Survival of the Fritters

Seductive as the aroma of powdered sugar and warm spices, this cozy series opener from the pseudonymous Bolton also delivers nourishment. When doll-mender Georgia Treetor fails to show up for her usual rendezvous with other knitters at Deputy Donut in scenic Fallingbrook, Wis., the shop’s owners—28-year-old Emily Westfall, a cop’s widow, and Tom, her retired police chief father-in-law—become alarmed. The mystery deepens with the arrival of Lois Unterlaw, who just moved back from Madison and claims to be Georgia’s oldest friend. Lois (who has a key), Emily, and the knitters enter Georgia’s house, where Emily finds her body, grotesquely masked with an overturned Deputy Donut box. A 911 call brings Det. Brent Fyne, the former partner of Emily’s late husband, and her distress intensifies; discomfort has reigned between them since the awful night when her husband was shot. Will Emily go a-sleuthing? Will Georgia’s killer threaten her, Brent save her, and Tom offer his blessing? Dollars to penuche donuts (recipe included), the reader knows the answer but will still find much to enjoy. [em]Agent: John Talbot, Talbot Fortune Agency. (Feb.) [/em]