It's fall in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin, and Emily Fyne, owner of the popular local Deput Donut café is on a trail-a Donut Trail, that is-to tour pre-Halloween treats and activities, not to mention check out the competition. It's all fun and games, until a murder that's no trick . . .
Emily and her friends Izzy and Monique are traveling the Donut Trail in style in Deputy Donut's vintage, donut-topped car. With them are Emily's cat, Dep, and Monique's tiny dog, Gigi. Amid the spectacular fall foliage they stop at an orchard that includes a bistro and a vast corn maze. But while sampling some apple cider, they find that not everyone shares their friendly, festive mood . . .
A cranky tourist not only scolds them for bringing their pets, but she also says she hates dogs-with cats a close second. No matter, Emily and company, their pets leashed, go off to enter the maze. But soon, boisterous teens barge in, wreaking havoc, tossing pumpkins, uprooting cornstalks-and attempting a dog-snatching . . .
As everyone scrambles to regroup, it turns out the dog-hating woman is missing. And when her dead body is finally discovered-with Gigi's hair ribbon in her pocket-Emily and her friends are the top suspects. To clear their names, they'll have to throw a killer off their trail while diving even deeper into a dangerous labyrinth of clues . . .
