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Windy Pines #1
Murder at Mistletoe Manor
Klarinda Snow is the innkeeper of a beautiful, historic bed and breakfast in Windy Pines, Idaho. Guests come to Mistletoe Manor to escape from their troubles while enjoying the scenic mountain town.
When all seven rooms of the inn get booked on a Tuesday night in December, Klarinda is excited about having so much business, but a little confused as well. After all, her inn normally isn't exactly a destination hotspot.
The guests have barely settled in before strange things begin happening. Is this the most accident prone group of travelers ever, or is someone out for revenge?
When all seven rooms of the inn get booked on a Tuesday night in December, Klarinda is excited about having so much business, but a little confused as well. After all, her inn normally isn't exactly a destination hotspot.
The guests have barely settled in before strange things begin happening. Is this the most accident prone group of travelers ever, or is someone out for revenge?
184 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2016
1286 people are currently reading
2712 people want to read
About the author
Holly Tierney
22 books519 followersHolly Tierney is the author of over twenty novels and novellas, including Sweet Hollow Women, Surviving Valencia, Right Under Your Nose, Bellamy's Redemption, and Murder at Mistletoe Manor. She is also the creator of mid-century dollhouse flipping blog www.flipthisminihouse.com and the author of several dollhouse and miniature how-to books. She lives in Wisconsin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews
December 9, 2018
Thirty-four-year-old Klarinda Snow runs Mistletoe Manor, a bed and breakfast in Windy Pines, Idaho. When seven rooms are booked on a Tuesday night in December Klarinda finds it odd, the inn doesn't usually have that much business in December. But no sooner do the guests arrive and get settled in before many accidents/deaths start occurring. And now they are snowed in. Who could be behind the deaths? And are all these guests connected somehow?
This was an enjoyable mystery. I was wondering who could be behind all the murders. I liked the snowy location of the inn. The story took place around Christmas even though there wasn't that much Christmas in it. A quick, easy read.
This was an enjoyable mystery. I was wondering who could be behind all the murders. I liked the snowy location of the inn. The story took place around Christmas even though there wasn't that much Christmas in it. A quick, easy read.
January 1, 2018
I was looking for a quick read for the holidays and this definitely was very quick. I think it must be a novella but I have no idea what constitutes as a novella vs an incredibly short book. I knew "whodunit" the moment the guests arrived, there was a light romance for those who like that in their cozy mysteries and, really, that's exactly what this is - a cozy little mystery. The primary thing I learned from this book was how NOT to be a host at a bed and breakfast. If I treated my guests the way this gal did I would be out of business in one day. Truly.
If you like your mysteries cozy and short and without the use of brain power, then this is a good one to read.
If you like your mysteries cozy and short and without the use of brain power, then this is a good one to read.
December 22, 2018
Favorite Quotes:
“I’ll call Rod Showers. His rates are reasonable. And he’s a hottie!” “Myrtle, are you serious? He’s got to be seventy years old,” said Klarinda. “Easier to catch him,” said Myrtle, wiggling her eyebrows.
With me here and him there, that means a hundred percent of his common sense isn’t even in the same state as his penis. I should have known better than to come here.
My Review:
This was a quickly paced, wryly humorous, and fun cozy murder mystery featuring a revenge plot in a small-town inn located in the middle of nowhere Idaho. It was a banner day for the struggling innkeeper as all seven rooms had been reserved, yet when her guests arrived, they all mentioned winning an all-expense paid luxury vacation to her inn, which was a stunning surprise to the innkeeper. A large envelope stuffed with cash arrived later, which helped to ease the sting as well as adding an extra layer of puzzlement.
The weather was foul although not as vicious as the contemptuous and imperious attitudes of the female guests. It was readily apparent that the evening was likely to be of an increasingly unpleasant nature, more for some than others as most of the guests departed the premises with the coroner. The storylines were original, easy to follow, unpredictable, well-paced, and entertaining. Many of my favorite moments were the humorous inner musings and observations of the innkeeper, although I was quite taken by the quirkiness of the characters as well as the many ancillary details such as the elderly reindeer sweatered gentlemen who caroled on skis ~ smirk.
“I’ll call Rod Showers. His rates are reasonable. And he’s a hottie!” “Myrtle, are you serious? He’s got to be seventy years old,” said Klarinda. “Easier to catch him,” said Myrtle, wiggling her eyebrows.
With me here and him there, that means a hundred percent of his common sense isn’t even in the same state as his penis. I should have known better than to come here.
My Review:
This was a quickly paced, wryly humorous, and fun cozy murder mystery featuring a revenge plot in a small-town inn located in the middle of nowhere Idaho. It was a banner day for the struggling innkeeper as all seven rooms had been reserved, yet when her guests arrived, they all mentioned winning an all-expense paid luxury vacation to her inn, which was a stunning surprise to the innkeeper. A large envelope stuffed with cash arrived later, which helped to ease the sting as well as adding an extra layer of puzzlement.
The weather was foul although not as vicious as the contemptuous and imperious attitudes of the female guests. It was readily apparent that the evening was likely to be of an increasingly unpleasant nature, more for some than others as most of the guests departed the premises with the coroner. The storylines were original, easy to follow, unpredictable, well-paced, and entertaining. Many of my favorite moments were the humorous inner musings and observations of the innkeeper, although I was quite taken by the quirkiness of the characters as well as the many ancillary details such as the elderly reindeer sweatered gentlemen who caroled on skis ~ smirk.
August 6, 2019
I wrote in my profile that if I don't like what I'm reading, I don't read it. I also said that I wouldn't waste your time writing a negative review.
However, this is honestly the dumbest book I've ever read! The characters are all selfish snobs, including the innkeeper, and they all act like people dying is no big deal? There have been 5 deaths at the inn and the remaining survivors are more concerned about playing a game of Skip-bo? I only finished it because it was so short. Won't be reading this author again.
However, this is honestly the dumbest book I've ever read! The characters are all selfish snobs, including the innkeeper, and they all act like people dying is no big deal? There have been 5 deaths at the inn and the remaining survivors are more concerned about playing a game of Skip-bo? I only finished it because it was so short. Won't be reading this author again.
December 11, 2019
Loved it!!!! My full review will be on my booktube channel at http://YouTube.com/peterlikesbooks
April 18, 2019
.
A cozy little mystery with thirty-four-year-old Klarinda Snow, who now owns the almost broke, Mistletoe Manor, a bed and breakfast in Windy Pines, Idaho. Then an onslaught of people check- in, filling all the rooms, which is unheard of in this inn. Every guest has an invitation saying their room is paid for and Klarinda checks them in without collecting one red cent. There are way too many characters to keep track of in this fast-paced story.
After all the 'accidents' that result in the deaths of most of the guests, her inn in near ruins, Klarinda simply gathers everyone left around to play Skip-Bo. Murder at Mistletoe Manor was missing character development, compassion, emotion, and reason. Besides all that, the local police department was filled with bumbling idiots.
At least this was a clean read. 'The writing flowed easily, but I would not really recommend it.
A cozy little mystery with thirty-four-year-old Klarinda Snow, who now owns the almost broke, Mistletoe Manor, a bed and breakfast in Windy Pines, Idaho. Then an onslaught of people check- in, filling all the rooms, which is unheard of in this inn. Every guest has an invitation saying their room is paid for and Klarinda checks them in without collecting one red cent. There are way too many characters to keep track of in this fast-paced story.
After all the 'accidents' that result in the deaths of most of the guests, her inn in near ruins, Klarinda simply gathers everyone left around to play Skip-Bo. Murder at Mistletoe Manor was missing character development, compassion, emotion, and reason. Besides all that, the local police department was filled with bumbling idiots.
At least this was a clean read. 'The writing flowed easily, but I would not really recommend it.
November 29, 2017
I thought this would be a cute, quick, Christmasy type cozy whodunnit..... It was not. Good thing is that it was a quick read. The characters were unrealistic, shallow, not well written. The story seemed choppy and unthought out as if a school-age child wrote it for a creative writing class. The police were all dumb and unsure of their jobs. The main character/innkeeper was unbelievable because she didn't even have the basics of running a business. This had such potential but it seems as if the author rushed it just to say she finished the book. The characters were one dimensional, flat, not well thought out, the story was haphazard and did not flow. I see a lot of 4 and 5-star ratings, well to each his own! It was not at all worthy of those stars in my opinion. The two best things about this book is it was FREE and it being SHORT. VERY DISAPPOINTED!
December 5, 2020
A quick, quirky, ridiculously unbelievably read.
This whodunit was one of those laughable mysteries where you want to scream at all the characters. It was very clear what was going on.
This whodunit was one of those laughable mysteries where you want to scream at all the characters. It was very clear what was going on.
December 6, 2017
Such a fun Christmas time cozy murder mystery! I couldn’t put it down!
Read
January 6, 2020DNF at 36% when the owner (who had gone on and on about how tight money was and how she couldnt afford to get one of the toilets in the rooms sorted) has spent $250 dollars on a duvet. Is it POSSIBLE to spend that much on a duvet?? (Goes off to research) and even if you could WHY would you spend that on an item that will need replacing at least once every year??
There were so many things that simply didnt work for me - the rudeness of staff and guests, the way Klarinda (That is a weird spelling!) went on about how she had to be careful with money, the way she and Myrtle lusted after anything in trousers. If that had been a couple of blokes, we'd be calling it harassment.
And the scene where Klarinda, Myrtle and Pierre were washing up and swigging from a bottle of brandy?? Euw.
The deaths ( I only read about two of them) were almost sidelined, as if they were incidental to the story. And surely the most ignorant of people know not to disturb a body?
It could have been a really enjoyable story, but there was not one believable (or likeable) character in the story and I got fed up of rolling my eyes at their stupidity.
There were so many things that simply didnt work for me - the rudeness of staff and guests, the way Klarinda (That is a weird spelling!) went on about how she had to be careful with money, the way she and Myrtle lusted after anything in trousers. If that had been a couple of blokes, we'd be calling it harassment.
And the scene where Klarinda, Myrtle and Pierre were washing up and swigging from a bottle of brandy?? Euw.
The deaths ( I only read about two of them) were almost sidelined, as if they were incidental to the story. And surely the most ignorant of people know not to disturb a body?
It could have been a really enjoyable story, but there was not one believable (or likeable) character in the story and I got fed up of rolling my eyes at their stupidity.
January 11, 2021
This book was really really bad and absolutely ridiculous. When her Inn unexpectedly has a full house one winter evening, Klarinda is surprised and not prepared to deal with them all. When they slowly trickle in, they all turn out to be very unlikeable. They all surprisingly won an evening stay at the Manor that was graciously paid for by the owner. Seeing as how Klarinda did no such thing she is very confused as to why all of them are here. It becomes evident that almost all of the guests went to school together but have not seen one another since. Soon after people start dying in suspicious circumstances. My problem with this book was that besides it being boring, none of the characters were likable and they were all idiots. No-one was concerned with the possibility foul play may be occurring and the police all acted like teenagers. The only reason that I kept reading was that it was such a short book. However, I would not recommend this book to anyone and will not be continuing with the series.
Want to read
January 5, 2020Freebie on Amazon 5th January 2020
December 17, 2019
I was intrigued by the concept, though the execution was not my cup of tea. The main character seemed to be obsessed with money and internally desperate for any man that walked in the door. The rest of the cast were snooty and unlikable (though that was the - a bit of the idea of them being victims so...okay, I guess?). Everyone was apathetic to the deaths that occurred. The most we got from any characters seemed to be a scream of discovery and then they went about their day with no affects. Additionally, there was not any drive or action to solve the mystery.
The idea was neat, though.
The idea was neat, though.
December 16, 2016
Book Title: Murder at Mistletoe Manor
Book Authors: Holly Tierney-Bedord
Sorce: Kindle Unlimited
Rating: 5 stars
It’s a Christmas story and a CLUE story.
I don't know how many people played the game, CLUE or watched the movie, but it's a tradition for me to view the movie every Halloween and I have the game somewhere in the garage.
This story reminded me of the movie and the game. It's about a hotel where 7 guests arrive and the guests start falling like flies. It doesn't help that this is happening during a snow storm and the police have their hands fool.
I really liked the main characters. Well done and I wouldn't mind reading more stories about the Mistletoe Manor.
I recommend it to sixteen of age and older and especially to those who love a good game of CLUE.
Also, I had two guesses about the murderer and I ended up being right! Just saying, but to most it would probably come as a shock, not sure.
Book Authors: Holly Tierney-Bedord
Sorce: Kindle Unlimited
Rating: 5 stars
It’s a Christmas story and a CLUE story.
I don't know how many people played the game, CLUE or watched the movie, but it's a tradition for me to view the movie every Halloween and I have the game somewhere in the garage.
This story reminded me of the movie and the game. It's about a hotel where 7 guests arrive and the guests start falling like flies. It doesn't help that this is happening during a snow storm and the police have their hands fool.
I really liked the main characters. Well done and I wouldn't mind reading more stories about the Mistletoe Manor.
I recommend it to sixteen of age and older and especially to those who love a good game of CLUE.
Also, I had two guesses about the murderer and I ended up being right! Just saying, but to most it would probably come as a shock, not sure.
February 21, 2020
Book Review:
Murder at Mistletoe Manor by author, Holly Tierney-Bedord (Audiobook)
A Mystery Novella narrated by the talented Christopher Lane
Picture it~ A historic Bed & Breakfast, a sleepy little mountain town in Idaho in the middle of Winter, and a cast of quirky characters~ all set this story in motion.
Ms. Tierney-Bedord has spun a tale of mystery, murder, and one that is delightfully peculiar and intriguing. A narrative that reminded me of the old-time radio shows of long ago, especially while being entertained by the audio version of this story.
Personally engraved invitations to reserve a room at the Mistletoe Manor have been awarded to very specific people for one specific night's stay ~ invitations the proprietor Karinda Snow, nor her assistant Myrtle, had sent. One by one they arrive, as well as a mystery man holding an envelope with cash to pay for those guests, as it's delivered to Karinda herself.
With the Manor screaming for repairs, the arrival of these unscheduled guests, strange happenings, rooms filled to capacity, and now murders to add to an already unusual and outrageous situation, clues begin to make themselves known.
You'll find this to be a cozy-read, one that keeps you moving forward and one that leaves you guessing...
4 Stars
#MurderatMistletoeManor
#HollyTierneyBedord
#ChristopherLane
Wild Sage Book Blog
Novels N Latte Book Club
Murder at Mistletoe Manor by author, Holly Tierney-Bedord (Audiobook)
A Mystery Novella narrated by the talented Christopher Lane
Picture it~ A historic Bed & Breakfast, a sleepy little mountain town in Idaho in the middle of Winter, and a cast of quirky characters~ all set this story in motion.
Ms. Tierney-Bedord has spun a tale of mystery, murder, and one that is delightfully peculiar and intriguing. A narrative that reminded me of the old-time radio shows of long ago, especially while being entertained by the audio version of this story.
Personally engraved invitations to reserve a room at the Mistletoe Manor have been awarded to very specific people for one specific night's stay ~ invitations the proprietor Karinda Snow, nor her assistant Myrtle, had sent. One by one they arrive, as well as a mystery man holding an envelope with cash to pay for those guests, as it's delivered to Karinda herself.
With the Manor screaming for repairs, the arrival of these unscheduled guests, strange happenings, rooms filled to capacity, and now murders to add to an already unusual and outrageous situation, clues begin to make themselves known.
You'll find this to be a cozy-read, one that keeps you moving forward and one that leaves you guessing...
4 Stars
#MurderatMistletoeManor
#HollyTierneyBedord
#ChristopherLane
Wild Sage Book Blog
Novels N Latte Book Club
October 15, 2019
Innkeeper Klarinda Snow gets confused when a bunch of guests turn up bearing mysterious invitations for an all-expenses-paid night at Mistletoe Manor. Following an anonymous delivery of cash to pay for the rooms, the situation doesn’t get any less opaque when Klarinda realises most of the guests seem to know each other. When a series of bizarre accidents starts happening, Ms Snow starts to put two and two together.
I got the audiobook of this cosy mystery, which is entertainingly narrated by Christopher Lane. The author tells a witty and amusing tale with her cast of mostly annoying characters and though the plot is a teeny bit obvious and features a group of moronic police officers who probably couldn’t find their own backsides with both hands, I really enjoyed the story. Also, in true Agatha Christie mode, Ms Tierney-Bedord provides a floor plan of Mistletoe Manor on her website. Which is nice.
I got the audiobook of this cosy mystery, which is entertainingly narrated by Christopher Lane. The author tells a witty and amusing tale with her cast of mostly annoying characters and though the plot is a teeny bit obvious and features a group of moronic police officers who probably couldn’t find their own backsides with both hands, I really enjoyed the story. Also, in true Agatha Christie mode, Ms Tierney-Bedord provides a floor plan of Mistletoe Manor on her website. Which is nice.
August 17, 2017
2.5 stars The overall story wasn't bad. The characters are unrelateable. Most of them were selfish & unfriendly. No one was concerned about the dead person they just didn't want to be bothered. One character said " You mean I have to leave the property to get a massage on top walking to the place". Those kind of sayinga bothered me.
I like that the setting takes place in a small relaxing getaway estate. I just couldn't get past the characters. Undecided if I will read this author again.
I like that the setting takes place in a small relaxing getaway estate. I just couldn't get past the characters. Undecided if I will read this author again.
December 23, 2020
This book only had like one likeable character. The main character seemed much younger than she was. Her guest were rude but she didn't treat them much better. The idea of this story sounds great but it's too short for the concept. A LOT happens in less than 24 hrs. Multiple deaths. Definitely not realistic at all and the cops were a joke.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2020
Cute, fast, easy, fun. Too obvious who’s the murderer, though.
December 18, 2022
I enjoyed reading this and that’s that
December 28, 2017
I have not read anything previously by Holly Tierney-Bedord but I plan to read more after finishing Mistletoe Manor. Needless to say, I really liked it. I hope there are more books forthcoming about Mistletoe Manor as I want to visit again. This is a novella and like all cozies, you either like the characters and setting or you may as well not bother. What I truly feel makes it a 4 star cozy is the author's wicked sense of subtle, dark humor. I think it is so subtle that some readers might 'miss' that there is a lot of tongue in cheek response in an overt, but over the top setting. I kept thinking that in style, it reminded me of "The Man Who Came to Dinner." I look forward to reading more by this author.
January 6, 2020
Read mainly for a state challenge that I am doing...this was set in Idaho. A bread and breakfast inn receives reservations for 7 rooms, all for one night, not very usual. A blizzard is coming in, and all the guests get there just in time. Very quickly, they realize that they all attended the same boarding school. Soon, the first one of them is found dead, quickly followed by four more. The cops do keep coming back, but they have other things to take care of because of the blizzard, and all the deaths look like accidents. Who can figure out what is really happening?
Read on my Kindle at 184 pages.
Read on my Kindle at 184 pages.
January 9, 2020
Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie
It’s the holiday season in the tiny mountain town of Windy Pines. All seven guest rooms at Mistletoe Manor have been booked a week in advance and at the same time by different people. Even stranger is the fact the rooms have been booked by single people—Mistletoe Manor is a romantic escape for couples.
Klarinda Snow, the hotel owner, is puzzled by this and wonders if it’s a coincidence. When the guests arrive, Klarinda learns that they all got an invitation saying their room had already been paid for.
This is a cozy Christmas mystery. Fans of Agatha Christie will enjoy this short read. Would recommend
It’s the holiday season in the tiny mountain town of Windy Pines. All seven guest rooms at Mistletoe Manor have been booked a week in advance and at the same time by different people. Even stranger is the fact the rooms have been booked by single people—Mistletoe Manor is a romantic escape for couples.
Klarinda Snow, the hotel owner, is puzzled by this and wonders if it’s a coincidence. When the guests arrive, Klarinda learns that they all got an invitation saying their room had already been paid for.
This is a cozy Christmas mystery. Fans of Agatha Christie will enjoy this short read. Would recommend
December 6, 2017
Fast paced, murder and mayhem, Christmas style packed into a novella. I liked the story, but it needed more Christmas related situations. For a place called Mistletoe Manor, it had nothing to do with Christmas other than the fact that the customers all complained that there wasn't even a Christmas tree. A little weird to call it Mistletoe Manor. I expected some bells and whistles on a holiday theme. Not here. You could read this anytime of the year. Dont expect this to be a Christmas read.
It was never clear why the place wasn't decorated for Christmas. Made no sense.
It was never clear why the place wasn't decorated for Christmas. Made no sense.
December 24, 2025
The good:
- it’s a quick read.
- cozy christmas inn vibes.
- entertaining.
The not so good:
- every character is… boring.
- the main character’s interests, motivations, and reasoning don’t really make sense.
- it’s obvious who the killer is from the very start.
- and then none of it even mattered in the end.
- it’s a quick read.
- cozy christmas inn vibes.
- entertaining.
The not so good:
- every character is… boring.
- the main character’s interests, motivations, and reasoning don’t really make sense.
- it’s obvious who the killer is from the very start.
- and then none of it even mattered in the end.
December 27, 2025
✨Um clássico thriller cliqué de natal, mas quem não gosta?? Eu gosto e muito.
✨Tem de tudo...neve, toneladas dela, um hotel e hóspedes estranhos, passa-se na altura do natal, muitos segredos , um crime, um suspeito óbvio, um investigador improvável!!!
✨Também gostam de livros assim?
✨Tem de tudo...neve, toneladas dela, um hotel e hóspedes estranhos, passa-se na altura do natal, muitos segredos , um crime, um suspeito óbvio, um investigador improvável!!!
✨Também gostam de livros assim?
December 23, 2020
This was cute, it reminded me of a holiday version of The House on Haunted Hill kind of.
Read
December 7, 2020DNF at 10%. All of a sudden, a lot of foul language. Not what I was expecting in a cozy mystery!!
December 14, 2025
Cute. Would read more.
December 14, 2017
This was such a fun book. I don't know if it was the setting or the characters that I liked more. Klarinda was such a real character and I shared most of her emotions throughout the story (such as the exasperation at the guests and the fear that a murderer was lurking in the inn). The writing was easy and wonderful. The descriptions of the inn were very well done and I can really imagine it in my mind. I do have to say that I thought the plot and solution were pretty obvious, but since I loved the setting so much I didn't mind that. I'm really wishing this was a series because I want to know more about these characters and see more mysteries at the inn.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews