Article and Interview by Elise Cooper
Double Grudge Donuts by Ginger Bolton is a scrumptious read. She combines tasty treats with likeable characters within a riveting mystery.
The story has a murder but also a happy ending for Detective Brent Fyne and Deputy Donut Café owner Emily Westhill. It begins with the Fallingbrook Arts Festival with Emily expecting lots of talent and friendly competition at the week-long summer series that will go together with coffee and donuts. She is half owner along with her ex-father-in-law Tom. She’s thriving and happy. Someone who is strong, intelligent, empathetic, and smart.
Their relationship was a no go for a while because Brent was the detective partner of Emily’s late husband. In fact, unlike some of the other cozy mysteries Brent does not chastise Emily or get upset with her for investigating as an amateur sleuth. He relies on and trusts the information Emily finds and he’s happy for her to call for backup anytime she feels the need. Brent admires these things and doesn’t berate her when she finds clues for him.
During the contest bagpiper Kirk MacLean interrupts other performances with a noisy rendition of “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean,” but despite that rudeness wins the contest. Kirk’s antics continue when he drowns out a teen barbershop quartet. He’s annoying, playing the pipes up and down the street even in the middle of the night while others are sleeping. After speaking with people, Emily finds out that he’s not well-liked. The next morning tragedy strikes when Emily finds the piper dead and calls the police. The list of suspects is long and include a local guy who lost first place to him, Emily’s own parents, the owner of the local café, and other friends of Emily. She with help from some of her friends decides to investigate and find the real killer.
Bolton worries about jumping the shark after the marriage but has nothing to worry about because the focus of her stories are the characters personalities and a plot that has many twists and turns. Readers are kept guessing in these fun and exciting mysteries. Not to mention mouthwatering donuts.
Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea for the story?
Ginger Bolton: A cozy writer said that there was a bakery that was about to close. The nine police in this small town decided to buy it so they run this bakery. I used that to jump start the series with a bakery donut shop somehow connected to law enforcement and first responders. I thought donut shops is a great place to pick up a lot of clues. For this book there was an incident that I based the murder weapon on.
EC: Do you like donuts?
GB: I like the plain old-fashioned donuts with nutmeg. I actually cook donuts but do not do it often.
EC: How would you describe Brent?
GB: Brent is gentle, kind, loving, and thoughtful. He keeps a neutral face when he needs to.
EC: How would you describe the relationship between Emily and Brent?
GB: In the beginning of the relationship, he and Emily were standoffish because he was her first husband’s detective partner who got killed in the line of action. They share this major grief. When they finally got around to speaking with each other they bonded over communicating about their shared grief.
EC: Do you think you will jump the shark by having them get married?
GB: I hope I do not jump the shark by having them get married. This is a worry for me. I thought this was going to be the last book in the series. But then the publisher wants two more books.
EC: How would you describe the victim?
GB: Kurt the bagpiper is devious and mean. He interrupts other performances. Nobody really likes him.
EC: How about your next book?
GB: The next book is titled Blame The Beignets and is based on the famous New Orleans donuts. It will come out the end of November with Emily discovering a body while kayaking with her assistant, a suspect.
EC: THANK YOU!!
