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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2615 KP) rated Gingerbread Cookies and Gunshots in Books

Jan 4, 2024

Missing Child at Christmas

Lucy Stone gets involved when a four-year-old boy is kidnapped in her community. With no clues to go on, Lucy begins to think that something much larger is happening. Is she right?

Even though I don’t normally read this series, I didn't have any trouble jumping into the characters here. There was enough explanation of who people were that I could follow along. The bits about those I assume are series regulars didn't mean quite as much to me, but I enjoyed meeting everyone. This is on the serious side of the cozy spectrum, and the atmosphere was carried perfectly throughout the story. Lucy did seem to jump to one conclusion, but since she was proved right with evidence later on, I can't call it a major flaw. There are two recipes at the end of this story to enjoy later. This is probably my favorite of the stories I’ve read from Leslie Meier.

NOTE: This is a novella, roughly 100 pages along.

NOTE 2: This was originally published in the anthology Gingerbread Cookie Murder.

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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2615 KP) rated Sugarplum Dead in Books

Jul 27, 2024

Sugarplum Dead

Carolyn Hart | 2000 | Mystery

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Can Annie Catch a Killer at Christmas?

Annie gets a surprise this Christmas when her father, Pudge, walks into her store. He’s on the island because his ex-sister-in-law has summoned the family together. Annie winds up on hand when she makes an announcement that upsets everyone. The next night, someone dies and Pudge becomes the prime suspect. But Annie doesn’t think he’s the killer. Is she right?

This book seemed to wander a bit with the set up, and I was wondering when it was going to get to the point. But when it did, it was great with several twists that surprised me and an ending that wrapped everything up well. We didn’t see as much of many of the regulars, but Laurel has some fantastic scenes. We also get to know some of the suspects better than is often the case. The Christmas element was subdued, but the references to other mystery authors and books was toned down, which was great. This is another book that fans of cozy mysteries will love.

Kudos

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2615 KP) rated Five Golden Wings in Books

Dec 23, 2025

Dueling Weddings and Murder at Christmas

Meg and her mother are helping to organize two weddings for two of Meg’s younger cousins set to take place the Saturday before Christmas. Unfortunately, these young women are constantly feuding, so the weddings are taking place back-to-back, even though they are sharing the venues. The two brides bring nothing but drama in the days leading up to their events, and that’s before Meg finds the wedding photographer dead. Unfortunately, the suspect list is long, including members of the bridal party. Can Meg figure out what happened?

Reading the Christmas set entries in this series has become a Christmas tradition for me. Even when the plot doesn’t involve Christmas explicitly, there is still more than enough holiday cheer to make it feel festive. The mystery itself was a little weak, but things made sense in the end. And the weddings provided plenty to keep me engage, including many laughs. It’s always wonderful to spend time with these characters. If you are looking for a fun Christmas cozy, you’ll be glad you picked this one up.