Santa has barely taken off for delivery when 3 strangers show up in Santaland. They were found in the wild and are suffering from the cold, hunger, and various injuries. They say they were in a plane crash and they are the only survivors. As they are taken to the hospital, Santaland rushes to find a way to keep their secret and treat the strangers. Elves need to hide their ears and feet, reindeer and snowmen need to keep their silence around the strangers, yet the town still wants to celebrate. This is a good Christmas mystery. I highly recommend.

Thank you, Kensington Books and Net Galley, for my copy of Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year's!!

This book was so cozy and magical, can it be December already?! The author did an amazing job immersing the reader in the world-building and characters. I loved every single character. You couldn't pay me to hate Santaland and its citizens. THEY'RE TOO PURE AND WHOLESOME. Except when they wished for the strangers to fall off the face of the earth, but who doesn't love complex characters?

The mystery was all right, but I guessed who the murderer was right away. I hoped to be wrong, but I was never led astray to believe otherwise. April's thought process and recollection of memory when it came to the killer was so weird to me because it didn't add up. It was so painfully obvious, but April literally forgot an important encounter when she was going over evidence that I wanted to scream at my screen because it was RIGHT THERE.

I was surprised that Nick was MIA in this book. I don't how active he is in the rest of the series (I haven't read them yet, though I plan to), but I thought he was going to have a bigger presence.

The ending was good after the reveal of the killer, and I was thrown for a loop when it was discovered how said killer escaped and the chase it ensued.

I'm a fan of this series where you've got to buy the premise- Santaland, elves, talking reindeer and snowmen-but know that this installment, like the ones before it, will be most appreciated by readers who are familiar with the delightful characters. This time out, Santaland is threatened by the arrival on Christmas Eve of three humans, one of whom has been stabbed with an antler. April has been worried about Nick, off on his annual trip around the world, doesn't have seatbelts in the sleigh but now there's a big issue. Can she, Jingles, and the rest pull the wool over the eyes of a photographer and a scientist and make them think they are in Canada? It's the small details (the vanity of a reindeer, the baked goods and eggnog) that always make me smile but it's the characters and the clever mysteries that bring me back. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fun read.

I just love this series by Liz Ireland, and 'Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year's' just upped it a notch! April Claus is worried about Nick who has set off on Christmas Eve for his around the world trek. Trouble comes in the form of three strangers, one who is critically injured. The characters are so richly drawn, and one can feel as if they are all as normal of a family and community as there could be--but they are elves, talking snowmen, witches, and the Claus family. It is riotously hilarious, yet with a great touch of 'reality' in family relationships. There is special drama in this offering as Nick doesn't return as expected, and it's left to April to keep everything together. I so highly recommend this entire series. It is so fun!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

April Claus is worried that something will go wrong as her husband Nick is delivering presents on Christmas Eve and constantly being reassured that Santa always comes back isn't helping. While Nick is away, three people are found in a pile of snow and brought to the hospital in Santaland. While April and the other residents want to help those in need, they worry that these strangers will tell other people about the secrets of Santaland. When one of the visitors dies under suspicious circumstances, April tries to get to the truth of what really happened. At the same time, everyone is trying to disguise the elves, keep the snowmen from talking, and the reindeer from flying in front of their unexpected guests.

This is a cute story and the only downside to the plot is Nick and April are apart for most of the book because I love their scenes together. This cozy mystery does a great job of immersing the reader into a whole other world and is a pleasure to read.

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley, Kensington Books, and Kensington Cozies. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

Full of shenanigans and laugh-out-loud moments - like Santaland’s attempts to be Canadian - this is another winner in a creative and fun cozy mystery series.

This is one of the series that I look forward to every holiday season! A visit to Santaland is a must. But it’s April Claus that reels me in.

Mrs. Claus alwaýs seems to find herself involved in any murder mystery that comes to Santaland. It’s a good thing that she has skills of deduction and a posse of friends and confidants that help her follow the clues. Each and every entry is not only charming, but well written with a solid mystery that will have you following the clues along with April and the gang up until the final review. Grab a cup of something warm and cherry and settle in for a great read.

I found this book fun reading. . The mystery kept me guessing. I like the characters and the setting - who wouldn't want to live in Santa's town.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I recently read Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year's by Liz Ireland. This is the story of April Claus, who is Santa's wife. Santa is out delivering gifts when three strangers are found outside of Santaland. They are lost in the frozen wilderness after being stranded during a scientific expedition. One of the strangers is murdered while staying in Santaland. The reader is along for the ride as Mrs. Claus and cast solve the mystery. The story is complicated as the Santaland residents don't want their existence to be discovered. Everyone; elves, reindeer and talking snowmen, must pretend to be part of a normal Canadian town, hiding their true identities.

This book was lots of fun. Loaded with charming characters and an easy to picture location, it is super creative. This would make a great holiday read, definitely taking your stress level down while increasing your holiday spirit. A win all the way around.

Many thanks to NetGalley and, the always kind and generous, Kensington Publishing for the advanced copy. I'll never look at Santa the same way.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for a copy of "Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year's" in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the fifth book in the Mrs. Claus series. Everything about the series is engaging from the great artwork on the covers to the storylines which draw you in from the first sentence and keep you reading until the last word. I look forward to the next Mrs. Claus book before I even finish the current one.

This story has April worried about her husband - Santa Claus - because he's off on his round the world ride to deliver toys to all the children. When he's late getting back, that really doesn't help matters. This story also has an element of danger to the way of life in Santaland when Boots Bayleaf brings 3 unconscious strangers into town. 2 men and 1 woman that he found and one of them has an antler sticking out of him.

How will they keep Christmastown a secret? It could be a disaster if they told anyone and it became a tourist destination. They have no idea who these people are, all they found in their pockets were 42 American dollars and a business card for a photographer/video maker.

Butterbean decides that they will turn the town into somewhere in the middle of Canada and he pipes Anne Murray, Gordon Lightfoot and Joni Mitchell music everywhere, not realizing that it would be normal to play Christmas music in December in Canada. The snowmen and reindeer are forbidden to speak, the elves are covering their ears and wearing clothes that went out of style in the 70s. When one of the strangers dies, April ends up inviting them to stay at the Kringle Hotel so she can keep an eye on them.

How they end up getting the strangers to leave and to protect the secret of Santaland makes for great reading. As always there is a lot of great adventure and suspense. Sadly Santa being away for his big ride means that he's not featured in most of the book. The conclusion of the story is quite surprising as the culprit is not someone that would have been suspected.

I loved Santaland and it’s the only thing that saved this from being a DNF for me. Talking snowmen, adorable elves and chubby reindeer. I would’ve loved more of that.

The story became a drag. Cut 20% out and it’d be a better book.

The reveal of the murder was very anticlimactic. The whole story is centered around it and the reveal is so quick, blink and you’ll miss it.

I received a free copy of, Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year's, by Liz Ireland, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book 5 of 5 in The Mrs. Claus Mysteries Series. All April wants to do is relax with Santa and enjoy the new year, but when they find 3 strangers in Santaland, and then a murder, April is way busier then she wanted to be, This was a nice coy mystery, I loved Mrs. Claus and the elves.

"Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year's (Mrs. Claus Mystery #5)" by Liz Ireland takes place over Christmas week. Nick, aka Current Santa, has just taken off on his Christmas journey around the world. April is extra worried for him since weather has been bad and there's some upgrades to the safety level of the sleigh they fought about that didn't happen. On top of that worry, three humans are brought to the Christmas Town hospital after they'd been found out in the snow. One of them seriously injured. While at the hospital the seriously injured one dies.

To keep herself distracted and the strangers from figuring out where they are. April takes least in figuring out what happened to the one guy and distracting the other two people. This proves harder and harder, but in the end it wrapped up right where I thought it might. However, I wouldn't say there were a lot of clues that pointed to that ending. Just a couple of well placed ones that had me thinking, well why bother mentioning that unless it's important now or later?

Liz Ireland has done it again! I thoroughly enjoy these cozy mysteries with April Claus, and this book was no exception. When 3 scientists turn up injured in Santaland, April has to use her wits to figure out what they're really up to- and how to hide the North Pole's true identity from outsiders. I love the small-town, winter fantasy setting of Santaland and April's can-do attitude. Now if only we could find true love for Juniper...

Great addition to the series and filled with loads of holiday touches this book is great for both old and new fans!

This is a fun, holiday, cozy mystery that goes into the realm of fairy tales. The characters have a lot of personality and quirks that make them enjoyable. The plot, while pretty predictable, had me laughing more than a few times. A must read for any one looking to rediscover the magic of Santaland!
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year's by Liz Ireland is a delightful holiday mystery with a whimsical twist. Set in the North Pole, Mrs. Claus finds herself unraveling a mystery just as New Year's Eve approaches. With charming characters, light humor, and a dash of holiday magic, it's an engaging read for fans of cozy mysteries. While the plot isn't too complex, the festive setting and clever twists make it a fun, heartwarming escape for the holiday season. Perfect for those who enjoy Christmas-themed mysteries with a quirky, magical flair.

April Claus fell in love with Nick and they live in Santa land (of course.)
Elves and talking animals require the suspension of disbelief and that works for me in this novel.
A cozy mystery that has a murder and a need to hide the fact that this is Santa land from strangers that are escorted in by a naughty elf, it is a quick read for a holiday day or night.
I would like to have seen more of April with Nick.

This book is 5th in the Mrs. Claus Mystery series. April sees Santa off on his annual trip and then settles in to enjoy all the festivities held in Santaland during Christmas week. A problem arises when 3 strangers are brought into town by an outlier elf. Keeping Santaland secret is paramount, so they all decide to pretend to be living in Canada, and the elves all cover up and dress accordingly. Mayhem...and murder...ensue. This is another fun visit to Mrs. Claus and her new family as April continues to adjust to her new world. I would still like to see a little more of Santa with April, and I would like to see a story set in April's summer home in Oregon. Still, this is a really fun and original series. Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Kensington Cozies for providing an ARC.

I love this clever and inventive series. Each book can be read as a stand-alone but they're such fun that I recommend you read them all in order. April Claus, expat American and wife of acting Santa Claus, Nick Claus, has been living in Santaland for several years now. With Nick out doing his annual trip around the world, April's both worried about him and confronted with the surprise appearance of three half-frozen humans, found by an elf. During what should be the only week of relaxation for elves, reindeer, snowmen and all other denizens in Santaland, stress is really ratcheted up while everyone tries to prevent the humans from learning about Santaland's existence. When one of the humans dies while in hospital, April has to figure out the killer while awaiting Nick's delayed return home. Such a fun book!