Anthology
Authors: Lee Hollis/Lynn Cahoon/Maddie Day
Genre: Mystery/Christmas
Hardcover; Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #: 9781496744241; 9781496744258
Kensington Cozies
400 Pages
$19.30; $8.99; $1.99 Amazon
October 22, 2024
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Crisp Christmas weather is made for mittens -- and some mittens are made for murder...
DEATH OF A CHRISTMAS MITTEN KNITTER by LEE HOLLIS
The church's annual Christmas bazaar is an unqualified success until the local jeweler realizes a valuable diamond ring has been stolen. Food writer Hayley Powell joins the search but discovers something shocking -- the dead body of a local knitter with a homemade mitten stuffed in her mouth...
TWO CHRISTMAS MITTENS by LYNN CAHOON
Magic Springs, Idaho, is decked out in its sparkling holiday best, but Mia Malone is almost too busy to notice. Taking a second job at the Lodge to save Mia's Morsels doesn't leave her much time for festivities -- until she finds a dead body near one red mitten in the snow...
MURDEROUS MITTENS by MADDIE DAY
A quiet Christmas in Colinas, California, at her twin sister's charming B&B is exactly what CeCe Barton needs during the holiday hustle of Los Angeles. But the morning after a lovely evening at the local wine bar, CeCe learns that the bar's proprietor, who sells mittens in her spare time, has been found dead...
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Death of a Christmas Mitten Knitter: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I really enjoyed this first mystery. Lee Hollis, whom I will admit that I didn't care much for the first book in this series, has turned into a delightful author that I will read time and time again. I love the Hayley Powell series, and this short story gives us another Christmas with Hayley and her husband, Bruce. But it is Hayley who takes the spotlight, when she is roped into providing a pricey gift basket for the church bazaar by the local pastor. It seems her friends, Mona and Liddy, along with her brother, have been tapped as well. But there is discontent among the church ladies who knit and crochet gifts, as theirs aren't as popular, and they're blaming everyone else but themselves. Fights ensue. Then a valuable diamond ring is stolen, and everyone is a suspect. When Hayley is finally allowed to leave, she finds the body of one of the knitters, with a mitten shoved in her mouth. Now Hayley is tasked once again with helping the police to find a killer...
This was a delightful story, and kept me riveted enough to read it in one sitting. I enjoy Hayley and her friends, and the strong bonds they have. Hayley is stumped with this murder, and when she finally figures out who the killer might actually be, it could cost her her life...
Two Christmas Mittens: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Full disclosure: I read Ms. Cahoon's Tourist Trap Mysteries, and love them all. Unfortunately, I am not one to read fantasy, such as those with vampires, werewolves, or witches. So this is the first I have read of hers that have to deal with such. But, I love her other books, so was willing to give it a chance. I was pleasantly surprised, and am happy that I did so.
Mia Malone is a caterer who also happens to be a witch, although she doesn't embrace it as much as others. When she and her friends find a dead body with a mitten nearby, no one thinks anything of it, until the mitten causes someone to fall into a coma, and will die if Mia and her witchy friends can't find a cure. Her grandmother can keep the woman alive for a time, but until then, they need to find a key item to endeavor a cure. Finding herself in strange situations, it isn't until she starts to put the pieces together that she's able to find the truth of the murder and who killed the person...
This was a very good mystery, even with its paranormal elements. I enjoyed the story, and everything that it entailed, including the above. I enjoyed it so much that I might actually delve into more of these mysteries. The ending was done well, and story intriguing, and worth it all.
Murderous Mittens: ⭐⭐⭐When CeCe Barton visits her twin sister Allie in Colinas, California, for a relaxing Christmas at Allie's B&B, it isn't going to be one. She meets a woman at a winery one night and by the next day the woman has been found murdered. Now she's involved in solving the murder along with a new friend named Cam who has some experience in solving mysteries herself...
I have read several of Ms. Day's books in the past and enjoyed most of them. But now I will have to do something I hate to do: which is speak of the way books have turned since before. This book is definitely 'politically correct,' and I read to get away from everyday learnings, not have them thrust upon me in books, which is why I couldn't give this more than three stars. There was more than a story in this, there were things that didn't need to be in there to get the story across.
I will say that I was surprised by the ending, which is always a good thing. It also introduces us to a new character, CeCe Barton, who is beginning her own series, and one of my earlier favorites, Cam, who had her own series of organic gardening (very good mystery series). It was like meeting an old friend and a new. A decent story for the most part, and worth reading anyway.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
More on Lee Hollis's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/lee-hollis/
More on Lynn Cahoon's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/c/lynn-cahoon/
More on Maddie Day's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/maddie-day/
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