Book Review: “Tragic Toppings” by Jessica Beck (Donut Shop Mystery #5)

Title:  Tragic Toppings

Author:  Jessica Beck

Series:  Donut Shop Mystery #5

Synopsis (from bn.com):

Donut shop owner Suzanne Hart sees customers come and go all day long. But when one of them up-and-disappears, the police start asking questions. It seems Suzanne is the last person to have seen Emily Hargraves, who runs the local newsstand. Suzanne has nothing to report about their encounter. But when Emily doesn’t turn up, no news is bad news…

Suzanne has to admit that Emily’s last request was a little odd—a blueberry donut made to order, with chocolate icing, sprinkles, stars, and a chewy sour gummy worm coiled on top. Odder still: Suzanne’s ex-husband Max also appears to be missing. But what really takes the cake? The corpse Suzanne finds hanging from a tree in the park. Who knew donut-making could turn out to be such dangerous business…

 My thoughts:

As you know already if you have read my last blog post, I am working my way through the Donut Shop Mystery series to catch up on the series.  (Oh dear if this was the only cozy series I had to catch up on, how lucky that would be. . . but alas that is not the case, so many books, so little time.  But I digress!)

I truly enjoy this entire series.  As I have said before I find the main characters, Suzanne and her best friend Grace, really great . . . fun, charming, successful, strong-willed.  Now that I am reading the books closer together, I am finding that I am really enjoying watching Suzanne grow as the series moves along.  She is strong, successful, and ready to meet her amateur sleuthing responsibilities head on.  Go Suzanne!

I know there are more books for me to catch up on, but I am hoping the next couple of books show me how this relationship between Jake and Suzanne is moving along . . . or not moving along?  Do tell Jessica Beck, do tell!!

A great, light cozy mystery read set in a great location that will leave your mouth watering just thinking about the donuts she talks about in her shop!  Yum!

Oh and by the way . . . I am not ashamed to admit that I have actually been thinking about buying a small deep fryer so I can actually try some of those delectable donut recipes the author has in the book!

And remember,

Books Are Life,

Heather

Book Review: Evil Eclairs by Jessica Beck (Donut Shop Mystery #4)

Title:  Evil Eclairs

Author:  Jessica Beck

Series:  Donut Shop Mystery #4

Synopsis (from bn.com):

Donut shop owner Suzanne Hart admits her sweet treats don’t exactly qualify as health food. But does she really deserve to be labeled a “killer” by local radio jockey Lester Moorefield? The annoying host is urging citizens to boycott Suzanne’s “deadly dough” factory—until he’s found dead himself, stuffed with one of Suzanne’s éclairs…

Everyone in April Springs knows about the feud between Lester and Suzanne, which makes her the number-one suspect. She tries to use the donut defense—donuts don’t kill people, people kill people—but that cream-filled éclair at the scene of the crime has the whole town filled with suspicion. If Suzanne can’t figure out who killed the radio star, she’ll soon be filling a prison cell instead of a pastry…

 

My thoughts:

Well I have gotten back to my desire to finish up the Donut Shop mysteries and I am sure glad I decided to do so.

I truly enjoy this series.  Of course I love the location . .. and like most of my cozy series, I truly so wish that I had a shop like Donut Hearts in my community where I could hang out and have such lovely people!  Ok, yes folks . . . I like to live in my books 🙂

I also truly enjoy the characters in this series.  Suzanne and especially her best friend, Grace, are fun, charming, endearing, and just a pleasure to read.

Overall, a great foodie themed series!  If you are a fan of cozy mysteries and particularly foodie cozies . . . definitely give this series a try!

And remember,

Books Are Life,

Heather

 

Book Review – “Sinister Sprinkles” by Jessica Beck (Donut Shop Mystery #3)

  Title:  Sinister Sprinkles

Author:  Jessica Beck

Series:  Donut Shop Mystery #3

ISBN:  9780312946128

 

 

Synopsis (from bn.com):  Just in time for the Winter Festival, a glistening layer of snow has covered the streets of April Springs, North Carolina. Of course, it reminds donut shop owner Suzanne Hart of sweet delicious frosting. But her visions of sugar plums plummet when her ex’s ex-girlfriend gets iced …

 

My thoughts:  Suzanne Hart, owner of Donut Hearts, and her best friend Grace are back in action in this third installment in The Donut Shop Mystery Series!  Darlene, the woman that Suzanne’s ex-husband cheated on her with has been found dead in the snow at the winter festival!  And we all know who jumps in the murder and mayhem to solve the case . . . Suzanne and Grace!  YES!

I am at home recovering from getting my wisdom teeth out a couple days ago and am literally flying through these books.  I just love the cozy company of my friends Suzanne and Grace . . . not to mention what they will get themselves into next.

This book is set in the dead of winter . . . snowstorms included, and what says cozy more than winter, cold temperatures, snow falling, warm coffee, tasty donuts, and good friends!  I want to visit Donut Hearts bad!

One thing I realized about the cozy mystery series I really, really like is when the authors have a great deal of the book actually set in the cozy location whether it be a coffee shop, a donut shop, a craft shop, a library . . . or wherever.  After all this is why I read cozies.  I have found recently some authors that really take their books outside of the cozy locations and it bugs me . . .

I highly suggest this series.  Excellent for a vacation read, an airplane trip, or a great quick beach read!

And thank you Jessica Beck for keeping me company during my wisdom teeth recovery!

And remember,

Books Are Life,

Heather