The Whisking Hour

The Whisking Hour by Ellie Alexander takes us back to Ashland, Oregon for Lance’s take on the production Perfect Crime and a heavenly feast that is downright wicked. The first few chapters reintroduce the characters, Torte, and the town. The mystery does not get underway until the eighth chapter. The whodunit is straightforward and the guilty party can be easily identified early on. The reveal was rushed and details were lacking. The mystery took a back seat to baking, cooking, eating, family time, and other happenings. Page after page is devoted to baking up delectable pastries and cooking scrumptious meals. I wish the story had more substance and less filler. Lance is still dreaming up with over-the-top ideas for his and Arlo’s show more nuptials. It will be interesting to see what they finally decide upon. I am also curious as to how the twins will fit into Jules and Carlos’ busy lives. I had to laugh at Richard Lord’s new girlfriend. The pair are perfect for each other. I did find the ending to be underwhelming. The Whisking Hour is the twenty-second A Bakeshop Mystery and it can easily be read on its own. The Whisking Hour is a tasty treat with an expectant baker, a dead director, nuptial notions, a man with a plan, entranced narcissists, and helpful family. show less

I absolutely loved this cozy mystery!! After having read nearly all the books in this long-running Bakeshop series, I found The Whisking Hour to be my favorite in the series.

With a wonderful sleuth, along with a tremendous cast of characters, I've long since felt like each book is a chance to reconnect with old friends, once again. Also, in this one, there's the opportunity to learn about a new topic, in this case, the OSF and behind the scenes background on stage theater.

A series I love coming back to. Highly recommended for cozy mystery fans!!

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

Jules Capshaw is eagerly awaiting the birth of her twins in this 22nd Bakeshop Mystery. It's fall and the OSF is putting on a murder mystery. Her friend Lance who is the theater director is busy planning his wedding and calls upon a noted New York director to put on this show.

When the director is murdered and found in the lead actress's dressing room, Lance with Jules very reluctant help begin their own investigation. Jules would be more than happy to leave the investigation to the very competent Ashland Police Force.

Even a cursory investigation provides lots of suspects. The lead actress has been bullied by the producer. The director's almost ex-wife has her own reasons for wanting him dead. One of the other actors has been pushed by show more the director into stalking other cast members. The female understudy is trying to gather evidence that the director has a history of hitting on his pretty female cast members. Even the props guy has reasons to want the director dead.

Besides the various villains and searching for the clues, the food Jules and her staff create all sounds amazing. Unlike many culinary cozies, this one doesn't have selected recipes in the back. show less

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s theater artistic director extraordinaire, Lance Rousseau, has brought a Broadway classic to Ashland, Oregon. He has put his own spin on Perfect Crime, and performances are selling out. The performers are getting a little weary with only a few shows left, so Lance hires his BFF Jules and the Torte crew to cater a cast party. With tasty treats ready to serve and a storm coming over the Siskiyou Mountains, Jules learns there has been an actual murder at the theatre. The play director is dead, and the entire cast and crew are now playing the real suspects. Lance quickly decides he and Jules will don their sleuthing caps to be sure this killer didn’t commit a “Perfect” murder.

The show more characters Ms. Alexander has created for this series are well-crafted and continue to evolve with each new story. Jules and Carlos are excited as the birth of their twins draws near. Her mom, Helen, will be stepping in to cover at Torte, but the team at Torte is well-qualified and the best in the business, so there is no worry there. Lance is turning into a bit of a Bridezilla with his crazy wedding ideas. Arlo is a wonderful man with the patience of a saint who loves Lance to the moon and back. Thomas and Kerry are also awaiting a new arrival. I love how these characters come together for each other, no matter what; it is a real family atmosphere.

The murder mystery was very intriguing. Director Kean Armitage was a horrible man with even crazier ideas than Lance. He was most unlikeable and abhorred by anyone forced to work with him. His death was not going to be solved easily with a cast full of suspects. The Professor, Thomas, and Kerry had their hands full. They, along with Lance and Jules, did their best to eliminate people and try to gain focus on the killer, but were still stymied. Don’t worry, Lance had a plan! Oh dear, that usually brings more trouble. Jules did her best to stay out of the fray, protecting herself and her babies. Carlos, still worried. I was on the fence about the guilty party until the very end, but had pared it down to two. The takedown was very satisfying.

To quote the Professor who quoted Rosalind from As You Like It, where she teases Orlando, “I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it.” He reframes what it means to waste our time. I agree, there is nothing better than spending time with family and friends.

The Whisking Hour was another fun visit with Jules and all her friends and family. The mystery had a passel of suspects, twists, and turns, along with entertaining subplots. Foodies will love the recipes included in the story. I would willingly waste my time reading anything written by Ellie Alexander. She is an awesome storyteller. This was another Perfect Escape!

Stay tuned! The Pumpkin Vice Cafe is coming September 29, 2026! show less

I loved this cozy mystery filled with intrigue, laughs and lots of twists and turns. I loved Juliet, Carlos and Lance. I enjoy reading about all these wonderful sounding different foods. I can almost smell and taste them the way they are described. I loved that Lance and Juliet are so nosy that they can get almost anyone to talk. I received a copy of the book and gave an honest opinion.

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

Juliet Capshaw, better known as Jules, and her husband, Carlos, run the family bakeshop, Torte. Jules has agreed, despite the short time frame, to host a crime scene cast party for “Perfect Crime.” the hit show directed by her friend, Lance Rousseau.

Everything comes together and the party seems to be a success . . . and then one of the actors, Kean Armitage, is shot. Who killed the actor? And why?

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Twenty-second in the author’s Bakeshop Mysteries series, readers will find most of the expected characters in place as the baking crew find themselves involved in another mystery. Well-drawn characters that readers care about, interesting background, and a captivating mystery all work together show more to keep the reader involved in the telling of the tale.

Some unexpected twists and multiple suspects keep readers guessing as the unfolding story keeps them yearning for some of the delicious-sounding treats whipped up by the bakeshop crew. It’s nice to see Jules take a step back from solving the mystery as she is, in this story, pregnant with twins and wisely keep her involvement to a minimum.

Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries, especially those filled with yummy-sounding dishes, and charming characters who care about each other will find much to appreciate in this delicious story.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#TheWhiskingHour #NetGalley show less