Reviews

The Solace of Bay Leaves by Leslie Budewitz

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kimlb's review against another edition

4.0

Excellent plot however way too many characters for me to keep track of. There is a list of who is who at the front but then some other characters were added (maybe as a red herring) and it was a bit confusing. It all came together at the end though.

kimdavishb's review against another edition

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5.0

THE SOLACE OF BAY LEAVES, the fifth book in the Spice Shop Mysteries by Leslie Budewitz, is another delicious addition to a tantalizing series! In this newest release, Ms. Budewitz once again displays her strengths in developing relatable and memorable characters that show growth over the course of the series. She also includes a colorful cast of characters that add to the whimsy of the locale. While this can be read as a standalone, I think the story is stronger by getting to know the protagonist, Pepper Reece, from the beginning and following her journey. I love how the author effectively uses Pepper, as owner of the Spice Shop in Pike Place Market, to showcase the bounty and tastes of the setting. In fact, she immerses the reader using all five senses so that I felt like I was right there and made me want to hop on a plane and visit in person. The Spice Shop would definitely be one of the first places I’d want to visit if it were possible! I also enjoyed all the tidbits of information offered up about spices and uses, along with all the mouthwatering descriptions of food.

The mystery surrounding the brutal shooting of one of Pepper’s childhood friends takes center stage. It also pulls in an unsolved 3-year-old murder case of the husband of another childhood friend. As Pepper searches for answers, it appears that the two crimes are connected. The author has created a complex, well-plotted mystery that revolves around the re-gentrification of a rundown area in Seattle. With plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing, the ending caught me by surprise with a historical twist that provided another layer of intrigue. Tying in the themes of friendship and loss, hope and acceptance, the reader is taken along for an enticing read as they follow Pepper’s search for answers!

There are several delicious sounding recipes at the back of the book as well.

cindifer20's review against another edition

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The Solace of Bay Leaves

git_r_read's review against another edition

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5.0

Another of my favorite series and authors. I love the setting and the characters. I want to visit this Spice Shop, meet Pepper and her crew.
There is so much going on in this one, but not so much as to be distracting. Two similar shootings, several years apart with tangential connections and the connections become less tangential as Pepper investigates further.
New characters are introduced and I do hope some stick around for future books. I also enjoy watching Pepper's mind work. She loves reading mysteries and I get new-to-me authors to add to my lists. One of our mutual favorites is Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series. She feels a connection to Cadfael, he of the apothecary and she of the Spice Shop.
I get neat ideas on adding spices to my collection and if I had a group of friends like Pepper does, I'd do Chick Flick Night too. I like her friendships and how Pepper's character continues to grow and mature. I like that she doesn't stand still, she grows.
I can definitely recommend this book, this series and this author.