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Juniper Holiday Cozy Mystery #3
Who Slayed The Santas?
It’s Christmas in the Holiday Mansion and Juniper has this years party gift-wrapped and under the tree! Christmas at the Holiday mansion is always a festive affair. The residents of Crescent Cove look forward to Juniper’s yard decorations almost as much as an invitation to one of her parties—and this year everyone has been invited. What could possibly go wrong with a mansion full of people and non-humans? Murder of the ho-ho-ho variety, that’s what. Santa’s not so jolly anymore and Juniper can’t help but be suspicious of Mrs. Claus. Detective Mallard is convinced one of the elves is responsible. Victoria thinks it was an accident. Nobody can be sure, however, because there was no witness—not even the ghosts saw what happened. Juniper is determined to discover the murderer before Christmas Day, which doesn’t give her much time. Will she manage, or will Santa’s murderer go free to sleigh again?
178 pages, Paperback
Published December 11, 2022
129 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Leighann Dobbs
135 books1,863 followersUSA Today bestselling author, Leighann Dobbs, discovered her passion for writing after a twenty year career as a software engineer. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband Bruce, their trusty Chihuahua mix Mojo and beautiful rescue cat, Kitty.
Her book "Dead Wrong" won the "Best Mystery Romance" award at the 2014 Indie Romance Convention.
Her book "Ghostly Paws" was the 2015 Chanticleer Mystery & Mayhem First Place category winner in the Animal Mystery category.
Her book "Dead Wrong" won the "Best Mystery Romance" award at the 2014 Indie Romance Convention.
Her book "Ghostly Paws" was the 2015 Chanticleer Mystery & Mayhem First Place category winner in the Animal Mystery category.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 22, 2023
I love this series! The book/audio is short, for sure. And I love the holiday themes. But, if you are looking for something like that, this is the series for you. I love the cats. I love the ghosts. I love Junie, Det. Mallard and their love/hate relationship and the slow to develop romance between Det. Mallard and Junie's Goddaughter, Victoria. More to come, I'm sure. The audio by Kasey Logan was fantastic.
Juniper Holiday loves Christmas and, as with most holidays, she goes all out for herself and the Cresent Cove community. She is interviewing Santas and then a troupe shows up: Santa, Mrs. Claus, and three elfs. She hires them because their presentation was . . . unique. She has no ides they were actually casing the joint. Juniper was not paying attention as she had to get back to building the North Pole. Late at night, Santa returns and ends up dead under the Christmas tree. Not even the ghosts know who did it and by the way, Det. Mallard has a problem and not even Juniper can help him with it.
Juniper Holiday loves Christmas and, as with most holidays, she goes all out for herself and the Cresent Cove community. She is interviewing Santas and then a troupe shows up: Santa, Mrs. Claus, and three elfs. She hires them because their presentation was . . . unique. She has no ides they were actually casing the joint. Juniper was not paying attention as she had to get back to building the North Pole. Late at night, Santa returns and ends up dead under the Christmas tree. Not even the ghosts know who did it and by the way, Det. Mallard has a problem and not even Juniper can help him with it.
December 20, 2022
Who Slayed The Santas? (Juniper Holiday, #3) by Leighann Dobbs was published on December 15, 2022 and opens with Juniper Holiday decorating her Crescent Cove mansion for her Christmas party. When the Santas she's interviewing for the party start showing up dead on the property, Juniper is determined to find out who the murderer is before the party is ruined.
The Juniper Holiday series is fast becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery series. It just keeps getting better! All of the characters are such a trip, especially the main character named Juniper Holiday. Although Who Slayed The Santas? deals with murder, it's such a fun, entertaining read that made me even more excited for Christmas. This is the perfect book for those who are in a reading rut or looking for a beach read.
Five out of five stars is what I give Who Slayed The Santas? (Juniper Holiday, #3) by Leighann Dobbs. I hope the author keeps writing additional stories for this series.
The Juniper Holiday series is fast becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery series. It just keeps getting better! All of the characters are such a trip, especially the main character named Juniper Holiday. Although Who Slayed The Santas? deals with murder, it's such a fun, entertaining read that made me even more excited for Christmas. This is the perfect book for those who are in a reading rut or looking for a beach read.
Five out of five stars is what I give Who Slayed The Santas? (Juniper Holiday, #3) by Leighann Dobbs. I hope the author keeps writing additional stories for this series.
May 16, 2023
A great read and too funny to put down
November 3, 2023
not the greatest of her books
Juno is really a nasty character who delights in being derogatory toward others. She is too cavalier toward important issues like security, neighborly relationships, snd even death.
Juno is really a nasty character who delights in being derogatory toward others. She is too cavalier toward important issues like security, neighborly relationships, snd even death.
December 16, 2024
Idk why I keep reading this series when I hate everything about it. There are only 2 books left and I really hope Juniper dies in the last one. And someone else narrates the book as the current narrator makes me want to poke knitting needles in my ears.
December 23, 2022
I've been following the Juniper Holiday Cozy Mystery series by Leighann Dobbs since the first book that came out at Halloween and it's been good to very good, however book #4, the latest in the series, "Who Slayed the Santas" didn't meet the expectations laid out in the previous books and other than this one being way too short to tell the story properly, it just seemed like Ms. Dobbs was rushing to get a Christmas book out in time for the holidays.
The characters were all the same and I've always found them to be humorous and entertaining, but in this book the main character, Juniper Holiday seems to act so childish in the way she references the detective to the point where it became distracting rather than funny. She's always used his last name of Mallard to make funny nicknames referring to ducks, but here it just goes over the top for me. She's a little old to be doing this EVERY time they're together.
Also, part of a cozy mystery is the mystery. Well here the deaths occur and before any real investigation or even throwing out some red herrings for us readers, it's solved and that's the end of that! The book should have been at least another 75-100 pages and allowed the reader to try to solve the crime. I felt like one minute I was reading about the dead Santas and the next the culprit was being arrested. Just seemed so rushed and without having time to figure it out for myself, which is the joy in any mystery book, it was dropped right into the story with very little real explanation or purpose. Perhaps it's just me, but I really don't think I have very high expectations for cozy mysteries. All I ask is for a wonderful setting, entertaining characters and a good mystery that I can try to figure out before they do. Sadly, though I just didn't get that with this book. Book #4 comes out next month about New Year's and if it's offered on Kindle Unlimited and I can get it for free I may read it but if it's going to cost me then I may sit this one out. Happy Reading!
The characters were all the same and I've always found them to be humorous and entertaining, but in this book the main character, Juniper Holiday seems to act so childish in the way she references the detective to the point where it became distracting rather than funny. She's always used his last name of Mallard to make funny nicknames referring to ducks, but here it just goes over the top for me. She's a little old to be doing this EVERY time they're together.
Also, part of a cozy mystery is the mystery. Well here the deaths occur and before any real investigation or even throwing out some red herrings for us readers, it's solved and that's the end of that! The book should have been at least another 75-100 pages and allowed the reader to try to solve the crime. I felt like one minute I was reading about the dead Santas and the next the culprit was being arrested. Just seemed so rushed and without having time to figure it out for myself, which is the joy in any mystery book, it was dropped right into the story with very little real explanation or purpose. Perhaps it's just me, but I really don't think I have very high expectations for cozy mysteries. All I ask is for a wonderful setting, entertaining characters and a good mystery that I can try to figure out before they do. Sadly, though I just didn't get that with this book. Book #4 comes out next month about New Year's and if it's offered on Kindle Unlimited and I can get it for free I may read it but if it's going to cost me then I may sit this one out. Happy Reading!
November 24, 2022
Who Slayed the Santa's? is book 3 in the Juniper Holiday series by Leighann Dobbs.
Juniper (Juni) is getting ready for her big Christmas party. She has hired a Santa and Mrs. Claus for the big party.
The next morning, Santa is found dead inside the Juni's house by one of the resident ghosts.
Detective and Juni are both on the case. I honestly love the exchanges between these two, it is hilarious. All the different names that Juni comes up with for the Detective are so funny, Duckman being my favorite.
The mystery is great, I was so surprised when the killer was revealed.
This is such a fun series; I love holiday cozy mysteries and this series is one of the best I have read.
I hope there will be more.
Juniper (Juni) is getting ready for her big Christmas party. She has hired a Santa and Mrs. Claus for the big party.
The next morning, Santa is found dead inside the Juni's house by one of the resident ghosts.
Detective and Juni are both on the case. I honestly love the exchanges between these two, it is hilarious. All the different names that Juni comes up with for the Detective are so funny, Duckman being my favorite.
The mystery is great, I was so surprised when the killer was revealed.
This is such a fun series; I love holiday cozy mysteries and this series is one of the best I have read.
I hope there will be more.
December 2, 2022
This is the third in the series. The characters are developing and growing on me.
Juniper has an issue letting the detective do his job. She thinks the police are incompetent and she can do better. In this installment, several Santas are killed in her mansion.
How did they get there & why were they there.
I did like the interaction between the detective and Juniper at the end of the book. I think she’ll continue to pick on him but I see a respect developing between them.
Tori is the calming agent between the two.
I recommend this light, fun, humorous series.
I was given an advanced copy and am not required to leave a positive review.
Juniper has an issue letting the detective do his job. She thinks the police are incompetent and she can do better. In this installment, several Santas are killed in her mansion.
How did they get there & why were they there.
I did like the interaction between the detective and Juniper at the end of the book. I think she’ll continue to pick on him but I see a respect developing between them.
Tori is the calming agent between the two.
I recommend this light, fun, humorous series.
I was given an advanced copy and am not required to leave a positive review.
November 22, 2022
Who Slayed the Santa's? is the third book in the Juniper Holiday series.
Juniper is interviewing actors for the role of Santa and his helpers for her Christmas soiree.
All is going well until the next morning one of the resident ghosts informs Juniper that one of the Santa's is dead and his body is under the Christmas tree.
Once again, it's Juniper vs. Detective Duckman in the race to find the killers.
And the detective is doing his best to come to terms that he now can see ghosts himself.
Juniper is interviewing actors for the role of Santa and his helpers for her Christmas soiree.
All is going well until the next morning one of the resident ghosts informs Juniper that one of the Santa's is dead and his body is under the Christmas tree.
Once again, it's Juniper vs. Detective Duckman in the race to find the killers.
And the detective is doing his best to come to terms that he now can see ghosts himself.
November 28, 2023
Leigh Ann Dobbs is amongst one of my favorite cozy read authors. However this book was a disappointment for me. The duck jokes were highly annoying. I had not read the two previous books in the series. Most cozy reads will have a fairly detailed recap to catch readers up on the storyline. This book had very little, so I found myself lost and confused about the characters. I’m assuming the detective will eventually get with the goddaughter, but with the way Juniper treats him I don’t see how or why. Juniper’s actions toward Mallard go beyond teasing. It is so excessive it becomes bullying.
November 23, 2022
I love this new series! This is the third book and they just keep getting better and better. June is a free-spirit, who enjoys life. She also enjoys driving the local police detective crazy! She just can’t seem to let him do his job without interfering. At least, that’s how he sees it. She thinks she’s just doing some research to help speed things along. With Tori, her goddaughter, June will do her best to find any information that will help lead to the killer. Can’t wait for the next one!
December 21, 2022
A joyous holiday romp for almost everyone!
Juniper Holiday’s parties are always memorable, especially for those who live to tell about them…Christmas is no exception. As the body count rises, the living and the formerly living join forces (willingly and otherwise) to solve the murders. A good time was had by this reader!
Juniper Holiday’s parties are always memorable, especially for those who live to tell about them…Christmas is no exception. As the body count rises, the living and the formerly living join forces (willingly and otherwise) to solve the murders. A good time was had by this reader!
December 21, 2025
Not my favorite of the Juniper Holiday series. This one felt like it was missing something. I had a theory towards the beginning of the book, and I think it would have been more interesting if my theory were correct than how it actually panned out. I still enjoy these short little cozy mysteries and they are helping me to hit my reading goal!
December 18, 2022
Entertaining Series
This is a fun mystery series with very likable characters! Juniper is so much fun! The mysteries are twisty and well written! Can’t wait for the next one! Hope Ms Dobbs keeps this going! There’s Easter, Memorial Day you get my drift! Love this series!
This is a fun mystery series with very likable characters! Juniper is so much fun! The mysteries are twisty and well written! Can’t wait for the next one! Hope Ms Dobbs keeps this going! There’s Easter, Memorial Day you get my drift! Love this series!
December 26, 2022
Santa is not coming to town
What a difference in books this one is compared to the Mystic Notch series.
Juni and Tori are great characters plus McDuck! So cute! I look forward to the next one in the series.
What a difference in books this one is compared to the Mystic Notch series.
Juni and Tori are great characters plus McDuck! So cute! I look forward to the next one in the series.
December 27, 2022
Another fun cozy mystery in the Juniper Holiday series. Juni is kooky, fun loving, talks to ghosts and loves giving the local sheriff a hard time. Not to mention, dead bodies keep turning up on her property.
December 31, 2022
Wondeful addition to the series
There were several laugh out loud moments in the latest adventures of Juniper Holiday. My favorites are the many names she has for Detective Mallard. These books are quick reads and full of plot twists. I highly recommend this series.
There were several laugh out loud moments in the latest adventures of Juniper Holiday. My favorites are the many names she has for Detective Mallard. These books are quick reads and full of plot twists. I highly recommend this series.
December 18, 2023
This book had over 4 stars on Goodreads so I thought I’d try it since the reviews were positive and I thought it would a fun quick holiday read. It was, but kind of cheesy…It will probably be awhile before I read another one. 🤷♀️
January 1, 2024
My final Christmas audiobook of the year. This was a short novella and part of a cozy holiday series, but the only one I have read. It was cute and had a mystery, but seemed like it should have been a little longer.
February 8, 2024
This book was pretty good. This is the third installment in the Juniper Holiday Cozy Mystery Series. The story was well-written, well-paced, and entertaining. Worth the time to read. I'm hoping my library obtains other books written by this author.
July 27, 2025
Book 3 in the Juniper Holiday Series. Another party planned to make up for the last two that had a death but why break the tradition with Santas? Christmas is around the corner and a killer on the loose and thinks they've gotten the best present yet, not being caught.
December 20, 2022
Interesting - if you like paranormal
Leighann Dobbs is a good writer, but I’m not really into paranormal. She keeps the paranormal down enough that I can deal with it.
Leighann Dobbs is a good writer, but I’m not really into paranormal. She keeps the paranormal down enough that I can deal with it.
December 21, 2022
Juni does it again
Another fun read thought I had figured out the Killer but again I was surprised. Great job kitty cats and ghost helping with evidence.
Another fun read thought I had figured out the Killer but again I was surprised. Great job kitty cats and ghost helping with evidence.
March 24, 2023
For a short story it was good but left me with wanting more, like the story ended too soon.
January 28, 2024
Santa's gone wild
Not one, but two Santa's are dead, but how? Juniper to the rescue while trying to set up for the big Christmas party.
Not one, but two Santa's are dead, but how? Juniper to the rescue while trying to set up for the big Christmas party.
July 18, 2024
Fun short story
December 11, 2024
Short, fun, listens. I like Juniper's Auntie Mame style.
January 10, 2026
I enjoy Leighann Dobbs' books! Always interesting, usually fun!
2 hr 59 min
2 hr 59 min
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews