An Unfortunate Christmas Murder is the second book in the Dinner Lady Detectives series, but the first I have read and enjoyed. Margery and Clementine work on the front line serving meals to the students at Summerview secondary school, in Dewston. Margery has been promoted to kitchen manager and is enjoying her new job. Her wife, Clementine supports her, but can also be a pain in the backside. It is Christmas time and the school concert is a huge thing, but neither Margery or Clementine have any plans to participate. At the first practice, the stage lights fall and land on Mrs. Large, the music teacher. She is rushed to the hospital, but she dies and Mrs. Smith, the head of drama, is the prime suspect. She asks Margery and Clementine to help her and although she is not their favourite person, they reluctantly agree. With the staff Christmas Party to plan, the concert still happening and the mystery of who accidentally killed Mrs. Large, there is a lot going on.

I do enjoy a good cozy mystery, and one set at Christmas called to me. Unfortunately, I wasn't pulled in as much as I would have liked. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, a rival between another school's drama teacher and several secrets. I liked Margery and Clementine, but didn't connect to anyone else in the story. I liked the festive part of the story with the concert and there was some humor, especially when it came to Secret Santa, but the mystery fell a bit flat for me. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Jenny Funnell. The narration was okay, with expression and tone, but it didn't do enough to make this a great experience for me.

Following the ladies who work in the kitchen of a school, this book opens with rehearsal for the annual show ending with a crash and a dead body. But never fear - the ladies are ready to put on their detective hats and solve the crime. But the body count keeps rising...

This book has some charming personalities and wonderfully witty banter, but the plot itself seems to drag on. The relationships are what keep this book going in the face of the pacing issues. It's a pleasant little holiday mystery.

Margery is looking forward to her first Christmas season managing the school’s kitchen with her wife, Clementine by her side. They’ve decided that they want nothing to do with the annual Christmas concert, that is until the stage collapses at the first practice killing Mrs. Large.

The Head of Drama, Mrs. Smith, is the prime suspect but she swears she had nothing to do with it. Why would she want to sabotage her own production? She wants the Dinner Lady Detectives to investigate and clear her name. She believes that Mrs. Blossom, the rival drama teacher is responsible, but she needs help to find clues and put them together.

I enjoyed reading this book, a great Christmas murder mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel. #NetGalley #AnUnfortunateChristmasMurder

Unfortunately this book was incredibly boring. As someone who loves Christmas, loves having queer characters, and loves a good mystery this book should have been right up my alley! I was so excited when I got notified that I had been accepted for an ARC. However, An Unfortunate Christmas Murder really suffers with pacing and with dialogue. The pacing is very slow which made me want to skim read to actually get to the plot. I also found that the dialogue was very stilted and frustrating to read- for instance, I really did not enjoy the endless "please do not swear" remarks after someone says "oh my god". Very cringey and tiresome to read, especially given the repetition. Ultimately, I did what I very rarely have to do, especially with Christmas books (my favourite things to read!) and DNF'd this book at the 33% mark. I just couldn't keep making myself read it any more.

i really missed the dinner lady detectives after i read the first one so when i started this one i was drawn straight in, it was lovely to have the characters back.
there is always some drama happening at christmas like someone forgot the cranberry sauce or the oven hadn't been switched on, but for mrs large it was a case of who murdered her?
The Dinner Lady Detectives just wanted to get on but somehow they are now part of the investigation!
it was such a good read i did not want..... well i could not put it down it was such an easy light read.
The plot was great and had some good twists.

This is the second in a series and picks up where the first left off. But, unlike other books in a series, thankfully this one does not constantly remind readers of what we already know. I bought this book ages ago but saved it to read near Christmas. It is a mixture of sadness, amusing anecdotes, disturbing situations and mystery. There is cruelty and kindness. The characters are well drawn and the plotting is tight. However, I would have liked more detail in the conclusion.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

A charming and well-written queer cozy mystery. I really enjoyed the holiday setting and seeing a gay married couple as the sleuths.

This is the second book of the series, unfortunately I didn't notice this when I chose this book, but I did feel there was enough back references to the first book, to catch me up.

Margery and Clementine are planning Christmas dinner for the school, while also being dragged into the Christmas play, but somehow also find time to investigate a murder.

A comforting, cosy, Christmas book with a side of murder.

Thank you Net Galley and Canelo Crimes books.

This is the second of the ‘The Dinner Lady Detectives’ series and picks up where the first left off. It is a fun cosy mystery, a lovely light read for the festive period but for me it just falls a bit short of the first one.
I do love Margery and Clem though and look forward to the next instalment.

Release Date: August 18, 2022

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Tis the season for gold, frankincense and murder…
Margery is preparing for her first Christmas as Summerview school’s kitchen manager. She and her wife, Clementine, are trying to stay out of Christmas concert that rest of the staff have already been roped into. However, they are forced into it by Mrs Smith, the head drama teacher. During the first rehearsal the stage lights collapse killing Mrs Large, the music teacher. When things really heat up, will they both make it out alive?

This is the second book in the new #dinnerladydetectives series. I was excited that it was about a long term couple but still encompassed the romance I like to see in cozy mysteries! Clementine is an absolute delight. She’s the perfect foil and counterpoint for Margery! I’m so excited to go back and read the first and can’t wait for what @hannahhendywrites comes up for Margery and Clem next!!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

#anunfortunatechristmasmurder #dinnerladydetectives #margeryandclem #cozymystery #bookstagram #cozymysteryseries #netgalleyreads #bookstagram #instareads #canelo #canelocrime

This was a really enjoyable easy Christmas read. It's the second I the dinner lady detective series.
Honestly what was the point in the detective saying to them not to interfer you know full well that margery and clementine will not listen to this.
I got into this book very quickly and I will give you lots of giggles along the way. So make a nice hot chocolate and enjoy the read.

I throughly enjoyed this novel. In fact, it’s one of the few lately that has held my attention throughout the entire story. While I could see a few things coming, I never felt like rushing though it. I would definitely recommend it to friends.

Fabulous Christmas murder mystery , I’m 100% going to re read this nearer Christmas and I might even buy a couple of copies to gift thus Christmas

Such a fun book, I cannot wait to read more in the series. The characters are fantastic and l cannot wait to find out what
Other adventures they find themselves on..

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. This book was so fun. I really enjoyed it. This book kept me interested and i enjoyed the book and this genre

2nd book in the Dinner Lady Detectives.
Margery and Clementine are as entertaining as they were in the first book. Just love the way they bluner into situations and use their intelligence to solve a mystery. A comfortable read with the relationship between the 2 women. Amusing to read.

An Unfortunate Christmas Murder by Hannah Hendy

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Canelo Crime and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

It’s winter in the small town of Dewstow, and Margery is preparing for her first Christmas as Summerview school’s kitchen manager. She’s supported by her wife, Clementine, and is trying to stay focused on the task at hand.

The pair are determined to stay out of the way of the Christmas concert planning that has gripped the rest of the staff. However, they are caught in the crossfire when the stage lights collapse at the first practice, killing Mrs Large, the music teacher.

Mrs Smith, the Head of Drama, is the prime suspect and is desperate for the Dinner Lady Detectives to clear her name. Mrs Smith is convinced that it’s sabotage by her rival, Mrs Blossom, the drama teacher at Ittonvale Secondary, but there’s evidence that points to her own misdeeds. Can Margery and Clementine trust their friend? And when things start to heat up in the kitchen, will they make it out in time?

My Opinion

I have read this as a standalone and whilst I was able to follow the plot easily this book just didn't work for me. This is a nice, cosy festive mystery - I feel like there was so much potential that was missed in this book. This book has some great reviews so I am clearly in the minority and this book will appeal to many people, unfortunately it was just not the book for me.

Rating 3/5

⭐⭐

This one really wasn't my jam, unfortunately. I expect a Christmas cozy to be, you know, cozy. This one just wasn't. It was lacking something. I found it too slow moving, and I didn't really like any of the characters (especially Clementine). What else can i say? Sometimes a book just doesn't work for you. 🤷🏻‍♀️

**ARC Vuia NetGalley**

This was an enjoyable read. It gave me something to look forward to and the end of the day. The author keeps you guessing until the end as to whose nefarious plot this was, giving several characters motives over the course of the book. I read this book quickly, mainly because I couldn't put it down.

Like an idiot, I didn't check whether this book was part of a series before requesting it. Basically I saw the word Christmas and got a little trigger happy with the request button. However, it does sound super interesting and although I unfortunately don't have time to read and review it right now I do have plans to review both books in the series soon.

Biggest apologies to Hannah Hendy and Canelo for my mistake. I'm feeling very silly right now.

*I cannot leave this review without a rating so I have given it one based on its average on Goodreads*