Merry Christmas Murder

Reporter Roland Bean #2

by Rachel Woods

During a trip to see Santa Claus, journalist Roland “Beanie” Bean and his young sons Ethan and Evan are shocked when Old St. Nick is shot!

Beanie is anxious to cover the story of Santa’s shooting, but his editor at the Palmchat Gazette has other plans for him. Beanie has to investigate the grisly murder of a victim found dead in a car that had been set on fire.

After he learns the man died of a gunshot wound and that the car was torched to cover up the crime, Beanie searches for more information, but his efforts are hampered by the detective on the case, a man who tried to ruin Beanie’s life.

Putting aside his animosity for the homicide cop, Beanie continues to investigate and uncovers a bizarre connection between the gunshot victim and the attack on Santa.

Racing to discover the truth, Beanie is derailed when he’s taken hostage, but the kidnapper’s gruesome demise reveals a new mystery, one that will pit Beanie against a ruthless killer determined to make sure the truth stays hidden.

Merry Christmas Murder is a contemporary whodunit murder mystery novel in the Reporter Roland Bean Cozy Mystery Series, but can be read as a standalone. With lots of clues and red herrings, it features plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end!

Genres: Christmas, Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Fiction

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 24, 2020

Reviews

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a easy going mystery-- fun and a quick read. However, it really began to drag at the halfway point.

To be honest, the hero became increasingly boring as the story progressed.
He was not an intelligent lead and seemed weak.

The characters lacked depth. I guess that the author wanted to keep it light.

Although it's a fun read, I don't recommend it.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first book I had read by Rachel Woods and is lighter than what I would normally read. It is what some refer to as a cozy mystery. Roland Bean "Beanie" takes his little boys to see Santa at the mall and Santa ends up getting shot. He is a reporter for the newspaper and is assigned to the story but also ends up assigned to another story involving a body in a burned up car. Someone begins texting him that Santa isn't what he seems and that he should check into his past.

I thought the story dragged in some places in the middle but I did like how Beanie interviewed family members and put clues together, working with colleagues to come up solutions and a theory of whodunit. I also liked getting to know Beanie's family and friends and would like to learn more about his wife's past because that is mentioned several times in the book. I did think Beanie made a few not so smart choices and hopefully in the series he will learn from his mistakes. I would read more in the series by this author if I come across anything else for sale on amazon. This was a good break from the horror/thriller genre that I usually love to read.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new Favorite Sleuth

A simple visit to Santa does not end well. There are more twists to this story than you could imagine. It truly keeps you guessing.

[Richard Brulotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you figure out something in a murder mystery and you are trying to send a psychic message to the protagonist to watch out for danger, you know you are hooked on the character and the murder series. This book about a shopping center Santa Claus being shot in the men's room while on a break leads to all sorts of unraveling mysteries. Why would anyone want to shoot a retired teacher who works as a Santa at Christmas Time? How does a body found in a burning car figure into the case or is it totally separate. And how does a years ago cult suicide by fire figure into the shooting death of someone at a cottage nearby? Are these all unrelated crimes or are they somehow linked together. Beanie Roland, a newspaper journalist living in Palmchat Island, sets out to determine how these crimes are related if indeed they are. Twists and turns galore keep you reading at a frantic pace and allusions to Beanie's wife's ties with the PC5 gang while growing up makes it necessary to pick up the newest book -- a prequel to this cozy mystery series -- "The Unworthy Wife" to find out how this backstory fits into this series of mysteries. So, excuse while while I discover Noelle's backstory!

[Michele Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reporter Ronald "Beanie" Bean has taken his boys to see Santa, again. Just as they get second in line from Santa, he goes on break. A few minutes later he comes out of the back and is bleeding. He has been shot and suffers a heart attack. Back at his office the next day his boss sends him out to get information about a body, and pictures of a car found burned in a jungle area of St. Killian. Detective Janvier has a grudge against Beanie and refuses to provide him with any information and forbids his officers at the station from talking to him. Beanie has a friend on the force and he keeps him informed. This is just the beginning of the happenings. Things just get more complicated. Three people came to the island together, now one is missing, one is dead and the third is in the hospital. Who are they and how are they connected to Santa?

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merry Christmas Murder (A Reporter Roland Bean Cozy Mystery Book 2), my second read from author Rachel Woods. I got this book back in June of this year. I was given a Kindle copy of Trick or Treat Murder (A Reporter Roland Bean Cozy Mystery Book 3) & wanted to read books 1 &2 before reading it. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that I already owned both of them! Another excellent & captivating read which I read in one sitting. I eagerly look forward to reading more from this author. Now on to Trick or Treat Murder (A Reporter Roland Bean Cozy Mystery Book 3). (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Pete · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beanie is an investigative reporter who gets tasked with reporting on a couple of incidents, firstly an apparently unprovoked attack on a shopping mall Santa, and then the discovery of a burnt out car with a body inside.
His investigation is hampered by a very bad relationship with the senior investigating detective.
Despite this he does manage to solve the mystery and uncovers a very surprising and dangerous twist.
An enjoyable read with a clever plot and and some exciting moments.
I received an advance copy of this book, but have voluntarily written this review.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Santa is shot and has a heart attack at the mall, Beanie and his boys are witnesses. He writes a touching story that has many people praying for Santa and praising his other volunteer efforts

Except one person: an anonymous tipster claims Santa is a bad person

Mysterious connections become apparent to a murderous cult and to the PC5 cartel

Can Beanie and his family survive intact? Especially given their own connections to the cartel?

Intense drama and action

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

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Investigative reporter Beanie and his boys are at the mall they never imagined that they would witness Santa getting shot and having a heart attack. While investigating a separate murder Beanie discovers a connection between the two crimes. This is an entertaining story and from the first page until the last page this mystery had me intrigued wondering what would happen next. This is a great addition to the series and I look forward to the next book. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Heather Bane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a great cozy mystery. First off I was immediately pulled to the book because Christmas is my favorite holiday and time of year. The story pulled me in and held my interest. I loved the characters and found them well developed. Rachel Woods is a really great author and I would recommend reading.

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

[Janice E. Ryberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2 stars for Merry Christmas Murder a Roland Bean Cozy Mystery

This is a very complicated and involved murder mystery. In fact, it is several separate murders all laced together around the same several people (difficult to handle Santa getting blamed!). I had trouble figuring out who was guilty of what, so it was handy that Rachel makes certain to explain it all before the story ends. Very challenging!!

[Rick Farlee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kindle Customer
Ho-Hum...
Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2020
Verified Purchase
I picked up this book on impulse, thinking that it would be a timely storyline during this holiday season... I made a poor choice. It wasn't what I had hoped for. It didn't hold my attention and I struggled to finish reading it. Perhaps some degree of humor would help to make this "Cozy Mystery" more palatable? Not Recommended

[Diane Wachter · Rating 2 out of 5]

EBk-M, Kindle, @ 2020, read 7/31/20. A Reporter Roland Bean Cozy Mystery. Fiction, Series, Bk. 2, Mystery. While Bean and his 2 young sons are standing in line at the mall waiting to see Santa, Santa is shot, and hospitalized. Who would attack Santa, and why? But it seems Santa isn't who he claims to be. I figured it out about half way through. 2☆'s = Okay.

[Tam Sesto · Rating 2 out of 5]

You would think a book about Santa Clause being shot in front of kids at the mall would be an exciting story, but Merry Christmas Murder by Rachel Woods was just plain boring.

The character development was so-so, the plot was so-so, the writing style was so-so....getting my point, boring. The book jumped from one storyline to another, before finally settling down, a which just made me dislike the book even more.

Thank you to HiddenGemsBooks and Rachel Woods for the opportunity to read and review this ⭐️⭐️ book.

[Eirlys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting Events

I have this book 5* because it was a good mystery that was unmissable due to an exciting cast of characters. Bean is in the queue to take his boys to see Santa, when somebody shoots Santa, who ends up in hospital. This leads to Bean reporting on the crime. Other mysterious events occur and Bean has to solve them.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good book if you like suspense and mystery. I happen to like both and really enjoyed it. It takes place during Christmas time when Santa was sot and no one knows who did it. As the investigative reporter, Roland Bean starts the investigation, he goes through a lot and is reminded that his wife once was in a cartel. It really got you to think, who the murderer wa

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas and murder what is better than that. This book was worth the read with so many twists and turns you do not put it down until the very last sentence

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

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and entertaining characters in a good whodunnit. Lots of twists and turns. Keeps you guessing until the end. Easy to read and would recommend. Good read.

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

[Jodi Sweet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable story. There were lots of twists and turns and hidden secrets to figure out. I think I caught on to who the killer was before Beanie did, but not who shot Santa. That surprised me!

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

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pretty good. About 1/2 way through I didn’t figure it out but I did have an idea someone was involved. And was right …hahaha. I love the mystery so far I’ve read all of them. Can’t wait for the next Beanie Book. Happy Reading :)

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story