When the town librarian is an avid mystery and true-crime reader, the local law enforcement must need a book-smart assistant like her, right?
Is it common knowledge that the Twelve Days of Christmas start on December twenty-fifth and end in January? Rebecca Ramsey didn’t know until a chance conversation in the library with Mary, a long-time volunteer. Once she learns the actual history of the song – a way for Catholics to teach about their religion from a time when they were persecuted – a plan begins to form. Rebecca decides to celebrate the twelve days of Christmas with her future stepdaughters by creating foods that represent each day. The culinary options are unlimited!
In the same conversation, Rebecca learns about a superstition regarding bad luck coming to those whose decorations are up after the twelfth day of Christmas. A local restaurant owner learns about this the hard way when Rebecca finds her deceased on the thirteenth day of Christmas, her business still decorated for the holiday season.
Will a death discovered on January sixth convince Rebecca to start knocking on wood and throwing salt over her shoulder, or will she find that even superstitions are rooted in reality?
"On the 13th Delectable Day of Christmas (A Newfound Lake Cozy Mystery #20)" by Virginia K. Bennett follows the Twelve Days of Christmas and what happens on the 13th if you don't take down your decorations on the 12th. Rebecca does a great job making the Twelve Days of Christmas extra special to learn their religious meaning for her new family and decides to treat herself after all that cooking. The dinner she decides to go to is unexpectedly closed and she gets worried. After all, we're well into the story and I was about to give up on there being a death.
Rebecca gets into investigation mode. Especially after discovering a few truths she hadn't been wanting to take into consideration at first. Also, some fishy behavior on the part of some people close to the victim. I honestly was looking in one direction that was close but not right at all.
This kindle e-book novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book 20 of 20
More to come? I hope so!
Rachel is still working at the library with Mary. They talk about the Twelve days of Christmas song and Rachel is having twelve meals based on the song. What fun it turns out to be. There is a murder as well and the truth comes out.
I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of romantic family and friends relationships adventure mystery novels 👍🔰. 2024 👒🐕🐶
Virginia Bennett's "On the 13th Delectable Day of Christmas" is a delightful addition to the A Newfound Lake Cozy Mystery series, marking its 20th installment. The story embarks on an educational journey with Rebecca Ramsey, as she learns about the Twelve Days of Christmas through a charming conversation with Mary, a dedicated library volunteer. This newfound knowledge sparks a creative idea for Rebecca to bond with her fiancé's daughters, Melanie and Megan, by crafting foods that symbolize each day of the holiday. The narrative beautifully intertwines the themes of family bonding and culinary adventures, showcasing Rebecca’s warmth and ingenuity in bringing everyone together. The early focus on family dynamics and festivities provides readers with a heartwarming prelude to the mystery that gradually unfolds. As the story progresses, the plot thickens with the introduction of an intriguing superstition: keeping Christmas decorations up past the twelfth day brings misfortune. This belief is eerily reinforced when a beloved local restaurant owner is found dead in her home, but her restaurant still surrounded by holiday décor. Virginia Bennett masterfully blends this superstition with an intriguing mystery, as Rebecca, with her keen intellect and a little support from her fiancé, Chief Kenny Towne, begins to piece together the clues. The narrative takes a thrilling turn, drawing readers into a web of suspects and motives. Fans of cozy mysteries will find themselves eagerly joining Rebecca in her pursuit of answers, as the small town of Newfound Lake becomes a playground for amateur sleuths, emphasizing the joy of unraveling a well-crafted puzzle. This installment, while diverging from Virginia Bennett's usual mystery outline, begins to captivate with its engaging storytelling and leads into a mystery with interesting plot twists. The vibrant depiction of community life and the unexpected revelations keep readers on the edge of their seats. Virginia Bennett's skillful storytelling ensures that each page is filled with anticipation and surprise, culminating in an ending that defies expectations. "On the 13th Delectable Day of Christmas" is a testament to Virginia Bennett's ability to craft an enjoyable and immersive reading experience. As the latest installment in the series, it leaves readers hopeful and eager for more adventures in the charming world of Newfound Lake.
Rebecca does twelve dinners for Kenny and the girls celebrating the twelve days of Christmas. When that is done things quiet down as the girls are back in school and Kenny is busy catching up with work. So to start her first peaceful day she heads to Trina’s place for a nice breakfast only to find it is closed. Trina lives nearby so she heads over there to check on her. When she gets no answer yet can hear her cell phone ringing inside she calls Kenny. He gets in to perform a wellness check and they find her dead. Lots of twists and turns and a surprise ending.
I really enjoyed this book from the first paragraph to the very last.
The book actually had two stories the one that happened in Rebecca's private life and then also her catching the crook life both were fun and enjoyable.
Definitely read this book this is Virginia K. Bennett latest book in her series, and they just keep getting better and better and they started out really look good. Enjoy
This is the second book I have read of this series and again, it is a fun to read shot story. I had an idea of who the culprit was so I was not surprised by the ending. However, the journey to the reveal was a fun trip. Love the characters and the setting. This is a good series!
I wish the whole 12 days of Christmas part wasn’t solely packed into the first two chapters. It felt rushed and I wished it had more to do with the mystery.