Leila returns home for her father’s funeral in Vermont. When she is there, she finds out that her father had changed his will leaving his maple syrup farm to her.
Her father was murdered, and this leaves Leila in a sticky situation to figure out who really killed him because her brother is being framed as the killer. Leila knows it could not be him but finding out leads to many others who could have done it.
This is the first book in the new cozy mystery series Maple Syrup Mysteries.
Thank you NetGalley, Catherine Bruns and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC of A Doomful of Sugar. This is my personal review.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

Leila Khoury reluctantly returns to her hometown of Sugar Ridge, Vermont when her father Victor is murdered. To her surprise, Leila is left to run Sappy Endings, the family maple syrup business. As Leila adjusts to working with long-time employee Jessica and new hire Noah, she wants answers about her father's murder and decides to do some sleuthing. Why did her younger brother Simon & their father have a heated argument on the day he was killed? Why did Leila not know about her father's former business partner Dennis who'd committed suicide 20 years ago? And why was Dennis' son Wesley so adamant that Dennis had been murdered? Another murder occurs before Leila finds a hidden clue on her father's computer that points to the killer.

There are a good set of possible suspects, interesting family dynamics and a welcoming cozy setting for this debut mystery. Several maple-themed recipes are included at the end of the book.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press/SOURCEBOOKS. My opinions are my own.

This is the first book in the maple syrup mysteries. Leila has returned home after learning about her father's death. In his will he left his syrup farm to Leila. She is shocked but agrees to stay for at least one year. She soon learns that her father was murdered. She is determined to find out the truth. Especially since her brother is framed for the crime.
I enjoyed this book so much. Leila is very independent, and I feel like we didn't learn her full backstory yet. Her best friend, Heather, meshes well with her. I liked how Leila ran the farm and the progress she showed throughout the book. The mystery was very well done. While I suspected part of it, the ending threw me. I was not expecting that. A very good start. I will definitely be reading more.

A Doomful of Sugar, the first book in Catherine Bruns’s Maple Syrup Mystery series, is a heartfelt, hometown, cozy mystery, with enough action and intrigue to keep you turning the pages. It is a fantastic start to what promises to be a very entertaining series.

Leila Khoury returns to Sugar Ridge, Vermont upon the death of her father. She is surprised to find that his will devises the maple farm and store to her, with the proviso that she works at the business for a year. When it is revealed that her father was murdered, the local police focus the investigation on her brother, Simon. But as Leila sets out to clear his name, she discovers several local secrets and a possible connection to a cold case suicide (or was it murder?). Leila’s efforts lead her down a perilous path, where no one is what they seem, and danger lurks at every corner.

I have read a couple of Ms. Bruns’s other series (Italian Chef, Cookies and Chance) and enjoyed them thoroughly. Based on this opening novel, I suspect this series will be even better. The mystery is multi-faceted, filled with twists, turns, and enough red herrings to keep you guessing. The maple farm setting is wonderful and picturesque. The combination of the farm and store presents endless opportunities for growth, as does the family dynamic.

That said, the characters are the heart of the book. Each one is uniquely drawn and detailed, and the interplay between them is smooth and natural. Leila is an instantly likeable and sympathetic protagonist. You feel her sorrow at the loss of her father, her trepidation about running the business, and her suspicion of everyone involved. Noah, who has been her father’s right-hand man for the past year or so, is quiet and mysterious, with a painful secret. Leila’s best friend, Heather, is a great source of support and a bit of humor, and Leila’s adopted cat, Toast, is appropriately adorable. And, as an added bonus, there are several maple-based recipes that sound delicious!

A Doomful of Sugar is an impressive debut to what I hope will be a lengthy series. With a compelling mystery, appealing characters, and an engaging backdrop, A Doomful of Sugar is the perfect book for a fall afternoon. I already want to read the next book!

Note: I received an ARC of A Doomful of Sugar from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press. The above is my honest review.

A nice start to a new series. Leila's father died and left her his maple syrup business with the proviso that she must work there for a year before she can sell it. He didn't just, die- he was murdered. Leila knows her brother didn't do it, but who did? She finds herself navigating her grief, learning the business, and trying to find the killer, all while dealing with her mom, with whom she has a slightly fraught relationship. It's the debut for these characters so they aren't quite as fleshed out as they will be in the next installment but the mystery is good as is the setting. And there's Toast the cat! Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Oh- and recipes !

Thanks Netgalley for the advance copy of A Doomful of Sugar, a sweet cozy mystery coming out this month, by Catherine Bruns

Set in Vermont at a artisanal maple syrup farm where the owner is suddenly killed, his daughter Leila returns from Florida to take over the business and figure out who killed her beloved father. Leila and her delightful family will keep you turning the pages of this book as she works to figure out who killed her father and keep the business running.
And with other books I've read by Bruns, there's a cute kitty that saves the day!

The writer does a great job of drawing the reader in, making you part of Leila's family. And at the end of the story you might just have a craving for maple syrup!

Review found on Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5034375666 and also on Instagram @dairyfreegina

This is a great start to a promising new series. Although it's built on the trope of an adult child coming home after the death of a parent, there's plenty here that feels fresh, including the tense relationships between the two parents and the two adult children and the stumbles involved in trying to take over a family business. I think the killer is telegraphed a bit too much, but other than that, I really like it. It feels like there's some depth to these characters, some backstories that I'll enjoy learning more about in the coming books!

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars, rounded up

When Leila’s father is killed, she returns to Sugar Ridge to be with her family. When she learns that he has left the farm to her and expects her to take over the business, she struggles to adjust to the changes this will necessitate in her life. As she begins to learn what running a maple syrup farm is all about, she also learns surprising things about her father.

This is the first book in a new series by a new-to-me author, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Fortunately, the book doesn’t suffer from many of the issues that seem to plague first-in-a-series books, which is to be expected as this is not the author’s first book.

The setting of a maple syrup farm gives the author a lot of possibilities to work with. I learned a lot about some of what is necessary to produce maple syrup, but there’s still a lot to learn, which I’m sure will be addressed in future books. I enjoyed meeting Leila’s family and some of the residents of the town, and look forward to getting to know more about them as the series progresses.

The mystery here was different from that in most cozies, in that the murder took place several days before the book even started, so physical clues were nearly impossible to find. Leila is very quick to accuse people of the murder, and she isn’t tactful about it at all, which made me roll my eyes several times. But she is good about admitting being wrong and apologizing to the people she’s accused, which is a nice change of pace. It’s also good that she didn’t knowingly put herself in dangerous situations.

I liked that the reader is given the same clues as the sleuth, so I could attempt to figure things out right along with Leila. I began to suspect the killer relatively early in the story, but wasn’t certain until a couple of clues were revealed. Given that information, the motive made sense, although I’m not sure I would have figured out all of it on my own.

I’m eager to read the next book in this series.

Leila unexpectedly inherits the family's maple syrup farm when her father's murdered.

Family bickering and suspicions counterbalance the sweetness of maple syrup. Leila and her mother have an uneasy at best relationship with her brother being her mother’s favorite. Simon has his own secrets that he doesn’t want Leila prying into even though he’s a suspect. Which gives the mystery extra tension.

So many gorgeous descriptions of the farm, autumn in Vermont, and the process of making maple syrup. Plus all of the delicious food. Leila’s Lebanese mother cooks delicious dishes throughout the book. Plus there’s maple syrup, candy, baklava, and lattes. Happily, there are recipes for some of the delights described.

The mystery was well-done and engaging with several secrets unveiled before we find out the killer’s identity.

There’s a bit of an enemies-to-lovers romance between Leila and the farm’s manager, Noah which felt a little rushed but I’m hoping it has time to develop.

And you get not only an adorable floof in the shape of Toast the cat but you also get a charming kiddo, Noah’s daughter.

For fans of Jenn McKinlay and Mindy Quiqley

A Doomful of Sugar by Catherine Bruns is the first book in the Maple Syrup Mysteries series. I found this book to be a great beginning to this series. Leila Khoury returns to her hometown of Sugar Ridge, Vermont following the shooting death of her father. Not satisfied with the pace of the police investigation Leila starts asking questions and investigating on her own. What follows is a storyline filled with action, suspense, plot twists and surprises. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next book in the series.

A Doomful Of Sugar is the first book in a brand new series, Maple Syrup Mysteries, by Catherine Bruns.
Coming home should not be so difficult. Leila does not have it easy and it’s a mess trying to figure out what happened and who to trust. Thank goodness it is sorted out by the end of the story.

This series a welcome addition to her other series. If you like smart women, small towns and a bit of mystery give this book a chance.

I’m looking forward to the next installment.

I was given an advanced copy of the story by Netgalley and am not required to leave a positive review.

Those familiar with cozy mysteries can't fault this title for following the tropes. The setting is lovely, fall on a maple syrup farm, and the characters are just quirky enough. Where the book rang false was in the choice of the murder victim - the main character's father. Although the book says multiple times that our amateur detective and her father were very close, the main character never once cries, breaks down, or has any serious display of sorrow. She is laser focused on finding her father's killer, and some may argue that she is suppressing or sublimating her grief into the hunt, but it just didn't feel true. The tracking down of clues feels stilted and many interactions between characters feels off. While cozy mysteries often don't delve deep into emotions, cozy mysteries also don't usually kill off someone very close to the detective.

3 stars for the setting and the idea... lost 2 stars for poor execution of characters and character dynamics.

Catherine Bruns has other cozy mystery series under her belt (Cookies and Chance Mysteries, Italian Chef Mysteries, Cindy York Mysteries, and the Aloha Lagoon Mysteries), and how well A Doomful of Sugar (the first in the Maple Syrup Mysteries) is written just goes to prove that she is one of the Queens of Cozies!

Leila comes back to her hometown for her father’s funeral. She had been planning on returning to her dismal life in Florida (to prove she could make it on her own and because she doesn’t get along well with her mother), but when she finds out that her dad gave her the syrup farm and business and that he was murdered, she boils over and starts accusing everyone (except her mom and BFF) of being a suspect.

The reader is treated to descriptions of gorgeous Vermont scenery, maple making facts and history, wonderful maple and Lebanese recipes, and some well developed characters (especially for a first book in a series). We don’t get too much of the town, since Bruns focuses more on the farm in this book, so I’m looking forward to that in future books.

After Leila is town for a bit, she sweetens to Noah, an employee of the farm who has a wonderful way of calming her down, as well as protecting her. I’m enjoying how Bruns is handling this relationship. She didn’t dwell on the love interest and it actually feels organic. And I also like the surprise people that come along with Noah. It should add some touching or humorous scenes in future books.

As for the mystery, I thought this one was very well done. Lots of red herrings and clues, and I was surprised by the ending. Most cozy mysteries tend to be a bit lighter with the whodunnit aspect, but how could I expect anything less from a Queen of Cozies?!?

A Doomful of Sugar by Catherine Bruns
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers
Expected Publication Date: October 25, 2022

A Doomful of Sugar is the first book in the new Maple Syrup Mystery series by Catherine Bruns. This was the first book I have read by the author and I am confident that it will not be the last!

This was such a wonderful book! There was so much that I absolutely loved about it. The characters were wonderful and relatable. The story was beautifully written and captivating. The mystery had me on the edge of my seat and I loved how layered it was!

I was so drawn into this book! I didn't want to reach the end and I look forward to what will be coming in the future! I highly recommend this book! It's a great Fall read, with the beautiful setting in Vermont. What could be better than maple syrup and murder!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The first book of a cozy mystery series and I always try out the cozy mystery series. A Doomful of Sugar is one of those books, filled with all these recipes of the desserts made with maple syrup that you could try at home.

Leila Khoury returns to the countryside Vermont known as Sugar Ridge, when she heard the news about her father's death. Her father had left his will--the farm now solely belongs to Leila. However, Leila is determined to find out who actually killed her own father--suspects the own coworkers handsome Noah and Jessica, her own brother Simon and a man named Wesley. And since law enforcement had not produced any leans, Leila along with her friend Hannah must find out who is behind her father's murder.

This was actually a really good cozy mystery book which I actually enjoyed reading a lot. The descriptions and scenes of farming and extracting maple syrup were interesting to read. I do like how everyone except for her mother and her best friend Hannah seemed to be a suspect under Leila's eye. The ending at who was responsible for her father's death was surprising and unexpected. I do like the receipes at the back using the maple syrup which prompts me to try out some. Overall, if there's a book 2, I cannot wait to read what Leila had in for her next adventure--worth 4.5 stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Entertaining read with likeable characters and plenty of suspects. This book hit the cozy mystery musts with a small town, family owned business, a great best friend, hunky guys, and enough backstories to fill several books. Fortunately, it only skimmed the enemies to potential love interest trope, without dragging it out. I did know who the killer was mid-way through the book but did not expect the complexity of the situation. Cozy or not, Ms.. Bruns has a scorched earth approach to her characters, so buckle up. I look forward to Book 2.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reading copy of this title.

This is the first book in a new series by Catherine Bruns. Leila Khoury has always believed that everyone loved her father as much as they loved his artisanal maple syrup. But when he is murdered and she returns to her home town to take over his business, she realizes how unaware she has been of what's going on at home. Taking up investigating on her own, Leila will learn exactly what happened to lead to her father's sticky end.

A Doomful of Sugar is the 1st book in Maple Syrup Mysteries series by Catherine Bruns. After her father is murdered, Leila Khoury returns to her hometown, Sugar Ridge, Vermont, to take over the family farm. She is determined to find out who killed her father. If she’s not careful, she may be the killers next victim.

Vivid descriptions allow the reader to picture the quaint town of Sugar Ridge in the fall. The mystery is cleverly crafter. Although I was on the right track about who the killer was, I was still surprised by the reveal, a twist I didn’t see coming. I enjoyed the mystery very much but the found the characters lacking. I felt that Noah, the apparent love interest, was the only characters that was well developed. Leila, in her late twenties, came across as childish, petty, and jealous for the first half of the book. Leila’s brother Simon also came across as childish. Leila did get better in the 2nd half of the book, but I still found it very hard to like her. I’m hoping Leila has matured in the next book in the series, which I do plan on reading. I feel that this series has a lot of potential, and I’m looking forward to learning more about Leila’s friend Heather, and meeting some of the other townspeople.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for providing an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

New series from Catherine Bruns begins with intriguing debut. See my complete review at www.reviewingtheevidence.com.

I liked the book enough to finish, but Leila wasn't the most likeable main character which is pretty important in a cozy. She does get better towards the end. There was also a lot of repetition. Leila would say something, then say something to the same effect in the next chapter. All the characters, including some of the secondary ones, could use a good therapist. Luckily, Toast seems to have his head on straight.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.