What do you think?
Rate this book
A Year-Round Christmas Mystery #6
Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas
It’s beginning to look a lot like murder in the sixth installment of this charming cozy mystery series, perfect for fans of Donna Andrews and Jacqueline Frost.
It’s the beginning of December in Rudolph, New York, America's Christmas Town, and business is brisk at Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, a gift and décor shop owned by Merry Wilkinson. The local amateur dramatic society is intensely preparing a special musical production of A Christmas Carol. But it’s not a happy set, as rivalries between cast and crew threaten the production.
Tensions come to a head when a member of the group is found dead shortly after a shopping excursion to Mrs. Claus's Treasures. Was someone looking to cut out the competition? Everyone in the cast and crew is a potential suspect, including Aline, Merry’s mother, and Merry's shop assistant Jackie O'Reilly, who was desperate for a starring role.
It could be curtains for Christmas—and for Merry—unless the killer can be ferreted out of the wings.
It’s the beginning of December in Rudolph, New York, America's Christmas Town, and business is brisk at Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, a gift and décor shop owned by Merry Wilkinson. The local amateur dramatic society is intensely preparing a special musical production of A Christmas Carol. But it’s not a happy set, as rivalries between cast and crew threaten the production.
Tensions come to a head when a member of the group is found dead shortly after a shopping excursion to Mrs. Claus's Treasures. Was someone looking to cut out the competition? Everyone in the cast and crew is a potential suspect, including Aline, Merry’s mother, and Merry's shop assistant Jackie O'Reilly, who was desperate for a starring role.
It could be curtains for Christmas—and for Merry—unless the killer can be ferreted out of the wings.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 19, 2023
About the author
Vicki Delany
56 books1,712 followers“It’s a crime not to read Delany,” so says the London Free Press.
Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most varied and prolific crime writers.
She is the author of four cozy mystery series: The Tea by the Sea series from Kensington Books, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series from Crooked Lane and the Year Round Christmas series from Penguin. Under the pen name of Eva Gates she writes the Lighthouse Library Series.
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com , www.facebook.com/evagatesauthor, and twitter: @vickidelany
Vicki is part of Mystery Lovers Kitchen (http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com) and Killer Characters (http://www.killercharacters.com)
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com
Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most varied and prolific crime writers.
She is the author of four cozy mystery series: The Tea by the Sea series from Kensington Books, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series from Crooked Lane and the Year Round Christmas series from Penguin. Under the pen name of Eva Gates she writes the Lighthouse Library Series.
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com , www.facebook.com/evagatesauthor, and twitter: @vickidelany
Vicki is part of Mystery Lovers Kitchen (http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com) and Killer Characters (http://www.killercharacters.com)
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
September 20, 2023
The sixth book in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series and the first that I have read. This did not affect my enjoyment or understanding of events and characters in the book at all.
Merry Wilkinson owns Mrs. Claus's Treasure shop in Rudolph, New York, a town which celebrates Christmas all year round. Merry's father is called Noel and looks like and acts as Father Christmas. Occasionally he even seems to actually be him!
This year the amateur dramatic society is presenting A Christmas Carol and the competition for roles is running hot. There are plenty of arguments, lots of bad feeling and, eventually of course, a murder. It is a good story and an intriguing mystery with plenty of fun characters.
I enjoyed this very much and reading it nearer to Christmas would certainly help raise your Christmas spirit!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book
Merry Wilkinson owns Mrs. Claus's Treasure shop in Rudolph, New York, a town which celebrates Christmas all year round. Merry's father is called Noel and looks like and acts as Father Christmas. Occasionally he even seems to actually be him!
This year the amateur dramatic society is presenting A Christmas Carol and the competition for roles is running hot. There are plenty of arguments, lots of bad feeling and, eventually of course, a murder. It is a good story and an intriguing mystery with plenty of fun characters.
I enjoyed this very much and reading it nearer to Christmas would certainly help raise your Christmas spirit!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book
December 19, 2023
I'm a big fan of holiday mysteries, and when the whole series is about Christmas, even more to rave about. In Vicki Delany's Year-Round Christmas Mysteries, a small town in upstate New York offers all the jolly characters, warm sentiments, and memorable moments... then you have the dastardly murderers who want to get rid of someone who's in their way. In this latest installment, a Christmas play causes the cast to fight for expanded roles, find a way to reclaim their fame, and settle old grudges. But Merry must stay close to protect her opera-singer mother who finally agrees to participate this year, only to be accused of killing someone. Loved the holiday spirit. So many hilarious moments. And I like a retelling of the Scrooge stories we've all come to love. Sad that I've finished my last holiday Christmas book, but maybe I'll find a few more before the holiday hits. Great way to escape the daily routine and live a bit of fantasy in a fun Christmas village.
September 19, 2023
Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas is the 6th in the Year Round Christmas series. It takes place in Rudolph, New York which is known as a Christmas town. Merry Wilkinson is the main character and owns Mrs. Claus's Treasures. Vicki Casey is her best friend and owns Victoria's Bake Shoppe., Alan Anderson is a wood maker, Santa's helper and Merry's boyfriend. Her father, Noel Wilkinson plays Santa. The other characters add to the story.
The Rudolph Community Theatre Players is doing the show The Christmas Carol, a musical. Desmond Kerslate is the director along with Catherine Renshaw the artistic director who is helping to subsidize the cost of the show. Aline Steiner, Merry's mother a retired opera singer has been asked to be the music director. There is a lot of discord among the players about what roles they are playing. Paula Monahan plays Mrs. Cratchit has added to the discord and is not well liked.
Paula comes into Merry's shop and while Merry is in the back she is murdered. When Merry discovers her she calls the police. Officer Candice Campbell is the first to arrive along with Diane Simmonds. This is where the story takes the reader on an adventure to find out who killed Diane and why. I will leave this to the reader to enjoy as there is a lot going on that it would be hard to put all on paper. It comes to a surprising conclusion.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.
The Rudolph Community Theatre Players is doing the show The Christmas Carol, a musical. Desmond Kerslate is the director along with Catherine Renshaw the artistic director who is helping to subsidize the cost of the show. Aline Steiner, Merry's mother a retired opera singer has been asked to be the music director. There is a lot of discord among the players about what roles they are playing. Paula Monahan plays Mrs. Cratchit has added to the discord and is not well liked.
Paula comes into Merry's shop and while Merry is in the back she is murdered. When Merry discovers her she calls the police. Officer Candice Campbell is the first to arrive along with Diane Simmonds. This is where the story takes the reader on an adventure to find out who killed Diane and why. I will leave this to the reader to enjoy as there is a lot going on that it would be hard to put all on paper. It comes to a surprising conclusion.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.
September 26, 2023
Merry Wilkinson’s mother, opera singer Aline Steiner, has agreed to come out of retirement to be part of the musical version of A Christmas Carol that the local theater company is doing this December. However, things aren’t going well at rehearsals, as Merry witnesses first hand. Then someone associated with the play is killed in Merry’s shop, and Merry’s assistant is a suspect. Can she figure out what is going on?
It's been three years since we last visited these characters, but I slipped back into their world again in no time. It was fabulous to be back, and I remembered just how much I loved the setting of Rudolph, New York, and the characters. I enjoyed getting to see them grow here, and the I’ll be interested to see how some relationships go forward. The plot was a little uneven, but we still get plenty of suspects and some surprises along the way to a fantastic climax. If you enjoy a Christmas cozy, you owe it to yourself to check out this series. Fans will be thrilled with the latest book.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
It's been three years since we last visited these characters, but I slipped back into their world again in no time. It was fabulous to be back, and I remembered just how much I loved the setting of Rudolph, New York, and the characters. I enjoyed getting to see them grow here, and the I’ll be interested to see how some relationships go forward. The plot was a little uneven, but we still get plenty of suspects and some surprises along the way to a fantastic climax. If you enjoy a Christmas cozy, you owe it to yourself to check out this series. Fans will be thrilled with the latest book.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
September 16, 2023
Dollycas’s Thoughts
We are back in Rudolph, New York just in time for the Christmas holidays. Could there be a better place than America’s Christmas Town to celebrate in December? Merry Wilkinson’s Mrs. Claus’s Treasures is fully stocked for our shopping pleasure and Victoria’s Bake Shoppe always has something yummy to eat. The Rudolph Community Theater is almost ready for its performances of a musical version of A Christmas Carol. Merry’s mother, Aline is in the play and also helping the vocalists get ready for their big debut. Jackie O’Reilly, Merry’s shop assistant is in the chorus but is hoping for a bigger role. Merry’s dad is involved too, helping build and maintain the sets. Sadly, the rehearsals are not going well with tensions on the rise when some cast changes are proposed.
Then a member of the cast is murdered in Merry’s shop. The entire cast finds themselves on the list of suspects including Aline and Jackie. Christmas may not be merry and bright this year unless the killer is caught quickly and Merry is determined to do just that.
First, I have to say that I am so happy that Crooked Lane saw the promise of this series and has brought it back for us to enjoy. The Wilkerson family is so much fun and their stories were definitely not complete. The author has also written the story so new readers will be able to jump in with this book too.
Merry owns Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, a home decor and gift store. Her father Noel is the former mayor of Rudolph and performs all Santa Claus duties needed all year long. Mom, Aline is a retired opera diva who now gives vocal lessons. Merry’s boyfriend Alan Anderson, creates wonderful things with wood whether it be toys or furniture. His trains are a hot item at Merry’s Shop. He also plays elf/toymaker to Noel’s Santa at events all over town. All of Ms. Delany’s characters are well developed and feel so genuine. When I start reading it is truly like visiting old friends. I really enjoy Noel as he interacts with others. Merry has said she knows her dad isn’t really Santa Claus but some things that happen really make her wonder. Me too!
We meet several new characters in the members of the community theater. Some have been with the group for years and others are brand new. One of the new members brings money to the group and has new ideas which aren’t always needed. The interactions of the group were very interesting although at times pretty tense. The author did a wonderful job of making each of these characters unique. Like Paula Monahan and her son Eddie. Paula was cast to play Mrs. Cratchit and Eddie as an unusual Tiny Tim. Sadly, Paula was the killer’s victim.
The mystery of Paula’s murder has a lot of moving pieces with a plethora of suspects. With the murder taking place in Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, Merry is involved no matter what Detective Diane Simmonds has to say about it. Merry is a smart amateur sleuth but sometimes her BFF leads her a little bit astray. They are sure fun to follow. I do like that when they do find something relevant or something that may be relevant to the case, Merry shares that with the good detective. That does not mean Merry doesn’t find herself in a pickle when all the clues fall into place. Ms. Delany does fill the story with several twists and turns which set up an exciting showdown that ended in an absolutely perfect way.
Have Yourself A Deadly Little Christmas is a delightful story filled with engaging characters, a Christmas miracle moment or two, and a merry little mystery. Ms. Delany has infused her story with plenty of humor to balance out the drama. There was a remembrance that had me laughing out loud. Oh, the things Merry gets herself into. I am so excited this series has been allowed to continue. It will be so nice to visit America’s Christmas Town again next year. A great tradition.
We are back in Rudolph, New York just in time for the Christmas holidays. Could there be a better place than America’s Christmas Town to celebrate in December? Merry Wilkinson’s Mrs. Claus’s Treasures is fully stocked for our shopping pleasure and Victoria’s Bake Shoppe always has something yummy to eat. The Rudolph Community Theater is almost ready for its performances of a musical version of A Christmas Carol. Merry’s mother, Aline is in the play and also helping the vocalists get ready for their big debut. Jackie O’Reilly, Merry’s shop assistant is in the chorus but is hoping for a bigger role. Merry’s dad is involved too, helping build and maintain the sets. Sadly, the rehearsals are not going well with tensions on the rise when some cast changes are proposed.
Then a member of the cast is murdered in Merry’s shop. The entire cast finds themselves on the list of suspects including Aline and Jackie. Christmas may not be merry and bright this year unless the killer is caught quickly and Merry is determined to do just that.
First, I have to say that I am so happy that Crooked Lane saw the promise of this series and has brought it back for us to enjoy. The Wilkerson family is so much fun and their stories were definitely not complete. The author has also written the story so new readers will be able to jump in with this book too.
Merry owns Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, a home decor and gift store. Her father Noel is the former mayor of Rudolph and performs all Santa Claus duties needed all year long. Mom, Aline is a retired opera diva who now gives vocal lessons. Merry’s boyfriend Alan Anderson, creates wonderful things with wood whether it be toys or furniture. His trains are a hot item at Merry’s Shop. He also plays elf/toymaker to Noel’s Santa at events all over town. All of Ms. Delany’s characters are well developed and feel so genuine. When I start reading it is truly like visiting old friends. I really enjoy Noel as he interacts with others. Merry has said she knows her dad isn’t really Santa Claus but some things that happen really make her wonder. Me too!
We meet several new characters in the members of the community theater. Some have been with the group for years and others are brand new. One of the new members brings money to the group and has new ideas which aren’t always needed. The interactions of the group were very interesting although at times pretty tense. The author did a wonderful job of making each of these characters unique. Like Paula Monahan and her son Eddie. Paula was cast to play Mrs. Cratchit and Eddie as an unusual Tiny Tim. Sadly, Paula was the killer’s victim.
The mystery of Paula’s murder has a lot of moving pieces with a plethora of suspects. With the murder taking place in Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, Merry is involved no matter what Detective Diane Simmonds has to say about it. Merry is a smart amateur sleuth but sometimes her BFF leads her a little bit astray. They are sure fun to follow. I do like that when they do find something relevant or something that may be relevant to the case, Merry shares that with the good detective. That does not mean Merry doesn’t find herself in a pickle when all the clues fall into place. Ms. Delany does fill the story with several twists and turns which set up an exciting showdown that ended in an absolutely perfect way.
Have Yourself A Deadly Little Christmas is a delightful story filled with engaging characters, a Christmas miracle moment or two, and a merry little mystery. Ms. Delany has infused her story with plenty of humor to balance out the drama. There was a remembrance that had me laughing out loud. Oh, the things Merry gets herself into. I am so excited this series has been allowed to continue. It will be so nice to visit America’s Christmas Town again next year. A great tradition.
September 20, 2023
Have Yourself A Deadly Little Christmas is the sixth book in the A Year-Round Christmas Mystery series by Vicki Delaney.
What a wonderful surprise when I saw that Crooked Lane had picked up the A Year-Round Christmas Mystery series.
The residents of Rudolph, N.Y., are looking forward to Christmas, just two weeks away. Also, the local theater group is getting ready to perform a musical version of The Christmas Carol. Catherine Renshaw and her husband have retired from their furniture business and have moved to Rudolph, and she has become the new artistic director of the theatre company. As rehearsals progress, a fair amount of infighting among the members creates a fair amount of strife.
Merry goes to her office to check on her pup, and when she returns to the sales floor, she finds the body of Paula, who had the role of Mrs. Cratchit in the play. With the murder in Merry’s shop, she will come under suspicion for Paula’s death and will start an investigation to clear her name.
There will be no shortage of suspects for Merry to investigate. Suspects will include almost all of the theatre group. Even Merry’s employee, Jackie, an understudy for Mrs. Cratchit, and Merry’s mother, a retired opera star and musical director of the play, are suspects.
This book is a beautiful addition to this enjoyable series. The story is well-written and plotted, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Most of the recurring characters are back once again. The characters are well-developed and fascinating.
I’m looking forward to reading more books in this enjoyable series.
What a wonderful surprise when I saw that Crooked Lane had picked up the A Year-Round Christmas Mystery series.
The residents of Rudolph, N.Y., are looking forward to Christmas, just two weeks away. Also, the local theater group is getting ready to perform a musical version of The Christmas Carol. Catherine Renshaw and her husband have retired from their furniture business and have moved to Rudolph, and she has become the new artistic director of the theatre company. As rehearsals progress, a fair amount of infighting among the members creates a fair amount of strife.
Merry goes to her office to check on her pup, and when she returns to the sales floor, she finds the body of Paula, who had the role of Mrs. Cratchit in the play. With the murder in Merry’s shop, she will come under suspicion for Paula’s death and will start an investigation to clear her name.
There will be no shortage of suspects for Merry to investigate. Suspects will include almost all of the theatre group. Even Merry’s employee, Jackie, an understudy for Mrs. Cratchit, and Merry’s mother, a retired opera star and musical director of the play, are suspects.
This book is a beautiful addition to this enjoyable series. The story is well-written and plotted, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Most of the recurring characters are back once again. The characters are well-developed and fascinating.
I’m looking forward to reading more books in this enjoyable series.
October 16, 2023
Christmas is descending on America's Christmas town and someone wants to make sure that Jacob Marley's ghost in the local theater production isn't the only ghost lurking about! Merry and crew are once again thrust in the midst of a holiday murder and it's looking like it maybe someone close to home that is the culprit or even the next victim! This cozy mystery series is always a delight to read and this book is no exception! Great plot with lots of layers as well as twists and turns will keep you turning pages furiously in order to uncover the villain behind the murders! The characters are so very well written that they feel like real people that you are coming back to visit rather than just reading about characters on a page. Once again this author delivers an outstanding performance! I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!
May 7, 2023
Thank you to #NetGalley for the chance to read this book. It was really nice to be able to catch up with Merry and all our friends in Rudolph. I was a fan of this series and was sad when we were told it would be ending. That it has been revived is wonderful, especially for anyone who enjoys Christmas! The latest has an interesting mystery surrounding the town's production of a Christmas Carol, amateur theater or not the drama is major, maybe a tad bit over the top, but all in all an interesting mystery with plenty of suspects and holiday cheer!
July 25, 2023
If you're not a big fan of gingerbread, presents, and family get-togethers, then whatever time of year it is, Rudolph, New York, probably isn't your ideal holiday destination! Marketed as a Christmas all year town, it is, as December begins, festooned in all its festive finery. Merry Wilkinson runs Mrs Claus's Treasures and is the daughter of an ex-mayor and Santa Clause lookalike and an operatic diva sensation.
As the week of the Christmas play, A Christmas Carol, grows ever nearer, it becomes clear all is not well amongst the thespians with arguments, accusations, and tantrums clouding every rehearsal. When Merry discovers the body of a member of the dramatic society far too close to home, she tries hard not to get involved but being considered a suspect means she is soon knee deep in the investigation and desperate to prevent any more deaths.
This is the sixth in the Year Round Christmas Mystery Series, and, although yet to read the previous five, I felt instantly at home. I liked Merry, her family, and Matterhorn (Mattie), the lumbering, ever loyal, St Bernard and there were some wonderful mean spirited arguments to enjoy alongside a murder to solve, and all the positive reasons to live in such a festive location year round which I would love to do!
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Crooked Lane Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Christmas in July and look forward to revisiting very soon.
As the week of the Christmas play, A Christmas Carol, grows ever nearer, it becomes clear all is not well amongst the thespians with arguments, accusations, and tantrums clouding every rehearsal. When Merry discovers the body of a member of the dramatic society far too close to home, she tries hard not to get involved but being considered a suspect means she is soon knee deep in the investigation and desperate to prevent any more deaths.
This is the sixth in the Year Round Christmas Mystery Series, and, although yet to read the previous five, I felt instantly at home. I liked Merry, her family, and Matterhorn (Mattie), the lumbering, ever loyal, St Bernard and there were some wonderful mean spirited arguments to enjoy alongside a murder to solve, and all the positive reasons to live in such a festive location year round which I would love to do!
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Crooked Lane Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Christmas in July and look forward to revisiting very soon.
September 23, 2023
Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas is the 6th book in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series and only the 2nd one I have read. I had no problem with the story and had fun with it, but I think I would have enjoyed it even more, if I had read all the previous books. This story has the town of Rudolph New York in the midst of their Christmas celebrations. The next big event is the performances of The Christmas Carol, the Musical. Wow, so much turmoil. As everyone argues about who should play what parts, who will sing what songs and what costumes need to be changed, it is worrisome that the show might not go on. When one of the characters ends up dead in Merry's shop, Mrs. Claus' Treasures, she feels that she needs to help with the investigation, after all, she died in her store. With a few suspects, several red herrings and even more issues with the play, will this crime be solved before someone else ends up dead, or the play is a flop?
Wow, there were so many characters that I disliked and that got on my nerves in this one. Thank heavens for Merry, her dad and the sheriff for being the great, likable characters in this one, as well as Mattie (Matterhorn), Merry's dog. Merry is a great character. She gets people to talk to her, she is friendly, wonderful to her family and is smart and intuitive. I like the way she puzzles things out. She even held her cool when confronted by nasty old Margie, the store owner who is a thorn in her side. The mystery was well-plotted with enough suspects to keep me guessing. The final showdown was a wild one and I was happy to see the culprit arrested. Finding the killer and the motivation for it, was a great story and I do recommend it. I definitely plan to go back and read the books I missed in this series.
Wow, there were so many characters that I disliked and that got on my nerves in this one. Thank heavens for Merry, her dad and the sheriff for being the great, likable characters in this one, as well as Mattie (Matterhorn), Merry's dog. Merry is a great character. She gets people to talk to her, she is friendly, wonderful to her family and is smart and intuitive. I like the way she puzzles things out. She even held her cool when confronted by nasty old Margie, the store owner who is a thorn in her side. The mystery was well-plotted with enough suspects to keep me guessing. The final showdown was a wild one and I was happy to see the culprit arrested. Finding the killer and the motivation for it, was a great story and I do recommend it. I definitely plan to go back and read the books I missed in this series.
December 15, 2023
Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas is book 6 in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series. I read the first couple of books in the series before I read this one, but not books 3,4,and 5. I think this one can be read as a stand-alone.
If you're in the mood for a fast-paced and festive cozy mystery, this is a good one to pick up. It will definitely put you in the Christmas spirit!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
If you're in the mood for a fast-paced and festive cozy mystery, this is a good one to pick up. It will definitely put you in the Christmas spirit!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
September 1, 2024
I don't really think the solving of the murder in this one really made sense, but I like this world and I would like to visit this town.
November 30, 2023
Merry is busy with the holiday season in full swing at Mrs. Claus's Treasure. Everyone is involved in the holiday festivities, including Merry’s mother and her shop assistant, but when a member of the cast of A Christmas Carol is found murdered in Merry’s shop, She adds catching a killer to her to-do list. Merry is determined to prove that her mother isn’t a killer. One way or another, she won’t let Christmas turn into a nightmare.
As usual, there are plenty of suspects and motives, with enough twists to keep readers happily reading. The story is fast-paced and easy to follow. The killer will be a bit surprising to some readers, but that makes this book even more fun. The characters feel like old friends, and with the Christmas holiday just around the corner, it will also give readers a few hours of relaxation and enjoyment during a time of the year when everyone seems to be crazy busy and stressed. I enjoyed the read and look forward to any future books
As usual, there are plenty of suspects and motives, with enough twists to keep readers happily reading. The story is fast-paced and easy to follow. The killer will be a bit surprising to some readers, but that makes this book even more fun. The characters feel like old friends, and with the Christmas holiday just around the corner, it will also give readers a few hours of relaxation and enjoyment during a time of the year when everyone seems to be crazy busy and stressed. I enjoyed the read and look forward to any future books
August 7, 2023
This was my 1st book I read in this series but I did not feel confused or lost. The storyline was good for someone just starting the series.
I really enjoyed this book and all most of the characters. I did find it little unrealistic for Nerry to have such an annoying employee like Jackie.
I enjoyed that a lot was going on to try to figure out who did but mostly I loved the setting of this hook. It was so detailed and beautiful and made me wish I could live somewhere like this.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC you let me read. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this book and all most of the characters. I did find it little unrealistic for Nerry to have such an annoying employee like Jackie.
I enjoyed that a lot was going on to try to figure out who did but mostly I loved the setting of this hook. It was so detailed and beautiful and made me wish I could live somewhere like this.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC you let me read. All opinions are my own.
December 21, 2023
3.5 stars
A solid offering from elite cozy author, Vicki Delany. I wasn’t captured by the beginning of this series, but it appears to have settled in to Delany’s well-developed, well-paced signature style. The town regulars are round, familiar characters, and the relationships are engaging.
A production of A Christmas Carol is a bit overdone in Christmas Cozies, but it provides a good setting for the mystery and a cast of possible suspects. I did have the murderer identified well before the reveal, but I wouldn’t say it was terribly obvious. All in all, a good holiday read.
Thank you to Vicki Delany, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
A solid offering from elite cozy author, Vicki Delany. I wasn’t captured by the beginning of this series, but it appears to have settled in to Delany’s well-developed, well-paced signature style. The town regulars are round, familiar characters, and the relationships are engaging.
A production of A Christmas Carol is a bit overdone in Christmas Cozies, but it provides a good setting for the mystery and a cast of possible suspects. I did have the murderer identified well before the reveal, but I wouldn’t say it was terribly obvious. All in all, a good holiday read.
Thank you to Vicki Delany, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 11, 2024
Rudolf, New York is full of Christmas cheer, or is it. This charming Christmas time cozy mystery has the local drama club preparing for the annual Christmas production. When a member of the team is found dead, we find out some of the members are jealous of the roles others are playing and think they deserved the part. Is this enough to take the merry and bright out of the holiday season? As the snow flies so do tempers in this cozy that kept me guessing as I flipped pages.
An author whose books I don't miss has done it again with another satisfying cozy mystery presentation.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
An author whose books I don't miss has done it again with another satisfying cozy mystery presentation.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
April 4, 2023
In Rudolph, New York, Merry Wilkinson and friends are preparing for Christmas. It may be year round Christmas in their cozy little town, but excitement grows as the holiday approaches. Everyone is looking forward to the local theater groups production of A Christmas Carol, but tempers flare when the cast continues to argue. A recent death creates more problems, and when Merry's mother is a suspect, she decides to poke around and ask questions, wonderful who caused such sorrow at the holidays. This is one of my favorite series and I am thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book. #HaveYourselfaDeadlyLittleChristmas
April 3, 2023
In Rudolph, New York, Merry Wilkinson and friends are preparing for Christmas. It may be year round Christmas in their cozy little town, but excitement grows as the holiday approaches.
Everyone is looking forward to the local theater groups production of A Christmas Carol, but tempers flare when the cast continues to argue.
A recent death creates more problems, and when Merry's mother is a suspect, she decides to poke around and ask questions, wonderful who caused such sorrow at the holidays.
This is one of my favorite series and I am thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#HaveYourselfaDeadlyLittleChristmas
Everyone is looking forward to the local theater groups production of A Christmas Carol, but tempers flare when the cast continues to argue.
A recent death creates more problems, and when Merry's mother is a suspect, she decides to poke around and ask questions, wonderful who caused such sorrow at the holidays.
This is one of my favorite series and I am thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#HaveYourselfaDeadlyLittleChristmas
November 23, 2023
I was so excited to see another book in this series by Vicki Delany! As usual this is the perfect christmas cozy mystery.
If you haven't read the entire series you can still follow along just fine , although I def recommend reading the whole series!
Thank you netgally for the chance to read and review this book!
If you haven't read the entire series you can still follow along just fine , although I def recommend reading the whole series!
Thank you netgally for the chance to read and review this book!
March 25, 2023
I mostly enjoyed this book, it did get a little slow in the middle. I liked the characters, they’re well defined, although the dogs are great. I thought the ending is prefect for the play that is featured. #HaveYourselfaDeadlyLittleChristmas #NetGalley
July 8, 2024
4.5 stars
It’s no secret that Vicki Delany (or Eva Gates) is one of my fave cozy mystery writers. It’s also no secret that Christmas is my favorite holiday. Combine the two – plus a year-round Christmas town – and I’m on bookish cloud nine!
I somehow missed book 5, though I certainly didn’t intend to, but I was easily able to pick back up with Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas with no problems. The author does a fabulous job of giving first time (or it’s-been-a-minute) readers the basics of what they need to know without spoiling previous books, making this one a great place to start if you haven’t read this series yet. You’ll want to go back and read the others eventually, though, thanks to the engaging writing voice, clever plotting, and the lovable characters.
Merry is the ideal cozy mystery protagonist – she’s bright, she’s layered, she’s well-known throughout the town, she seems to have a knack for attracting murders and a curious mind for solving them. She also has a network of ‘informants’, a successful Christmas shop, a supportive best friend, a loving boyfriend, colorful parents, and an endearing St. Bernard called Mattie with a personality as big as his paws! In Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas, her role as a prominent town daughter is in the spotlight – between her mother being the star attraction in the town’s amateur theater performance and her dad being a dead ringer for Santa Claus – and I enjoyed getting to observe her in that role a bit more in depth.
Speaking of the theater, the town’s production of A Christmas Carol has more divas than Ebenezer Scrooge had coin in the bank. And what do you get when you throw a bunch of dramatic personalities into close contact and then turn up the pressure to deliver a stellar performance? A lot of ego clashes, creative differences, and … well… DRAMA. And the town of Rudolph’s little theater troupe is no exception, an aspect to the story that keeps tension high and motives plentiful. Delany skillfully tucks in several red herrings and a couple of surprising twists, all successfully designed to keep you guessing right along with Merry. I appreciated that even though Merry probably investigates more than she should, in the end when it counts, her first thought is to call the police. Her tentative camaraderie with (and mutual respect for) Detective Simmonds is also enjoyable to read – they really are more alike than I think they realize but different enough to make them a good team.
Bottom Line: In Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas, Vicki Delany takes readers back to the charming town of Rudolph with a plot fraught with drama – and not just at the theater! Clues abound but are not so obviously presented as to make it easy on Merry, Detective Simmonds, or we armchair readers sleuths either. The author’s talent at creating vivid characters & immersing us in the setting had me so absorbed in the story that I nearly threw my Kindle in fright when my husband walked in the front door without warning LOL! I very much enjoyed spending time with these characters again, except for Jackie who got on my last nerve (as she was intended to), and I look forward to my next visit on the pages of another Year-Round Christmas Mystery!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
It’s no secret that Vicki Delany (or Eva Gates) is one of my fave cozy mystery writers. It’s also no secret that Christmas is my favorite holiday. Combine the two – plus a year-round Christmas town – and I’m on bookish cloud nine!
I somehow missed book 5, though I certainly didn’t intend to, but I was easily able to pick back up with Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas with no problems. The author does a fabulous job of giving first time (or it’s-been-a-minute) readers the basics of what they need to know without spoiling previous books, making this one a great place to start if you haven’t read this series yet. You’ll want to go back and read the others eventually, though, thanks to the engaging writing voice, clever plotting, and the lovable characters.
Merry is the ideal cozy mystery protagonist – she’s bright, she’s layered, she’s well-known throughout the town, she seems to have a knack for attracting murders and a curious mind for solving them. She also has a network of ‘informants’, a successful Christmas shop, a supportive best friend, a loving boyfriend, colorful parents, and an endearing St. Bernard called Mattie with a personality as big as his paws! In Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas, her role as a prominent town daughter is in the spotlight – between her mother being the star attraction in the town’s amateur theater performance and her dad being a dead ringer for Santa Claus – and I enjoyed getting to observe her in that role a bit more in depth.
Speaking of the theater, the town’s production of A Christmas Carol has more divas than Ebenezer Scrooge had coin in the bank. And what do you get when you throw a bunch of dramatic personalities into close contact and then turn up the pressure to deliver a stellar performance? A lot of ego clashes, creative differences, and … well… DRAMA. And the town of Rudolph’s little theater troupe is no exception, an aspect to the story that keeps tension high and motives plentiful. Delany skillfully tucks in several red herrings and a couple of surprising twists, all successfully designed to keep you guessing right along with Merry. I appreciated that even though Merry probably investigates more than she should, in the end when it counts, her first thought is to call the police. Her tentative camaraderie with (and mutual respect for) Detective Simmonds is also enjoyable to read – they really are more alike than I think they realize but different enough to make them a good team.
Bottom Line: In Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas, Vicki Delany takes readers back to the charming town of Rudolph with a plot fraught with drama – and not just at the theater! Clues abound but are not so obviously presented as to make it easy on Merry, Detective Simmonds, or we armchair readers sleuths either. The author’s talent at creating vivid characters & immersing us in the setting had me so absorbed in the story that I nearly threw my Kindle in fright when my husband walked in the front door without warning LOL! I very much enjoyed spending time with these characters again, except for Jackie who got on my last nerve (as she was intended to), and I look forward to my next visit on the pages of another Year-Round Christmas Mystery!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
October 16, 2023
Christmas is descending on America's Christmas town and someone wants to make sure that Jacob Marley's ghost in the local theater production isn't the only ghost lurking about! Merry and crew are once again thrust in the midst of a holiday murder and it's looking like it maybe someone close to home that is the culprit or even the next victim! This cozy mystery series is always a delight to read and this book is no exception! Great plot with lots of layers as well as twists and turns will keep you turning pages furiously in order to uncover the villain behind the murders! The characters are so very well written that they feel like real people that you are coming back to visit rather than just reading about characters on a page. Once again this author delivers an outstanding performance! I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!
November 21, 2023
I love this Christmas cozy mystery series. I mean what's not to love about a year round Christmas town. Merry is one of my favorite cozy mystery sleuth's. And I love Mattie the St. Bernard her dog. I think this one was my favorite of the series so far.
November 7, 2023
There’s nothing I love more than returning to Rudolph during the holidays to read what Merry gets up to each book. I love getting lost in these stories and all the characters feel like old friends.
May 16, 2023
This is book #6 of the much beloved Year-Round Christmas Mystery series. All of us Vicki Delany fans had mourned the fact that this series was not renewed by the publisher of the previous 5 mysteries, and were overjoyed to learn that the series was continued by a new publisher. I am sure this book is going to be a bestseller!
It was delightful to catch up with long-time friends Merry Wilkinson and the cast of colorful and quirky characters who live in Rudolph, New York, a town where Christmas lives year-round. You can’t get any more “cozy” than that. Of course, there is a murder, and it is up to Merry to find out whodunnit.
As in the previous mysteries, Vicki Delany transports the reader into the heart of the town, and you get involved right away in the happenings. The characters and their behaviors are described with such ingenuity that you almost feel them right beside you, and you read on thinking that you are participating in all the activities. Vicki has that gift of immersing the reader in her story, and we “live” the plot until it sadly has to end. I did not guess who the murderer turns out to be, but this is typical of Vicki’s mysteries…it is almost impossible to guess correctly, but it is so much fun trying to guess who the culprit is, and why!
This was a very quick and joyous read for me, and I now have to wait until another mystery is published. Fortunately, Vicki writes about 4 books a year, and has 4 other exceptionally brilliant cozy mystery series. Now that I have finished this book, I will be reading the next Tea By The Sea mystery and reviewing it.
Thank you, Net Galley and Crooked Lane, for allowing me to read and review this book. I highly recommend it, and suggest you read all of her 50 books!
It was delightful to catch up with long-time friends Merry Wilkinson and the cast of colorful and quirky characters who live in Rudolph, New York, a town where Christmas lives year-round. You can’t get any more “cozy” than that. Of course, there is a murder, and it is up to Merry to find out whodunnit.
As in the previous mysteries, Vicki Delany transports the reader into the heart of the town, and you get involved right away in the happenings. The characters and their behaviors are described with such ingenuity that you almost feel them right beside you, and you read on thinking that you are participating in all the activities. Vicki has that gift of immersing the reader in her story, and we “live” the plot until it sadly has to end. I did not guess who the murderer turns out to be, but this is typical of Vicki’s mysteries…it is almost impossible to guess correctly, but it is so much fun trying to guess who the culprit is, and why!
This was a very quick and joyous read for me, and I now have to wait until another mystery is published. Fortunately, Vicki writes about 4 books a year, and has 4 other exceptionally brilliant cozy mystery series. Now that I have finished this book, I will be reading the next Tea By The Sea mystery and reviewing it.
Thank you, Net Galley and Crooked Lane, for allowing me to read and review this book. I highly recommend it, and suggest you read all of her 50 books!
February 2, 2024
I started this Christmas year round mystery series in December on Audio. I love listening to these stories while driving to work and back, etc. I have to say, this latest 6th book was disappointing. The reason is the characters seemed to switch personalities (Merry & Vicky) and Merry’s mom was voiced as snobby and a bit like the mom on Schitt’s Creek!
The main reason for poor review is the narrator changed for this book. She pronounced Merry’s dad as “Nole vs. “No-el” and she had a sharpness, or an edge to her voice that just didn’t exist when Amy Deuchler voiced the characters and books in 1-5.
May seem minor, but when you get hooked on a fun, cozy series like this, you start to get connected to the characters as voiced, and it was very difficult not to turn this one off- as they all sounded wrong vs. past books. I hope Vicky Delaney and Tantor audio goes back to the original narrator, she was AWESOME!
The main reason for poor review is the narrator changed for this book. She pronounced Merry’s dad as “Nole vs. “No-el” and she had a sharpness, or an edge to her voice that just didn’t exist when Amy Deuchler voiced the characters and books in 1-5.
May seem minor, but when you get hooked on a fun, cozy series like this, you start to get connected to the characters as voiced, and it was very difficult not to turn this one off- as they all sounded wrong vs. past books. I hope Vicky Delaney and Tantor audio goes back to the original narrator, she was AWESOME!
May 2, 2023
A friend encouraged me to sign up for NetGalley, and I received an advanced PDF in exchange for my review. I picked this at random because I enjoy mysteries and romances set at Christmas and I needed something jolly. I'd never read any of Ms. Delaney's books before, though, checking my Kindle library, I have other books by her in my TBR pile, but haven't gotten to them. (It's very easy for books to get lost in the digital TBR pile.)
I'm glad I picked this up as it is an absolute delight. It can be a little daunting to jump into a series in progress, but that wasn't the case here. Without too much, "As you might remember from our previous cases," the characters and locale were laid out, and the scene set. I don't know how Merry Wilkinson came back to Rudolph, NY (though there are hints), or how she met Alan, her boyfriend, but it didn't impact my enjoyment.
I've done amateur theatrics in my time, so it was fun watching the carrying on involved with getting a production mounted. (I was even in the chorus of a musical version of A Christmas Carol once.) I recognized the types, but they didn't stray into caricatures. Most are sketched with a light hand, but enough that you get the sense of people rather than cardboard cutouts. The story moved along briskly, with my reading happening across three sessions, each with longer than I would have liked breaks between. Yet, when I came back to the book, I was able to slide easily back into the story with little trouble.
What's funny is that the murder almost proved a red herring. I immediately had several folks I suspected, but not the killer themselves. Yes, a certain niggling feeling began as the story went along, but it wasn't until a second incident that I began to seriously wonder. When the killer is revealed, my reaction was more "It all makes sense," than either "Oh, I knew it was them" or "Really? Them? Are you serious?" Also, yay for the murder happening about a third of the way into the book, so we had plenty of investigation time.
Merry's a good amateur sleuth, too. She doubts herself from time to time, decides at one point that she should leave this to the police, and when she realizes the killer's identity, her first thought is to call the detective. Hooray for not throwing herself needlessly into danger and proving almost too stupid to live. There is, by the way, a character who borders on that, but given they're somewhat self-absorbed and it causes issues, I can live with it.
The book is very much something to snuggled up with when you need to relax and lose yourself for a few hours. There's a warm feeling to the writing which makes me want to visit Merry and her town again. Perhaps this isn't a book going on my Desert Island Reads shelf, but it is one I can see myself dipping into again. What's more, I'm going to find those other books by Vicki Delaney already lurking in my library.
I'm glad I picked this up as it is an absolute delight. It can be a little daunting to jump into a series in progress, but that wasn't the case here. Without too much, "As you might remember from our previous cases," the characters and locale were laid out, and the scene set. I don't know how Merry Wilkinson came back to Rudolph, NY (though there are hints), or how she met Alan, her boyfriend, but it didn't impact my enjoyment.
I've done amateur theatrics in my time, so it was fun watching the carrying on involved with getting a production mounted. (I was even in the chorus of a musical version of A Christmas Carol once.) I recognized the types, but they didn't stray into caricatures. Most are sketched with a light hand, but enough that you get the sense of people rather than cardboard cutouts. The story moved along briskly, with my reading happening across three sessions, each with longer than I would have liked breaks between. Yet, when I came back to the book, I was able to slide easily back into the story with little trouble.
What's funny is that the murder almost proved a red herring. I immediately had several folks I suspected, but not the killer themselves. Yes, a certain niggling feeling began as the story went along, but it wasn't until a second incident that I began to seriously wonder. When the killer is revealed, my reaction was more "It all makes sense," than either "Oh, I knew it was them" or "Really? Them? Are you serious?" Also, yay for the murder happening about a third of the way into the book, so we had plenty of investigation time.
Merry's a good amateur sleuth, too. She doubts herself from time to time, decides at one point that she should leave this to the police, and when she realizes the killer's identity, her first thought is to call the detective. Hooray for not throwing herself needlessly into danger and proving almost too stupid to live. There is, by the way, a character who borders on that, but given they're somewhat self-absorbed and it causes issues, I can live with it.
The book is very much something to snuggled up with when you need to relax and lose yourself for a few hours. There's a warm feeling to the writing which makes me want to visit Merry and her town again. Perhaps this isn't a book going on my Desert Island Reads shelf, but it is one I can see myself dipping into again. What's more, I'm going to find those other books by Vicki Delaney already lurking in my library.
January 3, 2024
Uff da. Kind of a letdown after Christmas Bookshop. But I shouldn't compare, only take it on its own merits.
The descriptiveness! Holy cow. And only once, when two women were wearing black coats and had blue scarves, did any of that matter. Every single action, every single item was logged, labelled and listed. Jeez.
Other than that, it was just fine. A rather humdrum mystery, nothing really startling. Could have used more action up front. There was enough going on though after that to keep me reading. But I almost stopped after 50 pages. Do I NEED to know how you fixed yourself a cup of tea? Or whatever? No.
But in all that detail, there was no hint of any continuity errors, which is nice. The final scene at the play was great. I liked the build-up to that. And really, I just kept reading because of the play. I had to find out how A Christmas Carol was connected to murder! :)
This was a good cozy to read during a very busy time when I could only manage 20 or 30 pages a night and I was mostly brain dead. It was very Christmas-y, which was just what I wanted. I found the whole Muddle Town angle to be a little tiresome (completely unnecessary), but other than that, it was just about what I needed. Can't fault it for that.
Will I be searching out any more of these? I don't know. Maybe if I get into another stressfest. But not until they are seasonally appropriate again.
Also, if I had a store employee like Jackie, I'd boot her ass right out the door.
The descriptiveness! Holy cow. And only once, when two women were wearing black coats and had blue scarves, did any of that matter. Every single action, every single item was logged, labelled and listed. Jeez.
Other than that, it was just fine. A rather humdrum mystery, nothing really startling. Could have used more action up front. There was enough going on though after that to keep me reading. But I almost stopped after 50 pages. Do I NEED to know how you fixed yourself a cup of tea? Or whatever? No.
But in all that detail, there was no hint of any continuity errors, which is nice. The final scene at the play was great. I liked the build-up to that. And really, I just kept reading because of the play. I had to find out how A Christmas Carol was connected to murder! :)
This was a good cozy to read during a very busy time when I could only manage 20 or 30 pages a night and I was mostly brain dead. It was very Christmas-y, which was just what I wanted. I found the whole Muddle Town angle to be a little tiresome (completely unnecessary), but other than that, it was just about what I needed. Can't fault it for that.
Will I be searching out any more of these? I don't know. Maybe if I get into another stressfest. But not until they are seasonally appropriate again.
Also, if I had a store employee like Jackie, I'd boot her ass right out the door.
September 18, 2023
Merry Wilkinson owns a gift shop in the Christmas theme town of Rudolph, New York. A couple of weeks from Christmas, she is having a normal day in the shop, chatting with friends and family about the upcoming small theater musical version of A Christmas Carol. She leaves the shop for just a few minutes to check on her Saint Bernard dog, who is resting in her office. When she returns, she finds that a contentious woman from the show's cast is dead in her shop! Merry works to solve the mystery.
I wanted to read Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas because I have enjoyed previous books in the series.
This was a very enjoyable read. I have not read the entire series, but was able to jump in and enjoy this mystery, so I think it would also work as a standalone.
I absolutely love the small town setting of Rudolph. The town's Christmas theme is a fun bonus! I love the descriptions of the town, the little shops, restaurants, etc.
Merry is a good amateur detective. She had some strong suspects, and I enjoyed watching her detecting process.
Mattie (a/k/a Matterhorn), her Saint Bernard is a nice addition to the book! I love cozy mysteries that feature dogs or cats.
I recommend this book (and series!) for fans of cozy mysteries, and especially anyone who enjoys a small town or holiday setting.
I wanted to read Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas because I have enjoyed previous books in the series.
This was a very enjoyable read. I have not read the entire series, but was able to jump in and enjoy this mystery, so I think it would also work as a standalone.
I absolutely love the small town setting of Rudolph. The town's Christmas theme is a fun bonus! I love the descriptions of the town, the little shops, restaurants, etc.
Merry is a good amateur detective. She had some strong suspects, and I enjoyed watching her detecting process.
Mattie (a/k/a Matterhorn), her Saint Bernard is a nice addition to the book! I love cozy mysteries that feature dogs or cats.
I recommend this book (and series!) for fans of cozy mysteries, and especially anyone who enjoys a small town or holiday setting.
July 3, 2023
A Year Round Christmas Mystery book #6
Vicki Delany is giving us another cozy, witty and captivating holiday mystery with her protagonist, Merry Wilkinson, owner of Mrs. Claus’s Treasures and amateur sleuth extraordinaire.
The small-town of Rudolph, N.Y. is humming with holiday cheers and ghosts of Christmases past and future, hot chocolate and gingerbread cookie no matter the weather. The local amateur dramatic society is preparing a special musical production but rivalries between the artists threatens the production...this is not a happy set. Pressure is on and everything collapse when Paula, a member is found dead in Merry’s store...
By taking us a wild adventure to find who wanted Paula dead, this soft mystery has a lot going on to please us. First we have the preparation of the town’s Christmas Carol production with its many colourful players and the drama they bring to the table. Then we have the murder investigation done by the authorities as well as from our amateur sleuth. There are a lot of suspects and we get to know all of them. It wouldn’t be a good holiday story without pooches included, we also have them.
I read in the past some books from this author and always thought Ms. Delany had a gift of immersing her readers by giving us tidbit to munch on in order to pique our interest in finding the whodunit. I was surprise to discover who it was. She also gives us a warm feeling with her smooth style, a good story and an appealing cast of characters.
Not having read the previous book in this series did not take away from my enjoyment, this latest stands well by itself.
“Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas” is a relaxing read to loose ourselves in.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC
Vicki Delany is giving us another cozy, witty and captivating holiday mystery with her protagonist, Merry Wilkinson, owner of Mrs. Claus’s Treasures and amateur sleuth extraordinaire.
The small-town of Rudolph, N.Y. is humming with holiday cheers and ghosts of Christmases past and future, hot chocolate and gingerbread cookie no matter the weather. The local amateur dramatic society is preparing a special musical production but rivalries between the artists threatens the production...this is not a happy set. Pressure is on and everything collapse when Paula, a member is found dead in Merry’s store...
By taking us a wild adventure to find who wanted Paula dead, this soft mystery has a lot going on to please us. First we have the preparation of the town’s Christmas Carol production with its many colourful players and the drama they bring to the table. Then we have the murder investigation done by the authorities as well as from our amateur sleuth. There are a lot of suspects and we get to know all of them. It wouldn’t be a good holiday story without pooches included, we also have them.
I read in the past some books from this author and always thought Ms. Delany had a gift of immersing her readers by giving us tidbit to munch on in order to pique our interest in finding the whodunit. I was surprise to discover who it was. She also gives us a warm feeling with her smooth style, a good story and an appealing cast of characters.
Not having read the previous book in this series did not take away from my enjoyment, this latest stands well by itself.
“Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas” is a relaxing read to loose ourselves in.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC
Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews