Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
Today, I am happy to share my thoughts about The Pumpkin Vice Cafe: A Bakeshop Mystery by Ellie Alexander!
The Pumpkin Vice Cafe: A Bakeshop Mystery
Cozy Mystery
23rd in Series
Setting – Oregon
Publisher : Minotaur Books
Publication date : September 29, 2026
Print length : 304 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-10 : 1250465931
ISBN-13 : 978-1250465931
Paperback
ISBN-10 : 1250461898
ISBN-13 : 978-1250461896
Kindle
ISBN-13 : 978-1250410054
ASIN : B0G75CNKBC
Another delicious installment in the Bakeshop Series set in Ashland, OR!
As autumn settles over the charming hamlet of Ashland, Oregon, ushering in cool, crisp breezes and a stunning show of color, everyone at Torte is keeping warm by whipping up a bevy of fall treats and spicy lattes. Jules is nearing her due date, and the whole town is abuzz—placing bets on when the twins will make their grand debut. Helen and the team are working on a secret surprise baby shower, complete with cupcakes, cookies, and a feast fit for royalty, or maybe just a mother-to-be.
Meanwhile, Lance and Arlo are busy planning their nuptials in what is sure to be as close to a royal wedding as Ashland has ever seen. But when the high-end wedding planner they hired is found dead in the frigid waters of Ashland Creek, what looks like a tragic accident, a slip on an icy bridge, quickly reveals itself as something much more sinister. Jules knows at once—this was no mishap. A killer is loose in Ashland, and they may be ready to strike again.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
It’s a beautiful time to visit Ashland, Oregon. Outside, the temperatures are dropping, and the fall colors are popping out all over. Inside, the crew at Torte is serving a variety of soups, sandwiches, tarts, cakes, and coffees. Jules and Carlos are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their twins, while Helen and the staff of Torte are planning a surprise baby shower.
In addition to keeping herself busy baking, Jules is doing her best to rein Lance in on his over-the-top wedding plans. The first wedding planner flaked, but he was excited to learn a high-end planner was delighted to plan the wedding of Lance and Arlo’s dreams. That was until Jules found her dead body in the frosty waters of Ashland Creek. An awful accident? Or is there another murderer on the loose in the lovely hamlet of Ashland?
I am always thrilled to return to Ashland and Torte. Ms. Alexander’s characters continue to evolve in realistic ways. Some of the staff have moved on, and others have been hired and fit right in. Jules and Helen have always thought of their employees like family, which makes a comfortable workplace that encourages everyone to succeed. It also makes it easier for Jules to take time off when the twins arrive. She knows she can trust them to take care of each other and their customers.
Arlo has given Lance carte blanche when it comes to the wedding planning, but he has asked Jules to supervise so he doesn’t take things too far. Some of his ideas are hilarious, but an idea from the wedding planner gave Jules pause: hanging “a massive 10-tier cake upside down from the ceiling dripping with jewel tones like a confectionery chandelier”. She wasn’t sure how she could pull that off without revisiting her high school physics class. All I know is when the monumental event takes place, I want details.
Ms. Alexander has given her readers a mystery they can sink their teeth into. The wedding planner’s life had gotten very complicated, opening up motive for several individuals. Jules was very mindful of her condition, but kept her eyes and ears open. She does some of her best thinking while baking. She had so many questions and theories running through her head, she could have filled all the pastry cases by herself. Lance thought he had figured out who the killer was; he didn’t like their “vibe”, but Jules’s gut told her “they were missing something critical”. Before they could figure it out, Jules found herself in a dangerous position. I blame pregnancy brain for her making a horrendous mistake. The mama-to-be had to think on her feet.
While I love a complex mystery, my mind was on those babies. I loved how the author included the depth of what a pregnant woman goes through in the final days when we can’t wait to meet the little “nugget/s” we are carrying. I was so happy when Jules and Carlos’s babies arrived, and a little peek at how their lives immediately changed. Helen and the Professor came to the rescue. I am sure their other friends did too. It was time to cherish each moment.
The Pumpkin Vice Cafe was a heartwarming story featuring a precisely planned mystery and a joyous time in the characters’ lives. I enjoyed absolutely every minute of it.
Jules is taking some time off, but she and all her friends and family will be back in For Butter or for Worse in April 2027. Looking at the cover, it looks like Jules may have figured out Lance’s elaborate, crazy wedding cake. I am excited to see what Ms. Alexander has planned for her extraordinary cast of characters next.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
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About the Author
Ellie Alexander (aka Kate Dyer-Seeley), is a Pacific Northwest native who spends ample time testing pastry recipes in her home kitchen or at one of the many famed coffeehouses nearby. When she’s not coated in flour, you’ll find her outside exploring hiking trails and trying to burn off calories consumed in the name of research. She is the author of the Bakeshop Mysteries, including Meet Your Baker and A Batter of Life and Death, as well as the Sloan Krause Mysteries, Meg Ryan Mysteries, and the Secret Bookcase Mysteries.
Author Links
Website Facebook Instagram GoodReads Threads Bluesky
Find all of the Bakeshop Mysteries HERE.
Find all books written by Ellie Alexander HERE.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.
Elle Mott writes creative nonfiction. This is her third book. She is the author of “