Tag: #Mystery

Posted in Cozy Mysteries

Evil Éclairs (Donut Shop Mysteries Book 4)

Posted on by BookReviews

Donut shop owner Suzanne Hart admits her sweet treats don’t exactly qualify as health food. But does she really deserve to be labeled a “killer” by local radio jockey Lester Moorefield? The annoying host is urging citizens to boycott Suzanne’s “deadly dough” factory—until he’s found dead himself, stuffed with one of Suzanne’s éclairs…
Everyone in April Springs knows about the feud between Lester and Suzanne, which makes her the number-one suspect. She tries to use the donut defense—donuts don’t kill people, people kill people—but that cream-filled éclair at the scene of the crime has the whole town filled with suspicion. If Suzanne can’t figure out who killed the radio star, she’ll soon be filling a prison cell instead of a pastry…

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Jessica Beck’s Glazed Murder is a delight. Suzanne Hart is a lovable amateur sleuth who has a hilariously protective mother and great donut recipes! Readers will have a blast with this book.” ―Diane Mott Davidson, New York Times bestselling author of Fatally Flaky

“A tribute to comfort food and to the comfort of small town life. With great donut recipes!” ―Joanna Carl, author of The Chocolate Cupid Killings

“If you like donuts–and who doesn’t?–you’ll love this mystery. It’s like a trip to your favorite coffee shop, but without the calories!” ―Leslie Meier, author of the Lucy Stone mysteries New Year’s Eve Murder and Wedding Day Murder

“The perfect comfort read: a delicious murder, a likeable heroine, quirky Southern characters–and donut recipes!” ―Rhys Bowen, Agatha and Anthony award–winning author of the Molly Murphy and Royal Spyness mysteries

“Jessica Beck’s debut mystery, Glazed Murder, is a yummy new treat in the culinary mystery genre. Skillfully weaving donut recipes throughout a well-plotted story, the author proves that life after divorce can be sweet; all you need are good friends, your own business, and comfort food. Delicious!” ―Tamar Myers, author of Death of a Rug Lord and The Cane Mutiny

“A clever plotted cozy mystery with a wonderful small Southern town…Fatally Frosted is a great follow-up to Glazed Murder. Suzanne is a great heroine, Ms. Beck has a sure-fire winner!” ―Fresh Fiction

“A sugary concoction that provides readers a glimpse through the donut hole of living in a small town.” ―Harriet Klausner, Genre Go Round Reviews

From the Back Cover

WELCOME BACK TO DONUT HEARTS―where the coffee is hot, the donuts are fresh, and the pastry’s to die for…
Donut shop owner Suzanne Hart admits her sweet treats don’t exactly qualify as health food. But does she really deserve to be labeled a “killer” by local radio jockey Lester Moorefield? The annoying host is urging citizens to boycott Suzanne’s “deadly dough” factory―until he’s found dead himself, stuffed with one of Suzanne’s éclairs…

“A lovable amateur sleuth…and great donut recipes!” ―Diane Mott Davidson

Everyone in April Springs knows about the feud between Lester and Suzanne, which makes her the number-one suspect. She tries to use the donut defense―donuts don’t kill people, people kill people―but that cream-filled éclair at the scene of the crime has the whole town filled with suspicion. If Suzanne can’t figure out who killed the radio star, she’ll soon be filling a prison cell instead of a pastry…
“This delicious series will give readers some serious cravings.”―Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Jessica Beck loves donuts, and has the figure to prove it. It’s amazing what someone can convince themselves is all in the name of research! For each recipe featured in the donut mysteries, a dozen more are tried and tested. Jessica Beck is the penname of an author who has been nominated for the Agatha Award and named an Independent Mystery Booksellers Association national bestseller nearly a dozen times. When not concocting delicious treats, Beck enjoys the rare snowfalls near her home in the foothills of North Carolina.

Posted in Cozy Mysteries

Fatally Frosted (Donut Shop Mysteries Book 2)

Posted on by BookReviews

Jessica Beck has crafted another delicious Donut Shop Mystery in Fatally Frosted, the follow-up to Glazed Murder.
A local busy body has dropped dead after eating one of Suzanne’s famous treats. A forensic team is soon swarming through the Donut Hearts kitchen, dusting for clues, sifting through sugar, and suspecting the worst of Suzanne. But with the help of police inspector Jake Bishop and her ex-husband Max, Suzanne hopes to clear her good name—before another bad donut is fatally frosted…


Editorial Reviews

Review

“Jessica Beck’s Glazed Murder is a delight. Suzanne Hart is a lovable amateur sleuth who has a hilariously protective mother and great donut recipes! Readers will have a blast with this book.” ―Diane Mott Davidson, New York Times bestselling author of Fatally Flaky on Glazed Murder

“A tribute to comfort food and to the comfort of small town life. With great donut recipes!” ―Joanna Carl, author of The Chocolate Cupid Killings on Glazed Murder

“If you like donuts–and who doesn’t?–you’ll love this mystery. It’s like a trip to your favorite coffee shop, but without the calories!” ―Leslie Meier, author of the Lucy Stone mysteries New Year’s Eve Murder and Wedding Day Murder on Glazed Murder

“The perfect comfort read: a delicious murder, a likeable heroine, quirky Southern characters–and donut recipes!” ―Rhys Bowen, Agatha and Anthony award–winning author of the Molly Murphy and Royal Spyness mysteries on Glazed Murder

“Jessica Beck’s debut mystery, Glazed Murder, is a yummy new treat in the culinary mystery genre. Skillfully weaving donut recipes throughout a well-plotted story, the author proves that life after divorce can be sweet; all you need are good friends, your own business, and comfort food. Delicious!” ―Tamar Myers, author of Death of a Rug Lord and The Cane Mutiny on Glazed Murder

From the Back Cover

WELCOME BACK TO DONUT HEARTS―where the coffee is hot, the donuts are fresh, and the crimes are brewing…
Attention, all cooks! April Springs, North Carolina is hosting a grand tour of extraordinary kitchens, and everyone’s invited! Local donut shop owner Suzanne Hart is dying to cook up something fabulous for the event. Unfortunately dying turns out to be the key word…

“If you like donuts―and who doesn’t?―you’ll love this mystery.”―Leslie Meier

A local busy body has dropped dead after eating one of Suzanne’s famous treats. A forensic team is soon swarming through the Donut Hearts kitchen, dusting for clues, sifting through sugar, and suspecting the worst of Suzanne. But with the help of police inspector Jake Bishop and her ex-husband Max, Suzanne hopes to clear her good name―before another bad donut is fatally frosted…

About the Author

Jessica Beck loves donuts, and has the figure to prove it. It’s amazing what someone can convince themselves is all in the name of research! For each recipe featured in the donut mysteries, a dozen more are tried and tested. Jessica Beck is the penname of an author who has been nominated for the Agatha Award and named an Independent Mystery Booksellers Association national bestseller nearly a dozen times. When not concocting delicious treats, Beck enjoys the rare snowfalls near her home in the foothills of North Carolina.

Posted in #BookTours

Hook, Line, and Murder

Posted on by BookReviews

Hook, Line, and Murder
GG Calpo
(The Sweet TOOTH Murder Mystery)
Published by: The Wild Rose Press
Publication date: February 9th 2026
Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery, Mystery

What does Meg, a retired kindergarten teacher, do when the killer of her husband and only child still walks free a year after dirt had covered their graves? Go rogue, of course!
When the detective responsible for Meg’s nightmares takes over the murder investigation of her former student, Meg hunts the killer down with help from her friends. Their cozy lunches at Sweet Buns Café turn into tactical meetings while these retired grade school teachers get themselves in trouble better suited to those in their twenties. And to put the icing on their cream scones, someone is after Meg. Is it the killer? Or has Meg uncovered secrets better left buried with her loved ones?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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EXCERPT:

The day was beautiful, with clear skies and a mild snap in the air. It was cold yet warm with the right amount of heat from the sun, making it the perfect spring day. Motorboats and sailboats dipped in and out of the water, out by Poet’s Bay. And at the edge of the harbor were the fishermen, alone or in groups of two or three, a rod in their hands and their tackle boxes opened beside them. We rounded the corner, almost done with our walk, when we saw mothers dragging their children away and fathers covering the eyes of the children in their arms. Pushing against the stream of parents scrambling away were others whose eyes were fixed on the man by the harbor’s edge. A man on whose fishing line dangled a catch with, what I thought were, red fins and a red tail swaying lazily around the hook.

Red? In the salt waters of Poet’s Bay? As I stood there trying to figure out what I was seeing, Barbara shoved her way into the crowd. I followed, my curiosity getting the better of me. Murmurs of “Good morning” and “Good to see you, Mrs. B” trailed behind me, changing to “You sure you want to see this, Mrs. B?” and “I wouldn’t go any further if I were you, Mrs. B.” We fetched up to the front and looked down on the ground before us while the fisherman beside us puked his guts out.

It wasn’t a fish he had caught.

Instead, on the ground was a hand. Just a hand. Nothing else.

Author Bio:

GG Calpo is a retired lawyer and accountant who traded contracts and numbers for the far more enjoyable chaos of fictional crime. Now she writes cozy whodunits featuring warm-hearted golden-aged sleuths who’ve seen it all, heard it all and will investigate a murder with zero hesitation. She loves stories where the stakes are personal, family and friendships are paramount, with characters who refuse to follow the outline and endings that pull the rug out. When not plotting twisty crimes—on paper only, of course—she spends her time reading, crocheting blankets and sweaters for her five grandchildren, watching mystery TV shows and taking long walks in her neighborhood. She lives in Central New Jersey with her husband and two corgis, Whiskey and Nugget.

Website / Goodreads / Instagram / Facebook


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Hook, Line, and Murder Blitz

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Posted in Cozy Mysteries

Glazed Murder: A Donut Shop Mystery (Donut Shop Mysteries Book 1)

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Meet Suzanne Hart, owner and operator of Donut Hearts coffee shop in April Springs, North Carolina. After her divorce from Max, an out-of-work actor she’s dubbed “The Great Impersonator,” Suzanne decided to pursue her one true passion in life: donuts. So she cashed in her settlement and opened up shop in the heart of her beloved hometown.
But when a dead body is dumped on her doorstep like a sack of flour, Suzanne’s cozy little shop becomes an all-out crime scene. Now, everyone in town is dropping by for glazed donuts and gruesome details. The retired sheriff warns her to be careful—and they’re all suspects. Soon Suzanne—who finds snooping as irresistible as donuts—is poking holes in everyone’s alibis…

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The perfect comfort read: a delicious murder, a likeable heroine, quirky Southern characters–and donut recipes!” ―Rhys Bowen, Agatha and Anthony award–winning author of the Molly Murphy and Royal Spyness mysteries

“If you like donuts–and who doesn’t?–you’ll love this mystery. It’s like a trip to your favorite coffee shop, but without the calories!” ―Leslie Meier, author of the Lucy Stone mysteries New Year’s Eve Murder and Wedding Day Murder

“Jessica Beck’s Glazed Murder is a delight. Suzanne Hart is a lovable amateur sleuth who has a hilariously protective mother and great doughnut recipes! Readers will have a blast with this book.” ―Diane Mott Davidson, New York Times bestselling author of Fatally Flaky

From the Back Cover

WELCOME TO DONUT HEARTS―where the coffee is hot, the donuts are fresh, and the local police aren’t the only ones solving crimes…

MEET SUZANNE HART, owner and operator of Donut Hearts coffee shop in April Springs, North Carolina. After her divorce from Max, an out-of-work actor she’s dubbed “The Great Impersonator,” Suzanne decided to pursue her one true passion in life: donuts. So she cashed in her settlement and opened up shop in the heart of her beloved hometown.

“The perfect comfort read.”―award-winning author Rhys Bowen

But when a dead body is dumped on her doorstep like a sack of flour, Suzanne’s cozy little shop becomes an all-out crime scene. Now, everyone in town is dropping by for glazed donuts and gruesome details. The retired sheriff warns her to be careful―and they’re all suspects. Soon Suzanne―who finds snooping as irresistible as donuts―is poking holes in everyone’s alibis…

A DONUT SHOP MYSTERY

with recipes!

About the Author

Jessica Beck loves donuts, and has the figure to prove it. It’s amazing what someone can convince themselves is all in the name of research! For each recipe featured in the donut mysteries, a dozen more are tried and tested. Jessica Beck is the penname of an author who has been nominated for the Agatha Award and named an Independent Mystery Booksellers Association national bestseller nearly a dozen times. When not concocting delicious treats, Beck enjoys the rare snowfalls near her home in the foothills of North Carolina.

Posted in Cozy Mysteries

Murder in the Desert

Posted on by BookReviews

An utterly page-turning, jaw-dropping cozy mystery novel (A Flora Steele Mystery Book 15)

When amateur detectives Flora and Jack Carrington set sail for Egypt, they expect pyramid views and warm desert nights… but is that a body by a sphinx?

Flora and Jack are delighted to escape to Egypt, and looking forward to a peaceful trip – with no sleuthing involved. That is, until strolling past the Avenue of the Sphinxes, marveling at the incredible stonework, they stumble across a body slumped at the stone feet of a lion.

They are horrified to discover that the victim is Jeffrey Milton – an archaeologist they’d dined with every night on the ship to Egypt. So they can’t resist Jeffrey’s assistant, Stella, when she corners them at breakfast begging for their help. Jack is sure rival archaeologist Laurence is involved – especially when a glittering, priceless amulet from Jeffrey’s site goes missing…

Under the hot sun, Jack and Flora begin digging for their own treasure: the truth. But Jeffrey had more than one enemy waiting in Egypt – a jealous ex-wife and bitter son, busily plotting his downfall beneath the shadow of the palm trees. But when one of their key suspects is found murdered in a boat bobbing gently on the river, the race is on to unearth the killer…

The deeper Flora and Jack dig, the more suspects emerge from the banks of the Nile and dunes of the desert. But can they dust off their sleuthing skills before any more victims are laid to rest in the ancient catacombs of Egypt?

An utterly charming, page-turning cozy mystery novel packed full of puzzling clues and brilliant twists and perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Clare Chase and J.R. Ellis.

Readers love the Flora Steele Mysteries:

‘Fantastic!!! Absolutely devoured in one sitting!!… Absolutely addictive!!!… My heart was in my throat… OMG!!!! THAT ENDING!!!! LOVE, LOVE, ABSOLUTELY LOVED!!!!… ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! DID I MENTION I LOVED IT???!!!!… Clear your schedules as you won’t be able to put this book down!… Kept me turning the pages late at night!!… I LOVED it.’ Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wonderful! I absolutely adored this… Had me finishing in no time! I highly recommend!!!… I was drawn in instantly.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Fantastic… I really didn’t want to put this book down for even a second… Totally immersive… Bravo!!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I started this with my morning coffee and didn’t put it down until it was finished… I could not tear myself away.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I loved this… Keeps you guessing to the very end. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, another twist… Wow… I completely loved this.’ Page Turners, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Enchanting and atmospheric… Completely absorbing and wholly immersive… Will sweep you up in all its secrets and mysteries… Truly a delight… Truly wonderful.’ The Staffymum’s Book Nook, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐