Blame the Beignets by Ginger Bolton

This is the ninth book in an excellent cozy mystery series. I picked up the series a couple of books ago, and as someone (fairly) new to the series, I think this book would work fine as a stand-alone. The author provides everything you need to know to jump right in with this book.

I really enjoyed the small-town setting. I loved the descriptions of Emily's business (Deputy Donut), as well as all the special treats and coffees prepared and served there. This time around, we spent a lot of time at Emily and Brent's secluded house on the lake, as well as the state park with its various trails. I appreciated getting to see more of the outdoorsy areas of Fallingbrook!

The mystery itself was excellent! The victim was known to have caused problems for several people, and some others were known to be in the area near the time of his death. As a result, there were plenty of suspects for Brent, Rex, and (of course) Emily to investigate. The author provided a variety of clues for Emily to research, and it was fun watching her try to figure everything out. I was fairly confident in my choice of suspect (and even after the initial solution, I was waiting for the next chapter to reveal that this person was also in on it). Of course I was wrong, and the actual culprit made perfect sense.

I liked reading about main character Emily. She seems like a very real person, and one I'd love to know in real life. In this book, the reader gets to experience the early stage of Emily and Brent's married life, including their indecision about which of their homes to live in, and what to do with the other one. I'm happy that the series seems poised to continue; hopefully Samantha's baby shower won't be the only one we get to attend!

As always, Dep the cat was adorable and helpful in solving the mystery (in a realistic catlike way). As a bonus, a new pet has been added to the town: Gigi, a fancily-dressed tiny dog belonging to the owner of a formal-wear shop across from Deputy Donut. I look forward to seeing more of her in future installments!

I'm happily rating "Blame the Beignets" five out of five chunks of perfect sharp cheddar!