Santa’s summer vacation plans turn deadly in this festive mystery from the author of Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen and We Wish You a Murderous Christmas.The town of Rudolph, New York, has the Christmas spirit all year long—but when homicide heats up a summer holiday, it’s up to shop owner Merry Wilkinson to wrap up the case.In Rudolph, Christmas in July heralds Santa’s arrival by boat to begin his … heralds Santa’s arrival by boat to begin his summer vacation at the lake, and Merry Wilkinson, owner of Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, is looking forward to a busy weekend. But she’s caught off guard when her ex-fiancé, Max Folger, unexpectedly arrives with a team from a lifestyle magazine wanting to do a feature on the July festivities.
It’s clear that Max’s visit has less to do with business and more to do with winning back Merry’s heart. Merry has too much on her plate to deal with an old flame, but when Max is found strangled to death in Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, she must find out who wanted him dead—and stop a killer from ruining the summer holiday cheer.
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Merry Wilkinson left NYC about a year ago after a disastrous break-up and returned to her hometown of Rudolph in upstate NY. Rudolph is a town where it’s always Christmas. In this third caper of the ‘A Year-Round Christmas Mystery’ series by Vicki Delany, Merry’s ex-bf comes to tell her he wants her back, but then he ends up strangled to death in her office. Hark the Herald Angels Slay was a really fun read I devoured in about three hours, and it’s earned a solid four stars. I probably should have saved the read for closer to Christmas, but if it’s year-round, and I’m trying to catch up on all the series I love, why would I wait!? LOL
Delany always delivers whether it’s humor or characters standing out, fantastic settings or overall mystery, I am embroiled in her cozy plots. This one offered lots of suspects when the entire magazine crew where Merry used to work tags along with her ex-bf as part of a spotlight on Rudolph. There were also a few surprising connections to other folks who lived in Rudolph to the magazine which made for great red herrings and potential danger.
I like that it’s told in first-person because we can feel a stronger connection to Merry. Her parents are fun and quirky. The store / shop setting is very fun to have people in and out as good side stories that move the plot along and offer interesting moments where as readers we wonder ‘how might this connect to the story?’
I’m moving on next to another of Delany’s series about Sherlock Holmes bookshop!!!
Likable main characters. Clearstory telling.
Another great addition to the Year Round Christmas series!
Things are gearing up for Christmas in July in the town of Rudolph, New York, and Merry Wilkinson is looking forward to the town’s new tradition, Santa arriving for his vacation in a boat parade. However, things get complicated when her ex-fiance, Max Folger, shows up in town wanting to rekindle his relationship with Merry. When he turns up dead in Merry’s shop, she finds herself drawn into the investigation. Can she figure out what is going on?
I love this series for the Christmas spirit that author Vicki Delany infuses into every page, and just because this book is set in July, that Christmas spirit hasn’t diminished at all. The mystery takes off into some surprising areas that kept me turning pages until I reached the end. The series regulars are their normal charming selves, and I was pleasantly surprised by the growth we saw in the suspects as well.
Great read.
What could be better (and more perfect) to read this time of year than a new installment of Vicki Delany’s Year-Round Christmas Mystery Series?
In Hark the Herald Angels Slay, Merry Wilkerson is back and it is July in Rudolph, New York. The city’s mid-year Christmas celebration is in full swing, but things go from holiday cheer to full of jeer when Merry’s ex-fiancé shows up in town and is found strangled to death in her shop. Can Merry get to the bottom of the situation?
Here are my top reasons to pick up a copy of this book.
A Magical Location
Rudolph, New York, known in the book as “America’s Christmas Town” is a perfect location for this series. Even though the location is fictional, it will have you wishing Rudolph could be the destination of your next vacation.
First Impressions Are Not Always What They Seem
I enjoyed the new supporting characters a lot in this book. The ones that came in to drive the mystery along. One in particular has a surprising twist to their personality that makes for an interesting dimension to the story.
Merry Continues to Grow
Our protagonist, Merry, continues to grow and evolve throughout this book. She’s faced with a couple of difficult decisions that made me eager to see where she ends up next.
For Christmas Cheer Any Time of Year …
Pick up a copy of Hark the Herald Angels Slay. It is a quick, fun, and engaging read that is sure to leave you in the Christmas spirit.
https://cozyexperience.com/christmas-cheer-time-year-hark-herald-angels-slay/
I enjoyed Delany’s mystery set in a town that celebrates Christmas all year. The characters and the setting are fun. And Mattie the dog just adds to the hijinks.
This series is set in a charming village with darling shops. I love Christmas so was happy to find a mystery series with the holiday as the story’s background. The characters are believable, and the story’s plot keeps you reading. I recommend this book and look forward to those that will follow.
A great holiday cozy with a fun setting and interesting characters!
I love this series. I love returning to Rudolph, a town that celebrates Christmas all year long. The mystery kept me up way past my bedtime. Great series.