Title:	Caught Bread Handed
	Author:	Ellie Alexander
	Published:	June 28, 2016, St. Martin's Paperbacks
	No. of Pages:	320
	Cover Price:	$7.19 Paperback. $7.99 Kindle

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In the fourth installment of The Bakeshop Mysteries, Caught Bread Handed, by Ellie Alexander, Jules Capshaw is excited to be home in Ashland, Oregon after spending several years as a chef on a cruise ship. She’s working in her family bakeshop, Torte, which is located downtown where all of the buildings have Elizabethan architecture and Shakespeare-themed shops – all except one - and the people in town are quite upset at the realtor and new restaurant owner, Mindy Nolan, for opening a tacky chain restaurant, ShakesBurgers, that doesn’t fit with the theme. To make things worse, Jules’ ex-husband, Carlos has come to visit. Carlos is also a cruise ship chef, and is charming everyone in town, including Jules. Unfortunately, Mindy is murdered, and the list of suspects is a mile long. Jules is sticking her nose into the case, and the police want her to mind her own business.

Mystery and thriller lovers who enjoy light reading, will enjoy this well-written, upbeat book. The characters are down-to-earth and very believable; they seem like the type of real people found in every small town, and the events seem typical. Food lovers, and culinary mystery lovers will definitely want to follow this series, at least if not dieting, since there are mentions of mouthwatering foods throughout. In fact, there are several good recipes at the end of the novel that are not only cook-friendly, but also good. Readers will wish that Torte, Jules’ family bakeshop, is a real place to visit.

The book is well-organized, the events flow, and it is a fast read. Since it’s a cozy, there is no graphic sex, language, or violence. There is, however, plenty of suspense, and Jules and the other characters are in danger several times throughout. Even if readers haven’t picked up the first three installments of the series, the book makes sense, and things are explained well enough that no one will be in the dark. However, after reading this fun novel, most readers will want to pick up the first three novels in the series because the characters are worth reading about. Caught Bread Handed is recommended for everyone who loves food, a good mystery, and a fast read.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

This book may be purchased at Amazon:
Caught Bread Handed: A Bakeshop Mystery