What a great start to this debut series that quickly became a page-turner as I had to know who was doing what to whom. This was a well-written whodunit with a comfortable tone making it easy to follow along with what the author intended. The mystery was nicely executed with a small pool of suspects and clues tossed here and there with a few red herrings that kept me in immersed in all that was happening. With visually descriptive narrative, engaging dialogue, and a small-town atmosphere, I felt like I was in the middle of all the action trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle. As the story moved forward, the pacing accelerated, and I couldn’t put the book down until all was said and done; and wow at that surprised twist I did not see coming. Good job, good job. This was a terrific read and I can’t wait to read more about Leila, her friends and family in a series that is a welcome addition to the cozy genre.

"A Doomful of Sugar" is another cute and entertaining mystery by the author. The first in a new series, the plot follows the typical formula of any cozy mystery. We have a pool of pleasant characters to solve the crime (or crimes) on their own, and a potential love subplot. The author's recipes at the end of the books are definitely some extra treats! "A Doomful of Sugar" definitely was a welcoming first installment and I can't wait to read the next one. About half way through I identified the people involved in the crime quite easily. All in all, a cute and wonderful book.

First in a promising new series. Leila comes home to Vermont to run the family business and figure out who killed her father.

I enjoyed the setting, and the characters show a lot of promise. I would read the next entry and hope that some unevenness in this book would be ironed out for the next one. No huge flaws, but some details that don’t match and some emotional reactions that struck me as unrealistic or out of character.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

A DOOMFUL OF SUGAR is the first book in the brand-new Maple Syrup Mysteries by Catherine Bruns. As with the author’s other series, the reader is in for a treat with memorable characters, a charming setting, mouthwatering food, and a well-plotted mystery that will keep armchair sleuths on their toes. In this newest release, protagonist Leila Khoury has just returned home to Vermont after her father was murdered. Needless to say, his death devastated his family. Leila has been hit especially hard because she’d been teaching in Florida despite knowing her father wanted her home to help run their maple syrup farm, Sappy Endings. When her father’s will bequeaths the farm to her with the stipulation she must stay and work for a year, Leila has no choice but to concede.

Ms. Bruns weaves an emotional level into the story as Leila navigates the conflicts within her own family: her mother and brother; and with the employees who work for their farm while navigating her own grief. She also provides plenty of descriptions about the maple farm along with the production and business side of things, The author writes with a deft hand so that the pacing doesn’t drag, but instead, the plot is enhanced by the relationships between the characters and the vivid descriptions.

When Leila finds out that her father’s death wasn’t the result of a random act of violence but that he was targeted, she turns her grief into action, determined to find the villain herself, especially when her brother is considered the prime suspect. She runs into some snafus, starting out, allowing her grief to trigger aggressive questioning with preconceived ideas on who the killer is. But as Leila learns to trust and accept help from the people around her, secrets are uncovered and her life might be in danger. I’ll be the first to admit I didn’t see the twists and turns coming as the story unfolded. I was quite shocked with the big reveal—in a good way! As the book concluded, there are hints at what’s coming for Leila, and I can’t wait to see if I’m right.

Not only are there many mentions of maple-based foods and treats throughout the book, but Leila’s Lebanese mother can often be found in the kitchen cooking up traditional dishes. I greatly enjoyed the descriptions of the dishes and my tastebuds were tantalized as I envisioned the food. While there may not be any Lebanese recipes provided, the author has included several maple-based recipes at the back of the book, which all sound amazing.

A first in a new series based in Vermont. Leila is back in town following her fathers Murder. She learns her father left her the family maple syrup business.
This was a fun, fast and a favorite of mine already.
#ADoomfulofSugar#NetGalley

A generic Cozy Mystery (but there is gun violence on two major occasions and the sleuth's life is in danger repeatedly). Has all the ingredients: female sleuth saving her business, small town setting, a new pet, descriptions of food including recipes at the end; there is also a best friend (a hairdresser who knows good gossip that helps the sleuth), family (including a difficult relationship with her mother) and a small romance. I liked the combination of very American maple syrup and Lebanese legacy foods. The plot is resolved convincingly at first but then there's an additional twist that didn't feel plausible. Nothing out of the ordinary, but not bad if you're looking for a basic book in the sub genre.

The first in a new cozy mystery series set in Vermont! Leila is back in Vermont following her father’s murder. She is shocked by his death and even more shocked when she discovers he left her the family maple syrup farm/business. As she takes over running that, she also becomes determined to find out who is responsible for her dad’s death.

This was a cute cozy mystery! Was the whodunnit surprising? No, but I still enjoyed the clues and the journey to get there. I like Leila as a protagonist and it seems like there are layers to unpack as more in the series come out!

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

A quick fun read! When Leila returns home after her father's death to run the family business and to prove her brother's innocence. A solid whodunit. Great story line with engaging characters. First in the series. I can't wait for the next one. Thanks #netgalley and #PoisonedPenPress for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

My favorite place is Vermont and I loved this story. Coming back home for her father's funeral, taking over his maple syrup business and her brother accused of murder make for a head-spinning homecoming for Leila. Murder and maple syrup and and excellent story. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read.

recipes, murder, murder-investigation, family-business, family-drama, family-dynamics, maple-syrup, farming, small-business, small-town, Vermont, employment-issues, friction, friendship, cozy-mystery, amateur-sleuth, law-enforcement, framed, greed, grief, grieving*****

A recipe for Baclava!
The characters are interesting and engaging, the setting and relationships are creative, and the whodunit sleuthing is worth pursuing. Loved it!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

Following the death of her father, Leila Khoury moves back to Sugar Ridge, Vermont to take over his maple syrup farm, Sappy Endings. With her brother as the prime suspect, Leila has to investigate on her own to find out what really happened to her father.

Would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery that keeps you guessing til the end.

The book includes maple recipes such as Baklava, Maple Shortbread Cookies 🍪, Maple Syrup Bagels 🥯, Glazed Maple Doughnuts 🍩, and Maple Pork Chops.

Thank you to Catherine Burns, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC of this book.

When reading a book for review (electronically), I like to check off the following: Setting good...check...characters who are likable...check...always some characters I wish would leave the story...check...a protagonist who keeps the story moving...quick read...fun read...linear time line...usually...this is a gifted and talented author, and I look forward to more books by her. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for permitting me to preview this book.

A maple syrup farm as the setting for mystery and intrigue? Why not! With characters like these, the setting is almost secondary. The relationships and the interactions between the characters is so well done with excellent dialogue and clever use of situations to really shine a light on how everyone works - or doesn’t work - together. It’s a classic cozy mystery but also likely to appeal to those who like novels which focus on exploring personalities and relationships,

Food And Fatalities…
The first in a new series of cosy mysteries - Maple Syrup Mysteries- finds Leila returning home to Vermont for her fathers funeral and to take over the family business. Everything is shrouded in mystery as it transpires that her father was murdered and her brother appears to be being framed. Leila turns amateur sleuth but can she find a killer and clear her brother’s name or will she too come to a sticky end? Enjoyable and entertaining start to the series with a nicely crafted cast and an engaging storyline - recipes included too.

When her father is murdered, Leila Khoury returns home for his funeral in Vermont. With her father as the prime suspect and her mother barely keeping it together, Leila decides to find the murderer since the police can’t seem to. As she sleuths, Leila realizes so much about her father that she didn’t know…and how much she will miss out on too. Can she solve the case and keep what’s left of her family together or will Leila be the next victim?

I’m so excited to have another series by this author. I love her work and a new series just give more to love!

This is the first book in a new series by Catherine Bruns.
And what a way to kick it off.

Leila Khoury has returned to Vermont for her father's funeral.
In a surprise move to everyone, especially Leila, her dad made a
last minute will leaving his maple syrup farm to her to run as she
felt best.

Her father had been murdered and her brother is being framed for
killing.
Leila has no other course that to try and solve the mystery herself
to save her brother.

This is story with developed characters, a strong plotline, and a few red herrings to keep
you guessing, along with a decent bit of humor to help keep the story moving.

I have been following Mrs. Bruns for about 8 years now and look forward to each of her new releases.

And this one doesn't disappoint.
I read this one in one sitting.

I'd like to thank NetGalley, Poisoned Pens Press, and the author for allowing me to read this advanced readers copy

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pens Press for this Arc. Doomful of Sugar is the 1st in a new series by Catherine Bruns. Once I picked up this book, I had trouble putting it down. I was drawn into Leila's world. I really felt like I was right there in Sugar Ridge, Vermont and truly meeting Leila's family and friends. Leila lost her father when he was killed at the maple syrup company that he owned, she took it upon herself to not only solve his murder but to clear her brother's name as a suspect. This book had so many other suspects which kept me guessing. I'd lean towards one only to change my mind the next. The characters were well developed and I found myself thinking "nope, you're the murderer" plenty of times. I also enjoyed that this book showed the grief that Leila and her family was going through after losing her father. It wasn't something that was pushed aside. Her memories brought her father alive for me and I found myself hating that us readers will never really get to know Victor other than through the other characters' memories that were shared in this book. I even found myself teary eyed at times. This book was a great read and I can't wait for the next one!

I enjoyed most of this book. I didn’t like the main characters at first, she’s so angry with Noah. And there’s a lot of complaining about her mother. I wasn’t surprised by who the killers are. #ADoomfulofSugar #NetGalley

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Poisoned Pen Press and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

A new cozy mystery series by Poisoned Pen Press- they’re masters of the genre - that shows so much promise. The story is so well done, characters who are crafted with backgrounds you want to dig into. I can’t wait to read more from this series.

From the moment I started this book, I became glued to the pages and read until the end.
Leila has a complicated relationship with her mother, and her father’s murder makes things even worse. She’s ready to accuse anyone, so her father's right hand man at the farm is her perfect suspect.
Running a maple syrup farm isn’t as easy as Leila thought, so eventually she realizes her dad’s assistant is innocent and they work together to find the real killer.
This is a solid beginning to a new series and I’m looking forward to reading more.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.