Picture a Montana storyteller who weaves murder mysteries with a dash of culinary delight—meet Leslie Ann Budewitz! This award-winning author has carved a niche in the cozy mystery genre, blending her legal expertise and love for food into captivating tales set in vibrant locales like Seattle’s Pike Place Market and Montana’s charming villages. As the first writer to snag Agatha Awards for both fiction and nonfiction, Budewitz is a trailblazer whose stories leave readers hungry for more.
From her Spice Shop Mysteries to her Food Lovers’ Village series, Budewitz’s novels are a feast of suspense, humor, and heart. Her passion for storytelling and community shines through, making her a beloved figure in the mystery world.
The Making of Leslie Ann Budewitz
Born in Billings, Montana, Leslie Ann Budewitz grew up surrounded by the rugged beauty of the Rocky Mountains, which later inspired her vivid settings. A graduate of Seattle University and Notre Dame Law School, she practiced law in Seattle and Montana, honing a keen eye for detail that would fuel her mysteries. Her legal career sparked her first book, Books, Crooks & Counselors: How to Write Accurately About Criminal Law and Courtroom Procedure, a guide for writers that won the 2011 Agatha Award for Best Nonfiction.
Budewitz’s shift to fiction was driven by a lifelong love of storytelling, ignited during a personal crisis in her late thirties. She began crafting cozy mysteries, drawing on her Montana roots and her obsession with food, which she explored as a college freshman wandering Pike Place Market’s bustling stalls.
Leslie Ann Budewitz’s Unforgettable Stories
Budewitz’s cozy mysteries are a delectable blend of crime, community, and cuisine. Her Food Lovers’ Village Mysteries, set in the fictional Jewel Bay, Montana, follow Erin Murphy, a gourmet market owner solving murders amid festivals and farm-to-table fare. The series kicked off with Death al Dente (2013), which won the 2013 Agatha Award for Best First Novel for its twisty plot and vivid local flavor.
The Spice Shop Mysteries, set in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, star Pepper Reece, a spice shop owner with a knack for sniffing out clues. Titles like Assault and Pepper (2015) and To Err is Cumin (2024) showcase Budewitz’s knack for weaving social issues—like personal identity and community ties—into lighthearted whodunits. Her historical short stories, such as All God’s Sparrows (2018), featuring Stagecoach Mary Fields, earned her a third Agatha Award for Best Short Story, proving her versatility.
As Alicia Beckman, Budewitz explores moody suspense in novels like Bitterroot Lake, diving into darker themes while retaining her focus on women’s lives. Her writing sparkles with sensory details—think steaming cups of spice-laden tea or huckleberry chocolates—making every page a sensory treat.
Why Leslie Ann Budewitz Matters
Leslie Ann Budewitz’s impact extends beyond her page-turning plots. As a three-time Agatha Award winner, she’s a pioneer in the cozy mystery genre, proving that lighthearted tales can tackle big themes. Her work celebrates the Northwest’s culture, from Montana’s tight-knit towns to Seattle’s vibrant markets, inviting readers to savor local flavors and traditions.
A tireless advocate for aspiring writers, Budewitz has served as president of Sisters in Crime (2015–16) and co-founded the Guppies, a support group for unpublished authors. Her leadership in these organizations has empowered countless new voices in the mystery community, cementing her legacy as a mentor and storyteller.
- Born: Billings, Montana
- Key Works: Death al Dente, Assault and Pepper, All God’s Sparrows
- Awards: Three Agatha Awards (2011, 2013, 2018)
- Pen Name: Alicia Beckman for suspense novels
Snag Death al Dente or Assault and Pepper and dive into Leslie Ann Budewitz’s cozy mystery world—where every clue comes with a side of spice!