This is the 8th installment in the Deputy Donut series. Emily is getting ready for her upcoming wedding to Brent but is busy in the short term as Fallingbrook is hosting their first Arts Festival. At the first event, her parents are acting as judges while she sits with her friend Summer who is there supporting Quentin a family friend who is performing. Quentin’s performance falters when Kirk another performer and bagpiper interrupts him. At the next day, Kirk shows up at other events and interrupts performers with his bagpiping. The next morning, Emily finds Kirk dead in a parking lot close to Deputy Donut. The list of potential suspects are long as no one seems to like Kirk. Emily tries not to investigate but just can’t seem to help it. The discovery of the culprit was very exciting. Was nice to see the wedding of Brent and Emily and look forward to seeing what comes next for Emily and her friends.

Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.

Love this series! I do have mixed feelings about this book though. It just had a different vibe to it. Emily for some reason got on my nerves in this book. Something just felt off. I still enjoyed it and the mystery kept me guessing. I don't want to give it away but the last chapter really made this book. I can't wait for the next one.

Emily Westhill is half owner of Deputy Donut, along with her ex-father-in-law Tom. She's thriving and happy and about to marry her fiancé, Brent Fyne. The Fallingbrook Arts Festival is in town, and she's getting more business with the competitors moving from business to business with their acts. Life is good...or at least it was...

When she watches a bagpiper play, it's obvious he's very good and of course, wins one of the contests. But he's also annoying, playing the pipes up and down the street, during other's acts. After speaking with people, Emily finds out that he's not well-liked, either. The next morning tragedy strikes when Emily finds the piper dead, and calls the police. There's a list of suspects, and she's stunned to discover that both she and her parents are on the list. With less than two weeks until her wedding, Emily knows she needs to figure this out now or wedding bells won't be ringing for her...

This is the eighth book in the series and I have read them all. It's a delightful series, and the characters progress as it goes along; it's nice to see that things don't stay stagnant in the books. Emily is a great character; she's strong, intelligent, and smart; Brent admires these things and doesn't berate her when she finds clues for him. Her friends are interesting, as well as her employees, and we learn different things about them through the series.

In this one when the bagpiper dies, she doesn't know who the killer is, obviously, but she tries to find out (which is expected). Is it someone she already knows, or a stranger to her? And why was the piper killed? Also, why, and this is a big one, was a Deputy Donut mug found next to him? She's afraid it might implicate her parents in the murder, and she knows they didn't do it. But looking for a suspect with so many people in town isn't easy. Still, she manages to ask the right questions without antagonizing anyone, and that's a big plus in my eyes.

It isn't easy to write a review without giving away the plot line, mainly because this book has not been published yet, but I can tell you that Emily has a lot to do in this book, with the festival and wedding plans, and it might even be her cat Dep who gives her a clue, but you will have to read the book to find out. The clues are there, but watch for the red herrings that pepper the book.

When the ending comes, the climax is worth it all as Emily needs to use her wits to figure it all out and stay safe (as we know she will). It's practically the best part of the book and don't peek! I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did, and I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.

My child and I enjoyed this newest installment in the Deputy Donut Mysteries, which is a must-read series for us. I was excited that Emily’s parents are actually present in this book and part of her life, which hasn’t really happened in the other books. My child was excited that Jocelyn has a big role in a showdown because Jocelyn is one of her favorite characters. I wish there had been more of Brent and Emily together, but the conclusion made it all worthwhile.

I like the books focus on events happening in the town, and my child enjoyed hearing all the details about the weeklong Arts Festival in Fallingbrook. We were infuriated by the annoying bagpiper and the arrogant English teacher, and we liked the surprising twist towards the end. Sometimes I think the storytelling gets a bit repetitive, but my child doesn’t mind at all; in some ways, the repetition helps clarify things for her. This is a special series for us and we hope it goes on forever!

This book starts out in Fallingbrooks week long arts festival . Emily is the amateur sleuth . I really love the way she works. Of course there is a murder in which she finds on her way to work at The Deputy Donut Cafe which she owns with hex father-in -law Tom. In 9 days she is to be married to the town Police chief, Brent. As well as running the cafe, she has to put her sleuthing skills to work to help him. What a week it is . See all that she gets into with her sleuthing. See if you can figure out who did it. A VERY GOOD COZY MYSTERY. Love to read this authior.

I have enjoyed this series since the beginning. It is one that is better if you start at the first one, so that you know some of the characters. I enjoyed the theme of the performing arts festival that went on in town. Of all of the books, this was not my favorite. The mystery itself seemed forced in places. That said, I am looking forward to more books in the series.

Loved reading this book and author. If you haven't read it yet I highly recommend her and her books. U suggest reading the books in order. Looking forward to the next book in the series

Double Grudge Donuts by Ginger Bolton is a great cozy mystery that is the eighth book in the Deputy Donut mystery series.

I really enjoyed this newest installment of the Deputy Donut series. To see Emily and Brent tie the knot finally was awesome.

The murder/mystery definitely had me guessing and a few extra surprises are tucked into the story as well.

Looking forward to the next one.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and Kensington Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 2/20/24.

Double Grudge Donuts is a fantastic addition to this lovable series.
Emily Westhill is a good character, easy to like, and fun to be around.
As her wedding day approaches, Emily and her bakery, Deputy Donut Cafe, are preparing for he Fallingbrook Arts Festival.
When a local bagpiper meets his death, it's Emily who finds him, and she soon finds herself involved in another murder investigation.
This story was fun to read, and I liked how active Jocelyn was in the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.
 #DoubleGrudgeDonuts #NetGalley

Another great addition to the Deputy Donut series! It was great to return to Fallingbrook to follow along as Emily and her friends get involved with yet another murder mystery. I really enjoyed the mystery in this book as it really kept me guessing about who was the murderer until the very end of the book! The setting for this one was also fun, its always great to see what holiday/festival will be the setting for each book. They really add to the "cozy" aspect of this cozy mystery.
Deputy Donut series is one of my favorite cozy mystery series and I'm looking forward to the next books in the series! Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the ARC!