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Donut Shop Mysteries #4
Evil Eclairs
Donut shop owner Suzanne Hart admits her sweet treats don’t exactly qualify as health food. But does she really deserve to be labeled a “killer” by local radio jockey Lester Moorefield? The annoying host is urging citizens to boycott Suzanne’s “deadly dough” factory—until he’s found dead himself, stuffed with one of Suzanne’s éclairs…
Everyone in April Springs knows about the feud between Lester and Suzanne, which makes her the number-one suspect. She tries to use the donut defense—donuts don’t kill people, people kill people—but that cream-filled éclair at the scene of the crime has the whole town filled with suspicion. If Suzanne can’t figure out who killed the radio star, she’ll soon be filling a prison cell instead of a pastry…
277 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
29 people are currently reading
949 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Beck
102 books458 followersJessica Beck is a pseudonym used by
Tim Myers.
Jessica Beck is the penname of an author who has been nominated for the Agatha Award and named an Independent Mystery Booksellers Association national bestseller nearly a dozen times.
Jessica Beck loves donuts, and has the figure to prove it. It's amazing what people can convince themselves is all in the name of research! For each recipe featured in the donut mysteries, a dozen more are tried and tested.
When not concocting delicious treats, Beck enjoys the rare snowfalls near her home in the foothills of North Carolina.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/jessic...
Tim Myers.
Jessica Beck is the penname of an author who has been nominated for the Agatha Award and named an Independent Mystery Booksellers Association national bestseller nearly a dozen times.
Jessica Beck loves donuts, and has the figure to prove it. It's amazing what people can convince themselves is all in the name of research! For each recipe featured in the donut mysteries, a dozen more are tried and tested.
When not concocting delicious treats, Beck enjoys the rare snowfalls near her home in the foothills of North Carolina.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/jessic...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
November 26, 2019
This was a nice easy read with Suzanne once again involved in a murder investigation. I enjoyed Jake being around and the mystery kept me guessing. I enjoy the donut recipes included and they seem like they would be easy to make.
November 26, 2019
It’s very similar to the last book I read in this series... decent book but needs to work on the plots a bit more
December 15, 2019
I enjoyed this story for the most part.
Now to list a couple things that irritated me because that's what I've been doing for this series in my reviews.
1. Everyone's cell phones don't work for reasons.
Battery is low!
Left it at home!
Ringer was on silent the whole time!
Really, characters? REALLY?
2.) Why is Suzanne hating on the clown?
Suzanne complains that she makes so little money with her doughnut shop, but when a clown comes in, she refuses to sell him a doughnut. It's one thing when the character is mean (and she is so mean to this clown!) but it's another when the author is mean. After Suzanne refused service to the clown and he left, the other people in the shop clapped.
Don't encourage clown hatred!
(Full disclosure, I do not particularly care for clowns. But I've never been mean to one.)
The clown comes back later, and - I kid you not - Suzanne sees him coming toward the door and she flips her sign to closed. OMG!
Then he walked away sad, clomping his big red shoes.
At least she had the decency to later wonder if she was having a little bad luck because of how she unjustly treated the clown.
You've got to be careful nowadays - bad clown karma is nothing to mess around with.
Even with the cell phone ridiculous drama and the unfair treatment of a clown, I did enjoy the story and the characters and the town and the mystery.
Now to list a couple things that irritated me because that's what I've been doing for this series in my reviews.
1. Everyone's cell phones don't work for reasons.
Battery is low!
Left it at home!
Ringer was on silent the whole time!
Really, characters? REALLY?
2.) Why is Suzanne hating on the clown?
Suzanne complains that she makes so little money with her doughnut shop, but when a clown comes in, she refuses to sell him a doughnut. It's one thing when the character is mean (and she is so mean to this clown!) but it's another when the author is mean. After Suzanne refused service to the clown and he left, the other people in the shop clapped.
Don't encourage clown hatred!
(Full disclosure, I do not particularly care for clowns. But I've never been mean to one.)
The clown comes back later, and - I kid you not - Suzanne sees him coming toward the door and she flips her sign to closed. OMG!
Then he walked away sad, clomping his big red shoes.
At least she had the decency to later wonder if she was having a little bad luck because of how she unjustly treated the clown.
You've got to be careful nowadays - bad clown karma is nothing to mess around with.
Even with the cell phone ridiculous drama and the unfair treatment of a clown, I did enjoy the story and the characters and the town and the mystery.
May 4, 2011
A nasty radio personality does a editorial opinion piece on our favorite donut maker, Suzanne's "Donut Hearts" in April Springs, that leaves, us, the readers, incensed. You can imagine Susanne's feelings as a call for boycotts are issued.
As Suzanne reminds us "donuts don't kill people, people kill people," but April Springs isn't quite so sure about that when the nasty man turns up dead with an eclair at the scene!
I really like this series. I enjoy the gentle, laid-back, feel of the Southern living in April Springs. I enjoy the relationships of our Sleuth and her family, friends, romances.
This was a good book and I'm ready to read "Tragic Toppings."
As Suzanne reminds us "donuts don't kill people, people kill people," but April Springs isn't quite so sure about that when the nasty man turns up dead with an eclair at the scene!
I really like this series. I enjoy the gentle, laid-back, feel of the Southern living in April Springs. I enjoy the relationships of our Sleuth and her family, friends, romances.
This was a good book and I'm ready to read "Tragic Toppings."
November 28, 2017
Being on a diet had me craving for a doughnut. Since I can't have 'em, will just read about them. This series is now 20 books long, I am curious on how Jessica Beck will sustain Suzanne, who still remains one of my favorite cozy heroines. This is book is just like how a doughnut should be, a breather, light and easy reading and revs your sugar rush. Though I got who the killer was toward the end (angle I wasn't expecting). 2 out of 4 so far.
June 8, 2023
How could I NOT pick up a pastry-themed murder mystery? I have no desire to read the rest of the books in this series, but I'm tickled by the fact that they exist. The best part might have been that the author randomly interjected donut recipes between chapters.
July 21, 2014
I was flummoxed for once concerning my rating of Evil Eclairs. I've always prioritized a strong finish, and I loved knowing the identity of the murder, and maybe so will you. The issue with this book is that for one fifth of it's duration little, if anything, happens.
There was no real purpose to the investigation and there were too many interludes during the said inquiry. The previous book was action packed. But this one holds its own. Slowly, events did accumulate, giving us an illusion of overload. It's a fairly unfair 3/5 stars, but then when compared to better books, I simply can't give it a four. Reading the Donut Shop Mysteries is one of the highlights of my readership and I particularly like the fact that I'll be ending my reading challenge for the year with half of the books read - from now till the end - being Jessica Beck's.
There was no real purpose to the investigation and there were too many interludes during the said inquiry. The previous book was action packed. But this one holds its own. Slowly, events did accumulate, giving us an illusion of overload. It's a fairly unfair 3/5 stars, but then when compared to better books, I simply can't give it a four. Reading the Donut Shop Mysteries is one of the highlights of my readership and I particularly like the fact that I'll be ending my reading challenge for the year with half of the books read - from now till the end - being Jessica Beck's.
July 27, 2019
I tried to like this for all that it was more cosy than mystery. In brief some of the flaws
-far too much focus on Suzanne's super-chaste lovelife. I didn't mind that it was super-chaste I minded reading about it in so much detail as if the author thought I was 12 and at a Christian camp for learning to be a good wife. I didn't need quite so many pages wasted on whether her mother and friends would or would not date.
-A lot of long sections of people eating. Once again I don't mind people eating and in context it can be an important part of a book, especially when you are trying to make your mystery "cosy". Here there was so much of it that the temptation was to think it was put in because the author was out of ideas for the actual plot.
-Randomly inserted recipes that were all variations on a theme and had no clear connection to the plot. That is to say they were donut recipes, but they were not ones referred to in the story. The last one was a pasta recipe which was probably a reference to an eating scene much earlier in the book but was placed right in the middle of the denoument. WTF? It made the last chapter even less exciting to read because any intertia had been lost. I think if recipes are used they should be thoughtfully connected to the book and perhaps collected at the back. It made me think "Like Kerry Greenwood's Corinna Chapman but more madly done- if you vaguely liked this or thought the idea broadly had potential then try that)
-Woman has to have a man and all the essentialised shit there. In this sense the book almost got a 2 instead of a 1 from me, because it was not the most misogynist book I ever read but it did have some drippy heterosexist stuff that puts men on a pedestal they really have not earned. Also the bad writing pulled it down
-The bad writing. Things just flung themselves along one thing after another. No character development, no feel for setting (I realise this is book 4 but nevertheless) and what is far worse, no clarity. At times I had to read dialogue a couple of times to get a sense of what they are saying. I have philosophers and sociologist to read when I want to struggle for meaning, this was meant to be just a relaxing novel. An ounce of editing and a bit more time put in by the writer might have helped (I mark papers so I am learning to recognise when someone put in a last minute effort).
All in all, I had a tiny amount of amusement but will stay clear of this series given how many things I recently read that I enjoy better (for example Marx who at least is sarcastic). I think some people would probably like this more than I did (because of all the hand holding and chaste twilight kisses over a basket of fried chicken)
-far too much focus on Suzanne's super-chaste lovelife. I didn't mind that it was super-chaste I minded reading about it in so much detail as if the author thought I was 12 and at a Christian camp for learning to be a good wife. I didn't need quite so many pages wasted on whether her mother and friends would or would not date.
-A lot of long sections of people eating. Once again I don't mind people eating and in context it can be an important part of a book, especially when you are trying to make your mystery "cosy". Here there was so much of it that the temptation was to think it was put in because the author was out of ideas for the actual plot.
-Randomly inserted recipes that were all variations on a theme and had no clear connection to the plot. That is to say they were donut recipes, but they were not ones referred to in the story. The last one was a pasta recipe which was probably a reference to an eating scene much earlier in the book but was placed right in the middle of the denoument. WTF? It made the last chapter even less exciting to read because any intertia had been lost. I think if recipes are used they should be thoughtfully connected to the book and perhaps collected at the back. It made me think "Like Kerry Greenwood's Corinna Chapman but more madly done- if you vaguely liked this or thought the idea broadly had potential then try that)
-Woman has to have a man and all the essentialised shit there. In this sense the book almost got a 2 instead of a 1 from me, because it was not the most misogynist book I ever read but it did have some drippy heterosexist stuff that puts men on a pedestal they really have not earned. Also the bad writing pulled it down
-The bad writing. Things just flung themselves along one thing after another. No character development, no feel for setting (I realise this is book 4 but nevertheless) and what is far worse, no clarity. At times I had to read dialogue a couple of times to get a sense of what they are saying. I have philosophers and sociologist to read when I want to struggle for meaning, this was meant to be just a relaxing novel. An ounce of editing and a bit more time put in by the writer might have helped (I mark papers so I am learning to recognise when someone put in a last minute effort).
All in all, I had a tiny amount of amusement but will stay clear of this series given how many things I recently read that I enjoy better (for example Marx who at least is sarcastic). I think some people would probably like this more than I did (because of all the hand holding and chaste twilight kisses over a basket of fried chicken)
December 18, 2020
Suzanne Hart owns Donut Hearts in small town April Springs, North Carolina. She's not getting rich, but she's managing to make a decent living doing what she loves. While listening to the radio one night while she's in bed, she hears radio jockey Lester Moorefield -- a thorn in her side -- tell everyone to stay away from her business because she's feeding everyone poison with her donuts. Angry, she dresses and goes to the station to confront him. They have words, and Suzanne leaves, determined to make him regret targeting her.
Later on the next morning, police chief Martin comes to the shop and asks her to come with him to the radio station, where he tells her that Lester is dead, and one of her éclairs was found stuffed in his mouth. While he doesn't believe she committed the murder, he wants to know where she was at the time of the murder, and then if she knows anything. Of course she doesn't, but when her business starts to suffer because of Lester's final broadcast, Suzanne can't just sit back and wait for the police.
With the help of her friends Grace and George, she's determined to investigate. But then her boyfriend, state investigator Jake Bishop, is assigned to the case, and there's an accident that puts her in the forefront of knowing it shouldn't have happened, and Suzanne is bound and determined to get the murderer...that is, if the murderer doesn't get her first...
This is the fourth book in the series, and I must say that it's been improving along the way. I do like Suzanne as a person; she doesn't rush headlong into accusing everyone she meets of murder; she asks questions and then eliminates that suspect, which is much nicer and more believable.
She loves her donut shop and the people around her, and it's apparent that they love her, too. I do like the fact that she has a mother who's not hounding her about grandkids and is a good part of Suzanne's life. I'm beginning to enjoy Dorothy's presence in these books; and I do like the fact that Suzanne's relationship with Jake is beginning to take shape and grow.
As far as the murder goes, it was done very nicely, with just enough suspects who may or may not have had solid alibis, and sifting through them with Suzanne was tons of fun. While the murderer wasn't totally unexpected, my dislike of another character really wanted that person to be guilty. Oh, well. In the end, it came together seamlessly, and I spent a good evening with Suzanne and her friends, and look forward to seeing them again in the next book. Recommended.
Later on the next morning, police chief Martin comes to the shop and asks her to come with him to the radio station, where he tells her that Lester is dead, and one of her éclairs was found stuffed in his mouth. While he doesn't believe she committed the murder, he wants to know where she was at the time of the murder, and then if she knows anything. Of course she doesn't, but when her business starts to suffer because of Lester's final broadcast, Suzanne can't just sit back and wait for the police.
With the help of her friends Grace and George, she's determined to investigate. But then her boyfriend, state investigator Jake Bishop, is assigned to the case, and there's an accident that puts her in the forefront of knowing it shouldn't have happened, and Suzanne is bound and determined to get the murderer...that is, if the murderer doesn't get her first...
This is the fourth book in the series, and I must say that it's been improving along the way. I do like Suzanne as a person; she doesn't rush headlong into accusing everyone she meets of murder; she asks questions and then eliminates that suspect, which is much nicer and more believable.
She loves her donut shop and the people around her, and it's apparent that they love her, too. I do like the fact that she has a mother who's not hounding her about grandkids and is a good part of Suzanne's life. I'm beginning to enjoy Dorothy's presence in these books; and I do like the fact that Suzanne's relationship with Jake is beginning to take shape and grow.
As far as the murder goes, it was done very nicely, with just enough suspects who may or may not have had solid alibis, and sifting through them with Suzanne was tons of fun. While the murderer wasn't totally unexpected, my dislike of another character really wanted that person to be guilty. Oh, well. In the end, it came together seamlessly, and I spent a good evening with Suzanne and her friends, and look forward to seeing them again in the next book. Recommended.
December 10, 2017
I accept that cozy mysteries are a little light on character development and plot plausibility compared to other literary fare, but these novels take my patience for that too far. I'm tired of reading about Suzanne pestering people for an alibi constantly, her cold, non-romantic relationship with Jake, and the limited inner dialogue. Inner dialogue is what gives characters more depth, and there is not enough of that in these novels. The scenes move so fast with little depth and it makes me just not care what is going to happen.
The breaking point for me was early on in this novel when the clown came into the store and Suzanne refused him service because she was traumatized by a clown as a child. Seriously? Refusing service? Then having all the other customers cheer? That just made Suzanne (and the other townspeople) even more unlikable. A good author knows that discrimination is not something that the main character should be involved in. This incident is odd enough that it is surely something related to the mystery, but I just don't care to find out.
There are plenty of other cozy mysteries out there that do a great job of writing likable, deep characters, so I'll just focus on those.
The breaking point for me was early on in this novel when the clown came into the store and Suzanne refused him service because she was traumatized by a clown as a child. Seriously? Refusing service? Then having all the other customers cheer? That just made Suzanne (and the other townspeople) even more unlikable. A good author knows that discrimination is not something that the main character should be involved in. This incident is odd enough that it is surely something related to the mystery, but I just don't care to find out.
There are plenty of other cozy mysteries out there that do a great job of writing likable, deep characters, so I'll just focus on those.
August 4, 2016
The 4th novel in the Donut Shop series was a bit of a letdown compared to the other novels in the series.
A local radio commentator Lester Moorefield goes off on Suzanne's donut shop saying how donuts are killing people. After Suzanne pays Lester a visit to give him a piece of her mind, he is found dead with an eclair shoved down his throat. Suzanne is the one number suspect, so she teams up with her friends to find the killer.
The novel started off great, it was fast paced and had the murder with the first few chapters. However, around the midway point, the novel started to get a bit boring and I got a pick tired of Suzanne asking everyone what their alibi was.
Still liking the series though and will continue on.
A local radio commentator Lester Moorefield goes off on Suzanne's donut shop saying how donuts are killing people. After Suzanne pays Lester a visit to give him a piece of her mind, he is found dead with an eclair shoved down his throat. Suzanne is the one number suspect, so she teams up with her friends to find the killer.
The novel started off great, it was fast paced and had the murder with the first few chapters. However, around the midway point, the novel started to get a bit boring and I got a pick tired of Suzanne asking everyone what their alibi was.
Still liking the series though and will continue on.
Read
June 22, 2011I liked this book. I love eclairs so the title page got me salivating. This book is the usual premise. A lady owns a doughnut shop, someone is murdered. Small town life, which I find endearing, and like most southern women she has a strong minded momma, who is forever watching her daughter's back. Someone on the goodreads posted they were reading this book, and since Diane Mott Davidson latest book hasn't been requested by me from the library yet, I wanted to read something along those lines.
May 3, 2011
Not my favorite book of the series...a little slow, no real mystery or intrigue, and a fairly obvious murderer right from the get go. Maybe I'm just getting bored with series in general, but this one was very lackluster to me.
July 26, 2012
Another great book by Jessica Beck... Just realized all the other books in the series that I've yet to read and will need to hunt down. Excellent series for those who love a good light murder mystery!
March 18, 2012
I can't decide about this series. They're not bad but they are like a reworking of the Hannah Swenson series by Joanne Fluke. And the characters are almost formulatic.
April 6, 2012
Cute light reading, took me a night to read. I liked this series. It's just like the fact that this series is like joanne flukes series, just with donuts and yummy recipes.
February 25, 2015
The best thing about this story is the inclusion of donut recipes.
December 29, 2021
My first read of this series. I really enjoyed the main character and the reveal at the end caught me by surprise. I've already put another one on hold at my library!
November 7, 2020
Evil Eclairs by Jessica Beck is the 5th book of the Donut Shop Mystery series set in contemporary small town North Carolina. Suzanne owns Donut Hearts, and dedicates all her time and attention to her business -- except for sleuthing (a favorite hobby). When the local radio station manager Lester Moorefield blasts her business over the air, accusing her of intentionally selling deadly poison (donuts) out of greed, without regard to endangering April Springs residents - of course Suzanne must stand up to him, call him out if you will, face to face. Not long after their confrontation, Lester is found dead, with an eclair stuck in his mouth.
Police Chief Martin questions Suzanne, but does not really suspect her of murder. Plenty of other people in April Springs and surrounding communities have been targeted by Lester. He has a criminal record. A wide variety of suspects could have murdered him. Now begins the process of checking alibis.
Suzanne's business drops off dramatically. She can't afford to box up and give away all her donuts each day at the close of business, while she waits for the slow process of police investigation. Plus she's convinced she can learn more from suspects than the police can. Her pals Grace and George are eager to sleuth another case. They start questioning, comparing notes, and eliminating suspects who have alibis.
Suzanne's boyfriend Jake has vacation coming - and he invites her to go on a trip. She turns him down, claiming she can't leave the business. But is it really because she enjoys sleuthing too much?
Suzanne shares what she learns with Jake and with the newspaperman Ralph, but still ends up in a deadly confrontation with the killer. Mild entertainment, heartwarming interaction between Suzanne and her mom, a touch of suspense at the end.
Recipes included: Peanut Butter Drop Donuts, Oatmeal/Raisin/Cranberry Donuts, Apple Fritters, Potato-Based Donuts, Drop Donuts, Pineapple Drop Donuts, The Last Resort Donuts, A Twist on Textured Donuts, Homemade Pasta
Police Chief Martin questions Suzanne, but does not really suspect her of murder. Plenty of other people in April Springs and surrounding communities have been targeted by Lester. He has a criminal record. A wide variety of suspects could have murdered him. Now begins the process of checking alibis.
Suzanne's business drops off dramatically. She can't afford to box up and give away all her donuts each day at the close of business, while she waits for the slow process of police investigation. Plus she's convinced she can learn more from suspects than the police can. Her pals Grace and George are eager to sleuth another case. They start questioning, comparing notes, and eliminating suspects who have alibis.
Suzanne's boyfriend Jake has vacation coming - and he invites her to go on a trip. She turns him down, claiming she can't leave the business. But is it really because she enjoys sleuthing too much?
Suzanne shares what she learns with Jake and with the newspaperman Ralph, but still ends up in a deadly confrontation with the killer. Mild entertainment, heartwarming interaction between Suzanne and her mom, a touch of suspense at the end.
Recipes included: Peanut Butter Drop Donuts, Oatmeal/Raisin/Cranberry Donuts, Apple Fritters, Potato-Based Donuts, Drop Donuts, Pineapple Drop Donuts, The Last Resort Donuts, A Twist on Textured Donuts, Homemade Pasta
July 16, 2022
This is the fourth book in a cute series about a baker who keeps getting caught up in mysteries in her small town. Suzanne Hart owns a donut shop in a former railroad station in her hometown in North Carolina. Her donuts are to die for, but not literally until the local love-to-hate host of a show on the radio station turns up dead with one of Suzanne’s eclairs stuffed in his mouth. The problem is, that the two just had a confrontation over his denouncement of the bakery and plea for citizens to boycott the place.
Now the prime suspect in Lester Moorefield’s death, Suzanne is determined to clear her name, with or without the help of the local police.
Since I started reading these “Stephanie Plum”-type books, I call them “fun fluff.” There’s nothing too deep in these types of novels. The main character, in this case, Suzanne Hart, is a capable woman who finds herself in the middle of trouble she didn’t ask for and doesn’t trust anyone else to clear her name. These are supposed to be books that are fun to read that doesn’t require a lot of thinking.
To read my full review, please go to: https://thoughtsfromthemountaintop.co...
Now the prime suspect in Lester Moorefield’s death, Suzanne is determined to clear her name, with or without the help of the local police.
Since I started reading these “Stephanie Plum”-type books, I call them “fun fluff.” There’s nothing too deep in these types of novels. The main character, in this case, Suzanne Hart, is a capable woman who finds herself in the middle of trouble she didn’t ask for and doesn’t trust anyone else to clear her name. These are supposed to be books that are fun to read that doesn’t require a lot of thinking.
To read my full review, please go to: https://thoughtsfromthemountaintop.co...
January 31, 2018
I'll admit- this fourth book in the series shows some improvement after the second and third ones fell flat for me.
I still think that the romantic subplot between Suzanne and Jake could be left out of the story altogether and it wouldn't really matter. I think that the author either needs to show us some real emotion, or just remove it altogether.
The actual mystery was definitely better in this story than the last one, however, I always wonder about these things when I'm reading this series: Why would anyone want to stay in this town or hang around Suzanne after four murders have happened (in quick succession) around her?! And why is it that Suzanne is the only one capable of solving these mysteries with her "bumbling" around, while both the local and state police are always several steps behind?
At least the ending was a bit of a surprise in this one, and Suzanne's relationship with George shows some actual development. To me that was the best part of this addition to the series.
I still think that the romantic subplot between Suzanne and Jake could be left out of the story altogether and it wouldn't really matter. I think that the author either needs to show us some real emotion, or just remove it altogether.
The actual mystery was definitely better in this story than the last one, however, I always wonder about these things when I'm reading this series: Why would anyone want to stay in this town or hang around Suzanne after four murders have happened (in quick succession) around her?! And why is it that Suzanne is the only one capable of solving these mysteries with her "bumbling" around, while both the local and state police are always several steps behind?
At least the ending was a bit of a surprise in this one, and Suzanne's relationship with George shows some actual development. To me that was the best part of this addition to the series.
May 5, 2019
Jessica Beck, a.k.a. Tim Myers, is one of the top cozy mystery authors, in my opinion. Tim Myers was writing cozy mysteries, and I was devouring every one of them, before the term “cozy mystery” was coined, I believe.
I love these books. I did read this one, #4 in the donut shop mystery series, before reading #3. Book 3 is “in transit” through the library system. I do not feel that I missed anything by skipping over #3, and book 4 did not give anything away about the previous book.
If you have access to a public library system, i recommend getting the large print editions. They seem to read faster than the regular print, so you can move on to the next one quicker in this long series!
I love these books. I did read this one, #4 in the donut shop mystery series, before reading #3. Book 3 is “in transit” through the library system. I do not feel that I missed anything by skipping over #3, and book 4 did not give anything away about the previous book.
If you have access to a public library system, i recommend getting the large print editions. They seem to read faster than the regular print, so you can move on to the next one quicker in this long series!
February 23, 2022
Suzanne Hart makes delicious doughnuts at Donut Hearts. When a local radio personality basically calls her treats poison, she can’t let him get away with this slander. Unfortunately for Suzanne, he ends up dead which makes her the #1 suspect. Suzanne and her best friend, Grace, make wonderful amateur sleuths. I love the characters in this series. I am happy to see Suzanne’s relationship with Jake growing. Her mom is a fireball as well. April Springs sounds like a perfect place to live. This is a great cozy mystery. You have it all with mystery, romance, humor and wonderful recipes throughout the book!
August 7, 2024
Suzanne needs to stop getting wrapped up in drama around town, but that doesn't stop her from giving the local radio jockey a piece of her mind when he drags her donut shop through the mud, claiming they're poison. When the man shows up the following morning, dead, and with one of her éclairs stuffed in his mouth, she's immediately caught up in another murder case, again.
The writing on this series is really fun. Sometimes, I roll my eyes with how Suzanne's reactions are on occasion, but for the most part, it's decent. I am enjoying reading this, and I'm still on for continuing on in the series. I'm going to keep going until I'm at least through #6 because I have that one on my physical shelf.
Onward!
The writing on this series is really fun. Sometimes, I roll my eyes with how Suzanne's reactions are on occasion, but for the most part, it's decent. I am enjoying reading this, and I'm still on for continuing on in the series. I'm going to keep going until I'm at least through #6 because I have that one on my physical shelf.
Onward!
December 31, 2025
This was a cute, fast paced, cozy mystery. There were enough suspects that it kept you on your toes and it was surprising when the killer was revealed. I love a cozy mystery!
October 19, 2017
Local radio personality Lester Moorefield is known for going after residents, and when he rants and raves against donuts (specifically Suzanne Hart's donuts), she happens to hear it...and she heads down there and gives him a piece of her mind. When he's found murdered the next day, with one of her eclairs stuffed in his mouth, she's on the suspect list. Suzanne, George, and Grace take to the streets to find the real killer while endangering themselves.
Had a feeling I'd already read this one while reading...maybe I've read too many of this genre.
Had a feeling I'd already read this one while reading...maybe I've read too many of this genre.
August 25, 2017
This was a fun book. The main character, Suzanne Hart, owns and runs a donut shop seven days a week. A radio jockey urges people to boycott her donut shop because it is deadly. She gets into a tiff with him, and the next morning he is found dead with an elair stuffed in his mouth. The police interviewed her as a suspect, but let her go. But heer business has gone down because of the suspicion that she is a murderer. Therefore he decides that she has to find the murderer herself.
December 28, 2020
First, I love the title and it is quite fitting. Second, this was another fun and quick read. This is a very enjoyable series, although I do recommend not reading while hungry, because you might start craving donuts. Suzanne certainly has her hands full once again. In addition to a good story, I like the relationships between the various characters. The relationships have continued to grow over the series. Looking forward to what is up next for Suzanne and her friends.
May 17, 2025
Read time: under four hours
This is the fourth book in the series. I am starting to get into the series more and understand the characters better.
Suzanne is provoked publicly and has a “confrontation” with the person who maligned her and just makes things worse. It’s no surprise when the person is found dead and Suzanne is at the top of the suspect list.
As she starts trying to uncover who really did it the number of suspects grows and grows.
This is the fourth book in the series. I am starting to get into the series more and understand the characters better.
Suzanne is provoked publicly and has a “confrontation” with the person who maligned her and just makes things worse. It’s no surprise when the person is found dead and Suzanne is at the top of the suspect list.
As she starts trying to uncover who really did it the number of suspects grows and grows.
January 9, 2021
Another murder and another murderer in this small town. :D Suzanne does her best to get herself killed while once again being framed for murder. I will continue the series because they are quick reads and there are about 7000 of them. A tiny bit more realism would be good though. And I'm very glad George is going to be okay.
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