Addie Greyborne is preparing for the holidays at her bookstore in seaside New England—but a winter storm is coming, in more ways than one . . . Addie’s getting into the spirit for the upcoming Charity Auction—especially since she’s got an 1843 copy of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol to donate. Her former colleagues at the Boston Public Library have confirmed that its worth runs toward the … that its worth runs toward the high five figures, which should help with the new pediatric wing. Her mood darkens, though, when a visitor from the past appears—Jonathan Hemingway, the father of her late fiancé. His presence stirs up sad memories for Addie, but also has her fuming when Jonathan, true to his womanizing ways, runs off for a lunchtime liaison with Teresa Lang, who’s in charge of the auction.
Soon after, Addie heads to Teresa’s office at the hospital—and finds the poor woman’s dead body. What she doesn’t find is her valuable first edition. What sort of Scrooge would steal from sick children and commit murder in the process? As a Nor’easter bears down and a mystery emerges about Jonathan’s past, Addie must find out if she can appraise people’s motives and characters as well as she can appraise rare books . . .
more
I received an arc copy for an honest review.
This is my first book in the series and I want to tell you I loved it. I have to get the other books.
I love the main set of characters, Addie, Selena, Paige and not to mention Marc and Simon (the men vying for Addie’s affections).
Addie’s getting into the spirit for the upcoming Charity Auction—especially since she’s got an 1843 copy of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol to donate.
Soon after, Addie heads to Teresa’s office at the hospital—and finds the poor woman’s dead body. What she doesn’t find is her valuable first edition.
I was captured and drawn into the mystery from the beginning. There is a mystery with the mystery. I really like that aspect of the book.
As for the mystery it was full of twists, turns and plenty of which made this a story I did not want to put down nor end … Lauren Elliott has made me invested in the lives of these characters and Greyborne Harbor.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Cozy mysteries.
There are many things to like about this mystery. The setting is great, the timing of the holidays and anyone who lives in New England knows what havoc winter storms can present. Then add a valuable copy of a Christmas classic by Dickens and you know things are going to be interesting. Addie has donated a very valuable copy of A Christmas Carol to the local hospital children’s wing drive but all of a sudden, David’s father shows up, the woman in charge of the charity drive dies under mysterious circumstances, there is a blizzard on the way and oh yeah the book is missing.
What does it all mean? You will definitely want to read anfind out.
I did feel the Addie’s personal confusion over her feelings about her fiance’s father, and the two men in her life dragged the story down a little, I am hoping that the outcome of the mystery and the time spent on the holidays helps clear some of this up for her!
OK plot with assumptions made by the heroine funny as they all turn out to slightly off. The interplay between Addie and the two men gets a little tiresome as does the animosity she continually shows to the almost father-i-law, Case gets solved, but you are left with the mixup with the romance thing. A little tiresome with all the come hither and go yon stuff.
Great story line! Didn’t end like was expecting. It was like it left it open for a book to follow in the romance department. As for the dective aspect, it was done very well. A great book.
A winter storm, murder, and a missing copy of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol are not the only mysteries unfolding as the holidays approach in this little New England town. There’s also the suspicious appearance of Addie’s deceased boyfriend’s father. In the meantime, Addie now has two admirers and seems to be in no hurry to make a choice. The winter storm and holiday setting were my favorite parts, and I loved the cover!
I’ve been a fan of this series from the first book and think that this third installment is an excellent addition. Addie finds herself in the wrong place, at the wrong time, discovering another body and once again putting her on the suspect list. This time around, Addie’s almost father-in-law Jonathan arrives in town just before the murder happens and a valuable book is stolen. The mystery was complex and Ms. Elliott had me guessing almost the entire time. The way she had Addie make a case on why so many people could be the culprit had me second-guessing myself the entire time. I did not fully guess the entire resolution but thought the mystery was well done and wrapped up nicely.
The characters are growing and continue to develop with each new story. The secondary characters added to the story and often times will say something that causes the light bulb to go off for Addie. Relationships are progressing nicely and friendships are taking a bud and growing. The only hesitation I have is the focus on Addie’s love life and the love triangle with Marc and Simon. However, I have it on good authority from the author that this will be wrapped up in the next book so I am looking forward to seeing what happens. I think once that storyline arc is complete the mystery will once again become the primary focus with the romance storyline in the background.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided to me by the author.