“Budewitz’s finely drawn characters, sharp ear for dialogue, and well-paced puzzle make Jewel Bay a destination for every cozy fan.”–Kirkus Reviews “Clean-as-a-whistle dialogue, endearing characters, and a solid plot make this cozy a winner.”–Publishers Weekly “Cozy readers will relish the small-town,Christmastime frame accompanying details of frenzied wedding planning and running a family food … running a family food business. And, of course, recipes, too.”–Booklist
Erin is one smart cookie, but can she keep the holiday spirit–and herself–alive till Christmas?
In Jewel Bay, all is merry and bright. At Murphy’s Mercantile, AKA the Merc, manager Erin Murphy is ringing in the holiday season with food, drink, and a new friend: Merrily Thornton. A local girl gone wrong, Merrily has turned her life around. But her parents have publicly shunned her, and they nurse a bitterness that chills Erin.
When Merrily goes missing and her boss discovers he’s been robbed, fingers point to Merrily–until she’s found dead, a string of lights around her neck. The clues and danger snowball from there. Can Erin nab the killer–and keep herself in one piece–in time for a special Christmas Eve?
Includes delicious recipes!
Praise for the Food Lovers’ Village Mysteries:
“A lighthearted and amusing story with the added bonus of several yummy recipes.”–Mystery Scene
“Treble at the Jam Festhas all the necessary elements to satisfy cozy mystery lovers: likeable, believable characters, a fast-moving plot, and a logical ending. Great fun!”–Suspense Magazine
“A pleasing read with a thoughtful heroine, a plethora of red herrings, and some foodie tips.”–Kirkus Reviews
“A delicious mystery as richly constructed as the layers of a buttery pastry. Wine, enchiladas, and song make for a gourmet treat in the coziest town in Montana!”–Krista Davis, New York Times bestselling author of the Domestic Diva Mysteries
“Leslie is a fellow foodie who loves a good mystery and it shows in this delightful tale!”–Cleo Coyle, New York Timesbestselling author of the Coffeehouse Mysteries
“Music, food, scenery, and a cast of appealing characters weave together in perfect harmony in Leslie Budewitz’s latest book.”–Sheila Connolly, author of the Orchard Mysteries and the County Cork Mysteries
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I really enjoyed this Christmas Cozy. Jewel Bay merchants are getting ready for Christmas and Erin is putting the finishing touches on her Christmas Wedding. When a young woman who has returned home is found murdered Erin is determined to solve the crime. I really enjoy the characters and the small town setting. The author does a very good job with the Christmas setting. Reading this story made me want to bake Christmas Cookies. The mystery was good and the who did it was a surprise. Enjoy this Christmas Cozy
Synopsis:
In Jewel Bay, all is merry and bright. At Murphy’s Mercantile, AKA the Merc, manager Erin Murphy is ringing in the holiday season with food, drink, and a new friend: Merrily Thornton. A local girl gone wrong, Merrily’s turned her life around. But her parents have publicly shunned her, and they nurse a bitterness that chills Erin.
When Merrily goes missing and her boss discovers he’s been robbed, fingers point to Merrily—until she’s found dead, a string of lights around her neck. The clues and danger snowball from there. Can Erin nab the killer—and keep herself in one piece—in time for a special Christmas Eve? (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Erin is a smart, spunky and scrappy woman and she does not back down from any challenge. When the murder of her friend occurs, she knows she has to solve the murder for her friend’s sake. I really like her family relationships and the fact that they are so close. Their interactions were realistic and very enjoyable to read.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the story I felt that I was right there watching all of the action taking place. I really liked the setting of Jewel Bay, Montana, and it would be a place I would like to visit. It has a typical small town feel and everyone knows everybody else’s business.
The mystery was well plotted and it was not easy to solve. There were enough suspects to consider and plenty of clues to sift through. There were plenty of twists and turns and it made the mystery that much more difficult to solve.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. This is the first book that I have read in this series, but it will not be the last.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Midnight Ink, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
The fifth book in author Leslie Budewtiz’s Food Lover Village Mysteries, As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles, is a fascinating cozy mystery with realistic characters who are very likable. The storyline flows well and I enjoyed all the Christmas happenings in Jewel Bay. I really enjoyed following along as amateur sleuth Erin Murphy collected the clues that helped solve the murder mystery. This story doesn’t only end with the murder solved but it also tickled my heart with the happy ending.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
A very good mystery tale, holiday or otherwise. There’s a lot going on here. It’s the holiday time of year and the main character owns her own business, a wedding on the horizon…the very near horizon, decorating, a home that she and her fiancé are renovating, her business building that needs some repair, and a murder that needs investigating.
One of the characters I wish I could have had more time with was the one who was murdered. We learn about her in sort of reminiscent manner, but I felt a bit cheated.
Erin getting involved in the investigation always feels real enough, but dadgum, I don’t know how she finds the time! Especially this time with everything on her plate. It felt kind of like she was the only one doing anything, the town detectives weren’t mentioned very much.
Maybe I was just in a grouchy frame of mind…maybe should have read it in my usual holiday timeframe of November and December. Reading it in January and back to reality might not have been best idea. It’s on my Nook so I can read it later this year in winter.
I know I can definitely recommend this author, this series and her Spice Shop Mystery series.
This was an interesting cozy mystery. I have to say that I had figured out the “whodunnit” pretty early in the book. But I still enjoyed reading and seeing how many twists the story could take and the excitement that would occur throughout the pages.
Even though this is the fifth book in the series, it was still interesting and worked well starting well into the story line that makes up the series. The author does a great job of developing the characters, keeping you guessing, and making you care about the people in the story.
I would definitely read another book in this series and may even go back and read from the first book to catch up on things that happened before this one.starts.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Good characters
Puzzling mystery
A good pace
A satisfying solution
As The Christmas Cookie Crumbles by Leslie Budewitz is the Book #5 in the A Food Lovers Village Mystery Series.
It’s Christmas time in Jewel Bay. Erin Murphy, the Merc (Murphy’s Mercantile) manager is busy along with all the other “elves” to get the town ready for Christmas while working on the finishing details to her upcoming marriage to Adam on Christmas Eve.
Everyone is surprised to see Merrily Thornton return to town. However, Erin finds a kinship of sorts and hopes to become friends with this once gone astray girl. Gossip flows after the scene between Merrily her Mother. Then her sudden disappearance along with money found in her desk drawer at work and discrepancies with the company bookkeeping makes it look like she had went back to her old ways.
Erin just “feels” that people are jumping to the wrong conclusion. When Merrily is found dead, she is determined to find out not only who killed her but to prove that she is innocent of stealing and book tampering.
This story is full of twists and turns that keep you interested and turning the pages. There are plenty of suspects and you will change your mind throughout the book as to whodunit which I love in a cozy mystery.
I love the way the author mixes just the right mixture of holiday spirit and the upcoming wedding with the event towards solving the murder. She made it the perfect Christmas cozy mystery that everyone will enjoy. She shows how happy and loving a family can be but also that some families are highly dysfunctional as it is in real life. I really enjoyed the spunk of Erin and how she shows her loyalty to family, friends and the town she loves and how you must swim upstream sometimes to defend a friend – even a new one. Her marriage to Adam is the icing on the Christmas cookie with all the ups and downs of preparing for a wedding but the undying devotion of her husband to be including his little remodel surprise.
There are several great recipes in the back of the book that were talked about in the story. If you are anything like me, you be trying them. I know they made my mouth water when I read about them while reading the book.
I highly recommend AS THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE CRUMBLES to anyone that loves a great cozy, enjoys a good Christmas story or just appreciates the work of a wonderful author.
I love reading holiday themed books all year round. This one was fun to read as the author makes the town come to life with decorations that make you smile. I would love to visit the Merc and hang out with Erin. She sounds so fun and oh my does she have wonderful things to buy in the store. When Merrily was introduced into the story I instantly liked her. She has had a hard life but I really think she is trying to change things for the better. I was so angry when her mom made a scene in front of everybody and basically rejected her. What happened to forgiveness and giving someone a second chance?
I was very angry when Merrily came up missing. I could see the writing on the wall of her demise. The author does a great job of giving readers several suspects. The town is pretty much in shock and Erin steps into help the investigation. I hope she remembers she has a very important event coming up on Christmas Eve. The tension over the years between Merrily and her parents was very well written. I felt a little tug on my heart for her father. He wanted to make amends with his daughter, but for some reason Merrily’s mother wouldn’t budge. I would hate it if I had a strained relationship with one of my kids.
The action and intrigue in the story is fast paced and I really enjoyed trying to figure out who the killer was. Erin has attracted someones attention regarding Merrily’s death because she finds herself in unexpected danger. The story is very well written and I loved finding out more about Merrily when she was younger. There were some twists that I didn’t see coming and was very surprised at who the killer was. Don’t miss this great adventure and the wonderful recipes at the back of the book.
I received a copy of this book from The Great Escape Virtual Book Tour. The review is my own opinion.
As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles by Leslie Budewitz is the fifth novel in A Food Lover’s Village Mystery series. Erin Murphy is the manager of Murphy’s Glacier Mercantile (aka The Merc) in Jewel Bay, Montana. The town is getting ready for Christmas with Decorating Day. While switching out a tub of lights, Erin witnesses (along with the rest of the town) an unpleasant scene between Taya Thornton and her daughter, Merrily. Erin is shocked at the bitterness expressed by Taya towards Merrily after eighteen years. Erin invites Merrily over to The Merc and to the cookie swap at her house on Sunday. Merrily does not show up for the cookie exchange, and she is AWOL from Building Supply where she works on Monday. Not only is Merrily missing, but cash from the business is as well. Many say that Merrily failed to change her ways. Then Merrily is found dead with a string of Christmas lights around her neck. With Greg Taylor as a prime suspect, Erin starts snooping (not that she needed a reason). Who would risk going on Santa’s naughty list by killing Merrily? Can Erin wrap up the case before her wedding?
As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles is well-written and has a steady pace. I found Ms. Budewitz’s conversational writing style to be pleasing. I was drawn into the story and my attention was held throughout. Jewel Bay is a charming, small town that goes all out for Christmas. I loved the descriptions of the shops and the decorations (I wanted to visit and do some shopping). I like how everyone pitches in to help with various activities. The characters are nicely developed and, for the most part, are friendly and relatable. Detective Bello is the grinch of the story (I could imagine him saying Bah Humbug). I enjoy Erin’s approach to sleuthing with her Spreadsheet of Suspicion. The mystery was well-crafted and multi-faceted. There are many gratifying cozy moments in As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles. Erin is preparing for her wedding, buying Christmas presents, cooking, cookie exchange, Erin and Adam with their new home, baking, Adam worrying about his brothers coming to town, and spending time with family and friends. While there is a lot going on in the story, it is not overwhelming. I agreed with Erin about the cuteness of the Property Brothers. I recommend reading the books in A Food Lover’s Village Mystery in order. I am grateful for the list of characters at the front of the book (helpful). It was a pleasure to visit Jewel Bay in As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles and I look forward to returning in the next A Food Lover’s Village Mystery.
Erin and Adam are getting married at Christmastime in Jewel Bay, Montana, but all is not calm and bright as Erin’s new friend, Merrily, is found murdered the day after the Christmas cookie exchange. Merrily’s previous criminal record comes back to haunt her – even after her death, she’s accused of embezzlement for the second time in her life – and Erin sets out to find the killer, but she’s not sure that Merrily was guilty of pilfering the missing funds. Using her Spreadsheet of Suspicion (love this!!!), Erin seeks justice for her lost friend, and investigates both the murder and embezzlement. Leslie Budewitz’ As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles is the fifth book in the Food Lover’s Village Series, and it’s simply one of the most enjoyable cozies I’ve had the pleasure of reading – small close-knit community, a loving family, delicious recipes, a little romance, and of course, murder – it has it all! Absolutely loved it!
Series: A Food Lovers’ Village Mystery – Book 5
Author: Leslie Budewitz
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Culinary
Publisher: Midnight Ink
Available June 8, 2018
All is merry and bright in Jewel Bay, Montana. At Murphy’s Mercantile, AKA the Merc, manager Erin Murphy is ringing in the holiday season with food, drink, a wedding, and a new friend: Merrily Thornton. A local girl who committed a crime and paid for it. Merrily has turned her life around. She has a new job, and a beautiful daughter in college, but her parents have publicly shunned her, as they nurse a bitterness that chills Erin.
When Merrily goes missing, and her boss discovers he’s been robbed, fingers point to Merrily, until she’s found dead, with a string of lights wrapped around her neck. Following the clues puts Erin in harm’s way. She needs to unravel the mystery and put a killer behind bars before the wrong person goes to jail. Erin is on a mission to clear a friends name before her wedding day on Christmas Eve?
As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles is the fifth book in the “A Food Lovers’ Village Mystery” series. The story is fast-paced and entertaining. Ms. Budewitz is a talented writer with a good grip on what makes a mystery interesting.
The story revolves around Erin Murphy, the proprietor of a family-owned business, Murphy’s Mercantile. She is about to get married and is happy but overwhelmed. When she meets Merrily, she feels as though she has found a friend, only to have the sprouting friendship whisked away when Merrily is murdered. Everyone is pointing fingers at Merrily boss, Greg Taylor but Erin isn’t as positive as they are that Merrily was a thief and Greg, her killer.
Erin is a wonderful character filled with pride, happiness and too much curiosity for her own good. She keeps stepping into in murder investigations and even though she tells herself not to get involved, she somehow winds up smack in the middle of trouble. Other characters such as Greg Taylor, Tracy, and Lou Mary, are fantastic characters that readers will love. Most of the characters in this book are warm., friendly, easy to like, and memorable..
The setting of Jewel Bay is intriguing. Montana is a wonderful place to put a food lovers village. Some of the best food in the country can be found in towns like Billings or Bozeman. So it comes as no surprise to find a story with a basis in food set in a location within Montana’s borders. The beauty of the area is described lovingly in this book and is sure to make readers want to visit.
Overall, As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles is a thrilling journey through small-town life and unexpected murder. It is easy to read and filled with action. Characters are unforgettable and caring, readers will be enthralled by the life of Erin Murphy and the crazy situation she gets herself into. This is a clean read and can be enjoyed by readers of any age. The recipes in the back of the book are mouthwatering. I highly recommend this book to readers of all genres.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Time to celebrate Christmas and a wedding in Jewel Bay. Adam and Erin are getting married on Christmas Eve! That is after she gets Murphy’s Mercantile all ready for the holidays. The community has turned out for Decoration Day and Erin is surprised to see Merrily Thornton has returned to town. She is even more surprised about how Merrily’s family is treating her. She immediately invites Merrily to her cookie swap the following Sunday,
Merrily fails to show up at Erin’s house or at work the next day. Then her boss notices his bank deposit was short the cash Merrily was supposed to take to the bank. The woman is reported missing and sadly her boss is the one to find her dead eerily with a string of lights wrapped around her neck. Erin is rocked by her new friend’s death and decides she must find her killer. Hopefully, she doesn’t cross the killer or Adam may be left standing at the altar all by himself.
It was a lot of fun to read a story set at Christmas when the temperatures outside were climbing way past 90 degrees. Decorating Day is Jewel Bay sounds like the perfect way to get in the Christmas Spirit.
The characters in this series are some of the most realistic I have ever read. It is very easy to get invested in their lives. Even though Merrily’s family wasn’t the nicest they still come across as real. I don’t agree with the way the handled things in their family, but we have all met people we don’t agree with.
The mystery this time really keep me guessing. Truthfully at one time or another, I suspected everyone the victim had come into contact with. Red herrings, there were a bunch. Several twists too. I was right about one part of it and totally surprised about everything else. I enjoyed how Erin jumped right into her investigation even with the holidays and her wedding coming up quick. I loved her method for keeping all the facts and suspects straight.
The story has an excellent pace. Many events take place within the 288 pages, but nothing is rushed or missed. The author describes people and places so clearly that pictures formed quickly in my mind. The dialogue was wonderfully written too.
A loving family and a family pulled apart come together in this terrific cozy mystery.
The author also includes recipes in the back of the book. The one I am excited to try is the Classic Italian Lasagna. Several differences from ours but without the Murphy’s sauce, it will probably be hard to duplicate.
Cookie has an interesting, well developed story. I didn’t like Merrily’s parents and had a hard time accepting Merrily’s actions, but we all know and read about people like them so it’s not unacceptable.
While I liked the book, I was stunned when I started it to realize I didn’t remember the characters or setting even though I know I’ve read all the previous books. Now, as a voracious reader, I have forgotten large chunks of books I’ve read only once, but the “lightbulb” usually turns on after a bit and I’m reminded of what I previously knew about the series, not so here. I don’t think that’s a positive sign for the series, yet I didn’t let it affect my review, because I liked the story and it kept me guessing as to whodunnit.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.an interesting, well developed plot