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Deep Dish Mysteries #5
At Death's Dough: A Deep Dish Mystery
The next book in the delectable Deep Dish Mystery series by Mindy Quigley, set in a Wisconsin pizzeria.
It’s February in the ritzy lakeside resort town of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, and love is in the air. Pizza chef Delilah O’Leary is gearing up to celebrate her first Valentine’s Day with hunky police detective Calvin Capone, great-grandson of the infamous Chicago mobster. But their romance is put on ice when a shocking discovery plunges them into a century-old crime with ties to Capone’s notorious forefather.
As old secrets surface, Delilah realizes that nearly everyone in town—from Capone’s cagey cousin to her own quirky customers—has something to hide. With the pressure mounting and the past closing in, Delilah must help Capone follow a trail of clues that could lead them to a priceless treasure... or into a deadly trap. Can Delilah serve up justice before history repeats itself? Or will she and Capone end up sleeping with the anchovies?
It’s February in the ritzy lakeside resort town of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, and love is in the air. Pizza chef Delilah O’Leary is gearing up to celebrate her first Valentine’s Day with hunky police detective Calvin Capone, great-grandson of the infamous Chicago mobster. But their romance is put on ice when a shocking discovery plunges them into a century-old crime with ties to Capone’s notorious forefather.
As old secrets surface, Delilah realizes that nearly everyone in town—from Capone’s cagey cousin to her own quirky customers—has something to hide. With the pressure mounting and the past closing in, Delilah must help Capone follow a trail of clues that could lead them to a priceless treasure... or into a deadly trap. Can Delilah serve up justice before history repeats itself? Or will she and Capone end up sleeping with the anchovies?
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 28, 2025
About the author
Mindy Quigley
20 books467 followersMindy Quigley is the author of two cozy mystery series: the Deep Dish Mysteries (St. Martin's Press) and the Mount Moriah Mysteries.
Her work has been featured in Parade and Woman's World. Her non-writing career has been stranger than fiction, taking her from the US to the UK, where she worked as the personal assistant to the scientist who cloned Dolly the sheep, and as project manager for a research clinic founded by the author J.K. Rowling.
She lives in Virginia, with her Civil War history professor husband and their children.
Her work has been featured in Parade and Woman's World. Her non-writing career has been stranger than fiction, taking her from the US to the UK, where she worked as the personal assistant to the scientist who cloned Dolly the sheep, and as project manager for a research clinic founded by the author J.K. Rowling.
She lives in Virginia, with her Civil War history professor husband and their children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
October 2, 2025
At Death's Dough
by Mindy Quigley
This is the first book I've read by this author. I don't read many cozy mysteries because the main character is often annoyingly butting into some investigation repeatedly. But this was very enjoyable, with wonderful characters. Besides having interesting characters and back stories, there are great clues, side stories, and just the right amount of suspense and humor.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this wonderful book!
by Mindy Quigley
This is the first book I've read by this author. I don't read many cozy mysteries because the main character is often annoyingly butting into some investigation repeatedly. But this was very enjoyable, with wonderful characters. Besides having interesting characters and back stories, there are great clues, side stories, and just the right amount of suspense and humor.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this wonderful book!
August 14, 2025
"At Death's Dough (A Deep Dish Mystery #5)" by Mindy Quigley starts just after Groundhog's Day and leads up to Valentine's Day. Delilah is struggling to get reservations for the holiday or just to make enough to pay her employees through the seasonal low time. Lucky for her that her great aunt is an avid ice fisher and they're in Wisconsin. Despite Delilah saying she isn't all that into ice fishing she sure seems to know what she's talking about and doing when it comes to it. I would say that she's more knowledgeable than my Minnesota/Wisconsin casual ice fisher friends. She also seems to have a short memory on how long she's been helping her great aunt ice fisher as she mentions participating in some way back in her teens at one point.
Well, the ice fishing gets ended abruptly when the ladies find more than fish under the water. Next thing they know, Delilah is the only one actually investigating the body found. Capone is booted to boonies from the jealous police chief and Butterball, again, needs to be rescued. Things get a bit out of hand and Delilah is extremely stupid and lucky at the end. Good thing she can scuba dive and Capone has a sixth sense for when she's in trouble.
Delilah seems to finally be maturing, very grudgingly. This is progress as her immaturity, inability to compromise and unwillingness to apologize (especially when wrong) was getting very annoying for a main character for how many books in the series this is getting to. Hopefully she continues to grow.
I have to add. I can't believe it took me until the 5th book to finally get the Wisconsin reference for the police chief. I even went to college in Milwaukee. Not born and raised, so I guess that's my excuse.
I also want to say thank you for educating on Puerto Rico. It's very frustrating for many Puerto Ricans getting talked at like they're foreigners. We're not. We're born USA citizens too. Only difference is the island isn't a state yet and people forget that.
Well, the ice fishing gets ended abruptly when the ladies find more than fish under the water. Next thing they know, Delilah is the only one actually investigating the body found. Capone is booted to boonies from the jealous police chief and Butterball, again, needs to be rescued. Things get a bit out of hand and Delilah is extremely stupid and lucky at the end. Good thing she can scuba dive and Capone has a sixth sense for when she's in trouble.
Delilah seems to finally be maturing, very grudgingly. This is progress as her immaturity, inability to compromise and unwillingness to apologize (especially when wrong) was getting very annoying for a main character for how many books in the series this is getting to. Hopefully she continues to grow.
I have to add. I can't believe it took me until the 5th book to finally get the Wisconsin reference for the police chief. I even went to college in Milwaukee. Not born and raised, so I guess that's my excuse.
I also want to say thank you for educating on Puerto Rico. It's very frustrating for many Puerto Ricans getting talked at like they're foreigners. We're not. We're born USA citizens too. Only difference is the island isn't a state yet and people forget that.
October 17, 2025
I’m not captivated by this series’ ongoing gangster history narrative. I’m hooked on Delilah’s pizzeria and the characters, including Butterball, the cat. At Death’s Dough’s plot was just too slow for me. The mystery and murder bored me until Delilah and her coworkers got involved near the story’s end. I was intrigued because the real action began here, which was somewhat sad. I’m thrilled by the real hero of this story named Butterball.
Thank you to St Martins Press and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was a honest review.
Thank you to St Martins Press and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was a honest review.
August 4, 2025
It’s almost Valentine’s Day in Geneva Bay, WI where the enticing smell of pizza will lead you to protagonist Delilah O’Leary’s pizzeria, Delilah & Son. Son is short for Sonya who is Delilah’s partner and best friend.
Along with Delilah’s Great Aunt Biz, and Sonya, the three decide to go ice fishing. it’s cold; and a learning experience until they find a dead body underneath the ice! Detective Calvin Capone is Delilah’s boyfriend. And, yes….he’s related to Al Capone, the mobster. Geneva Bay has history with mob ties, and as the search for a killer begins, a whole lot of townspeople seem to have mob connections—then and now.
The murder mystery delves into past history and present events. Author Quigley plots a great cozy mystery filled with red herrings and great suspects to wade through with a finale that’s exciting and memorable. Reader’s are sure to enjoy this fifth installment of the Deep Dish Mysteries! I recommend reading the stories in order of publication.
I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All opinions are my own.
Along with Delilah’s Great Aunt Biz, and Sonya, the three decide to go ice fishing. it’s cold; and a learning experience until they find a dead body underneath the ice! Detective Calvin Capone is Delilah’s boyfriend. And, yes….he’s related to Al Capone, the mobster. Geneva Bay has history with mob ties, and as the search for a killer begins, a whole lot of townspeople seem to have mob connections—then and now.
The murder mystery delves into past history and present events. Author Quigley plots a great cozy mystery filled with red herrings and great suspects to wade through with a finale that’s exciting and memorable. Reader’s are sure to enjoy this fifth installment of the Deep Dish Mysteries! I recommend reading the stories in order of publication.
I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All opinions are my own.
October 2, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. Delilah, Capone and Butterball are fun main characters. The mystery was complex and made for a page turner, hard to put down book. I do plan to read more books in this series. Definitely recommend if you love to laugh and enjoy a good whodunnit.
I was blessed with an ARC. Thank you NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
I was blessed with an ARC. Thank you NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
November 16, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic copy of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Mindy Quigley’s cute and cozy mystery series, “Deep Dish Mysteries” has a new installment, the fifth novel “At Death's Dough: A Deep Dish Mystery”.
Delilah is the chef and owner of the local pizzeria in the lakeside resort town of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. With Valentines Day coming up, Delilah is excited to celebrate with her boyfriend, police detective Calvin Capone (yes, that Capone) and is hopeful that the holiday will bring foot traffic to her restaurant. Delilah decides to supervise her elderly aunt, Elizabeth, on one of her ice fishing expeditions, even though Delilah has avoided being near the lake since a near-drowning incident. Although no harm comes to Delilah during the expedition, she inadvertently stumbles across a dead body under the frozen ice and, by the looks of it, it hasn’t been dead for very long. When the local police captain decides it was an accident, Delilah isn’t convinced and soon, she’s taking on the investigation herself.
“Dough” is the fifth installment in the series but to be honest, I never would’ve guessed. The story was easy to follow along with and become invested in, even without the knowledge from the four previous novels. The character relationships were not overly complex and each played a unique role, so they were easy to differentiate from the beginning. I always recommend reading novels of this genre in order, but in this case, it isn’t necessary to do so.
Delilah is the protagonist, and the story is told exclusively from her perspective. Her town is known for little-known mob activity, in case the last name of her boyfriend, Capone, didn’t give it away, so there’s definitely some historical misdeeds that make their way into this novel. The mystery itself is connected to the mob activity, but only loosely, so there isn’t any need to stock up on “Godfather” references before reading “Dough”.
Besides being a chef, Delilah’s passion resides in a chonky cat named Butterball, who was an absolute delight. There were some small romantic components in the novel but it did not overwhelm the plot at all, which was just the right amount to add a touch of sweetness without crossing the line to saccharine and sickly.
The ending was not completely predictable, as the ending was complex enough to have portions that caught me off guard, even if I guessed the culprit before the big reveal. There were enough twists and turns in Quigley’s novel to throw me off any speculation early on, without being convoluted or difficult to keep up with. Quigley was able to converge the plot lines into an ending that was believable, suspenseful and unexpected (for the most part).
Quigley’s “Dough” is a cozy mystery set in a delicious pizza restaurant, with charming characters, engaging action and a fair number of suspenseful twists. Not to mention the biggest start of them all- the lovely cat, Butterball!
Mindy Quigley’s cute and cozy mystery series, “Deep Dish Mysteries” has a new installment, the fifth novel “At Death's Dough: A Deep Dish Mystery”.
Delilah is the chef and owner of the local pizzeria in the lakeside resort town of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. With Valentines Day coming up, Delilah is excited to celebrate with her boyfriend, police detective Calvin Capone (yes, that Capone) and is hopeful that the holiday will bring foot traffic to her restaurant. Delilah decides to supervise her elderly aunt, Elizabeth, on one of her ice fishing expeditions, even though Delilah has avoided being near the lake since a near-drowning incident. Although no harm comes to Delilah during the expedition, she inadvertently stumbles across a dead body under the frozen ice and, by the looks of it, it hasn’t been dead for very long. When the local police captain decides it was an accident, Delilah isn’t convinced and soon, she’s taking on the investigation herself.
“Dough” is the fifth installment in the series but to be honest, I never would’ve guessed. The story was easy to follow along with and become invested in, even without the knowledge from the four previous novels. The character relationships were not overly complex and each played a unique role, so they were easy to differentiate from the beginning. I always recommend reading novels of this genre in order, but in this case, it isn’t necessary to do so.
Delilah is the protagonist, and the story is told exclusively from her perspective. Her town is known for little-known mob activity, in case the last name of her boyfriend, Capone, didn’t give it away, so there’s definitely some historical misdeeds that make their way into this novel. The mystery itself is connected to the mob activity, but only loosely, so there isn’t any need to stock up on “Godfather” references before reading “Dough”.
Besides being a chef, Delilah’s passion resides in a chonky cat named Butterball, who was an absolute delight. There were some small romantic components in the novel but it did not overwhelm the plot at all, which was just the right amount to add a touch of sweetness without crossing the line to saccharine and sickly.
The ending was not completely predictable, as the ending was complex enough to have portions that caught me off guard, even if I guessed the culprit before the big reveal. There were enough twists and turns in Quigley’s novel to throw me off any speculation early on, without being convoluted or difficult to keep up with. Quigley was able to converge the plot lines into an ending that was believable, suspenseful and unexpected (for the most part).
Quigley’s “Dough” is a cozy mystery set in a delicious pizza restaurant, with charming characters, engaging action and a fair number of suspenseful twists. Not to mention the biggest start of them all- the lovely cat, Butterball!
November 1, 2025
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Love is in the air in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, as Valentine’s Day draws near. Pizza chef Delilah O’Leary is hoping the Delilah & Son reservation book will be full for the holiday. It will also be the first Valentine’s Day she will celebrate with her handsome boyfriend, Detective Calvin Capone.
Delilah has plans to take her Auntie Biz ice fishing, as well. She has been taking her out on the lake the past few seasons, but has been putting it off this year. Sonya feels left out and begs to come along. When they have all the equipment set up on the lake, Sonya and Delilah take a walk, leaving Biz some time for peaceful, quiet fishing. But when they return, everyone is jolted by a terrible discovery. Delilah knows it is going to screw up her holiday plans with her Capone, especially when they learn there is a connection to his despicable great-grandfather.
It seems everyone suddenly has something to hide—secrets to keep. A past that is about to be awakened when Delilah, her friends, and Calvin start asking questions and following clues. Can they outsmart the killer? Will they find themselves submerged in the ice-cold waters? Will justice be served?
Five books into these Deep Dish Mysteries, and the characters get stronger and more developed with each installment. While Calvin Capone wishes to leave the family history behind him, Delilah’s pizzeria has a Capone theme. He would like her to stay out of his police cases, but admits she sometimes gets information faster than he does on his own. Despite those things, their relationship continues to bloom. This time, Capone gets booted from the case, and bartender Daniel takes an active role in the investigation with Delilah, even following one clue that almost became his last. Sonya is more than willing to do anything for or with Delilah; she faced a few fears within this story. Another character has a medical emergency as well, keeping another character too far away to help. All the characters are well-crafted, and most feel like friends you would find in any Wisconsin town, although many residents of Geneva Bay are quite wealthy and a little pushy.
The mystery was laid out nicely. Readers were introduced to the victim and got to know him enough to dislike him, even if he was related to Capone, well, all of the Capones. With the many twists and some red herrings, and a suspect who was low on my list near the end, I enjoyed following along as theories came together, then were discarded in favor of another idea, until finally all the clues fell into place for an exciting showdown where Delilah’s cat Butterball was an active participant following his kidnapping or catnapping.
In each book, the author weaves in more Capone, Chicago, and Wisconsin history. She also ripped a topic from current headlines, explaining that the people of Puerto Rico are, in fact, AMERICANS.
I do enjoy hearing/reading familiar Wisconsin dialogue. Rabbit, the dishwasher at Delilah and Son, talks like my aunt did, using the Wisconsinese contraction of “Isn’t it so” – ‘n so? Memories of my childhood summer days spent with her fill my mind as I read those 3 letters and an apostrophe.
At Death’s Dough is a marvelous mystery that cozy mystery lovers will enjoy. I was entertained by the characters and all they went through within the pages of this book. Ms. Quigley places humor with precision and romance in perfect amounts, while blending the main plot and subplots together. While each book can be read on its own, for maximum enjoyment, I recommend reading the series in order. You will then find yourself invested in these characters as much as I am.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Minotaur Books, St. Martin’s Paperbacks, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Love is in the air in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, as Valentine’s Day draws near. Pizza chef Delilah O’Leary is hoping the Delilah & Son reservation book will be full for the holiday. It will also be the first Valentine’s Day she will celebrate with her handsome boyfriend, Detective Calvin Capone.
Delilah has plans to take her Auntie Biz ice fishing, as well. She has been taking her out on the lake the past few seasons, but has been putting it off this year. Sonya feels left out and begs to come along. When they have all the equipment set up on the lake, Sonya and Delilah take a walk, leaving Biz some time for peaceful, quiet fishing. But when they return, everyone is jolted by a terrible discovery. Delilah knows it is going to screw up her holiday plans with her Capone, especially when they learn there is a connection to his despicable great-grandfather.
It seems everyone suddenly has something to hide—secrets to keep. A past that is about to be awakened when Delilah, her friends, and Calvin start asking questions and following clues. Can they outsmart the killer? Will they find themselves submerged in the ice-cold waters? Will justice be served?
Five books into these Deep Dish Mysteries, and the characters get stronger and more developed with each installment. While Calvin Capone wishes to leave the family history behind him, Delilah’s pizzeria has a Capone theme. He would like her to stay out of his police cases, but admits she sometimes gets information faster than he does on his own. Despite those things, their relationship continues to bloom. This time, Capone gets booted from the case, and bartender Daniel takes an active role in the investigation with Delilah, even following one clue that almost became his last. Sonya is more than willing to do anything for or with Delilah; she faced a few fears within this story. Another character has a medical emergency as well, keeping another character too far away to help. All the characters are well-crafted, and most feel like friends you would find in any Wisconsin town, although many residents of Geneva Bay are quite wealthy and a little pushy.
The mystery was laid out nicely. Readers were introduced to the victim and got to know him enough to dislike him, even if he was related to Capone, well, all of the Capones. With the many twists and some red herrings, and a suspect who was low on my list near the end, I enjoyed following along as theories came together, then were discarded in favor of another idea, until finally all the clues fell into place for an exciting showdown where Delilah’s cat Butterball was an active participant following his kidnapping or catnapping.
In each book, the author weaves in more Capone, Chicago, and Wisconsin history. She also ripped a topic from current headlines, explaining that the people of Puerto Rico are, in fact, AMERICANS.
I do enjoy hearing/reading familiar Wisconsin dialogue. Rabbit, the dishwasher at Delilah and Son, talks like my aunt did, using the Wisconsinese contraction of “Isn’t it so” – ‘n so? Memories of my childhood summer days spent with her fill my mind as I read those 3 letters and an apostrophe.
At Death’s Dough is a marvelous mystery that cozy mystery lovers will enjoy. I was entertained by the characters and all they went through within the pages of this book. Ms. Quigley places humor with precision and romance in perfect amounts, while blending the main plot and subplots together. While each book can be read on its own, for maximum enjoyment, I recommend reading the series in order. You will then find yourself invested in these characters as much as I am.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Minotaur Books, St. Martin’s Paperbacks, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
July 27, 2025
Valentine's Day, ice fishing, a century-old crime, the mob. Delilah and her crew have their hands full with this one.
Delilah O'Leary may get herself into all kinds of scrapes and dangerous situations, but her creator, Mindy Quigley, can do no wrong. This is the fifth Deep Dish mystery and it's safe to say the series has a piece of my heart. It happened a while back actually. At Death's Dough is the latest delightful tale of mystery and pizza.
The supporting characters are the best. They feel like real people. I'm completely invested in their individual stories. When they're sad I'm sad. When they're happy I'm happy. Even the supporting characters' support system, like Harold Heyer, is endearing to me. And I don't think I've ever rooted harder for a romance that wasn't for the main character as I do for Melody and Daniel. And one could never forget Butterball who never ceases to amaze at the situations he gets himself into.
The discovery of the body, and later the identity, are shocking. There is an intense scene near the end that will have you holding your breath. I was so sure of the killer that when they were finally revealed I was quite surprised. The showdown is both funny and tension filled.
At Death's Dough takes place around Valentine's Day, but it still makes a great read for winter or even spooky season. The snow and ice are perfect for a cold weather read, and there is a wonderfully creepy moment that is a jump scare for both the characters and the reader. Just perfect.
Did I mention how funny this series is? Or the writing? The details of the frozen lake, just wonderful. And what a fun prologue! I'm so happy this series exists. I had this book preordered and when I saw the chance to read it early I took it. Now I'm wondering what have I done because waiting for the next one is going to be hard!
Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read!
Delilah O'Leary may get herself into all kinds of scrapes and dangerous situations, but her creator, Mindy Quigley, can do no wrong. This is the fifth Deep Dish mystery and it's safe to say the series has a piece of my heart. It happened a while back actually. At Death's Dough is the latest delightful tale of mystery and pizza.
The supporting characters are the best. They feel like real people. I'm completely invested in their individual stories. When they're sad I'm sad. When they're happy I'm happy. Even the supporting characters' support system, like Harold Heyer, is endearing to me. And I don't think I've ever rooted harder for a romance that wasn't for the main character as I do for Melody and Daniel. And one could never forget Butterball who never ceases to amaze at the situations he gets himself into.
The discovery of the body, and later the identity, are shocking. There is an intense scene near the end that will have you holding your breath. I was so sure of the killer that when they were finally revealed I was quite surprised. The showdown is both funny and tension filled.
At Death's Dough takes place around Valentine's Day, but it still makes a great read for winter or even spooky season. The snow and ice are perfect for a cold weather read, and there is a wonderfully creepy moment that is a jump scare for both the characters and the reader. Just perfect.
Did I mention how funny this series is? Or the writing? The details of the frozen lake, just wonderful. And what a fun prologue! I'm so happy this series exists. I had this book preordered and when I saw the chance to read it early I took it. Now I'm wondering what have I done because waiting for the next one is going to be hard!
Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read!
August 28, 2025
AtDeathsDough #NetGalley is the latest addition to this cute cozy mystery, featuring Butterball the cat.
It's almost Valentine's day in frigid Geneva Bay, Wisconsin and restaurant owner Delilah is trying to fill the seats.
Delilah accompanies her Aunt Bizzy ice fishing, and when they realize a body is under the eight inches of frozen ice, things spin out of control and Delilah finds herself diving into the heart of a century-old crime with ties to Capone’s notorious forefathers.
I enjoyed this book and I'm happy to recommend it to other readers.
It's almost Valentine's day in frigid Geneva Bay, Wisconsin and restaurant owner Delilah is trying to fill the seats.
Delilah accompanies her Aunt Bizzy ice fishing, and when they realize a body is under the eight inches of frozen ice, things spin out of control and Delilah finds herself diving into the heart of a century-old crime with ties to Capone’s notorious forefathers.
I enjoyed this book and I'm happy to recommend it to other readers.
November 12, 2025
This was a great addition to the series. I love that we learn a little more about Delilah as the story goes on and I enjoyed the scuba diving tidbits that were thrown in; the details relating to ice diving were equal parts fascinating and terrifying. The mystery itself was well-paced and kept me guessing until the very end. Looking forward to the next in the series!
I received a copy from #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for an honest review.
October 29, 2025
Thank you @minotaur_books for a free copy of At Death’s Dough! I also pre-ordered this book, and I’m very excited to get both copies signed next month when Mindy Quigley comes to my local bookstore!!! She is touring several places in Virginia and the Midwest soon, so check her schedule on her page! I’m also posting it to my stories.
I love this series and I loved this book! Delilah’s team really has her back in this one. I love the historical storyline of old mob connections. I thought there were plenty of entertaining twists and character moments for many of my faves. If you are a cozy mystery fan, you MUST try this series.
I love this series and I loved this book! Delilah’s team really has her back in this one. I love the historical storyline of old mob connections. I thought there were plenty of entertaining twists and character moments for many of my faves. If you are a cozy mystery fan, you MUST try this series.
April 27, 2026
Winter season is upon Geneva Bay and the restaurant business is SLOOOWW. Delilah's relationship with Capone is not moving much faster due to their busy schedules and with Valentine's Day coming up, it's Delilah & Son's last chance to make a ton of money before the summer season so a date with Capone will probably not be happening. But Bradley Pennington of the local historical society has a grand idea to capitalize on the area's gangster to bring tourists and money to Geneva Bay. Delilah knows Capone won't like it but she has to do what she has to do to save her restaurant. Delilah is surprised when Capone's mother, Lola, drops in unexpectedly, with her nephew, Dominic Capone. Unlike Calvin, THIS Capone is fascinated by his family's notorious past and can't mansplain enough. Lola asks Delilah to keep quiet about Dominic's visit. The following Monday, Delilah, Aunt Biz and Sonya (!) go ice fishing on the lake. Sonya wants to learn and promises she won't faint but when the rod reels in fabric not fish and further fishing reveals a nasty surprise, Sonya can't help but faint. Someone was scuba diving under the lake and drowned. The police chief chalks it up to accidental drowning in spite of Capone's hunch that something isn't quite right. If there is a case, Calvin Capone is off it, sent to purgatory while the chief is eager to prove himself. Delilah feels it too, especially when the victim is revealed to be someone she and Calvin know. If the chief won't investigate, it's up to Dee and her crew to build a case for Capone to bring to his boss but they have to be careful. One wrong move could send Capone far away for a lot longer or even result in death. Delilah is determined to help Capone and figure this out on her own. Meanwhile, a regular patron has a new man in her life she met online who sounds suspiciously like Aunt Biz's new friend SHE met online! Dee is concerned for her aunt but Biz won't share any details with her niece except she's helping him with a bank transfer. Uh-oh! It may be the slow season for the restaurant but it's definitely a busier than ever time for Delilah. Can she figure out the case before it goes cold?
I'm really enjoying this series but it makes me hungry LOL! I'm so excited there's a dessert pizza recipe in this book. Can we get a breakfast pizza? I'm thinking something like a Danish on a sweet yeasted bread? Sonya is the mastermind behind this clever pizza (tart) and it's punny name.
I love history but I'm not into gangster history and I think I had heard of this great train robbery. I don't believe I've seen the movie but probably the trailers. The story opens 100 years earlier in 1924 from the POV of one of the mob goons transporting something. It's an intriguing teaser and I couldn't put the book down because I needed to know what was in the Packard and how it connected to the murder mystery. The dead body wasn't who I expected and that surprised me but seemed plausible for that character to do something that resulted in their murder. Other plot twists made me gasp and some made me laugh.
Going back through the book, I can see the clues Dee and friends missed and how tightly plotted this novel actually is. The answer is right there and I missed it. The final chapter of just cozy wrap-up was very funny and charming. I need to know what happens next! Where's Claude the soothsayer when you need him?
At first I didn't like Delilah- again. I LOVE history! I live and breath history. Sometimes eat history too. I can't understand someone who has no interest in learning history especially someone who lives in a historic area, works in a historic building (she DOES know that history) and who dates someone with a famous name. Dee is too intense for me and she intrudes into everyone's business while allowing annoying people to be rude and pushy. BUT I appreciate how she is growing, learning and changing. Her relationship with Capone has changed her. She knows her feelings and she WANTS to keep this relationship moving forward even though it's hard. She knows she tries to solve everyone's problems and makes a lot of mistakes along the way. Everyone calls her on her faults, in a loving way and she understands that through the teasing, they have a point. She's nowhere near as bad as Auntie Biz. Auntie Biz is awful. She's as tough as an old goat who devoured an old boot. There's no soft edges to her at all. YET she's overheard giggling? Who are you and what did you do to Aunt Biz? I can't picture her in love at her age or allowing herself to be persuaded by a man to give him what little money she has left. What's really going on here? I didn't like how Delilah refers to Sam as just "my ex" and I was left wondering if she had more than one ex. Everyone has met Sam and knows who Sam is so why not just say "Sam" instead of complicated "my ex."
It's the other secondary characters that make this series for me. Dear sweet Butterball needs to be on a diet again. No second breakfast and no eating Mom's breakfast off her fork. IF he discovers a clue or does something heroic, then he deserves all the treats and cuddles he wants! Sweet Sonya is desperate to fall in love. She loves being in love and as a hopeless romantic, she's eager to be in love on Valentine's Day. She puts her faith in phony psychics which has led to a string of bizarre ex-girlfriends and a perpetually broken heart. She's a little annoying butting in on the ice fishing adventure without asking first and then fainting when the body is discovered. Sonya is a creative genius in the kitchen and makes up for her silliness.
I love Jarka and Harold. They're such an odd couple. She's so serious and fiercely independent. He takes some getting used to. He's very earnest and means well but he doesn't seem to be Jarka's intellectual equal or good at picking up on emotions and non-verbal communication. I'm with Jarka in thinking the history is TOO violent and terrible to want to memorialize, let alone mythologize and capitalize on. I think Dee needs to concede to Capone on this one. She knows it will bother him but she puts business ahead of her relationship without talking to him FIRST. It drives a wedge between my favorite couple too and they're already fighting over Jarka's dad's involvement in their relationship. Daniel is a true blue friend and finally has more to do with the plot than mix drinks and flirt. Melody's crush on him needs to stop now. It's creepy, borderline obsessive and everyone is aware of it. She's a sweet girl and needs to grow up a lot more before she has a serious relationship. Melody is also a loyal friend and cat parent adjacent. I don't know how she puts up with Dee and Aunt Biz though. Melody gets to show off her smarts in this novel, finally. She's been hiding how brilliant she is and what a great problem solver she is! Rabbit gets in on the action too, as much as he's able without violating his parole. It was fun to see them all sleuthing together.
Lola Capone is a lovely woman but she lacks common sense. She associates with weird random family members of her one-time partner and then asks Dee to lie about it? That puts Delilah in a tough spot. Calvin is going to be furious with them both if he finds out. Officer Stanhope is the Winnie the Pooh of the police department. He loves his food but he's a bear of very little brain. I think he's a liability to the department and he better be careful before he gets canned. He means well and he helps out Delilah but I don't know how he's lasted this long on the force. I enjoy him very much and I hope he sticks around.
The new characters are not all likable as usual. Cal's cousin, Dominic, is smarmy. He is fascinated by the family's gangster past, romanticizing his infamous ancestor. Dominic is a classic Slytherin. The means justify the ends and he doesn't care about anyone else's feelings or opinions, certainly not his cousin's. He's also a mansplainer so he won't listen even if Lola tries to help him smooth his path to a better relationship with her son. Running a Chicago mob themed online store is one thing - I know they have those tours. I can see him planning a local tour of mob history but that doesn't feel appropriate for the town to me. There's a lot of wealthy residents who prefer to focus on their own pleasures in the here and now and not dwell on the dark history of the town. It was only a small town, a lakefront hideaway for a few gangsters back in the day. A Gilded Age tour would be more fun.
One of those wealthy residents is Mrs. Panabaker. She's AWFUL! Not only is she rude and snobby, she's creepy with Daniel, treating him like he exists for her pleasure only. She doesn't see him as fully human. In her mind, he "belongs" to Delilah, as her employee. To Dee, he's a trusted friend, a human being with thoughts and feelings AND an employee. Mrs. Panabaker is obsessed with her Bedlington Terrier, Queen Victoria. Most terriers are scruffy and adorable. This one looks like a lamb and has a fussy haircut. Mrs. Panabaker thinks she's Queen Victoria (the real one) and demands Queen Victoria's (the dog) groomer drop everything including a previously booked client and take care of her dog right now without an appointment, a please or when it's convenient! She sees everyone who works as inferior and treats them as such. News flash! Queen Victoria died in 1901! Mrs. Panabaker has a new gentleman friend she met online. She can't be bothered to pronounce his real name or know where he's friend except Europe and that makes him foreign but not REALLY foreign you know? (Unlike Daniel, who is REALLY foreign... from Puerto Rico!) She's smitten with this guy she's only met in person twice and he's already asked her for money. Dee butts in where she shouldn't and tries to warn Mrs. P off. Really, it's no business of hers what this wealthy old lady does with her money UNLESS she has run up a tab/pays by credit card and the money hasn't come through yet. It sure sounds like Nicky is scamming her AND Aunt Biz!
Jacqueline Hansen from the Chamber of Commerce is also the realtor selling the O'Bannion estate. She's mum on the buyer's identity and stands to make a bundle if she follows the rules. BUT now a dead body has been found near the property and that could be a problem. She's going through a nasty divorce and she is not happy with her ex nor he with her. I have a hunch she's suspicious but I'm not sure what she's up to. Chief Spencher is a piece of work. He's Jackie's ex and a real jack @$$. He has a huge ego and seems to be the type of man who is so arrogant he can't handle anyone being MORE competent than he is. That is to say, he is jealous of Capone. The chief is feuding with the mayor and it seems to go way back. Unfortunately all this comes down on Capone for no good reason. I sure hope the chief is the murderer! It sounds like a scheme he would pull AND then he's in a position to cover it up. Call it accidental drowning, send Capone away and hey presto! no one knows what actually happened. PLEASE let it be him! Or let him do something corrupt to get him fired.
I do like Teddy and Julius, a couple who run a pet supply and grooming business. Butterball has been a frequent visitor of late (skunks don't come out in winter, at least not around here) and they love him and want to spoil him. Julius has more of a fun personality. He enjoys life, art and culture and leaves business to his husband. They want to open a cat cafe next door but are stuck with historical society red tape. I can sense Teddy is weary of always having to deal with the tough stuff. He has to deal with Mrs. Panabaker and the historical society pretty much on his own while Julius gets to show Butterball the new toys and go off and have fun with Sonya. Julius has a more playful personality and is more snarky than Teddy. They seem like an odd couple but I really like them both. Butterball likes them so they can't be bad, right? Dana Redrick, owner of Pier Adventures, like Delilah, relies on summer tourists. She's a fellow small business owner, cat lover and judging from her shop, lacks the rich ex to keep her business afloat. Dana seems to be hiding something and not even Butterball can discover what it is. She seems nice enough but I'm not sure she's trustworthy. Was she in cahoots with Dominic Capone? Did she know what he was up to? She had to have guessed. They're all friends of Butterball though. Could he really be friendly with a murderer? He's a cranky kitty around people he doesn't love (who don't feed him?). I want to trust Butterball but I'm not sure he's a good bellwether of who is trustworthy and who is not.
Bradley Pennington of the Historical Society is not a beloved figure in town. He's a mansplainer and drones on and on boring everyone. I'm super tired of the boring historian stereotype. Almost all the historians I've met are pretty cool people and are enthusiastic and knowledgeable about a topic. They're happy to share information with those who want to learn. Ahem. This guy is a tweedy nerdy professor type who rules the Historical Society with an iron fist. He seems to be behind the red tape for the cat cafe but I'm not sure why. Power? Control? I really, really hate that stereotype as well. Historians are all for historic preservation and adaptive reuse of buildings vs. tearing them down! I hope he's not the murderer. I don't know what his motive would be and I would be VERY disappointed. I'd love to see a super cool historian cozy mystery sleuth or someone who is not old, cranky, rigid and bad. *sigh* Hopefully people will take an interest in these Geneva Bay gangster tours and take Pennington more seriously.
So whodunit? Read the book and find out.
I'm sad to be caught up and can't wait for the next one.
I'm really enjoying this series but it makes me hungry LOL! I'm so excited there's a dessert pizza recipe in this book. Can we get a breakfast pizza? I'm thinking something like a Danish on a sweet yeasted bread? Sonya is the mastermind behind this clever pizza (tart) and it's punny name.
I love history but I'm not into gangster history and I think I had heard of this great train robbery. I don't believe I've seen the movie but probably the trailers. The story opens 100 years earlier in 1924 from the POV of one of the mob goons transporting something. It's an intriguing teaser and I couldn't put the book down because I needed to know what was in the Packard and how it connected to the murder mystery. The dead body wasn't who I expected and that surprised me but seemed plausible for that character to do something that resulted in their murder. Other plot twists made me gasp and some made me laugh.
Going back through the book, I can see the clues Dee and friends missed and how tightly plotted this novel actually is. The answer is right there and I missed it. The final chapter of just cozy wrap-up was very funny and charming. I need to know what happens next! Where's Claude the soothsayer when you need him?
At first I didn't like Delilah- again. I LOVE history! I live and breath history. Sometimes eat history too. I can't understand someone who has no interest in learning history especially someone who lives in a historic area, works in a historic building (she DOES know that history) and who dates someone with a famous name. Dee is too intense for me and she intrudes into everyone's business while allowing annoying people to be rude and pushy. BUT I appreciate how she is growing, learning and changing. Her relationship with Capone has changed her. She knows her feelings and she WANTS to keep this relationship moving forward even though it's hard. She knows she tries to solve everyone's problems and makes a lot of mistakes along the way. Everyone calls her on her faults, in a loving way and she understands that through the teasing, they have a point. She's nowhere near as bad as Auntie Biz. Auntie Biz is awful. She's as tough as an old goat who devoured an old boot. There's no soft edges to her at all. YET she's overheard giggling? Who are you and what did you do to Aunt Biz? I can't picture her in love at her age or allowing herself to be persuaded by a man to give him what little money she has left. What's really going on here? I didn't like how Delilah refers to Sam as just "my ex" and I was left wondering if she had more than one ex. Everyone has met Sam and knows who Sam is so why not just say "Sam" instead of complicated "my ex."
It's the other secondary characters that make this series for me. Dear sweet Butterball needs to be on a diet again. No second breakfast and no eating Mom's breakfast off her fork. IF he discovers a clue or does something heroic, then he deserves all the treats and cuddles he wants! Sweet Sonya is desperate to fall in love. She loves being in love and as a hopeless romantic, she's eager to be in love on Valentine's Day. She puts her faith in phony psychics which has led to a string of bizarre ex-girlfriends and a perpetually broken heart. She's a little annoying butting in on the ice fishing adventure without asking first and then fainting when the body is discovered. Sonya is a creative genius in the kitchen and makes up for her silliness.
I love Jarka and Harold. They're such an odd couple. She's so serious and fiercely independent. He takes some getting used to. He's very earnest and means well but he doesn't seem to be Jarka's intellectual equal or good at picking up on emotions and non-verbal communication. I'm with Jarka in thinking the history is TOO violent and terrible to want to memorialize, let alone mythologize and capitalize on. I think Dee needs to concede to Capone on this one. She knows it will bother him but she puts business ahead of her relationship without talking to him FIRST. It drives a wedge between my favorite couple too and they're already fighting over Jarka's dad's involvement in their relationship. Daniel is a true blue friend and finally has more to do with the plot than mix drinks and flirt. Melody's crush on him needs to stop now. It's creepy, borderline obsessive and everyone is aware of it. She's a sweet girl and needs to grow up a lot more before she has a serious relationship. Melody is also a loyal friend and cat parent adjacent. I don't know how she puts up with Dee and Aunt Biz though. Melody gets to show off her smarts in this novel, finally. She's been hiding how brilliant she is and what a great problem solver she is! Rabbit gets in on the action too, as much as he's able without violating his parole. It was fun to see them all sleuthing together.
Lola Capone is a lovely woman but she lacks common sense. She associates with weird random family members of her one-time partner and then asks Dee to lie about it? That puts Delilah in a tough spot. Calvin is going to be furious with them both if he finds out. Officer Stanhope is the Winnie the Pooh of the police department. He loves his food but he's a bear of very little brain. I think he's a liability to the department and he better be careful before he gets canned. He means well and he helps out Delilah but I don't know how he's lasted this long on the force. I enjoy him very much and I hope he sticks around.
The new characters are not all likable as usual. Cal's cousin, Dominic, is smarmy. He is fascinated by the family's gangster past, romanticizing his infamous ancestor. Dominic is a classic Slytherin. The means justify the ends and he doesn't care about anyone else's feelings or opinions, certainly not his cousin's. He's also a mansplainer so he won't listen even if Lola tries to help him smooth his path to a better relationship with her son. Running a Chicago mob themed online store is one thing - I know they have those tours. I can see him planning a local tour of mob history but that doesn't feel appropriate for the town to me. There's a lot of wealthy residents who prefer to focus on their own pleasures in the here and now and not dwell on the dark history of the town. It was only a small town, a lakefront hideaway for a few gangsters back in the day. A Gilded Age tour would be more fun.
One of those wealthy residents is Mrs. Panabaker. She's AWFUL! Not only is she rude and snobby, she's creepy with Daniel, treating him like he exists for her pleasure only. She doesn't see him as fully human. In her mind, he "belongs" to Delilah, as her employee. To Dee, he's a trusted friend, a human being with thoughts and feelings AND an employee. Mrs. Panabaker is obsessed with her Bedlington Terrier, Queen Victoria. Most terriers are scruffy and adorable. This one looks like a lamb and has a fussy haircut. Mrs. Panabaker thinks she's Queen Victoria (the real one) and demands Queen Victoria's (the dog) groomer drop everything including a previously booked client and take care of her dog right now without an appointment, a please or when it's convenient! She sees everyone who works as inferior and treats them as such. News flash! Queen Victoria died in 1901! Mrs. Panabaker has a new gentleman friend she met online. She can't be bothered to pronounce his real name or know where he's friend except Europe and that makes him foreign but not REALLY foreign you know? (Unlike Daniel, who is REALLY foreign... from Puerto Rico!) She's smitten with this guy she's only met in person twice and he's already asked her for money. Dee butts in where she shouldn't and tries to warn Mrs. P off. Really, it's no business of hers what this wealthy old lady does with her money UNLESS she has run up a tab/pays by credit card and the money hasn't come through yet. It sure sounds like Nicky is scamming her AND Aunt Biz!
Jacqueline Hansen from the Chamber of Commerce is also the realtor selling the O'Bannion estate. She's mum on the buyer's identity and stands to make a bundle if she follows the rules. BUT now a dead body has been found near the property and that could be a problem. She's going through a nasty divorce and she is not happy with her ex nor he with her. I have a hunch she's suspicious but I'm not sure what she's up to. Chief Spencher is a piece of work. He's Jackie's ex and a real jack @$$. He has a huge ego and seems to be the type of man who is so arrogant he can't handle anyone being MORE competent than he is. That is to say, he is jealous of Capone. The chief is feuding with the mayor and it seems to go way back. Unfortunately all this comes down on Capone for no good reason. I sure hope the chief is the murderer! It sounds like a scheme he would pull AND then he's in a position to cover it up. Call it accidental drowning, send Capone away and hey presto! no one knows what actually happened. PLEASE let it be him! Or let him do something corrupt to get him fired.
I do like Teddy and Julius, a couple who run a pet supply and grooming business. Butterball has been a frequent visitor of late (skunks don't come out in winter, at least not around here) and they love him and want to spoil him. Julius has more of a fun personality. He enjoys life, art and culture and leaves business to his husband. They want to open a cat cafe next door but are stuck with historical society red tape. I can sense Teddy is weary of always having to deal with the tough stuff. He has to deal with Mrs. Panabaker and the historical society pretty much on his own while Julius gets to show Butterball the new toys and go off and have fun with Sonya. Julius has a more playful personality and is more snarky than Teddy. They seem like an odd couple but I really like them both. Butterball likes them so they can't be bad, right? Dana Redrick, owner of Pier Adventures, like Delilah, relies on summer tourists. She's a fellow small business owner, cat lover and judging from her shop, lacks the rich ex to keep her business afloat. Dana seems to be hiding something and not even Butterball can discover what it is. She seems nice enough but I'm not sure she's trustworthy. Was she in cahoots with Dominic Capone? Did she know what he was up to? She had to have guessed. They're all friends of Butterball though. Could he really be friendly with a murderer? He's a cranky kitty around people he doesn't love (who don't feed him?). I want to trust Butterball but I'm not sure he's a good bellwether of who is trustworthy and who is not.
Bradley Pennington of the Historical Society is not a beloved figure in town. He's a mansplainer and drones on and on boring everyone. I'm super tired of the boring historian stereotype. Almost all the historians I've met are pretty cool people and are enthusiastic and knowledgeable about a topic. They're happy to share information with those who want to learn. Ahem. This guy is a tweedy nerdy professor type who rules the Historical Society with an iron fist. He seems to be behind the red tape for the cat cafe but I'm not sure why. Power? Control? I really, really hate that stereotype as well. Historians are all for historic preservation and adaptive reuse of buildings vs. tearing them down! I hope he's not the murderer. I don't know what his motive would be and I would be VERY disappointed. I'd love to see a super cool historian cozy mystery sleuth or someone who is not old, cranky, rigid and bad. *sigh* Hopefully people will take an interest in these Geneva Bay gangster tours and take Pennington more seriously.
So whodunit? Read the book and find out.
I'm sad to be caught up and can't wait for the next one.
October 26, 2025
This is my absolute favorite murder mystery series I've ever read. Mindy is so talented and knows how to capture you into the story right from the first chapter. I appreciate how much research and effort the author put into this book.
While going ice fishing with her Aunt Biz, Delilah discovers a finger under the ice. The fun part is figuring out who's finger it is and how did it get there.
Meanwhile, Harold the head of the chamber is planning fun ways to make the town more exciting and attract more tourists. His ideas stir up a lot of feelings and cause a few fights amongst people that live there.
I always love when Butterball appears because he brings humor to the story whether he knows it or not. His large Maine Coon enemy being named Brujo made me laugh. I'm glad to know that my cats aren't the only ones that seem to weigh a ton when they lay on you. My cats also like to sing the song of their people, I loved how that was included. Chapter 22 made my jaw drop... the audacity of some characters.
Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays, so I enjoyed all of the hints to it. The pink cocktail that they made, Love Potion Number Nine, was so clever and humorous. The cover of this book is easily my favorite out of the series. Butterball, heart shaped pizza, and roses? Absolute perfection!
I really had a strong feeling about 2 potential characters as the murderer, and alas I was wrong about both guesses! One of my favorite thing about murder mysteries is the inclusion of recipes at the end. While I'm not necessarily skilled to make the mascarpone, it sounds amazing. One thing I like that sets these recipes out from other books, is the characters deliver the recipe in a sense. They give a description or speech before the actual recipe is listed and I think that is unique. Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Mindy Quigley for an ARC of this book. This review is my honest opinion.
While going ice fishing with her Aunt Biz, Delilah discovers a finger under the ice. The fun part is figuring out who's finger it is and how did it get there.
Meanwhile, Harold the head of the chamber is planning fun ways to make the town more exciting and attract more tourists. His ideas stir up a lot of feelings and cause a few fights amongst people that live there.
I always love when Butterball appears because he brings humor to the story whether he knows it or not. His large Maine Coon enemy being named Brujo made me laugh. I'm glad to know that my cats aren't the only ones that seem to weigh a ton when they lay on you. My cats also like to sing the song of their people, I loved how that was included. Chapter 22 made my jaw drop... the audacity of some characters.
Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays, so I enjoyed all of the hints to it. The pink cocktail that they made, Love Potion Number Nine, was so clever and humorous. The cover of this book is easily my favorite out of the series. Butterball, heart shaped pizza, and roses? Absolute perfection!
I really had a strong feeling about 2 potential characters as the murderer, and alas I was wrong about both guesses! One of my favorite thing about murder mysteries is the inclusion of recipes at the end. While I'm not necessarily skilled to make the mascarpone, it sounds amazing. One thing I like that sets these recipes out from other books, is the characters deliver the recipe in a sense. They give a description or speech before the actual recipe is listed and I think that is unique. Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Mindy Quigley for an ARC of this book. This review is my honest opinion.
August 16, 2025
I have really enjoyed this series, and the latest installment is no different!
When a frozen diver is found beneath the ice, Delilah and her restaurant crew take it upon themselves to investigate. I love the connection this series makes to the area and Chicago’s mob past and the way the author weaves history and present together to make for a fun, suspenseful and fast-paced story!
Biz and Butterball, as always, are two of my favorite (and most lovable) characters, but it’s also been fun to follow along with the growing romance between Delilah and Capone. looking forward to the next!
Thank you to #NetGalley, #StMartinsPress and #MinotaurBooks for an ARC.
When a frozen diver is found beneath the ice, Delilah and her restaurant crew take it upon themselves to investigate. I love the connection this series makes to the area and Chicago’s mob past and the way the author weaves history and present together to make for a fun, suspenseful and fast-paced story!
Biz and Butterball, as always, are two of my favorite (and most lovable) characters, but it’s also been fun to follow along with the growing romance between Delilah and Capone. looking forward to the next!
Thank you to #NetGalley, #StMartinsPress and #MinotaurBooks for an ARC.
November 12, 2025
I LOVED IT! Every little thing about it. These characters feel like family and the restaurant feels like home. I could read about the ups and downs of this group of coworkers turned friends and honestly family all day. I love grumpy Biz (with the hidden soft side) and Butterball the loveable cat. I loved the storyline about the mob and the hidden treasure and learning all about ice fishing. This setting is just such a fun place to be, I would move here in an instant. Of course this book made me endlessly hungry! The mystery took such great twists and turns and the way these restauranteurs worked together to their strengths to accomplish such a big pivot thing.... was genius and so much fun (and of course nerve racking). There were many unexpectedly poignant moments throughout which made my heart happy. Let's hope that Dee and Capone get more quality time together in the next book, the poor dears! I love love love the ending and am already missing being in this book.
Thanks to the publisher for an eARC; my thoughts and review are my own.
Thanks to the publisher for an eARC; my thoughts and review are my own.
October 30, 2025
I fell into this mystery and went down the rabbit hole before I even realized it. Love the characters, the town, and how the author intrigues, twists, and bends the story until time slips away, and you look up expecting to see Geneva Bay, and it's your own living room. Could not put this one down! Fun read, good whodunit, and I can't wait until the next one!!!!
February 17, 2026
I loved it! Modern day mystery with 1920’s gangster ties. I’m still a little cold at the thought of ice fishing and lake diving in February but it did make for an interesting story. As always the characters and food were amazing.
Did Not Finish
March 16, 2026DNF ! I don’t really know that I can give this any stars because I didn’t read much. Once the mob got involved I just couldn’t stomach it.
November 18, 2025
4.5. Really enjoying this series.
August 29, 2025
I’m a sucker for stories that link a historical crime to a contemporary mystery, and Death’s Dough had me hooked by the end of its 1924-set prologue. I appreciate that Delilah’s life isn’t picture-perfect. Her business is struggling to stay profitable, and her significant other wants nothing to do with his family’s mob ties, which isn’t easy in a town once crawling with gangsters. Delilah herself is growing, learning to compromise and apologize something she struggled with in earlier books. I thoroughly enjoyed this installment and can’t wait to see what Mindy Quigley has planned for book six.
November 2, 2025
I’m a little surprised over this one. I normally enjoy this series but I’m not sure there were many redeeming qualities in this one. We had some new characters, Mr Pennington, Dana, Jarka’s Dad, and rude Patty. A lot of them were introduced but their stories weren’t well thought out -perhaps a future book will have more on some of them.
The relationship between Delilah and Capone wasn’t expended on and he was barely in the book.
I liked the pizza crew helping on this mystery and feel like we got some more to Daniel and Melody. I’m not sure I quite understand Biz’s strange relationship with a certain someone though.
Overall, I kind of feel like everything happened in the last 15% but I’m also scratching my head because what actually even happened…?
The relationship between Delilah and Capone wasn’t expended on and he was barely in the book.
I liked the pizza crew helping on this mystery and feel like we got some more to Daniel and Melody. I’m not sure I quite understand Biz’s strange relationship with a certain someone though.
Overall, I kind of feel like everything happened in the last 15% but I’m also scratching my head because what actually even happened…?
October 26, 2025
A scintillating cozy mystery set in current day Geneva Bay, Wisconsin.
Pizza chef Delilah O’Leary is gearing up for the upcoming Valentine's Day rush. It'll be her Valentine's Day celebrated with her hunk of a man, police detective Calvin Capone. And yes, as much as he detests the connection, he is related to good old Al. As it turns out, Geneva Bay is the old hideout town of mobster Dean O'Banion and his gang. Legend has it, there's a stash of ill-gotten goods which has yet to be found somewhere in these parts. On a chilly February day while ice-fishing, it was certainly no lake perch or walleye which Delilah encountered. It wouldn't be long before the local constabulary was hauling a human popsicle out of the lake. Who are they? Why were they scuba diving in such frigid waters? Who did them in? Life in this cozy town won't be settled until Delilah gets to the bottom of this mystery.
Although this was the fifth installment in, "A Deep Dish Mystery" series, one is not left asea starting with it. There's enough background info threaded through the story to get a good feel for the interrelations of the local folk. Mindy Quigley has delivered a solid cozy mystery. The writing is good. The characters are well developed. The background info on winter scuba diving was well researched and engagingly delivered in the story. The action and banter is often amusing. This story has all the red herrings one would hope for, and a most satisfying conclusion.
I am grateful to Minotaur Books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication date: October 28, 2025
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 978-1250326300
Pizza chef Delilah O’Leary is gearing up for the upcoming Valentine's Day rush. It'll be her Valentine's Day celebrated with her hunk of a man, police detective Calvin Capone. And yes, as much as he detests the connection, he is related to good old Al. As it turns out, Geneva Bay is the old hideout town of mobster Dean O'Banion and his gang. Legend has it, there's a stash of ill-gotten goods which has yet to be found somewhere in these parts. On a chilly February day while ice-fishing, it was certainly no lake perch or walleye which Delilah encountered. It wouldn't be long before the local constabulary was hauling a human popsicle out of the lake. Who are they? Why were they scuba diving in such frigid waters? Who did them in? Life in this cozy town won't be settled until Delilah gets to the bottom of this mystery.
Although this was the fifth installment in, "A Deep Dish Mystery" series, one is not left asea starting with it. There's enough background info threaded through the story to get a good feel for the interrelations of the local folk. Mindy Quigley has delivered a solid cozy mystery. The writing is good. The characters are well developed. The background info on winter scuba diving was well researched and engagingly delivered in the story. The action and banter is often amusing. This story has all the red herrings one would hope for, and a most satisfying conclusion.
I am grateful to Minotaur Books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication date: October 28, 2025
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 978-1250326300
October 30, 2025
Another delicious installment of this cozy mystery centered around a gourmet pizza shop in Geneva, Wisconsin, an area I know very little about. I really enjoy the connection to the Capone family and how Mindy Quigley brings stories of the past into the present. It’s the dead of winter and Delilah is trying to come up with new ideas to get more reservations on the books in this slow time for tourists, especially with Valentine’s Day right around the corner. When her boyfriend, a Capone and police detective has a relative show up Delilah gets drawn into a mystery from the 1930s that could put her relationship in rough Waters.
This cozy series is one of my favorites and I enjoyed the mystery of the missing treasure and the plot kept me guessing to the end. It has all of the elements of a great cozy, especially humor. Delilah makes me laugh out loud and I love all of the interaction with the sub characters. They are like one big family and I really enjoy that. Not to mention the delicious recipes included in the back of the book.
Thank you, you too Mindy Quigley, the publisher, and #netgalley for an early review copy. This is definitely a fun, cozy series that I will continue to enjoy!
This cozy series is one of my favorites and I enjoyed the mystery of the missing treasure and the plot kept me guessing to the end. It has all of the elements of a great cozy, especially humor. Delilah makes me laugh out loud and I love all of the interaction with the sub characters. They are like one big family and I really enjoy that. Not to mention the delicious recipes included in the back of the book.
Thank you, you too Mindy Quigley, the publisher, and #netgalley for an early review copy. This is definitely a fun, cozy series that I will continue to enjoy!
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April 30, 2026Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this copy. I never jump into a series half way and I think had I been paying attention I would not have done so here either. I completely accepted this book because of the setting - I spend a lot of time in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin where the Deep Dish Mysteries take place. Lake Geneva is idyllic with a colorful history related to the Chicago mob as Quigley writes about which is part of what drew me in. When I realized this was a series I decided to just go with it because the history didn't seem overly complicated and because I was just reading for entertainment, not expecting a gritty detective novel. I did enjoy the idea behind the mystery connected to the old Chicago mob -but this was just a little too cute for me. I don't know if it was over familiarity with the real life setting or if everything about this was just a bit over the top on its own. Overdone references to the mob, overdone Capone jokes, overdone use of the word "loot." I finished this book but it just wasn't for me. If you like cozy mysteries maybe you'll love it! Start at the beginning of the series and tell me if I'm missing out!
October 13, 2025
I received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley.
I've read most of the books in this series, and I adore them. This book continues the enjoyable saga of Delilah O'Leary, her restaurant crew, and her snowy February Wisconsin small town. When Delilah finds a body while out ice fishing, her smart cop boyfriend, Capone isn't put on the case. The chief dismisses the death as an accident. But Delilah knows there is something fishy going on, and her investigation causes her to eye friends as suspects and consider the lurid mob past of the town as she seeks out the murderer.
There was quite a bit in this book about ice fishing and diving. The author has some experience or did some deep research, as she did a brilliant job of explaining things in a way that an ignorant person like me could follow along. There are a few cheesy twists near the end, but it's all good. The final scene actually had me laughing out loud, too. There are a few tasty looking recipes to finish things off as well.
I've read most of the books in this series, and I adore them. This book continues the enjoyable saga of Delilah O'Leary, her restaurant crew, and her snowy February Wisconsin small town. When Delilah finds a body while out ice fishing, her smart cop boyfriend, Capone isn't put on the case. The chief dismisses the death as an accident. But Delilah knows there is something fishy going on, and her investigation causes her to eye friends as suspects and consider the lurid mob past of the town as she seeks out the murderer.
There was quite a bit in this book about ice fishing and diving. The author has some experience or did some deep research, as she did a brilliant job of explaining things in a way that an ignorant person like me could follow along. There are a few cheesy twists near the end, but it's all good. The final scene actually had me laughing out loud, too. There are a few tasty looking recipes to finish things off as well.
November 30, 2025
At Death's Dough is the fifth book in the Deep Dish Mystery Series by Mindy Quigley. The amateur sleuth is pizza chef Delilah O’Leary. The story is set in February in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin.
I loved At Death's Dough. This cozy mystery was a wonderful addition to the series and could even be read as a stand alone if you haven't read the first four.
Delilah, her aunt, and her bestie go ice fishing and find a body under the ice. Delilah then works with her beau, a descendant of Al Capone to solve the mystery.
The mystery was very well planned, with thoughtful clues and red herrings scattered throughout. The ending wrapped everything up in a surprising and satisfying way.
Delilah is a strong female protagonist and her chonky cat Butterball is a scene stealer. I enjoy the relationships in this series. The characters are unique and well-drawn.
Mindy Quigley excels at inserting humor into the plot. It makes the story very entertaining.
I'm looking forward to reading the next Deep Dish Mystery!
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!
I loved At Death's Dough. This cozy mystery was a wonderful addition to the series and could even be read as a stand alone if you haven't read the first four.
Delilah, her aunt, and her bestie go ice fishing and find a body under the ice. Delilah then works with her beau, a descendant of Al Capone to solve the mystery.
The mystery was very well planned, with thoughtful clues and red herrings scattered throughout. The ending wrapped everything up in a surprising and satisfying way.
Delilah is a strong female protagonist and her chonky cat Butterball is a scene stealer. I enjoy the relationships in this series. The characters are unique and well-drawn.
Mindy Quigley excels at inserting humor into the plot. It makes the story very entertaining.
I'm looking forward to reading the next Deep Dish Mystery!
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!
October 31, 2025
This installment of the series had the usual characters, including Butterball. I liked that Auntie Biz is bossy and cantankerous. It’s a nice switch up from the sweet, old, doddering auntie. Secondary characters played a more important role in the plot than usual. The author always has references to the mafia in her books, but this one had the plot all wrapped up in historical moments involving the gangsters. Recipes at the back of the book were a hoot to read. The author has the characters that make the recipe in the story present the recipe to the readers and doses them with a bit of humor.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.
December 26, 2025
4.25⭐
Back to a frozen Geneva Bay, where Delilah and Sons upscale pizza restaurant is negotiating dealing with half full restaurant in the off season. On one hand that's almost fortuitous as the whole found family of those working there have the time and energy to help look into a very suspicious..death that the police chief has declared an accident. Plenty of suspects and theories make this delightful mystery an excellent choice for those who reading stories in sync with the seasons. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Back to a frozen Geneva Bay, where Delilah and Sons upscale pizza restaurant is negotiating dealing with half full restaurant in the off season. On one hand that's almost fortuitous as the whole found family of those working there have the time and energy to help look into a very suspicious..death that the police chief has declared an accident. Plenty of suspects and theories make this delightful mystery an excellent choice for those who reading stories in sync with the seasons. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2025
I enjoy this series so much and this latest book was no exception.
Really fun, easy, winter read; full of ice fishing, kidnapping, drowning, murder, great characters, and of course - Butterball the cat!
It's winter in Wisconsin and that means tourist season is over and staying afloat is key. Someone proposes that local business feed off of the mob link to their town, which of course, everyone agrees to. Certain family members come into town and stir the pot - one of them gets himself killed.
Deliliah and her team are out to solve the case without police cooperation, since Capone is out of town.
Really fun, easy, winter read; full of ice fishing, kidnapping, drowning, murder, great characters, and of course - Butterball the cat!
It's winter in Wisconsin and that means tourist season is over and staying afloat is key. Someone proposes that local business feed off of the mob link to their town, which of course, everyone agrees to. Certain family members come into town and stir the pot - one of them gets himself killed.
Deliliah and her team are out to solve the case without police cooperation, since Capone is out of town.
January 26, 2026
I have always liked this series, and love the covers, but this one was a miss for me. Maybe it’s because I’m on a big fantasy kick, or maybe I’m just over all the gangster plot lines throughout. Whatever it is, this was a miss. I will repeat myself in saying I love the cover. Butterball at his finest with that heart-shaped pizza.
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