Baker Jules Capshaw, along with her husband, Carlos, and Torte’s resident barista, Andy, are packing their bags and preparing for the ultimate coffee excursion in Costa Rica. A fortuitous invitation from one of Carlos’s former colleagues, Valentina, has them venturing to the coffee capital of the world for a tasting tour and an immersive weekend at her family’s organic coffee farm.
They soak in the tropical breezes, the vibrant colors, the sounds of morning birdsong, and the sweeping views of the historic coffee farm. Valentina is the ultimate host, offering them traditional meals and thrilled to have their input as she’s preparing to open a coffee counter and bakery on the farm.
The getaway is just what Jules needed. A chance to relax and unwind, curl up with a book and iced latte by the pool, and tinker in Valentina’s kitchen, dreaming up new recipes to bring home. Except her tranquil weekend quickly turns into a nightmare when one of Valentina’s employees is found dead in the pulping machine. Now, Jules will have to put her vacation on hold to try and uncover the murderer before one of Torte’s beloved workers becomes the next body thrown into the mix.
Release Date: Aug 26, 2025
Series: Bakeshop Mystery
Book: 21
Publisher: Macmillan
Imprint: Minotaur Books
Price: $9.99
Laying Down the Latte is the 21st book in the Bakeshop Mystery series. In this book, the main character, Juliet “Jules” Capshaw, and her husband, Carlos, travel from their home in Ashland, Oregon, to Costa Rica. Their friend Valentina has invited them to visit her family’s coffee farm for a tour and to advise her on a few issues regarding her business. Andy, the barista at Jules’ bakery, also goes to learn more about coffee, a subject he’s passionate about. Everyone is impressed by the beauty of Costa Rica and the farm, but the pleasant trip takes a turn when Andy witnesses the tragic death of Valentina’s cousin and business partner. Jules is determined to find out who the killer is and help Valentina save her farm, which is in danger of being bought by a large coffee corporation.
I’ve been reading this series for a long time. I love Jules and Carlos, and the premise of them traveling to Costa Rica was an interesting change. I enjoyed learning about the coffee farms, but I missed seeing Jules and the employees of her family bakery, Torte, working together. One of my favorite characters in the series is Lance, Jules’s best friend. Although he checks in with her via text, advising her on the investigation, it wasn’t the same as having him play an active role in the investigation with Jules. Also, with the exception of Valentina, I didn’t warm to the other characters in Costa Rica.
There are some tense moments as Jules questions farm employees to try to get to the bottom of what really happened. The ultimate resolution of the case had some surprises, but also some things that didn’t add up for me. Overall, the book was entertaining, but I will be glad to see Jules, Carlos, and Andy back in Ashland for the next book. As always, there were some delicious-sounding recipes at the end of the book.
~ Christine
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