they're telling a story, one that includes everyone's dialog? Who even remembers exactly what everyone said, word for word, or what everyone wore, or what everyone's exact expressions were? Also, Ellie Alexander doesn't know how to write from a male's perspective. There were so many entries that were obviously written by a female.
Another problem with the book was an overabundance of 80s references. The event took place in the 80s. Yeah, we get it. We didn't need all the name dropping every chance Ellie got to drop names, mention styles or try to use slang.
One more thing that really got to me in this book was Doug's relationship to Will and Helen. He was in love with his best friend's wife right at the beginning and apparently all his life. He eventually got to marry her, years after Will's death. Was he just waiting for her and watching Juliet grow up? Waiting for them to be his little family? I found that very creepy.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a different style mystery - a cold case that Jules discovers in her dad's journal! I love mixing it up and was instantly entranced by the story (as Jules and the Professor were) and loved how her dad was a amateur sleuth just like she was! I love this Ashland town and really really enjoyed seeing it through the eye's of Jules's dad Will and how it was in the 80s. There were things that I totally forgot about (dessert carts! I loooved them - can we bring them back?!) and it was fun to see how the town had been in Jules's childhood. This one truly stumped me and I am so glad Jules "re-opened" the case for a fun new perspective and a thrilling end! I cannot get enough of this series.

[K.A. Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars out of 5
I really wanted to love NOTHING BUNDT TROUBLE, the eleventh book in the Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander, but this one fell short. There were plenty of enjoyable moments reliving the food, fashion, and music of the 1980’s along with getting to know Jules’ long-deceased father via his just-discovered journal. I’ve always admired the protagonist, Jules, and the way she treats her employees at her bakeshop, Torte, like family. Ms. Alexander has developed a strong cast of characters over the course of the series and I’ve looked forward to each book. It’s like revisiting old friends.

However, this installment spends the first 60% with Jules and her step-father sitting at a table reading her father’s journal. While the journal is used to recount a murder mystery (which was never solved) that her father got involved in, a lot of “fluff” is included that only a novelist would write. I just don’t see a grown man who is working full-time at his bakeshop, doing after hours dessert catering, trying to be a husband and a father, and working with the new detective to solve a crime, would find time to write in such minute detail… a couple of the many, many instances: what a lounge singer wore, or the color of the highlights in his wife’s hair, especially when it had no bearing on the case. It detracted from what was meant to have been a useful tool in giving Jules the impetus to solve the cold case, and slowed down the pacing. Once the reading of the journal was over, Jules’ investigation into the unsolved murder felt overly rushed and a little too simplistic compared to the other books in this series.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't care for this installment as much as others in the series due to how much of it was journal reading and the fact that the character wrote the journal as if it were a novel. I found it off-putting. Once it was back to real-time action the book picked up as normal. Other all, it took me a long time to get into this book.

[Sem · Rating 3 out of 5]

11 books into the most average series I will ever read and I actually have some thoughts:

- reading this in a deserted airport really helped me understand why I stick with this kind of book. It's an easy distraction, even in the weirdest of times;

- I actually like the idea of shifting the story to the past and exploring a part of Jules's family past. Is keeping 16 chapters of the book in the form of diary entries while two people sit at a table and read it a good idea? Eh, it's not the worst one;

- make Lance openly gay, not just flamboyant. Or, if he's not gay and just absurdly flamboyant, introduce some LGBTQ characters, please. This series is so "Hallmark channel hetero" 11 books in that it's actually getting distracting;

- is Tomas relegated to 10 pages a book now that his puppy love is in the past? At least give me detective Kerry then;

- I've been thinking too much about this series. I use it as a twice-a-year palate cleanser, I need to stop all this 'actually ponder the merits of these books' stuff.

[Patrizia · Rating 5 out of 5]

In questo libro la protagonista trova un diario del padre che la catapulta nella Ashland di fine anni Ottanta, quando stava inziando a svilupparsi in quella che abbiamo imparato a conoscere nei volumi precedenti di questa bella serie. In parte è stato come ripiombare nella mia infanzia, sebbene ci siano delle differenze soprattutto per quanto riguarda i cibi. Nel diario si parla di quello che è poi diventato un cold case e la protagonista inizia a indagare, anche se ciò avviene grossomodo nell'ultimo terzo del libro. Mi è piaciuto il viaggio indietro nel tempo, che copre gran parte del libro, forse perché inizio ad avere una certa età...

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 11 of the Bakeshop Mystery series where Jules tries to solve a decades old murder that her father worked on in the 1980’s. The first 200 pages are basically a reading of her father’s journal which documents the case but also reads just like a novel. (Forget baking, he should have been a writer.) From there Jules and Lance do some amateur detective work, apparently make the killer nervous, and a dramatic confrontation wraps it up. For those following the series, there is still no resolution for the Jules/Carlos marriage drama which was disappointing.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things are going well for Juliet she has her staff all ready to handle the crowds planned for the Shakespeare festival. She discovers a diary of her deceased father detailing long forgotten murder case. The case was never solved until Juliet decides to look into it.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5. I was looking for a cozy mystery and had read good things about this series but was disappointed. The majority of the novel takes place in the bakeshop where Juliet the owner and her stepfather known as the Professor and a police officer read over Juliet's late father journal. The entries record the time Juliet’s father was helping the Professor solve a hit and run crime in the 1980s. The introduction of the journal and have the characters read from it was painstaking and in my view took away from solving the murder. While an interesting way to introduce a cold case and tie the past to the present, the journal seemed to go on and on. I would of rather had just the key points delivered through the journal and have the rest of the novel focus on the characters in the present day and solving the mystery. The descriptions of baking the desserts and other offerings at the bake shop certainly made my mouth water but did not seem as natural as in other mysteries I have read. Having said that, I’ll give a few more in this series a try to see if my opinion changes.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing Bundt Trouble by Ellie Alexander is the 11th book in the Bakeshop Mystery series, and another great addition. I love this series, and have read them all, and when a new book comes out it's like visiting old friends. Juliet Capshaw owns Torte Bakery with her mother. Juliet is moving into her childhood house since her mother has remarried. While sorting through papers, she finds her father's diary, and he talks about the bakery case that he helped the professor on in the 1980's. The Professor is Juliet new step father, and the police chief, so she asks him about the case. I found this book to be very interesting and unique. Together Juliet and the Professor talk about the diary, the case, and the sleuthing begins. The plot and characters are well written, and this book will keep you guessing and wondering about all the suspects. I suggest you read the books in order, to get the full effect. I highly recommend this book for all cozy mystery lovers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars: Nothing Bundt Trouble by Ellie Alexander was a great addition to the Bakeshop Mystery series. This book is not centered much on Torte, which was okay, it was a very character based mystery. In this book Jules discovers her father's old journal in the basement of her childhood home, which talks about an unsolved murder from the 80s. With the help of Lance and the Professor, she becomes determined to solve the cold case. It is a trip down memory lane for both Jules and the Professor.

The setting of Ashland, Oregon is wonderful. With the Shakespeare Festival gearing up and all the other Shakespeare related businesses getting ready for the tourist season, Jules is lucky to have such a wonderful staff to run Torte while she works to solve this case. She loves learning about her parent's romance and the beginnings of Torte. Solving a cold case isn't easy, but Lance gets into the case and helps Jules with her sleuthing. Most of the people who were around at the time and mentioned in the journal are still in the area, so it is easy for Jules and Lance to sneakily get information from them. This book was a bit different from others in this series, but the plot is unique and the characters are well-written. The mystery kept me engaged and the final reveal was a well-kept secret. I figured it out at the same time Jules did and the final showdown was tense and entertaining. This is a culinary cozy and I love the wonderful descriptions of food and the recipes included. The town, the characters and their relationships make this a series that I look forward to each release. I have listened to the last few books in this series, all narrated by Emily Durante. She has a pleasant reading voice for the basic narration and gives the characters recognizable voices. She adds the right amount of expression and feeling to her characters making her a narrator that I enjoy.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Nothing Bundt Trouble, Juliet Capshaw is making her family home into her own.
When Juliet discovers a journal written by her father, she begins to bond with him, and reaches out to the professor to help decipher the book.
I really had a great time reading this book. It was fun to read about her dad and how Torte got started.
Seeing Juliet and her step father bond over this whole mystery was a nice touch.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually love this series but this particular volume was a miss for me. I found the way the story was told boring and it took me forever to get through it. I did enjoy getting to know Jules’ dad but it was not enough to save this story for me.

[Shelley Lawrence · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve really enjoyed most of the Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander, but I really didn’t care for this particular story. I appreciate that the author tried to do something different, but unfortunately, I found it to be dull and rather static. I liked the opportunity to look into the past and gain insight into William Capshaw, Juliet as a young girl, and the origins of the bakeshop, but the way in which it was done didn’t work for me.

The story was primarily told through journal reflections, though they didn’t sound like journal entries at all. Doug, the “professor” and new policeman, tackled a crime with the help of his unofficial partner, William Capshaw, all while keeping it from Juliet’s mom. I didn’t see the purpose of the secret and didn’t care for that aspect. I also found it odd that in the modern day perspective, Juliet and the “Professor” sat in Torte for hours on end reading the journal together while business carried on around them. It didn’t make for a very dynamic story and the content of the past crime felt overinflated and uninteresting.

Juliet and Lance get involved late in the story, but it felt like a little too little and a little too late. The epilogue and reflections on Juliet’s relationship with her father and closure she finally found were sweet, but at that point I didn’t care all that much.

I look forward to returning to the regular crew at Torte and hopefully resolving a few personal issues on Juliet’s life with the next addition of this series.

[Debbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially I was disappointed by this new installment of my beloved Bakeshop Mystery series. The premise involves an unsolved murder from the 1980's. Most of the first 175 pages are a recount of the murder, a description of Ashland during that time and Torte's origin story. The story is told through the journal of Jules deceased dad. My experience with backstory is that a little goes a long way. I struggled through, it wasn't interesting. Then, suddenly the present characters re-emerged, Jules began to investigate and all seemed right with the world again.
I'm not sure what inspired the author to pursue this structure. It didn't work for me. Maybe she thought there were simply too many murders in this delightful local in 2020. As in all series, some are stronger than others. This one seemed a little weak, but in the end I was still engaged. 3.5 stars. I'm looking forward to the next one.

[Maureen Caupp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun addition to the series. I loved learning more about Jule's father. There were some grammatical errors that bugged me at points, but overall if you enjoy baking and a fun cozy read I recommend Nothing Bundt Trouble along with the rest of the series.

[Jane K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. We go back in time and we find out more about Jules’s father. We didn’t hear much about him in earlier books other than that he had died. In this book, Jules finds a journal he wrote about a case he was helping The Professor investigate when he was a detective.

Even though the case was in the past, the killer is found in the present and there’s a conclusion. I like how Jules, Torte’s staff, Lance, The Professor and Helen are like a big family. It’s nice to read.

[Carlymor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting entry in this series. This time Jules is out to solve a cold case. Jules has moved into her childhood home after mom Helen's marriage to the local police detective, also known as the Professor. When going through old boxes in storage, she comes across one of her father's old journals. He and the Professor were close friends before he passed away and her father left journal entries about a local unsolved crime that occurred when Jules was just a child. I enjoyed that reading about the past inspired Jules and her staff at Torte to host an 80's retro dinner. I loved being reminded of upside-down pineapple cake and Ding Dongs. It was a great time to be young.

[Patricia Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

BAKESHOP MYSTERY #12

It is Springtime in Ashland, Oregon, and we are back at Torte with Jules and gang.

Juliet and staff are preparing for the Shakespeare Festival, Jules is moving back home and things are hectic in a good way.

But when Jules finds an old journal written by her father, she is suddenly thrust into an old murder from the '80s and wondering what in the world her father was working on something called The Pastry Case?

With the help of the Professor, she learns more than she ever knew about her parents and her town. While the entire crew jumps in to try and solve the old case, they had better keep an eye out for the people who don't want to dredge up old business.

Between the food and the hilarious antics of the characters, the author has skillfully put together a series that I am pretty sure will keep going. 

This is one series I can not pass up because the characters are so great. I want to hang out with them.

NetGalley/ June 30th, 2020 by St. Martin's Paperbacks

[Amanda Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun installment in this dearly loved series! The flashbacks happening alongside the present day was written so perfectly that you never got lost or questioned what was going on. I loved every minute of it and wish I could have attended Sunday Supper more than you know! Definitely a must read!

[Karen Stallman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing Bundt Trouble by Ellie Alexander is the 11th instalment in the "A Bakeshop Mystery" series. I really enjoyed this story and diving into the past history of Torte and Ashland. It starts with Jules discoverIng her father's old journal in the basement of her childhood home, which talks about an unsolved murder from the 1980s. With the help of Lance and the professor, she becomes determined to solve the cold case.

This was a good read, but wasn’t what I expected as it was more a back story of Torte and Ashland. Don’t get me wrong I rather enjoyed hearing about how it all started and Jules looking into the cold case that had haunted her father and stepfather.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed. There is plenty of humour too with the staff and the whole 80’s them.

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving 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.