It is always such a pleasure to visit the Deputy Donuts and the town of Fallingbrook. Ginger Bolton's Deputy Donut mysteries are one of my favorite cozy series. I am a big fan of the close friendship between Emily and Detective Brent Fyne - love the slow burn. What I like best about this book is the amount of sleuthing that is done via kayaking - it is something different than normal and fun to read. Great cast of characters and engaging plot.

Boston Scream Murder is the fourth book in the Deputy Donut Mystery Series and my favorite so far.
In this book the author has outdone herself, creating a unique and highly entertaining story centered on the adventures of Emily Westhill, her adorable kitten Dep and her friends and clients at Deputy Donut Cafe.
Ginger Bolton maintains a writing style that is snappy and lively, with light touches of romance and a healthy dose of humor that, along with the crime of the moment, keep the reader engaged.
My favorite scenes? There are two: the Halloween parade and the ghost falling on top of the donuts, with the pages continuing to the end of that chapter. I won't go into more detail so as not to spoil the experience of those readers who haven't read this story yet.
In short, to spend a few hours of fun, I highly recommend reading Boston Scream Murder, a story that deserves five stars and more.
Thanks to GingerBolton, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story. The opinion I have expressed above is based solely on what I think of this book.

Boston Scream Murder by Ginger Bolton is the fourth installment of the cozy Deputy Donut Mystery series. As with most cozy mystery series each book of this series can be enjoyed as a standalone with the mystery being completely solved within each book. Of course there is some character building that carries over from book to book for those that follow the series from the beginning.

In the first book of this series we met Emily Westhill who co-owns the Deputy Donut donut shop named after her tabby cat in small-town Fallingbrook, Wisconsin. Emily used to work as a 911 dispatcher until the day her husband who was a police officer was killed so now she and her retired police chief father-in-law sell donuts at their shop instead.

Although Emily thought opening a donut shop would be safe she keeps finding herself mixed up in solving murders. This time around it’s Halloween in Fallingbrook and Emily is serving up her scariest treats in the donut shop. A local, Rich Royalson, has ordered up some of Emily’s Boston Scream donuts for his birthday celebration but as Emily brings the donuts she stumbles across Rich’s body and Emily can’t help but jump in and try to find the murderer yet again.

I have been following the Deputy Donut mystery series from the beginning and quite like the characters and mysteries in each installment. I love the fact that the main character has such a deep connection to law enforcement herself even if she isn’t a police officer. This one isn’t quite as quirky and humorous as some that I follow but it has won me over anyway and I will continue to follow along as long as the series keeps continuing.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Rich Royalson can be a bit obnoxious, with his loud and booming talk about why Boston is better than anywhere else on earth. Heck, even his rental cottage is Cape Cod styled and decorated like a true Patriots fan. Emily Westhill’s donuts captivate Rich and he wants them for his upcoming party. Even better, he wants Emily and Nina Lapeer to help redecorate his rental, preferably including some of Nina’s paintings. Unfortunately, Rich’s party doesn’t go as planned as he is murdered before the festivities start. With suspects aplenty, can Emily help uncover the murderer without angering her detective and current love interest, Brent Fyne?
BOSTON SCREAM MURDER is the fourth book in the Deputy Donut Mystery series but can easily be read as a standalone mystery. Ginger Bolton does a fabulous job at introducing us to the various characters, including our re-occurring regulars, and letting us see how they all relate to one another. The murder victim is new to the series, making it easier to jump right in and enjoy the mystery as it unfolds.

The residents of Fallingbrook are a lot of fun to visit! The mornings at Deputy Donut with the Knitpickers and the retired men is such a cozy scene I want to jump right in with the Knitpickers! I love the steadiness of Tom, Nina, and Brent as they help balance the sometimes flighty antics of Emily. She’s a bit more impulsive than is safe at times, but she also has the kind of background that makes her inquisitive so it’s not out of character. Her cat, however, is my favorite character in BOSTON SCREAM MURDER and I adore the antics of Dep!

And oh, the donuts! I’m not typically a huge donut connoisseur, but I want to see all the fabulous flavors and creations that Deputy Donut has cooked up for Halloween! Ginger Bolton will have your mouth watering as you envision the tasty treats she has in store for both her readers and the residents of Fallingbrook.

BOSTON SCREAM MURDER is a scrumptious treat for readers, full of clever donut decorating ideas and flavorful treats! If you love cozy mysteries, delicious desserts, and cats, then Ginger Bolton’s tale will be a sheer delight for you!

*review is in the queue at Fresh Fiction*

Boston Scream Murder is a great addition to the Deputy Donut mystery series. Each new book brings even more character development that helps the reader become even more invested in, not just the mystery itself, but also in the other things going on around all the main characters. As for the murder mystery itself, the author really kept me guessing until the reveal. It's such a well-crafted mystery that I found it difficult to put down. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

Princess Fuzzypants here: I have enjoyed each and every one of the books in this series. What is not to love. Emily, whose husband was killed in the line of duty, has started a donut place called Deputy Donuts and its mascot is a charming kitty named Dep. We’ve watched as the business has grown and as the relationships have evolved, particularly between Emily and her late husband’s partner when they both realized they could be friends without sullying the memory of her husband. Like all the good cozies, the relationships are at the heart of books.

There is a new guy who shows up at the shop and he is loud and obnoxious but he likes the donuts so well he hires Emily to provide them for his 70th birthday. Sadly, Rich will not be celebrating as Emily finds him walloped with a heavy skillet when she arrives with her treats. It turns out he is a successful retired businessman whose ethics may not have been on the up and up. In fact, he was shifty. All of his despicable dealings are motives for murder. But which offended individual did the deed?

Emily does insinuate herself into the investigation but thanks to her stellar relationships with the first responders in town, she always finds herself on the right side of the Darwin Award. While the villain was someone who might have been suspicious, the motive was a big surprise as was the fallout. And Dep, the kitty, was instrumental in saving Emily. High paw to Dep.

Five purrs and two paws up.

While this isn’t my favorite Deputy Doughnut story, the mystery is solid with several suspects. It kept me guessing and the villain was a bit of surprise. Good read.

With Halloween just around the corner Emily decides to decorate her wares for the spooky season. When a local recluse decides to include her Boston scream donuts at his birthday celebration it sets the stage for Emily to discover his body. Emily and crew once again work to solve the mystery and put the murderer in prison.

The inclusion of characters with ful rick back stories only adds to the story line. Several side stories unfold as well. The drowning of the victims wife in the lake he lives beside causes the reader to question the facts of the case.

I found the plot line well thought out and written. I would recommend this book to anyone.

A great mystery series with a baking connection to make it even more interesting. I am quite fond of this author and can't wait to read more.

I love this series. I wish the Deputy Donut shop was a real place. This book is a cute Halloween themed cozy mystery. The main character Emily helps to solve another murder with the help of her cat Dep and her group of friends. I would highly recommend this series to any mystery lovers.

In the kitchen of Deputy Donut, the donut shop run by a former cop Tom and his cop son’s widow Emily, spooky things are happening. Boston cream donuts get scary faces and become Boston Screams and cake donuts turn into pumpkins.

Out front, a new customer, Rich, is extolling the wonders of Boston (Bah-ston). Too bad he’s in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin. He’s a know-it-all, asking questions about the food, the coffee, the design of the shop, and Dep, the shop cat who stays in the office behind a large window so she can view and be viewed by her fans.

Rich confesses, he’s on a blind date to meet Cheryl, a surprise to the staff who hadn’t heard anything about it from Cheryl herself. Rich is well-meaning but overbearing, ordering for her and telling Emily no scary face on the donut, double the frosting. They seem to get along okay but Cheryl confesses, one date was enough. Besides, she has a second meetup in the afternoon with another man.

Steve turns out to be much quieter, with a few quirks, nothing that’s a deal-breaker. While she’s talking to Steve, Rich comes in with another date too. It seems he met the love of his life, a former girlfriend from years ago, and now they’ve reconnected. He didn’t want to disappoint Cheryl so didn’t cancel their date, although he takes the time to tell her all this in front of Steve.

Rich orders three dozen donuts for his birthday party the next day. He has a precise timetable for the caterer, Emily, the guests, and his girlfriend to be there. Unfortunately, an unexpected guest ruins the careful planning by showing up and bashing Rich with a cast iron skillet, leaving Emily to find the body.

She’s worked with her husband’s former partner before and although they like each other and spend time together, it’s not a romance. Yeah, sure. This time the State Police have been called in since Emily found the body, and she’s the lead detective’s friend. State Police meaning a stylishly dressed, rather overbearing female. Not that Emily’s jealous.
Through a lot of twists and turns, some that are risky, Emily manages to figure out just who’s guilty of small crimes and misdemeanors and who’s guilty of murder.

This is book four in the series. Emily and Tom work well together, with Nina along to help in the kitchen and in finding clues. Look for recipes for Boston Scream donuts, fudge frosting for making faces or traditional chocolate frosting, and the customary filling, and for Scare-it Cake (carrot cake) donuts with orange cream cheese frosting. Sit back and enjoy the mystery but try not to get frosting on the pages or the screen while reading.

Who doesn't love donuts? I adore this series, and I had so much fun reading it. The mystery was great!

The Deputy Donut series is one of my favorites and this one did not disappoint. While delivering doughtnuts to a birthday party, Emily never expects to find the guest of honor dead. I love that it is a clean cozy mystery. Emily makes a few silly moves during her investigation, but overall it is a strong book. It makes me look forward to the next installment.

This is the fourth book I have read by Ginger Bolton and the more and more I read her books the more I love them! The characters are great, the mystery keeps you on your toes, and you are always ready for more once the book ends! This is quickly becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery series! I would definitely recommend to someone who already loves cozies or is looking to start reading cozies!

Emily Westhill is half owner of Deputy Donuts in
Fallingbrook, Wisconsin. During the Halloween season the Boston Cream Donuts become Boston Scream Donuts and Rich Royalson orders 3 dozen for his seventieth birthday party, When Emily delivers the donuts, she finds his dead body near the party tent.
This was a good read with interesting characters.

October 31st 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 twice the fudge icing, for his 70th birthday a special event in more ways than one. It's to be held at his cabin on Lake Fleekom where, twenty years ago, his wife mysteriously drowned while riding in her canoe.

But the next day, when Emily arrives with her scrumptious screamers, 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, and his last will and testament suspiciously left at the scene, Emily soon discovers that Royalson's 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 Fallowbrook to go out screaming.

Once again Ginger Bolton gives us another enjoyable mystery that also includes some delicious sounding recipes. The mystery is well written and has plenty of suspects, lots of clues, a few twists and turns with a few red herrings thrown in that lead to a conclusion that has the cat helping to catch the killer. The characters are well written, interesting, unique in their own way, relatable, engaging, and full of life they almost seem like they are real people. The author does a nice job of describing the people and places in and around the town, you can picture it all in your mind while reading the book.

I like that Emily is written as a strong, smart, independent woman who can usually take care of herself. Another thing that I liked was how Dep saved the day and helped catch the killer by using her animal instincts. The one thing I found myself disliking is how the relationship between Emily and Brent seems to be moving at a snails pace and almost seems like it has stalled out, I hope that in the next book their relationship will start to gain momentum and they will move it along at a faster pace. I did like that two of Emily's friends have moved their relationship onto the next step by getting engaged. I look forward to reading the next book Beyond a Reasonable Donut when it comes out.

I received an ARC of this book from Kensington Books through NetGalley for my honest review.

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 is a delightful and delectable cozy mystery with charming characters. The author does an excellent job of giving new readers enough background so you can read this book on its own but I recommend reading the series from the start if you can. Oh, and stock up on donuts too!

Title: Boston Scream Murder
Author: Ginger Bolton

Ch: 33

Pg: 276

Series: Deputy Donut Mystery book 4

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 4 Stars

Publisher: Kensington



Boston scream murder is the fourth book in the Deputy Donut mystery series by Ginger Bolton. This one is set at Halloween making it the perfect cozy mystery read for this time of year.


I also love that the title reflects the donut shops donut of the month instead of Boston Cream donut it’s a Boston scream. And always I enjoyed the characters and the mystery and I was even more thrilled that the suspect remained a mystery until Emily herself figured it out. I look forward to the next book in the series.





I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

This is a fun cozy to read any time but especially during the spooky season. This is the fourth book in the series but my first one. I had no problems following the story even though I hadn't read the previous books. The characters are fun and relatable. I love the little kitty and the fact the donut shop is named after him. The mystery is full of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I am looking forward to reading more of this series.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

This Series is awesome! Her cast of characters keeps you laughing at there antics! I was kept guessing through out the whole book on who the murderer was. Did not think it would have ended the way it did but was very enlighten. Keep the series coming..