50 Book Reviews Reviews Published

Saturday, December 7, 2024

I'll Be Home For Mischief - A Christmas Tree Mystery by Jaqueline Frost

 Thank you to the authors, publishers, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The recipe review and food pairing found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing. 


I’ll BeHome For Mischief
Christmas Tree Farm Mystery
Jaqueline Frost
Crooked Lane Books 

It is Christmas time in the iconic town of Mistletoe as the residents make preparations to celebrate their 150th anniversary and attempt to make a Guinness World Record worthy gingerbread man to weigh in at more than one thousand three hundred and eight pounds and eight ounces. I bet you will never guess where the body drop takes place.

Our sleuth is Holly Gray nee White, newlywed to the town’s sheriff, and inn keeper on her family’s Christmas tree farm known as the Reindeer Games Tree Farm. This season finds Holly being her usual busy self, with Christmas cards from the Tree Farm to be mailed, jewelry orders to be filled, the annual toy donations to be wrapped oversee Reindeer Games, and see to the needs of the important inn guests to be seen taken care of Evan who has a habit of doing amazing things and giving amazing gifts is ready for their big day. So obviously Holly couldn’t possibly have time to hunt down clues, make suspect lists, question people, and possibly irritate the murderer.

I think that this is the most harrowing book in the series yet in terms of Holly being threatened and she even remarks multiple times that Evan is going to have a stroke if not multiples strokes. Holly says that she isn’t going to investigate…at first. Holly has a strong desire to see justice for Elijah Snow even if he was arrogant but not she refuses to entertain the idea that Henry Moore could be a possible suspect. Who could possibly be a suspect since the Snows weren’t in town for even 24 hours before Elijah’s demise? I have no idea how Holly has the energy to sleuth, she is going all over town and even with her special parking spot (made me laugh out loud) I would be exhausted. She isn’t even supposed to be asking questions, she told her parents and Evan that she wasn’t going to get involved. At least that is how the story started out.

In Holly’s defense, everyone seems to be goading her into investigating, except for her mom, dad, and hubby Evan. Cookie tantalizes people including Holly, with some choir group gossip that includes a brief history lesson with a Romeo and Juliet angle. Don’t even get me started about the podcasters who pair murder with recipes and have nicknamed Holly the Gumdrop Gumshoe. Are they helping or hurting? I am not sure but what I do know is that they are driving Holly crazy which is reason enough to end up on her suspect list.  

This is a wonderfully entertaining holiday cozy that keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat. It also has you craving sweet treats with such wonderful descriptions of seasonal sweets of all types. I am definitely looking forward to my next trip to Mistletoe and the Reindeer Games Tree Farm. Now I think I will go and make some Christmas cookies. P.S. check out the author name, Jack Frost!


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