Bake, Borrow, and Steal, a Bakershop Mystery by Ellie Alexander

First, an admission. I was initially attracted to the Bakeshop Mystery series because of the Shakespeare connection. Ashland, Oregon, the setting, is basically "Shakespeare Central" with some much of the town focused on him, from festivals and plays to shops and names. While my own knowledge of Shakespeare's work is fuzzy at best, entombed in old notebooks used for college notes, I do have a connection. According to some pretty solid family tree research, he's a distant cousin many times removed. Now that I've bored you, on with the review.

A precious, priceless artifact is coming to Jules' hometown museum, an exhibit of "Double Falsehood", a long lost Shakespeare manuscript. Jules, real name Juliet Montgue Capshaw, is a busy, successful businesswoman who finds joy in food, food of all kinds. Her restaurant, Torte, has been selected to create a unique display for the exhibit, a chocolate desk and chair, the desk even to have working drawers. Her restaurant will also provide the food and treats for the grand opening of the exhibit. No pressure, right?

Then, the manuscript goes missing. A custodian is found in the basement seriously injured just as the theft becomes known with a box of cash nearby. Not long after, the young security guard is found dead. It's a puzzle worthy of a Shakespeare play. Jules is drawn into the investigation by friend and family ties, not to mention her own curiosity. She's joined by her friend Lance, who is flamboyant and eager to investigate. Although that investigation initially seems stuck in neutral, Lance does play a critical role in the story. Toss in several strong suspects, red herrings, twists and turns, not to mention an abundance of food and food preparation mentions, yummy, and Jules' investigation seems to be flailing. Fortunately, she's not in this quest alone.

Then....oh, read the book. 

You won't be disappointed. Excellent characters you'll wish you knew, food you'll wish you could taste, a wedding to plan, and the approaching holiday season, all while attempting to help solve a murder and theft. I've thoroughly enjoyed this series and hope you will, too. I've already looking forward to the next installment. Was Jules serious about what she was thinking about? I don't know. I'll have to read that book to find out. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartin'sPaperbacks for the ARC.