Loving Mrs. Claus and the Halloween Homicide
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One of the reasons why I love cozy mysteries so much is that I can be transported into a world of interesting and intriguing characters all the while trying to crack a case. I may not be a real life sleuth, but I do enjoy figuring out clues that can lead me to the story’s killer.
Mrs. Claus and the Halloween Homicide is the second installment of the Mrs. Claus series by Liz Ireland, which takes you back to Santaland. The protagonist is Mrs. Claus, (yes, you read correctly, Mrs. April Claus, married to the infamous Santa,) introduces Halloween to the town and most of the elves enthusiastically participate in preparing for the big day. However, there are a few elves who are not so keen on this new spooky holiday being adopted into Santaland and they go on a pumpkin smashing mission. On top of it all, the most protesting elf is killed in a peculiar manner and April can’t help herself but to get involved with the investigation.
This story has so many adorable and interesting characters in it. With talking and drunken reindeer with faulty blinking noses, to a distant cousin of Jack Frost as the main detective to get to the bottom of the Pumpkin Slayer, to the many different elves of Santaland all make up for a hilarious cozy that had me laughing throughout the book.
I also love that this has a unique spin on already established fictional characters who you always picture as jolly beings, trying to get by and who have struggles of their own similar to people in real life.
April’s character is amazing and I’m a huge fan of hers. She is imperfect and is a big person trying to fit in a world made for much shorter people, all because she fell in love with Nick Claus. Her quirky characteristics made me feel seen and her relationships with those she was helping solve the mystery with were fun. The world building was amazing and the author transported me to a world that I would love to hang out in.
If you haven’t guessed it by now, I really recommend this novel and I look forward to many more in this series.
Thank you Kensington Books for the finished copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Book Description
For the first time ever, Christmastown is celebrating a strange new tradition--Halloween. But not everyone is willing to watch their dependable winter wonderland get overrun by carved pumpkins and costume parties. As a series of scary happenings hit Santaland, each one more intense than the last, April realizes having a role in the festivities could cost her family, friends--even her own life.
April isn't the only unlucky target. Outspoken elf Tiny Sparkletoe is found dead in the snow outside his cottage, crushed in the middle of what appears to be a monstrous footprint. With mayhem descending like reindeer on rooftops, April must stop the Halloween killer before the fate of Mrs. Claus becomes another creepy tale to tell in the dark...