A fun, Christmasy, cozy mystery to get you in to the holiday spirit. I was not able to guess the killer until, right before the reveal. Vicki Delany did a good job keeping me guessing.

I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series and hopefully getting to all of the previous books in this series that are already sitting on my bookshelves! ( )

Here's my beef with Delany/Gate's books: all of the characters are so MEAN to each other! They are sarcastic and hostile to each other and it's frankly uncomfortable to read such verbal abuse.

Also, the shop assistant in the Christmas Mystery series could be swapped for the library assistant in the Library Lighthouse series - they're virtually identical characters (both irritating). ( )

The town of Rudolph may be known as a year-round Christmas town, but the feelings of love at Christmas seem to be missing this year! As the community theater group prepares for a rendition of "A Christmas Carol," tensions run high and rivalries arise as the actors try to outdo each other and vie for roles in the play. When one of the actors is found dead in Merry's gift shop, she becomes embroiled in the rivalries and in the investigation into the mysterious death.

Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries set at the holidays will find this latest addition to the Christmas mystery genre to their liking. This is a cozy mystery without strong language, intimacy, or graphic violence.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. ( )

It’s the beginning of December but in Rudolph, it’s always all about Christmas. The local amateur theatre group is putting on the musical version of “A Christmas Carol,” and Merry’s mom, a retired opera star, has a small part in the production as well as being the musical director. A newcomer to the scene has put up some big bucks, and thus she thinks she can override the production’s main director. Tempers flare, harsh words are spoken, people threaten to quit . . . and then one of the cast members is murdered in Merry’s shop. This is definitely not the image that a Christmas town wants to project. This tale is peopled with delightful characters, including Merry’s dad, the town’s official Santa Claus, but someone is definitely on Santa’s naughty list. This entertaining cozy just oozes holiday cheer, well, except for the murder, but then, no town is perfect. However, this mystery is perfect for cozy readers who like just a touch of mayhem in their holiday tales. ( )

I always love Vicki Delany’s novels, and this one was no exception. It was fun to return to the festive town of Rudolph which seems to be cursed with an unusually high number of murders. Fun but not silly, easy to read but not simplistic, these cozy mysteries tread a fine line. If you are in the mood for an enjoyable Christmas mystery, look no further! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ( )