On Flashback Fridays I will share with you
the books I was not able to review
when they were first released that have been screaming at me
from my To-Be-Read bookshelf.
This book was supposed to be read at the end of last month but real life got in the way so I am so happy to share it with you today.
Yule Be Dead (Victoria Square Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – New York
Berkley (November 27, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 0425266001
ISBN-13: 978-0425266007
Kindle ASIN: B07BD22MJ6
A Christmas crime shocks the merchants of a quaint shopping district in this latest installment of The New York Times bestselling Victoria Square series.
It’s Christmastime, but not everyone is jolly–especially not Vonne Barnett. Her dead body has been found in Victoria Square. Katie Bonner, the manager of Artisan’s Alley, happens to be at the tea shop Vonne’s mother, Francine, owns when the news is delivered.
Vonne left a trail of men behind her so the suspects are many–but the clues are few. A broken teacup leads Katie to one of the suspects, but before she can investigate, she’s attacked. Katie may be closing in on a murderer, but time is ticking because the murderer is definitely closing in on her.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Gayle Leeson joins Lorraine Bartlett in penning this fifth Victoria Square Mystery. Set just before the Christmas holidays Vonne Barnett is found dead. Vonne and her mother, Francine, own Afternoon Tea in Victoria Square. Artisan’s Alley manager Kate Bonner is at the tea shop when Francine finds out about her daughter’s death. There are plenty of suspects as Vonne was not herself when she passed. She was dating or flirting with every man she came in contact with but does that make one of them a killer. Katie is just starting to “help” with the case when she is struck down. Down but not out she doesn’t give up but the killer seems to have made her his new target. Can she catch him before he wipes her out?
The long awaited 5th installment to this series has finally arrived and Kate finds herself right in the middle of another murder mystery. This while she is busy at Artisan’s Alley with holiday sales, a bunch of mischievous ballerinas, a visit from her ex-mother-in-law, a possible new business venture, and trying to find time to spend with her boyfriend, Andy.
The authors have packed this book with so much goodness it was truly impossible to put down. There was always something happening.
All the character we love are back and I must say I really enjoyed the direction that was taken with several main characters. I loved the visit by Chad’s mother. The new dynamic between her and Katie was really heartwarming. Katie’s attack was a scary twist and brought everyone together as they strived to protect her. The friendships that have been built over the course of this series continue to drive these stories.
The varied subplots mesh effortlessly into the murder mystery. The pace is excellent and there are many twists and unexpected turns as clue after clue is followed. I did tune in on the real culprit a bit before it was revealed but it was fun to see how everything fell into place.
This has become my favorite book in this series. It has everything I look for in a grand cozy mystery. I am excited about the next book. I just hope the authors do make us wait as long 🙂 These are characters I will always love to visit.
About The Authors
Lorraine Bartlett
The immensely popular Booktown Mystery
Gayle Leeson
Gayle Leeson is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent. Gayle has also written as Amanda Lee
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Thank you for your review on “Yule Be Dead” by Lorraine Bartlett and Gayle Leeson. What an amazing sounding book and one that I would greatly love the opportunity to read. Adorable cover!
2clowns arkansas dot net
Sounds like a good book.
Thanks for the chance 🙂