Pepper Reece loves her new role as owner of the Seattle Spice Shop, even if her ex-husband and police officer, Tag Buhner, stops by a little too frequently. Unfortunately, Pepper now finds herself in the middle of a police investigation when a panhandler winds up dead outside her shop- and one of her staff is accused of his murder. Pepper can't resist trying to help Tory Finch, as she's sure Tory is innocent. Will Pepper's questions lead to more trouble?

ASSAULT AND PEPPER kicks off the Spice Shop Mystery series and already has me hooked on this charming and funky series. I want to visit more in the Seattle Spice Shop and wander with Pepper down through Seattle's Pike Place Market, visiting with the quirky characters while sampling their wares. The aromatic spices and teas they create at the Seattle Spice Shop have me itching to try some of their suggestions in my own recipes!

ASSAULT AND PEPPER is just the right blend of character development and world building. I love Pepper and her willingness to help her employee even when Tory initially turns away from her. I also like the direction that Leslie Budewitz takes with Pepper's personal life, and I look forward to seeing where it will go in the future.

Leslie Budewitz packs a lot into ASSAULT AND PEPPER as we get a great taste of both the Pike's Place Market as well as the various characters and their relationships. This was the first mystery I've read by Leslie Budewitz but I'm thrilled to discover she's written more as I definitely will give them a try as ASSAULT AND PEPPER only whetted my appetite for more!

Book Summary

The Agatha Award-winning author of CRIME RIB is proud to introduce Pepper Reece, the owner of the Seattle Spice Shop who 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 Pepper’s 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…