Slashing Through the Snow

Christmas Tree Farm Mystery #3

by Jacqueline Frost

Maine innkeeper Holly White returns to sleuth another seasonal slaying in the third Christmas Tree Farm mystery from bestselling author Jacqueline Frost.

Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm is going into the B&B business, and Holly White is looking forward to her new role as innkeeper. Even better, Mistletoe, Maine's sheriff, Evan Gray, has deputized his little sister Libby to help Holly wrap presents for Mistletoe's toy drive. But a cold wind ruffles the cheery holiday decorations when a new guest checks in: Cleo, a vicious B&B critic, who could make or break the new inn. And the short December days turn even darker when Evan and Libby find Cleo's dead body in the gift-wrapped toy donation box.

The suspect list is longer than Santa's naughty list, and local resident Cookie is on it, since her fingerprints are all over the murder weapon, a metal nutcracker that she gave to Holly. So is Libby, who recently moved to town from Boston in less-than-savory circumstances. But cranky Cleo was an oh-holy-nightmare to lots of the townsfolk, such as Evan's reporter friend Ray; Christopher, the inn's former contractor; and confectioner Bonnie, whose Gum Drop Shop was a direct target of Cleo's scathing prose.

To figure out the killer's identity and clear Cookie's name, Holly and her friends brainstorm at The Hearth, the farm's café, while her mother keeps them fueled with Christmas goodies fresh from the oven. But if they can't put the culprit on ice, Holly may never see another Christmas.

Genres: Christmas, Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Cozy, Fiction, Holiday

Audiobook

First published October 12, 2021

About the author

Jacqueline Frost is a mystery-loving pet enthusiast who hopes to make readers smile. She lives in rural Ohio with her husband and three spunky children. Jacqueline is a member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW) and Sisters in Crime (SinC).

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slashing Through the Snow is the 3rd book in the Christmas Tree Farm Mysteries written by Jacqueline Frost. I read the first two books in December 2018, but the series went on hold for three years. I've also read several of the author's other books under different pseudonyms and always enjoy her towns, characters, and murder mysteries. This was another good one, and I recommend saving it for the holiday time.

Holly White lives in a small Christmas village in snowy Maine. She's dating the sheriff and runs an inn with her family. A reviewer is about to leave a scathing review but she's found clobbered with a nutcracker gifted by someone close to Holly. Whodunit? Clearly, this is a writer's dream... to kill the horrible reviewer, right? Loved that aspect, especially when it was clear the reviewer was just a nasty person who preferred hurting people for little to no reason. What's interesting about this one is that we hardly get to know much about the victim other than a few people she's hurt in the past. But it makes for a fun case set against the impending holidays, and if I could eat all the goodies mentioned, I'd gain my full weight in butter, chocolate, and sugar. Yum!

Toss in some romance with Holly's boyfriend, her support of Cookie Cutter (the accused), and a well-rounded supporting cast of townspeople, you'll really feel like Christmas has arrived early. I could feel myself wandering through the snow, baking tons of amazing treats, and thinking about ways to gift wrap with elegance. Frost truly immerses you in the setting, and this makes for a special reading treat. I like the progression with the characters and the overall story was filled with a bunch of red herrings and interesting clues. Glad to see this one came back, and I encourage holiday cozy lovers to give this series a chance.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to focus on the mystery with all the talk of holiday treats, festive get-togethers, and fun holiday themed games and events. But sometimes, that's just the kind of book you need -- an escape to a light-hearted, merry, and joyful place where you as the reader can imagine yourself in the charming scene (despite the murder!).

With this being the third book in the series, it's definitely following the formula of the previous two books. But I don't think most people are reading and enjoying these for a particularly perplexing or surprising mystery, but rather for the cozy setting and close-knit community. The homey feel you get while reading renews your lagging Christmas spirit and makes you want to do a little bit extra for your own friends and family even if it's not the Christmas season when you read this.

[Wanda Pedersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evan Gray is an exceptionally patient man! If my competence as an investigator was as thoroughly questioned by my significant other, I would be angrily stomping away. This is one of the cozy mystery tropes that drives me the craziest! The absolute conviction of the main character that the police can't possibly do a good job of solving the crime. I mean, if you're Holly and you're dating the sheriff and think he's your potential husband, don't you think you should rely on him to know what he's doing professionally?

I've knocked off a star because of this view of mine. If I can temporarily overlook it, the mystery is reasonably good. I didn't see the solution coming, though I was pretty sure that someone would be threatening Holly before the book's end.

Two other things irked me in this book. Does Holly eat anything that isn't chock full of sugar? It's all cookies, cupcakes, hot chocolate, and maple syrup. No wonder the woman can't sleep! She's so hopped up on sucrose that she must be trembling. That must be how she also has the time to do the ridiculous amount of work that she apparently does: toy collection, gift wrapping, helping with tree farm events, shopping, jewelry making, inn keeping, not to mention cat care (I still love her cat, Cindy Lou Who).

Perhaps I have something in common with the Grinch? I just couldn't let go of these gripes this time out!

[Donne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve developed a fondness for Mistletoe, ME, a town that revolves around Christmas events and festivities. The story takes place the following Christmas, when the Inn is having its grand opening. Mistletoe is most certainly not some crime ridden small town, and Sheriff Evan finds one murder a year is such a welcome change from when he was a cop in Boston. The annual murders are always around Christmas time and always seem to be targeted towards Holly and/or her family and/or friends.

First and foremost, inaccurate book summaries are kind of a pet peeve of mine. So, on that note, the book summary lays out the primary storyline of the murder of an infamous and cranky critic, Karen (not Cleo like the book summary states), on the front steps of the inn. Also, it wasn’t Evan and Libby who found the body, it was Holly, Cookie, Ray and Libby who found the body on their way back to the Inn, from dinner at the Hearth. What the book summary doesn’t mention is that right before the murder, Cookie (a feisty 80+yr old resident) was overheard telling Holly that she would like to knock Karen over the head with a nutcracker, which just so happens to be the murder weapon with only Cookie’s prints on it. There’s also another secondary storyline that isn’t mentioned in the book summary and that is that Evan is up to something and Holly is determined to find out what. None of this is a spoiler since it is how the story started.

The story revolves around the investigation of Karen’s murder and it’s revealed that Karen pissed off a lot of people with her scathing reviews and critiques. What is also not mentioned in the book summary was that Karen wasn’t just in town to review and critique the Inn’s opening. It was revealed that Karen was tired of writing travel reviews and critiques, and that she pined for a job as an investigative reporter. It seems Karen was convinced that Mistletoe was a fraud and she wanted to “expose” Mistletoe’s secret cover. She was convinced that there was something very suspicious going on in a town that survived and functioned all around Christmas.

As is her nature, Holly butts herself into Evan’s investigation every chance she gets, thus causing friction and hard feelings between them. This also causes Holly to come to the attention of the killer resulting in Evan coming to her rescue more than a few times. I really like how the two more recent installments have had a bit of a darker tone and theme to them than the first installment. Even with the scarier and more intense scenes, I would still categorize this as a cozy mystery though. While I know that Holly’s butting in on Evan’s investigations is her whole schtick, the constant friction between Evan and Holly because of her interference got really tiresome in this installment.

The continuing character development for Holly and Evan and some of the other characters in their circle of friends and family is good. I would still like to know more about Cookie; she is such a great character. The pacing is on par with a cozy mystery and the storylines are engaging. The writing is on par with most cozy mysteries, and as I mentioned before, I am enjoying the darker (not gory or gruesome) themes. I loved the ending, which kind of makes up for all the friction between Evan and Holly. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.1 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas Tree Farm in the small village of Mistletoe, Maine was getting busier the closer it came to Christmas. With Holly White now running the new B&B onsite, and her parents running The Hearth which was a delicious café for the guests to have breakfast and dinner, and other people who would just drop in for hot chocolate and cookies, things were looking up. Holly’s best friend Cookie had just arrived with more bags of donated toys for the children at Christmas but with the number of toys arriving, she knew she’d have to get her friends in to help wrap.

Everyone was at The Hearth for dinner, including the latest guest, a critic who was known for her acerbic tongue and derogatory comments, when the Sheriff arrived – Evan Gray was Mistletoe’s resident sheriff and Holly’s love interest, and she was pleased to see him. But it was when they returned to the B&B that horror struck when a body was discovered in the toy bin at the door. Karen the critic would criticize no more…

Evan and his deputies were investigating Karen’s death, talking to everyone there but when Cookie’s fingerprints were found on the murder weapon, Holly was horrified to see her friend taken in for questioning. Would Evan find the killer before Christmas? With Holly searching for answers – much against Evan’s wishes – she was determined to prove Cookie’s innocence one way or another.

Slashing Through the Snow is the 3rd in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series by Jacqueline Frost and I loved it! So much fun and entertainment, a beautiful cover and great characters filled this book and I’m looking forward to #4 already. With plenty of twists, a Christmas wedding, reindeer, a goat and a mischievous cat, I didn’t go close to guessing the killer! Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slashing Through the Snow by Jacqueline Frost is the third book of the cozy A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series. Each book in the series has it’s own mystery to be solved so they can be understood as a standalone. However, there is some character development that is carried over from book to book for those that read the series from the beginning.

In the first book of the series Holly White had returned back home to her parents Christmas Tree farm in Mistletoe, Maine after her fiance had broken up with her two weeks before their wedding. After jumping in and helping her parents to take her mind off of her troubles Holly had begun to feel at home again and decided to stay in Mistletoe, Maine.

Holly is now really settled into her life in Mistletoe and taking the family’s business, Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm, to the next level by opening a B&B. Holly is looking forward to the role of Innkeeper and getting closer to the sheriff, Evan Gray, who she has been dating. However, things of course go off the rails when a a critic, Cleo, is found murdered, her body found gift-wrapped in the toy donation box. Of course Holly is going to do everything she can to find the murderer.

The cozy A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series is another that I started at the beginning and really enjoyed the first two books. After a long wait since book two I wasn’t sure this one was going to continue but I’m glad it did as I found myself right back being invested in the characters and story. This would be one of the quirky, humourous cozies that I enjoy quite a bit and this one has the bonus of everything Christmas tossed into the mix too. I would certainly read another book in the series if it does continue yet again.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

The number one thing I love about this series is how festive the books are. Nothing annoys me more than a cozy advertising itself as having a holiday theme, and then the holiday is barely mentioned. So not the case here. These books are festive on steroids. However, I think they would be even better with some recipes included. There are so many foods and drinks mentioned, It seems like a lost opportunity not to include any. 

This was another solid book for this series. The setting is wonderful. It has an extensive cast of interesting characters. The mystery kept me guessing. The key problem I had was Holly. She just wasn't likable in this book. She constantly acted like Evan was an idiot. She got angry when people expressed concern for her welfare. She expected Evan to give her every detail of an ongoing investigation and cop an attitude because he didn't (someone explain to me what he sees in her??!!). Lastly, she is an awful inn owner. No wonder all her guests checked out. She basically screwed off to stick her nose in the investigation instead of actually doing her JOB! 

I am still a fan of this series overall, and hope that in the next book Holly goes back to being the likable character she was in the previous two!

**ARC Via NetGalley**

[Peter Monn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooooo good. Loved it.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone looking for a cozy holiday read and series, this is a fun series. The festive setting of Mistletoe, Maine, a Christmas themed village with candy shops, bookstores, and more, including the family owned Reindeer Games Christmas tree farm and inn owned by Holly White's family all make this a great backdrop for a way to get into the holiday spirit. There is an recurring cast of interesting characters in addition to Holly, including her boyfriend, Sheriff Evan Gray. Holly's friend, Cookie, is accused of killing an inn guest after she is overheard making a remark about the caustic food critic and a nutcracker she gave Holly is found to be the murder weapon. Holly is determined to find the real killer to get her friend off the hook but she gets a little too close and her life is put into the killer's sight a time or two. Great mystery to solve and festive theme make this a fun holiday cozy to read. There is a sweet special ending with a open situation to be seen in the next book.
I received a complimentary copy from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've now read all three of these Christmas Tree Farm books, and this was my favorite. They are all great Christmas reads.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I first read this series back in 2018 [and to be honest, if I had realized it had been so long ago, I might have been tempted to reread the 2nd book as a refresher as I had a difficult time remembering who some of the characters were and what actually happened in book 2 - THOUGH, if it was as bad as everyone talked about in the book, Holly had no business ever "snooping" again] and so when I saw that there was going to be a third book, I was really excited to read it.

That said, this book was just not for me [I was very disappointed to be honest]; I knew who the killer was the second they were introduced [though I didn't know the why, which is why this gets two stars - even if the why is absolutely ludicrous], I was mad at Holly for most of the book for NOT DOING HER JOB [WORK comes before sleuthing - WHY is this so difficult for authors to write? There are a good many that ARE writing that way and in my opinion, it is important. IF you own a business, or are running a business, or are a manager, your job should absolutely come first - NOT running around trying to do the sheriff's job!!!! An example here - there has been a murder at the Inn and the NEXT DAY, instead of taking care of her guests and making sure their needs are met after a super terrifying night, Holly goes SHOPPING [and sleuthing] for T W O hours, leaving her guests on their own, to figure stuff out. It is no wonder that they all checked out. I wouldn't want to stay in an Inn like that either, murder aside. If the Innkeeper is that uninvolved, it's time to find a new inn ], and the tired old trope of the "best friend/family member/sweet old lady who'd never hurt a soul" being accused of the killing was extremely off-putting. Add to all that the story was incredibly repetitive, the idea that the sheriff would put up with all of Holly's shenanigans [I don't care that they are dating - what she did was hinder an investigation - there is sleuthing and there is breaking the law yourself. Holly was butting up against the latter many times in this book] and an ending that even my cat could have seen coming [I will say the reveal was very good - Holly was just helping out a bridesmaid and not even sleuthing when she is attacked by the killer and that was the "realest" part of the whole book, even while the reason was a bit ludicrous. WHO chooses murder over going to the police OR to their handler, who KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE LIKE KAREN?? SMH. ], this all just added up to a book that I could barely stand to pick up and read [when you pick up a book, read a chapter and then find other things to do because you just don't want to have to read another chapter [it took me nine days to read this if that tells you anything], you know the book is so not working for you].

I realize I am the outlier here and [for once] I am okay with that. This was how I read this book. In seeing all the 4-5 star reviews makes me realize that I must read my books [and have different expectations] differently than most people, and I think I am finally okay with that too. Does my experience with this book mean I wouldn't read another one in this series? I am not sure. Right now, I'd lean towards not reading one, but I have also learned in the past that one bad read [for me] doesn't mean the next one would be one as well. I will say though, Holly's shenanigans in this book make it very difficult for me to want to read another and if that feeling continues, I would have to say I'd be passing on another one should it be written. As someone who loved the previous books, I am very disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jacqueline Frost, and Crooked Lane Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Linda Langford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mistletoe, Maine could very well be the merriest place on Earth! Innkeeper, Holly White, who also makes custom jewelry; loves the Christmas spirit that’s displayed everywhere you go in town until a bloody corpse in a velvet toy donation bag is left on her porch. One of Holly’s good friends, Cookie, is accused of murdering the victim so Holly sets out to expose the culprit and wrap up the crime investigation before Christmas Day.

Reading this story is like opening presents at Christmas. Page after page unwraps beautiful, descriptive holiday scenes that are easy to picture in my mind. The nifty sleigh action scene was one of my favorites and it sped up my pulse rate, and I loved all the teddy bears! The main characters are enjoyable and appealing and the villains are mean and get arrested at the story’s end. Evan, Holly’s boyfriend, has a delightful surprise for her that makes the Christmas season even merrier. I highly recommend this story and the previous two books in the excellent Christmas Tree Farm cozy series.

I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane. All opinions are my own. Thank you.

[Jan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and thought the tree farm and town were charming. I thought the second book was a bit repetitive but figured I would give the third one a try. Well...I'm sorry to say that I really did not enjoy this one at all. Maybe a murder at Christmas time in the same town with the same characters just gets old. I've also decided I really don't like Holly. Her "sleuthing" behind the Sheriff's (her boyfriend) back really irritated me. And what's with the title? "Slashing" had nothing to do with the plot at all. I like cute titles but they really need to match what's happening in the book. This is only getting one star for me. In fact, I would have given up on it had I not needed it for a couple challenges.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

There is now a B&B at the Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm in Mistletoe, Maine and Holly White is so excited to be an innkeeper. She is also in charge of wrapping all the presents for the town’s toy drive. But she is really focused on the B&B critic who has just checked in. A good review could put the B&B on the map. A bad review could hurt their chance of keeping the rooms filled. But a dead body could have the guests leaving in droves never to return. A dead B&B critic . . . well at least she won’t be reviewing the place.

There are plenty of suspects but it is Cookie’s fingerprints on the murder weapon, a metal nutcracker that she just gave Holly. Holly gathers all her friends together to try to crack the case to save her inn, Cookie, and Christmas.

Dashing through the snow . . . oh, I mean Slashing Through the Snow with a Grinch named Karen. What fun!

I just love the setting of this series, Mistletoe, Maine, the Reindeer Games Tree Farm, and now the White family has added a B&B. A wonderful place to spend the holidays. There is always something happening. The author really brings the place to life with her descriptive style.

Holly has taken on the B&B with her mother handling any food involved. The local toy drive has become a massive event which means a heck of a lot of wrapping. I love the ways everyone comes together to get that done. Even Holly’s boyfriend, Sherrif Evan Gray squeezes in a little time to help.

Everyone also gets involved to try to figure out who whacked critic Karen over the head with Holly’s new Nutcracker. I really enjoyed the way Ms. Frost plotted out this story twisting the mystery with all the other things happening. Christmas games, including a Snowball Roll, a toy drive, a Christmas wedding along with regular everyday events all kept the pages turning and gave plenty of time for Holly to do a little sleuthing. She tried so hard to crack the case, and just when she was about to give up, she found herself right in the middle of an exciting showdown. I swear the blustery winds and the icy snow sent an actual shiver down my spine. The fighting, the chase, the cold, the screams, had me right on the edge of my seat.

While I really enjoyed the entire book, my favorite part was the very last chapter. Mistletoe is a very special place and it was never shown more clearly in the last few pages of this story.

Slashing Through the Snow is a delightful story full of Christmas cheer, charming characters, and a captivating cozy mystery, sprinkled with humor and a little bit of romance. A very entertaining holiday read.

[Shelley Lawrence · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 stars
I’m wrapping up another Christmas read from one of my favorite Christmas cozy mystery series. Unfortunately, this particular addition was not a favorite for me.

I’m clearly in the minority here, because though I loved the previous two books in this series, I really didn’t enjoy this one. Essentially, I was not a fan of the main character, Holly White in this particular story, or her behavior, attitude, actions and explanations. I did not understand her hesitation to call the sheriff her boyfriend, when they were clearly that, nor did I care for the way she disregarded his feelings.

I understand the desire to help, but Holly put herself in precarious situations needlessly, despite the worry she caused others. She showed no respect for, or confidence in, her boyfriend’s ability to handle the case, repeatedly, despite his pleas. And she disregarded his requests to trust him to do his job. A trust he had earned.

I did enjoy all of the side characters and the Christmasy, quaint setting, but the main mystery was a bit more convoluted than past mysteries. The conclusion was really sweet, and I loved the progression, but I find it hard to believe that Holly had no idea what was coming. Sometimes it happens in a series where one doesn’t grab you as much as the others, so I’ll definitely carry-on. Overall, The Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series is a festive, fun, cozy mystery series with usually likeable characters, a wonderful, small town setting and all the Christmas spirit you can hope for.

[The Cozy Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the holidays; this time of year is filled with lots of laughter and surprises, and I look forward to all of them. This series brings me joy. From the first book to this latest one, it has become a part of my Christmas tradition, and I hope this continues for many more years to come. Slashing Through The Snow is destined to become a yule classic. A tree farm, a B&B, a murder, what’s not to like?

Holly doesn’t have the best of luck when it comes to the Christmas holiday. She seems to spend her holidays solving murders. It doesn’t help in this case that the victim was someone almost everyone wanted to kill. There are a half dozen suspects who had great motives to kill the critic, Holly among them. Now that the family tree farm is adding a B&B, having a guest killed doesn’t help publicity, and the fact that the victim wrote terrible reviews of almost all the businesses she reviewed adds to the tension.

There is plenty of action in this book. Characters that hold readers’ attention, a location that will inspire readers Christmas decorations, and evidence that leads to more and more questions. The tree farm is hopping, and although it isn’t the main attraction, it is still the reason for the season. Holly’s mom is cooking up a storm; the food is tantalizing. Evan and Libby play significant roles in this addition, and the town’s business owners feature throughout. The B&B sounds delightful, and I wouldn’t mind spending my holiday season there.

As the investigation progresses, readers soon realize that Holly may be placing herself in danger. If she isn’t careful, she and Libby may find themselves spending their holidays buried somewhere on the tree farm’s grounds. In a spectacular reveal, the killer is caught, the B&B saved, and Christmas filled with happiness instead of grief. The characters in Slashing Through The Snow bring the holidays to life; they bring smiles and happiness to readers’ lives and remind us that no matter how bad things get, everything can change in the blink of an eye. I can’t wait until next year’s installment!

[Ms. Woc Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's book 3 of the Christmas Tree Farm Mysteries and I'm in the Christmas spirit. It's been awhile since I read about Holly and crew but once I started reading it was easy to pick up where the last book left off.

So the Christmas Tree Farm is becoming a bed and breakfast and a tough critic named Karen ends up dead. Cookie is immediately a suspect since she's found holding the murder weapon. But Karen was harsh to pretty much everyone in town so the murderer could be anyone.

I liked all the Christmas themed games and hearing the descriptions of the decorations. It made me want to do a Christmas farm vacation. Plus while reading I was craving Christmas cookies and a cup of cocoa. And the ending was really nice and heartfelt.

I got irritated with Holly several times because she and Evan have that I Love Lucy dynamic going on where he has to constantly scold her to stay out of his investigation. And I don't blame him because it seems like she always finds out clues well after he already has and right when it's putting her in danger he needs to rescue her from. And she might be the worst innkeeper ever! Someone got murdered at her inn and she took off for hours to sleuth instead of check on the guests to make sure they were okay. Of course they decided to check out!

I really enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook and felt engaged throughout.

[Micky Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas is always fun, but with Holly White and her eccentric cast of friends and family it is an absolute blast! I'd love to find a place that really had an Inn located on a tree farm filled with fun, food and festivities! Of course, I'd hope my trip wouldn't include a murder...well unless there was a Holly White around to help solve the case! I love that there is a competent police force in this series and that the crime solver is doing so out impatience with the process rather than trying to fight the police force to do their job. Unfortunately our crime solver doesn't always get things right, but that makes the books feel more real! FYI: Everyone needs a bit of Cookie and Theodore in their lives and you'll just have to read the book to find out what I mean by that!!

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read a ton of "Cozy Mysteries", but this series is by far a leap above all the others. A lot that I have read have been poorly written, or just downright silly. This is neither! It is so good and I absolutely love the Christmastime atmosphere. I so badly want to visit Mistletoe, Maine and the Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm! Holly White is a great character and I really enjoy all the other side characters. The amazing covers are what initially drew me to the 1st book in the series and was definitely my favorite Holiday read that year, and I think this 3rd book in the series might follow suit. I quickly had to look into who used the pen name of Jacqueline Frost for more content!

Side Note -- Allyson Ryan is fantastic as the narrator in this book! She does different voices for all the characters and really takes this book to the next level in my opinion.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm in Mistletoe, Maine is decked out in holiday elegance and has a full house now that it has become a bed and breakfast establishment. Holly White is excited about her new role as innkeeper.
We have a Karen in this story folks, she's a bed and breakfast critic who has nothing nice to say about new b&b inns. So far no one is paying her any mind as the inn is doing a brisk business but when a body is found despite the amenities here the customers are leaving in droves.
Very seasonal cozy mystery and I enjoyed the characters. A pleasant read.

Pub Date 12 Oct 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Candy · Rating 2 out of 5]

My book club loves these books and I love them, so I want to love these books. I just really can't. They are annoyingly chipper. The only slightly real character is the cop and he is too tolerant. Everyone is over-dramatic and unrealistic. I'm a scrooge, that's all. I just can't make myself like this book.

[Amanda (BookLoverAmanda) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slashing Through The Snow - Jacqueline Frost - 5 Stars
Book 3 in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery Series

Love continuing in this series! Such a good cozy mystery series. This was the first 5 star I had so far because the ending with the romance was chef's kiss! I loved the developments there. In this one, we continue to follow Holly and Evan in the backdrop of Mistletoe, Maine! Holly dates the Sheriff and runs the inn with her family. We see a B&B critic drop in that could make or break its success -- until they find her body dead in the gift wrapped toy donation box.... With a long list of suspects, Evan and Holly try to figure this one out and clear their friend Cookie's name.

Cookie was a HOOT in this book yall! She is one of my favorite characters. This author knows how to really write fun characters and settings in a good cozy mystery series and I love it! Perfect Christmas vibes too. Recommend!

[Erica Chaillot · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun series. I sincerely hope that Jacqueline Frost continues writing them every year. Holly, her friends, family, and Evan are the perfect group of characters to round out the interesting storylines. I also like that there is an overarching bigger conflict that has spawned the course of a few novels, including Libby.

[Stormi (StormReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The wait is finally over and we finally get a new Christmas Tree Farm book!! I was so excited I couldn't wait any longer to read this book.

It's Christmas time once again in Mistletoe and Holly White is very happy with how things are going. Her family who ones Reindeer Games, a Christmas Tree Farm, have opened an Inn and Holly is now running it for them, she has also volunteered to wrap all the presents for the toy drive that Christopher is putting on. She didn't realize the amount of toys that would be donated! The only real damper to the festive time is a critic for a fancy New England magazine has checked in and it doesn't seem like anything Holly does can make her happy.

While Holly and her older friend Cookie was talking, Cookie makes a remark about someone clubbing her over the head with the nutcracker she had gotten Holly. Then it happens and Cookie is a suspect and so of course Holly will do  about anything to prove her friend didn't commit the crime. No matter how much her Sheriff boyfriend tries to talk her out of things because he worries about her safety.

I really love the town of Mistletoe even if it seems a little to good to be true! It has an amazing bunch of people living there and everyone is just so friendly. None of the regulars believes Cookie had anything to do with the murder and so she has a great group of friend rallying around her. The events at Reindeer Games are off the chart and sound so fun, if I was to ever vacation in a cold place I want it to be a place like this!

As I am sure you know I love the characters in this story! I love Holly, Evan, Holly's parents, Cookie, Caroline, Ray and many others! They are just so loveable even when I want to smack Holly at sometimes for snooping when she tells Evan she isn't, etc.

The set up for this story almost had me worried that the mystery was going to be to easy to solve. I mean you knew right of the bat that Karen was dying and that Cookie was going to be in trouble and what the murder weapon was going to be. There was some other things that made me worried that I might not enjoy this one as much if it went the way I thought it might be headed. I am happy to say though I totally didn't guess the killer and it had a twist I didn't see coming! I am really happy with this because I love this series and didn't want to be disppointed by to easy of a plot!

I would highly recommend this cozy series and it is just so whimsical and cozy and a great holiday cozy!

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slashing through the Snow is the third book in the highly entertaining Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series. Author Jacqueline Frost (a/k/a Julie Anne Lindsey and Bree Baker) knows how to write a cozy mystery that grabs her reader's attention. This series is always guaranteed to get the reader in the holiday spirit, and I have been waiting for this third installment. Mistletoe Maine is a quaint all-year-round Christmas town. It is populated by Holly White, sheriff Evan Gray, Holly's parents, her friends Cookie and Carolyn, and several other entertaining secondary characters. Holly is a character who has a strong sense of justice and just can't stand by when a murder is committed at her parent's new Inn and Cookie becomes the primary suspect. This causes Holly and Evan to butt heads throughout the investigation.

Ms. Frost delivers an early Christmas present to her readers in a well-plotted mystery that kept me guessing. The victim is not well-liked, which allows the author to provide a plethora of suspects and readers must pay attention to the clues. While solving the mystery, Holly once again puts herself in the crosshairs of a killer. The killer's identity is revealed in a climactic ending that will leave the reader a bit worried.

This is such a wonderful series. Mistletoe Maine is a charming town and the author makes it come alive with her descriptive writing style. She populates the town with great characters and an annual murder. I am very hopeful that there will be more to come.

I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second listen through as amazing as the first!
_____

It wouldn't be Christmas without a visit to Holly's Christmas tree farm! Love all the festive cheer and crazy antics on the farm. Those folks know how to make Christmas a month long event! There's plenty of quirky characters (including a goat!) and a nefarious murder to solve before a special Christmas Eve event. Love how Holly's romance has picked up with the sheriff (it's been a year since we last met up with them after all!) The mystery kept Holly (and me) hopping, much to Evan's chagrin as he works the case from the official angle. And this is a clean read! It can't get any better than this....well, only if the books released faster but since it's a Christmas series and Christmas only comes but once a year I guess I don't have a valid complaint. :-)

[Heidi Prockish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Goodness. This book was super good, I think the best one so far. The mystery was great, it kept me guessing. I loved getting to know the characters more and that surprise, oh my!! If you haven't started this series you are really missing out.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one may be my favorite of the series! Holly has quickly become a particular favorite, as well as Cookie, Evan, Caroline, Ray, and Libby, not to mention Holly's parents. So glad I added this series to my December list. Each title takes place during the Christmas season, and they definitely have a holiday feeling.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Idk if I were a cop and my partner kept trying to do my job* no matter how many times they nearly got killed I’m not sure I’d be as chill as Evan, but DAMN if I don’t love these perfect Christmas cozies. More!!

*aka solving MURDERS jfc Holly don’t you have enough else to do?!

[QNPoohBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

In her third winter back home, Holly is eager to please as Reindeer Games' news innkeeper. Her parents sank all their savings into this inn and need it to be a success. While they've been busy through the summer, this is their busiest time of year and Holly has high hopes for a good review from Karen Moody, New England Magazine’s most infamous travel journalist. Unfortunately Karen is less than friendly and more than demanding. She complains about everything and Holly is bending over backwards to please this woman. Meanwhile, Reindeer Games is busy, Holly's jewelry business is booming and contractor Christopher's toy drive has swamped Holly and friends in work. Ray's mom is getting married at the inn and asks Holly for custom jewelry for her bridesmaids. Cookie gifts Holly a beautiful new nutcracker for Christmas and Evan is planning a surprise he won't even hint about. What is Holly supposed to get HIM for Christmas if she doesn't know what HE is getting her? Soon Christmas surprises become the least of Holly's concerns when inn guest Meg Mason overhears Cookie joking about hitting Karen over the head with the nutcracker. Unfortunately the jest comes back to haunt Cookie. As Holly and Cookie return to the inn after dinner one night, they discover the nutcracker lying in the snow and a dead body in Santa's sack on the inn porch! It seems someone followed through on Cookie's jest but for real as Karen is very much dead. The sheriff has no choice but to follow the evidence and lock up Cookie. Holly has no choice but to find another suspect and free her friend before Christmas. Can she find one before she becomes the next victim?

OOh This one was MUCH better than the second one! There's more Christmas, more romance and a tight mystery. However, I did figure out the clue to the whodunit. I wasn't sure specifically but I knew it was one of two people or perhaps both involved. The villain's motive seemed off to me. I don't think what they thought would come to pass. I didn't guess before that though even though I had a weird feeling about that character. I LOLd and rolled my eyes at Cookie being in a book club reading 'Twas the Knife Before Christmas. The secondary mystery was so obvious that if Holly was actually a good sleuth, she'd have figured it out on her own. It's good she didn't because it was a beautiful surprise but still, it was SO obvious what Evan was going to surprise Holly with. The whole TOWN knew!

Holly is not quite so TSTL in this book. She's growing and maturing yet remains stubborn and loyal to a fault. There's still no reason for her to investigate. Literally everyone tells her that. She trusts Evan. He's doing his job and explains why he has to take Cookie in. People won't trust him to be the sheriff if he's not fair. Holly just can't help herself. She's almost killed once which wasn't totally her fault and then again without ever figuring it out. She's kind and loyal, a devoted friend but she really is a poor excuse for a sleuth. Evan, on the other hand, is sharp and good at his job. He loves Mistletoe and all the residents. He knows in his heart Cookie is not a killer but he has to follow procedure. He doesn't like Holly investigating and interfering with his investigation. It makes his heart stop every time he thinks she might be in trouble. Holly loves him because he makes things fun, and he comforts and challenges me Holly in ways she never knew she needed. Evan's Christmas gift to Holly is so beautiful and sweet. He really thought it through and Mistletoe has gotten so under his skin, he had to include the whole town. He tells her why he loves her but frankly, I don't see it. She's going to send him to an early grave!

Holly's parents are not in this one as much. Mom is busy cooking away in her new kitchen, offering meals this time, in addition to cocoa and baked goods. Dad is doing the farming and looking in on his ladies when he can. Mr. and Mrs. White are like Santa and Mrs. Claus. They've been married a long time and are still devoted to each other, still in love. Aww! They love their only daughter as well and want her to be safe. She recognizes that desire but still goes off and does dumb things sometimes.

Caroline is only in one small scene and one chapter. She's busy baking cupcakes for Christmas and Ray's mom's wedding. OMG! Triple chocolate would be my choice please thank you! Libby isn't in the story much either but Mistletoe is her home now and it has wormed its way under her skin. She's happier than ever working at the Hearth and dating Ray. She lives in Holly's old house on the farm away from her brother. She does get some resolution to her mystery plot but there's more to come. I do not believe for a moment the Boston police are the good guys here. Samantha reappears and now she's begrudgingly become friends with Holly and co. She doesn't let her temper get away with her anymore and can even joke about it. She even joins in the holiday gift wrapping party - because it's for charity you know... not because she thinks of Holly as a FRIEND or anything like that. Samantha is devoted to Cookie who was one of Samantha's original wine club members. Not even Samantha thinks Cookie is a killer.

Cookie is the major secondary character. She's a hoot. There's more mentions of Theodore. His calendar was such a success last year, Cookie is planning a second edition and Ray has ideas to top the first. I want one! I want to officially see Theodore. We hear a lot about him. When Cookie fears someone is following her, she and Theodore move in with Holly. Theodore is like Cookie's son. She talks to him and he listens and loves her back. Their relationship is very sweet. Holly's parents seem to understand this and help out to keep Theodore happy when Cookie is... unavoidably detained. Cookie is a hot ticket but she does not have dementia nor would she kill someone. She joked about it but didn't mean it. Plus isn't she like 2 feet tall? How tall is this Karen woman and how come this time the killer's height doesn't come into play? What about the killer's strength? Would Cookie even be able to drag a dead body and stuff it into the sack? In the first mystery the killer's size was a consideration. This time, they seem to have forgotten that!

That Karen woman was going to end up bumped off by someone sooner than later. She was one nasty, bitter, angry woman with no joy in her heart. She was determined to hate everything about Mistletoe and her stay at the inn. Heaven forbid Holly be 10 minutes late in answering her call for turndown service - AT MIDNIGHT! After Holly was in bed! Karen was a confirmed cynic and planned to ruin Mistletoe because she simply couldn't believe everyone was THAT nice all the time. No of course not in the real world but yeesh. They have Santa Claus who seems to be living there until Christmas Day for goodness sakes. There's reindeer and maple farms and candy shops and bake shops, a goat, an inn, a pie shop- what's not to love about Mistletoe? I think it would even make the Grinch's heart grow two sizes. I would have liked more background on Karen. What made her a hardened cynic and a toxic woman?

Suspect #1 is Meg Mason, a middle-aged woman who seems to hate Karen AND Holly, Cookie, and the inn. Yipes! Meg carries around a teddy bear backpack and it sounds like she would fit right in yet Holly and friends seem to judge her for it. Meg has a chip on her shoulder and is not at all friendly. Why would she repeat what she overheard while eavesdropping when it was clearly a jest? Why would she frame Cookie? That doesn't make sense. Her wanting to kill Karen doesn't make sense either but it could have happened during a heated exchange. Bonnie from the gumdrop shop is suspect #2. She's relatively new in town but has already run afoul of Karen. Bonnie is worked up about something just before Karen's murder and her whereabouts at that time are unknown. She also fails to show up for the book club meeting she normally faithfully attends. Although this time they're not reading a mystery and Bonnie prefers mysteries. She's highly intelligent and clever at solving the fictional mysteries. Why would she frame Cookie though? Just a matter of opportunity? They're supposed to be book club friends! It sure seems like Bonnie could be the murderer, especially once Holly finds some clues that point right to the reason why Bonnie hated Karen.

One last suspect is new in town. He owns Rose-Colored Glasses, the new glass shop. Steven Moody also happens to be Karen's ex! Even Steven hated Karen and realizes their relationship was toxic. Could he have been upset that his ex invaded his peaceful new sanctuary? Was she making trouble for his new wife? He belongs on the suspect list.

I am eager to visit Mistletoe again but alas the Christmas season is almost over. I may be able to squeeze in one more visit before the tree comes down.

Debra Jo from the bookstore is also in the book club with Bonnie. Debra Jo and the other ladies in the club are now avidly following Holly's exploits and have become armchair detectives! Holly is a little concerned but so far, none of them go out and question people the way Holly does. Debra Jo is sweet and maybe not a great judge of character. She's certain Bonnie would never kill anyone, but they're only casual friends so... she doesn't know Bonnie that well. I think Debra Jo is an optimist. She's from New Orleans and her husband, Jon, is loving the New England winters because it means he has an excuse drive a big truck. They're very much in love and a more devoted couple you'll never see, other than Holly's parents. Maybe Pierce Lakemore and Ray's mom? Right now they're so giddy with love and their upcoming wedding. Pierce is a hotshot attorney and a real stand up guy. He's willing to defend Cookie and help her through this ordeal. He'll put up with the craziness of a Christmas wedding at Reindeer Games because he's so much in love. It's sweet to see this second chance at love romance. I know a few people in the same situation as Ray's mom and some have chosen love without marriage and others have chosen to remarry. It doesn't mean they love their first spouse less or not at all, they just made room in their hearts to be happy and love someone else. I'm glad Ray finally understands this. His sisters seem to be excited for the wedding.