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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Really excited to have more of this series. Maybe a springtime Christmas mystery??
5/5 stars: This is the sixth entry in Delany's A Year-Round Christmas Mystery series that takes place in December and is set in Rudolph, New York, America's Christmas Town. I love the small town holiday filled atmosphere Delany's crafted in this series. In addition, the characters incredibly likable; Merry's a delight and I love her relationships with her friends and parents and her growing romance with toymaker Alan. Oh and one can't forget the ever so adorable pet sidekicks... Matterhorn, the St Bernard and Ranger, the Jack Russell Terrier. Most importantly Delany's mystery blends the just the right balance of clues, red herrings and suspects and will keeping you guessing until the final reveal. While you could read this series out of order, if you're looking to start at the beginning pick up [b:Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen|24611862|Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen (A Year-Round Christmas Mystery #1)|Vicki Delany|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1427844987l/24611862._SY75_.jpg|44222979], books one, and start celebrating the holiday's early.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
This is the sixth in a cozy mystery series by Vicki Delany, but readers can enjoy this without having read the others. The amateur detective is a store owner in a small upstate New York town, and this book revolves around a community theater production of A Christmas Carol. It was an enjoyable read, and I like the description of the little town in which it is set. The characters are likeable and well rounded. I especially like the police detective in this series who is a single mom. I don't love the trope of the heroine being threatened by the perpetrator, but overall, it was a fun read. I would recommend this series to readers of cozy mystery series.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book!
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book!
This series is so fun---set in a town that does Christmas year around, with great characters, humor and mystery. What more could you want?! This can be read as a standalone, but there are 5 more terrific books before this---do not miss out on the fun.
Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas is the 6th book in the Year Round Christmas series. This series is set in Rudolph, New York, which is a year-round Christmas town. Merry Wilkinson is the main character and often gets involved in solving crimes in the town. Her mother, Aline, is a former opera singer, and her father, Noel, plays Santa for town events.
The community theater is putting on the production of A Christmas Carol, the musical version, and Merry’s mother is the musical director of the production, as well as having a role in it. There is dissension in the group, primarily due to the arrival of Catherine Renshaw as the artistic director. She throws money around as well as tries to control the production by making changes to the production, overriding Desmond, the director. When one of the cast members is found dead at Merry’s store, Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, there is no lack of suspects, including Merry’s mom and Jackie, who works for Merry.
The killer was a surprise given the different motives set up throughout the story. I think readers will enjoy trying to guess the killer because I guarantee you will change your mind several times. I found the ending funny with what happens with George. I think newcomers to the series will enjoy this story and the characters. The town is quirky and the competition between Rudolph and the neighboring community Muddle Harbor is humorous.
I am so glad this series came back because I enjoy the setting and the characters. I find Merry’s boyfriend Alan a shade dull, but nice. Her best friend Vicky, owner of Victoria’s Bake Shoppe, is a fun character with her willingness to investigate with Merry. Jackie, her employee, is annoying, but an integral character because she adds some comedic relief to the story because she is doesn’t read cues from people. Merry’s parents are delightful because they clearly love each other, but are so different. I hope there are many more stories in this series!
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The community theater is putting on the production of A Christmas Carol, the musical version, and Merry’s mother is the musical director of the production, as well as having a role in it. There is dissension in the group, primarily due to the arrival of Catherine Renshaw as the artistic director. She throws money around as well as tries to control the production by making changes to the production, overriding Desmond, the director. When one of the cast members is found dead at Merry’s store, Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, there is no lack of suspects, including Merry’s mom and Jackie, who works for Merry.
The killer was a surprise given the different motives set up throughout the story. I think readers will enjoy trying to guess the killer because I guarantee you will change your mind several times. I found the ending funny with what happens with George. I think newcomers to the series will enjoy this story and the characters. The town is quirky and the competition between Rudolph and the neighboring community Muddle Harbor is humorous.
I am so glad this series came back because I enjoy the setting and the characters. I find Merry’s boyfriend Alan a shade dull, but nice. Her best friend Vicky, owner of Victoria’s Bake Shoppe, is a fun character with her willingness to investigate with Merry. Jackie, her employee, is annoying, but an integral character because she adds some comedic relief to the story because she is doesn’t read cues from people. Merry’s parents are delightful because they clearly love each other, but are so different. I hope there are many more stories in this series!
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
"Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas" is a very entertaining holiday book. From upstate N.Y a little town with so much happening was a very enjoyable read. Merry is not sticking her nose into the killer but in the end she does and solves the mystery in the nik of time.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No