Great read. The author really draws the reader into the story. Will definitely read another book by this author. I felt like I was part of the story. I could not put the book down. Such great recipes at the end as well.

It’s Christmas time in Hollyberry Homicide, and Marlee is all set to enjoy x-mas with friends, family, and customers in her berry shop. But wouldn’t you know it, murder finds itself nestled in Oriole Point’s holiday festivities. What started as a fun season takes a turn when Marlee gets involved in finding a killer.

This new book is a wonderful addition to the series. It can stand on its own without the need for a lot of background information, but there is enough to give readers a good idea of who the characters are and the part they play in Marlee’s life. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep readers interested and turning the page. Suspects vary and are easy to follow. The setting, mainly Marlee’s berry themed shop, is fun and detailed enough to make readers want to visit during the holiday season or even year-round.

One of my favorite parts of the story is when Marlee gets to play in the local production of A Christmas Carol as Jacob Marley, which also happens to be whom she was named after. Her parents had a wonderful sense of humor and dedication to literary figures. Cast members in the play keep having accidents, are taken ill, or murdered, so it makes for a very entertaining part of the story to see if they will be able to pull off the play before Marlee ends up as the next victim.

The killer did not come as a big surprise to me, but I have a highly suspicious nature and rarely need to read the entire book to know who-done-it. In this case, however, many readers will not guess who the bad guy is until the very end of the story. This is the mark of a good mystery. Hollyberry Homicide is a good story that leaves readers feeling happy and excited for the holiday season to come. I am pleased to recommend this book to those looking for a feel-good Christmas story they can wrap their head around and let the worries of the world fade away for a brief time.

I like this series very much but this particular installment seemed harder to get through. I'm a bit tired of the relationship woes of Marlee. I will come back to this book in a few months.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jeanie

What do Santa Claus, a giant chipmunk, and Jacob Marley’s ghost have in common? You might have to visit Oriole Pointe, Michigan and find out! Hollyberry Homicide is the latest in the very entertaining Berry Basket Mystery series, and I really enjoyed it. From the setting at Lake Michigan, to the characters who could step off the pages and the challenging mystery, it is an exciting read for those who enjoy Christmas cozy mysteries.

Marlee Jacob left the bright lights of New York City to open her shop, The Berry Basket, that deals in most things related to western Michigan berries. Her parents now live in Chicago and plan to be there on Christmas Eve, as will the parents of her boyfriend, Atticus “Kit” Holt, a detective for the sheriff’s department. While Marlee’s mom’s favorite author is Charles Dickens, Kit’s mom’s favorite fiction character is Atticus Finch.

Marlee loves the holidays and decorates to excess. Christmas is only a week away. Marlee was at the local historical museum when her friend and employee Gillian finds her. Gillian is in a panic, as the man playing Jacob Marley’s ghost in the local amateur theater production is dead. Everett Hostetter, who just turned 95, was hunched over on a bench in a hallway. Marlee confirmed the man was dead, and very recently as his body was still warm. She noticed a cookie falling from his clothing, a bag of cookies under the bench, and cookie crumbs on his face as they await emergency personnel. Diane Cleverly, a retired professor who is now the head curator of the museum, approached them, and is very upset at his passing. They had known each other most of her adult life, and he was primary donor to the historical museum, local theater group, and other local charities.

Anthony, the nephew who lived with Everett, came to pick him up and was shocked that his uncle had just passed away. Everett had seemed the same as always when he dropped him off for the toy train collection display he had looked forward to seeing.

The next day, Suzanne, mother of Marlee’s employees Dean and Andrew, had an emergency meeting of the Green Willow Players. Not only did Everett, who always played Jacob Marley pass away, but the woman playing the Ghost of Christmas Past had emergency surgery the night before. Gillian is convinced there is a curse on the old Calico Barn, where the plays are produced. When Andrew told Marlee that Suzanne wants her to play Jacob Marley – even though she’s not a man – Gillian doesn’t want her to because of the curse. She finally gives up and gives in, hoping she can learn the lines quickly.

Marlee asks Gareth, a man who handcarves duck decoys, to play Santa Claus at her shop. She learned that Gareth was a retired attorney who had taken care of Everett’s business for many years. She learned interesting things about Everett’s family, such as who might have an interest in inheriting the millions he left behind. There are three potential heirs who are financially needy – or greedy – enough to have finished him off. Marlee finds pieces of the broken cookie he was eating when he died and took it to the police to test.

None of the possible heirs wants a funeral or memorial service for Everett. He had given Diane Cleverly her first job after getting her PhD, and she learned a great deal from him over the years. She finally planned and held a memorial service at the museum. Marlee learns that nobody knows where Everett’s will is other than Gareth, who is playing games about filing it with the court. Marlee has an idea where it might be but will put herself in serious jeopardy if anyone finds out she is looking.

The characters are a wonderful mix of well-defined personalities. I really enjoy Marlee and her dedication to her business and Oriole Point. I do like how she finally learned her lines! Theo, her baker, is one of the best friends and employees one could have! One of the things I enjoyed reading about Theo and Marlee is how they are bird watchers, as it further rounds them out as people.

There are several plot twists and turns that add to the intrigue and keep the pages turning. I’m not sure how I absolutely missed the real bad guy other than that I was enjoying the novel as a whole too much. I do admit to being stumped, and quite surprised to see who the killer was. The end was satisfactory, with all loose ends tied up. I highly recommend this, especially for those who enjoy reading about A Christmas Carol and Christmas festivities.

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

I loved this series and this is an excellent addition.
It's engrossing and highly entertaining, a lot of fun to read.
I was happy to meet again the quirky cast of characters and the solid mystery kept me guessing.
I can't wait to read the next story, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Christmas is fast approaching and Marlee is getting into the spirit by decorating every spare inch of space in her shop, the berry basket which specializes in everything berry related. However the discovery of a body by her employee Gillian at the train show she is attending with her boyfriend Kit might just put a damper on her holiday spirit. The body belongs to an elderly curmudgeon by the name of Everett Hostetter. While most of the town agrees he has died of old age, he was 95 after all, Marlee is not convince and believes there may have been something more sinister behind his death. The investigation will not be easy since Everett has a long list of enemies and individuals who are set to inherit quite a bit of money from his passing. When Marlee is given the chance to play the role of Jacob Marley in the local theater production of A Christmas Carol, a role that now stands vacant after Everett's passing, she soon becomes convinces that Everett's death was anything but an accident. A series of sinister accidents resulting in the death of a squirrel soon after finishing a cookie much like those found beside Everett's lifeless body has Marlee both spooked and determined to get to the bottom of this mystery.
Hollyberry Homicide is the festive fifth book in the delightful series featuring Marlee Jacob and her berry basket store. Set in the charming town of Oriole Point, Michigan, and populated with plenty of comical characters including the feisty Natasha and lovable Kit, readers both old and new to the series will find something to love in this newest addition. From the over the top Christmas decorations to the mystery that ties in to the classic Christmas themed story A Christmas Carol, this story is sure to get you into the festive spirit. The mystery was full of twists and turns that culminated in a shocking reveal you might not see coming. Readers will quickly become invested in the story and the lives of the characters and will soon become eager to read the others in this series. I highly recommend Hollyberry Homicide to readers looking for a well paced, suspenseful holiday themed mystery to jump start the holiday season.

This is book 5 in the "Berry Basket Mystery Series". I have read all the previous books in the series and enjoy returning to this fun series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley. My review opinion is my own. This is the perfect holiday theme cozy mystery. The cover is beautifully designed for Christmas and the holiday is picturesque through the author's writing. I love reading about Minnie the African Gray parrot.

Our protagnist Marlee is the owner of "The Berry Basket" a popular bakery of berry theme foods loved by the locals in her small town in Michigan. Marlee is fully enjoying decorating her business for the holidays and planning the towns holiday festival with her fellow business owners. The author has truly captured the holiday spirit of a small town.
A local stage production, A Christmas Carol is causing all types of upset and when the death of the 95-year-old man playing Jacob Marley occurs Marlee is convinced it was indeed foul play. She takes on her person investigation into what she believes was murder amid the holiday festivities. The author has incorporated much humor that gave me LOL times throughout this delightful read. The sleuth was very well crafted to the story. I highly recommend this book for your reading enjoyment. Very well done next in series !

This is Book 5 in the series about Marlee Jacob, whose name fits well with the storyline. I had not read the other books in the series, so it was interesting to get caught up with this one. The holiday setting is always a plus, and the descriptions of holiday happenings also get the reader involved. I am looking forward to reading more about Marlee and her investigations. I also liked the Michigan setting for the story. Although this book is part of the series, it can be read as a stand alone.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

HOLLYBERRY HOMICIDE by Sharon Farrow
The Fifth Berry Basket Mystery

The death Everett Hostetter is not that surprising. After all, Oriole Point's annual Jacob Marley was 95 years old. The curmudgeonly man had his fingers in lots of Oriole Point pies, but was not well liked and didn't seem to mind that fact. But the more Marlee Jacob learns of the man, the more suspicious she becomes of his death. As the town's Hollyberry Festivities start Marlee is drawn into Everett's life, from taking over his role in A CHRISTMAS CAROL to talking with those closest to him. The more she learns the more Marlee believes his death was not natural. But will she be able to prove it before his killer decides she knows too much?

The spirit of Christmas is alive and well in this fifth Berry Basket Mystery. Lake effect snow, holiday festivities, and the love of family and friends fill the pages of this mystery. I love Marlee's Christmas spirit as evidenced in her overly decorated store and home. More than that, I love how she cares for her friends, giving Natasha a home while hers is under construction, caring for Theo, and loving the animals in her life-pets and wildlife alike.

HOLLYBERRY HOMICIDE brings the tale of A CHRISTMAS CAROL to Oriole Point, and not just with the town's annual theatrical production. It begs the question, will you be a Scrooge or a Marley? One was able to be redeemed in life with the other only able to give warnings after death. Or will you continue the cheating avaricious path you're on forever? Several characters are faced with these questions and their responses may be surprising!

I loved the application of the teachings within A CHRISTMAS CAROL mirrored in this modern cozy mystery. I love the characters and the manner in which they live and work together. The mystery was intriguing and complex and had me considering an A MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS scenario. The pulse pounding penultimate scene had me alternately holding my breath and swinging imaginary objects to help Marlee.

HOLLYBERRY HOMICIDE is a fast paced Christmas tale of redemption. It's a tale of friendship and family and the importance of both. It brings the spirit of Christmas to life.

When a young woman, witnesses a very old man collapse at a model train show, she rushes to find help. She runs into her employer, Marlee Jacob, who returns to sit with him while medical aid is found. Unfortunately, Marlee realizes immediately that the man is dead While she waits for someone to collect the body, she picks up the bag of gingerbread cookies he dropped & wipes up the crumbs from the cookie he was eating. Without thinking, she shoves the crumbs in her pocket and forgets about them. After all, given his age, there's no reason to suspect foul play so no reason to think of them as evidence...that is, until she feeds them to a squirrel a few days later.

Hollyberry Homicide is the fifth cozy mystery in A Berry Basket Mystery series by author Sharon Farrow. Set in Oriole Point, Michigan during the Christmas seasons, it offers a strong, intelligent female protagonist in Marlee Jacob and of course, given her name, a nod to Charles’ Dickens A Christmas Carol. There are plenty of twists and turn, suspects and red herrings to keep the reader guessing who the real murderer is. Although part of a series, Hollyberry Homicide works well as a stand-alone and I recommend it anyone who enjoys holiday cozies.

<Thanks to Netgalley & Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

Christmas in just around the corner and the town of Oriole Point, on the shores of Lake Michigan, are gearing up for the annual production of A Christmas Carol by Dickens. 95 year old Everett Hostetter has been playing the part of Jacob Marley for nine years and nobody argued because he was the reason the Green Willow Players kept going. He had lots of money, he was their major donor and the barn turned theater carried a mortgage that had to be paid. When he is found dead, seated on a bench in the historical museum, everyone thinks poor old man but he had a very long life. We should all be that lucky, to go while in such a peaceful setting. Not so fast, Marlee thinks there is something not quite right about his death. If that wasn't enough, the play's director is in her first season and now has to make major cast changes. Surprise, she wants Marlee to take over as Jacob Marley. Marlee may have been named after said character but she has a business to run and that leaves little time for theater beyond buying a ticket to sit and watch. Soon enough there is plenty to sort out when a corpse turns up.
This was the perfect cozy mystery to get me started for the holiday. The characters entertained me and the puzzle kept me engaged to the very end. The small town setting was enough to make me want to pack my bags and go for a visit. Hopefully without a homicide but, if one did occur, I'd be glad to tag along as Marlee and her friends cracked the case.
My thanks to the publisher, Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Hollyberry Homicide by Sharon Farrow is the 5th book in A Berry Basket Mystery series, and another great addition. Marlee Jacobs owns the Berry Basket in Oriole Point, Michigan, where she sells berries and berry related items. It is Christmas time, and Marlee as always is keeping busy. When a prominent gentleman is found dead at the age of 95, Marley is superstitious that the mans death was not natural. This book has more twists and turns, that kept me reading page after page. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book\series for cozy mystery lovers like me, you won't be disappointed. 
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Hollyberry Homicide is the 5th book in the Berry Basket Mystery series.

Marlee Jacob runs 'The Berry Basket', a berry lovers delight, in Oriole Point, Michigan. Marlee has been given the opportunity to play the part of Jacob Marley in Oriole Point's production of 'A Christmas Carol' because the elderly actor who'd originally been cast has died. His body was found with a half-eaten bag of gingerbread men cookies, by one of her employees. Marlee, soon realises that there's danger behind the scenes, with accidents on set, and falling village tree and a black squirrel dies after being fed the remaining pieces of a cookie...

Hollyberry Homicide was my 1st in this series. Although it was book five, I had no difficulties keeping up with characters and events and it worked for me as an individual story. Marlee was kept extremely busy as she had a Russian house guest, her friend Natasha, staying whilst waiting for her luxury condo to be finished, and Natasha was an absolute scream in this story. Protagonist Marlee was a great character and I found her keen, funny, down to earth, and feisty and she was never too busy to help others.

I was sold on this classy, Christmassy compulsive story from the very beginning, and Sharon Farrow really impressed me with her fluid writing. The details of the plot were very well-executed, the story was amusing and easy to follow, and every chapter left me with a compelling need to read on. The story was brimming with humour, scrumptious food, and suspects and clues were scattered throughout. As a lover of berries myself, Sharon Farrow's mentions of delectable sounding desserts and treats were pure joy and I could almost taste the white chocolate cranberry cookies! The closing reveal was very good, and it eluded me until the very end.

This was a tremendous festive novel and I am looking forward to reading book six. If you adore a fantastic cozy mystery, don't miss out on Hollyberry Homicide!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I have really enjoyed this series but this one? Wowsa!  Let's just say the killer reveal was a total shocker and nothing I ever expected to happen.

It's Christmastime in Oriole Point and Marlee takes decorating to a whole new level. It's like Christmas exploded at her home and store. She is lovingly ribbed by her friends for going overboard with the decorations. She even blows fuses with everything she has plugged into the sockets. It might also have something to do with her birthday at that time. But this holiday may not go the way she planned when she finds 95 year old Everett dead at the museum. Now everyone else thinks it is natural causes, but Marlee suspects otherwise. The story just takes off from there and Marlee ends up playing Jacob Marley in the theater's performance of A Christmas Carol, she stumbles across several unknown facts (which I won't disclose) about Everett and a few other characters. All culminate into a point where Marlee is nearly killed, but who is the killer?  You'll have to read the book to discover the killer and his/her motive for yourself.

I have enjoyed this series and I always feel like I gain weight just reading the book and dreaming about the pastries, cookies, ice cream, jams and jellies, and many other berry flavored items. We don't see as much of Kit in this book who is Marlee's love interest since he is working out of town on a case. I really do like Theo and his baking skills. He is a very sweet character and I like that Marlee has taken him under her wing to help him continue to grow and mature.  And then there is Natasha, Marlee's Russian friend. She is a hoot and a half.

This is a great series so if you haven't read any of the first 5, I suggest you do so before diving into this book. It will help you understand the characters a little better.

We give this book 5 paws up.

What’s your favorite version of A Christmas Carol? I have to go with The Muppet Christmas Carol as my favorite. I’ve got it on VHS; and, believe you me, I watch that tape every Christmas season. Who doesn’t love Michael Caine? He’s the perfect Scrooge, and the two old hecklers from The Muppet Show are the perfect Marley(s). You’re doomed, Scrooge, doomed for all time….

However, in Hollyberry Homicide, it’s Jacob Marley who’s doomed! Mr. Hostetter was dead to begin with. And, no! Despite the fact that he was a curmudgeonly old man, he did not play the role of Ebeneezer Scrooge in Oriole Point’s yearly production. Rather, he insisted upon playing Marley. Since he was the biggest patron of the theater, he got his way. In fact, he got his way about everything. He spent his life being an awful old man, so solving his murder isn’t easy since there are so many suspects!

Hollyberry Homicide is the first book I’ve read in the Berry Basket Mystery series, but it’s the fifth book in the series. For this reason, it took me a few chapters to get a feel for who’s who and what’s what. Once I did, I found the story very enjoyable. I love Christmas almost as much as Marlee Jacob, so if I owned her store, it would be as overflowing with holiday decor as hers is. I doubt I’ll ever be able to buy another Christmas decoration as my house is decorated to the hilt.

And, as much as I hate to admit it, I loved the setting. Yes, I’m from Ohio, so Michiganers know how hard it is for an Ohioan to admit loving anything about Michigan (even when it’s fictional!). They get lots of lake effect snow in Oriole Point, so a white Christmas makes the setting even more lovely. I’m a little south of Ohio’s snow belt, but I know how that lake effect snow is! Any plans we make to go to Cleveland are always done very hesitantly during the winter. I love how they’ve got a Christmas festival with booths and fun activities. That part reminds me a little of Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls fans got me).

Hollyberry Homicide has many fun characters with mostly forgivable foibles and quirks. The holidays can bring out the beast in Type A personalities, and that’s quite evident among some of these characters!

All in all Hollyberry Homicide is an enjoyable Christmas cozy, so if you like your cozies to line up with the holidays, I suggest picking this one up and reading it around Christmas! It’ll put you in the holiday spirit!

Hollyberry Homicide by Sharon Farrow is the fifth in the A Berry Basket Mystery series. This was the first one in the series I have read but was able to get caught up quickly.
Christmas is coming and it's time for the annual production of "A Christmas Carol" and the tree lighting. There is also an exhibit of trains at the local museum. While at the exhibit, Marlee comes across the gentleman, Everette , who always plays Jacob Marley and appears to be dozing on a bench. Once she gets closer, she realizes he is dead. No one thinks murder since he is 95. But when a squirrel eats the crumbs that Marlee had in pocket from the scene and drops dead, lights go off for Marlee. Now. not only is Marlee trying to get her shop ready for Christmas, her parents coming for a visit, she is now playing Jacob Marley! When all kinds of strange things begin happening and a second murder occurs, Marlee is caught up in an investigation. Will she be able to celebrate Christmas or will she be a ghost.
I enjoyed the characters, they are likeable and relatable and I would love to go the tree lighting. There are plot twists and suspects galore. There is even humor, I laughed out loud a couple times and romance. There are recipes also.
I was given an ARC by Kensington and NetGalley for an honest review.

In this fifth book of the series Marlee Jacob is getting her shop ready for the holidays and enjoying different festivities available for the season. She is at a local museum where there is a train exhibit that has her boyfriend all excited. Marlee decides to wonder around and during her circuit of the exhibits an elderly man is found dead, it looks like he passed away while eating some gingerbread cookies. His death is concluded to be natural but with his death a spot opens up in the local theater production of A Christmas Carol. Marlee is soon asked to play the role of Jacob Marley due to the nature of her name. She agrees bit worries she won't have her lines memorized before the play opens. Soon it seems that the play is cursed, accidents keep happening and Marlee soon wonders if the man who died at the museum really.died of natural causes, she begins to think he was murdered. Another death occurs and Marlee knows she must dig in to figure out just what is going on. Can she fit all the.puzzle pieces together before she herself ends up dead? Wonderful series filled with great characters, a lovely location, and fun berry facts!

A light, easy to read holiday mystery with vivid descriptions that are certain to put you in the holiday spirit. Protagonist Marlee Jacob is the owner of The Berry Basket and new recruit to play Jacob Marley in A Christmas Carol. This happened because the 95 year old man that was supposed to play the part seemingly died of natural causes but things aren't always as they seem. Marlee soon finds herself looking into a number of odd happenings and even murder.

I have read all the books in this series and I enjoy the wide variety of characters and the mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

The interesting thing about this cozy is that we don’t really know if it’s murder. The dead man is 95 years old, so everyone assumes it’s a natural death and he’s cremated. But the more our heroine, Marlee, learns about him, the more she thinks it’s not that straightforward. The victim was quite wealthy and controlling. But no one seems interested, including the local police.
In the meantime, there’s no shortage of things to do in the lead up to Christmas, the allegedly cursed Christmas play that Marlee now finds herself in, and sales at the store. The cursed play was an interesting side story because wow were the townspeople uptight about it.
I thought this “is it a murder or isn’t it?” mystery was refreshing because it really does seem to everyone that Marlee is just stirring up trouble and she starts to doubt her own instincts, but also she’s frantically busy and making time for it when she doesn’t have time. At the same time, as a reader, I’m expecting something to come out of all this investigation even if it isn’t murder because otherwise, what is the book about? So it will really work for mystery readers who are looking for something different and maybe not so much for those who are looking for the familiar.

Oriole Point, Michigan at Christmas time is the setting. Marlee has gone overboard with decorations in her shop.
Everett Hostetter, 95 dies just days before the Christmas play. He traditionally played Jacob Marley.
Marlee has the Hollyberry Festival, lines to learn for the Christmas play and a murder to solve.
There is a lot going on in this book. I enjoyed the misdirections. I like this series because of the strong characters. This book was well-written and definitely full of Christmas spirit.

What I had a hard time accepting was when Marlee tells everyone at her house about Janelle’s rumored past. The reason I hard a hard time was she was gossiping. She had nothing to substantiate what she was telling everyone and she promised not to repeat it when she was told. If she needed to discuss Janelle, it should have been with Kit alone and not a group. I for one would not tell a secret or any sensitive information to Marlee.

I plan on trying the cranberry-pistachio bark recipe at the end of the book.