At Death's Dough (Deep Dish Mystery 5), by Mindy Quigley

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Last year, I won a copy of At Death's Dough in a giveaway. I was behind on the series and have been trying to catch up ever since. I like reading series in order so I can follow the character development and relationships. A few weeks ago, I was finally ready to read this installment.

Valentine's Day is fast-approaching in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. Delilah O'Leary is hoping her gourmet pizza restaurant is fully booked for the holiday.  This will also be her first Valentine's Day with the love of her life. Unfortunately, an ice fishing trip sets new plans in motion when a dead body is discovered. Who is the victim and what exactly happened? This investigation becomes personal and dangerous when clues are followed and secrets are uncovered. 

This installment in the series begins with an incident that occurred about one hundred years ago. It then switches to present day when several things are happening. I wasn't quite sure if and how the events would be connected, but it did come together in a cohesive, edge-of-my-seat mystery.  

With this being a Valentine's Day installment, I was hoping for a little more romance, but I did enjoy the tie-in with the holiday. The whole book had my undivided attention from beginning to end. There were enough viable suspects to consider with lots of twists and turns. I did not figure out the whodunnit, but in the end it made perfect sense. 

One thing I loved about this book, and others in the series, was that Butterball, Delilah's cat, wasn't just a cozy companion. Butterball played a critical role in how this story came together. He has become one of my favorite four-legged characters in the genre. 

Another element I really loved in this installment was how much weather conditions played a role. I am always a fan of when weather is a factor in cozies, and in this one it certainly was. It wasn't there just to create atmosphere; it had the potential to directly impact clues and the outcome of certain events. 

I continue to enjoy the character development in the series. Relationships are evolving and within themselves, characters are growing. They have depth and they feel like friends, which keeps me interested in spending time with them. 

There are some serious events that take place in At Death's Dough, and it is well-balanced with a good bit of humor. This is in keeping with the author's style of writing throughout the series. This is part of why I continue to enjoy these books. And if you enjoy culinary cozies, you'll be happy to know there are a few recipes at the end of the book.

As with most cozy mysteries, this is a self-contained mystery. However, if you want to follow the character development and changing relationships, I recommend starting with the first book, Six Feet Deep Dish, and reading them in order. I'm so excited there are plans to publish another book in this series. I'm all caught up with the series and I will be reading it!