After her human-resources job disappeared and she divorced her cheating husband, Pepper Reece bought the Spice Shop, located in Seattle's Pike Place Market. Pepper hopes to get the spice account for up-and-coming chef Tamara Langston, who is about to open her own restaurant. Unfortunately, before that can happen, Pepper finds Tamara dead, murdered with ghost chili peppers almost certainly purchased from Pepper's shop. When Pepper's friend Alex Howard, Tamara's hotheaded former boss, is charged with the murder, Pepper feels obligated to help out after all, she was somewhat responsible for providing the murder weapon. Complicating matters, Pepper is having personnel problems at the shop; her ex-husband, a patrol officer, is looking to get back together with her; and there is a possible new love interest on the horizon. This engaging cozy makes the most of its Seattle location, effectively weaves facts about spices and their uses throughout the narrative, and boasts the feisty Pepper at its center. Sure to appeal to fans of Susan Wittig Albert's China Bayles herbal mysteries.--O'Brien, Sue Copyright 2015 Booklist