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Christmas Tree Farm Mystery #4
Stalking Around the Christmas Tree
For innkeeper Holly White, Christmas time in Mistletoe, Maine, is the ultimate holiday gift. Business at the Reindeer Games Inn is booming, her wedding to Sheriff Evan Gray is nearly here, and the annual parade is about to begin. The town is lucky to have another gift this year with the state’s ballet company staying for several performances of The Nutcracker. But disaster strikes when Tiffany, the lead ballerina, shows up dead on a float during the parade, the Rat King’s mask nearby. Holly will have to spruce up her sleuthing skills if she wants to catch the killer before Christmas—and her wedding day.
Immediately, Holly discovers that Tiffany had more than a few secrets. She finds out that the star of the show had a super fan that no one knows anything about. And the show’s understudy slips some other intriguing information Holly’s way: not only was Tiffany secretly seeing someone romantically, but there seems to be more than one rat in this company. When Holly discovers a secret passage leading to Tiffany’s dressing room, with footprints leading out, she wonders if this is evidence of a secret lover—or a stalking killer.
With an impending snowstorm and the ballet company on the way out of town, Holly must act quickly if she wants to find the person responsible for this terrible murder. Will she be able to save Christmas—or will her investigation turn cold like the weather?
Immediately, Holly discovers that Tiffany had more than a few secrets. She finds out that the star of the show had a super fan that no one knows anything about. And the show’s understudy slips some other intriguing information Holly’s way: not only was Tiffany secretly seeing someone romantically, but there seems to be more than one rat in this company. When Holly discovers a secret passage leading to Tiffany’s dressing room, with footprints leading out, she wonders if this is evidence of a secret lover—or a stalking killer.
With an impending snowstorm and the ballet company on the way out of town, Holly must act quickly if she wants to find the person responsible for this terrible murder. Will she be able to save Christmas—or will her investigation turn cold like the weather?
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2023
150 people are currently reading
2120 people want to read
About the author
Jacqueline Frost
8 books633 followersJacqueline Frost is a mystery-loving pet enthusiast who hopes to make readers smile. She lives in rural Ohio with her husband and three spunky children. Jacqueline is a member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW) and Sisters in Crime (SinC).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 510 reviews
October 17, 2023
Hooray! I love Christmas books with Christmas tree farm and this series is even called A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery! 🎄❄️☃️
Set in Mistletoe, Maine, innkeeper Holly White of Reindeer Games Inn has a lot on her plate. It's just a week until Christmas and this Christmas town is bustling with tourists and Holly's Christmas Eve wedding to town's Sheriff Evan Gray. There's also a ballet company in town for The Nutcracker performances and they'll be part of the upcoming annual parade.
The mayor's idea to restore the town's safety reputation by bringing in the ballet company is crushed when the lead ballerina dies during the parade. Who could want her dead? Looks like Holly has to solve this mystery before her wedding day and before the ballet company leaves town.
This cozy mystery is really sweet, has such a charming ambiance of Christmas, and is very festive. Holly's family and friends are fun to follow. Her dad is a lumberjack and her mom is a baker/chef at their cafe. Her friend Cookie has a goat that's adored by everyone and Caroline has a to-die for cupcake shop.
I enjoyed the audiobook read by Allyson Ryan. It was a quick and entertaining listen. I would listen to more of this series. 3.5⭐
Thank you Dreamscape Media for the ALC.
Published 17th Oct 2023
8 hours and 54 mins
Set in Mistletoe, Maine, innkeeper Holly White of Reindeer Games Inn has a lot on her plate. It's just a week until Christmas and this Christmas town is bustling with tourists and Holly's Christmas Eve wedding to town's Sheriff Evan Gray. There's also a ballet company in town for The Nutcracker performances and they'll be part of the upcoming annual parade.
The mayor's idea to restore the town's safety reputation by bringing in the ballet company is crushed when the lead ballerina dies during the parade. Who could want her dead? Looks like Holly has to solve this mystery before her wedding day and before the ballet company leaves town.
This cozy mystery is really sweet, has such a charming ambiance of Christmas, and is very festive. Holly's family and friends are fun to follow. Her dad is a lumberjack and her mom is a baker/chef at their cafe. Her friend Cookie has a goat that's adored by everyone and Caroline has a to-die for cupcake shop.
I enjoyed the audiobook read by Allyson Ryan. It was a quick and entertaining listen. I would listen to more of this series. 3.5⭐
Thank you Dreamscape Media for the ALC.
Published 17th Oct 2023
8 hours and 54 mins
February 20, 2024
A sweet and fun series! Everything about this book is sometimes just a bit over the top, but it absolutely works here. From the cutesy themed decor not just at Reindeer Games, but all over the town of Mistletoe, Maine, to the sweet and touching friends and family moments, to the superhuman abilities Holly and Caroline possess when they set to work, and let's not forget the charming romance between Holly and Sheriff Evan, it all comes together to make a perfect world that is sure fun to imagine when your own world seems so messy and awkward in comparison.
At times, I felt like this was possibly the last book in the series, but I certainly hope not, as the series is just reaching its stride. This one is my favorite so far, and I hope there are more books to come as there are more characters' stories to watch develop, and of course I want to see Evan and Holly's marriage grow and flourish. I also really enjoy reading about the holiday games and imagining the playful camaraderie and competitiveness over bragging rights and tasty treats from The Hearth.
An all-around sweet, feel-good read that has you wishing for a December vacation to Mistletoe, Maine -- as long as you don't end up the victim in someone's deadly game!
At times, I felt like this was possibly the last book in the series, but I certainly hope not, as the series is just reaching its stride. This one is my favorite so far, and I hope there are more books to come as there are more characters' stories to watch develop, and of course I want to see Evan and Holly's marriage grow and flourish. I also really enjoy reading about the holiday games and imagining the playful camaraderie and competitiveness over bragging rights and tasty treats from The Hearth.
An all-around sweet, feel-good read that has you wishing for a December vacation to Mistletoe, Maine -- as long as you don't end up the victim in someone's deadly game!
October 10, 2023
Holly White, inn keeper at Reindeer Games, her family owned farm in Mistletoe, Maine, was excited as Christmas drew closer, and with it, her upcoming wedding to Sheriff Evan Gray. The state's ballet company had arrived to do performances of The Nutcracker, and most of the ballerinas were staying at Holly's Inn. As preparations for the annual parade finalised, the various games began, with tourists from out of town joining in the fun. But the sudden death of the lead ballerina in the middle of the parade sent Sheriff Evan Gray into full cop mode. Who had killed Tiffany, and why?
With the investigation into Tiffany's death well underway, Holly could see something was bothering Evan's sister. As she withdrew into herself, those around her became concerned. As Christmas Eve drew closer, Holly and Evan wondered if they would be able to close the case before the ballerinas left Mistletoe, as well as discover the reason for Libby's despondency. And would they still be able to get married when they planned?
Stalking Around the Christmas Tree is the 4th in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series by Jacqueline Frost and I loved it! Intriguing, suspenseful, I was glued to the pages until the end. The bitter cold, the beautiful scenery, the delicious food which littered the pages, the fun and entertainment - all combined to ensure an excellent read. I encourage anyone who is interested to start at the beginning of the series. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
With the investigation into Tiffany's death well underway, Holly could see something was bothering Evan's sister. As she withdrew into herself, those around her became concerned. As Christmas Eve drew closer, Holly and Evan wondered if they would be able to close the case before the ballerinas left Mistletoe, as well as discover the reason for Libby's despondency. And would they still be able to get married when they planned?
Stalking Around the Christmas Tree is the 4th in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series by Jacqueline Frost and I loved it! Intriguing, suspenseful, I was glued to the pages until the end. The bitter cold, the beautiful scenery, the delicious food which littered the pages, the fun and entertainment - all combined to ensure an excellent read. I encourage anyone who is interested to start at the beginning of the series. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
December 24, 2023
An enjoyable holiday installment in the Christmas Tree Farm Mysteries written by Jacqueline Frost. It's the perfect time of year to devour these seasonal books because you get the wonderful spirit, great ideas for decorating and cooking, and you have a curious whodunit. In this one, the ballet is featured prominently, as well as our protagonist's wedding the local sheriff in a small town in Maine. Loved the holiday cheer and definitely made the day super fun. Looking forward to another one next year.
October 17, 2023
This is always such a delightful and festive series that I look forward to reading. Mistletoe, Maine is filled with shops and activities to celebrate Christmas. Holly White (an apropos name for a resident) and her parents own the Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm and Inn where tourists and residents can get a tree, play reindeer games, eat some yummy goodies, and stay in a lovely setting. Holly and Sheriff Evan Gray are getting married Christmas Eve, the Maine Ballet is in town performing The Nutcracker, both on top of the usual festivities. And there are two mysteries to solve. The top ballerina for the role of Clara dies on her parade float and someone is after Evan's sister Libby. And Holly wants to solve the murder so that nothing will hinder her wedding and honeymoon taking place. And of course, she puts herself in danger. Will the wedding take place and both mysteries get solved? I really like Holly and Evan as well as the other regular characters and the setting is lovely. Highly recommended for those who enjoy holiday reads with a twist of mystery.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.
December 10, 2023
Another wonderful visit to Mistletoe, Maine...well all except for another murder!! Every Christmas at the White tree farm is filled w/ joy, cheer, delicious coffee/treats, reindeer games, but this year it is going to be extra special w/ the Christmas wedding of Holly White and Sheriff Evan Gray! That is if Holly can keep herself safe long enough to get married.
The ballet troupe in town for a performance of the Nutcracker is staying at the inn. During the towns Christmas parade the lead prima Ballerina is discovered dead.
This holiday cozy series is one of my favorites! The characters are lovable (Cookie is one of my all time favorites), and the town and community sound nothing short of magical! I want mistletoe to be a real place!
I can't go w/o mentioning that Theodore is not that kind of goat, and that I would totally buy a Theodore calendar!!
If you are a fan of holiday cozies...this book is for you!
The ballet troupe in town for a performance of the Nutcracker is staying at the inn. During the towns Christmas parade the lead prima Ballerina is discovered dead.
This holiday cozy series is one of my favorites! The characters are lovable (Cookie is one of my all time favorites), and the town and community sound nothing short of magical! I want mistletoe to be a real place!
I can't go w/o mentioning that Theodore is not that kind of goat, and that I would totally buy a Theodore calendar!!
If you are a fan of holiday cozies...this book is for you!
August 18, 2025
There is something profoundly wrong with reading a Christmas story set in the wintery mountains of ME while lounging in an air-conditioned house in the CA 100-degree, summer weather. Yet here I am catching up on this Christmas series. On that note, she’s back!!! Holly White and her motley crew of friends (LOVE Cookie and her pet goat, Theodore) and family are back for another installment of a Christmas murder in Mistletoe, ME. For a small town named after a Christmas plant, and one whose survival depends on winter holiday events to bring in the bulk of tourists to the town and its businesses, having a murder occur every single year definitely makes Mistletoe a somewhat dangerous place to spend the holiday.
“I’d inherited Dad’s big mouth, much to Mom’s eternal dismay. I’d also recently come to realize that I was a bit of a busybody. I suspected that I should work on the latter.” – Holly White
Ya think, Holly! Despite her incessant troublemaking, I like Holly for the scoundrel she is. She simply can’t help herself, much to the dismay of her fiancé, Sheriff Evan, who is a saint for putting up with her shenanigans. Now, after three installments, Holly and Evan are finally getting married, on Christmas Eve, of course; it’s the Mistletoe wedding of the year. The last thing this harried bride-to-be, with a mile long to-do list, needs is to be sticking her nosy self into another one of Evan’s murder cases. Like all the other murder cases that Holly butted into, she suddenly becomes the target of the killer. Of course!
There is also a secondary storyline surrounding Evan’s sister, Libby. Libby was introduced in the last installment and is now living in Mistletoe and working for Holly’s mom at the Hearth Café. Libby testified against some criminals back in Boston and basically came to Mistletoe to hide out. However, lately she’s been unraveling, and it’s got something to do with some random greeting cards she’s getting and the death of the ballerina on the parade float.
Most of the story revolved around the murder investigation of the star ballerina for the Nutcracker show that is performing in town for the holiday. There is the stalking of Holly by someone leaving creepy stuffed rat dolls; there was a ratface mask left on the ballerina on the parade float. The creepy messages to Holly and Libby escalate that end in some really scary and intense scenes for Libby and Holly. The end was a tear-jerker, but then weddings do that to me sometimes.
The continuing character development of Holly and some of her friends and family was well done. Loved the scenes between Holly and her mom. The pacing was steady and the storyline a typical cozy murder mystery. The writing was classic Frost and on par with the series. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.9 that I will round up to a 4star review.
“I’d inherited Dad’s big mouth, much to Mom’s eternal dismay. I’d also recently come to realize that I was a bit of a busybody. I suspected that I should work on the latter.” – Holly White
Ya think, Holly! Despite her incessant troublemaking, I like Holly for the scoundrel she is. She simply can’t help herself, much to the dismay of her fiancé, Sheriff Evan, who is a saint for putting up with her shenanigans. Now, after three installments, Holly and Evan are finally getting married, on Christmas Eve, of course; it’s the Mistletoe wedding of the year. The last thing this harried bride-to-be, with a mile long to-do list, needs is to be sticking her nosy self into another one of Evan’s murder cases. Like all the other murder cases that Holly butted into, she suddenly becomes the target of the killer. Of course!
There is also a secondary storyline surrounding Evan’s sister, Libby. Libby was introduced in the last installment and is now living in Mistletoe and working for Holly’s mom at the Hearth Café. Libby testified against some criminals back in Boston and basically came to Mistletoe to hide out. However, lately she’s been unraveling, and it’s got something to do with some random greeting cards she’s getting and the death of the ballerina on the parade float.
Most of the story revolved around the murder investigation of the star ballerina for the Nutcracker show that is performing in town for the holiday. There is the stalking of Holly by someone leaving creepy stuffed rat dolls; there was a ratface mask left on the ballerina on the parade float. The creepy messages to Holly and Libby escalate that end in some really scary and intense scenes for Libby and Holly. The end was a tear-jerker, but then weddings do that to me sometimes.
The continuing character development of Holly and some of her friends and family was well done. Loved the scenes between Holly and her mom. The pacing was steady and the storyline a typical cozy murder mystery. The writing was classic Frost and on par with the series. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.9 that I will round up to a 4star review.
September 4, 2023
Review coming soon.
November 18, 2023
Dollycas’s Thoughts
There is no better place to be for Christmas than Mistletoe, Maine. The White family has a ton of events planned at the Reindeer Games Farm and Inn. The town has booked the state’s ballet company to perform The Nutcracker for the days leading up to Christmas Eve. There will also be a Christmas parade through town.
Holly White and Sheriff Evan Gray will be hosting a big event of their own. They are getting married on Christmas Eve and family and friends will be arriving soon to celebrate their nuptials.
Something not on the calendar was the Christmas Parade coming to an abrupt halt when they noticed the lead ballerina was unconscious on her float. Closer examination reveals the young woman is dead.
Four years and 4 murders! Will Holly, her family, and the residents of Mistletoe ever be able to celebrate Christmas without a killer coming to town?
The characters in this series truly feel like old friends. The White Family knows how to do the Christmas holiday perfectly for all their visitors. Holly’s new inn is full of ballerinas, and along with her other duties at the farm, she is making jewelry to sell and trying to get ready for her wedding just days away. Evan has a lot going on too with a murderer on the loose and his family coming into town for the wedding. Cookie is trying to find a bride for her goat, Theodore, and waiting to see next year’s goat calendar. She is a whirling dervish with fingers in all the happenings. Libby has her own scary drama to handle and for some reason, she is pushing Ray away. And Caroline has a new friend that is very interesting. I just love the way everyone always comes together to do anything for each other and have fun with each other too.
There are two mysteries in this story. The main one involves the death of lead ballerina, Tiffany Krieg, and the other involves Evan’s sister Libby. Libby tries to deal with hers on her own but finally shares with everyone when the threats start to become more public and dire. The murder mystery has Holly snooping to find answers so the murderer can be caught before her wedding. I had an inkling much earlier than Holly about a key element she was trying to solve but was still up in the air about the actual killer due to the several twists and turns Ms. Frost scattered expertly throughout the story. The exciting showdown answered all the questions and brought the mystery to a very satisfying conclusion.
I loved it!!
Stalking Around the Christmas Tree is a charming Christmas cozy and a terrific addition to this series. Clever mysteries, with engaging characters, set in a wonderful winter wonderland, it is sure to raise your holiday spirit. I have enjoyed every book in this series and recommend them highly. I am elated when a happy ending and a little Christmas magic are added to such well-written mysteries. You will find Stalking Around the Christmas Tree on my Best Reads List for 2023.
There is no better place to be for Christmas than Mistletoe, Maine. The White family has a ton of events planned at the Reindeer Games Farm and Inn. The town has booked the state’s ballet company to perform The Nutcracker for the days leading up to Christmas Eve. There will also be a Christmas parade through town.
Holly White and Sheriff Evan Gray will be hosting a big event of their own. They are getting married on Christmas Eve and family and friends will be arriving soon to celebrate their nuptials.
Something not on the calendar was the Christmas Parade coming to an abrupt halt when they noticed the lead ballerina was unconscious on her float. Closer examination reveals the young woman is dead.
Four years and 4 murders! Will Holly, her family, and the residents of Mistletoe ever be able to celebrate Christmas without a killer coming to town?
The characters in this series truly feel like old friends. The White Family knows how to do the Christmas holiday perfectly for all their visitors. Holly’s new inn is full of ballerinas, and along with her other duties at the farm, she is making jewelry to sell and trying to get ready for her wedding just days away. Evan has a lot going on too with a murderer on the loose and his family coming into town for the wedding. Cookie is trying to find a bride for her goat, Theodore, and waiting to see next year’s goat calendar. She is a whirling dervish with fingers in all the happenings. Libby has her own scary drama to handle and for some reason, she is pushing Ray away. And Caroline has a new friend that is very interesting. I just love the way everyone always comes together to do anything for each other and have fun with each other too.
There are two mysteries in this story. The main one involves the death of lead ballerina, Tiffany Krieg, and the other involves Evan’s sister Libby. Libby tries to deal with hers on her own but finally shares with everyone when the threats start to become more public and dire. The murder mystery has Holly snooping to find answers so the murderer can be caught before her wedding. I had an inkling much earlier than Holly about a key element she was trying to solve but was still up in the air about the actual killer due to the several twists and turns Ms. Frost scattered expertly throughout the story. The exciting showdown answered all the questions and brought the mystery to a very satisfying conclusion.
I loved it!!
Stalking Around the Christmas Tree is a charming Christmas cozy and a terrific addition to this series. Clever mysteries, with engaging characters, set in a wonderful winter wonderland, it is sure to raise your holiday spirit. I have enjoyed every book in this series and recommend them highly. I am elated when a happy ending and a little Christmas magic are added to such well-written mysteries. You will find Stalking Around the Christmas Tree on my Best Reads List for 2023.
April 14, 2023
Stuffed with everything Christmasy and a bewildering mystery to solve centered around a ballerina’s death make this a cozy mystery that should be on your Wish List! Protagonist Holly White’s family owns Reindeer Games tree farm which includes the Hearth Cafe, and the Inn Holly runs. Holly’s booked with several members of a ballet group that’s in Mistletoe performing The Nutcracker for several nights. When the lead ballerina is murdered, it sets up a jolly good mystery to puzzle out before Holly and her sheriff fiancé, Evan’s Christmas Eve wedding.
If you’ve followed this wonderful series from the beginning, you know that Author Jacqueline Frost is a master at plotting mysteries. Her pacing is great, the descriptions of games, festivities, food, drinks, characters, the town, and the weather (to name a few) are always marvelous. This story is a delight to savor. The entertainment never ends until the final page!
A second, smaller mystery involves Libby, Evan’s sister, and a crime family out for revenge, and it’s intriguing, as well. I have many favorite characters in this book and they’re all together this time for the wedding. A new and very handsome ex-military man, Zane, is introduced and he’s kind of mysterious.
I immensely enjoyed the clever plot, the snowy setting, the beguiling characters and the happy ending. I sincerely hope this wonderful series continues. I highly recommend to cozy mystery readers.
I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. All opinions are my own.
If you’ve followed this wonderful series from the beginning, you know that Author Jacqueline Frost is a master at plotting mysteries. Her pacing is great, the descriptions of games, festivities, food, drinks, characters, the town, and the weather (to name a few) are always marvelous. This story is a delight to savor. The entertainment never ends until the final page!
A second, smaller mystery involves Libby, Evan’s sister, and a crime family out for revenge, and it’s intriguing, as well. I have many favorite characters in this book and they’re all together this time for the wedding. A new and very handsome ex-military man, Zane, is introduced and he’s kind of mysterious.
I immensely enjoyed the clever plot, the snowy setting, the beguiling characters and the happy ending. I sincerely hope this wonderful series continues. I highly recommend to cozy mystery readers.
I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. All opinions are my own.
March 9, 2023
I am SO glad that this series continued and I hope there will be more~
I love the character development in this series - we started with Holly coming home with a broken heart and now she has found her true family. It's so hard to write this without giving away anything, but I'll try my best.
Libby is back in Mistletoe, after testifying against a gangster, but very forlorn and afraid as she is worried she is being stalked because of it. She ended things with Ray and is retreating into herself and Holly is determined to find out what's going on.
We see Caroline find a little romance in this story, but first, Caroline's father, Mayor West, is trying to get people to see Mistletoe as a fun, SAFE destination after three murders in as many years, so he has petitioned to get a ballet company to come and perform the Nutcracker and appear in the local parade. Well, the ballerina is found dead at the parade, so Holly is determined to figure out what's going on there too.
During all of this sleuthing, Holly is still helping her family with the Reindeer Games AND Evan is trying to keep her safe so they can get married! Needless to say, Holly catches the killer and is able to get married. She doesn't save Libby, but Cookie and her group of friends (the Swingers - it's funny, but even funnier that this group of gals doesn't get why it's funny) save the day for Libby.
I should also mention that the annual Theodore the goat is prepped and Cookie is hoping to find Theodore a wife!
This story is a perfect holiday read, but it's also a pretty perfect Spring read as well. The characters are great, there are happy endings all around, and I'm wondering if Holly and Evan's honeymoon will be full of love or a mixed blessing of love and murder.
5 stars.
I received an arc of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I love the character development in this series - we started with Holly coming home with a broken heart and now she has found her true family. It's so hard to write this without giving away anything, but I'll try my best.
Libby is back in Mistletoe, after testifying against a gangster, but very forlorn and afraid as she is worried she is being stalked because of it. She ended things with Ray and is retreating into herself and Holly is determined to find out what's going on.
We see Caroline find a little romance in this story, but first, Caroline's father, Mayor West, is trying to get people to see Mistletoe as a fun, SAFE destination after three murders in as many years, so he has petitioned to get a ballet company to come and perform the Nutcracker and appear in the local parade. Well, the ballerina is found dead at the parade, so Holly is determined to figure out what's going on there too.
During all of this sleuthing, Holly is still helping her family with the Reindeer Games AND Evan is trying to keep her safe so they can get married! Needless to say, Holly catches the killer and is able to get married. She doesn't save Libby, but Cookie and her group of friends (the Swingers - it's funny, but even funnier that this group of gals doesn't get why it's funny) save the day for Libby.
I should also mention that the annual Theodore the goat is prepped and Cookie is hoping to find Theodore a wife!
This story is a perfect holiday read, but it's also a pretty perfect Spring read as well. The characters are great, there are happy endings all around, and I'm wondering if Holly and Evan's honeymoon will be full of love or a mixed blessing of love and murder.
5 stars.
I received an arc of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 22, 2023
I was very hesitant to read this; in fact, I had to be talked into it by a friend who was reading the series. I wish I had listened to my gut-feelings instead and just passed on it.
Ultimately, this series has become everything I dislike about the trend/trope road that so many cozies are going down [the MC is one of the rudest, most selfish MC's I have ever read and I was truly angry at her behavior in this book. It makes me wonder just why the author is writing someone who is really not a nice person. ] and it is just not for me. I didn't enjoy anything about this book and it took me much longer to read than it should have, and no matter how many people beg me, I will not be reading anymore of them [should they be written]. It is a real disappointment for me because I truly enjoyed the first two books so much.
Thank you to NetGalley, Jacqueline Frost, and Crooked Lane Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ultimately, this series has become everything I dislike about the trend/trope road that so many cozies are going down [the MC is one of the rudest, most selfish MC's I have ever read and I was truly angry at her behavior in this book. It makes me wonder just why the author is writing someone who is really not a nice person. ] and it is just not for me. I didn't enjoy anything about this book and it took me much longer to read than it should have, and no matter how many people beg me, I will not be reading anymore of them [should they be written]. It is a real disappointment for me because I truly enjoyed the first two books so much.
Thank you to NetGalley, Jacqueline Frost, and Crooked Lane Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2024
The Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series is one of my favorites.
I just love this series, in one of the previous books it focused on the Christmas tree farm, it was such a wonderful book. Now there is a gift shop/bakery and its totally Christmas related. How can you go wrong with a town named Mistletoe. Mistletoe is in Maine, with lots of snow there's no worries about the town's folks getting into the holiday spirit.
Inn keeper Holly White is one busy lady, the ladies from the Nutcracker ballet are staying at Holly's Reindeer Games Inn while practicing for their big show and on top of that she's planning a wedding this Christmas. When a ballet dancer is discovered dead the investigation starts.
When it's discovered that the ballet dancer is hiding more than a few things could those secrets have led to her death? I remember Sheriff Evan Gray in the other books, now he's about to be a married man with his Christmas wedding. With a terrible murder to investigate right before their wedding will Evan and Holly's wedding plans go on as planned or will they blow away in the freezing cold wind?
I'll be on the lookout for more books in this intriguing holiday mystery series.
Pub Date 17 Oct 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
I just love this series, in one of the previous books it focused on the Christmas tree farm, it was such a wonderful book. Now there is a gift shop/bakery and its totally Christmas related. How can you go wrong with a town named Mistletoe. Mistletoe is in Maine, with lots of snow there's no worries about the town's folks getting into the holiday spirit.
Inn keeper Holly White is one busy lady, the ladies from the Nutcracker ballet are staying at Holly's Reindeer Games Inn while practicing for their big show and on top of that she's planning a wedding this Christmas. When a ballet dancer is discovered dead the investigation starts.
When it's discovered that the ballet dancer is hiding more than a few things could those secrets have led to her death? I remember Sheriff Evan Gray in the other books, now he's about to be a married man with his Christmas wedding. With a terrible murder to investigate right before their wedding will Evan and Holly's wedding plans go on as planned or will they blow away in the freezing cold wind?
I'll be on the lookout for more books in this intriguing holiday mystery series.
Pub Date 17 Oct 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
December 29, 2024
Stalking Around the Christmas Tree by Jacqueline Frost - 5 Stars
Book 4 in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery Series
Once again, I loved this one! We have innkeeper Holly White back with her fiancé Sheriff Evan Gray trying to figure out who killed a ballet dancer that was performing in a Nutcracker show. Tiffany, the lead ballerina, shows up dead on a float during the parade. More sleuthing skills are underway as they try to figure this one out......Tiffany had more than a few secrets so her and Evan try to work together and solve the murder. Before Holly once again becomes the target for putting her nose where it doesn't belong.
I just feel like this series has the best mystery and romance blend - especially in these later books in the series. So fun to binge read these back to back during the Christmas season! The humor is also AMAZING and will have you hee-hawing!
Highly recommend.
Book 4 in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery Series
Once again, I loved this one! We have innkeeper Holly White back with her fiancé Sheriff Evan Gray trying to figure out who killed a ballet dancer that was performing in a Nutcracker show. Tiffany, the lead ballerina, shows up dead on a float during the parade. More sleuthing skills are underway as they try to figure this one out......Tiffany had more than a few secrets so her and Evan try to work together and solve the murder. Before Holly once again becomes the target for putting her nose where it doesn't belong.
I just feel like this series has the best mystery and romance blend - especially in these later books in the series. So fun to binge read these back to back during the Christmas season! The humor is also AMAZING and will have you hee-hawing!
Highly recommend.
October 23, 2023
Stalking Around The Christmas Tree is the fourth book in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series. I have read and enjoyed them all, but they can also be read as standalone stories. Christmas time in Mistletoe, Maine, is th busy season for Inn Keeper Holly White. Business is booming at the Reindeer Games, her wedding to Sheriff Evan Gray is nearly here, and the annual parade is about to begin. The town is also hosting the State Ballet Company, who are going to be performing The Nutcracker. Many of the dancers and others with the company are staying at Reindeer Games. When the lead ballerina, Tiffany is found dead on one of the floats, Holly will be working overtime to help solve this murder. Was it the Rat King, whose mask was also found on the float, or someone else in the company?
I enjoy this series and it was fun to be back in Mistletoe, Maine for this festive, cozy mystery. Holly is a great character. She knows everyone in town and they don't hesitate to talk to her. Being engaged to the sheriff, who trusts her intuition and sleuthing, helps to solve these crimes as well. As Holly beings talking and gathering information, she learns that Tiffany had some secrets, as well as people who were not happy with her dancing the main role. The mystery was well plotted and was well presented in the book with just the right mix of personal story and festive fun with the Reindeer Games' activities. I really enjoyed all the famiiar characters being back and part of the wedding plans, games and input into the mystery. A fun, festive Christmas mystery that I recommend. I did a read/listen and enjoyed both formats. Allyson Ryan narrates this one and does a nice job with the story pacing, expression and voices.
I enjoy this series and it was fun to be back in Mistletoe, Maine for this festive, cozy mystery. Holly is a great character. She knows everyone in town and they don't hesitate to talk to her. Being engaged to the sheriff, who trusts her intuition and sleuthing, helps to solve these crimes as well. As Holly beings talking and gathering information, she learns that Tiffany had some secrets, as well as people who were not happy with her dancing the main role. The mystery was well plotted and was well presented in the book with just the right mix of personal story and festive fun with the Reindeer Games' activities. I really enjoyed all the famiiar characters being back and part of the wedding plans, games and input into the mystery. A fun, festive Christmas mystery that I recommend. I did a read/listen and enjoyed both formats. Allyson Ryan narrates this one and does a nice job with the story pacing, expression and voices.
March 23, 2023
First, I want to thank the author, Jacqueline Frost, and Crooked Lane Books for gifting me an advanced copy of STALKING AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.
Mistletoe, Maine, is a favorite fictional destination of mine. Jacqueline Frost sets a perfectly painted portrait of a town filled with and fueled by the Christmas spirit. So much so that, despite four murders all around the holiday in four consecutive years, I would still want to go visit. The story is filled with delightful details, from shops and scenery to wonderfully creative descriptions of holiday games and activities.
STALKING AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE is the fourth book in the series, and, like the previous three titles, there is much to like! As a fan of the ballet and The Nutcracker, I especially enjoyed those details. My one complaint, if I were to be incredibly picky, is that I found myself distracted by the dual plot lines focusing on the murder of a ballerina and Holly’s investigation into that and that involving Libby and the further ramifications of having testified against a dangerous criminal. I wanted more of Holly and Evan, I guess what the simple thing is! That noted, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and am very hopeful for more books in the series!
Mistletoe, Maine, is a favorite fictional destination of mine. Jacqueline Frost sets a perfectly painted portrait of a town filled with and fueled by the Christmas spirit. So much so that, despite four murders all around the holiday in four consecutive years, I would still want to go visit. The story is filled with delightful details, from shops and scenery to wonderfully creative descriptions of holiday games and activities.
STALKING AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE is the fourth book in the series, and, like the previous three titles, there is much to like! As a fan of the ballet and The Nutcracker, I especially enjoyed those details. My one complaint, if I were to be incredibly picky, is that I found myself distracted by the dual plot lines focusing on the murder of a ballerina and Holly’s investigation into that and that involving Libby and the further ramifications of having testified against a dangerous criminal. I wanted more of Holly and Evan, I guess what the simple thing is! That noted, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and am very hopeful for more books in the series!
October 23, 2023
A great addition to this series. In this book, the ballet is in town to perform the Nutcracker. During a parade to celebrate, the star ballerina is found dead on a float. Not only did I love being back in Mistletoe, but I adored the Nutcracker theme of the book. This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series!
October 5, 2023
The Reindeer Games are back in action with a ballet troop in town, wedding planning underway for a Christmas Eve wedding, a stalker and a killer which puts Holly once again in the crosshairs! This series makes me smile every time I listen to a new book from the series! The characters are charming and relatable while the plot is always detailed with just the perfect amount of twists and turns that you may or may not see coming! If you are looking for a fantastic Christmas themed cozy mystery, then you need to have this series and especially this book on your list. I can't see what is in store for the characters in future books, but it will be hard to pass this one as my favorite as a good wedding is hard to beat....that is if the bride doesn't get knocked off before the I do's!!! You'll have to read to find out!
October 30, 2025
4.25 🌟
Mood/Seasonal Reading: Christmas, of course
You really can’t go wrong for me if there’s a nutcracker theme.
I still continue to enjoy this series although I will admit that this instalment is suffering from Murder She Wrote syndrome. By this I mean that it is starting to become harder to believe so many murders happen in the one small town. For me, I can look beyond this as I do for the ever classic TV show but the fact that they all only happen during Christmas doesn’t help the cause.
I think I’m getting a tad tired of the main character sluething when everyone in her life begs her not to. And I will admit that while I enjoyed this one more than the last, the mystery somehow got lost for me in the end.
That being said, it earns a 4.25 for its continued ability to keep me both entertained and interested as well as throughly in the Christmas spirit.
I will absolutely read the next in the series.
Mood/Seasonal Reading: Christmas, of course
You really can’t go wrong for me if there’s a nutcracker theme.
I still continue to enjoy this series although I will admit that this instalment is suffering from Murder She Wrote syndrome. By this I mean that it is starting to become harder to believe so many murders happen in the one small town. For me, I can look beyond this as I do for the ever classic TV show but the fact that they all only happen during Christmas doesn’t help the cause.
I think I’m getting a tad tired of the main character sluething when everyone in her life begs her not to. And I will admit that while I enjoyed this one more than the last, the mystery somehow got lost for me in the end.
That being said, it earns a 4.25 for its continued ability to keep me both entertained and interested as well as throughly in the Christmas spirit.
I will absolutely read the next in the series.
November 19, 2023
A very hot/cold reading experience. I like the dancers angle, and I still very much like the characters and the setting. The romances are good. The whole thing is overwritten in places, to the point of unbelievability, and the mystery solving drags. A genuine 3-star experience (except when it threatens to dip to 2.5 stars).
Thank you to Jacqueline Frost, Crooked Lane, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Jacqueline Frost, Crooked Lane, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2023
I received a free copy of, Stalking Around the Christmas Tree by Jacqueline Frost, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Holly White is an inn keeper and amateur mystery solver. Can she solve the mystery before her wedding? I really enjoyed this book, Such a wonderful cast of characters. A really nice Christmas mystery.
December 27, 2024
Made the mistake of reading more than one of these this Christmas season - one per year is pure delight, cozy Christmas goodness! More than one makes me annoyingly aware of how similar they are and how meddling the MC is. 🤣 preserving the magic from here forward and restricting myself to savoring one each holiday season!
December 27, 2023
This series is getting pretty tiresome. Same thing every year.
December 20, 2023
This was a very enjoyable, cozy mystery! It's book four in the Christmas Tree Farm mystery series, and I hadn't read the first three before I read this one. The author does a wonderful job introducing the characters and filling the reader in on their histories. I didn't feel lost at all and had no problem reading this as a stand-alone.
Stalking Around the Christmas Tree is a quick, light, and entertaining holiday read. The characters are likable, and the mystery is well thought out. The stakes are low enough that you get those cozy Christmas vibes.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Stalking Around the Christmas Tree is a quick, light, and entertaining holiday read. The characters are likable, and the mystery is well thought out. The stakes are low enough that you get those cozy Christmas vibes.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
October 19, 2023
Fantastic! I love the idea of a Christmas wedding and it’s perfectly fitting for Holly. The town is adorable and picturesque, making an idyllic background for all this Christmas. Add in the Nutcracker and it feels like it really is that time of year. The mystery was front and center but didn’t take Holly away from her other responsibilities. The characters, as always, are welcoming and make you want to visit. There’s the added drama of the continuing storyline so read this series from the beginning. Highly recommended for holiday cheer and a great mystery.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and @Dreamscape_Media for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and @Dreamscape_Media for an honest review.
October 15, 2023
This is the fourth book in the Christmas Tree Farm Mysteries. I haven't read the others and still thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery. Taking place in Mistletoe, Maine on a Christmas tree farm sounded perfect. Holly is the Innkeeper at Reindeer Games Inn and about to get married to the town sheriff. There is the upcoming Christmas parade and the state's ballet company is in town to perform. Well during the parade, the top ballerinas is found dead! Now Holly is on a mission to solve the crime. This is what you would expect from a cozy mystery, along with all the Christmas vibes, decorations, treats, backdrop. The locals and main characters were fun and lively , the mystery was good, and it gave me that happy feeling!
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
November 19, 2023
Love, love, LOVE this series and this one has me positively giddy with festive glee. From the creative victim reveal to the edge-of-your-seat climatic conclusion and everything in between. This author is exacting in her details -- the reindeer games, the relationships, the quirky secondary characters (Cookie, I'm looking at you!) and this one has a toe-curling, happy sighing into the New Year kind of romantical ending and that's all I'm gonna say in case you haven't kept current with Ms Holly White et al. over the years. What would Christmas be without a new Christmas Tree Farm Mystery? (after re-reading all the earlier ones, of course.) Definitely a firm tradition now for me.
Oh -- and I enjoyed the audible edition narrated by Allyson Ryan (yay -- one of my favourite narrators!)
Oh -- and I enjoyed the audible edition narrated by Allyson Ryan (yay -- one of my favourite narrators!)
December 24, 2023
So, did the goat find a wife?
February 9, 2024
I love this series! I love Christmas and this mystery series has it all, humor, mystery, and romance. Complete package for me!
December 23, 2024
This series really hits the spot at Christmas time. With a character named Holly White, a town named Mistletoe and a business called Reindeer Games Inn, it’s just begging for a visit from the fat man in a red suit, but I am beginning to suspect he’s already there.
In this installment, we find Holly busy planning her wedding (on Christmas Eve, of course!) to Sheriff Evan Gray and hosting a ballet troupe at the Inn. In Mistletoe, it wouldn’t be Christmas without the parade and the fun and frolic at Holly’s parent’s farm either, as well as murder, which seems to be an annual occurrence. As with the other stories in this series, Holly finds herself smack dab in the middle of the investigation so you know she will also be in the killer’s sights at some point. Normally, I would get annoyed at a non-law enforcement professional inserting themselves into a murder investigation but in this series, it just seems to find Holly, no matter how many snickerdoodles she is juggling on her already heaping plate.
The murder victim is the prima ballerina of the ballet company so there are a lot of suspects to choose from including all of the other dancers, the troupe’s manager and a mysterious ballet blogger who nobody has ever seen or met in person. Anybody familiar with this series already knows Christmas is a very big deal for the residents of Mistletoe and with Holly’s wedding coming up, yet another murder during the holiday season can make a Grinch out of anyone, but I really love how Holly, her friends and her family seem to take it in stride and get on with the season’s festivities.
Another wonderful thing about this series are the secondary characters that I have come to care about as much as Holly and Evan. There’s a sidebar mystery involving Evan’s sister which begins to derail her blossoming relationship with Ray and Holly’s best friend Caroline appears to have found a love interest too, so I am looking forward to the next installment to see what is going on there as well as who becomes the next dearly departed.
The author does such a wonderful job of bringing the town of Mistletoe and its residents to life, that I easily felt at home there and could be friends with everyone. I really love Holly and Evan as a couple and am looking forward to reconnecting with them again.
My Final Verdict: Overall, I highly recommend this story to readers who love Christmas themes and cozy mysteries.
Thank you to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.
In this installment, we find Holly busy planning her wedding (on Christmas Eve, of course!) to Sheriff Evan Gray and hosting a ballet troupe at the Inn. In Mistletoe, it wouldn’t be Christmas without the parade and the fun and frolic at Holly’s parent’s farm either, as well as murder, which seems to be an annual occurrence. As with the other stories in this series, Holly finds herself smack dab in the middle of the investigation so you know she will also be in the killer’s sights at some point. Normally, I would get annoyed at a non-law enforcement professional inserting themselves into a murder investigation but in this series, it just seems to find Holly, no matter how many snickerdoodles she is juggling on her already heaping plate.
The murder victim is the prima ballerina of the ballet company so there are a lot of suspects to choose from including all of the other dancers, the troupe’s manager and a mysterious ballet blogger who nobody has ever seen or met in person. Anybody familiar with this series already knows Christmas is a very big deal for the residents of Mistletoe and with Holly’s wedding coming up, yet another murder during the holiday season can make a Grinch out of anyone, but I really love how Holly, her friends and her family seem to take it in stride and get on with the season’s festivities.
Another wonderful thing about this series are the secondary characters that I have come to care about as much as Holly and Evan. There’s a sidebar mystery involving Evan’s sister which begins to derail her blossoming relationship with Ray and Holly’s best friend Caroline appears to have found a love interest too, so I am looking forward to the next installment to see what is going on there as well as who becomes the next dearly departed.
The author does such a wonderful job of bringing the town of Mistletoe and its residents to life, that I easily felt at home there and could be friends with everyone. I really love Holly and Evan as a couple and am looking forward to reconnecting with them again.
My Final Verdict: Overall, I highly recommend this story to readers who love Christmas themes and cozy mysteries.
Thank you to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.
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