Book Review: At Death's Dough, A Deep Dish Mystery (Deep Dish Mysteries, #5) by Mindy Quigley

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NetGalley ARC Cozy Mystery Book Review At Death's Dough, A Deep Dish Mystery (Deep Dish Mysteries, #5) by Mindy Quigley
At Death's Dough: A Deep Dish Mystery (Deep Dish Mysteries, #5) by Mindy Quigley opens with a prologue set during the era when Al Capone and other mobsters ruled. The story then shifts to the present day in the lakefront resort town of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, where pizza chef Delilah O’Leary is busy preparing her restaurant and eagerly anticipating her first Valentine’s Day with her boyfriend, Calvin Capone, who also happens to be the great-grandson of the infamous Al Capone. When a shocking discovery disrupts the festivities, Delilah must set aside both her personal life and business concerns to uncover the truth.

I'd like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for approving my request for an advanced readers copy of At Deaths Dough: A Deep Dish Mystery by Mindy Quigley and providing me a digital copy for free in exchange for my honest review. I was thrilled to receive the book and quite sorry that it took me so long to read the book and provide my feedback.

Not too long after finishing the novel, there was a story that appeared on a few of the national news programs about a raccoon who broke into a liquor store and got drunk off of cheap booze and was found passed out next to the toilet in the liquor store's bathroom. Ironically, this incident happened in the same city that At Death's Dough is set!

Coincidence aside, I absolutely fell in love with the Deep Dish Mysteries series with this latest installment, and I’ll definitely be going back to read the earlier books that I haven’t gotten to yet. One of the aspects I enjoyed most about At Death’s Dough was the prologue; it pulled me into the story immediately, especially with its mention of a character driving a Packard.

Just over a year ago, I visited the Packard Museum in Dayton, Ohio, where several Packard vehicles were on display alongside other classic car brands. I’ve included a photo of a 1934 Super Eight Sport Phaeton Packard that I saw during my visit. Interestingly, the color isn’t part of Packard’s standard color catalogue; the original buyers chose it for their daughter, who ended up hating it. Personally, I love the color.

Packard Museum in Dayton, Ohio
Another aspect I loved about the story was the number of red herrings woven throughout, which constantly had me second-guessing who I thought the “bad guy” might be. As for the characters, most of them are quite likable. Of course, there are a few who are thoroughly repulsive. The two I disliked the most were Capone’s cousin and Capone’s boss.

I also enjoyed how Mindy Quigley weaves a bit of history into the storyline by tying mobsters Al Capone and Bugs Moran to Geneva Bay (Lake Geneva) and their connections to Chicago. They really did retreat there due to its proximity to the city and their ability to blend in with high society. Quigley incorporates these historical details seamlessly, without it ever feeling like a textbook lesson.

All in all, I have nothing negative to say about At Death's Dough: A Deep Dish Mystery (Deep Dish Mysteries, #5) by Mindy Quigley. I give the story a resounding five out of five stars and eagerly look forward to the next installment in the series.

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