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SLASHING THROUGH THE SNOW

JACQUELINE FROST

SERIES: Christmas Tree Farm Mystery #3

GENRES/ SUBJECTS: Cozy Mystery

GOODREADS

You know it’s getting colder out when I start picking up Christmas-themed cozies!

The Christmas Tree Farm Mysteries are the best of the holiday-centred cozies I’ve read, and I look forward to reading each new book whenever they come out. SLASHING THROUGH THE SNOW is the third instalment and keeps the series going strong.

The setting of this series is the star: a tiny little town that revolves around holiday tourism and Holly’s family tree farm, always busy with winter games and activities. In this volume, Holly’s just started running the newest addition to the property, a cozy little inn. Naturally, she’s invited a local B&B reviewer for a bit of publicity. Of course, things go wrong, the reviewer turns up dead and its Holly’s friend who ends up as the prime suspect. I loved spending time at the farm again and visiting all the little shops in Mistletoe, Maine. It’s a gorgeous place with (starring in this one) a cute bookshop, aa teddy bear hotel and a mouth-watering bakery. If only I could actually visit! Frost absolutely nails an immersive setting.

I do also love Holly as a character too. She’s bright and funny, if a little too stubborn when it comes to poking her nose where it doesn’t belong. There’s plenty of red herrings, interesting characters and a dash of holiday romance.

SLASHING THROUGH THE SNOW is a great addition. A really well done cozy mystery, perfect for any time of year.

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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: Cleo, 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 Cleo’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 Cleo 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 Cleo’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.

A copy of this was provided free of charge from the publisher in return for an honest review.