A Crime of Passion Fruit

In this outing with Jules, Torte moves into the background. She received a call from Carlos (her estranged husband) that the pastry chef on the upcoming cruise has quit and they need someone for a short four day cruise until the new hire can arrive. To sweeten the pot, her mom and "The Professor" are invited along free of charge. She can not turn this opportunity down. Not only does her mother really need a vacation, but it will give her time to decided what to do about Carlos. Of course on the second day of the cruise, Jules finds a dead body floating in the pool early in the morning. Knowing that The Professor is a detective, the captain asks for his help. There is a lot going on in this novel. First Jules needs to deal with her show more relationship with Carlos, she is helping the professor figure out who the dead woman is as well as who killed her, and they are sailing into an impending storm/hurricane which is dangerous for the small ship. There is a lot of suspense and mystery in this book with tidbits via email, keeping us updated on what is happening back at Torte. i am already looking forward to the next book.

The story moved quickly and even though the setting was completely changed and the story did not happen locally, it was still an enjoyable mystery with many suspects and clues. The new characters on the ship were interesting, some more than others. The descriptions of the shipboard activities and food were amazing. I recommend this book to all cozy mystery fans. show less

Having read all of this series in order, this one takes a break from Ashland and transports us to a cruise ship where Jules fills in as executive pastry chef for one trip, one that has been set up by Carlos. The carrot he dangled to get Jules to accept was to throw in a free trip for Jules Mom and the Professor. Of course, Jules gets herself involved in a murder and gets to help (this time by request) the Professor investigate and solve the case. There’s a lot going on in this book and the action is never ending. Once again, Alexander’s writing skills had me feeling the rocking of the ship as it weathers a severe storm, I tasted the luscious deserts Jules planned for the ship’s guests, and I could feel the continuing attraction show more between Jules and Carlos. I was sad to see this one end, but am delighted to know that there’s another one coming out way. show less

A Crime of Passion Fruit by Ellie Alexander is the sixth book in A Bakeshop Mystery series. Jules Capshaw receives a call from her estranged husband, Carlos asking for her assistance. The pastry chef on the cruise ship quit unexpectedly and his replacement will not arrive for a week. The captain would like Jules to return and offers an incentive of an all-expense paid trip for her mother, Helen and her fiancé, Doug Curtis (the Professor). Jules and Helen leave Torte in the hands of their capable staff and Lance. Lance, Director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, is at loose ends and states he will “supervise” the staff while they are away (oh, dear). Jules quickly settle back into the routine of ship life, but it is inevitable show more that she will stumble over a body. Jules discovers a blonde woman floating in the salt water pool. The same blonde woman she noticed sneaking around the crew area of the ship. But who is the victim? No one seems to know her identity. The captain asks the Professor to investigate the crime (there goes the vacation). Jules and the Professor need to capture the killer before the ship arrives at its next port. Jules has her hands full with baking scrumptious treats for the passengers, searching for clues, Carlos and a rocky ship from a squall they are passing through. Can Jules and the Professor catch the killer or will Jules end up as fish bait?

A Crime of Passion Fruit is easy to read and has a nice steady pace. I thought A Crime of Passion Fruit had more of the cozy element than mystery. There are numerous food descriptions in the book. The whodunit is in the background in this story and can easily be solved. The suspect pool is limited. I identified the culprit early in the story. The cruise ship was a nice change of pace and I appreciated how the author included the characters from Ashland into the story. A Crime of Passion Fruit can easily be read alone. All the necessary background details are provided. My rating for A Crime of Passion Fruit if 3 out of 5 stars. I did find it unbelievable that Jules would have time to run around the ship hunting down the Professor and looking for clues. She is running a large pastry kitchen (that works virtually around the clock as we are told more than once) that would command her full attention (I know it is fiction, but it needs to be slightly realistic). Also, a cruise ship has their own security to conduct investigations (and there are laws and regulations to follow when a crime is committed on a ship). A Crime of Passion Fruit reminds me of the Love Boat. I can see Captain Stubbing asking the Professor for his assistance and Jules reminds me of a female version of Gopher with her sleuthing. There is a repetition of information (seems a common theme lately in cozy mysteries). I wish I could say the Carlos and Jules situation was resolved, but it was not (sigh). I am not a fan of Carlos (#TeamThomas). He does not support Jules in her investigations (he wanted to promise “you will bake and stay in kitchen”). I do not feel the love between Jules and Carlos. There is lust, but that it is not love. At the end of A Crime of Passion Fruit, we are left with a little cliffhanger (which means I will be reading the next book in A Bakeshop Mystery series to find out what happens). show less

Have you every read a book that makes you want to vacation so much you can smell the salt in the air? You can feel the warmth of the sun kiss your cheeks? You can hear the waves hit the side of the shop? And look out into the vast endlessness of the ocean with your eyes closed?

This is how I felt reading the 6th installment of the Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander. Jules has been asked by her estranged husband to come to his rescue. Well, not his rescue, but to come and be head pastry chef until the cruise liner can meet up at a port to pick up the replacement chef.

Although Jules is apprehensive to join her husband out on the sea that they fell in love on, Carlos sweetens the deal. The Captain of the ship agreed to let Helen show more and the Professor have a free vacation and they will double her salary for the week. Finally she gives in.

Torte is in the middle of construction with the new addition and Lance has agreed to watch over things while Jules is gone. She knows that she has an amazing team and isn't too worried. Helen, the Professor, and Jules are heading their way to endless buffets, good wine, and great entertainment. Or so they thought.

Jules notices a young woman wandering around the boat that is acting strangely. Before she is able to find out who the young woman is, Jules finds her floating dead in the pool on cruise. The Captain asks Julies and the Professor to figure out what happened to the young lady.

Not only is Jules trying to figure out who Jane Dough is, but she is also soul searching herself. Will she be able to find out who the girl is? Will she be able to come to terms with what she wants? Carlos or Torte? Both? You'll have to read to find out! show less

I'm surprised at how much I liked a book set on a cruise ship. I found the details about working on a cruise ship believable and interesting. The descriptions of food were wonderful, as always. The mystery was not that intriguing, as is usually the case. I still don't find Juliet's romantic life compelling. Lance is a hoot.

I have a new favorite Cozy Mystery Series! This book pulled me in right from the start, I loved the hometown Northwest setting of this book. It is set in a bakery , for the first few chapters, in a small town in Oregon and the description of the bakery itself and the pastries had me wanting to visit! I thought that the side characters quirkiness added to the overall feel of this foodie cozy mystery. Soon hunky sounding Jules's estranged husband calls and begs Jules to return temporarily to the cruise ship where he is the head chef. Now I have to say that this is a series but you can most definitely read this as a standalone although I wish that I had read all of the previous books as this is my first book in this series that I am show more reading. Soon Jules, her mom and her mom's boyfriend are departing for the cruise. Not soon after there is a corpse found by Jules and it is time for the mystery to begin. There was lots of action , drama and a big storm going on in this book. I loved every minute of this and found myself rooting for Jules and Carlos to get back together but that topic will be continued in books to come, I hope. There is a nice twist in the mystery of the murdered stowaway and I was surprised by whodunit.

I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery and it had a nice twist at the end, also there were recipes included at the end of the book. I am thrilled that I found a new series.This review was originally posted on Cindy's Book Binge show less

A Crime of Passion Fruit by Ellie Alexander is a really good book, y'all.

I love the cover of A Crime of Passion Fruit. It's so colorful and detailed, and sets the scene for the book. Most of the action is aboard the Amour of the Sea cruise ship, where Juliet is filling in as Pastry Chef for five days. This imaginative situation makes for an interesting and entertaining plot.

Juliet and the supporting characters are engaging and easy to like. I enjoyed the camaraderie of the Torte staff — barista Andy, sous chef Sterling, and baker Stephanie — which was enhanced by the addition of Bethany (introduced in Fudge and Jury). I love the "something special" that occurred for two characters at the end of the book.

A Crime of Passion Fruit is show more fun and fast-paced, with a mystery which kept me guessing. The Bakeshop Mystery series is one I will definitely continue to read. I'm looking forward to Book #7, Another One Bites the Crust.

I recommend A Crime of Passion Fruit to all cozy mystery fans, especially those who are also theater buffs, Shakespeare fans, cruisers, Oregonians, and/or fans of the Pacific Northwest Mysteries by Kate Dyer-Seeley.

I really enjoyed A Crime of Passion Fruit by Ellie Alexander, and hereby grant it Four Kitties!


Note: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of A Crime of Passion Fruit. All opinions shared are 100% my own.

Originally published on my blog Jane Reads. show less