Murder at the Mistletoe Ball

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was my second Italian family themed cozy in a row, and I ain't complaining! This was an interesting cozy for me to read. First, the murder didn't actually take place until halfway through the book. Which isn't the usual MO for these genera of books. Second, I found this overall to be a darker, heavier, I dunno...more serious in subject matter (?) than (again) what I am used to. Neither of which I found to be negative, just noticeable differences.

Murder at the Mistletoe Ball was my first taste of this series, and I can say it held up well as a standalone. It was well written. The plot was engaging and kept me guessing. It was suitably festive. The characters were likable and plentiful. And to top it off, we get a few yummy sounding recipes to try out. What more can a reader ask for?