Tag Archives: Murder Mystery

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Carnage at the Christmas Party

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The thing that made me want to read this was the cover, which I liked because it had a fun feel to it. I wish I could say that what was between the covers was just as fun. This was a rather plodding story for me that I had to make myself continue and finish but it was still decent. I am going to go back and read the first book in the series since I started late in a way. The characters were not particularly likeable and many of them were only shells of what they could have been for most of the story. I will say that both Ensar and Charlotte at least started to seem more interesting near the end. And speaking of the end it was way too rushed and you did not even get a chance to enjoy the mystery since it was all handled literally in the last two short chapters.

Windy Pines, Idaho is known for three things: beautiful mountain views, the world’s most incompetent police force, and lately murder. Charlotte Smyth’s new job at O’Leery Snowboarding Inc. is as a Spreader of Cheer, a kind of made-up and less-than-perfect fit of a position. She pretty much hates everything associated with it like sports, cold weather, and anything extreme. Her boss, Shane Letcher, assigns her to make the Christmas party the coolest ever and lets her know that it is a make-or-break opportunity.

The thing that made me less than happy was just the fact that this was supposed to be a mystery and the book was more about what a horrible job the man had. Because this is the first thing I have read by this author I figure I might as well read the first book in the series and see if it is similar. It may appeal to some more than others, so try it if you just want a holiday-themed book.

My rating: ✬✬

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The Christmas Puppy

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I like these little cozy mysteries because they are light and fun with just the right amount of suspense. There are also some cute animals involved who always manage to be in the middle of a murder for better or worse. The characters, both main and peripheral, are continuing to evolve and become more and more three-dimensional as the series goes on. The killer is never completely easy to figure out which is the best part. It would be a bust if you knew within the first few pages who the killer was.

Polly once again finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. This time things are just a little close to home however as a killer strikes during the annual Christmas Open house for Welcome Home, their shelter for homeless veterans and their pets. The murder could jeopardize everything they have worked so hard for.

Polly does not want to leave the investigation to the police, even after being told to do so in no uncertain terms. As a result, she once again places herself in danger but at least for something cares about.

Love these short and interesting stories that make me work to figure out the killer. It never seems to be the person I think it is. Recommend to everyone!

My rating: ✨✨✨

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The Christmas Kitten

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The Christmas Kitten
(Polly Parrett Pet-Sitter #2)
by Liz Dodwell

I like these stories because they are always sweet and have a nice mystery at the center. The main characters are all well defined while those introduced are still shadowy since they have no real back story. The language is always perfect and a part of the people who use it. I gave this a low star rating because it stated a side story but did not really deliver on it as I had expected. The story itself was actually kind of thin and even though who the perpetrator was came as a surprise, it was mostly because you had no major interactions with the character.

Polly arrives home to find a box on her porch when she was not expecting any deliveries. When she opens it and finds a kitten in pee soaked tissues on a freezing day. After checking with her boyfriend on whether he dropped it off she goes to the Sheriff to give him the diamond bracelet she found around the kittens neck.

Nicole Whittier, a new resident in town , has been murdered and her two step-daughters are missing from the scene. Who could have killed her and why are the girls missing, where is their father, and what does the kitten have to do with it? All really good questions, with some interesting answers.

I think even though there are some flaws with this it is still a good clean mystery story. Good for anyone who likes a mystery without a lot of blood.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars