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Donut Shop Mysteries #16
Bad Bites
Brand New!
Donut Mystery #16, BAD BITES, from New York Times Bestselling Author Jessica Beck!
When Chief Martin’s brother, Chester, is murdered on the day he is supposed to retire, Suzanne’s boyfriend, state police inspector Jake Bishop, steps in to take over the case. That doesn’t keep Suzanne and Grace from digging into the murder as well, though, and when the three detectives and all of their suspects convene at a lodge in the mountains, just about anything could happen!
Donut Mystery #16, BAD BITES, from New York Times Bestselling Author Jessica Beck!
When Chief Martin’s brother, Chester, is murdered on the day he is supposed to retire, Suzanne’s boyfriend, state police inspector Jake Bishop, steps in to take over the case. That doesn’t keep Suzanne and Grace from digging into the murder as well, though, and when the three detectives and all of their suspects convene at a lodge in the mountains, just about anything could happen!
247 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 7, 2014
30 people are currently reading
539 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Beck
103 books460 followersJessica Beck is a pseudonym used by
Tim Myers.
Jessica Beck is the penname of an author who has been nominated for the Agatha Award and named an Independent Mystery Booksellers Association national bestseller nearly a dozen times.
Jessica Beck loves donuts, and has the figure to prove it. It's amazing what people can convince themselves is all in the name of research! For each recipe featured in the donut mysteries, a dozen more are tried and tested.
When not concocting delicious treats, Beck enjoys the rare snowfalls near her home in the foothills of North Carolina.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/jessic...
Tim Myers.
Jessica Beck is the penname of an author who has been nominated for the Agatha Award and named an Independent Mystery Booksellers Association national bestseller nearly a dozen times.
Jessica Beck loves donuts, and has the figure to prove it. It's amazing what people can convince themselves is all in the name of research! For each recipe featured in the donut mysteries, a dozen more are tried and tested.
When not concocting delicious treats, Beck enjoys the rare snowfalls near her home in the foothills of North Carolina.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/jessic...
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 10, 2018
An entertaining cozy, with a sleuth who runs a doughnut shop in upstate New York.
The police chief's brother is murdered, and the usual super cop boyfriend is called in to investigate, but of course, our quirky amateur sleuth helps out as well.
Hits all the tropes, but does it a little better than most, with a thrilling climax that doesn't make you roll your eyes.
The police chief's brother is murdered, and the usual super cop boyfriend is called in to investigate, but of course, our quirky amateur sleuth helps out as well.
Hits all the tropes, but does it a little better than most, with a thrilling climax that doesn't make you roll your eyes.
December 2, 2014
I am sorry that Bad Bites was a disappointment. I have little to say about it. I kind of guessed the murderer's identity as soon as the choice location for the finale was chosen. The solution was underwhelming. The motive of the murderer, plus her being so lucky that no one saw her coming and going meant that the murder had no fine point to discuss.
I guess Jessica Beck wanted to duplicate the formula of Lemon Larceny. The trouble with that was Lemon Larceny was full of new characters in a different community. Whereas the structure of Bad Bites was restrictive, dull, grey, unchallenging, cold, and pointless. Beck would have done well to include the staple cast of April Springs, including the various businesses, like the Italians, Gabby and Trish. Also, there was nothing more than the weak plot. More than any other book, Bad Bites was all about solving a mystery that was never exactly a mind bending conundrum to begin with.
Focusing purely on the murder was a mistake that a seasoned writer such as Beck should never have committed. The best cozy mysteries, including those that I don't like, flesh out the world and characters where the story is based. Beck tried to do something else, and took out the tried ingredients of her books and replaced them with nothing. I had one other point to make but all the details of the book is eking out of my mind even now. Bad Bites would have been the fourth consecutive book to gain 4 stars. Indeed that was the score midway through. Unfortunately the quality nosedived from thence. I am sorry it turned that way. Now I'm looking forward to the next - and last - cozy mystery of the year.
I guess Jessica Beck wanted to duplicate the formula of Lemon Larceny. The trouble with that was Lemon Larceny was full of new characters in a different community. Whereas the structure of Bad Bites was restrictive, dull, grey, unchallenging, cold, and pointless. Beck would have done well to include the staple cast of April Springs, including the various businesses, like the Italians, Gabby and Trish. Also, there was nothing more than the weak plot. More than any other book, Bad Bites was all about solving a mystery that was never exactly a mind bending conundrum to begin with.
Focusing purely on the murder was a mistake that a seasoned writer such as Beck should never have committed. The best cozy mysteries, including those that I don't like, flesh out the world and characters where the story is based. Beck tried to do something else, and took out the tried ingredients of her books and replaced them with nothing. I had one other point to make but all the details of the book is eking out of my mind even now. Bad Bites would have been the fourth consecutive book to gain 4 stars. Indeed that was the score midway through. Unfortunately the quality nosedived from thence. I am sorry it turned that way. Now I'm looking forward to the next - and last - cozy mystery of the year.
August 5, 2018
Bad Bites by Jessica Beck is book 16 in the Donut Mysteries series. Chief Martin's brother, librarian Chester Martin is murdered during his retirement party and Suzanne's boyfriend takes over the case. An interesting mystery although Suzanne is still irritable with her sleuthing. The suspects agreeing to meet in an isolated lodge seems a bit farfetched. I love the recipes though and they keep me reading on.
January 16, 2023
Oh my gosh, we're back to Suzanne's hatred of clowns. She finds a dead clown and everyone decides she needs to find out who killed him. (As he is a relation to another well-known character, she does so.)
Like the last book, this story should have been soooo much better! The setting was awesome with a massive thunderstorm trapping our people in a remote lodge...but the writing and story just did not live up to what it could have been.
Also, it was ridiculous in places it should not have been.
And when the killer is revealed (ugh, seriously, a character knew who it was for hours and hours and hours and not only doesn't mention it but waits for another character to try and work it out--really???), s/he laments s/he was NOT going to be humiliated by a clown.
Wow. I think the author needs to work out some clown trauma or something, because clowns do not fare well in this series.
Like the last book, this story should have been soooo much better! The setting was awesome with a massive thunderstorm trapping our people in a remote lodge...but the writing and story just did not live up to what it could have been.
Also, it was ridiculous in places it should not have been.
And when the killer is revealed (ugh, seriously, a character knew who it was for hours and hours and hours and not only doesn't mention it but waits for another character to try and work it out--really???), s/he laments s/he was NOT going to be humiliated by a clown.
Wow. I think the author needs to work out some clown trauma or something, because clowns do not fare well in this series.
June 28, 2025
Had to rate it 3 stars because I remember this exact scenario from another series I read.
Only the names had been changed.
Suzanne, along with several other residents of April Springs were invited to a retirement party.
Not only is the guest of honor late, but also dead. Because it is an extended family member Suzanne is asked to investigate. Because a member of the police force is also a family member he has to be recused from the investigation and Jake is brought in.
When several potential murderers are identified, but the investigation stalls out, they are invited to a remote location to spend the night there while Jake tries to verify alibi’s of the innocent and prove who is the real murderer.
What could go wrong?
Plenty.
Only the names had been changed.
Suzanne, along with several other residents of April Springs were invited to a retirement party.
Not only is the guest of honor late, but also dead. Because it is an extended family member Suzanne is asked to investigate. Because a member of the police force is also a family member he has to be recused from the investigation and Jake is brought in.
When several potential murderers are identified, but the investigation stalls out, they are invited to a remote location to spend the night there while Jake tries to verify alibi’s of the innocent and prove who is the real murderer.
What could go wrong?
Plenty.
March 17, 2019
I am enjoying this series so much and in this book, Suzanne and Jake have progressed to becoming engaged.
The murder of the chief's brother, Chester, is a very hard blow to the chief, as it takes place on the date of his brother's retirement.
A list of suspects, that all claim to be innocent, is also not helping the issue of solving the murder.
Can't wait to read the next one in the series.
The murder of the chief's brother, Chester, is a very hard blow to the chief, as it takes place on the date of his brother's retirement.
A list of suspects, that all claim to be innocent, is also not helping the issue of solving the murder.
Can't wait to read the next one in the series.
June 10, 2021
Beck never disappoints!
Jessica Beck always entertains. I’ve enjoyed every book 1-16. My library doesn’t carry all of them, but I like them so much, I’ve been buying them. The stories never repeat themselves. Another truly great read. You won’t be disappointed!
Jessica Beck always entertains. I’ve enjoyed every book 1-16. My library doesn’t carry all of them, but I like them so much, I’ve been buying them. The stories never repeat themselves. Another truly great read. You won’t be disappointed!
February 7, 2025
This is another excellent mystery in the Donut Mysteries series. In this one, the police chief's brother is murdered on the night of his retirement, Suzanne's boyfriend Jake is asked to help. Of course, Suzanne and her friend Grace also do some investigating to help solve the murder.
September 13, 2018
This one has a really good ending, so don't miss it!!
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
June 8, 2020
Different from the previous books in both venue and many characters. The hot chocolate donut sounds delicious, though.
April 29, 2021
I love this series. This was a good one. Love the characters
May 30, 2021
This book is set differently than the others. Very suspenseful and that’s all I’m going to say. Enjoy
May 19, 2025
Another good one that is a quick read between others.
January 28, 2020
The police chief's brother is murdered on the day of his retirement. It is up to Susanne and her boyfriend Jake to find the killer. So many suspects! Things take a dangerous turn when Susanne, Jake and many of the suspects all end up trapped in the same place. Will they catch the killer before the killer catches them? Another good read in the Donut Shop Mystery Series!
August 16, 2018
Such a Great Series!
I feel like Suzanne is one of my best friends, I'm sure I would be a wonderful asset to her and Grace solving murders.
I feel like Suzanne is one of my best friends, I'm sure I would be a wonderful asset to her and Grace solving murders.
December 9, 2014
I really love this series and this one was pretty good. The only criticism I have is the author's writing style. Yes, we know that Jake is Suzanne's boyfriend and that Grace is her best friend. It does not need to be mentioned every time Suzanne talks about them. This is a sample sentence, "Grace was being held at gun point, and I wasn't about to let my best friend die without doing something" or "Jake lay at the bottom of the stairs unconscious, and I felt helpless to help my boyfriend." Why does the author need to keep adding that? It gets a little annoying.
However, the story is a good one and I enjoy the series.
However, the story is a good one and I enjoy the series.
September 22, 2014
2014-09-22. I enjoyed this. I'm really liking how the author has quit having them run all over the place foisting themselves on people. Well, for the most part. It's still a bit absurd how they insert themselves in it and expect people to actually answer them. However, I did enjoy how they got everyone together for the reveal. Fun.
September 29, 2014
I was thrilled when Bad Bites came out. Suzanne, Grace, Jake, George, Mama, and the Chief are old friends that I eagerly wait for the next book to come out so I can catch up with them. Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. It had me going from the very beginning to the very end. Oh, and what an ending!! Ms. Jessica Beck outdid herself again!!
May 15, 2015
I don't know how Jessica Beck does it. She keeps handing out one great book after another. I love this series and am always anxious for the next book. This one was no different. Suzanne and the gang are searching for another killer and you will be surprise to find out who it is. Great job. I can't wait to start #17 tonight.
September 17, 2014
FINALLY! IT HAPPENED! Love this series <3
October 9, 2014
I love this series. Another winner. I can't wait for the next book.
January 29, 2015
I liked how this book took place somewhere else.
May 15, 2015
Loved it. Such a fun read.
June 23, 2015
This book was 10 times better than the last. I actually really liked it, specially the proposal scene. So romantic in a way!
March 17, 2015
Suzanne and Jake try to solve the mystery of who killed the Chief's brother.
Read
May 4, 2018Entertaining
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews