This was an absolute delight to read. I rarely like all the books that are part of these type of collections, but all three were first rate!
You can never go wrong with Carlene O'Connor or Maddie Day, and I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed the Alex Erikson story, as I do not normally enjoy his protagonist.
Three great cozy whodunits!
I highly recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
From the publisher:
CHRISTMAS COCOA MURDER by CARLENE O’CONNOR
Siobhán 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.

Christmas Cocoa murder
Three Christmas cozy in one by Carlene O’Connor, Maddie Day and Alex Erickson.
Two new authors for me to catchup with .
What a fun read ! Enjoyed each one.
Good plot with plenty of twists.
Highly recommend this book.

With a trio of Christmas themed stories in this book, I especially enjoyed the addition to the Country Store series and finding some new authors to read.

Siobhán O’Sullivan is a graduate from Templemore Garda College and is due to start her job as a Garda in the new year. She owns a bistro called Naomi’s Bistro in the rural town of Kilbane, Ireland which she runs with her five siblings. She’s looking forward to the Christmas panto show in the town square.

On her way to the carnival, she runs into the town butcher Ed Healy’s son, Adam Healy and his uncle Dave Healy. They are looking for Adam’s dog which strikes Siobhán as odd because her own dog, Trigger is also missing. She promises Adam that she’s going to help look for his puppy 🐶 Goldie—and Trigger as well—right after the panto.

She then notices several posters on the street lamp with pictures of missing dogs and wonders if there’s a dognapper on the loose.

For the night’s event, the town’s Santa, Paddy O’Shea🎅🏼 is organizing a Hot Cocoa Dunk Tank; you throw balls at a target to knock the person in the tank. The proceeds then go to charities. Santa will be assisted by Cormac Dooley who plays an elf.
Santa plans to upstage Charlesville’s town Santa who brought a live reindeer from Wales.

But the Christmas fairytale-themed show is suddenly interrupted when the timer on the dunk tank accidentally goes off causing the tank to roll out of the tent. Santa then asks the crowd to dunk him and the elf volunteers. But the stunt goes awry causing Santa to berate the elf.

During an intermission, the town Santa is found dead floating in the tank filled with cocoa. He’s been struck on the head with a nutcracker. Who killed him? And where are the missing dogs?

The book concludes with an Irish Hot Cocoa recipe from one of the characters named Declan O’Rurke who owns a pub and is famous in town for his “mam’s hot cocoa.

This book kept me intrigued. I loved the way Siobhán tried solving the murder. The characters in the small town were quirky and well developed. The dialogue was well done. The other two cocoa-themed stories in this book are just as interesting. Highly recommend

Thank you to the authors, NetGalley, and Kensington for an ARC of this book.

Christmas Cocoa Murder is a trilogy of novellas with the holiday theme of hot cocoa tying them all together. I always, always love these holiday books. I have never been disappointed, and that lucky streak continues with this book.
The first, Christmas Cocoa Murder by Carlene O’Connor, is excellent. I have been a fan of Ms. O’Connors for a while now and have enjoyed and read her series set in a small rural villiage in Ireland focussing on the funny, strong, intelligent, and fiesty female sleuth Siobhan. This did not disappoint. It was a great addition to her series and I LOVED the ending....I cannot wait until the next installment!

Next, was Christmas Cocoa and a Corpse by Maddie Day. I have not had the privilege of reading any of her novels as of yet, but yoi can bet I will now. I loved the theme and the concept of the Country Store Mysteries series and enjoyed the main female character Robbie. I enjoyed the full cast of characters and want to read all of the books leading up to this moment. I was easily able to follow along despite this being my first experience with this character. I enjoyed the murder/mystery and the ending.

Lastly, Death by Hot Cocoa Alex Erickson. This was also my first read into this series, Bookstore Cafe Mystery series. I enjoyed Krissy and am interested in reading the remainder of the series. This was easily a stand alone segment, as it was an isolated murder-mystery in classic Agatha Christie style done in with a modern twist by taking place in an escape room. I enjoyed the main character and the conclusion of the mystery. The last chapter did introduce more of the supporting cast of characters which left me wanting to know more, but I was easily able to read between the lines. Good book.

Easily 5/5 stars. Great read.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

This is posted to my GR account immediately and will be posted to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

Thank you again!

There were 3 stories in this book. I was a little confused with the main characters name. Siohiban then they said garda. Was a good read though. I enjoyed all 3 series