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kimdavishb's review against another edition
5.0
GUILTY AS CINNAMON, the second book in “A Spice Shop Mystery” series, finds Pepper Reese getting ready to expand her spice shop located in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. She’s starting a bridal registry in addition to several chefs purchasing her wares for their local restaurants. A soon-to-be new restaurant owner, Tamara Langston, arrives at the Spice Shop to make a few purchases and discuss sourcing her herbs and spices. She learns that Tamara, a sous chef for Pepper’s ex-boyfriend, Alex, hasn’t told her boss that she’s resigning and opening her own restaurant…they both know that Alex is going to be furious.
The next evening Pepper and a friend go out to dinner and Pepper decides to take a peek in Tamara’s new restaurant space…and finds the future restaurateur dead…killed with a ghost chile, known as bhut capsicum, that Tamara had just purchased from Pepper’s own shop. It doesn’t take long for the police to arrest Alex, since he verbally threatened Tamara in front of the entire restaurant staff when he found out she was leaving his restaurant. Even though Alex has a temper, Pepper is sure he is innocent and when he begs her to find the real killer, she can’t say no. As she talks to people asking questions, she finds several people had motives for wanting the chef dead. Pepper also finds long buried secrets threatening to be exposed may have led to the crime and leads back to her ex-boyfriend and ex-husband, Officer Tag Buhner. When threatening notes are left for her and when her business almost goes up in flames, Pepper knows she’s getting close to the killer and she’d better figure it out before she becomes the next victim.
I loved GUILTY AS CINNAMON, from its clever title to the cover art to the vivid descriptions of the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of Seattle, to the tightly woven plot! The author has allowed Pepper to be human, experiencing real life complex issues with love and betrayal, insecurities, and daily struggles while giving her a chance to grow as a person through the choices she makes. Pepper also has a wonderful supporting cast and I like how Leslie has included a list of the characters at the beginning of the book. It made for a nice reference as I read. Of course I would be remiss to not mention the many fabulous recipes that are included with the book. I made Orange Cinnamon Crème Brûlée and it was to die for...I’ll be making it again…soon!
The next evening Pepper and a friend go out to dinner and Pepper decides to take a peek in Tamara’s new restaurant space…and finds the future restaurateur dead…killed with a ghost chile, known as bhut capsicum, that Tamara had just purchased from Pepper’s own shop. It doesn’t take long for the police to arrest Alex, since he verbally threatened Tamara in front of the entire restaurant staff when he found out she was leaving his restaurant. Even though Alex has a temper, Pepper is sure he is innocent and when he begs her to find the real killer, she can’t say no. As she talks to people asking questions, she finds several people had motives for wanting the chef dead. Pepper also finds long buried secrets threatening to be exposed may have led to the crime and leads back to her ex-boyfriend and ex-husband, Officer Tag Buhner. When threatening notes are left for her and when her business almost goes up in flames, Pepper knows she’s getting close to the killer and she’d better figure it out before she becomes the next victim.
I loved GUILTY AS CINNAMON, from its clever title to the cover art to the vivid descriptions of the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of Seattle, to the tightly woven plot! The author has allowed Pepper to be human, experiencing real life complex issues with love and betrayal, insecurities, and daily struggles while giving her a chance to grow as a person through the choices she makes. Pepper also has a wonderful supporting cast and I like how Leslie has included a list of the characters at the beginning of the book. It made for a nice reference as I read. Of course I would be remiss to not mention the many fabulous recipes that are included with the book. I made Orange Cinnamon Crème Brûlée and it was to die for...I’ll be making it again…soon!
littletaiko's review against another edition
3.0
Cute cozy mystery set in a Seattle spice shop. This is the second in the series featuring Pepper, owner of the spice shop. I haven't read the first in the series but it was pretty easy to pick up the story line. When an up an coming chef dies under suspicious circumstances involving ghost peppers that might have been purchased from the shop, Pepper feels obligate to due a little digging on her own. At least she's smart enough to keep the police apprised of any information she finds out. Wasn't a fan of the cutesy swearing or the ghostly aspect but am interested enough to read others in the series.
git_r_read's review against another edition
5.0
RECIPES!
I loved the first book in the series so much that I went out and bought the second one while reading the first. I rarely do this. I have plenty of books on Mt Git'r'Read, but I really wanted to have this one handy when I was ready to visit Pepper again.
RECIPES!
The story is a little busier this time, quite a few more characters [and suspects] than last time, but it's all excellent.
The ex, -husband and -boyfriend, are here and Pepper is sifting through her feelings in that arena. Pepper is uber-busy with expanding the Spice Shop and updating the with the blessing of the Historic Society. Lots of hoops and she still needs to hire more and better help. And solve a murder.
The setting remains excellent, the characters superbly fascinating, and I love the spice tips throughout.
A great thing about this series is that Pepper is a strong woman to emulate and admire. She has foibles, yes, but it makes her human. She is a brave woman to take on the monumental task of buying the business of her dreams and turning it into a profitable venture. She makes it her own, admits to mistakes, and she's kind. Not the walk-on-me type...rather that mama-bear kind that protects those around her and kicks butt of the dodgy and deceitful.
She reads excellent mysteries and looks up to Brother Cadfael, a favorite of mine.
And there are the recipes!
Highly recommend.
I loved the first book in the series so much that I went out and bought the second one while reading the first. I rarely do this. I have plenty of books on Mt Git'r'Read, but I really wanted to have this one handy when I was ready to visit Pepper again.
RECIPES!
The story is a little busier this time, quite a few more characters [and suspects] than last time, but it's all excellent.
The ex, -husband and -boyfriend, are here and Pepper is sifting through her feelings in that arena. Pepper is uber-busy with expanding the Spice Shop and updating the with the blessing of the Historic Society. Lots of hoops and she still needs to hire more and better help. And solve a murder.
The setting remains excellent, the characters superbly fascinating, and I love the spice tips throughout.
A great thing about this series is that Pepper is a strong woman to emulate and admire. She has foibles, yes, but it makes her human. She is a brave woman to take on the monumental task of buying the business of her dreams and turning it into a profitable venture. She makes it her own, admits to mistakes, and she's kind. Not the walk-on-me type...rather that mama-bear kind that protects those around her and kicks butt of the dodgy and deceitful.
She reads excellent mysteries and looks up to Brother Cadfael, a favorite of mine.
And there are the recipes!
Highly recommend.
rosescottagee's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
asanford's review against another edition
3.0
Fun and easy to listen to series. Love the hints for ways to use spices. The characters are gradually growing on me but I don’t love the ex-husband hovering and the forced love interest.
susanknights's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
amandajeanne's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5