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A Mainely Murder Mystery #2
Murder Under the Mistletoe
In a fresh new Maine-set holiday cozy, landscaper Kinsley Clark must root out a killer before she becomes the prime suspect.
Landscape artist and owner of SeaScapes, Kinsley Clark has been re-hired to decorate the town of Harborside for the upcoming holiday season and boat parade. Using the local elements found in Maine, Kinsley creates kissing balls—the town’s official mistletoe—to hang downtown and along the wharf. Kinsley is also responsible for Harborside’s official “lobster-stacked” Christmas tree, located beside the local marina, where the annual Harborside Boat Parade & Fireworks Display takes place.
When local alderman Chris Chesterfield—dressed up as the Grinch, right down to the green face paint—falls off the pier and into the icy Atlantic the night of the annual kickoff event, the town is in shock. But all eyes turn to Kinsley and her beautiful decorations when it becomes evident that Chris didn't fall after all—and that he was looking to replace SeaScapes with a different decorating team. Kinsley, along with bestie, Becca, and Pete, the owner of the Blue Lobstah, must unearth the truth before Kinsley takes the fall.
Landscape artist and owner of SeaScapes, Kinsley Clark has been re-hired to decorate the town of Harborside for the upcoming holiday season and boat parade. Using the local elements found in Maine, Kinsley creates kissing balls—the town’s official mistletoe—to hang downtown and along the wharf. Kinsley is also responsible for Harborside’s official “lobster-stacked” Christmas tree, located beside the local marina, where the annual Harborside Boat Parade & Fireworks Display takes place.
When local alderman Chris Chesterfield—dressed up as the Grinch, right down to the green face paint—falls off the pier and into the icy Atlantic the night of the annual kickoff event, the town is in shock. But all eyes turn to Kinsley and her beautiful decorations when it becomes evident that Chris didn't fall after all—and that he was looking to replace SeaScapes with a different decorating team. Kinsley, along with bestie, Becca, and Pete, the owner of the Blue Lobstah, must unearth the truth before Kinsley takes the fall.
289 pages, Paperback
Published November 7, 2023
25 people are currently reading
2109 people want to read
About the author
Sherry Lynn
2 books101 followersSherry Lynn spent countless summers on the coast of Maine, knowing she’d one day return to write about the magical location from her youth. Curious by nature, sleuthing became the perfect fit for her, and she has written multiple cozy mystery series under several pseudonyms. (Check out the Handcrafted Mystery series under Holly Quinn and the Lakeside Library Series under Holly Danvers.) Currently, Sherry lives in the Midwest with her husband, but she dreams about one day retiring oceanside with a good book in her hand.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
November 27, 2023
I enjoyed this one better than the first one. The setting was never an issue – it’s idyllic. I still haven’t warmed to Kinsley and her aunt but I liked them more in this one. There’s a whole lot of investigating and not a lot of actual work being done (huge pet peeve) but the mystery was interesting and kept me guessing. Another pet peeve: even if the person has hinted that they want a dog, DOGS SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN AS PRESENTS – they are a lifelong commitment and you’re potentially saddling someone with a huge responsibility without even caring if they’ll bond with the animal. Shelters are full of dogs that are killed every day because of this. It’s not cute; it’s irresponsible. (Getting off my soapbox now)
November 15, 2023
Another great murder mystery book.
December 28, 2023
This was a perfect book to read right before Christmas. It was a cozy mystery where not the entire book was focused on the murder. There was a lot of town things going on, friends being friends, family stuff and obviously holiday stuff. There was even a second mystery about the main character Kinsley's parents.
After an altercation with Kinsley about the "kissing balls" she and several volunteers made (his wife donated some of the materials and he thought she should get paid for it even though she offered to donate) and a fight with a bar patron, alderman Chris Chesterfield is found floating in the ocean dead. At first it seemed like he slipped and fell, but after further inspection, he had blunt force trauma to his head. With several suspects, Kinsley included, who could have done this?
I enjoyed the characters, Kinsley had great relationships with a lot of people, her aunt Tilly who basically raised her since her parents were in the military and then died when she was young. She had a lot of friends, Becca her best friend, and Pete the bar owner being the primary ones. Her brother also came home from being stationed in Germany.
The plot was fun, like I said it wasn't completely based on the murder, so actually felt extra cozy. I enjoyed the variety of suspects and the fact that the person who did it made sense. It didn't come out of the blue.
It was very easy to read, but had what I think of as the typical cozy mystery writing style where it sometimes seems like the things the characters say or think don't seem like what an actual person would say or think.
I do want to read the first book in this series and then continue on with any new books in the series!
After an altercation with Kinsley about the "kissing balls" she and several volunteers made (his wife donated some of the materials and he thought she should get paid for it even though she offered to donate) and a fight with a bar patron, alderman Chris Chesterfield is found floating in the ocean dead. At first it seemed like he slipped and fell, but after further inspection, he had blunt force trauma to his head. With several suspects, Kinsley included, who could have done this?
I enjoyed the characters, Kinsley had great relationships with a lot of people, her aunt Tilly who basically raised her since her parents were in the military and then died when she was young. She had a lot of friends, Becca her best friend, and Pete the bar owner being the primary ones. Her brother also came home from being stationed in Germany.
The plot was fun, like I said it wasn't completely based on the murder, so actually felt extra cozy. I enjoyed the variety of suspects and the fact that the person who did it made sense. It didn't come out of the blue.
It was very easy to read, but had what I think of as the typical cozy mystery writing style where it sometimes seems like the things the characters say or think don't seem like what an actual person would say or think.
I do want to read the first book in this series and then continue on with any new books in the series!
January 27, 2024
It's lucky landscape artist Kinsley Clark has an alibi when Alderman Chesterfield falls into the frigid Atlantic, because she had a motive--he's been hassling her about her business. But then so many people have a motive that Kinsley must call in her brother (on leave from the air force) and her best friend real estate saleswoman Becca to help her investigate. The touristy little town of Harborside
may never be the same.
may never be the same.
December 11, 2025
It was more of a crime solving mystery book and the plot twist of who did it didn’t really make sense to me. Not a really big explanation either.
November 23, 2023
https://openbooksociety.com/article/m...
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
This delightful Christmas cozy mystery in the beautiful setting of Harborside, Maine, is a canvas of brilliant word pictures of the Atlantic coastline with engaging, three-dimensional characters that I am happy to know. From the beginning, Kinsley welcomed me into Aunt Tilly’s elegant Salty Breeze Inn, where I enjoyed the sights and scents of the season.
Kinsley, a landscape artist, owns SeaScapes, a business she runs year-round from where she lives in a cottage behind the inn. She and several volunteers are preparing the kissing ball decorations used around town every Christmas season. Harborside hires her to decorate for Christmas and throughout the year for special events and seasonal changes. Becca, her childhood best friend, is enduring a slow season of home sales, so Kinsley hired her part time to help decorate the many homes and facilities awaiting their holiday finery.
Pete, owner of the Blue Lobstah pub, is also there to help make the town’s decorations. Kinsley would like to get to know him better, but there are mixed signals of whether he wants to know her better. Both Pete and Kinsley are very diligent when it comes to attending to and growing their respective businesses, so they both have a good reason to avoid the subject.
Mallory owns the only flower shop in town, and donated some of the greenery needed for the kissing balls. Her husband, Chris, is one of the town’s aldermen. Chris in not well liked, as he is abrasive with most people unless they can benefit him. He especially seems to dislike Kinsley. He wants the town to hire a different company for year-round decorating. He is ready to pick a fight with anyone over almost anything.
Chris dressed appropriately as the Grinch for the annual boat parade and fireworks event. At the Blue Lobstah, he was inebriated before he even arrived. He and another man got into a fight after Chris bumped into him, and Pete had to throw them both out. It wasn’t long before Raven, one of Pete’s bartenders, ran into the pub, screaming for a paramedic. Somebody had fallen into the icy water and needed help. Becca and Kinsley ran outside while two men tried to get him out from between the rocks he was lodged between. It was too late, however, to even try CPR. In the space of a few minutes, Mallory went from being a wife embarrassed by her husband’s behavior to being a widow.
Several people mentioned the animosity between Chris and Kinsley to the police, especially after the argument they had shortly before his death. She quickly became the person of interest, even though Rachel, the detective and a friend, knew she would never kill anyone. Rachel had to question Kinsley and verify her alibi to satisfy her boss. The police seemed to ignore others he argued with. Then Raven was arrested, and Kinsley and Becca had to ramp up their sleuthing efforts before their friend is charged with a murder she didn’t commit.
Several people looked like strong suspects, including Chris’s widow, Mallory, and his estranged brother, Cole. Cole had come to visit, staying at Salty Breeze Inn until Chris’s murder, then stayed with Mallory. Kinsley and Becca aren’t subtle when they question people about that evening, or some of the trouble Chris had caused for people, but they are improving.
Kyle, Kinsley’s brother, came home on leave from the Air Force and stationed in Germany. Before he arrived, Kinsley and Rachel were talking about Kinsley’s parents, who had died in an accident on a military base when she and Kyle were children. Rachel let slip that Kyle was looking into details of their parents’ deaths. Aunt Tilly had raised them and loves them as if they were her own, but something has felt “off” about what they were told about their accident.
Some of the secrets revealed about Chris, his wife, other people around town, and through plot twists added a web of potential motives and suspects. One clue seemed quite specific to the murder, and Kinsley and Becca were certain they could solve it and get Raven released. I was somewhat surprised to see who the real bad guy was as the person did have clear motives, but likewise was sad, for certain reasons. I am looking forward to the next mystery, and to see Kyle’s continuing research into the death of their parents. I highly recommend this cozy mystery!
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
This delightful Christmas cozy mystery in the beautiful setting of Harborside, Maine, is a canvas of brilliant word pictures of the Atlantic coastline with engaging, three-dimensional characters that I am happy to know. From the beginning, Kinsley welcomed me into Aunt Tilly’s elegant Salty Breeze Inn, where I enjoyed the sights and scents of the season.
Kinsley, a landscape artist, owns SeaScapes, a business she runs year-round from where she lives in a cottage behind the inn. She and several volunteers are preparing the kissing ball decorations used around town every Christmas season. Harborside hires her to decorate for Christmas and throughout the year for special events and seasonal changes. Becca, her childhood best friend, is enduring a slow season of home sales, so Kinsley hired her part time to help decorate the many homes and facilities awaiting their holiday finery.
Pete, owner of the Blue Lobstah pub, is also there to help make the town’s decorations. Kinsley would like to get to know him better, but there are mixed signals of whether he wants to know her better. Both Pete and Kinsley are very diligent when it comes to attending to and growing their respective businesses, so they both have a good reason to avoid the subject.
Mallory owns the only flower shop in town, and donated some of the greenery needed for the kissing balls. Her husband, Chris, is one of the town’s aldermen. Chris in not well liked, as he is abrasive with most people unless they can benefit him. He especially seems to dislike Kinsley. He wants the town to hire a different company for year-round decorating. He is ready to pick a fight with anyone over almost anything.
Chris dressed appropriately as the Grinch for the annual boat parade and fireworks event. At the Blue Lobstah, he was inebriated before he even arrived. He and another man got into a fight after Chris bumped into him, and Pete had to throw them both out. It wasn’t long before Raven, one of Pete’s bartenders, ran into the pub, screaming for a paramedic. Somebody had fallen into the icy water and needed help. Becca and Kinsley ran outside while two men tried to get him out from between the rocks he was lodged between. It was too late, however, to even try CPR. In the space of a few minutes, Mallory went from being a wife embarrassed by her husband’s behavior to being a widow.
Several people mentioned the animosity between Chris and Kinsley to the police, especially after the argument they had shortly before his death. She quickly became the person of interest, even though Rachel, the detective and a friend, knew she would never kill anyone. Rachel had to question Kinsley and verify her alibi to satisfy her boss. The police seemed to ignore others he argued with. Then Raven was arrested, and Kinsley and Becca had to ramp up their sleuthing efforts before their friend is charged with a murder she didn’t commit.
Several people looked like strong suspects, including Chris’s widow, Mallory, and his estranged brother, Cole. Cole had come to visit, staying at Salty Breeze Inn until Chris’s murder, then stayed with Mallory. Kinsley and Becca aren’t subtle when they question people about that evening, or some of the trouble Chris had caused for people, but they are improving.
Kyle, Kinsley’s brother, came home on leave from the Air Force and stationed in Germany. Before he arrived, Kinsley and Rachel were talking about Kinsley’s parents, who had died in an accident on a military base when she and Kyle were children. Rachel let slip that Kyle was looking into details of their parents’ deaths. Aunt Tilly had raised them and loves them as if they were her own, but something has felt “off” about what they were told about their accident.
Some of the secrets revealed about Chris, his wife, other people around town, and through plot twists added a web of potential motives and suspects. One clue seemed quite specific to the murder, and Kinsley and Becca were certain they could solve it and get Raven released. I was somewhat surprised to see who the real bad guy was as the person did have clear motives, but likewise was sad, for certain reasons. I am looking forward to the next mystery, and to see Kyle’s continuing research into the death of their parents. I highly recommend this cozy mystery!
December 19, 2023
This Christmas cozy mystery takes the reader to the seaside setting of Harborside, Maine where the holidays are falling on the cozy town nestled on the Atlantic coast. I could practically feel the cold, salty air on my face reading it!
Kinsley Clark is a landscape artist and owner of SeaScapes, a landscaping business that she runs from the cottage behind the Salty Breeze Inn owned by her Aunt Tilly. Kinsley is gathering her friends around to help her make the annual kissing balls the decorate Harborside just in time for the holidays. Kissing Balls are clusters of evergreen branches tied together with twine and decorated with other holiday items such as bows or pinecones. While they were originally meant to bring good will to those who walk under them, they are also sometimes thought to symbolize romantic love.
Kinsley’s best friend Becca joins her part time during her slow season to help with with the kissing balls and holiday decorations Harborside hired Kinsley to create. In addition, her crush Pete—who owns the Blue Lobstah Pub—is helping. Kinsley and Pete are flirting around the idea of a romantic relationship but aren’t ready to address it yet (particularly since Pete’s busy work schedule keeps leading him to send mixed signals). But perhaps a perfect moment under a kissing ball could help? Only time will tell!
Meanwhile, the owner of the local flower shop donated the holly branches for the kissing balls. Her husband, Chris, is a town Alderman and is generally considered quite grumpy (even abrasive) around town. When he tells Kinsley off for charging the town for the kissing balls, Kinsley defends her business but also worries that maybe she took advantage of Mallory’s generosity by accepting the donated items. Still, Chris is pushing to get the town to hire a different company for their year-round decorating, which would put a huge dent in Kinsley’s business.
When it’s time for the annual boat parade and fireworks to kick off, Chris is dressed (rather appropriately) as the Grinch—green face and all! But when it is discovered that someone has pushed Chris into the icy water to his death, Kinsley suddenly has a motive for murder. Fortunately for Kinsley, Chris had many enemies and she’s not the only one with a motive (not to mention Kinsley has an alibi for the murder). When one of the bartenders at Pete’s pub and Kinsley’s friend Raven is arrested for the murder, Kinsey and Becca are determined to help solve the case.
The setting was delightful and I loved learning about kissing balls, which is a holiday decoration I recognized but didn’t know the history of. Harborside is a charming town and I could picture how lovely it must be, particularly over the holidays. Kinsley and Becca were a fun duo to read about, and Kinsley is heavily embedded in the middle of a will-they-won’t-they storyline with Pete throughout the book.
There were plenty of suspects that made sense for the murder, which kept the mystery interesting. The resolution was entertaining though not overly groundbreaking. I liked that Kinsley’s brother Kyle was around in this mystery. He had recently come home on leave from the Air Force where he was stationed overseas. Kinsley’s parents died in an accident on a military base when Kinsley and Kyle were children, so this was a touching “home for the holidays” storyline that added some much-needed depth to Kinsley as a character.
This fell on the very light side of cozy mysteries and I enjoyed it. I do think that the series needs a bit more in the next book to really pop. This is a lovely Christmas cozy mystery in a fun series that is still in its early books.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.
Kinsley Clark is a landscape artist and owner of SeaScapes, a landscaping business that she runs from the cottage behind the Salty Breeze Inn owned by her Aunt Tilly. Kinsley is gathering her friends around to help her make the annual kissing balls the decorate Harborside just in time for the holidays. Kissing Balls are clusters of evergreen branches tied together with twine and decorated with other holiday items such as bows or pinecones. While they were originally meant to bring good will to those who walk under them, they are also sometimes thought to symbolize romantic love.
Kinsley’s best friend Becca joins her part time during her slow season to help with with the kissing balls and holiday decorations Harborside hired Kinsley to create. In addition, her crush Pete—who owns the Blue Lobstah Pub—is helping. Kinsley and Pete are flirting around the idea of a romantic relationship but aren’t ready to address it yet (particularly since Pete’s busy work schedule keeps leading him to send mixed signals). But perhaps a perfect moment under a kissing ball could help? Only time will tell!
Meanwhile, the owner of the local flower shop donated the holly branches for the kissing balls. Her husband, Chris, is a town Alderman and is generally considered quite grumpy (even abrasive) around town. When he tells Kinsley off for charging the town for the kissing balls, Kinsley defends her business but also worries that maybe she took advantage of Mallory’s generosity by accepting the donated items. Still, Chris is pushing to get the town to hire a different company for their year-round decorating, which would put a huge dent in Kinsley’s business.
When it’s time for the annual boat parade and fireworks to kick off, Chris is dressed (rather appropriately) as the Grinch—green face and all! But when it is discovered that someone has pushed Chris into the icy water to his death, Kinsley suddenly has a motive for murder. Fortunately for Kinsley, Chris had many enemies and she’s not the only one with a motive (not to mention Kinsley has an alibi for the murder). When one of the bartenders at Pete’s pub and Kinsley’s friend Raven is arrested for the murder, Kinsey and Becca are determined to help solve the case.
The setting was delightful and I loved learning about kissing balls, which is a holiday decoration I recognized but didn’t know the history of. Harborside is a charming town and I could picture how lovely it must be, particularly over the holidays. Kinsley and Becca were a fun duo to read about, and Kinsley is heavily embedded in the middle of a will-they-won’t-they storyline with Pete throughout the book.
There were plenty of suspects that made sense for the murder, which kept the mystery interesting. The resolution was entertaining though not overly groundbreaking. I liked that Kinsley’s brother Kyle was around in this mystery. He had recently come home on leave from the Air Force where he was stationed overseas. Kinsley’s parents died in an accident on a military base when Kinsley and Kyle were children, so this was a touching “home for the holidays” storyline that added some much-needed depth to Kinsley as a character.
This fell on the very light side of cozy mysteries and I enjoyed it. I do think that the series needs a bit more in the next book to really pop. This is a lovely Christmas cozy mystery in a fun series that is still in its early books.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.
December 26, 2023
I would love to go to Aunt Tilly’s for Christmas! It only took a brief description of her Salty Breeze Inn, and I was hooked. Add in special local events with an audience of hundreds instead of thousands, snow, pine trees, and a place where childhood friends are friends for life. Yes, Harborside, Maine sounds like the place to be!
Kinsley, a landscape artist, has more homes and businesses to decorate for Christmas than she can possibly get done, yet she always finishes with excellence. She and a group of old and new friends gather for a weekend every year at the Salty Breeze to make kissing balls, Harborside’s style of mistletoe, that she decorates the town and wharf with. The local florist, Mallory, donates many of the greens, while Aunt Tilly closes the inn for this one weekend each year. Included are Pete, owner of the Blue Lobstah, a favored local pub, and Becca, Kinsley’s best friend since they met at a children’s swim class. One thing Kinsley enjoys about this weekend is meeting people she may not normally meet during the course of her job. Some who participate this year want to return next year, both to meet new people and to catch up with friends made this year.
The annual boat parade, with fireworks immediately following, has most people in town in attendance. Many gathered in Blue Lobstah, including Chris, one of the town aldermen, who is dressed like the Grinch. His wife, Mallory, and his brother Cole, with whom he speaks as little as possible, were also there. Chris had been drinking enough to be more annoying than usual. He had started a public disagreement with Kinsley earlier that day, and finds a way to have words with her whenever he sees her. He wants the town to hire a different company to handle decorating the village for holidays and special events, even though other residents love her work and hire her to do their yards and indoor event decorating.
The Grinch – Chris – irritated someone in the bar enough to start a fight, causing both of them to be evicted for the night. Later that evening, Chris was seen falling into the water from the wharf; by the time anyone could get him out, it was too late. He was so drunk that many people thought he fell in, but the coroner found injuries consistent with being injured and pushed before drowning. Several people told the police about the argument Kinsley and Chris had that day, so she was one of the first people questioned, and the number one suspect.
Kinsley and Becca had helped solve another case earlier that year. They chose to look into the people who were there that night and had problems with the alderman. When Kinsley was taken off the police suspect list, Raven, Pete’s best bartender was arrested. Kinsley and Becca had 48 hours to find whodunit, or Raven would be charged with murder. They already had their list of suspicious people, so they felt the hard part was done.
Plot twists kept this armchair sleuth guessing, even though I had my pet suspects. I was surprised to see who did do it, someone I had considered a red herring. The characters were very well-developed, and I am looking forward to seeing them again as they are fast becoming like old friends. I highly recommend this to those who appreciate well-written cozy mysteries with engaging characters, a Christmas setting, and interesting careers.
Kinsley, a landscape artist, has more homes and businesses to decorate for Christmas than she can possibly get done, yet she always finishes with excellence. She and a group of old and new friends gather for a weekend every year at the Salty Breeze to make kissing balls, Harborside’s style of mistletoe, that she decorates the town and wharf with. The local florist, Mallory, donates many of the greens, while Aunt Tilly closes the inn for this one weekend each year. Included are Pete, owner of the Blue Lobstah, a favored local pub, and Becca, Kinsley’s best friend since they met at a children’s swim class. One thing Kinsley enjoys about this weekend is meeting people she may not normally meet during the course of her job. Some who participate this year want to return next year, both to meet new people and to catch up with friends made this year.
The annual boat parade, with fireworks immediately following, has most people in town in attendance. Many gathered in Blue Lobstah, including Chris, one of the town aldermen, who is dressed like the Grinch. His wife, Mallory, and his brother Cole, with whom he speaks as little as possible, were also there. Chris had been drinking enough to be more annoying than usual. He had started a public disagreement with Kinsley earlier that day, and finds a way to have words with her whenever he sees her. He wants the town to hire a different company to handle decorating the village for holidays and special events, even though other residents love her work and hire her to do their yards and indoor event decorating.
The Grinch – Chris – irritated someone in the bar enough to start a fight, causing both of them to be evicted for the night. Later that evening, Chris was seen falling into the water from the wharf; by the time anyone could get him out, it was too late. He was so drunk that many people thought he fell in, but the coroner found injuries consistent with being injured and pushed before drowning. Several people told the police about the argument Kinsley and Chris had that day, so she was one of the first people questioned, and the number one suspect.
Kinsley and Becca had helped solve another case earlier that year. They chose to look into the people who were there that night and had problems with the alderman. When Kinsley was taken off the police suspect list, Raven, Pete’s best bartender was arrested. Kinsley and Becca had 48 hours to find whodunit, or Raven would be charged with murder. They already had their list of suspicious people, so they felt the hard part was done.
Plot twists kept this armchair sleuth guessing, even though I had my pet suspects. I was surprised to see who did do it, someone I had considered a red herring. The characters were very well-developed, and I am looking forward to seeing them again as they are fast becoming like old friends. I highly recommend this to those who appreciate well-written cozy mysteries with engaging characters, a Christmas setting, and interesting careers.
November 12, 2023
"Murder Under The Mistletoe" is book #2 in the "Mainely Murder Mystery" series by Sherry Lynn.
"In a fresh new Maine-set holiday cozy, landscaper Kinsley Clark must root out a killer before she becomes the prime suspect.
Landscape artist and owner of SeaScapes, Kinsley Clark has been re-hired to decorate the town of Harborside for the upcoming holiday season and boat parade. Using the local elements found in Maine, Kinsley creates kissing balls—the town’s official mistletoe—to hang downtown and along the wharf. Kinsley is also responsible for Harborside’s official “lobster-stacked” Christmas tree, located beside the local marina, where the annual Harborside Boat Parade & Fireworks Display takes place.
When local alderman Chris Chesterfield—dressed up as the Grinch, right down to the green face paint—falls off the pier and into the icy Atlantic the night of the annual kickoff event, the town is in shock. But all eyes turn to Kinsley and her beautiful decorations when it becomes evident that Chris didn't fall after all—and that he was looking to replace SeaScapes with a different decorating team. Kinsley, along with bestie, Becca, and Pete, the owner of the Blue Lobstah, must unearth the truth before Kinsley takes the fall."
My thoughts:
Festive decorations, glistening white snow, delicious treats and of course a murder! What more could you want in a holiday themed mystery?
Admittedly, I've never been really interested in horticulture - I have brown thumbs! However, the vivid descriptions of the decorating that Kinsley and Becca do sounds wonderful. When it comes to Aunt Tilly's cooking/baking my mouth was watering!
The core characters of Kinsley, Becca, Aunt Tilly, Rachael and Pete are believable and entertaining. Kinsley's big brother Kyle coming home on leave for the holidays added to the enjoyment. We do learn a bit more about Kyle and Kinsley's parents who died when the kids were young - though there is still more questions to be answered.
The murder of the alderman brings to light a number of issues the man had with various citizens. Several people land on Kinsley's suspect list but getting to the truth is never easy. She knows almost all of these people and doesn't want to believe that one of them could have killed someone but unfortunately one of them did. With the help of family and close friends, Kinsley sets out to learn the truth.
Some well placed misdirection did tempt me to change my mind a couple of times but in the end, I was right as to "who done it" - it was just a bit more of a complicated route to get there!
There were a couple of places where the wrong character was named and one phrase that seemed very awkward to me "covered the pillow with her head". I assume that should have read "covered her head with the pillow". Minor in the end, but still distracted me as I read.
Overall, an entertaining and mouth watering mystery to get you in the mood for the holiday season!
"In a fresh new Maine-set holiday cozy, landscaper Kinsley Clark must root out a killer before she becomes the prime suspect.
Landscape artist and owner of SeaScapes, Kinsley Clark has been re-hired to decorate the town of Harborside for the upcoming holiday season and boat parade. Using the local elements found in Maine, Kinsley creates kissing balls—the town’s official mistletoe—to hang downtown and along the wharf. Kinsley is also responsible for Harborside’s official “lobster-stacked” Christmas tree, located beside the local marina, where the annual Harborside Boat Parade & Fireworks Display takes place.
When local alderman Chris Chesterfield—dressed up as the Grinch, right down to the green face paint—falls off the pier and into the icy Atlantic the night of the annual kickoff event, the town is in shock. But all eyes turn to Kinsley and her beautiful decorations when it becomes evident that Chris didn't fall after all—and that he was looking to replace SeaScapes with a different decorating team. Kinsley, along with bestie, Becca, and Pete, the owner of the Blue Lobstah, must unearth the truth before Kinsley takes the fall."
My thoughts:
Festive decorations, glistening white snow, delicious treats and of course a murder! What more could you want in a holiday themed mystery?
Admittedly, I've never been really interested in horticulture - I have brown thumbs! However, the vivid descriptions of the decorating that Kinsley and Becca do sounds wonderful. When it comes to Aunt Tilly's cooking/baking my mouth was watering!
The core characters of Kinsley, Becca, Aunt Tilly, Rachael and Pete are believable and entertaining. Kinsley's big brother Kyle coming home on leave for the holidays added to the enjoyment. We do learn a bit more about Kyle and Kinsley's parents who died when the kids were young - though there is still more questions to be answered.
The murder of the alderman brings to light a number of issues the man had with various citizens. Several people land on Kinsley's suspect list but getting to the truth is never easy. She knows almost all of these people and doesn't want to believe that one of them could have killed someone but unfortunately one of them did. With the help of family and close friends, Kinsley sets out to learn the truth.
Some well placed misdirection did tempt me to change my mind a couple of times but in the end, I was right as to "who done it" - it was just a bit more of a complicated route to get there!
There were a couple of places where the wrong character was named and one phrase that seemed very awkward to me "covered the pillow with her head". I assume that should have read "covered her head with the pillow". Minor in the end, but still distracted me as I read.
Overall, an entertaining and mouth watering mystery to get you in the mood for the holiday season!
November 7, 2023
Murder Under the Mistletoe by Sherry Lynn has Kinsley Clark’s business Seascapes decorating Harborside, Maine for the holidays. Kinsley gets help from volunteers to make the numerous kissing balls she needs to bedeck the town. I enjoyed the descriptions of the town decorated for the holidays as well as the homes Kinsley and her crew adorned. A boat parade is something that I am familiar with living in Florida. At least I do not shiver (not most years) while watching it. The author captured the chilly temperatures of Maine. I could imagine the cold wind coming in off the water (brr). The town alderman dressed appropriately as the Grinch gets murdered during the boat parade. The suspect list is longer than a five-year-olds Christmas list for Santa. Kinsley accompanied by bestie, Becca set out to solve the murder. I wish the guilty party had not been so obvious (there might as well have been a neon arrow pointing at the person). The mystery is neatly wrapped up at the end of the book in time for the holidays. Kinsley’s brother is home for a month, but some unexpected news gets his visit off to a rough start. There is a secondary mystery that is not resolved in this book. I could have done with less romance. There are numerous mentions of Pete and how Kinsley feels about him. I like the gift Kinsley receives from her brother for Christmas. I had a feeling she would receive this particular gift from the references throughout the story, but I still enjoyed her reaction to it. Murder Under the Mistletoe is the second A Mainely Murder Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those who have not read Digging Up Daisy. Murder Under the Mistletoe is a Christmas cozy with a chilly climate, a petty politician, a bar bruhaha, a slew of suspects, a surprising secret, scrumptious cocoa, and a Happy Holiday!
February 20, 2025
Nothing says “Merry Christmas” like a little light homicide, and Murder Under the Mistletoe delivers festive cheer with a side of suspicious circumstances. When chocolatier Talia Marby gets wrapped up in yet another small-town murder mystery, holiday plans take a backseat to solving a case that’s as messy as a melted truffle. Between running her shop, dodging nosy neighbors, and trying to untangle a web of motives, Talia has her hands full—not to mention, there’s mistletoe drama that has nothing to do with romance and everything to do with murder.
The charm of this book comes from its cozy mystery vibes, complete with quirky locals, a snowy New England setting, and a protagonist who can’t seem to go one holiday season without stumbling over a dead body. Talia is likable and determined, though her sleuthing skills sometimes require a healthy suspension of disbelief (as does the fact that this small town has such an alarmingly high crime rate). The pacing keeps things moving, though the mystery itself leans more who’s got the best alibi? than jaw-dropping twist. And while the holiday details add a fun layer of seasonal charm, the actual murder-solving occasionally gets lost in the Christmas chaos.
At 3 stars, Murder Under the Mistletoe is a fun, lighthearted read with plenty of cozy charm, even if the mystery itself isn’t the most memorable. It can be read as a standalone, though having some background on Talia and her world might help with character dynamics. If you love your Christmas reads with a sprinkle of crime and a dash of small-town gossip, this one makes for a sweet, if not particularly shocking, holiday treat. Just maybe don’t accept any homemade chocolates without checking for suspicious ingredients first.
The charm of this book comes from its cozy mystery vibes, complete with quirky locals, a snowy New England setting, and a protagonist who can’t seem to go one holiday season without stumbling over a dead body. Talia is likable and determined, though her sleuthing skills sometimes require a healthy suspension of disbelief (as does the fact that this small town has such an alarmingly high crime rate). The pacing keeps things moving, though the mystery itself leans more who’s got the best alibi? than jaw-dropping twist. And while the holiday details add a fun layer of seasonal charm, the actual murder-solving occasionally gets lost in the Christmas chaos.
At 3 stars, Murder Under the Mistletoe is a fun, lighthearted read with plenty of cozy charm, even if the mystery itself isn’t the most memorable. It can be read as a standalone, though having some background on Talia and her world might help with character dynamics. If you love your Christmas reads with a sprinkle of crime and a dash of small-town gossip, this one makes for a sweet, if not particularly shocking, holiday treat. Just maybe don’t accept any homemade chocolates without checking for suspicious ingredients first.
December 15, 2023
Kinsley, a landscape artist, owns SeaScapes, a business she runs from her cottage behind her aunt’s inn. The town of Harborside hires her to decorate for Christmas and throughout the year, but when local alderman Chris Chesterfield—dressed up as the Grinch, right down to the green face paint—falls off the pier and into the icy Atlantic the night of the annual Harborside Boat Parade & Fireworks, Kinsley becomes a person of interest. Lots of people knew Kinsley and Chris didn’t get along, and several had witnessed them arguing on the day of his death.
I liked Kinsley and her friends and family. They’re believable and I like how they all have to do their jobs in addition to working on the case. Kinsley’s brother. Kyle. is home for the holidays on leave, but I didn’t love the questions around how their parents died. I’m just not a fan of that whole overarching family mystery arc.
The mystery was fine with several suspects and decent clues. The characters and setting were more interesting than the plot though. And I loved all the Christmas touches. But please stop writing about people giving pets as Christmas presents. A dog is not a good gift, even if the person has hinted they want one. It’s a huge commitment, both in time and money and, with few exceptions, should not be a choice made for someone else.
I liked Kinsley and her friends and family. They’re believable and I like how they all have to do their jobs in addition to working on the case. Kinsley’s brother. Kyle. is home for the holidays on leave, but I didn’t love the questions around how their parents died. I’m just not a fan of that whole overarching family mystery arc.
The mystery was fine with several suspects and decent clues. The characters and setting were more interesting than the plot though. And I loved all the Christmas touches. But please stop writing about people giving pets as Christmas presents. A dog is not a good gift, even if the person has hinted they want one. It’s a huge commitment, both in time and money and, with few exceptions, should not be a choice made for someone else.
August 12, 2023
Murder Under the Mistletoe is. cozy mystery. It isn't long or complex, but is instead, a brief opportunity to escape the world around us. This Sherry Lynn novel is number two of A Mainely Murder Mystery series. As before, the primary character is Kinsley Clark. Murder Under the Mistletoe pairs Kiinsley with her best friend, Beck, as the two women search for a killer.
The setting for Murder Under the Mistletoe is Christmas in Maine. The weather is cold and snowy, but a winter storm does not delay the search for a killer. Since the victim was universally disliked, perhaps even hated, there are many possible murderers to keep the two women busy tracking down suspects. Although this second novel in the series is not as compelling as the first novel, it was still a fun and enjoyable read. For people who love cozy mysteries, Murder Under the Mistletoe will not disappoint.
Thank you to the author and to Berkley publishing for sending this ARC in exchange for my honest review. My comments above are my honest opinions about this novel. Thank you also to NetGalley for facilitating my access to Murder Under the Mistletoe.
The setting for Murder Under the Mistletoe is Christmas in Maine. The weather is cold and snowy, but a winter storm does not delay the search for a killer. Since the victim was universally disliked, perhaps even hated, there are many possible murderers to keep the two women busy tracking down suspects. Although this second novel in the series is not as compelling as the first novel, it was still a fun and enjoyable read. For people who love cozy mysteries, Murder Under the Mistletoe will not disappoint.
Thank you to the author and to Berkley publishing for sending this ARC in exchange for my honest review. My comments above are my honest opinions about this novel. Thank you also to NetGalley for facilitating my access to Murder Under the Mistletoe.
August 25, 2025
Salty Breeze Inn - Owned by Aunt Till, age 63, Harborside, Maine;
Kinsley Clark - SeaScapes, a landscaping and design business;
Becca - best friend, real estate;
Adam - part time student employee;
Alice - his mother, housekeeper for Edna, next door;
Edna Williamsburg, wealthy widow, next door;
Cari Day - humane Society, dog was attacked by Chris' dog;
Chris Chesterfield - alderman, MURDERED, pushed off dock;
Pete - owner of the Blue Lobstah, Kinsley likes him;
Kyle - Kinsley's brother, home for the holidays from Germany;
Jackie & Tim Horn - BOTH responsible for PUSHING Chris off the dock;
Chris had denied a permit for Tim to open a business;
A holiday scarf, given as a prize several years ago, was key to the mystery;
Kinsley Clark - SeaScapes, a landscaping and design business;
Becca - best friend, real estate;
Adam - part time student employee;
Alice - his mother, housekeeper for Edna, next door;
Edna Williamsburg, wealthy widow, next door;
Cari Day - humane Society, dog was attacked by Chris' dog;
Chris Chesterfield - alderman, MURDERED, pushed off dock;
Pete - owner of the Blue Lobstah, Kinsley likes him;
Kyle - Kinsley's brother, home for the holidays from Germany;
Jackie & Tim Horn - BOTH responsible for PUSHING Chris off the dock;
Chris had denied a permit for Tim to open a business;
A holiday scarf, given as a prize several years ago, was key to the mystery;
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2024
I enjoyed the snowy, Christmastime images of this seaside town in Maine. Even in the winter Kinsley was busy with her decorating business and her curious nature leading her to want to solve the murder. This book contained a few clever red herrings that led me to suspect someone different than the real culprit. I’m drawn in even more to this series with the new layer of mystery as Kinsley discovered her parents’ accidental death many years ago may not have been what it appeared to be. I look forward to when the next book in this series gets released!
January 6, 2024
In the second book of this series. Kinsley is busy working on decorating Christmas trees as well as Kissing Balls. She is busy with Becca and getting everything ready for Christmas. She is also excited because her brother Kyle is coming home for Christmas. While at Pete's with her friends, Chris, an alderman, in his Grinch outfit is pushed off the pier. So hoping that Kinsley and Becca can figure out who had it with Grinch yet still retain the Christmas spirit.
December 27, 2025
I was looking for a light holiday read and this book certainly fit the Christmas bill, but it was a little too light. The main character Kinsley would have been far more believable and enjoyable as a teenage detective - at times her behavior was so impatient and whiny that she came across as very juvenile. Perhaps she’ll mature as the series goes on but I don’t think I’ll be reading along to find out.
January 21, 2024
Maine landscaper Kinsley Clark becomes the main suspect after an alderman falls off a pier and it’s discovered that it was no accident. This is the second in the Mainely Murder series. I liked it but I think to really get the most from it I’d have to read the first book first. But it’s a fun Christmas caper and I enjoyed it enough to be interested in the series.
February 1, 2024
A beautiful cozy mystery where we find Kinsley making her little town beautiful for Christmas and of course you have to have a miserable character and guess what he is bumped off. The list of folks who did not like this man is a little long....hence a miserable person! I know its after the holidays but it is still a good book to read no matter what time of the year!
September 26, 2024
such a cute cozy whodunnit!,
This book had so many cozy elements that I love and enjoy, the snowy weather, the holiday season, the wonderful decorations and I also loved the close knit community set in snowy Maine such wonderful food also with great descriptions to boot and another cozy element was all the yummy drinks and desserts yummy!, 😋 💗
This book had so many cozy elements that I love and enjoy, the snowy weather, the holiday season, the wonderful decorations and I also loved the close knit community set in snowy Maine such wonderful food also with great descriptions to boot and another cozy element was all the yummy drinks and desserts yummy!, 😋 💗
July 20, 2023
A delightful cozy mystery set just before Christmas in a charming Maine town where at least the person murdered was not a nice person. Add a good cast of characters and the result is a charming Christmas cozy.
December 15, 2023
I read this book via audible and found the narrator to have a very annoying voice which didn’t help the story. The story itself was just an ok cozy read. It was kind of a cute story in the beginning but after a while I couldn’t remember who was who and didn’t really care.
April 7, 2024
A light mystery -- very light. But there is certainly a pleasant ambiance of seasonal cheer in coastal Maine with lots of sugary treats, snowy days and small town friendships. And, of course, a very jolly murder.
July 14, 2024
I thought that all the relationships in the book were nice. It was a nice change with the romance to have the MFC confident in her like of the romance. However, I kept spacing out while reading and didn't feel the need to go back, I'm also not sure I loved Kinsley.
October 7, 2023
It's cute, as are all Christmas cozies. Not overly memorable, but a good, quick read.
November 8, 2023
I deeply enjoyed this series so far! Definitely looking forward to the next one!
December 3, 2023
Really enjoying this series. Can’t wait until the next one is out.
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December 4, 2023A good second one. A family mystery still coming together, but this murder was solved. Seems like more town stuff to come as characters lives keep unfolding. Looking forward to the next one.
December 4, 2023
I enjoyed it, although there was a little too much unnecessary dialogue for my taste.
December 13, 2023
Found Kinsey seriously annoying with her deciding she should solve the mystery even to the extent of the taffy shop owner getting hurt because she decided she should set up a trap for the killer.
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