I really enjoy this series and this was a great addition .
There aren't a lot of cozys around new years so that was a great element

I'd like to thank netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read and review this book

April Claus knew that by marrying the Big Guy, she would live in a magical world of elves and flying reindeer and talking snowmen. As one of the few humans who lives in Santaland, she knows that it was important to keep its existence a secret. She is already worried about Nick who is on his annual journey and has not reported in when three human strangers are rescued from an icy death. Whilst they want to help the injured people, April knows, as they get better, it will be nigh on impossible to keep the secret for long.

She enlists the aid of all the residents to try to act “normal’ but when the most severely injured person is murdered, April needs to discover the killer while continuing to maintain the farce. It is up to her because Nick cannot get home immediately. There are plenty of slips along the way but when one of the victims escapes and goes on walkabout with a talking snowman, she knows the gig is up unless she can find some solution to their problems.

As usual, along with the charming characters trying so hard, there is a good mystery that is only revealed towards the end. And what follows is a Santaland Keystone Kops chase. All ends well and secrecy is maintained. It makes for a fun pre-holiday read. Five purrs and two paws up.

We're back at the North Pole and it's Christmas Eve. Santa is having mechanical problems with the sleigh and hasn't returned. Meanwhile, three half-frozen humans are found and the town decides to pretend they are Canadian while the strangers recuperate at the infirmary. This sets up the madcap shenanigans and near-misses that this series does so very well.

I look forward to the annual installment in the Mrs. Claus series. I'm happy this the fifth book was set during the week between Christmas and New Year's where all the Christmastown residents are fully in their own elements.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing | Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required by law to disclose this. #MrsClausandtheNightmareBeforeNewYears #NetGalley.

Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year's by Liz Ireland is the fifth book in the series and continues the tale of April Claus and her husband Nick. While Nick is away doing his Santa Claus gig, April is taxed with trying to convince three scientists who have been lost in the wilderness, that they are just in a normal tourist town, not the North Pole. This is a fun read and carries on the story of the real Santa with humor and great characters, both human and animal.

I love this series so much! It is silly and fun to read and the setting of the novels is so much fun! It is one of my favorite comfort series.

I realized after reading this installment that it is set in the time after Christmas Eve and before New Years Day - I originally assumed that it would be New Years related mystery. This was my least favorite of the 5 book series, but it was still fun with all the antics and characters. I love when these books are a bit more silly and was missing some of that vibe throughout this book.

I can't wait for the next installment and am curious as to what will be coming next. (I hope that there is a next installment)

Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for the early copy in exchange for a review!

I am a sucker for the trope that Santa is a real person he really does live in a secret city at the North Pole, so obviously Liz Ireland's Mrs. Claus mysteries are just my cup of tea, Peppermint tea, that is. This is the fifth annual book in the series which means that I now look forward to a new Mrs. Claus book every fall. Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Years did not disappoint! Santa has just left on his annual flight around the world and all the elves are celebrating. Their work is done and they are ready to party until the New Year rings in. But April is left worried about Nick. That old sled doesn't even have seatbelts! And then an elf arrives with three injured humans found in the wilderness. One of them has been stabbed with a reindeer antler. Where did they come from and who would have attacked them? And how can they keep them from telling the secrets of Santaland to the world when they return? Things go from bad to worse when the injured person dies - but not from the stab wound he sustained. On top of everything, Nick (Santa) has not returned. April has her hands full once again with Santaland mysteries to solve. Reading a Mrs. Claus mystery every year is a great tradition to start if you haven't already. Nothing like a little merry mayhem to get you into the holiday mood.

April Claus can't wait for hubby Nick to be finished with his deliveries so they can have a little bit of time together and just relax. While Santa is away an elf has found three people in the surrounding wilderness. They are from a scientific expedition but their presence puts Santaland in danger. She must get everyone to act normal so their secret won't become known to the world. When one of the newcomers dies she knows she must figure out who the murderer and get the remaining scientist out of the town. Will she be able to keep their secret as well as find a murderer?

When unexpected guests are brought to Santaland, April Claus must scramble to keep their secrets. Elves and others are told to be normal. As the week progresses though they find it harder and harder to hide. When one of the guests dies under mysterious circumstances, will April be able to solve the murder before the truth is discovered? Who could be a murderer in their community? I really enjoyed this fun read. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

“Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year's” is the delightful fifth book in Liz Ireland’s Mrs. Claus cozy mystery series. The more I read these books, the more I love them. Having Mrs. Claus as an amateur detective is an inspired idea and I love what Ireland has done with the premise – from Santa, to elves, to reindeer, to talking (and singing) snowmen this series has it all and more. In this book, Santa has just set off to deliver Christmas gifts when three strangers show up in Christmastown – nearly frozen to death. While they are being nursed back to health, April and the rest of the Christmastown citizens try to hide who they really are. As if that isn’t hard enough, April finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery when someone kills one of the strangers. All of this leads to a fun, at times laugh out loud mystery. Figuring out who the killer was wasn’t that hard but I was so wrapped up in the fun of it all that I didn’t really care that I figured it out. I really love Christmastown and the people (including reindeers and snowmen) living there. My one complaint is that I finished the book very quickly and now have to wait for my next visit to Christmastown – I hope it happens soon!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

In the newest book of this series, there are strangers in Santaland. April and the villagers all try to keep them from finding out that it is Santaland while investigating the attack of one of them. When that turns into murder the investigation increases. This is such an unusual, fun series far from your normal cozy mysteries. It is enjoyable to read and fast to finish.

When three human strangers are discovered badly injured in the Santaland forest, the residents of Santaland work on transforming their village into "Canada" and obscuring their more elf-like features to preserve their way of life. But Mrs. Claus is more determined to figure out what happened to the travelers--even more so when one of them is murdered while in the hospital, seemingly recovering from his injuries. All while waiting for her husband to return from delivering gifts, which has been taking longer than normal...

Gosh, I love this series so much. It's just such a joy to read. Every book reveals more details about the North Pole that I didn't even know I wanted to know--but I did. Ireland is just so incredibly creative in her world building that I may be even more into that than the mystery. But the mystery is also fantastic. I loved the introduction of these new characters, which is hard to do in a rather closed universe. Everything came together nicely and understandably in the end. I cannot wait for more books in this series! I'm hoping Valentine's Day is next...

Thanks to Kensington for my ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

Book five in the Mrs. Claus series. Fast paced fun! This can be read as a standalone. April is back trying to solve another mystery. An excellent holiday or anytime cozy. Thanks#Netgalley and #Kensingtin for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

Book #5 in the Mrs Claus series of cozy mysteries. These books are unique, with an original plot of murder that is investigated by a very different kind of detective. They are all fun but still maintain the mystery that will keep you guessing long after the ho ho ho has been explored.

Santaland has just sent Santa off on another year of Christmas Eve deliveries and now it’s time for a week of celebrations. But Santa’s wife April Claus can’t help but worry that something is going to go terribly wrong. And terribly wrong it does! In the midst of the send off revelry, Boots Bayleaf careens into town with three hurt humans in the back of his sleigh. One with a severe wound to his back from a sharpened antler. April and her friends know that strangers to Santaland are a danger to their way of life, but the strangers are all too injured to be moved. So, a plot is hatched. The residents of Christmastown will disguise their village as a small Canadian town until the strangers can be sent away. That means no flying reindeer, no talking snowmen, and no pointy elf ears! But before the plan can even be brought to fruition, one of the strangers is murdered in the Christmastown Hospital. Now April must help Constable Crinkles solve a murder and keep the others from discovering Christmastown’s secrets, all while anxiously awaiting the return of her husband. Will April be able to solve the mystery or will Santaland end up being exposed to the world?

Liz Ireland’s Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year’s is a holly, jolly good time. It’s like biting into a warm sugar cookie…cozy, comforting, and sugary sweet! The fifth entry in the Mrs. Claus Mysteries series is just as fun as the first. Ireland gives us neat new additions and peeks into Santaland while layering them on top of old favorites characters, storylines, and settings. Constable Crinkles, Juniper, and the extended Claus family are all back for more wholesome, hilarious hijinks. It was real treat to see Christmastown and its denizens try to disguise themselves as an ordinary Canadian town filled with ordinary Canadian citizens…and fail spectacularly. No trip to Santaland is complete without nosy April Claus and her penchant for mystery solving. Ireland gives us a whole new engaging mystery full of twists, turns, and red herrings. A fast-paced, fun frolic through Santaland!

Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year's is the fifth installment in Liz Ireland's Mrs. Claus series and can be read and enjoyed as a standalone.
It's a cozy murder mystery, where April Claus finds herself caught up in solving a murder mystery in Santa's absence.
This book is cute and fun, probably a little too cozy and fluffy for my liking, but would definitely appeal to the right audience.
Thank you NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Liz Ireland for this ARC!

Really enjoy this fun series.
Santa is on his yearly trip and Mrs Claus has to contain a murder and chaos that develops with 3 strangers and trying to keep Santaland a secret form the strangers.
Really good fun story.
Great fun characters ,reindeers that talk, snowmen that sings and all the different elves..
A good Christmas fun story.
Voluntarily reviewed.

This is the fifth book in the Mrs. Claus mystery series by Liz Ireland. I enjoy reading this series due to its characters, humor, and zaniness. I can always count on a great escape to Santaland. It brings a spring to my step whenever I can escape the craziness of the political ads running most of this summer.

This installment deals with an injured group of searchers looking for Santaland. These individuals want to make millions off of developing the area into a major tourist attraction. They are found close to death after their plane crashes in the mountainous area not far from the town and transported to the small hospital in town.

Unfortunately, out of the blue, one of them dies. Let the well-plotted mystery begin.


I applaud the town’s cooperation in trying to make the strangers believe it is an ordinary town in the Artic Circle. It made me laugh many times.
Another concern for April and the town is the delay in Santa and the team’s return from delivering Christmas presents around the world.

This story had plenty to keep you interested and the twist and turns were as much fun as a rollercoaster.

The book is a standalone story but I would read them from the start in order to get a better understanding of the recurring characters.

I received an advanced readers e-copy of the book and am not required to leave a positive review. This series always moves to the top of my read pile.

Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year's is book #5 in the Mrs. Claus Mystery series by Liz Ireland.

April Claus is watching the festivities after her husband, Nick aka Santa Claus, takes off to deliver Christmas gifts when chaos erupts. Three badly injured people were found and brought to Santaland for medical help. People finding out about Santaland would be disastrous. I love this series. Flying reindeer, elves, talking snowman, and the Claus family make an interesting cast of characters. Things never go quite as planned, often leading to humorous situations. This was an entertaining story as they try to keep the reality a secret and investigate a mysterious death.

Thank you to the author, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I always look forward to a new installment of this unique and festive series, and this one did not disappoint!

These escapist and whimsical books, set in Santaland, feature Santa's wife, April Claus, as the amateur sleuth. The world-building is fantastic, with many imaginative touches. I love the author's attention to detail with everything in Santaland, which is all so cleverly done and delightfully on theme. In this one, the elves rescue and care for three injured scientists who absolutely cannot know they have stumbled upon Santaland. So the residents try hiding everything, from singing snowmen to their elf ears, and their shenanigans deliver many humorous moments. But when one of the visitors dies suspiciously, the plot thickens, and Mrs. Claus must uncover the culprit.

In addition to the festive and super cozy setting, the book is full of charming characters. The elves, reindeer, and Santa's extended family are vibrant and memorable, and I enjoy spending time with them. April is a bright, likable sleuth. Her investigative skills have sharpened, and she has a great group around her to help. The mystery was well-plotted and kept me guessing. This book is a treat and a true comfort read with delightfully festive and fiendish fun!

Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the gifted review copy!

I read this while travelling recently and it was the perfect plane book - both light and funny - it incentivised me to read rather than just watch movies.

In April Claus's latest adventure at the North Pole three people are found in the wilderness and brought back to Santaland. When one later dies one of the Claus's becomes a suspect.

But it's not just murder keeping April busy, the two other visitors refuse to stay the the hospital and April has to help the elves and her relatives turn Santaland into 'Canada'.

On top of that her husband Nick has also not come home from delivering the presents and may have to be rescued.

Mrs Claus may just be glad when Christmas is over.

Great book and looking forward to the next one.