I was scheduled to read and review this book
when I was in the hospital last year.
Catching up today and will be reading and reviewing the next book, Stalking Around the Christmas Tree
on Cozy Wednesday, November 15.
Slashing Through the Snow: A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Maine
Crooked Lane Books (October 12, 2021)
Hardcover : 304 pages
ISBN-10 : 1643857762
ISBN-13 : 978-1643857763
Paperback : 320 pages
ISBN-10 : 1639104445
ISBN-13 : 978-1639104444
Kindle ASIN : B08SW3B341
Maine innkeeper Holly White returns to sleuth another seasonal slaying in the third Christmas Tree Farm mystery from author Jacqueline Frost.
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: Karen, 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 Karen’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 Karen 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 Karen’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.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
There is now a B&B at the Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm in Mistletoe, Maine and Holly White is so excited to be an innkeeper. She is also in charge of wrapping all the presents for the town’s toy drive. But she is really focused on the B&B critic who has just checked in. A good review could put the B&B on the map. A bad review could hurt their chance of keeping the rooms filled. But a dead body could have the guests leaving in droves never to return. A dead B&B critic . . . well at least she won’t be reviewing the place.
There are plenty of suspects but it is Cookie’s fingerprints on the murder weapon, a metal nutcracker that she just gave Holly. Holly gathers all her friends together to try to crack the case to save her inn, Cookie, and Christmas.
Dashing through the snow . . . oh, I mean Slashing Through the Snow with a Grinch named Karen. What fun!
I just love the setting of this series, Mistletoe, Maine, the Reindeer Games Tree Farm, and now the White family has added a B&B. A wonderful place to spend the holidays. There is always something happening. The author really brings the place to life with her descriptive style.
Holly has taken on the B&B with her mother handling any food involved. The local toy drive has become a massive event which means a heck of a lot of wrapping. I love the ways everyone comes together to get that done. Even Holly’s boyfriend, Sherrif Evan Gray squeezes in a little time to help.
Everyone also gets involved to try to figure out who whacked critic Karen over the head with Holly’s new Nutcracker. I really enjoyed the way Ms. Frost plotted out this story twisting the mystery with all the other things happening. Christmas games, including a Snowball Roll, a toy drive, a Christmas wedding along with regular everyday events all kept the pages turning and gave plenty of time for Holly to do a little sleuthing. She tried so hard to crack the case, and just when she was about to give up, she found herself right in the middle of an exciting showdown. I swear the blustery winds and the icy snow sent an actual shiver down my spine. The fighting, the chase, the cold, the screams, had me right on the edge of my seat.
While I really enjoyed the entire book, my favorite part was the very last chapter. Mistletoe is a very special place and it was never shown more clearly in the last few pages of this story.
Slashing Through the Snow
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
About the Author
Jacqueline Frost is a mystery-loving pet enthusiast who hopes to make readers smile. She lives in rural Ohio with her husband and three spunky children. Jacqueline is a member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW) and Sisters in Crime (SinC). Check out https://www.julieannelindsey.com/ for more books by this wonderful author.
On sale today!
Coming October 17, 2023
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 loved the first book. I need to catch up on the rest of the series.