To Err Is Cumin

A Spice Shop Mystery #8

by Leslie Budewitz

One person’s treasure is another’s trash. . .

Pepper Reece, owner of the Spice Shop in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, wants nothing more than to live a quiet life for a change, running her shop and working with customers eager to spice up their cooking. But when she finds an envelope stuffed with cash in a ratty old wingback set out on the curb, she sets out to track down the owner.

Pepper soon concludes that the chair and its stash may belong to young Talia Cook, new in town and nowhere to be seen. When Boz Bosworth, an unemployed chef Pepper’s tangled with in the past, shows up looking for the young woman, Pepper refuses to help him search. Then Boz is found floating in the Ship Canal, only a few blocks from Talia’s apartment. Suddenly, free furniture no longer seems like such a bargain.

When Pepper goes hunting for Talia, she discovers a tangled web of connections threatening to ensnare her best customer. Edgar couldn’t possibly be part of a corruption scheme in the restaurant supply business, could he? Or is he another potential victim?

Between her quest for an elusive herb, helping her parents remodel their new house, and setting up the Spice Shop’s first cooking class, Pepper’s got a full plate. Dogged by a sense of obligation to find the rightful owner of the hidden treasure, she keeps on showing up where she’s not wanted, asking probing questions.

One mistake, and she could find herself cashing out. . .

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Audiobook, Fiction, Contemporary

236 pages, Paperback

Published August 6, 2024

About the author

*Also publishes as Alicia Beckman*

Leslie Budewitz is the three-time Agatha Award winner and bestselling author of the Food Lovers’ Village and Spice Shop mysteries, continuing with the 9th installment, LAVENDER LIES BLEEDING (July 2025). Her historical short mystery collection, ALL GOD'S SPARROWS AND OTHER STORIES: A STAGECOACH MARY FIELDS COLLECTION (September 2024), featuring a remarkable figure from Montana history, is a finalist in the 2025 High Plains International Book Awards. She also writes standalone moody suspense as Alicia Beckman.

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What a delight to return to the Spice Shop, a fictional shop in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, a place I fell in love ages ago as a college freshman. I made it my mission to eat my way through the place, and since it’s constantly changing, I’ll never be done!

In LAVENDER LIES BLEEDING, Spice Shop owner Pepper Reece is shocked when vandals destroy the greenhouse at her friend Liz Giacometti’s lavender farm. But then Liz is killed, and Pepper digs in to solve the crimes. As her questions threaten to unearth secrets others desperately want to keep buried, danger creeps closer to her and those she loves. Can Pepper root out the killer, before someone nips her in the bud?

Writing about Seattle and its surroundings never gets old. Plus it's an excuse to keep up with places I love, and to make regular research trips. And by research, you know I mean eat!

ALL GOD’S SPARROWS AND OTHER STORIES imagines the life and heart of Mary Fields (1832-1914), a real-life woman born into slavery who spent her last 30 years in Montana, where she found freedom and community, and her own place in the West, bringing solace and justice to those in need. The collection brings together three stories originally published in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, and a new novella, “A Bitter Wind,” set in 1897 and 1914, in which Mary helps a young picture bride solve the mystery of her fiancé’s death, his homesteading neighbors’ bitterness, and her own future. The title story won the 2018 Agatha Award for Best Short Story; others were finalists for awards from the Short Mystery Fiction Society and the Western Writers of America. The collection is a finalist for the 2025 High Plains International Book Awards.

I’m also the author of the Food Lovers' Village Mysteries, set in fictional Jewel Bay, Montana. DEATH A DENTE, first in the series, won the 2013 Agatha Award for Best First novel. My guide for writers, BOOKS, CROOKS & COUNSELORS: How to Write Accurately About Criminal Law & Courtroom Procedure, drawing on my long career as a lawyer, won the 2011 Agatha for Best Nonfiction.

I’m a past president of Sisters in Crime and former regional and national board member of Mystery Writers of America. I love to cook, eat, hike, travel, garden, and paint—not necessarily in that order. My husband and I live in northwest Montana.

For regular updates, please visit my website, http://www.LeslieBudewitz.com, and click on the newsletter tab to sign up for emails crammed with book news, peeks inside the writing life, and more, along with two free short stories.

Readers are my favorite people. Drop me a line at Leslie at LeslieBudewitz.com. Join me at my website, LeslieBudewitz.com, or on Facebook at Leslie Budewitz & Alicia Beckman.

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catching up on some favorite series before the end of the year. Spices. Seattle. Arf. And cozy drama. Another good installment. I enjoy the way the story unfolds, and chasing down this one with so little clues was humorous and complex.

[Linda Langford · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy spices and cooking, this is a book for you! The protagonist spends a lot of time sleuthing. Her dog, Ari, is a sweet character. The people who work at The Spice Shop are an eclectic group, but knowledgeable. Good cozy mystery.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good one. I always enjoy the markets inside view with Pepper. I liked how some characters from past books popped up in this one. The mystery was interesting and I liked seeing how all the different strands came together. Pepper is a very likeable MC and she’s very relatable too. There are lots of recipes at the end and maybe I’ll try the lemon scones someday.

[Deborah Almada · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy a trip to Seattle's Pike Place Market, the Spice Shop, as well as Pepper's world with all her support people. While there is a great and actually quite a convoluted mystery, with tons of moving parts, as well as old friends playing a part, with new added, it is always the sense of community, in the Market, in her life, and in the Shop that draw me to this series. There is a lot going on here, Nate is out to sea, the neighbors are still remodeling, Pepper is working on the updates to her childhood home for her parents' return, she spends time with The Flick Chicks and there are all kinds of moving parts with Shop personnel. Between walking Arf, finding new customers, spending time with regular customers and Market friends and eating all kinds of great food, we get the feeling of a very pleasant life well lived. If Pepper can right a wrong at the same time, all the better. The last paragraph of this book sums up why I enjoy this series so much.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

At this point Pepper is an old friend, I miss her between novels.

[Lori Bonkoski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pepper finds a chair on the street and picks it up for her parent's new home. What she discovers inside is $35,000, which leads to a search for the missing owner, connections to an old adversary and lots of questions for Pepper to ask! When her old adversary, Boz, is found dead in the canal, Pepper gets serious about finding the chair's owner and discovering the mystery it entails. An interesting read and a great plot. Visiting Seattle and the market are always a good way to spend the day! While this is a long running series, you do not have to start at the beginning in order to read this book.

[Madi Purrenhage · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Pepper (for those who don't know, main character of this series) - these books feel like home to me and I so appreciate that in a cozy mystery... they also REALLY made me miss Seattle as I was reading this one from my new home in New York.

I will always be a fan of this series, and can't recommend it enough for anyone who loves a cozy mystery :)

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a Leslie Budewitz book, but I was excited to jump back in. Pepper is still as independent and curious as ever, but that is what I enjoyed about her.

With this installment, Pepper finds an envelope stuffed with cash in an old wingback set out on the curb. However, as she tries to return it to its rightful owner, a series of unfortunate events starts to unravel, including a murder. Now, Pepper must figure out what happened.

The characters in this book were definitely strange and unique, making the mystery aspect of this book more interesting. It was fun trying to piece the information together and I also enjoyed the other events that Pepper had going on in her life, such as setting up the Spice Shop’s first cooking class. It definitely filled the book with a lot of action and kept Pepper on her toes.

TO ERR IS CUMIN is a great installment to the series. If you like foodie Cozy Mystery series, then you need to meet Pepper and the Spice Shop!

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

"To Err is Cumin (A Spice Shop Mystery)" by Leslie Budewitz has Pepper Reece trying to find a missing woman when she inadvertently gets involved after finding the woman's belongings and a past adversary comes to her for help. Of course she tries to resist but she is just too nosey and good of a person to not at least try to find out where the woman is and who is after her.

I honestly didn't really have any idea who the culprit was until nearly the reveal. However, at that point the main character was pretty much just trying to decide between two people too. This was kept you guessing.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spice shop owner Pepper finds a trashed wing-back chair on the street and decides to refinish it. But when she gets it to her friend's garage, she finds $35,000 hidden in a cushion. While she can use the money (hers after 60 days, the police say), she feels impelled to track down the owner, who has mysteriously disappeared. One of the last people to see the woman asks for Pepper's help, but she knows his history and refuses, until he's found drowned. To Pepper's dismay, a lot of the suspects are people she knows. This book can also act as a small business primer, as she tries to grow her shop, and a rather quirky guide to Seattle, perhaps at the expense of the lackadaisical mystery.

[Mercy Sakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books so delight me. Through them I can revisit my beloved Washington. I can smell the air after a good rain, feel the cool wind on my face, remember Mt Rainier. I knew the weather report was always if you can’t see the mountain, it’s raining, if you can see her, it’s going to rain. I miss seeing Mt. Rainier and Pike Place Market

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each entry in this series is a warm hug

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous book in a wonderful series. Plenty of twists and turns and red herrings in this mystery turned murder mystery.
The continuing characters are a fascinating diverse group that I always look forward to seeing what is happening with them as I enjoy the mystery itself.
I always enjoy the food and spice portions as Pepper visits the restaurants of Seattle, and the happenings at the Market always add to the atmosphere of the books.
This has become one of my favorite series lately, and now comes the long wait for the next book in the series…..

[Kathy R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another delightful addition to the Spice Shop series. Pepper and her trusty sidekick, Arf, are off on another adventure criss crossing Seattle. It’s full of twists and turns, and delicious descriptions of food, and a satisfying ending.

[Stephanie Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Fun read. I enjoyed reading about Pepper and her cozy town. Hopefully there is more in this series.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another enjoyable read. I liked getting updates on characters from the early part of the series. I can not wait to see what is next for our spice girl

[Cynthia Beckmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the latest in the Spice Shop Mysteries. I like how the characters continue to interact with each other and new characters join them.

The author does not make the criminal easy to identify; so there is that element of surprise and suspense.

I also enjoy the references to recipes and spices. I recommend the author's other series as well.

[Robyn Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how the author supports other authors in her novels.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another crazy outing in Seattle. Love that we get to see some old side characters come back to see what's happened since we last saw them. Can't wait for more in this series.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a real fan of this series, two of the biggest reasons being the setting and the complexity of the characters. Set in Seattle’s vivid Pike Place Market area, heroine Pepper Reece owns a spice shop. Pepper is in her 40’s, divorced, and dating a fisherman who is away much of the time (fishing). At the moment she’s helping to redecorate the house her parents have bought in the area and she spies the perfect wingback chair on the curb. Being a big city dweller she claims this piece of street treasure and gets an SUV owning buddy to come pick her, and the chair, up. When she takes a closer look at the lumpy seat she finds it’s stuffed with cash.

Pepper calls her ex, a bike cop, who of course tells her to turn it into the police, which she does. She’s no fool, though – she keeps the chair, and she and her mother’s decorator make plans. Being Pepper – a bit nosy, and very determined to do the right thing – she then tries to find the owner of the chair who seems to have vanished. When a death follows, seemingly related to the missing chair owner, Pepper’s investigation amps up.

Much of Pepper’s sleuthing is done in the market area, questioning people she knows. This of course is the hallmark of the amateur sleuth, and very neatly, Budewitz manages not to stretch credulity too far. You can believe Pepper might ask around – the death, after all, is the talk of the market.

What makes this book special is the portrayal not just of Pepper’s Spice Shop but of her staff, her fellow merchants and restaurant owners, and simply the folks she meets along the way. The antiques shop she includes is especially vivid. It’s also the character development that make the books a standout. Not only the portrayal of Pepper herself, but the portrayal of the missing woman, Talia, is fully fleshed out and interesting. You’re hoping she’s OK and rooting for Pepper to find her.

The answer, when it comes, it suitably tricky and well set up. These are gentle books with an attitude of appreciation of what’s good in life (for Pepper, what’s good often includes delicious sounding baked goods), and the food is to die for. Much like her literary ancestress Carolyn Hart, Budewitz also shouts out to various cozy authors throughout the novel, including V. M. Burns and Krista Davis. If you’re looking for another foodie mystery, she’s given you a place to start, after you’re finished gobbling up this one. I very much look forward to another outing with Pepper.

[K.A. Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

TO ERR IS CUMIN is the eighth book in the Spice Shop Mysteries by Leslie Budewitz. With complex mysteries to puzzle the most seasoned of armchair detectives and the enticing setting of Seattle’s Pike Place Market, this newest release is sure to keep the reader engaged. The author’s attention to detail brings the setting to life, be it the city streets, the marketplace, or protagonist Pepper Reece’s Spice Shop. You can smell the delicate fragrance from the flower shops, taste the spiciness of the tea samples Pepper gives out, hear the excited chatter of customers swarming the marketplace, and see the colorful displays of merchandise as Pepper hurries through Pike Place. After reading, you’ll be wanting to book a trip to visit for yourself! I admire Pepper as a protagonist, and with her adorable Airedale sidekick, Arf, the pair are welcoming and make everyone feel at home. I also appreciate the mentions of other cozy mystery authors and their books that Pepper stocks in her shop… I’m always left with a list of books to add to my TBR pile.

You can always count on Ms. Budewitz to write a mystery with multiple components. This book starts out with who and why would anyone leave a beat-up wingback chair on the curb, with a large amount of cash hidden inside? When Pepper rescues the chair, hoping to rehabilitate it for her parents, she finds the cash and finds that the former owner of the chair has disappeared. Did something nefarious happen to the young woman who abandoned the chair? There also appear to be other people hunting for her. Pepper is meticulous as she searches for answers, and she doesn’t always find the answers she wants. There is a slow build toward the murder and the set up affects the pacing somewhat. Still, as the story progresses, the pacing picks up and as clues come to light, I found myself turning pages faster. As the book neared its conclusion, the various pieces of the mysteries fit together into a cohesive story. To Err is Cumin is for those who appreciate strong characters, complex mysteries, and an enticing setting!

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Judith Rycar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered the first Spice Shop mystery while visiting my son in Seattle, it seemed to be a perfect fit. The setting of the Public Market and the delightful characters drew me in immediately and I couldn't wait to read the next book! The new book hasn't been released in print yet, but the audio book is available and it's another winner. Leslie Budewitz gets all the details right, as you walk with Pepper through the Market and in other parts of Seattle and browse with her staff in their Spice Shop aprons among spices, spice blends, cookbooks and culinary mysteries while Arf sleeps in the office. In this new addition to the series, Pepper finds a ratty wing back chair in the trash that would be a perfect addition to her parents' house (after repairs and new upholstery), but when she gets it home she finds envelopes stuffed with cash inside the seat. While trying to find the owner of the chair, Pepper navigates a murder investigation and FBI agents crossing her path while she works to expand her customer base and add a new marketing idea for the shop. I'll wait for the print edition to check out the yummy recipes at the end, although the Lemon Cream Scone recipe was featured in Mystery Lovers Kitchen so I'm ready to try that one! The book works as a standalone, but if the series is new to you, please start with Assault and Pepper and read them in order so you can follow all the changes in the characters' lives.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book cover and title for the eighth book in Leslie Budewitz's spice shop mystery series fit the story perfectly! In To Err is Cumin, Spice Shop owner Pepper Reece, gets involved in a mystery when she finds an abandoned wingback chair on the sidewalk in front of an apartment building. She rescues it and hopes to reupholster it and put it to good use in her parents' house. Unexpectedly, she discovers a manila envelope full of cash stuffed in the cushion. She gives the money to the police, but she is determined to find the chair's owner. I like the characters in this Seattle series. I like the hint of a romance with Pepper's fisherman boyfriend Nate and her loyal sidekick dog-Arf. I am a big sports fan and I like that the author includes references to Seattle sports teams. (I also liked the shout outs to other popular cozy mystery writers Krista Davis, Libby Klein, V. M. Burns, and Ellie Alexander!) This is a fun cozy and I enjoyed reading it.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Spice Shop Mystery series is one of my absolute favorites. There's always more than just the mystery involved in the story to become immersed in. There're tidbits of info about food, spices, relationships, locations, books...ohhhh the book titles and authors. Some I've heard of and read and loved and others that have me adding to my look-for list, then pretty much immediately to the Kindle, Nook or Mt Git'r'Read shelves.
I love how much Pepper cares about people and wants to help. It might feel intrusive to some characters in the story [usually the people who don't want her to interfere for nefarious reasons of their own ]but never to me.
There is a lot going on but it doesn't get tangled or too intricate to follow.
And there're recipes in the back. I'm going to try my hand at Lemon Scones...
I can absolutely recommend this book, series and author.

[Jane Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pepper Reece, owner of the Spice Shop in the famous Pike Place Market finds a dilapidated chair abandoned on the curb in an eclectic Seattle neighborhood. The chair yields an unexpected surprise that draws the curious and indomitable Pepper into a search for the chair’s rightful owner. In her quest to locate the mysteriously missing chair owner, Talia Cook, Pepper stumbles into a police investigation. The body of a disgraced chef, Boz Bosworth, is found in the Ship Canal, and Pepper is convinced that his death is somehow related to Talia’s disappearance. Will Pepper’s well-intentioned efforts endanger both herself and the elusive Talia? Treat yourself to another spicy mystery which, as always, includes the sights, sounds, scents, and tastes of Seattle. Enjoy!

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by author Leslie Budewitz. I own a few others in the series but haven’t gotten to them. I listened via Hoopla from my local library.

I found the list of characters more meaningful in print form. Recipes are included at the end of the book.

I liked how the author vividly described scenes to include smells from the spices. Pepper’s interest in Talia was admirable. Pepper was not interested in keeping the money she found. She wanted to find the rightful owner and in the process finds a killer.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great addition to the series! I love the setting and learning more about Seattle and the various businesses Pepper encounters in the market and beyond. The mystery was, as usual, the main focus, and while there was talk about other characters and how their lives are progressing, it doesn’t take away from the story; rather it adds to the vibrant community that makes up Pepper’s world. Looking forward to many more in this series.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this series makes me want to visit the Seattle area and Pike Place Market more and more. I enjoy all the mentions of spices and the tidbits of information at the beginning of each chapter. I enjoy Pepper and gang. This book has Pepper and her friends solving another murder, but also joining together to begin a culinary program at the spice shop. The book also includes many spring-inspired recipes including lemon scones, rhubarb muffins and asparagus dishes.

[Sue Spitulnik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big Pepper fan!

When I start a Spice Shop Mystery nothing else gets accomplished. I enjoy the way Pepper thinks, her ever growing circle of friends, the way her business is expanding, and traveling about Seattle with her and Arf. Pepper’s relationship with her ex husband and Spencer and Tracy make me wish I was the amateur sleuth. The best part, I rarely figure out who the killer is until Pepper does.

[Ryan Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun return in book from to Seattle's Pike Place Market in the eighth entry of Leslie Budewitz's Spice Shop. Pepper Reese is running her shop and stubles on to something that leads her to a body floating in the canal. Pepper pieces together the clues to figure out the mystery. It was great and entertaining.