by Cynthia Chow & Sandra Murphy

This week we have even more Christmas mysteries for your holiday reading-Murder Under the Mistletoe: A Mainely Murder Mystery by Sherry Lynn, Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas: A Year-Round Christmas Mystery by Vicki Delany, In the Wick of Time: A Magic Candle Shop Mystery by Valona Jones, and Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow! by Donna Andrews. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of all 4 books and links to purchase them from Amazon at the end of each review–you may not see those links if you have adblocker.

Murder Under the Mistletoe: A Mainely Murder Mystery by Sherry Lynn
Review by Cynthia Chow

The town of Harborside, Maine is gearing up for the Christmas season, and SeaScapes landscaping business owner Kinsley Clark has been hired by the town to decorate the streets with greenery and her hand-crafted herbal kissing balls. She’s even helping former Bostonian Pete O’Rourke create a massive lobster trap “tree” for his Blue Lobstah tavern, and Kinsley can’t deny the appeal of his charming accent. Less attractive is alderman Chris Chesterfield, who angrily confronts Kinsley over his wife’s donating – instead of selling at a profit – supplies from her floral shop. The Grinch-like behavior suits the Grinch costume he wears for the boat parade, but even his grouchy attitude and booziness didn’t have anyone prepared to spot his body floating in the bay. It’s quickly discovered that his death was not an accident, with clues including a scarf and a bottle of Grey Goose used as a murder weapon.

That whiskey bottle leads police to Pete’s tavern, where Chris’s combative behavior led to an altercation with another businessman. Kinsley’s own recent argument with Chris means that she is questioned by Detective Rachel Hayes, who rather awkwardly is the ex-girlfriend of Kinsley’s brother. It just so happens that Kyle Clark has arrived home for a surprise visit, taking leave from his military assignment in Germany. Working in the Air Force has allowed him to look further into the death of both their parents, and Kyle has recently learned that their military positions were not what they had been told. While Kinsley may not be ready to delve much deeper into what she had thought was a tragic accident, she is more than willing to help her friends before one of them spends their Christmas in jail. Along with her longtime friend and now temporary employee Becca, the women rather indiscreetly interrogate Harborside locals and even conduct borderline breaking-and-entering.

This second in the series is a very light-hearted character-driven novel perfect for readers looking to immerse themselves in a cozy Christmas mystery. Chris Chesterfield is the embodiment of a villain deserving to meet an early end, with his lack of generosity at a peak during the holiday season. A bad neighbor in every sense, his poorly trained dog not only attacked another dog, Chris refused to accept responsibility or pay for the resulting veterinarian bills. It’s no wonder that his wife was seen being a little too cozy with Chris’s brother just days after she became a widow. A death-defying car chase in the snow leads to a surprising conclusion, but the mystery of Kinsley’s parents is still left open for further pursuit. This is a fun and entertaining read to curl up with under the covers. Or you can be adventurous and try out one of the recipes or instructions on building “Kissing Balls.” Mistletoe, a nefarious toy voice modulator, and a treat for dog lovers make this a lovely mystery featuring an abundance of Christmas gifts.

Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas: A Year-Round Christmas Mystery by Vicki Delany
Review by Cynthia Chow

The town of Rudolph, New York has become famous to tourists around the world by celebrating Christmas throughout the year, but in December it truly goes all out. Most of the businesses are all Christmas related, with locals also participating in the holiday celebratory events. That’s how Mrs. Claus’s Treasures owner Merry Wilkinson finds herself at the Rudolph Community Theater Players annual picnic helping her friend cater the food. Merry’s father Noel regularly appears as the town’s Santa Claus, but her opera star mother is coming out of retirement to take on dual roles in the production of A Christmas Carol. For a community theater performance the players are alarmingly competitive, pushing their director and the wardrobe mistress to their limits. Acting in the role of Mrs. Cratchit, Paula Monahan not only demands a bigger spotlight, she allows her very unlike-Tiny-Tim son to bully and physically attack other children. So when Merry steps out of her gift and décor store to check on her massive pooch Matterhorn and returns only to discover Paula’s body, motives range from those unsatisfied with her performance to retribution for the acts committed by her son.

The show must go on though, and now Merry’s shop assistant Jackie O’Reilly steps into Paula’s role as the unglamorous Mrs. Cratchit. That doesn’t mean that Jackie won’t try to zhuzh up her costume or her place in the production, which also places her right in a different kind of spotlight, that of lead suspect for murder. Jackie’s thrill at the news of Paula’s death isn’t exactly subtle, but Merry also wonders if the victim hadn’t accidentally been mistaken for an even more abrasive woman. Catherine Renshaw may be financing the production, but despite having no theater experience she isn’t shy with her casting suggestions as she attempts to overrule a frustrated director. As accustomed as Merry is to her famous actress mother and her over-the-top behavior, she is unprepared for the egos and narcissism involved in what should be a supportive community production.

The prolific author Vicki Delany can always be relied upon for well-plotted mysteries filled with clever dialogue and entertaining characters. The town of Rudolph comes alive and never seems more engaging than it is here, and the inclusion of the community theater players only adds to the fun. Merry’s diva mother and her self-involved behavior is balanced out by Noel’s genial warm-heartedness, ensuring that their family is always entertaining and never boring. While Christmas of course has a starring role in this Christmas-themed mystery, what truly takes center stage is the satiric depiction of the theater world and those who populate it. Merry has a surprisingly amenable reunion with her sister, whose perfect family and perfect job have always had Merry feeling like a disappointment. It’s been three years since the last appearance by Merry and her Christmas-obsessed town, and while it was worth the wait, readers hopefully won’t have to wait long for another delightful and hilarious entry in this holiday mystery series.

In the Wick of Time: A Magic Candle Shop Mystery by Valona Jones
Review by Cynthia Chow

The town of Savannah, Georgia is preparing for the Christmas season, both with a luminary celebration and holiday boat parade. While twin sisters Tabby and Sage Winslow co-own The Book and Candle Shop, Sage is also busy at her second job at the All Good Things Nursery and Landscaping preparing luminaries and dealing with the holiday sales crowds. Their magical gifts (abilities they only recently learned about and are still getting used to having) keep them tied to their family’s shop, but Sage also has a love and attachment to plants that keeps her working at the nursery despite her irritatingly competitive coworker Mary Nicole Frazier and their grumpy boss Loren Lee Suffield. But when Loren Lee falls sick and eventually dies in the hospital, suspicious local police immediately circle in on Sage as a suspect when Mary Nicole narcs Sage out for having argued with him shortly before his death.

Even though she is the younger sister – if only by a few minutes – Tabby has always been the calmer twin keeping Sage in check. As Tabby has learned, Sage is something of an energy vampire who often pulls from others’ electrical fields and auras. It rather fits in with Sage’s mercurial personality, especially apparent when she becomes jealous of the time Tabby spends with her boyfriend Quig. Sage’s suspicion over their relationship certainly isn’t helped when she catches her own boyfriend in the arms of another woman, even though it turns out that there may have been some magical interference going on.

The need to investigate and solve the mystery of Loren Lee’s death becomes critical when Detective Chase Nowry, already prejudiced against the family due to a previous case, begins to look towards their Auntie O and her beau as the ones he would most like to throw in prison. The one plus is that it would at least distract their aunt, who is determined that Tabby and Sage immediately procreate and quickly produce magically-inclined offspring.

Also writing novels under her name Maggie Toussaint, the author charmingly blends an atmosphere of magic into the Southern setting. The added complication of telepathic communication and Tabby’s often having to feed Sage with energy makes their relationship even more codependent than one might expect between twins. This adds a darker layer to their bond, although by the end, they accept that their need for one another is as supportive as it is necessary.

Those looking for a Christmas-themed read will find it here as the small business owners must deal with the pressure of shopping crowds while still meeting stressful family demands. As much as Tabby is tied to the store that literally gives her family energy and keeps them flourishing, she has also grown to love her life there and has no intention of leaving. This second in the series continues to build on the mythology of the magic that seems so prevalent but unspoken of in the town. This is a fascinating read that will appeal to those looking for a novel that blends fantasy with a compelling mystery.

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow! by Donna Andrews
Review by Sandra Murphy

It’s Christmas in Caerphilly, and Meg is looking forward to the usual crowd of relatives and friends who all seem to descend on her house. There are plenty of relatives to take over the chores and put up decorations. All Meg has to do is keep everyone organized. Herding cats would be easier.

She is a blacksmith, as well, and turned down the opportunity to be part of a reality show, a weapon smithing competition, called Forged in Fire. However, just days before the show is to start, her friend and mentor is attacked and will be unable to take part. To cover for him, make the number of contestants even, and provide one female blacksmith, she agrees.

The show will be filmed at the estate of her friend Ragnar who is a former heavy metal star. He’s remodeling his spacious home and has room for the cast, crew, Meg’s family, and friends who came to visit and never left.

Of course, the makers of reality shows thrive on rivalry among the contestants, sabotage, and equipment failures to add drama. This show is no exception. Jasmine, the production assistant, is tightly wound, there are crows to entertain or punish the crew, and challenge-ending tricks are played.

This is book 34 in the series. Readers are always astonished Meg is able to stay calm in the midst of the chaos, figure out who did what and why, and manage, in this case, to fashion a knife any blacksmith would envy. With her boys, her father, grandfather, husband, mother, and extended family, Meg’s holidays are a mobile small town. Somehow, everything gets done. Meg’s closest relatives provide the most entertainment in any situation, whether by joining in or because they are the cause of whatever mishap just happened.
Andrews also wrote the Turing Hopper mysteries. Sad to say, there are only four books in that series. Turing is an artificial intelligence personality living inside a corporate computer and an enjoyable read as well.

To enter to win a copy of all 4 books, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “even more christmas” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen December 16, 2023. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Also listen to our new mystery podcast where mystery short stories and first chapters are read by actors! They are also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify. A new episode goes up next week.

Sandra Murphy lives in the shadow of the Arch in St. Louis Missouri. She’s editor for Peace, Love, and Crime: Crime Stories Inspired by the Songs of the ’60s, with twenty-two cozy stories. She also edited A Murder of Crows, twenty-one stories featuring animals and crime (no animals were harmed). She also writes for magazines, newsletters, and the occasional guest blog. Both anthologies are available at the usual outlets, print or ebook.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.