I had not read any prior books in this series, so possibly that's why I didn't really connect with the characters. It felt like a slog getting through this book. This was a miss for me.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by Beyond the Page Publishing and #NetGalley for my honest opinion. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

The fifth in a series with a Christmas theme. Cute, fun and entertaining with a little quirk in this cozy mystery series.

As the Christmas Cookies Crumbles is the fifth book in the Food Lover's Village Mystery series written by Leslie Budewitz. I'm currently up to date on the author's Seattle-based series and have read all the previous books in this series. I've also read her stand-alone novel published under a pseudonym, and I have a copy of the latest book in this series, which was released a few months ago. I'll read it next month so that I can say I am current with all her books when 2022 arrives.

The series takes place in Jewel Bay, Montana. Erin Murphy runs a natural foods store based on foods baked or created locally. She's engaged to be married on Christmas Eve, and a woman has returned home from two decades away after a scandal. She's involved in another theft, goes missing, and is later found dead. Erin's friends split their votes on whether Merry is guilty or innocent. As Erin prepares for her wedding, hosts cookie-baking extravaganzas, and searches for the killer, things get intense. Someone tries to kill her!

Of all the books in the series, this has been my favorite. The series is good, but in this installment, the supporting characters and beautiful setting really begin to take hold for me. I enjoyed the holiday atmosphere, and it was wonderful to see Erin's wedding come together. I look forward to reading the next one soon.

With a clever plot and loads of interesting characters, this Christmas-themed cozy set in small town Montana was an outstanding read. I thoroughly enjoyed it, so much so that I quickly picked up the first book in the series so I can start from the beginning with this series.

For me, since this is the 5th book in the Food Lovers Village Mystery series, I had a bit of difficulty keeping track of all the characters at first. There's a helpful character list of who's who but it's not always easy to access via Kindle. Once the murder took place, it got much easier to keep track of all the characters.

Loved it. I adore Christmas mysteries and I don't ever recall reading any cozies set in Montana so this was a fun read.

Highly recommended for cozy fans!!

Erin Murphy manages her family's local food and sundries shop, Glacier Mercantile, known as the Merc, in the Montana resort town of Jewel Bay. Merrily Thornton, a local girl is Erin's new friend but she is found dead wearing a necklace of fairy lights...

Erin is key to untangling the sequence of events in this enjoyable tale. The plotline was great and held my attention and the cast was largely likeable. As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles is the fifth instalment in Leslie Budewitz's Food Lovers' Village Mystery series. Though it was my second, I managed to keep up with the characters. If you are into either food or family-based cozies, then this lighthearted and undemanding story is for you. I look forward to checking out the other books in this series for sure.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

TO ME ITS A NEW AUTHOR . Great book a little long but I enjoyed reading it. Happy to see the ending all came out good becuase she was kidnapped as a joke by adams brothers. will try to look into the other books. Looking forward to read more.

This is the Christmas cozy that you have been waiting for! Christmas, a wedding and a murder all wrapped up in Montana and waiting for you to read! Excellent plotting keeps you guessing who the killer could be, but wait there is another mystery to untangle and will Erin survive her nosy nature or will the killer take her out before she gets to the I do part of her big day!?! I absolutely love the characters and the setting is one that steals my heart since I have spent a lot of time in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming and miss it every day! It like coming home to my favorite setting with a cast of old friends! If you haven't started this series, then you really should as you are missing out on a plethora of entertainment and very well written stories that keep you guessing up to the end! Read closely and you'll see the clues adding up, but they will add up in multiple ways so you'll have to read to the last word to find out if you are right! I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

A bittersweet cozy mystery at Christmas centering around new beginnings, old "hurts" and life changes filled the bill on a cold Fall afternoon.

I've been a fan of the Food Lovers Village series for years and I believe this mystery is one of the best. Erin Murphy, partner in the popular "Merc" is finishing up plans for her Christmas Eve wedding when an old school friend, who has recently moved back to town, visits her store. Merrily was shunned by her parents for robbing a local business twenty years ago. Merrily has changed and is hopeful her parents will welcome her and her daughter back into the family. Unfortunately, this desire will have tragic consequences for Merrily. Erin decides, to clear Merrily's name which leads to danger for Erin and her friends.

The mystery kept me engaged and I only stopped reading twice. I love the characters because they are far from perfect and easy to relate to. Erin is a strong character and I loved how she handled the sleuthing and life changes that a wedding brings. The compassion and determination she shows to help clear Merrily's reputation made me like her even more. "Foodie's", like me, will also love the descriptions of the Merc, its products and the wonderful Christmas goodies all throughout the village! The recipes in the book were also delicious!

A cup of Christmas cheer, a delish pastry and this mystery will warm up the coldest winter night! Enjoy!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A Food Lovers' Village Mystery promises, well, food, and one set at Christmas promises to be extra delicious. The village is being decorated lavishly for the seasonal tourist/shopping influx when Erin, owner of an upscale foodie shop in her family's ancestral Mercantile building, witnesses a nasty moment between nearby antique dealers and their adult daughter. With visions of previous foul play dancing in her head, Erin fears the frosty moment is a harbinger of further furors, and when that daughter fails to turn up at a cookie exchange right before her boss discovers money is missing, well, suddenly the village is looking at a deadly December.

This author has a long record of satisfying light mysteries and this one - a revised edition of one previously published by Midnight Ink - is no exception. Since it's part of a series, she's kindly included a cast list annotated with just enough detail to orient us to the characters we'll meet. The writing is crisp and exceptional for easing in just enough back story to make sense of the fast-moving present. Holiday decorative details delight, and the lavish foods and drinks will have you thirsting for a wassail cup all your own. Even this picky reviewer is more than happy to relax into a cosy reading chair by the fire and follow Erin into this holiday crime investigation.

As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles by Leslie Budewitz is the fifth in the Food Lovers’ Village mystery series and sets a twinkling scene for small-town Christmas - even with murder in the mix. Merrily Thornton returns home to Jewel Bay hoping to be forgiven for her transgressions and accepted back into her family. But before that can happen she is murdered, setting the entire town on edge and leading the townsfolk to surmise about the identity of the murderer in their midst. Erin Murphy, manager of Murphy’s Mercantile and busy preparing for her wedding, is drawn into the investigation. Will she become the second murder victim before she walks down the aisle?

I really enjoyed this mystery with its holiday setting and small town magic. By the time I was halfway through the book, I felt like I was friends with most of the characters, who were so easy to visualize. The closeness of Erin and her family lent a charming and cozy vibe to the storyline, and the well thought out mystery had depth holding my interest throughout. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.). I would definitely recommend this book and the series to cozy mystery readers who enjoy small town settings.

Leslie Budewitz is extremely skilled at bringing her characters to life with believable situations and personality characteristics. I am enchanted by the setting of her series and hope to visit Montana in the near future. 'As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles' is a heart-wrenching story of family estrangement taken to extremes. When a death occurs Erin Murphy struggles to figure out what happened and why. The mystery is taut and well-executed, with a touching reveal. I love this entire series and look forward to more!

I was given a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All of the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This is the fifth book in the Food Lovers' Village Mystery series, and I must admit I had not read one of them before picking this one up. Still, with a name like As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles I couldn't help but add it to my TBR right away... after all, the only thing I enjoy even more than a good cozy mystery is Christmas!

I could definitely tell right from the start that this was part of the series and I'd missed a few books. I don't mean this to say that I couldn't keep up, or was confused in any way... but it definitely gave off the impression that this was not their first introduction. I do wonder if perhaps I might have enjoyed the story a bit more had I had more backstory on the relationships and such, but overall, I didn't find it impacted my enjoyment or understanding of this particular story too much. It was a fun story perfectly blending my love of the holidays with my love of cozt mysteries... with all the charm of both. If you love cozy mysteries and are looking for a holiday read to add to your list, this is certainly worth checking out!

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Publication date: November 9, 2021
Welcome to Jewel Bay. If you've not been here before, you're in for a treat. Murphy's Mercantile is the place to be, especially during the holidays. Owner, Erin, is happy to show you the sights if she's not investigating another body found. This time, it's Merrily; good girl gone bad. She's returned to town and obviously some one wasn't happy to see her. With a wedding to plan and holiday shoppers filling the store, Erin has her work cut out for her this festive season.
Smart and funny, this holiday cozy mystery can be read alone but it was so enjoyable that I'm seeking out the previous books in the series and will wait expectantly for more in the future.

As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles by Leslie Budewitz found me very happy to be back in Montana for the Wedding of Erin Murphy and Adam Zimmerman. Erin returned to Jewel Bay to help her mother run the Merc, the family gourmet food store and discovered Adam, who had ha a crush on her fifteen years earlier, in college, but she had been too mired in grief over the death of the father to notice. Thankfully he hadn't forgotten. She was walking around on decorating day (for the town's Christmas) when she witnessed a shocking display of anger between Taya Thornton and her recently returned daughter, Merrily. For twenty years they'd been estranged and Taya was still not ready to forgive. It was a complicated mess and Erin didn't know the half of it but she started to learn when she got a phone call from her friend, Greg, a couple of days later, asked her to come to the old school house> her had found Merrily's body and couldn't face the police alone. Erin went and so began her investigation. She had like Merrily and she liked Greg and she couldn't understand why he might have killed her, and if not him, who?

Erin has discovered a complicated mystery. There were so many family members involved and not talking that it made it all worse. Plus, the fact that her wedding was less than three weeks away complicated things. It turns out that here were several crimes: murder, attempted murder, and embezzlement and despite the fact that they were related; they were not all committed by the same person. That made the whole thing harder to unravel. Erin, in her own inimitable way, figured it out, and didn't die in the process, although someone tried hard enough. It was also a time for her brother, Nick, to recover from his fiancée's death several years ago, which made everyone happy. This was a thoroughly enjoyable book and a good mystery. I loved it!

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles by Beyond the Page, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #beyondthepage #lesliebudewitz #asthechristmascookiecrumbles

Another great installment of The Food Lovers Mystery series set at Christmas time.. Erin Murphy, manager of the Merc, is planning her Christmas themed wedding, running the Merc, and trying to solve a murder all at the same time. Erin meets and instantly bonds with a new friend, Merrily Thornton. When Money goes missing at the place Merrily worked all fingers point to Merrily, who as a teen spent time in jail for theft. When Merrily doesn't show up for work her boss goes looking for her and finds her body with a strand of Christmas lights wound tightly around her neck. Erin seeks justice for her new friend. Was it her boss, her parents who have never forgiven her for tarnishing their good name, or her estranged husband? Lots of clues, lots of suspects and red herrings. Erin just has to keep herself out of danger and solve the case before her wedding day.

A cute mystery in a small town during the holidays. Also follows some family conspflict and redemption.

This was a super cute and festive read! The descriptions of this little town as it came to life for Christmas were perfect. It’s everything you would want in a small town, from the cozy little shops to the families that have all grown up together and go all out to bring Christmas to their town. In the middle of it all is a murder mystery. I have to be honest, I didn’t find the mystery itself that thrilling but I was happy with how it was resolved and where the story ended for most of the characters. If you are looking for a feel-good story that makes you feel a bit of Christmas magic, this is a good pick! Oh and at the very end of the book, after the story ends, are some fabulous looking recipes - I loved this idea!

This review is also posted on my Instagram blog (books_by_the_bottle) as of today.

Thank you to NetGalley, Beyond the Page Publishing and Leslie Budewitz for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In Jewel Bay, all is merry and bright. At Murphy’s Mercantile, aka the Merc, manager Erin Murphy is ringing in the holiday season with food, drink, and a new friend: Merrily Thornton. A local girl gone wrong, Merrily has turned her life around. But her parents have publicly shunned her, and they nurse a bitterness that chills Erin.
When Merrily goes missing and her boss discovers he’s been robbed, fingers point to Merrily—until she’s found dead, a string of lights around her neck. The clues and danger snowball from there. Can Erin nab the killer—and keep herself in one piece—in time for a special Christmas Eve?
I have read this and enjoyed re-reading. It is a mystery that keeps you guessing. It has a fun cast of characters.
#AstheChristmasCookieCrumbles #NetGalley

I was given a free e-copy of this novel by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

In Jewel Bay, all is merry and bright. At Murphy’s Mercantile, AKA the Merc, manager Erin Murphy is ringing in the holiday season with food, drink, and a new friend: Merrily Thornton. A local girl gone wrong, Merrily’s turned her life around. But her parents have publicly shunned her, and they nurse a bitterness that chills Erin.

When Merrily goes missing and her boss discovers he’s been robbed, fingers point to Merrily—until she’s found dead, a string of lights around her neck. The clues and danger snowball from there. Can Erin nab the killer—and keep herself in one piece—in time for a special Christmas Eve? (Goodreads synopsis)

I have not read anything by Leslie Budewitz, which after reading this one is a travesty. I will be adding her to my list of authors.

This was a fun, entertaining, and festive story to read. I want to go to Montana so badly, especially in the winter, and I felt the holiday cheer as well as the grief. I felt the author described a winter Montana, and its drawbacks, in a way that people would remember to be prepared when visiting. While Jewel Bay is the author’s creation, she has stated that it is based off of a real village in NW Montana as well as other locations, provinces in Canada. Another location on my travel to-go list.

The characters were realistic, personable, and exactly what I figure a small-town community would be like. Throughout the story, I empathized with Merrily, and how she must have felt being shunned by her family. The scene of her mother yelling at her in public caused even my cheeks to heat up in embarrassment. I felt for Erin, when she refused to give up on finding out what exactly happened to Merrily for her daughter’s sake. I also felt for Detective Bello, being a new guy in a new village. It’s hard especially when where you have been before is so different from where you are now.

The mystery was well thought out, and provided several twists and turns. I had several suspicions, and suspected multiple people, but it wasn’t until closer to the end that things started solidifying. I followed along with Erin the whole way.

What the synopsis doesn’t mention is how Erin is solving the mystery while also planning her wedding which is only a few weeks away. While we get some details leading up to the wedding day, I would have liked a little more detail to Erin and Adam’s wedding itself. But I thought the interaction with Adam’s family was adorable.

I also was refreshingly happy that there was absolutely no love triangle, or crushes of any kind, that might make Erin question her upcoming marriage. And while Bello starts off as if he will be against Erin, it turns out that he will not outright dismiss her either. I understand his reluctance, because it is the same feeling I have about many amateur detectives. However, Erin has shown (in this novel at least) that she is smart and will not take unnecessary risks to herself.

As always I love the addition of recipes at the book of any book. I have already copied a few of them to try this holiday season. For anyone wanting a mystery but still stay in the festive mood, I would strongly recommend this novel.

Overall I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars. I will have to start back at the beginning with this series, and maybe check out her other ones as well.

I did not recall reading this book three years ago. Still had no idea who was guilty and kept guessing wrong throughout. While I do not celebrate Christmas, it did not affect my enjoyment of this cozy mystery. Many surprises. Lots of family angst. Sweet wedding. Some wonderful cookie recipes included. A delightful addition to the charming series. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.