Magic in Christmas River

Christmas River #7

by Meg Muldoon, Randye Kaye (Narrator)

You better watch out, you better not cry, because if old Hattie the Witch sees you, you’ll be the next to die.
It’s autumn in Christmas River, and things in the small Central Oregon town are getting downright spooky this season.
When Cinnamon Peters discovers an old class ring hidden behind the wall of her shop’s kitchen, the pie baker extraordinaire becomes abruptly entangled in a decades-old unsolved mystery.
But shortly after finding the heirloom, Cinnamon is plagued by a series of inexplicable accidents. And soon, she begins to fear things she cannot see or understand.
Because someone wicked is after Cinnamon Peters this October.
And they’ll stop at nothing to keep the past dead and buried.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Christmas, Audiobook, Cozy

Audible Audio

First published October 22, 2015

About the author

For a very limited time receive a FREE cozy mystery and recipe book when you sign up for Meg Muldoon's mailing list! Sign-up here: http://eepurl.com/zcGr1

Meg Muldoon is the author of over 20 feel-good mysteries, including the bestselling Christmas River Cozy Mysteries and The Dog Town USA Cozy Mysteries. A former small town news reporter, Meg has always had a special place in her heart for lost dogs, homeless cats, and feisty old locals. She enjoys Marionberry pie, red cowboy boots, and craft glue guns. Meg specializes in writing stories filled with humor and heart, and her books have been featured in the Amazon Kindle Top-100.

Meg lives in Central Oregon with two Great Pyrenees, a cattle dog named Huckleberry, and a rascal cat named Frank.

Reading Order:

THE CHRISTMAS RIVER COZY MYSTERY SERIES
Murder in Christmas River – Book 1
Mayhem in Christmas River – Book 2
Madness in Christmas River – Book 3
Malice in Christmas River – Book 4
Mischief in Christmas River – Book 5
Manic in Christmas River – Book 6
Magic in Christmas River – Book 7
Menace in Christmas River – Book 8
Missing in Christmas River – Book 9
Meltdown in Christmas River – Book 10
Midnight in Christmas River – Book 11
Mistake in Christmas River – Book 12
Matrimony in Christmas River - Book 13
Malarkey in Christmas River - Book 14 (Coming Spring 2025!)

THE CHRISTMAS RIVER COZY MYSTERY NOVELLA SERIES
Roasted in Christmas River – Novella 1
Cinnamon Peters & the Rabbit Bandit – Novella 2
Caught in Christmas River – Novella 3
Crushed in Christmas River – Novella 4
Hounded in Christmas River – Novella 5
Framed in Christmas River – Novella 6
Trapped in Christmas River - Novella 7
Merriment in Christmas River - Novella 8

THE HOLLY HOPEWELL COZY MYSTERY SERIES
The Silence of the Elves – Book 1
Elf Confidential - Book 2

THE DOG TOWN USA COZY MYSTERY SERIES
Mutts & Murder – Book 1
Bulldogs & Bullets – Book 2
Corgis & Conspiracy - Book 3
Pyrenees & Poison - Book 4 (Coming Soon)

THE COZY MATCHMAKER MYSTERY SERIES
Burned in Broken Hearts Junction – Book 1
Busted in Broken Hearts Junction – Book 2

THE WITCHES OF BROOMFIELD BAY MYSTERY SERIES (with Jools Sinclair)
Ginger of the West – Book 1

Reviews

[Mary Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic In Christmas River
Christmas River Mystery, Book #7
Meg Muldoon
5 Stars


Synopsis:

You better watch out, you better not cry, because if old Hattie the Witch sees you, you’ll be the next to die.
It’s autumn in Christmas River, and things in the small Central Oregon town are getting downright spooky this season.
When Cinnamon Peters discovers an old class ring hidden behind the wall of her shop’s kitchen, the pie baker extraordinaire becomes abruptly entangled in a decades-old unsolved mystery.
But shortly after finding the heirloom, Cinnamon is plagued by a series of inexplicable accidents. And soon, she begins to fear things she cannot see or understand.
Because someone wicked is after Cinnamon Peters this October.
And they’ll stop at nothing to keep the past dead and buried.
Magic in Christmas River is the seventh book in the Christmas River Cozy series. (Goodreads)


Review:

I have to say right away that I love the Christmas River series. It is one of my favorites to read and it has been since I read the first book. In this installment, Cinnamon is haunted by a childhood fear of a witch living in Christmas River. She saw the witch in question in front of her pie shop and on the street. The problem with that is that old legend says “that if you indeed have the bad fortune of seeing her, then you would be the next to die”. And when suspicious accidents start happening to her, she is afraid the the legend may be true!

The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. I always enjoy spending time with Cinnamon, her family and friends, I feel like they are people I know and care about. My favorite character is Warren, Cinnamon's grandfather. The love between the two of the is so evident and seems to flow off the pages.

One thing I found refreshing about this book is that Cinnamon did not stumble upon a dead body. In most of the cozies I read, the protagonist finds a dead body and then decides to find the killer. In this book, there is a mystery to solve and Cinnamon does look for clues to solve it. Another thing that I found different, and which I enjoyed, was the fact that she does not fight with the local law enforcement and treat them like they are idiots. This may be because she is married to the sheriff and she loves and respects him immensely.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and pulled me right into Christmas River from the first page to the last. I felt like I was right there watching all the action and activities taking place around me.

I would absolutely recommend this book and series to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I have read all of the books written before this one and I have enjoyed them all. As I said before, this is one of my favorite cozy series to read. Check out this series, I am sure you will agree with me.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic in Christmas River
Christmas River, Book 7

I Picked Up This Book Because: Continue the series.

Media Type: Audiobook
Source: AudiblePlus
Dates Read: 4/14/24 - 4/15/24
Stars: 4 Stars
Narrator(s): Randye Kaye

The Characters:

Cinnamon Peters:
Daniel Brightman:
Warren (Grandpa), Eileen (Step-Grandma), Bestie and baby Lila, Other residents of Christmas River

The Story:
The thing I love about this series is that there is always a different type of mystery. This one involved a class ring, a would-be witch, long lost family and the power of suggestion. I’m about halfway through the series and I hope Ms Muldoon keeps coming up with stories for CInnamon and the crew.

[Madeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Predictable, light read. Always good for when you need something undemanding.

[Erica Alyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite in this series so far!

[Lisa Norvell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good one

I am really enjoying this series. Light romance, likeable characters, a bit of mystery. And I always start craving pie.

[Krystyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Halloween ghosts and the past

A good read but please note that this is only 80 % of the page count. Loved the way an old mystery was brought to life in this one.
Halloween is coming up fast and her bakery is doing a roaring trade. However seeing the "witch" staring at her makes shivers go down her spin. Weird things start happening from a brick falling out on the wall where the bakery is being renovated exploring an old class ring to a knife being knocked out of her hand and going through her shoe but not cutting her. Who did the class ring belong too? Finding out that it belonged to a young man that vanished 55 years ago was a shock but an even greater one was finding out that he had been her great uncle. What happened to him? Will she and Daniel resolve the mystery that had haunted two other residents for the past decades?

[moxieBK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic in Christmas River (Christmas River #7) — Meg Muldoon; Narrator: Randye Kaye (55 chapters) Jan. 12 - Feb. 3, 2023

Cinnamon is having some bad luck lately and it’s all because the town’s local witch is casting spells of bad luck on her. Or so she believes.

After finding an old ring in her bakery shop being renovated, she decides to figure out who it belongs to, but once she starts doing that, bad things start happening to her involving an old lady who seems to be stalking her and a mystery caller with a scratchy voice who keeps telling her to back off. With Warren on vacation, it seems like Cinnamon is on her own again.

Another original story from Christmas River that ends at Halloween.

A very enjoyable read. Listened at 2.0x speed and it was just right for my listening pleasure.

Four stars.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 7 in this great cozy mystery series, all the books are standalone stories but follow on from each other in that the same main characters appear in each book, for that reason they're best read in order of publication.

The characters are really well written, you can imagine them standing there saying the lines written for them.

The books are easily read in a couple of hours so ideal for an afternoon or an early night. Whilst they're cozy mysteries and deal with murders, recent or historic, they're not gory at all.

These books are well worth a read, I'm totally hooked and binge reading the series!

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the closest thing to an actual/typical mystery of all of the other books so far, and as such, it is my favorite. I liked the secrecy behind the disappearance of a young resident of Christmas River, over 50 years ago, the uncanny discovery of his class ring, and the sleuthing that Cinnamon must undergo to discover clues, evidence and possible accomplices. I also enjoyed the addition and evolution of Hattie Blaylock; her character provided good fodder for the overall story line.

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A loose brick in Cinnamon’s kitchen reveals an old high ring. When she finds out who once owned it, she uncovers more secrets, secrets she is warned that are best left alone. Unexplained accidents and threatening phone calls plague her, yet she won’t give up. This cozy mystery is magic and intriguing, and the truth, if it disclosed, may set everyone free. Highly entertaining and well written.

[Claudia Ainsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy this series because the characters are real with human qualities that make it easy to connect to them. This book kept me guessing and actually surprised me in the end. I like that there is story enough to keep my interest and spark my imagination.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another nail bitter

Meg is always coming up with such great stories to read. They are never dull keeping you glued to the book. I love the Christmas River stories. They keep you on edge wondering who did it and how soon will we find out what really happened.

[Lori Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this collection. Cinnamon is a strong character. I love the relationship with her grandfater. She has hard times but also good ones. She's a sleuth that gets the mysteries solved.

[Leslie Ferrari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun read in this series. I enjoy that the stories involve more than just a run of the mill who done it and that you get to know some of the town's people as well.

[Nickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want pie

Her stories are always so real, its like you can smell the pie baking and it makes me want some lol. Another great story.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In summary: Halloween, the town "witch", a mystery from over 50 years ago, pumpkins, and Cinnamon's seasonal pies. The only thing that disappoints is the length. A quick read.

[Lawanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook performed by Randye Kaye

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and plan to read them all. The characters are awesome. This book solved a cold case and brought healing to minor characters.

[Kristina Rasmussen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one! I love these characters and feel like I’m coming home when I start a new book. This storyline was a fun one!

[Jessica Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best one in the series. The Halloween vibe wasn't cozy.

[Niki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an entire series set up during Christmas time with "small" murders being played out in each book. Who could do them and why? I loved the series.

[KylieAtkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It feels like death is following Cinnamon in this book, a little like a Final Destination episode. Perhaps the Witch of Christmas River really did put a hex on her.

After finding an old class ring in the brick wall whilst renovating her pie shop, Cinnamon kicks off a mystery that has been dormant for several decades. And there are some that want secrets kept secret. As townsfolk become suspects, secrets come to the surface and broken hearts are revealed, Cinnamon and her Sherrif husband must put the pieces together to find the truth.

Rounding out the story are the regulars - including her adorable grandfather, Warren, who marries his Scottish love. These are always a great read and always sound like they could be your family.

[Liz Terek · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Magic' is definitely a great read. Good, clean fun & clever clues make this plot a winner. Hattie was actually a wonderful addition to break up the small town monotony. Daniel's character has come a long way & he's acting like an actual Sheriff now without depending on his wife to solve the town's problems.
This is definitely one of Meg Muldoon's best in this series. Her character development is terrific & it's nice to see her having Cinnamon leave the pie shop to live a little. Well done, this one is definitely 4 stars.

[Arow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great installment in the Christmas River Cozy Series. We catch up with Cinnamon and hang in October getting everything ready for Halloween and we b renovations in the shop.

This story follows Cinnamon as she comes across a cold case from the '50's. We learn more about the town and people within. I really feel Meg Muldoon has come into her own as a story teller. I love entering the world of Christmas River and losing myself for a bit.

So excited that there is another book in the series.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cozy mystery that was thoroughly enjoyable. Megs writing in itself is cozy and flows well. She always introduces well developed characters. This story is one of my favorites because of the "witch". **Spoiler Alert** I knew that the witch would turn out to be lovable person and I couldn't wait until that happened. I hope she keeps Hattie around in upcoming books. Thanks for the entertainment Meg.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will always love Cinnamon, Daniel, all their friends, relatives and pets, plus the town of Christmas River. The stories are good mysteries, which is why I give this story 4 stars.
Ms. Muldoon has a way with words and the turn of a phrase.
I must say the editing was better in this book than the last but still needs work. Give me a call Ms. Muldoon; I'd be happy to edit for you. Your writing is good and would be that much better with a good editor!

[Kay (Brigidsmomma) Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really good. Cin and Daniel work to solve the disappearance of her paternal great-uncle who disappeared in 1960. A couple of the long-time residents of Christmas River are involved in the disappearance, but are they really responsible for his being missing? A really good ghost story for Halloween, and very readable. I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My fav of the series so far.

[Glenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love it .... I'm so hooked on this series~

[Kathy Kirkland · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful cozy mystery! Grab a cup tea or coffee and curl up with this fun and slightly quirky book! Enjoy the story!!
I'll be catching up with more of this series for sure!