Blame the Beignets by Ginger Bolton

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

October brings many customers to Deputy Donut, eager for a sweet fall treat, so owner Emily Westfall is glad to have extra help in the form of Hannah, a younger sister to Emily’s assistant, Olivia.  Hannah may not be the perfect employee but she’s young and willing to learn even though that’s a bit difficult with Olivia watching her every move with a critical eye.  More disruptive as far as Hannah is concerned are the two beaus who are following Hannah around: studious mushroom researcher Zachary and the more adventurous Joshua and his motorcycle, both of whom show up during Hannah’s shift.  At least they are good customers, as both buy Emily’s new beignets.

And they aren’t nearly as annoying as the salesman trying to talk people into buying into his sure-fire, can’t miss, double-your-money investment scheme or the argumentative couple who walk out without paying. Fortunately, another customer picks up the tab out of sheer relief at having dissolved his business partnership with the disagreeable man.

The next day while out on the lake in her kayak, Emily hears a scream from the cliffs above, a scream that ends abruptly even as she catches a glimpse of a dark figure.  Emily is sure someone has fallen, and hopes that it isn’t Hannah or one of her suitors; despite warnings, they had all sounded interested in exploring the dangerous clifftop. She calls 9-1-1, and a body is found, but it’s not one of the young people Emily had feared. It is someone she knows, though,  and the clues left could point to Hannah or one of her boyfriends as the figure she saw just before the victim fell—or was pushed.

This is the ninth in the Deputy Donut series, but newcomers would have no trouble starting with this one.  Emily is a compassionate woman but also a sensible one: she once worked as a police dispatcher and is married to a detective, so she’s not one to take stupid chances as do too many heroines.  She is, however, a tenacious investigator who helps husband Brent on his cases.  The cast of characters includes her cat, also called Deputy Donut, EMT friends, and her partner in the donut shop, a retired police officer. While not a page-turning thriller, this is a fun, pleasant book with descriptions of delicious pastries, likeable characters, and a mystery.  It’s a nice place to spend a few hours.