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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
Dollycas’s Thoughts
The White Family owns and operated the Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm, “a holiday paradise” and hosts The Twelve Day of Reindeer Games drawing tourists from near and far. Holly White was supposed to be getting married on Christmas Eve but her fiancé called it off when he met another woman. So Holly is home in Mistletoe helping her family with the festivities. Games like the snowball roll and find the pickle, treats baked up fresh by her mom, and trees as far as the eye can see. Where better to spend the holidays than Mistletoe, Maine?
Then Margaret Fenwick’s dead body is found in one of the sleighs and the murder weapon is a wooden stake Holly’s dad made to mark the types of Christmas tree rows. That makes him a suspect, but Holly finds out there were several people not happy with the president of the Mistletoe Historical Society. With the farm closed for a police investigation her family isn’t making any money and the people in town for the games and their trees are not happy. Holly decides it is up to her to slay the killer or at least catch him so the games can begin.
I loved this story. What a wonderful debut for this series!
Ms. Frost’s descriptions brought Mistletoe and the Reindeer Games farm to life. As we traveled around, from the cafe to the guest house, from the forest of trees to the entrance gate, and even Holly’s parent’s house and the reindeer stable. Pictures formed immediately in my mind. I could almost smell the hot chocolate, the cookies and the pine trees. Her writing style makes it easy and fun to escape right into the story.
The author has also created some fantastic characters. Holly is a strong women growing through a huge change. Her life is not going how she planned and soon realizes she is happy the wedding was called off. Her parents are very supportive. I like that she thinks of her dad as her personal Paul Bunyan. Her mother can be found in the cafe kitchen baking up cookies and whoopie pies, always there to talk. Holly thinks she got her creative side from her mother. Delores Cutter, known to everyone as “Cookie” has quite a past but now she runs the Holiday Mouse Christmas Craft Shop on the farm and has a pet goat named Theodore, after her late husband. Be prepared to laugh, this lady is a hoot and a holler. We also meet Sheriff Evan Gray, a transplant from Boston. He came to town hoping for a slower life never expecting to have to deal with a murder in Mistletoe.
This mystery is very well written with a blizzard of twists, a couple were downright chilly. With Holly not being home for a long time and the sheriff new to the community everyone seemed to be a a suspect. Holly knew her parents had nothing to do with the murder but she knew it had to be someone who knew their way around the farm. I was right there along with Holly tried to solve whodunit.
This is a terrific holiday mystery. Fix yourself a cup of hot chocolate, grab some frosted sugar cookies, and curl up in your favorite cozy spot and enjoy! I sure did!
The White Family owns and operated the Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm, “a holiday paradise” and hosts The Twelve Day of Reindeer Games drawing tourists from near and far. Holly White was supposed to be getting married on Christmas Eve but her fiancé called it off when he met another woman. So Holly is home in Mistletoe helping her family with the festivities. Games like the snowball roll and find the pickle, treats baked up fresh by her mom, and trees as far as the eye can see. Where better to spend the holidays than Mistletoe, Maine?
Then Margaret Fenwick’s dead body is found in one of the sleighs and the murder weapon is a wooden stake Holly’s dad made to mark the types of Christmas tree rows. That makes him a suspect, but Holly finds out there were several people not happy with the president of the Mistletoe Historical Society. With the farm closed for a police investigation her family isn’t making any money and the people in town for the games and their trees are not happy. Holly decides it is up to her to slay the killer or at least catch him so the games can begin.
I loved this story. What a wonderful debut for this series!
Ms. Frost’s descriptions brought Mistletoe and the Reindeer Games farm to life. As we traveled around, from the cafe to the guest house, from the forest of trees to the entrance gate, and even Holly’s parent’s house and the reindeer stable. Pictures formed immediately in my mind. I could almost smell the hot chocolate, the cookies and the pine trees. Her writing style makes it easy and fun to escape right into the story.
The author has also created some fantastic characters. Holly is a strong women growing through a huge change. Her life is not going how she planned and soon realizes she is happy the wedding was called off. Her parents are very supportive. I like that she thinks of her dad as her personal Paul Bunyan. Her mother can be found in the cafe kitchen baking up cookies and whoopie pies, always there to talk. Holly thinks she got her creative side from her mother. Delores Cutter, known to everyone as “Cookie” has quite a past but now she runs the Holiday Mouse Christmas Craft Shop on the farm and has a pet goat named Theodore, after her late husband. Be prepared to laugh, this lady is a hoot and a holler. We also meet Sheriff Evan Gray, a transplant from Boston. He came to town hoping for a slower life never expecting to have to deal with a murder in Mistletoe.
This mystery is very well written with a blizzard of twists, a couple were downright chilly. With Holly not being home for a long time and the sheriff new to the community everyone seemed to be a a suspect. Holly knew her parents had nothing to do with the murder but she knew it had to be someone who knew their way around the farm. I was right there along with Holly tried to solve whodunit.
This is a terrific holiday mystery. Fix yourself a cup of hot chocolate, grab some frosted sugar cookies, and curl up in your favorite cozy spot and enjoy! I sure did!
Holly White returns to her festive hometown Mistletoe, Maine and her family’s Christmas tree farm two weeks before Christmas, but she’s not in the spirit of the season: her fiancé just called off their Christmas Eve wedding. Still, the busy season distracts her from her heartbreak. Leading up to Christmas Day, the farm holds a series of Reindeer Games that attract not only locals but tourists, too. Most of the farm’s income is generated at this time, so Holly knows how important it is to her parents.
One afternoon though, Scrooge herself visits the Hearth, the farm’s café. Margaret Fenwick, head of the Historical Society, generates a room full of whispers since she’s issued fines to most businesses in town for failing to meet the organization’s strict guidelines. In fact, she’d been seen arguing with Holly’s father, Bud, earlier that day.
The same evening, Holly hears a yell and runs to the source, a woman near the sleigh on display at the farm’s entrance. Inside is an unwanted gift: Margaret’s lifeless body. Sheriff Evan Gray arrives, he determines that the murder weapon was one of the large tree markers used on the farm, making Bud the prime suspect, and Gray closes the farm to initiate a search.
To exonerate her father and make sure the farm is open for the Reindeer Games, Holly decides she needs to find out who else might have wanted Margaret dead. She must act fast—before Bud is arrested and the games cancelled for good.
Reading this in December, I particularly enjoyed the charming setting of Mistletoe. It hits all the Christmas high notes and more, and I certainly wanted to eat cupcakes and cookies! The Reindeer Games were so fun, too, such as a snowball roll down a hill and making a gingerbread house while blindfolded or recreating a famous movie scene from Christmas candy and desserts. Of course, Cindy Lou Who, Holly’s supercilious cat, stole every scene she was in.
I liked the mystery a little less. I knew the identity of the murderer early on, though the full motive wasn’t clear until the end of the book. That actually didn’t bother me as much as Holly’s investigative method which was asking a lot of questions around town, getting nowhere, then having the killer come to her to silence her. I wish she’d actually had a chance to solve the mystery!
The next (and only other) book in the series, ‘Twas the Knife before Christmas, looks like it focuses more on Holly’s friend, Caroline West. I plan to read it, and hope Holly gets a chance to be more deductive!
One afternoon though, Scrooge herself visits the Hearth, the farm’s café. Margaret Fenwick, head of the Historical Society, generates a room full of whispers since she’s issued fines to most businesses in town for failing to meet the organization’s strict guidelines. In fact, she’d been seen arguing with Holly’s father, Bud, earlier that day.
The same evening, Holly hears a yell and runs to the source, a woman near the sleigh on display at the farm’s entrance. Inside is an unwanted gift: Margaret’s lifeless body. Sheriff Evan Gray arrives, he determines that the murder weapon was one of the large tree markers used on the farm, making Bud the prime suspect, and Gray closes the farm to initiate a search.
To exonerate her father and make sure the farm is open for the Reindeer Games, Holly decides she needs to find out who else might have wanted Margaret dead. She must act fast—before Bud is arrested and the games cancelled for good.
Reading this in December, I particularly enjoyed the charming setting of Mistletoe. It hits all the Christmas high notes and more, and I certainly wanted to eat cupcakes and cookies! The Reindeer Games were so fun, too, such as a snowball roll down a hill and making a gingerbread house while blindfolded or recreating a famous movie scene from Christmas candy and desserts. Of course, Cindy Lou Who, Holly’s supercilious cat, stole every scene she was in.
I liked the mystery a little less. I knew the identity of the murderer early on, though the full motive wasn’t clear until the end of the book. That actually didn’t bother me as much as Holly’s investigative method which was asking a lot of questions around town, getting nowhere, then having the killer come to her to silence her. I wish she’d actually had a chance to solve the mystery!
The next (and only other) book in the series, ‘Twas the Knife before Christmas, looks like it focuses more on Holly’s friend, Caroline West. I plan to read it, and hope Holly gets a chance to be more deductive!
Twelve Slays of Christmas is a promising start to a new series! The idea for a Christmas Tree farm for the setting was something that I have never read before and it was really fun to explore. It is such a unique idea for a series. I really liked the idea behind the Reindeer Games hosted on the tree farm leading up to Christmas. All of the games were creative and sounded like a lot of fun to play. I kind of wish there was something like that where I live! This was the perfect book to get me in the mood for the holiday season.
I enjoyed the characters in this book. Cookie and Caroline were very likable side characters. I hope we get to see more of them in the next book. Holly was a likable character for the most part and I enjoyed learning about her and her family members. There were instances where I noticed that Holly is a lot like the lead female in the author's other series, the Kitty Couture mysteries, in that she could be a little over the top and dramatic at times. I liked Sheriff Gray as well. I appreciated that instead of focusing on one person as a suspect, he considered all options.
The mystery kept my attention and I was second guessing myself about my suspicions on who the killer was. My suspicion kept bouncing from person to person and I wasn't able to figure it out, so the reveal was a shocker! The killer wasn't who I expected it to be.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the characters in this book. Cookie and Caroline were very likable side characters. I hope we get to see more of them in the next book. Holly was a likable character for the most part and I enjoyed learning about her and her family members. There were instances where I noticed that Holly is a lot like the lead female in the author's other series, the Kitty Couture mysteries, in that she could be a little over the top and dramatic at times. I liked Sheriff Gray as well. I appreciated that instead of focusing on one person as a suspect, he considered all options.
The mystery kept my attention and I was second guessing myself about my suspicions on who the killer was. My suspicion kept bouncing from person to person and I wasn't able to figure it out, so the reveal was a shocker! The killer wasn't who I expected it to be.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars - the repeated use of tummy really retracts from the book
Super fun cozy mystery! There was a lot of subtle humor in the writing that I really really enjoyed.
I already downloaded the next one!
This one is available on Audible Plus!
I already downloaded the next one!
This one is available on Audible Plus!
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Awesome story and perfect for this time of year! Love the characters, the flow, and the quirkiness.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
There is so much I enjoyed of this book! First the name, Twelve Slays of Christmas. The play off of Twelve Days of Christmas had me wanting to know more. Then I noticed the author name, Jacqueline Frost. I’m singing Christmas Carols. But then I saw the gorgeous cover! I freely admit I am a cover lover. I will buy a book I know nothing about if the cover is done well enough. I had been drooling for days over this book, when the Cozy Mystery Review Crew offered me the opportunity to review it. I pounced on it.
The main character is Holly who goes home to Mistletoe, Maine after a romantic disaster. Her family owns the local tree farm and participates heavily in the town’s Reindeer Games. Holly is not home long when she hears a scream for help and comes across a dead body. Yikes! The sheriff is a good looking single ex cop from Boston. Holly begins asking questions which leads to danger for her, her parents and the tree farm.
I like many of the characters but especially Cookie, Ray and his family. I am hoping this book is the first in a series that will allow these characters room to blossom. I love a sense of fun in my cozy mysteries and I believe these characters have wonderful senses of humor. I like the play Holly and the Sheriff have. I think they are good together but I can also see Holly with Ray. It will be interesting to see if a triangle develops. The mystery itself was filled with suspects. A few I discounted quickly but there were some twists that kept me guessing with others. I would discard a suspect but then bring them back for another look all the way up to the end. The series is a Christmas Tree Farm Mystery but I can see interesting things happening year round. The author could go in the direction of holiday books in this series, which would also be a delight. I am really excited about this series and what the author will do with it. I honestly had a hard time putting the book down. On the inside back jacket, the blurb about the author stated, “Jacqueline Frost is a mystery-loving pet enthusiast who hopes to make readers smile.” Well, Ms Frost, congratulations. You had me smiling all the way through the book. To those considering this book, if you are looking for a fun afternoon filled with the delight Christmas brings, get a copy of this book. Buy it. Request it from your library. Definitely get a copy and then settle in for an afternoon of entertainment.
The main character is Holly who goes home to Mistletoe, Maine after a romantic disaster. Her family owns the local tree farm and participates heavily in the town’s Reindeer Games. Holly is not home long when she hears a scream for help and comes across a dead body. Yikes! The sheriff is a good looking single ex cop from Boston. Holly begins asking questions which leads to danger for her, her parents and the tree farm.
I like many of the characters but especially Cookie, Ray and his family. I am hoping this book is the first in a series that will allow these characters room to blossom. I love a sense of fun in my cozy mysteries and I believe these characters have wonderful senses of humor. I like the play Holly and the Sheriff have. I think they are good together but I can also see Holly with Ray. It will be interesting to see if a triangle develops. The mystery itself was filled with suspects. A few I discounted quickly but there were some twists that kept me guessing with others. I would discard a suspect but then bring them back for another look all the way up to the end. The series is a Christmas Tree Farm Mystery but I can see interesting things happening year round. The author could go in the direction of holiday books in this series, which would also be a delight. I am really excited about this series and what the author will do with it. I honestly had a hard time putting the book down. On the inside back jacket, the blurb about the author stated, “Jacqueline Frost is a mystery-loving pet enthusiast who hopes to make readers smile.” Well, Ms Frost, congratulations. You had me smiling all the way through the book. To those considering this book, if you are looking for a fun afternoon filled with the delight Christmas brings, get a copy of this book. Buy it. Request it from your library. Definitely get a copy and then settle in for an afternoon of entertainment.
This was a fast read. Cute book, nothing super spectacular. A little twist at the end. Usual cozy mystery trope.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No