Dollycas's Thoughts

We are back in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin and again Emily Westhill is in the middle of a murder investigation. A woman had been coming into the Deputy Donut Café for a couple of days and she was clearly troubled by something. The woman quickly left the café after giving a toy to Dep. Emily noticed she dropped an earring on her way out so she thought returning it would be the perfect opportunity to find out if she could help the woman with whatever problem she was having. Unfortunately, when she arrived the woman was dead.  She was hoping it was a freaky accident but the police determine it was murder and that Emily was the new police chief's prime suspect.  

Now Emily is determined to clear her name in a case that has more twists than the cinnamon twists at Deputy Donut. The evidence seems to mount against her but she doesn't give up, but can she catch the killer before the killer catches her?

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Emily has always had a special relationship with the Fallingbrook law enforcement community. She was a 911 dispatcher until the day her detective husband was killed in the line of duty. In Cinnamon Twisted, that relationship is tested as a new police chief is hired and he is faced with his first murder. Because he pins top suspect honors on Emily her new boyfriend Detective Brent Fyne is sent away on an assignment in Green Bay. I enjoyed this twist even though I was furious with the new chief and his attitude and actions. Emily's determination impressed me and it was nice that she had support from Fyne even from afar and that DCI Agent Rex Clobar had her back and common sense. As always the relationship Emily has with her former in-laws always warms my heart. Ms. Bolton's core characters are always so genuine and true to life.

I loved the history that was woven through the entire story. The history of Emily's house was so interesting complete with Viking relics. I always love learning new things.

We are also treated to a special wedding. The location was really perfect as was the bride's gift to her groom.

The author did such a fantastic job of twisting all the subplots and main plots together adding humor in all the right places and a little bit of romance too. The complex mystery was so cleverly plotted that the reveal was almost a total surprise. I had just a little inkling about part of it but needed some of the info that was provided at the end to firm up my theory.

Donuts to "donuts" Cinnamon Twisted is a splendid addition to this series. The ending was wonderful and perfectly timed. I truly can't wait for the next installment of the Deputy Donut Mysteries.

Be sure to check out the Cinnamon Twists recipe and others in the back of the book!

This is book 7 in the Deputy Donut Mystery series. Emily has noticed a new customer in her shop and talks to her about her cat. When the woman loses an earring Emily wants to return it to her and drives to her rental house where she finds her dead. Someone tried to make it look like an accident but Emily isn’t sure. Now people are breaking into Emily’s house and digging in her yard. A new detective on the force is sure Emily is the culprit and wastes no time trying to pin the murder on her. A good addition to the series and can be read as a stand alone.

These mysteries are always a fun read! Love that the gang is getting married. Good mystery with Emily having to go it alone without Brent. I love that Emily is a smart, independent character.

Donut shop owner Emily Westhill is looking forward to participating in the June wedding of two of her best friends, even as their Wisconsin town of Fallingbrook’s tourist season is getting well underway. This, of course, brings lots of unfamiliar faces to her Deputy Donut cafe, including one unhappy woman who seems content enough to sit alone at a table there for two afternoons in a row, doing little but slowly sipping a coffee and enjoying the bakery’s specialty treats as closing time approaches.

So it’s a surprise to Emily when the woman abruptly asks to make the acquaintance of Emily’s cat and the cafe’s namesake Dep. Emily is happy enough to oblige, allowing the woman to access the office area where Dep is confined, but is further surprised when the woman asks to use the back exit after giving Dep a catnip-filled toy. Emily suspects that the woman is trying to elude the attention of one of the people passing by the cafe’s glass front, but whom? In her hurry to leave, the stranger drops an earring and flees before Emily can return it.

As Emily is heading to her parents’ summer campsite later that afternoon, she passes the road where the woman mentioned staying for the summer. Impulsively, she decides to take the turn-off in order to return the earring. Though no one answers her knock on the cabin door, the sudden blare of a fire alarm spurs her to enter the unlocked building. She finds a burger patty burning to a crisp on the stovetop, and quickly puts out the incipient fire before deciding to search the premises for the other woman. She is both horrified and not altogether surprised to find the poor woman dead in an upstairs bedroom.

She quickly calls in local law enforcement, many of whom are friends or family-related connections. Her boyfriend Detective Brent Fyne is first on scene, but he’s swiftly followed by new Police Chief Agnew, who doesn’t take kindly to Brent and Emily’s coziness. Instead of taking Emily’s statement or asking her to wait to give one to the next available officer, he shoos her away, telling her to show up to the police station first thing next morning. Being extremely familiar with proper protocol from her years both as a 911 dispatcher and as the wife of a now deceased officer, Emily is put off by this break from convention. Worse, it soon becomes clear that Chief Agnew thinks she’s somehow involved in the woman’s murder, and that he doesn’t necessarily believe in playing by the book.

As the new chief wastes time trying to make the evidence fit his theory of Emily’s guilt, Emily herself must grapple with suspicious figures lurking around her home renovations. Could they have something to do with the strange woman’s death? Could Chief Agnew somehow prevail in his strange vendetta against Emily? What lengths will our heroine have to go to in order to clear her name and find the real killer?

It was a nice departure from the series’ usually idyllic view of law enforcement to see a realistic depiction of a cop who’s neither competent nor kind. The plot also does an impressive job of wrapping around itself before revealing the answers to its many conundrums. I was highly entertained both by the central mystery and by the continuing developments in Emily’s romantic life. Series fans especially won’t want to miss what happens in this installment!

There were five recipes included here, four for food and one for drink, all mentioned in the text. I decided to try out this savory treat:

QUOTE
Quick Pesto and Mozzarella Twists

1 sheet of store-bought puff pastry. If frozen, thaw in fridge overnight.
approximately 3 tablespoons prepared pesto
approximately ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
fresh basil leaves (optional)

With a rolling pin, roll the puff pastry to smooth and uncurl it.

Cut pastry into 9 equal rectangles.

Spread approximately 1 teaspoon pesto in the center of each rectangle of pastry, leaving edges uncovered.

Sprinkle approximately 1 teaspoon shredded mozzarella over the pesto.

Fold the long edges of each rectangle to the middle and pinch them together to form filled cylinders.

While gently stretching, twist each filled cylinder. Some of the filling will end up on the outside. This is fine.

Form each cylinder into a circle and punch the ends together.

Arrange the circles on a parchment-lined baking sheet with an inch separating them to allow for rising.

Refrigerate the sheet of twists for 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Bake 15 minutes.

Remove from oven. Sprinkle approximately 1 teaspoon shredded mozzarella cheese on each twist.

Return to oven for 1-2 minutes until mozzarella cheese melts.

Cool slightly, garnish with fresh basil leaves, and serve. Makes 9.
END QUOTE

I had enough ingredients to make a double batch and am so glad I did! I can never get enough of portable, savory snacks, and these fit that description to a tee. They were also incredibly delicious, and tasted far more complicated to make than they actually were. They weren’t too messy either despite the description, and were a relatively quick treat to whip up. I loved how fancy these twists look and taste given that they’re made up of basically four store-bought ingredients. Of course, if you’re feeling super industrious, you can make some of these components from scratch, but this recipe is perfect as is for busy people like me.

Next week, we travel to New York City to bake up a specialty loaf while trying to save a family business from going under in the wake of murder. Do join me!

A well-written and enjoyable mystery. It is a perfect choice for fans of cozy mysteries and small-town stories. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a touch of humor.

The mystery in the book is well-written and suspenseful. There are plenty of suspects to choose from, and the clues are well-hidden. The reader will be kept guessing until the very end.

Fallingbrook is a charming and atmospheric small town, and the author does a great job of bringing it to life.

One of the things I enjoyed most about the book was the relationship between Emily and her father-in-law, who is her business partner. They have a warm and loving relationship, and it is clear that they care about each other very much. I also enjoyed the interactions between Emily and the other characters in the book, including her friends, neighbors, and customers.

This has got to be one of the most adorable cozy series out there. I'm so glad to have found this series. If the twists and turns don't thrill you than maybe one of those delicious recipes will capture your attention. This story is cleverly written and kept me thinking it was someone else all through the story until the end. I was very surprised.I definitely recommend not only this book but the entire series. It's fabulous.

Cinnamon Twisted was a fun read. Once more the author crafted a clever mystery with an interesting conclusion. The new police chief grated on my nerves though so i hope he's not around long. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I really like this series and the latest installment was no different. The characters are just interesting and relatable and I like the little found family they have going on. This book also kept me on the edge of my seat because I definitely didn't figure out the killer ahead of time. Although I will say I am not a fan of the new police chief and wanted to throw a book at him for most of what he was doing. Overall though I'll definitely keep reading this series.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

I have grown very attached to this series! Of course, I’ve been hungry for donuts since I began to read this latest mystery! For those who enjoy trying new recipes, several are included. I always look forward to seeing “Dep” Deputy Donut, Emily’s beautiful cat, and the gang at the donut shop named after Dep. Emily and her late husband’s father, Tom, are partners in this delightful shop that serves specialty coffees, donuts, and other creative food and beverage items. It is popular with residents, tourists, and Fallingbrook’s first responders.

Being around law enforcement people is second nature to Emily, whose husband Alec had been killed in the line of duty. Tom had once been the police chief, and she had been a 911 operator. Brent, a detective and Alec’s former partner, had been close friends with both of them when Alec was alive, and a friend to Emily since. They recently began dating, having grown close in the years since Alec’s death.

It is June and Misty, a police officer and one of Emily’s best friends, is getting married in a couple days. Pamela, a new customer, suddenly acts as if afraid of someone outside. She had brought a special catnip toy in for Dep that she asked to give to Dep in Emily’s office, which has been specially outfitted to keep Dep entertained when Emily is there.

Through the office window, Pamela saw a man come into the shop, looked more frightened, and ran out the back. She dropped an earring in the alley, and Emily picked it up to give back to her. Gregory, the man who came in just before Pamela ran out, also wants to see Dep, who uncharacteristically scratched him just before he, too, left out the back.

Emily was heading to Misty’s wedding rehearsal and dinner. She decided to make a quick stop at Pamela’s rental to make sure that whoever she was afraid of hadn’t bothered her. Pamela didn’t answer the door, the smoke alarm screeched, and something inside smelled hot. Emily ran in, took care of the stove, skillet, and its burnt offering. She found Pamela, dead, buried under the contents of a closet.

Brent, the only detective in the department, arrived first. The new police chief was next, but remained in his SUV. Chief Agnew told Emily to leave and give her statement at the station the next day. He saw them embrace and assumed the couple were too close for his detective to be objective. He took Brent off the case and sent him out of town to teach a class Agnew had been scheduled to teach. Agnew tried to find evidence to blame Emily for the murder, even going to her home and searching around the exterior when she was at Misty’s wedding. Chief Agnew is constantly after Emily and her neighbor, Daniel. They have been discussing the original owner of the property she lives in, local history, and an aged item she and Dep found hidden in the garden. Agnew kept trying to get both of them to confess to Pamela’s murder. Emily has helped with several cases in the past and is trying to stay uninvolved, especially with Chief Agnew on her heels.

I enjoy visiting the characters as much as I would old friends. They are described well and continue to grow throughout the series. It is wonderful how close Emily is with her in-laws, and how they support Emily and Brent being a couple now. I also like her parents and how close Brent and Emily are to her two long-time best friends and their spouses, all of whom are with the police or fire department. I did not like Agnew, and had less kinder titles for him than chief! I do love little Dep, the kitty after whom the donut shop is named.

Each time someone was added to my pet suspect list, removed them. This clever mystery kept me guessing, especially when it was clear that Agnew was familiar with the victim long before she came to town. I was completely surprised at who the bad guy was! The ending was very satisfactory, leaving no donuts uneaten. I highly recommend this mystery and series!

Cinnamon Twisted by Ginger Bolton is the seventh book in the cozy Deputy Donut Mystery series. As with most cozy mystery series each book of this series can be enjoyed as a standalone or in any order 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 spring in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin and Emily is working in her shop when a customer comes in and befriends Emily’s cat giving him a a toy donut. The lady leaves in a hurry though dropping one of her earrings on the way out of the shop. Emily tries to return the dropped earring but instead of finding her customer and making her happy Emily finds herself in the middle of a murder scene and becomes the main suspect by an ambitious police detective takes over the case.

The Deputy Donut Mystery series is another cozy series that I have followed from the beginning and find myself always excited to return. This series checks off all of my boxes when it comes to cozies, plenty of humor, some quirky characters and a lovely setting with the bonus of a cute furry sidekick. On top of all of that this does offer a character with some law enforcement connections which I also enjoy and after this wonderful installment I’ll of course be looking forward to the next.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I really loved this book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end

I have not read a Ginger Bolton cozy mystery.....oops, my so bad.

This was really great...and she has made the list for favorite cozy mystery authors. Let me be clear, she not "my new favorite find", or a "fun new one". She's not going to be an author I go back to "here and there". She is ON my NEW FAVORITE list; right up there with MC Beaton, Diane Mott Davidson and Kylie Logan. These books will be binged in the next year - sooner than that - if I get my hands on some of em.

It had all the cozy vibes - donut shop, cute cat for the MC, family, friends and mystery. All without being corny or chintzy. BUT it had an added back story to our MC, a semi treasure-hunt to the mystery and ... it was setting up some possible directions for the next couple of mysteries. Not only was I able to easily keep track of the old established characters, but I got some new ones too. (To be straight, this is my first book by this author - I jumped in mid-series. So I especially love that that series regulars didn't overshadow the new characters. And I enjoyed the clear hints that these new characters would be staying...and not all of them are likeable. Which means this author is keeping these stories fresh).

I still have yet to try the cinnamon twist recipes in the back of the book (both a short cut way and a yeast version) - bonus points for having a long time consuming recipe but also a recipe for lazy readers like myself.
But I will update this review when I do.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington books for this ARC. A+++ please send me more like this

Super solid continuation of the series! Emily's frustration with the new police chief and the investigation were the most interesting parts, and I am interested to see how that, and the way the book ends, takes this series forward.

Book number seven in the Deputy Donut Mystery series, Cinnamon Twisted was a classic cozy mystery with cat-assisted sleuthing. I love traditional cozy mysteries, especially when they are well written and even more so when there is a cat! The clues were numerous and the twists kept coming right to the end. Overall, this was a great read and an engaging tale. I would recommend this for anyone who loves a foodie mystery, and with the recipe for the cinnamon twists at the end, who can resist?

This was a NetGalley review.

Emily is worried about a young woman who left her store in a hurry leaving behind an earring. She decides to return the earring hoping to ease her distressed feelings over the woman. She soon learns her gut feeling was right when she finds said woman dead, murdered. Things go from bad to worse when the new chief of police decides to take over the case and send her boyfriend off to teach some classes. It seems like the chief has it out for her and is looking at her as the prime suspect. Knowing she needs to clear her name she begins looking into the murder. Follow along as she investigates, will she be able to clear her name and find a killer or will she end up behind bars?

Cinnamon Twisted is a great addition to A Deputy Donut Mystery series. I love the main characters of the series - Emily, Brent, Samantha, Hooligan, Misty and Scott. They are such good friends. The stories work because of the friendship and support they offer each other and the activities they plan and enjoy.
An unknown woman spends two afternoons in Deputy Donut and then is murdered at her lakeside cabin. There are some good suspects but the new police chief ignores them all. I don’t trust the police chief and it’s an interesting contrast to Emily’s father-in-law Tom who was honest and effective as a police chief.
The author did a good job of concealing the murderer until toward the end.
This was a really good addition to the series except it needed more Brent. Emily and Brent are just admitting to liking each other and I wanted to see the relationship develop In addition to the mystery.
I am happy to recommend Cinnamon Twisted, although it probably is best to read the series in order. Cinnamon Twisted is the 7th book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the opportunities to review this book.

Cinnamon Twisted is book #7 in the Deputy Donut Mystery series by Ginger Bolton.

Emily is working at Deputy Donut Café. Dep, her cat, was given a toy from a customer who then ran out, losing an earring. When Emily goes to check on her, it doesn’t go well.

This is a fun series. The characters are wonderful and I enjoy the donut shop setting. The various storylines were interesting and the author did a good job of weaving them together. I couldn’t the book down. I recommend this book.

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

The writing in this book was very basic for me. It felt like a high school writing assignment. The descriptions were not very clear which made it hard to follow along with what was happening at times. Also, the conversations between the characters were simple and awkward. It also had a weird storyline. I did like Emily’s new neighbor Daniel who helped Emily solve the mystery. The ending, however, was the best part of the book when Brent returns from his assignment, although it was a bit cliche. Recipes for cinnamon twists, potato salad, and fruit punch are included at the end of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

An enjoyable light cozy with plenty of friends and family, good food, nice location and a wonderful cat filled with personality. The mystery is good and has plenty of twists--one even cinnamon flavored--with a tie-in to the history of Emily's home and an ironic flair. I hope to visit with Deputy Donuts and the gang again soon.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest opinion.

Summer has almost arrived and a few new folks are in town renting cabins at the lake already. After a new customer leaves the donut shop and loses an earring, Emily decides to drop it off at the cabin the woman is renting…only to find the woman murdered!

As Emily looks for clues to figure out who wanted to harm the woman, she’s finding the new sheriff isn’t quite as trustworthy as he may like people to think he is. With the local detective out of town, Emily may be railroaded for a murder she didn’t commit, and she vows to find out what the sherif may have had to do with the murder himself, if it’s the last thing she does. ..and it may very well be.

Another solid entry in the series. I had figured a few things out early on, but the final reveal was still a bit of a surprise as it was all laid out. Glad to see the personal lives moving forward as well...it’s what makes the series even more of a must read, as you’re not only reading a mystery, but catching up on the lives of old friends.