I enjoy this series with each new addition. This is book 5 in the Victoria Square series that is set in a crafter's market, now busy with the Christmas buying season. When the tea shop across the street goes up for sale, Katie is seriously considering buying it. Fran, the owner of the tea shop is selling because her daughter has been murdered. With Katie in danger for investigating the case and her dead husband's mother visiting she is busy as can be. A good mystery to solve and a wonderful re-visit to friends you've met in previous books. Can be read as a stand alone. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Enjoyable holiday week read. The clues kept me guessing until the end. I wondered about the cat chapters as I wasn't too sure which person it was written in. Small hic-up for a fun read.

What a fun, lighthearted, cozy mystery. It contains all the best ingredients: A small town, snow, plenty of artisans and a good bit of interpersonal conflict, set right before Christmas, a suspected death, and a cast of fun characters. I felt like a fly on the wall!

Lorraine Bartlett drops the reader into Christmas at Victoria Square with Yule be Dead. Katie Bonner manages the Antique Alley and is looking at managing a tea shop whose owner is found dead in a car. Vonne the victim was murdered and pregnant with a trail of lovers left behind. Whodunit? Katie looks for the perpetrator who may be the one stocking her. And the mother of her deceased husband has come to visit. Read on and sort out the killer from the red herrings.

Katie has a lot going on – Christmas is right around the corner, so business is booming at Artisan's Alley. Her former mother-in-law is due for a visit, which is strange, as the two women never got along when Chad, Katie's husband, was alive. And what looks like an accidental death turns out to be anything but, and Katie is compelled to figure out what really happened.

This is book #5 in the Victoria Square series, and I enjoyed it as much as I have the previous books. Unlike most cozy series, these books only come out every other year, which is disappointing, as fans of the series would like to continue the adventure more often. I would love to spend some time exploring Artisan's Alley and the rest of Victoria Square, and the characters seem like real people that you'd like to get to know. In this book, the mystery seemed to take a back seat to everything else going on in Katie's life. I guessed the identity of the villain almost from the moment the character was introduced, but couldn't figure out the details of the motive until it was revealed in the book. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

With Christmas just around the corner, Artisan's Alley and the rest of Victoria Square are getting ready for their busy season. Everywhere Katie looks things seems to be in chaos, the vendors at the Alley keep having conflicts, Katie's former mother-in-law is coming to town, and Katie and Andy are having a hard time finding time to spend together. All these issues make a great storyline as well as the mysterious death one of Victoria Square own-Vonne. Vonne's death seems to bring to light some secrets that someone might want kept secret. As the secrets are revealed my thoughts of Vonne's death changed. This book definitely kept me guessing. In addition to this being a book for enjoyment author Lorraine Bartlett brings to light some real-life issues such as eating disorders (there are others discussed but I don't want to give too much away).

I recommend this book as either a stand-alone read or another great book in the series. I received an ARC of this book in hopes I would supply a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced.

Yule Be Dead: A Victoria Square Mystery
By Lorraine Bartlett with Gayle Leeson
Berkley
December 2018

Review by Cynthia Chow

The holiday season may be the time of the year one expects to spend surrounded by family, but Katie Bonner didn’t anticipate that she would be sharing her tiny apartment with her former mother-in-law Margo. It’s been almost two years since the death of Katie’s husband, but even when he was alive Margo was never very welcoming to her daughter-in-law. Katie doesn’t have much time to spend worrying about Margo’s arrival though, as running Victoria Square’s Artisans Alley has her managing the many vendors now donning 19th Century costumes for the Dickens Festival. Events are off to a rocky start with the death of Vonne Barnett, who with her mother Francine co-owned Afternoon Tea. The teashop had already been failing by a distracted and disinterested Vonne, and now a completely overwhelmed Francine aggressively attempts to sell her café to Katie.

Ray Davenport may have recently retired in order to pursue his dream of running a wood product gift shop, but that doesn’t mean that the former homicide detective is without his sources. When he tells Katie that Vonne’s accidental death may have been staged, she begins to question those who may be the ultimate Christmas Grinch. As Katie consults Ray on murder suspects as well as how to deal with an overly critical Margo, he in turn seeks her advice on raising two daughters, one of whom is showing the signs of an eating disorder. This has the unfortunate effect of jeopardizing Katie’s relationship with Andy Rust, who is seeing green and being snarkily jealous. It’s almost a relief for Katie that she is distracted by mischievous ballerinas, Christmas caroling, a matchmaking mother-in-law, and a hit-and-run attempt on her life.

The authors have crafted a fun-filled holiday mystery that delivers on thrills, heart-warming moments, and thoughtful depictions of the modern family. Both Ray and Katie have faced challenges following the death of their spouses, and both are moving on in difference ways. Katie’s charged relationship with her mother-in-law is realistic, and while neither women is a villain their truthful confrontation is so rewarding. Even more refreshing is Katie’s realization that her amateur detecting may have jeopardized the official investigation with legal complications. This entertaining series has always delighted with is many crafters and artists, and here leaves readers anticipating the future for these extremely likable characters. Katie’s romantic life may soon be veering off into unexpected territory, and her next appearance can’t come soon enough.

Hmm not sure if I am really liking this herione. I think she should be a little strongerand not dilly dally around so much. Will still continue to read series and see where it goes.

It is always refreshing to read Ms. Bartlett's books because they have decent, down to earth characters in real life situations, along with a few scary times, and of course, a murder. This series, along with her other series, are always at the top of my "to be read" pile. I highly recommend reading anything written by Lorraine Bartlett / L. L. Bartlett / Lorna Barrett (all the same author).

In this next book of the series it's Christmas time and there are many goings on at Victoria Square. While visiting the tea shop across from Artisan's Alley Katie learns that one of the owners, Vonne Barnett, has been found dead. It looks like it might have been due to her drinking but as the police investigate more it turns out to be murder. Katie wants to help in anyway she can when it comes to solving the crime but with an upcoming visit from her previous mother-in-law she isn't sure how much investigating she can actually do. She is worried about the visit because the two have never really cared for each other and she isn't even sure why she agreed in the first place. Vonne left a trail of men in her wake, some of them even married. Could one of them have had it in for her? Could a disgruntled wife be mad enough to kill her? With all that Katie has going on she realizes just how daunting looking for a murderer is going to be, there are tons of places to look for clues not to mention suspects. Things seem to be going okay with her mother-in-law but other issues are popping up left and right as each day passes. Follow along as Katie deals with some rude mini-ballerina's, a kleptomaniac, and a young girl with an eating disorder. Will she be able to resolve all these issues while looking for a killer? She also has the opportunity to buy the tea shop, the other owner is looking to sell because things haven't been going well for the business and she is ready for a change. Will Katie jump at the chance to make part of a life long dream come true? This is such a wonderful series filled with a ton of unique characters that will have you excited for the next book. I look forward to seeing what direction the author takes the main character Katie to next!

I really enjoy this series! This one kind of dragged on a little bit and it could have had some more action. I didn't see the killer coming at all! Looking forward to the next one.

This was an great series and the newest book continues with the interesting mystery, characters and small town. I enjoy the relationships that have developed between the regular characters (Katie, Andy, Rose, Ray and his 3 daughters). Katie has a lot going on being the manager of Artisan's Alley, However, she has always wanted to run a B&B. An opportunity comes her way that would allow her to have part of that dream, but will it put too much on her plate? While she is making that decision, her former mother-in-law comes for a visit, Katie has her romance going with her landlord and she needs to solve the mystery of who killed Vonnie.

I thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the eARC I received for my honest review. This is a very good series, well written and enjoyable characters. I can't wait to see what Katie gets up to next.

Katie Bonner receives a phone call from her former mother in law Margo Bonner. Margo would be passing through and would like to spend time with Katie. Really?! Now?? Why, as they were never close when Katie was married to her son Chad.
Artisans Alley was getting ready for the Holidays.
When Francine's daughter Vonne is killed in an accident, Katie thinks there is more to be checked out.
Katie is also thinking of buying Afternoon Tea, as Francine is seriously considering selling it as business has not been good.
So much going on, a murder with twists and turns, suspects, relationships, teenage issues and possibly a new business.
I love these characters, watching them develop, going back to be with old friends and new friends to get to know.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

Katie Bonner is helping to get Artisans Alley ready for the Christmas holidays, when she receives a call from her former mother-in-law, Margo Bonner. Margo will be in the area and wants to spend some time with Katie...incredible considering that she never really wanted to spend time with Katie when her husband, Chad, was alive. But while she is attempting to process this, she first learns that Francine Barnett, owner of the Afternoon Tea, is considering selling the business because things aren't going well, and then second, the shocking revelation that Francine's daughter, Vonne, has been killed in an accident. Between Margot's visit, dreams about owning and running the Afternoon Tea, and her own suspicions about the cause of Vonne's death, Katie has her hands full. But her questions quickly lead her to be physically attacked, and thereafter she acquires her own personal bodyguards in the persons of Ray Davenport and her boyfriend, Andy. This is an enjoyable series, filled with interesting characters. There are several subplots here besides the murder mystery, including projected ownership of a new business, and helping out with Ray's daughters. I enjoyed how Katie and Margot work on mending their relationship, as well as how Katie and Andy look to further their own. It was also fun to watch a better friendship emerge between Katie and Ray. The murder itself provided several suspects and twists and turns. This is a series better read in order, to appreciate the characters' developments. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book received from NetGalley.