By Ginger Bolton
A Deputy Donut Mystery #1
Kensington, 2018
Summary
Emily Westhill runs the best donut shop in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin, alongside her retired police chief father-in-law and her tabby Deputy Donut. But after murder claims a favorite customer, Emily can’t rely on a sidekick to solve the crime—or stay alive.
If Emily has learned anything from her past as a 911 operator, it’s to stay calm during stressful situations. But that’s a tall order when one of her regulars, Georgia Treetor, goes missing. Georgia never skips morning cappuccinos with her knitting circle. Her pals fear the worst—especially Lois, a close friend who recently moved to town. As evening creeps in, Emily and the ladies search for Georgia at home. And they find her—murdered among a scattering of stale donuts . . .
Disturbingly, Georgia’s demise coincides with the five-year anniversary of her son’s murder, a case Emily’s late detective husband failed to solve before his own sudden death. With Lois hiding secrets and an innocent man’s life at stake, Emily’s forced to revisit painful memories on her quest for answers. Though someone’s alibi is full of holes, only a sprinkling of clues have been left behind. And if Emily can’t trace them back to a killer in time, her donut shop will end up permanently closed for business . . .
My thoughts
Survival of the Fritters, which begins a new series by Ginger Bolton, is as fun and entertaining as the cover promises. And with a cover like that, how could I resist?!
Relationships, friendships, and even the hint of a future romance are elements that I loved. The story is set in the picturesque town of Fallingbrook, Wisconsin and is also completely clean, which I very much appreciated.
Emily, still trying to find her way after the death of her police detective husband a few years earlier, is an appealing protagonist who cares about people. I wished for more character depth, a compliment because I liked her, but I suspect that will come with future stories. A strong supporting cast surrounds Emily, two of my favorites being her longtime friends, police officer Misty and 911 operator Savannah. This story is also different from most cozies in that, while Emily is a civilian, she has close relationships with people on the police force, which lends credibility to her detecting. I also really liked Brent, her late husband’s partner, and any romance that might develop between these two promises to be complex because of shared grief.
The story moves at a steady pace that kept me eagerly turning the pages, and while a few hints as to the murderer are scattered throughout, the solution was never obvious until the end. And of course I loved Emily’s precious cat, Dep, after which the Deputy Donut shop was named!
This promises to be a good series for traditional cozy mystery fans and I eagerly await the next story.
Recommended.
I was provided a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
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When Ginger isn’t writing or reading, she’s crocheting, knitting, sewing, walking her two rescue dogs and generally causing trouble. She’s also fond of donuts, coffee, and cafes were folks gather to enjoy those tasty treats and one another’s company.
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GIVEAWAY
Thank you for your review on "Survival of the Fritters" and being part of the book tour!
ReplyDelete2clowns at arkansas dot net
This sounds like an exciting mystery with lots of kitty cuteness included.
ReplyDeleteLove the cover! Sounds like a fun read.
ReplyDeleteHey, Ginger needs to add an "u" to her last name! :)
ReplyDeleteI love breakfast pastries, and this book looks good.
ReplyDelete