CHRISTMAS MITTENS MURDER is the delightful collection of three holiday novellas by Lee Hollis, Lynn Cahoon, and Maddie Day! One of the things I like most about Kensington’s holiday collections is the opportunity to catch up with characters I already know and love and find new authors or new series before I invest in a full-length book. In this newest Christmas collection, the theme is mittens. Each of the authors has put their own fiendish spin on murder and mittens and, even though the stories are short, have knitted together full-length intrigue in fast-paced plots!

The first novella, Death of a Christmas Mitten Knitter, is written by Lee Hollis. Intrepid restaurant owner/food writer protagonist, Hayley Powell, is once again thrust into the role of finding out who killed a local knitter at a charity event. Besides a dastardly plot to solve, the novella is full of Christmas cheer. There are even a few holiday recipes sprinkled throughout, which adds to the festive atmosphere. I so enjoyed catching up with Hayley and her gang! The author does an admirable job of bringing the characters and their humorous quirks to life on the pages while tracking down a killer.

The second novella, Two Christmas Mittens by Lynn Cahoon, is based on her Kitchen Witch Mysteries. I’ve read a couple of the books in this series (and need to catch up on the last two) but I found it easy to get to know the protagonist, Mia Malone, along with the other characters. While a Christmas story, the paranormal element adds a spooky tone. Given that Halloween is right around the corner as I read the book, it added to the appeal. I also liked the sense of urgency in Mia solving the crime, and I found myself turning the pages faster and faster.

The third and final novella, Murderous Mittens by Maddie Day, turned out to be a prequel to the release of her upcoming brand-new Cece Barton Mysteries. One thing I truly enjoyed was the introduction to the new characters, especially protagonist Cece Barton, and get a peek at her relationship with her twin sister and family. It was also a fun surprise by a visit from a crossover character from one of Maddie’s earlier series. The mystery itself was well-plotted, and there are clues for the armchair detective to follow. Given this introduction to the new series, I’m even more eager for the first book to release!

Lee Hollis provides a few food and drink recipes with their novella. One of the recipes is for Hayley’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge – one of my favorite flavor combinations. Using only five pantry staple ingredients, the resulting candy was scrumptious with the perfect ratio of chocolate to peanut butter. The fudge is smooth and creamy and I wanted to keep it all for myself instead of sharing. But in the giving spirit of the holidays inspired by Christmas Mittens Murder, I did share and everyone loved this fudge as much as I did!

 

 

Amazon Synopsis

DEATH OF A CHRISTMAS MITTEN KNITTER by LEE HOLLIS
The church’s annual Christmas bazaar is an unqualified success until the local jeweler cries out that a valuable diamond ring has been stolen. Food writer Hayley Powell joins the search for it but discovers something decidedly more shocking—the dead body of a local knitter with a homemade mitten stuffed in her mouth. With only days to spare before the holiday, Hayley must unravel the mystery of Bar Harbor’s crafty killer before someone else receives a deadly gift.

TWO CHRISTMAS MITTENS by LYNN CAHOON
Magic Springs, Idaho, is decked out in its sparkling best for the season, but Mia Malone is almost too busy to notice. Taking a second job at the Lodge to save Mia’s Morsels doesn’t leave her much time for festivities—until she finds a dead body near one red mitten in the snow outside the Lodge during the holiday party. Learning that an ancient curse is at play, Mia must find the missing mitten and solve the murder before someone she loves is the next victim.

MURDEROUS MITTENS by MADDIE DAY
A quiet Christmas in Colinas, California, at her twin sister’s charming B&B is exactly what Cece Barton needs during the holiday hustle of Los Angeles. But the morning after a lovely evening at the local wine bar, Cece learns that the bar’s proprietor, who sells mittens in her spare time, has has been found dead, hit on the head with a bocce ball nestled in one of the mittens she sells as a sideline. With her horrified twin one of the main suspects, can Cece unmask the merry murderer before this becomes a holiday from hell?

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Lee Hollis for providing a TWO print copies of CHRISTMAS MITTENS MURDER. (The books may potentially be print ARC copies.) Contest ends October 15, 2023 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.