They say Delilah O’Leary is the main character of the Deep Dish Mysteries, but let’s be clear: I, Butterball, have more main character energy than just about anyone. Chonky, majestic, and sharper than a good Wisconsin cheddar, I’m technically “only” a cat, but everyone knows I’m an essential part of the crime-solving team.

My day begins, as all days should, with a homemade breakfast. Delilah cooks for me, but she insists on portion control. I deploy my most pitiful stare, tail wrapped neatly around my paws, until she gives in and plates up a second helping. Works every time.

Once fed, I begin my rounds. Window perch—secure. Radiator—warm. Pizzeria kitchen—smells divine, but tragically off-limits due to some ridiculous health department regulation.

The humans are in a tizzy this week. Something about a mysterious missing treasure and the discovery of a dead body frozen into the lake ice. All I know is that Detective Capone, one of my most-favored humans, isn’t happy about any of it. My twitchy whiskers tell me that things are going to get a whole lot worse before they get better, and that danger might be lurking around the corner, both for Delilah and << gulp >> for me. I try to warn everyone with meaningful looks and the occasional strategically-placed hairball, but humans are so slow on the uptake.

Between naps, second breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner, I lend my sleuthing services. A thorough investigation of my food dish reveals it to be shockingly empty. A prowl around Delilah’s aunt’s chair confirms that yes, she still smells like Vicks VapoRub and indignation. My most important work is keeping Delilah’s spirits up. She gets so stressed, poor human, and I have to remind her daily—usually by knocking something off the counter—that I’m here to help.

By evening, I reclaim my throne: the middle of Delilah’s bed. She sighs, mutters something about personal space, and curls up around me. Another day closed, another case inching toward justice, all thanks to me.

AT DEATH’S DOUGH — A Deep Dish Mystery, Book 5
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: October 2025
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

The next book in the delectable Deep Dish Mystery series by Mindy Quigley, set in a Wisconsin pizzeria.

It’s February in the ritzy lakeside resort town of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, and love is in the air. Pizza chef Delilah O’Leary is gearing up to celebrate her first Valentine’s Day with hunky police detective Calvin Capone, great-grandson of the infamous Chicago mobster. But their romance is put on ice when a shocking discovery plunges them into a century-old crime with ties to Capone’s notorious forefather.

As old secrets surface, Delilah realizes that nearly everyone in town—from Capone’s cagey cousin to her own quirky customers—has something to hide. With the pressure mounting and the past closing in, Delilah must help Capone follow a trail of clues that could lead them to a priceless treasure… or into a deadly trap. Can Delilah serve up justice before history repeats itself? Or will she and Capone end up sleeping with the anchovies?

About the author
Mindy Quigley is the author of two lighthearted mystery series. Her latest, the Deep Dish Mysteries, was a Woman’s World book club pick and has been featured in Parade and The Seattle Times. Mindy’s non-writing career took her from the US to the UK, where she worked as the personal assistant to the scientist who cloned Dolly the sheep and as project manager for a research clinic founded by the author J.K. Rowling. She lives in Virginia with her Civil War history professor husband and their children.

If you’d like to stay in touch, you can find Mindy at www.mindyquigley.com.