Interlopers at Christmas
It’s been no secret how much I love the Mrs. Claus mysteries from Liz Ireland. When I get the ARC of the new book each year, it’s hard not to sit down and devour it right then. But I waited until closer to release for Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year’s, and once again, I loved it.
If you haven’t found this series yet, you are in for a treat. You see, this series takes place in Santaland and features April Claus. Yes, she is married to the current Santa, Nick. She just learned about Santaland a few years ago after meeting Nick when he appeared at her bed and breakfast in Oregon for vacation. She’s still getting used to her new life, but she’s navigating it better with each passing year.
As the book opens, April is about to lose her husband…for a couple of days. Yep, it’s time for Santa to take off on his around the world trip to leave presents for the good children of the world. It also signals a week of game and rest for all of Santaland as the hard work for the year is over.
This year, however, things are going to be different. An elf that lives on the outskirts of Santaland has found three humans out in the cold. They aren’t dead, although one has been stabbed in the back by reindeer antlers. While everyone’s first instincts are to send these strangers somewhere else immediately, they need immediate medical attention. Then one of them dies. Is April looking for another killer? Can Santaland keep their secret from the strangers?
If you are expecting something super cozy when you pick up this series, you won’t be disappointed. Author Liz Ireland has done a fantastic job of creating this fantasy world in which to set her mysteries. I got a bit cold reading about all the snow even though we were having a heat wave here while I read it. You’ll want to have some coco nearby to drink. And you’ll get Christmas music stuck in your head. It’s charming. It’s fun. And it really adds to the uniqueness of this series.
Now, this isn’t to say that the mystery isn’t taken seriously. I love how everything is balanced. No, the plot isn’t dark, it’s in keeping with the tone of the series, but April still wants to figure out what is going on, and her investigation drives the story forward. The clues lead her to a logical and satisfying solution.
Then there are the characters. April leads a charming cast that I just love to spend time visiting. We’ve seen growth in some of them and their relationships over the course of the series, and that holds true again here. And the new characters fit perfectly into this world.
I can’t leave out the humor. The elves never do anything half-heartedly, and that hold true again here. I’m not going to spoil some of the chaos that causes, but it is once again brilliantly done. I grinned and smiled my way through the book.
If you are looking for a light, holiday themed cozy mystery, you need to check out this series. Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year’s will please fans of April Claus. If you haven’t yet explored this fantastic world, you really need to do so soon. Skipping this series just might put you on the naughty list.
Enjoy more holiday mayhem with the rest of the Mrs. Claus Mysteries.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
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