Mayhem in Christmas River

Christmas River #2

by Meg Muldoon

It's July in Christmas River, and the temperature isn't the only thing flaring out of control.

After a fire destroys her best friend's ornament shop, pie baker extraordinaire Cinnamon Peters soon discovers that the blaze was no accident.

Just days before the annual Christmas River in July Parade and Play, it becomes clear that a maniac is roaming the tourist-packed streets of Christmas River.

And he's got a flair for the dramatic.

Will Cinnamon and her sheriff's deputy boyfriend find out who's behind the blaze before the rest of the town goes up in flames?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Christmas, Cozy, Romance, Fiction, Holiday

212 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 6, 2013

About the author

For a very limited time receive a FREE cozy mystery and recipe book when you sign up for Meg Muldoon's mailing list! Sign-up here: http://eepurl.com/zcGr1

Meg Muldoon is the author of over 20 feel-good mysteries, including the bestselling Christmas River Cozy Mysteries and The Dog Town USA Cozy Mysteries. A former small town news reporter, Meg has always had a special place in her heart for lost dogs, homeless cats, and feisty old locals. She enjoys Marionberry pie, red cowboy boots, and craft glue guns. Meg specializes in writing stories filled with humor and heart, and her books have been featured in the Amazon Kindle Top-100.

Meg lives in Central Oregon with two Great Pyrenees, a cattle dog named Huckleberry, and a rascal cat named Frank.

Reading Order:

THE CHRISTMAS RIVER COZY MYSTERY SERIES
Murder in Christmas River – Book 1
Mayhem in Christmas River – Book 2
Madness in Christmas River – Book 3
Malice in Christmas River – Book 4
Mischief in Christmas River – Book 5
Manic in Christmas River – Book 6
Magic in Christmas River – Book 7
Menace in Christmas River – Book 8
Missing in Christmas River – Book 9
Meltdown in Christmas River – Book 10
Midnight in Christmas River – Book 11
Mistake in Christmas River – Book 12
Matrimony in Christmas River - Book 13
Malarkey in Christmas River - Book 14 (Coming Spring 2025!)

THE CHRISTMAS RIVER COZY MYSTERY NOVELLA SERIES
Roasted in Christmas River – Novella 1
Cinnamon Peters & the Rabbit Bandit – Novella 2
Caught in Christmas River – Novella 3
Crushed in Christmas River – Novella 4
Hounded in Christmas River – Novella 5
Framed in Christmas River – Novella 6
Trapped in Christmas River - Novella 7
Merriment in Christmas River - Novella 8

THE HOLLY HOPEWELL COZY MYSTERY SERIES
The Silence of the Elves – Book 1
Elf Confidential - Book 2

THE DOG TOWN USA COZY MYSTERY SERIES
Mutts & Murder – Book 1
Bulldogs & Bullets – Book 2
Corgis & Conspiracy - Book 3
Pyrenees & Poison - Book 4 (Coming Soon)

THE COZY MATCHMAKER MYSTERY SERIES
Burned in Broken Hearts Junction – Book 1
Busted in Broken Hearts Junction – Book 2

THE WITCHES OF BROOMFIELD BAY MYSTERY SERIES (with Jools Sinclair)
Ginger of the West – Book 1

Reviews

[Tiffany PSquared · Rating 4 out of 5]

❝ I, myself, had never been a big fan of the whole Christmas-in-the-middle-of-summer idea that so many people around here loved, but it certainly helped pay the bills. ❞

Cinnamon Peters runs a pie shop in the cozy town of Christmas River – where Christmas spirit is serious business all year round. If you think this doesn’t sound like the kind of place where a lot of mayhem goes down, you’d be very, very wrong. A crazy arsonist is terrorizing the citizens of the town who all have one thing in common: The annual mid-summer Christmas play. Between that and the unbearable July heatwave, Cinnamon and her friends must band together to save their town… and their own lives.

What I Liked:
-The characters are immediately likable and relatable – even though the MC is named Cinnamon. Cinnamon.
-There was very little lag time between the story buildup and the action.
-This book doesn’t take itself too seriously. Sometimes you just need that in a good e-read.

What I Didn't Like:
-Forcing myself to get used to the MCs name: Cinnamon. Cinnamon. Nope, not used to it yet.
-Book 1 wasn’t available for free. Starting with Book 2 (free offer through BookBub) goes against my reading religion and I felt like a sinner doing it.

What I Wanted More Of:
- More info on the characters of some of the key antagonists in the book. Am I missing this because I started with Book 2 first?
- More info on more of the people that live in the town – and why they live in Christmas River.

★★★★ For a fun, cute, but still suspenseful read. I'm glad for having read this book and I'd recommend it to fans of light-hearted crime fiction and romance.

[Emmalynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow, Cinnamon…. Unlike her namesake spice, she is not warming me up to her at all. I literally wanted her boyfriend to leave her a million times during the book. Okay, I get it, she has trauma, so does he! She has issues to work through( so does he; yet she flies of the handle, is mean, obnoxious, rude, and hurts people she claims to love over and over. I get it, this can be a defense mechanism, a way to push people away, but boy oh boy, 🙄🙄🙄

There’s a lot of similarities between Cinnamon and the Villain in the story. Both have childhood trauma that the act out. However, while the culprit act out physically to hurt others, Cinnamon used her words to inflict pain.

Anyway, the rest of the story was good, and I will give it to the author for a pretty realistic portrayal on some of the characters. There is a happy twist so there’s that.

[Madeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ms. Muldoon loves her similes:

"There had been a loud explosion and now flames were falling all around. I should have been running, but I couldn’t bring myself to move my legs. I was stuck, like an insect trapped in a jar of honey."

An entertaining cozy mystery in a place I would love to live, Christmas River.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fast paced mystery.... second in a series.

[Johanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a taste of life with all these characters - some were a bit peculiar and I loved it. This was really cozy read.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like these books because they offer a light mystery in a unique setting. This is a fairly quick read with short but numerous chapters that fly by. I listened and followed along in the book which was a great way to go, the narrator is very good and creates each character in a realistic way. The dialogue can come off a little stiff on occasion but does seem to reflect the characters as a whole.

Christmas River is about to celebrate Christmas in July, their annual play and parade that brings the tourists in. While the town is making its preparations a fire destroys Cinnamon Peters best friend's ornament shop and they are all in shock while they wait to find out how it started. When it becomes clear that a maniac is lose in the town with a flair for dramatic things heat up.

Cinnamon and her deputy boyfriend Daniel must find out who is behind the blaze before the whole town goes up in flames. They are also going to have to navigate their personal problems from a rejection to jealousy as things burn around them.

The story is nice with a twist you may or may not see coming. There is a wholesomeness to the stories that make them very sweet. I think most would find them entertaining.

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's July in Christmas River and just a few days before the big parade, Cinnamon's best friend's shop goes up in flames. Someone doesn't like Christmas and/or the town and it's up to Cinnamon and her deputy boyfriend to find the one responsible before more people wind up hurt or worse.

I loved this cozy mystery and got me totally in the Christmas spirit. This is my first Muldoon mystery and I'll be reading more from her. She's got a talent for suspense mixed with humor and a dash of romance. I loved Cinnamon as a MC and this would make a great tv show.

My Rating: 5 stars

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute book. Something to read when you want to keep it quick and easy. It isn't a series that makes me feel as if I MUST read the next book.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mayhem in Christmas River
Christmas River, Book 2

I Picked Up This Book Because: Continue the series

Media Type: Audiobook
Source: AudiblePlus
Dates Read: 1/7/24 - 1/8/23
Stars: 4 Stars
Narrator(s): Randye Kaye

The Characters:

Cinnamon Peters
Daniel
Warren (Cinnamon’s grandpa), Cinnamon’s BFF

The Story:

Mayhem indeed. So much drama and I enjoyed it all. I was able to deduce who the villain is, so I’m proud of me. We ended as we began and that makes me happy. I will definitely continue the series.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the town is gearing up for Christmas in July, they are putting on a play, written and directed by the local lady who tutors children in English, Writing, and Grammar. When her friend, Kara's business is set on fire. When the video becomes available it shows someone dressed as Santa Claus doing the deed. Cinnamon feels the need to get involved to find out who would do such a thing to her friend. She also has to deal with her emotions regarding her father and her ex-husband as her boyfriend, Daniel, asked her to marry him.

The story was interesting, but I felt like I missed a book, even though this is only book 2 and I read book 1 first.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable second book in the series. There's an arsonist in town, and our protagonist Cin is preparing for a role in the summer play. Meanwhile, things aren't so peachy with her beau. And she certainly has some abandonment anxiety.

The editing in this volume felt better than in the last one I read, so that was good. I'll probably keep my eye on this series when I need another down-home helping of Christmas and Pie.

I obtained a copy of this e-book during a freebie give-away on Amazon.

[Felicia Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am glad that not all of the books in this series are murder mysteries. I love the setting of it. I grew up in Oregon and the author describes the area perfectly. So far I have binge read the first two books. Now on to number three!

[Mel Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice easy read. Likeable characters, unique small town and a little mystery thrown into the mix. There are multiple twists and turns to the unfolding mystery and the solution is not obvious. Nothing to complain about. Looking forward to book 3.

[Meonicorn (The Bookish Land) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Not as good as the first one.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the stories and the characters. The mystery is good. But I am having a hard time listening to this narrator. I can't get used to her delivery. I may have to read the rest of the series.

[G. Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this one more than the first book! Good mystery, interesting premise

[Jo Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fab addition to the Christmas River series. cinnamon this time is caught up in a mystery when an arsonist appears to be taking out the businesses of females related to the Christmas in July festival. Cinnamon agrees to take over the role of Mrs Claus so she can be close to the action.

[Nancy Steinle gummel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magenta in Christmas River by Meg Muldoon is an enjoyable read. Trading in on it's name, Christmas River does it big for Christmas in July. By having a parade, pageant, special sales for the tourists. Cinnamon (Fin) Peters has a pie shop in Christmas River. Her best friend Kara has an ornament shop and is Mrs. Clause in the play. Daniel is her boyfriend. He proposed marriage and she wouldn't give an answer. She loves him but doesn't trust him with what her exhusband did to her. Things are awkward between them then Mata's shop goes up in flames. Everything including new inventory is torches by an arsonist. Kara asks Cin to be Mrs. Claus in her stead. At practice, Ronald the school principal is Santa Claus. His wife Sarah tutors. She wrote the play and is directing it. She's a real slave driver. Then the florist shop goes up in flames. Its' owner was in the play too. Daniel is busy investigating the parsons. Too busy to talk with cinnamon. She is worried sick. Then an old friend of his, Stephanie shows up. She is drop dead gorgeous. She is looking for her brother Nick who went missing with his last postcard from Christmas River. Will Daniel find out the arsonist before more businesses go up in flames? Can Cin get over her jealousy? Will Daniel and Cinnamon reconcile?

[Loraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas River is set for it's Christmas in July Parade and Play in order to bring in the tourists. Cinnamon, the local small town pie shop owner, is pulled in to play Mrs. Claus when Kara's Christmas Ornament Shop gets torched. Who is setting the stores on fire and why, and is it someone in the cast of the Christmas play?

Muldoon has a talent for mixing mystery, humor and a touch of romance with an interesting plot. There are enough red herrings to keep you guessing until near the end of the book. Cinnamon and Daniel's topsy turvy romance as Cinnamon struggles with her trust issues also is a large part of the plot but it doesn't overtake the mystery, and both problems are solved in the end.

I gave this book a 3 for the few obscenities that were included which really weren't necessary.

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the first book in the series and it being the holiday season I figured I should come back for more. It was OK but not as good as the first. The writing and characters were good but the plot was a bit too melodramatic for me. While the first book focused on the hunt for the real killer and Cinnamon’s relationship with Daniel was a tangent I felt that the rolls were reversed here with the relationship drama being front and center. Still it was well written and a nice read to get you in the holiday spirit!

[Vickie A neville · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just so so

Too much time spent on irrelevant points and content. Several grammar and spelling issues throughout. Kept thinking it would get better, then decided by the time it did that I just wanted the book to end

[Jewett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not great literature but a really fun read. I liked the characters and didn't quite see the ending coming.

[Wulfwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! This is my third book I’ve read in it and the second book in the series. I would put this as both a cozy mystery and a romance. The romance isn’t all sappy though. It has an honesty to it.
It’s Christmas in July in Christmas River. There is parade and a play going on. Cinnamon and Daniel are together. Kara and John ... not so much. It’s a hot summer that gets hotter when an arsonist makes it their playground. With the arrival of a visiting woman things may be changing for one of the couples. The past, left unresolved, is fast becoming the present. Isn’t that just the way of it in real life too? What happened in your past, all the way back to childhood, affects who you are today. If anything is left unresolved you can bet on it bringing havoc into your life at some point. I think that is one of my favorite things about this series: the artful blending of fiction with how things play out in real life. The author does an amazing job with the blending turning it into a book that is as interesting as it is fun to read. Every time I had to put it down to do something, I had it on my mind. I love when characters won’t leave you alone! Speaking of the characters, there is a new dog in this one. Huckleberry is still on the scene but, being a shih tzu mom, I’m really hoping Mr Crawley is in future books too. I adore how Cinnamon volunteers at the animal shelter. Seeing how easy it is to volunteer warms my heart. A lot of times we think we are too busy to be able to make an impact. The author does great with showing us not only how easy it is but also how it benefits us too.
You can read out of order if you really want to. I started off with Silence of the Elves which was way out of order. I then had to read the series so I started with book 1. After reading the three, I would strongly suggest reading them in order. The romance, friendships and family are all things you want to read as they unfold. The mystery is complete, though, if that is all you want. Either way, get reading. I’m certain you will be hooked!

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is Christmas in July but other than mentioning the heatwave a hundred times, this reads just like a holiday novel. It is a year and a half since the first book and Cinnamon is dismayed when her best friend, Kara's, ornament shop burns down. She is even more upset to learn that it was arson. Kara, left picking up the pieces of her shop, asks Cinnamon to take her place as Mrs. Claus in the annual Christmas in July play, which she reluctantly agrees to do in hopes that it will lead to some clues of the arsonist. Santa is played by Cinamon's former high school principal and is directed by his controlling wife. Of course, Cinnamon's boyfriend, Daniel, is working the case and is upset that she is putting herself in harms way. He is also upset that he proposed and she hasn't given him an answer yet. It doesn't help when an old flame, Stephanie, comes into town looking for Daniel to help her track down her brother. He took off several months ago in search of their father who abandoned their family when they were children and she hasn't heard from him. When another shop goes up in flames, Cinnamon gets nervous about her own shop. But luckily she has her volunteer job as a dog walker at the humane society to help her deal with the stress. It turns out that Stephanie's brother was the arsonist and his father was none other than Santa. He makes himself known when he sets fire to the auditorium during the Christmas play. Everyone escapes unharmed, Stephanie's brother is arrested and Cinnamon says yes to Daniel's proposal.

[Michelle Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

We were introduced to Christmas River in the first book in the Series, Murder in Christmas River, and while I think you might be able to get away with reading this book without reading the first, everything makes much more sense in you read them in order.

This book takes place over a year and a half later - in July, not your typical Christmas setting right? Although with a name like Christmas River, isn't it always Christmas? Anyway it is July and the annual Christmas River in July play is set to happen, and after an arsonist is set loose in town Cinnamon is roped in the lead in the play.

Nothing and no one are exactly what they appear to be, and Cinnamon learns that while helping to figure out who is setting fires to local businesses and why. Cinnamon is not all she appears to be, and her past and its scars are effecting her thoughts and her relationship. Somehow Cinnamon is going to have to come to grips with her past and make peace or there is no chance of a future for her.

This is the second book in a series that is not as light and playful as most cozy mysteries, there is a past to the characters and things that they need to overcome and deal with to move on and be happy. It is defintely a story to make you think and to also at the same time restore your faith in change and moving on, and ultimately happy endings.

[Stormi (StormReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cinnamon Peters thought everything was going well until her boyfriend proposes and all things come crashing down. She loves Daniel but she was burned badly once and really doesn't want to get married. Then her friends shop is hit by an arsonist and she tells Cinnamon that she won't be able to play Mrs. Claus for their Christmas in July event. She talks Cinnamon into it and then another person from the play gets hit by the arsonist and Daniel wants her to drop out causing more tension between them. Is it really someone who is after those in the play or is it something else all together.

Mayhem in Christmas River is a short cozy with a decent mystery and I enjoyed it. I like Cinnamon and felt a bit sorry for her and her conflicted fillings about Daniel. Not ever having anything like that happen I couldn't really understand why she was having such a problem. Daniel is a great man and nothing like her ex. It seemed that being Mrs. Claus was a lot of work as well...lol.

I will be listening to book 3 soon as I am trying to catch up with this fun series and I have all of them that are out in audio format waiting for me to get to them. Trying hard to catch up on a lot of series this year. :)

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Muldoon's descriptive style is a welcome change to the lackluster writing in some of my recent reads. In Mayhem, Cinnamon Peter's home town of Christmas River is in the throes of celebrating Christmas in July, a major tourist attraction for the town, consisting of a parade and play. All of sudden, too many things happen at once: her boyfriend, Daniel, proposes (SPOILER ALERT: she doesn't turn him down, per se, but she doesn't say yes, either); her friend's ornament shop is burned down...and then another shop is also burned down by the now serial arsonist; and a woman from Daniel's past comes to visit, sparking jealousy in Cinnamon but Daniel assures her there was nothing between them. Because of the fire, Cinnamon agrees to take over as Mrs Claus for Kara and finds out the director/author is a nightmare. And it looks like the arsonist is targeting the players!
Meanwhile, life goes on and pies must be baked to be eaten, so even though her AC is on the fritz (yes, a Christmas story when it's much too hot to shovel snow), Cinnamon and her assistant keep the shop open. Grandpa's still in the mix, and his new hobby is brewing beer, which keeps him busy but not too busy to lend an ear to Cin.

[Krystyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cleansing flames

Another good read. It really surprised me me as to the culprit was. Loved the characters and they are getting stronger in each book. Although like the first book please be aware that it is only 86 % of the page count.
She's enjoying her time with her new sweetheart. Although she is still wary of totally committing herself to him. A seemingly pointless fire destroys her BFF's business. Especially as the arsonist actually takes a bow in front of the security cameras. Who was the figure dressed up in the Santa suit? To complicate matters a woman from his past has come into town and although she is looking for her brother she can fell that this is only part of the reason. The other part is that she regrets letting Daniel go. Will Daniel succumb to her charms especially as she has just refused his proposal. Another fire breaks out and now everyone is aware that they have an arsonist in their midst. Plus her BFF has asked her to step in as Mrs Claus in the upcoming summer play. Will any more fires break out? What is driving the arsonist on his path of destruction? Will they catch the arsonist before there is a serious loss of life? Will she and Daniel get over their differences?

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’d been so long since I read book one I almost felt like I might need a reread, but once I got going, the author did a nice job of catching readers up on what happened in the first book. While there was no murder in this book, there was still a nasty arsonist on the loose when the town was having their annual Christmas in July play practice leading up to the parade and play performance.

Cinnamon and Daniel were having some relationship issues but I was happy with that outcome. The showdown with the arsonist was a definite surprise when it was revealed who it was. When reinforcements arrived, the perp didn’t stand a chance. I’m eager to read the next book which is living in in my Kindle library.

[Shelly Fabian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This holiday book has everything - mystery, romance, friendships, you name it. A page turner that will remind you that there is still good in this world.

“There’s not a worse smell on earth than the singed aroma of burnt dreams.”

“Marionberry is a specialty of Oregon. It only grows here.”

“That old saying that time heals all wounds was a lie. Time can lessen or dull the pain, but it can’t always
heal it.”

“Sometimes you think something good will last forever. But in a split second, it falls apart and
disintegrates into ash. It’s the same stupid lesson over and over again. And you don’t get any better at learning it.”

“But sometimes when you hold onto hatred, it only ends up hurting you. That hate just festers deep
down inside, bleeding out and poisoning everything it touches.”