Great cast, setting and series. I love Christmas novellas and this one hit the mark. I adore this series.

Fabulous plot which I could not put down. Brilliant characters, and twists and turns. Highly recommend to other fans of this genre!!

This was previously published in the collection Eggnog Murder. I didn’t
realize that when I got it; I picked it up because I've enjoyed other books
by Barbara Ross in the Maine Clambake Mystery series. This is less than 100
pages, so it is a quick book to read if you want a short, well-written
mystery for the holiday season. It also works well as a standalone.

As with the other books in this series, the plot is good with an ending that
is neatly wrapped up in a logical manner.

I enjoyed this novella and cozy mystery set at Christmas time. One can never be too sure of the people that you work with and think that you know!

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC; all opinions are my own.

This was a cute cozy novella set at Christmas, part of the Maine Clambake Mystery series. I enjoyed visiting the familiar characters in the winter when the clambake wasn't running. The Maine setting is delightful, especially at Christmas and as usual, there were some delicious recipes at the end.

Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved reading this cozy mystery. Looking forward to reading more from this author. I didn't want to put it down once I started.

Julia Snowden travels to her New York apartment a week before Christmas to get a few things before her subletter takes over, in Barbara Ross’ short novella in the Maine Clambake Mysteries, Nogged Off. Choosing to move from her apartment in New York, Julia has sublet it to a woman named Imogene, who attended an office party and poisoned her coworkers with her famous “Killer Eggnog.” Imogene insists she can’t go back to the office, and the sublease isn’t going to work out. Imogene is now homeless. Julia invites her to enjoy the holidays at her home in Busman's Harbor, Maine, and when the truck arrives with Imogene’s belongings, it includes a surprise – the dead body of Imogene’s boyfriend.

Although Imogene is very nice, albeit a bit weird, Julia doesn’t think she is a murderer. Since Julia has in the past been an amateur sleuth, she puts her sleuthing skills to work to solve the mystery of who killed Imogene’s boyfriend. Everything, it seems, that Imogene gets around goes awry, so it is a real challenge to solve the murder. As in the previous mysteries in this fun series, the suspense builds, and Julia puts herself and others in danger.

Anyone who is familiar with Barbara Ross and her Maine Clambake Series, knows that they are well-written, and suspenseful. Ross has a knack for developing her main characters into likeable and believable people like we are familiar with in real life. Ross’ novels are well-organized and she keeps readers interest throughout the entire novel. Since it is a cozy, Ross sticks to the rules – no graphic language, violence, or sex, so these novels are not only very run and readable, but also suitable for mystery readers of all ages. One bonus is that this cozy contains recipes – good ones that readers will be tempted to prepare. This one includes two Christmas cookie recipes that will be perfect to eat while reading the novel.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

3.5 stars!

I really enjoyed this novella in this series. I think that it was a great addition and it was really light hearted. It was a great balance of funny and serious and a great holiday read (even though I'm reading it in April). I did wish that there was more to the story, but that's the curse of the novella isn't it. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the rest of this series soon!

*eARC provided in exchange for an honest review*

An easy read that didn’t take me long to get through. It starts with Julia heading back to NYC to take care of her old apartment, but pretty soon her plans go awry when she finds out the girl she sublet it to has lost her job and her boyfriend at the same time. So she has to come up with a plan fast; and when Imogen invites herself home for Christmas, she goes along with it—Julia’s not one to leave a young woman out on the street in NYC even if it inconveniences her.

This one doesn’t have much clambake vibe simply because it’s midwinter and there is no clambake. That doesn’t diminish any of the great local flavor, and landmarks and businesses we know from the rest of the series are in full swing still despite the lack of summer tourism.

I think this one’s strength is in showing how Julia’s ties to her family and community continue to strengthen and how invested she is in her hometown.

Content: a few infrequent swears and a brief description of a murder victim

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

This was a quick holiday short story type read that could easily stand on its own in the series. It was full of twists and turns along the way to a quick ending. Overall it is an enjoyable book.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

Overall I liked the writing and the plot; however, the overall book fell flat to me. I did not like Imogen and the novel felt unrealistic overall.

N9gged Off is a perfectly festive holiday cozy mystery. It works even if you haven't read the other books in the series. Its a quick read, and I also enjoyed the mystery. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it.

Nogged Off is a Christmas themed novella in the A Maine Clambake Mystery series. Julia Snowden has decided that it is time for her to go and collect her personal belongings from her New York City apartment now that she's relocated permanently back to her hometown of Busman's Harbor, Maine. Confident that the young woman that will be subletting her apartment, Imogen Mary Ann Geinkes, has a stable job and will take good care of the apartment, Julia's plan is to spend a quick afternoon gathering her things, taking them to the post office for shipping back to Maine and then hopping the train back home.

Unfortunately upon arrival to the apartment Julia discovers Imogen laying in the dark, crying. It seems as though the young woman accidentally poisoned her entire office staff with her tainted homemade eggnog. Unable to face her fellow workers again she's quit her job and now not only can she not afford the rent but is afraid to go back to her parents in Atlanta and admit her failure to make it alone in the city. Taking pity on the girl, Julia invites her back home to Maine for the holidays.

In their first day back in Maine, the UHaul truck filled with Julia's belongings is stolen from her mother's driveway, Imogen manages to wreak havoc at not one but two of the town's Christmas festivities and she really gets under the skin of Livvie, Julia's usually calm and laid back sister. Julia quickly begins to wonder if Imogen's name is actually an acronym for "I'm a Jinx".

A perfect read for an afternoon curled up under the blankets in front of the Christmas tree. A mystery involving identity theft and identical twins. Readers will delight at spending the holidays with Julia, her family and boyfriend Chris. This novella was originally included in the holiday compilation "Egg Nogged".

I received an advanced copy of Nogged Off from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

Julia is off to New York to move the rest of her belongings home to Maine. She arrives to find her subletter, Imogene, is out of work and full of tears. After a busy day of cleaning and loading furniture and books, Imogene decides to spend the holidays in Busman’s Harbor.

Everything goes well until the next morning. The truck is missing and things seem a little off in Julia’s mom’s home. When the missing truck and goods are found, so is Imogene’s ex-boyfriend. However, he’s dead.

I really enjoyed this story and look forward to more in the series.

Nogged Off by Barbara Ross is about Julia Snowden who just accidentally poisoned half her colleagues with her Killer Eggnog. In addition, Julia’s subletter, Imogen Geinkes, is jobless and homeless so Julia invites the woman home for the holidays in Maine. But when they unload the rental truck, they find the body of Imogen’s former boyfriend. As Julia works to help solve the case, the appearance of the deceased’s twin brother doesn’t help. Julia has to solve the murder quickly and find out whether her eggnog accident wasn’t actually an accident at all. This book was fast-moving, well written and an enjoyable cozy mystery. I enjoy the series about Julia Snowden and her family clambake business. Lovely Christmas Cozy.

"Nogged Off" is the 4.5 instalment in the "Maine Clambake" Mystery series by Barbara Ross. This was previously published in the collection "Egg Nog Murder" a collection of novellas.

Twas the week before Christmas, and Julia Snowden’s escape from New York has just hit a snag. Fresh off accidentally poisoning half her colleagues with her “Killer Eggnog,” Julia’s would-be subletter, Imogen Geinkes, is now jobless and homeless—leading Julia to invite the young woman home for the holidays in Maine. But when they unload the rental truck in Busman’s Harbor, they find something that wasn’t on anyone’s packing list: the body of Imogen’s former boyfriend.

Suddenly, the wordplay in Imogen’s name—“I’m a jinx”—isn’t so adorable. But for all the calamities that follow in Imogen’s wake, Julia’s certain she’s no killer. As Julia digs into the case, the appearance of the ex’s brother—his identical twin—doubles the confusion. Has Imogene been double-crossed by an evil twin? Was the eggnog “accident” no accident at all? If Julia doesn’t unwrap the murderer’s true identity soon, one of the twelve days of Christmas could be her last . . .

I really enjoyed this story, and it has made me want to catch up on the series. I have several books in my TBR pile. The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed.

I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoy this series and this book was pretty good. I loved Imogen and all the shenanigans she got into. It took a long time for the murder victim to be found, which felt drawn out. The book focused on the havoc that Imogen caused with Julia's sister and town events. There wasn't much involved in solving the murder and I was shocked at how easily and uncomplicated it was for Julia to solve the mystery This was a very quick read and if your a fan of the series you will love all that happens with the characters. If you haven't read the series you will like the simple quick story with a little bit of murder

This book is exactly what I look for in a cozy mystery! Peppered with clues and hints, and not predictable! This made a perfect palate cleanser from all the saccharine sweet Christmas books I’ve been reading. I will revisit the Maine Clambake Series for sure!

Nogged Off
(Maine Clambake Mystery #4.5)
by Barbara Ross

Kindle Edition, 304 pages
Published November 1st 2019 by Kensington Books (first published November 30th 2016)



Goodreads synopsis:
‘Twas the week before Christmas, and Julia Snowden’s escape from New York has just hit a snag. Fresh off accidentally poisoning half her colleagues with her “Killer Eggnog,” Julia’s would-be subletter, Imogen Geinkes, is now jobless and homeless—leading Julia to invite the young woman home for the holidays in Maine. But when they unload the rental truck in Busman’s Harbor, they find something that wasn’t on anyone’s packing list: the body of Imogen’s former boyfriend.

Suddenly, the wordplay in Imogen’s name—“I’m a jinx”—isn’t so adorable. But for all the calamities that follow in Imogen’s wake, Julia’s certain she’s no killer. As Julia digs into the case, the appearance of the ex’s brother—his identical twin—doubles the confusion. Has Imogene been double-crossed by an evil twin? Was the eggnog “accident” no accident at all? If Julia doesn’t unwrap the murderer’s true identity soon, one of the twelve days of Christmas could be her last . . .

Previously published in the collection Egg Nog Murder.

***

4.25 Stars

This is the 4.5 book in the Maine Clambake Mystery series by Barbara Ross. This was previous published in a holiday anthology back in 2016 titled: Egg Nog Murder.

Julia had been living in New York and her subetter Imogen Geinkes has a few problems in her life. She lost both her job and her boyfriend in one fell swoop. For her Christmas is sucking the life out of her. Julia, being a good friend, invites her back to Maine to stay with her for awhile. Little does she know that Imogen’s name spells out “I’m A Jinx!” Once back home a lot of chaos ensues, and we begin to wonder if Imogene is just unlucky or doing this to get attention. Then the body of Imogene’s boyfriend shows up dead. Did I mention that his brother is his identical twin? To say something is fishy in Maine is an understatement.

I thought this was a well thought out and plotted mystery. I enjoyed watching Julia react to Imogene and wondered what was really going on behind it all. I had to clue and was gobsmacked when the real killer was revealed. Face slap! I did not see that one coming!

I am definitely going to make the Clambake mystery series a priority in 2020 since I have so many of the books in paperback on my shelves.

If you love a good cozy mystery, definitely check out this one. You won’t be disappointed.

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.