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Happy Bloody Christmas #2
Not Another Bloody Christmas
Not yet published
Expected 1 Sep 26PRAISE FOR HAPPY BLOODY 'An outrageously funny, festive romp which is as utterly wonderful as it is (Christmas) crackers!' MIKE GAYLEWhen Anna decides to take her family away for Christmas to avoid a repeat of the 'dead man in the larder' debacle, she finds herself plunged into another festive fiasco when a body turns up in the library of their supposedly 'idyllic' rural retreat. With a dubious double booking, an unexpected snowstorm, secret tunnels and the mysterious Mrs Haddock to contend with, can Anna and her unlikely allies save Christmas or will this holiday be their last?
320 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 1, 2026
305 people are currently reading
1832 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
December 27, 2025
3.5 stars, rounded up for the holidays - Overall this was a decent, "locked room" trope mystery - perhaps a bit less successful than the first with too many characters and not quite as funny. Still, I'd likely read another
September 9, 2025
I received a free copy of, Not Another Bloody Christmas, by Jo Middleton, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is the second book in The Happy Bloody Christmas series. Its Christmas time which should be a good time, but not when someone is murdered, and there is a murder to solve, a bloody murder that is. This was a nice festive murder mystery.
dnf
December 17, 2025I was excited to read the sequel to last year’s hilarious debut of a hungover Anna and her family waking up after one of their wild and crazy holiday parties to a dead body in their larder panty. This year, Anna and her family decided to do something different and went away for the holiday to a mountain resort. It’s there that they discover the dead body of one of the other guests.
Suffice it to say that I was sadly disappointed and ended up DNFing the book at the halfway point because I simply could not read it anymore of it. This after I set the book aside twice to read two other more interesting books. Enough said.
Suffice it to say that I was sadly disappointed and ended up DNFing the book at the halfway point because I simply could not read it anymore of it. This after I set the book aside twice to read two other more interesting books. Enough said.
December 6, 2025
Absolutely HILARIOUS!
October 26, 2025
Loved the first in the series ( Happy Bloody Christmas, reviewed last week ) and so with half excitement and half ‘can it be as good?’ started Book 2
Can honestly say it was as good and everything Book 1 brought to the table this ( literally ) carried on bringing
The humour is so ‘on point’ and observational that it it makes you wince then really laugh at its honesty, poignancy and funnibility ( made up word )
In the midst of all this, like last time, there is a good tale of intrigue and murder and a set of clues and people to work from to see who did the dastardly deed
Special mention to Mrs Haddock the housekeeper who was great to read and imagine bustling and huffing and puffing around and her soup was a triumph!
Love these books, love the writing and love how the author has brought humour and crime together so effortlessly
Can honestly say it was as good and everything Book 1 brought to the table this ( literally ) carried on bringing
The humour is so ‘on point’ and observational that it it makes you wince then really laugh at its honesty, poignancy and funnibility ( made up word )
In the midst of all this, like last time, there is a good tale of intrigue and murder and a set of clues and people to work from to see who did the dastardly deed
Special mention to Mrs Haddock the housekeeper who was great to read and imagine bustling and huffing and puffing around and her soup was a triumph!
Love these books, love the writing and love how the author has brought humour and crime together so effortlessly
November 17, 2025
This is a Christmas Cozy Mystery, and this is the second book in the Happy Bloody Christmas series, and I have not read the first book in this series before picking up this book. I found this book fun to read, and I loved the characters. There is a ton of Christmas stuff in this book. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
August 21, 2025
A perfect Christmas read (yes, I know it’s August!), this is a worthy sequel to Happy Bloody Christmas. We follow Anna and her family to a country house hotel where they find themselves snowed in with a dead body and several suspects, not the quiet Christmas they were hoping for after last year’s debacle. Spiked with the author’s dry wit, I laughed out loud many times whilst simultaneously enjoying the murder mystery. Although I had a rough idea of what the motive was, I enjoyed the journey towards the denouement. As with last Christmas, Anna has to solve the mystery herself - with help from her family and her friend, Jennie (though on her mobile this time) - because the local police are more interested in their mince pies than they are in trying to attend the scene of the crime. Good fun and a good story.
With thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for a review copy.
With thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for a review copy.
December 27, 2025
This book really made my Christmas a jolly one! I started laughing right away from the first page till the last, this book like the first installment from the series was hilarious.
This author should consider writing more murder mysteries, she really shines when she writes capers. I cannot recommend this book enough, it is funny, witty with a little bit of crazy mixed in. Middleton, listen to Jenny, time to put the shingle on the door and advertise yourself as a P.I. Anna would be wonderful not to mention hilariously funny and I could read more of your books instead of having to wait for the next Christmas.
This author should consider writing more murder mysteries, she really shines when she writes capers. I cannot recommend this book enough, it is funny, witty with a little bit of crazy mixed in. Middleton, listen to Jenny, time to put the shingle on the door and advertise yourself as a P.I. Anna would be wonderful not to mention hilariously funny and I could read more of your books instead of having to wait for the next Christmas.
September 19, 2025
Not another bloody Christmas by Joe Middleton is the second book in the Christmas murder mysteries and I for one cannot get enough. I love the Davis family from Anna Ollie Ben little Lilly and best friend Jenny I cannot get enough of this family and their Christmas exploits. Ever since last Christmas when Anna found her boss dead in her pantry After solving his murder she decides to go away to have the perfect family holiday and yet she stumbles on another murder mystery. Soon after arriving thinking they’re going to be the only people at the country manor a pompous ass named Rodrick and his wife Annaria show up but they’re just the first of many soon his sister Sophie Husband Daniel their twins his business partner Justin and younger girlfriend influencer Emsley are all there to stay in a home only equipped with four bedrooms they decide to make it work for one night only to wake up and be snowed in and find Roderick in the library dead. Due to his bad health and recent rating from his doctor they at first think he had a heart attack, but due to Anna‘s inquisitive nature and things she “just happens“ to hear and clues she finds; it isn’t long before she gives up on her perfect holiday. With Jenny on FaceTime they wind up solving yet another Christmas murder. with every guest in attendance a good suspect Anna has her sleuthing skills put to the test and being snowed in what will she do if she finds the killer? Not to mention the shady housekeeper a creepy picture that constantly watches you it is a perfect Christmas story with the Davis family and Jenny and as I said I love these people and I love this book and I can’t wait for more Joe Middleton write some of the best mysteries and I just love her and her books so very much and couldn’t recommend this one more. I love the way Anna is with her son Ben and little Lily because no matter how much murder there is to solve she always has time for her children and Ollie what a good husband. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,#JoeMiddleton, #NotAnotherBloodyChristmas,
August 12, 2025
I absolutely couldn’t wait to read this one, after enjoying the first one, I’ve never laughed so much!
This year Anna is determined to have a wonderful Christmas, no annoying extended family members and certainly no dead bodies in the larder. She insists on heading off for a quiet Christmas away from home. However, nothing goes as planned for Anna, and of course, another body turns up……
I love the style of writing in these books, witty and to the point. Intriguing but oh so funny.
The author really keeps you engaged and keeps you guessing. I love how the family pull together as a team to investigate, especially best friend Jennie.
The pace is really good and you will want to read it in one sitting, especially as you near the end and can’t work out just who did it!
As with the first book, the police’s roll is hilarious and fits the book so well.
All in all a fun, quick read. I think I loved the first one just slightly more, but it may be because the style and ideas were just so new and unique. Although the storyline is so different in this one, the humour is similar. I would definitely recommend reading it.
December 1, 2025
Anna is in search of the perfect family Christmas away.
Not Another BLOODY Christmas is enormous fun and I really enjoyed it. It was thoroughly entertaining to be back in the company of Anna, whose desperate attempts to have an Instagram worthy Christmas in a wonderful country house, backfire spectacularly.
I think Anna is hugely relatable. The contrast between the perfection of ourselves on social media as presented by one of the characters, Everlie, and the reality of dealing with true family life feels so realistic. Anna has a disapproving mother-in-law, an endearing (occasionally slightly dim) and always supportive husband, and two children who represent youngsters any one of us might know. Indeed, I’m not a great fan of children in books (or in real life come to that), but both Ben and Lily feel authentic and add to the humour of the book.
And Not Another Bloody Christmas is funny. Anna’s thoughts resonate brilliantly and I laughed aloud. This, along with her first person narrative voice, ensures that the reader feels included in the plot because it is as if Anna is speaking directly to them. The inclusion of Jennie on the end of the phone is such a clever device. It adds detail to the humour and the plot and provides another perspective.
It seems somehow wrong to say that a book about a murder is the perfect escapist Christmas read, but this story is exactly that. It’s fast paced, and any one of the characters could have committed the crime so that the reader is kept guessing throughout. All the familiar features of the genre create a brilliant blend of tradition and freshness. There’s a confused double booking, there’s a large country house with suits of armour, creepy portraits and there are secrets that only gradually reveal themselves. Add in a dour housekeeper who seems able to appear and disappear at will, and Jo Middleton provides an action packed, witty and engaging read.
But there’s additional depth for consideration too. In amongst the humour and mad-cap action, Jo MIddleton drops weightier aspects for consideration, such as nature and nurture for children, family and business rivalries, marriage and relationships and so on, making the story surprisingly thought-provoking as well as diverting.
I have struggled to settle to reading recently and I picked up Not Another BLOODY Christmas thinking I might as well give it a go. How wonderful to find a story that allowed me to escape the cares of the world, that made me laugh and brought joy into my life. I thoroughly recommend it.
Not Another BLOODY Christmas is enormous fun and I really enjoyed it. It was thoroughly entertaining to be back in the company of Anna, whose desperate attempts to have an Instagram worthy Christmas in a wonderful country house, backfire spectacularly.
I think Anna is hugely relatable. The contrast between the perfection of ourselves on social media as presented by one of the characters, Everlie, and the reality of dealing with true family life feels so realistic. Anna has a disapproving mother-in-law, an endearing (occasionally slightly dim) and always supportive husband, and two children who represent youngsters any one of us might know. Indeed, I’m not a great fan of children in books (or in real life come to that), but both Ben and Lily feel authentic and add to the humour of the book.
And Not Another Bloody Christmas is funny. Anna’s thoughts resonate brilliantly and I laughed aloud. This, along with her first person narrative voice, ensures that the reader feels included in the plot because it is as if Anna is speaking directly to them. The inclusion of Jennie on the end of the phone is such a clever device. It adds detail to the humour and the plot and provides another perspective.
It seems somehow wrong to say that a book about a murder is the perfect escapist Christmas read, but this story is exactly that. It’s fast paced, and any one of the characters could have committed the crime so that the reader is kept guessing throughout. All the familiar features of the genre create a brilliant blend of tradition and freshness. There’s a confused double booking, there’s a large country house with suits of armour, creepy portraits and there are secrets that only gradually reveal themselves. Add in a dour housekeeper who seems able to appear and disappear at will, and Jo Middleton provides an action packed, witty and engaging read.
But there’s additional depth for consideration too. In amongst the humour and mad-cap action, Jo MIddleton drops weightier aspects for consideration, such as nature and nurture for children, family and business rivalries, marriage and relationships and so on, making the story surprisingly thought-provoking as well as diverting.
I have struggled to settle to reading recently and I picked up Not Another BLOODY Christmas thinking I might as well give it a go. How wonderful to find a story that allowed me to escape the cares of the world, that made me laugh and brought joy into my life. I thoroughly recommend it.
December 23, 2025
Not Another Bloody Christmas follows Anna, who is taking the family away for Christmas. That way, there will be no risk of her burning the turkey, far less nagging from her mother-in-law and - crucially - a zero per cent chance of finding a dead body in her larder. All she wants is to relax with her feet up in front of the fire. But when there's a double booking and another group of guests shows up just before a snowstorm, her plans begin to go awry. And the appearance of a dead body threatens to bugger them entirely. Can Anna spend quality time with the family, root out the murderer and get wine drunk? Or will this be another bloody Christmas nightmare?
I deliberately saved Not Another Bloody Christmas for my final festive read because I knew I would love it, and it absolutely lived up to my expectations! The story is told from Anna’s perspective, and she is as witty, refreshing, relatable, and entertaining as ever. Her inner thoughts are spot on and resonant, and just like in the first book, I found myself laughing out loud multiple times thanks to her brilliant narration.
The narrative expertly plays with classic festive tropes - being snowed in, open fires, a grand Christmas tree with presents piled beneath it - but twists them into something far darker and more gripping. With the addition of a body, chaos, and growing suspicion, the story quickly becomes binge-worthy. Not Another Bloody Christmas doesn’t necessarily rely on big dramatic moments, but instead it allows events to unfold naturally, steadily building suspense and raising the emotional stakes as it progresses. The plot is driven by underlying tension, unresolved issues, and raw emotional honesty, and I love how it cleverly dismantled the cosy Christmas cliches.
Like with Happy Bloody Christmas, Jo Middleton perfectly captures how quickly a festive gathering can unravel, balancing dark humour with emotional depth, and together this made for another book I absolutely loved. I really hope this isn’t the last we see of Anna and her family!🎄💖
Thank you so much to Avon books and Jo Middleton for sending me this copy of Not Another Bloody Christmas to read and review. My opinions are my own.
I deliberately saved Not Another Bloody Christmas for my final festive read because I knew I would love it, and it absolutely lived up to my expectations! The story is told from Anna’s perspective, and she is as witty, refreshing, relatable, and entertaining as ever. Her inner thoughts are spot on and resonant, and just like in the first book, I found myself laughing out loud multiple times thanks to her brilliant narration.
The narrative expertly plays with classic festive tropes - being snowed in, open fires, a grand Christmas tree with presents piled beneath it - but twists them into something far darker and more gripping. With the addition of a body, chaos, and growing suspicion, the story quickly becomes binge-worthy. Not Another Bloody Christmas doesn’t necessarily rely on big dramatic moments, but instead it allows events to unfold naturally, steadily building suspense and raising the emotional stakes as it progresses. The plot is driven by underlying tension, unresolved issues, and raw emotional honesty, and I love how it cleverly dismantled the cosy Christmas cliches.
Like with Happy Bloody Christmas, Jo Middleton perfectly captures how quickly a festive gathering can unravel, balancing dark humour with emotional depth, and together this made for another book I absolutely loved. I really hope this isn’t the last we see of Anna and her family!🎄💖
Thank you so much to Avon books and Jo Middleton for sending me this copy of Not Another Bloody Christmas to read and review. My opinions are my own.
December 19, 2025
When Anna decides to take her family away for Christmas to avoid a repeat of the 'dead man in the larder' debacle, she finds herself plunged into another festive fiasco when a body turns up in the library of their supposedly 'idyllic' rural retreat. With a dubious double booking, an unexpected snowstorm, secret tunnels and the mysterious Mrs Haddock to contend with, can Anna and her unlikely allies save Christmas or will this holiday be their last?
This was just as good as the first one and was hilarious! I just love Anna - she's like every stressed mother out there and I could totally relate to her on some things.
Imagine turning up to a rural retreat to find out it's been double booked and then another murder, when you've just about got over the murder from last Christmas.
Mrs Haddock was a great character, although I can honestly say I'm glad I wasn't eating her food.
A really funny whodunnit, which I highly recommend.
This was just as good as the first one and was hilarious! I just love Anna - she's like every stressed mother out there and I could totally relate to her on some things.
Imagine turning up to a rural retreat to find out it's been double booked and then another murder, when you've just about got over the murder from last Christmas.
Mrs Haddock was a great character, although I can honestly say I'm glad I wasn't eating her food.
A really funny whodunnit, which I highly recommend.
November 16, 2025
this is the 2nd book to happy bloody Christmas and I really enjoyed it. A very fun and quite common premise but done quite well with lots of humour and comedic moments. I love jennies character she is great. Would definitely read another one in this series if it was to come out
December 16, 2025
If you like mystery novels, loud family holidays, and Christmas, this might be a book for you. It turns out I’m a hater of all of these, as this book gave me zero joy or entertainment.
Anna and her extended family get snowed in at a holiday cottage during a Christmas getaway. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the place has been double booked, so add extra chaos to their time off. If the cover or the title wasn’t clue enough, spoiler alert: there’s a murder, and Anna is on the case to solve it, as someone from the group staying at the cottage has done it.
There is a book one with another murder for Anna to solve, which I didn’t read, but I don’t think I missed much. My biggest issue was the writing style, which I found difficult to read, though it’s so subjective that I can’t even fully explain what didn’t work for me. And, like the true Grinch that I am, I found the characters, especially Anna, incredibly irritating.
I did finish the book, which felt like an achievement. And even if the festive mood didn’t hit me with this one, you might actually enjoy it for all the reasons I didn’t.
2.25/5 ⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Anna and her extended family get snowed in at a holiday cottage during a Christmas getaway. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the place has been double booked, so add extra chaos to their time off. If the cover or the title wasn’t clue enough, spoiler alert: there’s a murder, and Anna is on the case to solve it, as someone from the group staying at the cottage has done it.
There is a book one with another murder for Anna to solve, which I didn’t read, but I don’t think I missed much. My biggest issue was the writing style, which I found difficult to read, though it’s so subjective that I can’t even fully explain what didn’t work for me. And, like the true Grinch that I am, I found the characters, especially Anna, incredibly irritating.
I did finish the book, which felt like an achievement. And even if the festive mood didn’t hit me with this one, you might actually enjoy it for all the reasons I didn’t.
2.25/5 ⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 22, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ This book has me laughing. Anna is whitty and I couldn’t help but love hearing her thoughts. The families peaceful country side Christmas getaway didn’t go as planned, but they did get to spend it together and meet some very interesting characters.
December 24, 2025
4.5⭐️
enjoyed this one so much more than the first! I loved it!
enjoyed this one so much more than the first! I loved it!
December 12, 2025
I really loved the first one, this was still fun but it felt a bit more wooden and forced and I just didn't enjoy it as much.
November 7, 2025
I am so relieved that this sequel delivered. I enjoyed it even more than the first! I really hope the third one will include more Jennie, but I enjoyed this quirky and festive read so much. I also read it as a buddy read with a best friend, which made it even more enjoyable. Thanks so much to the author and Avon Books UK for the eARC!
December 2, 2025
I didn't read the first book in the series, so I didn't know what I'm getting into, but I was so optimistic - the synopsis was really good and really promising.
Unfortunately, this book was absolutely not for me. The plot felt so forced and unrealistic that even I, with my overactive imagination, could only roll my eyes. The "investigation" was horrendous and the humour so overdone that I really felt bad. Characters were also overdone and altogether, this comedy of error didn't bring me to smile, not once.
So, sorry. But not my kind of read.
Unfortunately, this book was absolutely not for me. The plot felt so forced and unrealistic that even I, with my overactive imagination, could only roll my eyes. The "investigation" was horrendous and the humour so overdone that I really felt bad. Characters were also overdone and altogether, this comedy of error didn't bring me to smile, not once.
So, sorry. But not my kind of read.
September 3, 2025
Another great Christmas mystery!
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Not Another Bloody Christmas (all thoughts are my own), and despite reading it in August, I felt myself getting into the Christmas spirit.
The location was fantastic and really set the scene with Christmas and snow sprinkled in. I loved the characters and their quirks, and it was great to see Anna and her family back.
This year, Anna is doing things differently. She’s hoping that by whisking the family away to a luxurious house over Christmas, she’ll escape the memories of last year. However, fate has other plans when she uncovers a body in the library.
A great murder mystery where everyone has a motive, and it had me guessing who did it right until the end.
Somehow, this book combines murder and comedy and still manages to be a cosy read. A great one to snuggle up with on a winter’s evening, and can easily be read as a standalone.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Not Another Bloody Christmas (all thoughts are my own), and despite reading it in August, I felt myself getting into the Christmas spirit.
The location was fantastic and really set the scene with Christmas and snow sprinkled in. I loved the characters and their quirks, and it was great to see Anna and her family back.
This year, Anna is doing things differently. She’s hoping that by whisking the family away to a luxurious house over Christmas, she’ll escape the memories of last year. However, fate has other plans when she uncovers a body in the library.
A great murder mystery where everyone has a motive, and it had me guessing who did it right until the end.
Somehow, this book combines murder and comedy and still manages to be a cosy read. A great one to snuggle up with on a winter’s evening, and can easily be read as a standalone.
October 5, 2025
Absolutely brilliant! I love that this carried on from the last book Happy Bloody Christmas. It’s a year later, and after the chaos of last Christmas, Anna has booked a house for the family to stay in for this Christmas. All she wants is a nice family, murder free Christmas….
This book is packed with mayhem and so many witty moments. The characters are brilliant, I love the friendship between Anna and Jennie, and the banter between husband Olie and Anna.
I was laughing out loud from start to finish. The story reeled me in from the start and I just wanted to keep reading as the story started to unfold, and the mystery and humour continued.
Highly recommend this humorous murder mystery story. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Avon books for the early read of this one. Opinions expressed here are my own.
This book is packed with mayhem and so many witty moments. The characters are brilliant, I love the friendship between Anna and Jennie, and the banter between husband Olie and Anna.
I was laughing out loud from start to finish. The story reeled me in from the start and I just wanted to keep reading as the story started to unfold, and the mystery and humour continued.
Highly recommend this humorous murder mystery story. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Avon books for the early read of this one. Opinions expressed here are my own.
October 23, 2025
Tears. Of. Laughter. ~ 4✨
⭑ Publication date: 23rd October
⭑ Format: eBook (Kindle) & Paperback
⭑ Genre: Festive ‘whodunnit’, Murder mystery, Comedy
⭑ For fans of: Gill Sims, Ian Moore & Richard Osman
📚Book 2 - ‘Christmas Murder Mystery’ series
[Book 1 - ‘Happy Bloody Christmas’ is available to read on kindleunlimited]
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ PLOT ✧
After last year’s nightmare before/during & after Christmas, Anna’s switching things up. She & her family are getting as far away from home as possible. Obviously the odds of stumbling across a body in your larder 2 years on the run are quite low but she’s not taking any chances.
No, this year it’s going to be a tranquil rural escape, peace, quiet, family time & another bod… ANOTHER BODY!?
In a horrendous case of Deja vu, Anna is forced to spend another Christmas trying to find a killer. But in unknown surroundings with unfamiliar faces & a snowstorm keeping them locked inside, things are definitely less than merry.
It’s bloody happened again hasn’t it🩸
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ OPINION ✧
[Although this is the 2nd book in the ‘Christmas Murder Mystery’ series, it can still be read as a standalone. However I highly recommend giving the first book a go because its just as fantastic as this one✨]
Not Another Bloody Christmas is a quick witted festive ‘whodunnit’ that’s a perfect blend of humour, chaos & murder. It’s hilariously relatable, (well, not the bodies…) engaging & trust me when I say, theres never a dull moment! The murder mystery aspect is comedic, intriguing & keeps you on your toes. It’s obviously a huge part of the plot but it’s written in a way that doesn’t weigh the book down.
If you want something a little different this Christmas, Jo Middleton’s ‘Christmas Murder Mystery’ series is the perfect choice.
Although I slightly preferred ‘Happy Bloody Christmas’, this was still a hilariously entertaining, enjoyable read. I love a good cozy Christmas romance but Jo Middleton’s take on festive fiction really is fantastic. Her comical darker spin is unique & I’ve looked forward to this book since it was first announced.
It felt great to be back with Anna & her family, wrapped up in even more chaos & confusion. I’m not too sure if finding another body next year is a possibility but I really hope there’s a way to keep this series going 👀🩸🎄
~
📣 A huge thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK & Jo Middleton for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. This is my honest opinion & I’m sharing it voluntarily.
⭑ Publication date: 23rd October
⭑ Format: eBook (Kindle) & Paperback
⭑ Genre: Festive ‘whodunnit’, Murder mystery, Comedy
⭑ For fans of: Gill Sims, Ian Moore & Richard Osman
📚Book 2 - ‘Christmas Murder Mystery’ series
[Book 1 - ‘Happy Bloody Christmas’ is available to read on kindleunlimited]
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ PLOT ✧
After last year’s nightmare before/during & after Christmas, Anna’s switching things up. She & her family are getting as far away from home as possible. Obviously the odds of stumbling across a body in your larder 2 years on the run are quite low but she’s not taking any chances.
No, this year it’s going to be a tranquil rural escape, peace, quiet, family time & another bod… ANOTHER BODY!?
In a horrendous case of Deja vu, Anna is forced to spend another Christmas trying to find a killer. But in unknown surroundings with unfamiliar faces & a snowstorm keeping them locked inside, things are definitely less than merry.
It’s bloody happened again hasn’t it🩸
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ OPINION ✧
[Although this is the 2nd book in the ‘Christmas Murder Mystery’ series, it can still be read as a standalone. However I highly recommend giving the first book a go because its just as fantastic as this one✨]
Not Another Bloody Christmas is a quick witted festive ‘whodunnit’ that’s a perfect blend of humour, chaos & murder. It’s hilariously relatable, (well, not the bodies…) engaging & trust me when I say, theres never a dull moment! The murder mystery aspect is comedic, intriguing & keeps you on your toes. It’s obviously a huge part of the plot but it’s written in a way that doesn’t weigh the book down.
If you want something a little different this Christmas, Jo Middleton’s ‘Christmas Murder Mystery’ series is the perfect choice.
Although I slightly preferred ‘Happy Bloody Christmas’, this was still a hilariously entertaining, enjoyable read. I love a good cozy Christmas romance but Jo Middleton’s take on festive fiction really is fantastic. Her comical darker spin is unique & I’ve looked forward to this book since it was first announced.
It felt great to be back with Anna & her family, wrapped up in even more chaos & confusion. I’m not too sure if finding another body next year is a possibility but I really hope there’s a way to keep this series going 👀🩸🎄
~
📣 A huge thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK & Jo Middleton for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. This is my honest opinion & I’m sharing it voluntarily.
October 24, 2025
Yes, yes and yes! This book was bloody fantastic!
Not Another Bloody Christmas is a sequel to Happy Bloody Christmas but can be read as a standalone the way I did. Now I need to go back and read the first, I need more of Anna and her antics.
This book follows Anna and her family as they plan on a nice getaway for Christmas. They soon realise there’s been a mix up at the hotel and they’ll now be sharing with a few other people who all happen to be friends.
When Anna stumbles upon the dead body of one of the friends and realises there’s many suspects and a lot of suspicious activities from them she gets right on it and decides to find the killer herself.
Snowed in with no place to go Anna has to find a way of investing without people realising what she’s doing. If anyone can do it, it’s Anna.
I was in stitches with this book. Anna was absolutely brilliant, I loved her entire personality, she had me giggling away multiple times.
The story building has been my favourite, watching her uncover more clues and details and place everything together before that big reveal, absolutely perfect.
I am loving this authors writing style and the way they’ve brought the characters to life so brilliantly.
Not Another Bloody Christmas is a fun murder mystery. It’s intriguing and funny and filled with a lot of witty banter. It’s a quick and easy to read book that’ll keep you hooked through to the last page.
Not Another Bloody Christmas is a sequel to Happy Bloody Christmas but can be read as a standalone the way I did. Now I need to go back and read the first, I need more of Anna and her antics.
This book follows Anna and her family as they plan on a nice getaway for Christmas. They soon realise there’s been a mix up at the hotel and they’ll now be sharing with a few other people who all happen to be friends.
When Anna stumbles upon the dead body of one of the friends and realises there’s many suspects and a lot of suspicious activities from them she gets right on it and decides to find the killer herself.
Snowed in with no place to go Anna has to find a way of investing without people realising what she’s doing. If anyone can do it, it’s Anna.
I was in stitches with this book. Anna was absolutely brilliant, I loved her entire personality, she had me giggling away multiple times.
The story building has been my favourite, watching her uncover more clues and details and place everything together before that big reveal, absolutely perfect.
I am loving this authors writing style and the way they’ve brought the characters to life so brilliantly.
Not Another Bloody Christmas is a fun murder mystery. It’s intriguing and funny and filled with a lot of witty banter. It’s a quick and easy to read book that’ll keep you hooked through to the last page.
October 12, 2025
Such an amusing and entertaining read — I genuinely had such a good time with this one!
Anna’s Christmas getaway should have been calm and cosy but when a snowstorm traps her and her family at Whispering Pines with some unexpected guests and a murder to solve, things quickly go sideways.
I love a closed-room mystery, and this had that perfect mix of intrigue and humour. The mystery itself was solid (even though I did manage to guess the twist), but honestly, it was the humour that made it for me. I’m more of a quiet chuckler but this is the first book EVER that actually made me laugh out loud!
What I really loved was how relatable it all felt. The way Anna thinks and speaks really resonated — realistic, sassy, and just so human. The banter between Oli and Anna felt genuine and familiar, the kind of relationship you instantly believe in (and reminded me of my own). Unrealistic and unrelatable dialogue is something I've found lacking in other recent reads so I found this so refreshing.
I read it in one sitting because I was just enjoying myself too much to stop.
Definitely need to read more Jo Middleton books after this one!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Anna’s Christmas getaway should have been calm and cosy but when a snowstorm traps her and her family at Whispering Pines with some unexpected guests and a murder to solve, things quickly go sideways.
I love a closed-room mystery, and this had that perfect mix of intrigue and humour. The mystery itself was solid (even though I did manage to guess the twist), but honestly, it was the humour that made it for me. I’m more of a quiet chuckler but this is the first book EVER that actually made me laugh out loud!
What I really loved was how relatable it all felt. The way Anna thinks and speaks really resonated — realistic, sassy, and just so human. The banter between Oli and Anna felt genuine and familiar, the kind of relationship you instantly believe in (and reminded me of my own). Unrealistic and unrelatable dialogue is something I've found lacking in other recent reads so I found this so refreshing.
I read it in one sitting because I was just enjoying myself too much to stop.
Definitely need to read more Jo Middleton books after this one!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2025
When Anna decides to take her family away for the festive period, she finds herself plunged into a mystery when a body turns up in the library of their rural retreat. With no means to escape due to a snowstorm outside, will Anna be able to save Christmas and get to the bottom of what is going on?
I really enjoyed the first book in this series so was excited to read this second one. This ended up being another fun locked room mystery, however I found it didn’t appeal to me as much as the first one. I have put this down to it having more of a generic storyline and familiar trope, as I have read some similar to this recently.
Even though this seemed familiar, I enjoyed the writing style and the humour. Some parts made me laugh out loud and I still really like Anna as a main character. I also found the new characters entertaining and enjoyed trying to work out the culprit. Even though I had some minor niggles, this was a good festive mystery overall and I look forward to seeing if there will be more in this series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series so was excited to read this second one. This ended up being another fun locked room mystery, however I found it didn’t appeal to me as much as the first one. I have put this down to it having more of a generic storyline and familiar trope, as I have read some similar to this recently.
Even though this seemed familiar, I enjoyed the writing style and the humour. Some parts made me laugh out loud and I still really like Anna as a main character. I also found the new characters entertaining and enjoyed trying to work out the culprit. Even though I had some minor niggles, this was a good festive mystery overall and I look forward to seeing if there will be more in this series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
November 7, 2025
A bloody great sequel, and fantastic to delve back into this world once again.
A year after last years’s Christmas with murder and mayhem, Anna has booked for her and her family to celebrate Christmas at a splendid house. After last year, she just wants a fun filled Christmas - but another murder lurks near the Christmas tree…
Jo is absolutely brilliant at humour in these books. She takes a ‘whodunnit’ and adds such brilliant wit, sarcasm and humour throughout. It’s consistent throughout and reads like a sitcom!
I was kept guessing throughout and was surprised by the twists revealed. The location in the story gave it Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap vibes for me which was splendid. Atmospheric, Christmassy and a the perfect Cluedo Murder Mystery!
This family is starting to feel so familiar now, two books in and I love how they’re all quite relatable amungst the humour and murder. The narration between Anna and Oli for example is great and I can really imagine this couple together.
Well done Jo on another great story. A Christmas must for those who like detective fiction, humour and the festive season!!
A year after last years’s Christmas with murder and mayhem, Anna has booked for her and her family to celebrate Christmas at a splendid house. After last year, she just wants a fun filled Christmas - but another murder lurks near the Christmas tree…
Jo is absolutely brilliant at humour in these books. She takes a ‘whodunnit’ and adds such brilliant wit, sarcasm and humour throughout. It’s consistent throughout and reads like a sitcom!
I was kept guessing throughout and was surprised by the twists revealed. The location in the story gave it Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap vibes for me which was splendid. Atmospheric, Christmassy and a the perfect Cluedo Murder Mystery!
This family is starting to feel so familiar now, two books in and I love how they’re all quite relatable amungst the humour and murder. The narration between Anna and Oli for example is great and I can really imagine this couple together.
Well done Jo on another great story. A Christmas must for those who like detective fiction, humour and the festive season!!
December 21, 2025
Jumping back into another Christmas with Anna and her family, Not Another Bloody Christmas wastes no time delivering festive chaos. After last year’s dramatic discovery of a body in the larder, the family decides a getaway might be a safer way to spend the holidays. Unfortunately, Whispering Pines proves just as deadly when another body turns up, this time in the billiard room.
The story is a fun, cosy mystery that feels perfectly suited to the festive season. One of the highlights is how involved the entire family becomes in uncovering the truth, especially as suspicion falls on the unexpected guests sharing their holiday retreat. The family dynamics add warmth and humour, balancing the murder mystery with plenty of Christmas atmosphere. I find myself relating to Anna a bit too much…get me that bottle of wine!
Overall, this was a great book to start and carry me through the festive period. It’s engaging, light-hearted, and keeps you guessing without losing its cosy charm.
The story is a fun, cosy mystery that feels perfectly suited to the festive season. One of the highlights is how involved the entire family becomes in uncovering the truth, especially as suspicion falls on the unexpected guests sharing their holiday retreat. The family dynamics add warmth and humour, balancing the murder mystery with plenty of Christmas atmosphere. I find myself relating to Anna a bit too much…get me that bottle of wine!
Overall, this was a great book to start and carry me through the festive period. It’s engaging, light-hearted, and keeps you guessing without losing its cosy charm.
December 22, 2025
I am so happy I found this series on audio and I have to thank Carly for the recommendation! This was just the lighthearted read I needed after struggling with a few thrillers this month! This is book 2 in the series and it follows Anna, who is trying to stay out of trouble this Christmas, that is until someone dies whilst they are away! Of course she tries to solve this, but it comes with so much humour, silliness and plot holes, that is was just what I needed! This is very much mystery thriller but it is still exceptionally enjoyable! It wasn’t quite full marks but I do recommend this, and I inhaled this in 2 days!! This is a must read on your Christmas TBR!
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