What do you think?
Holly & Mark Mystery #1
Home for the Homicides
Not yet published
Expected 13 Oct 26
'Tis the season . . . for murder.
When Special Agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd report to the idyllic town of Christmas to investigate a very less than idyllic murder, they’re in for more than the average whodunnit.
Welcome to Christmas, a town so cozy and charming it could be the backdrop of a Hallmark movie, where crime is never in season and it’s the holidays all year round. So when a tourist is found stabbed to death by an icicle in the middle of the town nativity scene, the local police are out of their depth—after all, how do you find a criminal in a town where crime doesn't exist?
The stakes are the whole town is relying on Holly and Mark to solve the crime before the annual Jingle Bell Jubilee festival (which naturally the town's entire economic survival relies on), plus, whichever of them cracks the case will receive a promotion to Major Crimes—and there's only one spot.
Holly and Mark are both on thin ice after screwing up on the job. This assignment is their one shot at redemption, if they can put aside their bitter rivalry. And of course, it's not only their jobs on the line, it's their hearts, too—regrets of their holiday party hookup last year haunt them like ghosts of Christmas past, so they both want to wrap up this rom-com gone wrong as quickly as possible. But with just twelve days until the festival, the countdown to catch a killer—without killing each other—is on.
Co-authored by New York Times bestseller Elle Cosimano (Finlay Donovan series) and USA Today bestseller Hannah Morrissey (Black Harbor series), Home for the Homicides is a sexy, light-hearted romp, with a dash of merriment and murder.
When Special Agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd report to the idyllic town of Christmas to investigate a very less than idyllic murder, they’re in for more than the average whodunnit.
Welcome to Christmas, a town so cozy and charming it could be the backdrop of a Hallmark movie, where crime is never in season and it’s the holidays all year round. So when a tourist is found stabbed to death by an icicle in the middle of the town nativity scene, the local police are out of their depth—after all, how do you find a criminal in a town where crime doesn't exist?
The stakes are the whole town is relying on Holly and Mark to solve the crime before the annual Jingle Bell Jubilee festival (which naturally the town's entire economic survival relies on), plus, whichever of them cracks the case will receive a promotion to Major Crimes—and there's only one spot.
Holly and Mark are both on thin ice after screwing up on the job. This assignment is their one shot at redemption, if they can put aside their bitter rivalry. And of course, it's not only their jobs on the line, it's their hearts, too—regrets of their holiday party hookup last year haunt them like ghosts of Christmas past, so they both want to wrap up this rom-com gone wrong as quickly as possible. But with just twelve days until the festival, the countdown to catch a killer—without killing each other—is on.
Co-authored by New York Times bestseller Elle Cosimano (Finlay Donovan series) and USA Today bestseller Hannah Morrissey (Black Harbor series), Home for the Homicides is a sexy, light-hearted romp, with a dash of merriment and murder.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 13, 2026
About the author
Elle Cosimano
17 books9,027 followersUSA TODAY and New York Times bestselling author, Edgar® Nominee, Bram Stoker® Nominee, & ITW Thriller Award winner.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 534 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Holly & Mark Mystery #1
Home for the Homicides by Elle Cosimano, Hannah Morrissey
Narrated by Angela Dawe, Colin Donnell, Patti Murin
These two favorite authors of mine went to town making fun of Christmas, romance, police procedurals, old and new Christmas movies, buddy romcoms, pastries, and just about everything else. There has been a murder in the town of Christmas, a living Hallmark movie kind of town where no one curses and no one can say the word "murder" without stuttering. Nothing bad happens here, well, no murders happen here. Apparently much of the town is charged up and raring to go when it comes to coupling but murders are not appreciated at all, not spoken of, and having a murderer running loose in Christmas is going to destroy this little town, when murder talk chases away all the tourists.
Enter Special Agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd. We met them a year earlier, at the beginning of this story, while they were doing it in a closet at a work function. A one time thing that might have become more except that Mark got the homicide job that Holly wanted while she was sent to the basement and there was warfare (fun times for Mark, ignoring from Holly) for the rest of the year. But now they are being sent to Christmas together to work this crime and the always simmering something between them is going to ignite.
The crime takes second billing to the jokes and silliness and nothing is sacred. You need to know what you are getting into. Morrissey writes very serious crime thrillers, which I greatly enjoy, but don't expect straight crime thriller here. Cosimano writes comedy mysteries, and in this case, it's like the two of them escaped from any normal writing confines to be let loose on what they really wanted to do. In a town where cussing can make almost any of the townsfolk pass out if they hear a swear word, we have swearing galore from Mark and Holly, and for such a Hallmark kind of town, the sex shop seems to be very busy running a lucrative business.
I've read eight of Elle Cosimano's books and five of Hannah Morrissey's books and they are always Must Read/Listens for me. So here they are together and they are here to terrorize us with raunchy Christmas cheer and sex toys. I happen to favor closed door coupling (with me on the other side of the door) but everything is open here. Almost every line is a joke of some kind, it's as if these two authors saved up all their zingers that didn't make the cut somewhere else and use them here. I can hear the two of them cackling as they've been let loose to write whatever they want to write and I laughed even when I wanted to hide my eyes/cover my ears.
With both the ebook and the audiobook, I could read along as I listened to this fantastic audio performance. Along with a narrator for each of Holly and Mark's POVs (they are married in real life), we have an overall narrator who seems to be almost more a heckler, almost always saying out loud exactly what I was thinking. Way to go narrator, reading my mind! Be sure to check out my buddy read partner, DeAnn's, thoughts on this story.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, SMP Early Readers and NetGalley for this ARC
Home for the Homicides by Elle Cosimano, Hannah Morrissey
Narrated by Angela Dawe, Colin Donnell, Patti Murin
These two favorite authors of mine went to town making fun of Christmas, romance, police procedurals, old and new Christmas movies, buddy romcoms, pastries, and just about everything else. There has been a murder in the town of Christmas, a living Hallmark movie kind of town where no one curses and no one can say the word "murder" without stuttering. Nothing bad happens here, well, no murders happen here. Apparently much of the town is charged up and raring to go when it comes to coupling but murders are not appreciated at all, not spoken of, and having a murderer running loose in Christmas is going to destroy this little town, when murder talk chases away all the tourists.
Enter Special Agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd. We met them a year earlier, at the beginning of this story, while they were doing it in a closet at a work function. A one time thing that might have become more except that Mark got the homicide job that Holly wanted while she was sent to the basement and there was warfare (fun times for Mark, ignoring from Holly) for the rest of the year. But now they are being sent to Christmas together to work this crime and the always simmering something between them is going to ignite.
The crime takes second billing to the jokes and silliness and nothing is sacred. You need to know what you are getting into. Morrissey writes very serious crime thrillers, which I greatly enjoy, but don't expect straight crime thriller here. Cosimano writes comedy mysteries, and in this case, it's like the two of them escaped from any normal writing confines to be let loose on what they really wanted to do. In a town where cussing can make almost any of the townsfolk pass out if they hear a swear word, we have swearing galore from Mark and Holly, and for such a Hallmark kind of town, the sex shop seems to be very busy running a lucrative business.
I've read eight of Elle Cosimano's books and five of Hannah Morrissey's books and they are always Must Read/Listens for me. So here they are together and they are here to terrorize us with raunchy Christmas cheer and sex toys. I happen to favor closed door coupling (with me on the other side of the door) but everything is open here. Almost every line is a joke of some kind, it's as if these two authors saved up all their zingers that didn't make the cut somewhere else and use them here. I can hear the two of them cackling as they've been let loose to write whatever they want to write and I laughed even when I wanted to hide my eyes/cover my ears.
With both the ebook and the audiobook, I could read along as I listened to this fantastic audio performance. Along with a narrator for each of Holly and Mark's POVs (they are married in real life), we have an overall narrator who seems to be almost more a heckler, almost always saying out loud exactly what I was thinking. Way to go narrator, reading my mind! Be sure to check out my buddy read partner, DeAnn's, thoughts on this story.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, SMP Early Readers and NetGalley for this ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Home for the Homicides
by Elle Cosimano and Hannah Morrissey is the first book in The Holly and Mark Mystery series. This is a romantic comedy mystery series. I thought it was going to be a romantic suspense police procedural series. State Bureau of Investigation Special Agents are assigned to assist local law enforcement in the town of Christmas. The town is relying on the case being solved before the annual Jingle Bell Jubilee festival which the town’s economic survival relies on. Whichever one of the agents solves the case will be given a job in Major Crimes, and there’s only one spot. Both Holly and Mark have made mistakes that hit social media so this is their shot at redemption, if they can get past their rivalry. With twelve days until the festival, will they succeed?
Holly is cynical, ambitious, competitive, defensive, and emotionally guarded. She hates the Christmas holiday due to a personal tragedy that occurred years ago on Christmas Eve. Mark is determined and desperate for professional redemption. He’s also charismatic and provocative. There’s also a narrator who is introduced in the prologue and pops up throughout the book with comments on events and situations.
This book is a parody of a holiday movie with some extra spice, profanity, and a murder to be solved. The names of many of the characters are related to Christmas in some way. It uses to enemies-to-lovers chemistry trope and is heavy on comedic elements that felt over the top. While there is a legitimate mystery, it seems to take a back seat to the romance and the deliberately exaggerated town and its inhabitants. Despite this, it is entertaining with a fast pace and somewhat chaotic subplots.
Overall, this is a funny and engaging novel with romance, comedy, action, and a few twists.
St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books, Elle Cosimano, and Hannah Morrissey provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for October 13, 2026.
Holly is cynical, ambitious, competitive, defensive, and emotionally guarded. She hates the Christmas holiday due to a personal tragedy that occurred years ago on Christmas Eve. Mark is determined and desperate for professional redemption. He’s also charismatic and provocative. There’s also a narrator who is introduced in the prologue and pops up throughout the book with comments on events and situations.
This book is a parody of a holiday movie with some extra spice, profanity, and a murder to be solved. The names of many of the characters are related to Christmas in some way. It uses to enemies-to-lovers chemistry trope and is heavy on comedic elements that felt over the top. While there is a legitimate mystery, it seems to take a back seat to the romance and the deliberately exaggerated town and its inhabitants. Despite this, it is entertaining with a fast pace and somewhat chaotic subplots.
Overall, this is a funny and engaging novel with romance, comedy, action, and a few twists.
St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books, Elle Cosimano, and Hannah Morrissey provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for October 13, 2026.
arcs-to-read
July 12, 2026Well, this looks cute and sounds fun 😍🤭🩷 gosh, I love Christmas so much 🎄❤️🎅
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As someone who loves seasonal reads, Home for the Homicides was a fun, unexpected treat. Going into it, I kept thinking it was going to be too corny, but I was happily proven wrong. It won me over with its charm and humor.
Set in the ridiculously festive town of Christmas, the plot kicks off when a red-haired woman—visiting under the alias Anna Olaf—is murdered and her body is discovered right in the town nativity scene. Special Bureau of Investigation (SBI) agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd are sent in to investigate ahead of the town's annual Jingle Bell Jubilee. The book is jam-packed with every holiday pun imaginable, from the location itself to character names and SBI department details.
Don't let the backdrop fool you into thinking it's purely a sweet Hallmark cozy—there is plenty of spice packed into this rom-com mystery alongside the investigation! The dual male and female audio narration brings chemistry to the lead characters, while an added third-person narrator drops in tongue-in-cheek quips that make the listening experience quite entertaining. While not groundbreaking, it is a delightfully witty, spice-filled festive read.
Set in the ridiculously festive town of Christmas, the plot kicks off when a red-haired woman—visiting under the alias Anna Olaf—is murdered and her body is discovered right in the town nativity scene. Special Bureau of Investigation (SBI) agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd are sent in to investigate ahead of the town's annual Jingle Bell Jubilee. The book is jam-packed with every holiday pun imaginable, from the location itself to character names and SBI department details.
Don't let the backdrop fool you into thinking it's purely a sweet Hallmark cozy—there is plenty of spice packed into this rom-com mystery alongside the investigation! The dual male and female audio narration brings chemistry to the lead characters, while an added third-person narrator drops in tongue-in-cheek quips that make the listening experience quite entertaining. While not groundbreaking, it is a delightfully witty, spice-filled festive read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Hilarious on audiobook! Dual male and female narrators for the alternating POV chapters with Holly and Mark. I hope this is the start of a new series because this is my kind of holiday book! Murder mystery plus some spice....yes please!
I rounded it up from 3.5 due to the fun narration.
I rounded it up from 3.5 due to the fun narration.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A total bingey, funny, popcorn thrillery type of book, blending the humor of Cosimano and the suspense from Morrissey, this dynamic duo perfected the perfect Hallmark type of story. If you like Finlay Donovan but are looking for something a tad more darker, this is your read. This is a writing duo that I didn’t know I needed, but now I won’t be able to steer away from. I hope these two continue to write together!
April 30, 2026
First, thank you to NetGalley for the e-Arc of ‘Home for the Homicides’ in exchange for my honest review.
This was an interesting read for me. I enjoyed the prologue and the voice of the narrator. I enjoyed that the book was super self aware and spent a lot of time being extra hallmark movie cringey and that the authors leaned into it and called it out through the presence of the narrator. I actually was interested in the crime and wanted to see who the murderer was and at times when I just really wanted to stop reading, I didn’t because I wanted to know!
The things I enjoyed were mostly the humor and the absolutely ridiculous nature of the town and the towns people. It was a read where you needed to suspend a lot of your disbelief and just enjoy the ride.
My negatives…
Though a lot of the romance was believable, it sometimes just felt a little weird or confusing. I think because the entire voice of the book had a lot of self deprecating humor and didn’t take the story seriously it was hard to really care about the characters and their feelings for each other.
I hated the stupidity of our FMC and MMC. It was pretty tiring how incompetent they were with their deductive skills. Made a lot of the read hard to get through.
Sometimes, I was just bored. I felt like there was a ton of extra with little point? This is going to sound crazy but I feel like the cringe wasn’t leaned into enough in some spots. All of the characters felt like they were flirting with being weird but aside from their names/occupations they just kind of fell flat. I get that we are making fun of a Christmas movie trope but I still want to actually enjoy being there. It was like on the cusp of something really entertaining but didn’t actually hit the sweet spot for me.
Three stars for the escapism and attempt at being something different and original in terms of self deprecation and awareness with a splash of murder. Not the best though, I think it could have been better.
This was an interesting read for me. I enjoyed the prologue and the voice of the narrator. I enjoyed that the book was super self aware and spent a lot of time being extra hallmark movie cringey and that the authors leaned into it and called it out through the presence of the narrator. I actually was interested in the crime and wanted to see who the murderer was and at times when I just really wanted to stop reading, I didn’t because I wanted to know!
The things I enjoyed were mostly the humor and the absolutely ridiculous nature of the town and the towns people. It was a read where you needed to suspend a lot of your disbelief and just enjoy the ride.
My negatives…
Though a lot of the romance was believable, it sometimes just felt a little weird or confusing. I think because the entire voice of the book had a lot of self deprecating humor and didn’t take the story seriously it was hard to really care about the characters and their feelings for each other.
I hated the stupidity of our FMC and MMC. It was pretty tiring how incompetent they were with their deductive skills. Made a lot of the read hard to get through.
Sometimes, I was just bored. I felt like there was a ton of extra with little point? This is going to sound crazy but I feel like the cringe wasn’t leaned into enough in some spots. All of the characters felt like they were flirting with being weird but aside from their names/occupations they just kind of fell flat. I get that we are making fun of a Christmas movie trope but I still want to actually enjoy being there. It was like on the cusp of something really entertaining but didn’t actually hit the sweet spot for me.
Three stars for the escapism and attempt at being something different and original in terms of self deprecation and awareness with a splash of murder. Not the best though, I think it could have been better.
September 30, 2026
The audiobook was okay. Some humor and romance. Christmas themed story filled with Christmas named town and characters names were winter related like Holly Frost, Jon Snow
This story had 3 narrators. The narrator from Donovan series jumped in every once in a while as commentators. I liked her voice but I don't know if her comments were necessary. The story followed Mark and Holly. They are rival investigators solving a murder together. This story has the genre as cozy mystery so maybe that explains the lack of thrills and suspense.
The story started with Mark and Holly hooking up in the closet during a work event. They were supposed to go out on a date afterwards but Holly stood Mark up because Mark happened to get the promotion Holly wanted. They're very competitive.
Later, they were assigned as partners to investigate a murder in the town called Christmas with a character named Jon Snow (from Game of Thrones) as one of the suspects. Well, the story didn't flat out say Jon Snow is now a grown up single dad with two daughters but his name made me think of GOT.
The two characters are clearly attracted to each other but neither one of them want to make the first move towards each other. Readers learned about Mark's family. The investigation into one murder goes so slowly and no view from the killer until the reveal.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen and review.
This story had 3 narrators. The narrator from Donovan series jumped in every once in a while as commentators. I liked her voice but I don't know if her comments were necessary. The story followed Mark and Holly. They are rival investigators solving a murder together. This story has the genre as cozy mystery so maybe that explains the lack of thrills and suspense.
The story started with Mark and Holly hooking up in the closet during a work event. They were supposed to go out on a date afterwards but Holly stood Mark up because Mark happened to get the promotion Holly wanted. They're very competitive.
Later, they were assigned as partners to investigate a murder in the town called Christmas with a character named Jon Snow (from Game of Thrones) as one of the suspects. Well, the story didn't flat out say Jon Snow is now a grown up single dad with two daughters but his name made me think of GOT.
The two characters are clearly attracted to each other but neither one of them want to make the first move towards each other. Readers learned about Mark's family. The investigation into one murder goes so slowly and no view from the killer until the reveal.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen and review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars - Review to come soon. 🫶
May 8, 2026
Romance with a murder… yes please!
I enjoyed this rom com with a side of a dead body. Two agents working a case in .. get this.. a town called Christmas! 🎄 A bit dragging in the middle and towards end, but 4 stars for creativity. I hadn’t read anything like this before. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review.
I enjoyed this rom com with a side of a dead body. Two agents working a case in .. get this.. a town called Christmas! 🎄 A bit dragging in the middle and towards end, but 4 stars for creativity. I hadn’t read anything like this before. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review.
August 1, 2026
Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley
I wish I was able to rate this higher because I was really looking forward to this ARC. Christmas, murder mystery, romance, and written by Elle Cosimano? It had what seemed like the perfect ingredients to concoct a book I would love.
The satire was funny, to an extent, and Mark and Holly had a fun (albeit very HR-frowned-upon) relationship. I think this could really work as a legit TV Christmas movie with some tweaks.
My #1 Issue: FMC USED GENERATIVE AI/AI WAS MENTIONED MULTIPLE TIMES! EWWWW!!!!
This was an immediate ick for me. As an author/anyone in the publishing industry that touched this book, you should be against generative media in all forms. No AI images, no AI videos, no AI music, no AI books. It really IS that serious because AI has huge negative ecological effects and major ethical concerns. Also, FMC uses “an AI website” it to get an image to use while she creates a fake tinder account. Hello??? Catfishing existed well before AI. So unnecessary!!! The characters also assume multiple times that any catfishing images they come across are AI, instead of just saying they’re fake. Really annoying.
Beyond that, the names/jokes in this were so deeply unserious, it took me out of the story each time. I get it’s parodying a Hallmark movie, but good lord. Noelle North, Ginger Belle, Buddy Thelf, Frank N Sands, Ott Langzein, Candace “Candy” Cane???? All the balls and penis jokes as well… I can laugh at my fair share, but the overwhelming amount felt like I was reading something written by a middle schooler.
The killer was also easily predictable - I caught on before the book was 50% over. :/ Better luck on my next ARC I guess.
I wish I was able to rate this higher because I was really looking forward to this ARC. Christmas, murder mystery, romance, and written by Elle Cosimano? It had what seemed like the perfect ingredients to concoct a book I would love.
The satire was funny, to an extent, and Mark and Holly had a fun (albeit very HR-frowned-upon) relationship. I think this could really work as a legit TV Christmas movie with some tweaks.
My #1 Issue: FMC USED GENERATIVE AI/AI WAS MENTIONED MULTIPLE TIMES! EWWWW!!!!
This was an immediate ick for me. As an author/anyone in the publishing industry that touched this book, you should be against generative media in all forms. No AI images, no AI videos, no AI music, no AI books. It really IS that serious because AI has huge negative ecological effects and major ethical concerns. Also, FMC uses “an AI website” it to get an image to use while she creates a fake tinder account. Hello??? Catfishing existed well before AI. So unnecessary!!! The characters also assume multiple times that any catfishing images they come across are AI, instead of just saying they’re fake. Really annoying.
Beyond that, the names/jokes in this were so deeply unserious, it took me out of the story each time. I get it’s parodying a Hallmark movie, but good lord. Noelle North, Ginger Belle, Buddy Thelf, Frank N Sands, Ott Langzein, Candace “Candy” Cane???? All the balls and penis jokes as well… I can laugh at my fair share, but the overwhelming amount felt like I was reading something written by a middle schooler.
The killer was also easily predictable - I caught on before the book was 50% over. :/ Better luck on my next ARC I guess.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am not 100% sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. Overall the story and the humor in it didn’t work for me, but there were some humorous elements. The first chapter, told by a third party narrator to the story kind of made me smile, but then having this character come in and out landed a little too much like being told what to think. Like it wasn’t funny on its own, so a random narrator had to tell you that it was.
The whole thing was kind of campy, kind of cringey, and a lot of annoying. There were a lot of f-bombs early on that seemed to be placed in the manner that groups of teens drop so as to look edgy and indifferent. It personally took me out of the story very early on. I don’t mind some swearing, but this was just gratuitous and pointless.
The characters were immature and sometimes goofy. The romance was kind of there between the two main characters, but I didn’t like either of them enough to care. Two adults acting like competing teens just isn’t my jam. It gets spicy, but I can’t say much about that because I chose to skip those parts. I gave it more than one star because I really like Patty Murin as a narrator. That helped me get through. Sorry that this is not a cheery book report. If not for a range of adult content, I would say this read very YA.
I think this might be another case of “I am too Gen X for this.” Maybe it would have landed better had I been in the mood for cheesy and goofy. I am not sure. Others are certainly enjoying it a lot more, and I encourage reading 4 and 5 star reviews to see how it struck that certain chord for them.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for both the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
The whole thing was kind of campy, kind of cringey, and a lot of annoying. There were a lot of f-bombs early on that seemed to be placed in the manner that groups of teens drop so as to look edgy and indifferent. It personally took me out of the story very early on. I don’t mind some swearing, but this was just gratuitous and pointless.
The characters were immature and sometimes goofy. The romance was kind of there between the two main characters, but I didn’t like either of them enough to care. Two adults acting like competing teens just isn’t my jam. It gets spicy, but I can’t say much about that because I chose to skip those parts. I gave it more than one star because I really like Patty Murin as a narrator. That helped me get through. Sorry that this is not a cheery book report. If not for a range of adult content, I would say this read very YA.
I think this might be another case of “I am too Gen X for this.” Maybe it would have landed better had I been in the mood for cheesy and goofy. I am not sure. Others are certainly enjoying it a lot more, and I encourage reading 4 and 5 star reviews to see how it struck that certain chord for them.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for both the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
September 2, 2026
Thank you to Net Galley and MacMillan audio for the ALC of this title.
Okay, so, this book was super cheesy, over the top and completely ridiculous but I ate it up! I had so much fun with this one. You definitely have to go into this one expecting a cheesy Christmas “Hallmark” movie-ish murder mystery. It’s not serious just fun! The murder mystery was a fun twist to the usually Christmas romcom. If you like Meghan Quinn’s holiday books and love Finlay Donovan, you will LOVE this one! The audio was fantastic and really added to the story. The ending was shocking to me! 4.5 stars.
Okay, so, this book was super cheesy, over the top and completely ridiculous but I ate it up! I had so much fun with this one. You definitely have to go into this one expecting a cheesy Christmas “Hallmark” movie-ish murder mystery. It’s not serious just fun! The murder mystery was a fun twist to the usually Christmas romcom. If you like Meghan Quinn’s holiday books and love Finlay Donovan, you will LOVE this one! The audio was fantastic and really added to the story. The ending was shocking to me! 4.5 stars.
August 5, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher/author for my advanced readers copy!
Spoiler free review!
Content warnings: death, murder, grief, stalkers, cussing ( + some interesting alternatives lol), crappy families, and quite a bit of spice, no like actually
Think of a Christmas Hallmark movie if it were mixed with an early 2000s cop show and has some really bad Gen Alpha slang and is set in a sex obsessed tourist trap that’s entirely Christmas themed (no like the towns name is Christmas)
That’s really the best summary I can give.
Listen to be fair most of the bad slang was spoken by a Gen Alpha character so it’s not the worst.
Overall more like a 3.85 star read which is actually not a horrible rating for me.
This entire book screamed Christmas and is the perfect seasonal romcom with a murder mystery side plot. Well I’m actually not entirely sure if it as the main plot or not but it felt like it to me. Maybe more like they’re both side plots that are like coexisting if that makes any sense lol. Basically what I’m trying to say is that it’s a good mix of the two.
Romance: I did actually like Mark and Holly’s relationship and they were both very funny (though some of their scenes could get SPICY) And then ofc the classic obstacles show up in they’re getting together but overall I found their romance plot very cute
The Crime: The best way I can describe the whole like murder mystery trying to find the killer thing is one of those Netflix documentaries where they have a new suspect every episode and then there’s evidence and with the way it’s edited you’re like “wait they could actually be the killer” and then at the end wait that makes so much sense that that persons the actual killer. If you’re coming just for the actual crime part this probably isn’t for you as like I said it’s more of a partial plot than the main one.
Writing: I really enjoyed the writing in this, it was very easy to read and follow. I’m not sure how I felt about that third person narrator guy who would randomly drop in with commentary but honestly he was kind of a vibe. This isn’t like the most well written thing I’ve ever read but it was very fun and quick and if it were actually winter when I was reading this I could see myself finishing it within a day or two.
Anyhow thx for reading this review and hope this helps you choose your next seasonal read <3
Spoiler free review!
Content warnings: death, murder, grief, stalkers, cussing ( + some interesting alternatives lol), crappy families, and quite a bit of spice, no like actually
Think of a Christmas Hallmark movie if it were mixed with an early 2000s cop show and has some really bad Gen Alpha slang and is set in a sex obsessed tourist trap that’s entirely Christmas themed (no like the towns name is Christmas)
That’s really the best summary I can give.
Listen to be fair most of the bad slang was spoken by a Gen Alpha character so it’s not the worst.
Overall more like a 3.85 star read which is actually not a horrible rating for me.
This entire book screamed Christmas and is the perfect seasonal romcom with a murder mystery side plot. Well I’m actually not entirely sure if it as the main plot or not but it felt like it to me. Maybe more like they’re both side plots that are like coexisting if that makes any sense lol. Basically what I’m trying to say is that it’s a good mix of the two.
Romance: I did actually like Mark and Holly’s relationship and they were both very funny (though some of their scenes could get SPICY) And then ofc the classic obstacles show up in they’re getting together but overall I found their romance plot very cute
The Crime: The best way I can describe the whole like murder mystery trying to find the killer thing is one of those Netflix documentaries where they have a new suspect every episode and then there’s evidence and with the way it’s edited you’re like “wait they could actually be the killer” and then at the end wait that makes so much sense that that persons the actual killer. If you’re coming just for the actual crime part this probably isn’t for you as like I said it’s more of a partial plot than the main one.
Writing: I really enjoyed the writing in this, it was very easy to read and follow. I’m not sure how I felt about that third person narrator guy who would randomly drop in with commentary but honestly he was kind of a vibe. This isn’t like the most well written thing I’ve ever read but it was very fun and quick and if it were actually winter when I was reading this I could see myself finishing it within a day or two.
Anyhow thx for reading this review and hope this helps you choose your next seasonal read <3
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
THE ICICLES ARE SHARP, AND THE COUNTDOWN TO THE FESTIVAL IS ON. "A deliciously sexy, zany, and fast-paced romantic holiday thriller that turns a picturesque town into a high-stakes countdown for survival."
In Home for the Homicides, bestselling authors Elle Cosimano and Hannah Morrissey deliver a delightfully zany, fast-paced, and wildly seductive holiday cozy-noir romantic comedy mystery. The story hinges on two fiercely competitive, bickering special agents navigating immense professional and interpersonal hurdles to catch a brutal copycat killer inside a picture-perfect, ultra-traditional Christmas town.
Hallmark holiday romance charm vs. cold-blooded festive murder.
"Two bickering special agents on thin ice are forced into an undercover partnership to solve a bizarre nativity-scene homicide."
An undercover redemption assignment at a seasonal festival turns into a terrifying waking nightmare when a tourist is stabbed to death by an icicle ornament, forcing two rival agents into a frantic race to find the killer before they destroy the town—and each other.
Elevator Pitch
A punchy, holiday-themed romantic suspense novel where two rival special agents on thin ice are sent to a crime-free, Christmas-obsessed town to solve a bizarre nativity-scene murder, competing for a single promotion while dodging the ghosts of their own romantic past.
Intro
Special Agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd are bitter rivals, and both are desperate for career redemption after hitting a major professional slump. The ultimate prize—a single available promotion to Major Crimes—tracks straight to their newest assignment: the aggressively festive and crime-free town of Christmas. When a tourist is discovered stabbed to death by an icicle ornament directly inside the town's public nativity scene, local law enforcement is entirely out of its depth. Holly and Mark must team up under strict orders. Still, as the 12-day countdown to the town’s economy-saving Jingle Bell Jubilee begins, they must hunt down a killer while dodging the lingering romantic tension of a disastrous holiday party hookup from the previous winter.
New Series:
Book 1 in the Holly & Mark Mystery Series establishes a brand-new, deliciously fun, and steamy collaborative sandbox for the two beloved crime fiction authors.
Setting
The deceptively pristine, sweet-smelling, and hyper-traditional holiday fishbowl town of Christmas, where swearing is actively frowned upon, but a killer is quietly stalking the unpaved local squares.
Vibe
Sassy, light-hearted, and dripping with banter. It feels like the cozy, small-town seasonal warmth of a Hallmark movie colliding with the sharp, witty meta-paranoia and chaotic comedy of Finlay Donovan and the gritty edge of Hannah Morrissey.
Genre
Holiday Romantic Comedy / Cozy Whodunit Mystery / Romantic Suspense
Themes
~The Comedic Friction of Enemies-to-Lovers Rivalry
~The Commercialization and Illusion of Festive Sanctuaries
~Career Redemption Over Intense Professional Vulnerability
~The Complicity and Hidden Grudges of Small, Insular Communities
Standout Characters
~Holly Frost: The sharp, ambitious, and deeply defensive special agent who uses witty banter to guard both her professional reputation and her fragile heart
~Mark Shepherd: Holly’s fiercely competitive, brooding rival agent whose laser focus on the Major Crimes promotion masks a serious lingering fixation on Holly.
~The Town Elite: A highly eccentric group of Christmas organizers and festive shopkeepers whose entire financial survival hinges on keeping the public murder under wraps.
Author Writing Standout
Having read all of their solo books, Hannah Morrissey's trademark edgy sharpness and Midwestern noir atmosphere marry perfectly with Elle Cosimano's legendary talent for zany, chaotic humor and addictive, rapid-fire pacing. Their collaborative prose is a total delight, managing a crisp, multi-POV timeline that plays into our favorite holiday tropes while subverting them at every single turn.
Takeaway
You cannot fully unwrap the truth of a community until you look past the beautiful packaging; sometimes the most idyllic holiday traditions hide the coldest grudges.
Title Significance
Home for the Homicides functions as a brilliant, tongue-in-cheek subversion of the classic "home for the holidays" sentiment—instantly signaling to readers that this festive escape features a high-stakes body count.
Metaphor
The icicle ornament weapon serves as a flawless metaphor for the town itself—seemingly clear, beautiful, and seasonal on the outside, but structurally rigid and capable of inflicting lethal damage when weaponized.
Why You Should Read
Having thoroughly enjoyed their previous books and their initial collaborative teasers, I can guarantee this is the ultimate, bingeable seasonal blockbuster read for fans who want their holiday romance served with a brilliant, clever side of murder.
My Thoughts
COSIMANO AND MORRISSEY DELIVER A FLAWLESS, FIVE-STAR HOLIDAY BLOCKBUSTER.
"An electric collaboration that seamlessly blends razor-sharp enemies-to-lovers banter with a propulsive, twisty winter whodunit."
The narrative pacing turns the screw with absolute perfection. The snappy, sexual-tension-filled dialogue between Holly and Mark kept me grinning from ear to ear, while the countdown to the festival created a genuinely frantic level of suspense. It is a deliciously fun, sexy, and smart mash-up that belongs on everyone's autumn stack. Can't wait for the next in the series!
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5).
"A flawless, five-star festive triumph that proves nobody handles collaborative holiday malice quite like Cosimano and Morrissey."
Audio🎧Standout
The audiobook edition from Macmillan Audio is a flawless 5/5 star production that serves as an absolute masterclass in multicast narration. As a massive fan of both Elle Cosimano and Hannah Morrissey, hearing their sharp, festive rom-com mystery blend brought to life by this specific lineup was pure magic. The one and only Angela Dawe anchors the book as the narrator, delivering her signature, razor-sharp wit and immaculate vocal shape-shifting that fans of Elle’s books (Finlay Donovan) have rightfully grown to worship. Joining her are the real-life married duo Patti Murin and Colin Donnell, who lend their voices to Special Agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd. Their natural, real-world chemistry completely radiates through the speakers, injecting an effortless, crackling tension into the fierce professional rivalry and palpable romantic pining between Holly and Mark. This talented trio takes a brilliant, light-hearted whodunit and transforms it into a dreamy, laugh-out-loud, and completely unputdownable listening experience
Recs
Read this if you devoured the Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano, Hannah's gritty twisty thrillers, Killer Vibes by Jack Friday (John Fram), Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum Series, A Killer for Christmas by Kim Harrington, or Sounds Like a Plan series by Dwayne Alexander Smith and Pamela Samuels Young.
Special thanks to Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, #MacAudio2026, and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Oct 13, 2026
Oct Must-Read Books
In Home for the Homicides, bestselling authors Elle Cosimano and Hannah Morrissey deliver a delightfully zany, fast-paced, and wildly seductive holiday cozy-noir romantic comedy mystery. The story hinges on two fiercely competitive, bickering special agents navigating immense professional and interpersonal hurdles to catch a brutal copycat killer inside a picture-perfect, ultra-traditional Christmas town.
Hallmark holiday romance charm vs. cold-blooded festive murder.
"Two bickering special agents on thin ice are forced into an undercover partnership to solve a bizarre nativity-scene homicide."
An undercover redemption assignment at a seasonal festival turns into a terrifying waking nightmare when a tourist is stabbed to death by an icicle ornament, forcing two rival agents into a frantic race to find the killer before they destroy the town—and each other.
Elevator Pitch
A punchy, holiday-themed romantic suspense novel where two rival special agents on thin ice are sent to a crime-free, Christmas-obsessed town to solve a bizarre nativity-scene murder, competing for a single promotion while dodging the ghosts of their own romantic past.
Intro
Special Agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd are bitter rivals, and both are desperate for career redemption after hitting a major professional slump. The ultimate prize—a single available promotion to Major Crimes—tracks straight to their newest assignment: the aggressively festive and crime-free town of Christmas. When a tourist is discovered stabbed to death by an icicle ornament directly inside the town's public nativity scene, local law enforcement is entirely out of its depth. Holly and Mark must team up under strict orders. Still, as the 12-day countdown to the town’s economy-saving Jingle Bell Jubilee begins, they must hunt down a killer while dodging the lingering romantic tension of a disastrous holiday party hookup from the previous winter.
New Series:
Book 1 in the Holly & Mark Mystery Series establishes a brand-new, deliciously fun, and steamy collaborative sandbox for the two beloved crime fiction authors.
Setting
The deceptively pristine, sweet-smelling, and hyper-traditional holiday fishbowl town of Christmas, where swearing is actively frowned upon, but a killer is quietly stalking the unpaved local squares.
Vibe
Sassy, light-hearted, and dripping with banter. It feels like the cozy, small-town seasonal warmth of a Hallmark movie colliding with the sharp, witty meta-paranoia and chaotic comedy of Finlay Donovan and the gritty edge of Hannah Morrissey.
Genre
Holiday Romantic Comedy / Cozy Whodunit Mystery / Romantic Suspense
Themes
~The Comedic Friction of Enemies-to-Lovers Rivalry
~The Commercialization and Illusion of Festive Sanctuaries
~Career Redemption Over Intense Professional Vulnerability
~The Complicity and Hidden Grudges of Small, Insular Communities
Standout Characters
~Holly Frost: The sharp, ambitious, and deeply defensive special agent who uses witty banter to guard both her professional reputation and her fragile heart
~Mark Shepherd: Holly’s fiercely competitive, brooding rival agent whose laser focus on the Major Crimes promotion masks a serious lingering fixation on Holly.
~The Town Elite: A highly eccentric group of Christmas organizers and festive shopkeepers whose entire financial survival hinges on keeping the public murder under wraps.
Author Writing Standout
Having read all of their solo books, Hannah Morrissey's trademark edgy sharpness and Midwestern noir atmosphere marry perfectly with Elle Cosimano's legendary talent for zany, chaotic humor and addictive, rapid-fire pacing. Their collaborative prose is a total delight, managing a crisp, multi-POV timeline that plays into our favorite holiday tropes while subverting them at every single turn.
Takeaway
You cannot fully unwrap the truth of a community until you look past the beautiful packaging; sometimes the most idyllic holiday traditions hide the coldest grudges.
Title Significance
Home for the Homicides functions as a brilliant, tongue-in-cheek subversion of the classic "home for the holidays" sentiment—instantly signaling to readers that this festive escape features a high-stakes body count.
Metaphor
The icicle ornament weapon serves as a flawless metaphor for the town itself—seemingly clear, beautiful, and seasonal on the outside, but structurally rigid and capable of inflicting lethal damage when weaponized.
Why You Should Read
Having thoroughly enjoyed their previous books and their initial collaborative teasers, I can guarantee this is the ultimate, bingeable seasonal blockbuster read for fans who want their holiday romance served with a brilliant, clever side of murder.
My Thoughts
COSIMANO AND MORRISSEY DELIVER A FLAWLESS, FIVE-STAR HOLIDAY BLOCKBUSTER.
"An electric collaboration that seamlessly blends razor-sharp enemies-to-lovers banter with a propulsive, twisty winter whodunit."
The narrative pacing turns the screw with absolute perfection. The snappy, sexual-tension-filled dialogue between Holly and Mark kept me grinning from ear to ear, while the countdown to the festival created a genuinely frantic level of suspense. It is a deliciously fun, sexy, and smart mash-up that belongs on everyone's autumn stack. Can't wait for the next in the series!
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5).
"A flawless, five-star festive triumph that proves nobody handles collaborative holiday malice quite like Cosimano and Morrissey."
Audio🎧Standout
The audiobook edition from Macmillan Audio is a flawless 5/5 star production that serves as an absolute masterclass in multicast narration. As a massive fan of both Elle Cosimano and Hannah Morrissey, hearing their sharp, festive rom-com mystery blend brought to life by this specific lineup was pure magic. The one and only Angela Dawe anchors the book as the narrator, delivering her signature, razor-sharp wit and immaculate vocal shape-shifting that fans of Elle’s books (Finlay Donovan) have rightfully grown to worship. Joining her are the real-life married duo Patti Murin and Colin Donnell, who lend their voices to Special Agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd. Their natural, real-world chemistry completely radiates through the speakers, injecting an effortless, crackling tension into the fierce professional rivalry and palpable romantic pining between Holly and Mark. This talented trio takes a brilliant, light-hearted whodunit and transforms it into a dreamy, laugh-out-loud, and completely unputdownable listening experience
Recs
Read this if you devoured the Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano, Hannah's gritty twisty thrillers, Killer Vibes by Jack Friday (John Fram), Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum Series, A Killer for Christmas by Kim Harrington, or Sounds Like a Plan series by Dwayne Alexander Smith and Pamela Samuels Young.
Special thanks to Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, #MacAudio2026, and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Oct 13, 2026
Oct Must-Read Books
tbr
May 19, 2026Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
September 9, 2026
This gave hallmark vibes with a side of murder mystery!
I found this book to be the perfect read to get me out of my slump. After a one night stand in a coat closet Holly and Mark find themselves partnered together to solve a murder in a small Christmas town. Who ever makes the arrest gets the coveted Major Crimes Spot. Holly can't stand Mark and Mark well he still finds Holly irresistible. I loved their banter so much!
Plus, the investigation hit all the marks. Finding suspects, clues, and finding themselves in a web of craziness. It was just great.
This book was funny and just an overall great time. I look forward to the next book and will def pick this up again come Christmas time!
Thank you to Macmillan audio for the gifted audiobook and St. Martin Press for the gifted ebook.
I found this book to be the perfect read to get me out of my slump. After a one night stand in a coat closet Holly and Mark find themselves partnered together to solve a murder in a small Christmas town. Who ever makes the arrest gets the coveted Major Crimes Spot. Holly can't stand Mark and Mark well he still finds Holly irresistible. I loved their banter so much!
Plus, the investigation hit all the marks. Finding suspects, clues, and finding themselves in a web of craziness. It was just great.
This book was funny and just an overall great time. I look forward to the next book and will def pick this up again come Christmas time!
Thank you to Macmillan audio for the gifted audiobook and St. Martin Press for the gifted ebook.
September 10, 2026
Thank you, Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press, for the ALC and ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Christmas is the kind of small town where nothing bad ever happens. It’s cozy, charming, and the sort of place where everyone knows everyone. But the town’s peaceful reputation is shattered when a tourist is found stabbed to death by an icicle and left in the middle of the town’s nativity scene. Completely out of their depth, the town turns to Holly and Mark to solve the case. Unfortunately, the two detectives can barely stand each other, and to make matters worse, they have a past where they hooked up, and now they are going for the same promotion. Between chasing a killer, competing for their careers, and trying to bury their past, Holly and Mark may discover that the biggest mystery in town isn’t who committed the murder; it’s whether they can resist each other all over again.
I loved how fast-paced this book is! This is the perfect book to read if you’re trying to get out of a reading slump, especially if you’re looking for a holiday read. I also loved the build-up to the crime and finding out who killed the tourist. Holly and Mark worked hard to figure out who did it, and I loved trying to figure out who did it. Every time that you think you know who did it, something else will pop up and happen, leading me to think someone else did it. There is also some romance in the book, which I liked.
I was also fortunate enough to get a copy of the audiobook! One of my favorite parts of the narration was the narrator who was kinda the all-seeing eye and would jump in and add commentary. I loved that it was added in because it made the listening experience that much better. I liked that it was narrated by both a man and a woman, so that it’s not just one person narrating the entire book. It reminds me of The Office-type shows because they break that fourth wall too. If you want to enhance your listening experience, then I definitely recommend getting the audiobook as well!
The Gen Alpha character who kept talking in slang was annoying. Every other word was some slang, and it felt forced. I get that’s how they talk sometimes, but it felt like a lot.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It’s the perfect thriller/holiday read!
Christmas is the kind of small town where nothing bad ever happens. It’s cozy, charming, and the sort of place where everyone knows everyone. But the town’s peaceful reputation is shattered when a tourist is found stabbed to death by an icicle and left in the middle of the town’s nativity scene. Completely out of their depth, the town turns to Holly and Mark to solve the case. Unfortunately, the two detectives can barely stand each other, and to make matters worse, they have a past where they hooked up, and now they are going for the same promotion. Between chasing a killer, competing for their careers, and trying to bury their past, Holly and Mark may discover that the biggest mystery in town isn’t who committed the murder; it’s whether they can resist each other all over again.
I loved how fast-paced this book is! This is the perfect book to read if you’re trying to get out of a reading slump, especially if you’re looking for a holiday read. I also loved the build-up to the crime and finding out who killed the tourist. Holly and Mark worked hard to figure out who did it, and I loved trying to figure out who did it. Every time that you think you know who did it, something else will pop up and happen, leading me to think someone else did it. There is also some romance in the book, which I liked.
I was also fortunate enough to get a copy of the audiobook! One of my favorite parts of the narration was the narrator who was kinda the all-seeing eye and would jump in and add commentary. I loved that it was added in because it made the listening experience that much better. I liked that it was narrated by both a man and a woman, so that it’s not just one person narrating the entire book. It reminds me of The Office-type shows because they break that fourth wall too. If you want to enhance your listening experience, then I definitely recommend getting the audiobook as well!
The Gen Alpha character who kept talking in slang was annoying. Every other word was some slang, and it felt forced. I get that’s how they talk sometimes, but it felt like a lot.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It’s the perfect thriller/holiday read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I came for the Christmas story and stayed for the murder. Merry Christmas where the M stands for Mysterious Murder and the C stands for Cute and Cozy, but not too Cheesy.
Two rival SBI agents have teamed up as a punishment for their crimes of the past. Not actual crimes, but rather them being caught doing unprofessional things. They aren't exactly enemies even though they are carrying past grudges and secret crushes.
They are sent to "Christmas" to solve a crime. The town has taken on the holiday as an entire personality. Everything and everybody is Merry and Bright and smells like candy canes or pumpkin spice.
A tourist has been found dead and the community is in shock. Nothing bad ever happens in Christmas. The killer must be found prior to their annual Jubilee so everyone can relax and enjoy the festivities. Afterall, it's their annual money maker.
Can they solve the mystery and save Christmas (the town AND the holiday)?
No spoilers here.
This story is told with a narrator watching like it's a Hallmark movie, injecting banter along the way. Totally enjoyable.
Holly and Mark's chemistry? Let's just say there will be fireworks for these two on Christmas Day.
This book is co-authored.
Elle Cosimano - known for being funny;😅
Hannah Morrissey - known for dark thrillers.💥
It made for an interesting mashup! 👍👍
🎧 Narrator: Angela Dawe (story narrator), Patti Murin (Holly), Colin Donnell (Mark) ~ All five star
Extra Tidbit/Fun Fact: Patti Murin and Colin Donnell are married in real life. 💏
Not yet published. Expected 10-13-2026
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free ALC in exchange for my honest review.
Two rival SBI agents have teamed up as a punishment for their crimes of the past. Not actual crimes, but rather them being caught doing unprofessional things. They aren't exactly enemies even though they are carrying past grudges and secret crushes.
They are sent to "Christmas" to solve a crime. The town has taken on the holiday as an entire personality. Everything and everybody is Merry and Bright and smells like candy canes or pumpkin spice.
A tourist has been found dead and the community is in shock. Nothing bad ever happens in Christmas. The killer must be found prior to their annual Jubilee so everyone can relax and enjoy the festivities. Afterall, it's their annual money maker.
Can they solve the mystery and save Christmas (the town AND the holiday)?
No spoilers here.
This story is told with a narrator watching like it's a Hallmark movie, injecting banter along the way. Totally enjoyable.
Holly and Mark's chemistry? Let's just say there will be fireworks for these two on Christmas Day.
This book is co-authored.
Elle Cosimano - known for being funny;😅
Hannah Morrissey - known for dark thrillers.💥
It made for an interesting mashup! 👍👍
🎧 Narrator: Angela Dawe (story narrator), Patti Murin (Holly), Colin Donnell (Mark) ~ All five star
Extra Tidbit/Fun Fact: Patti Murin and Colin Donnell are married in real life. 💏
Not yet published. Expected 10-13-2026
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free ALC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Home for the Homicides
By Elle Cosimano & Hannah Morrissey
Release Date: 10.13.26
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Holiday, Romance, Adult Fiction
Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for an e-ARC of Home for the Homicides, the first in the Holly & Mark Mystery series.
The town of Christmas is picture-perfect, a storybook setting where nothing bad ever happens... until a body is discovered right at the town’s nativity scene. Big city cops, Mark and Holly, currently on thin ice with their commander, are assigned to the case. This investigation is their sole opportunity to redeem themselves and prove which one of them deserves the position in Major Crimes.
Given the over-the-top storyline and outlandish cast of characters, I think this story might be even more enjoyable as an audiobook. I definitely plan to give the audio version a listen once it's released!
As for the romance, I didn't feel much chemistry between the two main characters until near the end. The opening acts were a bit tough to get through because the MMC body-shames the FMC whenever she eats, showing that he doesn't respect her. However, their dynamic shifts significantly by the climax, and I actually found myself rooting for them.
I was caught off guard by the spice level, along with the unexpected mix of f-bombs, male dancers, and sex toys!
Go into this one ready to fully embrace holiday puns, cliché festive character names, and plenty of Christmas Hallmark-style snark and satire.
For fans of thriller/romance, one bed trope, enemies to lovers, small town, holiday puns, spice.
By Elle Cosimano & Hannah Morrissey
Release Date: 10.13.26
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Holiday, Romance, Adult Fiction
Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for an e-ARC of Home for the Homicides, the first in the Holly & Mark Mystery series.
The town of Christmas is picture-perfect, a storybook setting where nothing bad ever happens... until a body is discovered right at the town’s nativity scene. Big city cops, Mark and Holly, currently on thin ice with their commander, are assigned to the case. This investigation is their sole opportunity to redeem themselves and prove which one of them deserves the position in Major Crimes.
Given the over-the-top storyline and outlandish cast of characters, I think this story might be even more enjoyable as an audiobook. I definitely plan to give the audio version a listen once it's released!
As for the romance, I didn't feel much chemistry between the two main characters until near the end. The opening acts were a bit tough to get through because the MMC body-shames the FMC whenever she eats, showing that he doesn't respect her. However, their dynamic shifts significantly by the climax, and I actually found myself rooting for them.
I was caught off guard by the spice level, along with the unexpected mix of f-bombs, male dancers, and sex toys!
Go into this one ready to fully embrace holiday puns, cliché festive character names, and plenty of Christmas Hallmark-style snark and satire.
For fans of thriller/romance, one bed trope, enemies to lovers, small town, holiday puns, spice.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this book as an audio ARC from NetGalley. Thank you to everyone involved.
I rated this book 3.5 out of 5 stars
The audio book was voiced by Angela Dawe,Colin Donnell, and Patti Murin. I think they did an awesome job and I really enjoyed listening.
Things I liked:
🎄I enjoyed the setting and town of Christmas with its characters . It was cheesy(purposefully and comically) and silly but it was also fun and funny. I love a good hallmark movie but i also enjoy joking around about how unrealistic they are.
🎄I really like Holly and Marks characters and thought they had a lot of chemistry. This is a work enemy’s to lovers story. I enjoyed their story of being SPI agents going back to Marks holiday themed home town to solve a murder.
🎄 the mystery/crime was interesting and I was excited for the investigation and to figure out who committed the crime.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a little spice in their holiday reading this year.It seems like it’s going to be a series so I look forward to the next one.
I rated this book 3.5 out of 5 stars
The audio book was voiced by Angela Dawe,Colin Donnell, and Patti Murin. I think they did an awesome job and I really enjoyed listening.
Things I liked:
🎄I enjoyed the setting and town of Christmas with its characters . It was cheesy(purposefully and comically) and silly but it was also fun and funny. I love a good hallmark movie but i also enjoy joking around about how unrealistic they are.
🎄I really like Holly and Marks characters and thought they had a lot of chemistry. This is a work enemy’s to lovers story. I enjoyed their story of being SPI agents going back to Marks holiday themed home town to solve a murder.
🎄 the mystery/crime was interesting and I was excited for the investigation and to figure out who committed the crime.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a little spice in their holiday reading this year.It seems like it’s going to be a series so I look forward to the next one.
Did Not Finish
August 22, 2026I decided to DNF this one because the tongue-in-cheek, campy tone ultimately wasn’t a good fit for me. The premise is clearly designed to be a playful mashup of cozy mystery, holiday romance, and small-town Christmas absurdity, and I can see it finding an enthusiastic audience among readers who enjoy that kind of humor.
For me, though, the heightened silliness and holiday whimsy kept me from connecting with the story or characters. I found myself more aware of the contrived nature of the setup than invested in the mystery or romance.
This is very much a case of the book not being for me rather than a judgment on what it is trying to accomplish. Readers looking for a lighthearted, festive mystery with plenty of camp and romantic tension may have a much better time with it.
For me, though, the heightened silliness and holiday whimsy kept me from connecting with the story or characters. I found myself more aware of the contrived nature of the setup than invested in the mystery or romance.
This is very much a case of the book not being for me rather than a judgment on what it is trying to accomplish. Readers looking for a lighthearted, festive mystery with plenty of camp and romantic tension may have a much better time with it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
THANK YOU NETGALLEY - LOVED/HATED THIS ONE.... and I ABSOLUTELY ENJOYED IT.
Home for the Homicides is a parody of everything Christmas—especially those sugary-sweet, cliché-filled holiday movies we all know.
There is A LOT to unpack here. Was it fun? YES. Did it occasionally grate on my nerves? Also a very big YES! The writing feels like what you might expect from an overly excited adolescent—packed with tropes, F-bombs, sex, and absolutely ridiculous names.
And those names…oh lordy, where do I begin? Holly Frost. Mayor Yulesky. Candace Cane. John Snow. Frank Sands. Noelle North—and that is only the beginning! Then there are the businesses: Naughty and Nice is an adult store, while the North Pole is a “gentlemen’s club” that is really for women and features male strippers. Because, of course it does.
How does any of this work? Honestly, I have no idea—but somehow, IT DOES!
If you want an un-Christmas Christmas book that combines a mystery, a rom-com, and complete holiday chaos, this book has it all. If you love Hallmark movies, just know that this is the absolute antithesis of everything Hallmark—and I am laughing even as I write this review.
Is it cute? YES! Will it have you rolling your eyes? ABSOLUTELY! But sometimes that is exactly the kind of ridiculous holiday fun we need....
I want to end this review by posting the epilogue (as that best describes this book better than I.... Stop here if you don't want the spoiler (although the murderer was easy to spot)
"The would-be heroine turned out to be a nymphomaniac stalker with a suitcase full of stun guns and sex toys (the victim). The local flannel-wearing hunk is a rugged, axe-wielding slut who swings his timber onstage...The cute barista is vanilla with balls that are not only resistible, but dry (they are talking about his cookies), Miss prim and proper real estate agent/home stager is a ..........pshycopath and Santa Claus might moonlight as a medical examiner. And let's not forget the tropes a la hallmark (unplanned road trip, baking montage, snow ball fight, trauma bonding, holiday puns, cable-knit sweaters, a room with only one bed and leasurely strolls through a market and lastly A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE....
Home for the Homicides is a parody of everything Christmas—especially those sugary-sweet, cliché-filled holiday movies we all know.
There is A LOT to unpack here. Was it fun? YES. Did it occasionally grate on my nerves? Also a very big YES! The writing feels like what you might expect from an overly excited adolescent—packed with tropes, F-bombs, sex, and absolutely ridiculous names.
And those names…oh lordy, where do I begin? Holly Frost. Mayor Yulesky. Candace Cane. John Snow. Frank Sands. Noelle North—and that is only the beginning! Then there are the businesses: Naughty and Nice is an adult store, while the North Pole is a “gentlemen’s club” that is really for women and features male strippers. Because, of course it does.
How does any of this work? Honestly, I have no idea—but somehow, IT DOES!
If you want an un-Christmas Christmas book that combines a mystery, a rom-com, and complete holiday chaos, this book has it all. If you love Hallmark movies, just know that this is the absolute antithesis of everything Hallmark—and I am laughing even as I write this review.
Is it cute? YES! Will it have you rolling your eyes? ABSOLUTELY! But sometimes that is exactly the kind of ridiculous holiday fun we need....
I want to end this review by posting the epilogue (as that best describes this book better than I.... Stop here if you don't want the spoiler (although the murderer was easy to spot)
"The would-be heroine turned out to be a nymphomaniac stalker with a suitcase full of stun guns and sex toys (the victim). The local flannel-wearing hunk is a rugged, axe-wielding slut who swings his timber onstage...The cute barista is vanilla with balls that are not only resistible, but dry (they are talking about his cookies), Miss prim and proper real estate agent/home stager is a ..........pshycopath and Santa Claus might moonlight as a medical examiner. And let's not forget the tropes a la hallmark (unplanned road trip, baking montage, snow ball fight, trauma bonding, holiday puns, cable-knit sweaters, a room with only one bed and leasurely strolls through a market and lastly A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE....
September 25, 2026
5 ⭐️ for the vibes - cheery, silly, funny, punny, horny and merry good time! I laughed out loud so many times. I figured out the villain a little earlier than our investigating duo, and that fudge dampened my enjoyment of the story. Great chemistry, great narrators. This was pure joy for the holiday season!!!
Longer review to follow.
Thanks Minotaur Books & Macmillan Audio for my ARC & ALC.
Longer review to follow.
Thanks Minotaur Books & Macmillan Audio for my ARC & ALC.
September 14, 2026
2.5 ⭐️
not my favorite, but a cute quick read
not my favorite, but a cute quick read
September 15, 2026
A Hallmark Christmas romance movie but there’s a murder in the perfect little town where nothing bad ever happens. LOVED IT. This should be on everyone’s radar for the holiday season.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I would give this a 3.5. It was a fun book. I liked the setting and all the crazy things that happened. The audiobook was fantastic.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you need an audiobook to play while you do housework, mindless driving, or even while taking a bath, Home for the Homicides: A Holly & Mark Mystery might fit the bill.
Everything except the killer reveal and the truth about our victim is truly forgettable.
This mystery is silly and the jokes are dull and Mark and Holly behave less like Special Agents and more like Dumb Adults.
Pass
Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan audio for this advanced reader copy. All reviews and opinions are my own.
Everything except the killer reveal and the truth about our victim is truly forgettable.
This mystery is silly and the jokes are dull and Mark and Holly behave less like Special Agents and more like Dumb Adults.
Pass
Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan audio for this advanced reader copy. All reviews and opinions are my own.
September 5, 2026
Oh my goodness this was such a cute read. I loved the duel POV and the extra narrator thrown in there just for good measure. Holly and Mark are sent to Christmas to solve a mmmmmurder, which never, ever happens there. There are only one bed situations, old town, new feelings and lots of secrets uncovered. I really felt like I had no idea what was going on most of the time but it was all in good fun. This was a little more spicy than what we are used to from EC, and I wasn't mad about it at all.
There were some crazy characters, and it made it all the more festive. I will definitely be continuing this series.. please say there will be more! Everyone needs to add this to their holiday TBR, we know you have one!
There were some crazy characters, and it made it all the more festive. I will definitely be continuing this series.. please say there will be more! Everyone needs to add this to their holiday TBR, we know you have one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There's a Murder in "Christmas Town" -
This is not a serious murder mystery. Instead you have a Christmas Holiday themed murder mystery rom-com with a little spice.
I'm more familiar with Elle Cosimano then Hannah Morrissey and recognized Elle's writing style throughout the book so I know the fans will enjoy this Holiday book.
Holly is assigned to investigate a murder with Mark, the man she has a history with and unfortunately for her, the chemistry is still very much alive. Their sarcastic, flirty banter added plenty of entertainment and laughs. And the murder? A dead body in the Christmas nativity scene! Holly and Mark have to solve the case before the town can celebrate its annual Jingle Bell Jubilee.
The adult audiobook was fun to listen to and silly most of the time. Filled with funny situations, hilarious names, cheeky flirty banter, is what made it so entertaining. The narration was fantastic and really suited the humor.
If you’re looking for a lighthearted, ridiculous Christmas mystery with romance, laughs, and a little spice, this one delivers!
Release date 10/ 13 /2026
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's press for the ARC & ALC.
This is not a serious murder mystery. Instead you have a Christmas Holiday themed murder mystery rom-com with a little spice.
I'm more familiar with Elle Cosimano then Hannah Morrissey and recognized Elle's writing style throughout the book so I know the fans will enjoy this Holiday book.
Holly is assigned to investigate a murder with Mark, the man she has a history with and unfortunately for her, the chemistry is still very much alive. Their sarcastic, flirty banter added plenty of entertainment and laughs. And the murder? A dead body in the Christmas nativity scene! Holly and Mark have to solve the case before the town can celebrate its annual Jingle Bell Jubilee.
The adult audiobook was fun to listen to and silly most of the time. Filled with funny situations, hilarious names, cheeky flirty banter, is what made it so entertaining. The narration was fantastic and really suited the humor.
If you’re looking for a lighthearted, ridiculous Christmas mystery with romance, laughs, and a little spice, this one delivers!
Release date 10/ 13 /2026
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's press for the ARC & ALC.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 534 reviews