Mocha, She Wrote (A Bakeshop Mystery #13) by Ellie Alexander

 

Mocha, She Wrote

(A Bakeshop Mystery #13)

by Ellie Alexander

Paperback, 320 pages

Published June 29th 2021 by St. Martin's Press

Synopsis:

When a barista competition comes to town, Torte's favorite pastry chef finds herself sleuthing once again—in the next installment of Ellie Alexander's beloved Bakeshop Mystery Series, Mocha, She Wrote!

Summer has ushered in a new season in the charming hamlet of Ashland, Oregon. Torte is bustling with tourists taking in star-drenched shows at the Elizabethan, setting out to hike in the surrounding Siskiyou Mountains, and sampling the bakeshop’s summer lineup of raspberry lemon tarts and mint mojito cold brews. Jules and the team are buzzing with excitement when they learn that Andy, Torte’s head barista, has been selected to compete in the West Coast Barista Cup.

The prestigious competition draws coffee aficionados from up and down the coast to Ashland. The winner will not only claim to be best-in-brew, but also be awarded a hefty cash prize. Andy’s nervous about his chances, but Jules is confident that her star barista will shine. However, things take a grim turn when head judge Benson Vargas spits out Andy’s first offering, claiming it to be the worst thing to ever touch his lips—and hours later, is found dead clutching Andy’s creamy latte. Suddenly Torte’s favorite barista becomes the number one suspect. There’s no roast for the weary. Jules will have to sleuth out whodunit to clear Andy’s name and catch a killer before she ends up with one foot in the grounds.

***

4.5 Stars

This is the thirteenth book in the Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander.

This was a real fun book to read. Andy gets the spotlight this time as he competes for a coveted title as top barista but there is all sorts of hijinks and manipulations going on behind the scenes. So, needless to say, it is hard to tell who killed the main judge, the Simon Cowell of Coffee, when you are in the midst of the story. Of course, Andy gets the brunt of the attention because it is his coffee drink that is laced with the poison. The guy can’t win for losing.

I love getting to see the glimpses of Jules’s life interspersed between the action scenes. Gives the rest of us hope we can rekindle a lost love like that and be successful at it. 

Love this series so much. Definitely going to dig into it more! So much fun to follow the action of Jules and Company!

If you love a cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. Great new must read book great series too!

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title. Opinions are completely my own.