This is the sixth in a cozy mystery series by Vicki Delany, but readers can enjoy this without having read the others. The amateur detective is a store owner in a small upstate New York town, and this book revolves around a community theater production of A Christmas Carol. It was an enjoyable read, and I like the description of the little town in which it is set. The characters are likeable and well rounded. I especially like the police detective in this series who is a single mom. I don't love the trope of the heroine being threatened by the perpetrator, but overall, it was a fun read. I would recommend this series to readers of cozy mystery series.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the chance to read this book. I've been reading this series from the first book and always look forward to my next trip to Rudolph, New York, aka Christmas Town, where it's Christmas all year long. This is a great cozy series to read at Christmas time or any time of year.

Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas is the 6th book in the Year Round Christmas series. This series is set in Rudolph, New York, which is a year-round Christmas town. Merry Wilkinson is the main character and often gets involved in solving crimes in the town. Her mother, Aline, is a former opera singer, and her father, Noel, plays Santa for town events.

The community theater is putting on the production of A Christmas Carol, the musical version, and Merry’s mother is the musical director of the production, as well as having a role in it. There is dissension in the group, primarily due to the arrival of Catherine Renshaw as the artistic director. She throws money around as well as tries to control the production by making changes to the production, overriding Desmond, the director. When one of the cast members is found dead at Merry’s store, Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, there is no lack of suspects, including Merry’s mom and Jackie, who works for Merry.

The killer was a surprise given the different motives set up throughout the story. I think readers will enjoy trying to guess the killer because I guarantee you will change your mind several times. I found the ending funny with what happens with George. I think newcomers to the series will enjoy this story and the characters. The town is quirky and the competition between Rudolph and the neighboring community Muddle Harbor is humorous.

I am so glad this series came back because I enjoy the setting and the characters. I find Merry’s boyfriend Alan a shade dull, but nice. Her best friend Vicky, owner of Victoria’s Bake Shoppe, is a fun character with her willingness to investigate with Merry. Jackie, her employee, is annoying, but an integral character because she adds some comedic relief to the story because she is doesn’t read cues from people. Merry’s parents are delightful because they clearly love each other, but are so different. I hope there are many more stories in this series!

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is Book #6 in the Year Round Christmas cozy mystery series and the first book I've read from this series. I love everything Christmas and cozy mysteries so this was perfect for me. The book is set in Rudolph, NY a year round Christmas town (so cute!) Christmas store owner Merry (haha....) is involved with solving mysteries in her small town. This time a member of A Christmas Carol play is murdered in Merry's store. A fun read - great plot - many suspects and a great ending. I am looking forward to reading the other 5 books in the series so I can get to know these small town characters.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

So much fun! The whole book had me wishing for Christmas and snow and delicious warm treats. The mystery was zippy, with plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing. Enjoyed the ending and appreciated the fact that this was not a very long read.

Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas by Vicki Delany is book #6 in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series. Step into deadly drama at Rudolf, New York's annual Chrictmas play. Rudolph bills itself as a Christmas-all-year-round town. This year the Rudolph Community Theater Players are putting on the musical verion of A Chritmas Carol. There is much tension in this group. No surprise one of the actors is murdered. Mrs. Claus's Treasures store owner Merry Wilkinson gets involved in tracking down clues as to who the killer might be. She has assistance from various other characters in this book. I enjoyed the suspense as the investigation procedes forward.These are fun characters and I look forward to seeing them again in the next book in the series.

Another great book in this series.
Merry finds herself investigating the death of an actor from the local playhouse when his body is found in her shop. Always a fun, cozy mystery with great characters that are becoming as familiar as old friends.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book. The story was great and appropriate for the town. Merry is the amateur sleuth and really does a great job . There were so many possibilities for the one who done it that I really know who it was until the story let us know. A VERY GOOD COZY MYSTERY READ.

Vicky Delany is hitting it out of the park [or snowy field!] with her latest instalment in the Year-Round Christmas Mysteries.

It's never a dull moment in Rudolph, especially this holiday season! Merry's mom is making a return to the stage, when she joins the local amateur theatre production of "A Christmas Carol". However, not all is festive and happy! When one the cast members is killed in Merry's shop, she puts on her sleuthing hat to find the killer.

I simply adore this series! Even in the hottest days of summer, the Year-Round Christmas Mysteries will make you feel happy and festive. This one is no exception. I was instantly transported into the season of all things snow, carols and cheer.

With a lot of suspects at play it was fun to try to separate them and figure out who was the killer. I didn't manage to find the killer before Merry, and it was enjoyable to try to sleuth alongside her.

If you haven't picked up this series yet, what are you waiting for? It will charm even the grinchiest of Scrooge's with its small town charm, likable characters and first class mystery.

Vicki writes another wonderful mystery. The characters are so colorful. Merry has a knack for getting into plenty of trouble. Matterborn is such a wonderful delight. Detective Simmonds seems to have multiple personalities depending on the situation. She has a way of keeping her private life for swaying her business side. Merry's landlady happens to run the local gossip group and they are better and faster than any news station. When things happen all you have to do is ask someone in the group. What they do not know I think they make it up. Of course they do provide some very good information if you can figure out what is true. Catherine Renshaw and her husband come to the town and Catherine appears to be one that has to have all of the attention and be in the middle of everything going on with the theatre group. Merry's Dad has to be the real Santa. He just has a way about him. If you question if there is a place with Christmas Magic then Rudolph is the place to check out. It has the magic and miracles do happen. Like so many little towns it struggles to keep going and has wide variety of people. Now the main thing is who did the murder and why? I really thought I knew who it was until the person was discovered. This book has a lot going on and is a delight to read.

Vicki Delany's cozy holiday mysteries continue with Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas. It's December, and the town of Rudolph (NY) is determined to maintain its reputation as a year-round Christmas destination, even though a nearby town would love to steal its thunder. Merry and her fellow shopkeepers are gearing up for the increasing hordes of shoppers, as the local amateur theatre group rehearses its production of A Christmas Carol. But rivalries among the actors are encroaching on everyone's Christmas spirit. Merry's mother, a retired opera diva, is making a guest appearance, and one of Merry's store employees is hoping for her big break, despite the fact that she has little talent. To make things even more uncomfortable, a wealthy newcomer with no real theatre experience has taken over as Artistic Director, much to the dismay of the company's long-term leader. Then, one of the most disagreeable members of the troupe is found dead of suspicious causes, and it is difficult to decide which of the many who might benefit from her death may be a murderer.

I enjoyed the charming small-town atmosphere but feel that the festive Christmas details are a bit lacking in this series entry. Merry's romantic relationship is present, but not given much emphasis. And the final reveal of the killer is abrupt and fell flat for me.

My thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

It’s Christmas in Rudolph, and Merry Wilkinson’s Mother has decided to set back in the limelight by playing a part in the local amateur theater’s production of “A Christmas Carol”. When the actress playing Mrs. Cratchit is murdered in Merry’s shop and her assistant manager, Jackie is a suspect, Merry must search for the killer.
I was disappointed with this book. The flavor of Christmas is not present. As I read Christmas mysteries it needs to be more than a mystery set at Christmas, but the full experience. I want the description of the decorations, the tradition, and anticipation of Christmas this book just didn’t tick all the boxes. The characters are not likable, though the mystery is well done.

I am so happy that this cozy Christmas series is back with this 6th volume in Year-Round Christmas Mysteries. Merry is still running Mrs. Claus's Treasures and spending time with her dog and her beau. A local amateur acting group is putting on their version of A Christmas Carol when one of the actors is found dead in Merry's shop. Merry jumps right in to solve the case. Fun mystery set in a charming Christmas town. Thans to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an ARC.

I love this series, especially when it actually takes place at Christmastime. Merry’s mom has a big role in this book as part of the cast of A Christmas Carol. Merry gets involved in murder, once again, when a cast member is killed in her store. I like the all-around Christmas town of Rudolph, New York. I like recurring main characters too. These books always put me in the mood for Christmas and shopping. I’m so glad the series got revived after a short break.

This was the first book in this series that I have read although I am a huge Vicki Delany fan. Perhaps if I had the background of the previous books in the series it would have engaged me more. As it was I had a hard time with it. I don't really need to say more but that 'Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas' is not one of my favorites from Vicki Delany.

In a return to Rudolph, where Christmas is celebrated all year long, the local amateur theater company is putting on A Christmas Carol. Merry owns a Christmas gift shop called Mrs.Claus’s Treasures and her mother is a retired opera diva who plays dual roles in the play. Personalities and egos clash during the rehearsals and then Merry finds a member of the company dead on the floor of her shop and is drawn into investigating the crime. This cozy mystery is full of holiday spirit, friendship, close family ties, and, of course, a murder. I enjoyed reading this return to Rudolph and hope there will be more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.

Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas by Vicki Delany is the sixth in the Year-round Christmas series, which I had not read previously, and stands fairly well on its own, although it would have been easier to get into had I read the earlier books in the series. The cover is what drew me in, with its absolutely stunning artwork.
I found this book extremely slow to start and actually considered putting it into my do not finish file. However, I persevered and found the mystery itself (the murder didn't even happen until 25% in - to be complex and interesting. The characters, despite being almost too numerous to keep track of, were diverse and original. The book, I found, often got bogged down in descriptions of clothing or setting, and became repetitive in spots. Eventually, I found myself skipping entire sections in order to get back to the story itself. I doubt I will be following up with more of this series.
I received an ARC of #HaveYourselfaDeadlyLittleChristmas from #NetGalley.

I really love this series and I'm happy it is continuing (hopefully will keep going)! The characters are great and I love the setting/town. The mystery became clear to me before the reveal, but I still enjoyed the ending. Looking forward to the next book!

A cozy filled with the Christmas spirit to the point of it overflowing out of the book and into the reader!

I love Christmas books. I read them all year round, however that being said, it's hard to find one that makes me clamor for the days of color filled rooms that smell like cookies and that I can feel the chill from the winds outside. I found myself as a character in this book excited and also a bit stressed for Christmas! And that's more than 6 months away!

I love the town and how they all come together to be the Christmas town of America. I could envision everything. The streets, the lights, the spiced aromas wafting all around you as you walk from shop to shop, looking for that perfect gift for your friends and loved ones.

Yes, there's a murder and it makes your heart jump with the thought of it, but still manages to make you feel like you're enclosed in your own happy bubble. That you're safe.

I absolutely loved this book. It's the first one I've read of this series and I cannot wait to go back and read the others.

This is a fantastic Christmassy pick up for your spirits.

Thanks to Net Galley, the publishers, and to Vicki Delany for ability to read and review this book. All opinions are mine and are completely honest.

This is a good solid mystery. I appreciated the way the clues were laid out without being screamingly obvious.
It's a good depiction of amateur theatricals.