Ashland, Oregon is a lovely community of artists, craftspersons, and theater lovers. It’s where pastry chef Juliet Capshaw grew up and where she has returned after spending years of her life baking on cruise liners. Coming back to Ashland means that she’s working at her family’s restaurant Torte, and she is loving it. When a seasonal outdoor kitchen opens up, Juliet and her team consider taking it over, serving iced coffees and ice creams for the summer. It would be an amazing opportunity for them, but it would also be a lot of work.
The new space includes garden seating near a friend’s food truck, but it’s also by the railroad tracks. And although most of Ashland’s residents are upstanding and compassionate citizens. there are some who spend time near the tracks that are a little dodgy or homeless. One of the homeless men, an avid bicyclist known as The Wizard, is one of the homeless men. Most of the people of Ashland like him and leave him alone. Sometimes he will spend time in the nearby park, making balloon animals for the kids.
But Juliet’s new landlord, yoga teacher Addie, is outspoken against The Wizard. She accuses him of going through her garbage and painting graffiti on her building. The man who owns the bicycle store across the street says that The Wizard stole from him and damaged his property. Juliet doesn’t understand the accusations. The Wizard she knew would never do any of that. He is kind and careful, even if he does suffer from mental illness.
And then The Wizard ends up dead. Juliet and her crew from her new shop tried to help him, but they were too late. The police think that someone killed him. Juliet doesn’t understand who would kill a man like The Wizard, and she starts to worry about the wisdom of opening an ice cream stand so close to the railroad tracks. Is the area unsafe? Is it possible that The Wizard saw something illegal and was killed so that he wouldn’t tell?
As Juliet tries to figure out her relationship with her estranged husband Carlos, who is spending time with her in between the cruises where he cooks for passengers, she also feels the need to figure out what’s going out in her new neighborhood. She has questions about her landlord Addie, about their new organic milk farmer Dean, for her food truck friend Laney, and about The Wizard’s friend Sky. She feels like everyone has secrets, and until she finds out what they are, Juliet can’t help but feel like something is off. But when it’s all said and done, and The Wizard’s killer is brought to justice, will she still have her new Torte location? Will she still have her marriage? Or could this investigation even endanger her life?
Chilled to the Cone is the 12th book in the Bakeshop Mystery series. Author Ellie Alexander is adept at describing the small town of Ashland, Oregon, making you feel like you’re walking down the streets there yourself. She talks about cooking and baking like someone who has done her time in the kitchen, and the mysteries are told with grace and kindness. Although Chilled to the Cone is the first I’ve read in this series (I’ve been a fan of her Sloan Krouse mysteries for years, also set in the Pacific Northwest, but at a brewpub), it certainly won’t be the last. Juliet and her family and friends are great characters, and I can’t wait to spend more time with them. Also, there are pastries, which is always good.
I really enjoyed Chilled to the Cone. It’s a lovely cozy in a strong series, and if you’re looking for a new cozy series with sweet treats, then this is one you need to be looking at. This book is well plotted, well written, and has an inviting setting and smart characters. The only thing better than reading this series would be to curl up on the sofa and read it in front of the fireplace at Torte, enjoying the delectable pastries, inventive coffees, and warm service.
Egalleys for Chilled to the Cone were provided by St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, with many thanks.
