As the weather cools down, business heats up at Deputy Donut Cafe for owner Emily Westhill. But is a stubborn tabby cat, a mysterious new employee, and a murder case with a baker's dozen worth of suspects too much to manage?

With mouthwatering treats selling fast in October, Emily is delighted to welcome her assistant's younger sister, Hannah, to help at the donut shop while taking a semester off from college. But Hannah's talent for dishing powdered pastries without dropping a crumb attracts some unusual customers, as two admirers with opposite personalities begin to show up during her shifts-much to her older sister's disappointment . . .

Real trouble comes afterhours in the dark forest surrounding Emily's lakeside house. Emily follows a trail of her freshly-made beignets-just like those purchased by the two admirers-to a dead body. And while the victim may have burned a few bridges, there's no way to sugarcoat the discovery of Hannah's hairclip at the crime scene. Now, as suspicions fall on her own employee and unsavory rumors swirl around town, it will take far more than a sprinkle of good luck for Emily to learn the truth and expose a killer with a very deadly craving . . .