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A Mercy Carr Mystery #7
The Snow Lies Deep
The latest thrilling installment in the bestselling Mercy Carr mystery series
Mercy and Troy are looking forward to baby Felicity’s first holiday season, and they’re determined to make it a Christmas to remember. At Northshire’s annual Solstice Soirée, hosted by Northshire’s finest and funded by Mercy’s billionaire pal Feinberg, Amy’s little girl Helena is sitting on Santa Claus’s lap. She’s telling him she’d like a Bitty Baby doll just like little Felicity when the bearded man leaps up, thrusts the toddler at her mother Amy, and staggers away from the festivities. He disappears into the woods. By the time Elvis and Mercy find him, Santa Claus aka the town mayor, is lying on his back, dead. A yule log made of oak sits on his chest, burning bright, a beacon of light on the darkest day of the year.
This strange murder is the first of a series of similar Solstice-themed killings targeting the town’s most prominent citizens. Beloved family friend Lillian Jenkins, the grande dame of Northshire, could be next. Mercy and Troy and the dogs must team up with Thrasher and Harrington to capture The Yuletide Killer before he strikes again, this time far closer to home.
Mercy and Troy are looking forward to baby Felicity’s first holiday season, and they’re determined to make it a Christmas to remember. At Northshire’s annual Solstice Soirée, hosted by Northshire’s finest and funded by Mercy’s billionaire pal Feinberg, Amy’s little girl Helena is sitting on Santa Claus’s lap. She’s telling him she’d like a Bitty Baby doll just like little Felicity when the bearded man leaps up, thrusts the toddler at her mother Amy, and staggers away from the festivities. He disappears into the woods. By the time Elvis and Mercy find him, Santa Claus aka the town mayor, is lying on his back, dead. A yule log made of oak sits on his chest, burning bright, a beacon of light on the darkest day of the year.
This strange murder is the first of a series of similar Solstice-themed killings targeting the town’s most prominent citizens. Beloved family friend Lillian Jenkins, the grande dame of Northshire, could be next. Mercy and Troy and the dogs must team up with Thrasher and Harrington to capture The Yuletide Killer before he strikes again, this time far closer to home.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published December 2, 2025
98 people are currently reading
5782 people want to read
About the author
Paula Munier
27 books623 followersPAULA MUNIER is the author of the bestselling Plot Perfect, The Writer’s Guide to Beginnings, Writing with Quiet Hands, and the acclaimed memoir Fixing Freddie. The first novel in her mystery series, A BORROWING OF BONES (Minotaur, 2018) was inspired by the hero working dogs she met through Mission K9 Rescue, her own Newfoundland-retriever-mix rescue Bear, and her lifelong passion for crime fiction. In her fabulous day job as Senior Literary Agent and Content Strategist for Talcott Notch Literary, she represents many great writers. Her specialties include crime fiction, women’s fiction, upmarket fiction, MG/YA, high-concept SFF, and nonfiction. She lives in New England with her family, Bear, Freddie, and a torbie tabby named Ursula.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
August 29, 2025
The beautiful Christmas season in Vermont--except when there are 2 murders at the local festival: the town accountant dressed as Santa, and a singing plumber. It's baby Felicity's first Christmas, but Troy the game warden still has to catch poachers with the aid of his dog, Susie Bear, and Mercy still wants to solve the murders with the help of her Malinois, Elvis. Then there's a third murder--surely this must be the most dangerous small town in America. The book is well-written, but as someone who reads for relaxation and escape, I'd prefer more about Elvis and Susie Bear and less about Russian oligarchs involved in shady dealings. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
November 30, 2025
Pre-Read Notes:
Stories set in the cold are almost irresistible to me. A villain whose present is constant and so the pressure it puts on the characters is also constant. This kind pressure is indescribable and capable of warping characters and humans alike. I've enjoyed this writer's work in the past, so I requested this one from NetGalley.
"Mercy wondered what the Quakers who built the place two hundred years ago would think of it now. This building had lived as many different lives as the generations of people who’d come here to find God, or to find knowledge, or to find entertainment. All forms of escape and refuge, one way or another."
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) I've liked the Paula Munier books that I've read in the past, like HOME AT NIGHT. She also writes nonfiction books for writers, using her many years experience in the publishing industry. I haven't read these, but I have WRITING WITH QUIET HANDS on my shelf. So I had high expectations going in!
I enjoyed this one quite a lot and I especially loved the setting. Munier included two of my favorite themes, the cold and wildlife, which were 100% responsible for leading me off course of the mystery! The ending, I did not see coming!
I read this book without being a regular reader of the series, and had no trouble following or engaging with the material. I recommend it to fans of cozy mysteries, great woman detectives,
A Few Things:
✔️ "Of course, Mercy Carr knew she’d love her baby—everybody loves their baby— but the depth and fierceness of the love she felt for little Felicity surprised her. All-encompassing, completely consuming, entirely irrevocable." p13 Munier sort of idealizes maternal love here, really to the point of exaggeration or maybe irony.
✔️ "The Solstice Soirée was the village’s official holiday countdown, twelve days of eating, drinking, and making merry, beginning on the winter solstice and continuing through Hanukkah and Kwanzaa and Christmas right on to New Year’s Day. An ecumenical approach to the holy season, encompassing all manner of traditions. Starting with tonight and the Druids’ bonfire." p13 This sounds like so much fun to me!
✔️ There are some really important themes in here, like the human activities (bird feeders, insecure trash, improperly disposed human waste) that threaten the lives of bears and other wildlife.
✔️ The singing Christmas tree scene is amazing and turns the whole story. I wasn't quite connecting to this one...until this scene!
✔️ "[...T]rapping an unknown number of unhappy mammals who’d been holed up in a trailer for God knows how long could end up being a very smelly comedy of errors. Snaring a surfeit of skunks could make even the most experienced game warden feel more like a Keystone Cop than a law enforcement professional." p163 LOL! Michael and I get tons of skunks in our garden in the town we live in. We are always dodging their stink, so this tickles my funny bone!
Content Notes: would maybe spoil this one too much, but they're pretty tame and fitting of the genre.
Thank you to the author Paula Munier, publishers Balantine Books, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of THE SNOW LIES DEEP. All views are mine.
Stories set in the cold are almost irresistible to me. A villain whose present is constant and so the pressure it puts on the characters is also constant. This kind pressure is indescribable and capable of warping characters and humans alike. I've enjoyed this writer's work in the past, so I requested this one from NetGalley.
"Mercy wondered what the Quakers who built the place two hundred years ago would think of it now. This building had lived as many different lives as the generations of people who’d come here to find God, or to find knowledge, or to find entertainment. All forms of escape and refuge, one way or another."
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) I've liked the Paula Munier books that I've read in the past, like HOME AT NIGHT. She also writes nonfiction books for writers, using her many years experience in the publishing industry. I haven't read these, but I have WRITING WITH QUIET HANDS on my shelf. So I had high expectations going in!
I enjoyed this one quite a lot and I especially loved the setting. Munier included two of my favorite themes, the cold and wildlife, which were 100% responsible for leading me off course of the mystery! The ending, I did not see coming!
I read this book without being a regular reader of the series, and had no trouble following or engaging with the material. I recommend it to fans of cozy mysteries, great woman detectives,
A Few Things:
✔️ "Of course, Mercy Carr knew she’d love her baby—everybody loves their baby— but the depth and fierceness of the love she felt for little Felicity surprised her. All-encompassing, completely consuming, entirely irrevocable." p13 Munier sort of idealizes maternal love here, really to the point of exaggeration or maybe irony.
✔️ "The Solstice Soirée was the village’s official holiday countdown, twelve days of eating, drinking, and making merry, beginning on the winter solstice and continuing through Hanukkah and Kwanzaa and Christmas right on to New Year’s Day. An ecumenical approach to the holy season, encompassing all manner of traditions. Starting with tonight and the Druids’ bonfire." p13 This sounds like so much fun to me!
✔️ There are some really important themes in here, like the human activities (bird feeders, insecure trash, improperly disposed human waste) that threaten the lives of bears and other wildlife.
✔️ The singing Christmas tree scene is amazing and turns the whole story. I wasn't quite connecting to this one...until this scene!
✔️ "[...T]rapping an unknown number of unhappy mammals who’d been holed up in a trailer for God knows how long could end up being a very smelly comedy of errors. Snaring a surfeit of skunks could make even the most experienced game warden feel more like a Keystone Cop than a law enforcement professional." p163 LOL! Michael and I get tons of skunks in our garden in the town we live in. We are always dodging their stink, so this tickles my funny bone!
Content Notes: would maybe spoil this one too much, but they're pretty tame and fitting of the genre.
Thank you to the author Paula Munier, publishers Balantine Books, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of THE SNOW LIES DEEP. All views are mine.
November 26, 2025
I was excited to catch up with Mercy, Troy along with baby Felicity and the fur babies Elvis and Susie Bear. I was wondering how Munier would continue developing Mercy’s character now that she’s a mother. The book summary basically lays out the start of the story and introduces the two storylines, one being the investigation of the murder of “uncle” Laslo, while he was the acting Santa at the solstice event and the other being all the holiday functions and events, with the latter being the primary storyline.
Most of the story revolves around Mercy and Felicity and various friends and relatives attending all of the holiday performances and functions and significance of the events as well as Felicity’s experiences and reactions to the activities. Most of the murder mystery and investigation happens between Mercy, Troy, Captain Thrasher and various other people while attending solstice functions. Then there is another murder at a solstice concert. It’s also discovered that Laslo had a lot of secrets that are slowly revealed.
This was a nice holiday story for Mercy and her growing family, but a little light on a crime thriller/murder mystery. No worries! This time of year, I enjoy cozy holiday stories. The continuing character development of Mercy and Troy was good; it will be interesting if life for Grandma Grace takes a sudden turn in the next installment. That will certainly be interesting and we’re sure to see her become a more prominent character. The pacing was steady, and the storylines were nice too, although I think I would have preferred the murder investigation were the primary storyline and the holiday festivities were the secondary storyline. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.6 that I will round up to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #Macmillan Audio #TheSnowLiesDeep
Most of the story revolves around Mercy and Felicity and various friends and relatives attending all of the holiday performances and functions and significance of the events as well as Felicity’s experiences and reactions to the activities. Most of the murder mystery and investigation happens between Mercy, Troy, Captain Thrasher and various other people while attending solstice functions. Then there is another murder at a solstice concert. It’s also discovered that Laslo had a lot of secrets that are slowly revealed.
This was a nice holiday story for Mercy and her growing family, but a little light on a crime thriller/murder mystery. No worries! This time of year, I enjoy cozy holiday stories. The continuing character development of Mercy and Troy was good; it will be interesting if life for Grandma Grace takes a sudden turn in the next installment. That will certainly be interesting and we’re sure to see her become a more prominent character. The pacing was steady, and the storylines were nice too, although I think I would have preferred the murder investigation were the primary storyline and the holiday festivities were the secondary storyline. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.6 that I will round up to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #Macmillan Audio #TheSnowLiesDeep
October 27, 2025
I received a free copy of, The Snow Lies Deep, by Paula Munier, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book seven in the Mercy Carr series. The Yuletide Killer has killed the mayor, who is next to be murdered? This was an interesting holiday murder mystery.
October 30, 2025
The Snow Lies Deep is written by Paula Munier, and is the seventh book in the Mercy Carr Mystery series. The story is a holiday-themed mystery where a man playing Santa Claus is found dead. Then there is another ... and another.
I liked The Snow Lies Deep, but I didn't love it. It was quite heavy on the Solstice Soirée, baby Felicity, Mercy's and Todd's families, Druids, friends, coworkers, and everything the characters were eating. It was also heavy on illegal trapping of animals for their fur and Russian oligarchs. Sadly, it was quite light on Elvis and Susie Bear. I love those dogs, and they are the primary reason I have read and loved the series. As adorable as Felicity and her giggles were, I missed reading more about Elvis and Susie Bear.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading The Snow Lies Deep, especially the way Mercy's and Todd's relationship continues to evolve, and sweet Felicity.
Thank you, #MinotaurBooks, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. The Snow Lies Deep has an expected publication date of December 02, 2025.
#Crime #Family #Mystery #Druids #SolsticeSoirée #Russians #IllegalTrapping #Christmas #Dogs
I liked The Snow Lies Deep, but I didn't love it. It was quite heavy on the Solstice Soirée, baby Felicity, Mercy's and Todd's families, Druids, friends, coworkers, and everything the characters were eating. It was also heavy on illegal trapping of animals for their fur and Russian oligarchs. Sadly, it was quite light on Elvis and Susie Bear. I love those dogs, and they are the primary reason I have read and loved the series. As adorable as Felicity and her giggles were, I missed reading more about Elvis and Susie Bear.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading The Snow Lies Deep, especially the way Mercy's and Todd's relationship continues to evolve, and sweet Felicity.
Thank you, #MinotaurBooks, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. The Snow Lies Deep has an expected publication date of December 02, 2025.
#Crime #Family #Mystery #Druids #SolsticeSoirée #Russians #IllegalTrapping #Christmas #Dogs
December 6, 2025
The books in this series have always been a great mysteries with some twisted, convoluted plot twists. This one is no exception. I love seeing how Mercy is drawn into the murders, all the while telling everyone that she is just a mom now. But Mercy can't seem to do only that, and she is drawn deeper and deeper into the mystery of the lives of those who were murdered.
This is the first Christmas for Felicity, Mercy and Troy's nine-month-old daughter and they want it to be special for her, and them, which included her first visit to sit on Santa's knee at the annual Northshire Solstice Soiree The regular Santa was called away and Mercy's family friend Lazlo Ford is filling in when he suddenly up and leaves. Elvis and Mercy follow and find him shot dead with a burning yule log on his chest.
The next night a soloist dressed as Santa drops dead of an apparent heart attack. The press has dubbed this the work of The Yuletide Killer and everyone fears that the murderer won't stop at two and that the Solstice Soiree has attracted the murderer.
Troy and Suzie Bear find a body hidden in a log deep in the woods that has been shot dead and left for quite some time wearing an anther headdress. As Mercy digs deep into the clues, she may be wise to keep in mind the old Russian saying: "Don't awaken Doom while it sleeps quietly". And to trust her dog.
My thanks to the Publisher and the Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
This is the first Christmas for Felicity, Mercy and Troy's nine-month-old daughter and they want it to be special for her, and them, which included her first visit to sit on Santa's knee at the annual Northshire Solstice Soiree The regular Santa was called away and Mercy's family friend Lazlo Ford is filling in when he suddenly up and leaves. Elvis and Mercy follow and find him shot dead with a burning yule log on his chest.
The next night a soloist dressed as Santa drops dead of an apparent heart attack. The press has dubbed this the work of The Yuletide Killer and everyone fears that the murderer won't stop at two and that the Solstice Soiree has attracted the murderer.
Troy and Suzie Bear find a body hidden in a log deep in the woods that has been shot dead and left for quite some time wearing an anther headdress. As Mercy digs deep into the clues, she may be wise to keep in mind the old Russian saying: "Don't awaken Doom while it sleeps quietly". And to trust her dog.
My thanks to the Publisher and the Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
December 17, 2025
2.5, rounding up because there's still enough of what I loved in the earlier books in this series -- a great mystery that's wrapped up in the lives of the main characters and steeped in Vermont landscapes and culture, interesting contrasts and connections between Mercy and Troy's work, such interesting explorations of Mercy and Elvis' transitions back to civilian life after serving in the military, and of course the beloved Elvis and Susie Bear.
BUT this book felt like it had lost so much of that. The recurring characters felt mostly like cardboard cutouts of their former selves; the drawn out full dive into Christmas coziness --including a pages long play by play retelling of The Christmas Carol -- dominated the book; and all the threads of how the mysteries were supposed to be solved didn't quite make sense to me given what we were told in the story...
This was all especially disappointing after the last book in the series also unsuccessfully took a turn towards too cozy with the wedding brouhaha. Both books felt like they were selling some fantasy Vermont life of romance or a holiday many of us don't celebrate -- all magically funded by wealthy parents and friends -- at least as much as they were the telling the intriguing and gripping mysteries I'd so appreciated in earlier books.
Hope the author either returns to the real magic of the earlier books in the next one, or just starts a new series to go on full cozy if that's the direction she's called. It's a little painful to see such interesting, thoughtful characters lose most of what made them great.
BUT this book felt like it had lost so much of that. The recurring characters felt mostly like cardboard cutouts of their former selves; the drawn out full dive into Christmas coziness --including a pages long play by play retelling of The Christmas Carol -- dominated the book; and all the threads of how the mysteries were supposed to be solved didn't quite make sense to me given what we were told in the story...
This was all especially disappointing after the last book in the series also unsuccessfully took a turn towards too cozy with the wedding brouhaha. Both books felt like they were selling some fantasy Vermont life of romance or a holiday many of us don't celebrate -- all magically funded by wealthy parents and friends -- at least as much as they were the telling the intriguing and gripping mysteries I'd so appreciated in earlier books.
Hope the author either returns to the real magic of the earlier books in the next one, or just starts a new series to go on full cozy if that's the direction she's called. It's a little painful to see such interesting, thoughtful characters lose most of what made them great.
November 25, 2025
Another good one! This is part of a series, but you do not have to read them in order. But I do like how the main characters return in each book! And the dogs!! 🩷 🐶 🩷 🐕
This time Mercy goes running after the Santa at The Soltice Soirée after he leaves a little girl sitting there just after she asks for what she wants for Christmas! 😳😮. That is NOT OK. And she’s going to get to the bottom of this! So off she goes with Elvis, her trained Canine, and he finds Santa… only problem is that he’s now dead! 😵
THIS IS HOW THE BOOK OPENS!!!
From here, the death is being investigated…when yet another person turns up dead. What is going on? And why??
As Mercy and Elvis, and then Troy and Susie Bear investigate, strange things are going on. And there are some strange people around town too! But their eyes are wide open and they’re trying to figure this out.
When a stranger shows up stating that she’s the daughter of the Santa that was killed, well, they are all shocked! They all knew him and knew nothing of a daughter.
Then it gets even stranger when another woman shows up stating she’s the fiancé!
And, the will still needs to be read… and it keeps getting more and more confusing as time goes on. Was this the guy they all thought he was, or was he a stranger in disguise?
At the same time, they are trying to make their daughter Felicity’s first Christmas special!
And, their Mothers are driving them crazy… as they want to decorate their house for the holidays!
It’s sweet. It’s a bit scary. It’s heart-warming. And, it’s tragic too!
4 big, bold, scary stars for me! 🌟🌟🌟🌟
#TheSnowLiesDeep by @PaulaMunier and narrated beautifully by @KathleenMcInerney.
*** This one has NOT BEEN RELEASED YET, please look 👀 for it in a few days on 12/02/25!! ***
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
This time Mercy goes running after the Santa at The Soltice Soirée after he leaves a little girl sitting there just after she asks for what she wants for Christmas! 😳😮. That is NOT OK. And she’s going to get to the bottom of this! So off she goes with Elvis, her trained Canine, and he finds Santa… only problem is that he’s now dead! 😵
THIS IS HOW THE BOOK OPENS!!!
From here, the death is being investigated…when yet another person turns up dead. What is going on? And why??
As Mercy and Elvis, and then Troy and Susie Bear investigate, strange things are going on. And there are some strange people around town too! But their eyes are wide open and they’re trying to figure this out.
When a stranger shows up stating that she’s the daughter of the Santa that was killed, well, they are all shocked! They all knew him and knew nothing of a daughter.
Then it gets even stranger when another woman shows up stating she’s the fiancé!
And, the will still needs to be read… and it keeps getting more and more confusing as time goes on. Was this the guy they all thought he was, or was he a stranger in disguise?
At the same time, they are trying to make their daughter Felicity’s first Christmas special!
And, their Mothers are driving them crazy… as they want to decorate their house for the holidays!
It’s sweet. It’s a bit scary. It’s heart-warming. And, it’s tragic too!
4 big, bold, scary stars for me! 🌟🌟🌟🌟
#TheSnowLiesDeep by @PaulaMunier and narrated beautifully by @KathleenMcInerney.
*** This one has NOT BEEN RELEASED YET, please look 👀 for it in a few days on 12/02/25!! ***
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
December 6, 2025
Another enjoyable adventure with Mercy and Elvis.
I like this series mostly for its atmosphere, which proves to be excellent especially in holiday installments. The Halloween book remains my favorite, but this one makes for a lovely Christmas mystery with all the holiday trimmings.
The addition of the baby works about as well as it ever does in a series like this, which is to say not at all, though she’s a sweet kid and at least it’s less annoying than the martyred pregnancy stuff we got in the last installment of the series.
The mystery itself is a pretty good one, and as always, the dogs are an absolute delight.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I like this series mostly for its atmosphere, which proves to be excellent especially in holiday installments. The Halloween book remains my favorite, but this one makes for a lovely Christmas mystery with all the holiday trimmings.
The addition of the baby works about as well as it ever does in a series like this, which is to say not at all, though she’s a sweet kid and at least it’s less annoying than the martyred pregnancy stuff we got in the last installment of the series.
The mystery itself is a pretty good one, and as always, the dogs are an absolute delight.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
December 8, 2025
*3.5 stars rounded up
It's Christmas time in Northshire, Vermont, and everything should be festive and joyful, but unfortunately viral online headlines blare the news: 'Yuletide Killer slays Santa on the winter solstice.' Former Army MP Mercy Carr and her game warden husband, Troy, just want to enjoy their baby's first Christmas, but as the killings continue, they are expected to pitch in to help find the killer.
I'm jumping into the midst of this series but catching the drift wasn't hard. Mercy is part of a close-knit family and is lucky to have so much support. It was delightful to spend time with them at Christmas as they solve a very intriguing mystery. I enjoyed the characters and their many pets (especially Elvis and Susie Bear) and the lovely songs and poems that opened each chapter.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new cozy mystery via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
It's Christmas time in Northshire, Vermont, and everything should be festive and joyful, but unfortunately viral online headlines blare the news: 'Yuletide Killer slays Santa on the winter solstice.' Former Army MP Mercy Carr and her game warden husband, Troy, just want to enjoy their baby's first Christmas, but as the killings continue, they are expected to pitch in to help find the killer.
I'm jumping into the midst of this series but catching the drift wasn't hard. Mercy is part of a close-knit family and is lucky to have so much support. It was delightful to spend time with them at Christmas as they solve a very intriguing mystery. I enjoyed the characters and their many pets (especially Elvis and Susie Bear) and the lovely songs and poems that opened each chapter.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new cozy mystery via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
December 9, 2025
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I know the world and characters in the Mercy & Elvis Mysteries series. The baby Felicity is born and for her age seems very skilled and cheerful. We only get the easy, wonderful, smart and precious baby. My feelings are similar to the previous book. The story is not very realistic and there is not enough dog time.
Perhaps it is the pacing that is throwing me off. It felt kind of meandering. Mercy has no work, and when she does work on a case she does everything in her own time. She calls on friends and law enforcement and they all let her run the show.
I know all the characters and as they are introduced here again and there are some new ones. I didn't feel like there was much depth on anyone but Mercy and maybe her parents. Her grandmother is awesome but has become sort of an amazing cliche with her veterinary and baking skills.
Especially with have her new baby, I felt Mercy was not careful enough with dead bodies turning up on the regular. The setting was the town Solstice festival with her mother running the show. It was nice to see Mercy and her mother on better terms. The mystery mixed in with the holiday activity felt rather scattered. So for me it was too much holiday details, and a bit light on the murder investigation.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I know the world and characters in the Mercy & Elvis Mysteries series. The baby Felicity is born and for her age seems very skilled and cheerful. We only get the easy, wonderful, smart and precious baby. My feelings are similar to the previous book. The story is not very realistic and there is not enough dog time.
Perhaps it is the pacing that is throwing me off. It felt kind of meandering. Mercy has no work, and when she does work on a case she does everything in her own time. She calls on friends and law enforcement and they all let her run the show.
I know all the characters and as they are introduced here again and there are some new ones. I didn't feel like there was much depth on anyone but Mercy and maybe her parents. Her grandmother is awesome but has become sort of an amazing cliche with her veterinary and baking skills.
Especially with have her new baby, I felt Mercy was not careful enough with dead bodies turning up on the regular. The setting was the town Solstice festival with her mother running the show. It was nice to see Mercy and her mother on better terms. The mystery mixed in with the holiday activity felt rather scattered. So for me it was too much holiday details, and a bit light on the murder investigation.
December 3, 2025
Despite all the people getting killed and the connection they had to Mercy, this one came off with a happy tone. It's the holidays and Mercy and Troy are enjoying all the new things with their daughter and how much she is discovering things. Even Mercy's mother doesn't get on her nerves too much. I loved how Troy and Mercy sort of manipulated their mothers in the holiday decorating. Sure it was something they were going to do any way, but this way, they had some sort of control of what was going on.
The killings and why were so crazy! You wouldn't think that things that happened so long ago would come back, but sadly they did. I'm glad that they got things figured and things ended in the best way possible for those left behind.
The killings and why were so crazy! You wouldn't think that things that happened so long ago would come back, but sadly they did. I'm glad that they got things figured and things ended in the best way possible for those left behind.
December 19, 2025
By about page 50 I was very tired of hearing about the baby and Mercy's obsessive mother love...I almost quit the book, but padded on because someone finally got killed. After that there was way too much Christmas! It took 5 pages of talking about the singing Christmas tree before anything interesting happened...and lots of other Christmas festivities throughout with more baby Felicity and how she fit in...she's only 9 months old for heaven sake! I love a series where I can follow along with family life but this book had more baby Felicity and detailed, fairly boring, Christmas festivities than actual plot development of the mystery. I had a similar feeling with 'The Wedding Plot', book 4. I've enjoyed the other 5 of the series very much! I hope the series hasn't run its course!
December 4, 2025
Marcy is waiting in line to see Santa with her daughter when Santa suddenly leaves his spot and runs off into the woods. Marcy soon follows him, but when she finds him, Santa Claus, who is both the mayor of Vermont and her uncle, is dead. Soon, another body is found. It's a Christmas season the residents of this small town weren't expecting.
Marcy, along with her husband Troy and their two dogs, try to find the killer before he strikes again.
I don't usually read Christmas mysteries, especially those with murder. In this book, I liked the introduction of family unity, the cooperation of the small town residents, the involvement of two wise dogs, and finally, the splendor of the holidays.
Marcy, along with her husband Troy and their two dogs, try to find the killer before he strikes again.
I don't usually read Christmas mysteries, especially those with murder. In this book, I liked the introduction of family unity, the cooperation of the small town residents, the involvement of two wise dogs, and finally, the splendor of the holidays.
December 14, 2025
4.25⭐
I love this series about Mercy, an ex-MP in Afghanistan and her dog, Elvis. Over the course of the six book series, more characters have joined the regulars with distinct and interesting back stories. Unexpectedly this is one of the best Christmas mysteries that I have read. Taking place during the Winter Solstice, a substitute Santa is murdered. Fascinating information on the meaning of the holidays from Druids to Russian folklore provides a backdrop for the clever plotting while still highlighting the strong draw of family and friends especially at this time of year. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love this series about Mercy, an ex-MP in Afghanistan and her dog, Elvis. Over the course of the six book series, more characters have joined the regulars with distinct and interesting back stories. Unexpectedly this is one of the best Christmas mysteries that I have read. Taking place during the Winter Solstice, a substitute Santa is murdered. Fascinating information on the meaning of the holidays from Druids to Russian folklore provides a backdrop for the clever plotting while still highlighting the strong draw of family and friends especially at this time of year. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 15, 2025
Nice addition to this very good series. Mercy and Troy’s baby, Felicity, is nine months old now, and this is her first Christmas. So many family plans for Christmas and suddenly murders are happening around them. Mercy finds the first body and as always Mercy takes on the task to solve the murder with her brilliant mind. But then more people are killed. Is there enough time to solve the murders and still have a wonderful Christmas?
December 29, 2025
Wonderful holiday mystery
I love a bit spiky holly with my Christmas feels, and this latest installment in the Mercy & Elvis mystery series delivers. It’s both magical, in its depiction of Christmas in rural Vermont, and mysterious, with dead bodies dressed as Santa piling up. I love the characters, both human and canine, and the tension builds amid the festivities afoot in this charming setting. Two thumbs up and a Holly jolly for this book by the talented Paula Munier.
I love a bit spiky holly with my Christmas feels, and this latest installment in the Mercy & Elvis mystery series delivers. It’s both magical, in its depiction of Christmas in rural Vermont, and mysterious, with dead bodies dressed as Santa piling up. I love the characters, both human and canine, and the tension builds amid the festivities afoot in this charming setting. Two thumbs up and a Holly jolly for this book by the talented Paula Munier.
December 29, 2025
This book begins just before the winter solstice and ends on Christmas Day. It is set in Vermont and features Mercy, her husband and their adorable baby girl. It is the story of murder and secrets but happy endings. Am hoping there will be more books in this series.
December 12, 2025
I love this series! If you haven't tried it - you should! Especially if you like animals and mysteries!
December 1, 2025
The Snow Lies Deep by Paula Munier
Narrator, Kathleen McInerny
Mercy Carr book 7
We have all our favorites here, Mercy and Troy, Susie Bear and Elvis, the baby Felicity and all the many assorted relatives. coworkers, and friends.
Then we add in a character called Uncle Lazlo who is not really related but an honorary uncle. This leads us to Russian assassins and assorted other Russians both good and bad. And don’t forget the cult in the woods. Plus Druids celebrating Solstice. Lots and lots of celebration of Solstice. Nearly the first 30% of this overly long book is primarily about Solstice celebrations and taking the baby to the events. I like some of the holiday in a book set around a holiday but this was a bit much. I think I might be tiring of this series and may take a break from it because I kind of felt the same way about the previous book.
As usual, Kathleen McInerny did an excellent job as narrator.
Thanks to NetGalley
Narrator, Kathleen McInerny
Mercy Carr book 7
We have all our favorites here, Mercy and Troy, Susie Bear and Elvis, the baby Felicity and all the many assorted relatives. coworkers, and friends.
Then we add in a character called Uncle Lazlo who is not really related but an honorary uncle. This leads us to Russian assassins and assorted other Russians both good and bad. And don’t forget the cult in the woods. Plus Druids celebrating Solstice. Lots and lots of celebration of Solstice. Nearly the first 30% of this overly long book is primarily about Solstice celebrations and taking the baby to the events. I like some of the holiday in a book set around a holiday but this was a bit much. I think I might be tiring of this series and may take a break from it because I kind of felt the same way about the previous book.
As usual, Kathleen McInerny did an excellent job as narrator.
Thanks to NetGalley
November 28, 2025
The Snow Lies Deep by Paula Munier
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.
Let me start by saying this: if you want a nice, quiet Christmas with zero murders and minimal drama, don’t visit Northshire, Vermont. In The Snow Lies Deep, Paula Munier gifts us a murder mystery wrapped in garland, doused in snow, and set on fire—literally—via a flaming yule log plopped right on Santa’s chest. ‘Tis the season.
This is the seventh book in the Mercy Carr series, and our favorite ex-MP-turned-sleuth is allegedly trying to take a break from crime solving to enjoy baby Felicity’s first Christmas. She’s got high hopes for gingerbread and quiet nights, but what she gets instead is a festive, small-town murder spree that kicks off when the town’s stand-in Santa (also the acting mayor) tosses a toddler aside and bolts into the woods during the Solstice Soirée. Merry crisis.
Mercy and her trusty Belgian Malinois, Elvis—who, by the way, has more training than most police departments—track Santa down… only to find him very much dead, face-up in the snow with a flaming yule log on his stomach. Subtle. Classic Vermont.
From there, things snowball fast. Literally and figuratively. A second murder turns up. Then a third. There’s a dead guy who may or may not have been a Russian mob accountant. A poacher on the loose. An underground church with cult vibes. Suspicious newcomers claiming inheritance rights. And let’s not forget the dogs. Elvis and Suzie Bear are back, sniffing out clues and generally being better detectives than anyone on the official payroll.
The town is in full holiday chaos mode, with Mercy’s overzealous mother and mother-in-law trying to out-decorate each other, the Solstice Soirée spiraling into Druid cosplay, and every other chapter involving someone baking or quoting Shakespeare. Which would be charming, if not for the whole people-getting-murdered thing.
Munier has always had a gift for balancing tightly-plotted mysteries with deeply human moments, and this entry is no different. But there’s a noticeable tonal shift here. The stakes feel more personal—more domestic. The crime is still front and center, but we also see Mercy and Troy learning to parent, negotiate family drama, and build their life together in real-time. That mix of crime solving and character growth is what gives this series its heartbeat.
Still, not everything lands perfectly. A few threads involving international intrigue (ahem, Russian oligarchs and mystery heiresses) felt a little extra, like the story got tired of hot cocoa and wanted a shot of vodka. And I’ll be real with you—I missed having more scenes with Elvis and Susie Bear. I came here for tactical K9 sleuthing and only got a few good moments. More dogs, fewer mysterious bankers, please and thank you.
Also, let’s talk pacing. The beginning is snappy, the middle dips a little under the weight of subplot overload, and the ending kicks into gear just in time to deliver a satisfying twist. You may guess part of it, but Munier still finds a way to keep you on your toes. She’s got that sleight-of-hand storyteller energy where the real clue was tucked under your nose the whole time, and you didn’t even smell it. Elvis probably did.
Quote I highlighted with a highlighter I stole from my kid’s pencil case:
“Sometimes the darkest nights give us the clearest view of who we really are.”
Profound. Depressing. Tattoo-worthy.
The verdict? The Snow Lies Deep is a clever, atmospheric winter mystery with just enough bite to balance the sweetness. It’s cozy without being dull, smart without being pretentious, and delivers everything longtime readers of the series love: solid character arcs, a sense of community, and the occasional flaming piece of holiday symbolism.
Is it the strongest entry in the series? Maybe not. The earlier books had tighter plots and a little more edge. But this one wins on heart. Watching Mercy juggle motherhood, murder, and meddling in-laws without losing her cool (well, mostly) makes her more relatable than ever. And the setting? Straight-up snowy perfection.
If you love your mysteries with a side of holiday chaos, dogs who deserve medals, and small-town charm that borders on cultish—this one’s for you.
4.2/5 stars
Sharp, wintery, and laced with just the right amount of seasonal dysfunction. Would absolutely recommend reading by a fire with a cup of spiked cider and a dog curled at your feet.
Hashtags for the algorithm gods:
#TheSnowLiesDeep #PaulaMunier #MercyCarrMystery #CozyMystery #WinterReads #HolidayMystery #BookReview #DogMysteries #WomenSleuths #NetGalley #ChristmasWhodunit #VermontVibes #MysterySeries #FictionReview #NewRelease #ElvisTheDog #YuletideMurder #SuspenseBooks #BooksWorthReading #GiftedARC
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.
Let me start by saying this: if you want a nice, quiet Christmas with zero murders and minimal drama, don’t visit Northshire, Vermont. In The Snow Lies Deep, Paula Munier gifts us a murder mystery wrapped in garland, doused in snow, and set on fire—literally—via a flaming yule log plopped right on Santa’s chest. ‘Tis the season.
This is the seventh book in the Mercy Carr series, and our favorite ex-MP-turned-sleuth is allegedly trying to take a break from crime solving to enjoy baby Felicity’s first Christmas. She’s got high hopes for gingerbread and quiet nights, but what she gets instead is a festive, small-town murder spree that kicks off when the town’s stand-in Santa (also the acting mayor) tosses a toddler aside and bolts into the woods during the Solstice Soirée. Merry crisis.
Mercy and her trusty Belgian Malinois, Elvis—who, by the way, has more training than most police departments—track Santa down… only to find him very much dead, face-up in the snow with a flaming yule log on his stomach. Subtle. Classic Vermont.
From there, things snowball fast. Literally and figuratively. A second murder turns up. Then a third. There’s a dead guy who may or may not have been a Russian mob accountant. A poacher on the loose. An underground church with cult vibes. Suspicious newcomers claiming inheritance rights. And let’s not forget the dogs. Elvis and Suzie Bear are back, sniffing out clues and generally being better detectives than anyone on the official payroll.
The town is in full holiday chaos mode, with Mercy’s overzealous mother and mother-in-law trying to out-decorate each other, the Solstice Soirée spiraling into Druid cosplay, and every other chapter involving someone baking or quoting Shakespeare. Which would be charming, if not for the whole people-getting-murdered thing.
Munier has always had a gift for balancing tightly-plotted mysteries with deeply human moments, and this entry is no different. But there’s a noticeable tonal shift here. The stakes feel more personal—more domestic. The crime is still front and center, but we also see Mercy and Troy learning to parent, negotiate family drama, and build their life together in real-time. That mix of crime solving and character growth is what gives this series its heartbeat.
Still, not everything lands perfectly. A few threads involving international intrigue (ahem, Russian oligarchs and mystery heiresses) felt a little extra, like the story got tired of hot cocoa and wanted a shot of vodka. And I’ll be real with you—I missed having more scenes with Elvis and Susie Bear. I came here for tactical K9 sleuthing and only got a few good moments. More dogs, fewer mysterious bankers, please and thank you.
Also, let’s talk pacing. The beginning is snappy, the middle dips a little under the weight of subplot overload, and the ending kicks into gear just in time to deliver a satisfying twist. You may guess part of it, but Munier still finds a way to keep you on your toes. She’s got that sleight-of-hand storyteller energy where the real clue was tucked under your nose the whole time, and you didn’t even smell it. Elvis probably did.
Quote I highlighted with a highlighter I stole from my kid’s pencil case:
“Sometimes the darkest nights give us the clearest view of who we really are.”
Profound. Depressing. Tattoo-worthy.
The verdict? The Snow Lies Deep is a clever, atmospheric winter mystery with just enough bite to balance the sweetness. It’s cozy without being dull, smart without being pretentious, and delivers everything longtime readers of the series love: solid character arcs, a sense of community, and the occasional flaming piece of holiday symbolism.
Is it the strongest entry in the series? Maybe not. The earlier books had tighter plots and a little more edge. But this one wins on heart. Watching Mercy juggle motherhood, murder, and meddling in-laws without losing her cool (well, mostly) makes her more relatable than ever. And the setting? Straight-up snowy perfection.
If you love your mysteries with a side of holiday chaos, dogs who deserve medals, and small-town charm that borders on cultish—this one’s for you.
4.2/5 stars
Sharp, wintery, and laced with just the right amount of seasonal dysfunction. Would absolutely recommend reading by a fire with a cup of spiked cider and a dog curled at your feet.
Hashtags for the algorithm gods:
#TheSnowLiesDeep #PaulaMunier #MercyCarrMystery #CozyMystery #WinterReads #HolidayMystery #BookReview #DogMysteries #WomenSleuths #NetGalley #ChristmasWhodunit #VermontVibes #MysterySeries #FictionReview #NewRelease #ElvisTheDog #YuletideMurder #SuspenseBooks #BooksWorthReading #GiftedARC
November 18, 2025
I have no business starting a new mystery series on book SEVEN, especially one with enough recurring characters to qualify as a small militia, but it was cold out, the book was Christmasy, and there was a dog named Elvis. So I did what any festive feral gremlin would do, I hit play on the audiobook and hoped for the best.
First of all, this thing opens like a Hallmark movie got sucker-punched by Knives Out. A Santa impersonator (who just so happens to be the MAYOR, naturally) drops a toddler like a sack of potatoes, sprints into the woods mid-Solstice Soirée, and is later found smoldering under a literal burning Yule log. Incredible. Camp. I’m hooked.
Enter Mercy Carr, former military MP turned town Murder Magnet. She and her hunky forest ranger husband Troy (who somehow has time to chase both poachers and plotlines) are just trying to have a peaceful first Christmas with their baby daughter Felicity. But no, the moment Santa combusts, it’s back to dog-assisted investigations, suspicious druids, and vaguely menacing Russian heiresses with cryptic backstories and questionable motives. A classic Christmas, really.
And let’s talk dogs. Mercy’s Belgian Malinois, Elvis, and Troy’s Newfie, Susie Bear, are certified emotional support characters at this point. Every time the human plot meandered into “wait, are we still talking about solstice rituals or espionage?” territory, the dogs would find a body, sniff out a clue, or just exist adorably and suddenly, I’m invested again. I need a spin-off where Elvis solves crimes and Susie Bear gets her own reality show about tracking poachers.
Now, full transparency: jumping into this series at book seven is the literary equivalent of crashing a family reunion and pretending you’re a long-lost cousin. There were entire conversations where I was like, “Who is this person? Why do they have three names and a motive?” And yet, despite the chaos, I might be crawling my way back through books one through six like a mystery raccoon. The found family vibes, the cozy chaos, the rural Vermont murder-per-square-foot ratio, it’s irresistible.
Kathleen McInerney’s narration is what kept me afloat in the blizzard of names and plotlines. She does that amazing thing where you feel every micro-expression in Mercy’s thoughts, from steely ex-MP resolve to “please don’t let my baby touch the murder snow.” Her pacing is tight, her character voices distinct without being distracting, and she handles the tonal shifts, from domestic bliss to ritualistic murder, with surgical precision.
That said, I did hit a few snowbanks on the ride. There are a lot of characters. Like, a lot. At one point I started a mental bingo card for "vaguely sinister townsperson with an accent and a secret.” Also, there’s a subplot involving Russian oligarchs, which feels like it wandered in from a different novel wearing sunglasses and a fake mustache. And while I adore a slow burn mystery, this one occasionally drops into a frosty crawl. Every time the plot picked up momentum, it seemed to detour into a side quest about baby Felicity’s giggle or what someone brought to the potluck.
Still, I’m not mad about it. The Snow Lies Deep gave me festive murder, competent women, cryptic grandmas, secret tunnels (YES), and a high-stakes game of “Who’s the Real Heir to Santa’s Assets?” that was ridiculous in all the right ways.
3.5 stars and a peppermint-scented shrug. I’m confused but intrigued. Possibly converted. Definitely Googling “Belgian Malinois training programs.”
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Suspect Santa, the Singing Plumber, and a Literal Cat Within Five Chapters
Big thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC. Nothing says holiday cheer like a dead Santa, a flaming Yule log, and a crime-sniffing Malinois whispering in my ears. Kathleen McInerney nailed the narration. I came for the Christmas vibes and stayed for the chaos.
First of all, this thing opens like a Hallmark movie got sucker-punched by Knives Out. A Santa impersonator (who just so happens to be the MAYOR, naturally) drops a toddler like a sack of potatoes, sprints into the woods mid-Solstice Soirée, and is later found smoldering under a literal burning Yule log. Incredible. Camp. I’m hooked.
Enter Mercy Carr, former military MP turned town Murder Magnet. She and her hunky forest ranger husband Troy (who somehow has time to chase both poachers and plotlines) are just trying to have a peaceful first Christmas with their baby daughter Felicity. But no, the moment Santa combusts, it’s back to dog-assisted investigations, suspicious druids, and vaguely menacing Russian heiresses with cryptic backstories and questionable motives. A classic Christmas, really.
And let’s talk dogs. Mercy’s Belgian Malinois, Elvis, and Troy’s Newfie, Susie Bear, are certified emotional support characters at this point. Every time the human plot meandered into “wait, are we still talking about solstice rituals or espionage?” territory, the dogs would find a body, sniff out a clue, or just exist adorably and suddenly, I’m invested again. I need a spin-off where Elvis solves crimes and Susie Bear gets her own reality show about tracking poachers.
Now, full transparency: jumping into this series at book seven is the literary equivalent of crashing a family reunion and pretending you’re a long-lost cousin. There were entire conversations where I was like, “Who is this person? Why do they have three names and a motive?” And yet, despite the chaos, I might be crawling my way back through books one through six like a mystery raccoon. The found family vibes, the cozy chaos, the rural Vermont murder-per-square-foot ratio, it’s irresistible.
Kathleen McInerney’s narration is what kept me afloat in the blizzard of names and plotlines. She does that amazing thing where you feel every micro-expression in Mercy’s thoughts, from steely ex-MP resolve to “please don’t let my baby touch the murder snow.” Her pacing is tight, her character voices distinct without being distracting, and she handles the tonal shifts, from domestic bliss to ritualistic murder, with surgical precision.
That said, I did hit a few snowbanks on the ride. There are a lot of characters. Like, a lot. At one point I started a mental bingo card for "vaguely sinister townsperson with an accent and a secret.” Also, there’s a subplot involving Russian oligarchs, which feels like it wandered in from a different novel wearing sunglasses and a fake mustache. And while I adore a slow burn mystery, this one occasionally drops into a frosty crawl. Every time the plot picked up momentum, it seemed to detour into a side quest about baby Felicity’s giggle or what someone brought to the potluck.
Still, I’m not mad about it. The Snow Lies Deep gave me festive murder, competent women, cryptic grandmas, secret tunnels (YES), and a high-stakes game of “Who’s the Real Heir to Santa’s Assets?” that was ridiculous in all the right ways.
3.5 stars and a peppermint-scented shrug. I’m confused but intrigued. Possibly converted. Definitely Googling “Belgian Malinois training programs.”
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Suspect Santa, the Singing Plumber, and a Literal Cat Within Five Chapters
Big thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC. Nothing says holiday cheer like a dead Santa, a flaming Yule log, and a crime-sniffing Malinois whispering in my ears. Kathleen McInerney nailed the narration. I came for the Christmas vibes and stayed for the chaos.
December 14, 2025
THE SNOW LIES DEEP --- and perhaps nowhere deeper than in a small, picturesque town in rural Vermont at Christmas. Paula Munier takes us right into the heart of Northshire as it celebrates the holiday season in grand style. The town is hosting the Solstice Soirée, "twelve days of eating, drinking, and making merry, beginning on the winter solstice and continuing through Hanukkah and Kwanzaa and Christmas right on to New Year's Day."
As we visit the festivities with Mercy Carr and her nine-month-old daughter, Felicity, we can practically smell the pine, the roasting chestnuts and the steaming hot cocoa. There are festive lights everywhere, and a Christmas market on the town commons is selling all kinds of gifts and food.
However, from the very beginning, we know that there is a dark underside to Northshire. We are privy to one death that is described, but we don't know when it happened or who was killed. And then, as Mercy waits for Felicity to meet Santa, the mystery begins. The usual Santa, a very jolly guy, has been temporarily replaced by the town mayor, Lazlo Ford, who is too tall, skinny and timid to make a decent facsimile Santa. It's when he takes a phone call, all but dumping the child sitting on his lap and disappearing into the crowd, that the mystery is afoot.
Mercy senses that something is awry and follows him, aided by her retired military dog, Elvis. But by the time they find Laz, he's been killed --- and bizarrely, a Yule log has been placed on his abdomen and lit. Soon there's another death. At the same time, Mercy's husband Troy, a warden with Vermont Fish and Wildlife, is tracking a poacher. Munier shares in gruesome detail how poachers disregard any semblance of humanity when they kill wild animals, endangered or not, indiscriminately.
Along the way, we are treated to the complete cast of characters that readers of the series have met in previous novels. There's Daniel Feinberg, the billionaire who is also Mercy's employer at times. Mercy's mother, Grace, and her father, both successful attorneys, dress impeccably, and her mother runs the Solstice Soirée. Grace doesn't want the murders to mar the event and asks Mercy to find the killer.
Welcome to a world where those in Mercy's circle all dress to the nines in cashmere and tweeds. The parties are elegant, and silk dresses and jackets are the norm. Mercy and Troy are determined to make their daughter's first Christmas a special one, and both their mothers help decorate their home, Grackle Tree Farm, in splendid holiday fashion inside and out. Mercy's family is treated to decorators and caterers as their place is transformed into a veritable winter wonderland.
There are druids, standing stones, endangered animals, evangelical zealots, Eastern European people --- some live in town, while others are clearly visiting with nefarious intent --- parties, fragrant baked goods, and more dead bodies. Most of the latter are the victims of the poacher, but too many are of the human variety. And it's up to Mercy to figure out why it's happening.
This series is filled with atmospheric details regardless of the season, and the setting is especially important in this Christmas tale. Even those who hate winter and long for warm sun and sand might be tempted to travel to Northshire during the holiday. Everything (except the murders, of course) just seems so lovely. Enjoy a vicarious visit to Vermont, be stumped by the murders and wonder how it all connects, and become a part of the ongoing story of Mercy's life when you read this clever mystery.
Reviewed by Pamela Kramer
As we visit the festivities with Mercy Carr and her nine-month-old daughter, Felicity, we can practically smell the pine, the roasting chestnuts and the steaming hot cocoa. There are festive lights everywhere, and a Christmas market on the town commons is selling all kinds of gifts and food.
However, from the very beginning, we know that there is a dark underside to Northshire. We are privy to one death that is described, but we don't know when it happened or who was killed. And then, as Mercy waits for Felicity to meet Santa, the mystery begins. The usual Santa, a very jolly guy, has been temporarily replaced by the town mayor, Lazlo Ford, who is too tall, skinny and timid to make a decent facsimile Santa. It's when he takes a phone call, all but dumping the child sitting on his lap and disappearing into the crowd, that the mystery is afoot.
Mercy senses that something is awry and follows him, aided by her retired military dog, Elvis. But by the time they find Laz, he's been killed --- and bizarrely, a Yule log has been placed on his abdomen and lit. Soon there's another death. At the same time, Mercy's husband Troy, a warden with Vermont Fish and Wildlife, is tracking a poacher. Munier shares in gruesome detail how poachers disregard any semblance of humanity when they kill wild animals, endangered or not, indiscriminately.
Along the way, we are treated to the complete cast of characters that readers of the series have met in previous novels. There's Daniel Feinberg, the billionaire who is also Mercy's employer at times. Mercy's mother, Grace, and her father, both successful attorneys, dress impeccably, and her mother runs the Solstice Soirée. Grace doesn't want the murders to mar the event and asks Mercy to find the killer.
Welcome to a world where those in Mercy's circle all dress to the nines in cashmere and tweeds. The parties are elegant, and silk dresses and jackets are the norm. Mercy and Troy are determined to make their daughter's first Christmas a special one, and both their mothers help decorate their home, Grackle Tree Farm, in splendid holiday fashion inside and out. Mercy's family is treated to decorators and caterers as their place is transformed into a veritable winter wonderland.
There are druids, standing stones, endangered animals, evangelical zealots, Eastern European people --- some live in town, while others are clearly visiting with nefarious intent --- parties, fragrant baked goods, and more dead bodies. Most of the latter are the victims of the poacher, but too many are of the human variety. And it's up to Mercy to figure out why it's happening.
This series is filled with atmospheric details regardless of the season, and the setting is especially important in this Christmas tale. Even those who hate winter and long for warm sun and sand might be tempted to travel to Northshire during the holiday. Everything (except the murders, of course) just seems so lovely. Enjoy a vicarious visit to Vermont, be stumped by the murders and wonder how it all connects, and become a part of the ongoing story of Mercy's life when you read this clever mystery.
Reviewed by Pamela Kramer
November 20, 2025
Title: The Snow Lies Deep
Author: Paula Munier
Series: Mercy Carr Mystery series #7
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Kathleen McInerney
Publisher: Macmillan Audio/ Minotaur Books
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: December 2, 2025
My Rating: 3
Pages: 320
Mercy and Troy are military veterans and Troy is a forest ranger.
They also participate in search-and-rescue activities with their amazing dogs Elvis and Susie Bear and consult with law enforcement on special cases. This is something they love but also have a new love --their eight-month-old daughter, Felicity and are excited and busy preparing for her first Christmas.
However someone has killed Santa and set a Yule log on fire over his dead body. Mercy and her faithful dog Elvis find him.
Mercy wants to help find whodunit but doesn’t want to be away from Felicity.
Although some nasty things are going -story ends with ‘Joy’!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR ~ Paula Munier,
She is the author of the bestselling Plot Perfect, The Writer’s Guide to Beginnings, Writing with Quiet Hands, and the acclaimed memoir Fixing Freddie. The first novel in her mystery series, A BORROWING OF BONES (Minotaur, 2018) was inspired by the hero working dogs she met through Mission K9 Rescue, her own Newfoundland-retriever-mix rescue Bear, and her lifelong passion for crime fiction. In her fabulous day job as Senior Literary Agent and Content Strategist for Talcott Notch Literary, she represents many great writers. Her specialties include crime fiction, women’s fiction, upmarket fiction, MG/YA, high-concept SFF, and nonfiction. She lives in New England with her family, Bear, Freddie, and a tabby named Ursula.
I have listened to Narrator Kathleen McInerney many times and I have read many stories in this series- in fact, back when it was called ‘Mercy and Elvis’’.
So was sure this was a Win Win situation. However for some reason it didn’t work for me. I didn’t care for Ms. McInerney’s performance of many of the characters yet loved her in the many other stories she performed and gave them 5 stars and I am not generous with stars.
Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio and Minotaur Books for granting me this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for December 2, 2025.
Author: Paula Munier
Series: Mercy Carr Mystery series #7
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Kathleen McInerney
Publisher: Macmillan Audio/ Minotaur Books
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: December 2, 2025
My Rating: 3
Pages: 320
Mercy and Troy are military veterans and Troy is a forest ranger.
They also participate in search-and-rescue activities with their amazing dogs Elvis and Susie Bear and consult with law enforcement on special cases. This is something they love but also have a new love --their eight-month-old daughter, Felicity and are excited and busy preparing for her first Christmas.
However someone has killed Santa and set a Yule log on fire over his dead body. Mercy and her faithful dog Elvis find him.
Mercy wants to help find whodunit but doesn’t want to be away from Felicity.
Although some nasty things are going -story ends with ‘Joy’!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR ~ Paula Munier,
She is the author of the bestselling Plot Perfect, The Writer’s Guide to Beginnings, Writing with Quiet Hands, and the acclaimed memoir Fixing Freddie. The first novel in her mystery series, A BORROWING OF BONES (Minotaur, 2018) was inspired by the hero working dogs she met through Mission K9 Rescue, her own Newfoundland-retriever-mix rescue Bear, and her lifelong passion for crime fiction. In her fabulous day job as Senior Literary Agent and Content Strategist for Talcott Notch Literary, she represents many great writers. Her specialties include crime fiction, women’s fiction, upmarket fiction, MG/YA, high-concept SFF, and nonfiction. She lives in New England with her family, Bear, Freddie, and a tabby named Ursula.
I have listened to Narrator Kathleen McInerney many times and I have read many stories in this series- in fact, back when it was called ‘Mercy and Elvis’’.
So was sure this was a Win Win situation. However for some reason it didn’t work for me. I didn’t care for Ms. McInerney’s performance of many of the characters yet loved her in the many other stories she performed and gave them 5 stars and I am not generous with stars.
Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio and Minotaur Books for granting me this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for December 2, 2025.
December 5, 2025
5/5 stars: This is Munier's seventh entry in the Mercy Carr Mystery series which is a Mystery Thriller that takes place during December in Vermont. Featuring a former Army MP, her game warden husband, who's also retired military, and their working K-9s, hers: a retired bomb-sniffing dog and his: a SAR dog, find their first Christmas with their baby daughter interrupted by a string of Solstice-themed killings targeting the town’s most prominent citizens. With friends and family in danger, the two and their dogs will have to use all their resources and rally their allies to capture The Yuletide Killer before he strikes again, this time far closer to home.
With plenty of twists and turns, Munier's written a gripping fast-paced investigative tale that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the final reveal. I really like how Munier's plot unfolds and the deft way everything weaves together so effortlessly. Told in dual POV, Munier's smart and witty writing and character work are stellar; the main character's well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable with a great secondary cast that are well crafted and uniquely voiced. Additionally, the dogs, the MC's Belgian Malinois and her husband's Newfoundland retriever mix, are just as important character's as the humans. Bonus points for all the Solstice and Christmas holiday cheer and vibes despite all the murder!
Munier's touch on some serious topics; so take care and check the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, A Borrowing of Bones. This is a long-time favorite series; highly recommend!
I received this eARC thanks to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
With plenty of twists and turns, Munier's written a gripping fast-paced investigative tale that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the final reveal. I really like how Munier's plot unfolds and the deft way everything weaves together so effortlessly. Told in dual POV, Munier's smart and witty writing and character work are stellar; the main character's well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable with a great secondary cast that are well crafted and uniquely voiced. Additionally, the dogs, the MC's Belgian Malinois and her husband's Newfoundland retriever mix, are just as important character's as the humans. Bonus points for all the Solstice and Christmas holiday cheer and vibes despite all the murder!
Munier's touch on some serious topics; so take care and check the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, A Borrowing of Bones. This is a long-time favorite series; highly recommend!
I received this eARC thanks to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
November 17, 2025
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.
“The Snow Lies Deep” is a taut, atmospheric mystery that blends survivalist suspense with emotional depth, and Kathleen McInerney’s narration brings Mercy Carr’s grit and vulnerability into sharp relief.
Set in Vermont’s unforgiving winter wilderness, this installment in Paula Munier’s Mercy Carr series plunges listeners into a search-and-rescue mission gone awry. When Mercy, a former military police officer turned civilian investigator, brings her daughter to see Santa Claus, played by a friend of Mercy's, she is quickly drawn in on solving a gruesome murder scene with numerous deeply hidden secrets that she must unravel.
McInerney’s performance is a standout. Her voice captures Mercy’s steely resolve and emotional complexity, balancing the character’s tactical precision with moments of introspection and doubt. She modulates tension expertly, especially in scenes where the cold, isolation, and danger press in. The audiobook’s pacing benefits from her control—never rushed, never dragging, always calibrated to the emotional and narrative beats.
The novel’s structure is layered and immersive. Munier interweaves multiple timelines and perspectives, including flashbacks to Mercy’s military past.
Munier’s prose is crisp and evocative, and McInerney’s delivery enhances its cinematic quality.
Themes of trust, trauma, and resilience run deep. Mercy’s relationship with her canine partner Elvis adds emotional texture, grounding her in moments of crisis. The audiobook format heightens the intimacy of these moments, allowing listeners to feel Mercy’s internal conflicts as she navigates physical and psychological terrains.
Listeners who appreciate mysteries with strong female leads, wilderness settings, and emotional nuance will find “The Snow Lies Deep” a compelling and rewarding experience.
“The Snow Lies Deep” is a taut, atmospheric mystery that blends survivalist suspense with emotional depth, and Kathleen McInerney’s narration brings Mercy Carr’s grit and vulnerability into sharp relief.
Set in Vermont’s unforgiving winter wilderness, this installment in Paula Munier’s Mercy Carr series plunges listeners into a search-and-rescue mission gone awry. When Mercy, a former military police officer turned civilian investigator, brings her daughter to see Santa Claus, played by a friend of Mercy's, she is quickly drawn in on solving a gruesome murder scene with numerous deeply hidden secrets that she must unravel.
McInerney’s performance is a standout. Her voice captures Mercy’s steely resolve and emotional complexity, balancing the character’s tactical precision with moments of introspection and doubt. She modulates tension expertly, especially in scenes where the cold, isolation, and danger press in. The audiobook’s pacing benefits from her control—never rushed, never dragging, always calibrated to the emotional and narrative beats.
The novel’s structure is layered and immersive. Munier interweaves multiple timelines and perspectives, including flashbacks to Mercy’s military past.
Munier’s prose is crisp and evocative, and McInerney’s delivery enhances its cinematic quality.
Themes of trust, trauma, and resilience run deep. Mercy’s relationship with her canine partner Elvis adds emotional texture, grounding her in moments of crisis. The audiobook format heightens the intimacy of these moments, allowing listeners to feel Mercy’s internal conflicts as she navigates physical and psychological terrains.
Listeners who appreciate mysteries with strong female leads, wilderness settings, and emotional nuance will find “The Snow Lies Deep” a compelling and rewarding experience.
November 20, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read The Snow Lies Deep, book #7 in Paula Munier's Mercy Carr mystery series. I have not read the other six books; if I had, I might have had a better understanding of the character relationships and how everyone was connected. Nevertheless, the author provided enough background information for me to follow the plot and enjoy the story.
Except for a few pesky murders, this is a feel-good holiday story, almost worthy of a Hallmark movie. Mercy and Troy are happily married and looking forward to celebrating their baby's first Christmas. The love they have for each other, their families, their adorable working dogs, and their small-town Vermont community shines through.
When the story opens, Mercy is taking baby Felicity to see Santa Claus at Northshire’s annual Solstice Soirée. Just before her daughter gets to Santa's lap, Santa (the town's acting mayor) gets a phone call and rushes away, disappearing into the woods. Mercy and her tracking dog, Elvis, run after him, but by the time they catch up, the man is dead, with a burning yule log on his chest. Despite finding the body, Mercy vows not to get more involved and to let the police handle the investigation. Like that's going to happen!
The plot becomes quite convoluted as the body count adds up to a total of four loosely connected murders (one a cold case) and almost as many perpetrators. There are poachers, druids, Russian oligarchs, a religious cult, and secret pasts.
The story is told in close third person, mainly from Mercy's POV, but it alternates with scenes from Troy's POV as he and his dog, Susie Bear, go about his job as a game warden, uncovering poachers, murder suspects, and more motives.
This was an enjoyable read, recommended to readers who like complex puzzles.
Except for a few pesky murders, this is a feel-good holiday story, almost worthy of a Hallmark movie. Mercy and Troy are happily married and looking forward to celebrating their baby's first Christmas. The love they have for each other, their families, their adorable working dogs, and their small-town Vermont community shines through.
When the story opens, Mercy is taking baby Felicity to see Santa Claus at Northshire’s annual Solstice Soirée. Just before her daughter gets to Santa's lap, Santa (the town's acting mayor) gets a phone call and rushes away, disappearing into the woods. Mercy and her tracking dog, Elvis, run after him, but by the time they catch up, the man is dead, with a burning yule log on his chest. Despite finding the body, Mercy vows not to get more involved and to let the police handle the investigation. Like that's going to happen!
The plot becomes quite convoluted as the body count adds up to a total of four loosely connected murders (one a cold case) and almost as many perpetrators. There are poachers, druids, Russian oligarchs, a religious cult, and secret pasts.
The story is told in close third person, mainly from Mercy's POV, but it alternates with scenes from Troy's POV as he and his dog, Susie Bear, go about his job as a game warden, uncovering poachers, murder suspects, and more motives.
This was an enjoyable read, recommended to readers who like complex puzzles.
December 10, 2025
The Snow Lies Deep is the seventh book in Paula Munier’s Mercy Carr mystery series. It is December and the community of Northshire, Vermont, is celebrating wintertime holidays with many events. On December 21st, the community is out supporting the festive events including a winter market, Santa, and later there will be a celebration of the Winter Solstice to be led by the local Druid community with the burning of the Yule log.
The usual Santa, Pizza Bob, has been called away due to his father’s illness, so Lazlo Ford, the acting mayor, is filling in. A shy, lanky fellow, Lazlo isn’t the typical Santa, but someone had to do it. Just as Mercy gets to the head of the line with 9 month old Felicity, Lazlo receives a phone call, then takes off across the way and into the woods. Leaving Felicity with her friend Amy Walker, she takes off after Lazlo with Elvis at her side only to discover this gentle man murdered in a most unusual manner.
As the story unfolds, Mercy’s husband game warden Troy Warner becomes embroiled in a poaching investigation that takes off on its own with certain factors that seem to overlap with Mercy’s investigations. With new groups having moved into the area, new people making claims on Lazlo’s estate, together with trying to make a wonderful first Christmas for their daughter, Mercy and Troy become deeply involved in preventing the next crime from happening.
This is yet another wonderful mystery from the pen of Paula Munier. With such an intertwining storyline, the plot twists and new clues will take the reader on an intense wintertime adventure. The characters are so well drawn, the Vermont setting is perfectly described, and the embedded clues are just waiting to be discovered. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend this book as well as the entire series.R
The usual Santa, Pizza Bob, has been called away due to his father’s illness, so Lazlo Ford, the acting mayor, is filling in. A shy, lanky fellow, Lazlo isn’t the typical Santa, but someone had to do it. Just as Mercy gets to the head of the line with 9 month old Felicity, Lazlo receives a phone call, then takes off across the way and into the woods. Leaving Felicity with her friend Amy Walker, she takes off after Lazlo with Elvis at her side only to discover this gentle man murdered in a most unusual manner.
As the story unfolds, Mercy’s husband game warden Troy Warner becomes embroiled in a poaching investigation that takes off on its own with certain factors that seem to overlap with Mercy’s investigations. With new groups having moved into the area, new people making claims on Lazlo’s estate, together with trying to make a wonderful first Christmas for their daughter, Mercy and Troy become deeply involved in preventing the next crime from happening.
This is yet another wonderful mystery from the pen of Paula Munier. With such an intertwining storyline, the plot twists and new clues will take the reader on an intense wintertime adventure. The characters are so well drawn, the Vermont setting is perfectly described, and the embedded clues are just waiting to be discovered. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend this book as well as the entire series.R
December 20, 2025
Paula Munier has written a perfect holiday story for mystery lovers. On the snowy streets of Northshire, Vermont Marcy and her husband Troy are looking forward to celebrating their daughter Felicity’s first Solstice Soirée. Despite a line of children eager to meet Santa, he receives a call and runs off to the nearby woods. Sensing trouble, Marcy and her Malinois Elvis follow him, only to discover his body in a clearing topped with a burning Yule log. Santa was played by the town’s well-respected mayor. As a former MP and investigator, the townspeople look to Marcy to solve the murder. This is only the first murder that will take place during the holiday. At a later musical performance the Singing Plumber will die mid-performance, murdered by an injection that no one saw happen. As Marcy and Elvis investigate the murders, Troy, a forest ranger, is dealing with a poacher and a cult that has settled in the area and may have a connection to the events in town.
This is the seventh book in the Marcy Carr series. It is an excellent mystery built around a caring community. Despite the murders that disrupt the celebration, Munier’s story still has a warm holiday feel. There are also dogs. Elvis is Marcy’s constant companion and often her protector, but there is also Suzie Bear, Troy’s Newfie. There are a great number of characters that have been introduced throughout the series and Marcy’s circle of friends and relatives all make an appearance. While they are familiar to fans of the series, Munier takes the time to introduce them to new readers. As new parents, Marcy and Troy’s devotion to Felicity plays a large part in their interactions. If that isn’t enough to give you a warm feeling, just remember that there are dogs. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for providing this book.
This is the seventh book in the Marcy Carr series. It is an excellent mystery built around a caring community. Despite the murders that disrupt the celebration, Munier’s story still has a warm holiday feel. There are also dogs. Elvis is Marcy’s constant companion and often her protector, but there is also Suzie Bear, Troy’s Newfie. There are a great number of characters that have been introduced throughout the series and Marcy’s circle of friends and relatives all make an appearance. While they are familiar to fans of the series, Munier takes the time to introduce them to new readers. As new parents, Marcy and Troy’s devotion to Felicity plays a large part in their interactions. If that isn’t enough to give you a warm feeling, just remember that there are dogs. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for providing this book.
December 3, 2025
The perfect Christmas mystery!
Is there anything more precious than a baby’s first Christmas? Mercy Carr and her husband, Troy, are eager to enjoy their baby Felicity’s first festive season. Unfortunately, Mercy and her dog, Elvis, are drawn into a search for a missing Santa. Things take a murderous turn when they find his body in the woods with a Yule log burning on it. Even more concerning is that Santa was a close friend of Mercy’s family. And then another Santa dies. Mercy’s excellent sleuthing skills will be put to the test if she is to solve the crimes before Christmas.
Northshire’s solstice celebration and Christmas market set the stage for a pretty New England holiday. I absolutely love this series, and this is one of the best books yet. The author creates such a wholesome, wonderful Christmas setting, it feels like you could walk into the pages to enjoy the town. It is like revisiting friends and being included in the holiday atmosphere. I love the descriptions of all their family and friends. Even with their families competing to decorate Grackle Tree Farm, it feels like a community pulling together.
Troy, a game warden and other local LEOs pull together to help Mercy discover clues, even the reluctant Detective Kit Harrington. I love how their dogs, Elvis and Susie Bear, are so integral to the story. The mystery part of this book is terrific. It is complex, twisty and not the ending I expected. Take a break from your holiday preparations and reward yourself with this book. You deserve it, and I guarantee it will keep you enthralled with the mystery while making you feel warm and Christmassy inside. Well done, Paula Munier, well done!
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for access to a digital advance review copy on NetGalley.
Is there anything more precious than a baby’s first Christmas? Mercy Carr and her husband, Troy, are eager to enjoy their baby Felicity’s first festive season. Unfortunately, Mercy and her dog, Elvis, are drawn into a search for a missing Santa. Things take a murderous turn when they find his body in the woods with a Yule log burning on it. Even more concerning is that Santa was a close friend of Mercy’s family. And then another Santa dies. Mercy’s excellent sleuthing skills will be put to the test if she is to solve the crimes before Christmas.
Northshire’s solstice celebration and Christmas market set the stage for a pretty New England holiday. I absolutely love this series, and this is one of the best books yet. The author creates such a wholesome, wonderful Christmas setting, it feels like you could walk into the pages to enjoy the town. It is like revisiting friends and being included in the holiday atmosphere. I love the descriptions of all their family and friends. Even with their families competing to decorate Grackle Tree Farm, it feels like a community pulling together.
Troy, a game warden and other local LEOs pull together to help Mercy discover clues, even the reluctant Detective Kit Harrington. I love how their dogs, Elvis and Susie Bear, are so integral to the story. The mystery part of this book is terrific. It is complex, twisty and not the ending I expected. Take a break from your holiday preparations and reward yourself with this book. You deserve it, and I guarantee it will keep you enthralled with the mystery while making you feel warm and Christmassy inside. Well done, Paula Munier, well done!
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for access to a digital advance review copy on NetGalley.
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