Jingle Bells and Shotgun Shells

by Addison Moore

It’s Christmas time in Honey Hollow and Santa might have a list, but I’ve got one of my own—a hit list.
Okay, fine. Santa’s got a list, but I’ve got a body—and if I don’t solve this case before Christmas morning, I might just end up on the naughty side of a jail cell. As for that naughty list of mine, well I’ll take care of that. I always (almost) do. When Santa drops dead, I’m making a list and checking it twice... for suspects.

Look, I never planned to spend my Christmas investigating murder instead of committing it. But when Santa face-plants into my festively decorated elf attire and drops dead during the Jingle Bell Jubilee, what’s a reluctant hitwoman to do?

I’m Effie Canelli, and my holiday to-do list just got bake gingerbread, wrap presents, figure out who offed Santa, and oh yeah—avoid assassinating someone who is near and dear to my boyfriend (direct orders from my Uncle Jimmy, the family’s resident crime lord).

My hot detective boyfriend Cooper is officially investigating, but between my meddling Nona Jo orchestrating surprise weddings, Aunt Cat and Carlotta wreaking havoc at every turn, and a growing list of suspects with murder on their Christmas wish lists, I’m knee-deep in yuletide chaos.

So grab your spiked eggnog and join me in Honey Hollow, where the cookies are sweet, the family dynamics are sweeter, and someone is decking more than just the halls this Christmas season. Trust me—this holiday murder spree is the gift that keeps on giving!

It’s a race against time—before the real Santa slides down the chimney and someone else ends up on the wrong side of a sleigh.

Merry Christmas to me, huh?

Cosmopolitan Magazine calls Addison's books, "...easy, frothy fun!"
Humor with a side of homicide.

A laugh out loud standalone cozy mystery by New York Times, USA TODAY, & Wall Street Journal bestseller Addison Moore



***A MURDER IN THE MIX Crossover!*** Includes RECIPE!

Genres: Murder Mystery, Christmas, Cozy Mystery

157 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 10, 2025

About the author

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Addison Moore is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of cozy mysteries and romance. Her new book MIDLIFE IN GLIMMERSPELL is NOW available! Read today!
Cosmopolitan Magazine calls Addison's books, "...easy, frothy fun!"
Humor with a side of homicide.


FREE with Kindle Unlimited! Amazon-->https://amzn.to/3AnyVhs Hibiscus Homicide Cruise is here! An impending divorce. An ornery homicide detective. The cruise of a lifetime. And ghosts. Midlife on the high seas is proving to be a real killer.
#Cozymystery #Kindleunlimited #mystery #PWF

Reviews

[Paula Genereau · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book. I absolutely loved it. It is such a wonderful story and a great author Addison is.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Effie Canelli, may be the most ineffective hitwoman in Uncle Jimmy’s employ, but that doesn’t stop her from having bodies fall at her feet. Working her cover job at Lottie Lemon’s Cutie Pie Bakery and Cakery gets her into plenty of mischief as well. Playing a naughty elf at the Jingle Bell Jubilee, she has good old St. Nick fall dead upon her peppermint pinwheels. Searching for the killer is interrupted by learning her next target, Santa’s brother, Enzo; keeping boyfriend, Detective Cooper Knox from doing the deed when he finds Enzo with his sister, Loretta; and avoiding Nona Jo’s mysterious machinations. Enzo’s public demise disrupts Nona’s surprise, giving Effie a reprieve from both Uncle Jimmy’s wrath and a forced marriage. Too bad Uncle Jimmy has a new target for her.

Prepare yourself for a healthy helping of Italian treats, shameless shenanigans, and Christmas cheer in Addison Moore’s latest Pain in the Assassin book. The homicide rate in Honey Hollow continues to climb with Effie starting to catch up to boss, Lottie Lemon’s grim reaper count. Effie and Cooper are dancing around the truth about her jobs for Uncle Jimmy, especially when the next potential hit is another Lazzari family member. Thankfully, Jimmy himself gives her the perfect out there. I love how Nona Jo rules the family and can’t wait to see her plan finally put in motion, although hopefully with the consent of the bride and groom. It does seem like love has beaten the war between the rival mob families, at least for now. Watson returns as an adorable sidekick. Aunt Cat and Carlotta create havoc wherever they go. Lottie has her adoring male fan club surrounding her. And among the hilarity and hijinks, a killer is caught.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh dear ! Santa ( the mayor) has been offed and everyone scoffed ! Doffed their hats but was it out of respect? Who knows but an ill wind blows in Honey Hollow this Christmas season . Now Effie Canelli , she’s got a relative who is the wrong side of the law and a to do list as long as her arm . She didn’t think when planning the jingles in the Jingle Bell Jubilee that she’d have to try protect the Santa who did mingle ooh whee! A reluctant hit woman she might be but she has her dignity and avoiding a hit on her boyfriend’s family members now too ! Uncle Jimmy is the family’s resident Crime Lord and her other meddling relatives including her Nona Jo ,Aunt Cat and Carlotta are causing mischief and chaos of course as ever ,well it is book four so of course there’s hijinks and uproar ,upheaval and more . Cooper ,her beau of course is officially investigating what’s gone off and it all gets a bit rough or should that be woof as we can’t forget Watson’s role now can we? Safe to say our Effie saved the day for Cooper and his sister as her man Enzo was an interest at first that Uncle Jimmy wanted in a hearse. But no more he has another score to settle . Can she use her mettle or count on the real hierarchy of their family ,her Nona . Won’t that be an honour and the killer is found too. What a lot happening all at once and the dance and wedding as well as jingle bells are going to chime and everyone can have a good time eventually…It’s quite elementary when the foe has been caught out by these sleuths extraordinary with a cover of a baker’s shop and not a dairy…Addison Moore ,I do implore ,I enjoy your work more and more ,it’s guffaw central and then some . It’s mental in the nicest of ways and a brilliant read , enjoyed at great speed but I savoured the prose at the same time ,because this awesome book of yours is sublime .

[Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new to me author and boy did I love this book! It is well written and easy to read. This is book 4 in the Assassin Cozy Mysteries series and I was able to enjoy it without having read the earlier books. This is the story of Effie Canelli and her entire madcap family. Effie is a hit woman for her Uncle Jimmy. Her cover job is working at Lottie Lemon's Cutie Pie Bakery and Cakery. She gets roped into playing an elf for the Jingle Bell Jubilee. Thinking that her Christmas Stripper Elf costume would be her biggest problem that night, the mayor (playing Santa) drops dead on her. Which brings her hot detective boyfriend Cooper into the mix. Then another death occurs and Effie is one the case to solve who the murderer is. After all, as a hit woman, murder is her part ship. This is a wonderful fun read. The characters are a little crazy and add to the enjoyment. It is just like sitting down for a family meal if you were a loud, sarcastic, Italian family. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am going to look for more books by this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Melanie Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a Christmas in July fan and now I have another reason to add to the list of why. I spent the time reading this book about Christmas scents and Christmas cookies and sweaters and hot wax and I want. This book takes the beauty of Christmas and mixing in a dash of murder and a very healthy dollop of family chaos. It is a definite toss up with this bunch who stole the crown of zaniest from the "wedding" to the Christmas goodie tackle, this book was good honest fun. Effie and Coop are pretty awesome together especially if you add Watson to the mix. For the holidays, it was just them with no one scheming to end their relationship which is progressing nicely to secrets and another book.
The mystery was a little light on suspects but I think that was intentional to make the holiday and the antics the lead part of the story.
This series is one I would wholeheartedly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Margery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honey Hollow Jingle Bells fair offers it all. Food,sexy elves, and Santa. Sounds fun right? Well, add three highly energetic no boundaries sexy seniors who create their own entertainment, including hot wax! Then there is Cooper's sister showing up with her next hubby, a very wealthy, very geriatric fiance with a diamond to outshine all diamonds! Oh, did I mention, Santa dies and lands some how against Effie and the peppermint pinwheels on the chest of her costume. Her new 'contract' is to take out the rich old man, my guess was wait, he is that old. Throwing them all off balance, Effie's Nona arrives dressed in exaggerated widow clothing and veil passing out black envelopes to our characters. It is an invite to come to a hotel the next night, and they will need to go to find out why! There is so much action, mayhem, laughter and suspense in a way only Addison Moore can create.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t realize how much I had been missing Effie and company until I dug into this book. It was so much fun to not only catch up with the Canelli family but the rest of our favorite Honey Hollow regulars. While the weather outside may not be frightful (yet), the mystery in these pages was delightful. Effie does everything in her power to follow Uncle Jimmy’s orders without complicating her detective boyfriend’s case load and ensuring that her name never comes to the top of the suspect list. The identity of the villain kept me guessing all the way to the big reveal. And now, I kind of want to go back and do it all over again to find all the clues I missed. I'm sad that it’s over already. I need more of Effie and Cooper.
I received a complimentary advance copy of this book through Booksprout.

[Robbiega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eufrasia Margarita Canelli, aka Effie, is not only Jimmy Canbelli’s niece, she also works for him as an Assassin. Uncle Jimmy (the family’s resident crime lord) has ordered her to assassinate someone who is engaged to her detective boyfriend Cooper’s sister and then one on someone he loves. She lucks out on the first and is doing everything she can to avoid doing the second hit while also dealing with her Nona Jo, Aunt Cat and Carlotta all of whom are wreaking havoc at every turn.
Addison Moore is a talented author with a quirky sense of humor. Her characters are interesting and the plot is easy to follow. There are a lot of funny parts, I laughed so much at times there were tears running down my face!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jingle Bells and Shotgun Shells is the forth book in the Pain in the Assassin series. This book is set in Honey Hollow with Lottie’s bakery one of the main settings. But this series focuses on Effie. After losing her big tech job she went to her mob boss uncle for help and he gave her two options, and she chose the option which landed her as a hitman for him. Now she finds herself in a relationship with a homicide detective and a secret.
It is the night of Jingle Bell Jubilee and Effie finds herself as the landing zone of a dead Santa on stage while a waiting crowd watches. After watching Lottie find body after body she decides to investigate who would have killed him. While also having to find a way to complete her newest hit order from her uncle? Will she be able to do this without the homicide department looking at her? And can she get it all done before Christmas?

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books in this series always capture my interest quickly. The stories take place in Honey Hollow, Vermont with a lot of my favorite characters from some of Addison Moore’s other series. The main character in this series is Effie Canelli. She was born into an Italian family where her uncles and male cousins are part of an Italian family mob. Effie was forced by her uncle to actually be the “hitwoman” for her uncle, in an unusual way. Somehow her potential victims end up murdered and her uncle believes she’s doing the “hit” he assigned. There’s always some “fun” family moments and I’m always trying to figure out who actually “offed the victim”. I’m sure you’ll love this book. There’s fun, romance. and mystery.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jingle Bells and Shotgun Shells is book #4 in the Pain in the Assassin Cozy Mysteries series by Addison Moore.

When I started this series, I wasn’t sure how an assassin fit in a cozy mystery but I enjoy the author’s other work. I’m so glad I tried it! Effie Canelli is a reluctant and ineffective assassin for her Uncle Jimmy’s crime family. She is dating a detective which adds another layer of fun. This book is a great addition to the series. With Effie avoiding the hits she’s ordered to take, her unconventional family, adorable dog, humor, and a the interesting mysteries she is pulled into, this is a very entertaining series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mary Lou Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merry Poison Christmas

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I’m now a fan. Her characters are delightful (especially Watson, Effie’s and Cooper’s golden retriever puppy). The plot is well put together and proceeds at an excellent pace. Effie’s character is especially well written and what a great premise—an assassin for her uncle’s crime family! The entire story is wrapped up well and tied with a bow, just for your perusing pleasure.

I recommend this book to lovers of cozy mysteries, flawed heros and heroines, a little remanded, and a lot of humor. When the snarky humor comes in, I felt like I was sharing secrets with the main character.

[J Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ho, ho, oh no!!

It was either be Uncle Jimmy’s hitman or dance on the pole in his club. Sometimes, Effie Canelli wonders if she made the right choice. Definitely! But, she doesn’t want to kill anyone and certainly doesn’t want a holiday “hit” bonus from her uncle. Holidays are stressful, and Uncle Jimmy just made Effie’s holiday a nail-biter. If she offs her target, how will she ever face her boyfriend, the kissable Homicide Detective Cooper Knox?

Effie’s family kept me in stitches. What a hilarious cozy! I received a free copy, but my review is honest and voluntary.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really needed something funny to read lately and this was my go to. This whole series makes me laugh so hard. I absolutely love these characters so much. And the names are great. The mystery itself is fun & cute. It's great to whittle it down to who did it. Even more so when always seems to coincide with who Effie needs to take care of. Hilarious quips that keep me coming back for more. And the ending with Jimmy...omg🤣🤣. I can't wait for the next one! Especially with Nona Jo's declaration!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's another trip to Honey Hollow! It's Christmastime and celebrations are in full swing. Effie is busy at Lottie's bakery during the day. During the festivities, Effie has two brothers drop dead in her arms! Now, she's looking for a murderer. A little confusing since she also works as a hitman! All the quirky characters from Honey Hollow are in fine form too! A charming mystery with plenty of laughs along the way! You don't have to wait until Christmas to read this either!

[Stacie Bucholtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s Christmas time in Honey Hollow and Effie is balancing the line of working at the bakery and being a hitwoman for her uncle. When a new target is assigned to Effie she has to find a way to get out of doing the deed. Enjoy this read as Effie and Cooper (her homicide detective boyfriend) and their cute pup Watson try to find a killer as the holidays fast approach and their families combine together.

[Kandiemarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the forth book in the Pain in the Assassin Cozy Mysteries series. It is well written, has a great plot, plenty of twists, had me cracking up and laughing through the chaos and eye-rolling at the shenanigans of Cat and Carlotta. I loved all the drama and the craziness of it all. Highly recommend reading. Look forward to reading more from the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lizz Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this Pain in the Assassin Cozy mystery series. There is a lot of humor but also some satisfying twists and turns. Effie is a reluctant hit person forced to work for her uncle, who has a by-the-book detective boyfriend who wouldn't hesitate to put her behind bars if she did commit a serious crime. This can be enjoyed as a standalone and would be perfect to read any time of the year.

[Sandy T · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun entertaining quick read. Very lighthearted with tons of quirky characters and a good mystery to solve. Sometimes it's hard to keep with with all the family characters and their relationships but adds to the fun.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rebecca Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book by author Addison Moore.
I really loved reading this awesome book. The characters are so good.
I love reading her books. They never disappoint. They always leave me wanting more. I highly recommend it...

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

a hot lawman, a somewhat inept and unwilling assassin, crazy criminal minds, and folks too fruity for cakes sakes make for lethal holiday chaos and surprises.

full of irony, chaos, and twisted chuckles.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun mystery, I absolutely loved it and couldn't put it down. I love the characters of Cooper law enforcement and love interest) and Effie (would-be assassin) and the plot is hilarious with some laugh out loud moments. A great read anytime to brighten your day.

[Phthon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Effie, the world’s most ineffectual assassin, spends more time SOLVING crimes than committing them. I love her snarkiness and her quirky personality. The town of Honey Hollow seems to be a charming small town with a dark streak a mile wide! This was a fun mystery and I enjoyed reading it!

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good book. It has mystery, intrigue, and tons of fun. I love the characters, the plot, and the thrills that come with them. I had a great time reading this story, and I look forward to reading more.

Well done to the author!

[LizJ. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jingle Bells and Shotgun Shells Book 4 of Pain in the Assassin Cozy Mysteries by
Addison Moore is so weird but so hilarious and well-written. I love this series and I can't wait to read more!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Susann O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Christmas crossover ever!!!

Really keeps you reading right till the end. Love the two families together at Christmas!!!!! What a happy ending. Don't miss this one. I almost did!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a good time. It was funny. The mystery had good twists and the characters are sharp and witty. Full of personality.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lauren Heiy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow Christmas time and the bakery is swamped. At a celebration a murder occurs followed by another. Lots of clues and red herrings.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful & humorous novel by Addison Moore in the cozy town of Honey Hollow. It’s Christmas time & Effie Canelli finds herself in the middle of a homicide when the victim falls into her lap. Can she & the rest of the Honey Hollow gang find the killer before it’s too late or will Christmas be ruined for everyone? See if you can follow the clues to unearth the killer while laughing at the hijinks of these all too familiar characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Toni Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT

Another wonderful and fun book about Effie and her adventures as a "hit woman". I had a lot of giggles as I read this fun murder story.