I like mysteries, even the cozy variety, as well as cozy magic and cats. By all rights I should really enjoy Ma Tutt's Donut Shop, a collection of four short stories about a woman who encounters mysteriously supernatural events at her bakery with the help of her cat. Instead of savoring a fresh pastry, though, I chewed through this short novella like gum: insubstantial words that staved off my reading cravings for a few minutes.
The titular baker, Ma Tutt, starts the first story as a cosmpolitian transplant in a small town, trying to get her retirement project of a donut shop off the ground. A neighborhood cat adopts her and offers "suggestions" in the form of cryptic ingredients and recipes found in the debris of the previous owner's old cupboard. Each story integrates Ma into the world of characters around her and delves into a supernatural twist of fortune.
There are some fun moments to be found in the pages of these short stories. I was dissapointed that they weren't true mysteries (Ma Tutt is no Miss Marple), but the idea of a magical bakery has merit. The cat is a true feline and offers the best moments, while the town's inhabitants gradually grew on me (like they did on the protagonist).
Perhaps my tastes are just not right for these kinds of stories, but I found the supernatural bits distracting and frankly bizarre. The events leading up to and following these escapdes by rights could have been teased into a full story of their own. The story's brevity kept the tone light but also muted any emotional impact the stories might have held. Characters continued to feel like caricatures for the most part, and my ability to believe wasn't so much stretched as never fully engaged to begin with.
If you like colorful slices of life or even bite-sized word snacks, there are better options out there. While the denizens of Ma Tutt's world might inspire some smiles, their stories aren't entertaining or compelling enough to gain my full recommendation.
This review is also posted on Goodreads and Amazon. I did not receive anything from the publisher or author for this review. The cover was designed by Jordan Dyke. The book is currently available from Mountainview Books as a Paperback ($9.86) and via Amazon as a free eBook.
