Get your donuts, come get your donuts! This is the sound we are all longing to hear after more than a year of being socially distant from one another. Food vendors peddling their yummy food, children screaming with excitement at rides and games, and laughter from all. Even if you aren't comfortable going out just yet Beyond a Reasonable Donut will provide some of this excitement. Emily and Nina agree to sell their donuts at the local fair and are having fun until a mime and a magician cause chaos. Things are further complicated when Nina gets home and the mime is found dead on arrival. Does Nina have an evil past? Will Emily solve everything in time for the wedding of two of her closest friends?

This series is so fun. It is delicious. I am so glad that Deputy Donut is not a real donut shop near me or I would be there every day! All the combinations sound divine.

I enjoyed this book centered on Nina and we got to know her so much more. She is a wonderful asset to the series and deserves to be highlighted.

This book in no way discusses covid or the pandemic. It is a wonderful escape from these issues.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed above are entirely my own.

Beyond a Reasonable Donut by Ginger Bolton was so much fun! It’s the fifth book in the Deputy Donut series and even though I have not read the others, I had no problem picking this one up!

Set at a the local fair, we follow Emily Westhill as she tries to clear her friend Ninas name. As the pair man the tent for the donut shop a series of events ensue that will change one life forever.

I not only enjoyed the colorful characters but also the town! It’s a place I wish we could visit. Stepping into Emily’s world was the best escape I could have asked for!

Beyond a Reasonable Donut by Ginger Bolton is Book five in the A Deputy Donut Mystery. This series is one of my favorites.
This well written Cozy has it all! There are plenty of plot twists and suspects, even though the police has focused on Nina. The characters are relatable and likeable. There is humor and romance including a wedding. Of course, I have to mention Dep the cat. who plays an important part.
When Nina's apartment is broken into and the apparent culprit is found murdered in the apartment, Emily feels Nina is not guilty and it's up to her to find the murderer before she becomes the next victim.
I was given an ARC by Kensington via NetGalley for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Survival of the Fritters, book 1 in Ginger Bolton’s Deputy Donut Mystery series, but then somehow life got in the way (as it often does) and I didn’t have a chance to read more in the series until now. Though I jumped back in at book 5 in the series, it didn’t take me long at all to reorient myself to the characters I recognized, get acquainted with the new one, and see that Brent and Emily STILL have not acted on their mutual attraction. C’mon, guys! Do this romance-loving girl a favor and start smooching! haha

Beyond a Reasonable Donut starts off with a local fair full of quirky attractions and yummy food (courtesy of Emily, Nina, and the Deputy Donut team of course) To my recollection I’ve not read another cozy that centered around Friday the 13th so that was a fun twist for the beginning of the story – and the initial groundwork for setting the list of possible suspects in the murder that happens later that evening. The mystery is extremely well-plotted and kept me turning the pages, keeping pace with Emily as she does her own investigating to clear Nina’s name. Nina’s evasive answers and peculiar behavior don’t help matters, nor does the influx of evasive & peculiar people in Fallingbrook… so Emily has her work cut out for her, as do the actual detectives on the case. It could have been any of the suspects as far as I was concerned, and I wasn’t much ahead of Emily in solving the crime.

Bottom Line: Beyond a Reasonable Donut is another deliciously good installment in Ginger Bolton’s Deputy Donut Mystery series! Emily is a strong protagonist and clever amateur sleuth, and I love how her ties to law enforcement really have shaped her sleuthing skills. Red herrings (good ones) abound in this book, and I was surprised in the end. I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention the fabulous feline Deputy Donut and her newly acquired sidekick Ivan, the adorable puppy. Mouth-watering food, interesting characters, a dash of romance and a well-written plot – sign me up!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Welcome back to Fallingbrook. Emily, Dep and friends are back on the case in this catching mystery-murder cozy. The fifth book in the A Deputy Donut Mystery series by Ginger Bolton.

There’s never a dull moment at Deputy Donut and this year. Deputy Donut will be serving at the exciting Fallingbrook’s Fairgrounds. Since arriving at the fair, things don’t go exactly as planned and a bizarre series of events lead to a mysterious murder by the end of the night. But when one of Deputy Donut’s employees is the main suspect, Emily will leave no donut unturned to get to the bottom of this mystery and catch the real killer. This time, lines are blurred and uncomfortable when friends become suspects, and your best friends belong to the Fallingbrook Police Department.

This is the second book that I have read in this series and for me, it was like coming home. I love that all of the established characters in this book have great chemistry. Emily, the protagonist, is calm and collected. She thinks everything through and tries to stay objective. I love that she has characters that adore and respect her and are willing to help her with whatever she needs. I’m a little sad that she’s still dancing around the notion of falling in love again. Emily has been a widow for some time and I really want her to get on with Detective Brent Fyne, those two love each other. It’s a bit frustrating, in the best way.

The supporting cast of characters feel every way like the characters you would find in your own family. I love the way Deputy Donut very much feels like a safe space for everyone. I could go on and on, but the bottom line is, the cast is family, and Deputy Donut feels like home. There is one particularly exceptional character, though. Her name is Dep, short for Deputy, and she is every bit paws-in, in the investigation. Her quick judgement and actions were detrimental in the resolution of this case. Meow.

Overall, a delightful cozy-mystery and an enjoyable read. Bonus points for the delicious recipes included at the end of the book.

~ Patricia

Princess Fuzzypants here: If Emily and Nina had any idea what would follow their visit to the bad luck tent, they might have avoided it at all costs. Things at the Carnival tanked when a magician tried to rob their Deputy Donut till. When Nina took off after him and a mime they both assumed was working with the thief things got a whole lot worse but not nearly as bad as when Emily and Nina found the mime choking in the sugar in the bucket that had been jammed over her head in Nina’s loft.

While Emily has no doubt of Nina’s innocence she is arrested when the police find evidence that links Nina to the victim in unexpected ways. But the spider’s web that seems to have trapped Nina is far deeper and more complex than could be imagined. There are lots of suspects actively suspiciously so there are a ton of red herrings but by the conclusion, it has all been neatly tied up for Emily and the reader.

I always like this series. I love Dep, her cat for whom the donut shop is named. I love Emily and all the assorted characters. The relationships are real and never stretch credulity nor does Emily’s sleuthing. She has far too much respect for the local cops, of which her husband and his father, her business partner, are but two. They also listen to her. They respect her insights and her ability to get information not easily obtained by police. It is a dynamic that works for the characters and the readers.

This one has an exciting conclusion complete with Dep doing her bit and a lovely horse of a puppy who manages to subdue the bad guy until the troops could arrive. How could you not love it? And I did.

Five purrs and two paws up.

This is the 5th installment in Deputy Donut mystery series. Emily Westhill runs Deputy Donut with her former Father-in-Law Tom (she is widowed). Emily and one of her employees and friend Nina are working the Faker’s festival on Friday the 13th and immediately butt heads with the organizer Marsha and they have to get all their stuff up to their tent as they cannot park near it. A mime is also there and is mocking the organizer and indicates she is watching the deputy donut girls. Later they discover a bucket of confectioners’ sugar is missing and then they are robbed by a magician and Emily is convinced the mime helped him out by distracting the crowd. So much for a festival honoring good and bad luck. Seems like they had a bunch of bad luck. Emily and Nina head home for the night and Nina asks Emily to drop her off at the grocery store. When Emily gets to the shop to park the donut car, she realizes that Nina left her tote bag in the car so she goes back to get her and cannot find her at the store. She then goes to Nina’s apartment and it appears it was broken into and she calls out for Nina and hears someone moaning. She is shocked to find the bucket of sugar all over Nina’s paintings and on the head of someone moaning on the ground. She was afraid it was Nina but she shows up and they learn the victim is none other than the mime that had been at the festival. Later the mime dies and Nina becomes the prime suspect and Emily is convinced that she is not guilty. She is irritated with Brent (who is Alec’s ex-partner and her potential love interest) that he believes she could do this. When Nina and Emily are almost run over, Emily is convinced the intended victim really was Nina and that she is in danger. The police take her in custody and Emily does what she does. This was a good solid mystery and Emily did not take crazy chances and the mystery just came together and was solved with the help of many. I also loved how Tom and Emily got Nina a lawyer and all the regular patrons wanted to help out as well. Also during this, one of her best friends Samantha was getting married and she was there to support her and her friend Misty as well. They were also there to support Nina. I really do enjoy this series.

Beyond a Reasonable Donut by Ginger Bolton is the 5th book in the Deputy Donut Mystery series, and another great book. Emily Westhill, a widow, and her retied chief of police father- in- law run a donut shop, Deputy Donut, in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin. In this exciting adventure, Deputy Donut shop is busy getting ready for the Faker's Dozen Carnival being help on Friday the 13th. Emily and Nina are working the booth. After the carnival, Emily finds a dead body at Nina's home, and Nina becomes the prime suspect. Emily knows Nina is innocent and starts to investigate. I really liked this book, and can't wait to read the next one in the series. I enjoyed the characters, which are well written. I am rooting for Emily and Brent to get together, 6 years is long enough to morn. If you love cozy mysteries, I strongly recommend this book/series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This fifth installment of the Deputy Donut mystery series finds us learning a lot more about the background of Nina Lapeer, the artist and invaluable assistant to our heroine, cafe owner Emily Westhill. As the book begins, the two women are all set to staff a booth at their local Faker’s Dozen Carnival, a fair dedicated to all things unlucky and mischievous. Neither woman is particularly superstitious, but it does seem a bit inauspicious that the organizer should be so unreasonably strict with them as they’re trying to unload their perishables on the morning of the festivities.

More bad luck follows: a tub of confectioner’s sugar goes missing, and several suspicious people are spotted lurking with intent around the custom Deputy Donut mobile. The absolute nadir of their day at the fair happens when a magician seeming to work in tandem with a mime robs their cash drawer. The culprits get away with a fistful of cash, but since the rest of the day has been profitable, Emily and Nina write off the loss at end of business and pack up to head home. Nina in particular is excited to get back to her apartment and complete the last, largest painting she’ll be shipping off to her first ever art gallery exhibit. She’s so excited that she accidentally leaves her bag in Emily’s car after asking to be dropped off at the nearby grocery store. Once Emily discovers the bag, she heads to Nina’s apartment to return it, but signs of forced entry have Emily rushing inside to see if Nina is okay. She’s shocked to find Nina’s art vandalized with confectioner’s sugar, and horrified to find the heavily injured, unconscious figure of the mime from the fair sprawled on the floor of the otherwise empty apartment.

Despite Emily’s best efforts, the mime does not live for much longer, and Nina is swiftly arrested for her murder. Emily is convinced that Nina was the actual target, and consoles herself with the thought that at least whomever killed the poor mime can’t get to her dear friend in protective custody. But who could possibly want the bubbly, talented Nina dead? As Emily uncovers more about the mime and about her own assistant, she’s shocked to discover how much Nina has been hiding from the people she calls friends.

This was a great addition to the Deputy Donut series, as we not only get to know Nina a lot better, but also celebrate the marriage of two more of Emily’s inner circle. It was also great to see Emily’s slow burn romance with her dead husband’s best friend continue to develop, and to see a brand new side to the icy detective who’s a sometime rival for Brent’s affections.

There were three recipes included, and since I’ve been perhaps oddly craving a lot of soup recently, I decided to try out this one:

QUOTE
Sherried Mushroom Soup

¼ cup salted butter
3 cups sliced fresh button mushrooms
1 quart chicken or vegetable broth
3 tablespoons dry sherry
sour cream
4 sliced green onions
salt and pepper

Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed pot.

Saute mushrooms in the butter until they’re golden.

Add the broth and heat to almost boiling.

Remove from heat.

Allow to cool slightly.

Stir in sherry.

Serve immediately in bowls with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of sliced green onions. Salt and pepper to taste.

Serves 3-4 people. You can also make this recipe in large quantities and keep it warm in a slow cooker.
END QUOTE

For whatever reason, the only mushrooms at the store were baby bellas, which added a bit of a meatier, darker flavor to the soup than button mushrooms might. I also used marsala instead of sherry to accompany this slightly more complex flavor, and I think that overall this soup came out beautifully, if perhaps with a bit more intensity than intended. The cool mellowness of sour cream and the piquancy of the green onions were a delicious counterpoint to the rich, buttery broth. Best of all, this all came together in surprisingly little time, making for a quick, sophisticated dish that can be enjoyed on its own or as a starter course for a larger meal.

Next week, we head back to my neck of the woods to bake a chewy sweet treat while protecting another fictional Nina from another calculating killer. Do join me!

Great addition to a terrific series. Good characters, adorable critters, clever mystery. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.

Another fantastic book in the Deputy Donut series. And a wedding! I am such a sucker for a wedding storyline and I loved reading about Samanath and Hooligan's wedding in the mountains by the lake. But unfortunately, the leading days are marred by a murder and one of their friends being arrested for the crime.

The description of the carnival was very well painted, I could picture the deputy donut crew serving up warm fritters and taking turns strolling through the attractions. The crime scene discovery was actually very chaotic, but the author did such a wonderful job taking her time to describe each action and scene that I really felt transported.

I wished to see more of Brent in this one! I felt like Emily handled most of this solo and just caught up with Brent on the phone.  I am hoping that Emily is starting to confront her inner demons and doubts and maybe, mayyybe there will be some more development in their friendship. She has such a great group of friends I would love to see her really open herself up more to them. Actually, I missed most of the side characters because I really felt like this focused on Emily and her determination to exonerate her friend. 

I was truly shocked by the reveal! I only put the pieces together right about when Emily did and then I was on the edge of my seat to see how she handled it.  I love how Dep is always involved in the unmasking and puts his defensive tactics to great use. Emily is a great sleuth to read about because even though she can't leave things alone, she makes pretty good choices and is cautious when she can. Her reasoning is actually very quick and the reader isn't left waiting for her to catch up. It was fun following her as she navigated this very complicated puzzle.

Overall I really enjoyed this and cannot wait for more from this favorite series. Thanks to the publisher for a review copy ; I'm delighted to share my honest thoughts.

This series is always fun to read. In this book, Emily who co-owns a donut shop with her late husband’s father) is working at a carnival. Assisting her is Nina, who is also an artist getting ready for her first big gallery showing.

A magician and a mime upset the two of them and for good reason. There is also a very strict and almost nuts, coordinator at the carnival who has it in for Emily.

Later, the mime breaks into Nina’s loft and Emily finds her fighting for her life. The mime doesn’t make it but while she was in the loft, she vandalized Nine’s largest painting and Nina must get it ready before the show.

However, Nina is a suspect and Emily works overtime and calls in favors from family and friends to get Nina cleared.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

I was thrilled to be approved to read an ARC of Beyond a Reasonable Donut. Thank you SO much @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks!!

I think the mystery in this book is the best in the series so far! The first 10 chapters I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was happening. This book will be especially enjoyable if, like me, you have read a previous book in the series. Some very intense things happen to some characters in this book, and I was really invested! The story also references several things that happened in the fourth book, Boston Scream Murder.

I am a huge fan of this adorable series, and I am of course excited for the Christmas-themed one that comes out later this year! My child is also waiting for a Valentine’s Day themed book... 😊 Reading this book series with my child is a treasured memory!

One random thought: the blurb mentions that the Friday the 13th fair is an annual celebration, but Friday the 13th happens on completely different days and seasons every year...

Beyond a Reasonable Donut by Ginger Bolton is book five in the 'Deputy Donut Mystery Series' and was a great read! Emily Westhill runs the best doughnut shop in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin, alongside her retired police chief father-in-law and her tortoiseshell tabby cat, Deputy Donut.

The Faker's Dozen Carnival is looming and the date is set for Friday the thirteenth. The team from Deputy Donut are serving a variety of corn fritters but not long after they arrive, they notice their container of confectioner’s sugar has vanished. After a quick replacement delivery the crowd tuck into the freshly made fritters, but then a magician robs them, taking a wad of five-dollar notes from their till. After the carnival there is more bad luck - Nina's loft is broken into - but the bucket of sugar turns up... on the head of a mime act named Zippy. It would seem that Zippy has suffocated from the sugar.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable page-turner - the plot was solid and entertaining and the characters were a very likeable bunch of folk. Emily is a marvellous protagonist with a kind heart. Ginger Bolton has surrounded Emily with a great group of family and friends that totally support her. With sprinkles of humour, the writing style of the author continues to wow me, and the many twists and the unclear motive kept me invested in the story until its surprising conclusion.

Overall, a delightful caper that I highly recommend as part of a series and a standalone read so dive in as soon as you can!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my own request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Thank you to Kensington Books for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I review books that I enjoy so that others can enjoy them, too.

Beyond a Reasonable Donut is the fifth book in the Deputy Donut mystery series by Ginger Bolton. I have not yet read all the books in this series and had no trouble keeping up. The story is set in October on Friday 13th in small town Fallingbrook, Wisconsin--during the start of a country fair/carnival titled Fakers Dozen. Emily, cat Dep and the rest of the town are making corn fritters the central theme of the fair. The characters are personable---ones who draw the reader in and keeps them there. The plot is an interesting one involving a locket, an old photo, and a secret message. This is just the kind of mystery I love. The pace is varied and suits the story well. I loved this cozy mystery, and intend to read all the ones I missed.

Just as I was craving a good donut mystery from Deputy Donut (and reading about their yummy food), this book was about to make its debut (actually tomorrow). Wow what a lot of little things that added up to be part of the murder. When Emily's assistant Nina was arrested for murder, Emily never once thought she could kill someone, but when some things came to light in the case, Emily wondered how much she really knew about her friend and employee. As a side story, Samantha and Hooligan's wedding was coming up, and everyone was just holding their breath as to whether the world would finally get to know Hooligan's real name. It was a lot of fun having that as a little comic relief.

And who knew a bachelorette dinner would ultimately turn into a showdown with the killer? I'd sort of suspected this person of something when they first came on the scene, but I wasn't sure what. I just knew I didn't trust them. I didn't really trust anyone except the key players. After the murder was solved, everyone got to attend their friends' wedding. But I promised Samantha and Hooligan I wouldn't spill another word about it. ;)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

The Deputy Donut Mysteries are among my favorite cozy mystery series. Emily is a great main character for everything but her blind side when it comes to Brent, but that is sort of a side issue.
Emily and Nina have a donut and fritter booth at one of Fallingbrook's carnivals. A magician steals from them and a mime seems to be involved.
Later the mime is found gravely injured in Nina's loft apartment and later dies. Nina becomes the police' prime suspect.
The investigation in this one is really interesting and I love how everything changes on a dime as the story reaches it climax.
There is a wedding to look forward to and we just might learn Hooligan's first name.
This is a well written and interesting mystery. You could probably read this one by itself, but I always enjoy reading in order to see the story, characters and relationships develop.

This continues to be a really charming series. Emily is a wonderful series lead, as she tends to not make some of the irresponsible decisions common in this genre, and watching her transition in her relationships as time goes on from her husband's death carries character development throughout this series. The mystery in this one is well done and interesting, with a lot of solid suspects with good reasons. This is a good addition to a solidly enjoyable series.

Deputy Donut Cafe's Emily Westhill and her assistant Nina are selling corny fritters at the Faker’s Dozen Carnival in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin. Weird things happen starting with the disappearance of their bucket of confectioner’s sugar. Then a female mime and magician create a distraction and they rob the cash register. That night, Emily realizes Nina has left her purse in the car and goes to Nina’s loft where she finds the mime with broken limbs and the bucket of stolen sugar on her head. It appears she was in the midst of vandalizing Nina's large painting when she was attacked. But was she the intended target or Nina?

This mystery was a bit slow at times and the secrets behind Nina's past life and her family connections to the mime Zippy are eventually revealed. It is a bit too contrived that Emily and her two friends have gone to a resort cabin to prep for Samantha's wedding, and that the murder suspects also end up staying there.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Kensington Books with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

This was my favorite in this charming series. I have read the entire series and always enjoy returning to the "Deputy Donut" shop and the great charcters. This was a delight to read and the perfect cozy mystery escape.
Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley. My review opinion is my own. The author has all the right elements here for a enjoyable cozy mystery read.

This is the 5th in this delightful series . I love how the author has created such a fun group of charcters and with each book we grow to love them more. This next in series revolves around a fun festival for Friday the 13th, ( very clever) baking, corn fritters, donuts and of course murder. It was a fun sleuth that kept me guessing and a perfect next in series for fans of this fun series. The author has plenty of clues,. lots of red herrings and suspects abound as our favorite people investigate . A well crafted sleuth that kept me guessing to conclusion.