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Merry March Mysteries #2
Murder So Festive
A time for love, putting away grievances, and joining together in joy.
Or not. When Merry’s ex breezes back into the town he swindled, her world turns upside down. Drawn into the drama that surrounds him, she works to protect their daughter from the turmoil. Tensions run high, and Merry finds herself, once again, in the center of a murder investigation. Good friends, wine, and her cats keep her grounded as she works to uncover the identity of the killer.
Or not. When Merry’s ex breezes back into the town he swindled, her world turns upside down. Drawn into the drama that surrounds him, she works to protect their daughter from the turmoil. Tensions run high, and Merry finds herself, once again, in the center of a murder investigation. Good friends, wine, and her cats keep her grounded as she works to uncover the identity of the killer.
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2018
7 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Eileen Curley Hammond
10 books28 followersI retired from a successful marketing career in the insurance industry. My husband was happy (at first) that I retired, but decided that we didn't need quite as much time together as we were getting. Hence, the writing.
We share our house with two cats that are working on training us. In addition, our pond houses two koi, Daisy and Rose, as well as assorted shubunkins and minnows. One would think that frogs would love the environment in the pond, but it appears that they like swimming laps in the pool almost as much as I do.
Tending to this menagerie, writing, and rescuing the frog population from certain death keep me busy.
We share our house with two cats that are working on training us. In addition, our pond houses two koi, Daisy and Rose, as well as assorted shubunkins and minnows. One would think that frogs would love the environment in the pond, but it appears that they like swimming laps in the pool almost as much as I do.
Tending to this menagerie, writing, and rescuing the frog population from certain death keep me busy.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 27, 2019
This second book in the Merry March series was a fun romp that continues right where the last book left off. Merry's ex, Drew, waltzes back into town and creates an enormous amount of chaos for her and her daughter. Not just the whispers, but Merry has to confront some real issues about her previous marriage that are unpleasant.
The whole situation is cranked up a few notches when a dead body shows up with connections to her ex. Merry is, once again, thrust into the fray to try and ascertain the identity of the murderer in hopes that suspicion about the timing and her ex doesn't make everyone think her daughters father is a murderer!
This is little town is a wonderful place full of gossipy, busy-bodies and it's nice to revisit it with this excellent installment. I won't give away too much, but there might be more than one murder in this book!
The whole situation is cranked up a few notches when a dead body shows up with connections to her ex. Merry is, once again, thrust into the fray to try and ascertain the identity of the murderer in hopes that suspicion about the timing and her ex doesn't make everyone think her daughters father is a murderer!
This is little town is a wonderful place full of gossipy, busy-bodies and it's nice to revisit it with this excellent installment. I won't give away too much, but there might be more than one murder in this book!
July 20, 2019
Murder so Festive by Eileen Curley Hammond is the second book in the Merry March series. It picks up where the first book left off. Merry's ex-husband returns from prison and neither Merry nor the townspeople are happy about it. He is soon accused of a murder and her daughter asks her to prove his innocence. With the help of her reporter boyfriend she tries to solve the case.
Murder so Festive was a delightful read. Hammond kept me up in the night with her twists and turns. I loved the mouthwatering foods and the names of the shops. Her descriptions were vivid and I felt the misery of Merry at the changing season and her changing parental role. I would definitely buying the next book in the series.
Murder so Festive was a delightful read. Hammond kept me up in the night with her twists and turns. I loved the mouthwatering foods and the names of the shops. Her descriptions were vivid and I felt the misery of Merry at the changing season and her changing parental role. I would definitely buying the next book in the series.
July 16, 2019
Second installment in a fun cozy mystery series that I enjoy. The plot picks right back up where the first book left off on a bit of a cliffhanger as Merry's ex-husband returns to the small town of Hopeful and a certain amount of both personal and general mayhem ensues. Merry and her friends get caught up in another investigation when a murder hits a little too close to home. Love the setting! Hopeful sounds like a wonderful place to live: mouth-wateringly delicious restaurants and cafes that dot the landscape, the charming shopping district, the close-knit community where everyone knows everybody's business. Sure, there's the occasional murder or two, but what place is perfect? A clean read with no strong language or explicit sex scenes, spending time with Merry and her friends is like comfort food for the soul. Recommended for fans of well-written traditional cozy mysteries.
December 31, 2020
From one of the finest cozy mystery writers around comes a Christmastime effort wherein the spirit of the season is darkened by murder.
Eileen Curley Hammond’s next novel in the Merry March series reads like the wind and yet is beautifully complex; you hardly realize it until the killer is revealed.
Poor Merry has her hands full trying to manage an ex-husband, daughter, lover and a cranky community. When a woman is murdered, the ex is first in line for suspicion; after all, he has had a checkered past, to say the least. And he appears to have motive. So do several others. Some are local professionals; some are friends.
This is a tricky situation for a woman trying to keep her household and business together.
Aided by Rob, the newspaper man-slash-adoring boyfriend, and police officer Jay (although he could have been more help), Merry grinds through her days trying to sort through the suspects’ motivations and her own rapidly burgeoning issues.
The ending is simply fabulous; plenty of action and terror, with an unlikely hero stepping in at the last moment. So well done.
I love Merry March and her creator. All cozy mystery characters and authors should be so real.
Eileen Curley Hammond’s next novel in the Merry March series reads like the wind and yet is beautifully complex; you hardly realize it until the killer is revealed.
Poor Merry has her hands full trying to manage an ex-husband, daughter, lover and a cranky community. When a woman is murdered, the ex is first in line for suspicion; after all, he has had a checkered past, to say the least. And he appears to have motive. So do several others. Some are local professionals; some are friends.
This is a tricky situation for a woman trying to keep her household and business together.
Aided by Rob, the newspaper man-slash-adoring boyfriend, and police officer Jay (although he could have been more help), Merry grinds through her days trying to sort through the suspects’ motivations and her own rapidly burgeoning issues.
The ending is simply fabulous; plenty of action and terror, with an unlikely hero stepping in at the last moment. So well done.
I love Merry March and her creator. All cozy mystery characters and authors should be so real.
August 17, 2019
The second installment in the series is everything I've come to love about Merry March. As she works to solve a murder, she's balancing all the usual holiday stress, her business, being a single mom and her sleazy ex-husband, a conman who's got a new angle Merry can't quite put her finger on. Plus, Merry's always cooking or finding some amazing food. One thing you can count on author Eileen Hammond to do is make you hungry!
What I loved about this book:
1. Merry continues to be unflaggingly positive, logical and lovable. I especially love her relationship with her daughter, Jenny.
2. Merry's ex-husband brings a whole new level of caper to this small town caper series. His motives are always questionable in just the best way!
3. The mystery is awesome and I won't spoil it, but you don't see the resolution coming!
4. Rob-- I totally ship Merry and the local reporter.
This is a must-read series! I loved every bit of it and couldn't wait for the next one.
What I loved about this book:
1. Merry continues to be unflaggingly positive, logical and lovable. I especially love her relationship with her daughter, Jenny.
2. Merry's ex-husband brings a whole new level of caper to this small town caper series. His motives are always questionable in just the best way!
3. The mystery is awesome and I won't spoil it, but you don't see the resolution coming!
4. Rob-- I totally ship Merry and the local reporter.
This is a must-read series! I loved every bit of it and couldn't wait for the next one.
April 25, 2019
I bought this immediately after reading the first book of the Merry March series. I like it just as much as I liked the first. The characters are colorful, the small town politics are dynamic and are the main motivator of the plot. And in the center of it all is Merry, calm and sometimes infuriatingly mature. It still has the wit and humor of the first book. And oh the plot twists! I will be buying the next book in the series.
August 27, 2019
The second in a series of a cozy mystery series. I enjoyed it just as much as I enjoyed the first book. The characters are colorful, the small town politics are dynamic and are the main motivator of the plot. And in the center of it all is Merry, calm and sometimes infuriatingly mature. It has the wit and humor of the first book. I highly recommend it.
January 30, 2020
This series is delightful, and I enjoyed the second installment even more than the first! If you want to enjoy a cozy with characters you'll really enjoy, I highly recommend the Merry March Books. I'm now looking forward you the third!
December 13, 2019
I am loving this series...food and murder combo is the best.
The small town of Hopeful is like modern Americanised village of Mary Mead. Gossipy neighbors and friends ready to help.
The small town of Hopeful is like modern Americanised village of Mary Mead. Gossipy neighbors and friends ready to help.
December 12, 2022
Is there such a thing as a cosy murder mystery at Christmas time? Of course, there is; Eileen Curley Hammond’s novel is just that.
Murder in a small town’s suburbs is even more interesting when the potential murderer is your ex-husband, the ex-con who has just moved in next door since being released from prison. Adding fuel to the fire, the husband’s past returns to haunt not only him but his wife and heroine of the story Merry March and her current boyfriend, newspaper reporter and editor, as they seek to exonerate the deadbeat Drew of the crime.
There is a host of characters that add to the mayhem. Drew is a total scumbag, which Merry is well rid of, except they have a daughter who dotes on her dad. Which is the only reason Merry will try to find the real murderer while dealing with a few personal issues that arise out of it, with a whole town watching and gossiping.
I am ready to follow Merry March’s story wherever it leads and look forward to future books in this series.
Murder in a small town’s suburbs is even more interesting when the potential murderer is your ex-husband, the ex-con who has just moved in next door since being released from prison. Adding fuel to the fire, the husband’s past returns to haunt not only him but his wife and heroine of the story Merry March and her current boyfriend, newspaper reporter and editor, as they seek to exonerate the deadbeat Drew of the crime.
There is a host of characters that add to the mayhem. Drew is a total scumbag, which Merry is well rid of, except they have a daughter who dotes on her dad. Which is the only reason Merry will try to find the real murderer while dealing with a few personal issues that arise out of it, with a whole town watching and gossiping.
I am ready to follow Merry March’s story wherever it leads and look forward to future books in this series.
December 23, 2023
Fun Holiday Mystery
Reading this second book in the Merry March series during the Christmas season was a special treat. In this installment, Merry's Christmas plans are interrupted by her ex-husband's release from jail. He becomes Merry's next-door neighbor. New discoveries and intrigue soon follow. When her ex finds himself as the prime suspect in a murder, Merry is pulled into investigating the crime. The main cast are by now like old friends. I whizzed through this book, enjoying once again how the author brings the town of Hopeful alive for us. She kept me guessing until the satisfying discovery of whodunit. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Reading this second book in the Merry March series during the Christmas season was a special treat. In this installment, Merry's Christmas plans are interrupted by her ex-husband's release from jail. He becomes Merry's next-door neighbor. New discoveries and intrigue soon follow. When her ex finds himself as the prime suspect in a murder, Merry is pulled into investigating the crime. The main cast are by now like old friends. I whizzed through this book, enjoying once again how the author brings the town of Hopeful alive for us. She kept me guessing until the satisfying discovery of whodunit. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
November 28, 2024
“Murder So Festive” is the second book in the engaging Merry March Mysteries series by Eileen Curley Hammond, and the story takes place in the days before Christmas. Merry and Rob’s relationship heats up just as Merry’s felonious ex, Drew, is released from prison and moves in next door. The awkward situation is made worse when Drew is suspected of being a murderer. Merry feels compelled to investigate in case her daughter’s father is innocent. With charming characters, humorous dialogue, and a well-paced plot, this series is certain to delight readers of cozy mysteries!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews