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Bookstore Cafe Mystery #5
Death by Eggnog
Krissy Hancock is staying in her adopted hometown of Pine Hills, Ohio, for Christmas this year--and she even has a whole week off from her combination bookstore-cafe. But a killer is about to dampen her spirits . . .
Unfortunately, Krissy's been roped into filling in for a sick elf in the local holiday musical extravaganza. With a demanding director, backstage gossip, and two men in fierce competition for the starring role, it isn't all sweetness and Christmas lights. Then a murder puts a stop to the production, and Krissy is faced with a pageant of suspects.
Could her ex-boyfriend, a fellow elf, really be the culprit as the police are claiming? Or will the actor playing Santa be trading his red suit for an orange jumpsuit? When her behind-the-scenes investigation starts getting dangerous, the only thing Krissy really wants is to make it to Christmas dinner alive. But first she'll have to finish wrapping up this case . . .
Unfortunately, Krissy's been roped into filling in for a sick elf in the local holiday musical extravaganza. With a demanding director, backstage gossip, and two men in fierce competition for the starring role, it isn't all sweetness and Christmas lights. Then a murder puts a stop to the production, and Krissy is faced with a pageant of suspects.
Could her ex-boyfriend, a fellow elf, really be the culprit as the police are claiming? Or will the actor playing Santa be trading his red suit for an orange jumpsuit? When her behind-the-scenes investigation starts getting dangerous, the only thing Krissy really wants is to make it to Christmas dinner alive. But first she'll have to finish wrapping up this case . . .
295 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 26, 2017
135 people are currently reading
1322 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
December 19, 2017
2.5/5
Read during my holiday 24-hour readathon, #readathonbyzoe! Watch the vlog here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcLPp...
Read during my holiday 24-hour readathon, #readathonbyzoe! Watch the vlog here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcLPp...
May 22, 2018
I am still enjoying this series. Krissy is my kind of sleuth. She is smart, kind, has good judgement, loyal and real. I love how she is not afraid to admit her flaws and laugh about her mistakes. This story does not use the coffee shop setting as much as the other books, but it is easy to see that this is where Krissy's comfort zone is. It is Christmas time and Krissy has a week off to go to California to spen the holiday with her father. At the last minute he calls her to say he is going away with his girlfriend so she has a week off and is staying in town. She gets roped in to playing an elf in the local holiday play, a singing and dancing elf and she can't sing and dance. There are so many things happening backstage such as the director being too demanding, the performers all gossiping backstage, male characters fighting over the same girl, and there are fights over who will play the lead role. Within a couple of rehearsals, the man playing Santa Claus is murdered. It turns out Chuck was a bully to the guys and rather handsy with the women so there were a lot of people who might have had a reason to kill him. When Krissy's ex-boyfriend is arrested for the crime, Krissy is convinced that he didn't do it. Both he and his new girlfriend ask Krissy to help and the investigation begins.
The mystery moved along at a nice pace. There were plenty of suspects, twists and turns and I was not able to figure out who the killer was. The author did such a good job of spreading out red herrings. I like Alex Erickson's writing style. It is humorous at times and to the point with just enough description to make the story enjoyable. The characters are quite likable with the exception of some of the minor characters in the play. They were a bit aggravating and did not appreciate Krissy investigating the crime. The holiday theme was well done, not overdone. When the culprit was revealed, he/she explained why, but it was not the best explanation for me. It was plausible, but just did not sit well with me. That is why I only gave it 4 stars. There was some humor in the story that had me smiling throughout the book. The romance was not very much a part of this story which is fine, but I am not very impressed with Will, Krissy's present boyfriend. He is rather stiff I and does not seem to be much fun. I would love to see her get back with Paul, the police officer. I do recommend not only this book, but the series to cozy mystery lovers. They are well written with great mysteries and characters. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
The mystery moved along at a nice pace. There were plenty of suspects, twists and turns and I was not able to figure out who the killer was. The author did such a good job of spreading out red herrings. I like Alex Erickson's writing style. It is humorous at times and to the point with just enough description to make the story enjoyable. The characters are quite likable with the exception of some of the minor characters in the play. They were a bit aggravating and did not appreciate Krissy investigating the crime. The holiday theme was well done, not overdone. When the culprit was revealed, he/she explained why, but it was not the best explanation for me. It was plausible, but just did not sit well with me. That is why I only gave it 4 stars. There was some humor in the story that had me smiling throughout the book. The romance was not very much a part of this story which is fine, but I am not very impressed with Will, Krissy's present boyfriend. He is rather stiff I and does not seem to be much fun. I would love to see her get back with Paul, the police officer. I do recommend not only this book, but the series to cozy mystery lovers. They are well written with great mysteries and characters. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
January 6, 2018
Krissy Hancock has somehow gotten herself volunteered to be an elf in the local Christmas play so there goes her two week vacation from the book store/coffee shop that she co-owns with her best friend Vicki. In true Krissy fashion, a body is discovered, one of the actors in the play and her ex, Robert, is jailed for the murder. Krissy still thinks Robert is a jerk but she knows he's not a killer so she feels compelled to investigate despite having to come to practices that are doing a real number on her body as far as aches and pains go.
This is the first book in the series that I've read but the author does a good job of briefly telling who is who. I never felt confused just dropping in on book 5 but I do want to start at the beginning and read the rest of them. The characters are all very likable, and even the old lady next door who has always been spying on Krissy, comes around a little after her daughter comes to town and they have a meal together. The old lady just needed a friend and a purpose. That part seemed a little unrelated to the mystery but had I read the previous four books, I'm sure it would have seemed a little more relevant.
I never guessed the killer because the author did such a good job of spreading out red herrings along the way. Just as I'd suspect one person, they would be cleared. I like his writing style too, humorous at times and to the point as far as he's not overdoing descriptions or anything. I felt like I could picture all the places that were talked about. This author gets more into the head of the main character and it worked out great. I loved the final scenes, very exciting and again, a little bit funny at times. The ending was awesome so once I'm caught up with this series, I'll be anxious to read the 6th book!
This is the first book in the series that I've read but the author does a good job of briefly telling who is who. I never felt confused just dropping in on book 5 but I do want to start at the beginning and read the rest of them. The characters are all very likable, and even the old lady next door who has always been spying on Krissy, comes around a little after her daughter comes to town and they have a meal together. The old lady just needed a friend and a purpose. That part seemed a little unrelated to the mystery but had I read the previous four books, I'm sure it would have seemed a little more relevant.
I never guessed the killer because the author did such a good job of spreading out red herrings along the way. Just as I'd suspect one person, they would be cleared. I like his writing style too, humorous at times and to the point as far as he's not overdoing descriptions or anything. I felt like I could picture all the places that were talked about. This author gets more into the head of the main character and it worked out great. I loved the final scenes, very exciting and again, a little bit funny at times. The ending was awesome so once I'm caught up with this series, I'll be anxious to read the 6th book!
September 8, 2017
It's been a few years since I read a cozy mystery, so I was excited to delve into "Death by Eggnog" and the community of Pine Hills. This is actually the fifth book in the series, but I was able to start reading without any confusion. Krissy Hancock is the co-owner of a bookstore/coffee shop, and has been recruited to act in the upcoming Christmas musical. Almost immediately, the man playing Santa Claus is murdered, and Krissy's creepy ex-boyfriend arrested for the crime. The only problem is, Krissy is convinced that he didn't do it!
There was a nice ensemble of characters, all in the backdrop of a cozy-seeming town. There were also a few scenes (one involved an elderly neighbor and the police!) that piqued my curiosity, making me want to read the previous books. I don't think I'd like to be part of the theater community though, what with all the murder and sexual harassment running rampant there!
I'm also curious to see where Krissy's relationship with her current boyfriend leads. He doesn't make an appearance until the very end of the book, and for much of it I was confused about her feelings toward him -- they often seemed very chaste and friend zone-ish.
All in all, it was a satisfying cozy murder. Thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for an ARC.
There was a nice ensemble of characters, all in the backdrop of a cozy-seeming town. There were also a few scenes (one involved an elderly neighbor and the police!) that piqued my curiosity, making me want to read the previous books. I don't think I'd like to be part of the theater community though, what with all the murder and sexual harassment running rampant there!
I'm also curious to see where Krissy's relationship with her current boyfriend leads. He doesn't make an appearance until the very end of the book, and for much of it I was confused about her feelings toward him -- they often seemed very chaste and friend zone-ish.
All in all, it was a satisfying cozy murder. Thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for an ARC.
March 11, 2022
3 stelle e mezza
Ho avuto qualche problema a seguire i ragionamenti della protagonista, a volte mi sembrava fare dei voli pindarici quando pensava ai vari moventi, e continuo a pensare che continua a mettersi in pericolo senza motivo. In più il colpevole doveva essere fuori di testa perché la spiegazione che da per aver ucciso un uomo è senza senso...
Ho avuto qualche problema a seguire i ragionamenti della protagonista, a volte mi sembrava fare dei voli pindarici quando pensava ai vari moventi, e continuo a pensare che continua a mettersi in pericolo senza motivo. In più il colpevole doveva essere fuori di testa perché la spiegazione che da per aver ucciso un uomo è senza senso...
March 3, 2023
This was a good Christmas read (even though it's March), but I was a little bummed that Paul wasn't mentioned after Krissy found the murderer. I wanted to know if he ever gave Krissy her Christmas present.
November 17, 2024
I love me some grandma books and this cozy mystery did not dissapoint 🧎🏻♀️➡️🤝🏻
September 3, 2017
First off thank you to Netgalley and Kensington books for allowing me the pleasure of reading this book in advance. This is actually the first book I've been approved for on Netgalley, so I was super excited to see the email!
First off, the way I mentally rank cozy mysteries is their ability to draw you in and keep you there, right with the characters, even if you read the books out of order (like I did!) This is the fifth book in the series, and yet I immediately felt at home. That is my main appeal for these kind of books; a comfortable, familiar yet not world filled with people who might live next door to you without becoming stereotypes.
Krissy was an immediate hit for me; she sneaks a few extra cookies now and then and that is something I absolutely relate to. She is thrown out of her own comfort zone of her workplace, and thrust among a new group of characters in a local play (no one tells her she's a singing and dancing elf) Yet she goes back to her store at times during the book, and I imagine this was the setting for previous crimes. There is a rather interesting love dynamic in this book as well, and I have to wonder without seeing much of either bloke which one will be 'the one'.
Of course it can't be cozy without the mystery, and this one is a doozey. There are plenty of suspects to choose from, and I love that the guilty party isn't immediately in the spotlight. We have to track through plenty of loose ends before finally exposing the killer at the end.
I love a well written cozy; it's my comfort genre. It's the book I choose when I want a pick me up, much like Krissy and her cookies. This book is a definite pick me up! I highly recommend it to other cozy lovers, and I'll have to check out the rest of the series. Five stars!
First off, the way I mentally rank cozy mysteries is their ability to draw you in and keep you there, right with the characters, even if you read the books out of order (like I did!) This is the fifth book in the series, and yet I immediately felt at home. That is my main appeal for these kind of books; a comfortable, familiar yet not world filled with people who might live next door to you without becoming stereotypes.
Krissy was an immediate hit for me; she sneaks a few extra cookies now and then and that is something I absolutely relate to. She is thrown out of her own comfort zone of her workplace, and thrust among a new group of characters in a local play (no one tells her she's a singing and dancing elf) Yet she goes back to her store at times during the book, and I imagine this was the setting for previous crimes. There is a rather interesting love dynamic in this book as well, and I have to wonder without seeing much of either bloke which one will be 'the one'.
Of course it can't be cozy without the mystery, and this one is a doozey. There are plenty of suspects to choose from, and I love that the guilty party isn't immediately in the spotlight. We have to track through plenty of loose ends before finally exposing the killer at the end.
I love a well written cozy; it's my comfort genre. It's the book I choose when I want a pick me up, much like Krissy and her cookies. This book is a definite pick me up! I highly recommend it to other cozy lovers, and I'll have to check out the rest of the series. Five stars!
March 19, 2018
Krissy is staying home this year at Christmas while her dad goes over seas with a new lady friend. She has the week off work and gets roped into being in the towns musical extravaganza. A man turns up dead and she as to figure out who did it. Was it her ex-boyfriend, the two men trying to get the same role or the demanding director. Krissy is in danger and just wants to solve the case and make it to Christmas.
December 12, 2020
A great insomnia/pain friendly listen with some ~holiday~ flare. Also a murder happened but that was kind of secondary to the meaning of Christmas
December 26, 2020
A fun cozy mystery for the holidays!
December 5, 2018
This was a fast, cute Christmas read! It had murder, mystery, intrigue and the ending was a perfect feel good moment!
August 31, 2024
So this is the 5th book in the series but it seems like you can read them in any order with little to no confusion. With that being said, I know my low rating is not because I read the 5th before the 1st.
Death By Eggnog is not good. At all. The writing is incredibly juvenile, there‘s plenty of grammar and spelling errors and the storyline is subpar at best. Don’t even get me started on the horror that is the protagonist!
Krissy is cheesy, embarrassing, clunky and downright boring? She does nothing besides drink eggnog and watch Christmas movies. She’s in her, what, 30’s? 40’s? Does she have nothing more practical to do with her life?
Something that really confused me was the whole storyline of her friend and co-owner of the coffee shop forbidding her to work. Like... why? Why on earth would that happen? It was a stupid excuse for Krissy to have more time to sleuth – which she did little of anyway.
As for who the killer turned out to be... yikes™️!!! It was not well planned out at all. You might as well have grabbed a rando off the street and just claim them as the murderer. All in all, this is a messy review of a messy book. will not reread or continue with the series.
Death By Eggnog is not good. At all. The writing is incredibly juvenile, there‘s plenty of grammar and spelling errors and the storyline is subpar at best. Don’t even get me started on the horror that is the protagonist!
Krissy is cheesy, embarrassing, clunky and downright boring? She does nothing besides drink eggnog and watch Christmas movies. She’s in her, what, 30’s? 40’s? Does she have nothing more practical to do with her life?
Something that really confused me was the whole storyline of her friend and co-owner of the coffee shop forbidding her to work. Like... why? Why on earth would that happen? It was a stupid excuse for Krissy to have more time to sleuth – which she did little of anyway.
As for who the killer turned out to be... yikes™️!!! It was not well planned out at all. You might as well have grabbed a rando off the street and just claim them as the murderer. All in all, this is a messy review of a messy book. will not reread or continue with the series.
December 15, 2024
I set myself to reading primarily cozies/amateur sleuth during the months of November and December. Among them, I try to find as many holiday themed ones as I can to read. This was one of the choices this year. I've not read any from the series before this one and that may have hindered part of my enjoyment. I did like it, but would likely enjoy it more if I had some past info on the main character. She was a bit irritating in her waffling over a couple of past boyfriends and her current one who is barely in the picture in this book. I was bothered a bit by how mellow she took the news of her father cancelling their holiday plans. Not the plans themselves but how casual she was about what would be a loss of a plane ticket money. I'd have been a bit more flustered, I think.
The investigation and her joining in flows fairly smoothly. The cops don't seem to mind too much. It's the cast members in the play she was shoved into who are more bothered.
Mellow cozy to soothe during what could be fractious months. I can recommend.
The investigation and her joining in flows fairly smoothly. The cops don't seem to mind too much. It's the cast members in the play she was shoved into who are more bothered.
Mellow cozy to soothe during what could be fractious months. I can recommend.
November 7, 2017
I had about given up on this series, but maybe there's hope after all. Krissy's Christmas vacation plans fall through, and her best friend and co-bookshop owner won't let her come back to work--it's clear to her friends that she needs a break. Her friend the town gossip volunteers Krissy to replace an ailing elf in the Christmas play, where the unpopular actor playing Santa Claus is soon murdered. The police hold a suspect, but Krissy is sure it's the wrong suspect, and investigates herself, as well as she can without revealing her plan to the play's dictatorial director or to the police. Other than that, she eats sweets and watches Christmas movies on television. She's still reckless, but at least she's stopped randomly accusing people of murder--that's progress, right? She even starts to make friends with her crotchety neighbor.
August 19, 2017
Death by Eggnog is the fifth book in Alex Erickson’s Bookstore Café Mysteries series. The writing flows smoothly, most of the characters are down to earth, normal, relatable people, the book is an easy read and has plenty of humor. There is no shortage of suspects and lots of twists and turns to make it difficult to figure out who the killer is. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading well-crafted cozy mysteries.
Krissy Hancock and her best friend, Vickie Patterson, are the owners of a combination coffee shop and bookstore, Death by Coffee, in the quaint town of Pine Hills, Ohio. Krissy had planned to spend Christmas in California with her dad and successful, James Hancock, but her plans quickly change when he calls her to cancel because he’d met a woman and she invited him to spend the holiday with her in the Swiss Alps. Krissy is sad about not spending Christmas with her dad, but looking forward to the possibility of spending time with her boyfriend, Will Foster, a handsome local physician. Vickie wants her to take her scheduled vacation and Rita Jablonski “volunteers” her to fill in for a sick elf in the community theatre’s Christmas musical production. Krissy has no acting experience and doesn’t want to be in the play, but Rita insists she must because the costume will fit her and no one else, which, of course, it doesn’t. Robert Dunhill, her cheating ex-boyfriend, moved to Pine Hills a few months after she did to try to win her back, but she wants nothing to do with him and, much to her displeasure, he’s also an elf in the play. When Chuck Sanders, who is the play’s Santa, is murdered, Robert becomes the prime suspect and is arrested. Both Robert and his new girlfriend, Trisha, beg Krissy to help prove his innocence. Krissy, who loves snooping and investigating, is convinced they have the wrong person in jail and sets out to find the real killer.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
Krissy Hancock and her best friend, Vickie Patterson, are the owners of a combination coffee shop and bookstore, Death by Coffee, in the quaint town of Pine Hills, Ohio. Krissy had planned to spend Christmas in California with her dad and successful, James Hancock, but her plans quickly change when he calls her to cancel because he’d met a woman and she invited him to spend the holiday with her in the Swiss Alps. Krissy is sad about not spending Christmas with her dad, but looking forward to the possibility of spending time with her boyfriend, Will Foster, a handsome local physician. Vickie wants her to take her scheduled vacation and Rita Jablonski “volunteers” her to fill in for a sick elf in the community theatre’s Christmas musical production. Krissy has no acting experience and doesn’t want to be in the play, but Rita insists she must because the costume will fit her and no one else, which, of course, it doesn’t. Robert Dunhill, her cheating ex-boyfriend, moved to Pine Hills a few months after she did to try to win her back, but she wants nothing to do with him and, much to her displeasure, he’s also an elf in the play. When Chuck Sanders, who is the play’s Santa, is murdered, Robert becomes the prime suspect and is arrested. Both Robert and his new girlfriend, Trisha, beg Krissy to help prove his innocence. Krissy, who loves snooping and investigating, is convinced they have the wrong person in jail and sets out to find the real killer.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
October 6, 2017
After her father cancels their Christmas plans, Krissy Hancocks finds herself staying home for the holidays. Already taken time off from work, one of the towns people ropes her into helping with a Christmas play. Everything seems to be going fine until the very crude Santa is found dead in his dressing room and the person suspected of murder is no other than Krissy's ex-boyfriend who now wants Krissy to clear his name.
I enjoyed this for the most part, I thought it was interesting and it seems like a great read for Christmas with a small town setting and a group of people who really love the holidays.
This would have been a 4 star read, but I took half a star off because of who done it in the end. I thought it came out of no where and the reason was just like, blah, really? It felt a bit disappointing.
If you are looking for some holiday reading this Christmas season, look no further. RaeAnne Thayne is an amazing author to pick up when you are looking for a cozy, heartwarming romances. Yes, they are predictable as far as romance goes, but her books are very character driven.
Julia Winston was a lovely librarian character with a big heart that took in two boys in need and gave them a temporary home, even if she knew it would eventually break her heart.
Jamie had quite a lot of heartbreak in his life when it came to women and family, but watching his affection grow for Julia was so heartwarming.
Wonderful characters, sweet romance, and heartwarming writing that just keeps me coming back for more.This review was originally posted on Night Owl Book Cafe
May 10, 2018
Krissy was all ready to hop on a plane to go and stay with her father for Christmas when he phones and explains that he is planning on heading to Europe for Christmas with his girlfriend, whilst she is disappointed not to be going to see him - she is happy that he is finally back in the dating game post the death of Krissy's mum. This does mean as well that she should be able to spend some quality time with Will (her boyfriend) as they don't seem to be getting together as much these days.
She is just enjoying a relaxing coffee at work when Rita (a friend of a kind, and one of the town's main gossips!) come hurrying in and tells Krissy that she is needed to fill the role of an elf in the Christmas show as someone has dropped out due to illness! When she gets to the theatre she realises that the director is overly demanding, her ex (Robert) is playing the part of another elf and his newest girlfriend is playing Mrs Claus, unfortunately the man playing Santa is a total letch but that doesn't seem a good reason for him to wind up dead .... oh and Krissy saw Robert slipping out just before Santa's body was found and he is now the prime suspect.
Krissy needs to doff her elf hat and don her deerstalker to keep Robert out of jail and save the Christmas play ... no problem!
She is just enjoying a relaxing coffee at work when Rita (a friend of a kind, and one of the town's main gossips!) come hurrying in and tells Krissy that she is needed to fill the role of an elf in the Christmas show as someone has dropped out due to illness! When she gets to the theatre she realises that the director is overly demanding, her ex (Robert) is playing the part of another elf and his newest girlfriend is playing Mrs Claus, unfortunately the man playing Santa is a total letch but that doesn't seem a good reason for him to wind up dead .... oh and Krissy saw Robert slipping out just before Santa's body was found and he is now the prime suspect.
Krissy needs to doff her elf hat and don her deerstalker to keep Robert out of jail and save the Christmas play ... no problem!
May 14, 2018
Death by Eggnog is the fifth book in the Bookstore Cafe Mystery series. Krissy Hancock is the owner of the bookstore cafe in the small town of Pine Hills, Ohio. When she is "volunteered" to fill in for a sick elf in the local holiday musical put on at Christmas she finds more than she bargained for. When a cast member is found murdered Krissy decides to try and figure out who did it. Great characters and a well written murder mystery. Easily read it in one one day. Great book for cozy mystery lovers. Definitely recommend!
December 26, 2019
Death by Eggnog is a light, fun mystery that is a perfect read for Christmastime. While I wasn't able to guess the killer prior to the reveal, which I enjoyed, this wasn't a book that required a lot of attention or deep thought. The characters were simple and basic enough to fill in the story well. Although there was some suggestion that the main character's love interest might not work out, that situation was never resolved; a bit of a frustration ... but I guess normal for a series where the author wants you to pick up the next one !
September 19, 2017
**I voluntarily read this ARC**
I loved this book until it revealed the motive. It just felt weak to me. The mystery itself was great, and so was the reveal - it was just the motive that left me unsatisfied with the ending. I do wish that Krissy's dad had made an appearance since Christmas in a cozy typically involves family.
I loved this book until it revealed the motive. It just felt weak to me. The mystery itself was great, and so was the reveal - it was just the motive that left me unsatisfied with the ending. I do wish that Krissy's dad had made an appearance since Christmas in a cozy typically involves family.
September 14, 2021
I don't honestly remember when I finished this, I just know it was before today. Thanks (no thanks) to a family emergency, I found myself in a car a lot driving back and forth from my current home to my childhood home.
This one put the main character out of her comfort zone, which was entertaining. Not my favorite plot line but I think I realized the trick with these books.
This one put the main character out of her comfort zone, which was entertaining. Not my favorite plot line but I think I realized the trick with these books.
December 29, 2019
I love this series.
April 27, 2021
2.5 Stars
rounded up to 3 Stars.
December 30, 2024
He was mean to you so you just decided to kill him real quick? Lame.
January 3, 2026
I should stop reading these. I will not stop reading these.
June 13, 2018
5 stars because it was a great book, but I have a whole host of criticisms nonetheless. Overall, a thoroughly entertaining and quirky book that told a great story and had a great resolution to the crime. I appreciate that this book left me guessing and guessing and I did not have the murderer figured out. I honestly thought the murderer was numerous people other than who it ended up being. I appreciate the red herrings, suspense and the way the book kept me guessing in a very powerful way. And I like how Krissy’s ex-boyfriend was thrown right at the center of the madness since he’s usually only a side character with a lack of purpose. Also loved the progression of the characters and character relationships. Glad to see some growth in Krissy’s relationship with Eleanor Winthrop and the progression of Vicki and Mason.
What’s going on with the timelines between the books in this series. Several discrepancies in the passages of this particular book indicate the author isn’t paying much mind to keeping things in an orderly timeline. The events from the third book of this series, Death by Pumpkin Spice, were said to have taken place on Halloween, which is the very end of October. The events from the fourth book of the series, Death by Vanilla Latte, in which Krissy’s father visited had to have taken place throughout November, the month immediately preceding Christmas. The events in this book, Death By Eggnog, are said clearly to have taken place from mid to late December during the Christmas holiday. That said, several passages from Death by Eggnog describe the events from Death by Vanilla Latte as happening “a few months ago.” Logically speaking, it could have only been a month ago. However, on page 248 of Death by Egg Nog it reads: “It had been a few months since I last visited my doctor.” Krissy of course visits Paige, her doctor, in Death by Vanilla Latte, which logically speaking was again in November. Somehow the events from a month ago in Death By Vanilla Latte were up to a few months ago. Unless the Krissy character is intended just scatterbrained and gets her dates mixed up (as she mentally narrates this book), the author is making no sense of the order.
Was appalled by Krissy’s father. I said to myself ‘did he really just cancel Christmas last minute on his daughter to be with a new girlfriend?!’ Daughter had bought tickets for a flight and everything, bunch of presents bought and set up, cancelled work and Dad calls and says he’ll be spending it with a NEW girl he found. This is how he introduces a new girl into his daughter’s life with a mother who has passed. O......k!
The book lost me with the whole theme of director regularly abuses entire cast of play in which no one is being compensated for their time—beyond physical aches and pains and sexual harassment from a perverted Santa of course. Where’s the part where everyone quits and does something more self-respecting or advantageous with their time? If the director were a paying boss or manager and these were high paying, high end jobs, it would make more sense of the cast to sit idly by and withstand all of the director’s abuse and sexual harassment from a Santa. But what’s the incentive of the cast to stick around forbearing of all this aggravation when this play amounts to nothing more than a temporary burdensome volunteer activity?! Cast and crew biting their lips and pouting behind director’s back after he regularly excoriates them made little sense to me. The author made everyone besides the director look like they have no shred of self-respect, no backbone and no lives. If you are so desperate to have something to do with your life, you’re willing to take all the verbal abuse of a draconian director and sexual harassment and you aren’t even being paid squat, you have serious issues.
Even Krissy’s motives for staying in the play and taking abuse from the director were pointless. It’s mentioned that none of the cast or crew can mingle or socialize at rehearsals, let alone discuss the murder because of the strict rules of the director. Then after rehearsal no one is even in the mood to talk or socialize. Why not get in touch with everyone outside of the play rehearsals and stop with the goofy pointless play escapades.
Although, I didn’t think the play setup was well thought out, the author made it quirky and fun. It was definitely entertaining, amusing and fun the way the author described Krissy as spinning, gyrating and boogying randomly in every chapter, be it in the privacy of her own home for practice or at rehearsals. At one point her cat looks at her like she’s crazy. It also added entertainment as far as cast and crew involved and all the different players, but I would have liked the incentives and motives for even being at this play set up better otherwise make the director far less of a louse.
The lascivious antics out of Chuck (aka Santa) during the play rehearsal segments and how the predominately female-run play crew turned a blind eye to it all was wildly unrealistic. In any real life setting, ole’ Chuck would have been charged with sexual harassment, strewn all over the news as a predator and carted off to prison like that. I guess this book isn’t set in the present Me Too Movement era. (Although it does mention various elements of the present-day, like Facebook, Instagram, etc). No attempts at complaints or reports were made by anyone despite how open and overt it was. Apparently, he did it to every woman there overtly. The biggest resistance it got was a mild expression of disapproval from Prudence in a gossiping moment in describing him to Krissy. Lawrence, “the drill sergeant” director, throws a hissy fit when Krissy spins in the wrong direction; he’s not mentioned at all in the description of Chuck’s regular sexual harassment DURING auditions right in front of everyone. I guess it’s up to us as readers to assume he’s sitting back like a pervert dog just delighting in it all and taking it all in, while screaming about everything else less serious and criminal. Great cast and crew of people we have here!
It wasn’t just the Dad though, this book pretty much made men look like vile creatures as a whole. In the Me Too Movement era where men are being eaten alive left and right for various offenses, all the open displays of sexual harassment of women by men that went on unchallenged WAS NOT realistic. All the men preying on women in the book was creepy. At one point, Krissy becomes something akin to a misandrist, taking up for Trisha and jumping to the conclusion that Brad has sexually harassed Trisha without even knowing what has happened and without being present with them, mouthing off at Brad. The way they had the men acting and portrayed in this book, you could scare off all women into become lesbians.
As if the turning of a blind eye to Chuck’s sexual harassment by everyone wasn’t shocking, they then set up a memorial for the guy. Now the memorial was of course said to be more of an attempt at a party by Asia, which would have made a little more sense of things if everyone were on board to passive aggressively celebrate his death while painting the occasion as a memorial service. What came as a shock, however, was that most of the characters responded rather offendedly by her treating his death so flippantly and facetiously. Prudence, Krissy and Violet were described Asia’s actions as disrespectful to the deceased. They seemed far more displeased with that than all the open sexual harassment going on. Krissy who didn’t even know the deceased beyond the fact he freely sexually harassed all the woman somehow seemed it was disrespectful of Asia to be flippant of Chuck’s death as well.
None of the cast is at all worried or creeped out in chapter 11 when they return to the theater. One of girls, Asia, even considers having a memorial at the theater of all things. All this instead of worry and concern and distrust between all of the actors, since they don’t really know thecmurder. I guess it could be passed off as though they think Robert did it and has been caught
Krissy getting out of her car late at night at dark and during a winter storm in chapter 12 to ask someone—who might have ended up being a stranger—if they were ok because it looked like their car stalled was a pretty foolhardy, outlandish and brainless. No telling who could be in that car ready to attack and in a town apparently full of murders. I thought we were all taught things like this at like 10 yrs old, things like don’t talk to strangers let alone in the middle of the night where no one else is around. Very weird moment. Then she just so happens to run into Paul and everything’s peachy keen. Only in a fairytale.
Disliked Krissy buying Paul a Christmas present and then deciding it on her mind that if Will didn’t like it, he had jealousy issues and didn’t deserve her. Anyone in their right mind would have a problem engaged in what Krissy is, cheating. She rolled around and wrestled with Paul in the snow and the only reason she didn’t kiss him was because Paul thought better of it because of her bf. Yet Krissy decides in her mind Will has serious jealousy problems if he sees anything wrong with her buying a gift for this guy she has regularly been flirting with and admiring romantically.
As another note on Krissy’s cheating. This is the same girl, mind you, who considers Robert scum for cheating on her. In one breath, she describes Robert as scum of the earth for cheating on her, and in another breath, regularly flirts with another man she went out on a date with outside of her relationship. She calls Robert every filthy thing in the book for the exact same behavior. Hypocrite much!
The part of the story where Lawrence, Randy and Rita are openly divulging info to Krissy about their plans was poorly written. Throughout the entirety of the book until that point, Lawrence is portrayed as a scalding curmudgeon but all of the sudden he spends an entire chapter meekly and submissively sharing all his plans for a secret investment in a new center with Krissy. Not even the slightest annoyance at the fact she has just stalked them all was shown. This “harsh curmudgeon” is now servilely asking all Krissy’s questions and sharing a plot they have going up against the owner of the community center. Thought it be more consistent if the author had him blowing up over her stalking and prying and have him scream for her to get out while Rita explains everything away to Krissy while Randy calms down Lawrence. It would have gone better with the rest of the story.
I can agree with the sentiment from another user here that the book ended abruptly. Would have been nice to get the thoughts and feelings of the rest of the play cast members about Greg ending up the murderer. It would have also been nice to get Trisha’s response. Also the result of Rita, Lawrence and Randy trying to get a new building.
What’s going on with the timelines between the books in this series. Several discrepancies in the passages of this particular book indicate the author isn’t paying much mind to keeping things in an orderly timeline. The events from the third book of this series, Death by Pumpkin Spice, were said to have taken place on Halloween, which is the very end of October. The events from the fourth book of the series, Death by Vanilla Latte, in which Krissy’s father visited had to have taken place throughout November, the month immediately preceding Christmas. The events in this book, Death By Eggnog, are said clearly to have taken place from mid to late December during the Christmas holiday. That said, several passages from Death by Eggnog describe the events from Death by Vanilla Latte as happening “a few months ago.” Logically speaking, it could have only been a month ago. However, on page 248 of Death by Egg Nog it reads: “It had been a few months since I last visited my doctor.” Krissy of course visits Paige, her doctor, in Death by Vanilla Latte, which logically speaking was again in November. Somehow the events from a month ago in Death By Vanilla Latte were up to a few months ago. Unless the Krissy character is intended just scatterbrained and gets her dates mixed up (as she mentally narrates this book), the author is making no sense of the order.
Was appalled by Krissy’s father. I said to myself ‘did he really just cancel Christmas last minute on his daughter to be with a new girlfriend?!’ Daughter had bought tickets for a flight and everything, bunch of presents bought and set up, cancelled work and Dad calls and says he’ll be spending it with a NEW girl he found. This is how he introduces a new girl into his daughter’s life with a mother who has passed. O......k!
The book lost me with the whole theme of director regularly abuses entire cast of play in which no one is being compensated for their time—beyond physical aches and pains and sexual harassment from a perverted Santa of course. Where’s the part where everyone quits and does something more self-respecting or advantageous with their time? If the director were a paying boss or manager and these were high paying, high end jobs, it would make more sense of the cast to sit idly by and withstand all of the director’s abuse and sexual harassment from a Santa. But what’s the incentive of the cast to stick around forbearing of all this aggravation when this play amounts to nothing more than a temporary burdensome volunteer activity?! Cast and crew biting their lips and pouting behind director’s back after he regularly excoriates them made little sense to me. The author made everyone besides the director look like they have no shred of self-respect, no backbone and no lives. If you are so desperate to have something to do with your life, you’re willing to take all the verbal abuse of a draconian director and sexual harassment and you aren’t even being paid squat, you have serious issues.
Even Krissy’s motives for staying in the play and taking abuse from the director were pointless. It’s mentioned that none of the cast or crew can mingle or socialize at rehearsals, let alone discuss the murder because of the strict rules of the director. Then after rehearsal no one is even in the mood to talk or socialize. Why not get in touch with everyone outside of the play rehearsals and stop with the goofy pointless play escapades.
Although, I didn’t think the play setup was well thought out, the author made it quirky and fun. It was definitely entertaining, amusing and fun the way the author described Krissy as spinning, gyrating and boogying randomly in every chapter, be it in the privacy of her own home for practice or at rehearsals. At one point her cat looks at her like she’s crazy. It also added entertainment as far as cast and crew involved and all the different players, but I would have liked the incentives and motives for even being at this play set up better otherwise make the director far less of a louse.
The lascivious antics out of Chuck (aka Santa) during the play rehearsal segments and how the predominately female-run play crew turned a blind eye to it all was wildly unrealistic. In any real life setting, ole’ Chuck would have been charged with sexual harassment, strewn all over the news as a predator and carted off to prison like that. I guess this book isn’t set in the present Me Too Movement era. (Although it does mention various elements of the present-day, like Facebook, Instagram, etc). No attempts at complaints or reports were made by anyone despite how open and overt it was. Apparently, he did it to every woman there overtly. The biggest resistance it got was a mild expression of disapproval from Prudence in a gossiping moment in describing him to Krissy. Lawrence, “the drill sergeant” director, throws a hissy fit when Krissy spins in the wrong direction; he’s not mentioned at all in the description of Chuck’s regular sexual harassment DURING auditions right in front of everyone. I guess it’s up to us as readers to assume he’s sitting back like a pervert dog just delighting in it all and taking it all in, while screaming about everything else less serious and criminal. Great cast and crew of people we have here!
It wasn’t just the Dad though, this book pretty much made men look like vile creatures as a whole. In the Me Too Movement era where men are being eaten alive left and right for various offenses, all the open displays of sexual harassment of women by men that went on unchallenged WAS NOT realistic. All the men preying on women in the book was creepy. At one point, Krissy becomes something akin to a misandrist, taking up for Trisha and jumping to the conclusion that Brad has sexually harassed Trisha without even knowing what has happened and without being present with them, mouthing off at Brad. The way they had the men acting and portrayed in this book, you could scare off all women into become lesbians.
As if the turning of a blind eye to Chuck’s sexual harassment by everyone wasn’t shocking, they then set up a memorial for the guy. Now the memorial was of course said to be more of an attempt at a party by Asia, which would have made a little more sense of things if everyone were on board to passive aggressively celebrate his death while painting the occasion as a memorial service. What came as a shock, however, was that most of the characters responded rather offendedly by her treating his death so flippantly and facetiously. Prudence, Krissy and Violet were described Asia’s actions as disrespectful to the deceased. They seemed far more displeased with that than all the open sexual harassment going on. Krissy who didn’t even know the deceased beyond the fact he freely sexually harassed all the woman somehow seemed it was disrespectful of Asia to be flippant of Chuck’s death as well.
None of the cast is at all worried or creeped out in chapter 11 when they return to the theater. One of girls, Asia, even considers having a memorial at the theater of all things. All this instead of worry and concern and distrust between all of the actors, since they don’t really know thecmurder. I guess it could be passed off as though they think Robert did it and has been caught
Krissy getting out of her car late at night at dark and during a winter storm in chapter 12 to ask someone—who might have ended up being a stranger—if they were ok because it looked like their car stalled was a pretty foolhardy, outlandish and brainless. No telling who could be in that car ready to attack and in a town apparently full of murders. I thought we were all taught things like this at like 10 yrs old, things like don’t talk to strangers let alone in the middle of the night where no one else is around. Very weird moment. Then she just so happens to run into Paul and everything’s peachy keen. Only in a fairytale.
Disliked Krissy buying Paul a Christmas present and then deciding it on her mind that if Will didn’t like it, he had jealousy issues and didn’t deserve her. Anyone in their right mind would have a problem engaged in what Krissy is, cheating. She rolled around and wrestled with Paul in the snow and the only reason she didn’t kiss him was because Paul thought better of it because of her bf. Yet Krissy decides in her mind Will has serious jealousy problems if he sees anything wrong with her buying a gift for this guy she has regularly been flirting with and admiring romantically.
As another note on Krissy’s cheating. This is the same girl, mind you, who considers Robert scum for cheating on her. In one breath, she describes Robert as scum of the earth for cheating on her, and in another breath, regularly flirts with another man she went out on a date with outside of her relationship. She calls Robert every filthy thing in the book for the exact same behavior. Hypocrite much!
The part of the story where Lawrence, Randy and Rita are openly divulging info to Krissy about their plans was poorly written. Throughout the entirety of the book until that point, Lawrence is portrayed as a scalding curmudgeon but all of the sudden he spends an entire chapter meekly and submissively sharing all his plans for a secret investment in a new center with Krissy. Not even the slightest annoyance at the fact she has just stalked them all was shown. This “harsh curmudgeon” is now servilely asking all Krissy’s questions and sharing a plot they have going up against the owner of the community center. Thought it be more consistent if the author had him blowing up over her stalking and prying and have him scream for her to get out while Rita explains everything away to Krissy while Randy calms down Lawrence. It would have gone better with the rest of the story.
I can agree with the sentiment from another user here that the book ended abruptly. Would have been nice to get the thoughts and feelings of the rest of the play cast members about Greg ending up the murderer. It would have also been nice to get Trisha’s response. Also the result of Rita, Lawrence and Randy trying to get a new building.
December 22, 2018
There is a reason for the adage “write what you know.” Alex Erickson has clearly never been involved in any sort of theatre production. No one involved in theatre calls it play “practice”. It’s REHEARSAL! And no one would be wearing their costumes during regular rehearsal. There’s a reason that the last few rehearsals before opening are called “ dress rehearsals” - otherwise costumes get ruined/dirty as pointed out when Krissy rubs her grubby hands on her pants and leaves smears all over them. Since this community theatre plot was such a large part of this story, this stuff bugged me.
I keep hoping these stories will improve, but they keep getting worse. Krissy is unlikeable, and a lousy “sleuth.” She just randomly decides someone must be the murderer and tries to badger them into a confession. She does no actual investigating. The murderer in this story came out of nowhere with the most nonsensical motive.
I’ve started listening to book 6 because I do like the narrator, but my expectations are very low.
And who tests the doneness of a cookie with a toothpick? That’s for cake. Seriously, write what you know.
I keep hoping these stories will improve, but they keep getting worse. Krissy is unlikeable, and a lousy “sleuth.” She just randomly decides someone must be the murderer and tries to badger them into a confession. She does no actual investigating. The murderer in this story came out of nowhere with the most nonsensical motive.
I’ve started listening to book 6 because I do like the narrator, but my expectations are very low.
And who tests the doneness of a cookie with a toothpick? That’s for cake. Seriously, write what you know.
June 18, 2018
Every time I read an Alex Erickson book I am not disappointed.
Krissy wants to spend the holiday with her dad, but dad has found a lady and any normal holiday plans have been nixed. THEN… Krissy gets volunteered into being in the play and she is not very excited about it. But the theater does seem to grow on her.
Her ex-boyfriend makes an appearance too. Somehow he is also in the play. Ugh! He seems like such a smarmy person. First he likes one lady and then does a 180 and wants her again. Sheesh! At one point he also become a main suspect and he about loses his cookies. She feels obliged to find out how her ex was not involved once he becomes the person of interest.
I found this whodunit harder to figure out since there seemed to be so many suspects.
This series is on my “not to be missed” list. So check it out.
I bought this book with my own money.
Krissy wants to spend the holiday with her dad, but dad has found a lady and any normal holiday plans have been nixed. THEN… Krissy gets volunteered into being in the play and she is not very excited about it. But the theater does seem to grow on her.
Her ex-boyfriend makes an appearance too. Somehow he is also in the play. Ugh! He seems like such a smarmy person. First he likes one lady and then does a 180 and wants her again. Sheesh! At one point he also become a main suspect and he about loses his cookies. She feels obliged to find out how her ex was not involved once he becomes the person of interest.
I found this whodunit harder to figure out since there seemed to be so many suspects.
This series is on my “not to be missed” list. So check it out.
I bought this book with my own money.
February 4, 2019
Ok
Not earth shattering or particularly suspenseful, and the motive a bit thin, but I wanted to read to the end. Not sure if people would really behave in the manner depicted, and I generally hope not.
Not earth shattering or particularly suspenseful, and the motive a bit thin, but I wanted to read to the end. Not sure if people would really behave in the manner depicted, and I generally hope not.
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