I typically don't care for murder mysteries and even though this one is a light murder mystery, there were enough wonderful Christmas details for me to thoroughly enjoy this book. The author was cognizant of people who were reading this book (Christmas lovers) and made sure all our Christmas desires were met, including two luscious donut recipes in the back. This is the sixth book in a series of six, which means it would make a great Christmas gift for your favorite romance readers. The book will publish on October 26, 2021. Thank you NetGalley, for the advanced copy!

This is my first read of the Deputy Donut Mystery series and I loved it. I was very much drawn to the festive cover and I enjoyed reading the Christmas themed book. The book was a quick read that had the mystery flowing smoothly. A bus trip to Fallingbrook, Wisconsin for the annual Ice and Lights Festival has Emily, the owner of Deputy Donut Shop excited as she's commissioned a sculpture with three ice-carved donut shapes to form a holey snowman, Frosty the Donut. Her plans to spend time with her dashing detective come crashing down when the bus crashes and a body is found underneath her sculpture. Was it an accident because of the snow or something more sinister when all should be in a holiday mood? Well written. I enjoyed it.

Pub Date 26 Oct 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Another great read in a great series! I had no idea who the killer was until the reveal. Fantastic story! Loved the ending! Looking forward to more adventures with Emily and the gang.

Donut-maker Emily Westhill is looking forward to a white Christmas, especially if it means extra ski time with police detective Brent Nyce at the chalet home he’s just bought a short way outside of their town of Fallingbrook, Wisconsin. Of course, ski time isn’t the only kind of time she’s looking forward to spending with the handsome older man. Seven years ago, the death of her husband, who was also Brent’s best friend and partner, tore the two then-friends apart. Reconnecting has brought its fair share of pain, but something tender and new is growing between them, and Emily thinks she might be ready to take the next step in embracing her future.

An emergency call while they’re wrapping up a skiing run, however, has them focusing on a more immediate concern: dashing to the aid of a tour bus that has driven off the road. Tour guide Paige Usinor insists that the steering wheel somehow snapped under the hands of driver Travis Tarriston, but unhappy passenger comments and the evidence of Brent and Emily’s own noses indicate that alcohol likely played a part in the proceedings. Travis himself seems to be the person most badly injured, necessitating admission to the Fallingbrook hospital. While the rest of the people on the tour bus suffered less severely, they’re almost all stranded while they try to reach the tour company in order to get transport back to Green Bay.

Of course, the residents of Emily’s small town spring into action, opening their homes and wallets to help house, feed and entertain the many families on the bus while they arrange transportation home. Emily herself takes in a very shaken Paige, who is as concerned with Travis’ well-being as she is with hiding from the understandably angry tour bus group. Paige confides in Emily that she hadn’t wanted him to come back to a town with which he’d had such a contentious past… a past that turns into a murderous present when Travis is found dead under an ice sculpture, still dressed in his hospital gown, the next day.

While Emily is certain that Brent will be able to solve the case, she can’t resist getting involved, especially when Paige herself is a suspect in Travis’ murder. Emily likes her new lodger, who seems particularly sweet and considerate, but as the evidence begins mounting against Paige, Emily can’t help but wonder if she’s opened her home to a devious killer. It will take Brent and Emily’s combined efforts to sort out the truth and apprehend a murderer, even as they reevaluate their own relationship and a possible future together.

Readers, I cheered at the last lines of this book. This series has really put the “slow” back into slow-burn romance, but I appreciate how Ginger Bolton has made me really care about these characters and their happiness together. She also does a fine job of laying down her plot and obscuring whodunnit, like a covering veil of the Wisconsin snow she writes about here. Deck The Donuts is a can’t miss for series fans, or even for more casual readers who enjoy romance with their cozy mysteries.

There were two donut recipes included, and I decided to try out this one:

QUOTE
Gingerbread Donuts

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons powdered ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
1 tablespoon candied ginger, chopped fine (Note: Candied ginger near the outsides of donuts will become crunchy during frying.)
2 egg yolks, beaten
¼ cup molasses
¼ cup milk
¼ cup brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon melted unsalted butter
Vegetable oil with a smoke point of 400°F or higher (or follow your deep fryer’s instruction manual)
Confectioners’ or granulated sugar (optional)

Sift the flour, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves into one bowl. Stir in candied ginger.

In another bowl, mix the egg, molasses, milk, brown sugar, and melted butter. Stir wet ingredients in dry ingredients until blended. If necessary, add flour by tablespoonfuls until dough is just barely firm enough to handle. Do not overmix. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill several hours or overnight.

Roll dough to ½ inch thick. Cut with donut cutter or one large round cutter with a smaller round cutter to make a hole in the center. Cover with damp cloth and allow to rest for ½ hour.

Heat oil to 360°F. Gently slip the donuts and donut holes, a few at a time, into hot oil. Do not overcrowd. Cook for about two minutes until puffed and browning, turn, and cook for about one minutes. Lift and drain on paper towels.

Makes about a half dozen donuts and a half dozen donut holes.

When cool, sprinkle with confectioners’ or granulated sugar if desired.
END QUOTE

As you can see from the pictures, this did not come out anywhere close to what I imagined! This was actually my first attempt at frying donuts from this series’ recipes: I’d only ever baked them before, though I have fried biscuit can donuts successfully. The flavors of these were good, as everyone in my roleplaying group commented when I brought these over for feedback, but my chef friend Laura had a lot of very useful tips for making a far more donut-like batch the next time I try these. Firstly, she insists that I should be resting the donuts once I’ve cut them out for at least two hours, and to use a slightly higher temperature and slightly longer cook time. Hopefully, this advice will help me make better donuts the next time round!

Next week, we travel back east for a family reunion gone murderously awry while making yet another seafood pasta (I can’t help it, I love the stuff!) Do join me!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I couldn't put this book down! it was a great cozy mystery that feels perfect for the holidays. The characters had a lot of life to them. And, the book quickly put me in the holiday mood.

I like this series, and this is book 6 in the Deputy Donuts cozy group. It's getting close to Christmas and Fallingbrook, WI is getting ready for the Ice and lights festival. When a bus crashes outside of town the locals take in the passengers as a big storm hits the area. Now the crash is under investigation and murder isn't far behind. Emily and the police investigate and discover that someone local has a major reason to kill the driver. This can be read as a stand alone but the series is a good one. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A wonderfully sweet and cozy mystery for the holiday.

I found myself flying through this mystery as it flowed beautifully and the mystery was very intriguing. I never guessed the murderer until seconds before the big reveal.

The ending is so perfect. I was so happy I just sat there with my kindle wrapped in a hug and a big smile on my face.

You can pick this series up with any book and be ok. Be prepared to crave donuts.

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

DECK THE DONUTS is the sixth book in the Deputy Donut Mysteries by Ginger Bolton. With its inviting cover, the reader will be tempted to sit by a roaring fire while nibbling on all the delectable goodies the season has to offer. Cozy characters, chief amongst them protagonist Emily Westhill and her charming feline, Deputy Donut, have contributed to this series becoming a fan favorite. The author’s easy writing style, combined with the “niceness” of Emily, her family, friends, and community, makes it almost improbable that anything bad can happen in the town of Fallingbrook, Wisconsin. But it is a murder mystery after all, and Ms. Bolton does an admirable job of weaving the crime into the holiday setting, complete with a snowstorm and a Frosty the Donut ice snowman sculpture. With a strong descriptive voice, the setting comes to life and the reader will shiver from cold and fright alike.

A stranded tour bus load of passengers brings in a new flux of potential victims and suspects alike to Emily’s small town. When the tour bus driver is found murdered, buried beneath Frosty the Donut, it’s difficult for Emily to not get involved to find out the truth since one of the potential suspects happens to be staying at her house. Even despite the town’s detective (and her best friend and maybe wannabe love interest) asking her to stay safe and let him do his job, she can’t help herself. With twists and turns galore, the path to finding the killer turns out to be as slippery as a ski slope. The reveal caught me off guard but as the strands of the story came together, it all made perfect sense. The final conclusion brings a heartwarming scene with the promise of more good things for Emily and her friends.

Co-owning the Deputy Donut shop with her retired chief of police father-in-law, Emily is always creating and serving up delicious donuts in a wide variety of flavors. Given the Christmas theme, I was pleased to see that Ms. Bolton offers recipes at the back of the book, including one for Gingerbread Donuts.

I received this book from NetGalley/publishers!
I loved the cover and the tile what got me attracted to the book and the description.
I couldn't put it down, I love a good cozy mystery.
I can't wait to here more out of this author.

Love this series. This story is a great addition. Fun in the snow. It will keep you guessing. Nice to read the series in order but not required as each is a standalone. Of course, if you haven't read any and start with this one you will want to go back to read the first five. I am eager for the next one. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.

Deck the Donuts is the sixth book in the Deputy Donuts series, and the first I've read...which did not detract from my enjoyment in anyway (although I do want to go back and read the others). I adored everything about this book: the interesting characters, the intriguing mystery, the town and townspeople, the donut shop, and even the snow (I live where we don't get much snow). They all worked together to put me in a holiday mood, and to make this a cozy mystery I heartily recommend.

Many thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

The donut shop is all decked out for the upcoming holiday season, even the donuts have gotten some new Christmassy designs. The shop is even a part of the annual Ice and Lights Festival and are showing an ice sculpture shaped like a snowman using three donuts. Things are going well until a storm hits the area stranding a tour bus but the locals open their homes to those who are stuck. The people on the bus are upset because they all think the driver of the tour was drunk. When said driver is found dead under Emily's ice sculpture she wonders what could have happened. Was his death an accident or was he.murdered. It soon becomes apparent that the man was murdered but who would have killed him and why? While investigating Emily learns the man had issues with a couple in town not to mention a whole bus load of people. Follow along as Emily tries to figure out who was behind the mans death and what caused them to kill.

What an awesome and festive Christmas mystery! I could easily picture the village square with the ice sculptures (minus the dead body, of course!) This was one tough mystery to even think about picking whodunit, so I just read and enjoyed. The person I was a little worried about being the perp wasn't, so I was happy about that, lol. I really loved that Ivan the big dog that belonged to the DCI detective and her sons got to be a hero in the showdown. And boy, what an exciting showdown that was! I could picture it playing out as a TV mystery movie.

The whole thing could've been a Christmas mystery movie though with Brent having that awesome ski chalet. I got a kick out of the two older ladies in Emily's neighborhood who remained nameless, like guardian angels in the background. Emily knew the one lady as pruning shears lady, and the other was referred to as snow angel since she helped the bus tour guide staying with Emily.

I was incredbily happy with the ending of this book! All I could think of was wow, it's about time! I can't wait for the next book!

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

Deck the Donuts is book 6 in the Deputy Donuts Mystery series by Ginger Bolton.

It’s nearly Christmas in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin, when a tour bus crashes on its way to see the Lights and Ice Festival. The town steps up to help the stranded tourists but the stay doesn’t turn out well for everyone.

This is the first book I’ve read in this series and I really enjoyed it. The townspeople stepped up to provide food and shelter for complete strangers. The Emily and Brent storyline is sweet. The mystery really pulled me in. There were several people that had a motive to kill the victim so it kept me guessing.

I recommend this book if you are looking for a feel good book with an intriguing mystery.

Thank you to the author, Kensington, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Emily and Brent have just finished a day cross country skiing with evening plans that have been interrupted by a bus crash. As a large snowstorm begins, the town becomes busy finding rooms for the unexpected guests and dinner at a restaurant. The bus was headed to watch the annual Ice and Lights Festival in Fallingbrook. Join the town in welcoming the unexpected guests and then trying to solve a murder.

This is the first that I’ve read in this series and enjoyed it.

Deck the Donuts by Ginger Bolton is the 6th 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 making festive donuts for Christmas time. Emily is starting to explore her feelings for detective Brent Fyne, but of course murder gets in the way. A tourist bus crashing in the snowy mountains, injuring the driver injured. When he later dies, his death is suspicious. Emily starts to investigate to prove her new friend didn't kill him. 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.

Deck the Donuts by Ginger Bolton is book six 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.

It's the annual Ice and Lights Festival in Fallingbrook and Emily is all set. The team from Deputy Donut have organised an outstanding centrepiece; three doughnuts carved from ice, shaped to form a snowman. They have also decorated the doughnuts in the shop in red and green frosting. Tour buses are ferrying in the passengers, but one of the buses has crashed leaving the driver injured. He is found the next day beneath the snowman ice sculpture, dead.

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 killer's identity had me baffled. I was kept guessing and totally 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! An ideal festive read.

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

Another fantastic Deputy Donut mystery with a holiday flare! I loved the snowy, festive atmosphere that so wonderfully permeates this book. The description of the town covered in snow made me have a tiny twinge for winter (usually my least favorite season). I loved all the holiday decorations and events that the townspeople put together for their visitors. We got to see all of our favorite recurring characters in this story and they each played an integral role in the story. The mystery itself had me absolutely stumped so I was shocked and on the edge of my seat by the ending. I also loved seeing how much emotional growth and healing that Emily is finding in herself along the series, but especially in this book. I appreciate how she doesn't jump into things, but now she is starting to break down her own barriers and I am so happy for her. I have such a huge hope for more romance in the future because I think she really has found her perfect match. I enjoyed this book so much and it will be the perfect holiday cozy mystery this winter!

A Christmas mystery filled with donuts, family, love and murder! Ginger Bolton's latest book has it all! When a tour bus has an accident, right before the holiday, Emily and her charming town help house and entertain the stranded tourists. While everyone is having a good time, the driver of the bus is murdered. Now Emily has to find why and if the murderer may be a guest in her home!

This latest mystery had so many red herrings, that I lost count....and I loved them all! Emily has her hands full with running the donut shop and sleuthing. However, Tom and Cindy, are there to help and, of course, so is her feline buddy Dep! The book has so many wonderful characters and while I loved the mystery, I also loved the descriptions of the town which put me in the holiday mood in August!

I'm ready for another case!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Emily is gearing up for Christmas and the annual Ice and Lights festival. One of the center pieces is her Frosty the Donut ice sculpture. The donuts are seasonal (and had me wishing her shop was nearby) decorated in red and green with sprinkles, etc. Everyone is getting into the Christmas cheer but, of course, there's always a Grinch waiting in the wings to throw a spanner in the works. This time it's a busload of tourists stranded in town when their bus goes off the road sending the driver to the hospital and the passengers in search of shelter. The locals rally round them, opening their homes to them until new transportation arrives. Emily takes in Paige, the bus drivers girlfriend. Things get worse when a snow storm hits and the next morning Emily finds Frosty has been done in and he has company - the injured bus driver has joined him.
Was the killer his girlfriend, Paige who slipped out in the middle of the night? Was it one of the passengers from the bus? Or was it a local - he had ties to some of them. Time for Emily and her detective boyfriend Brent...and their friends...to track down the killer.
This is one series that has a permanent spot on my must be read list. They have never let me down and each book is like a letter from friends. Emily and her father-in-law are two of my favorite characters but tops on that lit has to be her cat. And donuts. Put it all in a great puzzle with the needed red herrings, twists and turns and it's a perfect reading escape.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.