A New Cozy: “Powdered Peril” By Jessica Beck

In the case you have not heard the name Jessica Beck, this is the pseudonym used by the author of the Donut Shop Mysteries. The author has been nominated for the Agatha Award and named an Independent Mystery Booksellers Association national bestseller. The series of books main protagonist is Suzanne Hart, who runs a Donut Hearts shop in the town of April Springs in North Carolina. The new book by Beck titled “Powdered Peril: A Donut Shop Mystery” was just released in mass paperback and we had a chance to take a look at it.

A Brief Summary:

t’s hard to keep a secret in April Springs—especially when it involves a no-good cheater like Peter Morgan. Donut shop owner Suzanne Hart has tried to be civil with the guy, since he’s dating her best friend Grace. But when Grace shows up at her doorstep—sobbing—Suzanne’s the first to admit she’s glad the relationship is over. She’s also the first to spot the footprints leading to Peter’s dead body…

Instead of the usual morning donuts, the police are busy rounding up suspects and sifting through clues: Why did  Peter splash yellow paint on Suzanne’s shop window before he was murdered? How angry was Grace when she learned that her boyfriend was two-timing (or three- or four-timing)? Suzanne is willing to bet dollars to donuts that her friend is innocent. Now she has to prove it—before the real killer takes a powder…

Our Take:

To be frank, we are not that much into the cozy mysteries featuring a middle-aged female sleuth and supplemented with recipes; but if you are, this is a book for you: The main character is an engaging amateur sleuth, the storyline is an enjoyable regional culinary cozy and the setting reminds the classic small-town locales by authors such as Agatha Christie or contemporary authors such as Carolyn Hart. Overall, a well-written cozy.

Our Rating: 3.1

Like Books By Jessica Beck? Check out the following cozy mystery titles.