This is book 9 in the Poppy McAllister series. I enjoy this series as I'm familiar with the Cape May settting. It's almost time for Christmas and Poppy and her friends and family are getting ready for the holidays. She didn't find the body this time but the body requested Poppy help find the killer. The bed and breakfast isn't super crowded but one mysterious guest seems to be searching forr something in the house. A fun Christmas read.

I really loved Silent Nights Are Murder. Poppy is such a great character and I also love Aunt Ginny. There's literally never a dull moment with Aunt Ginny. I think it was quite obvious who the engagement ring was for, but the murder mystery was definitely not so easily solved. It was very well-written and there were plenty of red herrings to trick the reader. I can't wait for the next book in this series to see what Poppy and especially Aunt Ginny get into next.

Libby Klein’s Silent Nights Are Murder is the 10th book in her cozy mystery series starring Poppy McAllister, and it’s another entertaining, holiday-themed mystery. Poppy, who just wants to enjoy a peaceful Christmas, finds herself reluctantly investigating a murder that shakes her small town. Though she’s trying to avoid sleuthing, her curiosity and sharp instincts pull her back into the case. As always, Klein mixes humor with suspense, making Poppy’s internal battle to stay out of the investigation both relatable and funny. The quirky supporting characters, especially Poppy’s Aunt Ginny, add warmth to the story, and the small-town setting of Cape May feels like the perfect backdrop for the mystery. The pacing is solid, keeping the story moving without feeling rushed, and the mystery keeps you guessing without overwhelming you. We finally get a resolution from where the 9th book leaves off. And the ending of this book is perfection!!

Overall, Silent Nights Are Murder is a fun, lighthearted read that balances mystery and humor perfectly. It’s a perfect pick for fans of cozy mysteries, especially those that come with a little holiday flair.
Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for a copy in return for an honest review.

This is book of the Poppy McAllister series and it is the best one yet. This cozy is like a Christmas present that is exactly what you wished for but with extras that you weren’t expecting and topped with a perfect bow. While reading this I flashed back to the scene from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix when Uncle Vern says “Justice.” I have been waiting for this plot to come to fruition and the crabby baby‑momma Gigi is going to have to rely on Poppy to save her bacon.

Each Poppy mystery is a stand-alone work of cozy goodness complete with gluten free recipes that can be adapted for regular flour. More importantly, there is Poppy, a completely relatable character who would make an awesome friend. She has been on such a ride from the series starter to this point. She has found the love of a good man, the joy with small child, survived the crazy that is her Aunt Izzy, started a successful Bed and Breakfast, and she finally isn’t finding dead bodies. This time around the dead body is looking for Poppy and as karma would have it, her first love, Tim, who lost out over an ultimatum and got a little bitter, will now need to rely on Poppy to save him, his restaurant, and his baby momma.

Of course Poppy is going to do the noble and kind thing, it is the sort of person she is. She even does what she can to help the homeless guy who is sitting across from the restaurant parking lot regardless of what Gigi thinks or screams. Who knows, maybe he saw something or knew something. As usual, police detective Amber is expecting Poppy to go above and beyond in the on-site sleuthing and to report back everything. Poppy would prefer to make pastries for her handsome hunky Italian barista-owner of La Dolce Vita. Speaking of Gia (Giampaolo), he is one of four men who may or may not have misplaced an amazing engagement ring back at Thanksgiving. Aunt Ginny decides that there needs to be a holiday get-together to suss out the suitor. Not to worry, the reader finds out soon enough what the answer is for that mystery.

This is a typical Poppy mystery which means that you are going to laugh a LOT, you are going to read about amazing baked goods that will make you want to be a gluten-free person, and you are going to roll your eyes almost as much as Poppy does over the hijinks of Aunt Ginny and the other biddies. The suspects are sketchy and sometimes snarky, but always worthy of being on the list which is very short this time given the need for the freezer key. I was completely misdirected by the fishy fake outs and did not figure out any part of this from the marriage proposal to the frozen fish seller. This was a great cozy and I could see it being the last one but I really hope it isn’t!

I really enjoy the Poppy McAllister Mystery series. Poppy McAllister runs the family B&B and is also a gluten-free baker who supplies the local coffee shop with pastry. She used to work at a local restaurant, working with her boyfriend, but when that relationship ended, so did her job. She is now engaged to Gia, the owner of the coffee shop and in love with him and his young son. She is known to find dead bodies, but this time, the victim was found at the restaurant with a note saying "Get Poppy". The local police detective wants Poppy's help, as they have a clandestine relationship and she ends up working undercover at the restaurant to see what she can learn. Meanwhile, the antics at the B&B had me laughing. First there is her cat Figaro, who is destroying her tree decorated with vintage bird ornaments, someone turning her window village scene into murder scenes on a regular basis, Aunt Ginny orchestrating Christmas decorations to rival the Griswalls and both her and Gia's family turning wedding plans into a circus. Will they solve the murder of the fish/seafood supplier before Poppy has a breakdown?

This series is set in Cape May, New Jersey and has lots of tourists and events going on. Poppy has become known as the Murder Magnet and she is trying to break the curse that was apparently set on the family generations before, so their are two mysteries. First, she is trying to solve the murder, and secondary is the reading of her ancestor's journal and trying to figure out who cursed him and his descendants. This book is a wonderful addition to this series. The quirky characters keep you laughing, with Aunt Ginny, "the biddies", Gia's family, Georgina - Poppy's mother-in-law, handyman Smitty and more. There is a lot going on with the upcoming wedding, the staff at the restaurant and all their secrets, trying to figure out who is a descendant of the family that cursed the McAllisters and more. All of these storylines tie together nicely with an interesting murder, lots of suspects and red herrings and so many secrets. Overall this was a fun Christmas Cozy Mystery that I very much enjoyed and recommend. I do think it is best to read this series in order, but it is not necessary.

Poppy has a bad habit of finding dead bodies. It’s not like she makes them dead, she just finds them. When Amber, the policewoman who often has to follow up on the dead body, shows up at Poppy’s house at seven in the morning, it’s definitely not going to be a good day. Poppy didn’t discover this body. However, its location is a problem and then there’s the note. Dead guy, unknown to Poppy, has a note pinned to his shirt—“Get Poppy.”

It’s not like this is the only thing she has to worry about right now. Christmas is almost here. Aunt Ginny thinks her absent-minded boyfriend, Royce, might propose. Figaro, the resident cat, found a small jewelry box with a diamond ring inside. So far, none of the potential suitors have said they’re missing such a thing. Poppy’s former mother-in-law, Georgina, is sure Smitty is going to ask her the Big Question. Sawyer, Poppy’s friend, says her boyfriend Ben might be the groom-to-be. Poppy is worried that the man in question might be her Gia. She loves him and his young son, but there are so many questions to be answered. She both hopes he’s the one and hopes he’s not. A holiday dinner with all the suspects on hand should push one of them to pop the question.

In the meantime, there’s the body to deal with. Amber convinces Poppy to go undercover to find out who had access and motive.

With Aunt Ginny around, a body or two is never enough excitement. Now she and one of the neighbors are in a decorating war to see who can have the most light-up Santas, nativity scenes, candy canes, and plastic on their lawns without draining all the available power for the neighborhood.

Poppy and Gia are a great couple. Her adoration of his son shows clearly in every scene they’re in. Figaro, the cat, adds his own brand of humor, this time by stealing feathered bird ornaments from the Christmas tree as fast as they can be replaced. It may be in retaliation for ‘someone’ (Aunt Ginny) swaddling him into submission and adding him to the nativity scene.

This is a series I always look forward to and this, book number nine, doesn’t disappoint. I hope the series continues for many more escapades.

Poppy has shared gluten-free recipes too: cherry-coconut balls, peanut butter fudge (only three ingredients), gingerbread biscotti, Christmas stollen, gingerbread muffins, chocolate-orange scones, and what’s now known as Aunt Ginny’s Second Place Because She Was Robbed Black Walnut Cake. That alone should tell you these books are a fun read.

Christmastime has Poppy getting the bed and breakfast ready for the holidays. Things take a turn when she tries to found the owner of a misplaced engagement ring. Then her mother returns which was tension to the entire B & B. Finally Poppy is called out at a crime scene. The book has quite a bit going on, but for this series it works. Then ending has me looking forward to the next book.

Poppy has always been an interesting heroine whose aunt and the “biddies” pull her deeper into chaos than her investigations ever do. She has earned the love of a gorgeous man and his young son but remains someone who is unaware of her potential. Like so many “large” ladies, she is reminded that she is not a little svelte thing but the ones who truly care for her see nothing but beauty.

The reasons for her lack of self confidence become very clear in this book where the mother who abandoned her returns unexpected and unwelcome. At the same time her former boyfriend and his just about to pop pregnant girlfriend need her help. They are the prime suspects for the murder of a man found in their restaurant. With the agreement of the police, she goes undercover to suss out any other possible candidates. It turns out the deceased had a knack for making enemies and Tim is only one of many. Around this time an engagement ring is found and all the ladies think their beaux may be ready to pop the question. And when the question is popped, it is not the way anyone expected but is thoroughly charming and sweet.

There is a lot going on around the edges keeping Poppy on her toes but when she finally does figure out who killed the victim, she is going to be dragged into a very messy and dangerous situation. Poppy has a lot going on but by the end of the book, she has resolved many open sores. Enjoyable from beginning to end. Five purrs and two paws up.

Silent Nights Are Murder

by Libby Klein

For once, Poppy McAllister is not the one to find the dead body, but that doesn’t mean she won’t be dragged into a murder investigation. Her cop friend Amber convinces Poppy to go undercover at her ex-boyfriend’s restaurant because the body was discovered in Tim’s walk-in freezer. In a previous book in the Poppy McAllister Mystery Series, Poppy decided to drop Tim in favor of a relationship with the handsome barista Gia who thinks she is gorgeous. Now as Poppy tries to help, she discovers that Tim’s new work and personal partner Gigi is pregnant with a due date set 9 months after Tim and Poppy broke up!

It is hard for Poppy to gain the trust of the restaurant staff and sort out the lies they tell. Most of them seem to be hiding some secrets. As Poppy explains to a frustrated Tim, “a killer will lie about their alibi.” Someone seems to have been messing with the books and the inventory also.
There are so many plots going on all at once. When Poppy was almost nine, her mother dropped her off with promises to return for her. She does—thirty-five years later—and checks into the Butterfly Wings B & B. Poppy and her Aunt Ginny, who helped raise her, spend time trying to figure out what Iris wants and how to get rid of her. Meanwhile, Figaro, Poppy’s cat, does battle with Christmas ornaments that appear to be birds, complete with feathers (until Figaro get ahold of them). Guests at the B&B enjoy a decoration daily murder scene villa setup by an unknown person at the inn.

Aunt Ginny’s friends, the Biddies, add hilarious fun as there might be a wedding coming up and they want to be a part of it. Aunt Ginny, as usual, has some wack-a-doodle plans. In this case, the Christmas season calls for some competition. Aunt Ginny is determined to have both the prize winning recipe and the house with the most Christmasy ambiance (think National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, but on steroids).

Gia’s son Henry is adorable and refuses to tell anyone what he is asking Santa for. As you read Silent Nights Are Murder, I think you’ll know what he wants for Christmas, but will Santa be able to deliver?

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1. #9 in the Poppy McAllister Mystery series. It could be read as a standalone, but would be enjoyed more if some of the earlier books were read first.
2. seven gluten free recipes for Christmas goodies

Publication: September 24, 2024—Kensington

Memorable Lines:

There were three seasons to obsess about the weather. Tourist season—when guests considered it a personal failure on my part if it rained during their vacation. Hurricane season—because my creditors don’t care about safety cancellations, they just want to be paid. And Christmas season—because I was delusional enough to want snow like I was living in a Bing Crosby movie. Irving Berlin had set sixty percent of the country up for annual disappointment.

Flashing police-car lights blazed through the night, and the men tried to look like three normal guys waiting for a table. They looked as normal as a trio of gorillas in hoop skirts.

He ran his hands through his hair and looked like he was about to fry up a conniption and serve it with a big side of meltdown.

SILENT NIGHTS ARE MURDER is the ninth installment in the Poppy McAllister Mystery series. I started this series last year when there were seven books out, and I read every one available back-to-back. I’ve loved these books – with long suffering Poppy, charming Gia, off-the-wall Aunt Ginny, and all their quirky guests, friends and employees – and it’s no leap to say it’s become one of my favourite cozy series..

This festive edition keeps the Christmas themes to the B-plot, with decorating chaos at the B&B. and Ginny’s underhanded scheme to steal a baking competition win. Meanwhile, Poppy’s got personal problems of her own, all made worse when a body turns up, literally with her name on it. For once actually asked by the police to assist, she ends up undercover – working at her ex's seafood restaurant.

I loved this installment. It’s a big, ensemble piece that uses the holiday season to full advantage. I've no idea if the series is planned to continue after this one – I know I'd personally read far more stories from Poppy and the gang – but SILENT NIGHTS ARE MURDER does have a certain ‘wrap up’ feel to it. If it is the last, it's a good one, with a really good, rounded out ending.

I've loved my journey with the Poppy McAllister Mysteries – there's so much variety in the individual books' themes, I think there's one for everyone be you a baking cozy person, an antiques cozy person, a theater cozy person etc.– and I'm definitely going to reread them all from scratch as soon as I get a chance.

This book was pretty good. Super quick read. Will read more by her!! A must read for the holidays. Will read more in this series soon!

“Silent Nights are Murder” is the wickedly funny ninth book in Libby Klein’s Poppy McAllister mystery series – I spent most of my time laughing out loud while reading this. There’s a lot going on in this book and to try to summarize any of it would ruin much of the storyline – I will say that in this book Poppy’s past, present, and future collide to create much mayhem (mixed in with the humor are some moments of sadness – this combination is well done by Klein). I do think that this series should be read in order – newcomers to this book may feel lost about some of the characters in it. The mystery was well done with just the right amount of suspects – I figured out a few things but not who the killer was (that particular plotline was extremely well done). Finally, while the entire book is very humorous, the ending had me smiling – it was perfect!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Book 9, Silent Nights Are Murder is exactly what I expected - A WINNER!

I love Poppy's character, as well as, her aunt. There's something about holiday themed stories that catch my attention. Knowing this was written by such a great author made it even better.

Highly recommend this book for anyone looking to read a brilliant cozy mystery.

Book Review: Silent Nights are Murder by Libby Klein

Rating: 4 Stars

I recently dove into Silent Nights are Murder by Libby Klein, and let me tell you, it was a delightful mix of holiday cheer and suspense! As a fan of cozy mysteries, this book did not disappoint.

In this ninth installment of the Poppy McAllister Mystery series, we find our favorite gluten-free baker, Poppy, caught up in yet another whirlwind of chaos—this time during the festive season. The story kicks off with an engagement ring mysteriously left behind after Thanksgiving, setting the stage for a puzzling adventure. Just when Poppy thinks she’s got it all figured out, a shocking twist occurs: a frozen body of a fish supplier is discovered in her ex's restaurant kitchen, and it’s got a note pinned to it that reads "Get Poppy." Talk about a Christmas surprise!

What I really enjoyed was how the author managed to weave in elements of humor and warmth amidst the murder mystery. All the beloved characters are back, and I found myself chuckling at Aunt Ginny and her friends' antics. Seriously, who could resist giggling when Aunt Ginny and her crew create their own brand of chaotic charm? Not to mention the sweet interactions between Poppy and her friends, especially when Gia speaks Italian—it’s moments like these that really tug at your heartstrings.

The pacing of the mystery was spot-on, with plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing right up to the end. I was pleasantly surprised by how well-constructed the plot was; it felt like a well-decorated Christmas tree—full of surprises and delightful ornaments! And while the laughs kept coming, the book also offered glimpses into Poppy’s past that added depth to the story.

Klein's writing style is so vivid that I could practically see the twinkling Christmas lights while I read. It truly immersed me in the holiday spirit! The ending wrapped everything up beautifully, filled with happiness and laughter—what more could one ask for during the holiday season?

Overall, Silent Nights are Murder deserves a solid four stars from me! I can’t wait to see what kind of zany adventures Poppy gets herself into next. If you’re looking for a cozy mystery that captures the essence of Christmas with a side of murder, this book should definitely be on your reading list!

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

Poppy is caught up in the mystery of who dropped an engagement ring at her Thanksgiving dinner? Her Aunt Ginny and Ginny's "biddies" as Poppy calls them all think their man is going to propose. They set out a plan to catch the romeo and get him to confess and pop the question. Her Aunt and friends concoct a plan. While Poppy tries to keep everyone in line, murder happens at her ex-boyfriends eating establishment. His butcher has been killed at stuck in the freezer. All finger's point to her ex, Tim and his very pregnant girlfriend Gigi. Poppy has helped the police before, and "Call Poppy" was found on the victim.

It was very entertaining. Aunt Ginny and her posse are crazy and Gigi hates Poppy with a passion since she now has Tim. Poppy is caught in the middle of trying to help Tim, even if he and Gigi won't tell her the truth and keeping Aunt Ginny and her biddies in line. The book is easy-to-read and made me chuckle. I liked the characters and the story was great. Lots of twists and suspects.

This was a great holiday book for this series. These books are probably best when read from the beginning as you get to know the characters which are the best part, IMO. I always enjoy Poppy. She is snarky and funny and tells it like she sees it. Her Aunt Ginny of course gets carried away again. I understand that the gluten-free baking is part of the series basis, but I was glad that it was not as repeated to death in this book. It was a throughly enjoyable read.

First book I have read in the Poppy McAllister series. To be honest I found the characters who lived and worked in the b&b very confusing. Maybe this was because I hadn’t read the previous books. The murder was quite interesting as was the murder suspects. A decent enough book but very long winded.

Can we talk about how much fun it is to dive into a holiday-themed mystery during this time of year? I recently picked up SILENT NIGHTS ARE MURDER by Libby Klein and let me tell you, it did not disappoint!

The quirky characters, the weird mystery, and all the holiday cheer just made for such an enjoyable read. I found myself completely absorbed in the story, trying to piece together the clues alongside the characters. And let me tell you, there were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments that had me totally relating to our protagonist, Poppy.

Speaking of Poppy, I really appreciated that she’s a gluten-free baker. As someone who also follows a gluten-free diet, it was great to see this represented in a cozy mystery. It’s not always easy navigating food options, especially during the holidays, so I could definitely relate.

Now, I will say that as a first-time reader of the Poppy McAllister series, I did feel a bit lost at times with some of the personal storylines. But ultimately, the holiday mystery at the heart of the book was thoroughly entertaining and definitely kept me guessing.

Overall, SILENT NIGHTS ARE MURDER is a delightful holiday romp that’s sure to put you in the Christmas spirit. If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries, this one is a great choice!

The only mystery that baker Poppy McAllister is interested in solving this holiday season is the one regarding the engagement ring in a velvet box that was left at her Butterfly Wings bed and breakfast over Thanksgiving. None of the men in the lives of herself or her nearest and dearest have owned up to losing it, so she, her Aunt Ginny, her mother-in-law Georgina and her best friend Sawyer are hatching a plan to figure out who it belongs to, and who’ll be getting proposed to in due time. It’s the best kind of sleuthing, even if the widowed Poppy is taken aback to discover that her own feelings about tying the knot with her boyfriend Gia are not entirely what she expected.

Alas for Poppy, a police detective comes calling soon enough, bearing news of a corpse. Worse, the dead man has a note saying “Get Poppy” taped to him. As if that weren’t bad enough, the body and note were found in the walk-in freezer of her ex’s restaurant, Maxine’s. To Poppy’s further surprise, it’s not just the police who want her to go undercover there. Her ex Tim wants her involved so that she can help clear his name, too.

Tim and Poppy had not parted on the best of terms. Gigi – his new girlfriend and her former rival for his affections – is hardly thrilled that she’s back either, especially since Gigi has closed her own restaurant in order to merge her business with Tim’s. It becomes quickly obvious to Poppy that Tim and Gigi don’t have the best relationship, especially when Gigi uses every opportunity she can to take out her frustrations on Poppy. While Poppy really wants to help both the police and Tim, she’s honestly not sure how much of Gigi’s abuse she can take.

But Poppy’s always been a people pleaser. Between this, the mystery of the engagement ring, an old family diary she’s still trying to decipher and running the B&B, she has a whole lot on her plate. What will she do, though, when an unexpected guest shows up at the inn to turn her entire world upside down?

There is a lot going on in this ninth Poppy McAllister mystery! If you’re new to the series, you can absolutely dive in here, but I really do recommend going back and starting from the very beginning with Class Reunions Are Murder. Each of these books is always much denser than the usual culinary cozy, packing a ton of plot, emotion and humor into the proceedings. Being familiar with who everyone is and how they’re connected makes for a much richer reading experience of an already terrific novel.

Libby Klein also includes a wealth of gluten-free recipes in each book, with seven yummy treats in this one. I decided to try out the following:

QUOTE
Chocolate-Orange Scones
Yield: 12 scones

Ingredients
3 cups gluten-free flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
½ cup sugar
Zest of 1 orange
8 Tbsp of cold butter
1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
1 ¼ cups of heavy whipping cream
6 oz dark chocolate, roughly chopped

For the orange glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
Juice from ½ of the orange

Instructions
Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.

Into a food processor bowl, combine gluten-free flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and orange zest. Pulse until well combined.

Add cold butter by the tablespoon, and pulse until combined.

Add the vanilla extract to the heavy cream. Pour in a little at a time while pulsing. Add in ¾ of the chopped chocolate pieces. I like to reserve the smaller pieces to add after the dough is made.

You should form a lovely cohesive dough–not sticky, but no flour left in the bottom of the bowl either. LIghtly dust your counter with gluten-free flour. Turn the dough out, and let it rest for a minute.

Form the dough into a ball, and flatten it with your hands. Press it into the remaining ¼ of chopped chocolate pieces. Roll out to a thickness of about ¾-inch thick. Cut into rounds with a biscuit cutter.

Place rounds on prepared baking sheet close together, but not touching. As they rise, they will help each other rise.

Brush the tops with heavy cream.

Bake for 15 minutes and check for doneness. If they need a little more time, put the pan back in the oven for 5 minutes. If the tops are getting too brown, turn the oven down to 350°F for the last 5 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool. Make your glaze by putting the powdered sugar in a small mixing bowl. Add the orange juice a little at a time and stir, until you have a thick paste that will still run off a spoon. Drizzle the glaze over the top of the cool scones.
END QUOTE

This is one of the best scone recipes I’ve ever tried, and I have tried a lot of scone recipes, as this column can attest to! I can ordinarily take or leave the combination of orange and chocolate, but it’s so perfectly balanced in this recipe as to make these baked goods eminently craveable. The richness of the dark chocolate meets its match in the fresh orange flavor, with the texture of the scones themselves adding a wonderful fluffiness to the mix.

I also really appreciated that I could put the dough together in a food processor. Another bonus is that you don’t have to use gluten-free flour, if you don’t have any handy. In continuation of my lazy ways, I used dark chocolate chips, which worked beautifully in this easy recipe, instead of chopping up a chocolate bar.

Next week, we travel into space to mix up a few beverages while solving a murder that threatens to ruin a honeymoon. Do join me!

Cape May home of Poppy and her aunt Ginny are wanting a nice quiet holiday season but murder rears its head. Klein's books are always filled with fun, exciting characters and solid mysteries. The relationship between characters is excellent. You'll be guessing until the end. Thanks#Netgalley and #Kensington for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.