This is probably my favorite in the Food Lovers' Village mysteries, and that's saying something! In As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles, main character Erin is a busy bee. She's running her family's Montana specialty food shop, the Merc, preparing for Christmas, getting settled into her new home, and planning her upcoming wedding. And because of her past experience with helping solve murders, she can't help investigating the latest Jewel Bay mystery. There's a lot going on in this book, though instead of being overwhelming, it keeps the story moving at a good pace. I had a hard time putting this book down - in fact, I was up later than I should have been to finish it. The mystery to be solved is a multi-faceted, and I figured out part of it on my own, but didn't figure it all out before it was revealed. The recipes included at the end look great, especially the Shrimp Florentine!

I was thrilled to receive an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Erin and Adam are getting married at Christmastime in Jewel Bay, Montana, but all is not calm and bright as Erin's new friend, Merrily, is found murdered the day after the Christmas cookie exchange. Merrily's previous criminal record comes back to haunt her - even after her death, she's accused of embezzlement for the second time in her life - and Erin sets out to find the killer, but she's not sure that Merrily was guilty of pilfering the missing funds. Using her Spreadsheet of Suspicion (love this!!!), Erin seeks justice for her lost friend, and investigates both the murder and embezzlement. Leslie Budewitz' As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles is the fifth book in the Food Lover's Village Series, and it's simply one of the most enjoyable cozies I've had the pleasure of reading - small close-knit community, a loving family, delicious recipes, a little romance, and of course, murder - it has it all! Absolutely loved it!

I really love this series and I appreciate the depth and complexity of these books. They’re so much more satisfying than your average cozy.