Bake, Borrow, and Steal by Ellie Alexander

Bake, Borrow, and Steal

 Book Summary

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?

My Thoughts

Bake, Borrow, and Steal by Ellie Alexander has Jules Capshaw and the Torte team working to create Shakespearean treats for a 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 and watch the other characters grow as well.  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, Andy, 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. 

Bake, Borrow, and Steal is available from Amazon*.  You can find the other thirteen A Bakeshop Mysteries here.  Meet Your Baker and A Batter of Life & Death (first two books in A Bakeshop Mysteries) are available on Kindle Unlimited.  Check out Ellie Alexander's A Sloane Kraus Mystery series (first two books available on Kindle Unlimited).   I appreciate you joining me today.  I will return on Monday with The War Girls of Goodwill House by Fenella J. Miller.   I hope that you have a relaxing weekend.  Take care, stay safe, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Another One Bites the Crust: A Bakeshop Mystery

Welcome!  I hope everyone had a lovely New Year.  Beneath the Summer Sun by Kelly Irvin will be published on January 16.  It is the second book in An Every Amish Season series.  Jennie Troyer is a widow with seven children.  The elders in the community believe it is time for Jennie to remarry, but they do not know the truth about her marriage.  Here are a few of the new books that came out today:  Out of the Ashes by Tracie Peterson and Kimberly Woodhouse, A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White, The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz, Another One Bites the Crust by Ellie Alexander, and Death Below Stairs by Jennifer Ashley.

Another One Bites the Crust by Ellie Alexander is the seventh book in A Bakeshop Mystery series.  Jules Capshaw co-owns Torte with her mother (Helen) in Ashland, Oregon.  The new season of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival is getting ready to start which will greatly increase the traffic to their bakery.  They are also busy with the remodeling of their new space, planning Helen’s wedding to Doug (aka the Professor) and preparing treats for opening night of Antony and Cleopatra.  Then Lance, artistic director for OSF, enters with a new request and drama.  Lance is acting a little stranger than normal (an understatement).  He feels that the actor playing Antony (who will only answer to Antony) is attempting to oust him and he wants to hold a preseason party with authentic Shakespearean dessert buffet (oh boy).  While they really do not have the time for Lance’s party, Jules cannot deny his request (even though he wants to her to use recipes from the 1500s and have the party in one week).  The party is a hit, but there is altercation between a tipsy (again an understatement) Lance and Antony.  Later that night, Lance arrives at Jules home with blood on his hands and clutching a dagger. Antony is dead (not a shocker) and Lance stumbled upon his body.  Lance is the prime suspect (of course) and is arrested.  Jules with assistance from the Professor and Thomas work to prove his innocence.  Someone is setting Lance up for the crime.  Who could have wanted Antony dead?  And what is the actor’s real name? 

Another One Bites the Crust is nicely written, has a good pace, contains well developed characters and a charming town.  While Another One Bites the Crust is the seventh installment in the series, it can be read alone.  The author provides the needed background details.  The cozy elements that readers of this genre love are present.  A charming town, quirky yet lovable characters, someone to dislike (Richard Lord), a bakery with delicious descriptions of baked goods, a Shakespearean play with accounts of the beautiful costumes, Jules creating delectable delights for Lance’s party, a hint of romance, Stephanie’s lack of sleep, Lance acting nuttier than usual and wedding planning. I do feel that we do not need the details on every item that Jules decides to create (it can become tedious after the third, fourth, then fifth time).  I was thrilled that Carlos was not featured in this story (I am tired of his storyline).  It does seem, though, that Carlos’ story is not finished.  There is a hint of what is to come (hint:  remember what Carlos gave Jules).    The mystery is medium level.  The killer can be discerned before the reveal (just follow the clues).   The investigation consists of questioning people, our sleuth sharing information (with Lt. Kerry, the Professor, Thomas), and Jules thinking and speculating.  I appreciate that the author gives us competent police officers and detectives (hooray).  While Lt. Kerry is a rule follower (and intelligent), she is not rude, dislikeable or idiotic (or all three).  There is just the right amount of humor in the story.  While Lance is an over-the-top character, he is the only one (thank heavens).  I liked Thomas and Jules getting to spend some quality time together with a little flirting (can you tell I am Team Thomas).  Another One Bites the Crust is a light, entertaining cozy mystery.  

Thank you for stopping by today.  Tomorrow I will share my thoughts on Death Below Stairs by Jennifer Ashley.  First book in A Below Stairs Mystery series.   I hope that you have a peaceful day.  I am off to work in my attic.  A homeowners chores are never done.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader