asanford's review
4.0
Loved this one. The mystery provided more background into the characters. And the ex-husband didn’t bug me
amandajeanne's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
susanknights's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
rynflynn12's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
generic_username's review against another edition
This installment didn’t quite hit the same as the others
msrichardsreads89's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
tessa_talks_books's review against another edition
4.0
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.
angrygreycatreads's review against another edition
3.0
The Solace of Bay Leaves is set in Seattle and is book 5 in the Spice Shop Mystery Series. This book seems to be tying up some loose ends and I probably wouldn't recommend reading it if you had not read others in the series. A new crime seems to be tied to previous case because of a single gun. Pepper has connections to both of them. The case has a historical family component that has to be uncovered by digging into the past. Maybe uncovering things people don't want to look at to deeply. This was a really good series, this was perhaps not the strongest book in the series.
dollycas's review against another edition
5.0
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.
larisa2021's review against another edition
4.0
These are enjoyable summer favorites. Pepper and her crew are always nice to catch up with!
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