Book Review: Slashing Through the Snow by Jacqueline Frost

Slashing Through the Snow (Christmas Tree Farm #3). Jacqueline Frost.  Crooked Lane Books (2021). 304 pages. Genre:  Cozy Mystery.

First Line: "'I'm not sure there's enough gift wrap left in Mistletoe to cover all these toys,' I said, setting another heaping bag of donations onto a precarious pile in my office."

Summary:  Holly White is excited for her first Christmas season as innkeeper at Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm.  Each of the rooms has a guest and Holly is thrilled.  Karen Moody, travel journalist and hospitality critic for New England Magazine, is one of the guests.  She is in town to review the inn and keeps Holly hopping with her complaints and requests.  Holly is trying to accommodate her as she would really love a good review.  Unfortunately, someone else wasn't quite as understanding as Holly.  Karen was hit over the head and her body was thrown into the toy donation receptacle.  

The list of suspects is long.  Karen was known to write scathing reviews, often ruining businesses.  Unfortunately, the evidence is pointing to Holly's friend Cookie.  She was overheard saying someone should hit Karen over the head and the murder weapon was a gift from Cookie to Holly.  Holly knows the threat was just idle talk, but Sheriff Gray has to follow the evidence.  Will Holly be able to sit back and let him solve the case?  

My thoughts:  I will admit that Holly does a better job of sitting back this time.  But, of course, she has to follow some leads.  When Cookie ends up being held at the station and the possibility that she will have to spend Christmas there grows closer, Holly feels the pressure to discover the real killer so her friend can enjoy Christmas.  

The addition of the inn makes for a charming setting.  Holly has her own personal suite at the inn which is convenient and cozy.  This has made room for Evan's sister Libby, who we met in the previous book, to move in to the guest cottage that was previously Holly's home.  Having everyone so close reinforces the theme of family and found family that is so prevalent in these books.  

The focus is on Cookie as suspect this time.  It was interesting to see a different side of her.  She has been portrayed as a quirky, older woman full of zest.  She is still that, but there is a fearful, timid side of her that comes out when she is accused of murder.  The relationship between Holly and Sheriff Gray develops as does the relationship between Libby and Ray.  An added bit of fun is the wedding of Ray's mom set to take place just before Christmas.  

It was easy to see why someone would want to murder Karen Moody.  As we learn more about her, she seemed to be someone who used her position as a reviewer to be as nasty as possible.  She left a trail of angry people and ruined businesses in her wake. The method of murder fit the motive.  But, discovering who had enough anger to lash out was difficult.  In fact, I never saw it coming.  

The Christmas spirit is very prevalent in the story.  It is easy to imagine yourself sitting near a roaring fire at the inn surrounded by "images of Santa, elves and snow-covered villages".  Smelling vanilla, pine greens and cinnamon.  Sipping on hot chocolate and devouring delicious treats.  But most of all it is that spirit of love and family that make it feel most like Christmas.  This is an enjoyable, heartwarming mystery that is perfect for this time of year.