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theavidreaderandbibliophile 's review for:
Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas
by Vicki Delany
Have Yourself A Deadly Little Christmas by Vicki Delany takes us back to Rudolph, New York. It is Merry Wilkinson’s busy season at Mrs. Claus’s Treasures. It does not help that her assistant manager, Jackie O’Reilly is busy with rehearsals with the Rudolph Community Theater Players of a musical version of A Christmas Carol. Merry is a friendly and relatable protagonist. I love her charming shop (I could do some serious damage in there). I do feel, though, that Merry needs to work on her managerial skills. Her employees are breaking the rules and Merry is not holding them accountable (I do not like seeing them walk all over her). I would not want to work with Jackie (I feel bad for the employee that must work with her). Jackie is self-absorbed. If it does not relate to her, Jackie is not interested (she is obtuse). Rudolph is brimming with holiday charm. It is a town that I would love to visit (do some shopping, take a sleigh ride, enjoy hot cocoa by the fire while reading a book). I would, though, avoid Rudolph Community Theater Players. They fight more than toddlers over a new toy. It was just a matter of time before one of them was murdered. There are several suspects in the crime (not one cast member liked the woman). The investigation was skimpy. The mystery can be solved long before the solution is revealed. The motive was weak (and it could have been applied to several people). The crime is neatly wrapped up at the end with a bow. The people involved in A Christmas Carol cared little that someone had been murdered (that bothered me). The Rudolph Community Theater Players take the saying “the show must go on” seriously. I did find the story to be a slow starter. The murder takes place about a quarter of a way into the book. The pacing was slowed down by detailed descriptions of people’s attire as well as locations. While I enjoyed the descriptions of Merry’s shop and the town, I did not feel that every place needed a detailed narrative. There are repetitive details as well (Jackie being the understudy to Mrs. Cratchit, Merry’s mother being an opera singer and a diva, the curmudgeon who owns a shop near Merry). Have Yourself A Deadly Little Christmas is the sixth A Year-Round Christmas Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. My favorite character was Merry’s St. Bernard. He provided some sweet and funny moments. There is a scene near the end of the story that I loved. It shows that a little kindness towards another person goes a long way. Have Yourself A Deadly Little Christmas is a festive tale with quarrelling players, a terrible Tiny Tim, singing snafus, an encounter with a killer, a crotchety storekeeper, a winter wonderland, and a Happy Holiday!