Book Review: A Corpse Among the Carolers by Debra Sennefelder

Rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄

I recently dove into A Corpse Among the Carolers by Debra Sennefelder, and it was quite the holiday ride! Picture this: Hope Early, our charming food blogger protagonist, is all set to embrace the festive cheer of Christmas in her quaint town of Jefferson, Connecticut. She’s looking forward to the annual Jingle Bell Stroll, where everyone gathers to sing carols and soak in the holiday spirit. Just when you think everything is merry and bright, the festive atmosphere takes a dark turn when Hope stumbles upon the body of the Santa volunteer—yes, a knife in his back. Talk about a real "Ho-ho-homicide" moment!

The story unfolds with a colorful cast of characters and a long list of suspects that keeps you guessing. The victim’s ex-wife and new wife both have their reasons to be suspicious, but as Hope digs deeper, she uncovers some secrets that suggest there’s more to this murder than meets the eye. This author really knows how to keep you on your toes with her excellent misdirection and suspenseful twists.

One of the things I absolutely loved about this book was its adorable and festive cover—perfectly sets the tone for a cozy holiday read! The entire town is decked out in Christmas splendor, making it an ideal backdrop for the season, despite the chaos of a murder mystery. I could almost smell the cookies baking while reading! Speaking of which, the recipes included at the end are a delightful bonus, and they all sound delicious. I can’t wait to try them out during my own holiday celebrations!

Hope Early is such an easy character to relate to; her determination to solve the mystery while juggling her food blog makes her feel like a friend you’d want to root for. Plus, if you haven’t read the previous books in the series, don’t worry—this one stands alone beautifully.

Overall, A Corpse Among the Carolers is a fantastic addition to the Food Blogger Series. With its engaging characters and a compelling mystery that will captivate cozy mystery lovers, I found myself completely immersed in this holiday tale. The heartwarming ending left me wanting more—can't wait for the next installment! I’m giving it a solid four stars for its charm and festive cheer, along with a well-executed plot. If you're looking for a cozy mystery to get you in the holiday spirit, I highly recommend picking this one up!

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

Debra Sennefelder’s “A Corpse Among the Carolers” is a festive treat for mystery lovers! Set against the charming backdrop of a small town during the holiday season, this cozy mystery combines holiday cheer with an intriguing whodunit. The protagonist, food blogger Hope Early, finds herself embroiled in another murder mystery that unfolds with delightful twists and turns. Sennefelder’s writing is engaging, her characters are well-developed, and the plot keeps you guessing until the very end. If you enjoy a good mystery with a sprinkle of holiday magic, this book is a must-read. Perfect for curling up with a cup of cocoa and a warm blanket!

Hope Early has a good life. She's finally happy with her boyfriend Ethan and his two daughters, and she's looking forward to a large family and friends Christmas celebration. This holiday season is starting out well...for a while. But then she overhears an argument between her 'Santa', Mitty, and Ralph, a friend, which ends up with Ralph pushing Mitty. All because Ralph believes Mitty, the owner of an antique shop, sold him a bogus lamp. While Mitty denies it, there's no denying that there's a problem to be solved. Along with shopping, Hope can't help but overhear Mitty's ex-wife and new wife having their own argument, and does what she can to stop it.

But there's more going on behind the scenes, especially when Hope is out caroling with her sister, Ethan, his daughters, and others -- and she discovers a dead body. Again. Now, while the lead detective, Sam, tells her to stay away, the main suspect's family asks her to help. How is she supposed to say no to friends? But will she be able to solve a murder, get her Christmas together, and do everything else on her agenda before it all comes to a crashing halt?...

I have to say that if I had to do everything Hope does, I'd be a wreck. Plus, I just don't have that kind of energy anymore (alas!). It's fun to read about it, but it tires me out just thinking about it! She's a whirlwind of energy, and quite a brilliant sleuth, to boot.

She's trying hard to make this a perfect Christmas, but things keep getting in the way. Things like murder and deception. Angry ex-wives (more than one). Not to mention that Hope is having little accidents -- and one big one that almost sidelines her permanently. But that's all I will say about that.

She does her best to pick up clues with the help of her best friend Drew, who's a reporter. Who has his own problems that have nothing to do with murder. In fact, there's a couple of very funny scenes that surround the man. It's all worth reading.

Without giving anything else away, I will say that this is a delightful Christmas mystery that you can try and find the clues yourself. They are there, but not easy to decipher. When the ending comes and the murderer is discovered, it comes as a surprise, which it should do. And leaves us wanting to read the next in the series. A very nice book for a holiday evening. Recommended.

I was given a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

Thank you NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review of this book. A Corpse Among the Carolers is the seventh book in the Food Blogger Mysteries. This time, Hope Early, the main character, investigates the murder of the man who volunteered to be Santa fot the Jingle Bell Stroll. As there were many people participating in the event, there are quite a few people who could have killed the man. Added to the list of suspects are both the ex- and current wife, not to mention that the murder victim has a shady past. A Corpse Among the Carolers is a great cozy mystery, with a nice storyline and main characters that contribute to the charm of the book. Debra Sennefelder is a talented writer who knows how to keep readers guessing until the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Beyond Page Publishing for this ARC.

This is book 7 of A Food Blogger Mystery. Hope Early lives in Jefferson, Connecticut with her boyfriend Ethan, dog Bigelow and cat Princess. She is a food blogger and cookbook writer and in her spare time solves murders in her idyllic Hallmark small-town community.

The town is gearing up for Christmas, there is a Snowflake Market and a Jingle Bell Stroll. Then Hope discovers that the Santa, a local man, has been murdered and starts sleuthing though she gets no help from Detective Reid.

This has a huge cast of people that are her family, friends or neighbours, like her sister Claire and her best friend Drew who has a new puppy. Unfortunately, I don't think the mystery was very interesting. Also, I felt like an intruder in a close-knit community I don't know because I haven't read the other six books.

There is a lot going on besides the amateur sleuthing, Hope is a kind of whirlwind who constantly bakes and organises, and I found it kind of unbelievable that her character would be so reckless and get herself into danger so easily.

After the murderer is unmasked, friends and family get together to eat and drink too much mouthwatering food, which is nice, and we get a couple of recipes at the end, but unfortunately the measurements are in imperial only. I liked how Christmassy it all was, but the ending was too sickly sweet for me.

You might enjoy this book more if you've read the previous books, just for the development of the community relationships, and if you like the Grilled Cheese Mysteries by Linda Reilly, who are very similar.

As it is, it is a nice fluffy holiday read, but the central mystery isn't too taxing or memorable.

This cozy has a little bit of everything in it with a backdrop of Christmas! Lots of twists and turns with a complete surprise villain at the end. I enjoyed the author’s writing very much and look forward to reading more of her books.

A Corpse Among the Carolers by Debra Sennefelder.
Food Blogger Mysteries book Seven
I have enjoyed this series from the beginning. This was no exception. It was very Christmassy, even the murder scene. The ending was a bit of a surprise.. It was a satisfying cozy mystery with Hope’s friends, family, and animal pals too.

This is rich in holiday cheer and events and for those who like cozies that includes, of course, a murder. Hope is at the town's night of caroling when she finds the Santa stabbed in the back. But even though she is loaded to the top of her sled with things to do for her food blog, testing recipes for her up-coming cook book and getting ready for the Christmas' Eve dinner she is hosting she is determined to find some time to do some investigating. Not everyone is happy with that--oh, the police and people she asks questions of, and of course the murderer. But with plenty of deep, dark secrets in the Santa's past, there are many suspects that just may be the one partridge in the pear tree...

A solid mystery with plenty of red herrings. I guessed who it was early on but I did not know why. I really enjoyed the holiday spirit of the book and could just imagine celebrating in this small town. And there are some recipes that sound delicious at the back of the book.

But what I might have enjoyed most about the book is that the police and the private detective that she dates, refused to give her any confidential information. So often that isn't true in these books. That always annoys me. And, sometimes people refuse to answer to her questions. I mean why would they, she doesn't have any official standing to be investigating. And people get offended when she is basically asking them for an alibi. People think she is accusing them of the crime. Which in a way she is. That part is very realistic and doesn't happen enough in cozies.

There are plenty of cozy moments and the book ends with a very sweet moment between Hope and her boyfriend. Looking for a cozy mystery with holiday cheer? Look no further this will deliver in snowflakes and candy canes.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This one just wasn’t for me. I found the plot to be average and the dialogue was difficult to stay interested in.

Hope Early is back—and this time, her Christmas cheer gets a major buzzkill in the form of ho-ho-homicide. In Jingle Bell Dead, the annual Jingle Bell Stroll takes a chilling turn when Hope stumbles across Santa… dead as a doornail with a knife in his back. Not exactly the festive finale anyone was expecting.

With the whole town at the event, the suspect list is as long as a Christmas wish list. The drama quickly zeroes in on the victim’s feuding ex-wife and his suspiciously eager new wife, but Hope’s sleuthing uncovers a shady past that adds even more suspects—and danger. As always, Hope dives into the mystery headfirst, armed with wit, determination, and a knack for stirring up clues (and trouble).

The cozy small-town vibes are in full force, complete with tasty holiday recipes that’ll make you want to whip up some treats while flipping pages. It’s the perfect mix of suspense, holiday magic, and a sprinkle of culinary charm.

If you’re in the mood for a festive mystery that keeps you guessing while embracing all the joys (and chaos) of the season, this one is a must-read. Just maybe skip playing Santa this year... you never know who might hold a grudge! 🎄🔪

Hope has high hopes of a family night with Ethan and his two daughters. As she's running around getting all the details perfect, she overhears snippets of conversation that give her pause. Nothing prepares her for the murder of the town's Santa.

Both Ethan and the acting sheriff caution her not to investigate. Only she (and they) know she'll see what she can come up, along with her sister, Claire, Jane, and Drew. A few close calls strain the relationship between Hope and Ethan, not to mention her friends telling her to be careful. Each fact or picture Hope comes up with takes her in unexpected directions.

The characters are likable or not depending on their role and it's no clear until the end who the killer is. The plot moves along nicely. This was a fun Christmas read and I certainly wouldn't turn down any of the goodies Hope brings with her to ease her questioning. This is the seventh book in the series but can easily be read as a stand-alone.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

A super cute cozy that's a quick read
Def a good addiction to your tbr if you enjoy festive mysteries

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

A Corpse Among the Carolers (Food Blogger, #7) by Debra Sennefelder opens with Hope Early preparing for the annual Jingle Bell Stroll. When the person playing Santa Claus is murdered, Hope knows she must find out how and why it happened. I received an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) from NetGalley for free in exchange for my honest review.

This book was just the one I needed to read to help me get in the mood for Christmas. I know that it sounds weird since it's a cozy mystery where people are murdered, but it was full of holiday activities including caroling, a holiday market, making wreaths, picking out a Christmas tree, and more. The caroling event especially made me think of my childhood when the neighborhood kids along with a few adults would go door to door around the neighborhood to sing Christmas carols. We would have luminaries lit on both sides of the street as well.

All of the characters, minus one or two of them, were very likable, and despite me not having read any of the other books in the series, it wasn't hard to keep them straight. Additionally, the friendliness of the characters drew me into the story, and I felt a sense of community if that makes sense. I guess it reminded me of all my neighbors where I grew up. Even though the main character, Hope, does a lot of things with her church, it doesn't come across as too religious, as in the story doesn't push any religion down your throat, which is a plus.

As for figuring out who the culprit of the murders was, I had a couple of characters in mind, but I ended up being so completely and utterly wrong. Debra Sennefelder did a fantastic job of misdirection and throwing suspicion on other other people. Overall, I loved the sense of community in this book and will likely read other cozy mysteries by this author. Four out of five stars.

This was a superb read with a well developed plot and characters that made the village really come alive.There are many suspects and many intricate details of the past of some of them that kept me on my toes as to who had committed the first murder of Santa and then more to follow and an attempted muder on Hope herself.. I like to think that I am a very good sleuth but I did not detect the murderer at all. Not only was this such a good read but the addition of the recipes at the end were fantastic.

At the Jingle Bell Stroll, Hope Early finds that the man playing Santa Claus has been stabbed. She works to solve the mystery but finds there are a number of viable suspects.

I wanted to read A Corpse Among the Carolers because I love cozy mysteries. I especially like holiday mysteries and foodie books.

I really liked the holiday setting and the details of Hope's food blogging. (I would have enjoyed even more of those!)

The mystery aspect of the storytelling was well done, with lots going on and leads that could go in several different directions ... which gave this mystery some twists and turns.

I enjoyed A Corpse Among the Carolers and look forward to reading the next book in the Food Blogger Mystery series as well! Recommended for other cozy fans.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Food blogger Hope Early loves the holidays, especially the Jingle Bell Stroll. A grand event when the community comes together going from place to place spreading Christmas joy singing carols and Santa Ho-ho-hoing. Everyone was having fun until Hope found Santa dead with a knife in his back. Looking around she sees the vast number of the town’s residents who had come out for the event. Who would have been despicable enough to kill the man playing good old St. Nick with children present and parents who could have witnessed the crime? Naturally, the man’s spiteful ex-wife is high on the list of suspects, as is his current wife. But Hope then finds clues to the victim’s checkered past that sends her investigation in a different direction. Can she wrap up the murderer in time for Christmas? Or will the killer keep her from celebrating the happy holidays?

The characters in this series easily pull readers into the story. Hope is busy with her blog, her cookbook, her barn renovation, and helping her best friend Drew with his new puppy and his home renovation, but she still has time to plan and participate in the town’s holiday events. She loves spending time with her boyfriend Ethan and his daughters, Molly and Becca, but they are still trying to make things work with the girl’s mom, Heather. Hope has a close relationship with her sister Claire who makes a great sleuthing partner. She is also close to former mystery author Jane Merrifield and her sister-in-law, retired librarian Sally who run the Merrifield Inn. They also like to chime in with ideas on the latest murder. All these characters are well-crafted, feel true to life, and are like old friends. I also love the animal characters Ms. Sennefelder brings to life in each book. Drew’s little hurricane Trixie is adorable and her antics make me smile. Hope’s loveable pup Bigelow and her diva cat Princess each hold their own in the story too.

The town of Jefferson, Connecticut was all done up in its Christmas finery and sans the murder and the chaos that followed it would be a delightful place to celebrate the holidays. Ms. Sennefelder’s descriptions enabled me to envision everything so clearly. I can still see Santa Claus sitting on the bench surrounded by people. People who weren’t paying attention to him or thought he was just napping when he in fact was A Corpse Among the Carolers.

The murder mystery was very well written with a variety of suspects. Hope gets totally caught up in the case. She presses the suspects with question after question and makes some keen observations. I am happy that she has Claire and other friends to help her out but she does take some scary risks. I enjoy tagging along with her as she chases down every clue. With every twist and turn the list of suspects became shorter. I had my “A-ha moment” a bit before Hope, but the suspenseful showdown had me on the edge of my seat. The aftermath gave me a little chuckle.

A Corpse Among the Carolers is a merry addition to the Food Blogger Series. The appealing characters and the compelling mystery will draw cozy mystery lovers in. The heartwarming ending will have you longing for the next book in the series. There are 4 recipes and directions to set up a hot chocolate bar in your home at the back of the book. Fix yourself a cup of hot chocolate, grab some cookies or Reindeer Munch Mix, grab this book, and enjoy it all. Merry Christmas!

While Christmas caroling, Santa is stab to death. Having just spoken to the man, Hope is shocked that someone had the nerve to kill him while so many people were right nearby. Since she suggested the man plays Santa, Hope feels somewhat responsible for his death. Can you figure out who killed Santa before the killer silences her once and for all?

There has never been an entry in the series that hasn’t been enjoyable. The author has really developed the characters and bring them to life come for the mystery, stay for the recipes. Because both are absolutely delicious!

It's the Holidays, and food blogger Hope Early is preparing her yummy recipes for her followers. Plus, there are lots of holiday events around town, like the Jingle Bell Stroll. The one thing not in her holiday plans is finding Santa slumped over a park bench...and not breathing. Hope is used to helping the police solve whodunits. However, this time, the deadly culprit doesn't want Hope to help and isn't afraid to keep her out of the investigation...by any means necessary.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery so much! Great characters, danger, plenty of red herrings, and yummy recipes at the end. Plus lots of Christmas spirit.

Many thanks to Beyond The Page Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

This is food blogger mystery seven in this delightful series. Hope is a food blogger and a busy foodie who wears many hats. Her responsibilities have increased with her busy Christmas season but she takes time to attend a festival for the town. She finds Santa dead and becomes involved in the mystery with the local police once again. She has a talent for finding suspects and red herrings.

I enjoy this series for the setting of a small friendly town, a unique protaganist who wears many hats and is independent. It has been fun to follow her journey to success in this series. I love the supporting characters and the sleuth I did not figure out. A fun holiday theme mystery I highly recommend. Well done to the author. Included are a fun hot chocolate idea and receipes.

Thank you to Net Galley and to the publisher for the opportunity to review. My review opinions are my own.

Hope always has a way of getting herself into danger when she's investigating a case. It seems she and the detective at least came to an understanding and this time he wasn't quite so harsh.

I'd guessed the killer but definitely not the plot twist regarding said killer. The showdown was exciting and let's just say it's a good thing Drew's got such a sweet tooth. The ending was amazing with all Hope’s family and friends gathered for a super memorable Christmas Eve dinner.

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