Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am pleased to share my thoughts about A Wonderful Christmas Crime today!
A Wonderful Christmas Crime: A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – Maine
Publisher : Crooked Lane Books
Publication date : October 21, 2025
Print length : 288 pages
Hardcover ISBN-13 : 979-8892421973
Kindle ISBN-13 : 979-8892421980
Audio CD ISBN-13 : 979-8228696310
Audiobook ASIN B0FB5S7V82
Innkeeper Holly White has a lot to be joyful about this season, until an attempted robbery throws the town into suspicion in the sixth installment of the Christmas Tree Farm mysteries from bestselling author Jacqueline Frost.
As Christmas descends on Mistletoe, Maine, Holly White has an extra gift for the season: a new baby on the way. Her husband, Sheriff Evan Gray, has been worried about her elevated blood pressure, and Holly has agreed to take this year easy. Being idle has never been one of Holly’s gifts, so when Evan surprises her with tickets to the town-wide dinner, she and her many cravings thank him. But when a thief tries and fails to steal an antique ornament from the dinner’s holiday display, it’s clear that someone is on the naughty list.
The thief manages to escape, but after dinner, Holly spots their lifeless body. It’s clear that someone in town was keen to kill them. Evan is less than jolly to find his wife at the scene of yet another holiday homicide and asks her to promise that she’ll leave the investigating to the police. But Holly has never been one to turn down a challenge and has to get creative with the help of a few of her friends in order to find this killer.
Will she and her friends be able to stop the killer and uncover the motive behind the attempted robbery, or will the killer strike again and paint the town a bloody red?
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Can Mistletoe, Maine, get through a holly jolly holiday season without the annual holiday homicide?
Holly White Gray sure hopes so, because she has just learned that she and her husband, Sheriff Evan Gray, will be receiving an extra special gift in the new year. There is a concern about Holly’s blood pressure, which is slightly elevated, but she promises to take care of herself and avoid stress as she steps back from her hectic holiday duties. One thing she is very excited about is the town-wide progressive dinner. Evan surprised her with the ticket and can’t wait for a night out with her friends and all the delicious treats that may fulfill some of her new cravings.
The dinner is off to a great start at Cup of Cheer until someone tries to steal an antique ornament with priceless sentimental value to the owner. While the thief’s attempt is thwarted, and they get away, Holly and her friends return to the scene of the almost crime after their final dinner stop to check on its owner, Alice, and see how she is handling the traumatic event. They arrive to find a dead body.
Here we go again! Evan arrives and sees that Holly is at another holiday crime scene. Can he convince her to leave the investigation to him? Or will she and her friends try to pull a fast one to try to catch the killer themselves? Holly needs to protect that baby, which means her friends must protect her. Are they up to the task, or will there be yet another holiday homicide?
The Gumdrop Gumshoe is back and making a little extra cash as she tries to take it easy this year. She is surrounded by friends and family, determined to keep her busy and safe. A little digital investigation and asking a few questions should be okay… right? I love Holly! Her heart is always in the right place, but she has always had an inquisitive nature, and that usually gets her into trouble. Evan really tries; he knows his wife. He knew he would need reinforcements. Ms. Frost’s core characters in this series are so well-written, they are fun, caring, and truly deliver the Christmas spirit, may it be in their kind acts, the Reindeer Games, or the yummy treats they bake.
An added element this year was that the Antique Roadshow has come to Mistletoe, bringing a lot of collectors to town. The local historic train station is full of vendor booths, rare coin workshops, quill writing demonstrations, and panels for many different types of antiques. Some vendors are even part of Santa’s Village at the Reindeer Games Farm and Inn. I enjoyed learning about some unique antique treasures from Sweden.
The Roadshow means there are a plethora of would-be suspects, and Holly really wants to help clear her friend Alice’s name. She needs to be very careful and accept help from her friends. However, she wasn’t fooling everyone. A daily puzzle in the paper has answers with her name and what could be a threatening message. She also finds something suspicious in a bag she was carrying through Santa’s village. Plus, someone is stealing 12-foot-high snowmen from people’s yards. Unsure if it was a case of early baby brain, or if the baby was “sitting on her gut instinct”, but the final clue dropped into place at a terrible time. Wow, I was on the edge of my seat as the confession poured out, scary moments ensued, and the guilty party was apprehended.
A Wonderful Christmas Crime is another extraordinary holiday mystery from Jacqueline Frost. Mistletoe is an awesome place to spend the holidays, and its residents are truly special. The mysteries will make you think, but alongside that is a delightfully heartwarming story of friends and family coming together to make the best Christmas for everyone. According to Holly: “Life, like this moment, was perfect and precious. I didn’t want to miss a single moment.” I just hope we get to enjoy it with her. The rumor is that Book 7 is in the works. I can hardly wait.
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 Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
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About the Author
Jacqueline Frost / Julie Hatcher is an award-winning and bestselling author of mystery and romantic suspense. She’s published more than sixty novels since her debut in 2013 and currently writes series as herself, as well as under multiple pen names, for Lake Union Publishing, Harlequin, Kensington, Sourcebooks, and Crooked Lane Books. When Julie’s not creating new worlds or fostering the epic love of fictional characters, she can be found in Kent, Ohio, enjoying her blessed Midwestern life. And probably plotting murder with her shamelessly enabling friends. Today, she hopes to make someone smile. One day, she plans to change the world. Check out the author’s website for more books by this wonderful author.
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