Joan Crawford: A Woman's Face

Author:    Scott Eyman

Genre:     Biographies/Entertainment

Hardcover; Digital Book (Audiobook and Audio CD Available)

ISBN #:    9781668047309

Simon & Schuster

480 Pages

$31.00; $16.99 Amazon

November 18, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Joan Crawford burst out of her poverty-stricken youth to become a bright young movie star in the 1920s, drawing the admiration of F. Scott Fitzgerald and the attention of audiences worldwide.  She flourished for decades, working for multiple studios in every genre from romance to westerns (Mildred Pierce, Johnny Guitar), musicals to noir (Torch Song, A Woman's Face), and being directed by a young Steven Spielberg in one of her last appearances.  Along the way, she accumulated four husbands, an Academy Award for Best Actress, and the undeniable status of a legend.

Joan Crawford: A Woman's Face looks at the reality of this remarkable woman through the prism of groundbreaking primary research, interviews with friends and relatives, and with the same insightful analysis of character and motive that author Scott Eyman brought to John Wayne and Cary Grant, among others.   

Joan Crawford was a woman like no other, and Joan Crawford: A Woman's Face is the first full telling of her dazzling, turbulent life.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

I have to first say that I absolutely love the Golden Age of Hollywood, and anything to do with it.  I will also tell you that I do not watch the films of today, since I feel that everything is either a cartoon or a remake (just my own personal opinion).  Actors back then were true stars, while today they are just actors.  And there is a difference...

Saying that, I will also admit that I have thousands of movies from the silent age on up, and hundreds of biographies and autobiographies of actors, studios, directors, etc.  So, when this book was offered to me, I naturally jumped at the chance to read it.  I will also tell you that I have read biographies of Joan Crawford that have been stinkers.  I am not one to hold back nor lie; because the truth is paramount above all.

Therefore, when I tell you that Scott Eyman is one of the foremost authors of Golden Age Hollywood, you can believe it.  He has never disappointed me, and I grab his books as soon as they are published.  He is a fair (meaning honest) writer of his subjects.

Joan Crawford: A Woman's Face is an interesting tome that takes us back to the beginnings of Miss Crawford, back when she was Lucille LeSueur, and Billie Cassin.  We learn that she grew up in near poverty, and worked her way to where she wound up: a true Hollywood star.  This book taught me that while some thought her cruel and selfish, she was neither of those things.  She was a woman who was looking for approval, love, and above all, security.  

She never made the studios wait; she was always on time, knew her lines, and while some may not appreciate all her films, they tell a story: the story of Billie, who changed from poor girl who wants to be loved, to a woman who can do it on her own independently.  Watching her films, you see this.  Yet it was never the same in her real life.

Joan Crawford was married four times, and I have read much on those marriages, which I will not go into detail here.  She had four adopted children, of which most know, but I will tell you that in my humble opinion, Christina Crawford's depiction of Joan is fiction.  A bitter daughter who wanted revenge for what she thought was unfair, and I find it interesting that the book was not published until Joan passed away.

Except for a few, most people loved her.  Joan was always 'on stage' when she was out and about, being Joan Crawford, the star.  In real life, she was a tiny woman with red hair and freckles.  She loved to cook (we have that in common) and did so for her friends.  She always needed a place for everything, and almost single-handedly gave the late actor-turned-decorator William Haines a new career.  She never failed her friends.

Reading this book made me have a new appreciation for Joan.  I have a habit of watching films with the actor/director, etc. I am reading about, and while reading this book I watched Possessed (with Robert Montgomery); The Women; and Humoresque.  These films allowed me to see the change in Miss Crawford throughout the years, and examine her acting, which, being who I am, I always do.  It also gives me insight into the person.  

But the greatest insight came from Mr. Eyman's extensive research and interviews.  He leaves nothing to chance.  The bibliography is massive; he has definitely done his homework, which he does on all his books.  We get who Joan Crawford was an an actress; a star, and a person.  Three different people rolled into one.  Many of her friendships were lifelong, and it was because they stood by each other, in bad times and good.

I will not go into her "feuds" with other actresses; you will have to read the book to discover that.  I won't go into how she raised her children, or why her marriages failed.  This is more than I have space for in this review, and I will tell you in the end that Joan Crawford created herself.  She became what she wanted the world to see; and few were allowed to see who she truly was.

When I finished Joan Crawford: A Woman's Face, I will tell you that it took me a couple of days of thinking about the book before I reviewed it.  It is because this book spoke to me, and I needed time to take it all in.  Certain books have this effect on me, but this one is exceptionally good, and I will definitely purchase it when it comes out in November.  It's a must-read for anyone who loves classic movies and actors as much as I do, and for those who want to discover more.  Highly recommended.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Joan-Crawford-Womans-Scott-Eyman-ebook/dp/B0DZY3G1Y1/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7768544071

More on Scott Eyman's Books:    https://www.amazon.com/stores/Scott-Eyman/author/B001H6N7F6?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=b36c4f20-ec96-450a-9b90-369fd9b0cdf6

This Murder Is Nacho Business

Author:    D.C. Owens

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:   9798989867226

Gearspin Press 

267 Pages

$11.95; $2.99 Amazon

June 25, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Nachos, pie, murder, oh my!  

Losing her engineering job in the 1983 oil bust?  Rough.  Moving back to her Texas Hill Country hometown to help out at the family cafe?  Unexpected.  Getting tangled up in a murder investigation involving nachos, pickles, and nosy Main Street neighbors?  Definitely not on Josie Barbosa's to-do list.

Back in quirky Andorra Springs, Josie's helping out at her family's cafe, testing pie recipes and supporting her dad's latest culinary brainstorm: ready-to-serve nachos.  But when a fellow Main Street business owner turns up dead -- just hours after a heated public spat with her dad -- suddenly the local gossip is spicier than a jalapeno biscuit.

Armed with her analytical brain, a healthy dose of sarcasm, and her best friend Liz -- a tougher-than-nails rancher with a flair for the dramatic -- Josie sets out to clear her dad's name.  But between secretive shopkeepers, a charming wine bar owner, a suspiciously serene garden guru, and the big time BBQ family down the street, this sleepy little town is looking more and more like a murder buffet.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

It's the 1980's, before cell phones and the Internet, and Josie Barbosa is a scientist who's just lost her job in the oil industry.  So, she's back home in the Hill Country of Texas, helping her dad in his cafe and watching him create new foods for the market.  But things take a dark turn when his business neighbor in town is murdered, and suddenly her dad George is the main suspect.  

Josie isn't about to allow her dad to be railroaded for something he didn't do.  Along with her best friend Liz, she's bound and determined to investigate on her own and find the killer, even if it means putting herself in danger.  But will the business owners cooperate with her?  Or worse, is one of them the murderer?...

First off, I have to admit that my son lives in Fredericksburg, half of my family is from Texas, so I know the Hill Country well.  In this book, I have no complaints about the descriptions thereof.  What I didn't like: What does Josie look like?  There are no descriptions (or if there are, I missed It).  Where is her mother?  Is her dad widowed or divorced?  Does she have any other siblings?  No mention is ever made.  I also didn't get how Josie and Liz are constantly telling each other how much they love each other (got it?), and calling each other by names that one would use for their significant other (which they are not).  Plus, Josie was very pushy in her investigation, practically accusing everyone of murder.  It's a wonder anyone would even talk to her a second time.

Don't get me wrong: just because I point out what bothers me doesn't mean I didn't like the book.  It started slowly, but soon got my attention, and I enjoyed reading it very much.  Since this is a first book, it's easy to miss those details I mentioned above.  

The book had a good mystery to solve, and Josie is a likeable character.  In fact, so are most of the other characters.  It's good to travel back in time once in a while, when people had to meet face-to-face to enjoy each other's company.  I really liked that about this book.  I thought the close relationship between the two women to be plausible, and it's obvious that Josie loves her dad; being attached at the hip to my own father, I can understand that.

The author has done a good job of plotting a murder, and keeping the ending a secret.  I appreciate this, as like others who read mysteries, we want to try ourselves to find the killer before the protagonist does.  In this case, I figured it out the same time as Josie, and that's a big plus in itself.  The climax was done well, and there are even a few recipes at the back that sound delicious.  I truly enjoyed immersing myself in this book and look forward to the next in the series.  Recommended.

I was given an advance copy of this book from Book Sirens, but this in no way influenced my review.  

https://www.amazon.com/This-Murder-Nacho-Business-Owens-ebook/dp/B0FCZFQBMD/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7706960491

More about D.C. Owens:    https://www.amazon.com/stores/D.C.-Owens/author/B0FD9MTT7M?ref

Murder at the Scottish Games

 A Scottish Shire Mystery Book 7

Author:    Traci Hall

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496754677

Kensington Cozies

304 Pages

$17.95; $9.99 Amazon

November 25, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Highland Games have taken over the quaint seaside village of Nairn, Scotland -- and the life of sweater shop owner, knitting enthusiast, and busy single mom Paislee Shaw...especially when a killer enters the competition!

Paislee Shaw is no stranger to managing tricky tangles, but mid-August spins her world into more chaos than she ever could have imagined.  Between her teenage son's moody antics, friends making life-changing decisions, and the looming Nairn Highland Games, evenings with fellow crafts of the Knit and Sip crew are her one escape.  But when she joins the organizing committee, Paislee is instantly plunged into a whirlwind of clashing personalities and scandalous mishaps...

The festivities unravel faster than a dropped stitch when heavy throwing competitor Artie Whittle is accused of cheating -- and his ill-tempered father is found murdered the next day.  With Artie unconscious and pegged as the prime suspect, Paislee and DI Zeffer team up to untangle the truth.  Navigating a cast of unusual suspects -- from jealous judges to grudge-holding locals -- Paislee must weave together clues hidden amidst caber tosses, kilts, and a killer who only plays to win...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Paislee Shaw lives with her son Brody and grandfather in their small town of Nairn, Scotland.  She owns a yarn shop which fortunately is doing well.  Volunteering to help with the annual Nairn Highland games should be easy enough -- that is, until she finds that there is plenty of friction between others involved.  Her employee is dating one of the entrants - Artie Whittle -- but her parents think he's not good enough, though she stays close.  When Artie is accused of cheating in the caber throw, he denies it, and his father Joseph is angered enough to confront the man who accused him.  In fact, Paislee learns later that Artie's father is not only full of anger, he's also a philanderer, and just downright mean.

Which doesn't mean that he should be murdered, but that's exactly what happens -- and Artie is the prime suspect.  Paislee wants to believe him innocent; if not for herself, then for her employee, but who would want to kill him?  As it turns out, many people, including his long-suffering wife.  But would she go that far?  

When DI Zeffer turns up, it turns up feelings in Paislee that she never expected to feel.  It also turns up questions she never wanted to answer, and even questions her son never knew existed.  Now, with the murder first and foremost, Paislee must put her personal feelings aside -- even though she doesn't really want to -- and concentrate on the here and now,  And that means Brody comes first, even at her own cost.

\

But can Paislee find a killer, keep Mack Zeffer at bay, and keep Brody close?  These are questions that need answers, and Paislee is at once confused and determined...if she can find a killer before they strike again...

This is the seventh book in the series and I have loved them all.  The author brings us to Scotland with ease, and describes the surrounding areas, which makes me want to visit.  She also engulfs us in the lives of Paislee, her family, and her close friends; and we find that things are changing; whether it is wanted or not.

As to the murder, there are people to sift through, and they all seem to have secrets of their own that somehow connect them to the dead man.  While Zeffer is looking through his clues and conducting investigations, Paislee is sifting through her own.  

When the ending comes and we finally figure out the identity of the killer, Paislee discovers it also, and it leads to a climax that is worth the wait.  At the end, the epilogue is worth reading the book alone, and I am glad that I was given the chance to do so.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Scottish-Games-Shire-Mystery/dp/1496754670/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7701335972

More on Traci Hall's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/traci-hall/

Sugar and Spite

A Witch City Mystery Book 15

Author:    Carol J. Perry

Genre:     Mystery/Paranormal

Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book

(Audio CD and Audiobook Available)

ISBN #:     9781496743688

Kensington Cozies

304 Pages

$8.99; $7.99 Amazon

October 28, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

There's no place like Salem, Massachusetts -- aka "the witch city" -- for Halloween.  As residents embrace their historic heritage to celebrate the season, WICH-TV program director Lee Barrett is assigned the decadent task of highlighting the village's delectable sweet shops -- only to learn that some revelers prefer deadly tricks over delicious treats...

Casa del Chocolate is one of Salem's most charming boutique candy shops, making it a perfect profile story.  Although preoccupied with her own personal sweet news -- Lee and her detective husband Pete Mondello are expecting a bundle of joy -- she cheerfully agrees to interview the chocolatier.  Since becoming pregnant, the radiant and exhilarated mother-to-be has discovered that she is finally free of the unwanted haunting "visions" she has endured since childhood.

Shirley Parker inherited Casa de Chocolate, housed in her beautiful ancestral home on the waterfront, continuing her family's sweet tradition of conjuring magical treats for the folks of Salem.  Mesmerized by the delightful chocolate scented aromas filling the air while touring the kitchen, Lee is shocked when she stumbles upon the murdered body of Barney Bingham, Shirley's estranged husband.

As the police focus their suspicions on Shirley, Lee learns that many people had reasons for wanting Barney dead.  Now, with help from Pete, tarot reader River North, and clairvoyant gentleman cat O'Ryan, as well as some new feline friends, Lee must unmask the true killer -- and cope with the sudden return of her troubling "visions"...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Lee Barrett Mondello is the program director for WICH-TV in Salem, Massachusetts.  Although she's had to cut back on her time and duties due to the fact that she and her husband are expecting their first child.  When she's given an assignment to cover the candy shops in Salem, it's one she can sink her teeth into -- literally.  So when she sees that a shop named Casa de Chocolate has opened up, she naturally wants to interview them.

Casa de Chocolate is housed in an historic mansion owned by Shirley Parker, who greets Lee, ready for the interview.  When Lee is given an opportunity to see the shop's inner workings in the basement, she's more than ready.  But what she's not ready for is the dead body she comes across.  The dead body that happens to be the ex-husband of Shirley.  

When Lee's husband Pete starts investigating, he discovers that Bingham had more than his share of enemies..but which one was willing to kill him?  With no clues and a missing murder weapon, it may take longer to solve this case than it will for Lee to have her baby.  

Pete wants Lee to stay out of this case, and she has every intention to do so, since she has a couple of baby showers to look forward to; and of course, all those sweet shops to visit and sample.  But when it seems someone is stalking Lee, she begins to worry.  So does Pete.  Will she be able to stay of this case and stay safe?  Or is someone going to make sure she's never involved in any murder mystery again...

This is the fifteenth book in the series, and I must say that I enjoyed it very much.  I love the characters in this series, and the fact that Lee has a "partner in crime" in her husband, who understands about her visions and accepts them because he loves her.

There is a lot going on here, and the two plots are intertwined nicely.  While Lee is mainly sidelined from investigating, she does her own, but makes sure she's not on her own entirely.  With a little one on the way, she needs to be careful.

The descriptions of autumn in Salem are also nice, although a bit sparse, as the action is centered on the dead man, which is how it should be.  I loved the fact that this book made me actually look for the killer along with Lee, and didn't make it too easy to do so.

When the ending comes, we figure it out almost at the same time as our protagonist, and that's the best way to do it.  It's an intriguing climax, and I enjoyed it immensely.  I love Ms. Perry's books and this one fits right in, being written well with a terrific plot.  Highly recommended.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Spite-Witch-City-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0DX4Z7C7G/ref=

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7659417502

More on Carol J. Perry's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/p/carol-j-perry/

A Tint of Murder

A Paint By Murder Mystery Book 4

Author:    Bailee Abbott

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781685129471

Level Best Books

254 Pages

$16.95; $5.99 Amazon

April 29, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Trouble is stirring when murder comes wrapped in the guise of a seascape painting.  The gift from a close friend who deals in art becomes a mystery to solve after Izzie and Chloe Abbington accidentally discover that hidden behind the seascape is a priceless Vermeer which many would kill to possess.  When the seascape with its hidden masterpiece is stolen, and a murder hits too close to home, their friend is accused of the crime.

Determined to help clear his name, Chloe and Izzie follow the clues, which take them beyond the comforts of their small town community and into the art world's unsavory side.  However, the more they learn, the more guilty their friend looks.  They question many involved, both dealers and collectors, as well as the patrons of the arts group their parents belong to, but everyone has their secrets.  Even the seascape has a story to tell, if only the sister duo can decipher the details.  Troubles and frightened of what they'll uncover, Chloe and Izzie won't stop searching for answers, even if the killer turns out to be someone they know.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Sisters Chloe and Izzie Abbington own a paint party shop, and they're finally (slightly) in the black.  They live at home with their parents, and are fairly happy with their lives.  But one day a crate arrives for Izzie, and it contains a painting of a seascape, which is nice, but not wonderful.  They don't know why Izzie's friend Martin has asked them to take it to storage, but they are willing to do so.  At least, until they accidentally discover another painting underneath -- and this one is a Vermeer, and rare.  At first they think it is a fake, but later on discover the painting is real...especially when Martin disappears and it appears someone is after the painting.

They take it to storage, but it doesn't end there.  A murder occurs, and the police think Martin is guilty.  Determined to prove her friend innocent, Izzie asks Chloe's help.  It doesn't hurt that Chloe's boyfriend Hunter is a police detective, who just might have information of his own.  But with the police chief determined to convict Martin in order to appease the powerful father of the dead person, the women have to work fast...and hope they can avoid a killer in the process...

This is the fourth book in the series, and I have read them all.  I have also enjoyed them all, but I do think that this one is my favorite so far.  It had plenty going on throughout the book, with a few red herrings thrown in, and several clues that lead to the true murderer.  But they are not as easy to find as one might think, which is a good thing.  There is nothing so boring as knowing the killer almost immediately and then having to slog through a book to find the why.

The why is given nearly immediately -- the painting -- but the who and the reasons for it are not.  This makes it a fun cozy, and along the way we get glimpses of Izzie and Chloe's personal lives and that of their parents; and even those of their friends.

In the end, when it all comes together, it is almost an accident how they discover the truth, and the epilogue to the story is comforting, to say the least.  You cannot know the mind of a killer, and nor would I want to, but this cozy is definitely that, and I would recommend it to others.

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

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F56T46FM?tag=speculativefic05&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7641286951

More on Bailee Abbott's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/a/bailee-abbott/

Whatever Happened To Baby Peggy?

The Autobiography of Hollywood's Pioneer Child Star

Author:    Diana Serra Cary

Genre:     Autobiography/Nonfiction

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9780312147600

First Edition

552 Pages

$29.88; $9.99 Amazon

August 26, 2016

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Long before Shirley Temple's curls bounced their way into America's heart, Baby Peggy lit up marquee from coast to coast.  She was the original child star produced by Hollywood and her amazing journey set the pattern for all those who followed.

Discovered when she was only nineteen months old, Baby Peggy with her angelic face and expert mugging for the camera entertained audiences across the nation and around the world.  She starred in a series of short two-reel comedies, completing 150 of them by the time she turned three.  By her fifth birthday, Baby Peggy's films were earning as much as Charlie Chaplin's, and she herself was a millionaire, having signed a three-film $3.5 million contract.

Establishing a disgraceful tradition for the parents of child performers, Baby Peggy's mother and father, emotional children themselves, squandered her fortune.

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Long before there was superstar child actress Shirley Temple, there was one that came before her, almost a hundred years ago.  Her name was Baby Peggy, and she made 150 films for various movie studios.  However, unlike Shirley Temple, who always played her age in films (and what endeared her to millions of viewers), Baby Peggy often played "grownups"; she would act in films that portrayed her as a miniature person, complete with period dress.

Which is not to say millions didn't adore her also; they did.  But I am saying that you cannot compare the two in regard to movies.  They were very different, and many other child actors have come and gone along the way.

I had never heard of Baby Peggy, but I wanted to know more about her.  I love classic films and own thousands of them.  But I own not as many silent films, which is what this little girl made.  Sadly, most of her films have been destroyed, and I have only been able to see Captain January, which is one of her final ones.  She did have acting ability, and it was because, according to her own writing, she could take direction and basically film anything in one take.

Having said that, I will say that this book was rather depressing to me.  Beginning acting at nineteen months, her father became her manager and she wasn't allowed to have a childhood.  Her older sister, Louise, was denied things that Peggy was denied, for that reason alone.  This caused a rift between the sisters that lasted until later adulthood.

Her father was a spendthrift, and the minute he realized Peggy could support them, he quit his own job (such as it was) and refused to allow his wife to have anything to do with Peggy's making movies.  He spent the money quickly, and unfortunately, allowed someone to manage some of it who had no business doing so in the first place.

Without child protection laws in place (which were added because of child actor Jackie Coogan and his actions), they could do what they wanted with her money, which they promptly did.  It appears Peggy did not have a very happy life, and in later years changed her name to Diana.

She did have a happy second marriage, which was a good thing, but reading this I felt that it was more cathartic for this late little actress, and that life could have treated her better.

https://www.amazon.com/What-Ever-Happened-Baby-Peggy/dp/0312147600/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7599851313

More on Diana Serra Cary's Books:    https://www.amazon.com/stores/Diana-Serra-Cary/author/B001HN15H6?ref

O Deadly Night

 A Year-Round Christmas Mystery Book 8

Author:    Vicki Delany

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9788892421874

Crooked Lane Books

320 Pages

$29.99; $14.99 Amazon

October 14, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It's Christmastime in Rudolph, New York, which means it's time for the December Santa Claus parade.  This year, shop owner Merry Wilkinson has decided to decorate her float as Santa's elves' workshop and invites her landlady, Mabel D'Angelo, to help supervise the excited children playing the elves.  But when Mrs. D'Angelo doesn't show up, Merry begins to worry.

Worry quickly turns unto frustration when Mrs. D'Angelo reveals she was delayed by new neighbors moving in.  As the center for all things gossip, Mrs. D'Angelo is determined to introduce the new arrivals to the neighborhood.  As the days pass, Mrs. D'Angelo notices strange things about the newcomers, but Merry, busier than an elf in Santa's workshop, has little time for matters that don't really concern her.  But things turn from jolly to downright concerning when Mrs. D'Angelo disappears, and Merry is forced to admit that something might be entirely wrong. 

With family and friends counting on her during this stressful holiday season, it is up to Merry to make sure this Christmas doesn't end up wrapped in blood red.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Merry Wilkinson lives in Rudolph, New York and owns a gift store that sells Santa-themed items all year round.  The town is as Christmasy as it gets, especially this time of year.  When Merry is preparing her annual Christmas float, she expects her landlady, Mrs. Mabel D'Angelo, to show up as one of the elves, but she doesn't.  When she learns the reason why -- Mrs. D'Angelo, a gossip center, is trying to introduce herself to the new neighbors, but isn't having any luck.  As the days go on, Mabel sees that there is something going on across the street, but can't put her finger on it.  Merry, used to Mabel and her fancies, blows most of it off.  But when Mabel disappears and no one can find her, Merry begins to worry.

When she does find Mabel, it's across the street -- and Merry also finds a dead body.  It turns out that the dead person had a connection to the town and several of its residents, including Merry's younger sister, Eve.  But does Eve know anything about the murder?  As Merry starts to dig deeper, she finds that the dead woman had more than a connection with the town, and her past wasn't pretty.  In fact, it was ugly enough that someone wanted her dead...

I love this series, and most of the characters in it (yes, there are some that get on my nerves, just as in real life they would do so); and I especially love Merry's father.  He seems unflappable, and remains calm in most, if not all, situations.  Unfortunately, at least in this book, her boyfriend Alan appears just as an afterthought, he's in it so little.  I hope to see more of him in the next book.

But back to Merry's sleuthing: she's right at home doing what she does best, and we get to see her at work while she's searching for clues.  She's even misled at one time, but eventually figures it out, which is important.  This is the busiest time of year, and trying to run her business and find a murderer (not that the police detective isn't capable herself) is a lot to handle.  Yet she does so, and does it well.

I knew the murderer before Merry did, but then again, I read a lot of mysteries, so that's something.  Even so, watching her put the clues together and figure it out herself is worth it, especially watching how her best friend helped her!  All in all, this was a great cozy to read, and I enjoyed it immensely.  I look forward to the next in the series.  Highly recommended, 

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

https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Night-Year-Round-Christmas-Mystery/dp/B0DT3VY4ZD/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7618795116

More on Vicki Delany's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/vicki-delany/