It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, especially now that Caprice De Luca has wrapped up her holiday-themed staging gig at a stunning historic home in downtown Kismet, Pennsylvania. Behind all the red ribbon and glowing string lights, homeowners Chris and Sara Merriweather have it all. But Chris, a Vietnam vet who plays Santa every year at the community park, has been displaying strange … behavior after a recent trip to Washington, D.C.
The joy of the season vanishes entirely when Chris is found murdered on Santa Lane, leaving behind his loyal malamute and lots of unfinished business. As Caprice uncovers hidden secrets in Santa’s workshop, the pressure is on to catch the candy cane-wielding culprit—before she’s next on a killer’s deadly wish list . . .
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I am loving this series more and more! Protagonist Caprice De Luca has really hit her stride with this latest murder investigation. Her caring nature and her love for her family and her furbabies warms my heart. I’m excited for the next installment, where romance–mingled with murder — will most surely be featured.
I really enjoyed this series. I especially liked the characters. Caprice is smart, nice, and curious. She is close to her family, which I like. They support and help each other and they are all concerned about people in their community. So when a friend of their father’s is killed, Caprice steps in to help gather information for the police. Their is some funny conversations/situations and the animals are adorable. The mystery was engaging and there were enough suspects that I didn’t figure out the murderer until the end. I would read another book by this author.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Slay Bells Ring by Karen Rose Smith is the seventh book in A Caprice De Luca Home Staging Mystery series (that’s a mouthful). Caprice De Luca is staging Christopher and Sara Merriweather home with a “Christmas Delight” theme for their open house. Chris and Sara own a local hobby store along with Chris making beautiful wood toys during the year. Chris has been acting strangely since his return from his annual trip to visit old war buddies in Washington, D.C. Late one evening, Chris (who plays Santa each year) is found dead outside Santa’s cabin on Santa Lane. Why would someone murder him? Caprice is asked to look into the crime and see if she can unmask the killer. She soon discovers that Chris was keeping many secrets. Which one of them go them got him murdered?
Slay Bells Ring is not a standalone novel. You do need to read the previous six books in the series or you will be lost. There are numerous family members (friends, townspeople) and it will be impossible to keep them all straight. The murder occurs at the 20% mark in the story (I was beginning to wonder if I was reading a cozy mystery). The culprit’s identity can be discovered before the murder occurs (I am not kidding). I wish the mystery had been slightly more complicated and had been more of the focus of the book. The focus of Slay Bells Ring is on Grant and Caprice. They are newly engaged and very much in love (as we are told repeatedly). Slay Bells Ring is nicely written and has a good flow. It contains a charming town and a good female main character. I appreciate Caprice’s fashion sense and love of animals. Food items and Caprice’s clothing are described in detail (each and every outfit). Slay Bells Ring is perfect for readers looking for a light-hearted cozy mystery with love, family and Christmas. There is a preview of Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes at the end of the book.
Caprice is staging a holiday themed house for family friends the Merriweather’s, and it’s coming along beautifully. The family seems to have it all but when Chris, who always plays Santa every year, is found murdered all might not be as it seems. The question on everyone’s mind is who could have done something like that to such a kind man. Caprice has known the family forever and can’t just sit back and do nothing, she wants to help figure out just what happened. While looking for answers some disturbing things pop up about Chris putting him in a different light. Apparently he had been hiding quite a few secrets from his family for many years. Follow along with Caprice as she searches for clues and answers. You can’t help but enjoy what a unique and strong main character she is and the lengths she will go to for family and friends. I always look forward to reading about what theme she will come up with next for the house that she is staging and what animals she will help.
This is an enjoyable cozy mystery series that is best enjoyed read sequentially in order to better appreciate the characters, their development and their relationships with each other. Caprice is once again drawn into a murder investigation, that of the town’s charitable Santa figure, a familiar face and a good friend of her father. But solving his murder could bring even more sorrow since it may have been done by a friend. The story flows at a nice, steady pace and I love how Caprice’s family support her and each other. A new addition to this story is the adorable white Malamute, Blitz, as well as regulars Lady, and cats Sophia and Mirabelle. I can’t wait for book #8. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book received through Net Galley.
Slay Bells Ring is absolutely the very best Caprice De Luca Mystery to date. Karen Rose Smith has taken Caprice, her family, and friends (and furbabies!) to new heights with this 7th in series. It can be read as a standalone or in order. It is delightful and suspenseful mystery, the author continues to outdo herself with endearing characters, suspense, and romance as well as social awareness challenges and pet needs.
Caprice and Grant are planning for their future but have not yet set a wedding date. She is busy with home staging and interior decorating jobs along with Christmas preparations. Her newest contract is with Sara and Chris Merriweather, old family friends who are selling their gorgeous historic home to move into a condo in a retirement community.
Chris plays Santa Claus at the Santa house as he does every year. He suffers from PTSD after being in Viet Nam, but this is something he always looks forward to. Children love Blitz, his dog, almost as much as Santa. Yet Blitz was locked in the Santa house the night Chris was found bludgeoned to death with one of the candy cane decor stands stuck into the ground next to the house.
Caprice had harrowing escapades in the past while trying to help find the bad guy in murders for friends and lets the police handle such things now. How can she refuse to help Sara, however, after the long friendship with her parents? The chief of police, a family friend, Mack Powalski, can’t be part of the investigation due to his friendship with Chris. There are several possible suspects, including a couple of friends who are also Viet Nam vets. In recent months, Chris simply hasn’t been himself and even his wife doesn’t know why. At least until his secrets begin to be revealed.
Caprice and her nana are people I would want to meet if they were real. Caprice has a talent for coordinating fashions, furnishings, and colors, as well as communicating with people and animals. All the main characters are well-defined, with their behaviors and dialog showing who they are. The De Lucas all genuinely care about others, whether they have two legs or four, with unconditional love for their family. Sara, her family, and the veterans are also well-rounded. The author writes some of herself into the De Luca family’s ladies, especially with cooking expertise and love of pets.
The plot includes some huge surprises and turns! I like when there is a buildup of the story before a crime occurs; for this reader, it is much more shocking if I like the person injured or murdered. In this case, Chris is someone who will be missed very much by his family and community, and Sara is a wonderful lady. I like how cats and dogs are so much a part of Caprice and her family, including her uncle and his new business. The author has a finely executed plot with verve and charm and a layer of mysteries. While I did have a strong guess who the bad guy(s) were, I had the wrong motive – something that would not be revealed until much later. The end is very satisfying, and I am already looking forward to the next mystery! I highly recommend Slay Bells Ring, which can be read as a standalone or in order of the series. Oh yes, sleigh bells are used at least three ways in the novel, a unique play on words in the title!
From a grateful heart: I received this eBook from the author and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
Caprice De Luca has wrapped up her holiday-themed staging gig at a stunning historic home in downtown Kismit, Pennsylvania. Homeowners Chris and Sara Merriweather, have it all. A beautiful home, great kids, and a wonderful marriage, or do they?
Chris, a Vietnam vet who plays Santa every year at the community park, has been displaying strange behavior after his annual trip to Washington, D.C. His wife has no idea of what is disturbing him. The joy of the season vanishes when Chris is found murdered. Caprice uncovers secrets as she searches for Chris’ killer. It’s a race to locate the murderer before Caprice becomes the next victim.
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Series: A Caprice De Luca Mystery – Book 7
Author: Karen Rose Smith
Genre: Career/Mystery Cozy
Publisher: Kensington
Slay Bells Ring is a tremendous addition to Karen Rose Smith’s “A Caprice De Luca Mystery” series. In this holiday-themed book, Caprice has her hands full. Her business is booming, and her love life is heating up with an upcoming wedding. Her family brings her comfort and joy year round, especially during the holidays. Her appreciation for her family becomes fully focused when a family friend is murdered while playing Santa Claus.
The characters that Ms. Smith created in this series are fully developed, interesting and memorable. Caprice is a woman on a mission. She is determined to make her business, and her relationship with Grant work, even if she has to give up the home she loves. Her dedication to making certain that Grant is happy is commendable and unselfish. This describes her character completely.
Grant is equally determined to make certain that Caprice is happy. His past makes him sad but doesn’t hinder his relationship with Caprice. If anything, it makes their future brighter on the crucial levels of a relationship. Grant is very likable without being over the top. He is also intelligent. He knows Caprice will get involved with the investigation, and he knows he can’t prevent her from doing it. All he can do is support her and watch her back to make certain she doesn’t get hurt.
The remaining characters are well rounded and enjoyable. All of them add flavor and intrigue to the plot. Caprices parents are truly lovable and remarkable in a way that parents should be. They are supportive of their daughter as well as her siblings.
The setting in a small Pennsylvania town is picture perfect. Kismet may be fictional, but the real countryside in Pennsylvania is everything the author describes and more. The shops and homes are wonderfully descriptive and make the reader want to explore, as well as savor the sights, sounds, and smells of the area.
The pace of this book is a bit slower than most. The action is mainly based on family interactions. This is not a non-stop action-filled romp; readers will need to think through the evidence. It is a steady paced mystery with clues that if the reader misses them will make it difficult for them to figure out who the killer is. Yet there are plenty of hints to the murderer’s identity if the reader takes the time to put them all together.
Slay Bells Ring is highly recommended along with the other books in this series. However, I would caution the reader to start at the beginning of the series with book one. There is a need for more information on the background and memories of the characters discussed throughout the book to enhance the enjoyment of the reader.