Boston Scream Murder (A Deputy Donut Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Setting – Wisconsin
Publisher: Kensington (August 25, 2020)
Paperback: 288 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1496725561
Kindle ASIN: B082WRPQWF
Halloween in the small town of Fallingbrook, Wisconsin, is the perfect season for Deputy Donut owner Emily Westhill to unmask a killer.
October 31 is just around the corner and Emily Westhill’s Boston cream donuts, carved with a scream, have made an indelible impression on local eccentric Rich Royalson. So much so that he’s ordered three dozen, with no screaming faces and twice the fudge frosting, for his seventieth birthday—a special event in more ways than one. It’s to be held on fog-shrouded Lake Fleekom where, twenty years ago, his wife mysteriously drowned.
But the next day, when Emily arrives with her Boston cream donuts, she stumbles upon Rich’s corpse. The poor guy wanted a unique birthday bash—just not one to the side of his skull. With a guest list of possible perpetrators left at the scene, Emily soon discovers that the Royalson closet is rattling with skeletons. As the fog thickens, motives mount, and the tricks outnumber the treats, Emily fears that Rich may not be the last one in Fallingbrook to go out screaming.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Halloween, donuts, and murder, oh my!
Autumn in Wisconsin is beautiful with the leaves changing colors but the temps can range from the 80’s down to the 40’s. No matter the weather it is always a good time for donuts. Rich Royalson from Boston especially likes Emily’s Boston Cream donuts but without the Halloween Scream carving. He was so taken with them he ordered three dozen with some minor adjustments for his 70th birthday party. A party on the lake where his wife drowned 20 years ago.
Emily loads up the donuts in the Deputy Donuts Cafe delivery car, an old police car with a donut on the roof, and heads to the Royalson lake house. Instead of finding a man excited about his birthday, she finds the man dead. She doesn’t know much about the man but she has helped solve a few murders . . . but this one could be her last.
I have enjoyed this series from the start. Emily is such a strong protagonist. After tragically losing her police officer husband in the line of duty she opened the cafe with her father-in-law. She has great instincts and a stubborn streak the comes in handy as she delves into another murder mystery. It helps that she has close ties to the local police department and is surrounded by terrific friends and family. She also has Dep, her cat and the cafe mascot. Ms. Bolton has created endearing and engaging characters. Their relationships make sense including Emily taking her time with her love life.
The mystery has plenty of suspects but I was focused on one early. It was fun to tag along with Emily as she followed clue after clue. I appreciated the way she shared everything with the fine Detective Brent Fyne. I was also pleased to see my thinking was on the right track but I was a little off on a couple of things.
By the way, I have a few favorite donuts. Boston Creme Filled are near the top of the list. Without a Deputy Donuts nearby I had my daughter make a quick trip to Dunkin’ Donuts to pick up a few to soothe all the cravings the book caused. 🙂
Boston Scream Murder 
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
Read my review of Survival of the Fritters
About the Author
Ginger Bolton writes the Deputy Donut mystery series
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Written as Janet Bolin
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”