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Holly & Mark Mystery #1
Home for the Homicides
11 hours, 18 minutes
'Tis the season . . . for murder.
This program features multicast narration.
When Special Agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd report to the idyllic town of Christmas to investigate a very less than idyllic murder, they’re in for more than the average whodunnit.
Welcome to Christmas, a town so cozy and charming it could be the backdrop of a Hallmark movie, where crime is never in season and it’s the holidays all year round. So when a tourist is found stabbed to death by an icicle ornament in the middle of the town nativity scene, the local police are out of their depth—after all, how do you find a criminal in a town where crime doesn't exist?
The stakes are high: the whole town is relying on Holly and Mark to solve the crime before the annual Jingle Bell Jubilee festival (which naturally the town's entire economic survival relies on), plus, whichever of them cracks the case will receive a promotion to Major Crimes—and there's only one spot.
Holly and Mark are both on thin ice after screwing up on the job. This assignment is their one shot at redemption, if they can put aside their bitter rivalry. And of course, it's not only their careers on the line, it's their hearts, too—regrets of their holiday party hookup last year haunt them like ghosts of Christmas past, so they both want to wrap up this rom-com gone wrong as quickly as possible. But with just twelve days until the festival, the countdown to catch a killer—without killing each other—is on.
Co-authored by New York Times bestseller Elle Cosimano (Finlay Donovan series) and USA Today bestseller Hannah Morrissey (Black Harbor series), Home for the Homicides is a sexy, light-hearted romp, with a dash of merriment and murder.
'Tis the season . . . for murder.
This program features multicast narration.
When Special Agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd report to the idyllic town of Christmas to investigate a very less than idyllic murder, they’re in for more than the average whodunnit.
Welcome to Christmas, a town so cozy and charming it could be the backdrop of a Hallmark movie, where crime is never in season and it’s the holidays all year round. So when a tourist is found stabbed to death by an icicle ornament in the middle of the town nativity scene, the local police are out of their depth—after all, how do you find a criminal in a town where crime doesn't exist?
The stakes are high: the whole town is relying on Holly and Mark to solve the crime before the annual Jingle Bell Jubilee festival (which naturally the town's entire economic survival relies on), plus, whichever of them cracks the case will receive a promotion to Major Crimes—and there's only one spot.
Holly and Mark are both on thin ice after screwing up on the job. This assignment is their one shot at redemption, if they can put aside their bitter rivalry. And of course, it's not only their careers on the line, it's their hearts, too—regrets of their holiday party hookup last year haunt them like ghosts of Christmas past, so they both want to wrap up this rom-com gone wrong as quickly as possible. But with just twelve days until the festival, the countdown to catch a killer—without killing each other—is on.
Co-authored by New York Times bestseller Elle Cosimano (Finlay Donovan series) and USA Today bestseller Hannah Morrissey (Black Harbor series), Home for the Homicides is a sexy, light-hearted romp, with a dash of merriment and murder.
Audiobook
First published October 13, 2026
About the author
Elle Cosimano
25 books9,138 followersUSA TODAY and New York Times bestselling author, Edgar® Nominee, Bram Stoker® Nominee, & ITW Thriller Award winner.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Holly & Mark Mystery #1
Home for the Homicides by Elle Cosimano, Hannah Morrissey
Narrated by Angela Dawe, Colin Donnell, Patti Murin
These two favorite authors of mine went to town making fun of Christmas, romance, police procedurals, old and new Christmas movies, buddy romcoms, pastries, and just about everything else. There has been a murder in the town of Christmas, a living Hallmark movie kind of town where no one curses and no one can say the word "murder" without stuttering. Nothing bad happens here, well, no murders happen here. Apparently much of the town is charged up and raring to go when it comes to coupling but murders are not appreciated at all, not spoken of, and having a murderer running loose in Christmas is going to destroy this little town, when murder talk chases away all the tourists.
Enter Special Agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd. We met them a year earlier, at the beginning of this story, while they were doing it in a closet at a work function. A one time thing that might have become more except that Mark got the homicide job that Holly wanted while she was sent to the basement and there was warfare (fun times for Mark, ignoring from Holly) for the rest of the year. But now they are being sent to Christmas together to work this crime and the always simmering something between them is going to ignite.
The crime takes second billing to the jokes and silliness and nothing is sacred. You need to know what you are getting into. Morrissey writes very serious crime thrillers, which I greatly enjoy, but don't expect straight crime thriller here. Cosimano writes comedy mysteries, and in this case, it's like the two of them escaped from any normal writing confines to be let loose on what they really wanted to do. In a town where cussing can make almost any of the townsfolk pass out if they hear a swear word, we have swearing galore from Mark and Holly, and for such a Hallmark kind of town, the sex shop seems to be very busy running a lucrative business.
I've read eight of Elle Cosimano's books and five of Hannah Morrissey's books and they are always Must Read/Listens for me. So here they are together and they are here to terrorize us with raunchy Christmas cheer and sex toys. I happen to favor closed door coupling (with me on the other side of the door) but everything is open here. Almost every line is a joke of some kind, it's as if these two authors saved up all their zingers that didn't make the cut somewhere else and use them here. I can hear the two of them cackling as they've been let loose to write whatever they want to write and I laughed even when I wanted to hide my eyes/cover my ears.
With both the ebook and the audiobook, I could read along as I listened to this fantastic audio performance. Along with a narrator for each of Holly and Mark's POVs (they are married in real life), we have an overall narrator who seems to be almost more a heckler, almost always saying out loud exactly what I was thinking. Way to go narrator, reading my mind! Be sure to check out my buddy read partner, DeAnn's, thoughts on this story.
Publication October 13, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, SMP Early Readers and NetGalley for this ARC
Home for the Homicides by Elle Cosimano, Hannah Morrissey
Narrated by Angela Dawe, Colin Donnell, Patti Murin
These two favorite authors of mine went to town making fun of Christmas, romance, police procedurals, old and new Christmas movies, buddy romcoms, pastries, and just about everything else. There has been a murder in the town of Christmas, a living Hallmark movie kind of town where no one curses and no one can say the word "murder" without stuttering. Nothing bad happens here, well, no murders happen here. Apparently much of the town is charged up and raring to go when it comes to coupling but murders are not appreciated at all, not spoken of, and having a murderer running loose in Christmas is going to destroy this little town, when murder talk chases away all the tourists.
Enter Special Agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd. We met them a year earlier, at the beginning of this story, while they were doing it in a closet at a work function. A one time thing that might have become more except that Mark got the homicide job that Holly wanted while she was sent to the basement and there was warfare (fun times for Mark, ignoring from Holly) for the rest of the year. But now they are being sent to Christmas together to work this crime and the always simmering something between them is going to ignite.
The crime takes second billing to the jokes and silliness and nothing is sacred. You need to know what you are getting into. Morrissey writes very serious crime thrillers, which I greatly enjoy, but don't expect straight crime thriller here. Cosimano writes comedy mysteries, and in this case, it's like the two of them escaped from any normal writing confines to be let loose on what they really wanted to do. In a town where cussing can make almost any of the townsfolk pass out if they hear a swear word, we have swearing galore from Mark and Holly, and for such a Hallmark kind of town, the sex shop seems to be very busy running a lucrative business.
I've read eight of Elle Cosimano's books and five of Hannah Morrissey's books and they are always Must Read/Listens for me. So here they are together and they are here to terrorize us with raunchy Christmas cheer and sex toys. I happen to favor closed door coupling (with me on the other side of the door) but everything is open here. Almost every line is a joke of some kind, it's as if these two authors saved up all their zingers that didn't make the cut somewhere else and use them here. I can hear the two of them cackling as they've been let loose to write whatever they want to write and I laughed even when I wanted to hide my eyes/cover my ears.
With both the ebook and the audiobook, I could read along as I listened to this fantastic audio performance. Along with a narrator for each of Holly and Mark's POVs (they are married in real life), we have an overall narrator who seems to be almost more a heckler, almost always saying out loud exactly what I was thinking. Way to go narrator, reading my mind! Be sure to check out my buddy read partner, DeAnn's, thoughts on this story.
Publication October 13, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, SMP Early Readers and NetGalley for this ARC
October 23, 2026
Oh, to be a fly on the wall at Elle Cosimano and Hannah Morrisey’s spitballing session for this book ….
I’m imagining a spinning wheel of holiday, romance and mystery tropes and these two just throwing darts at it to see which ones stick … possibly after a few drinks. Don’t believe me? There’s a character named Ben Balschwedt. Need I say more? Speaking of - if you’ve never seen the old Saturday Night Live skit Schweddy Balls, go to YouTube and check it out, as I’m sure it inspired another hilarious scene in this book. This is the most meta and self-aware book I’ve read in ages, so if you enjoy pop culture references, this has a smorgasbord of them.
I’m getting ahead of myself. This is the first book in a planned Holly and Mark Mystery series starring Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd, two SBI agents whose steamy encounter in a closet a year prior hasn’t done anything to quell their love-hate relationship or the comically bad decisions that have both their jobs on the line. When they’re assigned to partner up and investigate a murder in a town called Christmas, it’s a chance for one of them to either keep their job in Major Crimes or the other to be promoted to it.
You may have never encountered a town quite like Christmas, but if you’ve ever watched a Hallmark movie, this book is poking SO much fun at the setting and stereotypical characters you’re likely to find in one. It also leans all the way in on the holiday-themed names! Things also get interesting when we find out that someone knows more about Christmas than they’re letting on.
Will Holly and Mark’s heated rivalry fan any glowing embers still remaining on the torch Mark carries for Holly, or will her Grinchy attitude towards the holidays and Mark put it in a deep freeze?
I’m just gonna say that the spice is spicing in this book, and while the humor is very tongue-in-cheek, that tongue finds its way to a few other places as well. 😳 I’m not a big fan of overly descriptive spicy scenes, so that knocked a little off my rating.
This is a solid, entertaining start to an irreverent mystery series that isn’t afraid to make fun of itself. If you enjoy quirky humor, a cozy mystery and a self-aware approach to tropes, this may be an excellent book and future series for you. I did an immersion read with the audio and my Kindle. Patti Murin as Holly, Colin Donnell as Mark and Angela Dawe, who narrates Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan series, offering hilarious fourth wall-breaking interjections were perfect!
3.75 stars
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books, NetGalley and authors Elle Cosimano and Hannah Morrisey for the DRC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC to honestly review. It’s out now.
I’m imagining a spinning wheel of holiday, romance and mystery tropes and these two just throwing darts at it to see which ones stick … possibly after a few drinks. Don’t believe me? There’s a character named Ben Balschwedt. Need I say more? Speaking of - if you’ve never seen the old Saturday Night Live skit Schweddy Balls, go to YouTube and check it out, as I’m sure it inspired another hilarious scene in this book. This is the most meta and self-aware book I’ve read in ages, so if you enjoy pop culture references, this has a smorgasbord of them.
I’m getting ahead of myself. This is the first book in a planned Holly and Mark Mystery series starring Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd, two SBI agents whose steamy encounter in a closet a year prior hasn’t done anything to quell their love-hate relationship or the comically bad decisions that have both their jobs on the line. When they’re assigned to partner up and investigate a murder in a town called Christmas, it’s a chance for one of them to either keep their job in Major Crimes or the other to be promoted to it.
You may have never encountered a town quite like Christmas, but if you’ve ever watched a Hallmark movie, this book is poking SO much fun at the setting and stereotypical characters you’re likely to find in one. It also leans all the way in on the holiday-themed names! Things also get interesting when we find out that someone knows more about Christmas than they’re letting on.
Will Holly and Mark’s heated rivalry fan any glowing embers still remaining on the torch Mark carries for Holly, or will her Grinchy attitude towards the holidays and Mark put it in a deep freeze?
I’m just gonna say that the spice is spicing in this book, and while the humor is very tongue-in-cheek, that tongue finds its way to a few other places as well. 😳 I’m not a big fan of overly descriptive spicy scenes, so that knocked a little off my rating.
This is a solid, entertaining start to an irreverent mystery series that isn’t afraid to make fun of itself. If you enjoy quirky humor, a cozy mystery and a self-aware approach to tropes, this may be an excellent book and future series for you. I did an immersion read with the audio and my Kindle. Patti Murin as Holly, Colin Donnell as Mark and Angela Dawe, who narrates Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan series, offering hilarious fourth wall-breaking interjections were perfect!
3.75 stars
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books, NetGalley and authors Elle Cosimano and Hannah Morrisey for the DRC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC to honestly review. It’s out now.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Home for the Homicides
by Elle Cosimano and Hannah Morrissey is the first book in The Holly and Mark Mystery series. This is a romantic comedy mystery series. I thought it was going to be a romantic suspense police procedural series. State Bureau of Investigation Special Agents are assigned to assist local law enforcement in the town of Christmas. The town is relying on the case being solved before the annual Jingle Bell Jubilee festival which the town’s economic survival relies on. Whichever one of the agents solves the case will be given a job in Major Crimes, and there’s only one spot. Both Holly and Mark have made mistakes that hit social media so this is their shot at redemption, if they can get past their rivalry. With twelve days until the festival, will they succeed?
Holly is cynical, ambitious, competitive, defensive, and emotionally guarded. She hates the Christmas holiday due to a personal tragedy that occurred years ago on Christmas Eve. Mark is determined and desperate for professional redemption. He’s also charismatic and provocative. There’s also a narrator who is introduced in the prologue and pops up throughout the book with comments on events and situations.
This book is a parody of a holiday movie with some extra spice, profanity, and a murder to be solved. The names of many of the characters are related to Christmas in some way. It uses to enemies-to-lovers chemistry trope and is heavy on comedic elements that felt over the top. While there is a legitimate mystery, it seems to take a back seat to the romance and the deliberately exaggerated town and its inhabitants. Despite this, it is entertaining with a fast pace and somewhat chaotic subplots.
Overall, this is a funny and engaging novel with romance, comedy, action, and a few twists.
St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books, Elle Cosimano, and Hannah Morrissey provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for October 13, 2026.
Holly is cynical, ambitious, competitive, defensive, and emotionally guarded. She hates the Christmas holiday due to a personal tragedy that occurred years ago on Christmas Eve. Mark is determined and desperate for professional redemption. He’s also charismatic and provocative. There’s also a narrator who is introduced in the prologue and pops up throughout the book with comments on events and situations.
This book is a parody of a holiday movie with some extra spice, profanity, and a murder to be solved. The names of many of the characters are related to Christmas in some way. It uses to enemies-to-lovers chemistry trope and is heavy on comedic elements that felt over the top. While there is a legitimate mystery, it seems to take a back seat to the romance and the deliberately exaggerated town and its inhabitants. Despite this, it is entertaining with a fast pace and somewhat chaotic subplots.
Overall, this is a funny and engaging novel with romance, comedy, action, and a few twists.
St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books, Elle Cosimano, and Hannah Morrissey provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for October 13, 2026.
October 14, 2026
From the very beginning, Home for the Homicides makes it clear that this is no ordinary murder mystery. We first hear from a narrator who simultaneously breaks the fourth wall and seems to exist somewhere outside the story itself. Before we can fully process this unusual introduction, we’re dropped into the quaint town of Christmas during the holiday season, just in time for a murder. We know very little about the victim or the circumstances, except that this sort of thing simply does not happen in Christmas.
Enter Holly and Mark, two investigators from the State Bureau of Investigation who are sent to solve the murder of a local woman. The not-so-dynamic duo find themselves in a town so overflowing with Christmas cheer that it might as well be the set of a tv holiday movie. Holly even realizes that people don’t swear in Christmas, so it’s no wonder a murder has thrown everyone into a tizzy.
Of course, Holly and Mark have their own complicated history. After a one-time hookup in a closet at a holiday work party, their relationship deteriorated into a professional rivalry, with both investigators gunning for the same position. Holly seems to work tirelessly for everything she achieves, while success appears to come effortlessly to Mark. But what in the patriarchy is new, right? To complicate matters further, Mark has been keeping a rather festive secret of his own: he’s originally from Christmas.
As the two follow leads and question the townsfolk, the investigation becomes a wonderfully absurd parade of festive puns, ridiculous banter, and romantic tension. There’s a sex shop called Naughty and Nice and a male strip club called The North Pole. Yes, really. This book is practically begging you to laugh out loud, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself doing a real-life spit-take.
What makes the humor work so well is the story’s willingness to poke fun at itself. The exaggerated holiday setting, familiar romantic comedy tropes, and increasingly ridiculous situations are all part of the joke. Rather than pretending to be a conventional detective story, Home for the Homicides gleefully embraces its identity as a hilarious, cozy, rom-com murder mystery. Even the unusual narrator contributes to the feeling that the book is winking at its audience.
I especially recommend experiencing this story as an audiobook. Angela Dawe, Colin Donnell, and Patti Murin deliver performances that heighten the comedy through their timing, tone, and delivery. The banter lands beautifully, the absurdity becomes even more entertaining, and the narrators know exactly how to give the punchlines the gusto they deserve. Their performances are a significant part of what makes this listening experience so enjoyable.
There are some serious notes beneath all that holiday cheer, including murder, professional resentment, and the complicated history between Holly and Mark. But I wouldn’t take this book too seriously. Its greatest strength lies in its ability to recognize its own ridiculousness and invite the audience to enjoy every minute of it.
If you enjoy murder mysteries with romantic tension, irreverent humor, and enough Christmas puns to make even Santa groan, Home for the Homicides is a delightfully entertaining holiday escape.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advanced listener copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Enter Holly and Mark, two investigators from the State Bureau of Investigation who are sent to solve the murder of a local woman. The not-so-dynamic duo find themselves in a town so overflowing with Christmas cheer that it might as well be the set of a tv holiday movie. Holly even realizes that people don’t swear in Christmas, so it’s no wonder a murder has thrown everyone into a tizzy.
Of course, Holly and Mark have their own complicated history. After a one-time hookup in a closet at a holiday work party, their relationship deteriorated into a professional rivalry, with both investigators gunning for the same position. Holly seems to work tirelessly for everything she achieves, while success appears to come effortlessly to Mark. But what in the patriarchy is new, right? To complicate matters further, Mark has been keeping a rather festive secret of his own: he’s originally from Christmas.
As the two follow leads and question the townsfolk, the investigation becomes a wonderfully absurd parade of festive puns, ridiculous banter, and romantic tension. There’s a sex shop called Naughty and Nice and a male strip club called The North Pole. Yes, really. This book is practically begging you to laugh out loud, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself doing a real-life spit-take.
What makes the humor work so well is the story’s willingness to poke fun at itself. The exaggerated holiday setting, familiar romantic comedy tropes, and increasingly ridiculous situations are all part of the joke. Rather than pretending to be a conventional detective story, Home for the Homicides gleefully embraces its identity as a hilarious, cozy, rom-com murder mystery. Even the unusual narrator contributes to the feeling that the book is winking at its audience.
I especially recommend experiencing this story as an audiobook. Angela Dawe, Colin Donnell, and Patti Murin deliver performances that heighten the comedy through their timing, tone, and delivery. The banter lands beautifully, the absurdity becomes even more entertaining, and the narrators know exactly how to give the punchlines the gusto they deserve. Their performances are a significant part of what makes this listening experience so enjoyable.
There are some serious notes beneath all that holiday cheer, including murder, professional resentment, and the complicated history between Holly and Mark. But I wouldn’t take this book too seriously. Its greatest strength lies in its ability to recognize its own ridiculousness and invite the audience to enjoy every minute of it.
If you enjoy murder mysteries with romantic tension, irreverent humor, and enough Christmas puns to make even Santa groan, Home for the Homicides is a delightfully entertaining holiday escape.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advanced listener copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m a little torn on this one. The idea of a murder in a picture perfect Christmas town was fun, and I enjoyed the rivalry between Holly and Mark, even if I didn’t always connect with them as much as I’d hoped. Their history added interest to the investigation, but the romance and humor seemed to take more attention away from the actual mystery.
I liked the quirky setting and the mix of Christmas chaos and murder, but I wanted a little more from the plot and the characters. It was an entertaining read, just not quite what I hoped it would be.
Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for the opportunity to review this ARC.
I liked the quirky setting and the mix of Christmas chaos and murder, but I wanted a little more from the plot and the characters. It was an entertaining read, just not quite what I hoped it would be.
Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for the opportunity to review this ARC.
arcs-to-read
July 12, 2026Well, this looks cute and sounds fun 😍🤭🩷 gosh, I love Christmas so much 🎄❤️🎅
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A town called Christmas? A woman stabbed with an icicle in a nativity scene! I mean come on, that alone had me intrigued and wanting to read this book. The town of Christmas is always jolly and festive, but with the recent homicide has everyone in town wondering if it's Jingle Bell Jubilee festival will go on as planned. Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd are on thin ice prior to being assigned this case. Both were up for the same job and even had a hot hook up prior to Mark getting the job. Now they are teamed up together and must sift through who has been naughty and who has been nice to determine whodunit! This is the first book in a new series, and I found it to be a fun, entertaining, riveting, and a gripping read!
Will the sleighbells get to ring this year in Christmas? Holly and Mark are determined to solve the case and get back to their lives. But finding the killer may prove to be a tad difficult. There are quite a few suspects who are skating around the two detectives as they try to save Christmas!
I found this book to be not only hilarious but gripping as well. Plus, it also has a great mystery. This book had the perfect mix of holiday cheer, romance, mystery, humor, and suspense which made this reader quite happy. While Holly and Mark's chemistry has then rocking around the Christmas tree, a killer is just outside of their grasp.
This book was written by Elle Cosimano and Hannah Morrissey. I bet they had an absolute blast writing this book. I know I had a blast reading it. Not only was this book fun, but it has also me wanting to read what comes next for Holly and Mark. This book was right up my alley and a pure joy to read.
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Will the sleighbells get to ring this year in Christmas? Holly and Mark are determined to solve the case and get back to their lives. But finding the killer may prove to be a tad difficult. There are quite a few suspects who are skating around the two detectives as they try to save Christmas!
I found this book to be not only hilarious but gripping as well. Plus, it also has a great mystery. This book had the perfect mix of holiday cheer, romance, mystery, humor, and suspense which made this reader quite happy. While Holly and Mark's chemistry has then rocking around the Christmas tree, a killer is just outside of their grasp.
This book was written by Elle Cosimano and Hannah Morrissey. I bet they had an absolute blast writing this book. I know I had a blast reading it. Not only was this book fun, but it has also me wanting to read what comes next for Holly and Mark. This book was right up my alley and a pure joy to read.
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 14, 2026
The perfect palate cleanser for my darker reads, Home for the Homicides delivered all of the laughter, murder, and romance that I could ever desire. Lighthearted, spicy, and packed with sexually charged insinuations, I had a blast laughing out loud throughout this darkly comedic tale. You see, in spite of the fact that Ms. Hannah Morrissey has quite the talent for writing chilling crime thrillers, it was obvious that her writing partner, Ms. Elle Cosimano, helped bring plenty of humor to this Hallmark movie-esque small-town story. A quirky burgh where the locals are incapable of cussing all while frequenting the strip club and sex shop on a regular basis, I couldn’t help but revel in this spicy romcom-meets-murder mystery. Oozing just as much suspense as Christmas cheer, it was as absurdly over-the-top and hilarious as it was brilliantly satirical in nature. I mean, even this non-romance reader ate up every word. Thank goodness it’s the first in a series!
So what was my favorite part of this effortless one-sitting read? Well, that definitely had to be the combination of witty banter and easy chemistry from and between Mark and Holly. A very close second, though, was the previously named satire. Poking fun at holiday romcoms through an enemies-to-lovers whirlwind romance, the puns and implausibility had me cackling away. After all, this was one campy ride. I do have to say, though, that at times the murder felt more like a side plot than the main affair. Don’t get me wrong, I was there for it every step of the way as whodunnit vibes and a purposefully artificial atmosphere blended into the perfect formula of meta fun. Oh? Did I forget to mention the fourth-wall-breaking narrator? Adding a bit of dramatic flair to the story, it was just cheesy enough to give me a Cheshire Cat-like grin ear to ear thanks to the *chef’s kiss* kind of move. Now comes the long wait for book two! Rating of 4.75 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Genre-bending books
- Romcom movies
- Open-door romance
- Murder mysteries
- Cozy whodunnits
- Deliciously twisted endings
- Spicy scenes
- Easy sexual chemistry
- Witty banter
- Giggle-worthy humor
- Deliberate OTT-ness
- A satirical feel
- Slow-burning plots
- Enemies to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Dysfunctional families
- Small-town settings
SYNOPSIS:
Welcome to Christmas, a town so cozy and charming it could be the backdrop of a Hallmark movie, where crime is never in season and it’s the holidays all year round. So when a tourist is found stabbed to death by an icicle ornament in the middle of the town nativity scene, the local police are out of their depth―after all, how do you find a criminal in a town where crime doesn't exist?
The stakes are high: the whole town is relying on Holly and Mark to solve the crime before the annual Jingle Bell Jubilee festival (which naturally the town's entire economic survival relies on), plus, whichever of them cracks the case will receive a promotion to Major Crimes―and there's only one spot.
Holly and Mark are both on thin ice after screwing up on the job. This assignment is their one shot at redemption, if they can put aside their bitter rivalry. And of course, it's not only their careers on the line, it's their hearts, too―regrets of their holiday party hookup last year haunt them like ghosts of Christmas past, so they both want to wrap up this rom-com gone wrong as quickly as possible. But with just twelve days until the festival, the countdown to catch a killer―without killing each other―is on.
Thank you Elle Cosimano, Hannah Morrissey, and Minotaur Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: October 13, 2026
Content warning: death of a parent, murder, cursing, sexual content, fire, violence, toxic relationship, mention of: stalking
So what was my favorite part of this effortless one-sitting read? Well, that definitely had to be the combination of witty banter and easy chemistry from and between Mark and Holly. A very close second, though, was the previously named satire. Poking fun at holiday romcoms through an enemies-to-lovers whirlwind romance, the puns and implausibility had me cackling away. After all, this was one campy ride. I do have to say, though, that at times the murder felt more like a side plot than the main affair. Don’t get me wrong, I was there for it every step of the way as whodunnit vibes and a purposefully artificial atmosphere blended into the perfect formula of meta fun. Oh? Did I forget to mention the fourth-wall-breaking narrator? Adding a bit of dramatic flair to the story, it was just cheesy enough to give me a Cheshire Cat-like grin ear to ear thanks to the *chef’s kiss* kind of move. Now comes the long wait for book two! Rating of 4.75 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Genre-bending books
- Romcom movies
- Open-door romance
- Murder mysteries
- Cozy whodunnits
- Deliciously twisted endings
- Spicy scenes
- Easy sexual chemistry
- Witty banter
- Giggle-worthy humor
- Deliberate OTT-ness
- A satirical feel
- Slow-burning plots
- Enemies to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Dysfunctional families
- Small-town settings
SYNOPSIS:
Welcome to Christmas, a town so cozy and charming it could be the backdrop of a Hallmark movie, where crime is never in season and it’s the holidays all year round. So when a tourist is found stabbed to death by an icicle ornament in the middle of the town nativity scene, the local police are out of their depth―after all, how do you find a criminal in a town where crime doesn't exist?
The stakes are high: the whole town is relying on Holly and Mark to solve the crime before the annual Jingle Bell Jubilee festival (which naturally the town's entire economic survival relies on), plus, whichever of them cracks the case will receive a promotion to Major Crimes―and there's only one spot.
Holly and Mark are both on thin ice after screwing up on the job. This assignment is their one shot at redemption, if they can put aside their bitter rivalry. And of course, it's not only their careers on the line, it's their hearts, too―regrets of their holiday party hookup last year haunt them like ghosts of Christmas past, so they both want to wrap up this rom-com gone wrong as quickly as possible. But with just twelve days until the festival, the countdown to catch a killer―without killing each other―is on.
Thank you Elle Cosimano, Hannah Morrissey, and Minotaur Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: October 13, 2026
Content warning: death of a parent, murder, cursing, sexual content, fire, violence, toxic relationship, mention of: stalking
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As someone who loves seasonal reads, Home for the Homicides was a fun, unexpected treat. Going into it, I kept thinking it was going to be too corny, but I was happily proven wrong. It won me over with its charm and humor.
Set in the ridiculously festive town of Christmas, the plot kicks off when a red-haired woman—visiting under the alias Anna Olaf—is murdered and her body is discovered right in the town nativity scene. Special Bureau of Investigation (SBI) agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd are sent in to investigate ahead of the town's annual Jingle Bell Jubilee. The book is jam-packed with every holiday pun imaginable, from the location itself to character names and SBI department details.
Don't let the backdrop fool you into thinking it's purely a sweet Hallmark cozy—there is plenty of spice packed into this rom-com mystery alongside the investigation! The dual male and female audio narration brings chemistry to the lead characters, while an added third-person narrator drops in tongue-in-cheek quips that make the listening experience quite entertaining. While not groundbreaking, it is a delightfully witty, spice-filled festive read.
Set in the ridiculously festive town of Christmas, the plot kicks off when a red-haired woman—visiting under the alias Anna Olaf—is murdered and her body is discovered right in the town nativity scene. Special Bureau of Investigation (SBI) agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd are sent in to investigate ahead of the town's annual Jingle Bell Jubilee. The book is jam-packed with every holiday pun imaginable, from the location itself to character names and SBI department details.
Don't let the backdrop fool you into thinking it's purely a sweet Hallmark cozy—there is plenty of spice packed into this rom-com mystery alongside the investigation! The dual male and female audio narration brings chemistry to the lead characters, while an added third-person narrator drops in tongue-in-cheek quips that make the listening experience quite entertaining. While not groundbreaking, it is a delightfully witty, spice-filled festive read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Home for the Homicides by Elle Cosimano, Hannah Morrissey
Holly & Mark mystery series #1. Holiday Cozy mystery, cops, humor.
Special Agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepard travel to the small town of Christmas to solve a murder. The pressure is on as only one of them will get the coveted spot in the Major Crimes division.
🎧 I alternated between an ecopy and audiobook. The narration is performed by Angela Dawe, Colin Donnell, and Patti Murin. I absolutely loved the audiobook performances. They were able to bring the personalities and humor to vivid life. The “narrator” of the story, Angela Dawe, did a fantastic job with the snarky comments throughout. I think the humor of the narrator and fun comes through better in audio than in print.
The mystery was a bit corny, and filled beyond the norm with dozens of Christmas puns. Kind of silly, but I really enjoyed that. I didn’t guess the killer until just shortly before the reveal and with one comment, it was an “ah-ha” moment.
Humorous mystery for the Christmas holiday. Minor secondary romance.
The story gets a 4. The audiobook a 5. So settling on 4.5.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.
Holly & Mark mystery series #1. Holiday Cozy mystery, cops, humor.
Special Agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepard travel to the small town of Christmas to solve a murder. The pressure is on as only one of them will get the coveted spot in the Major Crimes division.
🎧 I alternated between an ecopy and audiobook. The narration is performed by Angela Dawe, Colin Donnell, and Patti Murin. I absolutely loved the audiobook performances. They were able to bring the personalities and humor to vivid life. The “narrator” of the story, Angela Dawe, did a fantastic job with the snarky comments throughout. I think the humor of the narrator and fun comes through better in audio than in print.
The mystery was a bit corny, and filled beyond the norm with dozens of Christmas puns. Kind of silly, but I really enjoyed that. I didn’t guess the killer until just shortly before the reveal and with one comment, it was an “ah-ha” moment.
Humorous mystery for the Christmas holiday. Minor secondary romance.
The story gets a 4. The audiobook a 5. So settling on 4.5.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Hilarious on audiobook! Dual male and female narrators for the alternating POV chapters with Holly and Mark. I hope this is the start of a new series because this is my kind of holiday book! Murder mystery plus some spice....yes please!
I rounded it up from 3.5 due to the fun narration.
I rounded it up from 3.5 due to the fun narration.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 Holiday Mayhem Fun - and now available
Narrated by Angela Dawe, Colin Donnell, and Patti Murin
Written by Elle Cosimano; Hannah Morrissey
This one was laugh-out-loud funny so many times! It definitely made my commute more enjoyable and put me in the holiday mood.
It seems this author duo took every story element into consideration: character names that fit the holidays, the town name, store names, all of it!
Starting with our two Special Agents – Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd. They have a hot attraction to each other, but they shouldn’t act on it! It might be hard when they are sent to Christmas (really, this is the town name!) to help solve a murder.
Christmas is an idyllic town and murder never happens there, so what happened to a tourist? Mark and Holly must solve the case before the Jingle Bell Jubilee Festival begins. Canceling will negatively affect the whole town. And a job is on the line too; Mark and Holly are vying for one spot on the Major Crimes team.
This is like a holiday movie with more spice and crime! And it pokes fun at the usual wholesome nature of holiday movies and books.
I enjoyed both the audio and written versions, and they made the experience enjoyable. I think it might be part of a series, and I’m ready for future installments!
I had a fun buddy read/listen with Marilyn, be sure to check out her review to see if she was enchanted by this holiday tale.
My sincere thanks to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for the fun of listening/reading to this one in return for providing my honest review.
Narrated by Angela Dawe, Colin Donnell, and Patti Murin
Written by Elle Cosimano; Hannah Morrissey
This one was laugh-out-loud funny so many times! It definitely made my commute more enjoyable and put me in the holiday mood.
It seems this author duo took every story element into consideration: character names that fit the holidays, the town name, store names, all of it!
Starting with our two Special Agents – Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd. They have a hot attraction to each other, but they shouldn’t act on it! It might be hard when they are sent to Christmas (really, this is the town name!) to help solve a murder.
Christmas is an idyllic town and murder never happens there, so what happened to a tourist? Mark and Holly must solve the case before the Jingle Bell Jubilee Festival begins. Canceling will negatively affect the whole town. And a job is on the line too; Mark and Holly are vying for one spot on the Major Crimes team.
This is like a holiday movie with more spice and crime! And it pokes fun at the usual wholesome nature of holiday movies and books.
I enjoyed both the audio and written versions, and they made the experience enjoyable. I think it might be part of a series, and I’m ready for future installments!
I had a fun buddy read/listen with Marilyn, be sure to check out her review to see if she was enchanted by this holiday tale.
My sincere thanks to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for the fun of listening/reading to this one in return for providing my honest review.
April 30, 2026
First, thank you to NetGalley for the e-Arc of ‘Home for the Homicides’ in exchange for my honest review.
This was an interesting read for me. I enjoyed the prologue and the voice of the narrator. I enjoyed that the book was super self aware and spent a lot of time being extra hallmark movie cringey and that the authors leaned into it and called it out through the presence of the narrator. I actually was interested in the crime and wanted to see who the murderer was and at times when I just really wanted to stop reading, I didn’t because I wanted to know!
The things I enjoyed were mostly the humor and the absolutely ridiculous nature of the town and the towns people. It was a read where you needed to suspend a lot of your disbelief and just enjoy the ride.
My negatives…
Though a lot of the romance was believable, it sometimes just felt a little weird or confusing. I think because the entire voice of the book had a lot of self deprecating humor and didn’t take the story seriously it was hard to really care about the characters and their feelings for each other.
I hated the stupidity of our FMC and MMC. It was pretty tiring how incompetent they were with their deductive skills. Made a lot of the read hard to get through.
Sometimes, I was just bored. I felt like there was a ton of extra with little point? This is going to sound crazy but I feel like the cringe wasn’t leaned into enough in some spots. All of the characters felt like they were flirting with being weird but aside from their names/occupations they just kind of fell flat. I get that we are making fun of a Christmas movie trope but I still want to actually enjoy being there. It was like on the cusp of something really entertaining but didn’t actually hit the sweet spot for me.
Three stars for the escapism and attempt at being something different and original in terms of self deprecation and awareness with a splash of murder. Not the best though, I think it could have been better.
This was an interesting read for me. I enjoyed the prologue and the voice of the narrator. I enjoyed that the book was super self aware and spent a lot of time being extra hallmark movie cringey and that the authors leaned into it and called it out through the presence of the narrator. I actually was interested in the crime and wanted to see who the murderer was and at times when I just really wanted to stop reading, I didn’t because I wanted to know!
The things I enjoyed were mostly the humor and the absolutely ridiculous nature of the town and the towns people. It was a read where you needed to suspend a lot of your disbelief and just enjoy the ride.
My negatives…
Though a lot of the romance was believable, it sometimes just felt a little weird or confusing. I think because the entire voice of the book had a lot of self deprecating humor and didn’t take the story seriously it was hard to really care about the characters and their feelings for each other.
I hated the stupidity of our FMC and MMC. It was pretty tiring how incompetent they were with their deductive skills. Made a lot of the read hard to get through.
Sometimes, I was just bored. I felt like there was a ton of extra with little point? This is going to sound crazy but I feel like the cringe wasn’t leaned into enough in some spots. All of the characters felt like they were flirting with being weird but aside from their names/occupations they just kind of fell flat. I get that we are making fun of a Christmas movie trope but I still want to actually enjoy being there. It was like on the cusp of something really entertaining but didn’t actually hit the sweet spot for me.
Three stars for the escapism and attempt at being something different and original in terms of self deprecation and awareness with a splash of murder. Not the best though, I think it could have been better.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A total bingey, funny, popcorn thrillery type of book, blending the humor of Cosimano and the suspense from Morrissey, this dynamic duo perfected the perfect Hallmark type of story. If you like Finlay Donovan but are looking for something a tad more darker, this is your read. This is a writing duo that I didn’t know I needed, but now I won’t be able to steer away from. I hope these two continue to write together!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
From the Dedication to the Disclaimer to the actual book. I. Love. It!! This book is for everyone who wants something between the sweet, sappy, clean Christmas HEA books and TV movies and the gritty crime novels and shows. It is full of sarcastic Elle Cosimano humor and the suspense/mystery edge of Hannah Morrissey. If bending your genre is something you can't handle, move on. This one has several bent genres.
Holly Frost is in purgatory, AKA Mail Fraud, for the sin of being hungry and chowing down on a plate of brownies laced with pot. It made for a hilarious Tic-Toc, but her SBI Commander wasn't amused. Mark Shepard is on the Commander's brown stuff list for taking a dare to lick a frozen pipe. That too make for an extremely funny Tic-Toc, that wasn't funny to his boss. Sooo now these two have been partnered to solve a murder in the town of Christmas, a place where crime just doesn't happen let alone a murder. This place is sure to give you cavities, it's so sweet and wholesome.
As an incentive to solve the murder the one who does gets a spot on Major Crimes. For Holly this is her dream job, for Mark it means keeping his job. Having to work together is going to be interesting especially after their hook-up at the holiday party last year. A lot of unresolved feelings here for both of them and the feelings for each other is just a fraction of the emotions swamping them as they head to the town of Christmas to solve a murder, save the annual Jingle Bell Festival and the town's reputation. Now they just have to find a murderer in a town where everyone is just so darn nice.
My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
Holly Frost is in purgatory, AKA Mail Fraud, for the sin of being hungry and chowing down on a plate of brownies laced with pot. It made for a hilarious Tic-Toc, but her SBI Commander wasn't amused. Mark Shepard is on the Commander's brown stuff list for taking a dare to lick a frozen pipe. That too make for an extremely funny Tic-Toc, that wasn't funny to his boss. Sooo now these two have been partnered to solve a murder in the town of Christmas, a place where crime just doesn't happen let alone a murder. This place is sure to give you cavities, it's so sweet and wholesome.
As an incentive to solve the murder the one who does gets a spot on Major Crimes. For Holly this is her dream job, for Mark it means keeping his job. Having to work together is going to be interesting especially after their hook-up at the holiday party last year. A lot of unresolved feelings here for both of them and the feelings for each other is just a fraction of the emotions swamping them as they head to the town of Christmas to solve a murder, save the annual Jingle Bell Festival and the town's reputation. Now they just have to find a murderer in a town where everyone is just so darn nice.
My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
October 27, 2026
This book was so much fun! I love this writing duo and was so excited for this one, which can be dangerous because its all that much worse if it doesn’t meet expectations. However, in this case it lived up to my internal hype and then some. Holly and Mark were perfect for each other. I loved everything about them and I loved that they were forced to work together in Christmas. Also, what a hilarious and very real sounding place that Christmas was. I could totally picture it in my mind. I don’t know, maybe I have been to too many small towns, but it felt so real and plausible.
I ended up mainly listening to the audio of this one, and the narrator was just perfect. 10/10 for them. No notes.
If you are looking for a holiday, relatable, and totally plausible while still being silly rom com then this is the book for you.
I ended up mainly listening to the audio of this one, and the narrator was just perfect. 10/10 for them. No notes.
If you are looking for a holiday, relatable, and totally plausible while still being silly rom com then this is the book for you.
November 3, 2026
If you want a little enemies to lovers with a side of murder all with a strong Christmas theme, this is your book. Holly and Mark are both agents for the SBI (State Bureau of Investigations). Once upon a time, they competed for the same job but they also had just started a bit of physical first relationship. After Mark got the job and Holly did not, they went from a potential match to confirmed enemies. Thanks to a series of missteps by both, they were on their boss’ shit list. So when a murder investigation comes up in the town of Christmas, they’re both sent out there to help the locals investigate and solve the crime. And the prize is a spot on the Major Crime unit with the loser getting Mail Fraud.
However, what Holly doesn’t know is that Mark not only knows the town of Christmas, it’s his hometown replete with a mayor mother, sheriff brother, and ex-fiancee who somehow is closer to his family than he is. On top of this, this is a town where crime never happens – it’s practically in the town slogan. So they’re under pressure to get this murder solved fast.
What they don’t expect is to rekindle their feelings for one another or to have Holly’s life be in danger as they close in on the killer.
Overall, this has the right blend of Christmas, mystery, comedy, and romance. Open door spice but not really that much chili pepper. I pretty much saw where this was going but it was still a fun time getting to the destination. Of note, there is some fourth wall breakage by a slightly sarcastic narrator.
However, what Holly doesn’t know is that Mark not only knows the town of Christmas, it’s his hometown replete with a mayor mother, sheriff brother, and ex-fiancee who somehow is closer to his family than he is. On top of this, this is a town where crime never happens – it’s practically in the town slogan. So they’re under pressure to get this murder solved fast.
What they don’t expect is to rekindle their feelings for one another or to have Holly’s life be in danger as they close in on the killer.
Overall, this has the right blend of Christmas, mystery, comedy, and romance. Open door spice but not really that much chili pepper. I pretty much saw where this was going but it was still a fun time getting to the destination. Of note, there is some fourth wall breakage by a slightly sarcastic narrator.
November 12, 2026
It really didn't take me 6 months to read this book! I received an ARC back in April and started it, but when I found out who the narrators for the audio book were, I put it aside and waited until release.
I'm so glad I did. The narrators were awesome.
This was such a fun story, rich in detail and character. (Like red and green police car lights in the town of Christmas!) The authors, two of my favorites individually, are perfect together. The story is sarcastic and quirky, but still authentic at its core. While they make fun of every trope in Hallmark movies, they are never mean about it. While they poke fun, it's still a homage to all the things we love (or love to hate) about sappy Christimas shows. Both Mark and Holly have actual character growth by the end of the book that's earned.
I can't wait for book two.
I'm so glad I did. The narrators were awesome.
This was such a fun story, rich in detail and character. (Like red and green police car lights in the town of Christmas!) The authors, two of my favorites individually, are perfect together. The story is sarcastic and quirky, but still authentic at its core. While they make fun of every trope in Hallmark movies, they are never mean about it. While they poke fun, it's still a homage to all the things we love (or love to hate) about sappy Christimas shows. Both Mark and Holly have actual character growth by the end of the book that's earned.
I can't wait for book two.
October 13, 2026
✨ Rating: 3.5⭐️
🫧 Vibes: hallmark with a side of murder
🎶 Song: coming home this christmas - jonas brothers
📚 Would I recommend? sort of
💬 tldr thoughts: a good time if you don't take it seriously
In the package:
📦 rivals to lovers
📦 forced proximity
📦 small town
Plot: When Special Agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd are forced to work together and compete for a job promotion, they report to the idyllic town of Christmas to investigate a very less than idyllic murder.
Thoughts: This was a fun time if you don't take the book too seriously. It's like a hallmark movie with a side of murder 😅 the entire thing felt like a satire and the characters were ridiculous so if you're looking for a goofy holiday read, this one's for you! I enjoyed the rivalry between Holly and Mark and their eventual relationship development. The Christmas puns were a bit much but I think that was the point of this satirical book.
Thank you St. Martin's Press & Netgalley for the ARC!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on instagram ⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
🫧 Vibes: hallmark with a side of murder
🎶 Song: coming home this christmas - jonas brothers
📚 Would I recommend? sort of
💬 tldr thoughts: a good time if you don't take it seriously
In the package:
📦 rivals to lovers
📦 forced proximity
📦 small town
Plot: When Special Agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd are forced to work together and compete for a job promotion, they report to the idyllic town of Christmas to investigate a very less than idyllic murder.
Thoughts: This was a fun time if you don't take the book too seriously. It's like a hallmark movie with a side of murder 😅 the entire thing felt like a satire and the characters were ridiculous so if you're looking for a goofy holiday read, this one's for you! I enjoyed the rivalry between Holly and Mark and their eventual relationship development. The Christmas puns were a bit much but I think that was the point of this satirical book.
Thank you St. Martin's Press & Netgalley for the ARC!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on instagram ⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am not 100% sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. Overall the story and the humor in it didn’t work for me, but there were some humorous elements. The first chapter, told by a third party narrator to the story kind of made me smile, but then having this character come in and out landed a little too much like being told what to think. Like it wasn’t funny on its own, so a random narrator had to tell you that it was.
The whole thing was kind of campy, kind of cringey, and a lot of annoying. There were a lot of f-bombs early on that seemed to be placed in the manner that groups of teens drop so as to look edgy and indifferent. It personally took me out of the story very early on. I don’t mind some swearing, but this was just gratuitous and pointless.
The characters were immature and sometimes goofy. The romance was kind of there between the two main characters, but I didn’t like either of them enough to care. Two adults acting like competing teens just isn’t my jam. It gets spicy, but I can’t say much about that because I chose to skip those parts. I gave it more than one star because I really like Patty Murin as a narrator. That helped me get through. Sorry that this is not a cheery book report. If not for a range of adult content, I would say this read very YA.
I think this might be another case of “I am too Gen X for this.” Maybe it would have landed better had I been in the mood for cheesy and goofy. I am not sure. Others are certainly enjoying it a lot more, and I encourage reading 4 and 5 star reviews to see how it struck that certain chord for them.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for both the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
The whole thing was kind of campy, kind of cringey, and a lot of annoying. There were a lot of f-bombs early on that seemed to be placed in the manner that groups of teens drop so as to look edgy and indifferent. It personally took me out of the story very early on. I don’t mind some swearing, but this was just gratuitous and pointless.
The characters were immature and sometimes goofy. The romance was kind of there between the two main characters, but I didn’t like either of them enough to care. Two adults acting like competing teens just isn’t my jam. It gets spicy, but I can’t say much about that because I chose to skip those parts. I gave it more than one star because I really like Patty Murin as a narrator. That helped me get through. Sorry that this is not a cheery book report. If not for a range of adult content, I would say this read very YA.
I think this might be another case of “I am too Gen X for this.” Maybe it would have landed better had I been in the mood for cheesy and goofy. I am not sure. Others are certainly enjoying it a lot more, and I encourage reading 4 and 5 star reviews to see how it struck that certain chord for them.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for both the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
September 30, 2026
The audiobook was okay. Some humor and romance. Christmas themed story filled with Christmas named town and characters names were winter related like Holly Frost, Jon Snow
This story had 3 narrators. The narrator from Donovan series jumped in every once in a while as commentators. I liked her voice but I don't know if her comments were necessary. The story followed Mark and Holly. They are rival investigators solving a murder together. This story has the genre as cozy mystery so maybe that explains the lack of thrills and suspense.
The story started with Mark and Holly hooking up in the closet during a work event. They were supposed to go out on a date afterwards but Holly stood Mark up because Mark happened to get the promotion Holly wanted. They're very competitive.
Later, they were assigned as partners to investigate a murder in the town called Christmas with a character named Jon Snow (from Game of Thrones) as one of the suspects. Well, the story didn't flat out say Jon Snow is now a grown up single dad with two daughters but his name made me think of GOT.
The two characters are clearly attracted to each other but neither one of them want to make the first move towards each other. Readers learned about Mark's family. The investigation into one murder goes so slowly and no view from the killer until the reveal.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen and review.
This story had 3 narrators. The narrator from Donovan series jumped in every once in a while as commentators. I liked her voice but I don't know if her comments were necessary. The story followed Mark and Holly. They are rival investigators solving a murder together. This story has the genre as cozy mystery so maybe that explains the lack of thrills and suspense.
The story started with Mark and Holly hooking up in the closet during a work event. They were supposed to go out on a date afterwards but Holly stood Mark up because Mark happened to get the promotion Holly wanted. They're very competitive.
Later, they were assigned as partners to investigate a murder in the town called Christmas with a character named Jon Snow (from Game of Thrones) as one of the suspects. Well, the story didn't flat out say Jon Snow is now a grown up single dad with two daughters but his name made me think of GOT.
The two characters are clearly attracted to each other but neither one of them want to make the first move towards each other. Readers learned about Mark's family. The investigation into one murder goes so slowly and no view from the killer until the reveal.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen and review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a different kind of read for me. Murder, romance and Christmas together was not really my cup of tea. However, it did make me laugh and the more I read it, the more I liked it. The novel was predictable, yet satisfying. I wasn’t really expecting the really spicy scenes in this book. I did find this to be memorable, unique and entertaining. I give this book a 3.5 stars out of 5.
Thank you to NetGalley, authors Elle Cosimano; Hannah Morrissey and St. Martin's Press for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book publishes October 13, 2026!
Thank you to NetGalley, authors Elle Cosimano; Hannah Morrissey and St. Martin's Press for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book publishes October 13, 2026!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was so fun! It was a little smutty, a little cheesy, and full of holiday delighfulness. Loved the characters, it made me laugh a few times, and I was surprised when the killer was revealed. I am deep into living my best life in Spooky Season, but this definitely sparked my holiday spirit!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
THE ICICLES ARE SHARP, AND THE COUNTDOWN TO THE FESTIVAL IS ON. "A deliciously sexy, zany, and fast-paced romantic holiday thriller that turns a picturesque town into a high-stakes countdown for survival."
In Home for the Homicides, bestselling authors Elle Cosimano and Hannah Morrissey deliver a delightfully zany, fast-paced, and wildly seductive holiday cozy-noir romantic comedy mystery. The story hinges on two fiercely competitive, bickering special agents navigating immense professional and interpersonal hurdles to catch a brutal copycat killer inside a picture-perfect, ultra-traditional Christmas town.
Hallmark holiday romance charm vs. cold-blooded festive murder.
"Two bickering special agents on thin ice are forced into an undercover partnership to solve a bizarre nativity-scene homicide."
An undercover redemption assignment at a seasonal festival turns into a terrifying waking nightmare when a tourist is stabbed to death by an icicle ornament, forcing two rival agents into a frantic race to find the killer before they destroy the town—and each other.
Elevator Pitch
A punchy, holiday-themed romantic suspense novel where two rival special agents on thin ice are sent to a crime-free, Christmas-obsessed town to solve a bizarre nativity-scene murder, competing for a single promotion while dodging the ghosts of their own romantic past.
Intro
Special Agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd are bitter rivals, and both are desperate for career redemption after hitting a major professional slump. The ultimate prize—a single available promotion to Major Crimes—tracks straight to their newest assignment: the aggressively festive and crime-free town of Christmas. When a tourist is discovered stabbed to death by an icicle ornament directly inside the town's public nativity scene, local law enforcement is entirely out of its depth. Holly and Mark must team up under strict orders. Still, as the 12-day countdown to the town’s economy-saving Jingle Bell Jubilee begins, they must hunt down a killer while dodging the lingering romantic tension of a disastrous holiday party hookup from the previous winter.
New Series:
Book 1 in the Holly & Mark Mystery Series establishes a brand-new, deliciously fun, and steamy collaborative sandbox for the two beloved crime fiction authors.
Setting
The deceptively pristine, sweet-smelling, and hyper-traditional holiday fishbowl town of Christmas, where swearing is actively frowned upon, but a killer is quietly stalking the unpaved local squares.
Vibe
Sassy, light-hearted, and dripping with banter. It feels like the cozy, small-town seasonal warmth of a Hallmark movie colliding with the sharp, witty meta-paranoia and chaotic comedy of Finlay Donovan and the gritty edge of Hannah Morrissey.
Genre
Holiday Romantic Comedy / Cozy Whodunit Mystery / Romantic Suspense
Themes
~The Comedic Friction of Enemies-to-Lovers Rivalry
~The Commercialization and Illusion of Festive Sanctuaries
~Career Redemption Over Intense Professional Vulnerability
~The Complicity and Hidden Grudges of Small, Insular Communities
Standout Characters
~Holly Frost: The sharp, ambitious, and deeply defensive special agent who uses witty banter to guard both her professional reputation and her fragile heart
~Mark Shepherd: Holly’s fiercely competitive, brooding rival agent whose laser focus on the Major Crimes promotion masks a serious lingering fixation on Holly.
~The Town Elite: A highly eccentric group of Christmas organizers and festive shopkeepers whose entire financial survival hinges on keeping the public murder under wraps.
Author Writing Standout
Having read all of their solo books, Hannah Morrissey's trademark edgy sharpness and Midwestern noir atmosphere marry perfectly with Elle Cosimano's legendary talent for zany, chaotic humor and addictive, rapid-fire pacing. Their collaborative prose is a total delight, managing a crisp, multi-POV timeline that plays into our favorite holiday tropes while subverting them at every single turn.
Takeaway
You cannot fully unwrap the truth of a community until you look past the beautiful packaging; sometimes the most idyllic holiday traditions hide the coldest grudges.
Title Significance
Home for the Homicides functions as a brilliant, tongue-in-cheek subversion of the classic "home for the holidays" sentiment—instantly signaling to readers that this festive escape features a high-stakes body count.
Metaphor
The icicle ornament weapon serves as a flawless metaphor for the town itself—seemingly clear, beautiful, and seasonal on the outside, but structurally rigid and capable of inflicting lethal damage when weaponized.
Why You Should Read
Having thoroughly enjoyed their previous books and their initial collaborative teasers, I can guarantee this is the ultimate, bingeable seasonal blockbuster read for fans who want their holiday romance served with a brilliant, clever side of murder.
My Thoughts
COSIMANO AND MORRISSEY DELIVER A FLAWLESS, FIVE-STAR HOLIDAY BLOCKBUSTER.
"An electric collaboration that seamlessly blends razor-sharp enemies-to-lovers banter with a propulsive, twisty winter whodunit."
The narrative pacing turns the screw with absolute perfection. The snappy, sexual-tension-filled dialogue between Holly and Mark kept me grinning from ear to ear, while the countdown to the festival created a genuinely frantic level of suspense. It is a deliciously fun, sexy, and smart mash-up that belongs on everyone's autumn stack. Can't wait for the next in the series!
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5).
"A five-star festive treat that proves nobody handles collaborative holiday malice quite like Cosimano and Morrissey."
Audio🎧Standout
The audiobook edition from Macmillan Audio is a flawless 5/5 star production that serves as an absolute masterclass in multicast narration. As a massive fan of both Elle Cosimano and Hannah Morrissey, hearing their sharp, festive rom-com mystery blend brought to life by this specific lineup was pure magic.
The one and only Angela Dawe anchors the book as the narrator, delivering her signature, razor-sharp wit and immaculate vocal shape-shifting that fans of Elle’s books (Finlay Donovan) have rightfully grown to worship. Joining her are the real-life married duo Patti Murin and Colin Donnell, who lend their voices to Special Agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd. Their natural, real-world chemistry completely radiates through the speakers, injecting an effortless, crackling tension into the fierce professional rivalry and palpable romantic pining between Holly and Mark. This talented trio takes a brilliant, light-hearted whodunit and transforms it into a dreamy, laugh-out-loud, and completely unputdownable listening experience
Recs
Read this if you devoured the Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano, Hannah's gritty twisty thrillers, Killer Vibes by Jack Friday (John Fram), Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum Series, A Killer for Christmas by Kim Harrington, or Sounds Like a Plan series by Dwayne Alexander Smith and Pamela Samuels Young.
Special thanks to Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, #MacAudio2026, and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Oct 13, 2026
Oct Must-Read Books
In Home for the Homicides, bestselling authors Elle Cosimano and Hannah Morrissey deliver a delightfully zany, fast-paced, and wildly seductive holiday cozy-noir romantic comedy mystery. The story hinges on two fiercely competitive, bickering special agents navigating immense professional and interpersonal hurdles to catch a brutal copycat killer inside a picture-perfect, ultra-traditional Christmas town.
Hallmark holiday romance charm vs. cold-blooded festive murder.
"Two bickering special agents on thin ice are forced into an undercover partnership to solve a bizarre nativity-scene homicide."
An undercover redemption assignment at a seasonal festival turns into a terrifying waking nightmare when a tourist is stabbed to death by an icicle ornament, forcing two rival agents into a frantic race to find the killer before they destroy the town—and each other.
Elevator Pitch
A punchy, holiday-themed romantic suspense novel where two rival special agents on thin ice are sent to a crime-free, Christmas-obsessed town to solve a bizarre nativity-scene murder, competing for a single promotion while dodging the ghosts of their own romantic past.
Intro
Special Agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd are bitter rivals, and both are desperate for career redemption after hitting a major professional slump. The ultimate prize—a single available promotion to Major Crimes—tracks straight to their newest assignment: the aggressively festive and crime-free town of Christmas. When a tourist is discovered stabbed to death by an icicle ornament directly inside the town's public nativity scene, local law enforcement is entirely out of its depth. Holly and Mark must team up under strict orders. Still, as the 12-day countdown to the town’s economy-saving Jingle Bell Jubilee begins, they must hunt down a killer while dodging the lingering romantic tension of a disastrous holiday party hookup from the previous winter.
New Series:
Book 1 in the Holly & Mark Mystery Series establishes a brand-new, deliciously fun, and steamy collaborative sandbox for the two beloved crime fiction authors.
Setting
The deceptively pristine, sweet-smelling, and hyper-traditional holiday fishbowl town of Christmas, where swearing is actively frowned upon, but a killer is quietly stalking the unpaved local squares.
Vibe
Sassy, light-hearted, and dripping with banter. It feels like the cozy, small-town seasonal warmth of a Hallmark movie colliding with the sharp, witty meta-paranoia and chaotic comedy of Finlay Donovan and the gritty edge of Hannah Morrissey.
Genre
Holiday Romantic Comedy / Cozy Whodunit Mystery / Romantic Suspense
Themes
~The Comedic Friction of Enemies-to-Lovers Rivalry
~The Commercialization and Illusion of Festive Sanctuaries
~Career Redemption Over Intense Professional Vulnerability
~The Complicity and Hidden Grudges of Small, Insular Communities
Standout Characters
~Holly Frost: The sharp, ambitious, and deeply defensive special agent who uses witty banter to guard both her professional reputation and her fragile heart
~Mark Shepherd: Holly’s fiercely competitive, brooding rival agent whose laser focus on the Major Crimes promotion masks a serious lingering fixation on Holly.
~The Town Elite: A highly eccentric group of Christmas organizers and festive shopkeepers whose entire financial survival hinges on keeping the public murder under wraps.
Author Writing Standout
Having read all of their solo books, Hannah Morrissey's trademark edgy sharpness and Midwestern noir atmosphere marry perfectly with Elle Cosimano's legendary talent for zany, chaotic humor and addictive, rapid-fire pacing. Their collaborative prose is a total delight, managing a crisp, multi-POV timeline that plays into our favorite holiday tropes while subverting them at every single turn.
Takeaway
You cannot fully unwrap the truth of a community until you look past the beautiful packaging; sometimes the most idyllic holiday traditions hide the coldest grudges.
Title Significance
Home for the Homicides functions as a brilliant, tongue-in-cheek subversion of the classic "home for the holidays" sentiment—instantly signaling to readers that this festive escape features a high-stakes body count.
Metaphor
The icicle ornament weapon serves as a flawless metaphor for the town itself—seemingly clear, beautiful, and seasonal on the outside, but structurally rigid and capable of inflicting lethal damage when weaponized.
Why You Should Read
Having thoroughly enjoyed their previous books and their initial collaborative teasers, I can guarantee this is the ultimate, bingeable seasonal blockbuster read for fans who want their holiday romance served with a brilliant, clever side of murder.
My Thoughts
COSIMANO AND MORRISSEY DELIVER A FLAWLESS, FIVE-STAR HOLIDAY BLOCKBUSTER.
"An electric collaboration that seamlessly blends razor-sharp enemies-to-lovers banter with a propulsive, twisty winter whodunit."
The narrative pacing turns the screw with absolute perfection. The snappy, sexual-tension-filled dialogue between Holly and Mark kept me grinning from ear to ear, while the countdown to the festival created a genuinely frantic level of suspense. It is a deliciously fun, sexy, and smart mash-up that belongs on everyone's autumn stack. Can't wait for the next in the series!
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5).
"A five-star festive treat that proves nobody handles collaborative holiday malice quite like Cosimano and Morrissey."
Audio🎧Standout
The audiobook edition from Macmillan Audio is a flawless 5/5 star production that serves as an absolute masterclass in multicast narration. As a massive fan of both Elle Cosimano and Hannah Morrissey, hearing their sharp, festive rom-com mystery blend brought to life by this specific lineup was pure magic.
The one and only Angela Dawe anchors the book as the narrator, delivering her signature, razor-sharp wit and immaculate vocal shape-shifting that fans of Elle’s books (Finlay Donovan) have rightfully grown to worship. Joining her are the real-life married duo Patti Murin and Colin Donnell, who lend their voices to Special Agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd. Their natural, real-world chemistry completely radiates through the speakers, injecting an effortless, crackling tension into the fierce professional rivalry and palpable romantic pining between Holly and Mark. This talented trio takes a brilliant, light-hearted whodunit and transforms it into a dreamy, laugh-out-loud, and completely unputdownable listening experience
Recs
Read this if you devoured the Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano, Hannah's gritty twisty thrillers, Killer Vibes by Jack Friday (John Fram), Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum Series, A Killer for Christmas by Kim Harrington, or Sounds Like a Plan series by Dwayne Alexander Smith and Pamela Samuels Young.
Special thanks to Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, #MacAudio2026, and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Oct 13, 2026
Oct Must-Read Books
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.25 stars
This is a spicy romantic comedy mixed with a cozy Christmas murder mystery.
This is a small town whodunit featuring rival special agents.
The book has witty banter and forced proximity. It features a homicide investigation in the charming town of Christmas.
Rival special agents Mark and Holly are asked to go to the small town to solve a murder.
The town is called Christmas. Many of the characters have Christmasy names. The town of Christmas is super festive. The story is set around the holidays. All of this was so fun to read.
They need to solve the case within 12 days to save the town’s Jingle Bell Jubilee.
There are lots of fun characters including Sheriff Jack, the mayor, and their tech expert Kevin.
This is a cute enjoyable romcom mystery. It’s definitely sexier and more adult than I was expecting.
I love a holiday mystery. I especially love a cozy one. This town is so charming. I loved Mark and Holly. And really enjoyed seeing them try to solve this case. I loved that the book is so cozy and not gruesome.
Overall this is a sexy holiday romantic comedy murder mystery. The rivals to lovers trope was done so well. I look forward to seeing more of them in the next book.
Audiobook thoughts:
Audiobook performers:
Patti Murin: Holly
Colin Donnell: Mark
Angela Dawe: The Narrator
I really liked this audiobook. The performances were all excellent.
Real life married couple Patti Murin and Colin Donnell play the parts of Holly and Mark.
Patti Murin is one of my favorite female narrators. Her upbeat voice and demeanor are perfect for Holly. I loved her in this role so much.
This is my first time listening to Colin Donnell. I really liked him. I especially like the way he did the female voices. Not too high pitched. He played Mark’s confidence and self-assuredness so well.
The narrator’s part was different. But Angela Dawe played the part so well. Since it’s Angela Dawe who I adore I wish that the narrator’s part had been expanded. But I loved her in this small part.
Overall this is a wonderful fun audiobook. It’s a perfect holiday listen.
Thanks to Minotaur Books and MacMillan Audio for the gifted book and audiobook.
This is a spicy romantic comedy mixed with a cozy Christmas murder mystery.
This is a small town whodunit featuring rival special agents.
The book has witty banter and forced proximity. It features a homicide investigation in the charming town of Christmas.
Rival special agents Mark and Holly are asked to go to the small town to solve a murder.
The town is called Christmas. Many of the characters have Christmasy names. The town of Christmas is super festive. The story is set around the holidays. All of this was so fun to read.
They need to solve the case within 12 days to save the town’s Jingle Bell Jubilee.
There are lots of fun characters including Sheriff Jack, the mayor, and their tech expert Kevin.
This is a cute enjoyable romcom mystery. It’s definitely sexier and more adult than I was expecting.
I love a holiday mystery. I especially love a cozy one. This town is so charming. I loved Mark and Holly. And really enjoyed seeing them try to solve this case. I loved that the book is so cozy and not gruesome.
Overall this is a sexy holiday romantic comedy murder mystery. The rivals to lovers trope was done so well. I look forward to seeing more of them in the next book.
Audiobook thoughts:
Audiobook performers:
Patti Murin: Holly
Colin Donnell: Mark
Angela Dawe: The Narrator
I really liked this audiobook. The performances were all excellent.
Real life married couple Patti Murin and Colin Donnell play the parts of Holly and Mark.
Patti Murin is one of my favorite female narrators. Her upbeat voice and demeanor are perfect for Holly. I loved her in this role so much.
This is my first time listening to Colin Donnell. I really liked him. I especially like the way he did the female voices. Not too high pitched. He played Mark’s confidence and self-assuredness so well.
The narrator’s part was different. But Angela Dawe played the part so well. Since it’s Angela Dawe who I adore I wish that the narrator’s part had been expanded. But I loved her in this small part.
Overall this is a wonderful fun audiobook. It’s a perfect holiday listen.
Thanks to Minotaur Books and MacMillan Audio for the gifted book and audiobook.
October 21, 2026
Favorite Quotes:
The last time she went out with someone, it ended in disaster. Their first date was going great until she’d taken him back to her apartment. She ran her fingers through his hair while they were making out on the couch. The fact that his hairpiece came off in her hand wasn’t as much of an issue as the Where’s Waldo? Tattoo underneath it. She never would have known her date was wanted for a string of armed robberies if a photo of the back of his head in a BOLO hadn’t been the laughingstock of the department the week before. She really, really doesn’t want to have to arrest any more of her dates.
Listen sugar cookie… I’m a hospitality manager, not a dorm mother. If a guest wants to invite a man up to her room to stuff her stocking, that’s her biz. I’ve told you everything I know about your naughty little elf.
There’s no way he’s real. He looks like a Roman god – I mean, the ultimate male specimen. We’re talking a face that could launch a thousand ovaries. I could have twelve of his babies just looking at him.
An epiphany hits him, then, and his mouth stretches into a smile. He can say anything he wants, and Holly cannot say anything back. “Sorry, Frost, but your date is giving strong micropenis vibes,” he says, testing it out.
Noelle shrieks, and Mark knows it’s because you can’t get blood out of cashmere.
My Review:
This was a fun, snarky, and cleverly amusing read as well as a banging good mystery. I'd read both of these exceptionally talented scribes before and was intrigued by how their collaboration would work, since their previous works have come from opposite ends of the genre. I was gleefully delighted by the outcome: seamless, evocative, well-nuanced, highly entertaining, and kept a near-constant smirk on my face throughout perusal. The tale was so much fun I was loath to put my beloved Kindle down to do the much-despised yet necessary adulting of my daily life. Reindeer games on!
The last time she went out with someone, it ended in disaster. Their first date was going great until she’d taken him back to her apartment. She ran her fingers through his hair while they were making out on the couch. The fact that his hairpiece came off in her hand wasn’t as much of an issue as the Where’s Waldo? Tattoo underneath it. She never would have known her date was wanted for a string of armed robberies if a photo of the back of his head in a BOLO hadn’t been the laughingstock of the department the week before. She really, really doesn’t want to have to arrest any more of her dates.
Listen sugar cookie… I’m a hospitality manager, not a dorm mother. If a guest wants to invite a man up to her room to stuff her stocking, that’s her biz. I’ve told you everything I know about your naughty little elf.
There’s no way he’s real. He looks like a Roman god – I mean, the ultimate male specimen. We’re talking a face that could launch a thousand ovaries. I could have twelve of his babies just looking at him.
An epiphany hits him, then, and his mouth stretches into a smile. He can say anything he wants, and Holly cannot say anything back. “Sorry, Frost, but your date is giving strong micropenis vibes,” he says, testing it out.
Noelle shrieks, and Mark knows it’s because you can’t get blood out of cashmere.
My Review:
This was a fun, snarky, and cleverly amusing read as well as a banging good mystery. I'd read both of these exceptionally talented scribes before and was intrigued by how their collaboration would work, since their previous works have come from opposite ends of the genre. I was gleefully delighted by the outcome: seamless, evocative, well-nuanced, highly entertaining, and kept a near-constant smirk on my face throughout perusal. The tale was so much fun I was loath to put my beloved Kindle down to do the much-despised yet necessary adulting of my daily life. Reindeer games on!
October 14, 2026
Imagine the innocence of Whoville, the cheesiness of a Hallmark Christmas movie, the humor and chaos of Finlay and Vero, and just the right amount of Jack Reacher. If that sounds ridiculous, that's because it is, which is exactly what this book was - and that's a true compliment.
This book knows exactly what it is. It takes all those picture-perfect small-town Christmas movie tropes we know, turns them on their head, throws in two rival special agents with a complicated history, and then adds murder.
I laughed out loud more than once. The humor was probably my favorite part, especially the fourth-wall moments and some of the over-the-top dialogue. There’s also romance, TONS OF spice, action, a mystery to solve, and ALL the holiday cheesiness that it almost feels like you’re watching a Christmas movie, but you know, with murder.
I listened to the audiobook, and Angela Dawe’s narration parts made it even better. I HIGHLY recommend listening if you can.
What I loved most is that Elle Cosimano and Hannah Morrissey weren't afraid to lean all the way into the absolute absurdity of the premise. It’s (as I mentioned already) over-the-top and intentionally so. If you go into it expecting a dark, serious thriller, this IS NOT that book, but if you want a funny holiday murder mystery to break up all the dark reads, this is it!
Can't wait for book 2!!!
This book knows exactly what it is. It takes all those picture-perfect small-town Christmas movie tropes we know, turns them on their head, throws in two rival special agents with a complicated history, and then adds murder.
I laughed out loud more than once. The humor was probably my favorite part, especially the fourth-wall moments and some of the over-the-top dialogue. There’s also romance, TONS OF spice, action, a mystery to solve, and ALL the holiday cheesiness that it almost feels like you’re watching a Christmas movie, but you know, with murder.
I listened to the audiobook, and Angela Dawe’s narration parts made it even better. I HIGHLY recommend listening if you can.
What I loved most is that Elle Cosimano and Hannah Morrissey weren't afraid to lean all the way into the absolute absurdity of the premise. It’s (as I mentioned already) over-the-top and intentionally so. If you go into it expecting a dark, serious thriller, this IS NOT that book, but if you want a funny holiday murder mystery to break up all the dark reads, this is it!
Can't wait for book 2!!!
November 4, 2026
Y’all this is a Christmas season must read! It literally takes place in a town called Christmas. This book had me LOLing at the over exaggerated hallmark Christmas movie cliche’s, Mark and Holly were both so likeable and I loved their love/hate relationship. I’m really hoping for a book two, because I am obsessed with them! Add this to your holiday tbr you won’t want to miss it!
April 12, 2026
"Welcome to Christmas"
Adorable and absolutely sets the mood for a silly murder Christmas! Is this one a little cheesy? Yes. It is really silly? Yes. AND is has silly names for almost every character that are somehow related to Christmas? Yes and yes! And did I love every minute of it? YES!
This is a cute grumpy love story set in the middle of a murder. And a murder in the town of Christmas, no less. As it's the first murder ever, it's threatening the Christmas Jubilee and one of the biggest money-makers the has that the businesses survive all year. Two detectives vying for position on Major Crimes are sent there to prove their the one who should take the new position.
I highly recommend the audio. There are three narrators and each did such a great job of keeping the story silly but the murder interesting and the twists and turns coming. And it really is a good mystery that kept me guessing, wondering who in this gaggle of Christmas themed names and sweet holiday cheer had done this terrible crime. This is book 1, which I hope means we have more of this series coming. Even though it was spicy and romantic, it was the perfect mix of murder mystery and Christmas to keep hooked and loving it! I can't wait for the next one!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Adorable and absolutely sets the mood for a silly murder Christmas! Is this one a little cheesy? Yes. It is really silly? Yes. AND is has silly names for almost every character that are somehow related to Christmas? Yes and yes! And did I love every minute of it? YES!
This is a cute grumpy love story set in the middle of a murder. And a murder in the town of Christmas, no less. As it's the first murder ever, it's threatening the Christmas Jubilee and one of the biggest money-makers the has that the businesses survive all year. Two detectives vying for position on Major Crimes are sent there to prove their the one who should take the new position.
I highly recommend the audio. There are three narrators and each did such a great job of keeping the story silly but the murder interesting and the twists and turns coming. And it really is a good mystery that kept me guessing, wondering who in this gaggle of Christmas themed names and sweet holiday cheer had done this terrible crime. This is book 1, which I hope means we have more of this series coming. Even though it was spicy and romantic, it was the perfect mix of murder mystery and Christmas to keep hooked and loving it! I can't wait for the next one!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
May 8, 2026
Romance with a murder… yes please!
I enjoyed this rom com with a side of a dead body. Two agents working a case in .. get this.. a town called Christmas! 🎄 A bit dragging in the middle and towards end, but 4 stars for creativity. I hadn’t read anything like this before. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review.
I enjoyed this rom com with a side of a dead body. Two agents working a case in .. get this.. a town called Christmas! 🎄 A bit dragging in the middle and towards end, but 4 stars for creativity. I hadn’t read anything like this before. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review.
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