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beastreader's review
4.0
Suzanne Hart is the owner of Donut Hearts. Suzanne is minding her own business when she hears a woman scream. She quickly discovers the cause of the scream. It is because James Settle has been murdered. The prime suspect is none other than Suzanne. Earlier Suzanne and James had a dispute. James was going to put on a demonstration in the park and the smoke from his stove was blowing into Suzanne’s donut shop.
Suzanne knows that the only person who can clear her name is herself. Well with some help from her friend and fellow crime solving partner, Grace.
This is my first introduction to Suzanne and any of the Donut Shop Mystery books. I have to say that this was a good first date with Jessica Beck. I like Suzanne and Grace. They make a great team together. Grace is more of the outgoing one but Suzanne brings entertainment to the pair.
The town of April Springs is a place that I would like to be at if it was a real place. Most of the people are nice. In addition, it is nice to be in a small town where everyone looks out for each other. A moment that I liked was when Suzanne wore a dress and everyone was asking what the occasion was. You would have thought someone had died. I guess it is that rare that Suzanne is caught wearing a dress. The plot was pretty easy to figure out but for me it was about Suzanne, Grace and April Springs then it really was about the plot. Of course, I can not forget all of the yummy donut recipes that were packed into this book. I will have fun trying them all out. Yes, all as my mouth was watering reading up on them all. I plan to go back and check out the other books in this series. Illegally Iced is worth the read.
Suzanne knows that the only person who can clear her name is herself. Well with some help from her friend and fellow crime solving partner, Grace.
This is my first introduction to Suzanne and any of the Donut Shop Mystery books. I have to say that this was a good first date with Jessica Beck. I like Suzanne and Grace. They make a great team together. Grace is more of the outgoing one but Suzanne brings entertainment to the pair.
The town of April Springs is a place that I would like to be at if it was a real place. Most of the people are nice. In addition, it is nice to be in a small town where everyone looks out for each other. A moment that I liked was when Suzanne wore a dress and everyone was asking what the occasion was. You would have thought someone had died. I guess it is that rare that Suzanne is caught wearing a dress. The plot was pretty easy to figure out but for me it was about Suzanne, Grace and April Springs then it really was about the plot. Of course, I can not forget all of the yummy donut recipes that were packed into this book. I will have fun trying them all out. Yes, all as my mouth was watering reading up on them all. I plan to go back and check out the other books in this series. Illegally Iced is worth the read.
luffy79's review
3.0
These last two books in the series finished abruptly. Also, Suzanne Hart correctly eliminated the innocent people and was left with a small group of suspects, among whom the criminal was present. There is slightly more silliness here than in other books. People behaving randomly, with stop start natures that lead to no denouement worth the name. The most unbelievable fact was the very act of the murder. It was committed in a public, open space, in broad daylight, and nobody saw anything. What are the chances? Via his fictional book club, which Jessica Beck uses as his mouthpiece, the latter let us know that the more sequels are in a series, the greater the permutations of creativity available to the author. If so, then why do I feel that the latter is running out of good ideas?
angrygreycatreads's review
3.0
This is book 9 in the Donut Shop mystery featuring Suzanne Hart and her donut shop. The recurring characters of Grace, George, the Chief and her mother remain the same. i have enjoyed this seris all the way along, however this was not the strongest outing in this series. The final motive when revealed was weak and just difficult to buy into it. There were a few red herrings that were interesting but I didn’t really believe them. I will still continue with the series because I have enjoyed it up to now and one misstep in 9 books is really not bad.
moondance120's review
3.0
I heard the woman's scream coming from the park across the street just as I closed the front door of my shop a little after eleven-fifteen on a rare chilly day near the first of May.
I realized after I started this book that I had skipped a couple in the series. It really didn't matter.
Suzanne, Grace, George and the usual crew are all accounted for. Although George does not get quite so involved this time.
James, the local blacksmith, is stabbed after he and Suzanne have a minor altercation. Of course, she is the first suspect. I continue to read this series even though my first thought is that I wouldn't want to be Suzanne's friend because they usually end up dead.
James had a secret life that Suzanne and Grace dig up and use to fuel their investigation. Even Chief Martin is friendlier all around.
A funny portion of the book was during the book club meeting that gathers at Donut Hearts. They discuss how an author can stretch out a series with the same characters when people keep getting killed off. Also that the author of the series they enjoy is written by a man under a woman's name. The recipes are discussed as well. I must say that I enjoy the recipes in the books although I am not much of a donut eater. (That is almost blasphemy in the birthplace of Krispy Kreme. I do admit to a few quick U-turns when the "Hot Now" sign is on!)
The girls get in predictable trouble and I pretty much knew who the killer was soon after their introduction. All in all, I will continue to read the series just to see where it may lead.
I realized after I started this book that I had skipped a couple in the series. It really didn't matter.
Suzanne, Grace, George and the usual crew are all accounted for. Although George does not get quite so involved this time.
James, the local blacksmith, is stabbed after he and Suzanne have a minor altercation. Of course, she is the first suspect. I continue to read this series even though my first thought is that I wouldn't want to be Suzanne's friend because they usually end up dead.
James had a secret life that Suzanne and Grace dig up and use to fuel their investigation. Even Chief Martin is friendlier all around.
A funny portion of the book was during the book club meeting that gathers at Donut Hearts. They discuss how an author can stretch out a series with the same characters when people keep getting killed off. Also that the author of the series they enjoy is written by a man under a woman's name. The recipes are discussed as well. I must say that I enjoy the recipes in the books although I am not much of a donut eater. (That is almost blasphemy in the birthplace of Krispy Kreme. I do admit to a few quick U-turns when the "Hot Now" sign is on!)
The girls get in predictable trouble and I pretty much knew who the killer was soon after their introduction. All in all, I will continue to read the series just to see where it may lead.
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