A good Christmas cozy mystery anthology for cozy mystery lovers.

Christmas Cocoa Murder by Carlene O'Connor
This was my first introduction to this author and her Irish Village Mystery series. It was a good read but not sure if I will start the series.

Christmas Cocoa and a Corpse by Maddie Day
I love the Country Store Mystery series and this short story edition was perfect. I loved it so much that I hated to see it end.

Death by Hot Cocoa by Alex Erickson
I have only read the first one in this series but am seriously considering picking the series back up after this entertaining short story.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

A compilation of three short stories, all themed with Christmas, cocoa, murder and mayhem. While many reviewers enjoyed this book, I was disappointed. I prefer murder mysteries with a little more depth. Good for a fun quick read but not for me. 2/5 stars.

This is an anthology of three novellas, all revolving around hot cocoa. The only author I haven't read is Carlene O'Connor. I really liked her character Siobhan. Siobhan is set to join the police force officially after the New Year, but she finds herself investigating the murder in which the body is found in a drunk tank full of hot cocoa. I've read one novel each of the other two authors and just as I enjoyed those books, I really liked these novellas as well. I really like Robbie (the heroine in Maddie Day's story). She packaged up a hot cocoa inspired by a Mexican recipe to sell in her country store/diner. She has to quit selling it because it figures into a murder investigation. I love Birdy (her cat) and the addition of Cocoa, the black lab, was great. I love Krissy and her friend Rita in Alex Erickson's novella. They have decided to do a Christmas themed escape room. I have read too many books where a murder takes place in an escape room, so I will never do one of those! I also liked that none of the authors made the murderers easy to figure out. Overall, I really enjoyed all three stories and I will definitely be reading more by each author. I highly recommend if you are looking for some short reads during the holiday season. Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington for the copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I have to admit that I was interested in this book solely due to the fact I am a fan of one of the authors. But overall I highly enjoyed all the mini stories and may just have found some new authors to add to my collection. I do not want to give away too much and spoil it for other readers. However, I feel safe in stating that this is a light enjoyable grouping of cozy reads that will not disappoint.

This is a nice collection of Christmas short stories. Although my favorite was Death by Hot Cocoa by Alex Erickson, I enjoyed the other stories as well. These are nice short reads that are perfect for reading by the fireplace.

I really enjoyed these three quick holiday reads. Visiting South Lick this time of year was a lot of fun. I really enjoy Robbie and her friends. Plus, there's a cute puppy involved! I also really liked getting a peek into Siobhan's life before official becoming a garda. The goings on in Kilbane for the holidays are great to experience. Perfect way to introduce someone to one or more of your favorites!

Such a warm all the feels hoilday mystery collection! I love these short story collections they do every holiday season they are just the perfect size to enjoy without it getting draggy or boring I loved each story and each author's unique take and characters these were each charming and full of cozy feels plus laugh out loud funny! You can't go wrong!

CHRISTMAS COCOA MURDER, a trilogy of novellas by three authors is a light, easy read to get you in the mood for the holiday season! Each of the novellas is a stand-alone story and can be read in one sitting. During the hectic craziness of Christmas, I enjoy this kind of read. It’s easy to pick up when I have a free moment and easy to put down when chores and responsibilities call. Of the three, the first by Carlene O’Connor was my favorite. Maybe it was because the author allows the reader to experience how an Irish village celebrates the holidays. She also wrote one of the most creative ways for the victim to die. It was clever and definitely fits the theme of the title. The remaining two novellas were entertaining and captures the spirit of the holiday season as well. While I’m familiar with the characters of author Carlene O’Connor and Maddie Day’s series, Alex Erikson is a new to me author. Still, it wasn’t difficult to feel like I knew who the characters were or keep track of what was happening. If you’re looking for a Christmas-themed cozy, pour yourself a mug of hot cocoa and curl up with this book.

Princess Fuzzypants here: I do enjoy anthologies as they give the reader a smorgasbord of short stories to enjoy from different authors. This book has a different twist with all of the stories involving Christmas cocoa. There are always going to be certain authors the reader enjoys more than others and this is the case with this threesome. I confess it took me considerable time before I really got engaged in the first of the three. But once I got hooked, I enjoyed it thoroughly.
It took less time for me to get into the other two, probably because I have followed the series from which the characters come whereas the first one was new to me; I have enjoyed the adventures of both heroines of the country kitchen and the book store cum coffee shop. Of the three, Robbie Jordan’s story was my favourite but I can recommend the entire book.
Four purrs and two paws up.

Christmas Cocoa Murder is a delightful book made up of three Christmas stories. The first book is Christmas Cocoa Murder by Carlene O'Connor, than Maddie Day's Christmas Cocoa and a Corpse, and the last book is Death by Hot Cocoa by Alex Erickson. I enjoy all three of these authors, so I found this a special treat to read. Highly recommend to get you into the Christmas spirit, and to experience authors you may have not read before.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.

Christmas Cocoa Murder
By Carlene O’Connor, Maddie Day, Alex Erickson
Kensington
October 2019

Review by Cynthia chow

Prepare for the holiday season with this trio of Christmas-themed mysteries featuring cups of hot chocolate that are as deadly as they are luscious. In Carlene O’Connor’s titular Christmas tale set in Ireland, recent Templemore Garda College graduate Siobhan O’Sullivan is set to soon become a garda in her hometown of Kilbane, County Cork. Even though she is still working at her family-owned Naomi’s Bistro and preparing for the big Christmas extravaganza, Siobhan can’t resist the heart-breaking tale of a missing stolen dog. Promising to find the dog as her first case, Siobhan is quickly derailed by a crime that is definitely not keeping with the spirit of the season. A hot cocoa dunk tank was an absurd fundraising stunt even before it ended with death, and now that the town “Santy” is floating in the chocolaty concoction Garda O’Reilly very reluctantly enlists Siobhan in his investigation to track down Santa’s killer. Siobhan finds that knowing everyone and everyone else’s business can be annoying, but it definitely helps when trying to find out who tried to kill their town’s Christmas Spirit.

In Maddie Day’s Christmas Cocoa and a Corpse, Robbie Jordan is eager to herald in the season with a festively decorated Pans ‘N Pancakes country store and diner. Unfortunately, an awkward dinner with an unpopular real estate owner and his wife leads to Robbie’s store being suspected of poisoning Jed Greenberg, with the result that all of her carefully prepared gift packets of Mexican Hot Chocolate are confiscated. Determined to clear her beloved store of any culpability, Robbie begins investigating a plant toxicologist, protective animal rescuer, and even the town mayor. As fun as the completely unpredictable mystery is the use of Southern Indiana’s diner food jargon. Adam and Eve on a raft (poached eggs on toast) and cowboy with whiskey down (western omelet with rye toast) may make some logical sense, but good luck with Noah’s boy run through a Wisconsin garden (ham and cheese sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and onion. At least heart attack on a rack (buttered biscuit with sausage gravy) is appropriate for this deliciously fun romp of a mystery.

Wrapping up the collection is Alex Erickson’s Death by Hot Chocolate, where a Christmas escape room becomes a literal locked-room mystery. Nudged along into participating in the trendy puzzle pastime by her friend Rita Jablonski, bookstore owner Krissy Hancock finds herself trapped with six suspicious strangers when their escape room host is poisoned by hot chocolate before they can complete their mission. Following the escape room clues will lead them not just to freedom, it will allow Krissy to put together the missing pieces to solve an elaborate murder.

All of these authors place their distinct and creative twist on the delicious chocolaty drink, making hot cocoa either the means or a McGuffin for murder. Get cozy under warm blankets and a comfy chair and enjoy this blend of seasonal tales perfect for any time of the year.

Christmas Cocoa Murder
(Irish Village Mystery #4.5)
by Carlene O'Connor, 
Maddie Day, 
Alex Erickson 

Hardcover, 352 pages
Published September 24th 2019 by Kensington Publishing Corporation





Goodreads synopsis:
'Tis the season for hot chocolate and mouthwatering treats. But sometimes too much of a good thing can be downright deadly . . .

CHRISTMAS COCOA MURDER by CARLENE O'CONNOR
Siobhén O'Sullivan's hopes for a quiet Irish Christmas are dashed when the local Santa turns up dead in a carnival dunk tank of hot cocoa. Now instead of hunting down holiday gifts, she's pursuing a heartless killer. Seems the dead Santa was no angel either, stealing neighborhood dogs to guide his sleigh. But was it his holiday antics--or worse--that led to his death by chocolate?

CHRISTMAS COCOA AND A CORPSE by MADDIE DAY
When local businessman Jed Greenberg is found dead with a Chocolate lab whimpering over his body, the police start sniffing around Robbie Jordan's country restaurant for answers. Was it something in Robbie's hot cocoa that killed Jed, or was it Cocoa the dog? As the suspects pile as high as her holiday tree, Robbie attempts to get to the bottom of the sickly-sweet murder . . .

DEATH BY HOT COCOA by Alex Erickson
A Christmas-themed escape game seems like the perfect pre-holiday treat for bookstore café owner Krissy Hancock and her best friend. But when the host is found dead in a pool of hot cocoa, it's up to Krissy and her team to catch the killer--or escape before getting killed.

There's nothing like a hot cup of murder to warm up the holiday season! 


***

4.5 Stars

I was very excited to dig into these stories. The one by Alex Erickson, Death by Hot Cocoa, is the one that really drew me in. I love his Death by Coffee series! I am such a fan girl. The whole Escape Room drama was so on point! That is the perfect setting for a murder. I think there needs to be a Clue® themed Escape Room where you have to not only get out but solve the mystery as well. I am so in!

I am so amazed that Krissy and Rita remain friends. I guess they are really more like frenemies. Not really friends, but not really enemies either. Rita drags Krissy to this escape room and like always, a murder occurs and she has to be the level headed one and solve it. Loved this story so much! 5 Stars from me for this one!

The Christmas Cocoa Murder, for which this book was titled, was a fun one as well. I wasn’t familiar with these characters so was unsure who the criminal element was as opposed to the normal recurring characters. The concept of the dunk tank filled with hot cocoa was hilarious. Can you imagine falling into a steaming hot beverage? Wouldn’t you get scalded? This was my second favorite story in the bunch. I was intrigued by Siobhen and the supposedly poisoned hot cocoa made by Declan. This book makes me want to check out this series for sure.

The last story named Christmas Cocoa and a Corpse was a bit gory for my taste. Nothing too awful but gory is not my most favorite thing in the world. I don’t even do tame horror. For a short story this is the winner for the most characters running around during the action. The family dynamic was the best part of this. Robbie and her hot cocoa packets played a prominent role in this one. They were almost like a secondary character.

All over this was a pretty delightful book of short story. I love a good coffee or hot cocoa themed book any day! If you love cozy mysteries and want to check out a particular author’s work, this is a great way to see what they are all about. Such a fun ride!

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

This book is made up of three novellas, all from series that I read and enjoy. Each of the stories uses Cocoa as a theme in their story. Christmas Cocoa Mystery stars Siobhán O'Sullivan, the oldest sibling in a family left orphaned in the first book in the series. While she raises her siblings, runs the family bakery/cafe she also went to school to become a garda. In this story she has not yet started her new job, but is allowed to help when asked. Of course, she can't stop there and does some additional investigating on her own. The mystery was well written and developed, even in novella form. The second story, Christmas Cocoa and a Corpse by Maddie Day, was all I have come to expect from this author and series. Again, this was a novella, but was a well written and plotted mystery that I really enjoyed. Robbie's boyfriend's family was very involved in this story and it was great getting to know them, especially his mother, Freddy who helped solve the mystery. This story used a friendly lab puppy named cocoa to tie in the theme. Finally, Death by Hot Cocoa written by Alex Erickson finished off this book. This story did not take place in the coffee shop like others in the series. It was a locked room mystery. When Krissy participates in an Escape Room activity, the last thing any of them expected was the proprietor of the Escape Room company dying before they are released. Was it an accident or is one of the participants the killer. Krissy uses her intelligence, and logic skills to solve the mystery and identify the murderer. I enjoyed all three of these short stories and definitely recommend this one to those looking for some fun, Christmas mysteries.

Tis the season for hot chocolate and mouthwatering treats. But sometimes too much of a good thing can be downright deadly . . .

I loved each of these short stories who doesn’t love hot cocoa and murder!. I have read books by these authors before so I knew I was in for an enjoyable few hours. I recommend these stories to anyone looking for an enjoyable Christmas themed cozy! There great for reading on the bus or while waiting at appointments (if like me sometimes I wait an hour at doctors) I read each in just over an hour.

I have left out the description of each story as it is all there in the book description.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

'Tis the season for hot chocolate and mouthwatering treats. But sometimes too much of a good thing can be downright deadly . . .

Christmas cozy mysteries... Yes please!

Christmas Cocoa Murder combines 3 Christmas themed short stories from 3 different authors - CHRISTMAS COCOA MURDER by CARLENE O'CONNOR, CHRISTMAS COCOA AND A CORPSE by MADDIE DAY, and DEATH BY HOT COCOA by Alex Erickson.

Each story is well-written, highly entertaining, and has a theme of cocoa in each story with a wonderful cocoa recipe at the end. Highly recommend!

"There's nothing like a hot cup of murder to warm up the holiday season!"

I loved this Cozy Christmas anthology. They were all different but had hot chocolate/hot cocoa in common.

Christmas Cocoa Murder
When someone kills the town Santy, Garda-to-be Siobhàn, is determined to find the killer before Christmas is ruined for the town.

Christmas Cocoa and a Corpse
When her special brand of spicy hot chocolate is suspected of poisoning a local resident, store owner Robbie sets out to find the real culprit.

Death by Hot Chocolate
In a locked-room mystery, it's death by hot chocolate for the unsuspecting game controller. Can Krissy and the other players find the killer before someone else dies....or the killer gets away?

I loved each of these stories in their own way. I haven't read books by any of these authors before now but I've already added several if their books to my wish list.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias.

CHRISTMAS COCOA MURDER – This story is set in Ireland where apparently each town has their own Santa. The Santa in this town seems to have a lot of problems ending in his murder. Siobhan who is soon to be a garda is able to solve this mystery. I was not familiar with this series and felt I was missing some of the story.

CHRISTMAS COCOA AND A CORPSE - Robbie is the owner of a small restaurant in northern Indiana. The restaurant is busy plus the stocking stuffer items including cocoa are selling like hotcakes. The night after dinner with friends, Jed Greenberg is found dead. The cause of death is unknown but the police suspect possible tampering with Robbie’s cocoa. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

DEATH BY HOT COCOA – This story is set in an escape room. I found it particularly interesting as I don’t know a lot about escape rooms. Great story.

perfect for reading over the fall season, to get you reading for the Yuletime holiday season, this fun trio of zoy mysteries is just that: a little bit of something for everyone who loves cozy mysteries! LOVE heading over to Ireland to join the Irish Village Mystery series regulars, and take away a yummy Irish cocoa recipe!Like animals in your cozy mystery? Gotcha covered with story #2! Add in some more recipes, and you're ready to take on #3 and its closed room /Escape Room mystery! Each story is about 120 pages, so its easy to just read one over a weekend, and that alos makes it a fun hostess present with some pf the ingredients/cups for cocoa, in a basket! Don't miss this fun compilation if you love holiay mysteries!

Christmas Cocoa Murder is a collection of three novellas. Warning, you may start craving a cup of your favorite hot cocoa!
Christmas Cocoa Murder by Carlene O'Connor is set in Ireland. Being the first time I have read anything of hers I did have to get used to the Irish language but it did not take me long. Siobhan O'Sullivan and her siblings are getting ready for Christmas and attending the annual Christmas carnival. Things take a turn when Santa is shows up floating in a dunk tank filled with hot cocoa. Will it be a Merry Christmas or will a murderer put a damper on the season. O'Connor gives you plenty of twists and turns to the end.
Christmas Cocoa and a Corpse by Maddie Day takes us take to French Lick, Indiana and Robbie's Pans and Pancakes Country Store and Restaurant. Robbie has a special mix of hot cocoa she is selling in the store and her boyfriend Abe's father has purchased packs and served at a dinner party. The next morning one of the guests is found dead by library. Was it the cocoa or something else that dropped Mr. Greenburg. As usual, Day keeps you guessing until the end.
Death by Hot Cocoa by Alex Erickson takes us back to Pine Hills where Krissy has been talked into going to a Christmas themed escape room by her friend, Rita. The guests are locked into separate rooms and once released in a second room to escape, they are met by the body of their host. The guests start pointing fingers at each other and Krissy knows it's up to her to figure out who is responsible so everyone except for the host, can have a Merry Christmas.
All of the stories are clean and easy reads that will get you in the holiday spirit.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and Kensington for an honest review.

What a diverse collection of stories. I enjoyed each. They are well-written, good characters and have great plots. These are holiday themed and got me into the Christmas spirit.

I liked the plot, setting and characters of the first book. I was not familiar with this author's work.

I really enjoyed Maddie Day’s book, it is a novella to enhance the Country Store Mystery series. I enjoyed learning more about Abe’s family.

The other two books were great but I could have used a little more to the last story. I just found it really short. The premise of a Christmas themed escape room was original.

An added bonus, recipes included.