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A Year-Round Christmas Mystery #1
Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen
In Rudolph, New York, it’s Christmastime all year long. But this December, while the snow-lined streets seem merry and bright, a murder is about to ruin everyone’s holiday cheer in the first Year-Round Christmas mystery. As the owner of Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, Merry Wilkinson knows how to decorate homes for the holidays. That’s why she thinks her float in the semi-annual Santa Claus parade is a shoe-in for best in show. But when the tractor pulling Merry’s float is sabotaged, she has to face there’s a Scrooge in Christmas Town. Merry isn’t ready to point fingers, especially with a journalist in town writing a puff piece about Rudolph’s Christmas spirit. But when she stumbles upon the reporter’s body on a late night dog walk—and police suspect he was poisoned by a gingerbread cookie crafted by her best friend, Vicky—Merry will have to put down the jingle bells and figure out who’s really been grinching about town, before Vicky ends up on Santa’s naughty list…
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 3, 2015
385 people are currently reading
4404 people want to read
About the author
Vicki Delany
62 books1,910 followers“It’s a crime not to read Delany,” so says the London Free Press.
Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most varied and prolific crime writers.
She is the author of four cozy mystery series: The Tea by the Sea series from Kensington Books, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series from Crooked Lane and the Year Round Christmas series from Penguin. Under the pen name of Eva Gates she writes the Lighthouse Library Series.
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com , www.facebook.com/evagatesauthor, and twitter: @vickidelany
Vicki is part of Mystery Lovers Kitchen (http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com) and Killer Characters (http://www.killercharacters.com)
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com
Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most varied and prolific crime writers.
She is the author of four cozy mystery series: The Tea by the Sea series from Kensington Books, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series from Crooked Lane and the Year Round Christmas series from Penguin. Under the pen name of Eva Gates she writes the Lighthouse Library Series.
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com , www.facebook.com/evagatesauthor, and twitter: @vickidelany
Vicki is part of Mystery Lovers Kitchen (http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com) and Killer Characters (http://www.killercharacters.com)
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 643 reviews
July 30, 2022
3 1/2 stars (rounded up to a 4) to Vicki Delany's Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen, her debut novel in the "A Year-Round Christmas Mystery" series. Some people love Christmas so much that they need an entire book series dedicated to it; and if you're one of those people, you'll enjoy this one even if you're reading it at Halloween!
Story
Rudolph, New York, a small town on the southern shores of Lake Ontario near the Canadian border, was named for someone who turned out to be not-so-name-worthy in the end. The town mayor, Noel Wilkinson, suggests telling everyone it was named after the famous reindeer and thus, Christmastown is born -- except, there are a few of these towns across the country and the neighboring towns aren't always thrilled when their town is suddenly considered second rate. When a semi-famous writer stops in Rudolph to publish a piece in a widely-read magazine about all the wonders of the Christmas village, he quickly sets the town a buzz... but when he turns up dead after eating at a local restaurant, Rudolph gets a bad reputation. Was it a neighboring town hoping to steal the glory? Was it a current resident with a unknown grudge? Or was it a personal vendetta from some outsider that just happened to occur in Rudolph?
Merry Wilkinson and her family and friends of Christmas-loving lore are on the case so they can protect their income and their town from utter disaster. Along the way, we meet her opera-loving mother, Santa Clause double dad, best friend who is accused of the murder, two eligible bachelors for Merry to choose from, a former frenemy police officer, the newly transported Chicago detective, a quirky mayor, a bitter neighboring store owner, a rival-politician and the fun-loving staff of Merry's high-end Christmas decor shop. With a few side-stories about each of the main character's personal lives, a new series all about the wonderful world of Christmas is born. In the end, Merry solves the case and makes friends with the police so she's ready to solve another one in the future.
Strengths
For a debut novel, it gives a really well-rounded summary of the town and characters. For readers new to the cozy mystery genre, it will be the perfect intro. Characters and setting are clear and vivid. Multiple suspects for the whodunit. Several backstories dropped with different angles to continue on in the future. And if you're a fan of holidays, this one will make you smile. I was slightly worred that the Christmas theme could be annoying (I love Christmas but an entire book series?); however, Delany offers a good balance of story and setting so you can tune out or in as much of the descriptions as you want.
Suggestions
There are a few holes in the story or pieces of the plot that should have been more tightly addressed. Merry doesn't quite seem like someone who would give up her life in NYC and come back home just because of a situation with her boyfriend and job. I would have expected her to try to find other jobs in NYC but this whole area is covered a bit too quickly. When she does come back home, it seems like everyone just forgets she left Rudolph and everything picks back up again. I understand small town atmosphere, but I think a little more focus could have been added here.
Final Thoughts
There are a lot of mystery fiction books and authors to choose from, and once you settle into the cozy sub-genre, you still have a lot that could spark your interest. This one has a very clear theme that will either hook the audience or it will not. If you are a fan of holidays or Christmas or anything that comes with it, then you've got a good series to get started with. The author has just published the second in the series and I will be reading it later this week. Definitely worth continuining on...
Story
Rudolph, New York, a small town on the southern shores of Lake Ontario near the Canadian border, was named for someone who turned out to be not-so-name-worthy in the end. The town mayor, Noel Wilkinson, suggests telling everyone it was named after the famous reindeer and thus, Christmastown is born -- except, there are a few of these towns across the country and the neighboring towns aren't always thrilled when their town is suddenly considered second rate. When a semi-famous writer stops in Rudolph to publish a piece in a widely-read magazine about all the wonders of the Christmas village, he quickly sets the town a buzz... but when he turns up dead after eating at a local restaurant, Rudolph gets a bad reputation. Was it a neighboring town hoping to steal the glory? Was it a current resident with a unknown grudge? Or was it a personal vendetta from some outsider that just happened to occur in Rudolph?
Merry Wilkinson and her family and friends of Christmas-loving lore are on the case so they can protect their income and their town from utter disaster. Along the way, we meet her opera-loving mother, Santa Clause double dad, best friend who is accused of the murder, two eligible bachelors for Merry to choose from, a former frenemy police officer, the newly transported Chicago detective, a quirky mayor, a bitter neighboring store owner, a rival-politician and the fun-loving staff of Merry's high-end Christmas decor shop. With a few side-stories about each of the main character's personal lives, a new series all about the wonderful world of Christmas is born. In the end, Merry solves the case and makes friends with the police so she's ready to solve another one in the future.
Strengths
For a debut novel, it gives a really well-rounded summary of the town and characters. For readers new to the cozy mystery genre, it will be the perfect intro. Characters and setting are clear and vivid. Multiple suspects for the whodunit. Several backstories dropped with different angles to continue on in the future. And if you're a fan of holidays, this one will make you smile. I was slightly worred that the Christmas theme could be annoying (I love Christmas but an entire book series?); however, Delany offers a good balance of story and setting so you can tune out or in as much of the descriptions as you want.
Suggestions
There are a few holes in the story or pieces of the plot that should have been more tightly addressed. Merry doesn't quite seem like someone who would give up her life in NYC and come back home just because of a situation with her boyfriend and job. I would have expected her to try to find other jobs in NYC but this whole area is covered a bit too quickly. When she does come back home, it seems like everyone just forgets she left Rudolph and everything picks back up again. I understand small town atmosphere, but I think a little more focus could have been added here.
Final Thoughts
There are a lot of mystery fiction books and authors to choose from, and once you settle into the cozy sub-genre, you still have a lot that could spark your interest. This one has a very clear theme that will either hook the audience or it will not. If you are a fan of holidays or Christmas or anything that comes with it, then you've got a good series to get started with. The author has just published the second in the series and I will be reading it later this week. Definitely worth continuining on...
December 4, 2024
3.5⭐ A nice intro to book one in the Christmas cozy series set in Rudolph, New York where Christmas is year-round. Audiobook is great for cozies, I can multi-task while trying to figure out who put the poison in the gingerbread cookie! 🍪🎄
November 9, 2015
If you are looking for a warm cozy with a lot of heart, some Christmas joy and mystery mayhem, look no further! Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen by Vicki Delany, was everything I lately wanted out of a holiday cozy mystery wrapped up in a package of a new series that holds a lot of promise for the future books. Merry, the main sleuth of this series is absolutely wonderful and delightful. Her devotion to the town and loyalty to her friends is very heart warming and admirable.
"In Rudolph, we lived and breathed Christmas all year long. You might think that would make us hard and cynical when it arrived, but somehow it made me love the real thing all the more."
It's Christmas time in Rudolph, New York a self proclaimed Christmas town and while its citizens are preparing for the influx of tourists that happen every time during this particular part of the year - the town it's running its own festivities starting with a morning parade. Merry's float ends up coming in last, causing a few glares from the locals since Santa was supposed to be last in line and in no time disqualifies her from winning anything for her float. While people are enjoying cider and free cookies at the after party, the last thing anyone would have suspected was for something deadly to happen in their safe little haven of a town. When a traveling journalist shows up to do a piece on Rudolph for an international media, everyone in town is excited, so when Merry discovers his cold body in the park not too soon after his arrival - her friends Vicky's cookies might have been the cause of his death. Now Merry must find a way to clear her best friend's name and solve who is responsible for trying to ruin their little town's reputation.
Filled with amusing characters, holiday cheer, and mystery, Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen is not a cozy to pass up on this season. Merry is a fresh new voice that I have fully found myself invested in and thoroughly engrossed with. I am looking forward to seeing what else she will have in store for us in future books. Vicki Delany handles the mystery with skill and her writing is so wonderful, the book was not only hard to put down, but very easily I found myself lost in that before I knew it, I was done.
Detective Simmonds was a great addition to the story, and I can't wait to learn more about her. I think she and Merry bounced off each other well and I liked the fact that she seemed to really care about getting to the bottom of this murder unlike the local cop Candy.
Simmons stopped so abruptly that Mattie ran into her. "Are you physically disabled, sir?"
"No," Russ said, snapping a picture of her.
"Good. Because if you aren't behind the tape in ten seconds I'll be taking you in. Got it?"
I couldn't stand Candy. I think just because you are a cop it does not give you the right to treat people the way she does and she is particularly not fond of Merry and her friends. It was nice seeing her put in her place once or twice through the book. I hope I can eventually learn to understand her issues a bit more, but as of right now I do not condone her actions.
Did I mention I loved the author's hints of humor here and there spread out through the book?
"If this isn't Ryan Gosling calling for a date, you're a dead man," said a sleepy voice.
"It's not Ryan, but you need to hear this," I said.
"Go ahead," Vicky said with a groan.
"Nigel Pearce, remember him, the English guy from World Journey?"
"Of course I remember him. If you are calling to tell me he wants a date you really are a dead woman, Merry."
Honestly the only thing that isn't sitting well with me is the romance in this book because it feels like it's heading for a triangle. You know me, I love my romance in cozy mysteries, they add a whole new level of excitement. But I can do without a triangle no matter what kind of genre I am reading. But, I also know it can be done quite differently in cozy mysteries, so it will still be interesting to see where this will go.
Seriously can't wait until the next book in this series and have you seen the cover? It's adorable.
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This review was originally posted on Night Owl Book Café
December 17, 2016
Dollycas’s Thoughts
First things first, look at that gorgeous cover. I like to mention the artist and cover designers because the cozy covers are so incredible. This time Sarah Oberrender has taken my breath away. From the snow lined window to the puppy in the front, I don’t know how anyone could resist buying this paperback even before thinking about the fantastic story inside.
Vicki Delany takes us to Rudolph, New York. A year round Christmas Town that is such a joy to visit. That is until a dead body is found and word gets out. The cancellations to the local hotels, inns and B&B’s start before you can say Jack Frost. A series of troubling events takes place and Merry knows there will be no Merry Christmas in Rudolph until the Grinch is caught.
Merry Wilkerson, who happens to have sisters named Eve and Carol is a marvelous protagonist. Her shop Mrs. Claus’s Treasures is right in the heart of Rudolph so she is right on top of everything happening. Her dad being the former mayor and the local Santa Claus has his connections too. She knows her friend Vicky had nothing to do with the murder, she just has to prove it. She is strong, smart, and feisty.
What I really like about this story is the way the town pulls together with the exception of whoever is trying to destroy the reputation and credibility of this great tourist attraction. Even Betty than owns the store next to Vicky. She may not be the nicest person but would she sabotage the whole town? A new resident to Rudolph, Detective Diane Simmonds, is one of my favorite characters. I think and hope that she and Merry will become good friends. All the residents of Rudolph are very real and engaging, each in their own way, including Merry’s adorable St.Bernard pup named Mattie.
Delaney has given us a story full of holiday cheer, an exciting mystery, wondrous characters all in a place I would love to really visit. It’s charm just lit up my day. This is one mystery you shouldn’t miss this holiday season.
First things first, look at that gorgeous cover. I like to mention the artist and cover designers because the cozy covers are so incredible. This time Sarah Oberrender has taken my breath away. From the snow lined window to the puppy in the front, I don’t know how anyone could resist buying this paperback even before thinking about the fantastic story inside.
Vicki Delany takes us to Rudolph, New York. A year round Christmas Town that is such a joy to visit. That is until a dead body is found and word gets out. The cancellations to the local hotels, inns and B&B’s start before you can say Jack Frost. A series of troubling events takes place and Merry knows there will be no Merry Christmas in Rudolph until the Grinch is caught.
Merry Wilkerson, who happens to have sisters named Eve and Carol is a marvelous protagonist. Her shop Mrs. Claus’s Treasures is right in the heart of Rudolph so she is right on top of everything happening. Her dad being the former mayor and the local Santa Claus has his connections too. She knows her friend Vicky had nothing to do with the murder, she just has to prove it. She is strong, smart, and feisty.
What I really like about this story is the way the town pulls together with the exception of whoever is trying to destroy the reputation and credibility of this great tourist attraction. Even Betty than owns the store next to Vicky. She may not be the nicest person but would she sabotage the whole town? A new resident to Rudolph, Detective Diane Simmonds, is one of my favorite characters. I think and hope that she and Merry will become good friends. All the residents of Rudolph are very real and engaging, each in their own way, including Merry’s adorable St.Bernard pup named Mattie.
Delaney has given us a story full of holiday cheer, an exciting mystery, wondrous characters all in a place I would love to really visit. It’s charm just lit up my day. This is one mystery you shouldn’t miss this holiday season.
January 24, 2020
I tried to get ahold of this book for the Christmas season, but was way too late! But, since this author will be attending a conference that I will attend in August, I decided that I would read it anyway. I have previously read her Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries, so I thought it would stand me in good stead to see what else she had to offer.
Imagine my surprise then, when I felt like I was re-reading the Bookshop Mysteries! There are so many details in common. The protagonists are both young women who moved away from small communities and returned, both of them have set up speciality shops, both have best friends who run bake shops, both re-encounter a man they used to date, both have dogs that they barely have time for, both meet an attractive man who has newly moved to the community, both of them discover dead bodies, both have a member of the police force that they don’t get along with, and neither of these women trust the police to fully investigate the deaths. That’s a lot of overlap.
Don’t get me wrong--I finished the book. It was good enough to hold my attention to the end, although I was pretty sure of the destination. There were details that were delightful. This one is set in Rudolph, N.Y., billing itself as Christmastown USA. The main character is called Merry of course and her father (born on Dec. 25) is Noel and he is a dead ringer for Santa Claus. Merry’s dog, a young Saint Bernard, is called Matterhorn (though she calls him Mattie most often). Delany shows talent in naming her characters although I raised an eyebrow when the BFF in this one was named Vicky!
I realize that if you enjoy a particular pattern, you will enjoy a repeat of it. Witness myself and my obsessive reading of Ilona Andrews’ writing. Those novels too repeat a formula over and over and I shamelessly enjoy them. So, if you enjoyed the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries, I have absolutely no doubt that you will enjoy the Year-Round Christmas Mysteries and vice-versa.
Imagine my surprise then, when I felt like I was re-reading the Bookshop Mysteries! There are so many details in common. The protagonists are both young women who moved away from small communities and returned, both of them have set up speciality shops, both have best friends who run bake shops, both re-encounter a man they used to date, both have dogs that they barely have time for, both meet an attractive man who has newly moved to the community, both of them discover dead bodies, both have a member of the police force that they don’t get along with, and neither of these women trust the police to fully investigate the deaths. That’s a lot of overlap.
Don’t get me wrong--I finished the book. It was good enough to hold my attention to the end, although I was pretty sure of the destination. There were details that were delightful. This one is set in Rudolph, N.Y., billing itself as Christmastown USA. The main character is called Merry of course and her father (born on Dec. 25) is Noel and he is a dead ringer for Santa Claus. Merry’s dog, a young Saint Bernard, is called Matterhorn (though she calls him Mattie most often). Delany shows talent in naming her characters although I raised an eyebrow when the BFF in this one was named Vicky!
I realize that if you enjoy a particular pattern, you will enjoy a repeat of it. Witness myself and my obsessive reading of Ilona Andrews’ writing. Those novels too repeat a formula over and over and I shamelessly enjoy them. So, if you enjoyed the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries, I have absolutely no doubt that you will enjoy the Year-Round Christmas Mysteries and vice-versa.
October 29, 2015
A year round Christmas mystery? Yes, please!
Christmas is my favorite holiday, so to say I’ve been looking forward to author Vicki Delany’s new, Year-Round Christmas Mystery series would be an understatement. And Ms. Delany is off to a strong start with REST YE MURDERED GENTLEMEN.
The town of Rudolph, New York, also known as Christmas Town, seems like such a magical please. Well, if you don’t count murder. Lead character, Merry Wilkinson is fun and scrappy, which leads to some truly hysterical situations. All the characters in this book are very well written, as is the extremely well plotted mystery itself.
This was a real page turner, full of intrigue, action and fun. There were as many twists and turns as twinkle lights on a Christmas tree. I was guessing right up until the exciting reveal and still got it wrong!
REST YE MURDERED GENTELMEN is a yuletide treat that readers are sure to enjoy!
Christmas is my favorite holiday, so to say I’ve been looking forward to author Vicki Delany’s new, Year-Round Christmas Mystery series would be an understatement. And Ms. Delany is off to a strong start with REST YE MURDERED GENTLEMEN.
The town of Rudolph, New York, also known as Christmas Town, seems like such a magical please. Well, if you don’t count murder. Lead character, Merry Wilkinson is fun and scrappy, which leads to some truly hysterical situations. All the characters in this book are very well written, as is the extremely well plotted mystery itself.
This was a real page turner, full of intrigue, action and fun. There were as many twists and turns as twinkle lights on a Christmas tree. I was guessing right up until the exciting reveal and still got it wrong!
REST YE MURDERED GENTELMEN is a yuletide treat that readers are sure to enjoy!
January 3, 2018
I wasn't quite feeling this book. I didn't really care for any of the characters (except maybe "Santa Claus" Noel), especially the MC. I didn't find her endearing in any way, which is kind of a requirement for me in a cozy series. I also didn't feel much suspense throughout the book. It was more like I was just waiting for the reveal so the book would be over.
January 1, 2024
Didn’t like this the first read thru and now I loved it! Go figure!
December 5, 2024
I love a good Christmas Cozy-Mystery! This new series has a lot of promise, but a few problems also. Merry is a wonderful character, but I'm not fond of her attitude toward her employees. I also didn't care for the feeling I got that the whole town just existed to make money off Christmas. It also annoyed me that the shopkeeper who sold "manufactured" goods was portrayed as a nasty individual while Merry whose shop sold "artisan" crafts was a wonderful person. The mystery baddie stayed hidden till the end, which I greatly enjoyed. There is also a triangle love story shaping up, to be expanded in future books.
Rudolph, New York is a town in Upstate New York which had fallen on hard times as heavy industry moved out. They reinvented themselves as the Christmas Capital and have had great success attracting tourists which is helping the town survive. The annual Christmas Parade draws a lot of people for the kickoff of the Christmas shopping season. This year Merry Wilkinson, owner of the Mrs. Claus's Treasures shoppe, is determined to win the trophy for her float. When the tractor pulling her float breaks down, the whole parade is thrown into chaos. It is later discovered that it was intentionally disabled.
There is a freelance writer in town doing a story for an international travel magazine. Everyone is falling all over themselves to make the best possible impression. After the post parade party Merry finds him dead in the city park. Not a good look for this wholesome town when it is discovered he was murdered and Merry's best friend, Vicky is the prime suspect as baker of the poisoned gingerbread cookie. More nasty incidents make for tourist cancellations and suddenly Christmas in Rudolph is in serious trouble. Merry is determined to find the real Grinch and save both Vicky and Christmas in Rudolph.
Rudolph, New York is a town in Upstate New York which had fallen on hard times as heavy industry moved out. They reinvented themselves as the Christmas Capital and have had great success attracting tourists which is helping the town survive. The annual Christmas Parade draws a lot of people for the kickoff of the Christmas shopping season. This year Merry Wilkinson, owner of the Mrs. Claus's Treasures shoppe, is determined to win the trophy for her float. When the tractor pulling her float breaks down, the whole parade is thrown into chaos. It is later discovered that it was intentionally disabled.
There is a freelance writer in town doing a story for an international travel magazine. Everyone is falling all over themselves to make the best possible impression. After the post parade party Merry finds him dead in the city park. Not a good look for this wholesome town when it is discovered he was murdered and Merry's best friend, Vicky is the prime suspect as baker of the poisoned gingerbread cookie. More nasty incidents make for tourist cancellations and suddenly Christmas in Rudolph is in serious trouble. Merry is determined to find the real Grinch and save both Vicky and Christmas in Rudolph.
October 23, 2015
I received this book from the author in exchange for a honest review. I absolutely loved Rest Ye Married Gentlemen! The author did a great job of mixing an enticing mystery with all of the things I love about the holidays. I really love her characters. I feel like I know the characters, they are very realistic, they even have flaws. I do not recommend reading this book before going to bed. I kept finding myself in the position of trying to read one more chapter, but, actually reading three more, and not going to bed until after 2:00 am on a work night. It's very hard to put it down. I cannot wait for the next book to come out in this new series!
June 1, 2017
Really 4.5 stars, but I rounded up.
I bought this book right after it came out because the premise sounded good to me, but I just let it sit on my shelf literally collecting dust, without reading it, until now. I enjoyed the Lighthouse Library mysteries written by the same author (which are coming back, thanks to Crooked Lane Books!!!) but for some reason I'd never picked this series up. Well, I'm glad I did last night. Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen immediately sucked me in!
I'll start with the one negative in this book; there's a love triangle brewing. Besides that, the characters are smart, capable, and Merry investigates without investigating, if that makes sense. She really just looks around a little bit and the rest just falls into her lap. That's the way I like my mysteries!
The killer wasn't transparent at all. I thought I had it figured out, but then the plot doubled back on itself and surprised me. The setting is perfect. Anyone who knows me knows that Christmas is my favorite, so a series on a town dedicated to Christmas? I was bound to love it.
Overall a solid, wonderfully-written book. I highly recommend, and will read the next one soon!
I bought this book right after it came out because the premise sounded good to me, but I just let it sit on my shelf literally collecting dust, without reading it, until now. I enjoyed the Lighthouse Library mysteries written by the same author (which are coming back, thanks to Crooked Lane Books!!!) but for some reason I'd never picked this series up. Well, I'm glad I did last night. Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen immediately sucked me in!
I'll start with the one negative in this book; there's a love triangle brewing. Besides that, the characters are smart, capable, and Merry investigates without investigating, if that makes sense. She really just looks around a little bit and the rest just falls into her lap. That's the way I like my mysteries!
The killer wasn't transparent at all. I thought I had it figured out, but then the plot doubled back on itself and surprised me. The setting is perfect. Anyone who knows me knows that Christmas is my favorite, so a series on a town dedicated to Christmas? I was bound to love it.
Overall a solid, wonderfully-written book. I highly recommend, and will read the next one soon!
December 5, 2020
While walking her dog at night, Merry Wilkinson finds a reporter’s body. Then Merry’s best friend becomes the chief suspect. Unwilling to accept that her friend is a murderer, Merry decides to use her considerable investigation skills to discover who the killer is.
While Merry is strong and resourceful, she gets much help from the locals, who are all charming.
There’s plenty of Christmas spirit throughout this story, the small town setting is delightful, and the mystery is enhanced with several unexpected twists.
A fun, Christmas-themed cozy.
While Merry is strong and resourceful, she gets much help from the locals, who are all charming.
There’s plenty of Christmas spirit throughout this story, the small town setting is delightful, and the mystery is enhanced with several unexpected twists.
A fun, Christmas-themed cozy.
December 7, 2024
What to expect in a town named Rudolph? A town that celebrates the Christmas spirit all year. And was does the former mayor, Noel’s daughter do when life in New York City falls apart? Why, Merry returns to Rudolph and opens a Christmas shop!
This year Merry’s float is sabotaged at the Santa Claus parade, and then a visiting journalist dies after eating a poisoned gingerbread cookie at the town party. As more events occur in town to keep visitors away, it’s clear someone has malicious intent. Can the culprit be determined before someone else is killed, and before the town’s image is destroyed?
This is a cute Christmas mystery, which apparently is the beginning of a series. It’s a fun way to get into the Christmas spirit.
This year Merry’s float is sabotaged at the Santa Claus parade, and then a visiting journalist dies after eating a poisoned gingerbread cookie at the town party. As more events occur in town to keep visitors away, it’s clear someone has malicious intent. Can the culprit be determined before someone else is killed, and before the town’s image is destroyed?
This is a cute Christmas mystery, which apparently is the beginning of a series. It’s a fun way to get into the Christmas spirit.
August 6, 2020
Welcome to Rudolph, otherwise known as Christmas Town. where people lived and breathed Christmas all year long.
This book opens up with the Santa Claus parade, the biggest event in Rudolph. During the said parade, Merry's float has been sabotaged. And followed by strange happenings like poisoned gingerbread, hot dog cart explosion and even a clumsy attempt to get Santa out of town.
Was someone out to deliberately ruin Christmas in Rudolph?
There was little investigating going on from Merry but I love the idea of the town. And that kept me reading. Can you imagine Christmas all year round? That would be awesome!
This book opens up with the Santa Claus parade, the biggest event in Rudolph. During the said parade, Merry's float has been sabotaged. And followed by strange happenings like poisoned gingerbread, hot dog cart explosion and even a clumsy attempt to get Santa out of town.
Was someone out to deliberately ruin Christmas in Rudolph?
There was little investigating going on from Merry but I love the idea of the town. And that kept me reading. Can you imagine Christmas all year round? That would be awesome!
November 18, 2015
Merry Wilkinson finds herself right in the middle of a murder mystery which is very unusual in the quaint town of Rudolph, New York. This type of thing never happens there. To add to the drama, the neighboring town of Muddle Harbor is declining and fast. They are thrilled to see Rudolph deal with the bad publicity of a murder in the hopes that it will help their own town's economy rise. When people start canceling their reservations in Rudolph, Muddle Harbor not only appears to be cashing in on the tourism but the authorities wonder if they aren’t responsible for the murder – not to mention the strange things suddenly happening in Rudolph.
I heard about this book a few months ago and I’ve anxiously been awaiting its release. It’s everything I hoped for and more. The idea of a year-round town dedicated to Christmas is so sweet and unique. Some of the characters are just as cute as the town, others not so much. However, you always need villains to keep the story moving along. Vicki Delaney gives us a wide array of characters with a marvelous mix of good and bad.
I delved right into this story – it grabbed me in and wouldn’t let me go. It’s perfect for this time of year. Although the town is a year-round Christmas town, this particular book is set around the Christmas holiday. The storyline has a nice blend of mystery and romance. There were twists and turns that come with a good mystery. I didn’t see the ending coming at all. It totally took me by surprise, which is always a plus in my book.
I’m looking forward to reading more in this series. It’s a fun way to spend a few hours. The only thing more fun would actually be visiting a town like Rudolph, New York.
FTC Disclosure: The publisher provided me with a copy of this book to review for this blog tour. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
I heard about this book a few months ago and I’ve anxiously been awaiting its release. It’s everything I hoped for and more. The idea of a year-round town dedicated to Christmas is so sweet and unique. Some of the characters are just as cute as the town, others not so much. However, you always need villains to keep the story moving along. Vicki Delaney gives us a wide array of characters with a marvelous mix of good and bad.
I delved right into this story – it grabbed me in and wouldn’t let me go. It’s perfect for this time of year. Although the town is a year-round Christmas town, this particular book is set around the Christmas holiday. The storyline has a nice blend of mystery and romance. There were twists and turns that come with a good mystery. I didn’t see the ending coming at all. It totally took me by surprise, which is always a plus in my book.
I’m looking forward to reading more in this series. It’s a fun way to spend a few hours. The only thing more fun would actually be visiting a town like Rudolph, New York.
FTC Disclosure: The publisher provided me with a copy of this book to review for this blog tour. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
October 10, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up. Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen is the 1st book in A Year-Round Christmas Mystery series, but not the first I had read. It was nice to go back to the beginning and follow the characters and their stories. The stories were set in Rudolph, New York where they go all out at Christmas time, hoping to become the Christmas Capital in the U.S. Merry Wilkinson runs Mrs. Claus' Treasures and is hoping her float will win the parade this year, but the tractor pulling it breaks down and she is lucky not to be disqualified. There is a reporter in town planning to write a piece in a travel magazine and she doesn't want to make waves about possible sabotage. Later that night, the reporter is found dead. It looks like a heart attack, but turns out to be more than that. With other things happening, it looks like someone is trying to ruin Rudolph's reputation. With Merry's friend Vicky being suspected of poisoning the reporter with one of her cookies, the two of them begin their own investigation.
This is a great start to this series. We meet the main characters and find out about the town and their businesses. I enjoyed meeting everyone, even the miserable and crochety ones. The mystery is interesting with a few suspects and possible motives. I wasn't sure who was responsible, but enjoyed following along and crossing them off as I changed my mind. Although Merry's return to Rudolph seems a bit simplistic and she is accepted back as if she never left, I enjoyed her role as the protagonist. The ending was interesting and the culprit not one that was on my radar at all. I know this series gets better, so although this was a bit predictable and parts were a bit over the top, I will continue to read/listen this series. I listened to this one, narrated by Amy Deuchler. I enjoyed her narration as she did a nice job with the story and voices.
This is a great start to this series. We meet the main characters and find out about the town and their businesses. I enjoyed meeting everyone, even the miserable and crochety ones. The mystery is interesting with a few suspects and possible motives. I wasn't sure who was responsible, but enjoyed following along and crossing them off as I changed my mind. Although Merry's return to Rudolph seems a bit simplistic and she is accepted back as if she never left, I enjoyed her role as the protagonist. The ending was interesting and the culprit not one that was on my radar at all. I know this series gets better, so although this was a bit predictable and parts were a bit over the top, I will continue to read/listen this series. I listened to this one, narrated by Amy Deuchler. I enjoyed her narration as she did a nice job with the story and voices.
December 1, 2020
A good Christmas cozy complete with love interests, a picturesque Christmas town, and a puppy. What more is there to like?
November 28, 2015
What I was hoping for when I picked this up was a warm, fun cozy with some holiday accents. What I got was over the top in almost every aspect.
The set up of the town itself is downright ridiculous, but then you add in the perceived competition with the neighboring village and it gets even worse.
The main characters having holiday related names is even more frustrating. The author goes through a lot of trouble to set up how the town became Christmas town and undermines it with the contradiction of both the main character having holiday names. Why is that contradictory? Because the change to Christmas town is supposedly fairly recent and yet Merry's father just happened to be born on the holiday and have themed name as a result? It's nonsensical.
Both romantic plots felt childish and lacking.
There was a lot of wasted time of Merry going one place and then somewhere else and then heading right back to where she started.
Also, the writing itself was too simplistic. Everything was on the surface or very passive.
The set up of the town itself is downright ridiculous, but then you add in the perceived competition with the neighboring village and it gets even worse.
The main characters having holiday related names is even more frustrating. The author goes through a lot of trouble to set up how the town became Christmas town and undermines it with the contradiction of both the main character having holiday names. Why is that contradictory? Because the change to Christmas town is supposedly fairly recent and yet Merry's father just happened to be born on the holiday and have themed name as a result? It's nonsensical.
Both romantic plots felt childish and lacking.
There was a lot of wasted time of Merry going one place and then somewhere else and then heading right back to where she started.
Also, the writing itself was too simplistic. Everything was on the surface or very passive.
March 5, 2016
A town that survives by celebrating Christmas all year long! Merry Wilkinson owns Mrs. Claus's Treasures in Rudolph, New York. Her father and former mayor is Santa Claus. Her mother and retired opera diva teaches voice. When sabotage and murder threaten to ruin the town's livelihood during the December festivities Merry has to step up and find out what is going on before everything is lost. I found the characters delightful, the theme interesting and the murder plot well done. The ending was a total surprise and I am looking forward to the next book!
February 6, 2017
3.5 stars
September 12, 2023
A fantastic new to me cozy mystery that is Christmas Themed! In fact, the town is called Rudolph, so you know it's going to get spirited based on that! Add in that this first book in the series is set during the Christmas shopping season and it is full blast Christmas, except there seems to be a grinch lurking around trying to ruin the holidays for the entire town! A well-developed plot makes for an entertaining read or in my case, listen, and great characters that are relatable make for a stellar reading/listening experience especially since the narrator on the audiobook does such a great job of bringing the characters to life! I can't wait to start listening to the next book and thanks to my library and hoopla, I don't have to wait at all!
December 9, 2018
A good start to the series. I enjoyed my visit to Christmas town. The story was good, I liked the characters and I was totally surprised by the culprit. There is definitely a love triangle going on and I’m on the fence about it but since this is just book one it is okay.
November 15, 2015
This book is the first installment in the Year Round Christmas Mystery series by Vicki Delany. I have not previously read anything by this author, who also writes under the name Eva Gates, but I can tell you it will not be the last. I loved this book. While it is a holiday themed book, I think it can be read any time of the year and it would not lose its charm.
I was drawn into this book from the very first pages with the authors description of the town and the Christmas parade. The characters were all well written and I found them to be quirky and fun. The author spins a great tale with wonderful descriptions that engage the reader and allows them to know and love both the characters and the town. The mystery is a strong, solid mystery with plenty of twists and turns. I was surprised to find out the killer's identity at the end and the reason for the mischief in the town following the murder. The pace of the story was just right and I didn't feel there were any lulls or gaps with the story line.
Vicki Delany delivers a wonderful first installment to this series and I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Rudolph New York.
I was drawn into this book from the very first pages with the authors description of the town and the Christmas parade. The characters were all well written and I found them to be quirky and fun. The author spins a great tale with wonderful descriptions that engage the reader and allows them to know and love both the characters and the town. The mystery is a strong, solid mystery with plenty of twists and turns. I was surprised to find out the killer's identity at the end and the reason for the mischief in the town following the murder. The pace of the story was just right and I didn't feel there were any lulls or gaps with the story line.
Vicki Delany delivers a wonderful first installment to this series and I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Rudolph New York.
November 19, 2017
This was okay, but not as good as I was hoping it would be.
Merry was a very erratic character for me. I felt like one moment she was upbeat and cheerful and the next she was dark and crabby. I never understood her interactions with the two love interests she has - if you want to be with one or both of them you have to actually spend time with them. If you don't, the fair thing would be to tell them that and not string them along. She was very indecisive and wishy washy on that.
The town did not come across as festive and fun. While I get that there was a murder and sabotage happening, one would still expect some festive feeling in a place known as Christmastown, and I just never got that feeling at all. Everything was doom and gloom, and it was more depressing than anything else.
Overall, this was not one of the better cozies I've read. It was okay enough that I finished it, but I doubt I would read other books in the series. It just didn't grab me much.
Merry was a very erratic character for me. I felt like one moment she was upbeat and cheerful and the next she was dark and crabby. I never understood her interactions with the two love interests she has - if you want to be with one or both of them you have to actually spend time with them. If you don't, the fair thing would be to tell them that and not string them along. She was very indecisive and wishy washy on that.
The town did not come across as festive and fun. While I get that there was a murder and sabotage happening, one would still expect some festive feeling in a place known as Christmastown, and I just never got that feeling at all. Everything was doom and gloom, and it was more depressing than anything else.
Overall, this was not one of the better cozies I've read. It was okay enough that I finished it, but I doubt I would read other books in the series. It just didn't grab me much.
January 21, 2016
This was a quaint little mystery with likeable characters that takes place in Rudolph, New York where they celebrate Christmas year round.
The story moved along at a steady pace and there were enough viable suspects that it kept me guessing until nearly the end. I would have finished this book much sooner, but it was my secondary book that I only read a few pages per day.
I liked this book enough to read the next in the series, but it wasn't anything I would rave about.
(2016 reading challenge category: a book about a holiday or that takes place during a holiday)
The story moved along at a steady pace and there were enough viable suspects that it kept me guessing until nearly the end. I would have finished this book much sooner, but it was my secondary book that I only read a few pages per day.
I liked this book enough to read the next in the series, but it wasn't anything I would rave about.
(2016 reading challenge category: a book about a holiday or that takes place during a holiday)
December 10, 2022
this was pleasant but not especially scintillating
December 17, 2018
Not sure if I have read very many Christmas cozy mysteries,but this one was fun to read,and I just had to know..
December 10, 2024
2.5 stars rounded up
Merry Wilkinson loves living in Rudolph, New York where they celebrate Christmas all year round. As owner of Mrs. Claus's Treasures shop, Merry loves seeing the handmade artisan gifts leaving her shop with happy customers. One of the highlights of the Christmas season is the annual parade in which Merry competes in a float contest. Her mother has prepared young singers and her shop assistant comes as an elf. Everyone is waiting to see this year's float, especially Merry's best friend Vicki who is competing against Merry for best float. There's only one problem - the tractor pulling Merry's float won't start! By the time they come up with a solution, it's the end of the parade and her float is disqualified. Later, her driver announces he thinks the tractor was sabotaged! Who would do such a thing and why? All thoughts of sabotage are driven from Merry's head when a reporter from the UK arrives to do a piece on Rudolph which would solidify the town's status as Christmastown worldwide. Sure Nigel seems a little fixated on Merry's shop assistant Jackie but Jackie can help promote the town and the shop while she's posing for pictures. After a townwide Christmas party during which Merry's friend Vicky presents Nigel with a special gingerbread Charles Dickens cookie, Merry goes home to walk her puppy. Mattie runs off and runs right into Nigel's dead body! When Merry calls 911 she has no idea she's setting Vicky up for the murder! The police suspect Nigel's cookie was poisoned and Vicky is the most likely culprit. Merry knows her BFF may be competitive but she's not a killer. Merry sets out to discover who would want to ruin Christmas in Rudolph! As more accidents happen, Merry is convinced someone is out to ruin Rudolph. Can she figure it out before all the tourists go away for good?
I'm not sure how I feel about Christmas all year round. I see why the town needs something to keep them going, it's a great hook for the cozy backdrop but I don't know if I want to read about Christmas all year long. As for the plot - ick. There's way too much casual acceptance of older men hitting on younger women. That's simply not acceptable. I didn't care who the murderer was. I thought I had a nice list of probably suspects and then I skipped ahead to the end to check it out. I was rather surprised and I found the motive weird.
I didn't click with the characters yet. Merry seems nice but I don't understand why she'd trace NYC for a decaying small town even if they've rebranded themselves? What did she do in New York? I don't remember but now she owns a shop - with no business ownership experience. She manages to run this shop with only two assistants, both of whom are very young. Merry apparently makes enough money to live on selling handmade artisan gifts. Her apartment is in an old Victorian house, across from her nosy landlady and a couple with a new baby. She shares said apartment with her dog, Mattie. Merry needs to hire a dog sitter/walker/trainer. Why on earth did she get a puppy NOW at her busiest time of year and why a huge one when she lives in an apartment? The dog feels shoehorned in.
Merry comes from a close knit family. Her dad is Santa Claus! He is also a longtime former mayor and unofficial leader of Rudolph. For Santa Claus he isn't super jolly and he has odd notions about Christmas. Christmas isn't just for kids! If you're Santa Claus in a town that celebrates Christmas all year, shouldn't you be promoting the heck out of Christmas to everyone? Come buy some kitschy gifts or handmade artisan gifts, vintage dishes, ornaments, jewelry for your significant other, etc. etc.? Merry's parents need to butt out of her shop. It's not her job to tell people how they should be celebrating Christmas. It's her job to sell stuff and make money. It's her shop and her choice what to display and how to arrange those displays. I don't know who is more annoying- Santa Dad or opera singer mom. Aline is a diva in more than one sense of the word. Apparently she's retired from the stage and the entire opera world but still basks in the attention of everyone and has an ego the size of the North Pole. She's one of THOSE mothers who critiques and nitpicks and doesn't know a budget. Merry's parents are complete opposites and we're supposed to believe they love each other deeply. I'm not sure I buy that. Merry and her sisters have the most annoying, cutesy names. Dad is Noel (apparently pronounced incorrectly. We're missing the accent that makes it "No-ell" and not "Noal". ) That's bad enough but naming your daughters Merry (Mary? That's another one that doesn't work with the spelling), Eve and Carol. That's too cutesy for me. Eve and Carol have managed to escape and live adult lives away from home. Only Merry has come back.
Merry's friend Vicky, the baker, is the prime suspect but incidental to the plot. She hovers in the background and only makes one big appearance and some smaller ones. She's kind of rude. I wouldn't want a best friend who competed against me or one who was standoffish and rude to another business. There's a love triangle brewing. Merry's investigative partner is a Russ Durham, editor in chief of the local paper. At first I was suspicious of him but he seems to be honest and sincere in believing Vicky didn't kill anyone. He wants answers as much as Merry does. I don't appreciate him taking candid photos of her though. I hope he doesn't print them. I kept getting Russ and Alan confused because Merry seems attracted to them both and they're both rather bland. Alan is a better choice for Merry. He's a shy wooden toymaker and they have a history together. He loves Rudolph and is dedicated to helping the town succeed and making people happy with his simple toys.
Merry's shop assistant Jackie is an obnoxious, self-centered twat. Yes she's young- how young? Jackie seems to want to do very little work and is just waiting for someone rich and/or famous to come along and whisk her away. She quickly jumps in to pose for Nigel. Nigel is a sleazy guy who sexually harasses Jackie and no one really seems to bat an eyelash. Merry is a little bothered by it but she'll sacrifice Jackie for the sake of the town! SERIOUSLY? Does Jackie have a mother or older sister who can have a chat with her because she is about to get into serious trouble. Good thing someone murdered this dude. Jackie's boyfriend Kyle would be my prime suspect. She uses him, treats him badly and he is the jealous type. He sees right through Nigel and tries to warn Jackie but she isn't listening. She's too busy enjoying the attention. Kyle is kind of a meathead. He's supposedly an artist but doesn't seem to create anything, let alone sell it. He's nice enough to let Jackie walk all over him and give her what she wants but I don't think he'll lose her to Nigel without a fight. I totally think Kyle is the type to get his hands on the murder weapon!
My other top suspect is Betty Thatcher who sees herself as Merry's rival. Betty sells cheap, tacky kitsch for the tourist crowd and is about as cheap as Ebenezer Scrooge. She latches on to Nigel and wants to be the star of his article. Unfortunately she's old and has an abrasive personality so I don't think he's interested. Could she have killed him to ruin Vicky, get revenge on Merry and get back at Nigel for not appreciating her and her shop more? She seems just about that unhinged. Also in the running is the entire town of Muddle Harbor next door. They're jealous of Rudolph's Christmas branding and all the business it brings in. Rudy Baumgartner, the mayor, was even at the party where the poisoned cookie was served.
Fergus Cartwright, the mayor of Rudolph, is rather lazy and stupid. He enjoys appearances and the attention but doesn't seem to be really helpful to the town. Fergus is the opposite of Noel. Fergus has competition in the upcoming mayoral election from Sue-Anne Morrow, a newcomer. She doesn't seem to love Christmas or understand Rudolph very well. Sue-Anne can't be bothered to remember Merry's name. She hates Fergus, likes attention and LOVES control! She's a little scary and I wouldn't put it past her to kill Nigel if he was going to write a negative piece about Rudolph or he discovered some dirt on her or he rejected her advances. What about her husband? Did he kill a rival out of jealousy? They must have an open marriage because he hits on Merry while she's out walking her dog. Instead of shutting him down with a firm "NO!" and "NO! I don't date married men!" she just runs off.
Crystal, Merry's other shop assistant is younger than Jackie but more mature. Like Kyle, she's an artist but unlike Kyle, she's focused on jewelry and sells in in Merry's store. Officer Candace Campbell, Merry's high school nemesis, is a cop on Rudolph's police force. Merry deliberately antagonizes Candy and Candy tries to abuse her position, use her ego and push people around. She soon learns she is a big fish in a tiny pond with the arrival of Detective Simmonds. Simmonds seems tough but fair. She's good with dogs, listens to Merry and tries to solve the crime. Simmonds has a lot to learn about small towns but I like her a lot. I see no reason for Merry and Vicky to investigate on their own. Mrs. D'Angelo, Merry's landlady, is super nosy. She loves gardening and gossiping, little caring whether she has her facts straight or not.
I requested the second book to see if I like it any better.
Merry Wilkinson loves living in Rudolph, New York where they celebrate Christmas all year round. As owner of Mrs. Claus's Treasures shop, Merry loves seeing the handmade artisan gifts leaving her shop with happy customers. One of the highlights of the Christmas season is the annual parade in which Merry competes in a float contest. Her mother has prepared young singers and her shop assistant comes as an elf. Everyone is waiting to see this year's float, especially Merry's best friend Vicki who is competing against Merry for best float. There's only one problem - the tractor pulling Merry's float won't start! By the time they come up with a solution, it's the end of the parade and her float is disqualified. Later, her driver announces he thinks the tractor was sabotaged! Who would do such a thing and why? All thoughts of sabotage are driven from Merry's head when a reporter from the UK arrives to do a piece on Rudolph which would solidify the town's status as Christmastown worldwide. Sure Nigel seems a little fixated on Merry's shop assistant Jackie but Jackie can help promote the town and the shop while she's posing for pictures. After a townwide Christmas party during which Merry's friend Vicky presents Nigel with a special gingerbread Charles Dickens cookie, Merry goes home to walk her puppy. Mattie runs off and runs right into Nigel's dead body! When Merry calls 911 she has no idea she's setting Vicky up for the murder! The police suspect Nigel's cookie was poisoned and Vicky is the most likely culprit. Merry knows her BFF may be competitive but she's not a killer. Merry sets out to discover who would want to ruin Christmas in Rudolph! As more accidents happen, Merry is convinced someone is out to ruin Rudolph. Can she figure it out before all the tourists go away for good?
I'm not sure how I feel about Christmas all year round. I see why the town needs something to keep them going, it's a great hook for the cozy backdrop but I don't know if I want to read about Christmas all year long. As for the plot - ick. There's way too much casual acceptance of older men hitting on younger women. That's simply not acceptable. I didn't care who the murderer was. I thought I had a nice list of probably suspects and then I skipped ahead to the end to check it out. I was rather surprised and I found the motive weird.
I didn't click with the characters yet. Merry seems nice but I don't understand why she'd trace NYC for a decaying small town even if they've rebranded themselves? What did she do in New York? I don't remember but now she owns a shop - with no business ownership experience. She manages to run this shop with only two assistants, both of whom are very young. Merry apparently makes enough money to live on selling handmade artisan gifts. Her apartment is in an old Victorian house, across from her nosy landlady and a couple with a new baby. She shares said apartment with her dog, Mattie. Merry needs to hire a dog sitter/walker/trainer. Why on earth did she get a puppy NOW at her busiest time of year and why a huge one when she lives in an apartment? The dog feels shoehorned in.
Merry comes from a close knit family. Her dad is Santa Claus! He is also a longtime former mayor and unofficial leader of Rudolph. For Santa Claus he isn't super jolly and he has odd notions about Christmas. Christmas isn't just for kids! If you're Santa Claus in a town that celebrates Christmas all year, shouldn't you be promoting the heck out of Christmas to everyone? Come buy some kitschy gifts or handmade artisan gifts, vintage dishes, ornaments, jewelry for your significant other, etc. etc.? Merry's parents need to butt out of her shop. It's not her job to tell people how they should be celebrating Christmas. It's her job to sell stuff and make money. It's her shop and her choice what to display and how to arrange those displays. I don't know who is more annoying- Santa Dad or opera singer mom. Aline is a diva in more than one sense of the word. Apparently she's retired from the stage and the entire opera world but still basks in the attention of everyone and has an ego the size of the North Pole. She's one of THOSE mothers who critiques and nitpicks and doesn't know a budget. Merry's parents are complete opposites and we're supposed to believe they love each other deeply. I'm not sure I buy that. Merry and her sisters have the most annoying, cutesy names. Dad is Noel (apparently pronounced incorrectly. We're missing the accent that makes it "No-ell" and not "Noal". ) That's bad enough but naming your daughters Merry (Mary? That's another one that doesn't work with the spelling), Eve and Carol. That's too cutesy for me. Eve and Carol have managed to escape and live adult lives away from home. Only Merry has come back.
Merry's friend Vicky, the baker, is the prime suspect but incidental to the plot. She hovers in the background and only makes one big appearance and some smaller ones. She's kind of rude. I wouldn't want a best friend who competed against me or one who was standoffish and rude to another business. There's a love triangle brewing. Merry's investigative partner is a Russ Durham, editor in chief of the local paper. At first I was suspicious of him but he seems to be honest and sincere in believing Vicky didn't kill anyone. He wants answers as much as Merry does. I don't appreciate him taking candid photos of her though. I hope he doesn't print them. I kept getting Russ and Alan confused because Merry seems attracted to them both and they're both rather bland. Alan is a better choice for Merry. He's a shy wooden toymaker and they have a history together. He loves Rudolph and is dedicated to helping the town succeed and making people happy with his simple toys.
Merry's shop assistant Jackie is an obnoxious, self-centered twat. Yes she's young- how young? Jackie seems to want to do very little work and is just waiting for someone rich and/or famous to come along and whisk her away. She quickly jumps in to pose for Nigel. Nigel is a sleazy guy who sexually harasses Jackie and no one really seems to bat an eyelash. Merry is a little bothered by it but she'll sacrifice Jackie for the sake of the town! SERIOUSLY? Does Jackie have a mother or older sister who can have a chat with her because she is about to get into serious trouble. Good thing someone murdered this dude. Jackie's boyfriend Kyle would be my prime suspect. She uses him, treats him badly and he is the jealous type. He sees right through Nigel and tries to warn Jackie but she isn't listening. She's too busy enjoying the attention. Kyle is kind of a meathead. He's supposedly an artist but doesn't seem to create anything, let alone sell it. He's nice enough to let Jackie walk all over him and give her what she wants but I don't think he'll lose her to Nigel without a fight. I totally think Kyle is the type to get his hands on the murder weapon!
My other top suspect is Betty Thatcher who sees herself as Merry's rival. Betty sells cheap, tacky kitsch for the tourist crowd and is about as cheap as Ebenezer Scrooge. She latches on to Nigel and wants to be the star of his article. Unfortunately she's old and has an abrasive personality so I don't think he's interested. Could she have killed him to ruin Vicky, get revenge on Merry and get back at Nigel for not appreciating her and her shop more? She seems just about that unhinged. Also in the running is the entire town of Muddle Harbor next door. They're jealous of Rudolph's Christmas branding and all the business it brings in. Rudy Baumgartner, the mayor, was even at the party where the poisoned cookie was served.
Fergus Cartwright, the mayor of Rudolph, is rather lazy and stupid. He enjoys appearances and the attention but doesn't seem to be really helpful to the town. Fergus is the opposite of Noel. Fergus has competition in the upcoming mayoral election from Sue-Anne Morrow, a newcomer. She doesn't seem to love Christmas or understand Rudolph very well. Sue-Anne can't be bothered to remember Merry's name. She hates Fergus, likes attention and LOVES control! She's a little scary and I wouldn't put it past her to kill Nigel if he was going to write a negative piece about Rudolph or he discovered some dirt on her or he rejected her advances. What about her husband? Did he kill a rival out of jealousy? They must have an open marriage because he hits on Merry while she's out walking her dog. Instead of shutting him down with a firm "NO!" and "NO! I don't date married men!" she just runs off.
Crystal, Merry's other shop assistant is younger than Jackie but more mature. Like Kyle, she's an artist but unlike Kyle, she's focused on jewelry and sells in in Merry's store. Officer Candace Campbell, Merry's high school nemesis, is a cop on Rudolph's police force. Merry deliberately antagonizes Candy and Candy tries to abuse her position, use her ego and push people around. She soon learns she is a big fish in a tiny pond with the arrival of Detective Simmonds. Simmonds seems tough but fair. She's good with dogs, listens to Merry and tries to solve the crime. Simmonds has a lot to learn about small towns but I like her a lot. I see no reason for Merry and Vicky to investigate on their own. Mrs. D'Angelo, Merry's landlady, is super nosy. She loves gardening and gossiping, little caring whether she has her facts straight or not.
I requested the second book to see if I like it any better.
January 14, 2016
I’m always looking for a good cozy mystery that will draw me in an keep me guessing until the very end and Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen was exactly what I was looking for.
Here’s what’s going on. When a freelance journalist covering Rudolph’s Christmas spirit dies after eating a poisoned gingerbread cookie, Merry Wilkinson, owner of Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, is out to prove her best friend, Vicky who owns the bakery, wasn’t the perpetrator. Merry starts wondering if perhaps the killer followed the journalist to New York until strange events start occurring around town threatening to destroy the image of America’s Christmas town. Now Merry’s on a mission to track down the killer and save Rudolph.
Merry was such an easy character to like—which was good given that this book was told from her POV. She left town and followed her dreams but ultimately returned to her hometown and started a business selling handcrafted gifts and Christmas decorations. She definitely has the Christmas spirit and she loves her little Christmas town so when someone is out to destroy Rudolph, Merry takes it upon herself to stop them.
Like most cozy mysteries, this book does have the start of a love triangle for Merry. There’s Russ—he’s a Rudolph newbie and reporter for the newspaper. Then there’s Allen—he’s a woodworker who also is a toymaker, he and Merry dated in high school. I really want to see Merry end up with Allen, they just seem right for each other. My only problem with this was that I wanted Merry to speak up about what she wanted. It was obvious she wanted Allen but she was willing to allow Russ to pull her away from spending time with him.
The mystery was brilliant and kept me guessing until the end. Although once the killer was revealed, I was surprised I hadn’t put the pieces together.
As this is the start of a new series, parts of the book were a tad bit slow as the author filled in the reader about the town and it’s residents. While it slowed down the pace, it didn’t shift my focus away from the plot.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this start to a new series. With cozies, I want to be pulled in by the setting, the characters, and the mystery and I have to say I was. There’s a bevy of charming and unique residents of Rudolph that truly brings this book to life and, I have to say, I’m eager to read the next book in the series.
Here’s what’s going on. When a freelance journalist covering Rudolph’s Christmas spirit dies after eating a poisoned gingerbread cookie, Merry Wilkinson, owner of Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, is out to prove her best friend, Vicky who owns the bakery, wasn’t the perpetrator. Merry starts wondering if perhaps the killer followed the journalist to New York until strange events start occurring around town threatening to destroy the image of America’s Christmas town. Now Merry’s on a mission to track down the killer and save Rudolph.
Merry was such an easy character to like—which was good given that this book was told from her POV. She left town and followed her dreams but ultimately returned to her hometown and started a business selling handcrafted gifts and Christmas decorations. She definitely has the Christmas spirit and she loves her little Christmas town so when someone is out to destroy Rudolph, Merry takes it upon herself to stop them.
Like most cozy mysteries, this book does have the start of a love triangle for Merry. There’s Russ—he’s a Rudolph newbie and reporter for the newspaper. Then there’s Allen—he’s a woodworker who also is a toymaker, he and Merry dated in high school. I really want to see Merry end up with Allen, they just seem right for each other. My only problem with this was that I wanted Merry to speak up about what she wanted. It was obvious she wanted Allen but she was willing to allow Russ to pull her away from spending time with him.
The mystery was brilliant and kept me guessing until the end. Although once the killer was revealed, I was surprised I hadn’t put the pieces together.
As this is the start of a new series, parts of the book were a tad bit slow as the author filled in the reader about the town and it’s residents. While it slowed down the pace, it didn’t shift my focus away from the plot.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this start to a new series. With cozies, I want to be pulled in by the setting, the characters, and the mystery and I have to say I was. There’s a bevy of charming and unique residents of Rudolph that truly brings this book to life and, I have to say, I’m eager to read the next book in the series.
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