Saturday, December 31, 2022

Mistletoe & Misdemeanors (A Jamie Winters Mystery Holiday Short Story)

Author:    Kelly Rey
Genre:     Mystery

Digital Book
ASIN #:    B00WRMF3CY
Gemma Halliday Publishing
74 Pages
$.99 Amazon
April 26, 2015

⭐⭐⭐⭐


When Jamie Winters' elderly neighbor disappears a week before Christmas, Jamie pairs up with her landlord's fearless teenaged niece to find him.  Only the more they look into his disappearance, the more they begin to believe Jack is not the man they thought he was...and he bears a suspiciously striking resemblance to jolly old Santa Claus!  One carjacking, some spooky reindeer, a little person and a skinny green man later, Jamie winds up getting way more than she bargained for this holiday season!

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Jamie Winters works a dead-end job and can barely make the rent for the studio apartment that she lives in, with her landlord living below her.  Luckily, Curt the landlord, has a soft spot for her and often feeds her, which at least is keeping her alive.  Both she and Curt are worried about their elderly neighbor Jack who seems to have completely disappeared.  When Curt's teenaged niece Maizy appears at his doorstep, Jamie takes charge of her.

Maizy is sure the El Camino she saw had Santa Claus in the passenger seat, and Jamie is wondering if this is Jack she saw instead.  So the duo decide to solve the mystery and set about finding Jack.  The problem is that they can't tell Curt what they're doing, and Jamie's not even sure she should be doing it.  But with a strange little man who seemingly knows who they are, and several reindeer following them, Jamie and Maizy might just be on the trail of Santa Claus after all...and Jamie might even get her own Christmas magic...

When I was looking through one last Christmas mystery to read this holiday season, I found this little gem. I have to admit that I have not read even one of Ms. Rey's books, but I am going to remedy that when the new year comes.

This is a short mystery that can be read in an hour or so.  It is both heartwarming and magical, and is perfect for a quick cozy read.  It has the magic of Christmas within it, and is whimsical and delightful to read.  Since this is a short mystery, I am not going to reveal anything about the book; but I will tell you that if you do not read it, you will be missing out on the magic of Christmas.  Recommended.



More on Kelly Rey's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/r/kelly-rey/    
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Friday, December 30, 2022

Mistletoe Murder (Dewberry Farm #4)

Author:    Karen MacInerney
Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #:    9781981557943
CreateSpace Independent Publishing
224 Pages
$11.81; $3.99 Amazon
December 10, 2017

⭐⭐⭐⭐



It's Christmastime, and farmer Lucy Resnick is living the life she's always dreamed of.  When she's not selling her jams, soaps, and mistletoe bundles at the Buttercup Christmas market, she's enjoying cozy evenings by the fire with her knitting group -- or her handsome veterinarian boyfriend Tobias Brandt.  But less than a week before Christmas, a pall falls over the festive atmosphere when local man Randy Stone turns up with a knife in his back...and a sprig of mistletoe in his hair.

Local sheriff Rooster Kocurek, never the brightest bulb on the string, is convinced it's an open-and-shut case...murder by jealous wife -- but Lucy suspects otherwise.  She soon discovers that Randy's life was more tangled than last year's Christmas lights...and that unless she wraps up the case fast, there might be more than one funeral this holiday season,

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Lucy Resnick lost her newspaper job as an investigative reporter when the newspaper downsized.  Fortunately, she was able to purchase her late grandmother's farm and has been happily making it a home along with animals, vegetables, and all the other trappings of a happy life.  It's the holidays, and she's selling homemade products at the annual Buttercup Christmas Market to get her through the winter.

She's approached by her friend Mandy, whose parents own a restaurant, to help her prove her sister Isabella innocent of murdering her husband.  The problem is, Isabella was seen at the restaurant just before her husband Randy was found dead in the parking lot.  When Lucy starts her investigation, she finds that Randy had a mistress -- and may have even been fooling around with other women as well.

But when there's a disappearance, Lucy fears someone may be in trouble, and she's determined to find that person.  Will it lead her to the killer?  Or will it be worse, and the killer finds Lucy first...

This is the fourth book in the series, and I have read the others, so I am familiar with most of the characters.  I read this one because it takes place at Christmas, and I want to 'read the holiday,' as it were,  I truly enjoyed this book and watching Lucy use her investigative skills to get to the truth of the murder.

Because I read a lot of mysteries, I knew what was going on at the ranch and why (I will say no more but you should read the book) but I will say that it was interesting enough for me to want to figure out who the killer might be, and I did so just around the same time as Lucy.  While it was intriguing to watch her put the clues together, the climax itself was worth reading as well.

In the end we discover the reason for the murder, which was easy enough for most to decipher, and as I've said before, you can never know what goes on in the mind of a murderer.  Very sad indeed.  But the ending was bright, and even Christmas-y, which fits right in with the season.  Recommended.



More on Karen MacInerney's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/m/karen-macinerney/
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Saturday, December 24, 2022

Slay Bells Ring (A Dewberry Farm Christmas Novella 6.5)

Author:    Karen MacInerney
Genre:     Mystery

Digital Book
ASIN #:    B08NCFG11P
Gray Whale Press LLC
64 Pages
$2.99 Amazon
November 11, 2020

⭐⭐⭐⭐


It's Christmastime on Dewberry Farm, and homesteader Lucy Resnick is busy bundling mistletoe branches and cedar swags for the Buttercup Christmas Market when a neighbor's houseguest keels right over next to her peach orchard.  Was it a stray bullet from a hunter that took him out?  Or did a guest at the fancy ranch next door decide to scratch somebody off his or her Christmas list?  It's up to Lucy to unwrap the mystery...before the holiday killer strikes again.

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Lucy Resnick, owner of Dewberry Farm, is getting ready to put her wares on display at the Buttercup Christmas Market.  Her best friend Quinn is helping her bundle mistletoe and cedar swags, and they are pleasantly enjoying each others' company when they hear gunshots.  Looking out Lucy's window, they see someone aiming toward them, then another shot takes the person down.  After calling police, they have a couple of theories -- was it one of the treasure hunters that believe an old story?  Or someone from the Lemmon farm across the creek?

When they have their answer, Lucy is determined to investigate.  Along with her boyfriend, veterinarian Tobias, she's looking for clues -- and might just have found the one she needed...

I usually try to read Christmas tales around the holiday, and while I don't normally read short stories (not enough character development, in my opinion), I've read the Dewberry Farm series, so I already know the people.

This story shouldn't take anyone more than an hour or so to read, and it was very interesting.  While things are progressing quickly, we get to see Lucy's new neighbor, and how everything comes together.  It's a decent mini-mystery in the cozy genre, and worth reading.  It can be read as a stand-alone, but I enjoyed it more because I knew the characters.  Recommended.



More on Karen MacInerney's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/m/karen-macinerney/
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Tuesday, December 20, 2022

Muffin But Trouble (Apple Orchard Cozy Mystery Book 17)

Author:    Chelsea Thomas
Genre:     Mystery

Digital Book
ASIN #:    B0B6PQ7YB2
Independently Published
$5.99 Amazon
January 14, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Chelsea, Teeny, and Miss May are trying to have a fun trip to Los Angeles.

But they've barely checked into their hotel when they get a call from their old friends Amy and Petunia...

There's been a murder!

Worse yet, all the evidence seems to point to everyone's favorite dog groomer...Amy Stewart.  This is not good for Amy.  And it's not good for our vacationing Pine Grove ladies, either.

Chelsea wants to enjoy the sunshine and celebrities of SoCal.  Miss May wants to sample the pies.  Teeny wants to eat every meal at Sprinkles Cupcakes.

But first they've got to catch a killer.  Because death never takes a day off.

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It's time for vacation for the sleuths of Pine Grove.  Chelsea, Miss May, and Teeny -- along with Chelsea's cop boyfriend, Wayne Hudson, are heading to LA.  Unfortunately, when they arrive, they're waylaid by their friends Amy and Petunia, who moved to LA some time back to open a dog grooming business.  It seems Amy's friend and employee Betsy is suspected of murder in the death of movie producer Rayna Kim -- all because Betsy TP'd her house right before the death.  Now they're back on duty, hoping to free Betsy and find a killer before their vacation time is up...and the killer figures out what they're doing...

The really unfortunate part is the fact that Rayna didn't have any friends, but she sure had a lot of enemies.  The problem is they don't know where to look or who to start with, and this time they might find themselves in a real Hollywood murder mystery ending...

I have read this series for awhile now, and I have loved every one of these.  This book is a crossover between Ms. Thomas's two series, The Apple Orchard Mysteries and The Dog Groomer Mysteries.  While Amy and Petunia are way too busy trying to get dogs ready for the annual Halloween pup parade, they've called on their sleuth counterparts from New York to help them.  Unfortunately, the three Pine Grove women have no idea how to navigate Los Angeles and its surrounding areas.  They're helped somewhat by Amy's friends, and Wayne has found a true friend in Amy's cop boyfriend Mike.  The two have bonded and Wayne is hanging out with Mike to see what they can find out on the murder.

But when Chelsea, Teeny, and Miss May start investigating, there is no stopping them.  Not even gaining entrance to movie studios -- and other exclusive areas.  These three are on a mission not only to free Betsy, but to sample every type of food they can while they're at it.

Following them along their trail makes you hungry.  It also makes you want to figure out who the killer might be.  Did this woman make any friends, or just enemies along the way?  Not wanting to say more because I don't want to give the plot away, you'll just need to read this yourself.  You'll have a fun ride through the streets of LA (and its restaurants).  

When the killer is discovered, the answers come surprisingly with a strange clue that shocks Chelsea.  But there is more in store, and you'll love the ending.  Highly recommended.

I received an advance copy from BookSprout but this in no way influenced my review.


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Monday, December 12, 2022

Deadly Bites On Winter Nights (An Ivy Creek Cozy Mystery Book 9)

Author:    Ruth Baker
Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Paperback. Digital Book
ISBN #:    9798367089240; 9798637087109
Clean Tales Publishing
169 Pages
$15.99. $9.99; $3.99 Amazon
December 9, 2022

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With Christmas just around the corner, Lucy can't wait to indulge in all the festive traditions with her family and friends.  One of those traditions includes picking a Christmas tree at a local farm.  She's delighted to be sharing this activity with the handsome detective in town wo she's recently begun a relationship with.

When she discovers a dead body among the fir trees while looking for the perfect Christmas tree, she's left shocked and shaken at witnessing such a horrific sight at this most wonderful time of the year.

Things only take an almighty turn for the worse when the remainder of some fruitcake from Lucy's bakery is found in the deceased's home...and is laced with poison!

Lucy knows someone has intentionally used her dessert to cover their tracks and draw all the negative attention to her.

But she knows her desserts were created with love and made to add to the seasonal joy of everyone who walked into her bakery.  It seems what was designed to bring joy has been used to take it away from the deceased's family and Lucy's small town.

Will she help to solve another mystery in Ivy Creek or settle for a blue, blue, blue Christmas?

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Lucy Hale, owner of Sweet Delights bakery, is getting ready for the holiday season, turning out Christmas delights with her baker, Hannan, employee Betsy and her Aunt Tricia.  She's also looking forward to celebrating Christmas with her beau Taylor, and they've planned an outing to find the perfect tree.  But while looking through the local tree lot, they come across the body of the owner, and now Taylor has another murder that needs to be looked into.  Suddenly, Lucy's perfect Christmas has taken a very dark turn...

But with the man being killed, there's the question of who did it?  Was it the ex-husband of his fiancée?  A disgruntled ex-associate?  Another local businessman?  Or someone else?  With so many suspects, and so little time, Lucy is determined to help Taylor figure out who they're looking for, even as he warns her to stay away.  But will Lucy listen?  Or will her kindness only turn into trouble itself?

This is the ninth book in the series and I have read them all.  While the mystery itself is very good, this book makes one realize that family and friends are the things that bind us together, especially during the holidays.  Lucy's kindness and love shows through as she tries to find a gift for her aunt, and even as she tries to help Taylor.  There are also other scenarios that show this, and they are just as vital to the story line.

In the case of the mystery, the suspects abound, and we watch as each one is removed from the list.  One must watch for the clues that are there in order to find out the truth, and it's an interesting tale that keeps us reading in order to discover it.  When Lucy figures it out, we watch as she must extricate herself.  It is a worthy read, and I enjoyed it highly.  A lovely cozy for the holiday season.  Merry Christmas!

I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher but this in no way influenced my review.



More on Ruth Baker's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/ruth-baker/
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Thursday, December 8, 2022

Christmas Scarf Murder

Authors:  Carlene O'Connor; Maddie Day; Peggy Ehrhart
Genre:     Mystery/Christmas

Hardcover; Digital Book
ISBN #:    9781496737229
Kensington Cozies
384 Pages
$21.49. $9.06 Amazon
September 27, 2022

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


CHRISTMAS SCARF MURDER by CARLENE O'CONNOR: When grinchy thefts steal the good cheer at a local nursing home, Siobhan O'Sullivan manages to to identify one missing item before Kilbane, Ireland's Christmas tractor parade -- a hideous shamrock scarf wrapped around a very dead body.  Now, with her holiday farmhouse bash approaching, Siobhan must dash to stop a deadly Secret Santa from gifting another unwanted surprise.

SCARFED DOWN by MADDIE DAY:  It's beginning to taste a lot like Christmas at Pans 'N Pancakes, as twelve days of menu specials dazzle hungry locals.  But the festivities go cold the instant a diner dies while knitting a brilliant green scarf.  With Aunt Adele tied into a murder investigation, it's all on Robbie Jordan to find out who's really been naughty or nice in South Lick, Indiana.

DEATH BY CHRISTMAS SCARF by PEGGY EHRHART:  Suspects pile up faster than New Jersey snow when frosty-tempered Carys Walnutt is found strangled by a handmade scarf auctioned at Arborville's tree-lighint ceremony.  Between a winning bidder hiding behind the alias "S. Claws" and a victim who deserved coal in her stocking, can Pamela Paterson and the crafty Knit and Nibble ladies freeze a killer's merry murder plot?

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The blurb pretty much tells you all about the plot in each of these short novellas, so I am not going to expand too much on that, because adding much more would spoil the entire book, but I will try to do my best.

I love Christmas, and I love reading about Christmas.  I also love mysteries, so this book was perfect in more ways than one.  I could put it down after reading one story and not feel guilty that I had decorating to do, and then pick it up and go on to the next.  It also gave me a chance to digest the previous story and gather my thoughts.  Since I love all these authors, that didn't hurt, either.

The first story by Ms. O'Connor was definitely my favorite.  I don't know if it's the idea of family at Christmas, or just the Irish setting, or even her protagonist's way of thinking; but I loved the way Siobhan came to her conclusion as to whom committed the murder, and why.  The entire novella was fun, mostly centering on solving the thefts and the murder, but we did get a glimpse of Siobhan doing was everyone else is doing at Christmas, and that made it more enjoyable for me.  The ending wasn't as big a surprise to me, but as I've said on and on, I read a lot of mysteries and am pretty good at figuring out the killer.  Still and all, a quite enjoyable read.

The second story also came in second place.  Ms. Day's protagonist is a smart woman, and she always shares her information with the police, which I like.  None of this 'I'll figure it out before them even if it puts me in danger.'  Or, as we also call it, TSTL.  When the victim is murdered, it involves her beloved Aunt Adele, and Robbie has no choice but to get involved herself.  The information she gleans from locals actually helps, but it isn't until the climax that we get to find out who the real killer is, and the reason for the murder.  Of course, a Merry Christmas at the end as we expect.

The third by Ms. Ehrhart is also very good, but I felt that there was so much more extraneous information that wasn't needed, such as what dishes were being used and why (is it really important to the story?) and every food item Pamela bought was organic or special.  I would have liked to have a little more of the investigation to go on.  However, I do love Bettina's energy and the fact that she and Pamela are the best of friends.  They also make the best of sleuths together, too, which is where this story shines.  A nice ending to the book.

In the end, this is a very good read for the holiday season and I would definitely recommend it to others.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.



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Christmas Mittens Murder

  Anthology Authors:     Lee Hollis/Lynn Cahoon/Maddie Day Genre:        Mystery/Christmas Hardcover; Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book IS...