New Year Nuisance: Holiday Cozy Mystery, Book 4

Holiday Cozy Mystery #4

by Tonya Kappes

Celebrate good crimes!

New Year's Eve has always been a special time for the small town, Holiday Junction, with its annual tradition, the Sparkle Ball, along with the town Merry Maker spreading joy and cheer to all its residents. But this year, the joy is short-lived when local nuisance and troublemaker, Hillary Stevens, is found murdered in holiday town’s mini-village.

As the town's resident nosy journalist, Violet Rhinehammer is determined to uncover the truth behind Hillary’s murder and bring the killer to justice. But her investigation is complicated by her own secret - she is the town Merry Maker, and must keep her identity hidden from Mae West, her best friend who is visiting for the festive town’s Sparkle Ball.

With suspects at every turn and a town full of secrets, Violet must use her keen investigative skills and determination to uncover the truth before the killer strikes again. Will she be able to solve the mystery and bring the killer to justice, or will her own secret be her downfall?

New Year Nuisance is a gripping tale of mystery and intrigue, perfect for fans of small town crime novels. With well-developed characters and a twisting plot, this book will keep you guessing until the very end.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Holiday, Cozy, Ebooks, Fiction, Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published April 3, 2023

About the author

Beloved cozy mystery author Tonya Kappes is bringing her charming world to the screen!

The Hallmark Channel is thrilled to announce a television series in development based on Tonya’s wildly popular 40-book series, A Camper & Criminals Mystery.

A celebrated Amazon All-Star and USA Today bestselling author, Tonya has written over 180 southern cozy mysteries filled with heart, humor, and unforgettable small-town characters. Her novels, known for their southern charm and rich emotional storytelling, have been praised by readers and critics alike, earning her a coveted spot as a Woman's World Book Club Pick six times.

Writing full-time from her camper, Tonya crafts worlds where mystery, friendship, and a little mischief collide — and now, her stories will come to life for cozy mystery lovers everywhere.

Visit Tonya:
Facebook at Author Tonya Kappes,
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Webpage
tonyakappes.com

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https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

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https://twitter.com/tonyakappes11

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https://www.pinterest.com/tonyakappes/

For weekly updates and contests, sign up for Tonya's newsletter Kappes Krew Weekly via her website or Facebook.For years,

Reviews

[Regina the Constant Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Last Book of 2023!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ -Audiobook

I gave this three stars…for now.

This series is a spin off of Tonya Kappes’s Camper & Criminals Series. The main character in this spin off is Violet Rhinehammer, who was a TV reporter in the Camper & Criminals Series. She has moved from Normal, Kentucky to Holiday Junction where she finds herself solving murders with the help of the Laundry Club Ladies. Well…I listen to the Camper & Criminal series on Audible and Mae and her friends have very distinctive voices, so hearing this narrator doing their voices made the story less enjoyable. She used the same voice for all the female characters, so it was confusing as to who was talking. I’m going to read the first book in this series in March and then I’ll reread this one again in December 2024. We’ll see if I change my rating.

Happy New Year Everyone!! May the New Year be filled with blessings, happiness and many great books for all of you!! -Regina

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰

Another will written murder mystery family and friends relationships adventure thriller novel by Tonya Kappes (Holiday Cozy Mystery book four). Violet Rinnehammer and Darrell are planning for New Year's eve party plan. Then they find a dead body and the investigation begins. They undercover the truth about the death and the killer is caught. The New Year party is a success. I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of romantic mystery novels 👍🔰. 2023 👒😀😡😮

[Tonya Kappes]

🍾☠️🎉 It’s here!! 🍾☠️🎉📖
Who is ready for Mae West to vacation in Holiday Junction?
Who is ready for a murder to happen in Holiday Junction?
Who is ready to see Mae and Violet sleuth together??
The wait is over....

[Lee Brothers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey, what is Mae doing in Holiday Junction? Hmmm… and then it just takes off from there!!! There’s quite a few things going on, and all of them are interesting!! Violet’s mama reminds me a whole lot of Mae’s mama. That woman may yet give classes on manners. And I would just fall off the chair laughing!! Be prepared!!! There’s lots of talk about coffee and it’ll make you wanna go have some more coffee! I know I did!! This book was so much fun, and I didn’t figure out who it was until the end. I love that, makes it much more interesting.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violet has a visitor from her hometown. Mae West from Normal, Ky has come to see Violet and her new hometown for New Year’s Eve. Violet is happy to see Mae, but she has a lot of work with the Holiday Junction newspaper to run, the upcoming Sparkle Ball and events, and her secret job of being the Merry Maker. She seems to be getting everything done while Mae visits with Millie Kay until Violet stumbles over another body. Violet and Mae join forces like the did a few times in Normal to solve the murder before the clock strikes twelve on New Year’s Eve night.

What a fun read, it’s a wonderful escape from my daily stresses. I couldn’t put it down. I loved seeing Violet and Mae solving a murder together again. Having Mae visiting kept Violet on her toes and helped her out with some of her self doubts she was having about a certain someone. The mystery is full of plot twists to keep you trying to guess whodunnit. I recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries with humor and a touch of romance.

I listened to the audiobook the second time I read this book. The narrator does a great job voicing the characters. This was a pleasant experience reading the book.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I have not been by anyone.

[☆☆Hannah☆☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good mystery. Mae is visiting the town. Of course a body is found. Now her and Violet try to figure out who did it. They of course solve the case and all is well for now.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Year Nuisance Earns 5/5 Sparkle Balls … Clever & Quirky Gem!

Having family and friends arriving for a visit was not at the top of Violet’s list, but she was glad to see Mae West. As usual, Holiday Junction has pulled out all the stops to celebrate the New Year with shops all decked out, the miniature Village on display, and the Sparkle Ball to cap off the midnight festivities. But, Violet is on overload with her responsibilities at the paper and the secret job of Merry Maker which may be in jeopardy with her friend in town. She’d hope enlisting Darren’s help would relieve some of her stress, but finding him with Fern Banks, Violet’s mean girl, was disturbing. Darren is known to be, to many in town, a “knight in shining armor,” which could be problematic when another young woman he tried to help ends up dead. Hillary Stevens was quite a handful, trespassing and perpetrating pranks, protesting and spouting her opinions, and everyone knew she had a strained relationship with her parents, but as one witnessed remarked, “…doesn’t mean she deserved this.”

Tonya Kappes has penned a delightful crossover story with Mae West from A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery series joining in this fourth holiday mystery. Mae hoped to spend some girl time with Violet, but having been corralled my Violet’s mother had her inappropriately thrilled there’d been a murder needing to be solved. Having Mae join the team was bittersweet; she’s well versed in how to complete an investigation, build a suspect list, and wiggle out of trouble, but she’s also in the way, doesn’t seem to grasp the concept of totally secrecy, and seems bent on playing matchmaker. There’s an interesting sibling-like dynamic playing out between Violet and Mae which would be fun to repeat. The investigation reveals some interesting conflicts Hillary had that could be motives for murder from oblivious family to secret friends, from council members to the … Merry Maker? The journey was also filled with sipping, bonding, gossiping, and a surprising midnight arrest.

Tonya’s writing style puts the “M” in mystery, the “E” in entertainment, and definitely the “Q” in quirky. She provides fun sensory-filled description to clearly depict the environment, character appearances, and inner thoughts as well as banter and predicaments to illustrate the multi-generational personalities. Violet is well-rounded as a strong willed character and competent reporter/snoop, yet there is a softer side as she succumbs to Darren’s advances. Tonya incorporates clever southernisms sharing her own Kentucky roots, and reminding me of my own grandma. Also included is Notes From the Merry Maker to end the story.

Disclosure: I received an ARC from Tonya Kappes, the author. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.

[Hollyann Wettstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this book to be a little festive with the new year and was pleasantly surprised! simple writing but a good mystery story line, characters, and dynamics.
a digestible amount of town people with motives (kept me intrigued but not confused) and i was surprised with the twist!
cute romance plot sandwiched in without it being overbearing. excited to read more festive stories around the holidays by tonya!

[Darcysmom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violet and Mae are a delightful duo

It was fun to read about Mae and Violet being friends and working together instead of against each other.
Holiday Junctuon is a fantastic setting with a great cast of townsfolk.

[britt britt · Rating 3 out of 5]

entertaining, but nothing much to it imo

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was super fun - because Mae comes to visit! I honestly didn't think we'd get a cross-over because I didn't think these 2 were really friends. But Mae needed out of town - from all the planning and excitement - and hopped on the first plane for a New year's bash!

It was fun to read Mae from Violet's POV and for them to sleuth and crime solve together. The crime was a bit messy but I didn't even mind with these 2 on it. Cute and had a great charm to it.

[Karen Stallman · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s the week of New Year’s Eve and Mae West has flown into town to ring in the New Year with Violet what’s the worst thing that could happen… Murder!

There were lots of suspects as Hilary was a thorn in a lot of people’s sides. Along with plenty of twists and turns to keep us entertained and guessing. I had no idea who the killer was until Violet and Mad did! Also there were a couple of surprises and I can’t wait for the next instalment!

I highly recommend this book and new series to all my cozy loving friends especially if you like stories set around the holidays.

All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Allyson Abu-Hajar · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Holiday Junction prepares for welcoming in the New Year, Violet welcomes Mae West to the village. After Mae meets part of the security team and is reminded who is the Mayor, Mae warns Violet not to make fun of Normal again. Ever since Mae has been in town, Millie Kay and Goldie keep throwing Violet under the bus leaving Violet wishing they would be quiet.

Violet's plan for Mae to stay at the Jubilee Inn backfires, leaving a predicament of how Violet is going to go about Merry Maker things.

The mini-village contest held at the Welcome Center had replicas of the village stores. Each person kept adding to it in hopes of winning. This year's prize was a year's worth of groceries. When Millie Kay dumps her miniature pottery items off on Violet, so she can take Mae shopping Violet sees her opportunity to pay Darren a visit. The visit ends with Violet storming away and Darren runs after her where the two of them find a ghastly display at the Welcome Center. The body of Hillary Stevens wasn't part of the replica though.

Violet heard that not everyone was happy with Hillary and knew who the best person to help solve this murder was, none other than Mae West, who was thrilled to have something to do other than hang out with Millie Kay.

I enjoyed Mae visiting Violet and laughed out loud over the banter they were giving poor Goldie, who didn't know if she should close the door or open it. Mae is hilarious, keeping Violet on her toes trying to defend herself. It's heartwarming that everyone is stating: About Time! Violet definitely was bitten by the love bug. Great story, wonderful characters, and an intriguing mystery.

I received a complimentary copy and I voluntarily reviewed this book.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violet and her old friend Mae (from the Camper & Criminals series) have teamed up to solve the murder of one of Holiday Junction’s “troublemakers” Mae left Normal, Kentucky to visit Violet and of course neither of them can stay out of a murder investigation. With the help of Darren, Violet’s close friend, Violet and Mae are learning more and more about the residents of Holiday Junction and their quirky personalities. With the three of them on the case, they are determined to find the murderer before New Year’s Eve.

New Year Nuisance is the fourth book in the newest series by Tonya Kappes, the Holiday Cozy Mystery series. Tonya brings her southern humor making it a light fun-filled read. Since the town celebrates every holiday to the fullest, there is never a lack of excitement. Once Mae showed up in the story, I knew we were in for an enjoyable read. As Tonya takes us through the streets of Holiday Junction and the ups and downs of the Merry Maker, an individual who places a sign somewhere in Holiday Junction, signaling the end of the holiday. Although Mae has left Dottie back in Normal, a few Dotti-isms appear in this book. Add in Millie Kay, Violet’s mama and her southern sayings, and you have several laugh-out-loud moments. Tonya has a way with words, throwing in a few zingers that give off that feel-good vibe even when it's about murder! With this being the fourth book in the series, I recommend you start at the beginning. Sit back and enjoy the town of Holiday Junction, its celebrations and its residents!

I requested and received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own!

[Miki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one!!!!! Violet and Mae team up together to solve the latest murder at Holidays junction. It was fantastic.!

Violet is adjusting well in her new town and new role but she is happy to see Mae coming to see her from her hometown, they put their difference aside and are friends so they want to spent time together even if Violet knows she will need to be discreet while doing her secret job. What was not expected was a murder in the mini village exposition...with the New Year celebration near, the murder must be solved soon and the sherriff is not against asking for help in secret so Violet, Mae and Darren are investigating to find the killer while the romance between Violet and Darren is blossoming to Mae's delight.

Oh i absolutely loved to see them working together and get tibits of what is happening at the campground. I grew to like Violet and she is just getting better and better. I loved to see her relationship with Darren and can't wait to see more of her adventure. It's a perfect southern cozy mystery to start the year

to be recommended

[amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

violet lives in a small town that celebrates every holiday and she has been assigned the role of the merry maker where she has the responsibility to organise holiday activities without anyone figuring out her identity. violet's friend from her hometown, mae, comes to visit her so that she can experience the new year in this small town when they discover that a local resident has been murdered. the book follows them trying to solve the mystery and it also has a side plot of romance. it was a relatively quick read as its under 200 pages but its not life-changing.

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

"New Year Nuisance (Holiday Cozy Mystery #4)" by Tonya Kappes is a little bit of a series crossover book. May West from the "Camper & Criminals" series visits Violet for the New Year Sparkle Ball. While there she and Violet work together to solve the murder of the town "nuisance."

This one was interesting because there were a few different suspects that it easily could have been. In the end I was a little surprised but not at the same time. It did make sense to me.

[Erin Farmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 11 for 2025! 3.5/5 stars for this cozy mystery. Nice easy read. Cute setting, great characters.

[Jessica Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little shallow and outlandish but a fun idea to have holiday-themed murder mysteries. I’m sure I will read another; maybe all of them

[Kaileigh Poe · Rating 2 out of 5]

two stars are not the fault of the book but my fault in reading it

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Only me and you would be excited to find the address of a potential killer.”

This fabulous mystery begins with a sight I never thought I would see! Mae West visiting her former nemesis, Violet Rhinehammer, in Holiday Junction? And she will be there for New Year's Eve? I wonder what Hank will be doing while Mae is at the Sparkle Ball with Violet, acting like old friends! Wait until you see their finery that matches that of Millie Kay, Violet’s mama. There is laugh out loud humor and an intriguing mystery that the Village Council wants solved before Holiday Junction’s own unique creation is dropped, like the Times Square ball, at midnight New Year’s Eve.

Holiday Junction boasts a festival for every holiday. They have different terrain on each side of the village – beach and water, woods, mountains, and countryside. Violet has lived here several months, but never intended to stay past the next flight out. She is now the editor of the Junction Journal that was about to shut its doors before her arrival. I love the history of the mini-village and the diverse settings, and, like Mae, would have buried my toes in the sand, even in December. The author’s creativity has brought to life a truly joyful place to live.

Mae flew into Holiday Junction just after Christmas, planning to return to Normal on New Year’s Day. Mae stayed with Violet in her mama’s remodeled garage, and Violet would have to find a way to see Darren on Merry Maker business without getting Mae’s curiosity up. The Merry Maker is but one of Violet’s secrets. Darren is the police chief’s son and owner of the only bar in town, what Violet calls a jiggle joint.

The day that Mae arrived, Violet and Darren went into the Welcome Center where the miniature of the village is kept for tourists to see. They found Hillary, a young woman called the village nuisance, dead, tied by her hair to a ceramic Rapunzel’s tower. Many people disliked Hillary, mistaking her love for the village as acting out and ruining things for others. Darren and Violet had solved a couple murders already and his dad, Matthew, is asking specifically for their help to find whodunit. With a deadline only two days away, Mae’s help is welcome!

I can honestly say this is the first episode in which I really like Violet as a person. She is still the hardworking young woman who wants to make it big as an investigative journalist that we knew in the Campers & Criminals series and the beginning of this one. Especially through the events of this episode, she is becoming a softer, gentler person. I had to adjust to seeing the world through Violet’s eyes instead of Mae’s when the two of them are together! I didn’t think I would ever see Mae and Violet working on a murder together, swapping stories about guys, or enjoying each other’s company!

The mystery was truly confounding. Plot twists led Mae and Violet to – and away from – several suspects and they worked well together. I was very surprised to find out whodunit and the motive the person gave, and enjoyed how the rest of the situations were resolved. I highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy well-written cozy mysteries with humor, tourist town settings, and characters you’ve known and loved.

From a thankful heart: I requested and received an eARC of this novel, a review was not required.

[Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I love this series! Then to make this one even more special, another one of my favorite characters created by Tonya Kappes plays a supporting role in this book. Mae West (from The Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery Series set in Normal, Kentucky) comes for a visit to Holiday Junction. She comes to visit with Violet Rhinehammer, the local journalist (and also a transplant from Normal, Kentucky). Back in Normal, Violet and Mae used to butt heads, even though they were always friends. However, I guess absence make the heart grow fonder. The village of Holiday Junction is a tranquil little village with "a small seaside, mountainside and countryside", as the local trolley driver so eloquently puts it. Mae is entranced with everything in Holiday Junction.

Violet has a lot on her plate trying to be the Merry Maker and keeping this secret from Mae and the rest of the town. The Merry Maker has a festive job and is responsible to secretly install a sign type structure for each holiday. It is like an Easter egg hunt to find it. Once the residents find it, they gather around and have their final holiday jollies at the sign. They are also preparing for the Sparkle Ball, which is a gala like no other where they drop a model of the Merry Maker at the count of ten just like New York drops the ball. It is quite the affair. Like any good Tonya Kappes' mystery, we have to have a homicide to solve. A local lady, Hillary Stevens, is found dead beside a miniature castle for Rapunzel. The killer actually wrapped her long hair around the castle. Eek! I envision it being quite the scene. Chief Strickland actually asks for help on this case from Violet and his son, Darren, (also Violet's cohort for the Merry Maker) to nose around to find clues. Since Mae is a top notch nosy amateur sleuth, Violet asks if her friend can provide an assist on this case. There are plenty of red herrings and suspects. Hillary was not very well liked by her community which provides a larger suspect pool than normal. The characters in this book and this series are so much fun to read about. I love the camaraderie of this small village and their obsession with holidays. I also enjoy the southern humor that always abounds in a book written by Tonya Kappes. I highly recommend that you start from the beginning of this series so you will fully understand the past. Trust me... you will not be disappointed. They are quick and easy reads, and they are always clean and fun. I always end up laughing out loud at more than one scene, and this book was no exception. Humor, mystery, a tad of romance and a local killer on the loose make this cozy mystery a great read.

Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mary Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Year Nuisance
Holiday Cozy Mystery, Book #4
Tonya Kappes
5 Stars

Synopsis:

CELEBRATE GOOD CRIMES!

New Year's Eve has always been a special time for the small town, Holiday Junction, with its annual tradition, the Sparkle Ball, along with the town Merry Maker spreading joy and cheer to all its residents. But this year, the joy is short-lived when local nuisance and troublemaker, Hillary Stevens, is found murdered in holiday town’s mini-village.

As the town's resident nosy journalist, Violet Rhinehammer is determined to uncover the truth behind Hillary’s murder and bring the killer to justice. But her investigation is complicated by her own secret - she is the town Merry Maker, and must keep her identity hidden from Mae West, her best friend who is visiting for the festive town’s Sparkle Ball.

With suspects at every turn and a town full of secrets, Violet must use her keen investigative skills and determination to uncover the truth before the killer strikes again. Will she be able to solve the mystery and bring the killer to justice, or will her own secret be her downfall?

New Year's Nuisance is a gripping tale of mystery and intrigue, perfect for fans of small town crime novels. With well-developed characters and a twisting plot, this book will keep you guessing until the very end. (Amazon)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Violet has lot going right now. She has her journalism duties, her secretive Merry Maker duties and a visit from Mae West. When a body is found in the town’s mini-village she has to figure out the murderer before someone else is targeted. This time she will have Mae’s help to figure it out.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. Whether Violet was pursuing clues or spending time with Mae I was very intrigued and wanted to know more. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. Find out if Mae and Violet can figure out the mystery.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the latest book in the Holiday Cozy Mystery Series. I adore the town of Holiday Junction and the passion that is instilled into every holiday! I would love to live in this town where a trolley and golf carts are the main modes of transportation.

Violet Rhinehammer was the local reporter in Normal, Kentucky, the location of the Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery series. She was on a plane to California for a big journalism job when it had to make an emergency landing. After being stuck in the town for a few days, Violet ended up staying as editor of the Holiday Junction paper.

This book opens with a cross-over with the Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery series as Mae West is visiting Violet. It came out of the blue as Mae and Violet were not on the best of terms. A relationship developed once Violent left Normal and there were phone calls between Violet and Mae about sleuthing and solving crimes. It did not feel natural to me that Mae would have hopped on a plane to visit Violet. However, Mae arrived at the perfect time as the town was getting ready to celebrate New Year’s Eve with the Sparkle Ball. Like other holidays, the town goes all out, including a miniature replica of the village in the community center. Each year, the businesses of Holiday Junction add something new to the mini village; unfortunately, one of the additions was a dead body this time. Chief Strickland taps into Violet’s sleuthing skills, and Mae, Darren, and even Millie Kay join forces to find the murderer.

Determining the killer was not easy-I went back and forth on suspects several times and was still shocked when the murderer was revealed. It is a wonderful book, and I did enjoy Mae visiting Holiday Junction. The characters and the town come alive, and it feels like the reader is part of the celebration. I cannot wait for the next holiday to arrive!

I did receive an ARC and am providing my honest review.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, New Year's Eve is fast approaching and Violet is meeting herself coming and going. First off she has to welcome Mae West, visiting from Violet's hone town of Normal, KY. Violet pulled some strings to snag a room at the local Inn for Mae with the plan of showing her the local sights as her job allows. Violet has to keep the local paper on schedule (she is a one woman band in that endeavor) while trying to keep her big secret - she is the Merry Maker. One other person sussed out her secret and now Darren shares the duties. Not so fast, Violet. Mae is on to her. But Mae didn't just show up for some girls time with Violet (BFFs they never have been) - what is really on her mind? Girl talk and catching up on Normal gossip gets set aside when a local woman is found murdered in the miniature display. The word goes out from those "in charge" that the culprit better be behind bars before the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve. As the clock ticks away the very short time left, Violet volunteers Mae to help with the investigation. After all, Mae is a virtual murder magnet and knows how to investigate. Mae and Violet make quite a team.
Romance plays a part in the story with Violet trying to figure out how she really feels about Darren and the Mae & Hank relationship has a new twist. Let's just say things get very interesting in Holiday Junction as the new year approaches.
As it is with every mystery from the pen and mind of Tonya Kappes, this is a fun and well crafted mystery. Add lots of humor and quirky characters and you have a great reading escape.
My thanks to Tonya Kappes for allowing me to read and review an advance copy.

[Kissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

An intriguing small town - er, village - mystery to bring in the New Year. While the case events itself was well done, the text surrounding it could have had more work. It took me awhile to determine the names of our characters in the beginning, especially our main detective character Violet. While it wasn't really necessary, I did feel a bit out of the loop on what Violet and Mae's previous relationship was like since it takes place in Mae's own book series. Then there were times I found myself having to go back and re-read the previous paragraph because I thought I missed something but in fact didn't, it just was continuity issues (i.e. originally Violet and Louise are going on their own to the Welcome Center leaving Mae and Mama at the beach, but then suddenly Mae and Mama are walking with them... and when Violet decides to go visit Darren [who's location kept switching back and forth between the lighthouse and bar] after Mama and Mae go to shop, Louise suddenly is no longer around). Details were a bit unclear at times as well; for example, it took me awhile to realize Hillary tied to the Rapunzel tower miniature was the real person and not a miniature of Hillary as Rapunzel in a grim representation ((I was so confused why they were so calm about someone doing a miniature of such graphic nature)). I found myself feeling bad for Hillary as the story progressed because I kept wondering if she was autistic and her "misbehavior" was just her having a hard time adjusting to the changes and the townspeople not providing her the support she needed. Overall, this was a nice quick read for the holiday despite its issues.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is Mae West doing visiting Violet Rhinehammer in Holiday Junction? Such a surprise visit! These frenemies to friends join together to solve the murder of a woman, Hillary Stevens, who is generally a pest to the town with her desire to keep Holiday Junction frozen in time with no changes. Hillary’s murder in the village’s mini village is pretty disturbing in the way it was carried out.

I really enjoy the relationship that Darren and Violet are working towards and how Mae keeps pushing them together. I think the teamwork between Darren and Violet as the Merry Maker is great because he knows the tradition and she will bring a fresh outlook to the traditions. It is a good thing that Hillary was killed because she was on the trail of the Merry Maker and thought that the Merry Maker was from out of town. This thinking could point to Violet as she isn’t aware of the village’s traditions and people might start suspecting her.

I felt like I was in a pinball game with all the suspects and trying to keep track of who was who. It was very interesting in who the suspects were and their motives. So many red herrings! To me, the killer was a total surprise. I didn’t even suspect this person at all! I like when Ms. Kappes brings two series together in one story as it fun to see familiar people in new situations. To me, the characters in this series are quirkier than the other book series Ms. Kappes writes and they are fun to read about. Cannot wait for the next book in this series and I really hope Violet and her family go to Normal, Kentucky for Mae’s wedding.

[Meezan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the fourth installment in the Holiday Cozy Mystery series, by Tonya Kappes, New Year's Eve is fast approaching in the festive town of Holiday Junction. Plans are underway for the Sparkle Ball, when holiday cheer is marred with the discovery of the dead body of a local nuisance. Journalist and quirky amateur sleuth, Violet Rhinehammer, sets out to find out what really happened and bring the victim's killer to justice. Violet's best friend, Mae West, is visiting, and while getting to the bottom of the mystery, Violet must keep her identity as the town's Merry Maker a secret.

I continue to enjoy this spinoff series from Camper and Criminals, by Tonya Kappes. I love how this town celebrates every holiday, all the while still feeling cozy. New Year Nuisance has the added bonus of having Mae West from the original series visit Violet. I have only read a few books in the Camper and Criminals series so far, so I don't know if these two work together in that series to solve crimes. However, I did love their partnership in this installment.

There were plenty of suspects with motives and means for them to consider. I did feel overwhelmed by the number of suspects and all the twists and turns at times, but on the other hand, it made for a great mystery that I was not able to solve. I also enjoyed the bit of romance that was woven into the story.

New Year Nuisance is a quick read that's perfect for around the holidays or any time of the year when you're looking for a cozy mystery that's festive and light. Although it's part of a spinoff series, you don't need to read the previous series in order to enjoy the Holiday Cozy Mystery series, although I'm working my way through Camper and Criminals because I enjoy that one as well.

The fifth one in the Holiday Cozy Mystery series is Chocolate Bunny Betrayal, which is set around Easter. I am planning to read or listen to it in April. In the meantime, I hope to read or listen to some more books in the Camper and Criminals series as well. I enjoy the author's clean and light-hearted writing style.

[Sapphyria · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Year Nuisance is the fourth book in the Holiday Cozy Mystery series, a spin-off of the Camper and Criminals series. The spin-off is headlined by Normal's ace reporter Violet Rhinehammer. She exits Normal to move onto greener pastures and finds herself in a different small town. Book four finds the town of Holiday Junction preparing for their New Year's celebrations. As Violet continues to keep Junction Journal afloat and tend to her civic duties, a local is found dead in the mini-village. Now Violet, and a special guest are on the case.

I love it when Tonya Kappes unites, or in this case reunites, characters from a different series. Having Mae visit Violet in Holiday Junction was a fantastic blending that I hope we see more of in the Holiday Cozy Mystery series. Violet and Mae really had to put their heads together on this one.

New Year Nuisance is a fun and quick read. I enjoyed Violet and Mae together in this book. My love for Violet's character continues to grow as the series progresses. I love continuing to get to know everyone in Holiday Junction. We get to meet a lot of interesting people and learn how important holidays are in this town. The mystery was well thought out and I didn’t have a clue who the murderer was or why until the author reveals everything. I was shocked. Definitely looking forward to the next book.

[Alisha Rowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted at https://bit.ly/48F4Bjx.











Holiday Junction goes out of it's way to celebrate every holiday featuring everything, including a secret Merry-Maker. Newish town resident, Violet, has been given this task and she has roped in a long term resident. But, setting up for the holiday is the last thing on Violet's mind as there has been a murder. Hillary was notorious for causing trouble, standing firm in her belief that everything in their town should stay the same. Now she's found strung up in the little village and Violet wants to help.

I was reading Holiday themed books for a minute there and I happened to own this book when I looked up a New Year's read. This is book 4 in a series and I have serious regrets about not starting with Book 1. I was able to get broad strokes with the story, but little nuances I feel were missed or lost on me by not starting with Book 1.

I did enjoy this cute murder mystery, though so I may backtrack and read them anyways. Even if there are spoilers of some things that happen in the earlier books. The author does a good job of constantly shifting the blame for the murder with plausible reasons each time why that person could have done it. Then there is the romance aspect to the book, but it is very low-key and hallmarky.