A Doomful of Sugar
by Catherine Bruns
Publisher : Poisoned Pen Press (October 25, 2022)
Mass Market Paperback : 336 pages
First in the new Maple Syrup cozy mystery series from USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bruns.
There’s nothing sweet about murder…
Leila Khoury has always believed that everyone loved her father as much as they loved his artisanal maple syrup. But when he’s killed, and she returns to Sugar Ridge, Vermont to take over his business, she starts to realize how much of his life she’s left untapped.
With her brother under suspicion, her mother just barely holding it together, and police not producing any leads, Leila will have to investigate herself if she wants answers about her father’s sticky end. But the more she learns, the more she worries that there won’t be a sappy ending to the story.
A cozy mystery perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke, this edition includes 5 delicious maple recipes for mystery readers with a sweet tooth!
My review of A Doomful of Sugar
Do you love all things maple? How about Vermont? Even if you like neither of those things, if you’re a cozy mystery reader you’ll love A Doomful of Sugar! (That was just a test!) Catherine Bruns has done it again; she’s got me totally hooked with her first book in the Maple Syrup Mystery series.
Leila Khoury has returned to Sugar Ridge, Vermont for the reading of her father’s will. She’s shocked when she learns that her father has left her in charge of the family’s maple tree farm. She’s got a job. In Florida. And her father decided to put her in charge of the farm rather than sell it and split the profit with her mom and brother? Yes, that’s exactly what he did, and Leila has to stay for one year in order for the will to stand.
We’ve all been told to think before we speak, right? That’s not so easy for some of us…Leila Khoury included. Her character is strong-willed, and she almost always speaks before she thinks! That’s a problem when she accuses people she has just met of her father’s murder! Though she might rub you the wrong way at first, give her a chance. She grows on you very quickly! I really liked her and can’t wait to see how she grows even more throughout the series.
In addition to Leila, I thought that the rest of the characters in A Doomful of Sugar were very well-written. They’re believable because they show real emotions. You’ll love some and despise some, but that’s okay. Some are meant to be despised! As with Leila, I can’t wait to see how the main characters continue to develop throughout the series.
A Doomful of Sugar has all of the things cozy mystery readers love; an exciting well-paced plot, well-written characters, a beautiful and cozy setting, and a puzzling mystery. I can’t wait for the next book!
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley, I received a complimentary ARC of the book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
About Catherine Bruns
USA Today bestselling author CATHERINE BRUNS lives in Upstate New York with an all-male household that consists of her very patient husband, three sons, and several spoiled pets. Catherine has a B.A. in both English and Performing Arts and is a former newspaper reporter and press release writer. Readers are invited to visit her website at www.catherinebruns.net
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