Tag: Christmas mysteries

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Mrs. Morris and the Ghost of Christmas Past by Traci Wilton

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Mrs. Morris and the Ghost of Christmas Past by Traci Wilton

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Charlene and her parents are dining at Bella’s Italian Ristorante for an auction fundraiser for the Felicity House for Children. The event is hosted by the restaurant’s manager, and Charlene’s friend, David Baldwin. David recently won the lottery, and there’s lots of talk about his winnings. He even passes out some checks to people at the event – to his business partner, a graduate of the Felicity House program, and to the Felicity House staff (although it’s a much smaller check than what he’s promised to deliver later). His own son gets an IOU as well.

Then, before the night is over, David goes running out of the restaurant mumbling names no one recognizes. And then he’s struck, but no one saw the vehicle that hit him. Now David is dead, his second wife has closed the bank account so no one can cash David’s checks, and she’s ready to leave town with all of his money.

Charlene is determined to do what she can to help Felicity House. David’s promised money was going to go to an addition onto one of their facilities; they are outgrowing what they already have. Now, they don’t even have money for Christmas, so Charlene’s going to help find some. And Charlene’s ghostly friend, Jack, is ready to offer his insights as she works on who killed David.

Review

This is the third book in the Salem B&B Mystery series, but the first I have read. I like Charlene and her B&B. I loved the Felicity House pieces – the agency’s mission, the fundraiser, Charlene’s support of them, and the connection Charlene makes with one of the teens. That piece is probably my favorite from the book.

The ghost piece was interesting. It was like reading a book with a love triangle, but one leg of it is implausible. I liked how Jack tweaked Charlene’s mom and the cat, but otherwise the character didn’t grab me. Maybe I would have liked him more if I started the series from the beginning.

The mystery here was good. Lots of suspects to consider. I was able to puzzle out the killer before Charlene, but I was guessing for a long while.

Charlene’s mom made this hard to enjoy at times. She had some lovely moments, but not enough to completely offset her awful ones. She has a prickly, abrasive way about her, both with those she’s close to and also with total strangers. She’s a lot to take.

Series fans should check out Charlene’s latest adventure set at Christmas (with a few references to Wicca and the solstice). I think new readers can pick the series up here without issue.

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥=Good/fine/sold

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings by Liz Ireland

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings by Liz Ireland

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

April Claus is newly married to the big man himself. Nick inherited the job when his older brother died. Some day, Christopher, Chris’ son, will take over the job, but for now, Nick is holding down the holiday fort.

Less than 10 days before Christmas, Nick and the elves have plenty to do. But when an angry elf is found dead, everything is in an uproar.

Giblet had been angry about his second place finish in the ice sculpture contest. As he stormed off, he accused Nick of being a murderer. Now that Giblet is dead, his family thinks Santa killed him. Rumors are swirling around the North Pole.

As things start to look worse and worse for Nick, April feels like she has to look into things for herself. She has to find the evidence to clear her new husband’s name before Christmas is ruined for everyone.

Review

This was a delight from the very first page! The world-building for this North Pole mystery was excellent. The author had her work cut out for her. She had to craft and convey the Christmas setting while also building a mystery. And she does an fantastic job with both! (This reminds me of the Wishcraft Mysteries with the cozy mystery and the fantasy setting.)

I loved April. The whole Claus family is fascinating, really. I wanted more from April and Nick. For newlyweds, there was no chemistry between them. To be honest, though, they hardly had any scenes together thanks to the mystery and the Christmas rush. It works out well to make April wrestle with the rumors and her questions about Nick on her own, amping up the tension of the book.

The mystery was terrific. The culprit was on my radar, but not my only suspect. I needed April to put all the pieces together to be certain. I loved watching the whole thing come together.

The author has set this series up to be able to set stories both at the North Pole and in Oregon at April’s home. I can’t wait to see how the stories develop in these two distinct places, and where the overlaps come into play.

Cozy lovers and Christmas book fans should not miss this one. It was fantastic! A keeper for sure.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½=Loved it! Would read again.

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: The Gift of the Magpie by Donna Andrews

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: The Gift of the Magpie by Donna Andrews

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book will release on October 20, 2020.]

Summary

As Christmas draws near, Meg has her hands full coordinating the Helping Hands for the Holidays ministry for the Ladies Interfaith Council. Her volunteers are pitching in all over town, doing household repairs, yard work, and other projects for folks in need.

Meg’s biggest project is for Harvey Dunlop, also know as Harvey the Hoarder. The town helped Harvey with his yard a few years back. The house is in even worse shape. Harvey’s cousins and neighbors have threatened to call in Adult Protective Services. And the town building inspector is about to declare the house a danger zone. Harvey knows if any of those people come in, they’ll simply throw his things away. Meg makes him a better offer, and Harvey takes it.

But all of the work the volunteers do comes to nothing when Harvey is injured and killed. When all the evidence points to murder, Meg is determined to find out who cut Harvey’s life short, just when he was getting the help he needed.

Review

There’s a TON going on in this book, and the mystery is just one part of it. In some ways it felt like a smaller piece of the story than it should be. But at the same time, what’s there – especially at the end – is highly satisfying.

The Caerphilly community – and Meg’s family – are a delight in this Christmas novel. There are the holiday events and gift-giving pieces that are fun when you have a large cast in an ongoing series like this one. While Meg’s husband still performs his one-man A Christmas Carol, it’s only a small piece of the larger story. The magpies are a fun but small sliver in the larger picture, too.

The service projects are a significant layer of the holiday activity. Harvey’s project is a big part of that aspect of the book. Even as the chief investigates and Harvey’s relatives squabble over wills and inheritance, Meg and her team are securing and sorting Harvey’s things, hoping to find clues. The case is a steady presence in the story. Meg doesn’t do a ton of interviewing or questioning suspects. But her examination of Harvey’s things draws plenty of attention, allowing her to help the chief get to the truth.

I think series fans will enjoy spending time with Meg and her friends and family during the holidays. Other readers may come for the Christmas story and enjoy a mystery on the side. There’s lots of fascinating stuff here about the history of the town during the Depression. And the reaction of Meg’s twins to Harvey’s hoarding was one of my favorite aspects of the book. Newcomers might struggle to track all of the events and characters in this one and might start with an earlier book before tackling this one.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ – Great! Might re-read

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Holiday Books for 2019

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Holiday Books for 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

Publishers start releasing holiday books in earnest come September, so by now readers have a lot to choose from. I burned myself out on too much Christmas, too soon last year, so I am trying to be more judicious in my early celebrating. But now that it’s November, it’s time to go all in. Here are some of the holiday books that have released this season!

Holiday Books for Kids

 

Holiday Books for Adults – Mystery

 

Holiday Books for Adults – Romance

 

Holiday Books for Adults – Nonfiction

BONUS REVIEW: Owl Be Home for Christmas by Donna Andrews

BONUS REVIEW: Owl Be Home for Christmas by Donna Andrews

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

This year, Meg Langslow and her family may be spending their Christmas trapped at the Caerphilly Inn thanks to an unexpected blizzard. Meg was there to help her grandfather with the Owl Fest conference. No one planned to get snowed in. But the weather isn’t the only problem.

In a crowd of professionals, you can usually count on finding a few out of control egos. And the owl conference is no exception. Dr. Frogmore is an arrogant and unpleasant man with a vocal low opinion of women in biology. He’s known in academic circles as a man who has no interest in women or other minorities in his department at Buckthorn College. And his sycophantic minion Dr. Czerny is quickly becoming runner up to Dr. Frogmore in Meg’s fictional conference award, the Most Annoying Conference Participant.

It’s no surprise to anyone when Dr. Frogmore’s death looks like foul play – hardly anyone liked the man. But the Caerphilly police chief can’t get to the Inn to investigate due to the snow storm. Meg’s dad is there to perform the tasks of the medical examiner, and the crime scene tech is there as well. But he can only do so much with an inn full of people and limited resources. At least they have Meg on site because her track record for tracking down killers is top notch!

Review

This is book 26 in Donna Andrews‘ series, and it’s a terrific mystery! I enjoyed this holiday story. The owl angle was fun – there were punny Christmas carols and interesting ecological debates. The mystery was more that satisfying with some nice twists. I was able to figure out half of the solution, but I enjoyed discovering there was more going on than I suspected.

One of the things I love about this series is the setting and the cast of characters in Caerphilly. Because of the snowed in conditions, this book didn’t have a lot of those features. I missed them, but the great mystery made up for it.

Fans of the Meg Langslow series should be sure to catch this one. It’s snowy and fun – perfect for this time of year!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: Dachshund Through the Snow by David Rosenfelt

BONUS REVIEW: Dachshund Through the Snow by David Rosenfelt

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy from Netgalley and Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Fourteen years ago, Kristen McNeil was killed. She was a young woman – 18 – and her body was found by a rundown stadium. While she had DNA under her fingernails, the police couldn’t find a match. Until now.

Andy Carpenter’s wife, Laurie, is a huge fan of Christmas. One of her favorite parts is claiming Christmas wishes for families in their community and using Andy’s considerable wealth to meet them. This year she pulls a tag for a boy named Danny. Laurie is happy to provide everything he asks for – a coat for his mom, and a sweater for his dachshund, Murphy. But Danny also asks Santa to bring his dad home. As an investigator, Laurie’s the perfect person to find Noah Traynor. Except Danny’s mom acts like she doesn’t want him found.

Noah Traynor has been hiding in a motel, but it’s only a matter of time until the police find him. His brother just had to do one of those DNA kits. Once the results are uploaded, they are fair game for law enforcement. While Noah didn’t kill Kristen, he knows his DNA would have been at the scene because he had been there with her that night.

Once Noah is arrested, Andy’s on the case. Danny’s Christmas wish is to have his dad home – and Laurie’s going to make sure they do everything they can to make that happen!

Review

This was delightful! My favorite characters, a holiday story, an excellent mystery, and several adorable dogs. What’s not to love?!

Andy is in great form in this book. The dry humor was excellent. The author even gets a mention in the book, which was a hoot. The legal support team plays a smaller role in this book, but they all get equal time compared to one another, except of course for Laurie. There are a couple new characters who figured prominently in this one – not the Traynors, but other characters – that I loved! Those characters and their role in this book sets the stage for Rosenfelt’s spin-off series/book, The K Team, coming in 2020.

The mystery in this was fantastic. There was no organized crime angle like in many of the previous books, so this felt fresh. And my guess for the solution was off base all the way to the end. The wrap up was clever, and I thoroughly enjoyed all the twists and turns.

It was a Christmas book that introduced me to the Andy Carpenter series three years ago (The Twelve Dogs of Christmas, Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥), and they are among my favorites in the series. If you haven’t read an Andy Carpenter book before, give this one a try. It’s book 20 in the series, but the Christmas books seem especially new-reader-friendly to me. I don’t think a newcomer would have any trouble following the main action of this book. Of course, series fans should definitely not miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: In Peppermint Peril by Joy Avon

REVIEW: In Peppermint Peril by Joy Avon

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Callie Aspen is back in Heart’s Harbor, Maine to stay with her great-aunt Iphy for the holidays. Her great-aunt’s shop, Book Tea, has some holiday events to work, and Callie is happy to help out. Her first event is a tea at Haywood Hall. Callie grew up around the mansion and grounds with her friends. When handsome Stephen DuBouvrais proposed to her friend, Sheila, Callie decided to make herself scarce from Haywood Hall, thinking it might hurt less that way.

Haywood Hall is mostly as Callie remembers. The groundskeeper from her childhood – Leadenby – is still there as is Dorthea Finster, the owner of the home. Stephen and Sheila are back for the holidays, too, as Stephen is part of Dorthea’s extended family. In fact, Dorthea planned the party so her family, a few friends, and some prominent folks from town would be there when she shared the contents of her new will.

Sheila, though, has co-opted the event to turn it into a marriage proposal for her daughter, Amber. Except Amber doesn’t want to get married. When the ring, which was hidden in the cake, disappears, the party starts to fall apart. In the ensuing turmoil, Leadenby is murdered.

Who took the ring? Who killed the groundskeeper? Are the two cases related? What was Dorthea going to announce at the party? Does that have anything to do with what happened? Callie can’t help asking questions to get to the truth.

Review

Overall, this was enjoyable. I liked the characters, especially Callie, Falk the deputy, and his extended family. The side plots around the central mystery were great.

The mystery itself was good, too. There were plenty of suspects and secrets swirling around to keep me guessing. I liked that there were two crimes to sort out because they could be related or could be completely separate, adding some extra sleuthing for Callie.

This book doesn’t give a lot of setting description for the town. And for the whole book, Callie was just a guest in town. If the series wasn’t named for the aunt’s shop, it might have been a series with a changing location. But by the end of the book, though, Callie seems to be planning to make Heart’s Harbor her new home.

There were some little things that threw off my reading groove – a slow start (I almost gave up), some head jumping (where I found myself asking how Callie knew what other characters were thinking – the author might have intended this sort of omniscient point-of-view, but it threw me), Callie  sometimes had information it seemed odd for her to have (As a visitor to town, how did Callie know where the mayor lived?), and there were some other gaps. These are minor in the scheme of things, and may have been addressed before the final publication of the book. I was able to push past those questions and stalls and get through a satisfying mystery in the end. I will definitely be checking out book 2 in the series to see how things continue.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: 2018 Christmas Books

REVIEW: 2018 Christmas Books

Posted on by Jaymie

Last year I did a list of Christmas book reviews, and that seems like a good idea for this year, too. I am pretty far backlogged on reviews, so unless a Christmas book is something I am reviewing for a publisher (like this one and this one and this one), I have a hard time squeezing in reviews. So here are the Christmas books I have read so far this season and what I thought of them! You can see last year’s post here.

 Santa Bruce – This is the only Christmas book I have read for kids so far. It was adorable! I love the Bruce books! Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 

 

 

 Catching Christmas – A first year law associate and a cab driver connect over a wheelchair-bound old lady who is on the hunt for a date for her granddaughter. Overall this was cute, but I didn’t click with the characters. Other readers, especially fans of the author’s other work, might enjoy this one more than I did. Rating: ♥♥♥½

 

 

 

The Christmas Remedy – A young Amish woman runs into issues when she tries to help her community recognize how important it is to value their health and wellness, and the pharmacy that serves the community comes under fire. You can read a full summary and review here. I will say that this book ends at Christmas, but a lot of the action happens in the months leading up to the holiday. Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

 

 

 

The Christmas Star – A girl in foster care plays matchmaker for an after-school program volunteer. This is a sweet Christmas story with lots of heart. There’s not a lot of conflict or suspense in this one – just a touching Christmas tale. I read one of the other books in this series a couple years ago and loved it. Now I make a habit of looking for a new Christmas book from this author. You can read my review of the other book here.  Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

 

 

Dear Santa –  You’ve Got Mail with a Christmas twist. A woman running her family’s Christmas shop writes to Santa through an app about the national chain that has come to town, not knowing that the guy from the chain is the one answering the Dear Santa letters. This is another story without a ton of conflict or tension – just a nice holiday story to help you enjoy the season! Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

 

 

Deck the Hounds – The first Andy Carpenter book I ever read was a Christmas one – The Twelve Dogs of Christmas – and it launched me into a frantic  quest to read every book in the series. The second Christmas tale in the series is just as enjoyable. Everything I love about the series as a whole. In this book, Andy and his wife get more than they bargained for when they reach out at the holidays to help a homeless man and his dog.  Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

 

 

In Peppermint Peril – A woman home for the holidays finds murder at a stately manor where she played as a child. This is the first in a new mystery series. You can read a full summary and review here next Wednesday. Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

 

 

 

Lark! The Herald Angels Sing –  Meg’s brother, Rob, is named as the father of an unknown baby left in the manger at their church’s live Nativity. For me, this was the quintessential Meg Langslow mystery – it has all the family and town antics that I love as well as a first rate mystery. (This time the mystery focuses less on a murder, which happens off the page, and more on the fall out from it. It’s a fascinating story!) Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 

 

 

 

Murder in Her Stocking – First in the new Granny Reid Mystery series, a spin off of G. A. McKevett’s Savannah Reid/Moonlight Magnolia series. This one goes back to when Savannah was a kid and Granny looked into a murder at Christmas time. I loved seeing Savannah as a 12 year old and see how the personalities of her siblings were already on display at a young age. I think readers will enjoy this more if they are already familiar with the characters from the original series. Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

 

 

The Peppermint Mocha Murder – A chocolatier/”chocolate whisperer” heads out on vacation for the holidays and finds murder at a holiday musical production. I’ve only read the first book in this series, and then this one, so the relationships aren’t quite solid in my head for this series, yet,  but the mystery was good.  Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

 

 

 

Premeditated Peppermint – Another chocolatier finds herself investigating a murder when her ex comes to town to do a show on her family candy shop and his producer winds up dead. I enjoyed the mystery in this one, and the characters are always a treat for me in this series. I’ll be writing up a more detailed review of this in December. Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

 

 

 

Six Cats a Slayin’ – Someone leaves a set of kittens on Charlie’s door and a murderer hits the neighborhood as well. You can read a full summary  and review here. This is probably my new favorite book in this delightful series. Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 

 

 

 

 

‘Twas the Knife Before Christmas – In the midst of Christmas celebrations on the tree farm, a woman’s best friend is accused of killing a sleazy guy she dated one time. This is book 2 in this series and I have loved both of the books. The characters and the setting for this mystery series are first rate. You can read a full summary and review here. Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 

REVIEW: 'Twas the Knife Before Christmas by Jacqueline Frost

REVIEW: ‘Twas the Knife Before Christmas by Jacqueline Frost

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

While Holly’s loved her life growing up in Mistletoe, Maine on her family’s Christmas tree farm, Reindeer Games, her best friend Caroline’s life in town has always been more complicated. Holly grew up enjoying the freedom of her family’s property. Caroline is the mayor’s daughter. Her life has been a series of lectures and expectations and obligations. The most recent was the event she had to attend with Judge Waggoner’s son, Derek.  She didn’t want to go in the first place, and then he tried to get a little too familiar. The video of her telling him off went viral and news hit the front page of the paper. The only bigger news came 24 hours later when Derek was found dead.

Holly remembers how dangerous last Christmas was when she was on the hunt for a killer. Even if she could forget, her family and friends won’t let her. She’s been told to stay away from this investigation. But when the evidence stacks up against Caroline, and someone leaves Holly threatening notes to leave it be, Holly is convinced she has to get to the truth for Caroline’s sake – and her own.

Review

I fell in love with this series last year, and book two has lived up to the excellence of the first one. I adore the fictional  Mistletoe, Maine! What a terrific setting! The town shops sound delightful, and I love the activities at Reindeer Games. I’m excited about the changes happening at the Christmas tree farm for Holly’s family – they add lots of avenues for new stories in the future.

Holly and her family and friends are people I’d love to know in real life. I chuckled many times at the conversations between the characters. Cookie is a hoot, and I loved the interplay between Holly and Ray as well as Holly and Caroline. The author added a nice wrinkle to Holly’s relationship with the sheriff that may extend into the next book.

The mystery was excellent! Lots of juicy gossip led to several viable suspects. There was a lot more danger for Holly in this book. This added a layer of suspense to the whole story that I don’t often find in cozy mysteries. It made for a great reading experience. There’s also a touch of Christmas magic in this one that I loved.

I highly recommend both books in this Christmas mystery series! Excellent characters and well-crafted mysteries make for an enjoyable reading experience and help set the mood for Christmas!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles by Leslie Budewitz

REVIEW: As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles by Leslie Budewitz

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this from Netgalley and Midnight Ink in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Christmas has come to Jewel Bay, Montana. Erin is working on making sure her family business, Murphy’s Mercantile, has a profitable holiday season. She’s also awaiting the arrival of a new niece or nephew and finalizing plans for her Christmas Eve wedding.

When Merrily Thornton returns to Jewel Bay looking for a second chance with her family, Erin sees a woman only a few years older than she is who needs a good friend. As a teen, Merrily went to prison for embezzling money from a local business. Merrily’s parents were so mortified by her behavior, they disowned her. Almost 20 years later, Merrily hoped they might find it in their hearts to forgive her and get to know the college-aged granddaughter they had never met. But Walt and Taya Thornton want nothing to do with Merrily or her family.

Erin invites Merrily to a holiday cookie exchange, but Merrily never arrives. She’s later found dead. It looks like Merrily started up her money tricks again when her employer discovers money missing from the business. But Erin doesn’t believe Merrily would do that. She’s not even sure Merrily did it the first time. Erin will have to pull out her Spreadsheet of Suspicion once again to track down the killer and the truth.

Review

This was terrific! I read book one when it first came out, but I haven’t been able to keep up with the rest of the series. Now I have to go back and get caught up because this was so fun! I had no trouble following the story without having read the previous books, although several references to earlier events did make me want to catch up soon.

The characters are great – and there are LOTS of them. Like any good cozy, you want the reader to care about the whole community. The author does a great job of creating a full, rich cast and setting while keep the focus on the mystery. I loved Erin and her family and friends. They are people I would hang out with, and Jewel Bay is a place I would love to visit.

The mystery was great. I was able to puzzle out the killer, but not until Erin was putting the last few pieces together. The pacing of the mystery was excellent. Things moved at a comfortable rate and there were no lagging spots that made it hard for me to pick the book back up when I had to set it aside. I was always eager to get back to everything – the characters, Jewel Bay, the wedding plans, and the mystery.

This is book 5 in the series. It’s a little earlier in the year than I usually dive into a Christmas book, but it such a fun story, I found it refreshing. I can’t wait to catch up on all of Erin’s adventures that I have missed.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥