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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
fast-paced
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
No
The plot of the story is good. However the main character comes across as whiny. She's doing her detective work and snooping around but is so shocked when someone is trying to stop her from finding out who the murderer is.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
mysterious
Dollycas’s Thoughts
This year the holidays are extra special in Mistletoe, Maine as the town celebrates its 150th anniversary. Descendants of the founding family are returning for the celebration and will be staying at the Reindeer Games Inn. Holly is going all out to welcome the Snows.
There is another big event happening on the farm. Holly’s mother has set her sights on breaking a Guinness world record for the largest gingerbread man. Holly and Evan’s 1st wedding anniversary is right around the corner too.
Everything goes awry when a dead body is found in the gingerbread batter. The man is identified as one of Holly’s special guests. Positive an old family feud is the motive for the murder, local mistletoe farmer, Mr. Moore is the prime suspect. Holly is positive the man she has known all her life is not a murderer. So, like the previous four Christmases Holly is again out to prove someone’s innocence even though Evan asks her to leave the case to him.
With running the inn, Reindeer Games to host, and trying to find the perfect anniversary gift for Evan, Holly is also donning her sleuthing cap to frost the real killer.
I was delighted to return to the Reindeer Games Farm and Inn where the White family welcomes everyone with open arms. It is really like catching up with old friends and there is always something fun happening. I enjoyed the lengths Holly’s mother went to in her attempt to break a world record. Holly’s dad and the farm crew were so creative making things in giant size to her specifications. My heart broke when she couldn’t complete the event. The duo represented Guinness were so nice and stayed in town after the incident enjoying themselves through the holidays. They also came up with a fabulous idea. Holly and Evan had some things to work out in this story but their love was never in question. The core characters Ms. Frost has created for this series are so genuine. They have continued to grow and I become more invested in their lives with each story. The new characters are so good too.
In addition to the Snows, there are other special visitors to Mistletoe that add to the fun, there may have been a little mischief involved. No Spoiler!
I always have a good time trying to solve the mystery before the protagonist but I couldn’t do it this time. The mystery was very well plotted with plenty of red herrings, twists, and turns. The killer did warn Holly to back off but she pressed on and got herself into some precarious situations that could have ended badly. They led up to a surprising reveal and a chilly rescue. Ms. Frost’s descriptions and attention to detail took me right into every scene, the merry ones and the scary ones. I appreciated every one.
I’ll Be Home for Mischief is a marvelous addition to the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery Series and a fabulous read to kick off the holiday season. Engaging characters, an intriguing mystery or two, set in a wonderful winter wonderland kept me entertained from beginning to end. The charming ending has me wishing for another visit to Mistletoe soon, but I know I must wait until next Christmas.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Poor Holly. It’s Christmastime again at Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm and, for the fifth December in a row, someone is killed.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The setting is wonderful. Mistletoe, Maine sounds like such a cute place. I love how close Holly and her family and friends are. They have fun together and work together and they’re people I’d like to hang out with . Holly and her husband, Sheriff Evan Gray, have a good relationship.
The plot was put together well and it moved along at a good pace. We have several potential suspects and the whodunnit wasn’t overly obvious.
The book and the series are so Christmassy. From the town to the food to the way the man was killed, it just screams Christmas, which I enjoy. It would be a perfect December read. And it has several touches of Christmas magic that set it apart.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The setting is wonderful. Mistletoe, Maine sounds like such a cute place. I love how close Holly and her family and friends are. They have fun together and work together and they’re people I’d like to hang out with . Holly and her husband, Sheriff Evan Gray, have a good relationship.
The plot was put together well and it moved along at a good pace. We have several potential suspects and the whodunnit wasn’t overly obvious.
The book and the series are so Christmassy. From the town to the food to the way the man was killed, it just screams Christmas, which I enjoy. It would be a perfect December read. And it has several touches of Christmas magic that set it apart.
Oh this is like a cozy Christmas hug. It is exactly what I needed to get my reading focus back on track; this lovable town full of holiday cheer and the sweetest characters. I love all the humor infused throughout (thank you Cookie) and also the earnestness of the characters and how much they adore their town and their neighbors. The way they keep going, and going BIG, even with their curse of a Christmas murder each year. There were so may good twists and SO many sweet moments that it really cheered me up. And the dramatic ending WOW it had my heart racing! The gift exchange had me basically in tears in the best way and I cannot wait to (PRETTY PLEASE) catch up with Holly, Evan, and everyone and enjoy more Reindeer Games and hot coco and cupcakes next year!
Note: I listened to the audiobook and loved the narration!
Thanks to the publisher for a free audiobook; my thoughts and review are my own.
Note: I listened to the audiobook and loved the narration!
Thanks to the publisher for a free audiobook; my thoughts and review are my own.
I’LL BE HOME FOR MISCHIEF is just the book to get me in the holiday spirit. It’s Christmastime once again in Mistletoe, Maine. The town is celebrating its 150th anniversary and has adopted an authentic Victorian feel. Holly, now married to Evan, is the protagonist of this tale. Holly’s mother, Mrs. White, decides to bake the world’s largest gingerbread man, weighing more than the one in the Guinness Book of World Records that is 1400 pounds. A dead body in the cookie dough spoils all the fun. Who is the dead person? Why is the person dead in the dough?
Reading this book brings me great joy. I think noting that there has been a murder at Christmastime in Mistletoe each of the last four years is an early hint of where the story is heading, but I think it would have been better if the dead body appeared earlier than it did. It is good to return to Reindeer Games tree farm and the characters who work there. What fun! I enjoyed the exciting ending of this particular mystery. I look forward to reading the next book in the Christmas Tree Farm mystery series. Thank you, Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of I’LL BE HOME FOR MISCHIEF.
‘I worried when I didn’t see you badgering the farmhands of deputies.’
Holly is trying her hardest not to be the Gumdrop Gumshoe this Christmas but it’s not to be when a man ends up dying in her mother’s huge gingerbread cookie dough. Yes, in the cookie dough but that’s a whole other story! World records, Mrs. K, Jack Frost, a devious podcast duo and a few others round out the newcomers to Mistletoe while our old friends welcome us home for another holiday season. Tis the best time of the year whenever you visit this series!
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'll Be Home for Mischief is book 5 in the Christmas Tree Farm series, in my opinion it can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading the series in order. I do not feel as if I missed out on a lot by not reading 1 thru 4 first but I enjoyed this one so much and I think I'd have enjoyed them all.
Mistletoe, Maine is a nice little town known for its Christmas happenings and for its 150th season they're going all out to make it special. The Founding Family is coming back for their first visit in many years to help celebrate. Why has the Founding Family been gone from Mistletoe for so many years? You're going to have to read up to find out.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape and the author for the opportunity to read and review this story. Allyson Ryan did a wonderful job at bringing this story to life with her narration. I highly recommend this book if you love a cozy Christmas Murder Mystery.
Mistletoe, Maine is a nice little town known for its Christmas happenings and for its 150th season they're going all out to make it special. The Founding Family is coming back for their first visit in many years to help celebrate. Why has the Founding Family been gone from Mistletoe for so many years? You're going to have to read up to find out.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape and the author for the opportunity to read and review this story. Allyson Ryan did a wonderful job at bringing this story to life with her narration. I highly recommend this book if you love a cozy Christmas Murder Mystery.
I love the A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series and Jacqueline Frost has done it again! I am seriously considering moving to Maine or finding a town like Mistletoe Maine.
Holly White has been married almost a year to her dreamy husband Evan and you guessed it there is another murder on the farm.
Evan doesn’t want Holly to get involved but how can she not. She is drawn to solving mysteries and she has to help out her families farm.
All of the usual characters are back and I can’t get enough of them! I enjoy the close knit community in this series and it gives all the cozy vibes.
The is definitely a twist to the mystery that I did not see coming. I did feel that this might be the last book in the series. I don’t know if that’s true but it has that sense in the writing. Very well written and a must read!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, opinions express in this review are completely my own.
Holly White has been married almost a year to her dreamy husband Evan and you guessed it there is another murder on the farm.
Evan doesn’t want Holly to get involved but how can she not. She is drawn to solving mysteries and she has to help out her families farm.
All of the usual characters are back and I can’t get enough of them! I enjoy the close knit community in this series and it gives all the cozy vibes.
The is definitely a twist to the mystery that I did not see coming. I did feel that this might be the last book in the series. I don’t know if that’s true but it has that sense in the writing. Very well written and a must read!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, opinions express in this review are completely my own.