Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to read "Dark Deeds On A White Christmas" in exchange for my honest review.

This is the third book in the "One Man And His Dog Cozy Mysteries" and it has gone straight to the top of my favourite books of this year. I was hooked on the very first page and could not wait to find out who the culprit was. I would love to give this book more than 5 stars!

Retired Inspector Tom Ramsey and his dog Bracken are spending the Christmas break with his young assistant Eliza and her parents Doris and Colin Danesdale at the Harkness Manor Hotel. While the weather keeps some guests from arriving there is an interesting assortment of people who do arrive. The Chambers - a family of 3 who always seem to be arguing, 3 young couples, 2 elderly ladies, a couple and a single man. The group of young people are quickly named the 'Hooray Harry's' and the older crowd seem to find their boisterous mood a bit much.

Bracken has to be my favourite character. He makes friends with Larry, Barry and Harry - the hotel dogs.

One final guest arrives - a Mr. Redhill who seems incredibly frail and ill.

Christmas Eve starts with a hypnotist, the Lord of Misrule and games. This pretty much continues the following day except on Christmas day the body of one of the guests is found and Eliza's mother becomes the prime suspect. Ramsay and Eliza set out to clear her name, as neither really trust Inspector Baldoak who is quiet obnoxious through the entire story. There are plenty of suspects as no one was able to leave because of the weather, the police themselves were not able to arrive at the hotel. The Inspector decides that Doris is the culprit and doesn't even want to entertain any other suspects. Everyone has an interesting story, everyone has a link to the deceased. But as every suspect is also cleared will Eliza's mother hang. Bracken has all the answers but no one understands him. Everyone misses the "Rosebud" clue until the very end.

Eliza wants to open a detective agency with Tom and she's sure they will marry - he's convinced she will grow out of her infatuation - after all he's 55 and she's only 19.

This story is very well crafted, a joy to read and try to figure out the clues with Ramsay and Eliza. The author created characters that are likeable and you want to know what will happen next in the series.

Third book of the series but the first for me. Good murder mystery. Variety of suspects all snowed in together.

The third book in the One Man and his Dog series and the first I have read. I didn't feel this hindered my reading of the book at all as it can be read as a standalone. This story is very well written so stands up well on it's own and is enjoyable with likeable character's. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Former Detective Tom Ramsey is supposed to be retired, but cases seem to pop up every where he and his dog Bracken go. On his last "holiday" he met Eliza Danesdale and her parents. Eliza was very helpful in that case, but she then decided that Ramsey should marry her (She's 19 and he 's in his 50s!) and they should have a detective agency.
Eliza amuses Tom and he is sure she will get over her infatuation eventually. As he enjoys Eliza and her family, they decide to visit Harkness Manor for their Christmas Celebration. It begins to snow on the way and gets worse later that night, but the hotel is warm, the food is good, and entertainment is available. Only the odd assortment of other guests is a possible annoyance. There is a quarrelsome family. three "hooray Henry" couples, a pair of censorious spinsters, an ill looking older gentleman, and another man who asks to be seated far from Paul Chambers of the warring family.
As Chambers irks everyone in the hotel, it should surprise no one that he is murdered. The problem came when Eliza's mother, Doris discovers the body and tries to help him by pulling out the knife. As she was alone with him and covered in blood, she becomes the prime suspect. Ramsey and Eliza are VERY motivated to find the right culprit. It seems that most of the people present, including Doris, had prior history with the victim, but even as they share what they learn with Inspector Baldock, Doris remains the most likely.
Ramsey eventually figures out who, with some not-so-advisable help from Eliza. and confronts the actual murderer and gets the confession.
The May-December romance is fun. Ramsey and the Danesdales are becoming almost friends. Can't wait to see if Ramsey will try to find happiness for himself for the first time since he lost his wife and children in the London Blitz more than twenty years ago.
This series is recommended for anyone who likes the Golden Age mysteries. It is well written and very readable.

This was a lovely book, the mismatched pair of sleuths and an entertaining mystery, which needs solving to make sure the innocent are not wrongly accused.

Christmastime Fatality..
The third outing in the One Man and his Dog series of mysteries and Christmastime finds former police inspector Tom Ramsay off on a festive hotel break with his dog, his assistant and her parents. Things are soon to turn less than festive when, following arrival, his assistants mother is discovered knife in hand, a corpse at her feet. With the hotel snowbound, Ramsay has no option but to investigate. Another delightful cosy mystery in this series with an endearing cast of characters, a sprinkling of gentle humour, a well imagined setting and a solid mystery at its heart.