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How to Slay #3
How to Slay at Christmas: A brilliantly subversive, darkly funny crime thriller, for fans of Katy Brent, CJ Skuse and Bella Mackie
The BRAND NEW deliciously dark, festive comic thriller from bestseller Sarah Bonner, perfect for fans of Bella Mackie, Katy Brent and Amy Tintera! 🩸🔪🎄 She’s making a list, she’s checking it twice…
Jessica Williams loves the food, the drink, the fairy lights, the opportunities to take out all the miserable people who ruin the festive season for others. And what better cover for her murderous intentions than taking a job as Mrs Claus at the Ellsbury Christmas Market grotto? After all, who would possibly think Mrs Claus could stab a man through the eye with a Phillips-head screwdriver?
Fearne Dixon hates Christmas. As the long-suffering wife of the Ellsbury Christmas Market’s manager, she’s sick to the back teeth of it and it’s still only November. But then the bodies start piling up, an old rival arrives back in her life, and Fearne reaches breaking point.
When the lives of the two women collide, who will end up on the Naughty List? 👀
A brilliantly subversive, darkly funny crime thriller that fans of How to Kill Men and Get Away with It and Listen for the Lie will devour 🔪🩸
Praise for Sarah
'A hilarious romp that I just couldn’t put down' Katy Brent
'Brilliantly twisty and thoroughly entertaining' T.M. Logan
'A perfect thriller, we read this in one sitting' Closer
'A wonderfully twisty, and twisted, thriller that will have you up until the early hours, and with an ending that you will NOT see coming. Brilliant' SJ Watson
'Captivating' Janice Hallett
Jessica Williams loves the food, the drink, the fairy lights, the opportunities to take out all the miserable people who ruin the festive season for others. And what better cover for her murderous intentions than taking a job as Mrs Claus at the Ellsbury Christmas Market grotto? After all, who would possibly think Mrs Claus could stab a man through the eye with a Phillips-head screwdriver?
Fearne Dixon hates Christmas. As the long-suffering wife of the Ellsbury Christmas Market’s manager, she’s sick to the back teeth of it and it’s still only November. But then the bodies start piling up, an old rival arrives back in her life, and Fearne reaches breaking point.
When the lives of the two women collide, who will end up on the Naughty List? 👀
A brilliantly subversive, darkly funny crime thriller that fans of How to Kill Men and Get Away with It and Listen for the Lie will devour 🔪🩸
Praise for Sarah
'A hilarious romp that I just couldn’t put down' Katy Brent
'Brilliantly twisty and thoroughly entertaining' T.M. Logan
'A perfect thriller, we read this in one sitting' Closer
'A wonderfully twisty, and twisted, thriller that will have you up until the early hours, and with an ending that you will NOT see coming. Brilliant' SJ Watson
'Captivating' Janice Hallett
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 7, 2025
71 people are currently reading
1147 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
August 12, 2025
Never too early for Christmas 🤶 I think this might be the earliest in the year I have ever read a Christmas book but I am not sorry at all.. I love Sarah Bonner books, they are always so much fun to read, with a high body count, what’s not to love.
Jessica uses her job as Mrs Claus around the country as a cover for her real calling, taking out the bad people in this world and not getting caught. Who will be on her naughty list this year? Well, there are plenty of contenders in this village, who would have thought a Christmas market would be so violent!
It is a fast read, funny, dark and so entertaining. Add this to your festive TBR.
Thank you Boldwood Books for my copy of this book to read.
Jessica uses her job as Mrs Claus around the country as a cover for her real calling, taking out the bad people in this world and not getting caught. Who will be on her naughty list this year? Well, there are plenty of contenders in this village, who would have thought a Christmas market would be so violent!
It is a fast read, funny, dark and so entertaining. Add this to your festive TBR.
Thank you Boldwood Books for my copy of this book to read.
October 1, 2025
I think I’ve officially run out of patience for the hot vigilante woman serial killer trope. It didn’t feel fresh or original in any way, and worse, it was far too long. There’s no reason a book with this premise should be this bloated. I wasn’t turning the pages out of excitement, only out of determination to get it over with. DNF was extremely tempting. The characters were another miss. It seemed like I was supposed to love them or at least come around eventually, but their choices were so illogical that I couldn’t find any sympathy for them. The suspense never really materialized, and the “twist” was painfully predictable. The romance felt slapped together with no banter, no real connection, just he’s hot and he likes dogs. That’s not enough to carry a relationship. I was more annoyed than entertained. Skip this one, it’s not worth the time or the brain space.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for access to this.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for access to this.
December 26, 2025
IN A NUTSHELL
‘How To Slay At Christmas‘ was one of my best Christmas reads this year. I got the dark humour and vengeful violence that I’d expected, but I got a lot more than a bloody procession of bad men being killed. To my surprise, there was a lot here about friendship, and second chances, and finding a way to be yourself. Oddly, for a book with such a high body count, 'How To Slay At Christmas' managed to generate some of the forgiveness and hope of Christmas.
I like books about women serial killers who let out their rage on obnoxious men, but they need to be more than a necklace of clever or brutal kills. The situation needs to feel real, the killer has to be someone I can connect with, and the plot needs to have momentum and tension. A book about a woman serial killer that has 'Christmas' in the title also needs either to delve into the dark side of the festive season or find a way to make a serial killer story hopeful and redemptive, or at least joyful and triumphant. 'How To Slay At Christmas' delighted me by delivering all of these things.
The plot was clever and surprising. It had three strands: one following Jessica, the self-declared serial killer who loves Christmas and who takes a job as Mrs Claus in a different town each year so she can slaughter the people (mostly men) who make it to her naughty list; one following Fern, a novelist, wife and mother who has grown to dread Cnristmas, when she works as the unpaid and unknowledged administrator helping her husband, with whom she is increasingly disullusioned, run the local Christmas Market; and one from an anonymous voice who is researching Jessica's past and uncovering a trail of unsolved murders.
Having the focus on two women rather than one broadened the story and made their emerging friendship central to the novel. We get to see each of them through the eyes of the other. Jessica is the calm one, carefully planning her murders while being nice to everyone and indulging in random acts of altruism. Fern is the one trying to swallow her rage and disappointment and pretend that everything is fine and her marriage isn't dying. Jessica's strand drives the darkly satisfying urge to murder exploitative, aggressive men. Fern's strands give the sharo-edged humour of a woman who sees just how much her blustering, often-angry husband takes her for granted.
One of the things that made the story work was that, despite the bloodshed, the violence, and the secrets, I liked and empathised with both women. Their relationship gave the story a hopeful Christmas spirit.
The plot is complicated, full of surprises, and, at times, quite tense. The observational humour around how men behave and how small town Christmas Markets work, kept the story grounded.
The ending was more Hallmark Christmas Movie than Hammer Horror Film, but I enjoyed it.
I listened to the audiobook version of 'How To Slay At Christmas', which had two narrators, one for Jessica and one for Fern, which made the story much easier to follow. Click on the YouTube link below to hear a sample.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPf3_...
‘How To Slay At Christmas‘ was one of my best Christmas reads this year. I got the dark humour and vengeful violence that I’d expected, but I got a lot more than a bloody procession of bad men being killed. To my surprise, there was a lot here about friendship, and second chances, and finding a way to be yourself. Oddly, for a book with such a high body count, 'How To Slay At Christmas' managed to generate some of the forgiveness and hope of Christmas.
I like books about women serial killers who let out their rage on obnoxious men, but they need to be more than a necklace of clever or brutal kills. The situation needs to feel real, the killer has to be someone I can connect with, and the plot needs to have momentum and tension. A book about a woman serial killer that has 'Christmas' in the title also needs either to delve into the dark side of the festive season or find a way to make a serial killer story hopeful and redemptive, or at least joyful and triumphant. 'How To Slay At Christmas' delighted me by delivering all of these things.
The plot was clever and surprising. It had three strands: one following Jessica, the self-declared serial killer who loves Christmas and who takes a job as Mrs Claus in a different town each year so she can slaughter the people (mostly men) who make it to her naughty list; one following Fern, a novelist, wife and mother who has grown to dread Cnristmas, when she works as the unpaid and unknowledged administrator helping her husband, with whom she is increasingly disullusioned, run the local Christmas Market; and one from an anonymous voice who is researching Jessica's past and uncovering a trail of unsolved murders.
Having the focus on two women rather than one broadened the story and made their emerging friendship central to the novel. We get to see each of them through the eyes of the other. Jessica is the calm one, carefully planning her murders while being nice to everyone and indulging in random acts of altruism. Fern is the one trying to swallow her rage and disappointment and pretend that everything is fine and her marriage isn't dying. Jessica's strand drives the darkly satisfying urge to murder exploitative, aggressive men. Fern's strands give the sharo-edged humour of a woman who sees just how much her blustering, often-angry husband takes her for granted.
One of the things that made the story work was that, despite the bloodshed, the violence, and the secrets, I liked and empathised with both women. Their relationship gave the story a hopeful Christmas spirit.
The plot is complicated, full of surprises, and, at times, quite tense. The observational humour around how men behave and how small town Christmas Markets work, kept the story grounded.
The ending was more Hallmark Christmas Movie than Hammer Horror Film, but I enjoyed it.
I listened to the audiobook version of 'How To Slay At Christmas', which had two narrators, one for Jessica and one for Fern, which made the story much easier to follow. Click on the YouTube link below to hear a sample.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPf3_...
July 13, 2025
My rating: 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Christmas Murder and Candy Cane Twists, what’s not to like!!
Jessica Williams loves the food, the drinks, the fairy lights and most of all taking out the trash of Christmas … that is murdering all the people on her naughty list before her stint as the new Mrs Claus is up and she has to move towns again.
The bodies start to pile up, as murder and mayhem have a Christmassy twist!!
I have read all three of these How to Slay books by Sarah Bonner, and I think this was actually my favourite. I really liked the first one How to Slay at Work, the second was only meh How to Slay on Holidays, but this one had a bit of everything.
There was Christmas (love it),there was Murder (check), there was new friendships (unexpected), there were puppies (awww) and there was a little bit of romance (oooh). Like how can you not love that!! Also wrapped up in all of that you know how the murderer is and why, but you don't know all the other little bits that come your way.. also it has dark humour… sign me up immediately!!
These books (except the second one) do everything they are supposed to entertain and be a bit silly. I really liked it.
Sarah Bonner tells a decent story with weirdly unlikeable characters that you actually like and Jessica was probably my favourite murderess of the lot. She is literally Mrs Claus (perfect cover) and she genuinely loves Christmas. She is not faking it so she can stab a few baddies, she literally loves everything Christmas which was part of the charm for me.
I don’t think this is particularly a masterpiece but it was a fun, entertaining read that I would highly recommend to anyone who wants a funny, thriller set at Christmas time. Its not overly violent (there is violence of course) and the romance is not steamy at all… its very vanilla and I liked that…
I really enjoyed the friendships that Jessica made with the ladies and the runaway. Even after a while Fern’s husband who was on the top of my naughty list kind of grew on me… did he survive… well you will have to wait to find out.
Overall, I think this one is a good bit of fun and I do recommend to anyone who is thinking about reading it. Its not very long and its quite entertaining. I will keep reading books from this author cause she is more hit than miss for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Sarah Bonner for my Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Jessica Williams loves the food, the drinks, the fairy lights and most of all taking out the trash of Christmas … that is murdering all the people on her naughty list before her stint as the new Mrs Claus is up and she has to move towns again.
The bodies start to pile up, as murder and mayhem have a Christmassy twist!!
I have read all three of these How to Slay books by Sarah Bonner, and I think this was actually my favourite. I really liked the first one How to Slay at Work, the second was only meh How to Slay on Holidays, but this one had a bit of everything.
There was Christmas (love it),there was Murder (check), there was new friendships (unexpected), there were puppies (awww) and there was a little bit of romance (oooh). Like how can you not love that!! Also wrapped up in all of that you know how the murderer is and why, but you don't know all the other little bits that come your way.. also it has dark humour… sign me up immediately!!
These books (except the second one) do everything they are supposed to entertain and be a bit silly. I really liked it.
Sarah Bonner tells a decent story with weirdly unlikeable characters that you actually like and Jessica was probably my favourite murderess of the lot. She is literally Mrs Claus (perfect cover) and she genuinely loves Christmas. She is not faking it so she can stab a few baddies, she literally loves everything Christmas which was part of the charm for me.
I don’t think this is particularly a masterpiece but it was a fun, entertaining read that I would highly recommend to anyone who wants a funny, thriller set at Christmas time. Its not overly violent (there is violence of course) and the romance is not steamy at all… its very vanilla and I liked that…
I really enjoyed the friendships that Jessica made with the ladies and the runaway. Even after a while Fern’s husband who was on the top of my naughty list kind of grew on me… did he survive… well you will have to wait to find out.
Overall, I think this one is a good bit of fun and I do recommend to anyone who is thinking about reading it. Its not very long and its quite entertaining. I will keep reading books from this author cause she is more hit than miss for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Sarah Bonner for my Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2025
*4.5 stars ✨
August 8, 2025
Crime? Check
Humor? Check
Amazing female empowerment? Check
“She is totally slaying it at work”
This story had me hooked from the start I was laughing I was intrigued.
There actually was a lot happening and the story paced really well and you really got to know them.
The side characters were amazing and it has all the ingredients if you want to have some little slaying this Christmas time around.
“Killing him feels good
It feels like justice
It feels like therapy
Oh, who am I kidding?
It feels like fun”
The ending like about the last 15-20% did feel very very rushed as if the book was coming to an end and the final strings all had to be tied together yet.
The ending didnt make a lot of sense it felt put in to be there without any knowledge of it in the rest of the book. I had hoped there were a bit more little sneaky links that would’ve tied the ending to the rest of the book.
Some parts also missed details.
Like for example the wife was keeping her author pen name a secret from her husband, she never speaks to him about it he doesn’t know, how does he suddenly know in the end? It came off as a pretty big deal for her so to have it casually thrown in that he knows felt off with the rest of the book.
“Some of the positions are surprisingly adventurous and they might give me some pointers for one of the books I’m writing under my pen name.”
Humor? Check
Amazing female empowerment? Check
“She is totally slaying it at work”
This story had me hooked from the start I was laughing I was intrigued.
There actually was a lot happening and the story paced really well and you really got to know them.
The side characters were amazing and it has all the ingredients if you want to have some little slaying this Christmas time around.
“Killing him feels good
It feels like justice
It feels like therapy
Oh, who am I kidding?
It feels like fun”
The ending like about the last 15-20% did feel very very rushed as if the book was coming to an end and the final strings all had to be tied together yet.
The ending didnt make a lot of sense it felt put in to be there without any knowledge of it in the rest of the book. I had hoped there were a bit more little sneaky links that would’ve tied the ending to the rest of the book.
Some parts also missed details.
Like for example the wife was keeping her author pen name a secret from her husband, she never speaks to him about it he doesn’t know, how does he suddenly know in the end? It came off as a pretty big deal for her so to have it casually thrown in that he knows felt off with the rest of the book.
“Some of the positions are surprisingly adventurous and they might give me some pointers for one of the books I’m writing under my pen name.”
December 20, 2025
Meet Fearne and Jessica. Two women brought together by a Christmas market both with very differing views on the festive period.
Fearne hates Christmas – it’s the bane of her life as she has to assist her demanding husband in the running of his Christmas Market. She’s the face of the management so has to deal with the stall holders’ gripes. And it impedes on her own job, author!! And that’s another story!!
Jessica on the other hand, she adores Christmas and best of all, she can hide her angel of vengeance act behind her Christmas persona. Yes she’s a vigilante putting right some of the wrongs that go on at Christmas markets. I loved Jessica – she’s brilliant!!
Switching between Jessica and Fearne, Sarah Bonner built me a very visual picture of what was happening in Ellsbury at Christmas. The politics, the angst, the annoyances but also the festivities, the kindness and those things that makes the festive time special.
I love the little nods to music superstar Taylor Swift. They’re subtle but if you know, you know!! They made a little smile appear on my face as I spotted them.
Sarah Bonner has gifted me another cracking fun thriller. I do love this series and this instalment is possibly my favourite. I’ve already preordered the next one as I cannot wait for it!! Only 2 months to wait!!!
Fearne hates Christmas – it’s the bane of her life as she has to assist her demanding husband in the running of his Christmas Market. She’s the face of the management so has to deal with the stall holders’ gripes. And it impedes on her own job, author!! And that’s another story!!
Jessica on the other hand, she adores Christmas and best of all, she can hide her angel of vengeance act behind her Christmas persona. Yes she’s a vigilante putting right some of the wrongs that go on at Christmas markets. I loved Jessica – she’s brilliant!!
Switching between Jessica and Fearne, Sarah Bonner built me a very visual picture of what was happening in Ellsbury at Christmas. The politics, the angst, the annoyances but also the festivities, the kindness and those things that makes the festive time special.
I love the little nods to music superstar Taylor Swift. They’re subtle but if you know, you know!! They made a little smile appear on my face as I spotted them.
Sarah Bonner has gifted me another cracking fun thriller. I do love this series and this instalment is possibly my favourite. I’ve already preordered the next one as I cannot wait for it!! Only 2 months to wait!!!
August 8, 2025
I will always welcome some murder and a little Christmas magic even in August 😂😍
I was a fan of the first two ‘Slay’ books and I’m a fan of this one.
Sarah always does short snappy chapters that reel you in and cliffhangers that make you want to keep reading!
This is easily readable in about 1-2 days but I had to adult 😂 so it took me 3!
Jessica’s infectious love of Christmas and everything the holiday season stands for will have you grinning and feeling warm to your heart… she likes it with a side of Murder too. I loved each kill and how she planned them.
The Christmas market theme was fab and if you’re saving this one for the holiday season you’ll definitely add to the Christmas vibes when you read it!
I enjoyed the dual POV’s from her and Fearne, I thought they were great characters and loved their developing friendship.
It was fun to have the mystery POV every so often and all gets revealed towards the end. Thought the ending was *chefs kiss*
I felt for Fearne at times but also just wanted her to stand up for herself a bit more. You could see where things were going within her storyline. It did make me chuckle towards the end.
I thought all the supporting characters were great, even the ones we disliked. They were written in a way to make you feel like that! I loved Alvi and his pack of doggies 😍
I could say plenty more about what I enjoyed but it won’t fit on the page 😂
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I was a fan of the first two ‘Slay’ books and I’m a fan of this one.
Sarah always does short snappy chapters that reel you in and cliffhangers that make you want to keep reading!
This is easily readable in about 1-2 days but I had to adult 😂 so it took me 3!
Jessica’s infectious love of Christmas and everything the holiday season stands for will have you grinning and feeling warm to your heart… she likes it with a side of Murder too. I loved each kill and how she planned them.
The Christmas market theme was fab and if you’re saving this one for the holiday season you’ll definitely add to the Christmas vibes when you read it!
I enjoyed the dual POV’s from her and Fearne, I thought they were great characters and loved their developing friendship.
It was fun to have the mystery POV every so often and all gets revealed towards the end. Thought the ending was *chefs kiss*
I felt for Fearne at times but also just wanted her to stand up for herself a bit more. You could see where things were going within her storyline. It did make me chuckle towards the end.
I thought all the supporting characters were great, even the ones we disliked. They were written in a way to make you feel like that! I loved Alvi and his pack of doggies 😍
I could say plenty more about what I enjoyed but it won’t fit on the page 😂
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
August 15, 2025
Who better than Mrs. Claus to take care of people on the naughty list? That's what you get in the new book from Sarah Bonner.
"Jessica Williams loves all things Christmas and takes a job as Mrs. Claus in a Christmas market. And what better opportunity to take out all the miserable people who ruin the Christmas spirit. Who would suspect Mrs. Claus?
Fearne hates Christmas. Her husband runs the Christmas market and constantly takes her for granted, continually adding things to her schedule.
But then bodies pile up and an old rival returns.
What happens when the lives of the two women collide?"
This is dark comedy from Bonner. She has that rare ability to make a reader cross that morally gray line and make you agree that "He had it coming" Jessica is not quite as stealthy as previous characters and has to deal with witnesses. There's also a storyline throughout of someone apparently tracking Jessica down. Bonner saves that surprise for the end.
Another entertaining story from Bonner.
"Jessica Williams loves all things Christmas and takes a job as Mrs. Claus in a Christmas market. And what better opportunity to take out all the miserable people who ruin the Christmas spirit. Who would suspect Mrs. Claus?
Fearne hates Christmas. Her husband runs the Christmas market and constantly takes her for granted, continually adding things to her schedule.
But then bodies pile up and an old rival returns.
What happens when the lives of the two women collide?"
This is dark comedy from Bonner. She has that rare ability to make a reader cross that morally gray line and make you agree that "He had it coming" Jessica is not quite as stealthy as previous characters and has to deal with witnesses. There's also a storyline throughout of someone apparently tracking Jessica down. Bonner saves that surprise for the end.
Another entertaining story from Bonner.
November 15, 2025
I do love a strong FMC who has a penchant for ‘dispatching’ people 🤭
Jessica, lands her dream job of being Mrs Claus in Santa’s grotto at the Christmas Market…you’d be fooled into believing it’s for the fun she has doing her job but it also is a fantastic cover for her extra curricular activities. Not only does Jessica rid the country of unsavories (not talking about mince pies here either) but she has her own ‘Naughty List’. That is until she starts to make friends, takes in a lodger and has feelings for a man she doesn’t want to pursue due to her jaunts on the wild side!
📓 ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ Qᴜᴇꜱᴛɪᴏɴꜱ ɪ ᴀꜱᴋ ᴍʏꜱᴇʟꜰ ᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ ᴏᴜᴛ ɪɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇʟʏ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʙʟᴏᴄᴋ ʟᴇᴛᴛᴇʀɪɴɢ. ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ Qᴜᴇꜱᴛɪᴏɴꜱ ɪ ᴀꜱᴋ ᴍʏꜱᴇʟꜰ ᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ ᴏᴜᴛ ɪɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇʟʏ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʙʟᴏᴄᴋ ʟᴇᴛᴛᴇʀɪɴɢ.🧑🏻🎄
It’s was a great Christmas read, with some humour, a little intrigue, definitely some slaying and Christmas spirit. The writing and sense of camaraderie within its pages helped to make this storyline.
Jessica, lands her dream job of being Mrs Claus in Santa’s grotto at the Christmas Market…you’d be fooled into believing it’s for the fun she has doing her job but it also is a fantastic cover for her extra curricular activities. Not only does Jessica rid the country of unsavories (not talking about mince pies here either) but she has her own ‘Naughty List’. That is until she starts to make friends, takes in a lodger and has feelings for a man she doesn’t want to pursue due to her jaunts on the wild side!
📓 ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ Qᴜᴇꜱᴛɪᴏɴꜱ ɪ ᴀꜱᴋ ᴍʏꜱᴇʟꜰ ᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ ᴏᴜᴛ ɪɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇʟʏ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʙʟᴏᴄᴋ ʟᴇᴛᴛᴇʀɪɴɢ. ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ Qᴜᴇꜱᴛɪᴏɴꜱ ɪ ᴀꜱᴋ ᴍʏꜱᴇʟꜰ ᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ ᴏᴜᴛ ɪɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇʟʏ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʙʟᴏᴄᴋ ʟᴇᴛᴛᴇʀɪɴɢ.🧑🏻🎄
It’s was a great Christmas read, with some humour, a little intrigue, definitely some slaying and Christmas spirit. The writing and sense of camaraderie within its pages helped to make this storyline.
August 26, 2025
Am I a pyscho for actually liking this main character and rooting for her???!!!!!!!!!!! What kind of person does that make me?? An active reader who knows that fiction is not real, obviously. I love this series!!!!!!!! I hope Sarah Bonner continues it, and I don't know how she manages to make delightful characters out of seriel killers, but somehow she does, in my opinion, of course.
January 5, 2026
I enjoyed reading this and found it easy to pick up whenever I had time. While parts of the story didn’t fully add up and felt a little underdeveloped, the twist toward the end was interesting. The pacing dragged at times and I started to feel like I was permanently stuck at the Christmas market… but overall, it was an easy, feel good Christmas read!
September 13, 2025
Best yet.
Brilliant ending.
Whoopee
Brilliant ending.
Whoopee
December 7, 2025
Just an easy feel good read about murder at Christmas… in all seriousness I flew through it and really liked the ending. Love this author for a silly easy read.
December 31, 2025
Oh what a nice, fun and lovable addition to the Slay-Series by Sarah Bonner. I really liked the interactions with the characters in all their glory! so much fun to read and exactly what i needed.
December 17, 2025
Really enjoyed this take on a Christmas thriller, super fast paced and exciting to read!!
December 24, 2025
Don’t read if you are afraid to embrace the cringe!
December 24, 2025
oh i LOVED this!!! definitely my fave of the how to slay books and of sarah bonner’s books! and that ending was so perfect😋
December 8, 2025
4.5⭐️, I was not expecting this to be so entertaining!!
January 11, 2026
Mit Abstand der schwächste Teil der Reihe, das letzte Drittel ging immer weiter downhill und wurde richtig lächerlich. Vielleicht sollte die Autorin beim nächsten Buch wieder eine andere Thematik aufgreifen, im female serial killer-Bereich sind ihr offenbar die (guten) Ideen ausgegangen.
June 12, 2025
Ok so I accidentally finished this in one sitting. There are definitely twists and turns and the protagonist is complex! I hated her initially and then was on her side and then things got weird. This book gets more wild as you read.
This is definitely a fun one for year round despite the holiday cover and I’ll be scratching my head at this one for a bit.
I wish I had liked the protagonist more but I think I’m meant to slightly dislike her. I’m impressed with the emotions the author was able to illicit from me with this one.
Thank you for this treat! I received an eARC and am leaving this honest feedback voluntarily.
This is definitely a fun one for year round despite the holiday cover and I’ll be scratching my head at this one for a bit.
I wish I had liked the protagonist more but I think I’m meant to slightly dislike her. I’m impressed with the emotions the author was able to illicit from me with this one.
Thank you for this treat! I received an eARC and am leaving this honest feedback voluntarily.
July 4, 2025
Reindeer Games
Jessica loves Christmas. She makes her living during the year playing poker tournaments, but around late October she travels the country looking for a job as Mrs Claus at Christmas markets. It’s her favourite thing in the world; making children happy and thusly making their parents happy. The lights, the glitter, the sparkle. And after work, she kills people who deserve it.
This isn’t my usual fare, but I decided to give it a go because it’s freaking hot outside and I was in the mood for something light-hearted that gives off a chilly vibe that I could do with. And I really did enjoy it for the most part. It is, however, important to overlook a bunch of inconsistencies when reading this book, but then again, one does not pick up a novel titled How to Slay at Christmas if one is looking for realism. An in-depth novel about the intricacies of family slash small town life around the holidays this ain’t, but then again, one could tell as much by looking at the cover.
It does manage to be generally festive; the Christmas market sounds delightful, though these things, in my experience, are generally a letdown. There’s also Jessica’s love interest, a man who has devoted his life to rescuing animals and is therefore always accompanied by a slew of dogs and the occasional pony or alpaca; her whiney, self-involved boss and his wife Fearne, who quietly makes her money writing werewolf erotica and who becomes Jessica’s new BFF. There’s a teenage runaway, and your typical influencer-obsessed teenager with a heart of gold. There is a lot going on, really. The ending of the story is downright unhinged, but in a good way.
Not all of it makes sense, even within the confines of what is already a pretty insane story. One character’s response to finding out his loved ones plan to have him murdered is “I’m sorry, I’ll do better.” And he does, so good for him, but DUDE THEY WERE PLANNING TO HAVE YOU KILLED. There are also odd misphrasings (“this cafe does a cracking prosecco”) and incongruous tonal mixing (Brits go to uni, not to college). People frequently behave in odd ways that feel shoehorned in to fit the plot. Jessica, who supposedly can’t afford even the tiniest of apartments, spends an inordinate amount of money on luxury goods; I don’t mean in an skip-the-avocado-toast-so-you-can-buy-a-house, but hundreds of pounds worth of gifts and outfits, dinners, drinks and lunches on a daily basis. One of the antagonists is a sort of Dolores Umbridge type of person, and though we all love hating Dolores Umbridge this is written in a very clunky way. It’s effective, but also a missed opportunity, even in a book where the characters are pretty one dimensional.
Is this a good book? Not as defined by any literary standards. It needs a little finetuning in places. It is, however, a lot of fun. It kept me engaged and the plot has a few twists that I genuinely didn’t see coming, perhaps because the book is all over the place; nevertheless, it was enjoyable. You could do worse for December reads.
I received this copy for free through Netgalley. This in no way affects my review.
Jessica loves Christmas. She makes her living during the year playing poker tournaments, but around late October she travels the country looking for a job as Mrs Claus at Christmas markets. It’s her favourite thing in the world; making children happy and thusly making their parents happy. The lights, the glitter, the sparkle. And after work, she kills people who deserve it.
This isn’t my usual fare, but I decided to give it a go because it’s freaking hot outside and I was in the mood for something light-hearted that gives off a chilly vibe that I could do with. And I really did enjoy it for the most part. It is, however, important to overlook a bunch of inconsistencies when reading this book, but then again, one does not pick up a novel titled How to Slay at Christmas if one is looking for realism. An in-depth novel about the intricacies of family slash small town life around the holidays this ain’t, but then again, one could tell as much by looking at the cover.
It does manage to be generally festive; the Christmas market sounds delightful, though these things, in my experience, are generally a letdown. There’s also Jessica’s love interest, a man who has devoted his life to rescuing animals and is therefore always accompanied by a slew of dogs and the occasional pony or alpaca; her whiney, self-involved boss and his wife Fearne, who quietly makes her money writing werewolf erotica and who becomes Jessica’s new BFF. There’s a teenage runaway, and your typical influencer-obsessed teenager with a heart of gold. There is a lot going on, really. The ending of the story is downright unhinged, but in a good way.
Not all of it makes sense, even within the confines of what is already a pretty insane story. One character’s response to finding out his loved ones plan to have him murdered is “I’m sorry, I’ll do better.” And he does, so good for him, but DUDE THEY WERE PLANNING TO HAVE YOU KILLED. There are also odd misphrasings (“this cafe does a cracking prosecco”) and incongruous tonal mixing (Brits go to uni, not to college). People frequently behave in odd ways that feel shoehorned in to fit the plot. Jessica, who supposedly can’t afford even the tiniest of apartments, spends an inordinate amount of money on luxury goods; I don’t mean in an skip-the-avocado-toast-so-you-can-buy-a-house, but hundreds of pounds worth of gifts and outfits, dinners, drinks and lunches on a daily basis. One of the antagonists is a sort of Dolores Umbridge type of person, and though we all love hating Dolores Umbridge this is written in a very clunky way. It’s effective, but also a missed opportunity, even in a book where the characters are pretty one dimensional.
Is this a good book? Not as defined by any literary standards. It needs a little finetuning in places. It is, however, a lot of fun. It kept me engaged and the plot has a few twists that I genuinely didn’t see coming, perhaps because the book is all over the place; nevertheless, it was enjoyable. You could do worse for December reads.
I received this copy for free through Netgalley. This in no way affects my review.
August 8, 2025
This book is basically if Love Actually and Dexter had a feral little baby and sent it to Elf School with a switchblade in its lunchbox. How to Slay at Christmas is bonkers, blood-spattered, and surprisingly wholesome. Like eating gingerbread men while plotting revenge against your landlord. Which, let’s be honest, is a vibe.
So let’s meet Jessica Williams. She loves Christmas. No, like, she LOVES it. She is a human Hallmark movie with a body count. Professional poker player the rest of the year, but come November? She’s slapping on a red velvet dress and going full Mrs. Claus at the Ellsbury Christmas Market. She’s warm, sweet, generous... and also very into vigilante justice. She’s basically a human peppermint mocha. Delicious and comforting but with just enough caffeine to ruin your life.
Now enter Fearne Dixon, local wife of the market manager and the human equivalent of burnt tinsel. She hates Christmas. She hates her useless husband Sebastian (honestly, get in line). She hates the market. But she’s not allowed to quit because she’s the glue holding this whole snow-globe-from-hell together. Also, secret werewolf erotica writer. No notes.
Jessica and Fearne’s paths don’t so much “cross” as “collide in a flaming sleigh of carnage.” You know it’s only a matter of time before these two start sharing secrets, maybe some murder, maybe some eggnog. And yes, the plot leans full camp. We’ve got vigilante kills with questionable logistics. There’s a teenage runaway. A guy who rescues puppies. A sleazy landlord who practically walks around with a neon sign that says “STAB ME.” It’s absolutely unhinged. It’s also kind of beautiful.
One of the weird triumphs of this book is how emotionally competent Jessica is for a serial killer. She’s not just stabbing dudes for funsies. She has a code. A very murdery moral compass, but still a compass. And when she actually starts building real friendships... Fearne, the girls at the market, a runaway teen who’s been through some things... it gets weirdly tender. Like, are we rooting for this homicidal Mrs. Claus? Yes. Unequivocally yes.
Fearne, meanwhile, is the slow-burn redemption arc of my dreams. At first you’re like, “Girl, leave your crusty man already.” But then you start to see the fire under the frustration. There’s a beautiful moment of catharsis when she stops caring what anyone thinks and finally taps into her rage. It’s less Silent Night, more You’re All On Fire and I’m Fine With That.
Now, is this book grounded in reality? Absolutely not. Jessica spends money like she’s sponsored by Visa while claiming she’s broke. People get over attempted murder like it’s a parking ticket. Tonal shifts whiplash between festive vibes and oops, another corpse. But honestly? Who cares. You didn’t pick up How to Slay at Christmas because you wanted gritty realism. You came for candy cane chaos and cathartic kills and that’s exactly what you get.
This is not a cozy mystery. This is a glitter-drenched fever dream full of questionable choices, chaotic good energy, and just enough emotional sincerity to keep you invested. It's the kind of book where the twist sneaks up on you while you’re distracted by a talking alpaca and then smacks you with a candy cane shiv.
Four stars for festive murder, emotionally intelligent serial killers, and the most satisfying revenge plot ever set to carols.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Making the Naughty List Look Like a To-Do List
Huge thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC, and for putting this festive fever dream directly into my twisted little hands. I am now both inspired and deeply concerned about my own holiday to-do list.
So let’s meet Jessica Williams. She loves Christmas. No, like, she LOVES it. She is a human Hallmark movie with a body count. Professional poker player the rest of the year, but come November? She’s slapping on a red velvet dress and going full Mrs. Claus at the Ellsbury Christmas Market. She’s warm, sweet, generous... and also very into vigilante justice. She’s basically a human peppermint mocha. Delicious and comforting but with just enough caffeine to ruin your life.
Now enter Fearne Dixon, local wife of the market manager and the human equivalent of burnt tinsel. She hates Christmas. She hates her useless husband Sebastian (honestly, get in line). She hates the market. But she’s not allowed to quit because she’s the glue holding this whole snow-globe-from-hell together. Also, secret werewolf erotica writer. No notes.
Jessica and Fearne’s paths don’t so much “cross” as “collide in a flaming sleigh of carnage.” You know it’s only a matter of time before these two start sharing secrets, maybe some murder, maybe some eggnog. And yes, the plot leans full camp. We’ve got vigilante kills with questionable logistics. There’s a teenage runaway. A guy who rescues puppies. A sleazy landlord who practically walks around with a neon sign that says “STAB ME.” It’s absolutely unhinged. It’s also kind of beautiful.
One of the weird triumphs of this book is how emotionally competent Jessica is for a serial killer. She’s not just stabbing dudes for funsies. She has a code. A very murdery moral compass, but still a compass. And when she actually starts building real friendships... Fearne, the girls at the market, a runaway teen who’s been through some things... it gets weirdly tender. Like, are we rooting for this homicidal Mrs. Claus? Yes. Unequivocally yes.
Fearne, meanwhile, is the slow-burn redemption arc of my dreams. At first you’re like, “Girl, leave your crusty man already.” But then you start to see the fire under the frustration. There’s a beautiful moment of catharsis when she stops caring what anyone thinks and finally taps into her rage. It’s less Silent Night, more You’re All On Fire and I’m Fine With That.
Now, is this book grounded in reality? Absolutely not. Jessica spends money like she’s sponsored by Visa while claiming she’s broke. People get over attempted murder like it’s a parking ticket. Tonal shifts whiplash between festive vibes and oops, another corpse. But honestly? Who cares. You didn’t pick up How to Slay at Christmas because you wanted gritty realism. You came for candy cane chaos and cathartic kills and that’s exactly what you get.
This is not a cozy mystery. This is a glitter-drenched fever dream full of questionable choices, chaotic good energy, and just enough emotional sincerity to keep you invested. It's the kind of book where the twist sneaks up on you while you’re distracted by a talking alpaca and then smacks you with a candy cane shiv.
Four stars for festive murder, emotionally intelligent serial killers, and the most satisfying revenge plot ever set to carols.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Making the Naughty List Look Like a To-Do List
Huge thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC, and for putting this festive fever dream directly into my twisted little hands. I am now both inspired and deeply concerned about my own holiday to-do list.
September 28, 2025
"When someone is writing a list of people they think could be guilty of garrotting a man with a strand of Christmas lights, they are not going to think of Santa's wife, are they? And trust me. No one ever figured out it was me."
Well this slayed (Sleighed?) - but that's exactly what I've come to expect from Sarah Bonner so it truly felt like all my Christmas's came at once when I saw she was dropping a festive edition to the How To Slay line.
Meet Jessica - she loves twinkly lights, killing bad men and finding the perfect Christmassy job over the winter. I was obsessed with her within minutes - her easy, friendly narration style that made it so easy to read with her little hilarious, witty quips and of course, the way she casually drops the trail of men she's killed into conversation within the first few pages.
And then, Meet Fearne; who absolutely hates Christmas. She lives on eggshells, too tired to fight with her judgy, clueless husband and his stupid Christmas market.
Both leading ladies share telling the story, letting us into their private lives first and keeping the story zipping along with short, sharp chapters and so much energy. I loved watching these two women come into each others orbit with no idea how their lives were going to change, seeing a friendship form that will shape their stories. As Jessica starts her new Mrs Claus role, a mysterious narrator starts to get on the trail but she's too busy adding bad men to her own naughty list, making sure her targets are deserving of their spot and meticulously planning their deaths.
Honestly, the angry woman in me went absolutely feral as she expertly dispatched a line of abusive, violent, misogynistic men with a vigilante, bloody justice. Is Jessica a bad person? Eh, kind of yeah, killing people isn't great. But she's also a good friend, kind, supportive, selfless - I can't do anything but support her because she's the perfect embodiment of the desire to fight back against bad men and the fantasy of doing more than just getting equal - getting even instead.
On top of a chaotic murder story, the festive vibes were killer. Sometimes I forgot what kind of book I was reading because I was so swept up in the magic of the Christmas market, a potential blossoming romance and the sparkling festive setting.
A delightful dark revenge fantasy with a very lovable murderess, newfound friendships and lots of festive fun.
Well this slayed (Sleighed?) - but that's exactly what I've come to expect from Sarah Bonner so it truly felt like all my Christmas's came at once when I saw she was dropping a festive edition to the How To Slay line.
Meet Jessica - she loves twinkly lights, killing bad men and finding the perfect Christmassy job over the winter. I was obsessed with her within minutes - her easy, friendly narration style that made it so easy to read with her little hilarious, witty quips and of course, the way she casually drops the trail of men she's killed into conversation within the first few pages.
And then, Meet Fearne; who absolutely hates Christmas. She lives on eggshells, too tired to fight with her judgy, clueless husband and his stupid Christmas market.
Both leading ladies share telling the story, letting us into their private lives first and keeping the story zipping along with short, sharp chapters and so much energy. I loved watching these two women come into each others orbit with no idea how their lives were going to change, seeing a friendship form that will shape their stories. As Jessica starts her new Mrs Claus role, a mysterious narrator starts to get on the trail but she's too busy adding bad men to her own naughty list, making sure her targets are deserving of their spot and meticulously planning their deaths.
Honestly, the angry woman in me went absolutely feral as she expertly dispatched a line of abusive, violent, misogynistic men with a vigilante, bloody justice. Is Jessica a bad person? Eh, kind of yeah, killing people isn't great. But she's also a good friend, kind, supportive, selfless - I can't do anything but support her because she's the perfect embodiment of the desire to fight back against bad men and the fantasy of doing more than just getting equal - getting even instead.
On top of a chaotic murder story, the festive vibes were killer. Sometimes I forgot what kind of book I was reading because I was so swept up in the magic of the Christmas market, a potential blossoming romance and the sparkling festive setting.
A delightful dark revenge fantasy with a very lovable murderess, newfound friendships and lots of festive fun.
July 17, 2025
This book is another enjoyable outing for Sarah Bonner's How to Slay series. This book did feel like it had a different flow than books 1 & 2 that I enjoyed a bit more than this one. We know from the beginning that Jessica has an unusual side unpaid job where she knocks off creeps. She describes some of her previous victims such as a pair of human traffickers and it does humanize Jessica a bit, she is not a murder but more of a vigilante. I'm not condoning what she does but it is easier understand and care about a killer who has a code. I think of her in terms of other characters who did not follow the straight and narrow and where still great characters (like Angel and Arrow.)
Jessica starts planning her list pretty quickly in the story and neither on the men who go on the naughty list are particularly sympathetic. In fact, the landlord might have well have had the words lecherous creep tattooed on his forehead. It was easy to see him taking advantage of innocent woman. When Jessica adds him to the list, you are not surprised because you just know he hurt people. I will not spoil anything by telling you if he or the other man added remain on the final list.
Fearne was tougher to like than Jessica. I couldn't help but wonder by Fearne did not kick her jerk husband to the curb and write her books her way without needing to babysit an entitled adult.
This book is incredibly atmospheric. The descriptions of Santa's grotto and the Christmas village have you wishing you could visit. I personally think this book would have been better suited to be released for Christmas in July or for Christmas. But maybe the author's goal by releasing this book in August is to get us all in the mood for the holiday season.
This was another dark kind of fun book with some humor which was also on the dark side, a touch of romance and revenge on the book's truest villains. The author needs to keep this series going.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC..
Jessica starts planning her list pretty quickly in the story and neither on the men who go on the naughty list are particularly sympathetic. In fact, the landlord might have well have had the words lecherous creep tattooed on his forehead. It was easy to see him taking advantage of innocent woman. When Jessica adds him to the list, you are not surprised because you just know he hurt people. I will not spoil anything by telling you if he or the other man added remain on the final list.
Fearne was tougher to like than Jessica. I couldn't help but wonder by Fearne did not kick her jerk husband to the curb and write her books her way without needing to babysit an entitled adult.
This book is incredibly atmospheric. The descriptions of Santa's grotto and the Christmas village have you wishing you could visit. I personally think this book would have been better suited to be released for Christmas in July or for Christmas. But maybe the author's goal by releasing this book in August is to get us all in the mood for the holiday season.
This was another dark kind of fun book with some humor which was also on the dark side, a touch of romance and revenge on the book's truest villains. The author needs to keep this series going.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC..
December 20, 2025
Jessica loves playing Mrs Clause each year in a new location - her reason? Because no one would suspect Mrs Clause to be a serial killer!
Fearne however is beginning to loathe Christmas, her husband is in charge of the local Christmas market - but guess who ends up doing most the work for it? Fearne. When their two worlds collide, something shocking happens and completely changes both their lives...
The Pro's:
1) A serial killer playing Mrs Clause - honestly that makes me chuckle! Plus she only kills ‘bad people’
2) This has total Christmas vibes - the Christmas market and Mrs Clause etc
3) Found family
4) Minor sub plot of romance
5) The ending made the book for me - I loved it!
The Con's:
1) There is one scene in particular I would have liked the other person’s POV from at the time
2) Obviously there are dark themes (murder) but also attempted SA too
The Quotes:
1) Wow. Well that really does go to prove you can’t judge a book by its cover. She looks so prim and proper and then BAM! It’s all fairy porn and werewolf harems.
2) ‘That’s what Fearne always says. That there’s a difference between the words used for women and those used for men. Strategic versus calculated. That kind of thing.’
3) Spoiler alert: I’m still convinced I’m in my twenties and that fate is just playing some kind of cruel stunt on me by making me look like I’m mid-forties.
The Summary:
I loved the premise of the book - Mrs Clause going on a murder spree! These were definitely the fun bits. There were some more domesticy bits which rounded the book out a little bit. There are obviously dark themes as expected but also a lot of humour - plus a bit of a shock and a twist (no spoilers). The ending made the book for me - I adored it. For a ‘murdery’ Christmas book, this is a great choice!
Summed up in a sentence?:
Christmas market & a murdery Mrs Clause
I rated the book 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
Fearne however is beginning to loathe Christmas, her husband is in charge of the local Christmas market - but guess who ends up doing most the work for it? Fearne. When their two worlds collide, something shocking happens and completely changes both their lives...
The Pro's:
1) A serial killer playing Mrs Clause - honestly that makes me chuckle! Plus she only kills ‘bad people’
2) This has total Christmas vibes - the Christmas market and Mrs Clause etc
3) Found family
4) Minor sub plot of romance
5) The ending made the book for me - I loved it!
The Con's:
1) There is one scene in particular I would have liked the other person’s POV from at the time
2) Obviously there are dark themes (murder) but also attempted SA too
The Quotes:
1) Wow. Well that really does go to prove you can’t judge a book by its cover. She looks so prim and proper and then BAM! It’s all fairy porn and werewolf harems.
2) ‘That’s what Fearne always says. That there’s a difference between the words used for women and those used for men. Strategic versus calculated. That kind of thing.’
3) Spoiler alert: I’m still convinced I’m in my twenties and that fate is just playing some kind of cruel stunt on me by making me look like I’m mid-forties.
The Summary:
I loved the premise of the book - Mrs Clause going on a murder spree! These were definitely the fun bits. There were some more domesticy bits which rounded the book out a little bit. There are obviously dark themes as expected but also a lot of humour - plus a bit of a shock and a twist (no spoilers). The ending made the book for me - I adored it. For a ‘murdery’ Christmas book, this is a great choice!
Summed up in a sentence?:
Christmas market & a murdery Mrs Clause
I rated the book 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
July 17, 2025
Rating: 3.9/5
The accompanying marketing blurb claims that this book will appeal to fans of C.J. Skuse and Katy Brent. It is not unusual for publishers to make such claims as they endeavour to tap into dedicated readers of other established authors, but the claims are not necessarily always substantiated. However, in this instance, I would say that it is entirely appropriate.
If you are familiar with "Sweetpea" by C.J. Skuse then it will be impossible not to make comparisons and draw parallels with that novel when you read this. It could be argued that C.J. Skuse's creation, Sweetpea, paved the way for a sub-genre of strong, individual leading ladies with a penchant for serial killing. Katy Brent includes nods of acknowledgement to that fact in her series of books featuring Kitty Collins and there are a number of other writers (predominantly female) who have taken their inspiration from this source to create their own darkly humorous novels. Some have done it quite successfully, while others have produced rather disappointing facsimiles. I am pleased to say that Sarah Bonner is at the better end of the scale.
This is the third book in the author's "How to Slay ..." series. I have not read the first one, but I did enjoy book two, "How to Slay on Hoilday", which was enough to persuade me to come back for more - and I actually think "How to Slay at Christmas" is a little better than its predecessor. The writing is fluent and the characters are engaging. In amongst the serial killing there is plenty of humour (often dark), but also goodly amounts or warmth and even sprinklings of romance - so a touch of something for everyone. I will certainly be keeping an eye out for Sarah Bonner's next offering.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
The accompanying marketing blurb claims that this book will appeal to fans of C.J. Skuse and Katy Brent. It is not unusual for publishers to make such claims as they endeavour to tap into dedicated readers of other established authors, but the claims are not necessarily always substantiated. However, in this instance, I would say that it is entirely appropriate.
If you are familiar with "Sweetpea" by C.J. Skuse then it will be impossible not to make comparisons and draw parallels with that novel when you read this. It could be argued that C.J. Skuse's creation, Sweetpea, paved the way for a sub-genre of strong, individual leading ladies with a penchant for serial killing. Katy Brent includes nods of acknowledgement to that fact in her series of books featuring Kitty Collins and there are a number of other writers (predominantly female) who have taken their inspiration from this source to create their own darkly humorous novels. Some have done it quite successfully, while others have produced rather disappointing facsimiles. I am pleased to say that Sarah Bonner is at the better end of the scale.
This is the third book in the author's "How to Slay ..." series. I have not read the first one, but I did enjoy book two, "How to Slay on Hoilday", which was enough to persuade me to come back for more - and I actually think "How to Slay at Christmas" is a little better than its predecessor. The writing is fluent and the characters are engaging. In amongst the serial killing there is plenty of humour (often dark), but also goodly amounts or warmth and even sprinklings of romance - so a touch of something for everyone. I will certainly be keeping an eye out for Sarah Bonner's next offering.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
December 7, 2025
Book Review: How to Slay at Christmas by Sarah Bonner
Rating: 4 Stars
I just finished How to Slay at Christmas by Sarah Bonner, and I have to say, it’s a fantastic festive read that’s equal parts dark, funny, and downright entertaining. The story centers around Jessica Williams, a Christmas fanatic who adores everything from the food and drinks to the twinkling fairy lights — and importantly, she’s also got a knack for taking down the miserable party poopers who try to ruin the season. Her perfect cover? Working as Mrs Claus at the Ellsbury Christmas Market grotto. Because honestly, who would ever suspect Mrs Claus of stabbing someone with a Phillips-head screwdriver?
On the flip side, we meet Fearne Dixon, who couldn’t be more different — she absolutely despises Christmas. Being married to the market’s manager means she’s stuck in the festive chaos all year round, and it’s only November! But things get even more intense when bodies start piling up and an old rival reappears, pushing Fearne to her limits.
When Jessica’s and Fearne’s paths cross, the story really takes off. It’s a darkly humorous crime thriller that had me hooked from start to finish. Beyond the murder mystery, there’s a surprising warmth in the form of unexpected friendships, adorable puppies, and even a hint of romance that adds just the right touch of sparkle.
What I loved most was how quick and gripping the book is — you know who the killer is early on, but there are plenty of twists and layers that keep you guessing about all the little details. And the dark humor sprinkled throughout? Absolutely my vibe. If you’re into festive stories with a wickedly funny edge, this one’s definitely worth a read. Four stars from me — would gladly sign up for more like this!
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
Rating: 4 Stars
I just finished How to Slay at Christmas by Sarah Bonner, and I have to say, it’s a fantastic festive read that’s equal parts dark, funny, and downright entertaining. The story centers around Jessica Williams, a Christmas fanatic who adores everything from the food and drinks to the twinkling fairy lights — and importantly, she’s also got a knack for taking down the miserable party poopers who try to ruin the season. Her perfect cover? Working as Mrs Claus at the Ellsbury Christmas Market grotto. Because honestly, who would ever suspect Mrs Claus of stabbing someone with a Phillips-head screwdriver?
On the flip side, we meet Fearne Dixon, who couldn’t be more different — she absolutely despises Christmas. Being married to the market’s manager means she’s stuck in the festive chaos all year round, and it’s only November! But things get even more intense when bodies start piling up and an old rival reappears, pushing Fearne to her limits.
When Jessica’s and Fearne’s paths cross, the story really takes off. It’s a darkly humorous crime thriller that had me hooked from start to finish. Beyond the murder mystery, there’s a surprising warmth in the form of unexpected friendships, adorable puppies, and even a hint of romance that adds just the right touch of sparkle.
What I loved most was how quick and gripping the book is — you know who the killer is early on, but there are plenty of twists and layers that keep you guessing about all the little details. And the dark humor sprinkled throughout? Absolutely my vibe. If you’re into festive stories with a wickedly funny edge, this one’s definitely worth a read. Four stars from me — would gladly sign up for more like this!
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
June 28, 2025
Jessica Williams adores everything about the holiday season, the mulled wine, the twinkling lights, the sugar-dusted nostalgia. But most of all, she loves the perfect excuse Christmas gives her to deal with those who make the season miserable for everyone else. What better disguise for a vigilante with a screwdriver than the jolly, motherly figure of Mrs Claus at the Ellsbury Christmas Market grotto? After all, who would suspect sweet Mrs Claus of cold-blooded murder?
Fearne Dixon can’t stand Christmas, not the carols, not the fake snow, and definitely not the endless tinsel her husband insists on draping across their lives. As the market manager’s increasingly bitter wife, she’s barely holding it together when a string of gruesome deaths starts rocking the market. And just as Fearne’s nerves begin to fray, an old enemy turns up, stirring memories she’d rather leave buried under the snow.
Christmas came early this year when I was lucky enough to receive a pre-approved copy of Sarah Bonner’s brilliantly twisted new crime thriller, How to Slay at Christmas. This festive installment continues the darkly comic brilliance of her previous books, How to Slay on Holiday and How to Slay at Work. Bonner once again delivers a razor-sharp tale of female serial killers with a mission, to rid the world of the worst people. It’s packed with festive mayhem, wicked humour, and morally grey women you can’t help but root for, even as they cross every line. Think holiday cheer but with a body count. If you're a fan of pitch-black comedy, fierce female leads, and crime with a deadly twist, How to Slay at Christmas deserves a spot on your TBR pile.
Fearne Dixon can’t stand Christmas, not the carols, not the fake snow, and definitely not the endless tinsel her husband insists on draping across their lives. As the market manager’s increasingly bitter wife, she’s barely holding it together when a string of gruesome deaths starts rocking the market. And just as Fearne’s nerves begin to fray, an old enemy turns up, stirring memories she’d rather leave buried under the snow.
Christmas came early this year when I was lucky enough to receive a pre-approved copy of Sarah Bonner’s brilliantly twisted new crime thriller, How to Slay at Christmas. This festive installment continues the darkly comic brilliance of her previous books, How to Slay on Holiday and How to Slay at Work. Bonner once again delivers a razor-sharp tale of female serial killers with a mission, to rid the world of the worst people. It’s packed with festive mayhem, wicked humour, and morally grey women you can’t help but root for, even as they cross every line. Think holiday cheer but with a body count. If you're a fan of pitch-black comedy, fierce female leads, and crime with a deadly twist, How to Slay at Christmas deserves a spot on your TBR pile.
December 6, 2025
This is the third installment in the ‘How to Slay’ books by Sarah Bonner. I wouldn’t necessarily call the books a series since each book contains new characters, new settings, new conflicts.
I’ve read the other two books - “How to Slay at Work” and “How to Slay on Holiday” and can confirm this new one continues to be written in a way I’ve come to look forward to! *All are free to read for Kindle Unlimited members!
These are humorous (sometimes darkly so, which I’m always a fan of!), fast-paced, thrilling, and feature a strong, independent woman who takes cares care of business herself!
In “How to Slay at Christmas” the local Christmas market is gearing up to begin. The family who began the annual tradition include wife, Fearne Dixon, and her husband Sebastian. While Sebastian is the official head of the market, he heavily relies on Fearne, frequently assuming she’ll drop everything to help him with no concern for her or her time.
Fearne is an author who has done well with her clean romance books. However, unbeknownst to anyone else, Fearne makes a killing writing erotica using a nome de plume.
As the opening day grows closer, Sebastian finds himself approving the hiring of Mrs. Claus just in time.
Shortly after the successful and exciting opening day, something goes terribly wrong when a body is found in the market. Then another, and another (not all within the market however). It appears someone associated with the market might be taking people out! Who is it and why are they doing it? How many more bodies will be added to the count before the murderer is caught?
I’m obsessed with ALL of Boldwood Books thrillers and romcoms so another ginormous thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood, along with Sarah Bonner, for gifting the ARC in exchange for a review! I can’t wait to see if there will be another “How to Slay” book!
I’ve read the other two books - “How to Slay at Work” and “How to Slay on Holiday” and can confirm this new one continues to be written in a way I’ve come to look forward to! *All are free to read for Kindle Unlimited members!
These are humorous (sometimes darkly so, which I’m always a fan of!), fast-paced, thrilling, and feature a strong, independent woman who takes cares care of business herself!
In “How to Slay at Christmas” the local Christmas market is gearing up to begin. The family who began the annual tradition include wife, Fearne Dixon, and her husband Sebastian. While Sebastian is the official head of the market, he heavily relies on Fearne, frequently assuming she’ll drop everything to help him with no concern for her or her time.
Fearne is an author who has done well with her clean romance books. However, unbeknownst to anyone else, Fearne makes a killing writing erotica using a nome de plume.
As the opening day grows closer, Sebastian finds himself approving the hiring of Mrs. Claus just in time.
Shortly after the successful and exciting opening day, something goes terribly wrong when a body is found in the market. Then another, and another (not all within the market however). It appears someone associated with the market might be taking people out! Who is it and why are they doing it? How many more bodies will be added to the count before the murderer is caught?
I’m obsessed with ALL of Boldwood Books thrillers and romcoms so another ginormous thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood, along with Sarah Bonner, for gifting the ARC in exchange for a review! I can’t wait to see if there will be another “How to Slay” book!
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