Caught Bread Handed

Don't think I finished reading this book as I cannot stand Carlos. All of the other elements of the story I love, but I hate how they push Carlos and the main character (I forget her name) together. It feels inauthentic from everything that you learn about her, and how established her life is in her hometown.

Carlos, Jules’ husband, has shown up in her home town, and Jules is still deciding how she feels about him. They are separated, sort of, but it looks like a reconciliation may be in the works. But Jules is firmly ensconced at the Torte which she runs with her mom, and Carlos is a ship’s chef. Adding to her stress is the newly dead body she finds, along with a man up to his elbows with the victim’s blood. He claims it was a suicide, and he was trying to save her. Well, the cops will have to figure it out, and there is plenty of action before all is said and done. It’s quite an entertaining tale, and quite well performed by Marietta DePrima.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book, or my review itself.

What I Liked:

This is another cozy with a great setting. I love mysteries set in small towns, and having this town be Shakespeare-themed just made it even better.

The food descriptions had me drooling! It made me want to rush right out to a cafe, and get some soup and bread and cake and coffee.

The characters in this were great. They were all individuals, with their own motivations and emotions. I really liked Jules, the main female protagonist, and her romance with Carlos had me rooting for them from beginning to end.

I enjoyed the mystery as well. It had some good twists and turns, red show more herrings, and tense moments (especially the ending).

Anything I Didn't Like?

Honestly, there wasn't really much I didn't like. The book did start out a little slow, but this may not have held true if I had started this series from the beginning and was already invested in the characters.

So...?

Adams is a really excellent writer in this genre. I already feel invested in these characters, and I've only read one book in the series. show less

This book was more about running a bakery/restaurant, and the main character's love life (which is not very interesting, as her love interest is nearly perfect), than it was a mystery. The mystery was very weak. But I did love the baking descriptions.

I have read every one of the mysteries in this series. While I really like the characters and the sub-plot lines, I found the "mystery" in this one to be really thin. The killer was obvious from the beginning, very circumstantial, so why bother to do the investigation? The means of the murder was also never clearly explained.There seemed to be a lot of filler--do I really need to know the step by step instructions for each recipe? All the recipes are included at the end, so I can look there. This book also had a lot of typos--poor editing! I will continue to read this series, because I like the characters and setting, but I hope future novels will have more punch to them.

Caught Bread Handed by Ellie Alexander is the fourth book in A Bakeshop Mystery series. Juliet Montague Capshaw has returned to Ashland, Oregon from Lake of the Woods where she had catered an event (and helped catch a killer). Her husband, Carlos, who had shown up unexpectedly, has returned with her. Torte, her family’s bakery, is busier than ever. The only thorn in their side is the monstrosity that has opened up across the street. ShakesBurgers is the new “restaurant” that took over where Jester (a unique restaurant owned by Alan Masterson) used to be. Mindy Nolan ripped down the Tudor façade and painted the place a neon color. It sticks out like a sore thumb in this Shakespearian town (home to the Shakespeare Festival theater show more complex). Rosalind Gates, president of Ashland Downtown Association, has called an emergency meeting to see about getting rid of the eyesore (or making them put an old looking façade on the place to match the rest of the area). The next day Juliet finds Mindy Nolan dead in ShakesBurgers. Rosalind, of course, ends up being a prime suspect. Juliet starts poking around trying to get answers (and avoid talking to her Carlos). Time is running out for Carlos and Juliet. Carlos has to return to the cruise ship soon (where he works) and he would like Juliet to return with him. But Juliet has found her place in Ashland and Torte. Is there any chance for their marriage? Who wanted Mindy Nolan out of the way like day old bread? You will have to read Caught Bread Handed to get the answers.

Caught Bread Handed is easy to read, has some engaging characters (like the Professor and Helen Capshaw), and is set in a beautiful location. I feel that Caught Bread Handed is really not a stand-alone book. The author does update the readers on Juliet’s past and how she came to return to Ashland, but I think it would be helpful to have read the previous novels (or at least the first one in the series). I felt that Caught Bread Handed is more about a day in the life of Juliet. The majority of the story talks about baking, cooking (the Sunday Suppers at Torte), Juliet not knowing what to do about Carlos, Carlos teaching Sterling, Juliet ogling Carlos when he is not looking, and more baking. Pages of the book are devoted to each item Juliet bakes for Torte (the ingredients, the mixing, the baking, the smell) than to the mystery. We do not get many clues, but the killer is apparent (at least I thought so). I give Caught Bread Handed 3 out of 5 stars. I wanted more substance and time devoted to the mystery. I am also tired of Carlos and Juliet. It is time to resolve the situation (enough is enough). One thing I thought was unusual was how quickly a new business opened. Mindy Nolan and her partner purchased, renovated, and opened ShakesBurgers within two weeks. It just does not seem plausible (and odd considering such a historic type town). The next book in the series is Fudge and Jury. I will read it and then decide whether or not to continue with the series.

I received a complimentary copy of Caught Bread Handed from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest evaluation of the book. show less

Alexander is an accomplished writer and truly knows how to keep a series interesting and entertaining. This latest installment of the Bakeshop Mystery Series was well worth the wait. Jules and Carlos have no idea how to resolve the challenges in their relationship, and Thomas tends to appear at the most awkward of times, but that’s what keeps it entertaining. Of course, there’s a murder, and of course, Jules is right in the middle of it all. This one threatens the very look and feel of the theater district that everyone loves so much. The recipes keep getting better and better and the Tomato-Orange Soup is to die for! I love the new coffee concoctions in each book and can’t wait for the next. As these characters continue to show more develop and evolve, you find yourself getting more and more immersed in their lives. It would seem that Helen’s life will change considerably as we go forward, but that’s why we love Torte and all its’ people. Once again, I’m left eagerly anticipating the next one. show less