Powdered Peril stands up just fine as a stand alone mystery, but one of the many things I love about cozy mysteries is the sense of being part of a family that you get from reading each book in a series. When we first met donut shop owner Suzanne Hart she was recovering from a broken marriage and just learning to stand on her own. In the books since then we have come to know and enjoy the growth in Suzanne's personal and business life. Suzanne's mother has grown as well, moving on to a new chapter. I enjoyed the fact that this newest entry focuses on Suzanne's friend, Grace, who has her own challenges to face. Even minor characters and friends evolve in Beck's series and I am always glad to see what's new in their lives as well. If you like a small town cozy with a strong amateur sleuth and lots of good food try the Donut Shop series (I personally advise starting at the beginning with Glazed Murder because it's too good a treat not to eat your way through all the books).