Beyond a Reasonable Donut

Deputy Donut Mystery #5

by Ginger Bolton

Selling her corn fritters at a carnival, Deputy Donut Café owner Emily Westhill faces off against a murderer who doesn’t play fair . . .

Emily and her assistant, Nina, are looking forward to manning the Deputy Donut tent at the Faker’s Dozen Carnival in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin—a festival held on Friday the thirteenth to celebrate good and bad luck. But Emily has barely dropped the corn fritters in oil when bad luck boils up. First, their bucket of confectioner’s sugar disappears—and then while a mime creates a distraction, a magician robs their cash register.

After the carnival, their misfortune continues. Emily discovers that someone has broken into artist Nina’s loft and vandalized a large painting in progress with the bucket of stolen sugar, which is now on the head of the mime, who seems to have been suffocated. Emily would bet Nina was the intended victim, but the cops think Nina silenced the mime. Now Emily must catch the killer white-handed—before someone else kicks the bucket . . .

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Contemporary, Cats

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 25, 2021

About the author

Ginger 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.

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond a Reasonable Donut and Deck the Donuts by Ginger Bolton are the fifth and sixth books in the cozy Deputy Donut Mystery series. As with most cozy mystery series each book of this series can be enjoyed as a standalone or in any order with the mystery being completely solved within each book. Of course there is some character building that carries over from book to book for those that follow the series from the beginning.

In the first book of this series we met Emily Westhill who co-owns the Deputy Donut donut shop named after her tabby cat in small-town Fallingbrook, Wisconsin. Emily used to work as a 911 dispatcher until the day her husband who was a police officer was killed so now she and her retired police chief father-in-law sell donuts at their shop instead. Although Emily thought opening a donut shop would be safe she keeps finding herself mixed up in solving murders.

In Beyond a Reasonable Donut Emily is excited to participate in the Faker’s Dozen Carnival where she and her assistant Nina have a Deputy Donut tent set up. Who knew there would be so much bad luck at a carnival celebrating bad luck but when a mime is found murdered and Nina is a suspect Emily jumps in to find the real killer. Then in Deck the Donuts again Emily has to chase down another murderer when at the annual Ice and Lights Festival a tour bus crashes sending the driver to the hospital. As the accident is investigated the driver manages to leave the hospital only to end up a victim buried beneath Emily’s Frosty the Donut.

The Deputy Donut mystery series is another that I have followed from the beginning never missing the next installment. This one fits right into my quirky and humorous favorites although not quite as quirky as some. This series does have the bonus of the main character having such close ties to law enforcement making her sleuthing a bit more believable even if she isn’t a police officer herself though. With fun characters and enough donut talk to make me wipe the drool I’ll keep looking forward to more in this series.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Linda Langford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Deputy Donut cozy mystery is always a tasteful read. The re-curring main characters are endearing, and it’s always a pleasure to visit with them between the pages.

Emily, a widow, co-owns Deputy Donuts with her father-in-law Tom, a former detective and police chief. Nina is one of the shop assistants, and helps Emily fry and sell fritters at the local Faker’s Dozen Carnival. Soon after, a mime called ‘Zippy’ who they saw at the carnival turns up dead in Nina’s apartment. Nina’s arrested with no bail allowed, yet jail could actually be the safest place for her while her friends desperately search for information to clear her name.

I appreciate that Emily is written as a really strong leading character. I’m ready for her and Detective Brent Fyne’s relationship to become romantic. I believe they belong together, and Em’s deceased husband would approve. I also admire the strong, supporting friends who surround Emily—many of which are law officers or medical rescuers. The author developed a complex plot with red herrings so plentiful, I’d reel one in, then have to throw it back because it was the wrong one. Humor is sprinkled throughout the story. The wind-up to the killer’s arrest is unique and fun, and I enjoyed the parts Emily’s cat, Deputy Donut, and a cute puppy play in the capture! I noted the story is a light mystery and a bit slow to start to me, then the pace takes off. Author adds tasty recipes for readers.

I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. All opinions are my own. Thank you.

[Lisa Ks Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fifth installment of the Deputy Donut Mysteries, BEYOND A REASONABLE DONUT, by Author Ginger Bolton, is my favorite to date.

It’s clear that author Bolton has nurtured this series. The growth of the characters is evident. Don’t get me wrong, the characters have been wonderful from the beginning. But, they have evolved since the first book into a group of people I would love to have in my life.

The characters aren’t the only thing to have evolved. BEYOND A REASONABLE DONUT is the best of the best in this series. The story is solid, with all of the elements expected in a cozy mystery, amped to a new level. With finesse, the author filled my head with misleading clues, and had me self-doubting myself right up until the reveal.

If you’re a fan of the Deputy Donut series, you so not want to miss BEYOND A REASONABLE DONUT! If you haven’t read the series, what are you waiting for?!

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

We arrive in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin just in time for the Faker’s Dozen Carnival. The folks from Deputy Donut are serving a variety of corn fritters hoping the event brings them nothing but good luck on this Friday the 13th but soon after their arrival, they notice their container of confectioner’s sugar has gone missing. After a quick delivery from the bakery, fritters are being fried, coated and eaten by many at the fair. The Deputy Donut tent is busy with a long line waiting to be served. Emily and Nina are thrilled that a mime and a magician are entertaining the crowd . . . that is until the magician takes advantage of the crowd and sticks his hand in the cash box grabbing several bills before he and the mime hotfoot it out of the park.

The bad luck continues after the park closes when Nina’s loft is broken into and a huge painting almost ready to be shipped for her upcoming show has been vandalized. On the plus side, the missing confectioner’s sugar has been found. Much of it on the painting and the rest over the mime’s head along with the bucket it came in. Sadly the mime dies after inhaling so much sugar and the police quickly decide Nina is the killer while Emily thinks that beyond a reasonable doubt, Nina was the intended victim. Now, she just has to prove it before the killer strikes again. For right now the safest place for Nina could be a jail cell.

Emily is a wonderful protagonist with a huge heart. She is trying to learn how to live her life after losing her police detective husband in the line of duty. His former partner has feelings for her and she seems to for him as well but she just isn’t ready to move in that direction yet. I really appreciate the author not rushing this relationship and allowing Emily to set her own pace. Ms. Bolton has also surrounded Emily with a great group of family and friends to support her in every way, even when she is tracking down a killer.

Readers are treated to a very complicated mystery with a plethora of suspects. Some I quickly discarded including one I truly shouldn’t have. There were so many twists and the motive was unclear throughout most of the book when finally a connection was found that finally stuck. I was totally caught up in the mystery with one theory after another but never got on the right path to solve the crime. I love when that happens. I love a sticky story that I can sink my teeth into and tests me. Beyond a Reasonable Donut sure did that in more ways than one.


https://pixabay.com/photos/carnival-s...
One little nit-picky thing. I have lived in Wisconsin, where this book is set my entire life, and attended hundreds of fairs, festivals, and carnivals and have never seen or heard of cotton candy being called cotton “floss”. To me, cotton floss is the thread used in embroidery or cross-stitch. So I asked some friends and family if this was something I missed and they all agreed with me. So I went to Mr. Google/Wikipedia and found:

Cotton candy is made and sold globally—as candy floss in the UK, Ireland, Egypt, India, Sri Lanka, and South Africa, and as fairy floss in Australia and New Zealand.

Machine-spun cotton candy was invented in 1897 by dentist William Morrison and confectioner John C. Wharton, and first introduced to a wide audience at the 1904 World’s Fair as “Fairy Floss” with great success,

Joseph Lascaux, a dentist from New Orleans, Louisiana, invented a similar cotton candy machine in 1921. In fact, the Lascaux patent named the sweet confection “cotton candy” and the “fairy floss” name faded away. In the United States, National Cotton Candy Day is celebrated on December 7.

So I learned something new about this spun sugar treat. You will find it called cotton candy in the U.S. and served at festivals everywhere, but also at movie theatres and shops and stores too.

I totally enjoyed Beyond a Reasonable Donut. It was a fun read with characters I am invested in. I can’t wait to see what they get into next.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond a Reasonable Donut is the fifth book in the Deputy Donut mystery series. If you are looking for a fun, quick read with terrific characters and a mystery that keeps you engaged with plenty of suspects and clues to sift through, then this is a book for you. I wouldn't recommend it as a stand-alone because there is some character growth and progression that I think readers will want to see from the beginning. I enjoy reading about Emily, Dep, and the rest of the characters. The author writes Emily with such warmth and caring. Yes, she tends to investigate and put herself in harm's way on occasion, but she is not reckless given her history, she possesses good deductive reasoning that eventually gets her to the bottom of the mystery at hand.

This mystery had plenty of suspects and clues. It seemed like every time I turned the page the author was leading me down another path and I was once again back at square one with no idea about the killer's identity. Emily becomes involved this time around because her friend and employee is arrested for murder. I have to say, I think this was my favorite mystery in the series to date. It kept me on my toes and trying to put the clues together to lead me to the correct suspect. Sadly, I was not up to the challenge and was taken by surprise when the killer was revealed.

This is an entertaining series and I love the direction I think the author is headed in terms of the characters. I will definitely be returning to Fallingbrook Wisconsin for as long as the author continues this series.

I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

With every book in this series, I’m finding it to be one of my favorites.
It’s time for the country fair and Emily is looking forward to all the fun and excitement the fair will bring.
Cooking up her mouthwatering corny fritters makes Emily happy, but unfortunately a weird mime and a con artist magician attempt to spoil the festivities.
There’s so much fun in this story and it made me look forward to going to a fair.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fifth book in the deputy donut series. Emily and her assistant, Nina are running a booth a the Faker's Dozen Carnival that is held on Friday the thirteenth. A body is discovered in Nina's apartment later that evening and the police seem to think Nina is involved. Emily doesn't believe Nina is a killer so she sets out to prove her innocence. I loved the carnival setting. The characters are always so much fun to read about and are very realistic. I loved Hooligan and Samantha's wedding. I thought the mystery was well done even though I figured out the killer. The reveal was good and I loved how everything played out. I received this book from netgalley and Kensington publishing in exchange for an honest review.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[QNPoohBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily and Nina are excited to serve up corny fritters at Fallingbrook's Friday the Thirteenth Faker's Dozen Carnival but things don't go quite as expected. First, they tangle with the event manager over parking and have to lug their doughnut making supplies up to the fairground. The event manager also tangled with a silly mime who seemed to look at Emily and Nina's registration paper and stare right at them. That was weird enough. Then, while the customers are thrilled with the doughnut offerings, Emily realizes they forgot the powdered sugar. When Emily goes back to search for it, she can't find it. A mysterious woman is stating at the Deputy Donut car and jumps and runs when Emily offers a peek inside. Also weird. Brent needs Emily's help searching for a pickpocket targeting the fair but the pickpocket finds them and robs the cash box until Nina slams it on his hands. The mime from earlier was creating a distraction. Was she in cahoots with the thief? Nina chases after the woman but can't keep up and the thief disappears. After a long day, Nina is eager to get home, get some sleep and continue working on her big painting for her upcoming show. Emily drives Nina to the store to get milk but Nina forgot her wallet. Emily returns to find Nina and then to Nina's loft apartment searching for Nina. What she finds is completely unexpected! The door to the apartment was forced open, someone kicked over a ladder and the mime from the carnival is lying twisted with the missing bucket of powdered sugar over her head. Emily tries to help and Nina arrives in time to assist but someone ran out of the apartment and Nina failed to catch him (or her). As Nina and Emily return to Emily's home after work, a car runs them off the road! DCI Gartborg is called in to assist Brett and she settles on Nina as the prime suspect! Emily is positive Nina is not a killer but was the intended victim! Emily is determined to find out who killed the mime. She has to figure it out quickly because Samantha and Hooligan are getting married at the end of the week and they need Nina to be there!

I really enjoyed this mystery. I couldn't put it down! I opened it to find out about the relationship plot ONLY and peeked to see if Hooligan's real name was revealed (it's not) and got sucked into the murder investigation. I never figured out whodunit or the twists and turns. HOWEVER- the murderer's motive was massively weak and unrealistic. As a descendent of founding families, I know for a fact girls don't inherit didley squat! The bulk of the money and property was passed down to the eldest son. Lesser property, like back pasture, and maybe some cows and less money were given to the second son. Daughters got a husband and 50 shillings or household goods worth a certain amount. If they died before their father, their daughters also got NOTHING. All we get is white privilege and all the advantages like education that gives us an economic advantage. If we went around killing everyone in line ahead of us for the ancestors', that would be thousands of people - millions! Then do my nieces try to kill me and their parents? Do their brothers try to kill them? What about my cousins' kids? The motive simply doesn't work! That was disappointing.

The romantic subplot needs developing ASAP. It's taken too long for Emily to even admit she has feelings for Brent. He clearly has feelings for her but she tries to second guess what he's thinking and feeling without talking to him! Be a mature adult and talk to the dude and let him decide. Misty says he leaves his office grinning whenever he has to go talk to Emily and argue about his cases with her. Misty points out Emily loves it too. Thank goodness for Samantha and Misty because Emily is getting nowhere on her own. Her tendency to try to match up everyone else is super annoying and here she does it with two random people at the fair! Samantha and Hooligan at least know each other in a professional capacity and from hanging out with Emily, Misty, Scott and Brent. They're a cute couple and I wanted a little more of them. Hooligan fits right in with his sense of humor. What IS his real name? I like the reason for not using it in the marriage ceremony. That was unexpected and funny. Little Dep is a super diva now and a real hero. I didn't know cats liked to be cuddled and hugged. This one does and she recognizes the names and voices of her favorite people and waits by the door for Brent to arrive! Who's matchmaking now, Emily? LOL!

DCI Gartborg is less witchy in this one but still tough and mean. She doesn't interact with Emily until the end but she interacts with Nina, accusing Nina of murder. The police don't just go and arrest someone without questioning them! This woman skipped a step and railroaded Nina because she wants to go on vacation! Brent is the good cop and knows Nina didn't kill anyone but he has to follow procedure and also Gartborg. Learning her background gives her personality more sense and given what I know now, I don't think she was being catty with Emily in the last book. Misty seems to like and respect Gartborg even though she, too, doesn't believe Nina is a murderer. Tom is concerned for Nina who has become another daughter to him. If the retired chief of police doesn't think his employee capable of murder and works to get her a lawyer and money, then maybe the DCI should pay attention! There's no solid evidence linking Nina to the murder. The only evidence is accounted for and the period of time Nina was not with Emily, or someone else, was pretty short. I like Nina a lot. She's become like a little sister to Emily and I like how she tells it like it is but not in a mean way. She feels comfortable teasing Emily and laughing with her. Nina is a passionate artist but so far we haven't seen evidence of a temper or violent behavior. She was angry with the thief and the mime but the thief didn't take all their money. On the way home from the fair Nina seemed exhausted and out of it. Even when she arrived on the scene in her apartment, she seemed dazed and was not thinking clearly. Nina was upset about her painting, not angry. She was worried she couldn't fix it in time for her show and she'd lose out on a potential sale. I think Emily is right. The mine was somehow disguised as Nina and the killer mistook her for Nina and got the wrong person.

The victim, Zipporah Melwyn, was not a nice person. Now if Nina had been killed, I would have suspected Zippy. She made people think she was funny but she did it making fun of other people and she seemed to have an ulterior motive. She wanted to see where Nina lived or worked. Why? What did she want with Nina? Did she come to rob Nina and the thief was her accomplice or vice versa? If so, why Nina? She seemed to be targeted Nina specifically for some reason. Perhaps now Nina is about to become a big shot artist, someone read about her online and thinks they can sabotage her career or eliminate competition or something? Weird. The thief is probably the pickpocket Brent was supposed to look for and known for several scams and similar robberies. A small time crook but not a murderer, unless things went wrong? A falling out among thieves? The woman looking at the Deputy Donut car has a stronger motive for murder. Kassandra Pyserson acts timid and introverted but nothing she says makes sense. Emily and two employers find inconsistencies or even lies. Kassandra may have known Zippy, the victim, back in Lapeer, Michigan and followed her to Fallingbrook. Why though? Kassandra doesn't seem like a killer but she had the strongest motive and even a motive to kill Zippy in Nina's apartment! Two birds, one stone and all that. But she seems so nice!

Kassandra worked at the local tavern and the day Zippy died, she noticed a man sitting by himself all day, watching Nina's apartment. Who was he and why was he watching Nina? Emily is certain he must be the real killer and probably the thief but how to prove it? What about Rodeo Red? A flirtatious rodeo rider, he seemed into Nina and maybe he wanted to protect her and killed Zippy? Or maybe he thought he was killing Nina because ??? There are a lot of sketchy men in this novel and women who let men do bad things to women based on their perceptions! Yuck. I don't like Rodeo Red and think he's a little sleazy. He hits on all the women! Even worse is Al, the tourist Emily matches with a local in high heels, Cookie, who doesn't eat doughnuts! GASP! Al appreciates a good doughnut and single origin coffee and chats up Emily when Cookie isn't around. Emily is wise enough to be friendly but not encouraging. Has Al told Cookie he's just on vacation and he doesn't enjoy her company? I don't think she'd take kindly to that. She's the type who sees a wealthy businessman and wants to get her hands on his money!

I already downloaded the next book in the series. I can't wait to see what happens next!

[K.A. Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEYOND A REASONABLE DONUT is the fifth book in the Deputy Donut Mysteries by Ginger Bolton. This series just gets better and better with each new addition! With strong characters, led by protagonist Emily Westhill, the reader is enticed into getting to know them better while the well-developed plot kept me turning pages to find out what happens next. With a fun-filled Friday the thirteenth Faker’s Dozen Carnival as the backdrop, Emily’s Deputy Donut Café is well suited to the theme as they serve up piping hot corny fritters. The author does an admirable job of capturing the essence of a small-town carnival from the food, the music, the rides, and the entertainment. Of course, carnivals have a sullied reputation for attracting grifters and the wrong sorts of people, and Ms. Bolton uses that aspect to set up the murder. A missing bucket of sugar, a sticky-fingered magician, a mime, and a rodeo performer add to the twists and turns of the plot.

When the mime attacked and left for dead in Nina’s (Emily’s employee/friend) home, Nina is the number one suspect and is thrown into jail. Knowing her friend wouldn’t have committed the crime, Emily begins asking questions. First and foremost is what was the relationship between the mime and Nina? They share a very strong resemblance. Trying to piece together if Nina could have been the intended target and delving into the past Nina had tried so hard to hide, Emily’s investigation is more complicated than traversing a house of mirrors. Ms. Bolton provides plenty of misdirection and suspects to keep the reader guessing. With a darling puppy and Emily’s protective cat, Deputy Donut, involved in the exciting reveal, this cozy mystery ticks all the boxes for a tilt-a-whirling ride!

With lots of fair food mentioned throughout the book and of course delectable donuts served at Emily’s Deputy Donut Café, the reader’s appetite will be whetted. The author includes a couple of recipes at the back of the book for the home cook to try.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous cozy mystery! I didn’t want to see the end of this exciting, novel in a setting that reminds me a little of “backhome”. Fallingbrook, Wisconsin has many likeable folks and sounds like the kind of place where parents would want to raise their children. I especially appreciated the LOL humor throughout, and how well Dep acts like a real cat.

Emily, Misty, and Samantha have been friends for many years, separated only when attending different colleges. Samantha and Hooligan are getting married in a few days, and Nina, Emily’s year-round assistant at Deputy Donut, designed their floral arrangements. Emily is the young widow of a police detective who was killed on the job. She and his father, Tom, the retired police chief, opened the highly successful Deputy Donut shop and love what they do.

Nina, whose time away from the shop is consumed with preparing for her first one-person art exhibit, is a favorite at the shop, as is the feisty feline the shop is named after. Emily’s husband had christened their cat Deputy Donut aka “Dep”, and she’s fine with sharing the name if she can oversee the shop through the office window.

Emily and Nina set up a booth at the Faker’s Dozen carnival on Friday the 13th. It is late summer, and despite being a weekday, there are many customers, both locals and tourists. The morning glitch was that they couldn’t find their bucket of confectioner’s sugar. Why would anyone want to steal it from their Deputy Donut classic car?

The afternoon glitch occurred when the mime they saw earlier in the day was entertaining people around their booth and a magician did the same. Nina turned around on time to see the man’s hand in their money box. Closing it on his fingers didn’t prevent him from dashing off with several bills. The mime chased him, and Nina chased the mime, but was unable to catch either.

Later that night, Emily went to Nina’s apartment, as Nina had left her tote in the donut car, and found her doors jimmied open. Inside, there was a mess of powdered sugar on the floor. Hearing noises, she glanced around and saw someone who looked like Nina except for her shoes. The bucket of confectioner’s sugar had the label removed and Paint written on the side and was dumped over her head. Emily pried the bucket off to see the mime, who really did resemble Nina when her makeup was off. Someone had tried to suffocate her in the sugar, and she was in a bad way. Nina arrived while Emily tried to help her, but the mime died at the hospital. Nina was arrested for the murder due to some evidence and would be in prison for a long time unless Emily does some fast work to find the real whodunit.

Emily tries to not get involved in situations, but it is difficult when she knows the accused person is innocent. Whodunit almost seemed to be a no-brainer until. . . it wasn’t. It was hard to even consider other suspects, especially when considering that the real target of the killer may have been Nina, who had a few secrets of her own. The solution was quite a surprise, and I was overall happy with this novel. I highly recommend it to those who enjoy well-written cozy mysteries with cats, humor, and very mouthwatering donuts!

From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel, and this is my honest review.

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Survival of the Fritters, book 1 in Ginger Bolton’s Deputy Donut Mystery series, but then somehow life got in the way (as it often does) and I didn’t have a chance to read more in the series until now. Though I jumped back in at book 5 in the series, it didn’t take me long at all to reorient myself to the characters I recognized, get acquainted with the new one, and see that Brent and Emily STILL have not acted on their mutual attraction. C’mon, guys! Do this romance-loving girl a favor and start smooching! haha

Beyond a Reasonable Donut starts off with a local fair full of quirky attractions and yummy food (courtesy of Emily, Nina, and the Deputy Donut team of course) To my recollection I’ve not read another cozy that centered around Friday the 13th so that was a fun twist for the beginning of the story – and the initial groundwork for setting the list of possible suspects in the murder that happens later that evening. The mystery is extremely well-plotted and kept me turning the pages, keeping pace with Emily as she does her own investigating to clear Nina’s name. Nina’s evasive answers and peculiar behavior don’t help matters, nor does the influx of evasive & peculiar people in Fallingbrook… so Emily has her work cut out for her, as do the actual detectives on the case. It could have been any of the suspects as far as I was concerned, and I wasn’t much ahead of Emily in solving the crime.

Bottom Line: Beyond a Reasonable Donut is another deliciously good installment in Ginger Bolton’s Deputy Donut Mystery series! Emily is a strong protagonist and clever amateur sleuth, and I love how her ties to law enforcement really have shaped her sleuthing skills. Red herrings (good ones) abound in this book, and I was surprised in the end. I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention the fabulous feline Deputy Donut and her newly acquired sidekick Ivan, the adorable puppy. Mouth-watering food, interesting characters, a dash of romance and a well-written plot – sign me up!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Jason Wrench · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank the author/publisher for giving me an advanced reading copy of this book for this review. Although I am very grateful for their generosity, the following review is completely my own and not influenced by either the author or the publisher.

As a fan of cozy mysteries, there are a ton of authors and books on the market, so it's always fun to get to read a new one. Ginger Bolton's Beyond a Reasonable Donut is the fifth book in the Deputy Donut Mystery series. Although I had not read Boton's books previously, I was able to get into the world she created without needing too much background information. As such, I didn't have any problems jumping into the series without having read the first four books. I think she did an amazing job of creating an interesting and fun world for her series.

The story starts when the protagonist, Emily, and a coworker of hers, Nina, attend the Faker’s Dozen Carnival in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin, which is celebrating everything Friday the 13th. I found this part of the story highly entertaining, especially the tent where people could walk under a ladder and break mirrors on demand. But, the story really begins when Emily and Nina are robbed by a magician and a mime. Later that evening, the mime is found dead in Nina's apartment and she is quickly arrested for the mime's murder.

Emily, as any good cozy protagonist does, takes it on herself to prove her friend and coworker is innocent. However, Nina seems to have a few secrets of her own, which definitely makes her look a little guilty.

Without giving anything away, I found this book fun. I think the donut shop idea that is themed after police highly entertaining and definitely not someplace I'd seen a cozy mystery set thus far. The writing was good, and I tore through the book very quickly wanting to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Although my suspicions about who the murderer were proved correct, that's only because I would have cast the person as the murderer if I had been writing the book. But the murderer's motivation is definitely not something you learn until the very end of the story.

If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, I definitely think you're going to enjoy this book.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond a Reasonable Donut by Ginger Bolton is the first of this author's books I have read. It was entertaining, insightful, and more than a little ridiculous in spots (in a good way). Emily is a young widow, whose husband Alec had been a police officer and killed. She is now in partnership with his father, Tom, in a donut shop, Deputy Donut. Tom had previously been a detective and then police chief. Deputy Donut is currently manning a booth at a maker's fair, Faker's Dozen Carnival, where things are not going smoothly for them. At the end of the day, they load up to go home, when Nina, one of the workers, discovers she has left her purse in Emily's car and has no keys. Upon discovering that her landlords, who own a business below her apartment, can't find theirs, she begins a walk to Emily's house. Along the way she retrieves a message from Emily and turns around. As she arrives at her place, she discovers the doors open and Emily inside, bent over a body. Then the fun begins.

This is a character-driven cozy, which has quite a few characters, but Bolton wrote it so well, they were easy to sort out. Although it's been seven years since Alec's death, Emily has not felt ready for a new relationship, but that may be changing. By the end of the book, she is looking more carefully at Brent, who had been Alec's best friend and is her good friend. The mystery is pretty decent, full of people lying about who they are. There is lots of misdirection, making it difficult to discern who are the good guys and who are the bad ones. It was enjoyable to read and gave a satisfying conclusion to all outstanding storylines. It was worth the read.

I was invited to read a free ARC of Beyond a Reasonable Donut by the Cozy Mystery Review Crew. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

[Marci · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read in this series and I'm hooked AND at no time did I feel lost or like I was missing anything. Easy to read and understand, can be read as a standalone.
The characters are fun and lively, the story plays out well and it is indeed a mystery! Dep has to be my favorite character. Even if you're a dog person, you will absolutely fall in love with Dep. You might want to have a sweet treat handy while reading this or you could end up feeling a little jealous of all the sweet snacking going on in the book.

Thank you to the Cozy Review Crew for the opportunity to read this book. The feelings and opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ginger Bolton has been on my to-read list for a while now...the list that grows exponentially. After reading Beyond a Reasonable Donut, the fifth in the Deputy Donut Mystery series, I will be reading everything Ms. Bolton publishes.

Emily and her employee Nina take their Deputy Donut wares to the Faker's Dozen carnival where a bucket of sugar disappears and the cash box is robbed. The bad luck gets even worse after Emily discovers Nina's apartment has been broken into and a suspect is seriously injured. Can Emily figure out what is really going on?

Ms. Bolton injects life into her likable characters that are cozy mystery quirky but not so much they are unbelievable. In fact her main character, Emily, has experienced personal tragedy and Ms. Bolton treats that and her involvement with other characters in a believable, respectful manner. She also crafts an entertaining, fast-paced mystery that will keep readers entertained until the end.

Many thanks to The Review Crew and the author who went above and beyond to get this review copy to me.

[Patrizia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pur avendo capito ben presto il motivo che c'era dietro all'omicidio, non avevo capito chi fosse il colpevole: troppe possibilità... Mi piace il cast di personaggi e non vedo l'ora di vedere come si svilupperà la possibile storia fra Emily, la protagonista, e Brent.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond a Reasonable Donut by Ginger Bolton is the 5th book in the Deputy Donut Mystery series, and another great book. Emily Westhill, a widow, and her retied chief of police father- in- law run a donut shop, Deputy Donut, in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin. In this exciting adventure, Deputy Donut shop is busy getting ready for the Faker's Dozen Carnival being help on Friday the 13th. Emily and Nina are working the booth. After the carnival, Emily finds a dead body at Nina's home, and Nina becomes the prime suspect. Emily knows Nina is innocent and starts to investigate. I really liked this book, and can't wait to read the next one in the series. I enjoyed the characters, which are well written. I am rooting for Emily and Brent to get together, 6 years is long enough to morn. If you love cozy mysteries, I strongly recommend this book/series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this cozy mystery series! It is one of my favorites. Who couldn't love a tabby cat named Deputy Donut? I am fond of all of the regular characters and look forward to reading the next book, Deck the Donuts, when it is published!

[Deborah Almada · Rating 4 out of 5]

OPI really enjoy this series. One of its charms are the characters, great friends, an adorable cat, and a really different donut shop. The mysteries in this series are also good, interesting and definitely not obvious. The problem I am starting to have with this series is the relationship between Emily and Brent. I absolutely do not mind a little romance in my cozy mysteries, and as Emily is a widow I get taking things a little slow but when the relationship starts to distract from what are usually very enjoyable mysteries its time to move forward or end it.

I really hope a really likable series is not held hostage by a never ending will they won't they.

[Heather]

Friday the 13th? Yes please.

Witty, enjoyable read like a cozy mystery book should read. Characters who make you laugh, you find relatable and enjoy their story make it that much more enjoyable. If there’s talk about donuts count on me for a read.

[Karen (BaronessBookTrove) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Beyond a Reasonable Donut by Ginger Bolton is a fantastically well-written novel of mystery.
Will Emily Westhill get the police to see that Nina Lapeer didn’t kill anyone?
Emily Westhill
Emily Westhill is our sleuth, and we see the book through her eyes. She is a restaurant co-owner who is also a widow of a police officer who died before the series. Emily seems to be a good person that doesn’t mean to get involved in murder investigations. She keeps her husband’s memory alive but can’t help liking her husband’s friend Brent. Emily is a great cat mom as well. Especially since she and the father, Tom, started Deputy Donut’s together.

I like about Emily because she seems to be a great person who happens to be in the wrong place at the worst times. In these times, Tom and Brent would rather have her stay away from any murder investigations. I have to say that Emily is a good sleuth, and I liked how she investigated this one to keep a loyal employee and friend out of jail. I haven’t found anything that I disliked about her.
The Mystery
The mystery is about finding who broke into Nina’s loft to ruin a painting and then kill the mime that was a part of a carnival earlier that day. Emily knows that Nina didn’t kill anyone as she is a nice person that always sees the good in everything. She follows many of the leads that she has found and is trying to keep the police in the loop of what she has found. I didn’t think it was the person that did it at all.
Five Stars
Beyond a Reasonable Donut by Ginger Bolton is a great mystery that I loved every minute of it. Ms. Bolton has done a fantastic job, and I loved the whole mystery novel. I also like the small town of Fallingbrook, and I plan to read others in this series. Ms. Bolton has made me a fan of her work. Don’t forget the recipes at the back of this book. They are Corny Fritters, Guacamole, and Sherried Mushroom Soup. They sound good.

I am giving this book five stars and recommending it to anyone that loves cozy mysteries.


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Happy Reading!

This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series keeps getting better and better and is one of my favorites. I really like the characters, the donuts and the mysteries are entertaining and keep me guessing. Can’t wait to see what happens next.

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond A Reasonable Donut by Ginger Bolton is the fifth book in her Deputy Donut Mystery series and no matter if you've read the previous five or if your reading this book as your first in this series, you will not be lost or missing anything.

Beyond A Reasonable Donut has main character Emily Westhill and Nina, one of her employees, working at the Faker's Dozen Carnival. This carnival showcases all the ways that a person can experience bad luck and little do they know that Nina is going to end up in a heaping pile of bad luck !! While at the carnival running their Deputy Donut booth, a magician and a mime seem to work together to steal from the register. Luckily Nina is able to shut the magician's hand in the cash register drawer but he does get away with some money. Nina takes off chasing the magician and the mime but loses them. Unfortunately she yells a threat at them and when the mime is found dead in her apartment later than night, Nina is the main suspect. After the police learn some things that Nina has kept secret, they arrest her for the murder.

Everyone knows that Nina would never hurt anyone, let alone kill someone and Emily is determined to find the real murderer and get Nina out of jail. Unfortunately for Emily there are a number of likely candidates on her list, however, it seems that everyone is keeping secrets.....

The Deputy Donut Mystery series is a fun packed series to read. You have the Deputy Donut shop that Emily and her father-in-law own and run. The shop is designed so that Emily can bring her cat, who the shop is named after, to work. Emily and Tom have two valuable employees, Nina and Jocelyn. Even though Emily's husband Alec is deceased she is still very close to her in-law's as well as Alec's partner, Brent and some of the other policemen and EMT's. Emily's only flaw is that she gets herself in the middle of a police investigation...only because she knows the person arrested didn't commit the crime.

And in Beyond a Reasonable Donut besides the murder and Nina's being arrested, Emily is getting ready to celebrate two close friends, Samantha and Hooligan, getting married and everyone is hoping that Nina will be freed and out in time for the wedding.....but Emily has to figure out the real murderer first.....

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond a Reasonable Donut is the fifth installment in the A Deputy Donut Mystery Book set in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin and featuring donut maker, Emily Westhill and her cat Dep. It's time for the annual Faker's Dozen Carnival to celebrate Friday the thirteenth and Emily (along with her assistant Nina) has rented a booth in order to dish up fritters and her other tasty treats. Arrival at the fair gets off to a rough start thanks to event organizer Marsha Fitchelder who won't let the duo through the gates with their car in order to unload the last minute supplies. But, Marsha seems to be giving everyone a hard time including a cute mime who gets into a "non-verbal" argument regarding parking outside of the gate. In the midst of all the confusion a big bucket of powdered sugar goes missing - did Emily and Nina misplace it or did someone steal it when they weren't looking?

The day seems to smooth out until the mime accompanied by a magician cause a diversion which allows the magician the opportunity to steal money from Emily's cash drawer. Irritated, Nina goes running after the duo but is unable to catch up with them. Later that evening after dropping her friend off at her loft apartment, Emily discovers that Nina left her purse in the car and won't have her keys so she turns around to go back. Nina's door is open so Emily makes her way up the flight of stairs only to discover the body of the mime lying on the floor in front of a large painting and their head stuffed inside the missing powdered sugar bucket.

Fingers are quick to point at Nina as the killer since she was heard threatening the mime at the carnival. Deep down Emily knows that her employee isn't a killer but Nina is definitely hiding something so Emily joins forces with Detective Brent Fyne to pin down the real culprit.

A twisting, turning plot filled with delicious treats, recipes and past secrets. The return of series regulars and a furry companion. In addition to preparing for the upcoming wedding of Emily's best friends Samantha and Hooligan, things are heating up a little bit for Emily too.

I received an advanced copy of Beyond a Reasonable Donut from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

[Melanie McKinney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily is tentatively romantically interested in a local detective, Brent, but she plays amateur detective herself to solve a complex murder with lots of suspects. A magician and a mime upset the two of them and for good reason. There is also a very strict and almost nuts, coordinator at the carnival who has it in for Emily. Emily puts herself in jeopardy a couple of times, but I was cheering for her to solve the mystery.

This mystery had plenty of suspects and clues. It seemed like every time I turned the page the author was leading me down another path and I was once again back at square one with no idea about the killer's identity. Emily becomes involved this time around because her friend and employee is arrested for murder. The author did a great job of keeping me on my toes and trying to put the clues together to lead me to the correct suspect. Ironically, I was not up to the challenge and missed a few clues and was taken by surprise when the killer was revealed. I wanted to read this book because I thoroughly enjoy foodie cozies, and the carnival setting sounded very appealing. Throw in the Friday the 13th twist and it really puts a different spin on the book. The author did a great job with setting and describing the small town feel and scene. Growing up in a small town I felt like I could relate to this town and I felt like I was visiting Fallingbrook, Wisconsin from the way the author described everything.

Beyond a Reasonable Donut is the fifth book in the Deputy Donut mystery series. I did not read the previous four books in the series. During the beginning of the book I had to really follow the characters as I wasn’t as familiar with them as I could have been had I read all of the previous books in the series. If you are looking for a fun, quick read with terrific characters and a mystery that keeps you engaged with plenty of suspects and clues to sift through, then this is a book for you. I enjoyed reading about Emily, Dep, and the rest of the characters. The author writes Emily with such warmth and caring. Yes, she tends to investigate and put herself in harm's way on occasion, but she possesses good deductive reasoning that eventually gets her to the bottom of the mystery at hand. I am now going to go back and read the rest of the books in the series to get caught up. I look forward to returning to Fallingbrook, Wisconsin for the next book in the series.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond a Reasonable Donut Earns 5/5 Corny Fritters...Engaging Fun!

Ginger Bolton’s Deputy Donut Mystery series is entertaining entertainment with a clever mystery, engaging characters, humor, fur friend antics, donuts, and murder! Everything cozy fans like me drool over. Finishing this fifth book on Father’s Day, I was very taken by the dynamic between father-in-law Tom (retired police chief) and his daughter-in-law and widow Emily Westhill, a unique relationship often overlooked. I enjoyed Emily’s strength and clever investigative methods along with an eclectic group of two- and four-legged supporters, and Bolton’s style of writing has descriptions filling the senses, dialogue illustrating tone and personalities, and even with the darkness of murder includes entertaining wit and humor. Emily, Tom, and friend and shop assistant Nina make up Deputy Donut Café and will be participating in the Faker’s Dozen Carnival. It’s Friday the 13th and missing ingredients, break-ins, vandalism, and robbery seem apropos, however, an added horror is the dead body that makes Nina the main suspect in the murder. But, Emily questions whether Nina may have been the intended target. The story was complex with several possible scenarios and suspects, and the final reveal, one I missed in my own “this is what happened” moment, was a spot on ending. But, it’s an easy read, and beyond the mystery there is family, friendship, and Emily continuing to navigate life as a widow. Is her late husband’s partner one who could be the glue for her broken heart? That and more makes this a well-rounded, well-written story I highly recommend....and don’t forget the bonus recipes: Corny Fritters (their Faker’s Dozen specialty), Guacamole, and Sherried Mushroom Soup. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC from Kensington thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is always fun spending time with Emily, Dep, Samantha, Misty, Brent, Tom, and all the others in Fallingbrook we've come to know through the Deputy Donut series. Beyond a Reasonable Donut is the 5th book in the series and it does not disappoint.

This installment finds Nina, Emily's assistant at Deputy Donut, accused of killing a mime with whom she had a run in at the Faker's Dozen Carnival and who was found dead in Nina's loft. Curiously though, the mime bears a resemblance to Nina - was the mime the intended victim or Nina? Emily cannot believe Nina to be guilty of the crime and pursues her own investigation, much to the chagrin of her good friend and Fallingbrook's detective, Brent. Along the way Emily meets several newcomers to Fallingbrook: Alf, a supposed visitor to town, Kassandra, who has just moved to town, and Rodeo Rod, a cowboy in town for the next weekend's event in Fallingbrook. As Emily investigates these newcomers she realizes that each could be the killer. As if solving the murder is not enough, Emily is helping prepare for her friend Samantha's wedding to Hooligan.

The mystery in Beyond a Reasonable Donut is so involved and filled with red herrings that just when you think you know "whodunnit" a clue is revealed that has you looking for a new culprit. The reveal of the true culprit, and story behind the culprit's actions, is hidden very well until the end, and the reader is able to put the pieces together at the same time Emily does. It is a very surprising storyline and solution!

The residents of Fallingbrook are so real that you are kept on the edge of your seat worrying about how Emily will get out of the dangerous situations in which she finds herself. This book finds Dep and a very rambunctious puppy "helping" Emily get away from the culprit just as Brent, DCI Gartborg, and her friends arrive on the scene.

The Deputy Donut series is one not to be missed. Beyond a Reasonable Donut keeps you on the edge of your seat and you will find that you have read the book in one sitting as you cannot put it down! I highly recommend this book, as well as the entire series, and look forward to book #6!

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond a Reasonable Donut is a cozy mystery set in Wisconsin. Emily is a young widow who owns a coffeehouse named Deputy Donut. When she and her assistant are working a donut concession at a traveling carnival, they unexpectedly become involved with a number of seedy characters ... and end up working to solve a murder back in town.

I wanted to read this book because I enjoy foodie cozies, and the carnival setting sounded very appealing. I have not read the previous books in this series. It took me a few chapters to learn the characters and their relationships, but after I did I thoroughly enjoyed this book as a standalone.

Emily is a very likable protagonist. She is tenatively romantically interested in a local detective, Brent, but she plays amateur detective herself to solve a complex murder with lots of suspects. She puts herself in jeopardy a couple of times, but I was cheering for her to solve the mystery.

The author did a good job with setting the small town scene. I felt like I had visited Fallingbrook from all the charming descriptions. I especially enjoyed the latter part of the book set at a resort with old fashioned cabins and lodge.

There is a storyline about a mysterious antique locket with an old photo and a coded message. I found that particularly intriguing and it pleased my inner Nancy Drew.

Beyond a Reasonable Donut was lots of fun to read. I hope to catch up with more books in this series in the future. I recommend this cozy mystery for fans of food mysteries (yes, there are recipes in the back of the book!), small town settings, and lots of cozy charm.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond a Reasonable Donut by Ginger Bolton is book five in the 'Deputy Donut Mystery Series' and was a great read! Emily Westhill runs the best doughnut shop in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin, alongside her retired police chief father-in-law and her tortoiseshell tabby cat, Deputy Donut.

The Faker's Dozen Carnival is looming and the date is set for Friday the thirteenth. The team from Deputy Donut are serving a variety of corn fritters but not long after they arrive, they notice their container of confectioner’s sugar has vanished. After a quick replacement delivery the crowd tuck into the freshly made fritters, but then a magician robs them, taking a wad of five-dollar notes from their till. After the carnival there is more bad luck - Nina's loft is broken into - but the bucket of sugar turns up... on the head of a mime act named Zippy. It would seem that Zippy has suffocated from the sugar.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable page-turner - the plot was solid and entertaining and the characters were a very likeable bunch of folk. Emily is a marvellous protagonist with a kind heart. Ginger Bolton has surrounded Emily with a great group of family and friends that totally support her. With sprinkles of humour, the writing style of the author continues to wow me, and the many twists and the unclear motive kept me invested in the story until its surprising conclusion.

Overall, a delightful caper that I highly recommend as part of a series and a standalone read so dive in as soon as you can!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my own request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.