Mrs. Claus and the Halloween Homicide - A Review

 Review

MRS. CLAUS AND THE HALLOWEEN HOMICIDE by Liz Ireland
The Second Mrs. Claus Mystery

 

April Claus never thought she'd bring havoc to Christmastown when she mentioned the fun of Halloween. Half of the population is eager to celebrate a new holiday, and take advantage of new marketing and booming sales, while the other half thinks it's an abomination. Violence against pumpkins turns into violence against the new Mrs. Claus when April discovers the accident that nearly killed her was no accident. Certain she knows the Halloween hating elf behind it, she's shocked to find him dead-apparently trampled by a snow monster. Now the town is in a panic believing an attack of Abominables is nigh, but April and her husband, the current Santa, are doubtful. Will April be able to prove that the irascible elf was murdered by another elf, or even a human? Or will the killer get to her first? 

I absolutely love this series and enjoyed this second book as much as the first! April is a lovable protagonist and even if she is Mrs. Claus, she's still completely relatable! She's an outsider, trying to fit in and prove her worthiness. She's smart and plucky, yet emotionally vulnerable too. She's also very funny. The thought of reindeer cookies still has me laughing. In fact there are so many funny scenes from raffle ticket selling police, debating cell wallpaper, and those reindeer cookies-I still can't get over the cookies. But there is depth behind the humor too. Friendship is at the core of the second Mrs. Claus mystery; speaking the truth and looking out for your friends, even if it risks ruining the friendship.

Utterly unique MRS. CLAUS AND THE HALLOWEEN HOMICIDE is a finely crafted mystery filled with surprises and plenty of laughs.