The Christmas Clue by Nicola Upson (NetGalley ARC, pub 10/20) ⭐⭐⭐⭐This story zigged and zagged and then had an interesting twist at the end. The plan to stage a murder mystery game becomes an actual murder mystery. I enjoyed the strong sense of place and time, and how places can feel so different based on the context. Thank you to Union Square & Co. and NetGalley for the ARC.
Pilgrimage of Primrose Honeychurch by Laura Jensen Walker (NetGalley ARC, pub 10/20) ⭐⭐⭐💫There were themes around neurodivergence, found family, and following one’s dreams. I wanted to like this book more than I did, but I found the main character to be painted too starkly and unlikeable, despite some evolution. I also found parts of the book repetitive and thought it needed a firmer hand with editing. The story was a bit reminiscent of Mikki Brammer’s Good Joy, Bad Joy. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.
A Date with Santa by Debbie Macomber (NetGalley ARC, pub 10/13) ⭐⭐⭐ This was sweet and cute and unchallenging. There’s no dramatic tension and no stakes. You sense everything will work out just fine and it does so it’s a fast and easy read, but not much substance. Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
Return to Breakneck Island by Tom Ryan (NetGalley ARC, pub 10/6) ⭐⭐⭐ The writing was good, but this book suffered from jumpiness. Each chapter bounced among several characters, as well as two different timelines, which made it hard for me to stay with the story. It could have cut a few characters to allow a bit more focus, and probably cut 100 pages to sharpen the story. I did enjoy the ending and particularly the last 20% or so. Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic | Atlantic Crime for the ARC.
Murder on 34th Street by Mariah Fredericks (NetGalley ARC, pub 10/6) ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 I appreciated this historical mystery focused on Macy’s employees during the Great Depression, and centering around the Thanksgiving parade. It got off to a strong start, sagged briefly in the middle, but then came together nicely. I enjoyed the variety of layers, serious themes, solid character development, and a touch of romance, which made it feel like a balanced mystery with a holiday backdrop. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.
Deck the Halls with Boughs of Murder by Jacqueline Frost (NetGalley ARC, pub 10/6) ⭐⭐⭐ This book does a lovely job setting the scene for the holiday season in small town Maine. But it felt so formulaic, with the main character not just being an amateur sleuth but make stupid choices with predictable consequences. A cozy mystery requires me connecting to the main character and in this one I wasn’t able to.
