I adore holiday books and I saved them all this season to shortly before Christmas. Love that this series takes place in Maine. A rivalry not unlike Romeo and Juliet, but from ~50 years ago. give or take a decade. I enjoy lots of series by this author (under other pen names). Recommended for a Sunday afternoon around Christmas.

It’s Christmastime in Mistletoe, Maine, and descendants of the founding family, the Snows, have returned for a visit, and Innkeeper Holly White is determined to make the family’s visit magical. In an attempt to put Mistletoe on the map, Holly’s mother attempts to break a record by baking the world’s largest gingerbread man, but her plans are whisked away when a body is found in the batter. It's another Christmas and another murder for Holly White. Can she figure out who the murderer is before Christmas?
I really loved this story. If I could I would give it 10 stars. All the characters were fun to read about, the plot was diabolically crafted to keep me guessing and I was highly surprised by the big reveal at the end. The setting and the ambience made me want to visit a town like this, and go to the hearth, and participate in some reindeer games. This is the best Christmas mystery of the season, in my opinion. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

I always love a cozy mystery, and this Christmas coziness was perfect! While it is part of a series, you can read it as a stand alone with no problem (I have only read one other in the series). This is a great choice for a holiday read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me a feee copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A fun return to Misteltoe, Maine with Holly and her friends and yet another Christmastime murder in their midst. I enjoyed the story overall and the mystery was good and kept me guessing. I’m definitely a fan of this series!

4.25⭐
Christmas at Reindeer Games is always festive and familial unfortunately paired with murder. This delightful cozy is a perfect way to satisfy your sleuthing prowess in the holiday season. Mystery is fair .and the characters are interesting.

Book Review: I’ll Be Home for Mischief by Jacqueline Frost

Rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄

If you’re in the mood for a cozy mystery that captures the essence of Christmas spirit, then I’ll Be Home for Mischief by Jacqueline Frost is just the ticket! As a fan of the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series, I was excited to dive into this fifth installment, and it did not disappoint.

Set in the picturesque town of Mistletoe, Maine, the story follows innkeeper Holly White as she prepares for a Christmas celebration that coincides with the town’s 150th anniversary. With the descendants of the founding family, the Snows, returning for the festivities, Holly is determined to make their visit unforgettable. Her mother, a talented local baker, has her sights set on a record-breaking gingerbread man, but things take a dark turn when a body is discovered amidst the holiday cheer.

The plot thickens as local mistletoe farmer Mr. Moore becomes the prime suspect in this shocking crime. Holly, who can't stand to see an innocent man accused, takes it upon herself to investigate. Juggling the demands of her inn, dealing with a grieving Mrs. Snow, and preparing for her first wedding anniversary with Sheriff Evan Gray, Holly finds herself in a race against time. With ominous threats looming over her investigation and a warning scratched into her floor, she must uncover the truth before another tragedy strikes.

What I love most about this series is how beautifully this author captures the festive charm of Mistletoe. The cover alone drew me in with its vibrant holiday colors and cozy vibes. The writing is so engaging and well-crafted; it truly immerses you in the story. The characters are not only relatable but also incredibly likable, making you feel right at home alongside them.

The atmosphere is festive on steroids, which is perfect for those of us who enjoy that warm, holiday feeling year-round. With its clever plotting and delightful setting, I found myself eagerly turning pages, wanting to uncover the mystery before Holly did.

Overall, I’ll Be Home for Mischief is a delightful read that combines mystery with a heartwarming holiday spirit. If you're looking for a story that wraps you in cozy vibes while keeping you guessing until the end, this book is definitely worth picking up!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

I loved the Victorian Christmas theme in Mistletoe! It was the same great Mistletoe with a twist. I enjoy spending the holidays in Mistletoe. I was hoping for little more of Cookie and her antics. She always adds a little something extra to the story. The mystery was intriguing and fun as always.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to review this book.

A satisfying addition to the traditional visit to Mistletoe, Maine. The reindeer games are again a ton of fun, and the romance between Holly and Evan is as sweet as ever. My only complaint is the repetitive “I’m so curious I can’t help myself” excuse. Please let that one go.

I received an advance release copy of this title k exchange for an honest review.

It’s Christmastime in Mistletoe, Maine, and Jacqueline Frost delivers another delightful, murder-filled holiday adventure in the fifth installment of the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series. This time, the town’s 150th anniversary festivities take a dark turn when a larger-than-life gingerbread man becomes the scene of a very real crime.

Holly White is back and as charming as ever. Her knack for balancing sleuthing with her responsibilities at the family’s Christmas tree farm continues to make her a relatable and engaging protagonist. In this installment, Frost’s signature blend of small-town coziness, quirky characters, and a dash of suspense shines brighter than ever. The idea of a gingerbread man crime scene is both clever and darkly humorous, a perfect touch for fans of holiday mysteries that don’t shy away from unexpected twists.

The story is saturated with festive cheer—snow-covered streets, twinkling lights, and the tantalizing aroma of baked goods practically waft off the pages. Frost captures the Christmas spirit with an overload of holiday details, and for fans of this series, it feels like coming home.

Beyond the cozy atmosphere, the murder mystery is compelling, with enough red herrings and suspects to keep readers guessing. Holly’s relationships with the town’s eclectic residents deepen, giving a heartwarming sense of community even amidst the intrigue. Frost’s ability to seamlessly blend a puzzling crime with the joys (and chaos) of the holiday season is what makes her books so addictive.

For fans of cozy mysteries, Jacqueline Frost remains a top-tier author in the genre. Her stories are perfect for curling up with under a blanket, with a cup of cocoa in hand. I'll Be Home for Mischief continues the tradition of delivering heartwarming, festive murder mysteries that are as comforting as they are thrilling. If you’ve followed the series so far—or are just discovering it—you’re in for a treat.

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

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great cozy holiday mystery! I adore this series. Its the Christmas season and naturally another murder takes place in the town of Mistletoe that Holly will solve with the help of her family and friends. This is the 5th book in the series and due to the character development its my favorite one to date.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. Highly recommend this cozy mystery series!!

This remains my favorite Christmas series! I love that Christmas never really takes a back seat and is very prevalent throughout the book. I did find myself much more interested in the goings on of the returning characters than the actual mystery though. I was really missing some of the characters and interactions between them in this particular book. Something about this particular volume felt more like a set up for the next one than a particularly strong addition to the series. So while this wasn't my favorite of the Christmas Tree Farm Mysteries it was still very enjoyable and I look forward to what's to come!

It’s Christmas once again in Mistletoe, Maine and Innkeeper Holly White is determined to make this a happy one – celebrating her one year wedding anniversary to Sheriff Evan Gray, running the inn, helping her family at the Christmas Tree Farm, and cheering her mother on as she tries to break a record by baking the world’s largest gingerbread man. But murder has a habit of happening at Christmas in Mistletoe and Holly once again finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. Evan and her family aren’t happy – will she be able to stay out of danger this time?

“I’ll Be Home for Mischief” is the fun fifth book in Jacqueline Frost’s Christmas Tree Farm cozy mystery series. I love my visits to Mistletoe and the Christmas Tree Farm – this year I enjoyed reading about Mistletoe’s 150th Anniversary celebration as well as the various happenings at Christmas Tree Farm including the always fun Reindeer Games (if only I could visit there in real life!). Holly is a delightful main character even though she has a penchant for getting in danger (I did wonder at times, as she was questioning people about the murder, how she had any friends left). The mystery is well done with just the right amount of suspects, some twists and turns, a hint of Christmas magic, a truly unique way to kill someone off, and just the right amount of a sense of danger. Truthfully I was a bit sad when the killer’s identity was revealed. Finally, at the end of the book everything is nicely wrapped up (almost with a red bow!) and had me smiling as I finished the book.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Jacqueline Frost gives us another Christmas Tree Farm mystery in I'll Be Home for Mischief. Mistletoe, Maine, is celebrating the Christmas season with the return of the descendants of the Snows, the founding family, for the 150th anniversary Then Mr. Snow is found dead in batter for a world record size gingerbread cookie. Holly tries to stay away from investigating the murder, but she keeps finding new information. Too many suspects and she also can't figure out a gift for her husband the sheriff. Charming holiday cozy.

It is Christmas time in the iconic town of Mistletoe as the residents make preparations to celebrate their 150th anniversary and attempt to make a Guinness World Record worthy gingerbread man to weigh in at more than one thousand three hundred and eight pounds and eight ounces. I bet you will never guess where the body drop takes place.

Our sleuth is Holly Gray nee White, newlywed to the town’s sheriff, and inn keeper on her family’s Christmas tree farm known as the Reindeer Games Tree Farm. This season finds Holly being her usual busy self, with Christmas cards from the Tree Farm to be mailed, jewelry orders to be filled, the annual toy donations to be wrapped oversee Reindeer Games, and see to the needs of the important inn guests to be seen taken care of Evan who has a habit of doing amazing things and giving amazing gifts is ready for their big day. So obviously Holly couldn’t possibly have time to hunt down clues, make suspect lists, question people, and possibly irritate the murderer.

I think that this is the most harrowing book in the series yet in terms of Holly being threatened and she even remarks multiple times that Evan is going to have a stroke if not multiples strokes. Holly says that she isn’t going to investigate…at first. Holly has a strong desire to see justice for Elijah Snow even if he was arrogant but not she refuses to entertain the idea that Henry Moore could be a possible suspect. Who could possibly be a suspect since the Snows weren’t in town for even 24 hours before Elijah’s demise? I have no idea how Holly has the energy to sleuth, she is going all over town and even with her special parking spot (made me laugh out loud) I would be exhausted. She isn’t even supposed to be asking questions, she told her parents and Evan that she wasn’t going to get involved. At least that is how the story started out.

In Holly’s defense, everyone seems to be goading her into investigating, except for her mom, dad, and hubby Evan. Cookie tantalizes people including Holly, with some choir group gossip that includes a brief history lesson with a Romeo and Juliet angle. Don’t even get me started about the podcasters who pair murder with recipes and have nicknamed Holly the Gumdrop Gumshoe. Are they helping or hurting? I am not sure but what I do know is that they are driving Holly crazy which is reason enough to end up on her suspect list.

This is a wonderfully entertaining holiday cozy that keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat. It also has you craving sweet treats with such wonderful descriptions of seasonal sweets of all types. I am definitely looking forward to my next trip to Mistletoe and the Reindeer Games Tree Farm. Now I think I will go and make some Christmas cookies. P.S. check out the author name, Jack Frost!

This was a cute cozy mystery. Having never read any of her books before I didn’t know what to expect but now I want to read the rest of the books about Mistletoe. This book puts you in a Christmas mood and makes you wish you lived in this small little Victorian town.

I am SO hoping this series continues! The gang will be off the farm and there's no telling what could happen. 

This book was so much fun to read! I love the character development that has taken place over the series, especially with Evan and Holly. Don't worry, all your favorites are there - Cookie, Caroline, Holly's parents, friends, and her sis-in-law. 

As it creeps closer to Holly and Evan's first wedding anniversary, it seems that everyone is keeping secrets! When Holly's mom decides she wants to break the world record for the largest gingerbread man, of course catastrophe must follow. A dead man is found in the batter and it looks like all hope is lost for securing that record. 

There is so much love tangled in this book with a dash of murder, it's so good. Put this on your TBR list ASAP. 

Also, there is a cheeky mention of a certain character with the certain name of a certain author. 

Enjoy! 5*

As a fan of Frost’s Christmas Tree Farm Mysteries, I eagerly awaited this new release. After the previous installment, many readers (myself included) wondered if it was the series' conclusion. Happily, Frost surprised us with another festive mystery, perfectly timed for the holiday season!

While the mystery element felt less intense this time, the Christmas cheer more than compensated. From sugar-rush-inducing cookies to Holly’s farm-hosted holiday games and the Victorian-themed festivities, this story brims with holiday spirit. Of course, no Christmas mystery would be complete without a yuletide murder to keep us on our toes!

That said, I had some critiques. Holly seemed to downplay the threats against her and became distracted by many things going on in her life. The side crimes like the theft of cookies and toys seemed sidelined. Additionally, the podcasters, who caused plenty of mischief early on, faded out midway, leaving their subplot underdeveloped.

The ending fell a bit flat, with the killer’s identity and the secrets surrounding the Snows and Moores feeling predictable. Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed the festive atmosphere, especially the tantalizing descriptions of baked goods and holiday fun. Fans of cozy mysteries and Christmas enthusiasts alike will find plenty to love here!

3.5/5, rounding off to 4

I’ll Be Home for Mischief is the fifth installment in the entertaining cozy mystery series, A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery Book, by Jacqueline Frost. As Mistletoe, Maine prepares for the town’s 150th anniversary, townsfolk decide to come up with a plan to break a world record. Not surprising, given the town’s unfortunate record for murders in a small town, a body is discovered inside one of their endeavours and now Holly is once again on the trail of a killer.

This is a fun read with interesting and (mostly) likeable characters, a compelling mystery with plenty of twists and turns and red herrings to keep the reader engaged and guessing as well as lots of holiday vibes to help ring in the season for those of us who consider Christmas cozies a very big part of the holiday. I read the book while listening to the audiobook narrated by Allyson Ryan who does an excellent job.

Thanks to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and Crooked Lane Books for bot the eARC and audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my copy of I'll Be Home for Mischief by Jacqueline Frost in exchange for an honest review. It published November 12, 2024.
The fifth installment in this fun series, takes place in Mistletoe, Maine. I really enjoy this setting, it’s the place of my dreams! I love this family, and the relationships between everyone.
I loved the couple bits of self-awareness, I thought it was very, “meta” and definitely got a good chuckle from me!
The mystery is solid, who did it was a surprise. My Christmas tradition of reading books from this series continues, and it’s totally a highlight for me!

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series! I love the characters and the holiday theme. The mysteries are always well written and I look forward to the next in the series! If you considering trying a cozy mystery or are a fan looking for a new series, I highly recommend giving this one a try!