Book Review: Illegally Iced

Book: Illegally Iced (A Donut Shop Mystery book #9) by Jessica Beck

Cover Design by Danielle Fiorella
Illustrations by Matthew Holmes

Edition: Paperback

Description:

Donut shop owner Suzanne Hart knows how to treat her customers. But sometimes life can get a bit sticky. When a spat she has with a local blacksmith—one that could have been solved with a handshake and a mixed dozen—ends with his murder, Suzanne is caught dead in her tracks. Suddenly everyone in April Springs has their eyes on her. And they’re hungry with suspicion.

Left with little choice but to catch the killer herself, Suzanne starts lining up suspects. But her case is full of holes. How did the killer strike in the middle of the day without a single witness to the crime? Who knew that the humble blacksmith was actually an heir to a family fortune? The heat is on as Suzanne tries to solve the case and save her business. Can she have her cake-donut and eat it too?



Rating: 4 stars

Review:

When Suzanne Hart's friend James Settle, the blacksmith in her small town of April Springs, North Carolina, was murdered in the park, she along with her best friend Grace Gauge were going to do everything they could to find the murderer. When Suzanne wasn't being an amateur sleuth, she worked at her doughnut shop, Donut Hearts making classic and specialty donuts.

As unofficial sleuths, Suzanne and Grace were uncovering significant clues which surprisingly they turned over to stern Police Chief Phillip Martin. And speaking of him, they were also doing their best to stay out of his way since they had no business sticking their noses into solving mysteries however it was a bit challenging for Suzanne since he's also dating her mother.

The more clues they found surrounding James and his murder led them to more questions and more suspects. Could his wealthy and prominent aunt Anne and cousin Forrest be connected to his murder? Could his apprentice Murphy be the killer? or Could his ex-girlfriend Rebecca or his girlfriend Trish (who is also Suzanne's other best friend) be the murderer?

What I like about Illegally Iced is that the mystery started immediately, which doesn't always happen in some cozy mysteries, with Suzanne having to clear her name because someone had accused her of murdering James. I found the book's description to be a bit misleading because the focus on solving the murder was not due to the suspicion placed on Suzanne since that was cleared up rather early.

I have mentioned before that I have a tendency to read mystery books out of order, however not on purpose. It just some how happens that I rarely buy the books in order. With this ninth book being the first book that I have read from this series, the author does a good job of writing a story that is easy to follow.

This is a cozy mystery where you can get lost in the drama, humor and mystery of the story as you follow two amateur detectives trying to piece together clues to find a killer. I enjoyed reading this, it was fast-paced and I like the characters and how the mystery was unfolding. As for characters, Suzanne feels like the typical main character I have found in a lot of cozy mysteries where she can't help solving mysteries, owns a business and she's really casual and not too into fashion or beauty but yet is somehow dating the hottest guy in town. While her best friend Grace is equally into solving mysteries as well as looking good, has a fabulous wardrobe and an interesting career but is also single. Despite being prototypical characters, I still like these two best friends who love to solve mysteries.

As much as I enjoyed reading this, I do wish there had been more harrowing and suspenseful moments especially directed at Suzanne and Grace since they were looking into a murder. But all in all, this was a good read.