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Deputy Donut Mystery #11
Killer Donuts
It’s fall in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin, and Emily Fyne, owner of the popular local Deput Donut café is on a trail—a Donut Trail, that is—to tour pre-Halloween treats and activities, not to mention check out the competition. It’s all fun and games, until a murder that’s no trick . . .
Emily and her friends Izzy and Monique are traveling the Donut Trail in style in Deputy Donut’s vintage, donut-topped car. With them are Emily’s cat, Dep, and Monique’s tiny dog, Gigi. Amid the spectacular fall foliage they stop at an orchard that includes a bistro and a vast corn maze. But while sampling some apple cider, they find that not everyone shares their friendly, festive mood . . .
A cranky tourist not only scolds them for bringing their pets, but she also says she hates dogs—with cats a close second. No matter, Emily and company, their pets leashed, go off to enter the maze. But soon, boisterous teens barge in, wreaking havoc, tossing pumpkins, uprooting cornstalks—and attempting a dog-snatching . . .
As everyone scrambles to regroup, it turns out the dog-hating woman is missing. And when her dead body is finally discovered—with Gigi’s hair ribbon in her pocket—Emily and her friends are the top suspects. To clear their names, they’ll have to throw a killer off their trail while diving even deeper into a dangerous labyrinth of clues . . .
Emily and her friends Izzy and Monique are traveling the Donut Trail in style in Deputy Donut’s vintage, donut-topped car. With them are Emily’s cat, Dep, and Monique’s tiny dog, Gigi. Amid the spectacular fall foliage they stop at an orchard that includes a bistro and a vast corn maze. But while sampling some apple cider, they find that not everyone shares their friendly, festive mood . . .
A cranky tourist not only scolds them for bringing their pets, but she also says she hates dogs—with cats a close second. No matter, Emily and company, their pets leashed, go off to enter the maze. But soon, boisterous teens barge in, wreaking havoc, tossing pumpkins, uprooting cornstalks—and attempting a dog-snatching . . .
As everyone scrambles to regroup, it turns out the dog-hating woman is missing. And when her dead body is finally discovered—with Gigi’s hair ribbon in her pocket—Emily and her friends are the top suspects. To clear their names, they’ll have to throw a killer off their trail while diving even deeper into a dangerous labyrinth of clues . . .
289 pages, ebook
Published August 25, 2026
About the author
Ginger Bolton
17 books543 followersGinger Bolton writes the Deputy Donut mystery series--cops, crime, coffee, donuts and one curious cat. When Ginger isn't writing or reading, she's crocheting, knitting, walking her two rescue dogs and generally causing trouble.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
August 30, 2026
Dollycas’s Thoughts
It’s time to hit the Donut Trail for Emily Fyne, owner of Deputy Donut café, and she is taking her friends Izzy and Monique, along with her cat Dep and Monique’s tiny dog, Gigi, with her. They plan to check out the competition, their Halloween treats, and activities.
They arrive at an orchard with a little bistro and a huge corn maze. There, they meet a tourist who is not enjoying her travels. She is quick to voice her hatred of dogs and cats, so Emily and her friends finish their treats and venture into the corn maze.
Sadly, some wild teenagers ruin their experience. After they leave the maze, they learn the terse tourist is missing, and her group is ready to leave. Much later, her body is discovered within the maze, and in her pocket is the ribbon missing from Gigi’s topknot, putting Emily, Izzy, and Monique in the hot seat. They now have to hit the trail to find who played the final trick on the deceased before one of them gets the treat of a jail cell for a crime they didn’t commit.
What a fun Halloween read! You don’t have to travel far in Wisconsin to find a corn maze; most have yummy baked goods, apples, pumpkins, and other activities for kids of all ages. Any dead bodies are usually stuffed.
Ms. Bolton’s cast of characters continues to evolve in realistic ways, and she introduces quality characters in each new installment. Emily and Brent’s relationship gets stronger every day, knowing Alec would want them to be happy. Alec’s parents, Tom and Cindy, treat Emily and Brent as their own children too, which delights me. We lost a son too soon, and his wife will always be my bonus daughter. Emily’s friend, Monique, is Madam Monique, the owner of Thrills and Frills. Izzy, we met in the last book Sour Crime Donuts. In this book, we meet Peggy on the Donut Trail. She fits in easily with the Knitpickers that gather every morning at Deputy Donut. I enjoy how all of Emily’s friends are really her family. When an event happens, many come together to attend and have fun.
Because Emily is involved in the murder case, Brent can’t be involved in the investigation. DCI Agent Rex is assigned the case, and he has plenty of suspects to question. You know Emily is investigating with her friends and their animals. Those animals have great instincts. I enjoyed tagging along through it all and was so caught up in the story my armchair sleuthing took a break, realizing the culprit right along with Emily.
Killer Donuts is another top-notch whodunit from Ginger Bolton. It’s filled with charming characters, plenty of humor, a well-plotted mystery that will keep readers guessing, all set when the leaves are showing their beautiful colors in northern Wisconsin. Oh, and plenty of delicious donuts. A Glazed Apple Cider Donut (recipe in the book) or two would be fantastic right now. I will need a variety of donuts to get me through Halloween, and more as I wait for the next Deputy Donut Mystery. Oh, and that Donut Trail; it’s a real thing!
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 Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
It’s time to hit the Donut Trail for Emily Fyne, owner of Deputy Donut café, and she is taking her friends Izzy and Monique, along with her cat Dep and Monique’s tiny dog, Gigi, with her. They plan to check out the competition, their Halloween treats, and activities.
They arrive at an orchard with a little bistro and a huge corn maze. There, they meet a tourist who is not enjoying her travels. She is quick to voice her hatred of dogs and cats, so Emily and her friends finish their treats and venture into the corn maze.
Sadly, some wild teenagers ruin their experience. After they leave the maze, they learn the terse tourist is missing, and her group is ready to leave. Much later, her body is discovered within the maze, and in her pocket is the ribbon missing from Gigi’s topknot, putting Emily, Izzy, and Monique in the hot seat. They now have to hit the trail to find who played the final trick on the deceased before one of them gets the treat of a jail cell for a crime they didn’t commit.
What a fun Halloween read! You don’t have to travel far in Wisconsin to find a corn maze; most have yummy baked goods, apples, pumpkins, and other activities for kids of all ages. Any dead bodies are usually stuffed.
Ms. Bolton’s cast of characters continues to evolve in realistic ways, and she introduces quality characters in each new installment. Emily and Brent’s relationship gets stronger every day, knowing Alec would want them to be happy. Alec’s parents, Tom and Cindy, treat Emily and Brent as their own children too, which delights me. We lost a son too soon, and his wife will always be my bonus daughter. Emily’s friend, Monique, is Madam Monique, the owner of Thrills and Frills. Izzy, we met in the last book Sour Crime Donuts. In this book, we meet Peggy on the Donut Trail. She fits in easily with the Knitpickers that gather every morning at Deputy Donut. I enjoy how all of Emily’s friends are really her family. When an event happens, many come together to attend and have fun.
Because Emily is involved in the murder case, Brent can’t be involved in the investigation. DCI Agent Rex is assigned the case, and he has plenty of suspects to question. You know Emily is investigating with her friends and their animals. Those animals have great instincts. I enjoyed tagging along through it all and was so caught up in the story my armchair sleuthing took a break, realizing the culprit right along with Emily.
Killer Donuts is another top-notch whodunit from Ginger Bolton. It’s filled with charming characters, plenty of humor, a well-plotted mystery that will keep readers guessing, all set when the leaves are showing their beautiful colors in northern Wisconsin. Oh, and plenty of delicious donuts. A Glazed Apple Cider Donut (recipe in the book) or two would be fantastic right now. I will need a variety of donuts to get me through Halloween, and more as I wait for the next Deputy Donut Mystery. Oh, and that Donut Trail; it’s a real thing!
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 Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
September 23, 2026
So lovely! I love the Deputy Donut series, and this was such a warm, autumnal addition. I loved seeing Emily hang out with her friends and enjoy a fall day before tragedy struck. The motive for this mystery was especially interesting.
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 1, 2026
This is one of my favorite series! I really like the characters, I love that the main ones have all grown and there have been some good recent additions as well. This story was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the donut trail setting. There were lots of suspects and an exciting reveal. I also loved how the story wrapped up, you can’t beat that ending.
Read
August 3, 2026Exactly what I expect from a cozy mystery — cute small town vibes, good friends who help you solve the case, a furry side kick (in this case, a very spoiled cat), low-stakes vibes and the coziest of settings. Great for fans of Hannah Swensen (from either Joanna Fluke’s books or the Hallmark Murder & Mystery channel).
I enjoyed the town, the characters, and the general shenanigans. It was fast moving, with lots of people to talk to as Emily and her friends try to solve Wanda’s death. And I especially enjoyed all the fall touches - the donuts, apple cider, corn mazes, pet costume contest, etc.
While the 11th book in the series, you could read this as a stand alone with a few caveats. First, you might not understand why Emily feels obliged to solve the case and second, you should go in knowing you’ll be getting a lot of characters thrown at you quite quickly. Not a bad thing, but just want to make sure you aware of incase it impacts your choice (the first book in the series is Survival of the Fritters if you would rather start at the beginning).
Thanks to Ginger Bolton and Kennsington for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the town, the characters, and the general shenanigans. It was fast moving, with lots of people to talk to as Emily and her friends try to solve Wanda’s death. And I especially enjoyed all the fall touches - the donuts, apple cider, corn mazes, pet costume contest, etc.
While the 11th book in the series, you could read this as a stand alone with a few caveats. First, you might not understand why Emily feels obliged to solve the case and second, you should go in knowing you’ll be getting a lot of characters thrown at you quite quickly. Not a bad thing, but just want to make sure you aware of incase it impacts your choice (the first book in the series is Survival of the Fritters if you would rather start at the beginning).
Thanks to Ginger Bolton and Kennsington for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2026
I LOVED this! My love for this series just grows and grows, and the make it fall themed and throw in a donut trail and corn maze?! Instant winner. I had so much fun reading this book, investigating the donut trail, salivating over the delicious fall goodies, and of course seeing all my favorite characters. Between the adorable town of Fallingbrook, the Deputy Donuts shop, and Emily and Brent's ski chalet, I was transported into this coziness and honestly read it a slow as possible just to savor as much as I could. The mystery had a few moving parts, which totally stumped me until, the end. It also introduced some new fun characters and had MULTIPLE fast moving drama scenes that had me on the edge of my seat. I love how Dep is involved (and cutie Gigi as well) and of course seeing Emily's friends and family made me smile until it hurt. This is my favorite mystery series for a reason and it keeps getting better and better (and that ending had me jumping for joy).
I am a bit worried that this will be the end of Emily' sleuthing, but I am so hoping that it continues because I just love this series so much!
Thanks to the publisher for a free ARC; my thoughts and review are my own.
I am a bit worried that this will be the end of Emily' sleuthing, but I am so hoping that it continues because I just love this series so much!
Thanks to the publisher for a free ARC; my thoughts and review are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It's nearing Halloween in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin, and donut shop owner Emily Fyne and her friends Izzy and Monique are taking a tour of the Donut Trail, which stops at various shops in Wisconsin that sell donuts. Everything is going fine until they reach a certain point and an unfriendly woman starts remarking about people who bring their pets along. Monique, with her tiny dog, Gigi, and Emily, with her cat Dep, are trying the donuts and cider and since they are out side, no one else is complaining. But the woman mentions how she hates dogs (and cats) and won't let up.
Still, the three women aren't about to let her spoil their mood, and so they decide to go into the corn maze which is also on the property. But while they are trying to find their way out, a hand shoots through the corn and grabs Gigi. Suddenly, things go sideways as the women attempt to find the tiny creature and everyone is shouting her name -- even disruptive teenagers who think this is all a game.
Eventually, Gigi is found, and all is calm. For a while, at least. Until it's discovered that the woman is missing from her tour. And when her body is found in the maze the next day, with Gigi's hair ribbon in her pocket, they become suspects in the murder. Now Emily and her friends are trying to clear their names and find a killer. Because if they don't, one of them may be the next victim...
This is the eleventh book in the series, and I have enjoyed most of them. I will admit, in the beginning their was an 'evil nemesis' which I hate above all things, but since that problem has been removed, all the remaining books have been more than delightful.
I love Emily and her family and friends, each with their own backstory to tell, and new friends that they meet along the way. Her life with her detective husband Brent is good, Dep is spoiled (even more than my cats), but I enjoy reading about her as well. She owns Deputy Donuts along with her late husband's father Tom, and the business is thriving.
In this book, Emily once again is drawn into a murder as she tries to prove herself innocent. Although she's not really a serious suspect, one of her friends is, and she knows that she needs to help clear her name. To that end, the three women start listing their own suspects, and it builds quite a list. When they start to question people, they get the natural resistance, but someone is watching their every move and is planning their own.
When we get closer to the end of the book, everything becomes tense as Emily starts to figure out who the real killer is. So do her friends, and they try to capture that person without them knowing. But it's more dangerous than they think, and if help doesn't arrive soon, they may not escape...
I will not say any more as to not ruin the book for others, but this is one of the best in the series, and it was a delight to read. Ms. Bolton has a turn with words, and she does it well. Very well written and highly recommended.
I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
Still, the three women aren't about to let her spoil their mood, and so they decide to go into the corn maze which is also on the property. But while they are trying to find their way out, a hand shoots through the corn and grabs Gigi. Suddenly, things go sideways as the women attempt to find the tiny creature and everyone is shouting her name -- even disruptive teenagers who think this is all a game.
Eventually, Gigi is found, and all is calm. For a while, at least. Until it's discovered that the woman is missing from her tour. And when her body is found in the maze the next day, with Gigi's hair ribbon in her pocket, they become suspects in the murder. Now Emily and her friends are trying to clear their names and find a killer. Because if they don't, one of them may be the next victim...
This is the eleventh book in the series, and I have enjoyed most of them. I will admit, in the beginning their was an 'evil nemesis' which I hate above all things, but since that problem has been removed, all the remaining books have been more than delightful.
I love Emily and her family and friends, each with their own backstory to tell, and new friends that they meet along the way. Her life with her detective husband Brent is good, Dep is spoiled (even more than my cats), but I enjoy reading about her as well. She owns Deputy Donuts along with her late husband's father Tom, and the business is thriving.
In this book, Emily once again is drawn into a murder as she tries to prove herself innocent. Although she's not really a serious suspect, one of her friends is, and she knows that she needs to help clear her name. To that end, the three women start listing their own suspects, and it builds quite a list. When they start to question people, they get the natural resistance, but someone is watching their every move and is planning their own.
When we get closer to the end of the book, everything becomes tense as Emily starts to figure out who the real killer is. So do her friends, and they try to capture that person without them knowing. But it's more dangerous than they think, and if help doesn't arrive soon, they may not escape...
I will not say any more as to not ruin the book for others, but this is one of the best in the series, and it was a delight to read. Ms. Bolton has a turn with words, and she does it well. Very well written and highly recommended.
I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
September 10, 2026
I started Ginger Bolton’s Killer Donuts with my coffee and immediately thought, donuts, apple orchards, Halloween, and a murder? Well, there went my morning. Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the gifted advance copy. And tell me I’m not the only one who immediately side-eyes the rudest person in a cozy mystery and thinks, “Yep…you’re either getting murdered or you did it.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is book eleven in the Deputy Donut Mystery series, and Emily and the gang are hitting Wisconsin’s Donut Trail—basically the kind of road trip I fully support. Donuts, cider, fall decorations, apple orchards, and a corn maze? Sign me up.
Of course, Emily can’t simply enjoy a donut without stumbling into trouble.
When Emily, Izzy, and Madame Monique visit an orchard, they encounter a particularly unpleasant woman who has plenty to say about Monique’s little dog Gigi and Emily’s cat Dep. Then Gigi disappears inside the corn maze, the woman goes missing, and before long there’s a body. Even worse? Gigi’s hair ribbon is found in the victim’s pocket.
So naturally, Emily starts asking questions.
I really enjoyed seeing Emily, Izzy, and Monique together in this one. Monique and Gigi added so much personality, and Dep continues to prove that spoiled cats are exactly as they should be. I also loved getting Emily outside Deputy Donut and into all those wonderfully cozy fall settings. Give me an orchard and a corn maze in October and apparently I’m willing to overlook the whole murder situation.
The mystery gave me plenty of people to suspect, and once Emily started getting a little too close to the truth, things got tense FAST. I had my theories, changed my mind more than once, and absolutely enjoyed the final reveal.
But that ending!! I’m obviously not spoiling it, but it left me with the biggest smile. After spending so many books with these characters, it felt extra special.
Now I’m craving apple cider donuts, which seems wildly unfair since there are none in my kitchen.
What fall treat would convince you to follow a donut trail—apple cider donuts, pumpkin donuts, maple donuts, or something else?
#KillerDonuts #GingerBolton #DeputyDonutMystery #CozyMystery #CozyMysteryBooks #FallReading #HalloweenReads #KensingtonBooks #NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is book eleven in the Deputy Donut Mystery series, and Emily and the gang are hitting Wisconsin’s Donut Trail—basically the kind of road trip I fully support. Donuts, cider, fall decorations, apple orchards, and a corn maze? Sign me up.
Of course, Emily can’t simply enjoy a donut without stumbling into trouble.
When Emily, Izzy, and Madame Monique visit an orchard, they encounter a particularly unpleasant woman who has plenty to say about Monique’s little dog Gigi and Emily’s cat Dep. Then Gigi disappears inside the corn maze, the woman goes missing, and before long there’s a body. Even worse? Gigi’s hair ribbon is found in the victim’s pocket.
So naturally, Emily starts asking questions.
I really enjoyed seeing Emily, Izzy, and Monique together in this one. Monique and Gigi added so much personality, and Dep continues to prove that spoiled cats are exactly as they should be. I also loved getting Emily outside Deputy Donut and into all those wonderfully cozy fall settings. Give me an orchard and a corn maze in October and apparently I’m willing to overlook the whole murder situation.
The mystery gave me plenty of people to suspect, and once Emily started getting a little too close to the truth, things got tense FAST. I had my theories, changed my mind more than once, and absolutely enjoyed the final reveal.
But that ending!! I’m obviously not spoiling it, but it left me with the biggest smile. After spending so many books with these characters, it felt extra special.
Now I’m craving apple cider donuts, which seems wildly unfair since there are none in my kitchen.
What fall treat would convince you to follow a donut trail—apple cider donuts, pumpkin donuts, maple donuts, or something else?
#KillerDonuts #GingerBolton #DeputyDonutMystery #CozyMystery #CozyMysteryBooks #FallReading #HalloweenReads #KensingtonBooks #NetGalley
August 26, 2026
Killer Donuts, the 11th in the Deputy Donut Mystery series, is just as delightful as all the previous books. Ginger Bolton is one of my favorite Cozy Mystery authors, so as soon as I could, I read the book in pretty much one sitting.
Emily and her friends Izzy and Monique (as well as Dep the cat and Gigi, Monique’s tiny dog) are on the trail…the Donut Trail, that is. They are touring the donut shops around Wisconsin that are featured on the Donut Trail. They are enjoying the tasty donuts along the way, until they reach the last stop of the day. At an outdoor bistro, they are devouring the delicious apple cider donuts when Wanda, a nasty, cat-and-dog-hating woman (a tourist on the actual donut trail bus), starts berating Emily and Monique for bringing their pets with them. They pay her no mind and proceed to get lost in the giant donut-shaped corn maze. But teens begin a rampage of smashing pumpkins and tearing down cornstalks, causing all sorts of problems. Gigi is even abducted! But luckily, Monique finds her beloved pup, and they all escape the madness, only to find out the mean tourist has gone missing. Emily and her friends help in the search, all to no avail. The next day, they find out Wanda was found murdered under a pile of hay bales in the corn maze, with Gigi’s hair ribbon in her pocket. Emily, Izzy, and Monique are suspects in the homicide, so of course they begin investigating to clear their names.
I really enjoy reading this author’s books. She has created a tight-knit community of friends for Emily, with the circle growing larger as new characters come aboard. It’s always interesting to see how Ms. Bolton weaves together a mystery so that it makes sense for Emily, a donut shoppe owner, gets involved in finding the clues, meeting the suspects, and solving the case.
I admit I was surprised that there was only one mention of the main suspect in the first part of the book, and we don’t see them until much later in the story.
It’s always fun visiting Deputy Donut, but it always makes me crave donuts!
Thank you for allowing me to read an advance copy of the book. I happily leave my honest opinion.
Emily and her friends Izzy and Monique (as well as Dep the cat and Gigi, Monique’s tiny dog) are on the trail…the Donut Trail, that is. They are touring the donut shops around Wisconsin that are featured on the Donut Trail. They are enjoying the tasty donuts along the way, until they reach the last stop of the day. At an outdoor bistro, they are devouring the delicious apple cider donuts when Wanda, a nasty, cat-and-dog-hating woman (a tourist on the actual donut trail bus), starts berating Emily and Monique for bringing their pets with them. They pay her no mind and proceed to get lost in the giant donut-shaped corn maze. But teens begin a rampage of smashing pumpkins and tearing down cornstalks, causing all sorts of problems. Gigi is even abducted! But luckily, Monique finds her beloved pup, and they all escape the madness, only to find out the mean tourist has gone missing. Emily and her friends help in the search, all to no avail. The next day, they find out Wanda was found murdered under a pile of hay bales in the corn maze, with Gigi’s hair ribbon in her pocket. Emily, Izzy, and Monique are suspects in the homicide, so of course they begin investigating to clear their names.
I really enjoy reading this author’s books. She has created a tight-knit community of friends for Emily, with the circle growing larger as new characters come aboard. It’s always interesting to see how Ms. Bolton weaves together a mystery so that it makes sense for Emily, a donut shoppe owner, gets involved in finding the clues, meeting the suspects, and solving the case.
I admit I was surprised that there was only one mention of the main suspect in the first part of the book, and we don’t see them until much later in the story.
It’s always fun visiting Deputy Donut, but it always makes me crave donuts!
Thank you for allowing me to read an advance copy of the book. I happily leave my honest opinion.
August 29, 2026
There is a nip in the air as Emily, Izzy, and Madame Monique take a two-day road trip eating their fill of donuts along the inaugural Northern Wisconsin Donut Trail. This may sound odd to you if you are familiar with the Deputy Donut Mystery series. This is book eleven and does a great job as a stand-alone providing plenty of backstory about Emily, the donut shop, and family and friends. So, why would Emily be off visiting other donut shops when hers, Deputy Donut, makes some of the best donuts in the northern Wisconsin region. Well, to check out the local competition, of course. This leads to the creation of the Apple Cider - Glazed Apple Cider Donuts. You can find the recipe at the back of the book. I was pleased to see that Izzy is going to be a permanent character because she adds a wonderful new energy with her bubbly personality and desire to sleuth. She is also a bit of an instigator when it comes to the rather adventurous sleuthing, but it isn't like Emily is going to say no. Madame Monique, owner of Frills and Thrills isn't much better in that department as well. She and her little Gigi are dressed to the nines and ready to be a part of any sleuthing adventure. Although how she manages to literally run around in her couture-like dresses is beyond me.
It is at the Sliding Waters Orchard where Emily and her two friends find themselves in a giant donut shaped corn maze that leads to chaos, a dognapping, and a death and that is just the beginning. There are so many puzzle pieces to this mystery that you may just need a spreadsheet like the one that Izzy creates to keep all the clues straight. Wanda the victim was trading snarky comments with Krystal. Krystal has nothing good to say about donuts, pets, or people in general. Wanda’s husband Jay is a gruff diner owner who doesn’t seem too upset at her passing. Faye the timid tour organizer, who was supposedly waiting by the bus wasn’t there the whole time and wastes no time in pointing a finger at Krystal. Not to mention that there are some sketchy suspects on the fringes, just to keep it interesting.
Emily has her sleuthing cut out for her as she does her best to question without seeming nosy and does her best to keep out of trouble, but can she help it if trouble comes looking for her or her friends? The book is well paced, and the little bits of misdirection do a great job of keeping the reader guessing. The characters are engaging and relatable and both the story and the recipes will help me start to gear up for the pumpkin spice season.
It is at the Sliding Waters Orchard where Emily and her two friends find themselves in a giant donut shaped corn maze that leads to chaos, a dognapping, and a death and that is just the beginning. There are so many puzzle pieces to this mystery that you may just need a spreadsheet like the one that Izzy creates to keep all the clues straight. Wanda the victim was trading snarky comments with Krystal. Krystal has nothing good to say about donuts, pets, or people in general. Wanda’s husband Jay is a gruff diner owner who doesn’t seem too upset at her passing. Faye the timid tour organizer, who was supposedly waiting by the bus wasn’t there the whole time and wastes no time in pointing a finger at Krystal. Not to mention that there are some sketchy suspects on the fringes, just to keep it interesting.
Emily has her sleuthing cut out for her as she does her best to question without seeming nosy and does her best to keep out of trouble, but can she help it if trouble comes looking for her or her friends? The book is well paced, and the little bits of misdirection do a great job of keeping the reader guessing. The characters are engaging and relatable and both the story and the recipes will help me start to gear up for the pumpkin spice season.
August 23, 2026
Thank you so much to the author and Cozy Mystery Review Crew for an advance copy of this book!
This was my first read in the Deputy Donut series and I plan to read the ones before it after finishing this one. I really enjoyed it.
“Killer Donuts” is the 11th book in the popular and delightful Deputy Donut series by Ginger Bolton, This story takes place in the fall and finds Emily and her friends (accompanied by Gigi the dog and Dep the cat) exploring a “Donut Trail” throughout a section of Wisconsin. A not so nice woman who is also participating in the Donut Trail scolds them for bringing the animals along and declares herself a “dog hater.” Ironically, she is found dead the day after Emily and friends participate in a corn maze, and Emily can’t help but investigate. Will Emily be able to figure out who the killer was of this "dog hater" or will she and her friends be the next victims?
This is a great fall read and perfect for this time of year. I read this book in two days and absolutely loved it. Being from a very country town with a local apple farm in the area, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the setting. I found myself very much thinking about our local apple farm and what if they did a “Donut Trail” at their farm. They also offer fresh baked apple cider donuts at the farm. I kept picturing myself with one of their donuts as I read this book. Having done many corn mazes over the years I pictured myself lost in the maze trying to get out. Never underestimate how a dog or cat feel about people. They have amazing instincts and can depict a killer very easily! The ending of this book was the best. I closed it with a huge smile on my face. I am hoping this isn’t the end of the series!
This was my first read in the Deputy Donut series and I plan to read the ones before it after finishing this one. I really enjoyed it.
“Killer Donuts” is the 11th book in the popular and delightful Deputy Donut series by Ginger Bolton, This story takes place in the fall and finds Emily and her friends (accompanied by Gigi the dog and Dep the cat) exploring a “Donut Trail” throughout a section of Wisconsin. A not so nice woman who is also participating in the Donut Trail scolds them for bringing the animals along and declares herself a “dog hater.” Ironically, she is found dead the day after Emily and friends participate in a corn maze, and Emily can’t help but investigate. Will Emily be able to figure out who the killer was of this "dog hater" or will she and her friends be the next victims?
This is a great fall read and perfect for this time of year. I read this book in two days and absolutely loved it. Being from a very country town with a local apple farm in the area, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the setting. I found myself very much thinking about our local apple farm and what if they did a “Donut Trail” at their farm. They also offer fresh baked apple cider donuts at the farm. I kept picturing myself with one of their donuts as I read this book. Having done many corn mazes over the years I pictured myself lost in the maze trying to get out. Never underestimate how a dog or cat feel about people. They have amazing instincts and can depict a killer very easily! The ending of this book was the best. I closed it with a huge smile on my face. I am hoping this isn’t the end of the series!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Killer Donuts is the 11th book in Ginger Bolton's charming Deputy Donut Mysteries. Emily Fyne is co-owner of Deputy Donuts and they are part of a Donut Trail event which stops at donut shops all over the area. Emily is curious about the other donut shops on the tour so with her friends Izzy and Monique they take two days to check some of them out. They meet quite a few people at one of the Orchards that has a cafe, pet costume competition and a maze. They are having a fun day until Monique's dog Gigi is dogknapped. She is only gone for a short amount of time but it is upsetting. When one of the people they met goes missing, Emily, Izzy and Monique stay to help search for her until someone mentions they think she left on her own. The next day they find out the lady was found dead. The three friends are suspects and Emily's husband Detective Brent Fyne can't work on the case. DCI Agent Rex arrives to handle the case. There are quite a few suspects to sort through. In the last book Emily's sleuthing partners were her coworker friends Olivia and Jocelyn which I really liked. In this book they are Izzy and Monique. I like Izzy but I am not a fan of Monique investigating with them. It worked in the story for the most part. Emily and Brent got together with all their long time friends which was nice. Of course kitty Dep is her usual cuteness. The cozy mystery was good and the whodunit was surprising. The ending was sweet and makes it feel like the end of the series. I love this series but we will see. I received an advance copy for free from NetGalley and Kensington Cozies and I voluntarily leave this review.
#KillerDonuts #DeputyDonutMystery #NetGalley #KensingtonCozies
#KillerDonuts #DeputyDonutMystery #NetGalley #KensingtonCozies
August 26, 2026
Killer Donuts by Ginger Bolton is a cozy mystery featuring donuts. In this case, a Donut Trail, kind of like a bar tour except donuts. Is that not a great idea? Emily and her kind-of-ex father-in-law, Tom, own Deputy Donuts, a bakery and coffee shop. It was to be stop on the trail but Emily, Madame Monique, and Izzy, as well as pets, Gigi and Dep, had decided to take a road trip in the donut mobile and follow the trail. Things got dicey at a stop at an orchard who also sold donuts and cider where Gigi went missing and, as it turns out, a woman was murdered. They found her buried under a pile of hay bales, stacked around for people to sit on. Or course, it was too much for the trio to resist and they started asking questions. Emily’s husband, police detective, Brent, didn’t even bother telling her to be careful. It turned into quite the story.
The relationships are complicated. Emily had been married to Alec, Tom’s son, who got killed in a police situation. She and Brent, who had been his partner, kind of bonded over grief, and it eventually turned into more. Tom and his wife were thrilled. Emily and Brent were hoping for a baby so she had given up alcohol and caffeine. Pretty hard for a coffee shop owner. The characters are entertaining and clever. The plot in this case turned out to be interesting, but somewhat muddy. The women caught him by accident, mostly because he was stupid and greedy. In the end, they strengthened relationships, made new friends, and spent quality time together.
I was invited to read Killer Donuts by Kensington Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonPublishing #GingerBolton #KillerDonuts
The relationships are complicated. Emily had been married to Alec, Tom’s son, who got killed in a police situation. She and Brent, who had been his partner, kind of bonded over grief, and it eventually turned into more. Tom and his wife were thrilled. Emily and Brent were hoping for a baby so she had given up alcohol and caffeine. Pretty hard for a coffee shop owner. The characters are entertaining and clever. The plot in this case turned out to be interesting, but somewhat muddy. The women caught him by accident, mostly because he was stupid and greedy. In the end, they strengthened relationships, made new friends, and spent quality time together.
I was invited to read Killer Donuts by Kensington Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonPublishing #GingerBolton #KillerDonuts
August 30, 2026
"Killer Donuts" is book 11 in the "Deputy Donut Mystery" series by Ginger Bolton.
Emily, Izzy and Monique find themselves in the middle of an investigation while out enjoying an autumn themed tourist promotion called the "Donut Trail" One of the stops is a vast orchard. The owners aren't overly friendly and a couple of the tourists they meet constantly snipe at each other. One even proclaims she hates dogs - and cats. With Emily's cat Dep and Monique's dog Gigi in tow, this does not go over well. After the encounter at the Cider Shack, the trio enter the corn maze but become separated when someone dognaps Gigi. She is eventually found but as a tour group is about to leave the woman who hadn't liked dogs is missing. Despite searches, the woman's body isn't found till the next day.
The trio of women want to clear their names and work together to figure out what happened. It's a twisty case with several potential suspects and some very scary moments for them as they revisit some places and try to question a few people.
This story was very well done and I honestly wasn't sure who was responsible until close to the reveal.
Readers also get to spend some time with the rest of the core characters of this wonderful series. Whether they are working cases, baking, partying or just hanging out, this is a wonderful group to spend some time with.
As always, readers are also treated to the vivid descriptions of a few varieties of coffees and donuts that are served at Deputy Donuts. A couple of tasty recipes are included at the end of the book!
This was an excellent cozy mystery that will keep you turning the pages to see how it all plays out!
Emily, Izzy and Monique find themselves in the middle of an investigation while out enjoying an autumn themed tourist promotion called the "Donut Trail" One of the stops is a vast orchard. The owners aren't overly friendly and a couple of the tourists they meet constantly snipe at each other. One even proclaims she hates dogs - and cats. With Emily's cat Dep and Monique's dog Gigi in tow, this does not go over well. After the encounter at the Cider Shack, the trio enter the corn maze but become separated when someone dognaps Gigi. She is eventually found but as a tour group is about to leave the woman who hadn't liked dogs is missing. Despite searches, the woman's body isn't found till the next day.
The trio of women want to clear their names and work together to figure out what happened. It's a twisty case with several potential suspects and some very scary moments for them as they revisit some places and try to question a few people.
This story was very well done and I honestly wasn't sure who was responsible until close to the reveal.
Readers also get to spend some time with the rest of the core characters of this wonderful series. Whether they are working cases, baking, partying or just hanging out, this is a wonderful group to spend some time with.
As always, readers are also treated to the vivid descriptions of a few varieties of coffees and donuts that are served at Deputy Donuts. A couple of tasty recipes are included at the end of the book!
This was an excellent cozy mystery that will keep you turning the pages to see how it all plays out!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fun book overall with the Halloween theme. However, I only gave it four stars because I thought the need to investigate on behalf of the amateur sleuths was a little thin because most of the action took place out of town and the victim was a stranger.
Emily and her friends Izzy and Monique are taking the Wisconsin donut trail this fall season, both to check out the competition for Emily's donut shop, Deputy Donut, and to just sample some delicious treats. They are enjoying themselves at an orchard outside of town when they run into a couple of women who are rather rude. One of them then ends up dead and because Emily and her friends were in the vicinity, of course they are suspects. However, the deceased seemed to be liked by few and the suspect list is long. Emily starts asking questions for curiosity and to possibly help solve the case, possibly to her own detriment.
I liked this book okay but it lacked a lot of the fun characters in Fallingbrook that help make up the delightful cast in other books. I liked having Madame Monique and Gigi around for laughs and glamor but missed the friendships that make the book special. We had a little bit of Emily's friend group but even her husband felt like an extra in this book.
Definitely delightful donut fun. I will, of course, continue this charming series when we get the next book!
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
Emily and her friends Izzy and Monique are taking the Wisconsin donut trail this fall season, both to check out the competition for Emily's donut shop, Deputy Donut, and to just sample some delicious treats. They are enjoying themselves at an orchard outside of town when they run into a couple of women who are rather rude. One of them then ends up dead and because Emily and her friends were in the vicinity, of course they are suspects. However, the deceased seemed to be liked by few and the suspect list is long. Emily starts asking questions for curiosity and to possibly help solve the case, possibly to her own detriment.
I liked this book okay but it lacked a lot of the fun characters in Fallingbrook that help make up the delightful cast in other books. I liked having Madame Monique and Gigi around for laughs and glamor but missed the friendships that make the book special. We had a little bit of Emily's friend group but even her husband felt like an extra in this book.
Definitely delightful donut fun. I will, of course, continue this charming series when we get the next book!
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Publisher Description
It’s fall in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin, and Emily Fyne, owner of the popular local Deput Donut café is on a trail—a Donut Trail, that is—to tour pre-Halloween treats and activities, not to mention check out the competition. It’s all fun and games, until a murder that’s no trick . . .
MY THOUGHTS:
From the darling Halloween cover to the apple cider donut recipe, this book is the perfect Autumn read! Emily and friends set out on a planned autumn jaunt that should have been entertaining, as well as interesting. As best laid plans often go, there was a disgruntled, snarky tourist on their bus who killed the pleasure vibe....then there was the body. Emily, Izzy, and Madame Monique have to hustle to try to find and capture the perp.
Number eleven in the series, Killer Donut has one of the tightest storylines, and has some tense moments that kept me reading straight through. Ginger Bolton writes cozy mystery with a flair that I love---I can't wait for the next book!
My thanks to #NetGally #KensingtonCozies #GingerBolton for the advanced copy I requested. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
#DeputyDonutMystery #KillerDonuts
It’s fall in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin, and Emily Fyne, owner of the popular local Deput Donut café is on a trail—a Donut Trail, that is—to tour pre-Halloween treats and activities, not to mention check out the competition. It’s all fun and games, until a murder that’s no trick . . .
MY THOUGHTS:
From the darling Halloween cover to the apple cider donut recipe, this book is the perfect Autumn read! Emily and friends set out on a planned autumn jaunt that should have been entertaining, as well as interesting. As best laid plans often go, there was a disgruntled, snarky tourist on their bus who killed the pleasure vibe....then there was the body. Emily, Izzy, and Madame Monique have to hustle to try to find and capture the perp.
Number eleven in the series, Killer Donut has one of the tightest storylines, and has some tense moments that kept me reading straight through. Ginger Bolton writes cozy mystery with a flair that I love---I can't wait for the next book!
My thanks to #NetGally #KensingtonCozies #GingerBolton for the advanced copy I requested. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
#DeputyDonutMystery #KillerDonuts
August 25, 2026
Visiting Fallingbrook, Wisconsin is always fun! This time, Emily Fyne, co-owner of Deputy Donut, is following the Donut Trail, a new promotional opportunity. But at one stop, her friend’s little dog is snatched, some teenagers damage the corn maze, and she runs into two very sour women. One of those women turns up dead in the corn maze the next day and Emily finds herself needing to clear herself and her friends.
Ms. Bolton has created another enjoyable mystery, filled with plenty of clues, red herrings and twists and turns. Emily is a strong protagonist, mature and sensible, but real enough to be occasionally terrified. Her friends and family provide a great support system, and she’s smart enough to know that she doesn’t have all the answers - but she can puzzle out a way to find a few!
I have read all 11 books in this series and I hope I get to read a dozen more. The characters feel like old friends and Fallingbrook feels like a great small town. This is the “cozy” in Cozy Mysteries.
Ms. Bolton has created another enjoyable mystery, filled with plenty of clues, red herrings and twists and turns. Emily is a strong protagonist, mature and sensible, but real enough to be occasionally terrified. Her friends and family provide a great support system, and she’s smart enough to know that she doesn’t have all the answers - but she can puzzle out a way to find a few!
I have read all 11 books in this series and I hope I get to read a dozen more. The characters feel like old friends and Fallingbrook feels like a great small town. This is the “cozy” in Cozy Mysteries.
August 26, 2026
Killer Donuts is the 11th book in the Deputy Donut Mystery series and I would love to see 11 more! This is such a fun series with characters who have great camaraderie. There are even 2 pets in this book who become friends with such cute personalities.
Emily and the gang traveling a donut trail couldn't be more perfect. There are scrumptious apple cider donuts, an entertaining pet costume contest, and a really cool corn maze in the shape of a donut. What could go wrong? If you guessed a murder, you'd unfortunately be correct!
With clever clues, suspicious suspects, and lots of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end, this latest installment of Ginger Bolton's cozy mystery series definitely one to put on your TBR list. If you easily guess the killer in cozy mysteries you might be stumped with this one!
Even if you are not caught up in series the author does a good job of filling in some details that you might have missed. There's also a killer donut recipe at the end of the book!
I fear this might be the last book in the series but it was quite a ride.
Emily and the gang traveling a donut trail couldn't be more perfect. There are scrumptious apple cider donuts, an entertaining pet costume contest, and a really cool corn maze in the shape of a donut. What could go wrong? If you guessed a murder, you'd unfortunately be correct!
With clever clues, suspicious suspects, and lots of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end, this latest installment of Ginger Bolton's cozy mystery series definitely one to put on your TBR list. If you easily guess the killer in cozy mysteries you might be stumped with this one!
Even if you are not caught up in series the author does a good job of filling in some details that you might have missed. There's also a killer donut recipe at the end of the book!
I fear this might be the last book in the series but it was quite a ride.
March 22, 2026
Killer Donuts by Ginger Bolton is an excellent cozy mystery that is the 11th book in the Deputy Donut Mystery series.
I love cozy mysteries. I love the Deputy Donut series. My favorite holiday is Halloween…so you can guess why I loved this book.
I enjoyed y surprises within this story (personal and murder mystery aspects equally). Emily and Izzy made excellent sleuthing partners with a bit of Monique on the side. Plenty of twists and turns kept the mystery engaging, and I love that the author chose apple sider as the themed flavor vs the traditional pumpkin. It added a nice change.
I love this series and cannot wait for more. Highly recommend.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Kensington Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 8/25/26.
I love cozy mysteries. I love the Deputy Donut series. My favorite holiday is Halloween…so you can guess why I loved this book.
I enjoyed y surprises within this story (personal and murder mystery aspects equally). Emily and Izzy made excellent sleuthing partners with a bit of Monique on the side. Plenty of twists and turns kept the mystery engaging, and I love that the author chose apple sider as the themed flavor vs the traditional pumpkin. It added a nice change.
I love this series and cannot wait for more. Highly recommend.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Kensington Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 8/25/26.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Killer Donuts (A Deputy Donut Mystery Book 11)" by Ginger Bolton seems to be the last book in the series. Or not. I would be okay with that if it was as it is feeling played out. The characters have reached the peak in their development with a special announcement at the end of the book. It's okay to end it with this book.
Emily and her friends are participating in an Autumn donut tourism trail. Lots of competition to check out both in fall decor and donuts. While at a neighboring town's apple orchard they encounter some unpleasant ladies that got me immediately think they were the victim or the culprit, as it goes in cozy mysteries.
I was right. I was also right in who the culprit was but that's mostly from me think "why was that person even mentioned otherwise." The story is a fall cozy mystery read. At times it felt a bit rushed or repetitive from past books. Overall, a good cozy mystery.
Emily and her friends are participating in an Autumn donut tourism trail. Lots of competition to check out both in fall decor and donuts. While at a neighboring town's apple orchard they encounter some unpleasant ladies that got me immediately think they were the victim or the culprit, as it goes in cozy mysteries.
I was right. I was also right in who the culprit was but that's mostly from me think "why was that person even mentioned otherwise." The story is a fall cozy mystery read. At times it felt a bit rushed or repetitive from past books. Overall, a good cozy mystery.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Killer Donuts is the newest Deputy Donut mystery by Ginger Bolton. I always enjoy this series and this book was no different. It was a fun, cozy read that will be great for reading in the fall, maybe with a cup of cider. Emily is once again involved in a donut themed homicide and she and her friends end up having to solve it before the police can. I think this might be the last book in this series and if so, it was a nice ending. I do feel like this series has probably gone on for about as long as it can and it’s nice when the author can wrap it up with an ending of their choosing. I wish we would have seen more of Emily’s husband and longtime friends in this book, but that’s really the only thing I would change. If you love Deputy Donut, you will enjoy this sweet fall mystery.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Emily and her friends are part of the Donut Trail, where people can visit different orchards or farms that have donuts. While they are enjoying themselves at one of the orchards, a less than nice tourist gets lost in the corn maze. After a search, no one can find her and everyone assumes she got a ride home. The next day, Emily overhears another tourist say that a body was found in the corn maze. It turns out the woman had been killed and hadn't left as everyone thought. Emily and her friends start investigating.
This was such a good book. I love the characters and the setting. I liked that we saw the group outside of the donut shop. It was a nice change. This book is perfect for fall with the setting of an apple orchard with a corn maze. The mystery was well done and I absolutely loved that ending. It was so perfect. I received this book from net galley in exchange for a honest review.
This was such a good book. I love the characters and the setting. I liked that we saw the group outside of the donut shop. It was a nice change. This book is perfect for fall with the setting of an apple orchard with a corn maze. The mystery was well done and I absolutely loved that ending. It was so perfect. I received this book from net galley in exchange for a honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The local Donut Trail is a great way for Deputy Donut owner Emily and friends Izzy and Monique to discover what's selling well in some of their rival establishments. After a guest disappears, and a body is found, the three friends are considered suspects but are determined to clear their names. With the feeling of being watched and followed never completely going away, it becomes imperative for them to clear their names as quickly as possible at the same time as running their own businesses and
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing, Kensington Cozies, but the opinions expressed are my own. I usually look forward to new books in this series; Emily is a fun main protagonist and the supporting cast are always entertaining. Unfortunately, I didn't quite feel that this time around and struggled to enjoy this as much as usual.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing, Kensington Cozies, but the opinions expressed are my own. I usually look forward to new books in this series; Emily is a fun main protagonist and the supporting cast are always entertaining. Unfortunately, I didn't quite feel that this time around and struggled to enjoy this as much as usual.
August 30, 2026
This might be the most that Emily’s friend Monique had ever been in a mystery. She and her dog Gigi were with Emily and Izzy while they toured different donuts shops on the annual Donut Trail. Unfortunately they were in the vicinity of a murder and hadn’t realized it at the time, so Emily and her friends went into amateur sleuthing mode.
I loved toward the end when the three friends along with two new girls they’d met and Izzy invited to her house had confronted a killer and managed to get help there in time. It was great what Emily had been able to do to that perp, pretty funny actually. The ending was all about food, friends and fellowship as the case had been closed and all were celebrating. The very ending was so darn sweet, and now I can’t wait for the next book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
I loved toward the end when the three friends along with two new girls they’d met and Izzy invited to her house had confronted a killer and managed to get help there in time. It was great what Emily had been able to do to that perp, pretty funny actually. The ending was all about food, friends and fellowship as the case had been closed and all were celebrating. The very ending was so darn sweet, and now I can’t wait for the next book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Emily is taking a girls roadtrip with some of her friends and little did they know they had come across a murderer. They find out after the fact that an unpleasant woman who went missing at one of the stops on donuts trail has been murdered.
As suspects, more so as amateur sleuths, the ladies can’t help but try to figure out who killed the disagreeable woman and why, but find out they will…even if it’s the last thing they do! And the killer has every intention of making sure it’s the last thing they do, before they figure out who they are.
Another solid entry in this series. I love the donuts, with no calories for me, and the mystery. Each visit to Deputy Donut is like visiting friends to check in and see how they’re doing. I love how life progresses in each entry, not just for Emily, but for her friends as well. A great cozy series for all cozy lovers!
As suspects, more so as amateur sleuths, the ladies can’t help but try to figure out who killed the disagreeable woman and why, but find out they will…even if it’s the last thing they do! And the killer has every intention of making sure it’s the last thing they do, before they figure out who they are.
Another solid entry in this series. I love the donuts, with no calories for me, and the mystery. Each visit to Deputy Donut is like visiting friends to check in and see how they’re doing. I love how life progresses in each entry, not just for Emily, but for her friends as well. A great cozy series for all cozy lovers!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
#KillerDonuts #NetGalley
We're back with Emily and the gang in this newest deputy donut series by Ginger Bolton.
From the colorful and vibrant cover, to the description, I knew I was in for a fun adventure with some of my favorite characters.
I can't resist a holiday cozy, and Halloween just happens to be one of my favorites.
Emily and her friend Monique attend the local festival, but when the enter the maze, things suddenly take a bizarre turn. Monique's dog Gigi goes missing, teenagers are pulling pranks, and when a tour bus passenger can't be found, Emily knows something is definitely wrong.
The ending of this book had me grinning and cheering. I cannot wait for the next book.
This is a solid 5 star review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We're back with Emily and the gang in this newest deputy donut series by Ginger Bolton.
From the colorful and vibrant cover, to the description, I knew I was in for a fun adventure with some of my favorite characters.
I can't resist a holiday cozy, and Halloween just happens to be one of my favorites.
Emily and her friend Monique attend the local festival, but when the enter the maze, things suddenly take a bizarre turn. Monique's dog Gigi goes missing, teenagers are pulling pranks, and when a tour bus passenger can't be found, Emily knows something is definitely wrong.
The ending of this book had me grinning and cheering. I cannot wait for the next book.
This is a solid 5 star review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 22, 2026
Thank you so much to the author and Cozy Mystery Review Crew for an advance copy of this book!
This was my first read in the Deputy Donut series and I plan to read the ones before it after finishing this one. I really enjoyed it.
I loved that this was a fall themed cozy mystery with Halloween themes. It would be the perfect book to curl up with on a rainy fall day.
I liked the characters a lot. Their shenanigans had me laughing and shaking my head at times. I feel like trouble finds this group but they always find a way out of it.
As for the mystery, I enjoyed trying to figure out who the murderer was. I kept guessing and was wrong every time. It definitely had me turning the pages wanting to figure out how the case would end.
I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
This was my first read in the Deputy Donut series and I plan to read the ones before it after finishing this one. I really enjoyed it.
I loved that this was a fall themed cozy mystery with Halloween themes. It would be the perfect book to curl up with on a rainy fall day.
I liked the characters a lot. Their shenanigans had me laughing and shaking my head at times. I feel like trouble finds this group but they always find a way out of it.
As for the mystery, I enjoyed trying to figure out who the murderer was. I kept guessing and was wrong every time. It definitely had me turning the pages wanting to figure out how the case would end.
I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
August 25, 2026
Killer Donuts is the 11th book in Ginger Bolton’s darling Deputy Donut cozy mystery series. I have enjoyed this entire series and was thrilled to have the opportunity to review an advanced copy of this latest installment.
I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed all the others, it grabbed my attention from the very beginning when Emily and her friends visit a corn maze, and didn’t let up from there.
I loved all the fall themes throughout the book, I was ready to put on a cozy sweater and go to the cider mill for donuts!
I enjoyed Emily and her friends working together to solve the crime, and how it all tied up perfectly in the end.
If you’re looking for a delightful cozy mystery, this is it!
I voluntarily reviewed this book.
I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed all the others, it grabbed my attention from the very beginning when Emily and her friends visit a corn maze, and didn’t let up from there.
I loved all the fall themes throughout the book, I was ready to put on a cozy sweater and go to the cider mill for donuts!
I enjoyed Emily and her friends working together to solve the crime, and how it all tied up perfectly in the end.
If you’re looking for a delightful cozy mystery, this is it!
I voluntarily reviewed this book.
September 2, 2026
KILLER DONUTS is the eleventh book in the Deputy Donut Mysteries by Ginger Bolton. This fun, Halloween-inspired cozy mystery is complete with an intricate corn maze, a tempting donut trail, and a pet costume contest, making it a festive treat from start to finish. The author delivers an entertaining mystery packed with endearing characters, laugh-out-loud moments, and clever clues that kept me invested until the reveal. I especially enjoyed catching up with protagonist Emily Fyne, owner of Deputy Donut Café, as exciting changes unfold in her life while she still makes time to follow the clues and support those around her. With its engaging pace, inviting setting, and satisfying mystery, this is another delicious installment for cozy mystery fans.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the eleventh book in the Deputy Donut Mystery series by Ginger Bolton. It's nearing Halloween in Wisconsin, and donut shop owner Emily Fyne and her friends Monique and Izzy are taking a tour of the Donut Trail. The trail consists of stops at various donut shops in Wisconsin.
A woman disappears and is later found dead in the corn maze at one of the stops. Emily doesn’t want to be involved but thinks the primary suspect probably isn’t the one that killed her.
I did not enjoy this book as much as the earlier books. It was well written but not as engaging as past installments.
Thank you Netgalley and these are my own opinions.
A woman disappears and is later found dead in the corn maze at one of the stops. Emily doesn’t want to be involved but thinks the primary suspect probably isn’t the one that killed her.
I did not enjoy this book as much as the earlier books. It was well written but not as engaging as past installments.
Thank you Netgalley and these are my own opinions.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What do you get when you combine donuts and a mysterious death in a corn maze? A page turner that I couldn't put down. Emily, the owner of Deputy Donut, and her friends, Monique and Izzy, are on a road trip to find the best tasting donuts on The Donut Trail. They discover some very tasty apple cider donuts at Sliding Waters Orchard. However, things go south quickly when Monique's dog, Gigi, is grabbed in the corn maze and the body of a woman is found in the maze. It's up to Emily and her friends to find the killer before someone else gets hurt. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading others in the series. This book kept me guessing until the end!
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