Slashing Through the Snow
Ratings6
Average rating3.7
Maine innkeeper Holly White returns to sleuth another seasonal slaying in the third Christmas Tree Farm mystery from author Jacqueline Frost. Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm is going into the B&B business, and Holly White is looking forward to her new role as innkeeper. Even better, Mistletoe, Maine's sheriff, Evan Gray, has deputized his little sister Libby to help Holly wrap presents for Mistletoe's toy drive. But a cold wind ruffles the cheery holiday decorations when a new guest checks in: Karen, a vicious B&B critic, who could make or break the new inn. And the short December days turn even darker when Evan and Libby find Karen's dead body in the gift-wrapped toy donation box. The suspect list is longer than Santa's naughty list, and local resident Cookie is on it, since her fingerprints are all over the murder weapon, a metal nutcracker that she gave to Holly. So is Libby, who recently moved to town from Boston in less-than-savory circumstances. But cranky Karen was an oh-holy-nightmare to lots of the townsfolk, such as Evan's reporter friend Ray; Christopher, the inn's former contractor; and confectioner Bonnie, whose Gum Drop Shop was a direct target of Karen's scathing prose. To figure out the killer's identity and clear Cookie's name, Holly and her friends brainstorm at The Hearth, the farm's café, while her mother keeps them fueled with Christmas goodies fresh from the oven. But if they can't put the culprit on ice, Holly may never see another Christmas.
Series
Featured Series
5 primary books#3 in Christmas Tree Farm Mystery
Christmas Tree Farm Mystery is a 5-book series with 5 primary works first released in 2017 with contributions by Jacqueline Frost.
Reviews
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This is the 3rd in the Christmas Tree Farm series and Holly has a reviewer staying at the inn, but she's not very nice. She is very entitled and is making lots of demands. When Cookie finds out she makes a joke about hitting her with some “Christmas spirit” while she is waving around a giant nutcracker. When the person is found dead and Cookie's fingerprints are all over the murder weapon she finds herself in a world of trouble.
The characters in this series feel like friends now and I found myself as invested in solving the murder as Holly. As usual though she is asking lots of questions and stirring up trouble for herself as well as her friends. Her boyfriend Evan isn't happy about what she's doing and she isn't happy that Cookie has been accused, so there is lots of drama and Christmas craziness.
I saw that ending coming in the first ten pages, but I can't understand the relationship dynamic at all. I knew I was right but it seemed so weird given how the main character was waiting for the bf to invite her to an event... Anyway, this mystery was good! Probably my favorite. The relationship is gettting slightly annoying and distracting, but overall it's a good Christmas time. None of the Christmas stuff feels repetitive either, which is awesome.
The number one thing I love about this series is how festive the books are. Nothing annoys me more than a cozy advertising itself as having a holiday theme, and then the holiday is barely mentioned. So not the case here. These books are festive on steroids. However, I think they would be even better with some recipes included. There are so many foods and drinks mentioned, It seems like a lost opportunity not to include any.
This was another solid book for this series. The setting is wonderful. It has an extensive cast of interesting characters. The mystery kept me guessing. The key problem I had was Holly. She just wasn't likable in this book. She constantly acted like Evan was an idiot. She got angry when people expressed concern for her welfare. She expected Evan to give her every detail of an ongoing investigation and cop an attitude because he didn't (someone explain to me what he sees in her??!!). Lastly, she is an awful inn owner. No wonder all her guests checked out. She basically screwed off to stick her nose in the investigation instead of actually doing her JOB!
I am still a fan of this series overall, and hope that in the next book Holly goes back to being the likable character she was in the previous two!
ARC Via NetGalley
