Murder Under the Mistletoe by Sherry Lynn

 Murder Under the Mistletoe

Book Summary

In a fresh new Maine-set holiday cozy, landscaper Kinsley Clark must root out a killer before she becomes the prime suspect.

Landscape artist and owner of SeaScapes, Kinsley Clark has been re-hired to decorate the town of Harborside for the upcoming holiday season and boat parade. Using the local elements found in Maine, Kinsley creates kissing balls—the town’s official mistletoe—to hang downtown and along the wharf. Kinsley is also responsible for Harborside’s official “lobster-stacked” Christmas tree, located beside the local marina, where the annual Harborside Boat Parade & Fireworks Display takes place.

When local alderman Chris Chesterfield—dressed up as the Grinch, right down to the green face paint—falls off the pier and into the icy Atlanticthe night of the annual kickoff event, the town is in shock. But all eyes turn to Kinsley and her beautiful decorations when it becomes evident that Chris didn't fall after all—and that he was looking to replace SeaScapes with a different decorating team. Kinsley, along with bestie, Becca, and Pete, the owner of the Blue Lobstah, must unearth the truth before Kinsley takes the fall.

My Thoughts

Murder Under the Mistletoe by Sherry Lynn has Kinsley Clark’s business Seascapes decorating Harborside, Maine for the holidays.  Kinsley gets help from volunteers to make the numerous kissing balls she needs to bedeck the town.  I enjoyed the descriptions of the town decorated for the holidays as well as the homes Kinsley and her crew adorned.  A boat parade is something that I am familiar with living in Florida.  At least I do not shiver (not most years) while watching it.  The author captured the chilly temperatures of Maine.  I could imagine the cold wind coming in off the water (brr).  The town alderman dressed appropriately as the Grinch gets murdered during the boat parade. 

The suspect list is longer than a five-year-olds Christmas list for Santa.  Kinsley accompanied by bestie, Becca set out to solve the murder.  I wish the guilty party had not been so obvious (there might as well have been a neon arrow pointing at the person). The mystery is neatly wrapped up at the end of the book in time for the holidays.  Kinsley’s brother is home for a month, but some unexpected news gets his visit off to a rough start.  There is a secondary mystery that is not resolved in this book.  I could have done with less romance.  There are numerous mentions of Pete and how Kinsley feels about him.  I like the gift Kinsley receives from her brother for Christmas.  I had a feeling she would receive this particular gift from the references throughout the story, but I still enjoyed her reaction to it.  Murder Under the Mistletoe is the second A Mainely Murder Mystery.  It can be read as a standalone for those who have not read Digging Up Daisy.  Murder Under the Mistletoe is a Christmas cozy with a chilly climate, a petty politician, a bar bruhaha, a slew of suspects, a surprising secret, scrumptious cocoa, and a Happy Holiday!

Murder Under the Mistletoe is available from Amazon*.  The first book in A Mainely Murder Mysteries is Digging Up Daisy.  If you follow Sherry Lynn on Amazon, they will send you an email when she has a new book release.  Thank you for stopping by today.  Tomorrow I will be featuring Her Secret Hope by Shelley Shepard Gray.  It is the final book in A Season in Pinecraft series.  We have been having delightful weather in Florida.  I have had the air conditioning off for almost a week (it is in the mid 70s during the day--still shorts and t-shirt weather).  I would like this lovely weather to continue.  I hope that you have a happy day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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

Digging Up Daisy by Sherry Lynn

 Digging Up Daisy

Digging Up Daisy (A Mainely Murder Mystery) by Sherry Lynn

About Digging Up Daisy

 

Digging Up Daisy (A Mainely Murder Mystery) 

Cozy Mystery 

1st in Series 

Setting - Maine Berkley (April 4, 2023) 

Paperback: ‎ 304 pages 

 

In a fresh new Maine-set cozy from author Sherry Lynn, Kinsley Clark must root out a killer before the killer roots out her.

  At twenty-nine, Kinsley Clark is living the dream life she always envisioned for herself. She’s the proud owner of SeaScapes, a thriving landscaping company in wealthy Harborside, set on the rugged coast of southern Maine. Kinsley’s veins are filled with salty air, a myriad of colors, and the fragrance of fresh blooms. But one afternoon, while working at her aunt Tilly’s bed-and-breakfast, the Salty Breeze Inn, Kinsley digs up more than she bargained for—a high-heeled shoe. The once sparkly shoe, now caked in mud, is linked to a case the police had appropriately dubbed the "Cinderella Murder."

 

Kinsley panics. Does this mean that her aunt and the inn are somehow connected to this murder? Will it scare away potential guests? Will it subject the inn to a rush of bad press? With Aunt Tilly’s reputation, and possibly her safety, on the line, Kinsley digs deeper into the crime to find out what the shoe was doing on her aunt’s property and who murdered Cinderella, whose real name is Daisy. As she investigates, more suspects rise to the surface, and eventually, Kinsley has to weed out a killer.

About Sherry Lynn

Sherry Lynn spent countless summers on the coast of Maine, knowing she’d one day return to write about the magical location from her youth. Curious by nature, sleuthing became the perfect fit for her, and she has written multiple cozy mystery series under several pseudonyms. Currently, Sherry lives in the Midwest with her husband, but she dreams about one day retiring oceanside with a good book in her hand.

Author Links

Penguin Random House https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/708881/digging-up-daisy-by-sherry-lynn/ 

Website https://www.sherrylynnbooks.com/ 

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sherrylynnbooks 

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23043674.Sherry_Lynn 

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sherrylynnmysteries/ 

My Thoughts

Digging Up Daisy by Sherry Lynn takes us to Harborside, Maine.  I enjoyed the descriptions of the coastal town of Harborside, Aunt Tilly’s bed and breakfast and the grounds of the Salty Breeze Inn, and the lovely plantings created by Kinsley.  The author brought the cliffs and sea to life.  We get to know Kinsley, Kinsley’s bestie, and Aunt Tilly.  Aunt Tilly is a sweet, hardworking woman.  I can understand why Aunt Tilly and Kinsley enjoy living on that property.  The views sound amazing.  I could envision living in Kinsley’s cozy cottage with the ocean breeze and the sound of the ocean lulling me to sleep (it would be a peaceful place to read). 

The mystery started off in a unique way with Kinsley finding a recently murdered woman’s shoe under a plant while sprucing up the landscaping on the grounds of the Salty Breeze Inn.  The last thing Kinsley wants is to bring unwanted publicity to her aunt’s bed and breakfast with the annual parade of homes, The Walk Inn fast approaching.  Kinsley is also worried that her aunt will be a suspect in what has been dubbed the Cinderella Murder.  Kinsley, with help from her best friend, Becca begins investigating.  I like that Kinsley shares information with Detective Rachel Hayes.  There are several suspects in the crime.  There are clues to help readers solve the whodunit.  Digging Up Daisy is the first of A Mainely Murder Mysteries.  This gives the author an opportunity to make changes.  Digging Up Daisy is a floral fiesta with an unearthed shoe, sea breezes, plant problems, an amazing aunt, a planted threat, and a lurking killer. 

Digging Up Daisy is available from Amazon, B&N, and Kobo.  The next A Mainely Murder Mystery is Murder Under the Mistletoe which will be out on November 7.  As part of the tour, the author is hosting a giveaway.  The prize is a print copy of Digging Up Daisy (sorry, US Only).  You can click here to enter or use the Rafflecopter form below.  Leave a comment for an extra entry.  Good Luck!  Thank you for joining me today.  I will return tomorrow with Fateful Words by Paige Shelton.  It is the eighth A Scottish Bookshop Mystery.  I hope that you have a joyful day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader  

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Tour Participants

April 3 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT 

April 3 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews - SPOTLIGHT

April 4 – I'm Into Books – SPOTLIGHT

April 4 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

April 5 – Christy's Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

April 5 – ebook addicts – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

April 5 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

April 6 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

April 6 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

April 6 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

April 7 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

April 7 – Baroness Book Trove - REVIEW

April 7 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

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April 8 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

April 9 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

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April 10 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

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April 11 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST

April 11 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

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April 12 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT

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