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A Spice Shop Mystery #5
The Solace of Bay Leaves
Pepper Reece never expected to find solace in bay leaves.
But when her life fell apart at forty and she bought the venerable-but-rundown Spice Shop in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, her days took a tasty turn. Now she’s savoring the prospect of a flavorful fall and a busy holiday cooking season, until danger bubbles to the surface . . .
Between managing her shop, worrying about her staff, and navigating a delicious new relationship, Pepper’s firing on all burners. But when her childhood friend Maddie is shot and gravely wounded, the incident is quickly tied to an unsolved murder that left another close friend a widow.
Convinced that the secret to both crimes lies in the history of a once-beloved building, Pepper uses her local-girl contacts and her talent for asking questions to unearth startling links between the past and present—links that suggest her childhood friend may not have been the Golden Girl she appeared to be. Pepper is forced to face her own regrets and unsavory emotions, if she wants to save Maddie’s life—and her own.
But when her life fell apart at forty and she bought the venerable-but-rundown Spice Shop in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, her days took a tasty turn. Now she’s savoring the prospect of a flavorful fall and a busy holiday cooking season, until danger bubbles to the surface . . .
Between managing her shop, worrying about her staff, and navigating a delicious new relationship, Pepper’s firing on all burners. But when her childhood friend Maddie is shot and gravely wounded, the incident is quickly tied to an unsolved murder that left another close friend a widow.
Convinced that the secret to both crimes lies in the history of a once-beloved building, Pepper uses her local-girl contacts and her talent for asking questions to unearth startling links between the past and present—links that suggest her childhood friend may not have been the Golden Girl she appeared to be. Pepper is forced to face her own regrets and unsavory emotions, if she wants to save Maddie’s life—and her own.
246 pages, Paperback
First published July 21, 2020
89 people are currently reading
502 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Budewitz
33 books792 followers*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.
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.
–
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
September 3, 2020
The Solace of Bay Leaves is the fifth book in the Spice Shop Mystery series written by Leslie Budewitz. Although I've read all of the previous books in this series, I haven't yet gotten to sample from the author's other books or series, but they are on my short-term horizon. I really enjoy Ms. Budewitz's character creation, wonderful settings, and writing style, and I highly recommend her to other readers of this sub-genre, or even those who want to branch out.
Pepper is the main character; she's on the younger side of middle-aged, in her second / third career (first was HR, then owning a spice shop in Seattle, and now she also is an amateur sleuth), and was previously married to a cop. Now she's dating a fisherman and helping keep Pike's Market safe, unofficially of course. She often bumps heads with the local cops who try to give her extra leeway... even though she tends to find a few too many bodies. In this caper, a friend calls her when the FBI shows up. The woman's husband died three years ago and the agents finally have a lead on his murder--the same weapon was used to shoot another friend of Pepper's. How will she get wrapped up in this one?
My favorite aspect of this series is the spice shop setting. I love exploring the market, learning about spices, and observing the realistic relationships between bosses / employees, friends, family, and ex-husbands. It's not always good, and it's not always bad. It's right on point! The mysteries are also very well architected. There's never a dull or boring spot in the story; they usually shine with intrigue and confusion (in a good way). Pepper investigates as though she's just checking out new restaurants, visiting former neighbors, and talking to folks who know others around the market... it fits in quite well without seeming like she's getting access to info most regular folk wouldn't. What a fine balance in a cozy mystery!
I enjoyed this particular mystery. Between the past and the present, there is a link we will not expect. What do four generations of people who owned a building have to do with a murder and a near-murder? Can you always trust a neighbor who calls the cops on you because you are doing things to protect the Earth, even though it might look like a bit of an eyesore? What if someone steals your special recipe? How do you say goodbye to a loving partner? What kind of fun can your 4/5 year-old dog get into when you're not around? So many fun side stories make this a winner for me. Definitely a high recommendation, but best to start from the beginning. They can be read stand-alone, but I'm an orderly guy, so I have to start with the first one. You should too.
Pepper is the main character; she's on the younger side of middle-aged, in her second / third career (first was HR, then owning a spice shop in Seattle, and now she also is an amateur sleuth), and was previously married to a cop. Now she's dating a fisherman and helping keep Pike's Market safe, unofficially of course. She often bumps heads with the local cops who try to give her extra leeway... even though she tends to find a few too many bodies. In this caper, a friend calls her when the FBI shows up. The woman's husband died three years ago and the agents finally have a lead on his murder--the same weapon was used to shoot another friend of Pepper's. How will she get wrapped up in this one?
My favorite aspect of this series is the spice shop setting. I love exploring the market, learning about spices, and observing the realistic relationships between bosses / employees, friends, family, and ex-husbands. It's not always good, and it's not always bad. It's right on point! The mysteries are also very well architected. There's never a dull or boring spot in the story; they usually shine with intrigue and confusion (in a good way). Pepper investigates as though she's just checking out new restaurants, visiting former neighbors, and talking to folks who know others around the market... it fits in quite well without seeming like she's getting access to info most regular folk wouldn't. What a fine balance in a cozy mystery!
I enjoyed this particular mystery. Between the past and the present, there is a link we will not expect. What do four generations of people who owned a building have to do with a murder and a near-murder? Can you always trust a neighbor who calls the cops on you because you are doing things to protect the Earth, even though it might look like a bit of an eyesore? What if someone steals your special recipe? How do you say goodbye to a loving partner? What kind of fun can your 4/5 year-old dog get into when you're not around? So many fun side stories make this a winner for me. Definitely a high recommendation, but best to start from the beginning. They can be read stand-alone, but I'm an orderly guy, so I have to start with the first one. You should too.
October 17, 2020
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Pepper Reece and her boyfriend Nate are out for a night on the town with her BBF Kristen Gardner and her husband Eric when she receives a text message from mutual friend Laurel Halloran . . .
Detective Tracy is in my living room . . . FBI on the way.
After a little confab, the foursome heads to Laurel’s houseboat where they learn another friend of the girls has been shot and is in the hospital. Then Detective Tracy drops the bomb, their friend Maddie was shot with the same gun as another case that had gone cold. Pat Halloran, Laurel’s husband was murdered about 3 years ago. Is this a new lead? Tracy tells Pepper to stay out of his investigation and that is echoed by the FBI agent. Pepper knows that is not going to happen. She has helped solve other cases, why not this one? or two?
____
Pepper Reece knows her spices and she is a grand amateur sleuth. Her life is on an upswing with a successful and growing business, a new romance with Nate, and her lovable companion Arf, who she adopted when his owner moved away. She is surrounded by a great supporting cast of friends and employees. All the characters are written very realistically. Ms. Budewitz all gives readers a nice group of suspects. Some as sketchy as can be.
The murder mystery is complex and requires a lot of digging. If the shootings are related Pepper needs to finds out how. The author has plotted many twists and turns to keep everyone guessing. There is also a subplot mystery involving the spice shop and a special blend. This mixes in with the main mystery nicely along with the daily routine of running the shop and Pepper’s personal life. The story has a nice pace and builds to an exciting conclusion.
Seattle’s famed Pike Place Market is an ideal setting for this series. Each story we learn more about the place and discover new shops and vendors. I really hope to visit there someday.
The Solace of Bay Leaves is a fine addition to this series. I am looking forward to the next installment.
Pepper Reece and her boyfriend Nate are out for a night on the town with her BBF Kristen Gardner and her husband Eric when she receives a text message from mutual friend Laurel Halloran . . .
Detective Tracy is in my living room . . . FBI on the way.
After a little confab, the foursome heads to Laurel’s houseboat where they learn another friend of the girls has been shot and is in the hospital. Then Detective Tracy drops the bomb, their friend Maddie was shot with the same gun as another case that had gone cold. Pat Halloran, Laurel’s husband was murdered about 3 years ago. Is this a new lead? Tracy tells Pepper to stay out of his investigation and that is echoed by the FBI agent. Pepper knows that is not going to happen. She has helped solve other cases, why not this one? or two?
____
Pepper Reece knows her spices and she is a grand amateur sleuth. Her life is on an upswing with a successful and growing business, a new romance with Nate, and her lovable companion Arf, who she adopted when his owner moved away. She is surrounded by a great supporting cast of friends and employees. All the characters are written very realistically. Ms. Budewitz all gives readers a nice group of suspects. Some as sketchy as can be.
The murder mystery is complex and requires a lot of digging. If the shootings are related Pepper needs to finds out how. The author has plotted many twists and turns to keep everyone guessing. There is also a subplot mystery involving the spice shop and a special blend. This mixes in with the main mystery nicely along with the daily routine of running the shop and Pepper’s personal life. The story has a nice pace and builds to an exciting conclusion.
Seattle’s famed Pike Place Market is an ideal setting for this series. Each story we learn more about the place and discover new shops and vendors. I really hope to visit there someday.
The Solace of Bay Leaves is a fine addition to this series. I am looking forward to the next installment.
September 2, 2020
I always love visiting the Spice Shop and following Pepper on her adventures, but this book was particularly well done! Lots of potential suspects to sort through and excellent interpersonal connections among the characters to keep the story hopping! I absolutely can't wait to see where the series goes next! FYI: This series is available via audio if you like a good audio series and the narrator does a particularly excellent job of helping to flesh out the characters and enhancing them even though they are already well developed by the author!
April 16, 2025
Good cozy mystery. Glad some secrets were finally revealed.
November 5, 2020
This was a very good [minus Pepper using spices as idioms; THAT is super annoying. It had slowed down in the last one and I was hopeful. Sigh. I was wrong to have hope] story. The mystery was very good and I was surprised at the reveal [which is rare and always gives a book more points in its favor, even if its a sucky book, which this was not]. I am not sure if there will be any more of these, but if there are, I will reading them. Idioms and all.
December 30, 2024
I’ve been putting off reading this because I thought it was the end of the series, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there are at least three more books! Maybe I confused it with the author’s Food Lover’s Village series?
I like Pepper, the MC, and her friends and family. Her relationship with Nate isn’t perfect, but they’re working at making it work, which is better than many couples do these days. She is dedicated to her shop and supports the other merchants in the area as best she can. I’ve not yet visited Seattle but it’s on my travel bucket list :)
There was more than one murder in this story, and it seemed that they were related. Besides figuring out who was responsible for the deaths and why these people died, I wondered if there was just one killer or more than one guilty party. I knew who I wanted to be the culprit, but wasn’t surprised when it turned out to be someone else.
I have the next book from this series in my audio library. Since it’s set during the Christmas season, I hope to listen to it during the Christmas season.
I like Pepper, the MC, and her friends and family. Her relationship with Nate isn’t perfect, but they’re working at making it work, which is better than many couples do these days. She is dedicated to her shop and supports the other merchants in the area as best she can. I’ve not yet visited Seattle but it’s on my travel bucket list :)
There was more than one murder in this story, and it seemed that they were related. Besides figuring out who was responsible for the deaths and why these people died, I wondered if there was just one killer or more than one guilty party. I knew who I wanted to be the culprit, but wasn’t surprised when it turned out to be someone else.
I have the next book from this series in my audio library. Since it’s set during the Christmas season, I hope to listen to it during the Christmas season.
August 31, 2020
THE SOLACE OF BAY LEAVES, the fifth book in the Spice Shop Mysteries by Leslie Budewitz, is another delicious addition to a tantalizing series! In this newest release, Ms. Budewitz once again displays her strengths in developing relatable and memorable characters that show growth over the course of the series. She also includes a colorful cast of characters that add to the whimsy of the locale. While this can be read as a standalone, I think the story is stronger by getting to know the protagonist, Pepper Reece, from the beginning and following her journey. I love how the author effectively uses Pepper, as owner of the Spice Shop in Pike Place Market, to showcase the bounty and tastes of the setting. In fact, she immerses the reader using all five senses so that I felt like I was right there and made me want to hop on a plane and visit in person. The Spice Shop would definitely be one of the first places I’d want to visit if it were possible! I also enjoyed all the tidbits of information offered up about spices and uses, along with all the mouthwatering descriptions of food.
The mystery surrounding the brutal shooting of one of Pepper’s childhood friends takes center stage. It also pulls in an unsolved 3-year-old murder case of the husband of another childhood friend. As Pepper searches for answers, it appears that the two crimes are connected. The author has created a complex, well-plotted mystery that revolves around the re-gentrification of a rundown area in Seattle. With plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing, the ending caught me by surprise with a historical twist that provided another layer of intrigue. Tying in the themes of friendship and loss, hope and acceptance, the reader is taken along for an enticing read as they follow Pepper’s search for answers!
There are several delicious sounding recipes at the back of the book as well.
The mystery surrounding the brutal shooting of one of Pepper’s childhood friends takes center stage. It also pulls in an unsolved 3-year-old murder case of the husband of another childhood friend. As Pepper searches for answers, it appears that the two crimes are connected. The author has created a complex, well-plotted mystery that revolves around the re-gentrification of a rundown area in Seattle. With plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing, the ending caught me by surprise with a historical twist that provided another layer of intrigue. Tying in the themes of friendship and loss, hope and acceptance, the reader is taken along for an enticing read as they follow Pepper’s search for answers!
There are several delicious sounding recipes at the back of the book as well.
October 31, 2020
This book is as good, if not better, than the previous books in the series. Pepper, the spice shop owner, seems like a friend and I find myself worrying she’s getting herself in precarious spots. In this book, I liked that she solves two mysteries—who did the shootings and who stole a chef’s secret spice blend. If you haven’t read any books from this series, you are missing out on some good cozy mysteries. I am hoping this isn’t the end of this series (hint, hint, Leslie Budewitz)
October 30, 2020
Another excellent book in a really good series. Pepper can't help but get involved when an old friend is shot on the grounds of her new project, with the same gun that killed her friend Laurel's husband. What is the connection? Is the same person involved in both shootings? This is a complex and interesting mystery involving a lot of people we have come to know. Love all the spice talk as well as all the food talk! More please!!!
November 24, 2020
Pepper is still running her spice shop, when her friend Maddie is shot and it is tied to an unsolved murder that left another friend a widow. Pepper thinks it has something to do with the buildings that Maddie is buying and starts looking into it. A little information on different spices is included.
August 5, 2020
These are enjoyable summer favorites. Pepper and her crew are always nice to catch up with!
October 9, 2020
The Solace of the Bay Leaves is a cozy mystery with a modern feel that gently pushes against the genre's conventions.
What I Liked
The main character, Pepper Reece, is the mistress of Spice and runs The Seattle Spice Shop is Seattle's famous Pike Place. She dropped out of college, divorced her husband, and lost her dream job in the HR Department at a local law firm. But she bounced back, and that's what makes her so relatable and an enjoyable character to follow through mystery after mystery. She didn't let all the bad things get her down. Instead, she rebounds every time and ends up in a situation that is bigger and better. She now owns the spice store and enjoys spending her free time with her boyfriend and her dog, Arf. She also has a knack for solving mysteries.
I enjoyed the two different mysteries that only Pepper can solve. One is related directly to her spice store – it seems that another chef stole the unique spice blend that Pepper made for a loyal customer, and that customer wants to know how that happened. Then, there is a bigger, more serious mystery of who shot Pepper's childhood friend, Maddie. The two mysteries are not related, but one stays within the setting's bounds, and one goes beyond. The one that goes beyond gently pushes at the conventions that make up the cozy mystery genre, and I enjoyed that very much.
I also appreciated that even though it seems very cutesy that someone named Pepper owns a spice shop, the story is not cutesy at all. It falls somewhere in between a cozy and a hard-boiled mystery in that regard. It's a coincidence that her nickname is related to her career.
The story has a subtle theme of immigration and the American Dream running through the plot in an intricately layered and natural way to the tale. Never preachy, it sheds a modest light on the issue in day to day life.
To Read or Not to Read
If you would like to try a more modern approach to the cozy mystery, then The Solace of Bay Leaves is a book you will be happy you picked up.
What I Liked
The main character, Pepper Reece, is the mistress of Spice and runs The Seattle Spice Shop is Seattle's famous Pike Place. She dropped out of college, divorced her husband, and lost her dream job in the HR Department at a local law firm. But she bounced back, and that's what makes her so relatable and an enjoyable character to follow through mystery after mystery. She didn't let all the bad things get her down. Instead, she rebounds every time and ends up in a situation that is bigger and better. She now owns the spice store and enjoys spending her free time with her boyfriend and her dog, Arf. She also has a knack for solving mysteries.
I enjoyed the two different mysteries that only Pepper can solve. One is related directly to her spice store – it seems that another chef stole the unique spice blend that Pepper made for a loyal customer, and that customer wants to know how that happened. Then, there is a bigger, more serious mystery of who shot Pepper's childhood friend, Maddie. The two mysteries are not related, but one stays within the setting's bounds, and one goes beyond. The one that goes beyond gently pushes at the conventions that make up the cozy mystery genre, and I enjoyed that very much.
I also appreciated that even though it seems very cutesy that someone named Pepper owns a spice shop, the story is not cutesy at all. It falls somewhere in between a cozy and a hard-boiled mystery in that regard. It's a coincidence that her nickname is related to her career.
The story has a subtle theme of immigration and the American Dream running through the plot in an intricately layered and natural way to the tale. Never preachy, it sheds a modest light on the issue in day to day life.
To Read or Not to Read
If you would like to try a more modern approach to the cozy mystery, then The Solace of Bay Leaves is a book you will be happy you picked up.
July 25, 2020
Oh no!!!
I finished the book way too fast. For whatever reason Seattle Spice Shop owner Pepper, her people (and Arf) just make me so happy. I look forward to new books in this series for so long and then read it so fast it over way to soon. This is a murder mystery complete with creepy villain. But it's so nicely written with love, hope, heartache and a feisty main character. The story builds nicely to its conclusion with you know who in the middle as usual. Peppers relationship with the rest of the cast of players plays out with genuine love and humor. And all of the characters have well rounded personalities which is sometimes very lacking in fiction. I highly recommend this whole series.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I finished the book way too fast. For whatever reason Seattle Spice Shop owner Pepper, her people (and Arf) just make me so happy. I look forward to new books in this series for so long and then read it so fast it over way to soon. This is a murder mystery complete with creepy villain. But it's so nicely written with love, hope, heartache and a feisty main character. The story builds nicely to its conclusion with you know who in the middle as usual. Peppers relationship with the rest of the cast of players plays out with genuine love and humor. And all of the characters have well rounded personalities which is sometimes very lacking in fiction. I highly recommend this whole series.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
July 28, 2020
Excellent read!
This installment had me riveted from page one. The mystery and intrigue was masterfully woven into a storyline that was easy to follow. With its twists and turns, I found the book hard to put down.
I can't wait for the next installment and visit with Pepper and the gang!
This installment had me riveted from page one. The mystery and intrigue was masterfully woven into a storyline that was easy to follow. With its twists and turns, I found the book hard to put down.
I can't wait for the next installment and visit with Pepper and the gang!
July 18, 2020
This is an engaging mystery full of twists and turns. The author paints a beautiful picture of the city of Seattle and also gives an insightful look into the world of spices. Pepper is a protagonist that is an inspiration to how much life can be savored and enjoyed after the age of 40. It is never too late to try new things!
https://cozyexperience.com/the-solace...
https://cozyexperience.com/the-solace...
October 13, 2020
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The Solace of Bay Leaves by Leslie Budewitz is a nice cozy fall read.
Can Pepper figure out what happened to Pat and Maggie?
Our main sleuth is Pepper Reece, and she is about to be celebrating her second year as Mistress of Spice. Pepper is definitely different than the other sleuths that I have read, and I like that. One of the things that make her different is that she works with spices, and the other thing is that she was raised differently than what some of the other sleuths I have come across. I have to admit I do like Pepper as a main character and point of view since she is a great person. I also love the different take on the relationship with a cop.
The Mystery
Pepper is solving two mysteries in this novel. Well more if you count the little side one that she has been ringed up to do. She needs to figure out how her friend's husband, who died three years ago, is connected to Maggie, an old childhood friend. That and a lot more are solved in this novel. I did fall for the red herring but mostly because I couldn't figure out the other angle.
Four Stars
The Solace of Bay Leaves by Leslie Budewitz is a nice book to curl up to and read during a nice or chilly fall day. Okay, maybe not just a fall day. Ms. Budewitz is an awesome writer, and this is the first book I have read by her. I love Pepper and the other characters that are showcased in this novel. Going to Seattle in a book and trying to figure out what happened is such a good feeling. I am giving this book four stars and recommending it to anyone that wants to dive into Pepper's mysteries without having to go back to the beginning.
Don't forget to check out the recipes in the book of this book. They sound so yummy!
Other Books in the Series
Can Pepper figure out what happened to Pat and Maggie?
Our main sleuth is Pepper Reece, and she is about to be celebrating her second year as Mistress of Spice. Pepper is definitely different than the other sleuths that I have read, and I like that. One of the things that make her different is that she works with spices, and the other thing is that she was raised differently than what some of the other sleuths I have come across. I have to admit I do like Pepper as a main character and point of view since she is a great person. I also love the different take on the relationship with a cop.
The Mystery Pepper is solving two mysteries in this novel. Well more if you count the little side one that she has been ringed up to do. She needs to figure out how her friend's husband, who died three years ago, is connected to Maggie, an old childhood friend. That and a lot more are solved in this novel. I did fall for the red herring but mostly because I couldn't figure out the other angle.
Four Stars
The Solace of Bay Leaves by Leslie Budewitz is a nice book to curl up to and read during a nice or chilly fall day. Okay, maybe not just a fall day. Ms. Budewitz is an awesome writer, and this is the first book I have read by her. I love Pepper and the other characters that are showcased in this novel. Going to Seattle in a book and trying to figure out what happened is such a good feeling. I am giving this book four stars and recommending it to anyone that wants to dive into Pepper's mysteries without having to go back to the beginning.
Don't forget to check out the recipes in the book of this book. They sound so yummy!
Other Books in the Series
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Solace of Bay Leaves by Leslie Budewitz.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
August 24, 2020
The Solace of Bay Leaves by Leslie Budewitz is the fifth in the Spice Shop series. Pepper Reese purchased the Spice Shop when her life turned upside down a few years ago. Things seem to be back on track, especially in regard to her relationship with commercial fisherman Nate, when a childhood friend is shot. Even more shocking is that this shooting seems to be linked to the murder of a close friend’s husband.
Like fine spices, this mystery has complex layers with a pleasing delivery. The reader can almost step through the pages onto the streets of Seattle to feel the mist and drizzle, and to experience the bustle of Pike Place. The relationships seem so true-to-life that one feels as though the characters are close friends.
This is a favorite series and one that I hope runs for many years to come.
Like fine spices, this mystery has complex layers with a pleasing delivery. The reader can almost step through the pages onto the streets of Seattle to feel the mist and drizzle, and to experience the bustle of Pike Place. The relationships seem so true-to-life that one feels as though the characters are close friends.
This is a favorite series and one that I hope runs for many years to come.
November 28, 2020
Pepper appropriately runs a spice shop in Seattle's Pike Place Market. She's shocked when she learns that a woman she went through school with (and secretly envies because of her perfect life) has been shot and is in a coma in the local hospital. Worse, the gun used was the same gun that widowed Pepper's best friend Laurel. Pepper is busy with the new man in her life, but he's a commercial fisherman and gone a lot. Why shouldn't she poke around and see if she can find out who shot Laurel's husband, an Assistant US Attorney? But that doesn't mean that she can ignore problems in the spice shop, where one of her exclusive blends, made for a local chef, seems to turn up in another chef's crabcakes. Traditionalists will feel that the main culprit comes out of nowhere, but you get a lot of local Seattle color as a tradeoff.
November 13, 2020
Pepper Reece finds herself comforting a friend on the three year anniversary of her husband's unsolved murder when another friend is attacked and nearly dies. The families know each other. Is there a connection? I really like Pepper for her sheer normality and humanity. She feels envy and jealousy towards old friends who seem to have it all. She feels guilty for being that way. Even though divorced and happy she still feels resentment towards her ex for cheating on her. She's juggling a lot of emotions and knows it is time to do something about it. This is an absorbing mystery and a great character study.
September 5, 2020
If you are looking for a cozy mystery which takes place in a modern, multi-cultural setting check out the Seattle Spice Shop Mysteries. Enjoy exploring the Seattle setting and people of the downtown market and beyond while enjoying the taste of spice and local eateries. The 5th book in the series can be read as a stand-alone but recommend the whole book series. This is a writer who just gets better and better with each subsequent book in the series.
Pepper Reece is about to celebrate her second anniversary in the Seattle Spice Shop after a long career as a law firm HR manager. A childhood friend, Maddie Petrosian, has been shot by someone using the same gun which killed her friend Laurel Halloran's husband (an Assistant U.S. Attorney) three years ago. Maddie Petrosian is in the early stages of redeveloping the retail street in the old neighborhood. Are the shootings related? If so, how?
Pepper Reece is about to celebrate her second anniversary in the Seattle Spice Shop after a long career as a law firm HR manager. A childhood friend, Maddie Petrosian, has been shot by someone using the same gun which killed her friend Laurel Halloran's husband (an Assistant U.S. Attorney) three years ago. Maddie Petrosian is in the early stages of redeveloping the retail street in the old neighborhood. Are the shootings related? If so, how?
May 24, 2021
Pepper is busy running the spice shop, enjoying a romance with Nate, and maintaining her many friendships when an old friend is shot. The shooting throws Pepper and the community into a search for the attacker. Good characters and a tangled plot, with enough spice for good measure. Looking forward to episode #6.
October 18, 2020
Another well-written installment of this series.
I love the descriptions of the market, I can almost picture it. Then the spices and when Pepper walks into her shop, I can smell and taste the spices she describes. Excellent mystery and the supporting characters add to the enjoyment of the stories because they are described in good detail.
I love the descriptions of the market, I can almost picture it. Then the spices and when Pepper walks into her shop, I can smell and taste the spices she describes. Excellent mystery and the supporting characters add to the enjoyment of the stories because they are described in good detail.
May 1, 2024
This was a lot of fun. It’s always fun being in the market with Pepper. I enjoyed the mixing of past and present events. Keeping track of Maddie’s family tree was a bit difficult but that could have just been because I was listening to this.
July 14, 2024
a visit to the market
Another trip to Seattle, the mountains, Puget Sound and Pike Place Market. Pepper solves another mystery while walking us through the rainy streets of Seattle. I can almost smell it, so real it is. Oh, and she falls in love. Yeah Pepper and Arf.
Another trip to Seattle, the mountains, Puget Sound and Pike Place Market. Pepper solves another mystery while walking us through the rainy streets of Seattle. I can almost smell it, so real it is. Oh, and she falls in love. Yeah Pepper and Arf.
September 15, 2024
A friend of Pepper's is shot three years after the shooting death of the husband of another friend of hers. The police believe the shootings are connected but can't find the connection. Pepper starts asking questions trying to put the puzzle pieces together to find the killer. The book was an easy read.
September 10, 2020
So good! I hope there are more to either of Leslie's "Foodie" series.
March 8, 2022
3 1/2 stars
December 27, 2023
Great series.
August 26, 2020
Exactly the light, cozy mystery I expect from this series.
October 10, 2020
Another "spicy" treat from Leslie Budewitz
I feel like I've made a quick visit to Seattle every time I read a book in this series--her creation of the setting is spot-on. Add to that a collection of interesting, well developed characters and a clever plot and you have another winner from Leslie Budewitz.
I feel like I've made a quick visit to Seattle every time I read a book in this series--her creation of the setting is spot-on. Add to that a collection of interesting, well developed characters and a clever plot and you have another winner from Leslie Budewitz.
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