Book Reviews, Book Tours, Book Recommendations & Giveaways too!
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.
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 during the leaves 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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The Contest Will End on September 9, 2026, at 11:59 PM CST
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The Winner will be notified by email and posted here in the sidebar.
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.
AVAILABLE TODAY!
Quote from Vivien Chien:
If no one told you today, let me be the first to say you look absolutely amazing. 
And Then There Were Bun: A Noodle Shop Mystery
Cozy Mystery
13th in Series
Setting – Ohio
Publisher : Minotaur Books
Publication date : August 25, 2026
Print length : 320 pages
Mass Market Paperback
ISBN-10 : 1250450462
ISBN-13 : 978-1250450463
Kindle
ISBN-13 : 978-1250450470
ASIN : B0G5SN5H2Q
Things get spicy when Megan throws a surprise birthday party for Lana at Ho-Lee Noodle House that ends in disaster.
With the help of Lana’s parents and close friends, Megan packs the family restaurant with a guest list that includes friends—both old and new—to help celebrate her best gal’s birthday. But when one of their guests brings an unsavory plus one that Lana just happened to date back in her college days, tensions build between her old beau and her current boyfriend, Detective Adam Trudeau.
After a heated exchange of words between the two men, the evening returns to the smooth and enjoyable party that Megan had originally hoped for. But relief is short lived when Lana’s ex is found in the dumpster outside of Asia Village.
As if the circumstances and tragedy taking place on Lana’s birthday aren’t enough, the gang gets an even bigger surprise when Adam is the main suspect under scrutiny. Not only are there several witnesses confirming the verbal confrontation between the two men earlier in the evening, but it’s also reported that Adam disappeared from the party for a considerable amount of time. And unfortunately for him, not even Lana can back up his whereabouts. With Adam in the hot seat, his own partner, Matthew Higgins, must investigate the crime alongside their boss—the Chief of Police, Tom Riceton, who wants speedy results to keep away the threat of Internal Affairs knocking on their door.
As Adam struggles with the dynamic shifts in his personal life, being on suspension and shut out from his resources at the police department, he must rely solely on his skills as a detective and the ingenuity of Lana’s amateur sleuthing capabilities to solve the case and clear his name definitively.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Lana Lee thinks everyone has forgotten her birthday, but her best friend Megan comes through with the surprise. Ho-Lee Noodle House is filled with family and friends when Lana arrives. She is taken aback when an old friend from college arrives accompanied by her “greatest heartbreak”, Devon Jones. Detective Adam Trudeau, her current boyfriend, is instantly on alert. It isn’t long before there is an altercation between the two. Before things escalate, Devon is escorted out the door, and guests get back to celebrating.
But it didn’t last; Devon Jones not only left the party, he left the building. Someone had taken out the trash. Devon Jones is dead. His body was found in the dumpster behind Asia Village. And in a real twist, Detective Adam Trudeau is the prime suspect. Not able to account for some of his time, the time the murder was committed, he is off the case and suspended from the force pending the investigation’s outcome.
Adam has a hard time being shut out of the case. Soon, Lana, Megan, and Kimmy are investigating while Adam is doing his own thing. Megan dating Chief of Police Tom Riceton complicates things, but Lana is determined to help Adam get his gun and badge back.
You know this close-knit family, her best friend, and boyfriend would not forget Lana’s 30th birthday, so the surprise party was expected. The arrival of the hated college ex-boyfriend was not. Adam and Lana’s relationship has been growing at the perfect pace. He loves her so much. Would he actually kill the creep that hurt her so badly? Lana did have a few moments when she wasn’t sure. Thankfully, the woman came to her senses. Megan dating Tom added more angst to the story and has her questioning that relationship as well. Of course, the Mahjong Matrons are back and want to help. Kimmy gets her dander up any time any investigating goes on without her, but she wasn’t as over-the-top as usual. Instead, Anna May was very testing. All the characters Ms. Chien has created for this are fun and quirky in their own ways. It is easy to get all wrapped up in their lives.
The mystery the author has written was very well plotted. A huge part of Adam’s life is his job, so it was hard for him to be sidelined, especially because he was working on an important case that was entering a critical part of the investigation when this murder was committed. It gives the story a different feel. The suspect pool was limited, although things happening behind the scenes could have added another. I was up in the air on my decision until the very end. The actual motive, evidence found later, the connections, the forethought, the intention, and how the plan played out were pretty chilling.
The Noodle Shop Mysteries are must-reads for me. I anxiously await each new story pretty impatiently, but Vivien Chien always makes the wait worthwhile. Her characters are engaging and entertaining, the mall/Noodle House setting is unique, the humor is placed well, and the mystery is always well done. And Then There Were Bun was just plain marvelous and an excellent addition to this series. I highly recommend the entire series, and I can’t wait for the next installment.
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 Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
About the Author
VIVIEN CHIEN (she/her) was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio where she grew up in a mixed-race home, making for some very interesting cultural experiences. She found her love of books and the written word at an early age while writing short stories about her classmates in elementary school. When she’s not writing, Vivien enjoys frequenting local Asian restaurants, frolicking in bookstores, and searching for her next donut.
She is the author of the Noodle Shop Mystery series, including USA Today bestseller Crime Rangoon, and Misfortune Cookie, which was nominated for the Lilian Jackson Braun Award. (From Amazon)
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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.
I will be traveling to Virginia & New York!
Here’s what I read and what I have planned for this week.
And Then There Were Bun: A Noodle Shop Mystery
by Vivien Chien
Release Date – August 25, 2026
Setting – Ohio
My Review will be up tomorrow!
Killer Donuts (A Deputy Donut Mystery)
by Ginger Bolton
Release Date – August 25, 2026
Setting – Wisconsin
I will feature this book this week
on Cozy Wednesday!
I had a crazy week and am behind on my reading again.
Murder at Rosecliff (A Gilded Newport Mystery)
by Alyssa Maxwell
Release Date – August 25, 2026
Setting – Rhode Island
My Review will be up on Thursday!
The Briar Hill Wedding Murder: And The Women Of The Archives (Blackboard Belles Cozy Mysteries)
by Samantha Noble
Release Date – July 16, 2026
Setting – Virginia
For Review
Eat, Drink, and Get Buried (A Coffeehouse Mystery Book)
by Cleo Coyle
Release Date – September 22, 2026
Setting – New York
The Great Escapes Book Tour stops here next week
for Cozy Wednesday!
August 23 – 29, 2026
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
Remember – This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas.
The Sunday Salon is a Facebook group that has become an
informal week-in-review gathering place for bloggers.
It is also a place to share our thoughts about things of a bookish nature.
You can also link up weekly on Readerbuzz.
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by
Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
~ It’s a chance to share news~
A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received, and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.
HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE!
Soccer season started last week for Thomas. We arrived late for his game on Thursday due to a schedule snafu, but we arrived just in time for a great bunch of teamwork leading to Thomas scoring a goal.
I have now been given permission to announce that our family is growing again. Daughter #1 and her husband are expecting baby #3 in March 2027. They have wanted to expand their family for so long; we are thrilled for them. Funny thing. The sibling age difference between Remington and this baby will be similar to that of Natalie and Rylynn. Both Remi and Kaden are excited about the new baby. It’s going to be a big, wonderful change for their family, having a newborn in the house after so many years.
Speaking of babies, my favorite zoo, Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary, announced the birth of 3 baby tigers on Friday. 3 White Baby Tigers!! Sadly, the mother doesn’t know what to do with them. Spice and her sister Sugar were abandoned by their mom, leading to them coming to Shalom. That may be why she doesn’t understand. So, now these cubs will be bottle-fed and cared for by humans until they are ready to be on their own.
White tigers are rare; 3 being born in 1 litter is a miracle. The father of the cubs, King, was part of Ginger’s 1st litter. Ginger, a white tiger, died several weeks ago from severe fungal pneumonia. Her 2nd litter was not even a year old. The litter includes 1 white tiger, Tiger Lee. Their big sister Charlotte has taken over mothering her siblings and is doing a wonderful job. Just click here to see more videos of the new babies, more tigers, and other animals at this wonderful sanctuary. If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend visiting Shalom.
Weekly Rewind – August 17 – 22, 2026
Monday – My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #34 – 2026
Tuesday – Dye by Design (The Fairhope Murder Mystery Series) by Ashley Brandt #Review
