Silent Night, Deadly Night: A Year-Round Christmas Mystery By Vicki Delany: Review/Giveaway

Nov 9, 2019 | 2019 Articles, Cynthia Chow, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of Silent Night, Deadly Night. We also have a link to order it from Amazon, and from an indie bookstore where a portion goes to help support KRL.

In their goal of being officially designated as “America’s Christmas Town,” the town of Rudolph, New York, celebrates the holiday throughout the year with its main street shops on Jingle Bell Lane specializing in Yuletide wares. This week before Thanksgiving marks the beginning of when business truly heats up, and Mrs. Claus’s Treasures owner Merry Wilkinson is preparing to focus entirely on work for the next six weeks. Merry’s mother Aline, a former opera singer but still a bit of a diva, is anticipating the arrival of her five friends for their first reunion since they first met in college forty years ago. Perhaps there’s a good reason that the women never remained close, as it’s not long before they are making snarky remarks about one another’s weight, relationships, wealth, children, and careers.

mysteryMerry and her mother hoped to smooth tensions over with a potluck dinner, one in which Merry forces her own bakery owner friend Vicky Casey to attend as a buffer. Unfortunately, the sly insults and catty remarks continue throughout the meal, right up until Karla Vaughn collapses due to a fatal peanut allergy reaction. With no one admitting to putting peanuts in one of their dishes and Karla’s EpiPen mysteriously absent, it doesn’t take long for Detective Diane Simmonds to declare it a suspicious death. With police warning the women not to leave town, Merry’s mother feels obligated in allowing her “friends” to remain as her guests despite their renewed hostilities and suspicions. The local newspaper’s lurid headlines have father returning early from a Florida fishing trip, just in time for them to learn of a plot to undermine his usual position as their official Town Santa. Infuriated by the attempt to oust Noel Wilkinson from the Santa Claus Parade and worried for her mother’s safety, Merry and her friends begin investigating the secrets the women have been keeping and the lies the continue to tell.

Despite the high body count, Rudolph continues to be an enviable town devoted to what is arguably one of the most beloved holidays. A former lifestyle magazine editor, Merry has found happiness and purpose back at home with her quirky, Christmas-obsessed family. Merry’s adorably huge Saint Bernard Matterhorn not only provides comfort and protection, he helps lead them to slobbery clues. An exasperating shop assistant, possible shoplifter, and multiple blackmail plots all jeopardize Merry’s normal goodwill-to-all-mankind outlook, but with the help of her friends and family Christmas has an excellent chance of being saved. Perfect for any time of the year, this complex mystery by the prolific author Vicki Delany delivers more than its share of laughs, plot twists, and realistically quirky characters.

To enter to win a copy of Silent Night Deadly Night, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “silent” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen November 16, 2019. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address (so if you win we can get the book sent right out to you), and if via comment please include your email address. 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. Be sure to check out our new mystery podcast too with mystery short stories, and first chapters read by local actors. A new episode went up this week!

Click on this link to purchase this book & a portion goes to help support KRL & an indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy:

You can use this link to purchase the book on Amazon. If you have ad blocker on you may not see the link:

Opens to author website

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).

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.

27 Comments

  1. Thank you for the giveaway. I am really enjoy seasonal themed mysteries.

    Reply
  2. Sounds like a good book! Thanks!

    Reply
  3. You had me with the book cover!! I love cozy mysteries and would love to read this.

    Reply
  4. Thanks so much for a chance to win a copy of this book.

    Reply
  5. Sure would love to win, thanks for the chance

    Reply
  6. This sounds good. Love Christmas books. Thx for the chance!!

    Reply
  7. Sounds interesting. Count me in!

    Reply
  8. This sounds like such a good series. ckmbeg (at) gmail (dot) com

    Reply
  9. Sounds really interesting and fun to read. Thanks for the chance quirky characters and humor plus plot twists. ? Donakutska7@gmail.com

    Reply
  10. I would love to win a copy it’s perfect for the holidays coming up

    Reply
  11. Silent Night, Deadly Night strikes a perfect murder mystery chord! However, I’d hope a get-together with my classmates would end on a better note! The Saint Bernard touches my heart, as my brother-in-law’s family had a big old loveable one for years. Matterhorn’s impressive cover presence is delightful. And, the theme provides a perfect holiday read.

    Reply
  12. Thanks so much for the chance to win this book! Would love to read it! Sounds so good! Cover is so cute!

    Reply
  13. Vicki Delany’s mysteries and novels are fascinating and enjoyable. All of her books are wonderful.

    Reply
  14. Great review, and since I enjoyed earlier books in the series, I’d love to be entered to win this one. Thanks!

    Reply
  15. thanks for the review. Looks like a fun read.
    kckendler at gmail dot com

    Reply
  16. I love Christmas Books and this sounds like a good one.
    Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

    Reply
  17. Sounds like a great holiday read. Thanks for the chance.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  18. I love cozy mysteries as much as I love the holidays. So a book with both is super exciting.
    Chilcotejo@comcast.net

    Reply
  19. Sounds like a wonderful read.

    Reply
  20. Love holiday theme cozy mysteries, this one sounds great!!!
    nani_geplcs(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply
  21. I would love to read this series.

    Reply
  22. Good series. Looking forward
    to next installment.
    thanks.
    txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply
  23. I love cozy mysteries! This book has a catchy title! I would love to win it to read. Thanks for the chance!

    Reply
  24. Yes please, I would love to add this to my collection. It’s a fun series which is very well written.

    Reply
  25. We have a winner!

    Reply

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