Boston scream murder

In Bolton's disappointing fourth Deputy Donut mystery (after 2019's Jealousy Filled Donuts), Emily Westhill is preparing special doughnuts for Halloween when a pompous former bank manager, Richmond P. "Rich" Royalson III, enters her shop, Deputy Donut, in Fallingbrook, Wis. Rich orders Boston cream doughnuts and coffee for his birthday bash, but when Emily later arrives at his home, she finds him dead with the murder weapon--a heavy skillet--lying nearby. Emily learns that Rich's wife, Patty, drowned under suspicious circumstances a while back, and that those with a motive for his early demise include a pianist neighbor who was an old friend of Patty and was thwarted by Rich in a real estate purchase; a caterer who was cheated out of business by Rich; an ex-boyfriend of Rich's girlfriend, Terri Estable, with whom Rich was having an affair at the time Patty drowned; and Terri herself, who stands to gain substantially from Rich's will. An awkward construction, far-fetched situations, and an obvious perpetrator provide less than satisfying reading. Hopefully, Bolton will return to form next time. Agent: John Talbot, Talbot Fortune Agency. (Aug.)

Spooky delights don't discourage a murderer in small-town Wisconsin. Black cats and scary pumpkins are just some of the confections Emily Westhill is cooking up this year at Deputy Donut, the shop she owns with her father-in-law, Tom. But Richmond P. Royalson the Third turns up his New England nose at these Midwestern pastries. The only one he'll order is the Boston Scream doughnut, although he insists on calling it by its proper name: Boston cream. Still, the doughnut is obviously the high point of his blind date with Cheryl, a member of the Knitpickers, a knitting club for seniors. After ordering three dozen Boston Screams for his birthday party over the weekend, Rich leaves Emily's shop, returning later that afternoon with a younger, snazzier gal for another date at Deputy Donut. Terri Estable, his new squeeze, is actually an old flame, and it looks like she and Rich may have hit the jackpot. She's clearly been helping Rich set up for the party when Emily and her assistant, Nina, deliver the doughnuts to his mansion on Lake Fleekom, although when they arrive she's out canoeing. Which is lucky for her, since the two bakers discover Rich's body, conked to death with an oversized skillet. The murder brings detective Brent Fyne to the scene, stirring up all of Emily's mixed feelings toward her late husband's partner. She really doesn't need to investigate the murder of a man she just met, but between Brent, the moonlight on the lake, the lure of solo kayaking, and her own natural curiosity, Emily just can't seem to stick behind her stove. Typical cozy fare with a dollop of moonlight mist. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.