Book Review: Twelve Slays of Christmas by Jacqueline Frost

Twelve Slays of Christmas (Christmas Tree Farm #1). Jacqueline Frost. Crooked Lane Books (2017). 311 pages.  Genre: Cozy Mystery.

First Lines:  "'I have two cups of Santa's cinnamon tea, one spicy apple cider, and a peppermint twist hot cocoa,' I said, setting the mugs on the table surrounded by rosy-cheeked women wearing matching holiday sweaters."

Summary:  Holly White is back home in Mistletoe, Maine.  Her parents own Reindeer Games Tree Farm.  She has come home after her fiancee left her for a yoga instructor.  She is just in time to help out with "Twelve Days of Reindeer Games".  Each day leading up to Christmas, the farm holds a special activity.  

While helping out in "The Hearth", the tree farm's cafe, Holly overhears a neighbor complaining about being fined by Margaret Fenwick of the Historical Society.  A member of the Fenwick family had been president of the Historical Society for a long time.  The shops in town were often at odds with the Historical Society over one thing or another.  Today she is even threatening to fine the tree farm for not having a livestock permit for their reindeer and inadequate fencing.  When she confronts Holly's dad in the cafe, he tells her his fencing is brand new and he won't just take it down.  An argument ensues and ends with Margaret threatening to take down the fencing herself if he won't.  After Margaret storms out the door, Holly's dad is remorseful and leaves to try to catch Margaret and apologize.  Holly's mom asks her to follow her dad and help him out with his apology.  Holly searches for her dad, but can't find him.  As she is wandering around outside, she hears a scream and someone calling for help.  When she reaches the woman she is pointing toward a sleigh, Margaret Fenwick's sleigh.  Margaret is slumped over on the seat of the sleigh, dead.  

The police are called.  They discover the murder weapon in a dumpster on the tree farm property.  The murder weapon was a tree marker used by the farm.  Holly's dad was carrying a bag full of them when he left the cafe.  He is the prime suspect.  But Holly knows her dad didn't do this.  But, if he didn't do it, who did?

My thoughts:  This book is definitely full of Christmas.  It took me a while to get past the Christmas reference saturated sentences.  But, when I did, I enjoyed the story.

Holly is doing her best to remain positive after her engagement broke up.  I love the relationship she has with her parents.  They are really glad to have her back home, but give her some space and remain aware that she is grieving.  Over the course of the book she comes to realize how important it is to be part of a family and community.  It is fun to watch her come out of her cocoon and grow.

Sheriff Gray is new to Mistletoe.  After working homicide in Boston, he wanted to work somewhere that had few murders.  Unfortunately, he has arrived in Mistletoe just in time for the first murder in forty years.  But, fortunately for the community, he has plenty of experience working these types of cases.  However, Holly can't stop herself from trying to figure out who murdered Margaret.  This causes Sheriff Gray no end of frustration as the killer keeps threatening Holly.

The mystery is fairly straightforward and not a lot of time is spent on it until the last third of the book.  When things pick up, there is plenty of suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat.  

There is a lot of time spent on the festivities at Reindeer Games.  The author's description of the Snowball Roll had me laughing out loud.  Expect to be hungry after reading about all the delicious cookies, desserts and drinks mentioned in the book.  

This was an enjoyable read, full of all things Christmas along with a little mystery.