A Deputy Donut Mystery Book 11
Author: Ginger Bolton
Genre: Mystery
Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #: 9781496758255
Kensington Cozies
256 Pages
$17.97; $9.99 Amazon
August 25, 2026
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It's fall in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin, and Emily Fyne, owner of the popular local Deputy Donut cafe 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 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...
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It's nearing Halloween in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin, and donut shop owner Emily Fyne and her friends Izzy and Monique are taking a tour of the Donut Trail, which stops at various shops in Wisconsin that sell donuts. Everything is going fine until they reach a certain point and an unfriendly woman starts remarking about people who bring their pets along. Monique, with her tiny dog, Gigi, and Emily, with her cat Dep, are trying the donuts and cider and since they are out side, no one else is complaining. But the woman mentions how she hates dogs (and cats) and won't let up.
Still, the three women aren't about to let her spoil their mood, and so they decide to go into the corn maze which is also on the property. But while they are trying to find their way out, a hand shoots through the corn and grabs Gigi. Suddenly, things go sideways as the women attempt to find the tiny creature and everyone is shouting her name -- even disruptive teenagers who think this is all a game.
Eventually, Gigi is found, and all is calm. For a while, at least. Until it's discovered that the woman is missing from her tour. And when her body is found in the maze the next day, with Gigi's hair ribbon in her pocket, they become suspects in the murder. Now Emily and her friends are trying to clear their names and find a killer. Because if they don't, one of them may be the next victim...
This is the eleventh book in the series, and I have enjoyed most of them. I will admit, in the beginning their was an 'evil nemesis' which I hate above all things, but since that problem has been removed, all the remaining books have been more than delightful.
I love Emily and her family and friends, each with their own backstory to tell, and new friends that they meet along the way. Her life with her detective husband Brent is good, Dep is spoiled (even more than my cats), but I enjoy reading about her as well. She owns Deputy Donuts along with her late husband's father Tom, and the business is thriving.
In this book, Emily once again is drawn into a murder as she tries to prove herself innocent. Although she's not really a serious suspect, one of her friends is, and she knows that she needs to help clear her name. To that end, the three women start listing their own suspects, and it builds quite a list. When they start to question people, they get the natural resistance, but someone is watching their every move and is planning their own.
When we get closer to the end of the book, everything becomes tense as Emily starts to figure out who the real killer is. So do her friends, and they try to capture that person without them knowing. But it's more dangerous than they think, and if help doesn't arrive soon, they may not escape...
I will not say any more as to not ruin the book for others, but this is one of the best in the series, and it was a delight to read. Ms. Bolton has a turn with words, and she does it well. Very well written and highly recommended.
I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
More on Ginger Bolton's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/ginger-bolton/
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