The Whisking Hour — An Advanced Review of Murder, Baked Goods, and Theatre
Book cover image from Bookshop.org
I’ll snatch up pretty much every cozy mystery ARC (advanced reader copy) I can get through indie authors, and platforms for reviewers. Minotaur Books (Martin’s Press) is one of my preferred publishers, too, so if they’ve got something for me, I’m all in. So, here we are with The Whisking Hour and your preview into this delectable mystery.
Now, when I say delectable, I mean it. Practically every page of the book drips with baked-in goodness in a vibrant, descriptive tone. For, you see, the narrator is Juliet Capshaw, the owner and head baker at Torte, a cafe and bakery in the small town of Ashland, Oregon.
Since The Whisking Hour happens to be Book #22 in the Bakeshop Mysteries series by Ellie Alexander, I wasn’t totally sure how engrossing it would be. Some series require the backstories for enjoyment. But within half a digital page, I was firmly on board and ready for the ride. And now that I’ve read this fabulously fun cozy, I’ll be looking for earlier books in the series to enjoy.
How’s the Writing in The Whisking Hour?
As a writer and editor, the first thing I notice about a book is the quality of writing. I can overlook some sins if the storytelling is great (even some minor writing issues) but if the writing is poor, I’ve got to be completely convinced of the storyline.
With The Whisking Hour, I didn’t have to be convinced of anything. The writing style, the author’s voice, and the storytelling all solidly push Ellie Alexander to the front of my cozy mystery writers list now. Her narrative style is my preferred for this genre (first person), sure, but the writing quality is nearly flawless, too.
You’ve got emotional depth, creative turns-of-phrases that don’t strike as someone trying to get all literary on a casual genre, and the characters are both believable and likeable — except the ones you’re supposed to loathe.
One of the best things about the writing, too, is that the premise for the murder and the solving of the mystery is totally buyable. Don’t get me wrong — I enjoy a good Jessica Fletcher-type who has murder follow her around like a hungry puppy! But in The Whisking Hour a solid reason for this mystery within a small town and the reason for the narrator’s involvement actually align with believability.
What’s The Whisking Hour About?
Every turn of the page gave a whiff of memory to my theatre-formed soul. The grand drape pulls back to reveal the setting: a most-hated director — a temporary resident in town — is murdered immediately after the show, during a mid-run cast party. The actors flood in to drown their shock in booze and murder-themed goodies (oops!), while Juliet looks on in shock.
The baker must not only make it through this night, but she’s got help keep her amateur sleuth pal, Lance the creative director, in check while the police investigate the mystery. Who could have wanted the director dead? As it turns out, just about everyone in the cast and crew.
Juliet also happens to be about four thousand months pregnant with twins, and feels every jostle and jerk of the world around her in heightened awareness. And while she’s at it, there’s this niggling feeling in the back of her heart: Is the prime suspect really the guilty one? She can’t put her finger on it, but something’s off.
Making their way through a long list of possible suspects, Juliet and Lance, with help from Juliet’s hubby Carlos, Lance’s fiancé Arlo, and a cast of bakers, thespians, and police officer pals, must solve the mystery before someone else gets murdered.
Is The Whisking Hour a Great Read?
The Whisking Hour sets the stage with an intriguing premise my thespian’s heart devours: a murder mystery set at a small, somewhat renowned small town theatre. With the theatre’s creative director as one of the primary characters — besties with the narrator — and the trappings of the backstage world, I couldn’t put this showstopper down.
So, if you love a good cozy mystery, have any inclination towards the theatrical world (as a fan or participant), and love a well-written casual read, you’re definitely in for a treat from the fantastically fun The Whisking Hour.
The publication date for The Whisking Hour is February 24, 2026. Pre-order your copy of the theatrically fun The Whisking Hour today!
Looking for more great reads? Cozy mysteries, theatre, and more lie ahead in this roundup of choices:
- Murder Always Barks Twice – Cozy Mystery Review
- Elementary, My Dear Marple – Cozy Mystery Fiction
- Rita’s Theatre Tips & Tricks – Combating Breaking Character
- All the World’s a Stage – Performing Arts Stories and Poetry
- The Whalebone Theatre, a Book Review
- Cozy Mystery Review: The Cat Who Series
- For Sale – a Cozy Flash Fiction
- Murder with Earl Grey Tea, a Cozy Mystery Review
Editor-in-Chief of The MockingOwl Roost, Rita Mock-Pike is the granddaughter of aviatrix, Jerrie Mock, first woman to pilot an airplane solo around the world. Rita has found inspiration from her grandmother’s life and flight and pursued many of her own dreams in theatre, podcasting, novel writing, and cooking up delicious food from around the world. She now writes on food, travel, pets, faith, and the arts. She’s happily married to Matt, and faithfully serves the very fluffy kitten queen, Lady Stardust.
