I saw a question on Facebook yesterday. “What is your favorite cozy mystery series?” While there are several I read faithfully, Leslie Budewitz’ Spice Shop Mysteries definitely rank up there. She always takes us, along with her protagonist Pepper Reece, to the Spice Shop at Pike Place Market in Seattle. She brings back familiar characters, and has added a few such as Pepper’s parents. And, there’s always information about a different spice or herb, along with recipes and lessons about its history and use. Naturally, it’s lavender in Lavender Lies Bleeding.

Pepper is putting together a small festival with other vendors, a festival that will feature lavender, everything from herbs to foods to balloons and face painting. She believes in working with experts, so she heads to Salmon Falls, a community that specializes in lavender. “Lavender Liz” Giacometti is one of Pepper’s sources for herbs. But, when Pepper gets to Liz’s farm, she finds her friend dealing with vandalism of her greenhouse where there’s broken glass and destroyed equipment. The sheriff has a suspect, but Liz disagrees. However, it seems Liz is involved in a dispute over a local farm. Small growers, including Hmong farmers, had hoped to make it a show farm, but a wealthy couple offered more money. Now, some in the community fear it will eventually be sold to build homes, and the small farmers will once again lose out. Liz is active in supporting the local farmers.

Liz doesn’t have a lot of time, but she supports Pepper’s festival ideas, and even gives Pepper a new lavender hybrid she grew, and tells her to take care of it. When one of Pepper’s staff members sells it, Pepper even tracks it down to get it back. She does the same thing when Liz is killed. She’s determined to track down the killer because she feels she owes it to Liz. “Her determination to succeed as a grower, and as a woman on her own, had been inspiring.” Pepper is the same type of strong woman.

For those who follow the series, and have kept up with it even to this ninth book, Budewitz ties together a few ongoing storylines. One involves Pepper’s partner, Nate, and his business as a fisherman. One involves the story of her dog, Arf. And, of course, there’s the investigation into Liz’s death. Budewtz juggles multiple storylines, but for those readers who appreciate the Spice Shop and its staff, she once again emphasizes “Food, friends, and flavors”. Those are the most important reasons to return to the series featuring a woman who cares about her community, and gets involved in murder cases in order to support that community. Lavender Lies Bleeding, with its “Food, friends, and flavors” is another strong entry in one of my favorite cozy mystery series.

Leslie Budewitz’ website is www.LeslieBudewitz.com.

Lavender Lies Bleeding by Leslie Budewitz. Seventh Street Books, 2025. 313p.

FTC Full Disclosure – I bought a copy of the book.