I'll Be Home for Mischief by Jacqueline Frost

 I'll Be Home for Mischief

Book Summary

Innkeeper Holly White is decking the halls this Christmas season, but someone is on the naughty list when a body is discovered in the fifth installment in the Christmas Tree Farm mystery series from bestselling author Jacqueline Frost.

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?

My Thoughts

I’ll Be Home for Mischief by Jacqueline Frost will have you humming Christmas carols and ready to deck the halls.  I always enjoy my visits to Mistletoe.  It is a festive town with fun activities for the whole family (I would love to live there).  I like the characters in this series especially Cookie (she is a hoot). Holly’s mother is attempting to bake the world’s largest gingerbread man and, if she accomplishes the task, it will have tourists flocking to Mistletoe.  You just know from the moment you hear about the challenge that something will go wrong (it’s a given).  The mystery was well-plotted with some twists and turns along the way.  Holly, naturally, is curious about the crime.  Despite being told to stay out of it (that is like waving a red cape in front of a bull), Holly searches for clues and asks questions.  She needs to be careful because someone is not happy with her sleuthing.  There is a good reveal at the end. 

I liked the humor sprinkled throughout the story and the smooth flow of the story. I’ll Be Home for Mischief is the fifth A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery.  It can be read as a standalone, but I encourage you to read the series in order.  I enjoyed the descriptions of Holly’s jewelry (I want one of each item that she has created). I liked the hint of magic in the story.  You will find yourself wondering if certain guests are from the North Pole.  I’ll Be Home for Mischief is a charming Christmas cozy with a gingerbread challenge, a problematic murder, pesky podcasters, a chilly climate, gift wrapping problem, special guests, a galore of jewelry orders, missing cookies, and a happy holiday!

I'll Be Home for Mischief is available from Amazon*.  You can find the first four books in A Christmas Tree Farm Mysteries here.   If you follow Jacqueline Frost on Amazon, they will send you an email when she has a new book release.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I will return on Tuesday, November 19 with A Year of Flowers by Suzanne Woods Fisher.  My mother is ready for the Christmas tree to make its appearance.  When Hurricane Milton ripped the roof off our storage area, our Christmas tree suffered water (the bag that it was stored in did not protect it despite its claims that it was waterproof).  My mother, naturally, was tickled that she got to pick out a new Christmas tree (she loves Christmas).  I get the tree set up this weekend, so it can "breathe" as we call it.  I shape it in my "spare" time.  When do you put up your Christmas tree?  Do you wait until after Thanksgiving or do you begin the day after Halloween?  I hope that you have a wonderful weekend.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

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