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Fall is in the air, and bakeshop owner Juliet “Jules” Capshaw is about to take maternity leave as she and her husband, Carlos, await the birth of their twins. Her closest friend and local theater director, Lance Rousseau, is putting his own spin on a classic play, Perfect Murder. Jules will provide a pre-opening night meal for the cast and crew, but things get off to a deadly start when one of the crew members, Kean, is killed with a gun while everyone is in the theater. A suspect is immediately arrested, but Jules, who is a stealth amateur detective, can’t help but wonder if the police have the real murderer. Jules puts on her thinking cap and starts putting the clues and suspects together. Will she solve it? I’ve never read one of the Bakeshop Mysteries books, but I dived into this one without too much trouble. The author sets up who the friends and foes are, as well as how they are related. Jules runs a busy bakery with her mother called Torte, and she is beloved in the community of Ashland, which is famous for its Shakespearean plays put on every year. Yes, Jules is named after a Shakespeare character. She has a knack for solving crimes, though she doesn’t try to step on the toes of the local law enforcement. But they do appreciate her. Jules soon learns about the drama and gossip surrounding the people from the play. Roman is the lead, and it seems like he is getting to into character as he skulks around in the dark. It appears Kean is sexually harassing the lead actress, which makes for a tense set. Kean’s ex-wife is there, and Jules is suspicious of her as it appears their divorce isn’t final. Was she trying to cash in early before the divorce was final? A podcaster is getting too much into the play and the murder. All in all, Jules has a lot to sort through. Meanwhile, one of the town’s snobbiest residents is trying to wrangle people into viewing his worldwide debut as a millionaire bachelor reality TV show star. Jules would rather be anywhere else than there, but she has to play nice. At times, THE WHISKING HOUR will make you drool with hunger as Jules describes the food she is creating and what menus she is planning. As I stated before, Jules is loved by many in town and is known for her analytical mind to help solve crimes. In this tale, she lays out what she considers to be inconsistent and what needs to be questioned further. One suspect is released, but is another suspect arrested? Is Jules on the right track with her clues? Or do the police get it right before she does? Find out the answer by grabbing the intriguing and entertaining THE WHISKING HOUR. Patti Fischer |
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THE WHISKING HOUR – Ellie Alexander