Cozy Wednesday featuring Killer Donuts (A Deputy Donut Mystery) by Ginger Bolton #Review #Giveaway @KensingtonBooks @ginger_bolton

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!

I am happy to share my thoughts today about Killer Donuts
(A Deputy Donut Mystery) by Ginger Bolton!

Killer Donuts (A Deputy Donut Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
11th in Series
Setting – Wisconsin
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 25, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496758250
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496758255
Kindle
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496758262
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GC9JN6XT
Audiobook
ASIN B0GVTQNYC1

It’s fall in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin, and Emily Fyne, owner of the popular local Deputy Donut café is on a trail—a Donut Trail, that is—to tour pre-Halloween treats and activities, not to mention check out the competition. It’s all fun and games, until a murder that’s no trick . . .

Emily and her friends Izzy and Monique are traveling the Donut Trail in style in Deputy Donut’s vintage, donut-topped car. With them are Emily’s cat, Dep, and Monique’s tiny dog, Gigi. Amid the spectacular fall foliage they stop at an orchard that includes a bistro and a vast corn maze. But while sampling some apple cider, they find that not everyone shares their friendly, festive mood . . .

A cranky tourist not only scolds them for bringing their pets, but she also says she hates dogs—with cats a close second. No matter, Emily and company, their pets leashed, go off to enter the maze. But soon, boisterous teens barge in, wreaking havoc, tossing pumpkins, uprooting cornstalks—and attempting a dog-snatching . . .

As everyone scrambles to regroup, it turns out the dog-hating woman is missing. And when her dead body is finally discovered—with Gigi’s hair ribbon in her pocket—Emily and her friends are the top suspects. To clear their names, they’ll have to throw a killer off their trail while diving even deeper into a dangerous labyrinth of clues . . .

Dollycas’s Thoughts

It’s time to hit the Donut Trail for Emily Fyne, owner of Deputy Donut café, and she is taking her friends Izzy and Monique, along with her cat Dep and Monique’s tiny dog, Gigi, with her. They plan to check out the competition, their Halloween treats, and activities.

They arrive at an orchard with a little bistro and a huge corn maze. There, they meet a tourist who is not enjoying her travels. She is quick to voice her hatred of dogs and cats, so Emily and her friends finish their treats and venture into the corn maze.

Sadly, some wild teenagers ruin their experience. After they leave the maze, they learn the terse tourist is missing, and her group is ready to leave. Much later, her body is discovered within the maze, and in her pocket is the ribbon missing from Gigi’s topknot, putting Emily, Izzy, and Monique in the hot seat. They now have to hit the trail to find who played the final trick on the deceased before one of them gets the treat of a jail cell for a crime they didn’t commit.

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What a fun Halloween read! You don’t have to travel far in Wisconsin to find a corn maze; most have yummy baked goods, apples, pumpkins, and other activities for kids of all ages. Any dead bodies are usually stuffed.

Ms. Bolton’s cast of characters continues to evolve in realistic ways, and she introduces quality characters in each new installment. Emily and Brent’s relationship gets stronger every day, knowing Alec would want them to be happy. Alec’s parents, Tom and Cindy, treat Emily and Brent as their own children too, which delights me. We lost a son too soon, and his wife will always be my bonus daughter. Emily’s friend, Monique, is Madam Monique, the owner of Thrills and Frills. Izzy, we met in the last book Sour Crime Donuts.  In this book, we meet Peggy on the Donut Trail. She fits in easily with the Knitpickers that gather every morning at Deputy Donut. I enjoy how all of Emily’s friends are really her family. When an event happens, many come together to attend and have fun.

Because Emily is involved in the murder case, Brent can’t be involved in the investigation. DCI Agent Rex is assigned the case, and he has plenty of suspects to question. You know Emily is investigating with her friends and their animals. Those animals have great instincts. I enjoyed tagging along through it all and was so caught up in the story my armchair sleuthing took a break, realizing the culprit right along with Emily.

Killer Donuts is another top-notch whodunit from Ginger Bolton. It’s filled with charming characters, plenty of humor, a well-plotted mystery that will keep readers guessing, all set when the leaves are showing their beautiful colors in northern Wisconsin. Oh, and plenty of delicious donuts. A Glazed Apple Cider Donut (recipe in the book) or two would be fantastic right now.  I will need a variety of donuts to get me through Halloween, and more as I wait for the next Deputy Donut Mystery. Oh, and that Donut Trail; it’s a real thing! 

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

Ginger Bolton writes the Deputy Donut mystery series—coffee, donuts, cops, danger, and one curious cat. JEALOUSY FILLED DONUTS was chosen as the Woman’s World Best New Cozy Mystery of the week and was named one of Dollycas’s Best Reads of 2019. When Ginger isn’t writing or reading, she’s crocheting, knitting, sewing, or generally causing trouble. She’s also fond of donuts and coffee. As Janet Bolin, Ginger wrote the Threadville Mysteries—murder and mayhem in a village of crafty shops.

Author Links – Website – Facebook  – BookBub –  GoodReads – 

Thanks to the publisher, I have 1 paperback copy of Killer Donuts to give away!

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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.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.