Assault and Pepper

Spice Shop Mystery Series, Book 1

By: Leslie Budewitz

Narrated by: Dara Rosenberg

Pepper Reece, owner of the Seattle Spice Shop, thinks she can handle any kind of salty customer - until a murderer ends up in the mix.

After leaving a dicey marriage and losing a beloved job in a corporate crash, Pepper Reece has found a new zest for life running a busy spice and tea shop in Seattle's Pike Place Market. Her aromatic creations are the talk of the town, and everyone stops by for a cup of her refreshing spice tea, even other shopkeepers and market regulars.

But when a panhandler named Doc shows up dead on the store's doorstep, a Seattle Spice Shop cup in his hand, the local gossip gets too hot for Pepper to handle - especially after the police arrest one of her staffers, Tory Finch, for murder. Tory seems to know why she's a suspect, but she refuses to do anything to curry favor with the cops. Convinced her reticent employee is innocent, Pepper takes it on herself to sniff out some clues. Only, if she's not careful, Pepper's nosy ways might make her next on the killer's list.

©2015 Leslie Ann Budewitz (P)2016 Tantor

Great Narrator

Unfortuately 'Great Narrator" is the best thing I can say about this book. The main character Delaney is SOOOO obnoxious I had a hard time making myself read this book to the end. The story line is kind of OK but again the main character is so annoying it is difficult to get past it. I will definitely not be reading more in this series or by Leslie Budewitz.

Interesting

I found it fun and interesting. I would be interested in other books by this author.

Mysterious and enthralling.

I couldn't wait for my drive to and from work to listen! Definitely engaging. Creative.

Nice cozy mystery

I read some other reviews and was quite surprised by some of them after I listened to the story. Someone complained about the in depth descriptions of spices, IT TAKES PLACE IN A SPICE SHOP, WHAT DID YOU EXPECT!!! Another complained about how a Southern Gentleman addressed Pepper as Miz Pepper. The reviewer is from Texas so I'm surprised by that as well. I have lived in New York, California, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and presently live in Virginia. It is considered a respectful manner of address to people older than yourself. Miz/Miss Jane or Mr. John is not uncommon in these states in present day. It has nothing to do with the color of your skin. When our daughter was young, I preferred for her young friends to address me as Miz/Miss Sonia verses the more formal Mrs. Hagenberger. The South Eastern United States still maintains that genteel manner of living, I hope it never changes.
Now as far as this story, it was as described. A nice cozy, easy, breezy mystery, read very well and was very entertaining. It deserves a 4.5 but since there's not a 4.5 , I gave it a 5.

Boring Reader

The reader is fairly monotonous. She creates pauses where there shouldn't be any and doesn't pause where she should. First time I listened to her so maybe she's new but it brought down an other wise good story.

I'm a little late to the party

Where does Assault and Pepper rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's above average but not the best. The story makes me want to visit the market.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Assault and Pepper?

I like the descriptions of the market and the surrounding areas.

Which character – as performed by Dara Rosenberg – was your favorite?

Pepper was great. A heroine who is kind and smart. The only thing that bothers me about these kinds of books is the propensity of the main characters to leave their places of business for large chunks of time to run around chasing clues. That spice shop is a major investment for her. It makes no sense that she would leave it to search for clues for someone who won't even talk to her.

A great easy listen

I enjoy series related books with a mystery theme. When I found this one, I was pleased. A lot of mysteries are heavy and can be dark in nature. This one is not heavy nor dark, just good clean mystery. Like the game Clue. I kept trying to figure out 'who done it'. Now I am on to the next one in the series.

Love a good cozy mystery!

Usually I find myself rolling my eyes a couple of times as the protagonist makes a plot driven choice. Not so with this audiobook. Her life choices (although different from mine) seem to be just that, life choices and personality traits. The narrator was great and channeled the main character perfectly. It’s a solid cozy mystery and a series I’ll continue.

Fun story

First time reading a book from this author. Enjoyed it very much. Great story line.

Restoring the daughter and mother of the delusional Dr to their rights as artists.

I liked seeing Seattle Market and business there. I liked the respect and care for traumatized street people.