Dollycas's Thoughts 

We arrive in Rudolph, New York, just in time for Christmas Eve and Merry is looking forward to a little relaxation after the holidays. Then, Luanne Ireland comes into the shop bubbling with excitement. She had asked Merry to do the decorations for her wedding and now instead of a summer wedding, she wants to get married on Valentine's Day. "What could be more romantic?" Luanne even wants Merry to tell her family, groom, and future in-laws it was her idea.

Life with Luanne is never easy but Merry didn't think Luanne's groom would be murdered at the Yuletide Inn, their future wedding venue the day after Christmas. She also didn't expect her brother to be a prime suspect in his death. That makes the murder personal for Merry and she finds herself right in the middle of another investigation. She hopes to help wrap up the case and prove her brother's innocence before the residents of Rudolph ring in the New Year but the killer may have other plans.

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I love the Wilkerson family. Merry Wilkerson owns Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, her mother Aline is a retired opera diva and her father Noel is the former mayor and performs all Santa Claus duties needed all year long. She has sisters Eve and Carol and a brother Chris. Chris plays a major role in this story. Her best friend, Vicky, owns Victoria's Bakeshop. She helps Merry do some sleuthing whenever she can. I love the way Merry's relationship with Alan has grown. They are truly perfect for each other. Most of the core characters in this series are engaging and genuine. There are a few that are a little prickly and spirited but not in a good way.

The crazy quirky of this cozy mystery comes from the characters introduced in this story. Luanne is something else. She can test a person's patience and has total disregard for others. Thankfully Merry and her brother Chris are kind and patient people. Luanne's family, her groom before his death, his ex, and his family are also in their own worlds doing what is best for themselves at all times. I will say that they do deliver some wonderful comedic moments throughout the story.

The mystery was complicated and full of surprises. Merry's investigation even takes her, Vicky, and the loveable Mattie, Merry's St. Bernard, to the neighboring town of Muddle Harbor as they try to dig up some dirt while trying to tie some clues together. Merry works so hard, asking questions and keeping her ears open for any detail that will point her in the right direction. Ms. Delany gives her readers presents with plenty of twists and turns and I did my darndest to keep up with each one of them and failed. I had my A-Ha-Moment right along with Merry. There were several possible suspects and the actual killer didn't even make my list. That made the final chapters very exciting as a dangerous showdown played out.

I love the theme of this series and the setting of Rudolph. All the Christmas-themed places and events are so delightful.

Dying in a Winter Wonderland is a fun, entertaining, and merry read. It is a Perfect Escape and perfect to read at any time of year, even now when we are creeping toward 100 degrees here in Wisconsin. Vicki Delany is a fabulous storyteller and I have fun escaping into anything she writes. I am very excited that the next book in this series, Have Yourself A Deadly Little Christmas will be released on September 19.

Dying in a Winter Wonderland
By Vicki Delaney
Berkeley
November 2020

Review by Cynthia Chow

After being forced out of her dream life as a lifestyle magazine editor in Manhattan, Merry Wilkinson never expected that she would find so much joy opening up Mrs. Claus’s Treasures in her hometown of Rudolph, New York. On Christmas Eve it would take a lot to dampen Merry’s spirits during the busiest time and highlight of her Christmas-themed town. Well, Luanne Ireland is a lot. The spoiled young woman initially hired Merry to be her wedding planner/consultant for a summer wedding, but now the bridezilla insists on moving her wedding up to being in just 7 weeks to snag her dream wedding venue. Along with the rapid time escalation comes a massive increase in guests and and expenses, and it becomes readily apparent that the bride is more enamored of the wedding event than of her intended groom. A drunken Luanne crashes a Wilkinson family dinner to embarrassingly declare her love for Merry’s brother Chris, and she is followed by a jealous fiancé who punches Chris out. The timing couldn’t be worse for all involved, not just for Chris but especially for the intended groom who ends up murdered.

While Merry would for once prefer to let the police take over the investigation, Luanne’s hysterical antics place Chris at the forefront of the suspect list. Leaving her beloved curio shop in the hands of her acerbic assistant manager, Merry quickly discovers that the late Jeff Vanderhaven and his family had more than their share of enemies. The Vanderhavens were not only involved in a land scheme to build an amusement park in Rudolph’s rival town of Muddle Harbor, an enraged ex-girlfriend was intent on declaring that she was Jeff’s true love. Merry’s own boyfriend Alan Anderson continues to be the ideal toymaking boyfriend for a woman whose father is the town’s Santa, and they become a delightful team as they investigate by attending impromptu high school reunions that lead to a New Year’s Eve confrontation.

Now more than ever readers will be looking forward to a Christmas-themed mystery that can be enjoyed all year round. The self-centered Luanne refreshingly evolves into a much more sympathetic character, sprinkling in moments of humor as well as frustration. Eventually Merry is going to have to confront her managing skills – or lack of them – that are costing her good employees due to her power-mad assistant. Merry’s Saint Bernard Matterhorn, along with her Christmas-named family members, enhance the setting with the perfect amount of cozy, holiday good will. The mystery is deftly plotted and carries the reader along by adding numerous red herrings while continually laying out clues. This charming and fun novel crafted by a reliable and prolific author is the perfect gift one needs to start off the holiday season.

I really like the author’s Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series, so last Christmas I read all of this series too. It was ok, though not as good as the other series. I give up with this book though. The bride in the book is intolerable.

This is book 5 in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series and it can be read as a stand alone. Rudolph, New York sounds like a tourist mecca for the folks who love Christmas. The locals make their money using the year round Christmas theme. Merry is looking forward to the end of the year and makes the mistake of agreeing to help Luanne plan her summer wedding. Now Luanne wants the wedding in February and the family is in an uproar. To complicate matters more, the groom is found dead at the new venue. A good cozy to solve and lots of Christmas facts and foods. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is the 5th book in the charming cozy mystery series "A Year-Round Christmas Mystery." It is Christmas, and Merry and beau Alan are planning a quiet celebration. However, Merry is supposed to help plan Luanne's wedding that just got moved up to February. When a dead body shows up in the gardens of the local inn, right beside Merry's brother, Merry ends up on the case. A pleasant read, but Merry is still a bit too nosy. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an ARC.

Merry Wilkinson owns a gift shop in the Christmas town of Rudolph, NY. She's agreed to help Luanne Ireland design her wedding decorations in July. With 7 months to plan everything, Merry's goal is to enjoy her Christmas and then get started in the new year. Then, she's told that Luanne has moved the wedding up to Valentine's Day. Leaving only a couple of months to create the decorations.
Even though it's the busiest time of the year for Merry she does her best to help Luanne get started on the details of the wedding. When Merry's brother Chris finds the groom dead in the back garden of the hotel where the wedding is to be held. Merry has to find out who killed him before her brother is arrested. One of the reasons I like romances and mysteries set around the holidays is getting a glimpse into how the characters celebrate. Not only do we get to spend Christmas with the Wilkinson clan, but also New Year's Eve. I found this to be a good mystery, and the characters are well done. Overall I really enjoyed this entry into the series.
#netgalley #dyinginawinterwonderland

Welcome to Rudolph, a charming town that celebrates Christmas year round with a dash of murder thrown in. Dying in a Winter Wonderland is the fifth book in a series of books with a holiday theme. Not having read the previous titles, I had no problem following the plot or the characters within the book.

This is a great cozy to read in front of the fire during the holidays while the snow falls outside. Recommended for those looking for a good mystery and want to immerse themselves in the feelings of holiday sentiments.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this digital ARC. All opinions are my own. This review can also be found on my Goodreads page.

Dying in a Winter Wonderland is a delightful cozy mystery that will put you in a Christmas mood - or cool you off in summer. Merry Wilkinson is the owner of Mrs. Claus's Treasures and an accomplished decorator. She works and lives in Rudolph, New York where it is Christmas year round. Luanne Ireland asks Merry to help make decorations for her wedding, not a problem, but Luanne has suddenly turned in to Bridezilla. She wants to move the wedding earlier, forcing everyone to work harder during their busiest season. In the midst of all the wedding madness, Luanne's fiancé is found murdered at their wedding venue. Merry takes it upon herself to restore peace in the happy town, but it is a monumental task that proves more dangerous as Merry gets closer to the killer.

This is the fifth book in the Year-Round Mystery series by Vicki Delany. I had no trouble jumping in on number 5 but I will definitely read the previous four. The town is lovely and the characters are well-developed. Fans of Joanne Fluke and similar authors will enjoy adding Vicki Delany to their lists. I enjoyed reading this ARC and hope you do too!

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

Rudolph, New York is for those who love Christmas year-round, especially at Christmas time! Merry’s family celebrates in every way imaginable, including their names. Her father, Noel, whose birthday is Christmas Day, plays Santa Claus for the town. Her sisters’ names are Eve and Carole, her brother’s name is Chris. Only her mother, Aline, doesn’t have a Christmas-themed name. This can be read as a standalone since the author has included just the right amount of background, but you might want to go back and read the rest after this one!

Merry is doing the design of the venue where Luanne, a former classmate of Chris’s, will have her wedding in July. Luanne came into Merry’s shop, Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, on Christmas Eve, urgently needing Merry to come to her home that evening. Her fiancé, Jeff, and his parents are visiting for Christmas. Luanne thinks they will accept her news better from Merry than from her. She was offered the ballroom at the Yuletide Inn that she originally wanted for her July wedding, but there are a couple little glitches. First, they will wed on Valentine’s Day, just a few weeks away, and second, the cost will be much more, as they will be able to seat many more guests.

Despite having a rare dinner out with boyfriend Alan, a woodworker by trade who is Santa’s toymaker before Christmas every year, Merry agreed to a brief visit at the Ireland home. Jeff wasn’t too concerned about the date change, but Luann’es parents were definitely worried about the cost and the short time left to do everything.

On Christmas, we have a delightful window in the home of Merry’s parents, where family and friends celebrated Christmas and Noel’s birthday. Luanne showed up at their home drunk, wanting to talk with Chris. She and Chris had dated briefly in high school, and she now thinks she is making a huge mistake marrying Jeff as she only ever loved Chris. Chris couldn’t get away from her fast enough! When her father and fiancé came to take her Luanne home, Jeff punched Chris in the face, issuing a threat should he go near Luanne again.

The next day, Merry went to meet Luanne and her mother at the Yuletide Inn to determine a new menu with the chef. She planned to tell Luanne she would no longer help with the wedding, after what happened the night before. While Merry was looking at the gardens outside the Inn, she heard someone call for help. It was Chris. He had gone to the Inn to talk with Luanne regarding marrying someone with a bit of a violent streak, but he didn’t get to talk with her. Instead, Chris found Jeff’s body on a garden path, and it looks as if Jeff had been murdered.

Detective Diane Simmonds and Officer Candice Campbell arrived quickly, especially since Merry was there and she has been involved in solving past murders in town. She and Chris are questioned. Luanne says in front of the detective that she forgives Chris for any involvement with Jeff’s death, after all, they got into another fight over her, right? Chris become the primary person of interest. And Merry has no choice but to make sure her brother stays off the hook.

I enjoyed the characters and felt as if I got to know Merry and her friends better. The story of how Merry and her best friend Vicky met in kindergarten is great! Luanne is such a master manipulator that it’s hard to imagine anyone falling for her antics. The author does a great job demonstrating each character’s unique traits. I enjoyed Mattie, Merry’s Saint Bernard, also.

Rudolph sounds like a wonderful town to live in or visit! I love how well the town is decorated and that many of the shops are Christmas themed. It is easy to imagine how elegant the Yuletide Inn is and the beauty of the gardens, even when snow-covered.

The plot is intriguing with enough twists and turns to keep my attention. It captured my attention at the beginning and kept it throughout. It was hard to figure out who the bad guy really was! I only guessed a brief time before Merry did. The ending was perfect, with all loose ends tied up. I highly recommend this; it can be enjoyed any time of the year!

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

I do love a Christmas cozy and this series is fun because it's always a Christmas cozy no matter what time in the year the investigation takes place. In the case of this one it really is a Christmas cozy in a Christmas town and there is tons of Christmas-y fun. The town of Rudolph sounds like such fun and I'd love to shop in Merry's store and meet her family.

I enjoyed the mystery in this one a lot. Luanne is such a nightmare but at the same time I can see why Merry got tangled up with her. Things weren't going great but they definitely start skidding off the rails when Luanne moves her wedding that she talked Merry into planning up 4 months. There's all kinds of hidden motives, secrets, and some drunken breakdowns. The story kept me guessing and I love following Merry around while she's investigating and the more Mattie time the better! Really any book that involves a huge dog is always going to be a winner for me! This one kept me guessing and I thoroughly enjoyed the read.

Merry Wilkinson has gotten talked into designing the decorations for Luanne Ireland’s wedding. However, on Christmas Eve, Luanne drops the bombshell that she is moving the wedding up from summer to Valentine’s Day, and naturally it causes chaos. Just two days later, Luanne’s fiancé is found murdered, however, and Merry’s brother, Chris, becomes the prime suspect. Luanne and Chris had dated back in high school, but is that enough motive for murder? Merry doesn’t think so, and she sets out to prove him innocent. Can she do it?

No matter when the books in this series are set, they always immediately put me in the Christmas spirit, and this book is no exception. Merry and the rest of the characters are their usual charming selves, and I always enjoy spending some time with them. Okay, so there are a few characters who regularly annoy Merry, but I enjoy those scenes, too, and we got some interesting developments with them in this book. The plot introduced lots of drama before the murder takes place, and that pulled me in from the first chapter. I never wanted to put the book down until I reached the logical conclusion. This latest book is perfect for any time you need a dose of Christmas.

Merry enjoys the slower pace of life in Rudolph, New York after living and working in the fast paced demanding world of New York City. It also doesn't hurt that the town celebrates Christmas year round and Merry's father has the coveted role of Santa Claus. However a bridezilla by the name of Luanne is determined to add some extra stress to Merry's life when she not only moves the wedding up but determines that Merry herself should be the person to break the news to Luanne's fiancee, and their respective parents. The new wedding date is just seven weeks away with much in the way of planning still left to do. When Merry stumbles upon the body of the soon to be groom, it becomes apparent that their will be no wedding after all. Suspicion quickly falls upon Merry's brother Chris, as Luanne has lavished Chris recently with some unwanted attention. Certain of her brother's innocence, Merry conducts her own investigation, certain she will be able to uncover the true murderer.

Dying in a Winter Wonderland is the fifth book in the charmingly festive Year Round Christmas mystery series. The town of Rudolph, New York and its charming yet quirky residents are sure to put even the most curmudgeonly of readers in the holiday spirit. The idea of a year round celebration of Christmas sounds especially appealing given the current state of the world and the descriptions of the festive town of Rudolph adds an extra layer of cozy to an already heartwarming series. The mystery itself was well executed with plenty of clues for readers to uncover and piece together to guess the killer. Overall I recommend Dying in a Winter Wonderland to readers looking for a nice mystery to get them into the holiday spirit

Great seasonal read. A year round Christmas shop owner has taken on the responsibility to plan a local girl's wedding in the "off season". The bride-to-be decides to change the date and now there are only 7 weeks to plan the wedding. The bride is getting cold feet and wants to rekindle her relationship with the shop owner's brother! When the groom is found murdered, it is the shop owner's mission to prove her brother had nothing to do with it!

This was the latest entry in a cozy series set in a Christmas themed small town. The main character left her big city fashion/publishing job to open up a small shop in the town where she grew up and where her parents still live.

Merry is likable enough. Since this isn't a debut, the ensemble cast of her eccentric family (father who looks like and portrays Santa Claus for the town, and opera diva mother) and her pleasant boyfriend have been established.

Merry gets sucked into a murder investigation when an old flame of her brother's persuades Merry to plan her wedding and then the fiance is found dead -- the day after a fistfight between him and Merry's brother.

I didn't really click with this cozy because of a couple things. The prospective bride is presented as being a pouty, manipulative, narcissistic user and it is astonishing that Merry allows herself to be dragged into their hot mess of a wedding. The other big minus for me was that Merry's Christmas shop seems to be almost a hobby rather than a business. Merry spends little time there, even in the week before Christmas. Even her employees comment that she is always running off. Just not very realistic.

It could well be that reading the previous entries would provide more background but I doubt I'll pick up another. I am a big fan of this author's Sherlock book shop series and that is a better fit for me. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I will admit, this is the first book I've read in the series so I read it without any prior knowledge of the characters or background. Sometimes that works easily, but for this book it was hard to jump in so late. The characters seem nice, but I just couldn't connect with them and even after the whole book, didn't really have a good feel for any of them other than a surface level.
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I absolutely loved the idea of a town where Christmas was the theme year-round. From the lovely descriptions of Merry's shop, the fact that her father is the town Santa, and the Christmasy themed shop names it really put you in the holiday spirit.
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My biggest problem with this series was there seemed to be too many coincidences or things happening that just didn't make sense. Why would Merry be so helpful to someone she admits she barely knows and doesn't even like. Why would someone be so obsessed with an old boyfriend and also talk so much about her wedding and fiance. Why would the suspect just happen to follow someone they had just gotten into a physical altercation with and just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some of these things were partially addressed, but it felt weak and forced to make the story go. Some things even happened just so abruptly it made the pacing a bit off.
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I appreciated how it was realistic that the police didn't want to just divulge all the facts to a civilian, Merry. And they seemed to really be doing their job competently, which is not always a feature of a cozy mystery. I really enjoyed the ending and all the drama, and was totally shocked by the culprit.
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This would be a nice holiday series to read, from the beginning, if you are looking for some ambiance.

One of the best things about reading this book was that I got to read it during a heat wave. The descriptions of the snow and cold were realistic and welcome. I got sucked into the story and I figured out the whodunnit part of the book just as the protagonist did. It is a good book to relax with.

Enjoyed this installment in the series. The mystery kept me guessing. I love the town and the characters. I like Merry and Adam's relationship, although in general I think Merry needs to learn to say no and stand her ground.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Merry was roped in to helping a local girl plan her wedding, one she knows slightly but not well. Now, things are getting out of hand as the bride continues to make changes, including moving the wedding up by months! Just as Merry is about to back out, the groom turns up dead, and Merry's brother is considered a suspect. Once more, her detective skills are put to use. A fun cozy, great characters and a good plot.