Bake, Borrow, and Steal

Bakeshop Mystery #14

by Ellie Alexander

Ellie Alexander's Bake, Borrow, and Steal, the most delicious installment yet in the Bakeshop Series set in Ashland, Oregon! As the autumnal hues of November fall over the Shakespearean hamlet of Ashland, Oregon, Jules and her team at Torte are working on their biggest event ever. They’ve been invited to create chocolate showpieces for the gala opening of a new exhibit, Shakespeare’s Lost Pages at SOMA. The museum, located on the campus of Southern Oregon University, is getting ready to unveil the Bard’s lost manuscript, Double Falsehood, which is being touted as the greatest artistic discovery of modern times. In addition to molding luscious, silky chocolate into magnificent structures, Torte will be serving an authentic Elizabethan feast straight from the pages of a sixteenth century cookbook featuring Lardy cakes, Frangipane tarts, and jellies with chestnut cream.Jules has underestimated the amount of work required to pull off such a culinary feat. She finds herself in the strange position of feeling frazzled and stressed as the day of the gala approaches. However, her team rallies around her and once the massive works of chocolate art are safely installed at the museum, she can finally let out a sigh of relief and revel in the excitement of the grand celebration. But her relief is short-lived. Right before the unveiling, news quickly begins to spread that Shakespeare’s lost manuscript is missing. Not only that, but the security guard tasked with keeping the priceless artifact safe has been killed. Is this a case of a heist gone terribly wrong? Or could it be that a killer is lurking in the museum archives?

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

271 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 28, 2021

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—
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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elliealexande...
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Reviews

[Linden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Juliet runs a bakery in Ashland, Oregon, and she and her staff have agreed to provide catering for a special Shakespeare exhibit in a local museum. The event is disrupted when there is a theft, an accident, and a murder. Juliet and her friend Lance decide to help the police with their investigation. The bakery's offerings are all described in delicious detail. Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for he ARC.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

We return to Ashland, Oregon at what should be a slow time at Torte but Jules and the Torte team are preparing for a big event. The museum at the local college had landed the huge honor of unveiling Shakespeare’s lost manuscript, Double Falsehood to the public. Important people from up and down the west coast will be attending and Torte will be serving them a feast of food from the Elizabethan era. They are also making some amazing chocolate sculptures to add to the exhibit.

But the Shakespeare’s Lost Pages at SOMA reveal does not go as planned. Just before the doors are supposed to open an eagle eye noticed the pages on display are fake and the real lost manuscript has been stolen. A search is immediately started and a museum employee is found badly injured in the basement and a security guard is killed. Lance immediately decides he and Jules can find the missing artifact and the thief. The Professor also asks her to keep her eyes and ears open. She just hopes she doesn’t become the killer’s next missing artifact.

All my favorite characters are back and have time to shine within these pages. I am so happy that Juliet and Carlos are settling in their lives off the cruise ship. Carlos works so well with everyone and is such a great mentor. I think he brings out the best in Jules too giving her the confidence to take on big events like the one at the museum. Rosa plays a bigger role in this story because her uncle Javier is the director of the museum and is in charge of organizing the unveiling event. Every time I read a book in this series I enjoy the way everyone at Torte is like family. They support each other, cheer them on or pick them up depending on the situation. All are very well-developed with room to continue to evolve as the series continues.

Ms. Alexander also introduces readers to new characters with the museum staff. It is a small group but they all play vital places in the plot. Suspects all, we get to know them just well enough not trust any of them. The plot is filled with twists and turns but the true guilty party was evident to us much sooner than it was to those in the book. I really enjoyed the way the reveal played out. The author’s detailed descriptions put me right there in the moment.

Again, the food details had me drooling. I really wish Torte was a real place and I could just pop in to have one of Andy’s special coffees, a cup of Sterling’s soups, a slice of Marty’s bread, and one of Bethany’s brownies. Of course, anything Jules baked up would be wonderful too.

Bake, Borrow, and Steal is a marvelous addition to this series. It can be read as a stand-alone but I encourage you to read the series from the start to truly enjoy these remarkable characters.

Now the waiting begins, Donut Disturb will be released on June 28. I see love will be in bloom. I can’t wait!

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3-3.5 stars.

Once again I'm jumping blind into a long-running cozy mystery series but since I have enjoyed another of Ellie Alexander's mystery series, I took a chance on this one when it was offered through NetGalley. The author fills in any important details from past books so it wasn't hard to read this as a standalone. In fact, the first chapter recaps what's been going on in the life of Juliet Montague Capshaw and her husband Carlos, owners of Torte bakeshop in Ashland, Oregon. The town has a charming Elizabethan style and is home to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival during the summer months. But now it's November and Jules has taken on a major project that stretches her creative skills.

Javier de la Garza, the director of the Southern Oregon Museum of Art has hired Capshaw and her crew of chefs and bakers to cater the opening night gala of a major event at the museum: a most coveted exhibit of 'Shakespeare's Lost Pages.' For the centerpiece, he has asked her to recreate the bard's desk and chair entirely out of chocolate!

All goes well until just before the big reveal when it is noticed that the rare manuscript has been switched and a fake is in its place. Chaos reigns and is followed quickly by injury and death. When a good friend is arrested, Jules feels she must try to find the real culprit.

The setting is lovely, the characters very charming, the mystery intriguing, but what really sets this book apart is the description of the food and drink that Jules, Carlos and their staff create! Oh my goodness, I'd love to have a shop like this where we live.

I received an arc of this new mystery from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.

[Melissa P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when my cozy mysteries take place in the fall 🍂. Because all of these books heavily talk about Shakespeare, it wasn't a surprise that the mystery started out with one of Shakespeare's manuscripts being stolen. I thought the mystery took a different turn in this book because for once, it wasn't a murder mystery. Not too long into the story, however, a person does end up dead and Jules and others try to find out how the two cases are connected and who could have done it. I have the next three books in the series with me and I really hope Ellie Alexander continues these because I love them. Happy reading! ❄️📃

[Debbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. I can't pass up an opportunity to spend time with this wonderful collection of characters in one of my favorite places. I think the series needs a little boost, this isn't Alexander's strongest installment. The last time I felt this way the author must have been feeling it too and infused new life into the bakeshop. I look forward to new twists and developments in #15.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bake, Borrow, and Steal by Ellie Alexander has Jules Capshaw and the Torte team working to create Shakespearean treats for the gala. SOMA will be hosting a new exhibit titled Shakespeare’s Lost Pages which will feature the Bard’s lost manuscript, Double Falsehood. Jules is creating a stunning chocolate centerpiece for the event and Torte will provide treats authentic to the time period. Just before the unveiling of Double Falsehood it disappears, and the laidback security guard charged with safeguarding it is murdered. The museum needed this exhibit, or it could cease to exist. Jules and Lance set out to bag the villain who committed these dastardly deeds so the museum can regain its reputation and host a new unveiling. Bake, Borrow, and Steal is the fourteenth A Bakeshop Mystery. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone. However, I recommend reading them in order so you can watch Jules come into her own. I like Ellie Alexander’s casual writing style. It makes the story easy to read. There is a great cast of characters that includes Jules, Carlos, Sterling, Thomas, The Professor, and so many more. Torte has a great staff who create delectable delights. Lance is an over-the-top character. He adds humor to the story with his antics. The mystery was well-plotted, but it was a cinch to solve. I knew who would commit the crime before it occurred. I also suspected where the lost manuscript was hidden. I would like to see this author make the mysteries more complex. I would love to be stumped. There is misdirection to send readers down the wrong snow-covered path. It all wrapped up nicely at the end. Bake, Borrow, and Steal has a sweet ending. The detailed descriptions of Torte’s tempting treats will have you heading to your local bakery. I enjoyed reading about the construction of the chocolate desk and chair. It is not easy to make that type of item out of chocolate. Bake, Borrow, and Steal was an enjoyable cozy mystery to read. I like seeing how the lives of the various characters have changed since the beginning as well as Torte. The business continues to expand under Jules leadership. Bake, Borrow, and Steal is a sweet story with scrumptious pastries, a missing manuscript, a chocolate conundrum, a security guard who is a goner, a zealous Lance, a bothersome board member, and a thoughtful Thanksgiving.

[Leith Devine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 14th book in the Bakeshop Mystery series. I really enjoyed it!
Jules is back, busy at Torte, her bakery, and it’s staff. Her husband Carlos is back in Ashland from cooking on cruise ships, and life is good. Torte is catering the unveiling of Shakespeare’s Lost Pages at a local museum when someone reports that the original manuscript was stolen. Jules and her friend Lance start investigating, but there are so many suspects to consider and they’re stalled.

Unfortunately, the guard watching the pages that night is found murdered and it gets even more confusing. Who had motive and opportunity? Jules is determined to find out.

I liked this book a lot. The descriptions of Ashland OR are detailed and beautiful, not surprising because the author, Ellie Alexander, lives there! I love that the solution is hard to figure out, it makes reading the book more fun. My only change would be to add recipes for some of the amazing dishes Jules makes at Torte. 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Courtny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read everything that Ellie Alexander has written in the mystery world. This was such a fun addition to her Bakeshop Mystery series. I love that we get to dive a little deeper into her and Carlos's relationship. The Torte family has undertaken one of their biggest jobs to date. They are going to be create an elaborate slab of Shakespearean food and desserts for the SOMA museum of arts. Julies and her crew are pushing themselves to new challenges with chocolate architecture and historical recipes. I love this so much as a History Major who has worked in museums. Ellie knocked it out of the park.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bake, Borrow and Steal is a great addition to this already fantastic series.
I love the gang at Torte, as well as all the other characters in this book.
Ashland sounds like a wonderful place to visit, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

[Patricia Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Bakeshop Mystery #14

It’s November in Ashland, Oregon, and Jules is busy with a huge project for Torte. Creating Chocolate sculptures and a delicious feast for the fancy opening of the newest exhibit, Shakespeare’s Lost Pages at the museum.

Everyone is anxious as well as excited to see Double Falsehood and it is being guarded around the clock. Jules and the team will be making an authentic dinner with all the traditional foods of the period.

Everyone is stressed. The staff at the museum are fighting each other and the benefactor bringing in the piece is a royal pain! With everything finally in place and ready to go, Jules is told the manuscript has been stolen! Replaced by a forgery. But how in the world?

When the police arrest Javier, Rosa begs Jules to help her free her uncle. And of course, she jumps right in.

This was so well written that I suspected everyone except Jules! What a twisty read with some very sketchy characters. Loved it!

NetGalley/December 28, 2021, St. Martin’s Press

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun. I enjoyed this story. The mystery was good and the good sounded spectacular as always. Love seeing the characters continue to grow.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bake, Borrow, and Steal is a wonderful addition to the Bakeshop Mystery series by author Ellie Alexander. I have been a fan of the series from the beginning in large part to the wonderful characters she has created. Juliet Capshaw is a thoroughly likable protagonist and I have loved watching her grow into the character she has become. Ms. Alexander surrounds her with a stellar secondary cast of characters who each gets a chance to shine throughout the series. I love how Juliet and Carlos have settled into their marriage and each has found their place in Ashland.

The mysteries are not typically the strongest part of this series but I thought this one was well done. There are a few plausible suspects and the reader does have to watch the clues to determine the most likely suspect. There are a few things happening including theft of a valuable manuscript, an attack, and murder. Juliet and Lance don't play as large a part in solving this one as they usually do, but I love how the Professor respects Juliet's intuition and insight.

As always, the book is full of delicious descriptions of food that will make your mouth water. I eagerly await the next installment in this series.

I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, St. Martin's Press, through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and have not been impacted by the manner in which I received this book.

[Beth Cato · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley.

This book is the 14th in the series, and the first one that I have read, but even so, I was able to slip into the story and world as if into a brand new pair of comfy sweat pants. From the first chapter, it's evident that there's a lot of back story between the characters, but that gave me no difficulties at all. The setting is Ashland, Oregon, in mid-November. There's a cold nip with a promise of snow, and the entire town is abuzz about the unveiling of a newly-found Shakespeare manuscript. This is a huge deal in a place that prides itself on its Shakespearean festival each year. Jules runs a local bakery (along with a winery and ice cream shop, apparently--she's doing well!) and is contracted to provide food for the opening gala. Soon enough, there's a missing manuscript, an injured man, and a dead security guard, and one of Jules's friends is set up as a suspect.

Oh, this book is a fun romp! Cozy town in the snow, fantastic cast of characters, detailed descriptions of baked goods--this is totally my jam. I have only a little experience in southern Oregon, but the author seems very familiar indeed, which adds even more realism to the book. Jules questions people and uncovers a lot of drama, leading up to the big reveal--which is when things became incredibly disappointing, as Jules doesn't play a pivotal role. That's one major blip in an otherwise great read. I'd love to read others in the series.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be honest, in the beginning I just couldn't get into this book. I started it and was so bored with all the talk about Shakespeare that I put it down. I probably read 3 or 4 books before getting back to it. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood, but it seemed better when I started it again. Also, to be honest, I didn't realize it was the 14th book in a series that I had never read, so there was a lot of background that I was missing out on and that is my fault. So I will give this one more star than I had intended to.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

It always feels like coming home when I read one of these mysteries; the characters are so welcoming and feel like family. I loved the addition of the museum and gala event in this one so that Jules and the crew could get out of Torte and let us explore more of Ashland (this may be while I feel like I know the place so well). I had my suspicions of who the guilty person was and so was not surprised by the conclusion but it was still well laid out and really, anyone could have done it. And, of course, the descriptions of all the food and beverages had me drooling. I can’t wait for the next one (already pre-ordered).

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the premise of the secret Shakespeare pages and this discussion about his origins (or even HER being a female or group of females) and the fancy party was a great setting. However, I just felt like some of the characters involved were just too over the top and didn't seem responsible or stable enough to have the jobs that they did. I was not at all surprised by the reveals and I feel like the only thing that kept me reading was the Shakespeare theme and the wonderful recurring characters.

Audiobook note: I CANNOT recommend this audiobook. There is a new narrator and she has made the characters fall flat. Carlos has 0 accent which is just unacceptable, not everyone needs to sounds bland American. Lance lost his flare, and there was no difference between any of the characters ( the professor sounded just like Andy). I can only hope that the narrator finds her way with this series as it truly took away from the experience of the book.

[Danielle B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite in the series but I looooved Andy having more screen time! He is such a fun character and I’m always wondering if he is going to start dating Bethany. 🤔 It took awhile to get to the mystery and I think that’s why this was a bit of a miss for me.

Nonetheless, I’m looking forward to the next one!!

[Hollie]

a classic cozy town mystery

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner! Can’t wait for the next book!!

[Maureen Caupp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun addition to the series.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bake, Borrow, and Steal is the 14th book in The Bakeshop Mystery series which I am enjoying. We return to Ashland, Oregon where Jules and her team run Torte, a coffee shop and bakery. It is autumn and things should be slowing down, but the museum at the local college is displaying Sharkespeare's lost manuscript, Double Falsehood. There is to be a huge gala and the team from Torte are serving food, using an Elizabethan cookbook, and making chocolate sculptures to add to the exhibit. The thorn in Jules' side is one of the board members and major contributors. The food is too dry, the chocolate desk doesn't look like it will stand up if handled and so on. The night of the opening, one of the eagle eyed workers realizes that the manuscript is a forgery. Not only that, but the custodian is almost killed when someone knocks a shelf over on him, and the security guard hired to keep the manuscript safe ends up dead. Can they find the thief and the killer? Are they the same person?

All my favorite characters are back and play a part in the story. Jules and Carlos are happy living together, with him home from his cruising jobs. He is a positive influence on Jules, supporting her and giving her the confidence to take on jobs like the opening. Lance is once again, front and center helping to solve the crime, with the blessing this time. We don't see much of Jules' mom, but the Professor is instrumental in solving the crime. This story has Rosa playing a bigger role, since her uncle was instrumental in planning the event being the director of the museum. He is arrested as the prime suspect, so Rosa asks Jules for help. This was another great story in this series, although there seemed to be something missing that kept this from being 5 stars for me. I love the setting and the family environment that the employees of Torte become. Maybe it was that Lance wasn't as involved and I missed the humor, or perhaps that The Professor basically solved this one himself. I did enjoy this well written and developed cozy mystery, with the clues sending me off in different tangents, until the final reveal came. If you enjoy a good cozy mystery, then I recommend this book and series.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Juliet and her crew of talented chefs and artisans are working on their biggest event ever. The chocolate pieces they have been asked to produce for the new Shakespearean exhibit at the museum are sure to be showstoppers. Unfortunately, before the event gets underway the priceless document to be featured is stolen, leaving behind one seriously injured museum employee and a dead security guard. Juliet‘s already frazzled nerves due to the sheer importance of this showing our met with disbelief when a close friend is arrested. She uses her connections to the museum to do her own investigation to try to clear her friend.

This installment comes when Juliet is beginning to feel comfortable in her marriage to Carlos now that he is living in Ashland full-time and helping her run her businesses. This was an intriguing plot with all of the usual interesting characters we’ve come to know in this well-established series. It wasn’t my favorite but it is high on my list and makes me look forward to the next book knowing that Juliet is ready to move forward with Carlos to hopefully start a family very soon.

[Stephanie (read_with_steph) · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a few disappointing installments in this series (*cough* Chilled to the Cone *cough* Mocha, She Wrote *cough*), this book fourteen brings the series back home and shows why it's lasted so many months. Without any extra frills of an ice cream shop, vineyard, or coffee competition, we simply see the crew at Torte catering an event unveiling a lost Shakespeare manuscript--which is, of course, soon stolen. It's old school Ellie Alexander in the best way, and makes me want to continue reading this series. A classic cozy mystery, with lots of delicious food references, plenty of suspects, and twists and turns to keep you guessing. Fans of Alexander and cozies are sure to like this latest bakeshop book.

Thanks to the publisher for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 8/10

[Carmela Dutra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jules is the owner of Torte Bakeshop, and she has been hired by a museum to cater a large gala which will be featuring the lost Pages from Shakespeare. unfortunately several crimes are committed and Jules‘s stepfather has to get involved to uncover what is happening. which of course obviously Jules is involved and helps With the investigation.

This is the fourth book in the series and I’m definitely going to restart this series at the beginning. Thank you NetGalley for my gifted copy.

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book achieves its goal, which is to entertain. The mystery kept my attention, but the use of clichés and the continuity errors were distracting. As much as I love baking, the regular interruptions of technique and ingredients (overuse of the phrase warming spices) quickly became annoying.

[Kelly Ceballos · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t know why but it was so hard for me to focus. I do like the cover though

[Teena in Toronto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Juliet (aka Jules) was raised in small town Ashland, OR. She grew up helping her parents in their bakery and went on to culinary school. After working for many years on a cruise line, where she met her husband, Carlos, she moved back home to take over the family bakery. She now shares ownership of it with her mother, who recently married the local head of police. After a two year separation, Jules has worked things out with Carlos and he is running the winery they have majority ownership of.

A lost manuscript of William Shakespeare has been discovered and, since Ashland is home to a Shakespearean theatre and the town has a Shakespearean theme, the director of the local museum has managed to have it exhibited in there. It is a big deal and Tortes has been hired to provide the catering for the opening night gala, which has all the staff at Torte racing around preparing the food. At the unveiling gala, there is a lot of tension, both with the museum staff and the Torte staff. It doesn't help when it's discovered that the manuscript has been stolen, the maintenance man has been attacked, a guard killed and the director of the museum is then arrested for everything.

This is the fourteenth in the Bakeshop Mystery series (I've read them all) and I thought it was okay. It's written in first person perspective in Jules' voice. It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity. I suspect there will probably not be many more in this series as everyone is settled down happily and Jules is thinking about having a baby.

Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2021/12...

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bake, Borrow and Steal is the 14th novel in Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop Mystery cozy mystery series, but the first one I’ve read. It works perfectly as a standalone. Ashland, Oregon is the home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and is the setting for this book. Having visited Ashland a few years ago and attended a play at the OSF, I could picture everything easily. The town is almost a character itself! The mystery this time is the disappearance of a rare Shakespeare manuscript from the preview of a special traveling exhibit at the art museum at Southern Oregon University. The main character, Juliet, is in charge of catering for this exhibit opening, as well as her continuing work at her bakeshop, Torte. I really enjoyed all the side characters in the book, especially her star barista, Andy, who gets very excited about snow because he loves to ski and snowboard. Other favorites included Lance, the flamboyant artistic director of OSF, and some of the other Torte employees. As you might expect, there are detailed descriptions of the fabulous food being prepared for both the bakeshop and the special event. Unfortunately, I felt that the extensive descriptions slowed down the action of the book, so I wound up skimming some of them. The mystery was a good one and there were several possible suspects, which kept me guessing.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Lori Leaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and was so happy to be back in the world of Juliet & the Torte bakery! This particular book is the 14th in the series but can easily be read as a stand alone. Personally, I have read through book 5 and then jumped ahead to this one. Don't worry, I'll be going back and catching up on the rest of this series over 2022.

In Bake, Borrow and Steal Juliet has been asked to create a chocolate showpiece for a gala opening at the local museum featuring Shakespeare's lost manuscript, Double Falsehood. There is a large amount of work that needs to be done and just when Juliet gets everything in place news spreads that the manuscript is missing and the security guard protecting it has been killed.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery with an art heist twist. I felt that Juliet was in top form as she investigated and followed the clues and twists. The setting, as always was great. I love Ashland in the fall and this captured it perfectly along with the scenes at the museum and prepping for the gala. One of my favorite parts of this series are the desserts and other food that the characters make. Do not read this book hungry!

[Ali Bunke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is book 14 in the series, it is the first A Bake Shop Mystery I have read. The author did an amazing job by writing the story in such a way that I had no problem reading this as a stand-alone. I have already gone back and picked up book 2 to read because our main character Jules seems like she has had a lot of great adventures. The book kept the location of the mystery pretty contained which helped in my being easily able to follow along. The setting of the book and the characters relationships with each other are appealing. We are given lots of possible suspects to choose from and the author provides a few twists along the way. This is a quick read and delightfully cozy.

Thank you Netgalley an St Martin Press for the arc.