Book Description
When Holly White’s fiancé cancels their Christmas Eve wedding with less than two weeks to go, Holly heads home with a broken heart. Lucky for her, home in historic Mistletoe, Maine is magical during Christmastime—exactly what the doctor ordered. Except her plan to drown her troubles in peppermints and snickerdoodles is upended when local grinch and president of the Mistletoe Historical Society Margaret Fenwick is bludgeoned and left in the sleigh display at Reindeer Games, Holly’s family tree farm.
When the murder weapon is revealed as one of the wooden stakes used to identify trees on the farm, Sheriff Evan Grey turns to Holly’s father, Bud, and the Reindeer Games staff. And it doesn’t help that Bud and the reindeer keeper were each seen arguing with Margaret just before her death. But Holly knows her father and is determined to exonerate him.
The jingle bells are ringing, the clock is ticking, and if Holly doesn’t watch out, she’ll end up on Santa’s naughty list in Twelve Slays of Christmas, Jacqueline Frost’s jolly series debut.
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My Book Review
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
TWELVE SLAYS OF CHRISTMAS (Christmas Tree Farm Mystery Book #1) by Jacqueline Frost is the first book in a cozy small-town mystery series all set during the holiday season. They bring all the happy holiday feels along with a cozy murder mystery to solve in Mistletoe, Maine.
This first book introduces the reader to Holly White and her cat, Cindy Lou Who, on their return home to the family Christmas tree farm after a broken engagement. Home is just what she needed to help heal her broken heart and reunite her with family, friends, and the Reindeer Games holiday tradition on the farm. Everything is going well until Holly discovers Margaret Fenwick, the head of the local historical society bludgeoned to death with a Christmas tree stake and left dead in the sleigh display.
When Sheriff Evan Grey shuts down the farm and games, Holly is determined to find the killer, exonerate her father and farm staff, and get the games going again. There are plenty of people through the years who have had problems with Margaret, but with Holly asking questions about the murder, Holly is now the target of a killer who wants to remain hidden. Will Holly ask one too many questions of the wrong person, even as Sheriff Grey warns her to stop, and become the killer’s next victim?
This is a wonderful holiday cozy mystery that has everything to pull me into the story curled up on my couch on a cold winter night. The author’s writing is descriptive and engaging. I felt like I was in Mistletoe participating in all the games, and all the characters were my friends. Holly is a great protagonist who is both inquisitive and strong willed with a warm and loving heart. The mystery plot is well paced throughout the story with plenty of suspects, red herrings, and a few surprises. I am looking forward to reading more of the books in this series and following all the characters that now feel like family.
I highly recommend this cozy holiday small-town mystery and I am looking forward to reading more in this series!
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About the Author
Jacqueline Frost is a mystery-loving pet enthusiast who hopes to make readers smile. She lives in rural Ohio with her husband and three spunky children. Jacqueline is a member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW) and Sisters in Crime (SinC).
Purchase Links
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/twelve-slays-of-christmas-by-jacqueline-frost
