Suzanne Hart owns Donut Hearts in small town April Springs, North Carolina. She's not getting rich, but she's managing to make a decent living doing what she loves. While listening to the radio one night while she's in bed, she hears radio jockey Lester Moorefield -- a thorn in her side -- tell everyone to stay away from her business because she's feeding everyone poison with her donuts. Angry, she dresses and goes to the station to confront him. They have words, and Suzanne leaves, determined to make him regret targeting her.

Later on the next morning, police chief Martin comes to the shop and asks her to come with him to the radio station, where he tells her that Lester is dead, and one of her éclairs was found stuffed in his mouth. While he doesn't believe she committed the murder, he wants to know where she was at the time of the murder, and then if she knows anything. Of course she doesn't, but when her business starts to suffer because of Lester's final broadcast, Suzanne can't just sit back and wait for the police.

With the help of her friends Grace and George, she's determined to investigate. But then her boyfriend, state investigator Jake Bishop, is assigned to the case, and there's an accident that puts her in the forefront of knowing it shouldn't have happened, and Suzanne is bound and determined to get the murderer...that is, if the murderer doesn't get her first...

This is the fourth book in the series, and I must say that it's been improving along the way. I do like Suzanne as a person; she doesn't rush headlong into accusing everyone she meets of murder; she asks questions and then eliminates that suspect, which is much nicer and more believable.

She loves her donut shop and the people around her, and it's apparent that they love her, too. I do like the fact that she has a mother who's not hounding her about grandkids and is a good part of Suzanne's life. I'm beginning to enjoy Dorothy's presence in these books; and I do like the fact that Suzanne's relationship with Jake is beginning to take shape and grow.

As far as the murder goes, it was done very nicely, with just enough suspects who may or may not have had solid alibis, and sifting through them with Suzanne was tons of fun. While the murderer wasn't totally unexpected, my dislike of another character really wanted that person to be guilty. Oh, well. In the end, it came together seamlessly, and I spent a good evening with Suzanne and her friends, and look forward to seeing them again in the next book. Recommended. ( )

Somehow, murder in April Springs always involves one of Suzanne's donuts. Go figure. This time DJ and local jerk, Lestet Moorefield has been murdered with one of Suzanne's Eclairs shoved down his throat. ( )

I was flummoxed for once concerning my rating of Evil Eclairs. I've always prioritized a strong finish, and I loved knowing the identity of the murder, and maybe so will you. The issue with this book is that for one fifth of it's duration little, if any, happens.

There was no real purpose to the investigation and there were too many interludes during the said inquiry. The previous book was action packed. But this one holds its own. Slowly, events did accumulate, giving us an illusion of overload. It's a fairly unfair 3/5 stars, but then when compared to better books, I simply can't give it a four. Reading the Donut Shop Mysteries is one of the highlights of my readership and I particularly like the fact that I'll be ending my reading challenge for the year with half of the books read - from now till the end - being Jessica Beck's. ( )

Evil Éclairs by Jessica Back was an easy reading cozy for me. Right type I love to read when I am not feeling good. I love doughnuts but have diabetes so I haven’t eaten one in years. I think if I can’t eat them at least I can still read about them. The main character, Suzanne Hart has a donut shop so there are doughnut recipes sprinkled throughout the book.

This is the first of the cozies that I have ever read that I figured out the killer at the beginning of the book! One clue really stood out and then there was another one at about the end. So the mystery wasn’t the chief thing with this book. It was the characters that I loved. Suzanne is a role model for all workaholics, her mother is very sweet and sensible and her boyfriend was adorable. That was the same for the previous books. So this book is like going home and seeing your mom and your best friends and that is good enough for me. I was glad to read about old George Morris, a retired law enforcer.

I love the drawing of April Springs, North Carolina in the front of the book. It made it so easy to visualize the small town in the tale. So when I feel down, I will pick up another Jessica Beck cozy for a comfort read. ( )

Evil Eclairs is a Mystery/Suspense novel. It is a little different from others in the genre because it tends to revolve around the donuts and the donut shop. The Donut Shop Mystery Series and Evil Eclairs focus' on Suzanne Hart, Jake Bishop and the murder of Lester Moorefield. Suzanne is owner of Donut Hearts. Jake Bishop is her boyfriend and also an investigator with the State Police. Whenever Suzanne is pulled into a murder and starts investigating it on her own she enlists the help of George Morris and Grace Gauge. All of the characters are very believable and have flaws or shortcomings just like us. They live in a small town so everyone knows everyone. This makes for very interesting situations when it comes to Suzanne trying to question someone about the murder that has happened.

Suzanne is my favorite character. She loves her shop that she has started. She is confident in herself and her relationships with others. When things happen and her shop is questioned she isn't afraid of standing up and even getting into a few confrontations because of it. She loves her family and friend unconditionally. I enjoy reading about the mornings when Suzanne makes the donuts and opens the shop. It's fun to read about her interactions with Emma her assistant and the customers that come in. The parts where Suzanne and Grace are going around making up stories so that they can question people about the current murder are always interesting to read. Suzanne and Grace work very well together. I don't really care for the scenes when a character that you've come to love is hurt or are being put in a position where they may get hurt. But at the same time I understand that it is a part of the story line and that there is a reason for it.

Jessica Beck's writing style has a nice easy flow to it. It makes it very easy to read and nothing felt rushed. Evil Eclairs is a nice easy read, easy to understand so no rereading was needed for me. All plot twists or points seemed to fit and worked towards the final reveal. I was pulled so far into the story line that at parts I was worried about the characters. At other times I found myself laughing at some of the things they did and said.

I will definitely be continuing with the Donut Shop Mystery Series. Also I would recommend this book to all who enjoy reading murder mysteries mixed with light humor and romance. ( )