Leslie Budewitz’ Spice Shop mysteries are somewhere on the spectrum between cozy mystery and hardboiled ones. Peppermint Barked, with its recipes and holiday-themed book cover, tends toward the cozy end. But, Budewitz’ books have a depth of character that is often lacking in cozy mysteries. It’s not just her protagonist, Pepper Reece, who is well-developed. All of Pepper’s staff at Pike Place Market’s Spice Shop have rounded personalities, as do those police officers and store owners that Pepper encounters regularly.

‘Tis the season at Pike Place Market in Seattle. The shops are decorated. The carolers are out, and this year’s theme is “A Dickens of a Christmas”. Some shop owners are even in costume, including wine merchant Vinny Delgado and his employee Beth Yardley. In fact, Beth is in full costume when Pepper sees her arguing with a tall man outside the shop. Pepper has an eye for detail, so she remembers that. She does wonder, though, when she gets to the Spice Shop and Matt, one of her clerks, shows up with a bouquet. She suspects he might be seeing Beth.

One morning, Vinny’s ex-wife stops Pepper outside his shop, frantic because she found Beth on the floor, hit over the head with a wine bottle, and bleeding. If Pepper’s thoughts immediately turn to Matt, she’s afraid the investigating police might link him to Beth as well. Pepper wants to find out who attacked the bright young woman, but she also wants to protect her employee.

“Tis the season for everyone to juggle too many responsibilities. Now, Pepper is involved in a case at the Market, but she’s also hosting her boyfriend’s business partner, his brother, Bron. Both men are fishermen, and, with the business centered in Alaska, Pepper hasn’t seen Nate’s brother before. She’s nervous about it, but, if he’s anything like the man she loves, she’ll enjoy his company. She just has to find time, between running the Spice Shop, and looking for someone who would attack a young woman.

It’s not just Budewitz’ characters that are well-developed. The relationships between Pepper, the police, the people at the market, and Nate and his brother, are expertly crafted. And, the Pike Place Market and Spice Shop are described so well, that, like Pepper, I found it to be a magical setting. Peppermint Barked is just a perfect mystery if you’d like “A Dickens of a Christmas”.

Leslie Budewitz’ website is https://www.lesliebudewitz.com/

Peppermint Barked by Leslie Budewitz. Seventh Street, 2022. ISBN 9781645060543 (paperback), 236p.

FTC Full Disclosure – The publicist sent a galley of the book, upon request.

Personal Note: At one point, Pepper thinks, “I love hearing knowledgeable people talk about their passions.” It’s something I’ve enjoyed for years, and realized it when I served on the board of the Arizona Automotive Institute. I knew nothing about air conditioning, automotive, etc., but, it was so impressive to listen to the people who specialized in air conditioning talk about it. Their love and passion for their field came through, although I didn’t have the background to understand half of what they said. But, Pepper is right.