When Santa is sleighed by a poison gingerbread cookie at a holiday party, Val Deniston’s reputation is on the line . . . This holiday season Bayport, Maryland, is a dead ringer for Victorian London. Val and her grandfather are taking part in the Dickens of a Holiday festival. Val is hosting a private tea party serving the festival’s costumed volunteers, who range from Dickens divas like Madame … Defarge and Miss Havisham to Ebenezer Scrooge and old St. Nick himself. But one costumed reveler may have gotten the holidays mixed up. The winner of the creepiest outfit, robed in black with a gift bag covering the head—okay, Ghost of Christmas Present, Val gets it—hands out gingerbread men with white icing skeleton bones. This year’s sour Santa has none of the big fellow’s mirth but plenty of his appetite, and it’s no secret Santa loves cookies. But when the man in red turns blue, Val and Granddad have a cookie-cutter killer to catch before the New Year . . . Includes delicious five-ingredient recipes! PRAISE FOR CRYPT SUZETTE “Grandad is a hoot and his jobs as a food reviewer and part-time detective provide endless possibilities for fun and murder . . . Charming.” —Kirkus Reviews
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Not everything about Christmas is merry and bright. Val’s Grandad usually plays the role of Santa Claus for the town’s holiday festival. This year the theme is Dickens and Grandad is given the choice role of Ebeneezer Scrooge. The newcomer chosen as Santa is probably not anyone’s first choice, but the planning committee was happy to fill the role. Well, until Santa falls down dead.
Shortly after there is another unexpected death and other troubles. Val, Grandad and friends plan to find a Christmas Killer before anyone else is hurt.
Fans of Hitchcock films will love the references. Many cold theories are tossed around but you can’t take speculation to the police.
A fast paced mystery and plenty of strong friendships populate this novel. A well written series.
And one heroic dog, too.
Thank you to the author for all the delicious recipes included.
This book has all the warm-fuzzies of family, close friends, and small community. It also has a few unexpected deaths, some questionable GingerDEAD cookies and chocolates, enough plot lines to keep you guessing, and a lot of fun along the way. Excellent read for this time of year.
Bayport, Maryland, is kicking off the holiday season with a Victorian themed Christmas event. While Val’s granddad is upset about being demoted from Santa to Scrooge this year, Val is looking forward to helping out at the teas throughout the afternoon. The final tea of the day is for the event’s volunteers. As it is getting started, someone in a weird costume comes and starts passing out gingerbread cookies. When this year’s Santa eats his, he drops over. Can Val figure out what is going on?
I really do appreciate the relationship between Val and her granddad in these books. While Granddad is a senior citizen, he isn’t a stereotype. He acts appropriately for his age and yet still contributes to Val’s investigation. The other characters are strong enough to keep us engaged in the story and keep the suspects straight. The story seemed to wander a bit at the beginning, but I was ultimately impressed with how everything came together. Naturally, we get more five-ingredient recipes at the end of the book, including several seasonal delights. If you are looking for a cozy to curl up with this Christmas, this is one you’ll enjoy.
I love Val’s grandfather!!!
Am I the Queen of Clue? No. Pass a donut while I wallow in my inability to guess who dunnit because there’s no way I’m eating a Gingerdead cookie after that.
It’s been a couple of years since I’ve picked up a mystery. I used to read a lot of suspense and Stephanie Plumesque books. I was looking forward to getting back into the genre. Unfortunately, my first foray with a different author was a major dud. But my faith has been restored with Gingerdead Man. And, of course, it’s always fun to read with friends.
There are some fun and quirky characters throughout. It’s a quick read and will keep you guessing!
A holiday story with intrigue and twists. Val and Grandad are all set for the town’s Dickens festival. Grandad is not too happy to be playing Scrooge this year instead of Santa and Val is serving tea at the bookshop. At the volunteer tea after the event is over, a mysterious figure dressed in black with a gift bag over his head appears with gift bags for everyone at the table. When Jake, the man playing Santa, goes to eat the cookie in his gift bag (a gingerbread man decorated as a skeleton), he suddenly collapses and becomes unconscious. Jake later dies at the hospital and it is found that he was poisoned. Grandad and Val are on the case. The next night after catering a birthday party for an older gentleman, the man is found dead after eating some chocolates that were left for him at his door in a gift bag. Val’s friend, Bethany, also becomes ill after eating a chocolate that was left in a gift bag at her door. Who is the mysterious creature in black lurking around town and is there one killer or two? An intriguing story with a twist of an ending. I love this series and how the recipes are all 5 ingredients. Definitely my kind of recipe. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Val and Grandad and their relationships!
Who doesn’t enjoy a good Gingerbread cookie inspired cozy? In the latest addition to the “A Five-Ingredient Mystery” series, Gingerdead Man, readers will enjoy a mystery that keeps them guessing and a plot that will inspire them during the festive season. This story is filled with holiday activities, family gatherings, and plenty of food is an easy-to-read entertaining story.
Val and her Granddad are hunting down a killer when a guest dies after eating a Gingerbread cookie at the end of the Dicken’s festivities. Soon after, there appear to be other deaths and attempted murder. With everything going on, Val and Granddad have to keep their wits about them, protect a friend, and find a killer before someone else dies. All of the characters in this story are likable, the setting is interesting, but for me, there just wasn’t enough of Val’s cafe involved in this book. And if readers haven’t read other books in the series, they may have difficulty getting to know the characters and understanding what part they play in the big scheme of things.
The murderer is caught but only at the last minute. The author did an outstanding job of keeping the reader in suspense and guessing throughout the story. Suspects weren’t hard to find, but motives were not easily distinguishable. Using the festive season as a backdrop and a Gingerbread cookie as a weapon is fantastic. I love how the twists and turns were interwoven, and the evidence at the forefront but not shoved down the reader’s throat. Gingerdead Man is a relaxing, enjoyable read that will keep its audience happy while turning the page.
Gingerdead Man by Maya Corrigan is the 7th A Five-Ingredient Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. I thought Gingerdead Man was well-written with developed characters. Val Deniston keeps busy with managing the Cool Down Café, catering events, spending time with Granddad, and dating Bram Muir. Granddad is always up to something. When not whipping up five ingredient items for his Codger Cook column, he is working on his detective skills. Granddad is a hoot. I liked that he managed to surprise Val with some of the things he did regarding the case. I enjoyed the descriptions of the Dickens of a Holiday Festival with people dressed up in Victorian costumes. It reminded me of German Village where I grew up (instead of Dickens, they do German traditions). The mystery was well-plotted and went nicely with the theme of the book. I especially enjoyed the Christmas killer dressed up as the Ghost of Christmas Present. While I was able to pinpoint the identity of the killer early on, I still enjoyed following the mystery to the end. I could have done with less speculation and there was some repetition of case details. The whodunit had a good reveal and wrap up. I like that the case was wrapped up with a bow. Gingerdead Man was an entertaining and creative cozy mystery with a snockered Santa, a disenchanted Scrooge, killer cookies, contaminated chocolates, and one consumed Christmas killer.
Mary Ellen Hughes Gingerdead Man is my first Five-Ingredient Mystery, and now I’m eager to go back for more. Maya Corrigan has put together all the right ingredients for a cozy mystery: characters you’ll love to spend time with, a cozy town, an intriguing mystery, yummy-sounding food, and Christmas!
Val Deniston and her grandfather make a clever team, putting all the clues together, piece by piece to solve an intricate puzzle. Though there are plenty of red herrings to occasionally pull them astray, their combined intelligence and common sense always gets them back on track.
A full deck of fun and interesting characters and situations keeps the action flowing with never a dull moment. I was lucky to receive an advance copy from the publisher, and I recommend Gingerdead Man to anyone looking for a well-done, highly satisfying mystery.
Bayport is holding their annual Dickens of a Holiday Festival. The theme of the festival is based upon the Dickens novel, A Christmas Carol. With everybody dressed up in period costumes, you almost feel as if you are in Victorian London. Rather than playing Santa, as he usually does, Val’s granddad was given the role of Scrooge. This year, Santa was portrayed by a newcomer to Bayport, Jake Smith. Jake’s wife, Jewel, was playing the part of Mrs. Claus. Val had agreed to host a private tea party that evening for several of the volunteer workers. The tea party has a brief visit by an unexpected guest that Jake jokingly referred to as the Ghost of Christmas Presents. The ghost left a gift bag near each place setting at the table. Jake was the fist to dig into his bag, where he found a Gingerbread cookie with an icing skeleton on it. After eating the cookie, Jake rose from his chair, swayed and fell over. Unfortunately, Jake died at the hospital and it was determined that he was poisoned.
The following night, Val was hired to cater a birthday dinner for Oliver Naiman. Except for some family issues, the birthday dinner goes well. The next morning, Val learns that Oliver is dead of apparent heart failure. When Val notices a package of home-made chocolate candy, she has her doubts about the actual cause of Oliver’s death.
Who killed Jake? Why was he killed? How did Oliver really die? Was he murdered? Is there a connection between the two deaths? Can Val unscramble the clues and get to the bottom of the mystery?
Maya Corrigan has another winner with this installment of the series. The story has several complexities that add to the mystery. The characters, as well as the situations, are very realistic. This episode is sure to keep the reader engaged from beginning to end.
Gingerdead Man by Maya Corrigan is the seventh in the Five Ingredient Mystery series. This could be read as a stand alone.
Val and her grandfather are working the Dickens of a Holiday Festival but this year granddad is not Santa and is not happy. The new Santa has been known to take a nip or two from his flask so when he and Mrs. Claus show up for the volunteers tea, Val keeps an eye on him. When a stranger, dressed as a package, delivers a gift, Santa eats the gingerbread man and falls over, Val wonders why he was targeted. Then when more “gifts” are being delivered and people are dying, Val and Granddad are drawn into the investigation.
There are plenty of plot twists and suspects. The characters are likeable. There is also humor, romance. and recipes.
I was given an ARC by Kensington and NetGalley for and honest review.
Christmas is getting near and Val has a lot to deal with. Besides running the Cool Down Cafe, she is working on catering various parties and a Dickensian themed tea for the volunteers working on the local Dickens of a Holiday Festival. It’s all going well until a creepy incident invades the tea. While others are decked out in period attire as befits the Dickens stories, one person has given it a twist, that, while clever, is strange. Dressed in black with a gift tag on the head, the meaning is clear – the ghost of Christmas Present. But what’s with the bags of cookies for each guest, cookies decorated as skeletons. This year’s Santa, (previously played by Val’s grandfather, Don), is eager to enjoy the cookie offering but it’s the last he will ever enjoy. It turns out to be a killer of a cookie.
Val and Don are not new to unmasking killers. Don has even gotten his PI license and the two of them have become quite the sleuthing team. I’m not going to say any more for fear of spoilers. As far as the mystery goes, it’s got all of the needed twists, turns and red herrings to keep you on your toes. The characters of Val and Don are well developed and I really enjoyed spending time with them. More, please.
My thanks to the publisher, Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Murder Wrecks the Holidays
This is a well-written mystery with solid detecting and ‘supposing’. This book is the seventh in a series that I have not read. I was not lost at all because of the great way the author gives enough background to include all readers, The author is very good at describing the scenes so the reader feels like they are present. There are plenty of moving pictures in this story. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
An excellent read! When Santa drops dead at a Christmas festival, there is no shortage of suspects. Seems everyone in town disliked the less than jolly man. This cozy mystery is extremely well written with a good plot and engaging characters. I was kept guessing until the end and am looking forward to reading more of this author’s work. I received this book free and chose to make a voluntary, unbiased review.
I highly recommend this book even if you haven’t read others in the series. I haven’t, and had no problem. A great witty mystery with twists and turns that kept me reading well into the night. I liked the protagonist, the grandfather she lives with and other friends and fellow townspeople from Bayport, Maryland. There’s even a touch of romance!
I don’t want to give out any spoilers so I’ll leave it at that.
Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Publications for an ARC of this book. The review and comments are my honest opinion.
Val and Grandad are enjoying the Dicken’s Festival in the town of Bayport….well Grandad not so much.
An interloper was chosen to play the part of Santa Claus this year instead of him. To make it even worse the only part that was left for Grandad to play was Ebenezer Scrooge.
Things only get worse when later Santa falls ill and dies.
True to their amature detective ways Val and her grandfather are pulled into investigating his strange death. Then another death occurs and there is an all out rush to find the killer before more are targeted.
An enjoyable book and if you like reading seasonal books in the summer heat that offer not only a mystery with several suspects and some 5 ingredient recipes then “Gingerdead Man’ is a good book to try.
This is the first book I have read in this series. This is book number 7 in the series. Val and her grandfather make a great detective team.
When during a Dickensian themed festival a volunteer Santa dies, questions start being asked.
Val is determined to find the killer as the death and another death are effecting her catering business.
A fun holiday murder mystery with some food that definitely had me getting hungry.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.
Gingerdead Man is a great addition to the Five Ingredient Mystery series. It’s Christmastime in Bayport and the own is having a Dickens Festival. Unfortunately, one of the participants collapses and dies. Val and her grandfather are both present when this happens and begin to investigate. Full of great characters, twists and turns, this story will keep you guessing until the end.