Ashland, Oregon, looks as pretty as a postcard this holiday season. The halls are decked, stockings hung, and eyes are all aglow―mostly thanks to the buttered rum. Jules Capshaw and her staff at Torte are busier than ever. . . still, even the town’s most in-demand bakers need to take a break. So Jules invites everyone to celebrate at the local Winchester Inn’s Dickens Feast, a six-course extravaganza with Yorkshire Pudding, Christmas goose, and all the trimmings. But as the weather outside becomes frightful, things inside turn less delightful when one of the guests ends up as dead as Scrooge’s doornail. Now it’s up to Jules and her helpers to make a list of suspects―and check it twice―to try to find out who’s naughty, who’s nice, and who’s guilty of murder…[summary via Amazon]
It's the holidays in Ashland, Oregon. Juliet Capshaw and the gang at Torte are ready to celebrate the holiday and provide festive cheer and delectable treats for everyone in Ashland. However, not everyone has festive cheer on their minds... When the staff get together for a Christmas party at the Winchester Inn they don't expect their night to end with a dead body! With the holidays inching closer and a murderer on the loose, Jules must put all her detective skills to the test before the holidays are ruined.
I love every visit to Ashland. The staff at Torte are always cooking up something mouth-watering, and Jules (along with her friend Lance) are always getting up to something interesting. If Lance is involved, it's something mischievous too!!!
This time the mischief involves solving the case of a murdered guest at the Winchester Inn. Jules and Lance are certain the murderer isn't a school friend, but what do they do when all signs point to their friend? Well they hunt for clues of course - and only in the most stylish of ways if Lance has anything to say about it!
I really like the amateur detecting duo of Jules and Lance. They're best friends and not romantically involved at all, and I find this is what sets these two apart from other series. There is a strong bond between them, and I love the constant bantering between Jules and Lance.
The setting for the murder is just delightful (in-a-I-love-a-good-setting kind of way!). It's the Dickens Feast at the Winchester Inn, and I could just picture the scene of a perfect holiday feast. It completely had the feel of an Agatha Christie novel, set at Christmas, and just waiting for Hercule Poirot to enter and say "the butler did it"!
From beginning to end, A Cup of Holiday Fear is a delightful holiday mystery. It hits all the right notes with quotable Shakespeare and simply delectable, mouth-watering treats. Add in the holiday atmosphere and an unfathomable Christmas mystery and it's easy to see why this one is topping my holiday reads this year!
If you haven't picked up the Bakeshop Mysteries, you need to add these to your reading list. While I highly recommend starting from the first book, Meet the Baker, it is possible to jump right in with A Cup of Holiday Fear. Ellie Alexander gives you enough background information that you won't feel lost. I do warn you though... afterwards you will be wanting to read the backlist in this series for the wonderful mysteries and fantastic recipes!
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