Stalking Around the Christmas Tree

by Jacqueline Frost Narrated by Allyson Ryan

Overview

For innkeeper Holly White, Christmas time in Mistletoe, Maine, is the ultimate holiday gift. Business at the Reindeer Games Inn is booming, her wedding to Sheriff Evan Gray is nearly here, and the annual parade is about to begin. The town is lucky to have another gift this year with the state's ballet company staying for several performances of The Nutcracker. But disaster strikes when Tiffany, the lead ballerina, shows up dead on a float during the parade, the Rat King's mask nearby. Holly will have to spruce up her sleuthing skills if she wants to catch the killer before Christmas-and her wedding day. Immediately, Holly discovers that Tiffany had more than a few secrets. She finds out that the star of the show had a super fan that no one knows anything about. And the show's understudy slips some other intriguing information Holly's way: not only was Tiffany secretly seeing someone romantically, but there seems to be more than one rat in this company. When Holly discovers a secret passage leading to Tiffany's dressing room, with footprints leading out, she wonders if this is evidence of a secret lover-or a stalking killer. With an impending snowstorm and the ballet company on the way out of town, Holly must act quickly if she wants to find the person responsible for this terrible murder. Will she be able to save Christmas-or will her investigation turn cold like the weather?

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Praise for Stalking Around the Christmas Tree:
WONDER WOMEN SIXTY’S FAVORITE HOLIDAY MYSTERIES

“Thrilling . . . Sure to be a hit with cozy-mystery lovers.”
—Library Journal, starred review

“Quirky characters and holiday cheer.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“The perfect book to cozy up with on a cold winter day.”
—San Francisco Book Review

“A genuine treat for cozy mystery fans at any time of the year.”
—Midwest Book Review

“Well executed . . . A new favorite Cozy Mystery author.”
—Fresh Fiction

“Another winner. Fans of the series will be happy.”
—Red Carpet Crash

“[A] feel-good mystery . . . Be prepared to be immediately launched into the Christmas spirit!”
—Wonder Woman Sixty

“Will get you in the holiday season faster than seeing holiday decorations in the stores before Thanksgiving.”
—Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

Praise for the Christmas Tree Farm Mysteries:
“A charming holiday cozy, filled with mystery and mistletoe, romance and reindeer, and a memorable heroine you’ll be cheering on. A festive mystery sure to delight cozy fans.”
—Sally Goldenbaum, USA Today bestselling author of the Seaside Knitters Society mysteries
 
“A memorable adventure filled with Christmas spirit to warm your heart.”
—Duffy Brown, national bestselling author of Demise in Denim
 
“Guaranteed to get you into the holiday spirit, no matter what the time of year.”
—Vicki Delany, national bestselling author of the Year Round Christmas mysteries
 
“A merry mix of mistletoe and murder! Jacqueline Frost works some Christmas magic.”
—Erika Chase, national bestselling author of the Ashton Corners Book Club mysteries
 
“A sparkling, page-turning debut mystery . . . Climb aboard a sleigh and hang on for an adventure-filled ride.”
—Christine Husom, bestselling author of the Snow Globe Shop mysteries
 
“Readers will love spending time with Holly and all the other quirky, endearing characters in Mistletoe, Maine, a crisp winter setting decked out in history, tradition, and small town Christmas charm!” 
—Barbara Early, author of Death of a Toy Soldier

“A lively and festive cozy series, introducing an appealing protagonist and charming Maine setting. Fans of Vicki Delany's Year-Round Christmas Mystery titles will enjoy.”
—Library Journal

“Cozy fans with a sweet tooth will be in heaven.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Wholesome as the Christmas Tree Farm, with a little humor as a bow.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“All the warm and fuzzy merriment of the holidays, with charming characters, an idealistic setting, and murder.”
—San Francisco Book Review, five-star review

“The characters are vibrant and endearing and the mystery is multifaceted...would recommend it to anyone who loves cozies.”
—Seattle Book Review

Library Journal

★ 10/01/2023

In Frost's fourth "Christmas Tree Farm Mystery" (following Slashing Through the Snow), it's the busiest time of the year in Mistletoe, ME, for both holiday cheer and murder. Holly White has her hands full preparing for her wedding to Mistletoe sheriff Evan Gray, and her inn is fully booked by a troupe of ballerinas who will be performing in The Nutcracker. After three Christmas murders in three years, the town hopes for a fun and uneventful holiday season. But once again, the holiday season turns deadly when the ballet troupe's star dancer dies in the middle of a Christmas parade. Despite pleas from her friends and her fiancé to stay away from the investigation, Holly pieces together the clues to make sure the killer is caught before the troupe leaves town. Frost's novel also contains a thrilling side plot focused on Evan's sister Libby, who featured prominently in a previous book. VERDICT Readers of the other books in Frost's series will be pleased with this newest addition, full of Christmas foods, decorations, and festivities, with an intriguing central mystery; it's sure to be a hit with cozy-mystery lovers.—Tristan Draper

Kirkus Reviews

2023-08-25
Mistletoe, Maine, is all about Christmas and murder.

Holly White’s parents own Reindeer Games, a tree farm complete with an inn and restaurant. Holly runs the inn, her mom the restaurant and her dad the farm. As if that’s not enough, Holly’s about to get married, an event her best friend Caroline West is organizing down to the last detail. Caroline is also about to star Mrs. White as the featured baker on her YouTube channel, and the appearance of a well-regarded ballet company performing The Nutcracker has prompted Holly’s fiance, Sheriff Evan Gray, to hire extra security to make sure this additional influx of holiday tourists doesn't disturb the peace. On top of all that hustle and bustle, Evan’s sister, Libby, who testified against a gangster, has become reclusive and odd, going about in disguises and dumping her boyfriend. When prima ballerina Tiffany Kreig, the only member of the company to appear in the town’s Christmas parade, dies, apparently of poison, Holly pitches in once again along with her friends and family to help Evan solve the crime before their nuptials become another casualty. Taking the opportunity to get acquainted with some of the ballet company staying at the inn, Holly becomes suspicious of ballet master George Ashton, but because Tiffany had recently been promoted over other, better dancers and given the starring role, she could have plenty of other enemies. It’s not long before Holly starts to receive threats from someone desperate to leave Tiffany’s death unsolved.

If it weren’t for that one fatality, this would be a happy tale of quirky characters and holiday cheer.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940159606822
Publisher:	Dreamscape Media
Publication date:	10/17/2023
Series:	Christmas Tree Farm Mystery , #4
Edition description:	Unabridged

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