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.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

Slashing Through the Snow by Jacqueline Frost

 Slashing Through The Snow

Book Summary

Maine innkeeper Holly White returns to sleuth another seasonal slaying in the third Christmas Tree Farm mystery from bestselling author Jacqueline Frost.

Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm is going into the B&B business, and Holly White is looking forward to her new role as innkeeper. Even better, Mistletoe, Maine's sheriff, Evan Gray, has deputized his little sister Libby to help Holly wrap presents for Mistletoe's toy drive. But a cold wind ruffles the cheery holiday decorations when a new guest checks in: Karen, a vicious B&B critic, who could make or break the new inn. And the short December days turn even darker when Evan and Libby find Karen's dead body in the gift-wrapped toy donation box.

The suspect list is longer than Santa's naughty list, and local resident Cookie is on it, since her fingerprints are all over the murder weapon, a metal nutcracker that she gave to Holly. So is Libby, who recently moved to town from Boston in less-than-savory circumstances. But cranky Karen was an oh-holy-nightmare to lots of the townsfolk, such as Evan's reporter friend Ray; Christopher, the inn's former contractor; and confectioner Bonnie, whose Gum Drop Shop was a direct target of Karen's scathing prose.

To figure out the killer's identity and clear Cookie's name, Holly and her friends brainstorm at The Hearth, the farm's café, while her mother keeps them fueled with Christmas goodies fresh from the oven. But if they can't put the culprit on ice, Holly may never see another Christmas. 

My Thoughts

Slashing Through the Snow by Jacqueline Frost has Holly White busy at the family inn, with the Reindeer Games, and the toy donations.  Christmas is rapidly approaching, and Holly must get all the toy donations wrapped by Christmas Eve.  She is also trying to keep Karen Moody, a critic for New England Magazine, happy so she will write a good article on the inn.  Holly arrives at the inn after dinner to wrap gifts to find an unexpected item in the toy donation bin on the front porch.  Someone has killed Karen Moody and they used the gift Cookie gave Holly as the murder weapon.  Cookie becomes Sheriff Evan Gray’s prime suspects.  Holly, despite being discouraged by everyone she knows, dons her sleuthing cap to clear Cookie.  The guilty party, though, is not happy with Holly’s snooping and attempts to warn her off.  Can Holly prove Cookie is innocent before Christmas and wrap up the killer for her beau? 

Slashing Through the Snow is the 3^rd novel in A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series.  It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series.  I always enjoy visiting Mistletoe, Maine where the residents are friendly and there is plenty of Christmas cheer.  The White’s Christmas Tree Farm is a festive place where you can stay at the inn, eat at the Hearth, play in the twelve days of Reindeer Games, pick out a tree, go for a sleigh ride, and relax in front of the fire with delicious hot cocoa.  I find the characters to be varied and developed.  Cookie and Theodore add the quirky to the story.  Cookie’s antics had me laughing.  The mystery was well thought out.  I enjoyed following the clues in order to solve it.  There is misdirection and various warnings. The reveal was suspenseful.  The only thing I did not like was everyone telling Holly to stay out of the investigation.  They should have known that she would not.  I love the descriptions of Holly’s recycled glass candy jewelry.  Slashing Through the Snow will get in you in the holiday spirit with all the Christmas activities.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading the latest A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery and I cannot wait for the next one (I hope we do not have as long a wait).  Slashing Through the Snow is a jolly tale with gooey gumdrops, a teddy bear bonanza, rousing Reindeer Games, a caustic critic, a surfeit of toys, and a cheery Christmas.  

Slashing Through the Snow is available from Amazon*.  The other two novels in A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series are Twelve Slays of Christmas and 'Twas the Knife Before Christmas.  You can find the authors other novels here.  Thank you for stopping by today.  Tomorrow I am featuring Here Comes the Fudge by Nancy Coco which is the 9th A Candy-Coated Mystery.  I hope that you had a fun Halloween and that you are not suffering from a sugar hangover today.  Take care of yourself, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

'Twas the Knife Before Christmas by Jacqueline Frost

Welcome!  Hooks Can Be Deceiving by Betty Hechtman is now out.  It is the latest A Crochet Mystery.  The Amish Sweet Shop by Emma Miller, Laura Bradford and Mary Ellis comes out on December 18 along with Steamed Open by Barbara Ross.  

‘Twas the Knife Before Christmas by Jacqueline Frost has us journeying to Mistletoe, Maine.  Holly White works at the family café The Hearth on their tree farm in addition to making her popular recycled glass candy jewelry and working with the construction crew on the families’ new inn.  Holly had no idea she would have to make numerous design choices for the inn which she will be running when it is completed.  Holly and her best friend, Caroline West, who owns Caroline’s Cupcakes, meet up for the town tree lighting ceremony where they will unveil the “Guess How Many Mints are in the Bowl” contest.  When the cover is removed from the giant bowl, a deceased Derek Waggoner is inside.  Unfortunately, Caroline had a very public incident with Derek the night before which puts her at the top of Sheriff Evan Gray’s suspect list.  Caroline’s alibi consists of eating cupcakes and watching Cupcake Wars (who doesn’t love that show) on her new smart fridge in the bakery.  Now Holly must work in sleuthing in between her other duties.   The killer, though, does not appreciate Holly sticking her nose into the case and warns her off with boxes contained threatening notes and peppermints (just like the one in the big bowl).  When Caroline’s prints are the only ones found on the murder weapon, Sheriff Gray arrests her.  Holly is determined to have her friend out of jail and home before Santa comes riding into to town.

 

‘Twas the Knife Before Christmas contains plenty of Christmas cheer with the Reindeer Games, Holly’s jewelry, a construction crew that resembles Santa and three of his elves, making gingerbread houses, sleigh rides, a Christmas tree lighting and special Christmas magic.  While some of the Reindeer Games sound like fun, there are others that I am surprised there were any competitors (decorating a gingerbread house blindfolded).  Holly is an energetic and creative woman who is doing three jobs with the help of her friends, Cookie and Caroline.  Holly owns a cute cat that she has named Cindy Lou Who.  Holly’s romance with Evan Gray seems to have stalled out over the last few months.  He has some issue that is keeping him occupied, and he has not confided in Holly.  She just might need to do a little reconnaissance.  I am glad that the author is letting their romance progress at a slower pace (let is develop naturally).   While the new inn is being built, Holly’s mother decided to have the kitchen at The Hearth remodeled.  The remodel was supposed to be completed weeks ago plus the carpenter manages to create chaos on a daily basis.  The whodunit has multiple suspects, good clues and misdirection.  Holly questions people around town while trying to find the guilty party and clear Caroline of the murder charge.  Holly finds herself in some sticky situations.   While ‘Twas the Knife Before Christmas is the second A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery, it can be read alone (easily).   I am giving ‘Twas the Knife Before Christmas 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it).  ‘Twas the Knife Before Christmas is a charming cozy mystery with friendly characters and plenty of Christmas fun that will put you in a festive mood. 

The first A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery is Twelve Slays of Christmas (kindle version currently $1.99 on Amazon).  I appreciate you joining me today.  I will be featuring A Timeless Celebration by Dianne Ascroft as part of the Great Escapes Book Tour.  I hope you have a cozy day.  Stay warm (I actually had to get out my electric throw) and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader