Glazed Murder, Book 1
Meet Suzanne Hart, owner and operator of Donut Hearts coffee shop in April Springs, North Carolina. After her divorce from Max, an out-of-work actor she’s dubbed “The Great Impersonator,” Suzanne decided to pursue her one true passion in life: donuts. So she cashed in her settlement and opened up shop in the heart of her beloved hometown.
But when a dead body is dumped on her doorstep like a sack of flour, Suzanne’s cozy little shop becomes an all-out crime scene. Now, everyone in town is dropping by for glazed donuts and gruesome details. The retired sheriff warns her to be careful—and they’re all suspects. Soon Suzanne—who finds snooping as irresistible as donuts—is poking holes in everyone’s alibis…
Fatally Frosted, Book 2
A local busy body has dropped dead after eating one of Suzanne’s famous treats. A forensic team is soon swarming through the Donut Hearts kitchen, dusting for clues, sifting through sugar, and suspecting the worst of Suzanne. But with the help of police inspector Jake Bishop and her ex-husband Max, Suzanne hopes to clear her good name—before another bad donut is fatally frosted…
Sinister Sprinkles, Book 3
Just in time for the Winter Festival, a glistening layer of snow has covered the streets of April Springs, North Carolina. Of course, it reminds donut shop owner Suzanne Hart of sweet delicious frosting. But her visions of sugar plums plummet when her ex’s ex-girlfriend gets iced …
Suzanne could never understand why her ex-husband and actor Max cheated on her with Darlene Higgins. Why Darlene’s body was found wearing another woman’s clothes is an even bigger mystery. Now Max is suspected of murder—and Suzanne is sifting through her mixed-up love life looking for clues. If she can’t sprinkle evidence on her half-baked theories of whodunit, Max is as good as fried…
Evil Éclairs, Book 4
Donut shop owner Suzanne Hart admits her sweet treats don’t exactly qualify as health food. But does she really deserve to be labeled a “killer” by local radio jockey Lester Moorefield? The annoying host is urging citizens to boycott Suzanne’s “deadly dough” factory—until he’s found dead himself, stuffed with one of Suzanne’s éclairs…
Everyone in April Springs knows about the feud between Lester and Suzanne, which makes her the number-one suspect. She tries to use the donut defense—donuts don’t kill people, people kill people—but that cream-filled éclair at the scene of the crime has the whole town filled with suspicion. If Suzanne can’t figure out who killed the radio star, she’ll soon be filling a prison cell instead of a pastry…
Tragic Toppings, Book 5
Donut shop owner Suzanne Hart sees customers come and go all day long. But when one of them up-and-disappears, the police start asking questions. It seems Suzanne is the last person to have seen Emily Hargraves, who runs the local newsstand. Suzanne has nothing to report about their encounter. But when Emily doesn’t turn up, no news is bad news…
Suzanne has to admit that Emily’s last request was a little odd—a blueberry donut made to order, with chocolate icing, sprinkles, stars, and a chewy sour gummy worm coiled on top. Odder still: Suzanne’s ex-husband Max also appears to be missing. But what really takes the cake? The corpse Suzanne finds hanging from a tree in the park. Who knew donut-making could turn out to be such dangerous business…
Killer Crullers, Book 6
WELCOME BACK TO DONUT HEARTS—where the coffee is hot, the donuts are fresh, and the crullers are to die for…
As owner of April Springs’s one and only donut shop, Suzanne Hart is privy to the deliciously personal, downright eccentric tastes of her customers. One man is crazy for crullers—heavy on the icing. But when he doesn’t pick up his order, a tall dark stranger buys the whole box. Which he tosses, one drippy cruller at a time, at her friend Gabby’s storefront next door…
The man claims that stolen family valuables ended up in Gabby’s thrift shop. His wild, weird behavior has Suzanne wanting to call the cops. But when he turns up dead—outside of Donut Hearts, no less—the cops come calling for her and Gabby. Can Suzanne prove that their role in the cruller-vandal killing is a cruel, albeit sugar-coated, twist of fate?
Drop Dead Chocolate, Book 7
The whole town of April Springs is stirring over the upcoming mayoral election. Suzanne Hart’s mother, for one, is dead-set on replacing the current mayor…and what better way for Momma to drum up support than by luring in voters with Suzanne’s drop-dead-delicious donuts? Just add chocolate, and they’re sure to kill the competition…
With Momma’s half-baked campaign heating up faster than a donut shop deep fryer, Suzanne wonders if they’ve bitten off more than they can chew. But when Momma’s opponent is brutally murdered, the odds of winning are suddenly, and suspiciously, in their favor. Sure, they’d been planning to beat the mayor—but with speeches and donuts, not a blunt instrument. If Suzanne hopes to reveal the killer’s recipe for revenge, she’ll have to uncover a plot that’s darker than any chocolate…
Powdered Peril, Book 8
It’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…
Illegally Iced, Book 9
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?
Deadly Donuts, Book 10
When a mysterious stranger shows up at Donut Hearts threatening to reveal a deadly secret about Suzanne’s late father, she believes that he’s lying, but when he offers to show her proof that her dad wasn’t who she thought he was, Suzanne realizes that she has to listen. It’s just too bad that the stranger is murdered before he can share what he knows. Suzanne and her mother are the main suspects, but it turns out that there are plenty of other people who wouldn’t mind seeing the stranger dead!
Assault and Batter, Book 11
When Emily Hargraves tells Suzanne that she’s marrying Max, her ex-husband, Suzanne is happy enough for her, but when Jude Williams, one of Emily’s old flames, decides to light the ceremony up, someone decides to extinguish his flame before he can act. Was it Max, the groom-to-be; Peter, his best man; Lisa, the woman Jude had been dating; her jealous husband, Frank; or perhaps it was Reggie Nance, a man who had reasons of his own to want to see Jude dead? Suzanne and Grace must act quickly and solve the murder before someone else ends up missing the reception, permanently.
Sweet Suspects, Book 12
Suzanne and Grace must track down a killer when one of their old classmates is murdered at their high school reunion. There are plenty of suspects gathered back together in April Springs for the big event, and more than one former student’s secrets thought long buried in the past may end up coming back to haunt them all.
Deep Fried Homicide, Book 13
When Suzanne’s boyfriend, Jake, is shot in the line of duty, he comes to April Springs to recuperate. The only problem is the that the man Jake was trying to capture has a partner, a very bad man now intent on seeking revenge. Add another villain returning from Suzanne’s own past into the mix, and the donut shop owner’s normally tranquil world is suddenly turned upside down.
Custard Crime, Book 14
When the chief of police’s ex-wife is found dead, some folks think it was an accident, but Suzanne Hart’s boyfriend, State Police Inspector Jake Bishop, knows better. When he’s asked to investigate the crime, Suzanne is thrilled that he’s going to be nearby, but she’s also worried that the investigation might interfere with their relationship. Little does she know that it’s about to do much more than that as she and Grace work behind the scenes searching for the killer themselves.
Lemon Larceny, Book 15
When her Aunt Jean dies suddenly, Suzanne and her mother investigate what at first looks like an accident, but quickly proves to be murder. They never expected to get help from the recently deceased beyond the grave, though. The ladies soon learn that Jean suspected she was a target in someone’s sights, so she has left them clues and hints behind about who might have wanted to see her dead!
Bad Bites, Book 16
When Chief Martin’s brother, Chester, is murdered on the day he is supposed to retire, Suzanne’s boyfriend, state police inspector Jake Bishop, steps in to take over the case. That doesn’t keep Suzanne and Grace from digging into the murder as well, though, and when the three detectives and all of their suspects convene at a lodge in the mountains, just about anything could happen!
Old Fashioned Crooks, Book 17
When donut shop assistant Emma’s bad boyfriend is found dead in the middle of a freshly lit bonfire during the Spirit Night celebration, Suzanne and Grace must dig into the case, with Jake adding his own special skills to the investigation. The team soon gets into trouble when the search turns even more sinister, and the abilities of all three sleuths are required if they are going to have any chance of solving the murder and clearing Emma’s name.
Dangerous Dough, Book 18
Suzanne and Jake are finally married, but the honeymoon is over too soon when they find her mother waiting for them at the airport. Someone has murdered the new police chief in their absence, and the list of suspects comprise some of the folks closest to them, including Suzanne’s stepfather, her assistant at the donut shop, and several folks in the town Chief Tyler just left. As their investigation develops, suspicion falls on people from both sides of the law, and the newlyweds must learn to balance their new marriage with their drive to find the killers!
Troubled Treats, Book 19
There’s been a murder at the old wagon factory, a building recently purchased and now being renovated by Suzanne’s mother. What’s more, Jake and Suzanne were on the premises when the crime occurred. They soon get dragged into the investigation and begin uncovering a bevy of clues as to why this homicide took place. Did the killing happen for personal reasons, or was it instigated by someone’s lust for the rumor of hidden gold?
Sugar Coated Sins, Book 20
When a time capsule is accidentally unearthed on the town square, a murder confession is discovered, leading Suzanne, Grace, and Jake on a hunt through time for a killer who clearly isn’t finished yet.
Criminal Crumbs, Book 21
When Suzanne accepts Grace’s invitation to a luxurious corporate weekend retreat, she believes she’s in for some first class pampering, but when one of the participants dies soon after they arrive, she’s thrown back into the world of detecting, whether she likes it or not. To make matters worse, they are soon cut off from the rest of the world, and the group finds itself trapped on a mountaintop with a cold blooded killer.
Vanilla Vices, Book 22
When Crazy Dan the junk man, is found murdered in his shop, Aunt Teeks, at first no one has any idea who might want to see the old man dead, but as Suzanne and Grace begin to dig into his life, they discover that there was much more to the man than they first thought, including several motives for murder.
Raspberry Revenge, Book 23
When Mayor George Morris’s chief rival, Harley Boggess, is found murdered while sitting behind the mayor’s desk in city hall, it looks as though George may have dispatched his competition permanently. When the mayor goes missing immediately afterwards, things appear to be even worse, and it’s up to Suzanne, her mother, and Grace to work together to uncover who really killed the councilman before the mayor’s future—and his freedom—are extinguished forever.
Fugitive Filling, Book 24
When the new attorney in April Springs is found dead soon after a public spat with Jake, Suzanne and her husband must team up to solve the woman’s murder before they are both set up to take the fall for a crime neither one committed. Added to the intrigue in her life is news from Suzanne’s mother that very well may change the donut maker’s life forever.
Devil’s Food Defense, Book 25
When kindly old Gray Vincent is stabbed after Movie Night in the Park, everyone is puzzled as to why anyone would want to kill him, but when Gray’s past sins are revealed, it’s just amazing to the folks in April Springs that the man was able to keep his secrets so long, and so well. Or did he? Was Gray struck down because of his past, or because of something that happened more recently? With Jake away on family business, Suzanne and Grace are determined to find out as they dig into the past and try to discover who killed him, and why.
Pumpkin Pleas, Book 26
When newspaper owner Ray Blake goes missing, it’s just the start of troubles for some of the people closest to donutmaker Suzanne Hart. Soon after, old flame Tom Thorndike is found dead at the bottom of a nearby waterfall. Was it foul play, or simply a daredevil stunt gone wrong? Little does Suzanne know that her past is about to play a major role in her present, as well as her potentially perilous future.
Floured Felonies, Book 27
When an ice storm hits April Springs, it freezes more than the trees and power-lines as one of the town’s residents perishes outside. But soon Suzanne and Grace learn that it wasn’t the cold that killed Santa-suit wearing Greg Whitmore, but a bullet instead. The women must do their best to figure out who killed the banker before someone else gets frozen out, permanently.
Mixed Malice, Book 28
During the remodeling of Donut Hearts after a big ice storm damaged the place, contractor Snappy Mack is found murdered inside the shop, and Suzanne and Jake must find the killer before he strikes again. As they search through the remnants of the contractor’s life, they soon realize that too many folks had a reason to want to see Snappy dead, and sorting it all out is going to be no easy task.
Tasty Trials, Book 29
When Suzanne and Jake win a weekend getaway to a luxury resort island in the mountains, they think they’re in for the time of their lives. Little do they know that they’ve actually been brought there to help uncover who tried to kill their host. As the married team dig deeper into the case, they are soon isolated on the island with not only more potential victims, but the would-be killer as well.
Baked Books, Book 30
There’s a new bookstore opening up across the street from Suzanne’s donut shop, and when a group of mystery writers descends on April Springs for a panel on murder and mayhem in the book world, is it any wonder that homicide is soon on the menu at Donut Hearts?
Cranberry Crimes, Book 31
When Suzanne Hart is commissioned at the last minute to make donuts for a long-time customer’s birthday party, she happily complies, but when the guest of honor dies before the party can even begin, Suzanne taps Grace, Jake, and even Phillip to help her solve Jasper Finney’s homicide before the killer gets away with murder.
Boston Cream Bribery, Book 32
When head town councilman Van Rayburn is attacked at his home and left for dead, Suzanne and Jake struggle to prove that their friend, Mayor George Morris, is innocent of committing the assault. The only problem is that there is evidence left at the scene that implicates the mayor, and Van can’t seem to remember the attack at all!
Cherry Filled Charges, Book 33
It’s finally time for Barton Gleason’s pop-up bistro, but the grand opening is marred when a fellow chef and rival from culinary school is murdered nearby in one of the staging areas. Suzanne stumbles across the body, and while Jake is away dealing with his own family issues, she and Grace tackle the job of tracking down the real killer before someone else’s goose gets cooked!
Scary Sweets, Book 34
It’s Fright Week in April Springs, a time filled with special events leading up to Halloween, but the celebration is in jeopardy when a body is found in the middle of the night on the platform of the dunking booth under the town clock. Suzanne and her mother decide to investigate, and soon secrets from the past resurface and threaten the present in a very real way.
Cocoa Crush, Book 35
When Suzanne and Jake leave town to attend a party with friends, they never dream that they are about to become involved in another murder. The stakes continue to rise as an ice storm knocks out the power in the penthouse where they are staying, locking them in with a dead body and a killer until law and order—as well as the power—can be restored.
Pastry Penalties, Book 36
When Emily Hargraves’ stuffed animals are kidnapped and ransomed, the police treat it as a joke, but when the apparent abductor ends up on the wrong end of a knife, things turn deadly serious in April Springs as Suzanne and Jake do their best to solve the murder before the killer has a chance to strike again.
Apple Stuffed Alibis, Book 37
When a prominent member of the community is murdered, the list of suspects is longer than the lines during a free donut giveaway. Odd couple Suzanne and her stepfather, Phillip, dig into the case together to unmask the killer, and in the course of their investigation, the two amateur sleuths become embroiled in some of the worst aspects of small town life as they struggle to find the murderer.
Perjury Proof, Book 38
A pie shop is opening up in April Springs, but the owner is as sour as her pies are sweet! When she’s murdered a few days before the grand opening, too many folks in April Springs had reasons to want to see the woman gone. Suzanne and Grace dive into the case, hopefully in time to save the next victim on the killer’s to-do list!
Caramel Canvas, Book 39
When Suzanne Hart returns to April Springs after being away, she learns that one of her good friends, artist Annabeth Kline, has died by accident in her studio, but as Suzanne looks deeper into the situation, it quickly becomes clear to her that Annabeth’s death was no accident!
Dark Drizzles, Book 40
The owners of Donut Hearts and The Last Page decide to hold a festival featuring donuts and books, but when one of the guest authors dies in the middle of robbing the donut shop, Suzanne and Grace must solve the case and get the missing money back, or risk losing more than the proceeds from the festival.
The Official Donut Mysteries Cookbook
Gathered in one place for the first time, the Donut Mysteries Cookbook offers many of the recipes featured in the pages of the New York Times Bestselling Donut Mystery Series by Jessica Beck. Here you will find enough treats to send you into absolute sugar shock, with a few recipes for more standard fare peppered in, if you’re so inclined. The author makes no claims to be a professional baker or cook but has enjoyed making goodies for the family for many years, and has had very few complaints from those consuming the treats included here.
Counterfeit Confections, Book 41
When Suzanne, Jake, Momma, and Phillip decide to buy an old house and fix it up, they soon discover that the neglected property is being used as a base for an illegal operation. The more they dig into the old house, the more they realize that there are more problems with the fixer-upper than just wiring and plumbing, and they must investigate the case or risk losing everything.
Measured Mayhem, Book 42
When Suzanne gets an urgent call from her old college roommate, she drops everything and rushes to help her. When she arrives, Suzanne learns that someone may be trying to drive her best friend from school crazy, or worse yet, kill her, and Suzanne must dig into what’s really happening. Is her friend just being paranoid, or is there really a target on her back?
Blended Bribes, Book 43
As Suzanne Hart is coming home from visiting her college roommate, Autumn, she spots smoke in the sky above downtown April Springs, North Carolina. She fears that either her donut shop or the cottage she shares with her husband, Jake, is on fire, but it turns out to be ReNEWed, Gabby Williams’s gently used clothing shop next door to Donut Hearts. As Suzanne watches in horror, a fireman pulls someone from inside the burning building. Is it Gabby, and if it is, is she still alive? Only time will tell. As events begin to unfold, Suzanne and Grace do their best to uncover who would want to torch Gabby’s business, and the owner along with it!
Sifted Sentences, Book 44
When Suzanne’s mother gets a threatening note, no one but Suzanne and Grace seems to take it seriously. After all, several other folks around town have gotten them, too. The police think it’s all just one big prank, but Suzanne knows better. As she and her best friend begin to dig into the case, things suddenly turn fatal in April Springs when someone is murdered, and Suzanne must figure out whether the threat against Momma is a separate incident or if it’s tied into the same goal of getting rid of her mother once and for all!
Dusted Discoveries, Book 45
When former Chief of Police Phillip Martin finds a clue to a missing treasure while researching a cold case, he, Momma, Jake, and Suzanne go off in search of a valuable relic missing since the Civil War. The only problem is that they aren’t the only ones looking for the prize, and when word gets out that they are on the hunt as well, things turn ugly, and fast!
Nasty Knead, Book 46
When former resident and once-famous country music singer Charlie Gray comes back to April Springs to try to save his career, he gets Suzanne to agree to do a donutmaking demonstration for television, but before they can go on, someone takes the opportunity to kill, and Suzanne and Jake must battle to find the murderer before they can strike again!
Rigged Rising, Book 47
There’s a mayoral election in April Springs, North Carolina, and just as George Morris discovers that he’s been unseated by rival Lily Hamilton, the new mayor-elect winds up dead! A great many fingers point toward George as the main suspect in the murder, so Suzanne and her stepfather, Phillip, must dive into the case to clear their friend’s name and, in doing so, find the real killer.
Donut Despair, Book 48
When Jake takes a missing person case near the North Carolina coast, Suzanne decides to tag along for a bit of a ‘vacation’. There’s no time for her to rest once they get there though when they get embroiled in a small town’s present, as well as its past, and they must unravel the mysteries surrounding it before murder books its own stay there.
Whisked Warnings, Book 49
When the contractor working next door to Donut Hearts is assaulted and nailed to the wall of ReNEWed, the town is quick to suspect Gabby Williams, and unless and until Mike “Darrel” Masters regains consciousness, Suzanne must work to figure out what really happened at the jobsite in the middle of the night, or Gabby will be convicted in the eyes of the people of April Springs!
Baker’s Burden, Book 50
When a wicked landlord is murdered during a going-out-of-business sale in April Springs, everyone who runs a business in the strip mall he owns is a suspect, including one of Suzanne’s good friends. Not only that, but there are even more folks from town who are under scrutiny as well. As Suzanne and Grace dig into the murder, they must do their best not to be the killer’s next victims, too.
Battered Bluff, Book 51
When Suzanne and Jake accept an invitation from Jake’s old friend to visit him at his new lodge on top of a mountain, they figure they may have a chance at a second honeymoon, but once they arrive at Balsam Bluff, they realize privacy is the last thing on the agenda. Not only has their host invited two contentious family members to the house as well, but there are also two disgruntled former business partners who are both out for blood. When the guests start dying, the husband-and-wife sleuthing team must solve the mystery, or die trying.
The Hole Truth, Book 52
When Richard Covington is murdered, his past leads Suzanne and her stepfather, Phillip, on a wild ride to the present as they search for the man’s killer. To make matters worse, one of Suzanne’s best friends is one of their main suspects, and Suzanne must walk the fine line between friendship and her compulsion to discover The Hole Truth.
Donut Disturb, Book 53
When a murder happens onstage during the dress rehearsal for Max’s new play, Suzanne and Grace must dig into the lives of the cast and crew to see who may have just ended the production before it could even begin.
Wicked Wedding Donuts, Book 54
Not only does Gabby Williams reopen ReNEWed beside Donut Hearts, but she also holds a surprise wedding. The best man couldn’t make it due to a car accident, and soon after the nuptials, the groom is struck down with poison. Suzanne and Grace must figure out what really happened before their friend becomes either the number-one suspect in the poisoning, or maybe even the next victim!
Donut Hearts Homicide, Book 55
There’s a Valentine’s Day scavenger hunt in April Springs, and Donut Hearts is one of the stops. Couples go from place to place and post photos of themselves together as they solve puzzles that lead them to the next venue. The grand prize is a romantic weekend in Asheville, but the contest gets shut down prematurely when one of the players is murdered during the hunt! Suzanne and Trish must find the killer before someone else loses more than just the game!
Sticky Steal, Book 56
A health inspector wanting payola for a good rating from local restaurants is murdered. He not only failed Suzanne’s donut shop, but also Barton’s new place, Napoli’s Italian restaurant, and others. Suzanne and Grace must find the killer, or everyone could be ruined!
Jelly-Filled Justice, Book 57
When Arnie Lancaster gets out of prison on a technicality after being convicted of killing local Susie Mae Long, he comes to retired police chief Phillip Martin and donutmaker Suzanne Hart to figure out who really killed the woman sixteen years earlier. Is Arnie trying to whitewash his past, or did someone else really kill the woman and pin it on him?
Jessica Beck Mysteries 