REVIEW: Maple Frosted Murder

Maple Frosted Murder
Author: Susan Gillard

Heather Janke is having problems with local businessman, Stan Dombrowski. Stan owns a sub-par doughnut franchise across town from her gourmet doughnut shop, Donut Delights. Stan likes to tell people her shop has been in trouble for health code violations and has even taken out ads in the local newspaper hinting that his doughnuts are better than hers. One morning he even shows up at Donut Delights to pick a fight with her in front of customers, screaming that she is deliberately trying to put him out of business. The next day Heather is shocked to learn that Stan was attacked and killed in his store. His body was found inside a freezer. Heather finds herself a murder suspect....again. Seems like there is always a dead body showing up to throw her in the path of cute Detective Ryan Shepherd. Who killed Stan Dombrowski and why?

Maple Frosted Murder is the 2nd book in the Donut Hole Mystery series. This book is an improvement on the first book in the series. The first book had a lot of editing mistakes, but this one only had a couple minor errors. There is a bit more character development and interaction in this one as well. Definitely an improvement! I like Heather as a main character....she is intelligent, with lots of spunk and ingenuity. I could do without the cute cop/budding romance trope....but....why not? Nearly every cozy mystery series goes down that path....what's one more? :)

These books are short reads. The mysteries are basic, and move at a fast pace. I like the doughnut shop theme. Not quite sure what maple frosted had to do with this story though. There wasn't a single maple frosted anything in the entire story. The only doughnuts featured in the story were pecan pie and white Christmas flavored (white frosting with peppermint...sounds soooo yummy!). No maple anywhere. Not that the title has to be included in the story....but it was in the first book. A strawberry creme doughnut figured majorly into the plot in Strawberry Cream Murder.  Oh well....the missing maple flavor did not have an effect on my enjoyment of this story.

I'm going to give this 4 stars. A bit higher than the first book. Fewer mistakes and an enjoyable, fast read. I'm definitely reading more of this series. Entertaining, easy reads. It does make me crave a doughnut though!