Sleighed

The Coffee House Sleuths: A Christmas Cozy Mystery #1

by T. Lockhaven, Thomas Lockhaven (Contributor)

A charming Christmas cozy filled with murder and mischief…. You better watch out, sometimes Santa isn't who you think he is.

Christmas has descended on Lana Cove. It should be a time of merriment, but in one swoop, a news broadcast changes everything….

Michael, an author, finds himself on the trail of a rogue Santa intent on ruining Christmas - and the lives of some residents. George is the usual Santa for Lana Cove, so who is the secretive newcomer, and why is he taking over all of George's jobs? Along with his friends, Ellie and Olivia, Michael needs to find out what's going on before things get out of hand. But when a body is found, things take a sinister turn. Another bizarre bend in Michael's investigative road is a mysterious stranger asking to meet him - alone.

Who killed the victim? Why have they gone to such lengths with a smoke-and-mirrors approach? And will Michael, Ellie, and Olivia catch the person responsible for creating so much unhappiness in the season that has turned into anything but jolly?

Buy Sleighed today and follow the clues of this lighthearted, charming, cozy mystery with a little spice thrown in.

Genres: Christmas, Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Contemporary, Short Stories

152 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 11, 2019

About the author

You can blame my 7th grade English teacher, Mr. Ownby. I began writing mysteries in middle school, with gripping titles like, The Secret in the Swamp and The Ghost of Hollow Lake—Mr. Ownby, would kindly read them, and then encourage me to keep writing and reading the classics. His words, "Some day I'll be reading your mysteries with the rest of the world," inspired me.

Forty years later, I was able to fulfill my dreams and become a full-time writer. When I began writing, I decided that my books would be a safe-haven from the real world. My children's series, which I write under Thomas Lockhaven, all have strong messages of perseverance, thinking outside the box, friendship and loyalty. I have a daughter, and as I work through my manuscripts, I always try to imagine what I can say to inspire and entertain at the same time.

For my cozy readers, I spent much of my life traveling to small coastal towns in North Carolina and then later in my life to the coastal towns in New England. I've always loved the idiosyncrasies of the locals, and I've always wanted to bring them to life in a book series. My Coffee House Sleuths stories are just that. And just like my children's books, I endeavor to write stories that are clean, with very little violence and no profanity. I do my best to help people disappear from the craziness of life, even if just for a little while.

I currently live in Boston, but my dream is to move to a small coastal town, stare out over the ocean, and to let the words flow. I have an incredible wife who constantly inspires and encourages me, and an amazing daughter who is my most harsh, but loving critic. As I said earlier, my passion is to write and to continually improve and perfect my craft. For those of you who read my books, I humbly thank you. For those of you who have never read my books, I welcome you with open arms.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun easy cozy Christmas 🎄 read which I thoroughly enjoyed, the characters were charming & likeable it had a festive feel that finally got me into the spirit this year.


YOU BETTER WATCH OUT SOMETIMES SANTA 🎅 ISN’T WHO HE APEARS TO BE!

The setting is in Lana Cove South Carolina Michael is a journalist he & his friends Ellie who runs the Bitter Sweet ☕️ Cafe & her friend Olivia are trying to find out who is the mysterious man who leaped out of behind Santa’s chair the entire cafe gasped when the rogue Santa ripped the beard of the seated santa’s face as if it were a trophy he threw the beard Into the air saying he is a fake he is a fake.


Now Michael is on the trail of the rogue Santa intent on ruining Christmas & the lives of the residents


George the usual Santa but who is the stranger who is taking over George’s jobs ?

But when a murder happens George is the main suspect but Santa is no murderer or is he?


This is book 1 in the sleuths series I loved this one it’s funny had the festive feel & was light & breezy recommended.

[Penney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this story, the characters were great! I love how it all turn out, the setting is brilliant! I loved the mystery in it

[Debra Hahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends and Santas helpers

The town's favorite santa is fired from his job at the mall. Then hes let go
from all his other Christmas gigs. Now Michael , Olivia, and Ellie go into
action to find out the truth of the dark secrets behind George's black balling
And firing from his prestigious as santa. As the group digs into the mystery,
things get more deadly. Can they solve this mystery of crime and murder
before any one else falls victem to murder. Read this hijenked packed mystery
today to find out the answers. A great read one that you will enjoy.
Debra H.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining mystery listening 👀🎆

This kindle ebook novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book one of three

Ellie, Olivia, and Michael are helping George who has been fired as Santa. It turns into a murder investigation as the replacement Santa is murdered! It all comes to a happy ending when the killer is arrested. 🏡

I would recommend this series and author to readers of romantic family and friends relationships adventures mystery novels 🐕😋 2025 🌃😀

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice quick read with everything in it that it needed. No unnecessary padding or over explaining, just a quick story, decent enough plot and likeable characters.

[Sagexox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aside from feeling like i was walking in on a sequel and had no idea who these people were, i really liked this book... it was funny, especially a specific main character. One of those 'just go with the flow and enjoy the ride' books :)

[Sonia With an I · Rating 3 out of 5]

short and cute

I enjoyed the team of sleuths. The story was short and fast paced. It wasn’t super cozy and I would of enjoyed more coffee shop time, but it was an enjoyable read.

[Amy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This first introduction to the characters in the Coffee House Sleuths series is a charming, witty, and action-packed adventure! Meet Michael, Ellie, and Olivia, grab a cup of coffee from the cafe, and buckle up for a wild ride that takes you from an outrageous Santa encounter at the mall, to corpses popping up, and finding out if mysterious strangers are friends or foes! This series is a delight, the characters will make you smile, you'll find plenty of reasons to chuckle, and you'll be quickly turning the pages to solve the mystery!

[Claudia]

Lana Cove is a small township and usually it is quiet. But this year things liven up, when first the person who had been Santa for almost 40 years was sacked and he resolves to some angry action. Michael, Ellie, and Olivia are friends with him and try to help, to find out why he was fired in the first place. When robberies and a murder happen, they have to step up to solve the mysteries of their small town to save Christmas.
At times funny, at times mildly thrilling - a typical cozy mystery set in the Christmas season with the supposed culprit being Santa.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Fleur · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good quick murder mystery with really enjoyable characters that make you laugh, groan (especially Michael lol) and keep you on your toes with who you think the killer is. You get snippets about Michael, Ellie, and Olivia but I did feel like we should have gotten more about them as it almost felt like I started the series at book 2. I look forward to book 2 in the series and hope that we learn a lot more about the sleuthing threesome!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Madeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick read. Michael, Ellie, and Olivia are friends in tiny Lana Cove who are trying to help their friend, George, the local Santa, get his job back. George was fired by the department store owner from the Santa job he had had for many years. The job was given to a newcomer in town along with his elf girlfriend. It all goes sidewise when the new "Santa" ends up dead.
The banter between the friends is funny and well written. They do get to the solution a bit too quickly but it is almost believable. It's a good book for a quiet afternoon - not great but good.

[Pat Eroh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really great first in series cozy mystery! I am already liking these characters of Lana Cove and hoping to see them developed further in future books. This has a great storyline that hooked me immediately and lots of twists to keep me guessing.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is Christmas time and he is looking forward to playing Santa again. Someone is taking all his jobs. Who are they? What are they doing it? There is even a murder. Are they the murderer? Will.They unmasked them? See how he gets on

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[RITA SMITH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read

Hard to put down. Wanted to know what was going to happen next. A good group of friends, more like family really. Can't wait for the next one.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very slight cozy mystery featuring a Santa villain.

[Jodi Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute and quick read. Wonderful characters and fun bantering between them all. I really enjoyed it!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book One of New Cozy Series Falls Shy of the Mark

I love a good cozy mystery. There is something about the quirky characters, sense of community, and that touch of humor mixed in with the murder or suspense that creates a pleasing reading experience for me. Unfortunately, I felt like this first of a new series cozy missed the mark on several points. The first book of any new series needs to set up the world and the main characters well. I don't feel like these happened in this book. A key element of a cozy mystery is the quirky, small-town community in which the crimes happen; I don't feel like that was built up enough here. The central amateur sleuth or sleuths need to be three dimensional and interesting; the ones here didn't feel fully developed, and I sometimes found them to be silly rather than witty or funny. The book was well paced, though, with lots happening. I felt it was too short to fully develop the plot of a good mystery. There wasn't enough space not only for the character and community development but also for the required red herrings and misdirections that keep a mystery interesting. I did like that the author was able to well incorporate Christmas into this novella. I have read a few holiday romances and mysteries where Christmas was only a backdrop and not fully integrated, so it was fun to see it center stage. Even though I felt this book lacked, I would be interested to see what else happens in the series.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com

[TC · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't bad but it fell somewhat short of the mark for me. I think the series has promise as far as the characters and setting goes, but I'd like to see what the author could do with about double the amount of pages (this one is listed at 74 pages, which in my opinion wasn't really enough for a first in series that should establish characters and setting as well as have an engaging plot).

The first couple of chapters were really good. But in looking over the author's previous works, he normally writes middle grade fiction (I believe this is his first adult book). That showed, not so much in content but in style; very fast paced, quick scene changes, not much character development or description, heavy on dialogue and action, relatively simple plot that went from A to B to C. Also the editing of the second half of the book could have been a bit better.

If you like that quick, simpler style then there's nothing wrong with this book and I rather liked the characters. But I do like my cozies to be more complex and developed, so for me it was just okay. That said, I would try another book in the series to see if it's the same style or more developed, because it's not far off being a potentially good series.

As of writing, it's available on Kindle Unlimited, which is where I read it and which certainly makes it worth checking out that's the writing style you prefer.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lana Cove is a rather charming place. It appears to be more than a little lethal sometimes as well

Small town living is a mixed blessing- people are always into the business of other people- whether or not their information is correct.

Support or snubbing by social clubs, like a beach walkers group, can have incredible power, especially for businesses

Michael and his coffee house friends become a network and a sleuthing trio, with support from a wide and quirky variety of friends and neighbors, and help to and from Uncle Detective

Things are not do sleepy after all in Lana Cove

I enjoy the interpersonal connections and conflicts- sometimes the biggest surprises pop up into or out of them

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Krystyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Santa blows a fuse and then gets involved in murder

A good short read. Yes the characters need a bit more work but the plot was a good one. Fast paced, action packed (at least at the end) and gave you all the answers. The characters though need a bit more oomph especially Michael - yes he end up playing hero but up to then he was really a bit insipid.
The three friends watch as the local Santa (he's been playing that part for over 40 years) looses his cool and attacks the new Santa at the Mall. Film crews are showing this live nearly on a loop. Why did George lose his job? The more the three investigate the more questions they have. High end thefts, blackmail, a little black book, mob connections and murder. Can they clear George and find out what on earth is going on?

[Sassy Beta Reading & Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good read. It is the first of the series and looks like it could turn into a nice series. I admit, at first, I was a bit confused concerning the characters, but they seemed to work themselves for the most part. I am hoping things become more clear with later books.

Nice story line, likable characters, okay detailed descriptions. Written as 3rd person with a completed mystery solved.

Would I recommend this book? yes

Would I read more from this author? yes

Sassy Beta Reading and Review

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute 3.5 Stars

This book was an advertisement in Facebook that looked intriguing; it was marketed as being for fans of Castle. There were definite similarities, but it felt like fan fiction with different character names - as if the main character, author Michael, was TRYING to be Castle. There was so little description of characters that one would pop out of no where. Perhaps a little more quantity to the story would have as added to the quality. Despite this, it was a quick read, and I did enjoy it. There were times when I found myself giggling and feeling a nostalgic twinge for Castle's antics.

[Erin Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun SHORT holiday read—shorter than the typical cozy

I see a number of people complaining about the length of this story. While I agree that a longer story might have allowed for a more intricate story, in the world of cozies, this is a a fun solid story with good character development and intrigue. If you’re in the mood for a quick holiday read, this is perfect. If you’re looking for something longer and more developed, I would advise checking page count when purchasing since cozies can span a decent range in terms of length.

[Stephen Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sleighed was a fun read. I liked the characters, I hope the author does more as far development and backstory, but the book itself was well written and enjoyable. The book takes place in a town named Lana Cove, where three friends work together to help a friend get his job back as the official town Santa. From there, things continue to get worse, there's murder, blackmail, infidelity, and more. I'm looking forward to seeing more from this author.

[Mererid Evanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael, Ellie and Olivia, the Coffee House Sleuths, are an attractive trio of friends, probably in their 40s. Michael thinks he's a pretty funny guy and isn't far wrong. They investigate to help the wronged Santa, who is probably the most complex character in the story, though the mysterious benefactor intrigues me. It is a lively mystery, with some vivacious word choices and a few mildly risqué jokes. I look forward to future developments in Lana Cove.

[Dorothy Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Coffee House Sleuths consist of Michael, Ellie, and Olivia. The three friends want to help George, their favorite Santa, who got himself into a very public altercation with another Santa. From trying to find out who is after George, the trio finds themselves in real danger. I enjoyed this lighthearted mystery.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cozy mystery is so much fun! I really liked it... It kept me smiling the whole way through! Clever and addictive..

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just ok. I really couldn’t understand if the three people were living together or who was the owner of the cafe?? It was a very short book …shorter than I thought. Not sure if I’ll read anymore in the series. A little disappointed. Happy Reading :)

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good, I read it in one sitting. It was funny, I loved the characters sense of humor. I loved the characters immediately, especially Micheal. Good plot, twist and turns. Well written. I can not wait to read other books by this author!

[Kymm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved "Sleighed' the first book in The Coffee House Sleuths: A Christmas Cozy Mystery series by T. Lockhaven and can't wait to read more! Great characters, very funny at times and wonderful Christmasy settings! I'm in! Happy Readng!