Silent Night, Deadly Night
(A Year-Round Christmas Mystery)
by Vicki Delany
About the Book
Silent Night, Deadly Night (A Year-Round Christmas Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Berkley (August 27, 2019)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 0440000300
ISBN-13: 978-0440000303
Digital ASIN: B07L7TWTZX
Residents of Rudolph keep the spirit of Christmas alive year-round—but their joy is threatened when a group of grinches visits the town, in the charming fourth installment of the Year-Round Christmas series.
It’s the week before Thanksgiving, and Merry Wilkinson, owner of Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, is preparing for a weekend reunion of her mother’s college friends. But when the group of women comes into Merry’s shop, Merry is met with frosty attitudes and cold hearts.
The women argue amongst themselves constantly, and the bickering only intensifies after one of the friends is poisoned. With her father’s role as Santa in danger due to his proximity to the crime, Merry will need to use all of her investigative gifts to wrap this mystery up and save Santa and her favorite holiday.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
We’re back in Rudolph, New York just before Thanksgiving and just in time for Aline’s college friends arrive for a little college reunion. When the group arrives at Mrs. Claus’s Treasures Merry is struck by how different her mother’s friends are. They all attended a performance college but is clear their lives have gone in different directions. They really don’t act like friends either as they throw barbs at each other left and right. Merry is happy her father is out of town because the house is going to be full of stress and bickering.
During a group dinner which included Merry one of the alumni dies from a cause to be determined, but Merry is pretty sure she knows what happened. She is just unclear of which college chum did the deed. And with the murder happening at the home of the town’s resident Santa, a Rudolph newcomer sets himself up to take over the job. Merry is not about to let that happen. She is going to check her suspect list twice and but the naughty murderer in their place.
I was thrilled to see this series return, it has been one of my favorites. Rudolph is full of Christmas spirit year-round and I have loved each visit.
Merry Wilkerson owns Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, her mother Aline is a retired opera diva and her Father Noel is the former mayor and performs all Santa Claus duties needed all year long. Jackie works for Merry, her best friend Vicki helps out when she can and also makes a great Watson to Merry’s Sherlock when there is murder afoot. Merry also has wonderful St, Bernard named Mattie. I love the way the Wilkerson family sticks together and sticks up for each other.
This time Ms. Daleny introduces not only Aline’s friends, Constance, Genevieve, Barbara, Karla, and Ruth, but a new couple in town Wayne and Norma Fitzroy who want to get very active around town.
Ms. Delany excels at character development. These characters are rich, those we love, those who rub the wrong way, and even those we come to absolutely hate by the end of the story.
She wraps those characters in a great mystery plot with fun subplot offshoots that keep a reader engaged until the final page. While the manner of death is evident immediately it is not easy to pin the crime on any suspect. Aline’s guests wear out their welcome quickly and to save her mother’s sanity Merry knows she needs to help solve the case as soon as possible. Clues are dropped liberally. I love Ruth, one of the “suspects” is an avid mystery reader and wanted to solve the case herself, just like me trying to beat the big reveal in the cozies I read.
Fun and Entertaining! This is a great addition to this series. You truly can’t go wrong with any title by Vicki Delany. This book stands well on its own but the entire series is fabulous. Treat yourself to the whole bunch!
You can read my review of Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen here, We Wish You a Murderous Christmas here, Hark the Herald Angels Slay here,
About the Author
Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers and a national bestseller in the U.S. She has written more than thirty books: clever cozies to Gothic thrillers to gritty police procedurals, to historical fiction and novellas for adult literacy. She is currently writing four cozy mystery series: the Tea By The Sea mysteries, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series, the Year Round Christmas mysteries and, as Eva Gates, the Lighthouse Library series.
Author Links
Website – Facebook – Twitter: @vickidelany and@evagatesauthor – Instagram: vickidelany
Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Google Play – IndieBound
Praise for Silent Night, Deadly Night
(A Year-Round Christmas Mystery)
by Vicki Delany
I always enjoy a holiday-themed mystery – it makes for a nice (although temporary) escape from the August heat . . . The Christmas themed town sounds so quaint and inviting, I would love to visit Rudolph for a little shopping and dinner.
~The Book’s the Thing
Silent Night, Deadly Night was a satisfying cozy mystery that will put you in the Christmas spirit . . . (it) has catty college chums, deadly delicacies, a sly Santa stealer, dangerous secrets, old-fashioned ornaments, and one elf investigator.
~The Avid Reader
From setting to characters and storyline, Silent Night, Deadly Night by Vicki Delany is a cozy mystery lover’s delight.
~The Power of Words
Silent Night, Deadly Night by Vicki Delany is marvelously written story with compelling characters, a stunning setting and a perfectly plotted mystery.
~Baroness’ Book Trove
I just love this series!! Delany has created an adorable town when it comes to Rudolph. A small town dedicated to Christmas year-round. The details are astounding really bringing everything to life as you read.
~Books a Plenty Book Reviews
Silent Night, Deadly Night by Vicki Delany is delightful and engaging from start to finish. Well-written and steadily paced, this story offers the reader an infusion of the holiday spirit as well as a layered plot that keeps you on alert.
~Reading Is My SuperPower
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
August 26 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
August 26 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
August 26 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW, GUEST POST
August 27 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
August 27 – The Power of Words – REVIEW
August 28 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW
August 28 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
August 28 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
August 29 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
August 29 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
August 30 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – CHARACTER GUEST POST
August 30 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW
August 30 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 31 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
August 31 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
September 1 – T’s Stuff – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
September 1 – Cozy Up With Kathy – GUEST POST
September 2 – eBook addicts – SPOTLIGHT
September 2 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW
September 3 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
September 3 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW
September 3 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
September 4 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
September 4 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
September 5 – CelticLady Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 6 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
September 6 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
September 7 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW
September 7 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 8 – Melina’s Book Blog – CHARACTER GUEST POST
September 8 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW
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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.”
I like holiday stories.
I do love holiday cozies, no matter what time of year!! As always, Thanks Dollycas! nani_geplcs(at)yahoo(dot)com
Following the tour, sounds like a good read! tWarner419@aol.com
Congrats on the new release! I enjoy reading holiday stories. Great cover too.
I haven’t read any of these books yet but definitely will now. Thanks for the chance to win!