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A Poppy McAllister Mystery #9
Silent Nights Are Murder
Despite her best efforts, gluten-free baker Poppy McAllister finds herself confounded by a case of murder this Christmas in the latest installment of this delightful culinary B&B mystery series!
Ever since Thanksgiving, when an engagement ring in a velvet box—and no gift tag—was left behind, Poppy and her pals have been left with an unsolved mystery. But at least this mystery isn’t the kind that involves murder. That all changes when the body of a fish supplier is discovered in the kitchen of her ex’s restaurant—and he’s frozen, not fresh.
For once, it’s not Poppy who tripped over the corpse, yet she can’t escape being drawn in since the victim has a note taped to him reading Get Poppy. Figures—an engagement ring isn't labeled, but the dead guy is addressed to her. Now, while Aunt Ginny plans a tree-trimming party and pressures Poppy to decode a mysterious old diary, the amateur sleuth is asked to “unofficially” go undercover at the restaurant to help the police. Until then, the only crime Poppy had been dealing with was the cat Figaro’s repeated thefts of bird ornaments from the tree; now it looks like it’s going to be a murder-y Christmas after all . . .
Ever since Thanksgiving, when an engagement ring in a velvet box—and no gift tag—was left behind, Poppy and her pals have been left with an unsolved mystery. But at least this mystery isn’t the kind that involves murder. That all changes when the body of a fish supplier is discovered in the kitchen of her ex’s restaurant—and he’s frozen, not fresh.
For once, it’s not Poppy who tripped over the corpse, yet she can’t escape being drawn in since the victim has a note taped to him reading Get Poppy. Figures—an engagement ring isn't labeled, but the dead guy is addressed to her. Now, while Aunt Ginny plans a tree-trimming party and pressures Poppy to decode a mysterious old diary, the amateur sleuth is asked to “unofficially” go undercover at the restaurant to help the police. Until then, the only crime Poppy had been dealing with was the cat Figaro’s repeated thefts of bird ornaments from the tree; now it looks like it’s going to be a murder-y Christmas after all . . .
436 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 24, 2024
103 people are currently reading
1404 people want to read
About the author
Libby Klein
11 books636 followersLibby Klein graduated Lower Cape May Regional High School sometime in the '80s. Her classes revolved mostly around the culinary sciences and theater, with the occasional nap in Chemistry. A few years ago, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that forced her to remove gluten from her kitchen and adopt a Paleo Diet. Now her life revolves around coffee and bacon. When she’s not feeling sorry for herself that she can’t eat bread, she writes from her Northern Virginia office while trying to keep her cat Figaro off her keyboard. Most of her hobbies revolve around eating, and travel, and eating while travelling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
September 21, 2024
"Silent Nights are Murder (A Poppy McAllister Mystery #9)" by Libby Klein has reminded me how much I like this series. If you like cozy mysteries with sassy senior sidekicks and mischievous pets, you get both in this series. It's Christmas time for Poppy and her B&B full of helpers. Her aunt is in a bake off and yard decor battle with the neighbor lady. Her cat is constantly walking around the house sporting Christmas tree decor. Oh, and her mother that had been gone for 35 years showed up under a fake name.
While all of that is going on, a body is found with a sign requesting that the police get Poppy. The kicker, they were found in her ex-boyfriend's restaurant. Poppy grudgingly goes "undercover" to help figure out what happened.
There were several moments that had me laughing out loud. There were also moments that had me go, "Ha! I knew something was up with them!" Just an overall great cozy mystery.
While all of that is going on, a body is found with a sign requesting that the police get Poppy. The kicker, they were found in her ex-boyfriend's restaurant. Poppy grudgingly goes "undercover" to help figure out what happened.
There were several moments that had me laughing out loud. There were also moments that had me go, "Ha! I knew something was up with them!" Just an overall great cozy mystery.
September 3, 2024
I would give anything to see Aunt Ginny’s Christmas display outside the B&B; she definitely outdoes herself in her antics in this one and makes me love her more. It took me a little longer to get through this one, not because I didn’t love it but because there was way too much Tim and Gigi and I can’t stand them (I was always team Gia). There’s plenty of investigating in this one but it is balanced well with the usual Ginny antics and B&B guests, particularly with one guest that really makes Poppy re-evaluate her past. All in all, a great addition to the series.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
December 1, 2024
It was a delight reading one of my favorite cozy series stories. I saved it until Thanksgiving was over, then I dug in! Poppy has such a snarky view, yet she’s loving, cuddly, and is greatly loved by family, friends, and her fiancé and his cute son. Aunt Ginny is crazy; as is Gia’s momma, and you never know what they will do next. The cat, Figuro, is hilarious and his sabotaging the Christmas tree is fun to see! There’s never a dull moment in A Poppy McAllister Mystery. I hope this wasn’t the last story.
September 1, 2024
"Silent Nights Are Murder" the 9th instalment in the Poppy McAllister Mystery series by Libby Klein. I love this series and I think this was best one yet!
I love visiting the Jersey Shore and Poppy, Gia, the adorable Henry, Aunt Ginny, and the "Biddies" and now Kenny Love! Plus we cant forget about her mischievous cat, Figuro! This time around Poppy has engagement rings on the brain, Aunt Ginny pressures Poppy to decode a mysterious old diary, the amateur sleuth is also asked to “unofficially” go undercover at the restaurant to help the police, what more can Poppy add to her Christmas plate... read to find out
I found the mystery was well written and paced with lots of twists and turns. It kept me guessing to the end. I can’t wait till the next instalment comes out and finding out what Poppy does next!
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I love visiting the Jersey Shore and Poppy, Gia, the adorable Henry, Aunt Ginny, and the "Biddies" and now Kenny Love! Plus we cant forget about her mischievous cat, Figuro! This time around Poppy has engagement rings on the brain, Aunt Ginny pressures Poppy to decode a mysterious old diary, the amateur sleuth is also asked to “unofficially” go undercover at the restaurant to help the police, what more can Poppy add to her Christmas plate... read to find out
I found the mystery was well written and paced with lots of twists and turns. It kept me guessing to the end. I can’t wait till the next instalment comes out and finding out what Poppy does next!
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 19, 2024
I received a free copy of, Silent Nights Are Murder by Libby Klein, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book nine in The Poppy McAllister Mystery Book series. Poppy has a few mysteries to solve this holiday season, who killed a fish monger and her aunt has a mystery she wants solved too. This is turning out to be quite a busy holiday season for Poppy. I enjoyed reading about Poppy and her mysteries to solve, and I really enjoyed the recipes at the end of the book!
December 3, 2024
Another banger from Libby Klein.
December 31, 2024
So much fun 🤗🤗 as always!
January 1, 2025
I loved the last quarter of this one! 😊
December 18, 2024
Number nine in this series and I've come to a conclusion: the author doesn't write these nearly fast enough. 😜 It's Christmas time and all hell has broken loose. A body is found in the freezer of Poppy's ex's restaurant with a note: "Get Poppy." Someone left an engagement ring behind after a small party at the inn, but no one knows who it was for. Aunt Ginny is determined to have a Griswold Christmas to show up her neighbor and develop an award winning Christmas recipe to defeat her friend. Oh, and Poppy's mom is staying at the inn...35 years after she left Poppy there and hasn't returned until now.
This was fun, but it did have a little too much going on. Mostly it worked, but I confess that I had a hard time keeping everyone straight because there were a LOT of characters.
This was fun, but it did have a little too much going on. Mostly it worked, but I confess that I had a hard time keeping everyone straight because there were a LOT of characters.
September 24, 2024
For long time fans of the series, this will quickly become their favorite book. All the zany and lovable characters are back. Who doesn’t melt when Gia speaks Italian to Poppy or when sweet Henry is so happy to see her. Let’s not forget goofy aunt Ginny. She and her biddies provide so many laugh out loud moments. In between the sweet and laughing moments, the author provided an interesting mystery and some peaks into Poppy’s past. The writing was written so well that you could see the Christmas lights, hear Bruce Springsteen sing Santa Clause is Coming to Town, and smell the Christmas baking. The ending was so satisfying; happiness and laughter. It doesn’t get any better.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are
my own.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are
my own.
August 29, 2024
Another enjoyable read from Libby Klein. Even if you have not read the previous books in the series, it will not prevent you from understanding the book or being completely confused by the characters. Poppy is a very likeable character who takes all the chaos going on around her in stride. Aunt Ginny as always provides a great deal of entertainment and some laugh out loud moments. The ending of the story will warm your heart, which is perfect for a story set around Christmas.
July 6, 2024
#SilentNightsAreMurder #NetGalley is an excellent addition to this cozy mystery series by Libby Klein.
Poppy is such a fun character, and ever since they found an engagement ring over Thanksgiving, her family has been wondering who the lucky bride will be.
Poppy doesn't have a chance to wonder for long, since she's suddenly involved in another murder investigation, even though she didn't find the body this time.
The body belonged to a supplier at her ex boyfriend's restaurant, and a note was attached to his body, "Get Poppy." That's all, just 2 words, but those words turn everyones lives upside down.
The body and note weren't the only surprises for Poppy, especially when she sees her exes current girlfriend, who is very pregnant.
I really liked this book, I love all the characters and their colorful personalities blend well in each book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
Poppy is such a fun character, and ever since they found an engagement ring over Thanksgiving, her family has been wondering who the lucky bride will be.
Poppy doesn't have a chance to wonder for long, since she's suddenly involved in another murder investigation, even though she didn't find the body this time.
The body belonged to a supplier at her ex boyfriend's restaurant, and a note was attached to his body, "Get Poppy." That's all, just 2 words, but those words turn everyones lives upside down.
The body and note weren't the only surprises for Poppy, especially when she sees her exes current girlfriend, who is very pregnant.
I really liked this book, I love all the characters and their colorful personalities blend well in each book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
September 7, 2024
Christmas is my favorite time of year so I was excited to see that the latest book in Libby Klein's Poppy McAllister series is set at Christmastime. I just knew that Poppy, Aunt Ginny, and the rest of the Cape May gang would be involved in more than one Christmas themed catastrophe. And boy, was I right.
In Silent Nights are Murder, Poppy finds herself involved in quite a few different local issues. She and her friends are trying to track down the owner of a forgotten engagement ring, she has to deal with her mother coming back to town after being gone for 35 years, and she has to help a local restaurant clear their name after a dead body is found in their freezer.
And as if that's not enough, Poppy also must deal with Aunt Ginny's shenanigans, which includes decorating the B&B with enough Christmas lights to rival Clark Grizwold's house.
If you're familiar with Cape May at all, you will be delighted by the fun local references in this whole series. There's this one scene where Poppy refuses to make her mother breakfast and suggests she goes to Uncle Bill's Pancake House instead that had me chuckling to myself. I'm actually quite a fan of Uncle Bill's, although I'm sure any breakfast made by Poppy, Kenny, or Joanne would be much better! Haha.
This series makes me feel so warm and happy because of the atmosphere. Libby Klein has created a wonderful community of characters who make me laugh and cheer and keep coming back for more. This book is especially joyful because of the holiday season and the fact that Poppy has some pretty big life changes going on.
If you're new to this series but love Christmas, definitely check out this book. As with most cozy mysteries, it's best to read the books in order so that you know all the back story, but you can really jump in at any time because things are explained as they happen. This is an excellent addition to the series and is one that I will cherish rereading during the holiday season.
In Silent Nights are Murder, Poppy finds herself involved in quite a few different local issues. She and her friends are trying to track down the owner of a forgotten engagement ring, she has to deal with her mother coming back to town after being gone for 35 years, and she has to help a local restaurant clear their name after a dead body is found in their freezer.
And as if that's not enough, Poppy also must deal with Aunt Ginny's shenanigans, which includes decorating the B&B with enough Christmas lights to rival Clark Grizwold's house.
If you're familiar with Cape May at all, you will be delighted by the fun local references in this whole series. There's this one scene where Poppy refuses to make her mother breakfast and suggests she goes to Uncle Bill's Pancake House instead that had me chuckling to myself. I'm actually quite a fan of Uncle Bill's, although I'm sure any breakfast made by Poppy, Kenny, or Joanne would be much better! Haha.
This series makes me feel so warm and happy because of the atmosphere. Libby Klein has created a wonderful community of characters who make me laugh and cheer and keep coming back for more. This book is especially joyful because of the holiday season and the fact that Poppy has some pretty big life changes going on.
If you're new to this series but love Christmas, definitely check out this book. As with most cozy mysteries, it's best to read the books in order so that you know all the back story, but you can really jump in at any time because things are explained as they happen. This is an excellent addition to the series and is one that I will cherish rereading during the holiday season.
August 27, 2024
I love this series, and I love it even more after this book. Poppy is such a great character, both realistic and relatable. She is of course drawn into another murder mystery while trying to run her B&B and manage her family. This mystery is more personal as it draws in her ex Tim, his new partner, and some unresolved issues. Development la also abound in her personal life and those of her friends, making this a more emotional read even as it keeps the series’ trademark snarky humor. I won’t spoil it, but Poppy fans will very much enjoy seeing Poppy move on in a number of ways. As always, the supporting characters are a key part of the story, and the relationships between them are so well written and developed. I don’t know if this is the last book in this series, but this has a really satisfying ending. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. All views are entirely my own.
February 7, 2025
FANTASTIC BOOK, BUT MAN, THAT LENGTH! SOMETIMES I DON'T FEEL THE LENGTH BUT I DID WITH THIS ONE SO DOCKED A STAR.
PREMISE: Ever since Thanksgiving, when an engagement ring in a velvet box—and no gift tag—was left behind, Poppy and her pals have been left with an unsolved mystery. But at least this mystery isn’t the kind that involves murder. That all changes when the body of a fish supplier is discovered in the kitchen of her ex’s restaurant—and he’s frozen, not fresh!
THOUGHTS: Honestly this was a really good book and IF I were still allowing .5's in my star ratings it would have received 4.5 Stars - but goodreads still doesn't allow for half stars, so 4 it is!
This book was the perfect way to come back into this world after 16 months of waiting!
It was Christmasy, extremely cozy, the theme was all about love (romantic and platonic) and Aunt Ginny is still the same lovable biddy she always was! Hahahaha.
But the length!
It's just not necessary!
Or, maybe it is for Libby Klein.
But to me, I got to around the 400 page mark (out of 488) and couldn't believe the book wasn't done. Honestly, what was presented in those last 88 pages could have been saved for the next book. Unless there is no next book, but I don't have that information, so need to assume there will be.
4 Stars (but a high-four stars!)
xoxo.
PREMISE: Ever since Thanksgiving, when an engagement ring in a velvet box—and no gift tag—was left behind, Poppy and her pals have been left with an unsolved mystery. But at least this mystery isn’t the kind that involves murder. That all changes when the body of a fish supplier is discovered in the kitchen of her ex’s restaurant—and he’s frozen, not fresh!
THOUGHTS: Honestly this was a really good book and IF I were still allowing .5's in my star ratings it would have received 4.5 Stars - but goodreads still doesn't allow for half stars, so 4 it is!
This book was the perfect way to come back into this world after 16 months of waiting!
It was Christmasy, extremely cozy, the theme was all about love (romantic and platonic) and Aunt Ginny is still the same lovable biddy she always was! Hahahaha.
But the length!
It's just not necessary!
Or, maybe it is for Libby Klein.
But to me, I got to around the 400 page mark (out of 488) and couldn't believe the book wasn't done. Honestly, what was presented in those last 88 pages could have been saved for the next book. Unless there is no next book, but I don't have that information, so need to assume there will be.
4 Stars (but a high-four stars!)
xoxo.
August 1, 2024
This is not an unbiased review because I've laughed my way through several of the earlier books in series. Great escape/stress-busting reads.
Poppy and those she loves are great fun no matter what is going on, but there are some unpleasant things going on that turn into laughter anyway. There's the corpse in the restaurant cooler, the return of Poppy's mother who deserted her when she was seven, the very pregnant girlfriend of Poppy's not that long ago ex-boyfriend, an unclaimed engagement ring, and more. And don't forget the fantastic recipes at the end!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you.
#PoppyMcAllisterMysteriesBk9 Avail Sep 24, 2024
Poppy and those she loves are great fun no matter what is going on, but there are some unpleasant things going on that turn into laughter anyway. There's the corpse in the restaurant cooler, the return of Poppy's mother who deserted her when she was seven, the very pregnant girlfriend of Poppy's not that long ago ex-boyfriend, an unclaimed engagement ring, and more. And don't forget the fantastic recipes at the end!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you.
#PoppyMcAllisterMysteriesBk9 Avail Sep 24, 2024
December 23, 2024
I think this may be my favorite in the series. I’m not sure if I just like the Christmas theme? The mystery was good as always but I really like how developed her stories are, especially for a lighthearted read. I don’t feel like that is a norm. There are a lot of characters, which I love, but it helps to have read previous books so many were already familiar to me. Like the others, this is a funny, breezy read. I thought it had less of the “slapstick” type comedy but retained all the snarky internal dialogue which made it even better for me. The atmospheric feel and details all added to the fun!
December 15, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
Another fun and quirky read set in Cape May at Christmas time.
There were lots of characters to keep track of, but they were no problem for me because I have been following this series since the beginning. I do think a certain pregnant someone could have been a bit nicer, though.
There were several mysteries boiled into one for Poppy to decipher that were layered into the story so well. And that ending was the best.
Another fun and quirky read set in Cape May at Christmas time.
There were lots of characters to keep track of, but they were no problem for me because I have been following this series since the beginning. I do think a certain pregnant someone could have been a bit nicer, though.
There were several mysteries boiled into one for Poppy to decipher that were layered into the story so well. And that ending was the best.
December 21, 2024
Loved it!
December 9, 2024
This book easily could’ve been cut in half. There was too much unnecessary nonsense going on and way too many characters. The romance plot of this was also way too cheesy. The overall identity of the murderer in this story was definitely a plot twist but other than that, I am truly not a fan of the book.
Although what I thought was interesting (keeping in mind I haven’t read any other books by Libby Klein) is that she provides recipes at the end for some of the desserts made in the book which is pretty cool.
Although what I thought was interesting (keeping in mind I haven’t read any other books by Libby Klein) is that she provides recipes at the end for some of the desserts made in the book which is pretty cool.
September 22, 2025
A lovely conclusion to a fun series
October 28, 2024
Mystery creative and great but…..
The mystery itself was interesting and really good however the situations may have been a little 3 stooges for me. Fun is fine but there were things in here that just went too far left of normal. I don’t enjoy slapstick. I did like the actual mystery part which is a shame
The mystery itself was interesting and really good however the situations may have been a little 3 stooges for me. Fun is fine but there were things in here that just went too far left of normal. I don’t enjoy slapstick. I did like the actual mystery part which is a shame
May 24, 2025
This series immediately became one of my top 5 cozy mystery series of all time! And this book is easily one of the most satisfying “endings” to any series I’ve ever read! The characters are all at their best and we see so much of the growth in relationships between them. Great book, great series! Highly recommend!
December 8, 2024
I hope that you are a fan of the Poppy McAllister Mystery series written by Libby Klein. This series is so much fun to read !! Not only is it fun but as you read each new book in this series you feel closer to the characters which makes the stories mean so much more !!
Silent Nights Are Murder is the ninth book in the series and boy, oh boy, does a lot happen !! Even if this is the first book of this series that you pick up and choose to read, you will still take away as much as someone who has read the previous eight .... but I do encourage you to go back and catch up, just because the books are so good !!!
In Silent Nights Are Murder Poppy and her crew have just celebrated Thanksgiving and when they were cleaning up, Poppy's best friend Sawyer finds a ring box with the help of Poppy's cat Figaro. Now there is no clear answer as to who the ring box belongs to or who the intended person is that the question will be asked to. It could be Poppy with Gia proposing but Sawyer and her boyfriend Ben are in a good place, Poppy's ex-mother-in-law and Smitty are madly in love and even Aunt Ginny and Royce who aren't getting any younger could be the ones saying "I do".
So the ladies decide to hold another dinner party to try to find out who will crack and admit they lost the ring. But before Poppy can give it any thought, she is called to her ex-boyfriend's restaurant when a dead body is found in one of the walk-in freezers and a note with "Get Poppy" is taped to him.
Poppy does not know the deceased or who taped the note on him so she wants to just walk away but when Tim, her ex, pleads for her help, she is torn. Then she finds out that his girlfriend and business partner Gigi is bursting with a pregnancy proving that Tim didn't cry too long over their last break-up. Even though Gigi cannot stand her, she agrees to go undercover and work in the restaurant to try to find out who is guilty.
Meanwhile back at the Butterfly Wings Bed and Breakfast the crew is preparing for the dinner to uncover who is getting engaged and then all heck breaks lose when Poppy's mother shows upo under a false name !! Poppy's mother left her with Aunt Ginny and her grandmother over thirty years ago and hasn't been heard from since .... so Poppy wants to know what is going on but she cannot believe anything that the woman says !!!
Readers will fall in love once again with this latest installment of the Poppy McAllister Mystery series. Klein knows how to reel you in and keep you on the hook throughout the entire book. And in Silent Nights Are Murder there is so much to love and she keeps the surprises going throughout the entire book all the way to the last chapter.
Silent Nights Are Murder is the ninth book in the series and boy, oh boy, does a lot happen !! Even if this is the first book of this series that you pick up and choose to read, you will still take away as much as someone who has read the previous eight .... but I do encourage you to go back and catch up, just because the books are so good !!!
In Silent Nights Are Murder Poppy and her crew have just celebrated Thanksgiving and when they were cleaning up, Poppy's best friend Sawyer finds a ring box with the help of Poppy's cat Figaro. Now there is no clear answer as to who the ring box belongs to or who the intended person is that the question will be asked to. It could be Poppy with Gia proposing but Sawyer and her boyfriend Ben are in a good place, Poppy's ex-mother-in-law and Smitty are madly in love and even Aunt Ginny and Royce who aren't getting any younger could be the ones saying "I do".
So the ladies decide to hold another dinner party to try to find out who will crack and admit they lost the ring. But before Poppy can give it any thought, she is called to her ex-boyfriend's restaurant when a dead body is found in one of the walk-in freezers and a note with "Get Poppy" is taped to him.
Poppy does not know the deceased or who taped the note on him so she wants to just walk away but when Tim, her ex, pleads for her help, she is torn. Then she finds out that his girlfriend and business partner Gigi is bursting with a pregnancy proving that Tim didn't cry too long over their last break-up. Even though Gigi cannot stand her, she agrees to go undercover and work in the restaurant to try to find out who is guilty.
Meanwhile back at the Butterfly Wings Bed and Breakfast the crew is preparing for the dinner to uncover who is getting engaged and then all heck breaks lose when Poppy's mother shows upo under a false name !! Poppy's mother left her with Aunt Ginny and her grandmother over thirty years ago and hasn't been heard from since .... so Poppy wants to know what is going on but she cannot believe anything that the woman says !!!
Readers will fall in love once again with this latest installment of the Poppy McAllister Mystery series. Klein knows how to reel you in and keep you on the hook throughout the entire book. And in Silent Nights Are Murder there is so much to love and she keeps the surprises going throughout the entire book all the way to the last chapter.
November 22, 2024
Book Review: Silent Nights are Murder by Libby Klein
Rating: 4 Stars
I recently dove into Silent Nights are Murder by Libby Klein, and let me tell you, it was a delightful mix of holiday cheer and suspense! As a fan of cozy mysteries, this book did not disappoint.
In this ninth installment of the Poppy McAllister Mystery series, we find our favorite gluten-free baker, Poppy, caught up in yet another whirlwind of chaos—this time during the festive season. The story kicks off with an engagement ring mysteriously left behind after Thanksgiving, setting the stage for a puzzling adventure. Just when Poppy thinks she’s got it all figured out, a shocking twist occurs: a frozen body of a fish supplier is discovered in her ex's restaurant kitchen, and it’s got a note pinned to it that reads "Get Poppy." Talk about a Christmas surprise!
What I really enjoyed was how the author managed to weave in elements of humor and warmth amidst the murder mystery. All the beloved characters are back, and I found myself chuckling at Aunt Ginny and her friends' antics. Seriously, who could resist giggling when Aunt Ginny and her crew create their own brand of chaotic charm? Not to mention the sweet interactions between Poppy and her friends, especially when Gia speaks Italian—it’s moments like these that really tug at your heartstrings.
The pacing of the mystery was spot-on, with plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing right up to the end. I was pleasantly surprised by how well-constructed the plot was; it felt like a well-decorated Christmas tree—full of surprises and delightful ornaments! And while the laughs kept coming, the book also offered glimpses into Poppy’s past that added depth to the story.
Klein's writing style is so vivid that I could practically see the twinkling Christmas lights while I read. It truly immersed me in the holiday spirit! The ending wrapped everything up beautifully, filled with happiness and laughter—what more could one ask for during the holiday season?
Overall, Silent Nights are Murder deserves a solid four stars from me! I can’t wait to see what kind of zany adventures Poppy gets herself into next. If you’re looking for a cozy mystery that captures the essence of Christmas with a side of murder, this book should definitely be on your reading list!
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
Rating: 4 Stars
I recently dove into Silent Nights are Murder by Libby Klein, and let me tell you, it was a delightful mix of holiday cheer and suspense! As a fan of cozy mysteries, this book did not disappoint.
In this ninth installment of the Poppy McAllister Mystery series, we find our favorite gluten-free baker, Poppy, caught up in yet another whirlwind of chaos—this time during the festive season. The story kicks off with an engagement ring mysteriously left behind after Thanksgiving, setting the stage for a puzzling adventure. Just when Poppy thinks she’s got it all figured out, a shocking twist occurs: a frozen body of a fish supplier is discovered in her ex's restaurant kitchen, and it’s got a note pinned to it that reads "Get Poppy." Talk about a Christmas surprise!
What I really enjoyed was how the author managed to weave in elements of humor and warmth amidst the murder mystery. All the beloved characters are back, and I found myself chuckling at Aunt Ginny and her friends' antics. Seriously, who could resist giggling when Aunt Ginny and her crew create their own brand of chaotic charm? Not to mention the sweet interactions between Poppy and her friends, especially when Gia speaks Italian—it’s moments like these that really tug at your heartstrings.
The pacing of the mystery was spot-on, with plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing right up to the end. I was pleasantly surprised by how well-constructed the plot was; it felt like a well-decorated Christmas tree—full of surprises and delightful ornaments! And while the laughs kept coming, the book also offered glimpses into Poppy’s past that added depth to the story.
Klein's writing style is so vivid that I could practically see the twinkling Christmas lights while I read. It truly immersed me in the holiday spirit! The ending wrapped everything up beautifully, filled with happiness and laughter—what more could one ask for during the holiday season?
Overall, Silent Nights are Murder deserves a solid four stars from me! I can’t wait to see what kind of zany adventures Poppy gets herself into next. If you’re looking for a cozy mystery that captures the essence of Christmas with a side of murder, this book should definitely be on your reading list!
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
September 2, 2024
This delightful book has everything a cozy mystery should offer ... a nice bunch of quirky characters, a good storyline, a lead heroine who somehow always manages to find herself solving murder mysteries in her small town, a murder to solve that has enough red herrings to throw you off track thinking you know whodunit it before the story wraps up (only to find you're wrong and then wrong again), a handsome love interest, and an interesting occupation for the main character. This story has all that and more to keep your interest. Poppy McCallister runs the Butterfly Wings bed and breakfast in the beautiful coastal town of Cape May, New Jersey, where she lives with her crazy great aunt, her fun-loving bed and breakfast employee, and her rambunctious, destructive, but still loveable cat. Poppy has a tendency to find dead bodies but this time instead of stumbling over the victim of foul play, this person met their demise and was found with a note attached to them stating to find Poppy. What the dickens is going on that corpses are now being addressed to her?! Poppy really needs this kind of problem right now ... about as much as she needs to hear Bruce Springsteen's rendition of Santa Claus is Coming to Town one more time this holiday season. The Boss is a Jersey icon and the author is not exaggerating in the least that this song is everywhere all the time in the Garden State during the Christmas season. Poppy does her best to tune out the song and try to focus on finding out the identity of the murderer before they strike again. She's pulled in not only by her friend in the police department but by one of the suspects who she knows all too well who begs her to help find the real killer before he and his girlfriend have the murder pinned on them. While Poppy is trying to solve the crime, her crazy Aunt Ginny is busy trying to come up with the perfect entry for the dessert contest at the local senior center as well as trying to outdo her neighbors in decorating their yard for Christmas. Poppy also has someone from her past who shows up and proceeds to drive her crazy. How can she keep her cool, run her bed and breakfast, help find a murderer, have any time alone with her boyfriend, and keep her sanity? Read this terrific cozy mystery to find out all this and more.
August 18, 2024
A perfect blend of madcap merriment and mayhem. As always, life around Poppy McAllister is never dull. At least she didn't find the a dead body this time. Just when she's about to celebrate that fact, her detective friend Amber tells her that her name was pinned to the victim's body. So much for that brief moment of not being a murder magnet. Toss in the the crime occurs in an ex-boyfriend's eatery and that there is no love lost between Poppy and Tim's now wife, Gigi, and it's even more complicated. While no fan of Tim, Poppy doesn't believe he'd be capable of murder although, quite frankly, she's not so sure about Gigi. That unease increases when early clues seem to point to Tim and Gigi being the guilty parties.
Oddly enough, in some ways the murder investigation is actually a side story in this book. While Poppy has always wondered why her mother just walked out on her at about age seven, Iris seems to be snooping around. While all this is going on, the madcap part of the story involves a mysterious engagement ring found and a fierce home decoration competition between Aunt Ginny and a neighbor. And, oh, my, the noise. Er, Christmas songs and sounds coming from there. While trying to figure out who's defacing the B&B's Christmas Village display and trying to detour Figaro the cat's repeated theft of bird ornaments, Poppy also finds herself working a second job, this time undercover.
And, you know, that's not even the half of it. So much going on. Through it all, I'm reminded why I enjoy revisiting Poppy so often. Not only is she kind and caring, not to mention patient, but the characters about her are, well, unique characters, too. From boyfriend Gio to his sometimes overbearing Italian family, to discovering she's been signed up for all sorts of volunteer spots for Christmas doings, trying to help a homeless man, and pondering if her family really is cursed. Trust me, it all makes sense in the end. In the meantime, you'll have a delightful visit amidst the madcap comings and going and quirky pets, and, ah, romance. Thanks #KensingtonPublishing - #KensingtonCozies for inviting me over for an early virtual Christmas visit. I absolutely adored the ending.
Oddly enough, in some ways the murder investigation is actually a side story in this book. While Poppy has always wondered why her mother just walked out on her at about age seven, Iris seems to be snooping around. While all this is going on, the madcap part of the story involves a mysterious engagement ring found and a fierce home decoration competition between Aunt Ginny and a neighbor. And, oh, my, the noise. Er, Christmas songs and sounds coming from there. While trying to figure out who's defacing the B&B's Christmas Village display and trying to detour Figaro the cat's repeated theft of bird ornaments, Poppy also finds herself working a second job, this time undercover.
And, you know, that's not even the half of it. So much going on. Through it all, I'm reminded why I enjoy revisiting Poppy so often. Not only is she kind and caring, not to mention patient, but the characters about her are, well, unique characters, too. From boyfriend Gio to his sometimes overbearing Italian family, to discovering she's been signed up for all sorts of volunteer spots for Christmas doings, trying to help a homeless man, and pondering if her family really is cursed. Trust me, it all makes sense in the end. In the meantime, you'll have a delightful visit amidst the madcap comings and going and quirky pets, and, ah, romance. Thanks #KensingtonPublishing - #KensingtonCozies for inviting me over for an early virtual Christmas visit. I absolutely adored the ending.
November 25, 2024
I really enjoy the Poppy McAllister Mystery series. Poppy McAllister runs the family B&B and is also a gluten-free baker who supplies the local coffee shop with pastry. She used to work at a local restaurant, working with her boyfriend, but when that relationship ended, so did her job. She is now engaged to Gia, the owner of the coffee shop and in love with him and his young son. She is known to find dead bodies, but this time, the victim was found at the restaurant with a note saying "Get Poppy". The local police detective wants Poppy's help, as they have a clandestine relationship and she ends up working undercover at the restaurant to see what she can learn. Meanwhile, the antics at the B&B had me laughing. First there is her cat Figaro, who is destroying her tree decorated with vintage bird ornaments, someone turning her window village scene into murder scenes on a regular basis, Aunt Ginny orchestrating Christmas decorations to rival the Griswalls and both her and Gia's family turning wedding plans into a circus. Will they solve the murder of the fish/seafood supplier before Poppy has a breakdown?
This series is set in Cape May, New Jersey and has lots of tourists and events going on. Poppy has become known as the Murder Magnet and she is trying to break the curse that was apparently set on the family generations before, so their are two mysteries. First, she is trying to solve the murder, and secondary is the reading of her ancestor's journal and trying to figure out who cursed him and his descendants. This book is a wonderful addition to this series. The quirky characters keep you laughing, with Aunt Ginny, "the biddies", Gia's family, Georgina - Poppy's mother-in-law, handyman Smitty and more. There is a lot going on with the upcoming wedding, the staff at the restaurant and all their secrets, trying to figure out who is a descendant of the family that cursed the McAllisters and more. All of these storylines tie together nicely with an interesting murder, lots of suspects and red herrings and so many secrets. Overall this was a fun Christmas Cozy Mystery that I very much enjoyed and recommend. I do think it is best to read this series in order, but it is not necessary.
This series is set in Cape May, New Jersey and has lots of tourists and events going on. Poppy has become known as the Murder Magnet and she is trying to break the curse that was apparently set on the family generations before, so their are two mysteries. First, she is trying to solve the murder, and secondary is the reading of her ancestor's journal and trying to figure out who cursed him and his descendants. This book is a wonderful addition to this series. The quirky characters keep you laughing, with Aunt Ginny, "the biddies", Gia's family, Georgina - Poppy's mother-in-law, handyman Smitty and more. There is a lot going on with the upcoming wedding, the staff at the restaurant and all their secrets, trying to figure out who is a descendant of the family that cursed the McAllisters and more. All of these storylines tie together nicely with an interesting murder, lots of suspects and red herrings and so many secrets. Overall this was a fun Christmas Cozy Mystery that I very much enjoyed and recommend. I do think it is best to read this series in order, but it is not necessary.
December 18, 2024
For once, Poppy McAllister is not the one to find the dead body, but that doesn’t mean she won’t be dragged into a murder investigation. Her cop friend Amber convinces Poppy to go undercover at her ex-boyfriend’s restaurant because the body was discovered in Tim’s walk-in freezer. In a previous book in the Poppy McAllister Mystery Series, Poppy decided to drop Tim in favor of a relationship with the handsome barista Gia who thinks she is gorgeous. Now as Poppy tries to help, she discovers that Tim’s new work and personal partner Gigi is pregnant with a due date set 9 months after Tim and Poppy broke up!
It is hard for Poppy to gain the trust of the restaurant staff and sort out the lies they tell. Most of them seem to be hiding some secrets. As Poppy explains to a frustrated Tim, “a killer will lie about their alibi.” Someone seems to have been messing with the books and the inventory also.
There are so many plots going on all at once. When Poppy was almost nine, her mother dropped her off with promises to return for her. She does—thirty-five years later—and checks into the Butterfly Wings B & B. Poppy and her Aunt Ginny, who helped raise her, spend time trying to figure out what Iris wants and how to get rid of her. Meanwhile, Figaro, Poppy’s cat, does battle with Christmas ornaments that appear to be birds, complete with feathers (until Figaro get ahold of them). Guests at the B&B enjoy a decoration daily murder scene villa setup by an unknown person at the inn.
Aunt Ginny’s friends, the Biddies, add hilarious fun as there might be a wedding coming up and they want to be a part of it. Aunt Ginny, as usual, has some wack-a-doodle plans. In this case, the Christmas season calls for some competition. Aunt Ginny is determined to have both the prize winning recipe and the house with the most Christmasy ambiance (think National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, but on steroids).
Gia’s son Henry is adorable and refuses to tell anyone what he is asking Santa for. As you read Silent Nights Are Murder, I think you’ll know what he wants for Christmas, but will Santa be able to deliver?
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
It is hard for Poppy to gain the trust of the restaurant staff and sort out the lies they tell. Most of them seem to be hiding some secrets. As Poppy explains to a frustrated Tim, “a killer will lie about their alibi.” Someone seems to have been messing with the books and the inventory also.
There are so many plots going on all at once. When Poppy was almost nine, her mother dropped her off with promises to return for her. She does—thirty-five years later—and checks into the Butterfly Wings B & B. Poppy and her Aunt Ginny, who helped raise her, spend time trying to figure out what Iris wants and how to get rid of her. Meanwhile, Figaro, Poppy’s cat, does battle with Christmas ornaments that appear to be birds, complete with feathers (until Figaro get ahold of them). Guests at the B&B enjoy a decoration daily murder scene villa setup by an unknown person at the inn.
Aunt Ginny’s friends, the Biddies, add hilarious fun as there might be a wedding coming up and they want to be a part of it. Aunt Ginny, as usual, has some wack-a-doodle plans. In this case, the Christmas season calls for some competition. Aunt Ginny is determined to have both the prize winning recipe and the house with the most Christmasy ambiance (think National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, but on steroids).
Gia’s son Henry is adorable and refuses to tell anyone what he is asking Santa for. As you read Silent Nights Are Murder, I think you’ll know what he wants for Christmas, but will Santa be able to deliver?
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 26, 2024
SILENT NIGHTS ARE MURDER is the ninth book in the Poppy McAllister Mysteries by Libby Klein. This is one of those series that the second I receive the new release, I immediately move it to the top of my TBR pile. With laugh-out-loud one-liner zingers, zany characters that keep you on your toes, hilarious descriptive analogies, and a complex mystery to solve, it’s no wonder this continues to rate as one of my favorite series. Protagonist Poppy McAllister has her hands full trying to keep her Aunt Ginny corralled, and her internal dialog relating to all the madcap antics kept me giggling. Besides Aunt Ginny, the supporting characters are all well-developed and each has their own unique personalities. I adore Poppy’s relationship with Gia and his young son. Each scene they inhabit brings special tender moments.
Despite it being the Christmas season, there’s a grinch who’s not happy with a fish supplier in town. When his body is found, along with a note to ‘Get Poppy’ in the freezer of Poppy’s ex’s restaurant, Poppy gets pulled into the investigation even though it has nothing to do with her… or so she thinks. Ms. Klein’s attention to detail and her careful plotting of clues takes the reader on the chase to find the killer before they strike again. Just when I thought I’d figured it out, another piece of the puzzle was revealed and had me guessing all over again. But, at the conclusion, I found answers to all my questions. The ending left me with a warm and fuzzy feeling and a longing to have the next book in my hands already!
Not only does Poppy cook dishes for her and Aunt Ginny’s B&B, but she bakes for Gia’s coffee shop and works as a temporary pastry chef at her ex’s restaurant while hunting down the murderer. Needless to say, there are all sorts of mouthwatering dishes mentioned throughout, so be prepared to be hungry or make one of the author’s recipes included at the back of the book before reading.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Despite it being the Christmas season, there’s a grinch who’s not happy with a fish supplier in town. When his body is found, along with a note to ‘Get Poppy’ in the freezer of Poppy’s ex’s restaurant, Poppy gets pulled into the investigation even though it has nothing to do with her… or so she thinks. Ms. Klein’s attention to detail and her careful plotting of clues takes the reader on the chase to find the killer before they strike again. Just when I thought I’d figured it out, another piece of the puzzle was revealed and had me guessing all over again. But, at the conclusion, I found answers to all my questions. The ending left me with a warm and fuzzy feeling and a longing to have the next book in my hands already!
Not only does Poppy cook dishes for her and Aunt Ginny’s B&B, but she bakes for Gia’s coffee shop and works as a temporary pastry chef at her ex’s restaurant while hunting down the murderer. Needless to say, there are all sorts of mouthwatering dishes mentioned throughout, so be prepared to be hungry or make one of the author’s recipes included at the back of the book before reading.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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