"'Twas the Knife Before Christmas" by Jacqueline Frost

"Business at the Hearth was out of control all afternoon. I spun through the tables like a lunatic delivering Santa's cinnamon tea, every kind of cocoa under the sun, and a rainbow of cookies in every shape and size."

— 'Twas the Knife Before Christmas

Since it's Christmas week, I thought I would do something different and share some of the Christmas-themed novels I have been reading in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

While 'Twas the Knife Before Christmas by Jacqueline Frost may sound sinister, it's actually among the coziest of cozy mysteries, and when you finish this book, you'll be ready to book a trip to Mistletoe, Maine. That's the home of Holly White, whose family owns and operates a Christmas tree farm known as Reindeer Games. Holly's best friend, Caroline, has just opened a new cupcake shop in town, and Caroline is still hopping mad after a bad date with a guy named Derek, whose less-than-gentlemanly ways caused her to tell him off and leave. The date occurred at a local benefit dinner, and to Caroline's dismay, their fight was recorded and broadcast on the news.

Caroline tries to put the unfortunate evening behind her, but that's hard to do when she and Holly show up for the town's tree-lighting ceremony and a giant candy dish full of peppermints is revealed—with Derek's lifeless body inside. Caroline is arrested for the murder, and Holly and her friends pester Evan, the sheriff—who also happens to be Holly's love interest—about getting Caroline out of jail.

In addition to worrying about her imprisoned girlfriend, Holly is concerned that Evan has become standoffish and refuses to tell her why he's been going on so many out-of-town trips. To make matters worse, Holly is checking out his house one night while he's away and spots an attractive female inside. As if all that isn't enough to keep her busy, Holly is also helping her parents as work nears completion on the new inn at Reindeer Games, where Holly is about to become the innkeeper.

This murder mystery is a good whodunit, but the star of this show is the setting of Mistletoe and particularly the delightful Reindeer Games. Whether it's sleigh rides through the snow or the cleverly named "Bling that Gingerbread" contest, Reindeer Games has got it going on during Christmas, and Santas galore are popping up all over town. There are so many cute references to Christmas in this book—from Holly and the town of Mistletoe to an almost magical contractor named Christopher—that only the most Scrooge-like of readers won't find something to love in this charming, exceptionally well-written holiday tale.

Review copy courtesy of NetGalley