I generally stay away from holiday-themed books, but I read the first book in this series and loved it, so I got this one. I love cozies and fantasy, and the author does a great job of combining them in this one. Not only is the writing fantastic, but all of the characters are just so much fun to read about. Add in an interesting mystery, a little bit of slapdash humor, an interesting Christmas universe at the North Pole, an MC who wants to bring Halloween to Christmastown, and a bunch of all kinds of things in between, and you have a great book to spend some time with. There is one particular small plot about reindeer cookies that literally had me crying from laughing. Absolutely a great time. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

Fun Halloween mystery set at the North Pole. I like the characters and how everything is resolved. The mystery kept me guessing. Of course, I liked the setting how could you not like something set in Santa's hometown?

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

As I said for the first book in this series, these books have the most original premise of any cozy mystery series I've read. The wife of Santa Claus, at the North Pole, with elves, and abominable snowmen, and a detective who is the cousin of Jack Frost... there's so much fun stuff going on! Unlike the first book, which was squarely of the Christmas holiday theme, this one is a bit more... spooky. Mrs. Claus has convinced the town to have its first Halloween celebration, but its bringing more mischief and mayhem than she anticipated!

This book was even more fun than the first! It also set up a book three perfectly, with an anticipated visit from Mrs. Claus' best friend back in the United States in the next Christmas season. In this story, there were a ton of suspects, interesting crimes, and new characters (but not in an overwhelming way). I am so excited to continue reading this series!

Thanks to Kensington for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

This book was not what I thought OT was going to be. It was still a fun read with a decent story. This is the second in the series I will be going back and reading the first one

I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters were interesting and realistic. I thought the plot was quite exceptional. I was drawn in at the very beginning and had a hard time putting it down. I would definitely recommend this book.

It takes a fantastic writer to be able to combine genres, but Liz Ireland, once again, shows that she is that writer. Not only did she combine the genres of a cozy mystery and fantasy, but she also combined the holidays of Christmas and Halloween… now that takes real talent!

In Mrs. Claus and the Halloween Homicide, the second in the Mrs. Claus Mysteries, Ireland brings back the well developed characters from book one and gives us even more in book two. The reader also gets more details of Santa’s Village combined with the fun and festive Halloween decorations and new traditions. There are humorous moments found throughout the book because of the combining of genres and holidays, and I thought the way Ireland imagined how the elves would celebrate Halloween was perfect. Only an elf would take a suggestion made in passing many months previously and learn how to grow numerous different types of pumpkins!

The mystery itself had lots of suspects and I really enjoyed the final outcome of whodunnit, since it was a nice change. I’m already looking forward to book three and can’t wait to see if April’s friend from the states comes for a visit and how she’ll take finding out that not only is Santa real, but her friend is married to him.

3.5 stars

This book was a fun quick read.
I was a little unsure about the premise of this book because Mrs. Claus and Halloween? how in the world is that going to work, but it did in the best most chaotic way possible.

Mrs. Claus wants to bring some of the traditions that she grew up knowing and learning about to the North Pole to break up some of the Christmas that happen 24/7 there. And while some people love it, others hate it and seem to be doing everything they can to sabotage the entire event.
An attempt on Mrs. Claus's life ends up happening and then after that, a murder happens. the entire book you go back and forth between it being a couple of different people and trying to figure out how and why they would have done certain things.

Overall I had fun reading this one and it has helped start getting me into the Christmas time books and has been a nice break from all the darker mysteries I have been reading. Mrs. Claus and Nick were a nice couple and I loved some of the other people in the book as well.
I didn't realize this was a second book until a little bit of the way into it, but I was still able to know what had happened before easily. So the first book is not necessary in order to enjoy this one.
If you're wanting a fun read to help transition to the more Christmassy books I think this one will be a good fit.

I didn't know what to expect when I started this book but I loved it. I hadn't read the first book in the series but this was easy to read as a stand alone. I loved the setting, I loved the characters and I loved the story. There wasn't anything about it that I did not like.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for my ARC.

Oh boy, Mrs Claus and Halloween? Can you imagine? LOL.

Mrs Claus and the Halloween Homicide is the 2nd instalment and if you can imagine it even better than I imagined. April married to Santa Claus finds herself along with the town celebrating Halloween. Of course, not many are happy with this development. Mix in a murder and you have a great cozy mystery.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for a copy of "Mrs. Claus and the Halloween Homicide" in exchange for my honest review.

This is the second book in the Mrs. Claus series. It once again takes place at Castle Kringle in Christmastown. April (Mrs. Claus) has brought the Halloween tradition to Christmastown and not everyone is happy about it. Salty the Elf who is the head gardener has had his pumpkin patch slaughtered. April who a year ago solved a case - since Constable Crinkles and Ollie are usually busy doing other things - best described as the 'Laurel & Hardy of the Elf police' - this time they are choosing wallpaper and selling raffle tickets. Someone named Pumpkin Slayer on Elfbook is threatening to stop Halloween. Once again April's life will be in danger. A member of the Christmastown merchants will meet his death. This is where Jake Frost (a distant cousin of Jack's) arrives and helps April find out not only who is sabotaging Halloween, stalking an Elf in town, find a murderer and prevent a war with the abominable.

Looking forward to seeing what adventures April gets into next.

Who would have thought that Christmas would work with Halloween, but it certainly does with this second book in the series. It can be read as a standalone as well. The characters are great and interesting as is the whole book. I really enjoyed this and I am sure you will too.

Thanks the Netgalley and publisher for this eARC

I wish to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for this delightful cozy mystery in return for an honest review. The author, Liz Ireland, has created a vivid, colourful, fully realized fantasy world. The descriptions of dwellings, clothing, names of places, and imaginative names of the quirky characters contribute to building the setting and engaging the reader in its joyous festive spirit. This works as a standalone, but I now want to read the previous book to learn more about its unusual characters.

April Claus is a regular woman from Oregon who married Nick Claus, unaware that he was the real Santa. She moved with him to the quaint, picturesque town of Christmastown located in snowy Santaland at the North Pole. The community dwellers are employed in making and delivering toys to the world's children. A joyous Christmas spirit prevails and is celebrated 365 days a year. Characters include the Claus family, whimsical elves, snowmen, talking reindeer, and a psychotic boyfriend.

Remembering traditions from her home state, Mrs. Claus wants to add Halloween to festivities in Santaland. She teaches the community about carving Jack O'Lanterns, trick or treating, designing costumes, and watching scary movies. Some of the elves are delighted, enthusiastically crafting Halloween decorations, whereas others are opposed to any changes. The first sign of trouble is noted in the village greenhouse, where pumpkins were grown to replace turnips. The place was vandalized, and the pumpkins smashed to bits. Police Constable Crinkles has been called in to deal with the destruction but is unwilling or unable to investigate the crime attributed to the Pumpkin Slayer. Ms. Claus feels she is a better sleuth and more able to solve the vandalism than the police officer. Santa Claus recruits Jack Frost to help his wife with the mystery. There are threats, and Mrs. Claus fears that her life and the lives of others may be endangered. This is confirmed when Tiny Sparkletoe, a prominent protester against the introduction of Halloween, is found crushed to death under a giant footprint.

Now, Mrs. Claus must wonder if the trouble and dissent are caused by the Pumpkin Slayer or what is now called the Abominable Snow Monster. Despite the fantastic element, the investigation is well-plotted with twists to keep the reader engaged and guessing. Recommended for those that want to escape our troubled times into an enjoyable mystery set in magical Santaland.

This is a hoot. For those who missed the first book, this will be fine as a standalone because Ireland quickly fills you in on how April fell in love without wholly understanding what he meant when he said that he is Santa Claus. She's been living among the elves and others (reindeer!) at the North Pole and coping with the culture clash. Now, for the first time, the town is going to celebrate Halloween, except that not everyone is happy about it. Tiny Sparkletoe is murdered, someone is stalking April, and there's trouble in general. April, a sensible woman, takes matters into her own hands to get answers. Yes, it's a little silly but it also made me smile. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good cozy read.

I didn’t like this quite as much as the first book. Although there were some humorous parts the middle of the book dragged a bit. Also, April Claus seemed a bit lost in this book - she felt more decisive in the first book. I hope that Jake Frost and his apprentice and even Claire play bigger roles in the next book. I find them more interesting than Nick’s family.

It's fun being back in Santaland (aka The North Pole). This time April, the new Mrs. Claus, tries to make Halloween a thing and not everyone is down for pumpkins, scary stories, and trick or treating. She and Jake Frost team up again to find out who is the Pumpkin Slayer who is trying to stop this new holiday.

I just love this universe that Liz Ireland has created that straddles the "real world" where April is from and the magical, fantastical, perpetually winter Santaland. Her descriptions of all the characters, the costumes, and the buildings are vivid, detailed and imaginative. It's a great mashup of storybook Christmas and cozy mystery series! I can't wait to see what holiday is next - Valentine's? St. Patrick's? I hope that if April's friend "from home" comes to visit, we also get to learn more about how April and Nick met and fell in love.

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.

Mrs. Claus and the Halloween Homicide by Liz Ireland is the second book in the cozy Mrs. Claus series. As with most cozy mystery series each book in the Mrs. Claus series features it’s own mystery that will be fully solved with that book so they can each be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so. There will be some character development that carries over from book to book though for those that follow the series from the beginning.

April Claus was just a regular woman living in the United States when she met Nick, the man she just knew she’d be spending the rest of her life with. What April didn’t know or suspect at the time was that the wonderful Nick she was going to marry was none other than THE Santa Claus. After marrying Nick April found herself moving to Christmastown in Santaland at the North Pole and living among elves with Christmas celebrated year round.

Christmastown has always been a one holiday town but April is glad to see the residents accepting that this year they will also be celebrating Halloween. Well, most of the residents have accepted the new celebration, not all the elves are happy. No one was expecting the series of random mischief though, especially not April who ended up involved in a funicular accident. As April begins to investigate the accident though Tiny Sparkletoe is found dead so April again finds herself teamed up with Jake Frost trying to catch a killer.

My first time around reading the Mrs. Claus series I was expecting the lead to be more like the image of a merry Mrs. Claus so it took a while to connect to the “regular” person lead. This time already knowing April and Christmastown I was able to dive right in to the Christmassy fun… er Halloween fun? It was a cute idea to bring another holiday to the small town and I love how everything Christmas or wintery gets incorporated into the story. This one is definitely for those that love a cozy mystery with a quirky and humorous side to them which is what I seek to find and love in them. I will definitely be back for a book three if there will be one in the future.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

An enjoyable addition to this fairly new mystery series. I look forward to reading the next installment.

MRS. CLAUSE AND THE HALLOWEEN HOMICIDE is the second book in the Mrs. Clause Mysteries by Liz Ireland. I loved the first book in the series and this newest one has made me a dedicated fan! Filled with fantasy including fantastical world building (Santa’s North Pole!), quirky characters (surveillance snowmen, comical elves, and the like), and hilarious laugh-out-loud moments (boozy reindeer cookies anyone?) I couldn’t put the book down. Not many people would attempt to combine Christmas and Halloween themes into one book, but Ms. Ireland makes it seem effortless.

Despite all the entertaining fun the book has to offer, the author still manages to include a murder and a well-plotted investigation. It’s conducted by none other than Mrs. April Clause, Santa’s wife, transplanted from Oregon. I was too busy enjoying every word in this enchanting read to figure out who the culprit was. But once I finished the last page, it was clear that the clues are there for the armchair detective to follow. The only downside that I could see, is that the book doesn’t come with a plate of cookies and a mug of hot cocoa. I highly recommend the Mrs. Clause series for anyone who enjoys a good mystery filled with humor and delight!

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Having enjoyed Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings, I was excited to request an ARC of the second book in the series from NetGalley. I know it's only mid-August, but I'm ready to start getting excited for spooky season.

Liz Ireland does a nice job of expanding the Mrs. Claus Universe I enjoyed learning about snow monsters as part of the newfound Halloween traditions of the town. I love how April had embraced her sleuthing tendencies and is building lasting relationships in her adopted home.

Unlike most cozy mysteries, there is no body in the first chapter. In this story there is a different inciting incident and then you read on with bated breath wondering is someone about to get it? Who is going to be the victim? The only thing I would like to see in the book would be to have Nick be a more in-depth character. I feel he is not as fleshed out as his mother, sister, or sister-in-law, or even as much as elfman Jingles.

This seasonal cozy has a great mystery and is chock-full of the Halloween spirit. 4 stars! Or should I say 4 🎃🎃🎃🎃!!!
Definitely add this to your fall reading list!

A fun book with a pretty good mystery. This is a type of book that defies the normal conventions of what genre it is so that might be a present surprise to some and other may be disappointed. It can’t be called a conventional cozy because we are dealing with Mrs. Claus here—as in Santa’s wife—and the North Pole populated with elves, smart reindeer and a thriving community are based on producing and delivery toys to kids on Christmas morning. At the same time it isn’t a conventional paranormal cozy either. Magic isn’t used by characters and it isn’t involved with the crime either. The only magic is in the existence of…everything in the North Pole.

So, Mrs. Claus, a native of Oregon, has decided to bring Halloween to town. Not everyone is thrilled with that and some destruction follows. But the real problem is when one of the main opposition against Halloween is found dead…stepped on by a snow monster. Is it murder? There are plenty of suspects because the man was not liked. Or is there an uncontrollable snow monster out there? Mrs. Claus needs to find out before fear and chaos ruin Christmas.

There are some definite funny moments. Reindeers and cookies have hilarious results. While some characters we know from stories, movies, tv, etc. the writer has given them her own unique spin and new characters are more than just thin outlines. At times, April was a little annoying, particularly when she just blurted out her newest suspect without any real proof, just circumstantial evidence. With no surprise, things turn ugly when April accuses her best friend’s boyfriend.

An enjoyable read and a nice break from the sweltering hot summer to imagine life in the North Pole. I enjoyed it enough to immediately go out and read the first one (you don’t need to the first one to understand this one).

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.