Recent Reads: Christmas Corpse by Mona Marple

Christmas Corpse by Mona Marple 

Series: A Christmas Cozy Mystery #1
Publisher: Aspen Park Publishing
Publication Date:  May 21, 2024

 

Format: Ebook
Source: Stuff your Kindle day Freebie, also on Kindle Unlimited.

Rating:

Synopsis: 

Welcome to Candy Cane Hollow, where every day feels like Christmas!

Holly Wood (yes, that's her real name) is driving home for Christmas and not feeling too happy about the empty house waiting for her.

When her car skids into a snow bank, she's rescued by a sweet old lady who promises her name is Mrs Claus.

Holly is taken to Candy Cane Hollow to recover, and finds herself in a genuine winter wonderland.

As Christmas Day approaches, the grouchy medical receptionist appears to have been poisoned by a mince pie.

And to Holly's surprise, Mrs Claus is the prime suspect.

With Mrs Claus under suspicion, Holly vows to return the woman's generosity by clearing her name.

Maybe it will impress Mrs Claus' dimpled dish of a son, too?

Review: 

Holly Wood crashes in the snow on her way home from work and is saved by an older woman going by Mrs. Claus. Holly is rescued at just the right time - for her health but also for her life outlook, she is in need of a change. 

On their way to town they head to urgent care to ensure Holly is ok and upon returning to Mrs. Claus' house they learn that the receptionist was murdered and the Mrs. Claus is the prime suspect. 

This was a short holiday murder mystery, set in a Christmas themed town with the Claus family. Holly, with time on her hands, stays around to ensure she is better but also help out Mrs. Claus since she saved her. It probably doesn't hurt that she has a very good looking son as well and Holly might be interested. 

Holly seems a bit lost to start and this is just the distraction that she needs. She is lonely and alone and it is the holidays. She is a determined and self-sufficient main character trying to help in this hidden town. 

I livked the overall story, but the timeline seemed a bit lost for me - was she driving home on Christmas eve... was she in town for Chritmas Eve... and christmas comes and goes in there but seems like a few days. That was my biggest hang up with this read. I just had trouble figureing out how many days Holly was in town. 

Overall, this was a cute, short holiday novella. So if you like a murder mystery and a very holiday themed world, this might be a good one to pick up.