What do you think?
Rate this book
Claire's Candles #7
Candy Cane Conspiracies
A FUN FESTIVE BRITISH VILLAGE COZY MYSTERY PACKED WITH TWISTS AND TURNS!
Murder at the craft fair...
Christmas is around the corner in Northash, and candle shop owner, Claire Harris, is excited about her first craft fair. Being held in the locally historic Starfall House, Claire is sure her festive scents will fly off her stall. But she's not the only stallholder selling homemade candles, and when her main competition dies on the first day of the fair, all fingers point to Claire. Can she prove her innocence before Christmas Day?
THE DETECTIVE - Claire Harris, daughter of a retired detective inspector, runs her dream candle shop in a quaint British village. Surrounded by gossiping villagers, tight-knit friends, and loyal family, Claire, in her mid-thirties, can't help sleuthing when strange things happen on her doorstep...
Book 7 in the Claire's Candles Cozy Mystery series! Can be read as a standalone but will be enjoyed better as part of the series. A light, cozy mystery with a candle-loving British amateur female sleuth, in a small village setting with quirky characters. Written in British English. No cliffhanger, swearing, gore or graphic scenes! Contains mild peril.
Other books in the
Murder at the craft fair...
Christmas is around the corner in Northash, and candle shop owner, Claire Harris, is excited about her first craft fair. Being held in the locally historic Starfall House, Claire is sure her festive scents will fly off her stall. But she's not the only stallholder selling homemade candles, and when her main competition dies on the first day of the fair, all fingers point to Claire. Can she prove her innocence before Christmas Day?
THE DETECTIVE - Claire Harris, daughter of a retired detective inspector, runs her dream candle shop in a quaint British village. Surrounded by gossiping villagers, tight-knit friends, and loyal family, Claire, in her mid-thirties, can't help sleuthing when strange things happen on her doorstep...
Book 7 in the Claire's Candles Cozy Mystery series! Can be read as a standalone but will be enjoyed better as part of the series. A light, cozy mystery with a candle-loving British amateur female sleuth, in a small village setting with quirky characters. Written in British English. No cliffhanger, swearing, gore or graphic scenes! Contains mild peril.
Other books in the
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 20, 2022
275 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Frost
75 books597 followersAGATHA FROST, an Amazon bestselling author, has written over thirty mystery novels. She lives in the North West English county of Lancashire with her two cuddly beagles and one cat.
When Agatha isn’t writing, she loves reading head-scratching mysteries and thrillers, coffee, baking, and exploring her local countryside on long dog walks.
From a young age, Agatha devoured the great British murder mystery books and television shows, ample inspiration for her Peridale Café and Claire’s Candles series. She loves writing about family women who juggle their ordinary village lives with the challenges of amateur sleuthing.
Add in some good food, close friends and family, cute pets, and plenty of twists and turns, and you have a classic Agatha Frost mystery.
Sign up to the newsletter at www.agathafrost.com
When Agatha isn’t writing, she loves reading head-scratching mysteries and thrillers, coffee, baking, and exploring her local countryside on long dog walks.
From a young age, Agatha devoured the great British murder mystery books and television shows, ample inspiration for her Peridale Café and Claire’s Candles series. She loves writing about family women who juggle their ordinary village lives with the challenges of amateur sleuthing.
Add in some good food, close friends and family, cute pets, and plenty of twists and turns, and you have a classic Agatha Frost mystery.
Sign up to the newsletter at www.agathafrost.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 6, 2023
It great to see that we follow a story in among murder and mayhem. Claire and her family are great.
Fingers crossed it won't be long till the next book.
Fingers crossed it won't be long till the next book.
May 18, 2023
Sad day for me that this is the last book... for now, I guess. I see that this is the 7th of 8 books in Claire's Candles series, but book 8 called "Wild Flower Worries" was allegedly to be released May 9, 2023 but I can't locate it on Amazon in Kindle library. So, I made a note to check periodically for its release.
Claire walks into a house and finds a body, per usual. However, this time it's a woman's body that Claire had been in an argument with earlier and Claire becomes the prime suspect. However, that doesn't last because she's got an alibi.
And very expensive paintings are missing and it's a complete mystery as to where they could have gone, but the Detective Inspector isn't concerned with the paintings, because there's a body to focus on. However, another body appears that is related to the missing paintings and all of a sudden the Detective has a new concern.
Are all three crimes related? Well, Claire is on the case! Cases. And her boyfriend Ryan's wife (Maya) appears after years of being M.I.A. Maya is also Ryan's daughter and son's mother. Maya does not like Claire and she makes sure Claire knows. Claire begins to avoid Ryan in order to give him space with his wife and worries about whether Ryan will take Maya back and leave Claire in the dirt. But the children don't like their mother or trust her due to her absence and because she's not only calls them names but also tries to buy their love. The children do love Claire though which doesn't make it any easier for Maya to not be angry with her. But the children feel Maya is too fake. But does Ryan share his childrens thoughts about their mother, too?
The relationship between Claire and her father, Alan is so sweet and it just warms my heart to see them interact. He calls her "little one". So cute!
I've truly enjoyed Claire and her little town of Northash. Claire has great friends and sweet family. Like I said, I'll miss these people until the next book. Sigh.
My next read is book 31 called "Do's and Donuts" By Emma Ainsley. Ainsley's Donut series is a very good one and I've enjoyed all of the previous 30. Can't wait to get started!
Claire walks into a house and finds a body, per usual. However, this time it's a woman's body that Claire had been in an argument with earlier and Claire becomes the prime suspect. However, that doesn't last because she's got an alibi.
And very expensive paintings are missing and it's a complete mystery as to where they could have gone, but the Detective Inspector isn't concerned with the paintings, because there's a body to focus on. However, another body appears that is related to the missing paintings and all of a sudden the Detective has a new concern.
Are all three crimes related? Well, Claire is on the case! Cases. And her boyfriend Ryan's wife (Maya) appears after years of being M.I.A. Maya is also Ryan's daughter and son's mother. Maya does not like Claire and she makes sure Claire knows. Claire begins to avoid Ryan in order to give him space with his wife and worries about whether Ryan will take Maya back and leave Claire in the dirt. But the children don't like their mother or trust her due to her absence and because she's not only calls them names but also tries to buy their love. The children do love Claire though which doesn't make it any easier for Maya to not be angry with her. But the children feel Maya is too fake. But does Ryan share his childrens thoughts about their mother, too?
The relationship between Claire and her father, Alan is so sweet and it just warms my heart to see them interact. He calls her "little one". So cute!
I've truly enjoyed Claire and her little town of Northash. Claire has great friends and sweet family. Like I said, I'll miss these people until the next book. Sigh.
My next read is book 31 called "Do's and Donuts" By Emma Ainsley. Ainsley's Donut series is a very good one and I've enjoyed all of the previous 30. Can't wait to get started!
January 5, 2025
I had planned to read Candy Cane Conspiracies in December, but those plans went a little awry and I finally got around to it! January still counts as practically Christmas, right?
This is the seventh in the Claire's Candles mystery series. I've enjoyed every novel in this series and Candy Cane Conspiracies was no different and I devoured it in two sittings.
In this book, Claire is having a very eventful Christmas! She ends up a prime suspect in the murder of Anne, who was running the craft fair at Starfall hall and its current tenant. She also has to deal with the arrival of her boyfriend, Ryan's estranged wife, Maya.
There were so many suspects in this book. I didn't trust a single one of the suspects, and it kept me guessing until the end.
I felt that the mystery wasn't quite the main focus of this story, rather Claire and Ryan's romance. I didn't mind this too much, as I've been rooting for the pair of them since the first book.
As it's a Christmas novel, it's a little schmaltzy in places, but it gave me a warm fuzzy feeling rather than cringing.
A sweet wintery mystery which kept me hooked from beginning to end.
This is the seventh in the Claire's Candles mystery series. I've enjoyed every novel in this series and Candy Cane Conspiracies was no different and I devoured it in two sittings.
In this book, Claire is having a very eventful Christmas! She ends up a prime suspect in the murder of Anne, who was running the craft fair at Starfall hall and its current tenant. She also has to deal with the arrival of her boyfriend, Ryan's estranged wife, Maya.
There were so many suspects in this book. I didn't trust a single one of the suspects, and it kept me guessing until the end.
I felt that the mystery wasn't quite the main focus of this story, rather Claire and Ryan's romance. I didn't mind this too much, as I've been rooting for the pair of them since the first book.
As it's a Christmas novel, it's a little schmaltzy in places, but it gave me a warm fuzzy feeling rather than cringing.
A sweet wintery mystery which kept me hooked from beginning to end.
December 22, 2022
Delightfully Mysterious and Twisted - Like Peppermint
It was fun renewing my acquaintance with Claire and Northash, as well as interesting and puzzling and stunning. There were surprises throughout the book, some unpleasant and others delightful. Snow for Christmas; a happy celebration; and good resolutions to the various plotlines. If I said more, there would be spoilers. A truly enjoyable read. Congratulations, Agatha. Another success.
It was fun renewing my acquaintance with Claire and Northash, as well as interesting and puzzling and stunning. There were surprises throughout the book, some unpleasant and others delightful. Snow for Christmas; a happy celebration; and good resolutions to the various plotlines. If I said more, there would be spoilers. A truly enjoyable read. Congratulations, Agatha. Another success.
December 26, 2022
What a delightful return to this series and the wonderful characters.
A Christmas whodunit shines a light in this latest offering and it is a treat.
Few cozies can hold a candle to this series.
I look forward to reading the next one!
I voluntarily an advance reader copy of this book.
A Christmas whodunit shines a light in this latest offering and it is a treat.
Few cozies can hold a candle to this series.
I look forward to reading the next one!
I voluntarily an advance reader copy of this book.
December 27, 2022
With Christmas coming up quickly, Claire is thrilled to be selling her candles at her first craft fair. She’s surprised to find out that she’s not the only person selling homemade candles. She is taken aback by the venom that her competitor lobs her way. When the woman dies on the very first day of the craft fair, Claire is the prime suspect.
Claire and her family and friends have to put their heads together to solve the case before she ends up spending the holidays in prison.
The holiday mystery is filled with the quirky lovable Northash citizens and some romantic tension as Claire’s boyfriend’s long lost wife finally shows up to cause trouble. Will Ryan return to Maya for the sake of his kids, leaving Claire once more alone?
This tale was a comfortable, cozy read over a cold winter day. I can't wait for the next in the series.
Candy Cane Conspiracies is the seventh book in the Claire’s Candles cozy mystery series by Agatha Frost.
Claire and her family and friends have to put their heads together to solve the case before she ends up spending the holidays in prison.
The holiday mystery is filled with the quirky lovable Northash citizens and some romantic tension as Claire’s boyfriend’s long lost wife finally shows up to cause trouble. Will Ryan return to Maya for the sake of his kids, leaving Claire once more alone?
This tale was a comfortable, cozy read over a cold winter day. I can't wait for the next in the series.
Candy Cane Conspiracies is the seventh book in the Claire’s Candles cozy mystery series by Agatha Frost.
January 23, 2023
Worth the read.
A fun series and characters. I recommend this series to anyone who likes a light hearted read.
I do have to say, and I am sorry to do so, but the editing leaves much to be desired and it is not because it is in any kind England vernacular. I would think that authors would take more care/concern with their own work product, it is after all a representation of themselves. The errors are glaring, but not something a program is going to catch, they are things like words twisted around in a sentence and not spelling errors. More like syntax, tenses and not knowing actual meanings of the words and sentence structure. The errors distract from the reading and the reader has to figure out what the author is meaning to say.
These are fictional stories, I get it. However if it was non fictional the errors would have major consequences and often do. Poor editing just makes me cringe.
A fun series and characters. I recommend this series to anyone who likes a light hearted read.
I do have to say, and I am sorry to do so, but the editing leaves much to be desired and it is not because it is in any kind England vernacular. I would think that authors would take more care/concern with their own work product, it is after all a representation of themselves. The errors are glaring, but not something a program is going to catch, they are things like words twisted around in a sentence and not spelling errors. More like syntax, tenses and not knowing actual meanings of the words and sentence structure. The errors distract from the reading and the reader has to figure out what the author is meaning to say.
These are fictional stories, I get it. However if it was non fictional the errors would have major consequences and often do. Poor editing just makes me cringe.
January 21, 2024
This is the first book I have read in this series and I enjoyed reading it. It is getting close to Christmas and Claire is happy to be selling her candles at her first craft fair. Then she is surprised when she finds out she is not the only one selling homemade candles and the venom that her competitor throws at her. When the woman dies on the first day of the craft fair, Claire is a suspect at first. She is quickly exonerated. There are a lot of twists and turns as well as another murder before the murderer is discovered. Interesting characters as well as a horrible woman who had left Claire's boyfriend a few years earlier and can't seem to decide whether she still wants to be with him and seems to be clueless on how to treat her own children. Things turn out well in the end for everyone.
May 27, 2024
There’s another mystery brewing in Northash, and this time Clair’s invited to sell her candles at a Christmas craft fair, held at the historic, Starfall House.
Janet wrangled an invitation for Claire, and when she meets the sponsor of the craft fair, the woman is quite rude. Before long, Claire realizes that she’s not the only person selling homemade candles.
To make matters worse, Claire finds the woman murdered, and one of her candles was the murder weapon. She becomes the prime suspect.
There is added strife when Claire’s boyfriend’s long-lost wife finally shows up. You know she’s there to cause trouble. How will Ryan deal with his ex, and his feelings for Claire?
Claire and Ryan’s love story adds so much to this series. I literally can’t wait to see what happens next!
Janet wrangled an invitation for Claire, and when she meets the sponsor of the craft fair, the woman is quite rude. Before long, Claire realizes that she’s not the only person selling homemade candles.
To make matters worse, Claire finds the woman murdered, and one of her candles was the murder weapon. She becomes the prime suspect.
There is added strife when Claire’s boyfriend’s long-lost wife finally shows up. You know she’s there to cause trouble. How will Ryan deal with his ex, and his feelings for Claire?
Claire and Ryan’s love story adds so much to this series. I literally can’t wait to see what happens next!
December 28, 2022
Claire's Candle Cozy Mysteries are my favorite cozy mystery series and the latest, Candy Cane Conspiracies, doesn't disappoint. Claire is back with a new candle scent and a mystery at the local craft fair. Perfect holiday read
December 29, 2022
Snowball fun!!
What a twisted story with Claire in the middle.
She finally figures it out though.
Very confusing.
But, the bad guys are caught, Ryan's ex finally leaves, and Claire CA continue to recooperate.
Thanx Agatha, yet again!!
What a twisted story with Claire in the middle.
She finally figures it out though.
Very confusing.
But, the bad guys are caught, Ryan's ex finally leaves, and Claire CA continue to recooperate.
Thanx Agatha, yet again!!
January 2, 2023
Candy Cane Goodness
Best story yet. Mother and daughter finally being honest and enjoying each other. Claire standing up for herself. Em getting what she deserved and Dad his own loveable self who in turn loves his daughter, his " little one"..... Fun read to start my new year.
Best story yet. Mother and daughter finally being honest and enjoying each other. Claire standing up for herself. Em getting what she deserved and Dad his own loveable self who in turn loves his daughter, his " little one"..... Fun read to start my new year.
January 17, 2023
NEVER DISAPPOINTS!
I absolutely love this series for its warm small town, close knit family vibe as well as the complex characters and great plot twists. I always look forward to a new release to the point of marking my calendar!
I absolutely love this series for its warm small town, close knit family vibe as well as the complex characters and great plot twists. I always look forward to a new release to the point of marking my calendar!
March 7, 2024
A fantastic addition to the series.
Christmas fun with murder and mayhem. The characters are wonderful and quirky. The plot is twisty. The world building is great. I'm looking forward to reading the next book.
Christmas fun with murder and mayhem. The characters are wonderful and quirky. The plot is twisty. The world building is great. I'm looking forward to reading the next book.
June 23, 2024
Another cute story
Claire just wants to sell her candles, but those pesky dead bodies keep popping up and making hash of it all. Wonderful characters and storyline make this a delightful book.
Claire just wants to sell her candles, but those pesky dead bodies keep popping up and making hash of it all. Wonderful characters and storyline make this a delightful book.
December 21, 2022
Loved it! Great series!
December 24, 2022
Great book
It was a long time coming but this is another great book in the Claires Candles series by Agatha Frost.
It was a long time coming but this is another great book in the Claires Candles series by Agatha Frost.
December 25, 2022
Loovved it!! Fantastic as usual!!
December 28, 2022
loved the book, lots of twists, great ending...
December 31, 2022
Best one yet!
Another great adventure with Claire and her groupies. It kept me on the edge and I couldn't put it down. Can't wait for the next part of Claire's journey!
Another great adventure with Claire and her groupies. It kept me on the edge and I couldn't put it down. Can't wait for the next part of Claire's journey!
January 3, 2023
Good book
Sometimes it takes me some time to get into the story. Not this time. I hope we see Mark again. I liked him. Good story, good characters. Now to wait for the next one.
Sometimes it takes me some time to get into the story. Not this time. I hope we see Mark again. I liked him. Good story, good characters. Now to wait for the next one.
January 16, 2023
Christmas mystery.
I always enjoy Ms Frost’s books. They are an easy read and I enjoy reading about Claire’s family and Northash with a mystery woven into the story.
I always enjoy Ms Frost’s books. They are an easy read and I enjoy reading about Claire’s family and Northash with a mystery woven into the story.
January 18, 2023
Andy Evans Conspiracies
Loved he ending!
Loved the characters and how you were immediately engrossed
In the series.
Recommended to anyone in their trend amd up.
Loved he ending!
Loved the characters and how you were immediately engrossed
In the series.
Recommended to anyone in their trend amd up.
February 7, 2023
candy cane conspiracies
This was an extremely enjoyable read and good mystery keeping you wondering until the end. I highly recommend it if you enjoy a good Murder mystery.
This was an extremely enjoyable read and good mystery keeping you wondering until the end. I highly recommend it if you enjoy a good Murder mystery.
April 17, 2023
I really enjoy this cozy series. The characters and town fit well together and even though I might think I know who the murder is from the start, I never tire of the journey to the end.
June 4, 2023
A cozy community to visit
When I want to escape a dilemma in my life for a while, this series and the Peridale series are wonderful
When I want to escape a dilemma in my life for a while, this series and the Peridale series are wonderful
July 18, 2023
The 7th Cozy Mystery in this series. It's a nice escape to a small town in Britain.
August 17, 2023
Excellent
I have just finished reading your last candle book in the series and I'm about to start your final cafe book, please carry on writing them, I love them.
I have just finished reading your last candle book in the series and I'm about to start your final cafe book, please carry on writing them, I love them.
March 16, 2024
Totally enjoyed it! This is a well written and has well developed characters. The story is catching and with the strong characters makes for a very enjoyable read. Great Reading Everyone!
May 6, 2024
fun
I love the characters in her books. With each one I come to appreciate them more,too. Join Claire in this latest installment for a fun holiday romp
I love the characters in her books. With each one I come to appreciate them more,too. Join Claire in this latest installment for a fun holiday romp
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews