A cold wind is blowing off Lake Michigan, and murder is scaring the dickens out of everyone . . .

Considering her name, Marlee Jacob is an obvious choice for the role of Jacob Marley in Oriole Point’s production of A Christmas Carol. It’s just sad that the role has opened up because of the death of the elderly actor who’d originally been cast.

But Marlee, the proprietor of The Berry Basket, will do her best to keep spirits high–that is until clues start mounting that there’s danger behind the scenes. There are accidents on set, the tree in the village square topples over, and worst of all, a body is found with a sprig of holly draped over it. If Marlee can’t wrap up the case, she may not have a berry merry Christmas . . .

Titles in the Berry Basket Mystery series include — Dying for Strawberries – Blackberry Burial – Killed on Blueberry Hill – Mulberry Mischief – Hollyberry Homicide –

Title:  Hollyberry Homicide
Series:  Berry Basket Mystery #5
Author:  Sharon Farrow
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Published:  September 29, 2020
Publisher:  Kensington Books
My Rating:  4

Hollyberry Homicide is exactly the type of Cozy Mystery I enjoy most.  Lots of things happening, clues galore, but not too many and not too easy – and the main character who is fun to watch as they track down the real killer.  I’ve not read the earlier books in the Berry Basket Mystery series, and I really appreciated that I didn’t have to in order to enjoy this one.  Anything really relevant to this story that we need to know is in the dialogue or narrative.

This small town is putting on the annual Christmas play, A Christmas Carole when it’s discovered that the actor who was to play Scrooge has died.  Well, after all, he was nearing the century mark in his long life so no one was really surprised… until it seems his death was not by natural causes as other deaths begin to add to the growing alarm.  Now with a feeling of doom and rumors that the play is cursed, Marlee is preparing to take over the title role (Jacob Marley – Marlee Jacob… it’s a natural).  She’s busy preparing her business for the holidays, learning her lines, oh, and tracking down a murderer as well.

I had fun in this small town with engaging characters, an interesting puzzle to solve, and a reveal that was perfect.  I don’t need to figure out whodunnit to enjoy a Cozy Mystery, the journey to get to the reveal is where my fun comes from.  If you love a good Cozy Mystery full of suspense, berries, bah-humbugs, and murder then Hollyberry Homicide is perfect for you this Christmas.  I’ll be treating myself to this series next year when I plan out my reading for pleasure list.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Kensington Books via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story.  It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Available in paperback or for your favorite e-reader, mine is the Kindle.