I'll Be Home for Mischief - A Spotlight

With just a few days before Christmas I thought I'd shine a spotlight on the most recent book in a series to which I'm woefully behind. I'll Be Home for Mischief by Jacqueline Frost is the fifth book in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series and was released last month.

Blurb:

It’s Christmastime in Mistletoe, Maine, and the Historical Society has launched a widespread campaign to celebrate the town’s 150th anniversary. Descendants of the founding family, the Snows, have returned for the first time, and Holly is determined to make the family’s visit magical. In an attempt to put Mistletoe on the map, Holly’s mother, a respected local baker, attempts to break a record by baking the world’s largest gingerbread man, but her plans are whisked away when Mr. Snow’s body ends up in the batter.

When Mr. Moore, the local mistletoe farmer, is accused of the crime, Holly reprises her role as amateur sleuth to protect the sweet older man. Between hosting the inconsolable Mrs. Snow and other guests at the inn, receiving threatening messages telling her to stop her investigation, and preparing for her first wedding anniversary with Sheriff Evan Gray, she might need a Christmas miracle to survive.

When someone breaks into Holly’s office and scratches a warning into her desk, she knows she has little time left. Can Holly uncover the killer before someone else gets burned, or is her involvement a recipe for trouble?

Twelve Slays of Christmas - Review

Review

TWELVE SLAYS OF CHRISTMAS by Jacqueline Frost

The First Christmas Tree Farm Mystery

Holly White has returned home to Mistletoe, Maine, but not for her Christmas Eve wedding. Confident that she actually dodged a bullet when her fiance left her for a yoga instructor, Holly is throwing herself into the Reindeer Game festivities at her family's Christmas tree farm. But when the president of the historical society, who had been wreaking havoc with several residents including Holly's dad, winds up murdered at the farm Holly finds she has more on her plate than Christmas cookies! Holly needs to get the farm back in business after it's closed to the public as a crime scene and decides to show that good looking sheriff that there are much better suspects than her family and the farm's employees.

Reindeer Games Tree Farm is a magical place for a mystery. Filled with winter traditions and all the Christmas trimmings, reading this book made me want to snuggle by the Christmas tree and drink some of Cookie's special tea...even though my tree isn't up yet! Despite the joy to be found at the farm, there's also a killer on the loose adding fear and suspicion. I appreciate the fact that Holly visibly reacts to the threats and scary occurrences with realistic emotions. She's affected and struggles to deal with what has happened, but doesn't let it stop her from trying to find the killer.

TWELVE SLAYS OF CHRISTMAS is a charming Christmas read, perfect for getting into the holiday spirit. I can easily picture it transformed into film and watching it on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel! It's a perfect holiday blend of mystery and romance with enough chills to be exciting and the right amount of sweetness to make you smile. The first Christmas Tree Mystery is a feel good story flavored with the joy of Christmastime as well as a good mystery!