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thephdivabooks's review against another edition
4.0
The much-loved Spice Shop Mysteries are back with a fourth mystery starring Pepper Reece—amateur detective and spice shop owner living in Seattle. I loved this book—it was easy to jump right into the series and I found Pepper completely delightful!
About the Book
Seattle Spice Shop owner Pepper Reece probes murder while juggling a troubled employee, her mother’s house hunt, and a fisherman who’s set his hook for her.
As owner of the Spice Shop in Seattle's famed Pike Place Market, Pepper Reece is always on the go. Between conjuring up new spice blends and serving iced spice tea to customers looking to beat the summer heat, she finally takes a break for a massage. But the Zen moment is shattered when she overhears an argument in her friend Aimee's vintage home decor shop that ends in murder.
Wracked by guilt over her failure to intervene, Pepper investigates, only to discover a web of deadly connections that could ensnare a friend - and Pepper herself.
Reflection
This mystery was really fun!! I really liked the setting, and not just Seattle but the shop as well. I adored Pepper—I’d like to go back and read more about her!
The case was really interesting to me. I found the mystery in Chai Another Day to be intricately-plotted and filled with the blend of cozy subplots and suspicious figures to make this a truly engaging mystery.
I also loved how the book touched on some socially-conscious issues—race relations, discrimination, and bullying—in a bold move that is not often seen in cozy mysteries.
Thank you to Seventh Street Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.
About the Book
Seattle Spice Shop owner Pepper Reece probes murder while juggling a troubled employee, her mother’s house hunt, and a fisherman who’s set his hook for her.
As owner of the Spice Shop in Seattle's famed Pike Place Market, Pepper Reece is always on the go. Between conjuring up new spice blends and serving iced spice tea to customers looking to beat the summer heat, she finally takes a break for a massage. But the Zen moment is shattered when she overhears an argument in her friend Aimee's vintage home decor shop that ends in murder.
Wracked by guilt over her failure to intervene, Pepper investigates, only to discover a web of deadly connections that could ensnare a friend - and Pepper herself.
Reflection
This mystery was really fun!! I really liked the setting, and not just Seattle but the shop as well. I adored Pepper—I’d like to go back and read more about her!
The case was really interesting to me. I found the mystery in Chai Another Day to be intricately-plotted and filled with the blend of cozy subplots and suspicious figures to make this a truly engaging mystery.
I also loved how the book touched on some socially-conscious issues—race relations, discrimination, and bullying—in a bold move that is not often seen in cozy mysteries.
Thank you to Seventh Street Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.
kimdavishb's review against another edition
5.0
CHAI ANOTHER DAY, the fourth book in the Spice Shop Mystery series by Leslie Budewitz, is a welcomed and long anticipated addition to a delightful series! The author whets the appetite of the reader from the beginning, by providing a list of characters. I love referring back to the list as I read through the book, to get an added sense of the author’s descriptions and relationships between the characters. From there, the reader is treated to a variety of quotes which start each chapter off. I enjoyed trying to see how they tied in to the theme of the chapters. Ms. Budewitz creates a sensory-filled story that manages to bring the tastes, smells, sounds, and sights of Pike’s Place Market, located in Seattle, to life. I especially love protagonist, Pepper Reece, and her darling Spice Shop and her adorable dog, Arf. I would dearly love to spend time in her store, exploring the spices, perusing the recipes and books, and chatting with the staff members. The author truly brings the charming setting to life while including bits and pieces of interesting spice facts and spice pairings.
The reader is treated to a well-plotted mystery with a multitude of subplots woven in to provide growth for the characters alongside warm, human relationships. Pepper’s character is a caring, empathetic friend and employer. She’s also brave and is willing to step in and help her friends out in dangerous situations. I appreciated the author’s portrayal of racial discrimination and bullying. It’s a social issue that is often overlooked by fiction writers but is important nonetheless. Pepper uses her people skills to ask questions and piece together the clues to find justice for victims of all types of crimes, not just murder. Ms. Budewitz writes a tight mystery that provides enough suspects and clues to keep the reader guessing while providing characters and settings that invite the reader in and makes them want to stay.
Pepper is an accomplished cook and she often creates dishes to serve to her friends and family. She also has several friends, including a chef at her favorite restaurant, who all create delectable meals. And lastly, she allows her staff at the Spice Shop to develop recipes based around seasonally themed spice blends. The author includes a collection of these recipes at the back of the book and I was drooling over the descriptions as I read the many recipes.
I was provided an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The reader is treated to a well-plotted mystery with a multitude of subplots woven in to provide growth for the characters alongside warm, human relationships. Pepper’s character is a caring, empathetic friend and employer. She’s also brave and is willing to step in and help her friends out in dangerous situations. I appreciated the author’s portrayal of racial discrimination and bullying. It’s a social issue that is often overlooked by fiction writers but is important nonetheless. Pepper uses her people skills to ask questions and piece together the clues to find justice for victims of all types of crimes, not just murder. Ms. Budewitz writes a tight mystery that provides enough suspects and clues to keep the reader guessing while providing characters and settings that invite the reader in and makes them want to stay.
Pepper is an accomplished cook and she often creates dishes to serve to her friends and family. She also has several friends, including a chef at her favorite restaurant, who all create delectable meals. And lastly, she allows her staff at the Spice Shop to develop recipes based around seasonally themed spice blends. The author includes a collection of these recipes at the back of the book and I was drooling over the descriptions as I read the many recipes.
I was provided an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
librarianlinda82's review against another edition
4.0
Always enjoy Pepper's adventures at the Spice Shop in Seattle.
git_r_read's review against another edition
5.0
This series just gets better with each book. Not only do I get a fab mystery to read and characters to watch develop and grow, I get to learn about spices and get new recipes in the back of each book.
This one had some pain and suffering involved and not just by the murdered. There is illness, relationships gone astray, guilt over what could have gone differently if choices were made...not a lot of light airy here. And that's what makes this series so good. It's not all lighthearted banter and froth. It's grit and life.
Pepper has a lot on her plate, but I didn't get aggravated as I can sometimes with the main character meandering off to investigate, leaving her business or home and family to run itself. Pepper has a great staff, we've seen this enough to trust she can go off on deliveries of spices, walk Arf and investigate to the consternation of the police she helps.
I can definitely recommend this book, series and author.
This one had some pain and suffering involved and not just by the murdered. There is illness, relationships gone astray, guilt over what could have gone differently if choices were made...not a lot of light airy here. And that's what makes this series so good. It's not all lighthearted banter and froth. It's grit and life.
Pepper has a lot on her plate, but I didn't get aggravated as I can sometimes with the main character meandering off to investigate, leaving her business or home and family to run itself. Pepper has a great staff, we've seen this enough to trust she can go off on deliveries of spices, walk Arf and investigate to the consternation of the police she helps.
I can definitely recommend this book, series and author.
bethanyread's review against another edition
4.0
Good story. nice recipes and spice tidbits. I liked the new love interest going on and the way she's finally got her ex in the right spot in her life. Looking forward to the next book.
granny_weatherwax's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
asanford's review
4.0
Ex-husband finally does something good. This one was better than #2 but not quite as good as #3. It felt a little disjointed even though it was only a few months later. I’m still not totally invested in the characters. But I like the setting and the spice tips.
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25