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Mrs. Claus #7
Mrs. Claus and the Fatal Figgy Pudding
It’s a hectic holiday season for April Claus as she juggles everything from her Santaland duties to stage managing a community production of A Christmas Carol to sleuthing out who’s behind an actor’s fatal finale—all while caring for a very special delivery…
“Dear Mrs. Claus, I know you have a good heart. Please take care of baby August.” When April finds the poignant note accompanying an infant elf left at Castle Kringle’s door, she’s filled with emotion—and questions. After all, there’s an orphanage in Christmastown. And how is it that the baby’s name uniquely echoes her own? Despite her packed schedule, April is determined to care for little Augie while searching for answers. But one more drama is yet to come . . .
It’s curtains for the actor playing Tiny Tim when he keels over dead after eating April’s specially made figgy pudding. Distraught, April is at least relieved to learn that Castle Kringle’s kitchen didn’t make the deadly dollop of rum sauce responsible. But whodunit? The imperious director who wanted a casting change? The eager understudy? One of the surprising number of Santaland’s aspiring thespian elves?
Ignoring shady rumors swirling that Augie is secretly hers, April puts the baby on her hip and sets out to solve both mysteries. And as she digs deeper behind the scenes, the truth might just change all the Claus family’s Christmases to come . . .
“Dear Mrs. Claus, I know you have a good heart. Please take care of baby August.” When April finds the poignant note accompanying an infant elf left at Castle Kringle’s door, she’s filled with emotion—and questions. After all, there’s an orphanage in Christmastown. And how is it that the baby’s name uniquely echoes her own? Despite her packed schedule, April is determined to care for little Augie while searching for answers. But one more drama is yet to come . . .
It’s curtains for the actor playing Tiny Tim when he keels over dead after eating April’s specially made figgy pudding. Distraught, April is at least relieved to learn that Castle Kringle’s kitchen didn’t make the deadly dollop of rum sauce responsible. But whodunit? The imperious director who wanted a casting change? The eager understudy? One of the surprising number of Santaland’s aspiring thespian elves?
Ignoring shady rumors swirling that Augie is secretly hers, April puts the baby on her hip and sets out to solve both mysteries. And as she digs deeper behind the scenes, the truth might just change all the Claus family’s Christmases to come . . .
273 pages, Paperback
Published September 29, 2026
About the author
Liz Ireland
66 books276 followersLiz was born in Texas and credits a rural upbringing in a houseful of books for her lifelong love of stories. After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, she moved to New York and worked various jobs (book clerk, world’s slowest professional typist, substitute teacher) before landing a job in publishing. Since then, she’s made her home in Austin, Portland (Oregon), Ottawa, Montreal, and now Vancouver Island in British Columbia. In her free time, she enjoys playing in local concert bands, watching classic films, and—of course—reading. In addition to her writing career, Liz has worked for two decades as a fiction editor. She’s a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and has served as a regional representative for Crime Writers of Canada.
Under the pen name Liz Freeland, Liz writes the Louise Faulk historical mystery series. She also writes women's fiction as Elizabeth Bass.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
September 30, 2026
December is always busy for April Claus, wife of Santa. But this year, a baby elf is left at the castle with a note asking April to take care of the baby. While she tries to track down the baby’s family, she is also involved in the current stage production of A Christmas Carol, and one of the actors is poisoned during a rehearsal. Can April solve both mysteries?
I am always thrilled when a new entry in this series finds its way to me. The pacing was off in this book, but both storylines did reach satisfying conclusions. The characters continue to charm, and I loved catching up with them again. The new cast are just as strong. And I couldn’t help but laugh and smile as I read. Whether new to the series or a fan from the beginning, you’ll be glad you picked up this book.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I am always thrilled when a new entry in this series finds its way to me. The pacing was off in this book, but both storylines did reach satisfying conclusions. The characters continue to charm, and I loved catching up with them again. The new cast are just as strong. And I couldn’t help but laugh and smile as I read. Whether new to the series or a fan from the beginning, you’ll be glad you picked up this book.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
April Claus gets an abandoned elf baby named August left on the Castle Kringle doorstep, then Tiny Tim drops dead after eating her figgy pudding, and somehow nobody in Santaland thinks Mrs. Claus might need one single day off. This woman is doing childcare, community theater, murder investigation, Christmas obligations, and reputation management because apparently the rumor mill has also decided baby Augie might secretly be hers. Ma’am. She barely has time to own matching mittens.
And I love this series so much that coming back to Santaland feels like visiting family, except my family does not include talking reindeer, meddling elves, magical snowmen, and a Dowager Mrs. Claus who could freeze your blood with one disappointed look. This is book seven, and somehow Liz Ireland keeps finding new ways to make Christmastown feel cozy while maintaining a murder rate that should absolutely be affecting tourism.
The baby situation got me immediately because Augie is not just left anywhere. She is left specifically for April, with a note asking her to take care of her. Not the orphanage. Not some random elf family. April. And the name August is obviously close enough to April that I was side-eyeing the universe right along with her. Then she starts bonding with this tiny elf, Nick softens, Pamela gets involved, and suddenly the whole Claus household has a baby in it while I am pretending I am not emotionally invested five minutes in.
Meanwhile April is stage managing A Christmas Carol, because she looked at her already impossible schedule and apparently thought, yes, what I’m missing is amateur theater. Garland Gooseberry is directing with the full confidence of a man who thinks community theater is a branch of government. There are cast rivalries, understudies, bruised egos, and Tiny Tim has already been having suspicious accidents before he finally eats April’s figgy pudding and drops dead. In rehearsal. From poisoned rum sauce. Christmas spirit, baby.
For one horrifying second the setup is basically MRS. CLAUS KILLED TINY TIM, which would absolutely ruin Nick’s season. Luckily, Castle Kringle’s kitchen did not make the deadly sauce, but that still leaves April standing there with a corpse, a pudding, and about seventeen theatrical elves who suddenly all look capable of murder. Was somebody after the actor? Was somebody trying to force a recast? Did somebody take community theater so seriously they went full homicidal understudy? Honestly, in Santaland, all of these feel plausible.
April investigates the way April always investigates, which is with approximately eighty percent instinct and twenty percent permission. I adore her, but this woman will form a theory and then walk directly into somebody’s day like, “Hi, quick question, were you planning to kill him before or after rehearsal?” Nick and Claire occasionally have to remind her that suspicion is not technically a warrant. She hears them. She continues anyway.
And Quasar is still out here treating the entire North Pole like an all-you-can-eat buffet. If something is edible, maybe edible, or has once been placed near something edible, Quasar would like to conduct a personal investigation. Pamela, meanwhile, gets to be the Dowager Mrs. Claus of my dreams because putting a baby near her reveals this tiny crack in the ice queen armor that she would absolutely deny under oath. She is not soft. She is simply holding Augie with extreme care and silently threatening anyone who notices.
The emotional part with Augie is what got me. April cannot have children, so this is not just a cute baby subplot dropped into the holiday chaos. There is this quiet ache underneath everything because she does not know how attached she is allowed to get. She wants answers, but every answer could mean someone comes to take Augie away. That tension is brutal because April has spent this whole series building a home in a place that once felt completely foreign, and now she is holding something that makes that home feel bigger in a way she did not expect.
Then the baby mystery and the murder mystery start folding into each other, and I was fully back in my favorite Santaland condition, which is suspicious of everyone while something deeply ridiculous is happening nearby. I changed suspects several times, distrusted the theater people on principle, and kept waiting for April to remember that she has historically terrible luck when wandering off alone near people who dislike being investigated. She did not remember. Of course she did not.
Mrs. Claus and the Fatal Figgy Pudding gets 4.5 stars from me. I already love this glitter-covered murder village, but Augie gave this one a softer emotional center that hit harder than I expected. April is still nosy, overcommitted, reckless, and somehow the only person in Santaland who can juggle a baby and a homicide at the same time. Nick is still trying to run Christmas while his wife questions suspects. Pamela is still terrifying. Quasar is still hungry. And apparently community theater now requires crime-scene tape.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Turning “God Bless Us, Every One” Into “Somebody Test the Rum Sauce Before Tiny Tim Gets Another Serving”
Huge thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC and for once again inviting me back to Santaland, where the reindeer gossip, the elves overact, the figgy pudding is now evidence, and Mrs. Claus is somehow doing childcare and homicide because apparently HR is also magical and therefore useless.
And I love this series so much that coming back to Santaland feels like visiting family, except my family does not include talking reindeer, meddling elves, magical snowmen, and a Dowager Mrs. Claus who could freeze your blood with one disappointed look. This is book seven, and somehow Liz Ireland keeps finding new ways to make Christmastown feel cozy while maintaining a murder rate that should absolutely be affecting tourism.
The baby situation got me immediately because Augie is not just left anywhere. She is left specifically for April, with a note asking her to take care of her. Not the orphanage. Not some random elf family. April. And the name August is obviously close enough to April that I was side-eyeing the universe right along with her. Then she starts bonding with this tiny elf, Nick softens, Pamela gets involved, and suddenly the whole Claus household has a baby in it while I am pretending I am not emotionally invested five minutes in.
Meanwhile April is stage managing A Christmas Carol, because she looked at her already impossible schedule and apparently thought, yes, what I’m missing is amateur theater. Garland Gooseberry is directing with the full confidence of a man who thinks community theater is a branch of government. There are cast rivalries, understudies, bruised egos, and Tiny Tim has already been having suspicious accidents before he finally eats April’s figgy pudding and drops dead. In rehearsal. From poisoned rum sauce. Christmas spirit, baby.
For one horrifying second the setup is basically MRS. CLAUS KILLED TINY TIM, which would absolutely ruin Nick’s season. Luckily, Castle Kringle’s kitchen did not make the deadly sauce, but that still leaves April standing there with a corpse, a pudding, and about seventeen theatrical elves who suddenly all look capable of murder. Was somebody after the actor? Was somebody trying to force a recast? Did somebody take community theater so seriously they went full homicidal understudy? Honestly, in Santaland, all of these feel plausible.
April investigates the way April always investigates, which is with approximately eighty percent instinct and twenty percent permission. I adore her, but this woman will form a theory and then walk directly into somebody’s day like, “Hi, quick question, were you planning to kill him before or after rehearsal?” Nick and Claire occasionally have to remind her that suspicion is not technically a warrant. She hears them. She continues anyway.
And Quasar is still out here treating the entire North Pole like an all-you-can-eat buffet. If something is edible, maybe edible, or has once been placed near something edible, Quasar would like to conduct a personal investigation. Pamela, meanwhile, gets to be the Dowager Mrs. Claus of my dreams because putting a baby near her reveals this tiny crack in the ice queen armor that she would absolutely deny under oath. She is not soft. She is simply holding Augie with extreme care and silently threatening anyone who notices.
The emotional part with Augie is what got me. April cannot have children, so this is not just a cute baby subplot dropped into the holiday chaos. There is this quiet ache underneath everything because she does not know how attached she is allowed to get. She wants answers, but every answer could mean someone comes to take Augie away. That tension is brutal because April has spent this whole series building a home in a place that once felt completely foreign, and now she is holding something that makes that home feel bigger in a way she did not expect.
Then the baby mystery and the murder mystery start folding into each other, and I was fully back in my favorite Santaland condition, which is suspicious of everyone while something deeply ridiculous is happening nearby. I changed suspects several times, distrusted the theater people on principle, and kept waiting for April to remember that she has historically terrible luck when wandering off alone near people who dislike being investigated. She did not remember. Of course she did not.
Mrs. Claus and the Fatal Figgy Pudding gets 4.5 stars from me. I already love this glitter-covered murder village, but Augie gave this one a softer emotional center that hit harder than I expected. April is still nosy, overcommitted, reckless, and somehow the only person in Santaland who can juggle a baby and a homicide at the same time. Nick is still trying to run Christmas while his wife questions suspects. Pamela is still terrifying. Quasar is still hungry. And apparently community theater now requires crime-scene tape.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Turning “God Bless Us, Every One” Into “Somebody Test the Rum Sauce Before Tiny Tim Gets Another Serving”
Huge thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC and for once again inviting me back to Santaland, where the reindeer gossip, the elves overact, the figgy pudding is now evidence, and Mrs. Claus is somehow doing childcare and homicide because apparently HR is also magical and therefore useless.
September 30, 2026
4.25 stars
This series is so well-written it will have you believing in Santa, elves, flying reindeer, talking snowmen, and of course Mrs. Claus. April's life was forever changed when she met Nick Claus and they fell in love. Life is much different on the North Pole and since Christmas is just around the corner, things are very hectic. April is the stage manager of a production of A Christmas Carol and there is an unexpected addition to the household - someone left a baby on her doorstep. April is trying not to become attached to the adorable little girl while seeing if she can track down her parents. In the meantime, a lot of suspicious things are going on at the theater and rumors are flying about April and others in the community.
Some of the things that happen are silly, but it's a really fun book that had me smiling throughout the story. April sometimes goes overboard in her investigation which becomes a little frustrating at times, but her heart is always in the right place. I fell for the red herrings and was surprised when the truth was revealed. This had all the elements I'm looking for in a Christmas cozy - a holiday atmosphere, humor, and a sweet, touching ending. Fans of the series will love it and new readers will also enjoy it.
I received an advance copy of this ebook from Kensington Books, Kensington Cozies, and NetGalley. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
This series is so well-written it will have you believing in Santa, elves, flying reindeer, talking snowmen, and of course Mrs. Claus. April's life was forever changed when she met Nick Claus and they fell in love. Life is much different on the North Pole and since Christmas is just around the corner, things are very hectic. April is the stage manager of a production of A Christmas Carol and there is an unexpected addition to the household - someone left a baby on her doorstep. April is trying not to become attached to the adorable little girl while seeing if she can track down her parents. In the meantime, a lot of suspicious things are going on at the theater and rumors are flying about April and others in the community.
Some of the things that happen are silly, but it's a really fun book that had me smiling throughout the story. April sometimes goes overboard in her investigation which becomes a little frustrating at times, but her heart is always in the right place. I fell for the red herrings and was surprised when the truth was revealed. This had all the elements I'm looking for in a Christmas cozy - a holiday atmosphere, humor, and a sweet, touching ending. Fans of the series will love it and new readers will also enjoy it.
I received an advance copy of this ebook from Kensington Books, Kensington Cozies, and NetGalley. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I settled in before sunrise with my coffee and Liz Ireland’s Mrs. Claus and the Fatal Figgy Pudding, and suddenly Northern California felt far too warm for the Christmas chaos happening in Santaland. Thank you to Kensington Cozies for the gifted copy. Honestly, how much trouble can one woman handle while caring for an abandoned baby elf, stage-managing A Christmas Carol, and trying to keep someone from turning figgy pudding into a murder weapon?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April Claus already has an overflowing holiday schedule when baby August is left on the steps of Castle Kringle with a note asking her to care for him. The timing could not be worse, but sweet little Augie quickly brings out a softer side of April, Nick, and even a few of the more intimidating Claus family members. I loved watching the entire castle adjust to having a baby under its roof, although April’s determination to learn where he came from creates nearly as much trouble as the murder investigation.
Because apparently the North Pole does not have enough seasonal stress, the actor playing Tiny Tim collapses after eating figgy pudding during rehearsal. The pudding came from April, but the deadly rum sauce did not, which leaves her with a theater full of suspects and plenty of holiday drama. Between ambitious understudies, demanding directors, meddling relatives, and theatrical elves, I suspected almost everyone at some point.
April is wonderfully capable, but she can also leap to conclusions with the confidence of someone who has never once considered staying out of an investigation. There were moments when I wanted Nick or Claire to gently take her by the shoulders and tell her to slow down. She occasionally pushes too far, but that stubbornness is also part of what makes her so entertaining.
The mystery kept me guessing, but the story surrounding Augie gave this seventh Mrs. Claus adventure its heart. The combination of an abandoned baby, a poisoned dessert, talking reindeer, and backstage Christmas drama should probably feel ridiculous. Instead, it works. My coffee went cold while April raced between Castle Kringle and the theater, which feels like a fair trade for several hours in Santaland.
Which holiday responsibility would you choose: caring for a baby elf, managing the Christmas play, or investigating a poisoned figgy pudding?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April Claus already has an overflowing holiday schedule when baby August is left on the steps of Castle Kringle with a note asking her to care for him. The timing could not be worse, but sweet little Augie quickly brings out a softer side of April, Nick, and even a few of the more intimidating Claus family members. I loved watching the entire castle adjust to having a baby under its roof, although April’s determination to learn where he came from creates nearly as much trouble as the murder investigation.
Because apparently the North Pole does not have enough seasonal stress, the actor playing Tiny Tim collapses after eating figgy pudding during rehearsal. The pudding came from April, but the deadly rum sauce did not, which leaves her with a theater full of suspects and plenty of holiday drama. Between ambitious understudies, demanding directors, meddling relatives, and theatrical elves, I suspected almost everyone at some point.
April is wonderfully capable, but she can also leap to conclusions with the confidence of someone who has never once considered staying out of an investigation. There were moments when I wanted Nick or Claire to gently take her by the shoulders and tell her to slow down. She occasionally pushes too far, but that stubbornness is also part of what makes her so entertaining.
The mystery kept me guessing, but the story surrounding Augie gave this seventh Mrs. Claus adventure its heart. The combination of an abandoned baby, a poisoned dessert, talking reindeer, and backstage Christmas drama should probably feel ridiculous. Instead, it works. My coffee went cold while April raced between Castle Kringle and the theater, which feels like a fair trade for several hours in Santaland.
Which holiday responsibility would you choose: caring for a baby elf, managing the Christmas play, or investigating a poisoned figgy pudding?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
MRS. CLAUS AND THE FATAL FIGGY PUDDING, the seventh installment in Liz Ireland’s Mrs. Claus Mysteries, is a wonderfully festive and imaginative addition to one of my favorite series. Santaland sparkles with Christmas magic, delightfully quirky characters, and plenty of humor to keep the season merry. April Claus is an engaging protagonist, and the author skillfully pairs the fantastical setting with a page-turning murder mystery. Amid the holiday celebrations and commotion, a heartwarming storyline about an infant elf left on Santa’s doorstep adds tenderness and charm. I loved this captivating new chapter in the Claus family’s adventures. Readers who enjoy cozy fantasy, Christmas cheer, clever mysteries, and humorous characters will want to add this book to their holiday reading list!
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 8, 2026
Christmas is almost here and Santaland is busier than ever. April Claus finds a surprise at her doorstep. August a darling little elf. She’s a little girl abandoned at April’s doorstep. Even her mother-in-law falls in love. Santaland is full of activities and April brings Augie along hoping to find her parents. But as the days go by, April is unsure. She keeps busy with her activities. I enjoyed this book and loved most of the ending. #Netgalley
September 22, 2026
Mrs. Claus and the Fatal Figgy Pudding
As always, I just love April Claus and all the elves in Santaland! I love that this one returned us back to Christmas, we have had all the holidays in between, which have been wonderful and amusing, but you can't beat Christmas time in Santaland! As usual, April finds herself with a few too many commitments, including being stage manager in A Christmas Carol play, and to further complicate matters, a baby elf was dropped off at Castle Kringle. So now April is running to the theatre, band practice, and all her other Mrs. Claus activities, with baby August in tow. So while April is searching for the mystery of where August came from, she also manages to get mixed up in yet another murder mystery, that happens right on stage at the play!
I loved the little twist in this story where now April has a baby mystery to solve, that she sort of hopes not to. I always imagine it would be very difficult to eat healthy in Santaland, with all of the sweets and treats being constantly offered, but it would be so delicious to get to have all of that so often. But then Nurse Cinnamon, wants to shake things up with her "reduction plan" book, and a possible weight loss clinic! What a crazy idea in Santaland! And apparently bad for all of the businesses that are food based. There is another adorable baby in the story, April's best friend Claire's son Jackson Frost. He sounds like a spitting image of Jake Frost, and baby detective in the making.
As April works to solve both the baby mystery, and the murder mystery, she finds herself the center of some elf gossip. How did she just show up with a baby one day?? This story is amusing, and I was laughing throughout, especially when even a "disreputable" snowman, Noggs, shows up at the theatre to act as security. Even Juniper gets an unexpected ending in this one!!
I love this series, it is my favorite cozy mystery series, and I cannot wait to read what's next in store for April Claus and Santaland.
Thank you so much to Kensington, Netgalley, and the author for a copy of this book!
Some fav quotes:
"The date we chose is also the date of the snowman serenade.” The snowmen of Santaland liked to congregate in groups and sing carols, and their musical gatherings were a treat to see and hear."
" “A weight-loss clinic for elves? Is there much call for that?” “Well, no. Not yet. But it doesn’t have to be for elves.” Her gaze swept over my own December plump frame."
"Interrogations in Santaland usually came with eggnog and a choice of cake, pie, or cinnamon rolls."
"...limiting me to one dessert,” Crinkles said. “One dessert at each meal, I mean.”"
"It was hard to decide between so many scrumptious-looking offerings: cookies galore, cream cakes, and colorful holiday petit fours that looked like tiny wrapped gifts; fruit pies with painstakingly latticed crusts alongside pies topped with pillowy meringue peaks. "
"Pretty soon, Christmastown’s going to be full of undernourished elves. Who can make merry when they’re carb deprived? How can an elf function without a generous daily allowance of fats?"
"Baked goods and books was pretty much my dream business. I wondered why no one had opened a bookstore like this before now."
"Two other elves were ahead of us—victims of an overturned sleigh during a spiked eggnog–fueled joyride."
" This was surreal. For days, apparently, I’d been at the center of a soap opera."
"Imagine the seventh ring of hell. Then imagine being there while your mother-in-law is shouting into a bullhorn."
As always, I just love April Claus and all the elves in Santaland! I love that this one returned us back to Christmas, we have had all the holidays in between, which have been wonderful and amusing, but you can't beat Christmas time in Santaland! As usual, April finds herself with a few too many commitments, including being stage manager in A Christmas Carol play, and to further complicate matters, a baby elf was dropped off at Castle Kringle. So now April is running to the theatre, band practice, and all her other Mrs. Claus activities, with baby August in tow. So while April is searching for the mystery of where August came from, she also manages to get mixed up in yet another murder mystery, that happens right on stage at the play!
I loved the little twist in this story where now April has a baby mystery to solve, that she sort of hopes not to. I always imagine it would be very difficult to eat healthy in Santaland, with all of the sweets and treats being constantly offered, but it would be so delicious to get to have all of that so often. But then Nurse Cinnamon, wants to shake things up with her "reduction plan" book, and a possible weight loss clinic! What a crazy idea in Santaland! And apparently bad for all of the businesses that are food based. There is another adorable baby in the story, April's best friend Claire's son Jackson Frost. He sounds like a spitting image of Jake Frost, and baby detective in the making.
As April works to solve both the baby mystery, and the murder mystery, she finds herself the center of some elf gossip. How did she just show up with a baby one day?? This story is amusing, and I was laughing throughout, especially when even a "disreputable" snowman, Noggs, shows up at the theatre to act as security. Even Juniper gets an unexpected ending in this one!!
I love this series, it is my favorite cozy mystery series, and I cannot wait to read what's next in store for April Claus and Santaland.
Thank you so much to Kensington, Netgalley, and the author for a copy of this book!
Some fav quotes:
"The date we chose is also the date of the snowman serenade.” The snowmen of Santaland liked to congregate in groups and sing carols, and their musical gatherings were a treat to see and hear."
" “A weight-loss clinic for elves? Is there much call for that?” “Well, no. Not yet. But it doesn’t have to be for elves.” Her gaze swept over my own December plump frame."
"Interrogations in Santaland usually came with eggnog and a choice of cake, pie, or cinnamon rolls."
"...limiting me to one dessert,” Crinkles said. “One dessert at each meal, I mean.”"
"It was hard to decide between so many scrumptious-looking offerings: cookies galore, cream cakes, and colorful holiday petit fours that looked like tiny wrapped gifts; fruit pies with painstakingly latticed crusts alongside pies topped with pillowy meringue peaks. "
"Pretty soon, Christmastown’s going to be full of undernourished elves. Who can make merry when they’re carb deprived? How can an elf function without a generous daily allowance of fats?"
"Baked goods and books was pretty much my dream business. I wondered why no one had opened a bookstore like this before now."
"Two other elves were ahead of us—victims of an overturned sleigh during a spiked eggnog–fueled joyride."
" This was surreal. For days, apparently, I’d been at the center of a soap opera."
"Imagine the seventh ring of hell. Then imagine being there while your mother-in-law is shouting into a bullhorn."
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a NetGalley eARC of this book.
April Claus is back for more Christmastime chaos! I really enjoy this series, and Ireland's newest offering did not disappoint. Mrs. Claus is in the midst of holiday activities (assisting with the town production of A Christmas Carol, setting up the holiday scavenger hunt, playing percussion in the band) when an elf baby mysteriously appears on her doorstep. The home for orphans is having an eider pox outbreak, so she has to fit the little charmer into her life while also investigating the murder of one of the Christmas Carol actors.
This was a fun read, and I enjoyed the whirlwind of Christmas activities with April solidly in the middle trying to sort everything out. We get to see a little bit of softness from April, Nick, and even Pamela with the addition of a baby at Castle Kringle, which was a nice contrast to the murder investigation. This was definitely a more April-forward plot line, and I wish her family and friends had had bigger roles so that they could rein her actions in a little bit. April's character was more determined/pushy in this book, and I appreciated the pushback she got from Nick and Claire when she clearly overstepped. Because of the direction that the plot took towards the end, I feel like Claire and Juniper are going to be bigger parts of the story in future books, and I'm really looking forward to that. I love April, but she can definitely jump to conclusions, so I'm hopeful that any further Christmastown mishaps include more camaraderie!
April Claus is back for more Christmastime chaos! I really enjoy this series, and Ireland's newest offering did not disappoint. Mrs. Claus is in the midst of holiday activities (assisting with the town production of A Christmas Carol, setting up the holiday scavenger hunt, playing percussion in the band) when an elf baby mysteriously appears on her doorstep. The home for orphans is having an eider pox outbreak, so she has to fit the little charmer into her life while also investigating the murder of one of the Christmas Carol actors.
This was a fun read, and I enjoyed the whirlwind of Christmas activities with April solidly in the middle trying to sort everything out. We get to see a little bit of softness from April, Nick, and even Pamela with the addition of a baby at Castle Kringle, which was a nice contrast to the murder investigation. This was definitely a more April-forward plot line, and I wish her family and friends had had bigger roles so that they could rein her actions in a little bit. April's character was more determined/pushy in this book, and I appreciated the pushback she got from Nick and Claire when she clearly overstepped. Because of the direction that the plot took towards the end, I feel like Claire and Juniper are going to be bigger parts of the story in future books, and I'm really looking forward to that. I love April, but she can definitely jump to conclusions, so I'm hopeful that any further Christmastown mishaps include more camaraderie!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing, Kensington Cozies, but the opinions expressed are my own.
It's Christmas in Santaland and everyone at Castle Kringle is very busy, especially Mrs Claus. April is helping backstage for the first time at the regularly performed community production of A Christmas Carol, providing clues for the first ever Santaland scavenger hunt and doing everything else required of the wife of Santa in December! Then of course there's the baby! August is a baby elf who was left on the castle doorstep with a note asking her to care for the infant! April is confident she can cope with everything she has on her plate but then she witnesses the sudden death of an elf right in front of her and realises she has just had another task added to her ever lengthening to do list! Can she find August's family, appease her mother-in-law, and identify a killer or will her Christmases yet to come be over before they've begun!
I love this series, I don't ever want the story to finish but I always want to read them in one sitting! The storyline this time had me hooked from the first page and I thoroughly enjoyed all the different story threads which wove together seamlessly. I didn't guess whodunit, but I did have an idea about the baby's family, neither of which spoiled anything. If you want a charming, make believe, festive cosy crime in the run up Christmas this is definitely it. Highly recommended. 5*
It's Christmas in Santaland and everyone at Castle Kringle is very busy, especially Mrs Claus. April is helping backstage for the first time at the regularly performed community production of A Christmas Carol, providing clues for the first ever Santaland scavenger hunt and doing everything else required of the wife of Santa in December! Then of course there's the baby! August is a baby elf who was left on the castle doorstep with a note asking her to care for the infant! April is confident she can cope with everything she has on her plate but then she witnesses the sudden death of an elf right in front of her and realises she has just had another task added to her ever lengthening to do list! Can she find August's family, appease her mother-in-law, and identify a killer or will her Christmases yet to come be over before they've begun!
I love this series, I don't ever want the story to finish but I always want to read them in one sitting! The storyline this time had me hooked from the first page and I thoroughly enjoyed all the different story threads which wove together seamlessly. I didn't guess whodunit, but I did have an idea about the baby's family, neither of which spoiled anything. If you want a charming, make believe, festive cosy crime in the run up Christmas this is definitely it. Highly recommended. 5*
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for the opportunity to read Mrs. Claus and the Fatal Figgy Pudding in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is the 7th book in the wonderful Mrs. Claus series. Once again April is caught up in a murder mystery. Since coming to North Pole from Cloudberry Bay, Oregon it seems the murder rate has risen, April seems to attract trouble. We learn that Claire and Jake Frost now have a baby Jackson. A baby elf named August has been dropped off at Castle Kingle.
April is busy as she always is, this time she is involved with a production of A Christmas Carol where Tiny Tim has a series of accidents. April herself is accused of arson and murder.
The best character has to be Quasar who will eat anything in reach. The Dowager Mrs Claus also has some great parts in the book.
April will once again find herself in trouble as she tries to solve the latest mystery at the North Pole.
This is the 7th book in the wonderful Mrs. Claus series. Once again April is caught up in a murder mystery. Since coming to North Pole from Cloudberry Bay, Oregon it seems the murder rate has risen, April seems to attract trouble. We learn that Claire and Jake Frost now have a baby Jackson. A baby elf named August has been dropped off at Castle Kingle.
April is busy as she always is, this time she is involved with a production of A Christmas Carol where Tiny Tim has a series of accidents. April herself is accused of arson and murder.
The best character has to be Quasar who will eat anything in reach. The Dowager Mrs Claus also has some great parts in the book.
April will once again find herself in trouble as she tries to solve the latest mystery at the North Pole.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Mrs.Claus And The Fatal Figgy Pudding by Liz Ireland, mrs. Claus is very busy it’s the end of the year Christmas is coming she’s putting on the Scrooge play trying to get all the Christmas desserts done and taking care of Santa but when she wakes up late one day and finds out a little baby girl named August was left on her doorstep with a note that said “Mrs. Claus you have such a good heartb.” “please take care of Baby August.” As if that alone isn’t a full load before the play even starts she’ll have to find out who murdered the elf playing Little Timmy. this is such a great enchanting story I felt as if I was reading a fairytale I really loved the story it was so good I loved the old curmudgeon needles the footman and the castle I just love this book if you loved well done stories of fairytales you definitely want to get this and read it. It definitely gives all those vibes.#NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
September 29, 2026
I know it's sort of silly and entirely implausible but I love this series and look forward to it every year because it's also clever. This time out. someone has left a baby elf at the castle with a note for April. Whose elf is it? April and her husband Nick (aka Santa) can't have biokids so this elf hits hard and everyone in the castle (except, of course, the dowager Mrs Claus) is excited. April can't spend all her time with baby August because she's also the stage manager for the community play and what a hot bed of problems it is! Even before some is poisoned with April's pudding, there's trouble. Can she solve the murder and find the baby's family? Of course she can! I like this for the characters (the reindeer, the elves, the snowmen and everyone else) as well as the food (there are lots of treats) and the mysteries. It's light, it's fun, and it's got a good heart. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm a fan.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy!
Another fun, light-hearted entry in this cozy mystery series.
As Santaland prepares for Christmas, April Claus receives an unexpected gift....an abandoned baby elf left on the doorstep! Juggling her many official duties as Mrs. Claus was tough enough; now she needs to find out where adorable Augie's parents can be. Oh, and did we mention that she's also overseeing the community theatre production of "A Christmas Carol'? And when "Tiny Tim' drops dead after taking a bite of April's Figgy Pudding during rehearsal, things take a deadly turn.
Between bickering elves, singing snowmen, talking reindeer and her meddling in-laws, there's Christmas chaos galore! Ireland has done a brilliant job in creating the Santaland world and filling it with unique and memorable characters. Looking forward to the next installment.
Another fun, light-hearted entry in this cozy mystery series.
As Santaland prepares for Christmas, April Claus receives an unexpected gift....an abandoned baby elf left on the doorstep! Juggling her many official duties as Mrs. Claus was tough enough; now she needs to find out where adorable Augie's parents can be. Oh, and did we mention that she's also overseeing the community theatre production of "A Christmas Carol'? And when "Tiny Tim' drops dead after taking a bite of April's Figgy Pudding during rehearsal, things take a deadly turn.
Between bickering elves, singing snowmen, talking reindeer and her meddling in-laws, there's Christmas chaos galore! Ireland has done a brilliant job in creating the Santaland world and filling it with unique and memorable characters. Looking forward to the next installment.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Every year, I look forward to April's latest adventure in Santaland. This year we have the 7th book in the series, Mrs. Claus and the Fatal Figgy Pudding. April, a.k.a. Mrs. Claus, thinks she has Christmas all under control this year until an elf baby is left at the castle's front door. Then she's juggling baby care, a search for the baby's missing family, and stage-managing a production of A Christmas Carol that seems doomed even before the actor who's playing Tiny Tim is poisoned by a bite of figgy pudding. These books by Liz Ireland are equal parts heart and humor and are sure to make even the scowliest Scrooge smile. Do yourself a favor and take a break from the holiday madness with Mrs. Claus.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I've read every book in this series - more than once, if I'm being honest - and I absolutely love the world Liz Ireland has created. Her writing is witty, the plots are always engaging, and the characters are both well-developed and hilarious.
This book is fantastic. The addition of a new baby to Castle Kringle, a cast of interesting new characters, and a mystery that kept me guessing until the end made this a perfect addition to the series.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fun, cozy murder mysteries. This remains one of my top three favorite series, and I can't wait for the next book!
I've read every book in this series - more than once, if I'm being honest - and I absolutely love the world Liz Ireland has created. Her writing is witty, the plots are always engaging, and the characters are both well-developed and hilarious.
This book is fantastic. The addition of a new baby to Castle Kringle, a cast of interesting new characters, and a mystery that kept me guessing until the end made this a perfect addition to the series.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fun, cozy murder mysteries. This remains one of my top three favorite series, and I can't wait for the next book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the 7th book in the Mrs. Claus Mystery series. An elf baby is abandoned on the steps of Claus Castle with a note asking April to take care of the child. April, who is unable to have children, decides to find the mother and not to take the child to the local orphanage. April is also working with other elves on the local production of A Christmas Carol, and when one of the actors dies suddenly, April investigates. I really loved this storyline with the elf baby. It seems to refresh the series and give it new life. Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Kensington Cozies for providing an ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When a baby is left on the castle doorstep for April, her maternal instinct kick in. Then when one of the player in the Christmas Carol is poisoned, April’s sleuthing instincts kick in. Can April figure out who killed the elf and find the baby’s mother before the killer puts an end to April once and for all?
I loved this entry the best. It’s a beautiful story for April and yet still involved murder and sleuthing along with all the usual suspects that help her along the way. When story lines progress across each entry in a series it is especially rewarding and satisfying. Love this series no matter the time of year.
I loved this entry the best. It’s a beautiful story for April and yet still involved murder and sleuthing along with all the usual suspects that help her along the way. When story lines progress across each entry in a series it is especially rewarding and satisfying. Love this series no matter the time of year.
October 4, 2026
April has more than one mystery to solve this Christmas- an unknown elf baby, possible sabotage, a murder... and coming up with a riddle to satisfy her mother-in-law.
This is such a fun series. It really feels unique in the setting and all the elfish distinctions and appropriate names. I had to laugh at the snowman snatching scavenger hunters and an elf trying to be grumpy enough to play Scrooge. The main mystery is engaging but baby Augie steals the show. The book wrapped up with a sweet ending. With a lot of my favorite series ending lately I might just be paranoid but I hope there will be more to come in this series.
This is such a fun series. It really feels unique in the setting and all the elfish distinctions and appropriate names. I had to laugh at the snowman snatching scavenger hunters and an elf trying to be grumpy enough to play Scrooge. The main mystery is engaging but baby Augie steals the show. The book wrapped up with a sweet ending. With a lot of my favorite series ending lately I might just be paranoid but I hope there will be more to come in this series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Even though these books can be a tad silly, they are just so much fun, I enjoy every minute of them. This latest has April juggling Christmas activities, solving a murder, and dealing with an abandoned baby. I do love April, but she’s getting a little careless in her accusations. Maybe she’s getting too stressed. LOL! Anyway, I really did enjoy this latest installment, and while this series won’t be for everyone, this latest book in the series will definitely please current fans, and if you don’t mind a little silliness, all the books are worth a read. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
September 29, 2026
MRS. CLAUS AND THE FATAL FIGGY PUDDING is the seventh installment in the Mrs. Claus Mysteries. Ms. Ireland never disappoints me. I am always transported to the North Pole and the wonderful elf culture. The sheriff and his deputy are deeply involved in all things Christmas.
Who knew figgy pudding had so many steps to make it.
I found the book cleverly written, full of humor and a great escape.
Netgalley offered me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. These are my own opinions and I am not required to leave a positive review.
Who knew figgy pudding had so many steps to make it.
I found the book cleverly written, full of humor and a great escape.
Netgalley offered me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. These are my own opinions and I am not required to leave a positive review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Mrs. Claus and the Fatal Figgy Pudding by Liz Ireland is book seven in the Mrs. Claus series and a welcome addition to the list. As April Claus tries to find the mother of a baby left on her doorstep, do what she can to make this years A Christmas Carol a success and solve a seemingly random murder all within the Christmas season at the North Pole she is in for the time of her life. This is another wonderful story of the North Pole and all it's inhabitants.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This series is so good! I love the characters and the setting. The mysteries kept my interest and I liked that there were two things to figure out. The ending was great and I look forward the next book!
October 18, 2026
The editing of this book was so very disappointing, much more mistakes than the few each book invariably has. I liked the adoption story line but there wee too many new characters to keep track of and not enough of the old characters.
October 31, 2026
I absolutely love Christmas town! The elves, snowmen, and reindeer all bring these stories to life with their zany personalities. A great mystery that kept me guessing to the end. Another wonderful and intriguing story.
October 3, 2026
A delightful and cozy mystery for the holiday season.
October 8, 2026
Not my favorite of the series but I always enjoy the North Pole shenanigans.
October 23, 2026
I usually really enjoy this series, but I couldn't get into this book at all.
October 4, 2026
My absolute favorite in this seriesI loved baby Augie and the funny moments were, indeed, very funny.
October 2, 2026
The author, Liz Ireland, created an interesting mix of personalities when she came up with this series. From perfectly normal characters to quite silly ones, they are definitely an entertaining group! Since it is the hometown of Santa Claus and his wife, the reindeer talk and so do the snowmen. The elves have fun names like Jingles and Crumble Wooly. The local prison has an employee who bakes goodies to share with prisoners which might entice some people to stay a bit longer. Thrown into the mix is an enjoyable cozy mystery that is solved by the end of the story.
I look forward to reading these every time there is a new addition to the series.
I look forward to reading these every time there is a new addition to the series.
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