In the New England town of Frog’s Ledge, the Holiday Light Festival is a Christmas tradition. Killing Santa is not. To bring joy back to the season, organic pet patisserie owner Kristan “Stan” Connor will have to find another Santa before it’s too late . . .To the townspeople’s delight, the annual lighting of the tree is a spectacular success. Unfortunately, Santa pulled up in his sleigh, DOA. At … his sleigh, DOA. At first Stan is sure it’s Seamus, her boyfriend’s uncle, inside the red suit. But the victim turns out to be an employee from the town’s Christmas tree farm. Rumor has it the deceased was a mean drunk with a soft spot for feral cats. Stan has no idea why he was dressed as St. Nick—or why he’s dead.
Meanwhile, Seamus, a jolly Irishman who comes to America every December to visit his pub-owner nephew, is nowhere to be found. Could he just be off on a Boston bar crawl? Or is something more sinister under the tree? Seamus was supposed to be dressing up and posing for pet pictures with Santa at the shop, but the dogs and cats might have to find another lap to curl up in if Stan doesn’t solve two mysteries soon. Or murder might be the only thing under the mistletoe this holiday . . .
Includes Gourmet Pet Food Recipes!
more
Purring Around the Christmas Tree by Liz Mugavero is the sixth installment in A Pawsitively Organic Mystery series. Stan Connor is watching the annual Christmas parade in Frog Ledge, Connecticut. Just before the tree lighting, Santa pulls up in his sleigh and then quickly takes off again. When Stan goes to investigate, she discovers that the Santa has done his last ho-ho-ho. People are shocked when they pull off Santa’s beard and it is not Seamus McGee (who always plays Santa). The victim is Harold Dewey, a drunk who spent his winters in Frog Ledge working at a local Christmas tree farm. Who was the intended victim—Harold or Seamus? Matters are further complicated when Seamus and Ray Mackey cannot be located or reached (Char takes to her bed). The McGee family figures that Seamus is involved in another scheme and he dragged Ray into it with him. Stan works to identify Harold’s killer and locate Seamus and Ray. Will Stan succeed in time for everyone to have a merry Christmas?
Purring Around the Christmas Tree is easy to read and has engaging characters. The mystery has several aspects to it, but the murderer is easily identified early in the story (insert disappointed sigh). Most of the investigation consists of Stan running around town asking questions (I just want something more). It is a good thing that Stan has good help (Brenna) or her business would have tanked opening night (since she failed to show up to open the bakery). The cozy aspects are entertaining. Stan is opening Pawsitively Organic Pet Patisserie, picking out and decorating Stan’s Christmas tree, Jake’s extended family is visiting for Christmas, Patricia and Tony are planning their wedding, Caitlyn is adjusting to life in Frog Ledge, and so much more. My rating for Purring Around the Christmas Tree is 3.5 out of 5 stars (I just wish the mystery had been more complex). Jake got on my nerves in Purring Around the Christmas Tree. He became defensive and rude to Stan regarding his uncle, Seamus (Jake does not want to face facts). The zany factor seemed to be amplified in this A Pawsitively Organic Mystery novel. There is always some whacky antics, but the author really turned up the volume on it this time. Purring Around the Christmas Tree (I inserted the title into Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree and now the song is stuck in my head) is not a standalone novel. You do need to read the previous books in order to understand the town and the relationships (or you will be lost). Purring Around the Christmas Tree is an entertaining cozy mystery that will leave you singing Christmas carols and wanting to put up your tree early!
It’s Christmastime in Frog Ledge. The entire town is assembling for the lighting of the Christmas tree. Right before the event, Santa is found dead in his sleigh. The Santa in the sleigh isn’t Seamus, Jake’s uncle from Ireland, much to Stan’s relief, but there are many questions about the man inside the costume. Now, Stan has to figure out who wanted Santa dead, and whether the murdered knew who was inside the costume or were they actually after Seamus, especially since Seamus is missing.
The twists and turns in Purring Around the Christmas Tree really kept me guessing, while trying to figure out what happened, who was responsible, and the motive. There are several people that fit the bill of murder suspect. Every time a suspect is identified, the author has written the case so well that you can’t help but believe you’ve figured out who was behind the murder. She then pulls the rug out from under the reader who’s left moving on to the next suspect. The perfect murder mystery, whether it’s a cozy novel or not, is the author’s ability to not give away any clues to the actual person involved. I find that Liz Mugavero does just that in all of the books in this series.
Book 6 is a wonderful addition to the Pawitively Organic Mystery series. Purring Around the Christmas Tree is fast paced and totally engages the reader. The plot is solid and very unique. I love the organic pet food angle and the animal rescue plugs, giving this series a nice change of pace. I’m a huge fan of cozy mysteries, especially if there are animals involved in some positive way. The Pawsitively Organic Mysteries by Liz Mugavero are wonderful and definitely a favorite of mine.
The town of Frog’s Ledge, Connecticut, is celebrating the start of the holiday season with their big tree lighting, and Stan is doubly excited since her new pet patisserie is opening the next day. However, things take an unexpected turn when Santa dies on his way to light the tree. Meanwhile, two other men are missing. Is there a connection?
I was hooked from the start with this book. Even though I figured out one thread early on, I still wanted to know how it was all going to play out. I did feel the climax was rushed, but that is my only complaint about this book. I love these characters and the relationships that have grown over the course of the series, and getting to spend time with them helped add to the Christmas spirit in this book for me.
Liz Mugavero has done it again! Purring Around the Christmas Tree is the fabulous 6th in the Pawsitively Organic Mystery series. It surpasses expectations and can be read as a standalone. Scruffy, Stan’s Schnoodle, and Nutty, her Maine Coon cat, both inspired by the author’s own pets, and her additional rescued pups provide impetus for the grand opening of her Pet Patisserie. Treats she custom designed for them and has been selling from her home are wildly successful, so a shop is born.
The shop will unofficially open the night of the Christmas tree lighting and Santa’s arrival. It is a night of big festivities, and little can stop it. Until this year. Thankfully, they could hide the terrible news from most that a dead Santa arrived on his sleigh. Whoa. Santa Claus was to be played by Seamus, the Irish uncle of Jake, Stan’s boyfriend. Seamus’ sons were in town for the festival, and his on and off lady friend of 40 plus years is there. How could Stan tell Miss Viv?
They learn it is not Uncle Seamus in the Santa suit. Harold, a man who had fallen on hard times, was in the red suit. Seamus is missing, as is Ray, who with his wife Char manage Char’s B & B. Ray and Seamus went out for their annual poker game, due back before the festival. Harold was poisoned, the poison being in the apple cider made specifically for Santa in his own special pot. Cider and treats were provided by Izzy, a close friend of Stan, but Izzy couldn’t provide an explanation for why she was not serving beverages and cookies for Santa and his elves. She is the main suspect despite having no reason to kill either man and there being several better suspects.
Ray and Seamus are still missing after several days. Miss Viv said that Seamus is out on a special business venture for which he would have a financial windfall and they were moving to an island. While they are missing, rumors arise about the two men, Stan’s new shop is vandalized, and the priceless Book of Kells, in Dublin, Ireland, has been stolen and still missing from one of the most secure places in the world.
I love how the characters are defined so well; they are like old friends! There are quirky, harmless, and genuinely caring folks. Stan loves living here, and is stunned when her very proper mother (who will marry the mayor on Christmas Eve) and sister Caitlyn (engaged to a man opening a vegetarian restaurant) recently chose to move to Frog Ledge. I like Stan, her assistant and friend Brenna, Izzy, and Caitlyn.
This is an impressively well-planned and executed novel! It is challenging to see whether there is one huge crime with numerous tiers, or several unrelated ones, or who the poison was meant for. No way could I figure out who the bad guy(s)/ gal(s) were, although I finally had a couple small suspicions. I am impressed that Stan was not ready to blindly go along with state police assessments but instead go with her gut or her logic. The author has outdone herself with the tangled webs of deception, intrigue, and threat to many of the townspeople. The plot twists and turns are steered with finesse, serving to enlighten – or challenge – the reader’s ideas. The conclusion is more than satisfactory. I highly recommend this exciting new cozy mystery in which this reader could almost see the silhouette of Stan and Scruffy walking through Frog Ledge. Pawsitively Pawesome!
From a grateful heart: I received this eBook from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
Purring Around the Christmas Tree by Liz Mugavero is the sixth book in this series and was a delight to read from beginning to end. I do love this series and was glad to be back in Frog Ledge with Stan, Jake, Breanna and the other characters. This time the mystery is more centered around Jake’s family and I found this fascinating. As much as I like Stan and Jake, I’ve always wondered about Jake’s other family members. This story highlighted new to me family members as well as the family members that lived locally. There is a fast paced plot with plenty of red herrings that often led me astray as I read. Ms. Mugavero’s descriptive writing let me feel like I was part of the action as I read and the character’s are now fully developed but growing within each new story. And the ending was so sweet. I’m already excited to read the next one in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
Enjoyable as ever. A little far fetched, even for a cozy, but still an entertaining read. Stan is finally going to open her Pet Bakery Shop. It’s the Christmas season and Jake’s family is all in town. All of a sudden, Jakes Uncle Seamus disappears with Char’s husband Ray and a murder happens. So fun. Stan has even more pets at her house. As ever, I like the characters, and the story is grabs my attention. I would recommend this book to all cozy lovers and pet lovers.
I received this book from NetGalley for my review.