Crime before Christmas

Bookish Cafe Mysteries #4

by Harper Lin

Right before Christmas, Fair Haven is celebrating its annual Ice Fishing Jubilee. When a bad-mannered lawyer is found frozen to death inside his fishing shack, the police soon discover he was really shot.

The prime suspect is local ice-fishing legend Jim Campbell, but Maggie thinks he is innocent. The culprit could be the long-suffering wife or the mistress, and soon, Maggie is off doing her own investigating, dragging Joshua along for the ride.

As her boss, Joshua couldn’t possibly be romantically interested in her. So why did he hold her so close at the town dance? As Christmas nears, Maggie catches a killer and also a kiss under mistletoe.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Holiday, Cozy, Audiobook, Contemporary

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 10, 2022

About the author

Harper Lin is the 3x USA Today Bestselling Author of several popular cozy mystery series—8 and counting!

When she’s not reading or writing mysteries, she loves going to yoga class, hiking, and baking with friends and family. 


Be the first to hear about early bird discounts and new book releases by signing up for Harper's Newsletter: https://goo.gl/R7XmFR

www.harperlin.com

Reviews

[A.A.B · Rating 1 out of 5]

The main character keeps getting more stupid and idiotic with every book. In this book she is also a nosy pest for absolutely no reason whatsoever, and acting downright illegally. In this book she is more annoying than the obnoxious murder victim.

[Marie Wikle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love her books

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clean read. Cozy Christmas mystery. Part of a series.

[Juliet Minerva Swift · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is definitely enjoyable and I am having so much fun following Maggie’s antics. The slowburn is killing me though! Gary was not much of a player in this one as he appears very briefly, while Joshua is stepping up and actually making an attempted move. Maggie is definitely trying my patience because she is so stupid!! Oh god a compliment is such a bad thing because it’s embarrassing even though she likes him *eyeroll*

The mystery is actually so intriguing, we have the wife, two strange men, the fisherman. I had trouble figuring out the killer until the reveal, and really enjoyed how Maggie ran around investigating.

The ending is satisfying, with the abused wife getting revenge on the guy who killed her husband and tried to force her into another toxic relationship. I don’t usually like reading about abusive husbands and such but it was dealt with lightly and the wife eventually gets all she wants, including her freedom.

[Linda Lundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. Maggie works in the Bookish Cafe which is a bookstore and cafe. She is just so adorable and very, very shy. She is also great at getting herself somehow involved in murders and putting her life in danger. The Bookish Cafe owner Joshua (who is falling for Maggie and she for him) and Gary who works in the police department are always coming to her aid. This latest murder happens right at Christmas time with all things Christmassy going on. The list of characters in this series are all fun and all so very different from each other. There is a very slow romance starting and I love how it is progressing. This book had a murder mystery, fun activities and romance. Loved this one so much I have already read it twice.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Christmas season at Fair Haven and also time for its annual Ice Fishing Jubilee. No one could ruin the fun faster than David Thomson -- a small man with a giant ego and a law degree he threatened people with. But when he and Jim Campbell -- the raining ice fishing champ get into an altercation about quadrant areas things get ugly fast! Then the next morning one of them is dead. Can Maggie Bell prove the person that is missing is innocent? I especially enjoyed the 'catty conversations' between the female characters in this book. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this story.

[Melissa Borsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far my favorite book series. Maggie is still having a tough time working in the bookstore without her friend/mentor Mr. Whitfield who passed away. She is becoming more and more comfortable with Joshua, Mr. Whitfield’s son and as soon as the Christmas cheer starts to really get going, a murder happens and Maggie can’t stop herself from finding out the truth. A fun, heartwarming holiday mystery.

[Sue Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't stand Joshua. He is not teasing, he is verbally harassing and belittling Maggie. Threatening to fire her if she doesn't attend a non bookstore related party is an unfair labor practice. Sure, he claims he's only kidding, but that's what bullies do. They say mean things then play the "can't you take a joke" card. I also really don't understand why Maggie got so involved with trying to solve this mystery. She didn't have a dog in the fight.

[Tena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas Time means it is time again for the annual Ice Fishing Jubilee. When one small man with a big ego disrupts the normal happenings, it can’t turn out good. Maggie just tries to go to work at the Bookstore/Cafe and stay out of trouble. It just never seems to turn out this way. Another great adventure in the Bookisjh Cafe Mystery series. I received an advanced readers copy of this book.

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie and Joshua are growing on me. He is a charmer and seems to be interested in shy Maggie. And Maggie goes from shy and backward to full blown nosy. She gives me a smile. The ice fishing was a different setting. Who knew the placement of your shack was so important. I do enjoy Harper Lin's stories. Thanks for sharing your books with me!

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big fan of this author/series! This book was well written and different from most cozy mysteries that I read. Glad to finally see things progress between Josh & Maggie. I look forward to reading more.

[Lisa DeChiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was fun.

I like stories that take place at Christmas time and I like stories with a bookshop, so that was a good start. Sometimes her musings were a little long winded, but overall an enjoyable easy read.

[Mickey Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute and cozy story

Book smart Maggie finds another crime to solve, right in the middle of the Christmas season. There's danger and decorations to keep her occupied, and maybe a holiday wish will come true.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harper Lin has found her groove with the series. The main character, while still very quirky, has softened and smoothed out into a believable character. This installment was entertaining and had several twists that kept me guessing. A fun read.

[Leish · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was probably my least favourite of the series so far. I just didn’t care about the victim in this one. It was a boring murder and a lot of it was just all over the place with way too many avenues that went no where

[Geri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maggie is so awkward, prickly and prissy, I’m not sure I even like her. But somehow I keep reading the next book in this cozy mystery series. LOL The mystery is very tame too without much suspense. It is a relaxing listen, though. I’d rate this between 2.5 and 3 stars.

[Kim Gargano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute read!

Always a good read with an interesting mystery. I love the characters and I'm looking forward to see a romance bloom!

[Lori Cate · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow!

I couldn’t put this one down. Great book. The Christmas scenes were easy to imagine. Can’t wait to start the next one.

[Diane Knutzen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could not put this book down!

[J.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still enjoying the bookish main character and the rest of the town. Sometimes the author is a little repetitive in her descriptions though.

[Life with Steffie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas and mysterie just a win for me!

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Afsheen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A always enjoy visits with Maggi. There is ice fishing, there is infidelity, there is murder and mayhem..

Maggi is trying to untangle it like her christmas light ...

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite in the series.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable cozy mystery.

[Linda Lugar · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

[Kimberley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have never read a book with a more annoying, weird, and childish main character. Like Maggie genuinely ruined the whole book

[Gitti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Das vorweihnachtliche Eisfischerfest steht in Fair Haven an. Doch beim Start kommt es zum Streit um die Standplatz einer Hütte. Als kurz darauf der nicht sonderlich beliebte Anwalt, der an dem Streit beteiligt war, ums Leben kommt, ist der Hauptverdächtige schnell ausgemacht. Doch Maggie mag nicht an diese schnelle Lösung glauben und beginnt auf eigene Faust zu ermitteln.

Ich habe auch diesen vierten Band der Reihe wieder gerne gelesen, allerdings muss man sagen, dass sich manche Dinge einfach zu konstruiert anfühlen. Maggie kennt den Hauptverdächtigen kaum ist aber sofort von seiner Unschuld überzeugt und stürzt wich wieder einmal in Ermittlungen, die sie selbst in Gefahr bringen. Und auch das Verhältnis zu Joshua kommt nicht wirklich voran, obwohl er wirklich alles tut, um sie von sich zu überzeugen.

Alles in allem war es aber wieder ein gut zu lesender und spannender Fall, der am Ende mit einem überraschenden Show Down endet. Von daher durchaus eine Leseempfehlung.

[Michelle "Champ" · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who follows my book list knows that I am a big Harper Lin fan. My favorite part of all of her books is that she chooses the most unique ways this latest murder was committed.

This book is the 4th in the Bookish Cafe series. Maggie works in the bookstore and Joshua owns it. Sparks fly between the two of them, but so far, no romance. In this book, their characters develop more of a friendship and become a little flirty at the Christmas Dance. I am going to make you read the book to see what happens here.

As far as the murder, this one happens in a fishing tent, there is a suspect, but Maggie doesn't believe he could have done it and of course, she is going to get involved in helping solve the murder.

These books are perfect for a day at the beach, a rainy afternoon, or something you want to read in a day or two.