Leslie BudewitzCritiques

Review coming soon!!

Review coming soon!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this second installment in the Spice Shop series.

The characters in this series are wonderful and I love each of them. I believe them to be well-rounded and yet, so far in the both books in the series, we see development amongst the main charcters, so they're not stagnant.

The plot had lots of twists and turns in it that kept me guessing right up until the end. I didn't have a clue who had actually committed the crime until it was finally revealed. I made a few guesses, but I was completely wrong on all of them, which I like. I don't like it when I can figure out who the villain is half way thru the book and then I have to sit there while the police fumble thru the evidence that seems so obvious to me.

I've never been to Seattle, but I can envision the market place from the descriptions given. I find the setting information to be "just right", enough description given to help me form a blueprint in my head but not too wordy so nothing is left to my imagination.

I will definitely recommend this series to other cozy mystery lovers! :)

This was one of the best books I read in 2023. The story is multi-layered and takes the reader on numerous twists and turns. It kept me guessing until the final pages.

Thanks to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

This was a Christmas-time short story by an author I like, having read several of her Spice Shop Mysteries. Although it’s now January, my Christmas decorations are still up so it was easy to justify reading while I continue to enjoy the holiday mood.

This quick and entertaining read was a great opening to the Food Lovers’ Village Mysteries, as it introduces readers to the characters and setting of that currently five-book series. The publisher explains that “to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Food Lovers’ Village Mysteries, we’re bringing out stand-alone editions of readers’ favorite short stories.”

I think this would be a great story to read any time of year – it’s a heartwarming mystery that ended too soon. I'm thankful I can spend more time with the characters in the Food Lovers’ Village series. I’ve just put a few more books on my TBR list 😊

A lovely short story with holiday cheer, great winter atmosphere and very likeable characters.

Well-written and complex, with lots of characters and criss-crossing storylines and multiple timelines and multiple settings. Although I think the author kept everything straight and resolved the mystery and all the subplots, I had to take that on faith because I honestly couldn't follow all the things. Still enjoyed it, though.

An enjoyable Christmas short story with a bit of a puzzle element. I love a good "feel good" holiday story and this one, set in Montana, fits the bill. Now I want to start reading the author's mystery series involving these characters, from the start.

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

The Christmas Stranger by Leslie Budewitz is a short story with a bit of mystery and a lot of the true spirit of Christmas. It’s part of the Food Lovers’ Village Mystery but it works well as a standalone. A heartwarming tale to start the Christmas season.

I received an arc of this story from Netgalley and Beyond the Page publishers in exchange for an honest review

Pepper is busy with her spice shop, trying to spice things up to draw in more business. Having a bridal registry seems like a great idea, except for the occasional bridezilla. Her own life is turned upside down when a secret her mom has hidden from her is disclosed. Her mom recognizes Bonnie, an old acquaintance who she thought died decades before, and was greatly surprised to see her, but she was even more surprised when Bonnie was found murdered days later. Pepper soon realizes that Bonnie was somehow connected to her parents many years ago, and it’s this secret that has put Pepper on edge. It’s an interesting mystery, going back decades, and has its final days in the present. Hurt feelings, secret activities, and faked deaths and real ones all figure in this intriguing tale.

Pepper is experiencing a turnover in staff and is having some trouble finding new hires who are a good fit for her spice shop. But that’s nothing compared to the trouble she is in when she finds an acquaintance of hers, an chef and aspiring new restauranteur, dead. It turns out that she died due to hot ghost chili, a spice that Pepper carries in her shop. But then, other shop owners also use the pepper in their recipes. Pepper feels responsible for the young woman’s death, so, against the advice of her ex-husband the cop, she decides to investigate. It’s just a good thing that she was given Arf, a dog, by a friend who moved away. That dog is worth his weight in treats and then some! This mystery is quite intriguing, with some unusual twists along the way. The characters are developing nicely, and there is a slight hint of romance to come. All in all, this mystery is an entertaining and enjoyable tale.

Pepper is loving her career as a shop owner, running a spice and tea shop in Seattle. What she didn’t love was finding a body on her doorstep, with a cup from her shop in his hand. One of her staffers is arrested for murder, and Pepper is sure she is innocent. But there is something about her staffer that Pepper doesn’t know, and will surprise her when it comes to light. This first book in the series has quite an entertaining mystery. The characters are just being introduced, and it will be interesting to find out what in direction the author takes them. Pepper’s ex-husband is on the police force, and comes to her aid more than once in this story. Their romance may be over, but it appears they remain somewhat uneasy friends. It’s a good start to the series, and has the promise of even better stories to come.

This novella prequel to the Food Lovers Mystery series was so much more than just a murder mystery. Oh, sure enough, the murder sets the story in motion. But there was much more depth to the story than figuring out who had done the unfortunate deed. Ms Budewitz has imbued her characters with tender hearts and a strong sense of community as they build their fledgling town, Jewel Bay, out in the wilds of 1911 Montana. In this story, we are introduced to the town's cast of characters. The protagonist is a gentle-hearted woman, Kate Murphy - a recently married bride to Paddy, the owner of Murphy's Mercantile. Working side by side, they are building a future together. But suddenly, the entire town is affronted by the death of the local widowed minister, whose daughter Grace is suddenly an orphan. Having no other nearby relations, Grace is taken into the Murphy home. She's a sweet child and ever so helpful. Yet, in those quiet and private moments, she is still a grieving motherless child. Will Kate be able to help Grace find her place in the world and maybe even find the killer? Only time will tell.

Ms. Budewitz has crafted a loving and tender story. The writing is lovely and the story richly told. Her scene setting is beautifully laid out such that the reader is transported to the wild west of the turn of the last century. Justice was hard won and folks had to rely on one another to get by. Observing the kind-hearted folks of Jewel Bay gladdens this reader's heart. I'll certainly be reading the rest of the series just to see how it all plays out.

I am grateful to Beyond the Page Publishing for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Publication Date: 08/29/2023
Publisher: Beyond the Page Publishing
ISBN: 978-1960511263
No. of pages: 104

Thanks to Edelweiss & publisher Seventh Street Books for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

I like this cozy series, featuring Pepper Reece as an intelligent and aware female main character and amateur sleuth. Even though it’s #7 in the series, you can read this as a stand-alone.

Pepper, who describes herself as “a standard issue white woman a pinch past forty,” owns a spice shop in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. Author Leslie Budewitz knows the area well, and her descriptions made me feel like I was there, too. In addition to a cozy murder mystery, there is a lot of local history incorporated into the novel – specifically the area’s Chinatown-International District.

The story begins during Seattle’s Pike Place Market Lunar New Year celebration, with lots of traditional food being consumed. In fact, this is a book that will have you craving all sorts of delicious food, from dim sum to craft cheese to pastries. And there is also cup after cup of tea being offered. After all, Pepper owns a tea and spice shop. And the book comes with recipes at the end!

In addition to the real life history of the area, plus the food and spices, there’s a murder mystery. Hey, that’s what I came for. Budewitz provides clues and red herrings, but I guess I was paying attention because I solved the mystery along with Pepper.

Themes of family, trust, the past and future were woven into the plot. Budewitz says the heart of the cozy is the community and she hopes “this story demonstrates the importance of communities like Chinatowns and international districts, still vibrant and resilient, and still vulnerable.”

If you’re looking for a food-centric mystery with an intelligent amateur sleuth, set in historic Seattle-based Chinatown, you’ll want to read this one. And if this whets your appetite, you can also search out Pepper’s six earlier “Spice Shop” mysteries.

I thought this book would never wrap itself up and end

I thought this book would never wrap itself up and end

Odd mashup of woo-woo, Murder, widow’s lament, past and present. Her dead husband’s loan to the family company came so much out of nowhere that it was weird it was the motive for Murder. Does Sarah seriously expect to get over her husband’s death in a few weeks? Had she not spoken to an attorney about her financial situation after he died and learned about the loan? Ugh, ugh.

Amazing, inventive, unexpected storylines.

Details make a cozy mystery multi-textured. I want to know about the comfy reading nook, or the serene beach cottage living room--that's part of the escapism offered by cozies. Death al Dente offers too much detail. We are told about each of the character's outfits, everything the MC eats or drinks, each room/shop she visits, every flower arrangement she encounters. I enjoy the insider tidbits books such as this offer about cheese making or pasta prep or feng shui or a unique complement to goat cheese (all covered here). I enjoy the richness of universe building and the mini-vacation provided by a beautifully word-painted garden or bistro. Unfortunately, Erin detailed so many insignificant things I lost interest in who dunnit.

I tried picking this book up in 2021 and it was not holding my attention at that time in my life. I am glad that I picked it up again as it was thoroughly enjoyable the second time around. Although you don't need to read the first three books in the series, I will add them to my TBR and read them before I read any further into the series. I would like to know what kind of trouble Erin got into in past books.

I listened to the audio version and because of all the story lines and characters, I found it very difficult to follow. The reader was good but I don't think audio was a good choice for this book.

McCaskill Land and Lumber and the property known as Whitetail Lodge have been in the family for generations. There are priceless memories held dear, but also memories of a weekend long ago that linger in the minds of all who experienced it for different reasons.

Family. Friends. Secrets all. Sarah McCaskill returned to Whitetail Lodge at her mother's request to help clean and prepare the lodge for summer use. Sarah knew her mother was trying to give her a change of scenery, a peaceful place to heal after the recent loss of her husband.

A story of family, friendship, mother-daughter and sister relationships, a ghost from the past, and women trying to reconcile the present with memories of the weekend never discussed. As the secrets of the past are revealed, unanswered questions must be reconciled to move forward in the present.

Every reader has different expectations of a suspenseful novel. This reader enjoyed the novel as women's fiction. A map further highlights description of the setting at the beginning of the book. Characters are well-developed. Some readers will undoubtedly enjoy the paranormal element more than I did. I didn't find it elevated or diminished the story. It was simply a tool the author used to present one aspect of the past.

Discussion questions are available on Leslie Budewitz/Alicia Beckman's website. At the time of this writing, click on "Bookshelf" tab and follow to click on "For Book Clubs," and scroll down for "Bitterroot Lake."

The melodrama of the first few chapters mixed in with the exhausting detail of the surrounding landscapes made this book practically unreadable. I made it 13 chapters before I had to give up from frustration of the constant allusions to past events that were directly affecting the plotline. Good stories use this tactic successfully to drive a thriller, this book only proved to irritate me with its midlife crisis histrionics and abstruseness.

Cast of Characters/Timeframe
2016 - Carrie and Ginger - sisters; Lindsay - attorney; Donovan - detective
1982 - Carrie and Ginger - sisters; Lindsay - school mate of Carrie; Father Leary - priest/religion teacher at high school

This book is set in 2 different cities/states; Portland, Oregon where Carrie is currently living and Billings, Montana where the main story takes place. This is told from different timelines 2016 and 1981 working up to 1995.

2016 - Lindsay comes in contact with the wallet of her priest, from her senior year of high school, who went missing 20 years ago. Carrie, the new girl, went to the same school as Lindsay, very briefly, and her and her sister, Ginger were close to the priest until they suddenly left the small town in 1981.

In the very beginning of this book, there was a lot going on that didn't seem to fit, but the storyline comes together. What starts out for Carrie as learning her family history, becomes the investigation of a 20-year-old cold case, of the murder of Father Leary.

This was a very good mystery putting all the pieces together to form the perfect puzzle. Thank you NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Alicia Beckman.

Blind Faith by Alicia Beckman is a highly recommended mystery.

There are several different mysteries that need to be resolved. Lindsay Keller is a lawyer who currently handles real estate deals and historic preservation projects in Billings, Montana. When she is given a wallet found on a property, she realizes immediately it belongs to Father Michael Leary, who disappeared years ago and is presumed dead.

Detective Brian Donovan has moved to Billings from Boston and taking on a notorious cold case intrigues him. The case is propelled to the forefront with the discovery of the wallet and Donovan is carefully examining all the case notes from years ago.

In Portland, Ore., Carrie Matheson, knew Father Mike. When she was young, her Baba and little sister, Ginger, moved to Billings following Father Mike. She was in her senior year of high school when something happened that had them moving yet again. This time to Portland, Oregon.

Lindsay and Donovan are both examining and digging deeper into Father Mike's murder. Carrie, on the other hand, is researching her family tree to try and help her grandson get into a drug trial. He has cystic fibrosis and in order to be accepted into the drug trial, he needs a complete genealogy. Her investigation leads to Father Mike and Lindsay and Donovan. There is also the question of how does this all connect to an event in the 70's when a man forces another car off a cliff.

The characters are fully realized as unique individuals. You will care about what happens, but there are many characters, which requires, again, that you pay close attention to all of them and remember the facts surrounding them.

This is a well-written intelligent and complex mystery that spans decades and moves forward at a steady, even pace. Chapters are headed by the year and this is very important because the narrative jumps back and forth between years as well as the points-of-view of various characters. Clues to what is happening in the present are found in these chapters which requires readers to pay close attention to when and where the chapter is set. The switching back and forth can also be a bit disconcerting. This is an excellent mystery but the jumping timelines made it a much slower trip to the satisfying conclusion.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2022/10/blind-faith.html