Halloween in the small town of Fallowbrook, Wisconsin, is the perfect season for Deputy Donut Café owner Emily Westhill to unmask a killer.
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October 31st is just around the corner and Emily Westhill’s Boston cream donuts, carved with a scream, have made an indelible impression on local eccentric Rich Royalson. So much so that he’s ordered three dozen, with twice the fudge icing, for his 70th birthday—a special event in more ways than one. It’s to be held on fog-shrouded Lake Fleekom where, twenty years ago, his wife mysteriously drowned.
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But the next day, when Emily arrives with her scrumptious screamers, she stumbles upon Rich’s corpse. The poor guy wanted a unique birthday bash—just not one to the side of his skull. With a guest list of possible perpetrators, and his last will and testament suspiciously left at the scene, Emily soon discovers that the Royalson closet is rattling with skeletons. As the fog thickens, motives mount, and the tricks outnumber the treats, Emily fears that Rich may not be the last one in Fallowbrook to go out screaming.
Release Date:Â Aug 25, 2020
Series:Â Deputy Donut
Book: 4
Publisher:Â Kensington
Price:Â $9.99
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A new customer at Deputy Donut’s, just days before Halloween,in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin, brings a batty (see what I did there) mystery-murder to Emily Westhill’s doorstep.  Solving mysteries has become somewhat of an inclination as of late for Emily and this one will keep her on her toes…or rather, her kayak.
Let me pre-face this review by saying how much I adored reading this book. Â Now, let me tell you about it.
Emily Westhill co-owner of Deputy Donut is once again smack-dab in the middle of a new murder-mystery in Fallingbrook.  While Emily is used to the eccentric customers coming through year-round to her diner, this time…this murder brings in a whole new list of suspicious and enigmatic characters. Â
The pace of this mystery is exceptionally well written and its timing, engaging. Â The main character, Emily is a wonderful, well-rounded character; decisive, tenacious, funny and caring. Â The author does a really good job at providing you with just the right amount of her character traits, for you to want to follow her along. Â Emily is definitely one of my favorite cozy-mystery characters. Â
Solving mysteries for Emily, has not been a one-woman show. Following her along, her friends in Fallingbrook, have been there with her, every step of the way. Â With the help of her handsome detective, her worker/friend, Nina and a very opinionated little cat named, Dep, Emily is able to solve this difficult, raveling mystery.
The supportive characters in this book add a great layer of strength to the protagonist, Emily. Â
The dialogue between the characters was authentic, realistic and relatable. Â But what came as a true surprise was the chemistry between Detective Brent Fyne (the handsome detective) and Emily. Â I am very excited for this relationship to develop, perhaps in the next book?
A true delight to read. Â This has it all (murder, mystery and love)! it was everything a cozy mystery should be. Â And I want to live in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin where I can visit and shop at places like Deputy Donut and the Craft Croft, where even the cleaning crew, Jolly Cops Cleaning Crew, has an amazing name.
~ Patricia
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