Murder On Mistletoe Lane is the fifth book in the A Stella and Lyndy Mystery series by Clara McKenna.

Christmas is nearing, and Stella is looking forward to bringing some of her childhood memories of Christmas in Kentucky to the present home at Morrington Hall. But her mother-in-law, Lady Atherly, is not receptive to many of Stella’s ideas. Lady Atherly feels this is how we have done it in the past, and there’s no reason to change now, telling her not to corrupt the staff with her unconventional “American ways.” Stella meets with Mrs. Cole, Morrington’s cook, to request a couple of her favorite Christmas dishes. Mrs. Cole informs Stella that the Christmas meal is well underway; besides, she doesn’t have recipes for the dishes Stella has requested.

She is also concerned that there may be a thief or stalker at Morrington, as she has found personal items missing from her bedroom, and notes of a romantic nature have been left in her room.

Concern is high for the housekeeper when she becomes seriously ill and is confined to her bed. When a maid checks on the housekeeper, she’s nowhere to be found. It is soon learned that her body has been found on Mistletoe Road, possibly dying from exposure. Then, a second suspicious death occurs during a Boxer Day point-to-point race. A retired army man who has spent his whole life riding horses has his mount go down, throwing the man to the ground.
With the family home directly involved in one of the murders, Stella and Lyndy will begin their own investigation. Inspector Brown readily accepts Stella and Lyndy’s help. They have worked together, and Inspector Brown has found them to share their findings with him rather than working against him. Their investigation will provide several suspects, some involving guests staying at Morrington Hall.

The story is well-written, plotted, and historically accurate. The characters are well-developed, engaging, and believable. There were many twists and turns and red herrings that I kept guessing until the end, when the killer's identity was revealed.

I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this wonderful series.

Another exceptional Stella and Lyndy mystery! This series is quickly becoming a favorite. It reminds me a lot of Agatha Christie or Carola Dunn mysteries with intricate plots, a touch of humor, and romance. I loved the Edwardian Christmas setting and all the fun traditions along with the whodunnit mystery that was so well done & kept me guessing.

Stella is anticipating her first English Christmas as a married woman. Adjusting to her new role as Lady Lyndhurst isn’t easy though with a frosty, overbearing mother-in-law, a cook who isn’t accommodating to her American Christmas traditions, and unexpected houseguests. But, Stella takes it all in stride with her usual cheerfulness and aplomb. While she’s been preoccupied with her new horse farm charity, she’s been receiving mysterious notes from a secret admirer and some of her personal effects have gone missing. Is there a thief in the house or is someone stalking her? When two suspicious deaths occur including their housekeeper who falls ill and winds up murdered on Mistletoe Lane, Stella, Lyndy, and Inspector Brown must work together to solve the murders and hopefully save their Christmas holiday.

I loved this historical mystery! The Christmas setting was so fun and I loved the inclusion of the various traditions. Stella and Lyndy are such an enjoyable couple. Lyndy appreciates Stella’s intelligence and lets her pursue her investigations all while being the protective, besotted husband. There’s teasing banter, a little mild innuendo, humor, and swoony romance that makes this closed door cozy mystery even more fun.

The mystery definitely kept me on my toes. Red herrings abound in this one and it’s hard to pinpoint who the murderer is. I enjoyed Inspector Brown and the way he treats Stella. He takes her insights and observations seriously, which is nice for a change. There were several interesting motives and moving parts which all tied together nicely in the end. Throughout the story we learn more about Stella’s mother-in-law’s past and why she is the way she is. I loved how she warmed more towards Stella as the story continued. Along with the murders, are the mysterious notes and stolen items. Are these related to the murders?

All in all, a fantastic new mystery! Highly recommend to historical cozy mystery fans! Though it’s the fifth book in the series it could be read as a standalone, but is more enjoyable if you’ve read the previous books. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

CW: mild innuendo, mild violence, a few instances of taking the Lord’s name in vain.

This may be my new favorite of the series. I've been reading Stella and Lyndy since almost the very beginning, and to date I continue to chase the feeling this series gives me when I read. In short, I adore the characters, the development, and the mysteries continue to get more complex without being completely overwhelming.

The Mystery- It takes us a while to get going in this one, what with setting up the guests at Morrington, a few new characters in the house, and the tensions surrounding them, but this might be the best mystery in the series. It's got plenty of red herrings, the danger is close to the family, and the killer is a total surprise. What I love about this series is that Stella and Lyndy don't get in the way of the Inspector and don't try to fumble around on their own, but work with the constabulary and use their inside knowledge to help the investigation. It's a great way to keep them detectives but remain true to their real situation- that of a Viscount and his Lady.

There's also some familial intrigue trying to sneak in, someone stalking Stella, and a mysterious widow that may or may not be connected with the house. Lots of mysteries to keep our brains occupied, all written together with a deft hand.

Stella and Lyndy: Speaking of the Viscount and his Lady, I am obsessed with them in this book. Seeing the way their relationship has grown and changed has been a delight, and the little snatches of romance between them as they grow closer is SO cute. It's also great that their personalities still clash sometimes- Stella wanting adventure, Lyndy wanting to keep her safe- but they come to harmony in the end. I also love watching him defend her to his family and other naysayers when they disparage her 'Americanness.'

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Clara McKenna for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Murder on Mistletoe Lane coming out October 24, 2023. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own. .

I’ve only listened to this series on audio, so it was fun to read this one. I love this series. I think Lyndy and Stella are an awesome couple! I love the set up of her being an American in England and having to deal with the differences in society. Christmastime Murder mysteries are one of my favorite genres. I also love the historical aspect of the book. The subplot with the creepy guy wasn’t my favorite. I didn’t think it needed it, but I loved the book anyway.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical Christmas murder mysteries!

Murder on Mistletoe Lane is the fifth book in the Stella and Lyndy mystery series set in Edwardian England. It’s a wonderful historical mystery with many twists and turns and loads of secrets. The newlyweds, Stella, Lady Lyndhurst, and Viscount “Lyndy” Lyndhurst are having their first Christmas as a married couple. Stella, an American heiress, who upon her arrival in England, finds that her father arranged for her to marry into a titled English family. She has the money, and they have the title. Fortunately, for the young couple, they do fall in love.

Stella adjusts to a new country and customs, she is also trying to build a relationship with her in-laws, especially her mother-in-law, Lady Atherly. The family is celebrating the holidays at Morrington Hall along with visiting guests - Sir Edwin, his wife Lady Isabella, and their son Frederick but their relationship seems less than friendly. Stella is excited and sees the holiday season as an opportunity to meld new traditions with some of her own to make it feel more like home.

There is much going on at Morrington Hall, with visiting guests, disappearing items, some surprises, secret admirers and of course murder, not one, but two. Stella and Lyndy are an adorable couple, and it was so good to see growth in both characters as the series progressed. I love the main characters and the series as a whole and would recommend this to lovers of cozy mysteries. Although the author does give some of the back story to the series and this book can be read as a stand-alone, it would be better to read the books in-order to better understand the nuances of the story.

My thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing the Advance Reader’s Copy (ARC) of Murder on Mistletoe Lane for review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Stella and Lyndy are thrilled to celebrate their first Christmas together as Morrington Hall comes alive with caroling, intricate decorations and a deadly murder. Taking on the responsibilities that come with being Lady Lyndhurst, Stella is eager to embrace yuletide traditions in the Edwardian English countryside and use her strong social influence for good. Her world becomes so consumed with starting a horse farm charity for the holidays that she barely notices the usual oddities attached to her upper-crust lifestyle. At least, not until items vanish from her bedroom and maligned housekeeper, Mrs. Nelson, becomes seriously ill—only to be found dead in the cold on Mistletoe Lane. Stellas suspicions mount when another person dies under strange circumstances during the New Forest’s annual Point﷓to﷓Point Boxing Day race.
The fifth book in the series & another delightful cosy mystery. I love both Lyndy & Stella & have loved how their characters have grown throughout the series. I was kept guessing as to who the villain was, there were surprises & twists & turns but I didn't pick up on many clues. I hope either Lyndy & Stella do move to Pilley Manor or even better his horrid mother goes travelling for a very long time as my dislike of her does spoil the books a little for me.
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Murder on Mistletoe Lane is the 5th book in the Edwardian-set Stella and Lyndy Mystery series by Clara McKenna. You'll be shocked, I'm sure, that I started this series on book...5. (What is wrong with me?!) Luckily, this mystery stands alone; however, references are made to past murders. It didn't confuse me at all; in fact, it just made me eager to go back and see what I missed! It's only October, but this book will put you in the holiday spirit...except for murder, that is.

In 1905, American heiress Stella Kendrick from Kentucky - now Lady Lyndhurst - and her husband Viscount “Lyndy” Lyndhurst are celebrating their first Christmas together as man and wife at Morrington Hall in England's New Forest Region. Stella is excited to embrace British Christmas customs, and she's trying to introduce some of her own country's customs as well. (That could be going better!) She's also busy with her new horse farm charity, so it takes her a while to notice that some of her personal items are missing from their bedroom. Then Mrs. Nelson, the grumpy housekeeper, becomes extremely ill, and the next day she is discovered dead on Mistletoe Lane. And just where has Mrs. Cole, the cook, gone without warning? Is this turning into the worst Christmas ever? But wait...there's more! Another person dies under suspicious circumstances during New Forest’s annual Point‑to‑Point Boxing Day race. And let's not forget the unhappy employees, a secret affair and false identities. Can Stella and Lyndy possibly solve all these mysteries, and still manage to have a joyous first Christmas together?

This was a fun and entertaining introduction to this series for me. I just adored Stella from the start. She's from Kentucky, and what I gather is that her father brought her to England for an arranged marriage to Lyndy. Luckily for both of them, they hit it off and are now newlyweds who are deeply in love. Stella is jumping right in preparing for her first English Christmas. The cook, however, refuses to make Stella's favorite American desserts, being rather stuck in her ways. Stella also has to deal with Lady Atherly, Lyndy's mum, who is rather frosty towards her. Luckily Lord Atherly seems to be fond of her (except he's quite annoying about horse fossils, his passion), and Lyndy's sister Alice is an absolute sweetheart. The family is dealing with feuding employees and having heating installed at the manor, plus Stella has noticed that some of her special tokens and intimate objects keep disappearing; she's also busy taking care of her new horse farm charity. To top it all off, visitors arrive to spend Christmas with the Lyndhurst family: disagreeable Lady Isabella, her husband Lord Edwin and their adult son Freddy (who seems to get on splendidly with Alice from the get-go). Lady Isabella makes frosty Lady Atherly look like a saint! New husband Lyndy...I'm not too sure about him yet! He's rather condescending to others "beneath" him, and at times he seems to treat Stella as the "little lady". However, it's quite apparent he loves Stella very much and he's very protective of her; also, they work quite well together solving mysteries. I think I'll give him the benefit of a doubt! There appeared to be a number of different mysteries; I was rather flummoxed as to how the author could possibly tie them together. Were the deaths murders, or simply accidents? Did Stella have a stalker? What happened to the missing cook? But tie them together she did, and in quite an entertaining manner. There were shifts in family relationships I found to be quite satisfying. With all the depressing things going on in the world right now, the happy descriptions of the the Christmas celebrations of family and friends really brought warmth to my heart. This was a great introduction to the series, and I am truly looking forward to seeing what Stella and Lyndy stumble into next!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the.publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Kensington Books. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Mystery, Historical Mystery, Cozy Mystery
Gore Level: Low
Readability: It's a series but stands alone.

This is my first Clara McKenna mystery. I really enjoyed it.

The interaction between the newlyweds (Stella and Lyndy), the family, the servants—all of it kept me glued to my seat.

I love this time period when automobiles are new and how classes are changing. This book highlights some of the changes and were right on track for me.

I don't want to spoil anything for you. I'll just say, that yes, I 100% recommend this book for all mystery lovers.

Happy reading!

A very good addition to a delightful historical cozy series! American Stella is still adjusting to being Lady Lyndhurst but she's excited about her first Christmas after her wedding to Lyndy. She's happily exploring the horses, setting up for charity, hosting guests, and generally engaged in the season. Not so fast! The housekeeper is found dead in the street, someone is meddling with her things, and then there's another murder. Lyndy and Stella have investigated murder before and they're good at it but this is home. They have a delightful relationship (and he's quite protective of her when it's needed). The mystery here is nicely twisty, the setting atmospheric, and fans will be happy to see things moving along in the lives of the Lyndhursts. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

The latest Stella and Lyndy mystery finds the couple back in England at Lyndy’s estate to celebrate Christmas. When the housekeeper dies, they must investigate yet again.

Fans of the previous ones in this series are sure to enjoy this one! I do think that reading the other ones before this one will help the reader enjoy this one.

Murder on Mistletoe Lane is an interesting look at Stella and Lyndy's newlywed life now that they're back from honeymoon. Unfortunately, Lyndy has settled firmly into life as a man of his time, and Stella is restricted from the freedom of the horses she loves. Heaven forbid she not follow all of society's rules in her own home.
There's another murder to be solved and complications - Lyndy's mother may have a more interesting and less rigid past than it appears - and threats through odd romantic notes to Stella. Are they intertwined? Readers will have fun figuring it out along the way.
I can't tell if there's been character regression for Lyndy but he's always been a little underwhelming in the character development department while Stella seems a bit stinted in her own way because she's so controlled by those around her. Nothing is ever truly hers. Solving mysteries gives them a chance to do something else but the ripple effect is minute. I hope they get to grow more in future installments.

An enjoyable mystery with plenty of twists and turns. Christmas does not play a large part in the storyline but there are enough seasonal touches to let you know it takes place during the holidays

Murder on Mistletoe Lane by Clara McKenna is another of her highly entertaining series: Stella and Lyndy. Things are progressing for Stella and Lyndy. Both are noticing different behavior in Lyndy’s mother: where once she had disliked the whole notion of them marrying, now she seemed to like Stella and appreciated the marriage, except for the lack of an heir. All of a sudden, the housekeeper, Mrs. Nelson, turned up dead on the side of the road, presumably having been hit by a car. But what had she been doing there? That threw the household into somewhat of a frenzy, well, below stairs anyway, as it was Christmas and guests were arriving. Also Stella had asked Mrs. Cole to prepare a couple of dishes from home. Of course, Mrs. Cole refused, but it caused a little tension. The odd thing was, Mrs. Nelson had been ill with food poisoning the night she died, and Stella had seen Mrs. Cole speaking with a man at the door, late that night. Then she simply disappeared. The guests were Lord and Lady Kenfield and their son, Freddy. Freddy was taken with Lyndy’s sister, Alice. They had driven up with Freddy at the wheel and Lady Kenfield didn’t seem happy about the ride, or about being there, either. Then, another man had died in the middle of a race on Boxing Day. This race had previously had only men entrants, but of course, Stella just had to try. She didn’t finish because she had discovered Captain Stancliffe’s body on the edge of the wood.

Stella and Lyndy are the most enticing characters. The product of an arranged marriage: Stella had the money and Lyndy had the title, it was working out splendidly. They were in love and they were compatible. She was sunshine and he adored her. She had started a charity of her own: a horse rescue. She had purchased the land, build the necessary buildings, and hired the staff, including the veterinarian, Mr. Green, whom she shared. Lyndy was so proud. Lady Atherly almost approved. This string of murders and such was very odd. Stella had noticed some small things had been taken from her room and some romantic notes left. She thought it was Lyndy and was disconcerted to discover it was not. They made a good investigative team. They searched and found and eventually discovered all the perpetrators. It was such a fun read. Lots of subplots and interesting information as well as murders. The book doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is a plus. I enjoyed it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Murder on Mistletoe Lane by Kensington Books, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Kensington Books #ClaraMcKenna #MurderOnMistletoeLane

Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Stella and Lyndy Mystery #5
Publication Date: 10/24/23
Period: Edwardian
Number of Pages: 304

I always get so excited when it is time for a new Stella and Lyndy Mystery to be released. This time they are celebrating their first Christmas together at Morrington Hall and Stella wants so very much to share some of her family’s Christmas traditions with Lyndy and his family. Just two or three small things – a couple of dishes to be served and popcorn stringing. However, Stella’s mother-in-law denies her even that small pleasure, and the cook is the same. Lyndy has had thoughts of him and Stella moving into Pilley Manor where Stella lived prior to their marriage – and I surely hope they do that because I do not like that wretch of a mother-in-law she’s saddled with.

They have guests coming for Christmas, Sir Edwin Kentfield, his wife Lady Isabella, and their son Freddy. Stella senses some undercurrents about the arrival of the guests, but she doesn’t know them or their history with Lyndy’s family. Then again, Lyndy doesn’t have a clue either as he’s never met them. Why were virtual strangers invited to spend Christmas?

Soon, strange things are happening – things are disappearing from Stella’s room. Small things, but one of them is very meaningful to her. With strange interactions between Lady Atherly and the housekeeper who soon turns up dead, and not long after, another seemingly unrelated death occurs, Christmas is turning out to be strange indeed. How will Stella and Lyndy manage to help Inspector Brown solve the murders, the thefts, the missing person, and the letch who has his eye on Stella? The layers are many, the clues few, the suspects varied, and the identity surprising.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and, of course, I loved Stella and Lyndy. Sadly, I think they were the only ones in the book I really liked this time. Morrington Hall is not my favorite setting for the books as I much prefer it when they are traveling or are somehow away from Morrington to solve mysteries. That is for purely selfish reasons as I don’t like Lyndy’s family and if Lyndy and Stella are away, I don’t have to deal with my dislike while reading the story.

I sincerely hope you will give this book and this series a try and that you will love it as much as I did. HAPPY READING!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Another post-Downton Abbey series. Ms. McKenna has penned a number of books in the Stella and Lyndy series, but this was the first I've read. American heiress Stella and her previously penniless husband, Lord Lyndy, are celebrating their first Christmas as a married couple in Edwardian England. Stella is missing some of the traditions from her old Kentucky home, and her snooty and cold mother-in-law is making her life difficult by pressing them to have a baby. Stella's in-laws invite an old family friend and his wife and son to celebrate the holidays at Morrington Hall. But the cook disappears, Stella is menaced by a stalker, and then murder occurs. Stella, with a little help from Lyndy and the local inspector, determines to solve the mystery before the holiday homicides pile up. The main flaw of the series is that Stella, and some of the people around her, act and speak as 2005-era upper crust England and not people living in 1905. Stella may have a car, but the passages where everyone assumes the cook could have disappeared by driving off were ridiculous---it took me one online query to learn that there only 15,000 cars on the road in England in 1905. Many of the people in the book would never have seen a car, much less driven in one. Stella is very modern in action, speech, and thought (insisting on riding in the Point-to-Point holiday horse race, for example). I cannot believe anyone would just come out and ask Stella when she was going to get pregnant, although I do believe her mother-in-law would hint at it (but a stranger? Nope.). Lyndy is a bit of a fop in the worst sense, and I struggled to understand why Stella is so in love with him; perhaps he's drawn better in previous books in the series. I want my historical novels to take me to another time, but accurately; I don't want to hear people talking and acting in a modern manner when they lived in very different times, with different cultural codes of conduct. The series seems to be a favorite with some historical mystery lovers, but it doesn't meet my high standards for historical accuracy. On the other hand, it is an otherwise easy and fast read, and anyone just wanting to wile away some time over the holidays might find the mix of mystery and romance just the ticket.

4.25/5⭐️

Fifth in the Stella and Lyndy mystery series, Stella takes on her new role as Lady Lyndhurst at Christmas.
As items begin disappearing, mysterious love poems appear, two murders are discovered and family secrets come to light, the newlyweds have their work cut out for them.

Lots going on, but everything comes together smoothly, and I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing the free early arc of Murder on Mistletoe Lane for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Suspicious accidents, mysterious disappearances, and a noble house full of guests make for an entertaining English Christmas cozy mystery.

Stella is an American in Britain. Her family's money is keeping the Lyndhursts afloat, but while she and her husband have developed a loving relationship in their arranged marriage, her mother-in-law is still chilly. Stella's involvement in (yet another) murder keeps her engaged and interested in her staff and in the local community.

This is the fifth book in the Stella and Lyndy series and I suggest reading them in order. While the author tells some of the back story, there is much more to be understood


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Another great addition to this series. As always a well written and twisty cosy mystery with lots of red herrings but a limited pool of suspects. I did guess the villain but it was still an interesting mystery and it was lovely to see the next stage in the romance and development of new and old character's. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is the fifth book in the series and while I enjoyed it, I think I would have liked it more if I'd read the previous books. The holiday feels are there and wonderful, though! There's something about Christmas in an English village, whatever the year, that just works. I look forward to reading the beginning of this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

I enjoyed this so much that I went back and read all the other titles in this series. The atmosphere, the characters, and the intricate plot all appealed and I will recommend this to other readers.