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Christmas With a Criminal Twist
Christmas With a Criminal Twist
Reviews by Yvonne Selander, collection development librarian
Ah, the holidays. A time when Hallmark movies are de rigueur and people like me need to defend their stance that both “Die Hard” and “Gremlins” are Christmas movies. Imagine my delight when Christmas mysteries and thrillers started flooding the shelves! Here are two that even a Grinch like me will want to read with hot cocoa by the decked out tree.
“Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret: A Festive Mystery” by Benjamin Stevenson
Stevenson unashamedly describes the money-grab that is the Christmas story in the midst of a series and the “rules” that authors must follow. Ernest Cunningham’s ex-wife woke up covered with blood and a dead second husband in their house. She calls Ernest for his help in catching the real killer. Clues abound including an Advent calendar and the author doles out a clue at the end of every chapter. Did I figure it out? Well… part of it anyway. But Ernest is a MUCH better detective than I could ever hope to be.
“The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year” by Ally Carter
Maggie Chase is the queen of cozy mysteries. Ethan Wyatt is the king of adrenaline thrillers. They have the same publisher and that’s where the similarities end. Frankly, they can’t stand each other. But both are invited to the estate of the grand dame of mysteries, Eleanor Ashley, in the British countryside for Christmas and both are excited to meet her. They didn’t expect the other guests; it seems like Ashley’s entire family is there. Too bad the hostess disappears from a locked room shortly after their arrival and they are left to figure out if the accidents Ashley has had in the past few weeks were truly accidents. As bullets fly and poison is found it’s beginning to look like Maggie and Ethan were brought here to solve a murder. For those that want their mystery mixed with a hefty dose of mistletoe and romance.