A Corpse Among the Carolers (A Food Blogger Mystery)
by Debra Sennefelder
About A Corpse Among the Carolers
A Corpse Among the Carolers (A Food Blogger Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Setting – Connecticut
Publisher : Beyond the Page Publishing (November 12, 2024)
Paperback : 226 pages
ISBN-10 : 1960511920
ISBN-13 : 978-1960511928
Digital ASIN : B0D6G64B46
Hope Early is fully immersed in the spirit of the Christmas season, until the sounds of joyful carolers are silenced by the words “Ho-ho-homicide” . . .
Food blogger Hope Early always gets a hearty holiday laugh from knowing that the weeks leading up to Christmas are as frantic as they are festive. But in spite of everything she has to do, the one thing she always has time for is the annual Jingle Bell Stroll, a night when the community gathers to sing their hearts out and enjoy each other’s company. This year’s caroling feels especially heartwarming, until the final note lands with a thud when Hope finds the body of the man who’d volunteered to play Santa, a knife plunged into his back.
With virtually the whole town present at the caroling, the list of suspects seems endless. It doesn’t take long, though, for both Hope and the police to turn a sharp eye on the victim’s bitter and vindictive ex-wife, along with his new wife, who may have been after his money. Then Hope unearths a clue that suggests the dead man may have been hiding a sordid past and connections to unseemly characters. But as she closes in on the killer, they’re determined to wring her neck before she can ring in the new year . . .
Includes tasty and toasty holiday recipes!
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Food blogger Hope Early loves the holidays, especially the Jingle Bell Stroll. A grand event when the community comes together going from place to place spreading Christmas joy singing carols and Santa Ho-ho-hoing. Everyone was having fun until Hope found Santa dead with a knife in his back. Looking around she sees the vast number of the town’s residents who had come out for the event. Who would have been despicable enough to kill the man playing good old St. Nick with children present and parents who could have witnessed the crime? Naturally, the man’s spiteful ex-wife is high on the list of suspects, as is his current wife. But Hope then finds clues to the victim’s checkered past that sends her investigation in a different direction. Can she wrap up the murderer in time for Christmas? Or will the killer keep her from celebrating the happy holidays?
The characters in this series easily pull readers into the story. Hope is busy with her blog, her cookbook, her barn renovation, and helping her best friend Drew with his new puppy and his home renovation, but she still has time to plan and participate in the town’s holiday events. She loves spending time with her boyfriend Ethan and his daughters, Molly and Becca, but they are still trying to make things work with the girl’s mom, Heather. Hope has a close relationship with her sister Claire who makes a great sleuthing partner. She is also close to former mystery author Jane Merrifield and her sister-in-law, retired librarian Sally who run the Merrifield Inn. They also like to chime in with ideas on the latest murder. All these characters are well-crafted, feel true to life, and are like old friends. I also love the animal characters Ms. Sennefelder brings to life in each book. Drew’s little hurricane Trixie is adorable and her antics make me smile. Hope’s loveable pup Bigelow and her diva cat Princess each hold their own in the story too.
The town of Jefferson, Connecticut was all done up in its Christmas finery and sans the murder and the chaos that followed it would be a delightful place to celebrate the holidays. Ms. Sennefelder’s descriptions enabled me to envision everything so clearly. I can still see Santa Claus sitting on the bench surrounded by people. People who weren’t paying attention to him or thought he was just napping when he in fact was A Corpse Among the Carolers.
The murder mystery was very well written with a variety of suspects. Hope gets totally caught up in the case. She presses the suspects with question after question and makes some keen observations. I am happy that she has Claire and other friends to help her out but she does take some scary risks. I enjoy tagging along with her as she chases down every clue. With every twist and turn the list of suspects became shorter. I had my “A-ha moment” a bit before Hope, but the suspenseful showdown had me on the edge of my seat. The aftermath gave me a little chuckle.
A Corpse Among the Carolers is a merry addition to the Food Blogger Series. The appealing characters and the compelling mystery will draw cozy mystery lovers in. The heartwarming ending will have you longing for the next book in the series. There are 4 recipes and directions to set up a hot chocolate bar in your home at the back of the book. Fix yourself a cup of hot chocolate, grab some cookies or Reindeer Munch Mix, grab this book, and enjoy it all. Merry Christmas!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Beyond the Page Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
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About Debra Sennefelder
Debra Sennefelder is the acclaimed author of charming and suspenseful cozy mysteries set in small towns filled with intriguing characters and delightful pets. Based in Connecticut, Debra shares her home with her family and a lovable, slightly spoiled Shih Tzu. Her passion for mystery fiction, particularly cozy mysteries, inspires her to create engaging stories that blend crime-solving with delicious recipes and stylish fashion. She is the author of the Food Blogger Mystery series, the Resale Boutique Mystery series, and the Cookie Shop Mystery series. When she’s not plotting her next whodunit, you’ll find her baking sweet treats or indulging in a good book.
When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. Yeah, she’s that person.
Born and raised in New York City, where she majored in her hobby of fashion buying, she now lives and writes in Connecticut with her writing companion, Connie.
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Also written by Debra Sennefelder
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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.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.”
