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A Year-Round Christmas Mystery #5
Dying in a Winter Wonderland
In the town of Rudolph, New York, the Christmas season should make spirits bright, but as the year comes to an end, so does a life, in the fifth installment of this charming cozy mystery series.Christmas has arrived in Rudolph, New York, and Merry Wilkinson is looking forward to a much needed rest. But before that can happen, Luanne Ireland walks through her door. Luanne had asked Merry to help make decorations for her wedding, but has suddenly moved the wedding months earlier and is now demanding that everyone follow her lead, regardless of the cost. But that cost is much higher than anyone anticipated. When Luanne's fiancé is found murdered at their proposed wedding venue, Merry resolves to restore peace and calm to the community of Rudolph. But the closer she gets to the killer, the more personal the case becomes, and Merry begins to worry that a death knell could ring in the New Year.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2020
116 people are currently reading
937 people want to read
About the author
Vicki Delany
58 books1,917 followers“It’s a crime not to read Delany,” so says the London Free Press.
Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most varied and prolific crime writers.
She is the author of four cozy mystery series: The Tea by the Sea series from Kensington Books, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series from Crooked Lane and the Year Round Christmas series from Penguin. Under the pen name of Eva Gates she writes the Lighthouse Library Series.
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com , www.facebook.com/evagatesauthor, and twitter: @vickidelany
Vicki is part of Mystery Lovers Kitchen (http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com) and Killer Characters (http://www.killercharacters.com)
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com
Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most varied and prolific crime writers.
She is the author of four cozy mystery series: The Tea by the Sea series from Kensington Books, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series from Crooked Lane and the Year Round Christmas series from Penguin. Under the pen name of Eva Gates she writes the Lighthouse Library Series.
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com , www.facebook.com/evagatesauthor, and twitter: @vickidelany
Vicki is part of Mystery Lovers Kitchen (http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com) and Killer Characters (http://www.killercharacters.com)
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
January 15, 2021
Dying in a Winter Wonderland is the 5th book in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series written by Vicki Delany and was published in September, 2020. Although I love autumn and want to focus my celebrations on Halloween this season, this was the next book on my TBR and became my read over the weekend. Don't worry though... I've got some more spooky ones coming up later this month. That said, I enjoyed my sidebar trip to the winter wonderland in Rudolph, New York, where this series takes place.
The book opens with a Bridezilla who's pressuring Merry to move up her wedding. Luanne is hardly even a friend of Merry's, but for some unknown reason (their parents are friends, I suppose), Merry agreed to design and plan part of the woman's wedding. Definitely a mistake... Luanne asks to move it up from July to February, and that's where the beginning of the end arrives. Merry's brother, Chris, used to date this girl, and she is not over him, even though he moved to NYC as a set designer years ago. Luanne's new fiancé is a bit rough around the edges, but he comes from money, and the family needs it desperately. What happens when Merry finds Chris, who is home for a holiday visit, standing over the fiancé's dead body at the wedding venue? Mayhem, and of course, another terrific murder mystery.
If you love Christmas settings, you must read this series. From the descriptions to the names of all the characters and the buildings, it's an immersive experience that truly lets the holiday spirit stir up some emotions. Regardless of whether Merry made a mistake agreeing to help with the wedding, it serves as an excellent way to introduce some new characters, provide levity and shock at the same time, and perhaps set the base for a possible future secret to come out about Merry's brother. Just what is he hiding in NYC? While we don't find out in this book, we do get to know him a lot better, and meeting the protagonist's extended family is a real treat. I adore Merry's parents, but Chris is the all-around good guy. He couldn't haven't murdered the fiancé, right?
When the mystery is solved, it's full of surprises. We follow many clues to the neighboring town (rivals) over a land dispute and quick sale, another love interest involved in the plot, and someone who's pined for Luanne for a while. Which one of these side stories will interact with the main plot? Perhaps all of them... maybe none of them, but one thing is for sure... Delany weaves them together with finesse, and I truly enjoyed my trip to the upcoming holiday season. So... if you're a Christmas and Winter lover like me, save this one for shortly after Thanksgiving and jump on in. You can read it stand-alone, but I always recommend diving into a series in order. Enjoy!
The book opens with a Bridezilla who's pressuring Merry to move up her wedding. Luanne is hardly even a friend of Merry's, but for some unknown reason (their parents are friends, I suppose), Merry agreed to design and plan part of the woman's wedding. Definitely a mistake... Luanne asks to move it up from July to February, and that's where the beginning of the end arrives. Merry's brother, Chris, used to date this girl, and she is not over him, even though he moved to NYC as a set designer years ago. Luanne's new fiancé is a bit rough around the edges, but he comes from money, and the family needs it desperately. What happens when Merry finds Chris, who is home for a holiday visit, standing over the fiancé's dead body at the wedding venue? Mayhem, and of course, another terrific murder mystery.
If you love Christmas settings, you must read this series. From the descriptions to the names of all the characters and the buildings, it's an immersive experience that truly lets the holiday spirit stir up some emotions. Regardless of whether Merry made a mistake agreeing to help with the wedding, it serves as an excellent way to introduce some new characters, provide levity and shock at the same time, and perhaps set the base for a possible future secret to come out about Merry's brother. Just what is he hiding in NYC? While we don't find out in this book, we do get to know him a lot better, and meeting the protagonist's extended family is a real treat. I adore Merry's parents, but Chris is the all-around good guy. He couldn't haven't murdered the fiancé, right?
When the mystery is solved, it's full of surprises. We follow many clues to the neighboring town (rivals) over a land dispute and quick sale, another love interest involved in the plot, and someone who's pined for Luanne for a while. Which one of these side stories will interact with the main plot? Perhaps all of them... maybe none of them, but one thing is for sure... Delany weaves them together with finesse, and I truly enjoyed my trip to the upcoming holiday season. So... if you're a Christmas and Winter lover like me, save this one for shortly after Thanksgiving and jump on in. You can read it stand-alone, but I always recommend diving into a series in order. Enjoy!
November 25, 2020
Merry Wilkinson, a gift shop owner, looking forward to the after Christmas time of relaxing, but before that could happen; Luanne Ireland comes into that store to ask Merry to make decorations for her up coming wedding. It was only seven weeks away.
Then the unthinkable happened Luanne's fiancé, Jeff Vanderhaven is found behind the gift shop, dead. He had been struck in the head.
Many people were questioned, who could the murderer be?
Scott Abramsky had known Luanne all her life. and had been some what of a pest. He wasn't happy that Jeff and Luanne were engaged.
Now it was nearly midnight when the fireworks started. Scott saw Merry, followed her and put a knife to her neck and was trying to lead her into the woods. Merry knew too much.
Scott Abramsky killed Jeff and tried to kill Merry too.
Then the unthinkable happened Luanne's fiancé, Jeff Vanderhaven is found behind the gift shop, dead. He had been struck in the head.
Many people were questioned, who could the murderer be?
Scott Abramsky had known Luanne all her life. and had been some what of a pest. He wasn't happy that Jeff and Luanne were engaged.
Now it was nearly midnight when the fireworks started. Scott saw Merry, followed her and put a knife to her neck and was trying to lead her into the woods. Merry knew too much.
Scott Abramsky killed Jeff and tried to kill Merry too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2023
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September 30, 2020
Merry Wilkinson has gotten talked into designing the decorations for Luanne Ireland’s wedding. However, on Christmas Eve, Luanne drops the bombshell that she is moving the wedding up from summer to Valentine’s Day, and naturally it causes chaos. Just two days later, Luanne’s fiancé is found murdered, however, and Merry’s brother, Chris, becomes the prime suspect. Luanne and Chris had dated back in high school, but is that enough motive for murder? Merry doesn’t think so, and she sets out to prove him innocent. Can she do it?
No matter when the books in this series are set, they always immediately put me in the Christmas spirit, and this book is no exception. Merry and the rest of the characters are their usual charming selves, and I always enjoy spending some time with them. Okay, so there are a few characters who regularly annoy Merry, but I enjoy those scenes, too, and we got some interesting developments with them in this book. The plot introduced lots of drama before the murder takes place, and that pulled me in from the first chapter. I never wanted to put the book down until I reached the logical conclusion. This latest book is perfect for any time you need a dose of Christmas.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
No matter when the books in this series are set, they always immediately put me in the Christmas spirit, and this book is no exception. Merry and the rest of the characters are their usual charming selves, and I always enjoy spending some time with them. Okay, so there are a few characters who regularly annoy Merry, but I enjoy those scenes, too, and we got some interesting developments with them in this book. The plot introduced lots of drama before the murder takes place, and that pulled me in from the first chapter. I never wanted to put the book down until I reached the logical conclusion. This latest book is perfect for any time you need a dose of Christmas.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
December 24, 2020
It is always a wonderful holiday treat to catch up with Merry Wilkinson, her family, and all the other residents of Rudolph New York. Dying in a Winter Wonderland is the 5th book in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery and once again we find Merry in the middle of a murder mystery. I love how Detective Simmonds put it to Merry, she may not be looking for trouble but it finds her. This time around, Merry jumps in to help clear her younger brother of suspicion of murder. There was a lot going on in this book and trying to keep close track of the clues got away from me with all of the hijinks created by Luanne.
The mystery is solid. There are a lot of clues and a good number of viable motives and suspects for the murder, including some possibly shady characters in the deceased life. Once again, Merry finds herself asking too many questions causing her to be right in the middle of danger when the climactic reveal occurs. I was surprised by the identity of the killer and did not have this person on my radar at all. Ms. Delany did a great job of dropping very subtle clues that I realized in hindsight were clues.
I love this series and will return to Rudolph New York for as long as Ms. Dleaney continues to write this series.
The mystery is solid. There are a lot of clues and a good number of viable motives and suspects for the murder, including some possibly shady characters in the deceased life. Once again, Merry finds herself asking too many questions causing her to be right in the middle of danger when the climactic reveal occurs. I was surprised by the identity of the killer and did not have this person on my radar at all. Ms. Delany did a great job of dropping very subtle clues that I realized in hindsight were clues.
I love this series and will return to Rudolph New York for as long as Ms. Dleaney continues to write this series.
November 15, 2020
Charming read. Loved visiting Rudolph, NY!
August 26, 2023
Dollycas's Thoughts
We arrive in Rudolph, New York, just in time for Christmas Eve and Merry is looking forward to a little relaxation after the holidays. Then, Luanne Ireland comes into the shop bubbling with excitement. She had asked Merry to do the decorations for her wedding and now instead of a summer wedding, she wants to get married on Valentine's Day. "What could be more romantic?" Luanne even wants Merry to tell her family, groom, and future in-laws it was her idea.
Life with Luanne is never easy but Merry didn't think Luanne's groom would be murdered at the Yuletide Inn, their future wedding venue the day after Christmas. She also didn't expect her brother to be a prime suspect in his death. That makes the murder personal for Merry and she finds herself right in the middle of another investigation. She hopes to help wrap up the case and prove her brother's innocence before the residents of Rudolph ring in the New Year but the killer may have other plans.
____
I love the Wilkerson family. Merry Wilkerson owns Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, her mother Aline is a retired opera diva and her father Noel is the former mayor and performs all Santa Claus duties needed all year long. She has sisters Eve and Carol and a brother Chris. Chris plays a major role in this story. Her best friend, Vicky, owns Victoria's Bakeshop. She helps Merry do some sleuthing whenever she can. I love the way Merry's relationship with Alan has grown. They are truly perfect for each other. Most of the core characters in this series are engaging and genuine. There are a few that are a little prickly and spirited but not in a good way.
The crazy quirky of this cozy mystery comes from the characters introduced in this story. Luanne is something else. She can test a person's patience and has total disregard for others. Thankfully Merry and her brother Chris are kind and patient people. Luanne's family, her groom before his death, his ex, and his family are also in their own worlds doing what is best for themselves at all times. I will say that they do deliver some wonderful comedic moments throughout the story.
The mystery was complicated and full of surprises. Merry's investigation even takes her, Vicky, and the loveable Mattie, Merry's St. Bernard, to the neighboring town of Muddle Harbor as they try to dig up some dirt while trying to tie some clues together. Merry works so hard, asking questions and keeping her ears open for any detail that will point her in the right direction. Ms. Delany gives her readers presents with plenty of twists and turns and I did my darndest to keep up with each one of them and failed. I had my A-Ha-Moment right along with Merry. There were several possible suspects and the actual killer didn't even make my list. That made the final chapters very exciting as a dangerous showdown played out.
I love the theme of this series and the setting of Rudolph. All the Christmas themed places and events are so delightful.
Dying in a Winter Wonderland is a fun, entertaining, and merry read. It is a Perfect Escape and perfect to read at any time of year, even now when we are creeping toward 100 degrees here in Wisconsin. Vicki Delany is a fabulous storyteller and I have fun escaping into anything she writes. I am very excited that the next book in this series, Have Yourself A Deadly Little Christmas will be released on September 19.
We arrive in Rudolph, New York, just in time for Christmas Eve and Merry is looking forward to a little relaxation after the holidays. Then, Luanne Ireland comes into the shop bubbling with excitement. She had asked Merry to do the decorations for her wedding and now instead of a summer wedding, she wants to get married on Valentine's Day. "What could be more romantic?" Luanne even wants Merry to tell her family, groom, and future in-laws it was her idea.
Life with Luanne is never easy but Merry didn't think Luanne's groom would be murdered at the Yuletide Inn, their future wedding venue the day after Christmas. She also didn't expect her brother to be a prime suspect in his death. That makes the murder personal for Merry and she finds herself right in the middle of another investigation. She hopes to help wrap up the case and prove her brother's innocence before the residents of Rudolph ring in the New Year but the killer may have other plans.
____
I love the Wilkerson family. Merry Wilkerson owns Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, her mother Aline is a retired opera diva and her father Noel is the former mayor and performs all Santa Claus duties needed all year long. She has sisters Eve and Carol and a brother Chris. Chris plays a major role in this story. Her best friend, Vicky, owns Victoria's Bakeshop. She helps Merry do some sleuthing whenever she can. I love the way Merry's relationship with Alan has grown. They are truly perfect for each other. Most of the core characters in this series are engaging and genuine. There are a few that are a little prickly and spirited but not in a good way.
The crazy quirky of this cozy mystery comes from the characters introduced in this story. Luanne is something else. She can test a person's patience and has total disregard for others. Thankfully Merry and her brother Chris are kind and patient people. Luanne's family, her groom before his death, his ex, and his family are also in their own worlds doing what is best for themselves at all times. I will say that they do deliver some wonderful comedic moments throughout the story.
The mystery was complicated and full of surprises. Merry's investigation even takes her, Vicky, and the loveable Mattie, Merry's St. Bernard, to the neighboring town of Muddle Harbor as they try to dig up some dirt while trying to tie some clues together. Merry works so hard, asking questions and keeping her ears open for any detail that will point her in the right direction. Ms. Delany gives her readers presents with plenty of twists and turns and I did my darndest to keep up with each one of them and failed. I had my A-Ha-Moment right along with Merry. There were several possible suspects and the actual killer didn't even make my list. That made the final chapters very exciting as a dangerous showdown played out.
I love the theme of this series and the setting of Rudolph. All the Christmas themed places and events are so delightful.
Dying in a Winter Wonderland is a fun, entertaining, and merry read. It is a Perfect Escape and perfect to read at any time of year, even now when we are creeping toward 100 degrees here in Wisconsin. Vicki Delany is a fabulous storyteller and I have fun escaping into anything she writes. I am very excited that the next book in this series, Have Yourself A Deadly Little Christmas will be released on September 19.
September 23, 2023
This series just keeps getting more exciting and action packed! Wedding planning, stalking and murder all go together right!?! Well, they sure do in Rudolph, NY! Merry is back in action trying to untwist the murder of a rather despicable man since her brother appears to be on the hook for the crime, but is Merry in way over her head this time? Will she figure it out before it's lights out for her? Wonderful suspense in this cute cozy mystery wrapped around great characters! Although, I must confess that I am ready for Merry to grow a back bone and put her employee, Jackie, in her place. Although, once again proving that the author crafts strong characters that you love or love to hate! I can't wait to dig into the newest book in the series, although I must confess that I have been loving the audiobooks in this series so far as the narration does an outstanding job of bringing the books to life. I just don't have the patience to wait for the next book to hit audio and am going straight for the ebook!
October 13, 2020
Loved it!! It makes me sad I will have to wait a long time for the next book to come out!
December 27, 2022
This one is clearer in my mind, and while I found the premise a bit ridiculous (just say no to doing work you don't want to do!), I really felt the small town vibes in this one. The group gathering at a bar from old high school classmates was very true to life. Sad this series seems to be over as I think there was more that could have been done, but these were a lot of fun. Need to check out some of the other books by the author.
December 24, 2020
Another satisfying entry in this series. These books are great light mysteries, and I always enjoy returning to Rudolph to see what Merry and this cast of characters have gotten themselves into next.
December 3, 2020
A fun holiday read with characters we have come to know and love. Merry gets drawn into another strange death while trying to help an old high school acquaintance with wedding plan, when her brother is considered a suspect you know she will be involved till the bitter end. I love the overall holiday spirit, the appearance of many regular characters and the developing relationship between Merry and Alan.
December 30, 2021
Such a great entry in this series! I enjoy visiting Rudolph with Merry and the other characters. I enjoyed this one a lot. It's set just after Christmas so it was a perfect time of year to read this one. The mystery was excellent. I never manage to figure out whodunnit before the reveal, but I love the ride-along. This is an excellent series!
October 9, 2020
I was excited to visit the charming town of Rudolph, NY again where it is always Christmas! Merry is a young woman who is, most of the time, merry! She gave up her job as design editor for a big-name magazine in New York City, returned to Rudolph and opened Mrs. Claus’s Treasures.
Merry’s brother Chris came home to celebrate Christmas with their parents, Noel and Aline. He is a set designer on Broadway and has a new play opening in a few days. Noel, whose birthday is on Christmas, enjoys being the town’s Santa Claus. Merry is sought out by Luanne, whose wedding venue design Merry is doing for her July wedding. Luanne came into Mrs. Claus’s Treasures on Christmas Eve, begging Merry to come to her parents’ home that night. Luanne had been given the opportunity to upgrade from the 75-seat room in the original, historic Inn building to the 250-seat ballroom, and made the snap decision to accept it. The wedding will be on Valentine’s Day, mere weeks away, and she wants Merry to tell her parents, Jeff, the groom, and his family, in town for Christmas.
Merry finally agreed to go for a few minutes only, as she and her boyfriend Alan had a rare evening alone planned. The groom’s attitude was ‘just tell me where and when and I’ll be there’. Her father was stressed, concerned about how much more the venue and meals would cost for so many more people. The mothers were happy that they could invite many important society ladies. When she left, Merry hoped to not see Luanne again for a while.
After a thoroughly enjoyable Christmas and birthday celebration, Merry’s family and friends were settled in with drinks and desserts when a visitor arrived. Luanne. Sloppy drunk, wanting to see Chris. She was making a mistake marrying Jeff, she still and only loves Chris, who she had dated briefly in high school. As the tears and drama play out, Luanne’s father and fiancé come to get her, and Jeff socked Chris. The next day, when Merry is at the Inn to help plan the new wedding dinner menu, Chris went separately in hopes of settling things with Luanne. Instead, he found Jeff dead on a garden path. Despite a woman showing up claiming to be Jeff’s real fiancée, and the mob contacts of the family business, Chris is the one the police somewhat favor as whodunit.
What a great tale! I’ve rarely picked up a book for the sole reason of a holiday, but this series could change my mind. Living in the beautifully appointed Rudolph would be exciting, at least to me, especially at Christmas. I did enjoy reading this while it was still over 100 degrees in the desert, so it can be very refreshing in the summer, also. The characters are engaging, memorable, and quirky. The mystery is baffling! My sleuthing cap failed me when it came to whodunit. There are several possible killers, and the real one wasn’t even on my radar until a very short time before Merry figured it out. Overall, I loved this Christmas cozy mystery, and highly recommend it to those who are fans of the author and series, enjoy Christmas cozies, lovable characters, and unique settings.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel; a review was not required.
Merry’s brother Chris came home to celebrate Christmas with their parents, Noel and Aline. He is a set designer on Broadway and has a new play opening in a few days. Noel, whose birthday is on Christmas, enjoys being the town’s Santa Claus. Merry is sought out by Luanne, whose wedding venue design Merry is doing for her July wedding. Luanne came into Mrs. Claus’s Treasures on Christmas Eve, begging Merry to come to her parents’ home that night. Luanne had been given the opportunity to upgrade from the 75-seat room in the original, historic Inn building to the 250-seat ballroom, and made the snap decision to accept it. The wedding will be on Valentine’s Day, mere weeks away, and she wants Merry to tell her parents, Jeff, the groom, and his family, in town for Christmas.
Merry finally agreed to go for a few minutes only, as she and her boyfriend Alan had a rare evening alone planned. The groom’s attitude was ‘just tell me where and when and I’ll be there’. Her father was stressed, concerned about how much more the venue and meals would cost for so many more people. The mothers were happy that they could invite many important society ladies. When she left, Merry hoped to not see Luanne again for a while.
After a thoroughly enjoyable Christmas and birthday celebration, Merry’s family and friends were settled in with drinks and desserts when a visitor arrived. Luanne. Sloppy drunk, wanting to see Chris. She was making a mistake marrying Jeff, she still and only loves Chris, who she had dated briefly in high school. As the tears and drama play out, Luanne’s father and fiancé come to get her, and Jeff socked Chris. The next day, when Merry is at the Inn to help plan the new wedding dinner menu, Chris went separately in hopes of settling things with Luanne. Instead, he found Jeff dead on a garden path. Despite a woman showing up claiming to be Jeff’s real fiancée, and the mob contacts of the family business, Chris is the one the police somewhat favor as whodunit.
What a great tale! I’ve rarely picked up a book for the sole reason of a holiday, but this series could change my mind. Living in the beautifully appointed Rudolph would be exciting, at least to me, especially at Christmas. I did enjoy reading this while it was still over 100 degrees in the desert, so it can be very refreshing in the summer, also. The characters are engaging, memorable, and quirky. The mystery is baffling! My sleuthing cap failed me when it came to whodunit. There are several possible killers, and the real one wasn’t even on my radar until a very short time before Merry figured it out. Overall, I loved this Christmas cozy mystery, and highly recommend it to those who are fans of the author and series, enjoy Christmas cozies, lovable characters, and unique settings.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel; a review was not required.
November 8, 2020
Merry Wilkinson, owner of a year-round Christmas store in Rudolph, New York, used to be a director at the Marthat Stewart-like magazine Jennifer's Lifestyle, so naturally she's the person to turn to when her former classmate Luanne Ireland needs help planning her wedding -- whether Merry is interested or not. However, when Luanne's fiance is killed, Merry's brother (Luanne's high school sweetheart) is the prime suspect, leading her to investigate further.
As seems to be popular in cozy mysteries, Merry is frequently surrounded by wacky and crazy people. She's good at managing people, thankfully. The characters are fun, the Christmas setting adds a festive element to the story, and the mystery was intriguing. All in all, a great continuation of a fun series.
As seems to be popular in cozy mysteries, Merry is frequently surrounded by wacky and crazy people. She's good at managing people, thankfully. The characters are fun, the Christmas setting adds a festive element to the story, and the mystery was intriguing. All in all, a great continuation of a fun series.
October 31, 2020
I like this series. This one actually takes place at Christmas and New Year's. I enjoyed all the festivities, food, and shopping described. I guessed the murderer early on and even why he/she did it. The book was still fun to read as the characters solved the crime. I'm looking forward to the next one.
November 18, 2022
best cozy i’ve ever read IM OBSESSED!!!! ALAN AND MERRY ARE EVERYTHING!!! I want my own Alan Anderson :,))))
the banter, the drama, the cozy atmosphere, the mystery!!! everything was 10/10
Queen Vicky, I beg you please continue this series it’s just too good😭✨🤍
the banter, the drama, the cozy atmosphere, the mystery!!! everything was 10/10
Queen Vicky, I beg you please continue this series it’s just too good😭✨🤍
December 17, 2020
3.5
Always happy to read this series in December.
Always happy to read this series in December.
December 19, 2020
My first cozy mystery. Just dipping my toe into the genre.
December 28, 2020
This is a great series! I love the setting and the characters are engaging! A definite must read if you love all things Christmas!
December 11, 2023
I always look forward to spending a little more time in this town with these characters. Enjoyable and perfect for the season. Looking forward to the next one.
October 15, 2020
First of this series I have read and likked the characters so will look for others.
February 4, 2021
I love the series and especially Merry and her family. The stories are fun and the deaths that Merry gets involved in keep me wondering how she's going to figure out who done it and how.
September 27, 2023
I think this one is my favorite in the Year Round Christmas series. It felt like Merrys dad was more involved which I enjoyed. I also enjoyed having Merrys brother in this installment and the three of them working together. I'm so glad this wasn't the last in the series. Can't wait to dive into the new book.
October 8, 2020
Fun series.
August 25, 2020
I will admit, this is the first book I've read in the series so I read it without any prior knowledge of the characters or background. Sometimes that works easily, but for this book it was hard to jump in so late. The characters seem nice, but I just couldn't connect with them and even after the whole book, didn't really have a good feel for any of them other than a surface level.
_
I absolutely loved the idea of a town where Christmas was the theme year-round. From the lovely descriptions of Merry's shop, the fact that her father is the town Santa, and the Christmasy themed shop names it really put you in the holiday spirit.
_
My biggest problem with this series was there seemed to be too many coincidences or things happening that just didn't make sense. Why would Merry be so helpful to someone she admits she barely knows and doesn't even like. Why would someone be so obsessed with an old boyfriend and also talk so much about her wedding and fiance. Why would the suspect just happen to follow someone they had just gotten into a physical altercation with and just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some of these things were partially addressed, but it felt weak and forced to make the story go. Some things even happened just so abruptly it made the pacing a bit off.
_
I appreciated how it was realistic that the police didn't want to just divulge all the facts to a civilian, Merry. And they seemed to really be doing their job competently, which is not always a feature of a cozy mystery. I really enjoyed the ending and all the drama, and was totally shocked by the culprit.
_
This would be a nice holiday series to read, from the beginning, if you are looking for some ambiance.
_
I absolutely loved the idea of a town where Christmas was the theme year-round. From the lovely descriptions of Merry's shop, the fact that her father is the town Santa, and the Christmasy themed shop names it really put you in the holiday spirit.
_
My biggest problem with this series was there seemed to be too many coincidences or things happening that just didn't make sense. Why would Merry be so helpful to someone she admits she barely knows and doesn't even like. Why would someone be so obsessed with an old boyfriend and also talk so much about her wedding and fiance. Why would the suspect just happen to follow someone they had just gotten into a physical altercation with and just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some of these things were partially addressed, but it felt weak and forced to make the story go. Some things even happened just so abruptly it made the pacing a bit off.
_
I appreciated how it was realistic that the police didn't want to just divulge all the facts to a civilian, Merry. And they seemed to really be doing their job competently, which is not always a feature of a cozy mystery. I really enjoyed the ending and all the drama, and was totally shocked by the culprit.
_
This would be a nice holiday series to read, from the beginning, if you are looking for some ambiance.
October 26, 2020
https://openbooksociety.com/article/d...
Dying in a Winter Wonderland
A Year-Round Christmas Mystery #5
By Vicki Delany
ISBN 9780593197066
vickidelany.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
In the town of Rudolph, New York, the Christmas season should make spirits bright, but as the year comes to an end, so does a life, in the fifth installment of this charming cozy mystery series.
Christmas has arrived in Rudolph, New York, and Merry Wilkinson is looking forward to a much needed rest. But before that can happen, Luanne Ireland walks through her door. Luanne had asked Merry to help make decorations for her wedding, but has suddenly moved the wedding months earlier and is now demanding that everyone follow her lead, regardless of the cost.
But that cost is much higher than anyone anticipated. When Luanne’s fiancé is found murdered at their proposed wedding venue, Merry resolves to restore peace and calm to the community of Rudolph. But the closer she gets to the killer, the more personal the case becomes, and Merry begins to worry that a death knell could ring in the New Year.
Review:
Rudolph, New York is for those who love Christmas year-round, especially at Christmas time! Merry’s family celebrates in every way imaginable, including their names. Her father, Noel, whose birthday is Christmas Day, plays Santa Claus for the town. Her sisters’ names are Eve and Carole, her brother’s name is Chris. Only her mother, Aline, doesn’t have a Christmas-themed name. This can be read as a standalone since the author has included just the right amount of background, but you might want to go back and read the rest after this one!
Merry is doing the design of the venue where Luanne, a former classmate of Chris’s, will have her wedding in July. Luanne came into Merry’s shop, Mrs. Claus���s Treasures, on Christmas Eve, urgently needing Merry to come to her home that evening. Her fiancé, Jeff, and his parents are visiting for Christmas. Luanne thinks they will accept her news better from Merry than from her. She was offered the ballroom at the Yuletide Inn that she originally wanted for her July wedding, but there are a couple little glitches. First, they will wed on Valentine’s Day, just a few weeks away, and second, the cost will be much more, as they will be able to seat many more guests.
Despite having a rare dinner out with boyfriend Alan, a woodworker by trade who is Santa’s toymaker before Christmas every year, Merry agreed to a brief visit at the Ireland home. Jeff wasn’t too concerned about the date change, but Luann’es parents were definitely worried about the cost and the short time left to do everything.
On Christmas, we have a delightful window in the home of Merry’s parents, where family and friends celebrated Christmas and Noel’s birthday. Luanne showed up at their home drunk, wanting to talk with Chris. She and Chris had dated briefly in high school, and she now thinks she is making a huge mistake marrying Jeff as she only ever loved Chris. Chris couldn’t get away from her fast enough! When her father and fiancé came to take her Luanne home, Jeff punched Chris in the face, issuing a threat should he go near Luanne again.
The next day, Merry went to meet Luanne and her mother at the Yuletide Inn to determine a new menu with the chef. She planned to tell Luanne she would no longer help with the wedding, after what happened the night before. While Merry was looking at the gardens outside the Inn, she heard someone call for help. It was Chris. He had gone to the Inn to talk with Luanne regarding marrying someone with a bit of a violent streak, but he didn’t get to talk with her. Instead, Chris found Jeff’s body on a garden path, and it looks as if Jeff had been murdered.
Detective Diane Simmonds and Officer Candice Campbell arrived quickly, especially since Merry was there and she has been involved in solving past murders in town. She and Chris are questioned. Luanne says in front of the detective that she forgives Chris for any involvement with Jeff’s death, after all, they got into another fight over her, right? Chris become the primary person of interest. And Merry has no choice but to make sure her brother stays off the hook.
I enjoyed the characters and felt as if I got to know Merry and her friends better. The story of how Merry and her best friend Vicky met in kindergarten is great! Luanne is such a master manipulator that it’s hard to imagine anyone falling for her antics. The author does a great job demonstrating each character’s unique traits. I enjoyed Mattie, Merry’s Saint Bernard, also.
Rudolph sounds like a wonderful town to live in or visit! I love how well the town is decorated and that many of the shops are Christmas themed. It is easy to imagine how elegant the Yuletide Inn is and the beauty of the gardens, even when snow-covered.
The plot is intriguing with enough twists and turns to keep my attention. It captured my attention at the beginning and kept it throughout. It was hard to figure out who the bad guy really was! I only guessed a brief time before Merry did. The ending was perfect, with all loose ends tied up. I highly recommend this; it can be enjoyed any time of the year!
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Dying in a Winter Wonderland
A Year-Round Christmas Mystery #5
By Vicki Delany
ISBN 9780593197066
vickidelany.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
In the town of Rudolph, New York, the Christmas season should make spirits bright, but as the year comes to an end, so does a life, in the fifth installment of this charming cozy mystery series.
Christmas has arrived in Rudolph, New York, and Merry Wilkinson is looking forward to a much needed rest. But before that can happen, Luanne Ireland walks through her door. Luanne had asked Merry to help make decorations for her wedding, but has suddenly moved the wedding months earlier and is now demanding that everyone follow her lead, regardless of the cost.
But that cost is much higher than anyone anticipated. When Luanne’s fiancé is found murdered at their proposed wedding venue, Merry resolves to restore peace and calm to the community of Rudolph. But the closer she gets to the killer, the more personal the case becomes, and Merry begins to worry that a death knell could ring in the New Year.
Review:
Rudolph, New York is for those who love Christmas year-round, especially at Christmas time! Merry’s family celebrates in every way imaginable, including their names. Her father, Noel, whose birthday is Christmas Day, plays Santa Claus for the town. Her sisters’ names are Eve and Carole, her brother’s name is Chris. Only her mother, Aline, doesn’t have a Christmas-themed name. This can be read as a standalone since the author has included just the right amount of background, but you might want to go back and read the rest after this one!
Merry is doing the design of the venue where Luanne, a former classmate of Chris’s, will have her wedding in July. Luanne came into Merry’s shop, Mrs. Claus���s Treasures, on Christmas Eve, urgently needing Merry to come to her home that evening. Her fiancé, Jeff, and his parents are visiting for Christmas. Luanne thinks they will accept her news better from Merry than from her. She was offered the ballroom at the Yuletide Inn that she originally wanted for her July wedding, but there are a couple little glitches. First, they will wed on Valentine’s Day, just a few weeks away, and second, the cost will be much more, as they will be able to seat many more guests.
Despite having a rare dinner out with boyfriend Alan, a woodworker by trade who is Santa’s toymaker before Christmas every year, Merry agreed to a brief visit at the Ireland home. Jeff wasn’t too concerned about the date change, but Luann’es parents were definitely worried about the cost and the short time left to do everything.
On Christmas, we have a delightful window in the home of Merry’s parents, where family and friends celebrated Christmas and Noel’s birthday. Luanne showed up at their home drunk, wanting to talk with Chris. She and Chris had dated briefly in high school, and she now thinks she is making a huge mistake marrying Jeff as she only ever loved Chris. Chris couldn’t get away from her fast enough! When her father and fiancé came to take her Luanne home, Jeff punched Chris in the face, issuing a threat should he go near Luanne again.
The next day, Merry went to meet Luanne and her mother at the Yuletide Inn to determine a new menu with the chef. She planned to tell Luanne she would no longer help with the wedding, after what happened the night before. While Merry was looking at the gardens outside the Inn, she heard someone call for help. It was Chris. He had gone to the Inn to talk with Luanne regarding marrying someone with a bit of a violent streak, but he didn’t get to talk with her. Instead, Chris found Jeff’s body on a garden path, and it looks as if Jeff had been murdered.
Detective Diane Simmonds and Officer Candice Campbell arrived quickly, especially since Merry was there and she has been involved in solving past murders in town. She and Chris are questioned. Luanne says in front of the detective that she forgives Chris for any involvement with Jeff’s death, after all, they got into another fight over her, right? Chris become the primary person of interest. And Merry has no choice but to make sure her brother stays off the hook.
I enjoyed the characters and felt as if I got to know Merry and her friends better. The story of how Merry and her best friend Vicky met in kindergarten is great! Luanne is such a master manipulator that it’s hard to imagine anyone falling for her antics. The author does a great job demonstrating each character’s unique traits. I enjoyed Mattie, Merry’s Saint Bernard, also.
Rudolph sounds like a wonderful town to live in or visit! I love how well the town is decorated and that many of the shops are Christmas themed. It is easy to imagine how elegant the Yuletide Inn is and the beauty of the gardens, even when snow-covered.
The plot is intriguing with enough twists and turns to keep my attention. It captured my attention at the beginning and kept it throughout. It was hard to figure out who the bad guy really was! I only guessed a brief time before Merry did. The ending was perfect, with all loose ends tied up. I highly recommend this; it can be enjoyed any time of the year!
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
December 13, 2020
This is not meant to be anything but what it is--a light Christmas-mystery read in the tradition of the author's other "Year-Round Christmas" entries. So just enjoy, and when the credibility of various things (characters, medical procedures) wears thin, just say "ho! ho! ho!" and go with the fun.
December 5, 2020
Overly fluffy cozy mystery. The lead characters had no boundaries and just acted so stupidly, I wanted to murder them myself.
October 16, 2020
In Vicki Delany's latest Year-Round Christmas mystery, Merry Wilkinson is dealing with the last minute rush of holiday shoppers. It's Christmas Eve and everyone's running around to finish their plans.
If that wasn't enough of time crunch for Merry, she's also dealing with designing a wedding for an acquaintance. The potential bride is a bridezilla and that point is illustrated when she decides to change the date of the wedding to just a few weeks away.
Merry's stuck between a rock and a hard place. She's not even a friend of the woman and no amount of telling her the plan is ridiculous will dissuade the bride.
But that's all made moot when the body of her fiancee turns up dead at the wedding venue. Worse for Merry and her family is her brother Chris being found over the body, making him an immediate suspect.
Merry is worried for her brother and ends up once again investigating the circumstances behind the murder. This doesn't endear her to Detective Simmonds or Merry's boyfriend Alan. But they can't argue when her direct and indirect inquiries give way to clues.
It seems there's a bevy of potential suspects that could've wanted the victim dead. The jilted ex-lover, business interests and even the bride herself.
Merry searches for the truth in order to clear her brother but this puts her in the sights of a killer bent on getting what they want.
On the personal side of things, the subplots ranging from Merry's growing relationship with Alan to dealing with her business and employees serve as a perfect compliment to the main plot.
I did enjoy this story but the narrative also served up a big issue I've had with cozies in the past. Merry Wilkinson is a fantastic character in most aspects. She's fearless and has an unquenchable desire for the truth.
But what irritates me is how she lets people walk all over her. She ends up finding these different killers and confronts them in order to reveal their guilt. And yet when it comes to her day to day life, she comes off as a milquetoast far too often.
Maybe it is just the fact that I have no desire to let people walk all over me or do things I don't want to do, but it gets my goat that Merry can't figure out how to deal with her "assistant manager" Jackie, who is a semi-horrible person. Worse yet, letting the bride push her around despite not being a friend to the woman or even interested in being the wedding designer.
It's a tragic character flaw in my eyes and I wish that there would be less wishy-washiness to the makeup of the leads of a cozy series. No one's saying you have to be a complete hard-ass or anything but there should be more evidence of a spine.
I know it's weird to say I liked the overall story but had such a big issue with one part of the story. But one flaw doesn't necessarily ruin the whole experience.
I love the series as a whole and look forward to each successive book, I just want to see Merry be more forthright in all aspects of her life.
If that wasn't enough of time crunch for Merry, she's also dealing with designing a wedding for an acquaintance. The potential bride is a bridezilla and that point is illustrated when she decides to change the date of the wedding to just a few weeks away.
Merry's stuck between a rock and a hard place. She's not even a friend of the woman and no amount of telling her the plan is ridiculous will dissuade the bride.
But that's all made moot when the body of her fiancee turns up dead at the wedding venue. Worse for Merry and her family is her brother Chris being found over the body, making him an immediate suspect.
Merry is worried for her brother and ends up once again investigating the circumstances behind the murder. This doesn't endear her to Detective Simmonds or Merry's boyfriend Alan. But they can't argue when her direct and indirect inquiries give way to clues.
It seems there's a bevy of potential suspects that could've wanted the victim dead. The jilted ex-lover, business interests and even the bride herself.
Merry searches for the truth in order to clear her brother but this puts her in the sights of a killer bent on getting what they want.
On the personal side of things, the subplots ranging from Merry's growing relationship with Alan to dealing with her business and employees serve as a perfect compliment to the main plot.
I did enjoy this story but the narrative also served up a big issue I've had with cozies in the past. Merry Wilkinson is a fantastic character in most aspects. She's fearless and has an unquenchable desire for the truth.
But what irritates me is how she lets people walk all over her. She ends up finding these different killers and confronts them in order to reveal their guilt. And yet when it comes to her day to day life, she comes off as a milquetoast far too often.
Maybe it is just the fact that I have no desire to let people walk all over me or do things I don't want to do, but it gets my goat that Merry can't figure out how to deal with her "assistant manager" Jackie, who is a semi-horrible person. Worse yet, letting the bride push her around despite not being a friend to the woman or even interested in being the wedding designer.
It's a tragic character flaw in my eyes and I wish that there would be less wishy-washiness to the makeup of the leads of a cozy series. No one's saying you have to be a complete hard-ass or anything but there should be more evidence of a spine.
I know it's weird to say I liked the overall story but had such a big issue with one part of the story. But one flaw doesn't necessarily ruin the whole experience.
I love the series as a whole and look forward to each successive book, I just want to see Merry be more forthright in all aspects of her life.
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