Killer Crullers

January 1, 2012
Suzanne Hart is happy to sell crullers to the handsome man, Desmond, in her Donut Shop, until he starts throwing them at neighboring store owner Gabby. When she stops the food fight, Desmond threatens her and Gabbysomething about a stolen brooch. Another encounter with Desmond brings another threat, and when he turns up dead the next day between the ladies' stores, police are looking at both Suzanne and Gabby as suspects. A missing gun, grasping relatives, and a tempestuous love affair further cloud the man's story, forcing Suzanne to launch her own investigation. In this sixth volume in a series, Suzanne also ponders her own personal life while her cop boyfriend is out of town, and her mother's and best friend's lives are transfigured by romance. While the details of the donut shop are featured as much as the plot, there are still enough twists to keep the story moving. Fans of Joanne Fluke's cookie-store stories are certain to become good customers at Suzanne's donut shop.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)

November 14, 2011
At the start of Beck’s sprightly sixth mystery featuring April Springs, N.C., donut shop owner Suzanne Hart (after 2011’s Tragic Toppings), Desmond Ray admits after buying a dozen crullers from Suzanne that he plans “to throw them at the woman next door,” meaning Gabby Williams, the owner of ReNEWed, a gently-used-clothing store. As Desmond pelts the front of Gabby’s shop with heavily iced crullers, he accuses Gabby of stealing a diamond brooch and $10,000 in cash from his aunt’s donated coat. When Desmond is later found shot dead in the narrow strip of grass between Donut Hearts and ReNEWed, Gabby becomes the prime suspect. With Suzanne’s state police officer boyfriend away on an assignment, it’s up to her to clear Gabby’s name. An astute sleuth and an appealing smalltown setting help make this a winner, along with tempting donut recipes interspersed throughout. Agent: John Talbot.