Book ~ "Donut Disturb" (2022) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ Love is in bloom in Ashland, Oregon. The Shakespearean hamlet is bursting with fresh spring energy. Fragrant lilacs and the sweet aroma of vanilla cake fill the air as everyone in town gathers at Lithia Park for the celebration of the year - Thomas and Kerry’s wedding. 

It’s a picture perfect day. Guests gather on picnic blankets in front of the bandshell to watch Kerry walk down the aisle and wed Ashland’s favorite detective in training, Thomas. Jules and her team at Torte have been tasked with catering the outdoor reception and everything is going according to plan, until a wedding crasher shows up. 

The uninvited guest isn’t just someone looking to score a free glass of champagne. It’s Kerry’s estranged father who is supposed to be behind bars. Kerry is distraught. Jules vows to do everything she can to make sure that there are no other surprises on her friend’s big day. But when the bassist for Heart Strings, the wedding band, is found stabbed with the blunt end of his instrument Jules’ promise takes on new meaning. Now she’ll have to slice through the five tiered cake and a bevy of potential suspects in order to track down a killer before they turn the knife on her. 

Juliet (aka Jules) was raised in small town Ashland, OR, which has a Shakespearean theme.  She grew up helping her parents in their bakery and went on to culinary school.  After working for many years on a cruise line, where she met her husband, Carlos, she moved back home to take over the family bakery.  She now shares ownership of it with her mother, who recently married the local head of police.  After a two year separation, Jules has worked things out with her Italian husband and Carlos is running the winery they have majority ownership of.

Jules' friends, Thomas and Kerry, as getting married and everyone in the town is involved and/or invited.  Kerry becomes distressed when she discovers her father, who should be in prison, is in town and plans to attend the wedding.  Thomas and Kerry are police officers and Kerry is concerned how it will look if her father had escaped from prison.  Jules tells her not to let it get to her and ruin her big day.  But when the bass player of the wedding band is found murdered and Kerry's father is taken into custody, how can that not ruin her day?  As Kerry and Thomas head off on their honeymoon, Kerry makes Jules promised she'll check into things to see what really happened and, of course, she does.

This is the fifteenth in the Bakeshop Mystery series (I've read them all) and I thought it was okay.  It's written in first person perspective in Jules' voice.  It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity.