A Doomful of Sugar

Maple Syrup Mysteries #1

by Catherine Bruns

First in a new cozy mystery series!

There's nothing sweet about murder…

Leila Khoury has always believed that everyone loved her father as much as they loved his artisanal maple syrup. But when he's killed, and she returns to Sugar Ridge, Vermont to take over his business, she starts to realize how much of his life she's left untapped.

With her brother under suspicion, her mother just barely holding it together, and police not producing any leads, Leila will have to investigate herself if she wants answers about her father's sticky end. But the more she learns, the more she worries that there won't be a sappy ending to the story.

A cozy mystery perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke, this edition includes 5 delicious maple recipes for mystery readers with a sweet tooth!

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Adult

334 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 2022

About the author

Catherine is the USA Today bestselling author of the Cookies & Chance mysteries. She lives in Upstate New York with her very patient husband, three sons and several spoiled pets. She holds a dual B.A. in English and Performing Arts and is a former newspaper reporter and press release writer. Catherine also writes the Italian Chef, Maple Syrup, and Cindy York mysteries. Her book, For Sale by Killer, won the Daphne du Maurier award for Mainstream Mystery/Suspense.

Reviews

[beachbum bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a GREAT start to a new series! Leila comes home to her small town Sugar Ridge, Vermont when her dad is killed. While @ the reading of her dad's will she finds out he has left her in charge of the family business maple syrup farm Sappy Endings
I loved everything about this! The location is fantastic, the characters, the love interest....it all worked! It is exactly what I want in a cozy!
I recommend this to any cozy mystery lover!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Cathrine Bruns, and the publisher for this opportunity.

[Lynn Cahoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming home shouldn't be this hard. Great family based series in #ownvoices. Fun to read and figure out the mystery.

I was given a free copy from Poisoned Pen Press to read and review.

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Doomful of Sugar by Catherine Bruns
Maple Syrup Mystery series #1. Cozy mystery style.
Leila Khoury returns home to Sugar Ridge, Vermont to make over the family maple syrup business after her father dies. She has to learn from Tyne bottom up even though she is the boss. “Why” keeps bothering Leila and though the sheriff says he is investigating, she finds herself asking questions of everyone possible. Who would kill her father and why. Does Noah, the man running the company have a goal of owning it? What about her brother being excluded from the company? Or his money hungry girlfriend with the new diamond bracelet? Or maybe the ex partner’s son has a reason he wanted her father dead? Leila is going to track down the answers even as the danger seems to grow.

Twists and turns in the usual cozy manner with Leila asking questions and learning the business of a maple syrup farm.
Leila adopts a cat that is apparently left at the farm. What a lucky cat. Between Leila and her mother, there are toys galore and special treats. This addition to the story added personality and depth. A hint of a potential romance in future books.
3.5

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great first story of a new series, Maple Syrup Mysteries, set in a small town in Vermont. I have enjoyed other books by the author and really liked this one. I feel that it is a little heavier and more serious than the others that I have read but that is a good thing. With the death of her beloved father, Leila returns from Florida for his funeral but stays to run the family maple syrup farm which she inherits. She is determined to find his killer and there are several people to look into. I found this to be hard to put down with a great setting, interesting characters, both likable and relatable, and some not so likable, and a positive ending. I am looking forward to the next read.

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Leila returns home to Vermont after her father's murder, she's surprised to find that he's left her the family business. Others were surprised as well, and now Leila needs to find her dad's killer quickly . . . or she may be the next victim.

This was a perfectly pleasant, though rather formulaic, cozy mystery. All the elements are here: a cat, a potential love interest, multiple suspects, a second murder halfway through the book, AND yummy recipes. In all, a decent read, but there's honestly nothing here to set this one apart from the hundreds of other cozies on the shelves. Perhaps the series will grow stronger as it continues, but I doubt I'll continue reading it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the read.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment I started this book, I became glued to the pages and read until the end.
Leila has a complicated relationship with her mother, and her father’s murder makes things even worse. She’s ready to accuse anyone, so her father's right hand man at the farm is her perfect suspect.
Running a maple syrup farm isn’t as easy as Leila thought, so eventually she realizes her dad’s assistant is innocent and they work together to find the real killer.
This is a solid beginning to a new series and I’m looking forward to reading more.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐.5 -- Most excellent cover on this one!

Okay, so to start I will warn you that this review will be all over the place. 😂 Overall it was a solid introduction to the Maple Syrup Mysteries series. I will start with what worked for me. The setting...love it. I'm Canadian, so maple syrup flows through my veins. 🥞 The town was quaint. The cat was cute. The mystery kept me guessing. Noah and Heather were likable. And the recipes sounded amazing!

Now we are going to talk about what or more like "WHO" annoyed the @$#% out of me. Everyone (apart from Noah & Heather). 😂 Leila was just awful. Rude, defensive, self-centered, confrontational, immature, has anger issues, and basically accuses everyone of murder because they dared to take breaths near her father. 🤦🏻‍♀️ And don't even get me started on the mother & father. Both sounded like absolute nightmares to be raised by. Simon (the brother) sounded immature, and even Jessica, the old (in age and time) family friend, turns out to be a jezebel. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I mean, good lord it was like Games of Thrones maple syrup addition! 😂 All that said, I am onboard for giving book two a try and hopefully some of these characters will be dialed back to a more likable degree!

**ARC Via NetGalley**

[Mystery, She Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75🌟

Mood/Seasonal Reading: end of autumn 🍂

An excellent end of autumn cozy that keeps you guessing!

This was a nice surprise. I was looking for a simple fall cozy mystery to offset the more thriller and horror I’ve been reading as of late. I went into this with very little expectations beyond hoping for a nice simple mystery. This was beyond what I could’ve asked. It was filled with an intriguing plot that kept me guessing. The characters were easy to keep track of and unique. I loved the family dynamic too.

The mystery itself was full of red herrings and lots of excellent motives. By the end I had no idea who the killer was and the twists keep me pleasantly on the edge of my seat.

Highly recommend this cozy and will absolutely continue onto the next one.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Doomful of Sugar by Catherine Bruns is the first of a cozy mystery series, and I have to admit that it was a lot of fun! As with most cozies, there was an animal that stole the show and, in this case, it was Toast the cat! He had a big enough part that I fell in love with him, and being the cat person I am, he made me very happy. The Vermont setting at a family-run maple syrup company was unique and interesting, and I loved that it taught me a little bit about syrup since I don't know anything about it at all except that I like it. The mystery itself was a good one as well, and the whodunnit wasn't anyone that I would have expected. There is a little bit of romance between Leila and the hunky employee at the business, and the tension was real but super sweet too. I wouldn't call that the focus of the story or anything, but it was just enough to be a nice addition to the story.

For the most part, I really enjoyed the audiobook for A Doomful of Sugar as well and would gladly listen to Lameece Issaq narrate future books in this series. At times her narration felt really heartfelt and real, but then at other times, it felt a bit more perfunctory for lack of a better word which was kind of strange. That being said, the majority of her narration was just fine, and I would still tell people to listen to it. If you are a fan of cozy mysteries that involve both family drama AND murder, this just might be the book for you! I will for sure be reading any other books that Bruns puts out for this series, and I am definitely planning to check out her backlist titles as well. This was the perfect escape from real life, and I really enjoyed the various characters too. There were some funny moments and other times that made me smile, and all of this together made for a wonderful experience.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Deborah Almada · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a new author and new series for me and I very much enjoyed it. Leila is back in Vermont at the death of her father and is stunned to find out he left the family business, Sappy Endings, a syrup making business, with a cafe and giftstore to her. She is deeply unsettled and even more so by the fact that her beloved father was murdered in the beautiful small town she had called home. She decided to give the business a year but more importantly needs to find out what really happened to her Dad. This is an interesting mystery, with several suspects, employees she doesn't know if she can trust, someone trying to frame her brother, and a murder that takes place right in front of her eyes. Best of all a guilty party I never saw coming. Definitely worth your time!

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Leila Khoury has returned to Sugar Ridge, Vermont following her father’s death to take the helm of his maple syrup business. Inheriting the place was a huge surprise especially because she was living in Florida now. But until his murderer is caught she finds herself in one sticky situation after another as she tries to tap the killer herself. The more she investigates she finds she didn’t know her dad as well as she thought she did. The police have her brother high on their suspect list while she thinks her father’s employees deserve a good look. She may have a lot to learn about making maple syrup but she knows even less about investigating a murder but that’s not going to stop her from bottling up whoever took her dad away from her way too soon.

Ms. Bruns introduces the characters at a very vulnerable time in this first Maple Syrup Mystery. Losing a parent or a spouse is hard but learning that Victor Khoury has been murdered is brutal. Leila had always been close to her dad while her brother Simon was close to their mom. Simon had other issues when his dad died making their relationship complicated. Leila and her mother are like oil and water and that is why she moved to Florida. They argued all the time and when a marriage arranged by her mother with her friend didn’t take place she just needed to get away from her mother’s accusations. Now that she is home without her father as a buffer and taking over Sappy Endings things could get complicated. We have to remember these 3 characters are grieving and we truly have just scratched the surface of their development. The author has set them up well for the continuation of the series.

Several supporting characters were introduced too. Leila’s friend Heather Turcot, Noah Rivers and Jessica Fowler who are employees of Sappy Endings, Victor’s attorney Theo Martin and the Chief of Police Alan Crosby. All played strong parts in this story and for the most part believably.

The mystery was very well plotted with Leila as an awkward amateur sleuth being led by her grief and lack of experience. She is passionate about finding her father’s killer and acts before thinking things through putting herself and others in danger. A startling moment adds another body to the count. There was a relatively small pool of suspects but there are some interesting twists that set up a surprising reveal. You could have pushed me over with a feather as the final twist shook everything up.

There is the start of a romance within the pages but I hope the couple pumps the breaks because I think it is developing too fast. I like a little slower pace in a cozy mystery.

The book is full of tasty descriptions of both maple treats (recipes at the end of the story) along with some Mediterranean dishes too. We also learned a little bit about making syrup. I do have a friend who taps trees and makes his own syrup on a much smaller scale, so I am excited to learn more right along with Leila.

I found the gathering at the end very heartwarming. The set-up for the next book when Sappy Endings gets a new employee has me very excited for Book 2. I see many more sticky situations for Leila and another dead body or two. Not the new employee though.

Catherine Bruns has started her new series off to a fine start. A Doomful of Sugar has an appealing theme, characters I want to get to know better, and is set in a place I would love to visit.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in a new series by Catherine Bruns.
And what a way to kick it off.

Leila Khoury has returned to Vermont for her father's funeral.
In a surprise move to everyone, especially Leila, her dad made a
last minute will leaving his maple syrup farm to her to run as she
felt best.

Her father had been murdered and her brother is being framed for
killing.
Leila has no other course that to try and solve the mystery herself
to save her brother.

This is story with developed characters, a strong plotline, and a few red herrings to keep
you guessing, along with a decent bit of humor to help keep the story moving.

I have been following Mrs. Bruns for about 8 years now and look forward to each of her new releases.

And this one doesn't disappoint.
I read this one in one sitting.

I'd like to thank NetGalley, Poisoned Pens Press, and the author for allowing me to read this advanced readers copy

[K.A. Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A DOOMFUL OF SUGAR is the first book in the brand-new Maple Syrup Mysteries by Catherine Bruns. As with the author’s other series, the reader is in for a treat with memorable characters, a charming setting, mouthwatering food, and a well-plotted mystery that will keep armchair sleuths on their toes. In this newest release, protagonist Leila Khoury has just returned home to Vermont after her father was murdered. Needless to say, his death devastated his family. Leila has been hit especially hard because she’d been teaching in Florida despite knowing her father wanted her home to help run their maple syrup farm, Sappy Endings. When her father’s will bequeaths the farm to her with the stipulation she must stay and work for a year, Leila has no choice but to concede.

Ms. Bruns weaves an emotional level into the story as Leila navigates the conflicts within her own family: her mother and brother; and with the employees who work for their farm while navigating her own grief. She also provides plenty of descriptions about the maple farm along with the production and business side of things, The author writes with a deft hand so that the pacing doesn’t drag, but instead, the plot is enhanced by the relationships between the characters and the vivid descriptions.

When Leila finds out that her father’s death wasn’t the result of a random act of violence but that he was targeted, she turns her grief into action, determined to find the villain herself, especially when her brother is considered the prime suspect. She runs into some snafus, starting out, allowing her grief to trigger aggressive questioning with preconceived ideas on who the killer is. But as Leila learns to trust and accept help from the people around her, secrets are uncovered and her life might be in danger. I’ll be the first to admit I didn’t see the twists and turns coming as the story unfolded. I was quite shocked with the big reveal—in a good way! As the book concluded, there are hints at what’s coming for Leila, and I can’t wait to see if I’m right.

Not only are there many mentions of maple-based foods and treats throughout the book, but Leila’s Lebanese mother can often be found in the kitchen cooking up traditional dishes. I greatly enjoyed the descriptions of the dishes and my tastebuds were tantalized as I envisioned the food. While there may not be any Lebanese recipes provided, the author has included several maple-based recipes at the back of the book, which all sound amazing.

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

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Doomful of Sugar by Catherine Bruns is the debut of the Maple Syrup Mysteries. Leila Khoury is our main character. She is a high school teacher in Florida. She left home four years prior after another disagreement with her mother (the two are opposites). When Leila’s father is murdered, she returns home to Sugar Ridge, Vermont to learn that he left the maple farm, Sappy Endings to her. Leila is determined to discover who killed her father. Her questioning technique needs a lot of work. Leila is impulsive and speaks before she thinks things through completely. There are a couple of suspects. There is misdirection when Leila’s younger brother, Simon is arrested for the crime. I liked the various incidents that occurred which kept things eventful. I wish the solution had not been so obvious. The clues are there to help readers solve the crime before the tension filled reveal. I like how the reveal was done. There may be some details that surprise readers. I had mixed feelings about Leila. She is immature for her age especially for someone who teaches high school students. She is stubborn, has anger issues, and impulse control problems. Leila is also defensive and suspicious which makes her a poor investigator. Her emotions were ruling instead of her head. Leila makes assumptions instead of logical deductions. Leila put herself and her best friend in danger. I am hoping that her new role as head of Sappy Endings will mature her. There is romance in the story as well. Personally, I felt it was inappropriate for this story. Leila is grieving the loss of her father, but she has tingles when is near Noah Rivers (he oversees many aspects of Sappy Endings). I wish the author had let Leila and Noah become friends first and then let the romance progress from there. I liked Heather, Leila’s best friend. She is a sweet, thoughtful, and a loyal individual with an upbeat personality. I also enjoyed getting to know Noah Rivers. It was interesting learning about a maple farm and the many dishes that can be made using maple syrup. A Doomful of Sugar is a good start to the series. I am hoping the author will provide more details on Sappy Endings in the next book. There are recipes for items with maple syrup at the end of the book including the baklava made by Leila’s mother. A Doomful of Sugar is a sweet treat with an alarming murder, a startling will, yummy maple syrup candy, a setup sibling, tire trouble, a handsome manager, and a terrible threat.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leila Khoury believed that everyone loved her father and his maple syrup. But when he's killed, she returns home to Sugar Ridge, Vermont to take over his maple business. Her brother is under suspicion for her father's murder and the police not producing any leads, so Leila decides to investigate her father's murder herself. But the more she learns, the more she worries that there won't be a happy ending to the story.

I enjoyed the start of this series. The characters are interesting, relatable, and likable. I am looking forward to seeing the character development in future books. The mystery is well-written, moves at a smooth pace, has a few suspects but they are believable suspects, and plenty of surprises to keep the reader guessing.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, I have not been influenced by anyone.

[LittleRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

When her father is murdered, Leila Khoury returns home for his funeral in Vermont. With her father as the prime suspect and her mother barely keeping it together, Leila decides to find the murderer since the police can’t seem to. As she sleuths, Leila realizes so much about her father that she didn’t know…and how much she will miss out on too. Can she solve the case and keep what’s left of her family together or will Leila be the next victim?

I’m so excited to have another series by this author. I love her work and a new series just give more to love!

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the maple syrup mysteries. Leila has returned home after learning about her father's death. In his will he left his syrup farm to Leila. She is shocked but agrees to stay for at least one year. She soon learns that her father was murdered. She is determined to find out the truth. Especially since her brother is framed for the crime.
I enjoyed this book so much. Leila is very independent, and I feel like we didn't learn her full backstory yet. Her best friend, Heather, meshes well with her. I liked how Leila ran the farm and the progress she showed throughout the book. The mystery was very well done. While I suspected part of it, the ending threw me. I was not expecting that. A very good start. I will definitely be reading more.

[Sue Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

Returning home from Florida, Leila Khoury learns her father has been murdered and the maple sugar operation has been left to her to run. As Leila tries to figure out who could have killed her father, the trails gets way to close to home for comfort. Full of maple syrup recipes, the story still moves pretty quickly. Thanks to netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

[Shawna Borman · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s the last Wednesday of October, so at least I have something to ramble about. It’s book review time! I was boring and went back to my comfort zone this month with the first installment of a new cozy mystery series. A Doomful of Sugar by Catherine Bruns was released yesterday (the 25th) from Poisoned Pen Press. As usual, I must thank them and NetGalley for access to an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

A Doomful of Sugar follows Leila Khoury as she returns home in the wake of her father’s unsolved murder only to discover that he’s left her the family maple business. As any daddy’s girl would, not only does she accept the challenge of the farm, but she also takes it upon herself to solve the murder, no matter who she has to risk alienating along the way. Toss in a hot new employee that may just be a murderer, an overbearing mother, a brother with a chip on his shoulder, and a bestie that supports all the shenanigans and you’ve got yourself a cozy mystery.

Honestly, the plot is pretty standard. The big bad sticks out way too much from the get-go, then kind of fades into the background until a little bit before the big reveal. I mean, why else would Leila’s dad do what he did? Super obvious, but fine. I was willing to believe it without much thought. The twist was where the story lost me. It was also really heavy handed, which is probably why it felt like more of an ‘ugh’ moment than an ‘aha’ moment. It just wasn’t particularly necessary and felt like a leap. It might just be a me thing, but it made the ending too convoluted.

As far as the characters go, I was mostly unimpressed. I think Leila was supposed to be quirky and headstrong and someone who jumps into things without thinking, but she’s kind of a douchenozzle. She insults people all of the time and they magically forgive her. When she isn’t being rude, she’s accusing people of murder with zero evidence beyond the fact that they exist. And, of course, according to her, everyone else is always judging and being mean to her. I liked her mother and Noah. They were the only reasonable adults in this book. Everyone else ranged from flat and stereotypical to immature and annoying.

The writing itself was okay and made for a quick read despite my lack of motivation to finish this one. And there was maple syrup in it, so at least there’s that.

Ultimately, I didn’t care for A Doomful of Sugar. It’s not going on my list of cozies to keep up with and didn’t spark an interest other series by Bruns.

Overall, I gave it 2 out of 5 stars. One and a half is more accurate. Mostly because it wasn’t my thing, but other people seem to like it. If you enjoy immature characters and an easily decipherable plot, go for it. Otherwise, you’re not missing much.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Had just the right amount of everything with a little edge. The ending surprised me. I can't wait to read the next installment. The only thing I don't like is the cats name. Ha!

Thank you NetGalley for providing a review copy.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Doomful of Sugar is the debut book in the Maple Syrup Mysteries Book series. The descriptions of maple syrup bring back a lot of memories. When the children were younger, we took them to a maple syrup festival in Meyersdale, PA. There was the maple syrup tour and explanation of how the syrup was tapped and boiled and made, which is exactly what the book had as well.
It was an easy-to-read book with not too many characters that you can't keep them all straight.
I liked the idea of our main character inheriting the maple syrup business from her father upon his suspicious death. As a teacher out of state, she has no plan to stick around she is just there for the reading of the will. Her surprise is genuine when she realizes her father has left the business to her rather than his wife or son.
Her father has no enemies she is sure of it but having not been there in four years she shouldn't be so sure. Always quick to extend credit and the grandfatherly type he seems like the last person you would expect to see knocked off.
As we move through the book and start to see a backstory of this man and his financial dealing a clearer picture is painted for us.
The suspected killer seems very clear as the clues point right to them, but you'll have to read this to judge what you think of the suspects.
I loved all the cooking and mentions of food, it made for a delectable read. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.

Pub Date 25 Oct 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Bandita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leila Khoury's dad is killed and she returns to Sugar Ridge in Vermont to take over his maple syrup business. Her brother is suspected and her mother is inconsolable, so Leila takes it upon herself to investigate her father's murder.

I had such a fun time reading this book. The setting was amazing and everything felt so atmospheric and cozy. The cover is pretty cozy too, just like the ambiance of this book.

Cozy mysteries always cheer me and this book did the same. I would highly recommend this book!

[June Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, life in small town Vermont in the fall. That immediately conjures up images of bright, colorful fall foliage, cooler evenings, fireplaces, and, well, maple syrup. Murder is unexpected.

Her father's murder throws Leila Khoury for a loop. She arrived home from her job and life in Florida thinking her beloved father had been killed in a robbery gone wrong. That was hard enough to accept but, murder? She thought everyone liked her father. I mean, she obviously adored him and was very much a Daddy's Girl, so the idea of anyone deliberately murdering him stuns her.

Her initial reaction of disbelief is quickly replaced by a fixed, unswerving conviction that she knows who did it, her father's right-hand-man, Noah. This emotional swing made me wary of her upfront, I must admit, and it took awhile for me to get past that initial reaction. I mean, she hadn't even met this Noah yet, not to mention she has no evidence, but she's already convicted him in her mind.

That said, the mystery was an intriguing one. Who knows what secrets are hidden behind closed doors of even the most scenic small town? Who had reason to kill Victor, Leila's father? Why was she so determined that Noah was guilty? Why had her father changed his will? Why is her reporter brother arrested? Did he do it or was he set up? But, by who? He did sorta try to wave Leila away from taking over the farm, after all. What's going on at the farm? How did Toast get that name? Is money an issue? Is it true that anyone is capable of murder? Who.....oh, okay, enough teasers. This just scratches the surface of an intriguing plot that, quite frankly, I didn't guess until the big reveal at the end. In addition, once Leila calmed down, I gradually came to like her and her family and friends.

Thanks #NetGalley and #PoisonedPenPress for inviting me to Vermont to see the fall colors. I'm looking forward to a return trip soon. The recipes sound sweet and yummy, too.

[Miriam Simut · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Doomful of Sugar Earns 5/5 Maple Candies…Deliciously Engaging!

It’s the worst phone call anyone could receive. Leila Khoury learned her father, Victor, was dead, but not just dead…murdered. Police suspect a robbery gone wrong, but no money was missing. When the family gathers for the reading of the will, Leila and her brother Simon are surprised to learn their father had made a new one just months before leaving the entire maple syrup farm, Sappy Endings, to Leila. She is expected to run the farm for a year, at which time, she can keep it or sell it. Although she had no intention of staying, circumstances have her changing her mind, “I’m going to find out who did this to you, Dad. I promise.”

Catherine Bruns has burst out with a new series highlighting maple syrup! What could be better…well, add a strong female lead, multi-cultural family, a best friend, a bit of romantic tension (or just plain tension), a fur buddy, and murder! The incident is hard to grasp since the victim was well liked and motives are difficult to fathom, but his widow said he’d been out of sorts and somewhat secretive lately. Police Chief Crosby is determined to solve his friend’s murder warning off Leila’s intervention, but she is just as determined. The journey was complex, yet very easy to read, with a wide range of suspects and an assortment of motives including good ol’ greed, revenge, and anything to keep a secret, a secret, all leading to a final confrontation and shocking arrest.

Catherine’s writing style is always entertaining, depicting well the environment, characters, and mood along with banter illustrating multi-generational personalities. It is a clever, well-paced mystery, introducing the characters and their connections and presenting a family dynamic filled with realistic conflicts and expectations. Realistic law enforcement involvement, an extra murder case, and a surprise ending is a must and met, but also enjoyable characters with a special talent or perspective, and romance? Catherine doesn’t forget romance options for Leila including her friend’s wedding planning. Leila is first-generation Lebanese-American with some references to her culture made, but more insights would be intriguing. Bruns also includes fascinating details into maple syrup production…not just for pancakes! Great first-in-a-series book. I am hungry for more!

Check out the easy to follow recipes for Sappy Hour Café’s Baklava with a maple syrup topping, Maple Shortbread Cookies, Maple Syrup Bagels, Glazed Maple Doughnuts, and a special Maple Pork Chops. Yummm!

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

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Doomful of Sugar is the first book in Maple Syrup Mystery series. In this book we meet Leila Khoury, who has returned home to Sugar Ridge, Vermont, to her family's farm and Maple Syrup business. Her father was recently killed and her mother has asked her to come home. She left her teaching job in Florida with the plan to return when things were sorted out. When her father's will was read, she finds out that he has left the business to her, and now she needs to learn about the business and decide how to run it as well as return to teaching. The problem is there is someone already running the business and he doesn't want to let Leila just move in and take over. Also, the police aren't doing much to find her father's killer, so she begins to investigate herself. When there is another murder and her brother is arrested, the stakes are raised for Leila to find the real killer.

I thought this was a great beginning to a new series. I love the setting of Vermont and a maple syrup business. This is not something that I have read about before. Leila is a great protagonist. She is smart, perseverant, has great instincts and works hard. She not only learns more about the business, but begins to unravel the mystery. Unfortunately, her family is a bit of a mess. Her brother has a lot of issues to deal with and her mother meddles just a bit. As the evidence is discovered, there are some twists, some suspects taken off the list and secrets revealed. The final showdown was a bit scary and there was a surprise that helped Leila get away. There is also a bit of romance that I hope will develop over the next books in the series. If you enjoy a good cozy mystery, I recommend A Doomful of Sugar. I am looking forward to the next book in the series that I already have on my kindle. I did a read/listen with the narrator, Lameece Issaq a new one to me. She does a good job with the story bringing the characters alive with her voices and expression. I will listen to further books in this series if they are available.

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impressive!

Well written, pulling me in right from the start, keeping me interesting throughout. There are many secrets to uncover! This book was really good. Really, really good.

When her father gets murdered, Leila inherits Sappy Endings. Running the farm and trying to solve his murder; it’s all a lot to deal with! She could be a bit defensive to other people, has a bit of a temper, but considering the circumstances, that was very understandable. And what I loved about her: she realizes she needs to work on that, and really tries to learn. She says it herself, I quote: “Sometimes I don’t stop and think first. I fly off the handle and say things that I end up regretting.” And you know what? I don’t actually like perfect people in books, I like my main characters a bit flawed, so that it feels real and I can relate. And Leila was definitely a well developed character! Fierce, too, which I love in an amateur sleuth!

I loved learning a bit more about maple tree farming, and all that that entails. And I loved cat Toast! Doesn’t any story get better when it has a cat in it? I believe so!

But seriously, all joking aside, this was a wonderful read, and if you love suspenseful cozies with lots of twists and turns, then this is the book for you. I was on the edge of my seat almost the entire time! It had that one-more-chapter-ability, the pages kept turning of their own accord! And that ending, that was heartwarming. Great book!

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author never disappoints, so I really loved this first in her new Maple Syrup series. I felt so bad for Leila coming home under the circumstances she did and could see why she was more determined than ever to find her dad's killer. When more bodies started falling, I'm sure she wondered if she'd gotten involved a little too much, yikes! But she was hurting and ready to lash out at everyone at first as far as making them part of her suspect list. It was pretty sweet what changed her mind about one of the people on her list! ;)

There were a couple of really good twists toward the end and I hadn't really seen either of them coming, maybe one more than another one. But Leila handled things well with a little help from a new friend. I loved how everyone gathered to celebrate Leila's dad at the end and get all the loose ends explained from the case. There were a couple of side stories that made for great red herrings! I really can't wait now for the next book since things progressed pretty much like I'd hoped! Don't miss this fun new series releasing October 25.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

[RO G'ma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Doomful of Sugar is the first book in Catherine Bruns’ Maple Syrup Mysteries series. The storyline flows smoothly in this fast-paced cozy whodunit. The characters are three-dimensional, the well-plotted mystery is intriguing, and there’s a great mix of mystery, everyday life, and complicated family relationships. There’s no shortage of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. I recommend this delightful series to readers who enjoy well-crafted cozy mysteries.

When Leila Khoury, a teacher living in Florida, her mother, Selma, and her younger brother and reporter for the Maple Messenger, Simon, gather in her father’s attorney’s, Theo Martin, office for the reading of her father’s will, she learns that he had recently made a new will. Victor Khoury, a well-loved and respected citizen of Sugar Ridge, Vermont, left the family farm, Sappy Endings, to Leila, stipulating that she run the business for one year, at which time she can sell the business if she so desires. In addition to the farm filled with maple trees, there’s a café, a gift shop, and the sugar shack where the maple syrup is processed for Leila to oversee. Leila’s mother provides maple-flavored baked goods for the café, Jessica Fowler cooks and takes care of the café, and Noah Rivers, a man Leigh doesn’t know or trust, manages the farm and maple syrup production. All Leila wants to do is return to Florida, but she decides to honor her father’s final wishes.

When her father’s good friend, Police Chief Alan Crosby, informs the family that he suspects Victor’s death was a premeditated murder, everyone is shocked. Simon becomes the prime suspect, but Leila immediately suspects Noah. Leila enlists her best friend, Heather Turcot, to help clear Simon’s name and find themselves in harm’s way.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.