It’s the first Christmas in Santaland for April Claus–but it may also be her last unless she can uncover a villain with a killer Christmas wish. . .
Love is full of surprises–though few compare to realizing that you’re marrying the real-life Santa. April Claus dearly loves her new husband, Nick, but adjusting to life in the North Pole is not all sugarplums and candy canes. Especially when a cantankerous elf named Giblet Hollyberry is killed–felled by a black widow spider in his stocking–shortly after publicly arguing with Nick.
Christmastown is hardly a hotbed of crime, aside from mishaps caused by too much eggnog, but April disagrees with Constable Crinkle’s verdict of accidental death. As April sets out to find the culprit, it’ll mean putting the future of Christmas on the line–and hoping her own name isn’t on a lethal naughty list.
Titles in the Mrs. Claus series include — Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings – Mrs. Claus and the Halloween Homicide (summer of 2021) –
Title: Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings
Series: Mrs. Claus #1
Author: Liz Ireland
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Published: September 29, 2020
Publisher: Kensington Books
My Rating: 4 stars
Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings gave me more than a few chuckles along the way of solving a nasty murder at the North Pole. Who would kill one of Santa’s elves? Even if he was a grumpy elf, still… seriously, who would do that? We’re about to go on an adventure with a brand new bride to find answers to those puzzling questions.
Although April’s new husband, Nick (the current Santa Claus) had a disagreement with the deceased elf she’s mostly convinced that her husband didn’t have anything to do with the murder. Life is confusing enough for April leaving everything behind to head to a world she never knew existed for real – but having a snooty elf police chief insinuate that the only real suspect is your husband, well, that will get the investigative juices flowing and the stubbornness comes out in full force.
I had fun with this first story in the new series. Yes, I did guess the culprit early on but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the entire story – I not only wanted to know who, but how and why as well. I don’t read Cozy Mysteries to solve the puzzle… I enjoy them for the story that leads to solving the crime, I know eventually the culprit will be revealed.
If you love a good Cozy Mystery with a huge dash of North Pole sweetness, then you’d have fun with Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings.
*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.
