Friday, December 27, 2019

Never Mess with Mistletoe

image from Amazon.com

Never Mess with Mistletoe is a 2016 mystery novel, 10th in the Leigh Koslow series, by Edie Claire. You can read it online here at Google Play. I've never read any of this series and only read this one because it was free. I liked it. The set-up is interesting, and the festive seasonal setting is fun.

Here's the plot description from Fantastic Fiction:
Frances Koslow was ecstatic to have her humble abode chosen as stop #3 on the Holiday House Tour. Then everyone drank the cider.

When Leigh's parents' house becomes a last-minute substitution on the regional garden club's famous Holiday House Tour, Frances Koslow is thrilled. But the tour is tomorrow, there's work to be done, and Frances's dwindling and aging "Floribunda" chapter is in dire need of reinforcements. Worried about her mother's blood pressure, particularly as sisterly tensions rise over Leigh's Aunt Lydie's upcoming Christmas Eve wedding, Leigh steps in to make sure the tour runs smoothly.

But perhaps Leigh isn't the ideal choice for the task. Not when a fortune cookie has just portended the return of her infamous "bad karma." Not when everyone knows the real reason the Floribundas have declined is because every remaining member is a whackadoodle. And not when someone's idea of Christmas spirit is to add a little something extra to the sweet cider punch.

One dead Floribunda later, Leigh struggles to keep her family calm in the midst of swirling suspicions, flying accusations, and dubious warnings of biological warfare. But when someone threatens to silence her own all-too-curious daughter, mother-rage kicks in. Nobody is ruining Leigh's family's Merry Christmas. Not even her family.

14 comments:

  1. ...I will never understand how a poisonous plant become popular with kissing at Christmas.

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    1. The white berries were a symbol of male fertility. Those must be powerful kisses!

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  2. Replies
    1. I'm enjoying the choices of free books.

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  3. How to put the fun in dysfunctional family holiday gatherings 😺

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    1. But all's well that end's well, and happiness and peace prevail :)

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  4. Sounds like a good book for free. Have a fun day. Valerie

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    1. Free is tempting for a seasonal mystery :)

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  5. I'm looking forward to reading this. It sounds like a cozy to me.

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    1. Definitely a cozy. Perfect for the season.

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  6. I don't know this series either, but there are so many mystery series, isn't there? I am wondering if there is a cat as I see one hanging off the word mistletoe. Happy weekend. Hugs-Erika

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    1. Not prominently featured, but the main character has a cat and a dog (a corgi). There are uncountable mystery series, that's true. I think making a single book in a series available for free is genius in that it lets you try without commitment. No way I'd have paid for a book from this series because it doesn't sound like it'd be to my taste, but I was willing to try it for free and found I liked it.

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  7. I love nothing better than reading festive books this time of year, thanks for the recommendation 😁. Happy wishes! Hugs, Jo x

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    1. It is fun finding books that take place during the season. There seem to be more mysteries that do as opposed to other genres.

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