A Cozy Christmas Mystery

Having read the previous 3 books in this series, I was excited to be able to read and review a 4th. tome!
I was not disappointed! This time, Holly White is actually getting married…I dislike mystery series where the heroine doesn’t seem to make up her mind as to whom (or if) she would like to marry. No spoilers here, but I am glad that the romantic side of things has been addressed.

Besides the wedding plans at Christmastime (really? Isn’t there enough stress at that time of year?), there is an intriguing plot with many red herrings and quite a few LOL moments, which I appreciate.

I like Ms. Frost’s style of writing, and I enjoyed catching up with old friends from the books before.

I highly recommend this book…if you read it at Christmastime, it will be even more meaningful and help you celebrate the season with a great cozy book. If you haven’t read the previous 3 books, you should get them and read them before this 4th. installment, however, it can be read as a stand-alone.

Thank you Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read an advance readers’ copy that I could review.

I received an unedited ARC (advanced reader copy) in exchange for my honest review.
This is the newest book in one of my absolute favorite cozy mystery series! Jacqueline Frost is an amazing writer!!
Ms Frost always does such a brilliant job of grabbing the reader from the very first page. She creates a vivid picture of all the scenes. I have been in love with this town and characters since the very first book.
As a fan of the series and the cast of the book, I was delighted to go back to Mistletoe, Maine again.
In this wonderful Christmas themed volume!
Holly and her family are such fun. The employees of the Christmas Tree Farm are so much fun. I love them all! This book is another great one. I have always loved the Nutcracker so this inclusion of that in this book was a delight. What can I say about Sheriff Evan Gray. I always wanted a guy like him for a boyfriend :)
The 2 of them and their wedding is something I've been looking forward to.since the first book!
Holly, as usual, just can't seem to help herself when it comes to solving a mystery. Even tho Evan is always warning her to stay out of it.
With a ballet troupe staying at the inn, the head dancer is murdered, causing Holly to spring into action to "help" Evan!
The snow, the Christmas holiday setting, and murder! Yup it's a great ride yet again!
I highly recommend this book and author (who writes under a few different names) to anyone looking for a fun, atmospheric, brilliantly written cozy!

It's no mystery that I love Holly white and Mistletoe, Maine! I reread or listen to these books every Christmas season and was thrilled to hear of another installment in the series.
The setting of Mistletoe sounds Hallmark perfect...a tree farm, cheerful holiday shops, a cast of quirky characters, but it has one major flaw..annual holiday murders!
This time Holly is a week away from her big winter wedding during the busiest time of year when the lead Nutcracker ballerina shows up dead in a snow globe.
As usual, Holly inserts herself and her sleuthing skills into the mix (much to the dismay of her fiance, sheriff Evan Gray) and attempts to crack the case.
Holly and company have become some of my favorite and most beloved characters. This new story in the tree farm mysteries has not disappointed and will keep you guessing to the end. A festive whodunit with a setting and characters that will keep you coming back for more and dreaming that the Mistletoe and Reindeer Games tree farm of these stories were a place you could actually visit during the holiday season.

Stuffed with everything Christmasy and a bewildering mystery to solve centered around a ballerina’s death make this a cozy mystery that should be on your Wish List! Protagonist Holly White’s family owns Reindeer Games tree farm which includes the Hearth Cafe, and the Inn Holly runs. Holly’s booked with several members of a ballet group that’s in Mistletoe performing The Nutcracker for several nights. When the lead ballerina is murdered, it sets up a jolly good mystery to puzzle out before Holly and her sheriff fiancé, Evan’s Christmas Eve wedding.

If you’ve followed this wonderful series from the beginning, you know that Author Jacqueline Frost is a master at plotting mysteries. Her pacing is great, the descriptions of games, festivities, food, drinks, characters, the town, and the weather (to name a few) are always marvelous. This story is a delight to savor. The entertainment never ends until the final page!

A second, smaller mystery involves Libby, Evan’s sister, and a crime family out for revenge, and it’s intriguing, as well. I have many favorite characters in this book and they’re all together this time for the wedding. A new and very handsome ex-military man, Zane, is introduced and he’s kind of mysterious.

I immensely enjoyed the clever plot, the snowy setting, the beguiling characters and the happy ending. I sincerely hope this wonderful series continues. I highly recommend to cozy mystery readers.

I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. All opinions are my own.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I would've read this book regardless as this is a favorite author and series of mine.
The author does an amazing job of drawing the reader in early on. She uses her words to set the scene in this quaint town of Mistletoe with a cast of quirky characters you can't help but love. Her character development is top notch. You don't have to read the prior books to enjoy this one, but I encourage you to do so. You will really appreciate her characters even more so if you do. There is plenty of action with our main character to keep your attention as well as some intrigue and romance from supporting characters. The ending is wrapped up nicely with a Christmas bow. I was very excited when the author announced this installment was coming and I am hoping there will be more in this series. The author really makes her characters feel like family by the end of the book.

The town of Mistletoe feels like an adult trip to the North Pole and I’m not mad at it. This story has it all: snow, The Nutcracker, a wedding and of course another unfortunate death for Holly and the gang to investigate. The Reindeer Games Inn always sounds like a picturesque place to stay for the holidays. Thank you to the author and the publisher for an advanced copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Stalking Around the Christmas Tree is everything I didn't know I needed in a Christmas-time murder mystery. The main characters are not perfect but are all likeable, and the setting of the town is described in such perfect detail for it to really give off the best Christmas vibes. There are two mysteries going on at once, and details for them were given quite well and the story was paced well so it didn't feel like too much was going on at a time. We also got answers for both mysteries by the end, and I wasn't left feeling like there were any loose ends that still hadn't been wrapped up.
Overall, this book was a nice and easy read, one that I think would be perfect around Christmas and that gives off Christmas movie vibes in a book in the best way.

Another year, another Christmas time murder to test Holly Winter’s patience in the fourth Christmas Tree Mystery. Throw in a stalker and a northeaster on the way to also add stress to the most wonderful time of the year made even more special by her upcoming nuptials to Mistletoe’s sheriff and you have all of the makings of a very entertaining read.

Stalking around the Christmas Tree is the fourth book in the Christmas Tree Farm series by Jacqueline Frost. It did not disappoint! Frost is the best at combining mystery, romance and feel good small town communities into amazing stories. I will always read any stories she writes. This is a perfect Christmas time read!

I absolutely love this book. Another amazing book by Jacqueline Frost. I highly recommend. She is one of my favorite authors.

Stalking Around the Christmas Tree is the fourth book in the Christmas Farm Mystery series however it can be read as a standalone, it just may take some time figuring out how every character is connected to each other. This is a small town, cosy mystery and an easy quick read wit fun quirky characters. The mystery wasn't too dark or gory although it is a murder mystery so can be good for a range of audiences or for anyone wanting to get into mystery books. This is generally just a great mystery to read.

This is the only book of the series but didn’t feel like I missed anything by not reading the preceding books. I loved the idea of a Christmas themed town and cozy mystery. The characters were charming as was the town they lived in.
I really enjoyed reading this story.

Thank you to the Author, Publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and give an unbiased review of this story.

Stalking Around the Christmas Tree by Jaqueline Frost, is book 4 in her Christmas Farm Mystery series, but is easily read as a standalone. This was my first book by this author and I found it easy to follow even though I had not read any of the previous books in the series.

The story takes place in a small town called Mistletoe during the Christmas season. The main character, Holly White, is in the midst of planning her upcoming wedding to Sheriff Evan Gray during the busy Christmas season on her family's tree farm, Reindeer Games, when the lead ballerina in the annual production of The Nutcracker shows up dead on a parade float. Holly is quickly involved in trying to solve the mystery of the murdered ballerina.

The small town setting that is fairly typical of cosy mysteries was full of lovable, quirky characters and shops. I think my favourite character was Cookie who became an ordained minister so that she could perform a marriage ceremony for her goat, Theodore. loved the holiday theme of this book, and all the small town events that took place during the holiday season.

I really enjoyed this book and plan to go back and check out the previous three books in the series. If you're looking for a Christmas themed mystery, definitely give this one a try, it was a fun story.

Thanks to NetGalley, Jacqueline Frost, and Crooked Lane Books for providing an ARC for review.

Book Title: Stalking Around the Christmas Tree
Series: Christmas Tree Farm Mystery #4
Author: Jacqueline Frost
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pub Date was: October 17, 2023
My Rating: 4.3 Stars!

This is #4 in this series and my first so I had to do some quick little back reading to catch up on the characters.

Holly White is an inn keeper and amateur sleuth and soon will be married to fiancé Sheriff Evan Gray. She is busy preparing for Christmas as well as her Christmas Eve wedding.

Mayor West is trying to get people to see Mistletoe. Maine once again as the Fairytale Christmas village as a safe as well as a fun place in spite of three recent murders. He as well as business owners are sure added the state conservatory of ballet will insure Holiday success. In fact, everyone is excited about the opportunity to bring tourists to town with the ballet troupe’s performance of ‘The Nutcracker’.
Having attended the performance of “The Nutcracker” many times; this got my attention. But, of course, was sure this is the beginning of a mystery!
Additionally sure that Holly would get involved in solving this mystery before her wedding!

Libby (Sheriff Gray’s little sister and a waitress at ‘The Hearth’) is back in Mistletoe after testifying against a gangster; however she is afraid of being stalked. She has changed her hair style hoping not to be noticed. Friends have noticed that she has become withdrawn. When Tiffany the ballerina is killed, Lilly noticed that they resembled each other, which creates even more concern.

Such great characters
In addition to the characters already mentioned there is . . . . Caroline Mayor West’s daughter who had a pastry shop called “Caroline’s Cupcakes’ finds a little romance in this story,
Also Cookie a good friend of the family and Caroline’s business partner at ‘Caroline’s Cupcakes’.
Cookie is a member of an over 60 swing dance team calling themselves the “Swingers”.
Gotta love that Cookie.
At one point Cookie is provided tea and coffee to those waiting to be interviewed by Sheriff Gray this situation had me laughing out loud!
Sheriff got suspicious of the free drinks and snags one – as he is inhaling the steam he coughs and says. “That whiskey”!
Cookie states she is aware but only because she was out of her usual schnapps. She just wanted to put the folks at ease and it should loosen their lips. Plus look how happy they are! The Sheriff says that’s because they are drunk! Aww ~ You say potato and I say potahto!

Things actually get really exciting near the end with a big snow storm on the way

Such a delightful fun story; looking forward to Book #5 and hoping for more about Holly and Sheriff Gray!

Want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for granting me the pleasure of reading this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 17, 2023

Stalking around the Christmss Tree is the 4th book in this series. Holly White is planning a Christmas Eve wedding to Sheriff Evan Gray.
The town is excited that the state ballet will be performing The Nutcracker. During the annual Christmas parade, Tiffany. the popular lead ballerina, is found murdered on a float. With only a few days remaining before their Christmas Eve wedding, Holly puts her sleuthing skills to use to help Evan solve the murder. Tiffany had a few secrets and was not very popular with the other ballerinas. Evans little sister Libby thinks someone is stalking her so there is a secondary mystery to solve as well. This was a wonderful fun read. Plenty of red herrings, some quirky characters, plenty of laugh out loud moments. Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for providing me with this advance readers copy to read and review. I can't wait to read the next book in this series@

Very cute book. I have not read any of the others in the series, but it was very easy to pick up any necessary information as I read this one.
It was a good murder mystery, without being too gory or thriller-like. One or two of the things were easy to guess from the beginning, but it did not feel too predictable.

"Stalking Around the Christmas Tree" is the 4th book in Jacqueline Frost's "Christmas Tree Farm" series. I have read all but the 3rd book so far and feel this was a nice peak to the currently pattern of this series. That being said, it's time for a shakeup in this series. I hope that we get an off-season book. It could still be Christmas related but more of a Christmas in July or life on a Christmas tree farm/town pre-season kind of story.

The only other thing I feel needs a shakeup is the threats that Holly gets. How many threats can one person get on their car before it's not a shock at all anymore. It even felt like Holly herself was no longer surprised by them. I think it's time she starts getting some new intimidation or something that truly scares her.

A great Bridal/Christmas cozy read, though I don't know why she was complaining she had soooo much to do for her Wedding. It seemed all taken care of and with lots of snooping plus impromptu party times. I get it Weddings and Christmas are busy times, but she really wasn't as busy as she claimed to be. This is still a nice cozy mystery for both themes.

Easy to read and steadily moving.
It takes place in a little town where everything is Christmas all year long, in a very close-knit community.
Soon-to-be-married Holly runs a B&B, and is planning to get married on Christmas Eve, she has a lot on her plate.
Not too much to take time out to solve the murder....or will she live to solve the murder?
This is well written and steadily paced.

No swearing
No sex
No graphic violence

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

The murder mystery was interesting. I wasn't sure who the killer was. I liked the reindeer games.

I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.

I am so glad this series was picked up by another publisher. An interesting premise and great characters with a well paced whodunit.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.