A cozy fall mystery filled with delicious baked treats, autumn vibes, wedding drama, and a clever murder investigation in Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop Mysteries.

Goodreads | The Pumpkin Vice Cafe

Release date: September 29, 2026

Publisher: Minotaur

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Synopsis:

Another delicious installment in the Bakeshop Series set in Ashland, OR!

As autumn settles over the charming hamlet of Ashland, Oregon, ushering in cool, crisp breezes and a stunning show of color, everyone at Torte is keeping warm by whipping up a bevy of fall treats and spicy lattes. Jules is nearing her due date, and the whole town is abuzz—placing bets on when the twins will make their grand debut. Helen and the team are working on a secret surprise baby shower, complete with cupcakes, cookies, and a feast fit for royalty, or maybe just a mother-to-be. 

Meanwhile, Lance and Arlo are busy planning their nuptials in what is sure to be as close to a royal wedding as Ashland has ever seen. But when the high-end wedding planner they hired is found dead in the frigid waters of Ashland Creek, what looks like a tragic accident, a slip on an icy bridge, quickly reveals itself as something much more sinister. Jules knows at once—this was no mishap. A killer is loose in Ashland, and they may be ready to strike again.

Review:

If you need me, I’ll be in Ashland, Oregon, eating every fall treat Ellie Alexander can dream up.

Pumpkin Vice Café is book 23 in the Bakeshop Mysteries, and somehow this series continues to feel as cozy, charming, and ridiculously easy to fall into as ever. Technically, you could read this one on its own—the mystery is completely separate from previous cases—but honestly? I would not recommend starting here. The characters, relationships, and all the ongoing storylines are far too good to miss. I binged the entire series over the last year, and this is officially one of my new favorites.

For starters, the FALL VIBES. 🍂 Torte is decked out in autumn decor, the food is overflowing with seasonal flavors, there are dreamy sounding autumnal lattes, crisp Oregon scenery, and Ellie Alexander absolutely leans into every cozy detail. The descriptions made me want to crawl directly into the book and spend the day at Torte eating everything in sight. And with Jules pregnant with twins and experiencing some truly insane cravings, the food descriptions were especially immaculate.

There’s also plenty happening outside the kitchen. Jules is nearing her due date, the town is taking bets on when the twins will arrive, and Helen and the Torte crew are secretly planning a baby shower. Meanwhile, Lance and Arlo are preparing for their wedding, which means we get more Lance—and more Lance is always a good idea as far as I’m concerned.Naturally, the festivities are interrupted when their high end wedding planner is found dead in Ashland Creek. What initially looks like an accident quickly becomes something much more sinister, and Jules knows almost immediately that someone in Ashland has murder on their mind.

The mystery was solid, genuinely tricky, and kept me guessing, while all of the character and relationship moments gave the story that extra layer that makes this series so addictive.

But honestly, this one was perfection for me: a clever mystery wrapped in peak fall coziness, delicious food, gorgeous scenery, and characters I’ve grown completely attached to. After 23 books, the Bakeshop Mysteries still know exactly how to deliver the cozy experience I want—and Pumpkin Vice Café is one of my new favorites in the series.

Perfect for Readers Who Love

• Fall-cozy settings and seasonal vibes
• Foodie mysteries with mouthwatering descriptions
• Small-town cozies with lovable recurring characters
• Wedding planning, family milestones, and found family
• Clever mysteries that keep you guessing
• Long-running series with character development

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

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