What's could be better than curling up with a great story about Christmas, cookies, and murder to go with it without having to worry about the snow piling up outside? I love to read holiday-themed stories during the corresponding holiday season, but As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles was a nice break from the heat we've had here recently.

When Erin's new friend ends up strangled, she decides to find the killer and bring him or her to justice. I love the characters and the setting in this series - the story was well thought-out and I couldn't help but root for Erin, trying to get ready for her wedding and catch a murderer at the same time! The mystery and the other details of Erin's life compliment each other nicely.

As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles is the fifth book in the Food Lover series. It might be nice to know the characters before you dive in, but you can certainly read this one even if you haven't read the rest of the series.

Small town Christmas cozy with recipes? Yes. please! This is a great cozy that just envelopes you for a few hours and then you have to return to real life. I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles

by Leslie Budewitz

It’s a tie! I can’t decide what I like best about Leslie Budewitz’s As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles: her winning way with words or her skill in creating an intricate plot. I felt a little funny as I crossed the Mexican desert in 90 degree temps on my trek north to the States as June began to press in. I was immersed in a cozy mystery with a Christmas backdrop complete with snow set in Jewel Bay, Montana, but that is what good fiction can do.

The main character is Erin, manager of the “Merc” aka Murphy’s Glacier Mercantile. She is weeks away from a wedding to fiancé Adam, a very likable guy. Erin has investigative skills that she truly enjoys exercising and which cause others to try to engage her in solving crimes based on her reputation. In this book she befriends a newly returned citizen of Jewel Bay, Merrily, who has relationship issues with her parents and is discovered dead on their property.

There are a lot of suspects for perpetrator of this crime, but the criminal can not be found until the past is revealed. Erin is indubitably nosy and that characteristic could help solve the crime and restore long broken relationships. It also could lead her into potentially deadly situations. Can she balance her curiosity with reason and avoid disaster?

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Midnight Ink for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: This book is good as a standalone. It is the second in the Food Lovers’ Village Mysteries, but I didn’t feel like I had missed out on anything. There is also a “cast of characters” if you get confused. The book concludes with a recipe section.

Publication: June 8, 2018—Midnight Ink

Memorable Lines:

As surely as you can count on holidays sparking family crises, you can count on cocoa.

In these days of space stations and hybrid cars, stagecoaches seem like figments of Western movie makers’ imaginations, but the valley is criss-crossed with roads named for long-ago stages. They remind me to slow down, and take the long view.

Adam went downstairs to hook up the TV. Going wireless involves a lot of cables.

This is the first book of the series that I have read as well as my first book read of Leslie Budewitz. I can say that I will definitely read the previous books in the series.
I read this as part of my Christmas in July Read A Thon. I am always concerned about picking up a book in an ongoing series; however, it read fine as a stand alone. Just like with any series, I feel like I would have had more of a connection with the characters had I started from the beginning. However, the author does a great job of character development.

I found this was on the darker side of a mystery for a cozy, which I love. Although the main mystery of the book was the murder, there were several secrets and other questionable incidents that kept you on your toes. I definitely jumped from suspect to suspect and only guessed the killer a few chapters before the reveal.

Erin runs her family business, the Merc, a boutique market filled with local delicacies in the quaint town of Jewel bay. If the hustle and bustle of the holidays and the town decorating aren't enough to keep her busy, she is preparing for her Christmas wedding too. Did I mention the murder? Yes, murder. So with everything on her plate, Erin is bound and determined to help the local police solve this horrible crime. By doing so, she uncovers some deep rooted secrets the residents of the small town have kept buried for a long time, secrets that some may be willing to kill for.

Will Erin make it through this trying time unscathed? Will everything be solved in time for her wedding? Read the book and find out.....

I received an advanced reader copy of the book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Leslie Budewitz's fifth book in the Food Lovers' Village Mystery series is As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles. Erin is getting reading for both her wedding and the Christmas holiday at the Merc. She still has time to make a new friend, Merrily, who is shunned by her family due to her past. When the past rears its ugly head and Merrily is found murdered, Erin sets out to solve the murder and maybe clear Merrily's name. This book had several things going on at once, but everything was woven together by the end. I enjoyed the setting, and the mystery was strong as well. The characters work together well and make the book more delightful.

Another Scrumptious Food Lovers' Village Mystery!

My rating: 4 of 5 stars, I really liked it

Book 5 in the series.

I absolutely adore this series. The small Montana town setting is fun, the characters are realistic, as are their relationships. So it's no surprise that not every family is happy at Christmas.

There was A LOT going on in this book, from the town's Christmas decorating and celebrations to planning for Erin and Adam's upcoming wedding. Add in home renovations and solving a murder and it's amazing anyone has any time to relax at the holidays, haha.

This book was a fast read that never lost my attention. I am thankful that Ms. Budewitz found a new home for this series with Midnight Ink and look forward to more.

Jewel Bay, Montana feels like a place I would enjoy visiting. Erin, who runs the Mercantile, is the kind of person I would like to have as a friend. In this, the fifth mystery solved by Erin, it's almost Christmas and the town is being decorated, with just about everybody pitching in. While the good cheers follows for the rest of the group, one ugly note appears when there is a confrontation between Merrily and her parents. They had cut her out out of their life when she was accused and convicted of stealing money from one of the local businesses. To her family, she is dead. Not long after she turns up dead for real. In the short time the readers have known her, there is sadness over her not having a chance to make a new start in Jewel Bay. We had hope for her future. Too bad somebody else with a secret to hide decided she was in the way. The town finds out that money - again - has gone missing and the fingers point at Merrily, unable to defend herself. Erin had hoped that she was going to get to know her better, maybe become friends. The police focus on a suspect, one Erin is certain did not commit murder so, to clear her friend, she does her own sleuthing. Her style isn't pushy or 'I know better than the police', it naturally flows from her daily interactions and keen observations. But if that isn't enough to keep her busy along with running a business at Christmas, Erin is getting married....on Christmas Eve!. How many plates can Erin juggle and make it to the church on time?
This mystery had all of the elements that I look for in a cozy - twists, turns, red herrings, well developed puzzle and characters and a satisfying ending. I will definitely be reading the next one.

Love this book series! First time to read this author and enjoyed it so much purchased other titles in series. What a perfect summer read!

An excellent cozy mystery with Christmas thrown in! Perfect reading, especially when it's hot and humid out. Interesting characters and story line. My first book by Ms. Budewitz, but not my last. Strongly recommend.

The story was enjoyable but seemed to be too wordy. I felt that there was too much repetition. Erin spent too much time going over what she already knew in an attempt to organize her thoughts. It was as though the author needed to up the word count for the book so we read over and over again known details about the missing money, etc.

I liked that Erin, while determined to investigate on her own, didn't do anything really stupid like so many other protagonists do.

The "prank" Adam's brother played seemed a bit far-fetched. The reactions of Merrily's parents seemed a bit extreme both from the beginning and especially later on when we learned that they knew about Ashley's existence.

It's a fun read, but entirely forgettable - something to read when you just need to have something you can pick up and put down.

It’s the holidays in the village and not everything is sugar and spice and everything nice. The mystery is surprising and done in the manner that Leslie Budewitz can only do. I adore this book the most in this series for the holiday theme and I can picture it in Montana and feel at home.

Christmas holidays, planning a wedding, families coming together - can all add stress to anybody's life. Add in a murder and your holiday lights won't shine as brightly, especially when the bride seems to find herself also in the killer's line of sight.

Erin Murphy should be at her happiest. In less than a month she is marrying the man of her dreams. They have finished the noisy and dusty remodel of their home together. She loves the holiday season and the atmosphere at the Merc, her business. Many elements of family life come together in this wonderful book. It is a season of forgiveness and Erin believes in giving second chances. Her future husband's nervousness about his twin brothers arriving for the wedding is contagious, but Erin is so busy, especially when she adds investigating some money mismanagement and a murder to her ever growing to-Do List, that Erin, who believes in the best in people, and has grown up with a supportive, loving family, has to have faith all will work out in the end.

As it turns out, the end does not come swiftly or via a straight, smooth path. Erin, and the reader, have time to contemplate their own beliefs, faith, trust levels, and family relationships before any chance to walk down a wedding aisle.

Jam packed with spicy twist and turns, this is a delicious addition to an excellent series.
Throw on a carol or two (beware of earworms) and enjoy.

It is almost Christmas in Jewel Bay and there is so much happening. Adam and Erin are getting married on Christmas Eve, there is a town wide decorating day to bring in shoppers for this make it or break it time of year, and the cookie swap is coming up. Erin and Adam have bought her mother's house and are renovating it along with everything else. Erin is surprised to see Merrily Thornton has returned to town and offers to help her parents decorate. She is shocked when her parents shout at her and tell her to leave. When Merrily fails to show up at Erin’s house for the cookie swap, or at work the next day Erin becomes concerned. When Merrily's boss finds out that his bank deposit was short and that there might have been some embezzling, they immediately suspect Merrily of the crime. Later that day, she is found dead with Christmas lights around her neck. Now there are two mysteries, who killed Merrily and who is embezzling from the Hardware Store.

The characters in this series are very realistic and ones that I would love to have as friends, in fact, I would love to live in Jewel Bay. Family issues arise in this story as they do in all lives. We actually get to meet some of Adam's family and that is kind of fun. The mystery really kept me guessing. Throughout the story, I think I suspected just about anyone who knew Merrily except Erin. There were so many twists, red herrings and clues scattered about that it was a real stumper. By the end of the story, I was surprised about some things, and relieved about others. I was worried that the wedding might not take place, but that all turned out in the end. The story has a great plotline and it was well paced. I finished this story in a few sittings, yet it was complete, well described, but not rushed. I definitely recommend this one to any cozy mystery lover. Several of the recipes have been added to my Christmas baking section of my recipe book, they look so yummy. Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

Terrific! I've only read book one in this series before now, but I was able to follow along without an issue. The references to previous stories just made me want to pull the other books off my shelf and start reading. The author does a great job of keeping a good balance between the mystery and her ongoing character and setting development for the series. These are characters I would hang out with in real life and a setting I'd love to visit. And I enjoyed the mystery. I'm looking forward to reading more from this series.

As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles by Leslie Budewitz is the fifth novel in A Food Lover’s Village Mystery series. Erin Murphy is the manager of Murphy’s Glacier Mercantile (aka The Merc) in Jewel Bay, Montana. The town is getting ready for Christmas with Decorating Day. While switching out a tub of lights, Erin witnesses (along with the rest of the town) an unpleasant scene between Taya Thornton and her daughter, Merrily. Erin is shocked at the bitterness expressed by Taya towards Merrily after eighteen years. Erin invites Merrily over to The Merc and to the cookie swap at her house on Sunday. Merrily does not show up for the cookie exchange, and she is AWOL from Building Supply where she works on Monday. Not only is Merrily missing, but cash from the business is as well. Many say that Merrily failed to change her ways. Then Merrily is found dead with a string of Christmas lights around her neck. With Greg Taylor as a prime suspect, Erin starts snooping (not that she needed a reason). Who would risk going on Santa’s naughty list by killing Merrily? Can Erin wrap up the case before her wedding?

As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles is well-written and has a steady pace. I found Ms. Budewitz’s conversational writing style to be pleasing. I was drawn into the story and my attention was held throughout. Jewel Bay is a charming, small town that goes all out for Christmas. I loved the descriptions of the shops and the decorations (I wanted to visit and do some shopping). I like how everyone pitches in to help with various activities. The characters are nicely developed and, for the most part, are friendly and relatable. Detective Bello is the grinch of the story (I could imagine him saying Bah Humbug). I enjoy Erin’s approach to sleuthing with her Spreadsheet of Suspicion. The mystery was well-crafted and multi-faceted. There are many gratifying cozy moments in As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles. Erin is preparing for her wedding, buying Christmas presents, cooking, cookie exchange, Erin and Adam with their new home, baking, Adam worrying about his brothers coming to town, and spending time with family and friends. While there is a lot going on in the story, it is not overwhelming. I agreed with Erin about the cuteness of the Property Brothers. I recommend reading the books in A Food Lover’s Village Mystery in order. I am grateful for the list of characters at the front of the book (helpful). It was a pleasure to visit Jewel Bay in As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles and I look forward to returning in the next A Food Lover’s Village Mystery.

This is one of the first of Leslie Budewitz's books I have ever read. The storyline was excellent with its pilot's twists and turns. I didn't want to put it down and cannot wait for the next book!

In this fifth book of the series, Erin Murphy is diving headlong into the Christmas season by participating in the annual Decorating Day with the downtown merchants of Jewel Bay, Montana, when Mrs. Thornton (another shop owner), begins raging against her daughter, Merrily, diverting everyone's attention away from their decorating efforts. Erin feels awful for the young woman and invites her into the shop to help with her lights and then to her cookie exchange on Sunday. Merrily left home almost twenty years ago after a scandal in which she was sent to prison, but she is finally back and hoping for a reconciliation.

Unfortunately, Merrily does not show up for the cookie exchange and Erin feels something is very wrong. When she gets a call from Greg Taylor, who hired her as a bookkeeper at his building supply store, they go out to her parents home and find her murdered in her parents' barn. Greg asks Erin to quietly look into the facts of Merrily's death but to do so would also have her investigating the original embezzlement.

Erin and her fiancé, Adam Zimmerman, are planning a Christmas Eve wedding, have been rehabbing her old family home and are busy with the Merchants Association, as well as dealing with a historic building in need of repairs. She must also continue to manage her shop while interviewing persons associated with Merrily.

There is a host of characters, townspeople, shop employees, as well as Erin's mother and fiancé who provide a developed sense of small town, winter conditions in Montana. Protagonist Erin presents a strong, independent, and level-headed nature. She tackles the murder mystery as she plans for her shop by Excel spreadsheet. There are twists and little surprises that add to the spicy fun of a well-plotted storyline. Also, as with most cozy reads, the plot begins rather slow and slow and steady sets the pace, while preserving that downtown Holiday atmosphere. Christmas in June! This entry in the series would still work well as a standalone.

Even so, it was difficult for me to remain engaged in the storyline as it progressed so slowly. Also, I felt there were a couple of contradictions and that the conclusion was a little weak. I was presented with a copy of this ebook for the book tour through the tour host, the publisher, and NetGalley and appreciated the opportunity to read and review. 3.5/5 stars

A Christmas book in June is perfect when the weather is not and your dreaming of snowy days. As with every book in this series the story and mystery are perfectly baked together with great characters and setting. I may have to re-read this book for Christmas it was that good. I highly recommend this book.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Time to celebrate Christmas and a wedding in Jewel Bay. Adam and Erin are getting married on Christmas Eve! That is after she gets Murphy’s Mercantile all ready for the holidays. The community has turned out for Decoration Day and Erin is surprised to see Merrily Thornton has returned to town. She is even more surprised about how Merrily’s family is treating her. She immediately invites Merrily to her cookie swap the following Sunday,

Merrily fails to show up at Erin’s house or at work the next day. Then her boss notices his bank deposit was short the cash Merrily was supposed to take to the bank. The woman is reported missing and sadly her boss is the one to find her dead eerily with a string of lights wrapped around her neck. Erin is rocked by her new friend’s death and decides she must find her killer. Hopefully, she doesn’t cross the killer or Adam may be left standing at the altar all by himself.

It was a lot of fun to read a story set at Christmas when the temperatures outside were climbing way past 90 degrees. Decorating Day is Jewel Bay sounds like the perfect way to get in the Christmas Spirit.

The characters in this series are some of the most realistic I have ever read. It is very easy to get invested in their lives. Even though Merrily’s family wasn’t the nicest they still come across as real. I don’t agree with the way the handled things in their family, but we have all met people we don’t agree with.

The mystery this time really keep me guessing. Truthfully at one time or another, I suspected everyone the victim had come into contact with. Red herrings, there were a bunch. Several twists too. I was right about one part of it and totally surprised about everything else. I enjoyed how Erin jumped right into her investigation even with the holidays and her wedding coming up quick. I loved her method for keeping all the facts and suspects straight.

The story has an excellent pace. Many events take place within the 288 pages, but nothing is rushed or missed. The author describes people and places so clearly that pictures formed quickly in my mind. The dialogue was wonderfully written too.

A loving family and a family pulled apart come together in this terrific cozy mystery.

The author also includes recipes in the back of the book. The one I am excited to try is the Classic Italian Lasagna. Several differences from ours but without the Murphy’s sauce, it will probably be hard to duplicate.

Synopsis:
In Jewel Bay, all is merry and bright. At Murphy’s Mercantile, AKA the Merc, manager Erin Murphy is ringing in the holiday season with food, drink, and a new friend: Merrily Thornton. A local girl gone wrong, Merrily’s turned her life around. But her parents have publicly shunned her, and they nurse a bitterness that chills Erin.
When Merrily goes missing and her boss discovers he’s been robbed, fingers point to Merrily—until she’s found dead, a string of lights around her neck. The clues and danger snowball from there. Can Erin nab the killer—and keep herself in one piece—in time for a special Christmas Eve? (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Erin is a smart, spunky and scrappy woman and she does not back down from any challenge. When the murder of her friend occurs, she knows she has to solve the murder for her friend’s sake. I really like her family relationships and the fact that they are so close. Their interactions were realistic and very enjoyable to read.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the story I felt that I was right there watching all of the action taking place. I really liked the setting of Jewel Bay, Montana, and it would be a place I would like to visit. It has a typical small town feel and everyone knows everybody else's business.

The mystery was well plotted and it was not easy to solve. There were enough suspects to consider and plenty of clues to sift through. There were plenty of twists and turns and it made the mystery that much more difficult to solve.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. This is the first book that I have read in this series, but it will not be the last.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Midnight Ink, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.