Hayley gets a surprise when her long lost father shows up in town. With her mother already there for the holidays, it makes for some uncomfortable moments. When her dad becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation, Hayley has no choice but to get involved. A fun read, good plot and great stories in the newspaper columns. It was fun to have the Dads featured in this story. Looking forward to the next adventure!

"Death of a Gingerbread Man (Hayley Powell Food & Cocktail Mystery #17)" by Lee Hollis is set around the Christmas and New Year's season. Hayley's mom and mom's boyfriend are coming to stay the month-ish with her since her kids aren't going to be home. Then, Hayley's long lost father is suddenly part of all the holiday events after she catches him in his annual visit to his friends/the dads of her friends. Gee, he could make time to see them but hasn't seen her in several decades/her early childhood.

This is part of the story that really kind of annoyed me. Hayley was pretty quick accept her father into her life like she'd been talking to him off and on for years rather than this is the first time since before she was 10. She and her brother are also quick to defend him whenever he proves he really hasn't changed and only thinks of himself. I really don't get the impression he's there because he feels he should be there to make up with them rather that he's there because he's lonely and wants to force his company on them.

The mystery took a long time to build up. Once it got there it ended up being less about the first victim and all about the second, attempted victim. We get some Hitchcock inspiration with the mystery as well.

This is one of those cozy mysteries that likes to put recipes in between chapters. There's also little news articles that the main character writes to put a story with the recipes. I personally would prefer the recipes tied into the mystery part of the books rather than be tied to side stories that don't feel completely connected to the particular part of the story they're inserted into. I tend to skip this part of these book. They'd be great as a separate, series based cookbook though.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending this review copy to me.

This was a fun cozy mystery, that does come later in the series. I loved the characters and small-town feel.

I might’ve been hoping for too much humor this time around because even though I loved spending Christmas with Hayley and the gang, I was really disappointed there wasn’t much in the line of hilarious moments going on, especially my favorite Sergio-isms! I really missed those a lot and I hate to admit it but he was boring this time. Earl was the only person just slightly funny and Mona was kinda off her game too. We got a good dose of her usual craziness in the beginning but that was pretty much all. There was a humorous scene at a cooking lesson that Hayley gave but it didn’t involve any regulars.

I’m sure it had to do with the nature of this story though and wanting to make sure Hayley’s father, Dwight got a decent backstory and mystery which was the highlight of this book and of course a returning father would make for a more serious subject. I liked it as much as previous books, but I really didn’t have as much fun reading it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

I love this series, but feel like this book is not the best of them. There is so much emotional drama that the murder is basically lost. All the focus is on Dwight. #DeathofaGingerbreadMan #NetGalley

I have read all the books in the Hayley Powell series and this one was good but just didn't match some of the others.

Hayley is going to have a full house for Christmas with her mother and her boyfriend coming to visit from Florida. Hayley has closed her restaurant for the season and is looking forward to time with family (mostly, since she has a strained relationship with mom). When she agrees to go with her friend Mona to drop off her father's left behind blood pressure medication, Hayley gets the surprise of the season to find her long-lost father, Dwight, at the fishing cabin with Mona's and their other BFF's dad. Needless to say, Hayley is stunned since she has not seen this man since she was in elementary school when he up and abandoned their family.

When said father says he wants to spend the holidays in Bar Harbor, Hayley knows the town isn't big enough to contain him and her mother's anger. What sets off the tumultuous holiday season is Dwight's reappearance in town causing a lot of hurt feelings to resurface and the amount of enemies he faces. When Dwight is challenged by a former rival to bake in the gingerbread contest, he thinks it's a good-natured competition, until the rival appears to suffer a heart attack during the judging.

The reason I enjoy cozies is because of the small-town, tight knit friend groups in the stories. While this one was set at Christmas, it felt like the holiday was the enemy rather than a backdrop and it made everything that followed seem less than cozy. I missed a lot of character rapport since Hayley's ne'er-do-well father and her relationship with her mother overshadowed the usual banter and fun I enjoy in these books.

I will eagerly await the next in the series but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed with this one just a little bit.

My thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Cozies for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It was enough that Hayley's estranged father Dwight showed up out of thin air but then, then, he's accused of murder and well, she's got to find the real villain. This latest in the series sees a lot of family drama (understandable) mixed into the mystery. Luckily, Hayley's got good friends and her family to help her out. Dwight's a real mixer for sure - will he stick around? The mystery here is nicely twisty but it's the family dynamics are the highlight. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good cozy read.

Once I got over the opening wild ride with Mona I was ready to hunt down a murderer and get overly excited to make my own gingerbread house for Christmas.

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

Another wacky adventure with Hayley Powell, but this time her dad is part of the ride. Hayley's ne'r-do-well father has come to town at the worst time of the year - the same time her mom is there to celebrate Christmas with Hayley and Bruce! Hayley has to play peacemaker between her father and, it seems, most of Bar Harbor especially once he enters himself in the gingerbread house contest and once of the contestants bites the cookie crumbs. With holiday food and drink recipes and columns by Hayley, Death of a Gingerbread Man is a fun, light read to help your holiday season great.

Great addition to the series with all of the great characters we have come to expect from Lee Hollis. Loaded with Christmas touches- it’s a great holiday mystery.

I have to say I just love this series. It always means a laugh and smile, something we all need. This one definitely provided that plus a mystery of course.

It's Christmas season - see the title - and poor Haley is not going to have any peace or quiet has she deals with family and some surprises! No spoilers here.

I love when she does stuff with Mona and that is how we start the story. No offense to Liddy but Mona is fun! They are off on a little adventure and it leads into the story of the holidays.

We have all the usual characters of course with Randy and Sergio, and Bruce. In this story we learn more of Haley's history and Randy's so that made it interesting and fun.

As I said, there is a mystery and it is a good one with some twists and I did not fully guess it until near the end. Fans will enjoy. To those new, I'm sure you can jump in but it's so much fun to know the backstory.

Felt a bit long with a lot going on, but it definitely gives off the Christmas vibes. I liked the twist of who the killer was at the end.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lee Hollis for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Death of a Gingerbread Man coming out September 24, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I didn’t realize there were so many books in the series. I love Christmastime murder mysteries. I thought the recipes throughout the book was interesting. I think I was slightly lost in the mystery. I loved the Christmas activities, but it felt like the mystery took a backseat to other things. But I love cozy mysteries. I would definitely check out more books by this author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christmastime cozy mysteries!

It's Christmas time in Bar Harbor! The snow is falling and the air is filled with the warm scents of woodsmoke and fresh-baked gingerbread. Hayley has her hands full as always, running Hayley's Kitchen, writing her weekly column for the newspaper, and trying not to lose her temper with her mother, who's visiting for the holidays with her boyfriend Carl. Just when you think things can't get much crazier when Hayley's long-lost father returns to town, immediately dredging up old grudges.

This is one of my favorite series. I love Hayley and her fun stories and delicious recipes. Though I do miss the days when she was working at the newspaper, sparring with Bruce, and wrangling teenagers, it's been fun to see the kids grow up and to see Hayley find love and follow her passion. One thing that never came up much was the fact that Hayley's father abandoned her family when she was about seven years old. It's been interesting to have him return and I admire Hayley's willingness to open her life to him despite his long absence.

The mystery in this book was very interesting! There are so many little clues dropped here and there but it's not until near the very end that the one clue sends Hayley down the right path, where all the pieces fall together. I love how it all came together and everyone got their bit of satisfaction at the end.

Lots of bombs dropped in this book and hopefully there will be many more to come!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Loved reading this book and series. I look forward to reading this series everything it comes. I suggest reading it. But do it in order. I had a hard time putting the book done.

This was my first book by Lee Hollis but the 17th in this series. I’m curious to read more books in the series to hear more tales of the characters within Bar Harbor!
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Spend the holidays in Bar Harbor, Maine with Hayley, a food and cocktail columnist and restauranteur. She’s already having to deal with her stubborn as a mule mother and lo and behold her estranged father shows up! During a gingerbread house contest, tragedy hits the event and Hayley must figure out who did it before more trouble ensues. A fun, laugh out loud cozy mystery!
Thank you, Kensington Publishing, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I always look forward to reading Hayley Powell Food & Cocktails Mysteries, and I anxiously await each new release in the series. I adored (and devoured in one day!!!) the latest - Death of a Gingerbread Man, which features Hayley's long- lost father, Dwight, as he returns to Bar Harbor for Christmas - much to Hayley's surprise and her mother's dismay. When his rival is murdered and a couple of attempts are made on his own life, Hayley has to figure out who Dwight displeased so much in his past that they've decided to resort to murder when he returns to town! Another winner from Lee Hollis! A+++

This was a fun, if a bit chaotic Christmas cozy mystery. I love the characters and all their quirks. The plot had lots of family drama, lots of town gossip, some delicious sounding recipes, and of course a mystery. Highly recommend.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Haley certainly had her hands full in this story. Thank goodness for best friends to help you through tough times. Oh, and a very loving husband. I was glad I was on the outside looking in as she dealt with her mom and a very estranged dad, that she just happened to her surprise find enjoying a weekend close by. I loved the story line and these characters. There are several delicious sounding recipes you might like. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.