Evil Éclairs
Jessica Beck
Minotaur, Apr 26 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780312541071
April Springs, North Carolina is the location of the well known Donut Hearts; owned and operated by Suzanne Hart. Her store is turning a profit, but not by much. As she prepares to go to sleep, she hears controversial radio talk host Lester Moorefield call her product poison and labels her a killer for selling unhealthy food. He finishes his diatribe with calling for a boycott of the “deadly dough”.
Furious, she goes down to the station only to see him smoking a cigarette. Her shouting at him lets everyone know they are feuding. Later the cops escort Suzanne to acrime scene where Lester created his show. The police chief questions Suzanne as someone murdered the radio jock leaving a Donut Hearts’ éclair stuffed in the victim’s mouth. Business slides as some of her customers believe Suzanne is the killer. To regain her reputation and save her shop, she and her friends Grace and George investigate only to find a horde of suspects with viable motives; many of whom she respects and likes.
Perhaps the only warning needed for the latest Donut Shop mystery (see Sinister Sprinkles and Fatally Frosted) is not to read it on an empty stomach because each chapter contains a recipe for a type of donut. A romantic subplot between Suzanne and her State Police boyfriend Jake enhances the tale (just think what he must be putting up with dating a donut baker). Readers will admire the spunky heroine and her loyal sidekicks as they investigate death by pastry in a cute Carolina cozy.
Harriet Klausner
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