Reviewing Deck the Donuts by Ginger Bolton
My first read of the Deputy Donut Mystery series was a great experience. Although you can read this as a standalone, I recommend reading this series in order as there is a big moment that happens that I believe has been built up in the previous books to lead to that moment.
What I liked about Deck the Donuts was the protagonist, Emily’s snooping was done in a more realistic way. Just by being the co-owner of the local town’s donut shop, being involved in various community activities and having friends in the police, firefighter and EMT departments aided in Emily’s sleuthing.
Emily’s cat Dep, was adorable and I thought it was so cute that Emily would bring Dep to work with her in a chest carrier.
The romance aspect, without giving too much away, played a very minimal part and I believe reading the previous novels would help me appreciate the dynamic between Emily and her detective friend.
I also loved the included donut recipes, (I can’t wait to try them out!) and the cover of this book is darling.
Thank you Kensington Publishing for the advanced reading copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Book Description
It's Christmastime again in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin. Emily has truly decked the halls of her donut shop and decorated her donuts with festive designs from green and red frosting to snowflake sprinkles. For the annual Ice and Lights Festival, she's commissioned a sculpture with three ice-carved donut shapes to form a holey snowman, Frosty the Donut. She has one Christmas wish this year--to spend some time under the mistletoe with a certain detective.
But the holidays just aren't the same without an unexpected disaster or two. A tour bus on its way to the festival has crashed and a snowstorm has left all the shaken passengers stranded and shivering. Emily and her friends open their homes to shelter the traveling families, while the bus driver is admitted to the hospital for his injuries. But the following morning, Emily discovers his body--buried beneath Frosty the Donut.
The bus passengers show little sympathy for the man who dashed through the snow so badly, some claiming he was under the influence while behind the wheel. Emily also discovers that the driver had a history with folks in Fallingbrook. With multiple motives for murder piling up, it will take a Christmas miracle for Emily to solve this crime...