A cold wind is blowing off Lake Michigan, and murder is scaring the dickens out of everyone . . . Considering her name, Marlee Jacob is an obvious choice for the role of Jacob Marley in Oriole Point’s production of A Christmas Carol. It’s just sad that the role has opened up because of the death of the elderly actor who’d originally been cast. But Marlee, the proprietor of The Berry Basket, … cast.
But Marlee, the proprietor of The Berry Basket, will do her best to keep spirits high—that is, until clues start mounting that there’s danger behind the scenes. There are accidents on set, the tree in the village square topples over, and worst of all, a body is found with a sprig of holly draped over it. If Marlee can’t wrap up the case, she may not have a berry merry Christmas . . .
Includes Berry Recipes!
more
Hollyberry Homicide is the 5th A Berry Basket Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. The author provides the relevant background information on Marlee Jacob. I thought Hollyberry Homicide was well-written with steady pacing. There is plenty going on in this book. Marlee is enjoying decorating for Christmas, The Berry Basket is doing a brisk business, she gets roped into playing Jacob Marley, and she has a variety of houseguests. Natasha is staying with Marlee while she waits for her new place to be finished. It sounds like it will be a long visit. Natasha is a show stealer with her over-the-top personality. The mystery was interesting. It becomes more of the focus in the second half of the book as the clues begin to mount along with the action and suspense. You begin to wonder if Everett’s death was suspicious (or did a ninety-five year old man just pass away on a bench). It all begins to come together and there is a great reveal scene. I enjoyed solving this whodunit. The ending will leave you smiling. Hollyberry Homicide is a jolly cozy mystery with holiday hot chocolate, learning lines, overload of ornamentation, a swaying spruce, and an amateur sleuth bent on sniffing out the suspects.
The Summer of 2019 saw me reading a lot of cozy mysteries and they were all starting to feel the same. Still enjoyable, but no real wow factor. I was getting burnt out on the genre.
And then Mulberry Mischief, the fourth book in A Berry Basket Mysteries, found its way into my life and my enjoyment for cozies was reignited. Sharon Farrow introduced me to very well developed characters and a town I knew I would want to visit again. But what really stood out to me was that she actually had some nasty characters, and not just someone who died right away and we find out they weren’t very nice. These evil characters were present throughout the story and added even more depth to the book.
So when I saw Hollyberry Homicide was coming out I knew I would be reading it. And I was not disappointed. Farrow continues developing her characters, and even better, something is always happening. In some cozies most of the story is just the sleuth running around tracking down clues and talking to suspects. But in A Berry Basket Mysteries, we are not only engaged in Marlee’s life, but those of her friends and co-workers… even with the people that Marlee can’t stand!
Farrow also incorporates the Christmas theme really well. In some cozies it’s more so for the cover art and mentioned a couple of times in the book, but not so in Hollyberry Homicide. You get Christmas from Marlee’s obsession with decorating her house and store, to the various times she is preparing food for her shop and parties, to the town’s huge Christmas tree falling over numerous times because of the lake effect winds. It seems like every chapter mentions the holidays, but it’s done well.
As for the murder, there are lots of suspects whose secrets slowly come out over the course of the book. I thought for sure I knew who the killer was, but I was wrong. And I am so happy with who the killer turned out to be.
You don’t need to start A Berry Basket Mystery series from the beginning because Farrow knows how to fold the reader into the story without them becoming lost. But if you do decide you want to (and you should because it’s a great series!), then the first book is Dying for Strawberries. And while you’re at it, you may as well buy all the rest of the books in the series too!
HOLLYBERRY HOMICIDE by Sharon Farrow is the fifth book in the A Berry Basket Mystery series. It’s the story of Marlee Jacob, the owner of The Berry Basket in Oriole Point, Michigan and the town’s production of The Christmas Carol by the local theater group, the Green Willow Players. Nobody embodies Christmas more than Marlee. She loved everything about it – the smells, the sights, the sounds, the tastes, the decorations – which there are never enough whether at home or at the shop, the parties, the need for more of trees, her birthday and of course The Christmas Carol for which she was named.
When Everett Hostetter is found dead on a bench in the train exhibit at the Historical Museum, everyone assumes he just died of old age considering he had just turned 95. They figured he had sat down on the bench to rest and to enjoy eating his gingerbread cookies since he was still holding the cookie bag and cookie pieces were on his face and under the bench.
Everett’s passing left a big hole in the annual Christmas production since he always played the part of Jacob Marley. Since Marlee had been named after the character in Dicken’s story and it was a great play on words – Marlee Jacob playing Jacob Marley, they figured it would be a great advertising stunt to sell more tickets and asked her to take up the part in the play. After some thought, Marlee agreed to play the role. After finding out she had to wear Everett’s costume that hadn’t been washed in years and having trouble finding the time to study her lines, Marlee was starting to second guess her decision.
Marlee had picked up the pieces of the gingerbread cookies that were on the floor where they found Everett and stuck them in her pocket since no trash can had been readily available. It wasn’t until a couple days later that she found them and fed them to a squirrel that dies suddenly bringing up questions that maybe old man Everett didn’t just pass away peacefully. With other accidents on other actors in the play, rumor started circulating that the play was cursed and bad luck will befell on those involved with it. A local business man, a retired attorney and also Everett’s attorney, agreed to play Santa for Marlee in her shop. In payment, she bought him supper at the local pub. He seemed to drink more than eat at supper letting some secrets slip out about some of the local residents. When he was killed when the town Christmas tree falls on him, was it an accident or murder?
Can Marlee learn her lines with all that’s going on both on the stage and off? Is Everett the center to it all? The list of folks that did not like Everett is long because he seemed to never have a kind word for anyone or anything, but was it bad enough to murder him? Are the deaths connected? Was the fire at Calico Barn an accident or deliberate? Is Marlee getting to close making her life in grave danger? Is Marlee’s birthday going to be a happy one? Will they have a Merry Christmas?
HOLLYBERRY HOMICIDE is a magnificent Christmas cozy mystery that would be a joy to read any time of the year. Sharon Farrow weaves such a magnificent story that she has us falling in love with Marlee with her array of furry and feathered family members and house guest, her family by blood and by choice – consisting of the employee of The Berry Basket and dear friends, and the towns people of Oriole Point as we take the many twists and turns the story takes us on as we trying to figure out whodunit and why. Love a story where I have to change my idea about who that is more than once and I’m still surprised at the big reveal. That’s exactly what this author did!
Although part of the series, HOLLYBERRY HOMICIDE can most definitely be read as a standalone book. Don’t short change yourself thinking you can only read this Christmas story during the holiday or you will be doing yourself a great disservice. Highly recommend this book for anyone that loves a well-written cozy mystery! 5+ STARS I, for one, was happy to see recipes at the back of the book after having our taste buds tempted so during the pages of the story
Hollyberry Homicide is the fifth installment in Sharon Farrow’s Berry Basket Mystery series. Our protagonist, Marlee Jacob, owns a berry themed store in the quaint lakeside town of Oriole Point, Michigan. It’s the holiday season and Marlee is taking over the role of Jacob Marley in the town’s production of A Christmas Carol after the original actor, Everett Hostetter, passed away. Everyone assumes that he died of old age, but Marlee isn’t so sure and is determined to uncover the truth.
This fun Christmas themed cozy mystery is filled with humor, colorful characters, suspense, and action. The mystery kept me guessing and the setting is so well-described that it will instantly get you in the mood for the holiday season. The author has done a wonderful job of developing the characters. When a new installment comes out, it feels like catching up with old friends. Marlee is someone you can definitely root for. She’s sweet, funny, and feisty. I love spending time with her and the gang. This fifth installment is my favorite of the series so far, and I can’t wait for my next visit to Oriole Point.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Hollyberry Homicide, the 5th book in the Berry Basket Mystery series, is an entertaining Christmas read and a welcomed addition to this series. One of the reasons I enjoy this series so much is that it is set in my home state. I always find it to be fun reading a book where I can recognize the places, both when named and described when the book is set in my home state. The author does a wonderful job of creating a fictional town that is quintessential small-town Western Michigan. The characters are well-written and developing well. The series as a whole has it it’s stride and when I pick up a new installment I feel like I’m taking a drive across the state to visit friends.
The mystery is well done. The victim was a grumpy, elderly citizen who is found deceased outside of the train museum. Even though the victim was well into his 90’s, Marlee is a bit suspicious even if no one else in town finds his death suspicious. There are a lot of secrets that come to light in this book (which I won’t divulge so as not to spoil the fun for other readers). Those secrets were dropped slowly throughout the book and culminated in a climactic reveal. Along the way, Marlee finds that this Christmas (and her birthday) was more than she might have bargained for.
This is a terrific series and always a quick read for me because I just get lost in the story while enjoying the entertainment each new book brings. I will certainly be back for any future books in this series.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley. The opinions are my own.
This story takes the reader to Oriole Point
in Michigan. Marlee Jacobs is the owner of
The Berry Basket where she sells all things
berry related. She is busy decorating her
store and home for Christmas with
Nutcrackers, snow globes, twinkle light,
everything Christmas. She is also preparing
for the upcoming Hollyberry Festival.
This festival includes a parade, snowman
building contest, street caroler’s, hot chestnut
stands, food truckers, horse-drawn carriage
rides and an open-air Hollyberry Market in
the park. There is a huge Christmas tree in
the town square….so big that it keeps falling
over from the lake winds??
The town is also putting on The Christmas
Carol play. The man who for years played
Jacob Marley has died. While everyone else
believes it was old age, Marlee suspects
foul play. Marlee takes over his part in the
production.
A fire prevents the play production from
happening. Then the huge tree falls on the
man playing Santa…accident or on purpose??
A terrific cast of characters are weaved
Into the story making the reader feel as if
they are right there along with the cast.
A fun read with yummy recipes at the end.
But a quick reminder: Real Holly Berries are
poisonous to eat.
Fast paced and a delightful read!! Oriole Point is preparing for the Hollyberry Festival and annual production of Scrooge. After the elderly man playing Jacob Marley dies, Marlee is asked to take his place. After several more actors in the play get injured or sick and an unfortunate incident with the barn where the play is put on, it seems as though the play is cursed. The elderly man was wealthy and not very nice to his nephew, illegitimate daughter, and ex-wife. All three make good suspects and the lawyer who was in charge of the will is making them all wait. After he is killed as well, it is clear that someone wants what they think is deserved of them. Can Marlee catch a killer before they can ruin Christmas and possibly kill her? I absolutely love this series! Marlee and all her friends in Oriole Point are fun and the stories are always interesting. I would love to visit Marlee’s berry shop and all the other shops in town. I look forward to hopefully more adventures for this gang and seeing Marlee and Kit’s relationship deepen! Highly recommend this great series!!
Hollyberry Homicide is exactly the type of Cozy Mystery I enjoy most. Lots of things happening, clues galore, but not too many and not too easy – and the main character who is fun to watch as they track down the real killer. I’ve not read the earlier books in the Berry Basket Mystery series, and I really appreciated that I didn’t have to in order to enjoy this one. Anything really relevant to this story that we need to know is in the dialogue or narrative.
This small town is putting on the annual Christmas play, A Christmas Carole when it’s discovered that the actor who was to play Scrooge has died. Well, after all, he was nearing the century mark in his long life so no one was really surprised… until it seems his death was not by natural causes as other deaths begin to add to the growing alarm. Now with a feeling of doom and rumors that the play is cursed, Marlee is preparing to take over the title role (Jacob Marley – Marlee Jacob… it’s a natural). She’s busy preparing her business for the holidays, learning her lines, oh, and tracking down a murderer as well.
I had fun in this small town with engaging characters, an interesting puzzle to solve, and a reveal that was perfect. I don’t need to figure out whodunnit to enjoy a Cozy Mystery, the journey to get to the reveal is where my fun comes from. If you love a good Cozy Mystery full of suspense, berries, bah-humbugs, and murder then Hollyberry Homicide is perfect for you this Christmas. I’ll be treating myself to this series next year when I plan out my reading for pleasure list.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Kensington Books via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
“Hollyberry Homicide” is the 5th instalment in the “A Berry Basket Mystery” series by Sharon Farrow. This can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading in order. I found it to be a fun and entertaining Christmas read.
I really enjoyed this story, and it has made me want to catch up on the series. I have several books in my TBR pile. I loved all the Christmas cheer and the friendships between the main characters.
The mystery was interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed.
I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It’s Christmas time in Hollyberry Homicide, and Marlee is all set to enjoy x-mas with friends, family, and customers in her berry shop. But wouldn’t you know it, murder finds itself nestled in Oriole Point’s holiday festivities. What started as a fun season takes a turn when Marlee gets involved in finding a killer.
This new book is a wonderful addition to the series. It can stand on its own without the need for a lot of background information, but there is enough to give readers a good idea of who the characters are and the part they play in Marlee’s life. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep readers interested and turning the page. Suspects vary and are easy to follow. The setting, mainly Marlee’s berry themed shop, is fun and detailed enough to make readers want to visit during the holiday season or even year-round.
One of my favorite parts of the story is when Marlee gets to play in the local production of A Christmas Carol as Jacob Marley, which also happens to be whom she was named after. Her parents had a wonderful sense of humor and dedication to literary figures. Cast members in the play keep having accidents, are taken ill, or murdered, so it makes for a very entertaining part of the story to see if they will be able to pull off the play before Marlee ends up as the next victim.
The killer did not come as a big surprise to me, but I have a highly suspicious nature and rarely need to read the entire book to know who-done-it. In this case, however, many readers will not guess who the bad guy is until the very end of the story. This is the mark of a good mystery. Hollyberry Homicide is a good story that leaves readers feeling happy and excited for the holiday season to come. I am pleased to recommend this book to those looking for a feel-good Christmas story they can wrap their head around and let the worries of the world fade away for a brief time.
The Berry Basket Mystery series has become a favorite of mine, especially when each mystery includes festival events in the setting of Oriole Point, Michigan. Oriole Point is in the heart of the berry belt in this Lake Michigan community. While the only berries to be seen in the week before Christmas are holly, which are poisonous to people and animals, there are still many berry products for sale at Marlee Jacobs’s Berry Basket shop. The folks are an interesting collection of people one would find in many small towns. Well, except for 95-year-old Everett, who has many millions of dollars but few real friends.
When one of Marlee’s employees finds Everett dead at the historical museum, it is not considered necessary to do an autopsy because of his age. The police might have thought twice about that, however, if they knew there were three possible family members who thought they might be “the” inheritor of Everett’s millions. Not to mention the local concerns that he was the primary underwriter for. His long-time friend, Diane, is head curator at the museum, and it is thought one of the reasons he retired to this side of the state is because she works here. Even so, nobody considers that he died while eating a gingerbread cookie until Marlee found the cookie crumbs she had tossed in her jacket pocket, gave them to a squirrel, and the squirrel died within minutes.
Everett played Jacob Marley in A Christmas Carol for several years in the local theater group that he was primary supporter of. At the last minute, Marlee is asked to play the part. Despite the high traffic in her shop and other activities, Marlee finally accepted, and began to learn her lines. In the meantime, she learns from Everett’s attorney about the three people who each think they might have inherited Everett’s millions. There is much that the town doesn’t know about them, including the shady or criminal actions in their past! Then the attorney is murdered, and nobody knows where the will is…
I love the variety of characters in Oriole Point, how well the townspeople get together for Christmas, and how their activities even include birding. They are three dimensional, defined through their actions and conversations. Except for the “unholy trio” who each want to inherit.
I was so surprised to learn whodunit! While I wasn’t sure yet who the killer was, and one seemed more motivated than others, I was still as surprised as Marlee was. The ending was very satisfactory, with all loose ends tied up. I highly recommend this to people who enjoy well-written cozy mysteries with a Christmas theme, a challenging mystery, and a variety of interesting pets.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel; a review was not required.
HOLLYBERRY HOMICIDE by Sharon Farrow
The Fifth Berry Basket Mystery
The death Everett Hostetter is not that surprising. After all, Oriole Point’s annual Jacob Marley was 95 years old. The curmudgeonly man had his fingers in lots of Oriole Point pies, but was not well liked and didn’t seem to mind that fact. But the more Marlee Jacobs learns of the man, the more suspicious she becomes of his death. As the town’s Hollyberry Festivities start Marlee is drawn into Everett’s life, from taking over his role in A CHRISTMAS CAROL to talking with those closest to him. The more she learns the more Marlee believes his death was not natural. But will she be able to prove it before his killer decides she knows too much?
The spirit of Christmas is alive and well in this fifth Berry Basket Mystery. Lake effect snow, holiday festivities, and the love of family and friends fill the pages of this mystery. I love Marlee’s Christmas spirit as evidenced in her overly decorated store and home. More than that, I love how she cares for her friends, giving Natasha a home while hers is under construction, caring for Theo, and loving the animals in her life-pets and wildlife alike.
HOLLYBERRY HOMICIDE brings the tale of A CHRISTMAS CAROL to Oriole Point, and not just with the town’s annual theatrical production. It begs the question, will you be a Scrooge or a Marley? One was able to be redeemed in life with the other only able to give warnings after death. Or will you continue the cheating avaricious path you’re on forever? Several characters are faced with these questions and their responses may be surprising!
I loved the application of the teachings within A CHRISTMAS CAROL mirrored in this modern cozy mystery. I love the characters and the manner in which they live and work together. The mystery was intriguing and complex and had me considering an A MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS scenario. The pulse pounding penultimate scene had me alternately holding my breath and swinging imaginary objects to help Marlee.
HOLLYBERRY HOMICIDE is a fast paced Christmas tale of redemption. It’s a tale of friendship and family and the importance of both. It brings the spirit of Christmas to life.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
Christmas in just around the corner and the town of Oriole Point, on the shores of Lake Michigan, are gearing up for the annual production of A Christmas Carol by Dickens. 95 year old Everett Hostetter has been playing the part of Jacob Marley for nine years and nobody argued because he was the reason the Green Willow Players kept going. He had lots of money, he was their major donor and the barn turned theater carried a mortgage that had to be paid. When he is found dead, seated on a bench in the historical museum, everyone thinks poor old man but he had a very long life. We should all be that lucky, to go while in such a peaceful setting. Not so fast, Marlee thinks there is something not quite right about his death. If that wasn’t enough, the play’s director is in her first season and now has to make major cast changes. Surprise, she wants Marlee to take over as Jacob Marley. Marlee may have been named after said character but she has a business to run and that leaves little time for theater beyond buying a ticket to sit and watch. Soon enough there is plenty to sort out when a corpse turns up.
This was the perfect cozy mystery to get me started for the holiday. The characters entertained me and the puzzle kept me engaged to the very end. The small town setting was enough to make me want to pack my bags and go for a visit. Hopefully without a homicide but, if one did occur, I’d be glad to tag along as Marlee and her friends cracked the case.
My thanks to the publisher, Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Marlee Jacobs is looking forward to celebrating Christmas, but before she can get there, she has a few things on her plate. In addition to the usual decorating and present buying, there’s the town hollyberry festival. Plus, she’s taking over the role of Jacob Marley in the town’s annual adaptation of A Christmas Carol at the last minute. The actor who normally plays the part died unexpectedly. Well, maybe not quite so unexpectedly since he was ninety-five. While everyone is certain it was natural causes, something feels off to Marlee. Couple that with the rumors that the play is cursed, and Marlee will have to find time to add sleuthing to her December schedule. What will she uncover?
As you might have guessed, this book’s plot unfolds a little differently from the typical cozy mystery, and I loved it all the more for that fact. Don’t worry, there is always something happening to keep your attention, and I loved how Marlee unraveled everything in the end. The characters in this series are charming, and that’s the case here once again. We get plenty of Christmas spirit in the pages of this book, which is a must for a Christmas entry in a series. Rounding out the book, we get three berry inspired recipes at the end. When you are making a list of Christmas cozies to read this December, make sure this book is on it. No need to check it twice, you’ll definitely enjoy it.
I have really enjoyed this series but this one? Wowsa! Let’s just say the killer reveal was a total shocker and nothing I ever expected to happen.
It’s Christmastime in Oriole Point and Marlee takes decorating to a whole new level. It’s like Christmas exploded at her home and store. She is lovingly ribbed by her friends for going overboard with the decorations. She even blows fuses with everything she has plugged into the sockets. It might also have something to do with her birthday at that time. But this holiday may not go the way she planned when she finds 95 year old Everett dead at the museum. Now everyone else thinks it is natural causes, but Marlee suspects otherwise. The story just takes off from there and Marlee ends up playing Jacob Marley in the theater’s performance of A Christmas Carol, she stumbles across several unknown facts (which I won’t disclose) about Everett and a few other characters. All culminate into a point where Marlee is nearly killed, but who is the killer? You’ll have to read the book to discover the killer and his/her motive for yourself.
I have enjoyed this series and I always feel like I gain weight just reading the book and dreaming about the pastries, cookies, ice cream, jams and jellies, and many other berry flavored items. We don’t see as much of Kit in this book who is Marlee’s love interest since he is working out of town on a case. I really do like Theo and his baking skills. He is a very sweet character and I like that Marlee has taken him under her wing to help him continue to grow and mature. And then there is Natasha, Marlee’s Russian friend. She is a hoot and a half.
This is a great series so if you haven’t read any of the first 5, I suggest you do so before diving into this book. It will help you understand the characters a little better.
We give this book 5 paws up.
What’s your favorite version of A Christmas Carol? I have to go with The Muppet Christmas Carol as my favorite. I’ve got it on VHS; and, believe you me, I watch that tape every Christmas season. Who doesn’t love Michael Caine? He’s the perfect Scrooge, and the two old hecklers from The Muppet Show are the perfect Marley(s). You’re doomed, Scrooge, doomed for all time….
However, in Hollyberry Homicide, it’s Jacob Marley who’s doomed! Mr. Hostetter was dead to begin with. And, no! Despite the fact that he was a curmudgeonly old man, he did not play the role of Ebeneezer Scrooge in Oriole Point’s yearly production. Rather, he insisted upon playing Marley. Since he was the biggest patron of the theater, he got his way. In fact, he got his way about everything. He spent his life being an awful old man, so solving his murder isn’t easy since there are so many suspects!
Hollyberry Homicide is the first book I’ve read in the Berry Basket Mystery series, but it’s the fifth book in the series. For this reason, it took me a few chapters to get a feel for who’s who and what’s what. Once I did, I found the story very enjoyable. I love Christmas almost as much as Marlee Jacob, so if I owned her store, it would be as overflowing with holiday decor as hers is. I doubt I’ll ever be able to buy another Christmas decoration as my house is decorated to the hilt.
And, as much as I hate to admit it, I loved the setting. Yes, I’m from Ohio, so Michiganers know how hard it is for an Ohioan to admit loving anything about Michigan (even when it’s fictional!). They get lots of lake effect snow in Oriole Point, so a white Christmas makes the setting even more lovely. I’m a little south of Ohio’s snow belt, but I know how that lake effect snow is! Any plans we make to go to Cleveland are always done very hesitantly during the winter. I love how they’ve got a Christmas festival with booths and fun activities. That part reminds me a little of Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls fans got me).
Hollyberry Homicide has many fun characters with mostly forgivable foibles and quirks. The holidays can bring out the beast in Type A personalities, and that’s quite evident among some of these characters!
All in all Hollyberry Homicide is an enjoyable Christmas cozy, so if you like your cozies to line up with the holidays, I suggest picking this one up and reading it around Christmas! It’ll put you in the holiday spirit!
Hollyberry Homicide by Sharon Farrow is the fifth in the A Berry Basket Mystery series. This was the first one in the series I have read but was able to get caught up quickly.
Christmas is coming and it’s time for the annual production of “A Christmas Carol” and the tree lighting. There is also an exhibit of trains at the local museum. While at the exhibit, Marlee comes across the gentleman, Everette , who always plays Jacob Marley and appears to be dozing on a bench. Once she gets closer, she realizes he is dead. No one thinks murder since he is 95. But when a squirrel eats the crumbs that Marlee had in pocket from the scene and drops dead, lights go off for Marlee. Now. not only is Marlee trying to get her shop ready for Christmas, her parents coming for a visit, she is now playing Jacob Marley! When all kinds of strange things begin happening and a second murder occurs, Marlee is caught up in an investigation. Will she be able to celebrate Christmas or will she be a ghost.
I enjoyed the characters, they are likeable and relatable and I would love to go the tree lighting. There are plot twists and suspects galore. There is even humor, I laughed out loud a couple times and romance. There are recipes also.
I was given an ARC by Kensington and NetGalley for an honest review.
In this fifth book of the series Marlee Jacob is getting her shop ready for the holidays and enjoying different festivities available for the season. She is at a local museum where there is a train exhibit that has her boyfriend all excited. Marlee decides to wonder around and during her circuit of the exhibits an elderly man is found dead, it looks like he passed away while eating some gingerbread cookies. His death is concluded to be natural but with his death a spot opens up in the local theater production of A Christmas Carol. Marlee is soon asked to play the role of Jacob Marley due to the nature of her name. She agrees bit worries she won’t have her lines memorized before the play opens. Soon it seems that the play is cursed, accidents keep happening and Marlee soon wonders if the man who died at the museum really.died of natural causes, she begins to think he was murdered. Another death occurs and Marlee knows she must dig in to figure out just what is going on. Can she fit all the.puzzle pieces together before she herself ends up dead? Wonderful series filled with great characters, a lovely location, and fun berry facts!
A light, easy to read holiday mystery with vivid descriptions that are certain to put you in the holiday spirit. Protagonist Marlee Jacob is the owner of The Berry Basket and new recruit to play Jacob Marley in A Christmas Carol. This happened because the 95 year old man that was supposed to play the part seemingly died of natural causes but things aren’t always as they seem. Marlee soon finds herself looking into a number of odd happenings and even murder.
I have read all the books in this series and I enjoy the wide variety of characters and the mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
Hollyberrys and other berries, while mentioned several times, don’t play really a role in this Christmas based mystery. What I like about this series is that the author doesn’t waste any page space. There’s a lot going on besides the couple of murders. I appreciate how, in the space of only 5 books, that the author has also shown character development. We see it here with Marlee and her relationships, Theo and Natasha. This is all in about a 6 months span (book story time) between books 1 and 5. How many mystery series have we all read with 10+ books were nothing changes? There are also threads that run through the books and are explored later which, to me, show the thought that the author has put in to her plotting. What should I introduce in this book that I can use later, type of thing.
One thing that surprised me is Marlee’s ghost and the acceptance of the supernatural by more than one character. I did miss #4, Mulberry Mischief (have it on request from the library) and maybe the ghost was introduced there.
I’m looking forward to catching up on Mulberry Mischief and whatever book #6 will be. I received my copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.