This is the 6th book in the A Year Round Christmas series. If possible, readers should go back a start at book one in the series for a full appreciation of Delano’s characters.

In typical Vicki Delaney style, the quirky folks who live in Rudolf, New York are the heart of the story. The local production company is rife with jealousy and role envy. The drama spills over into Merry’s (our amateur sleuth) Christmas store and drags her into yet another murder mystery. Such fun!

I'm a devoted fan of Vicki Delany's "Year-Round Christmas Mysteries" series, where the festive town backdrop and engaging mysteries always charm me. However, my recent experience with "Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas" left me deeply frustrated, primarily due to the change in narrator.

The series, set in a Christmas-themed town year-round, has been a delightful escape for me. I've grown fond of the characters, especially the protagonist. Unfortunately, the narration in this installment took away from my enjoyment. The new narrator's portrayal of the mother character drastically shifted my perception. Instead of the kind and loving mother I've known through the series, she sounded like a completely different, and frankly, unpleasant character.

Narration can make or break an audiobook, and in this case, it significantly impacted my experience. The tone, voice choices, and overall performance by the narrator fell short, making it difficult to immerse myself in the story as I had with previous books. While the story itself wasn't bad, the narration dragged down the entire experience.

Despite my love for the series, I couldn't give this audiobook the rating it deserved because of the narration. I had to deduct a star solely because of this aspect. If I could rate the narrator separately, it would be a much lower score. It's a reminder of how crucial a narrator's skill is in audiobooks and how it can greatly influence one's enjoyment of a beloved series.

As a side note, I've also found the character of Jackie to be consistently frustrating throughout the series, wondering why she hasn't faced consequences despite her behavior across multiple books.

Overall, "Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas" fell short due to the disappointing narration, but the core story and series remain favorites of mine.

It’s the beginning of December in Rudolph, New York, America's Christmas Town, and business is brisk at Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, a gift and décor shop owned by Merry Wilkinson. The local amateur dramatic society is intensely preparing a special musical production of A Christmas Carol. But it’s not a happy set, as rivalries between cast and crew threaten the production. Tensions come to a head when a member of the group is found dead shortly after a shopping excursion to Mrs. Claus's Treasures. Was someone looking to cut out the competition? Everyone in the cast and crew is a potential suspect, including Aline, Merry’s mother, and Merry's shop assistant Jackie O'Reilly, who was desperate for a starring role. It could be curtains for Christmas—and for Merry—unless the killer can be ferreted out of the wings. Nothing says Happy Holidays like a good murder for Christmas. This is a delightful cozy that manages to be festive and mysterious at the same time. This is the 6th installment in the series and it just keeps getting better.

It is Christmas time in the town of Randolph, the year round Christmas town and they are getting ready for a musical production of The Christmas Carol. Let me start by saying WOW book six of the Year Round Christmas series has more drama involved than any community theater group should be allowed, especially for this time of year. Our sleuth Merry knows all about performers and their temperament her mom is a real diva, seriously, she is a retired Met Opera diva. So was it artistic differences, acting ambitions, or something else that leads to the death of Paula who has been cast as Mrs. Cratchit? Since the murder occurred in Merry’s store, Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, during business hours, and Jackie her assistant was the over eager understudy, Merry has no choice but to ask questions and get to the bottom of all the drama. The story moves at a good pace and Merry does such a great job with not asking the wrong people the right questions and getting herself into perilous predicaments. This is a fun holiday cozy that keeps you turning pages and wondering why Paula was the victim.

Cast and crew are preparing to present "A Christmas Carol", but things are rocky. Merry gets pulled into another mystery when a cast member is found murdered. Her mother and shop assistant are among the suspects. This was a fun holiday themed book with engaging characters and a strong mystery.

The author gives us a nice mystery with plenty of clues, suspects, and red herrings. The characters are well written and very well developed, they almost seem like they could come to life and be your neighbors. The only thing that I didn't like about the book are all of the spelling errors and punctuation errors that should have been caught by the author herself or at least her editor.

A fun, Christmasy, cozy mystery to get you in to the holiday spirit. I was not able to guess the killer until, right before the reveal. Vicki Delany did a good job keeping me guessing.

I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series and hopefully getting to all of the previous books in this series that are already sitting on my bookshelves!

Loved this one! A delightful cozy mystery! I enjoyed it very much. If you enjoy mysteries or stories with an amateur sleuth, and do not need the graphic reality with descriptions of gore and violence, this is a good choice. You can follow the clues to solve the mystery without any threat of nightmares.

"Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas" by Vicki Delany is a delightful addition to the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series, offering readers a cozy and festive murder mystery set in the charming town of Rudolph, New York. With its holiday-themed setting and engaging plot, this book earns a solid four-star rating, providing an enjoyable read for fans of cozy mysteries.

The story unfolds in America's Christmas Town, where Merry Wilkinson owns Mrs. Claus's Treasures, a gift and décor shop. As the town gears up for the holiday season, the local amateur dramatic society is immersed in preparing a special production of "A Christmas Carol." Delany skillfully combines the festive atmosphere with the tension brewing among the cast and crew, setting the stage for a murder mystery that keeps readers hooked.

The characters are well-developed, and Merry Wilkinson makes for a charming and relatable protagonist. The dynamics between the cast and crew add an extra layer of intrigue, with rivalries and conflicts escalating as tensions rise. The author successfully weaves together the holiday cheer and the suspenseful elements of a murder investigation, creating a well-balanced and engaging narrative.

The murder mystery itself is cleverly crafted, with a variety of suspects, each with motives that keep the reader guessing until the end. The setting of a gift and décor shop adds a cozy touch, and the inclusion of Aline, Merry's mother, and Jackie O'Reilly, Merry's shop assistant, as potential suspects adds depth to the plot.

Delany's writing style is accessible and engaging, capturing the festive spirit of Christmas in Rudolph. The pacing of the story is well-managed, with the suspense building gradually and culminating in a satisfying resolution. The inclusion of the amateur dramatic society's production of "A Christmas Carol" adds a unique and enjoyable element to the narrative.

"Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas" successfully delivers on the promise of a charming cozy mystery with a holiday twist. Vicki Delany combines festive cheer with a well-crafted murder mystery, making it an ideal read for fans of the genre. With its engaging characters and a plot that keeps you guessing, this book is a perfect seasonal treat for those who enjoy a mix of holiday magic and suspense.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

This book is book 6 in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series. Unfortunately I have not any others in this series but I decided to read anyway. I found it confusing to keep track of the all the characters.

But I did find this book to be a good cozy Christmas book.

3.5 stars
A solid offering from elite cozy author, Vicki Delany. I wasn’t captured by the beginning of this series, but it appears to have settled in to Delany’s well-developed, well-paced signature style. The town regulars are round, familiar characters, and the relationships are engaging.
A production of A Christmas Carol is a bit overdone in Christmas Cozies, but it provides a good setting for the mystery and a cast of possible suspects. I did have the murderer identified well before the reveal, but I wouldn’t say it was terribly obvious. All in all, a good holiday read.

Thank you to Vicki Delany, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am a fan of some of Vicki Delany's series and not so much a fan of others. This was the first Year-Round Christmas Mystery that I've read, although it's book 6 in the series. The series is set in Rudolph, New York, a small town that has re-invented itself as a year-round Christmas destination. It's the week before Christmas, and Merry Wilkinson, owner of Mrs. Claus' Treasures naturally has her hands full with the influx of holiday tourists, but this year, things are more hectic as her shop assistant, Jackie, is distracted by her performance in the community theater's presentation of a musical Christas Carol. Merry's mother, retired opera diva Aline, has agreed to perform int he play and serve as musical director. But the normal pre-performance tensions and ego clashes escalate wildly out of control and culminate in the death of the original Mrs. Cratchit. With Jackie as a major suspect, and her mother menaced by a ghostly phantom, Merry has to discover who is killing the actors and why. I really enjoyed the book. Merry, her mom, and her dad are charming and delightful people, and Merry's has a sweet boyfriend in Alan. The characters are relatable and fully fleshed out, the town of Rudolph seems like a fun place to live, and the cold weather and holiday hijinks in running a store are realistic. I also approve of Merry respecting the skill of the local police and there is never a single disparaging word about their competence--this, would be cozy writers, is how you weave your amateur detective into the story without making the police out to be bumbling idiots. I will absolutely look for more books in the series. I looked into it and while several are set at Christmas, one is at Thanksgiving and one is in the summer, and I hope the next story is also a non-Christmas week mystery, just so that I don't start worrying about timelines and break through the fourth wall when reading.

I have read several books written by Vicki Delany, but this is my first in the "A Year-Round Christmas Mystery" series. It was difficult for me to keep track of all the people in the book, which wouldn't be the case if I had read the series from the beginning.

The story was good. The main character is Merry Wilkinson. Merry owns Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, a gift shop in Rudolph, New York.

The local amateur theater group is preparing their version of A Christmas Carol. This is a big deal in Rudolph because their annual production is a tourist attraction and helps their local economy.

Unfortunately, the production is in jeopardy. When one of the actors is found dead in Merry's gift shop.

I liked this book but I'm sure it would have been an easier read. If I was familiar with all the characters.

#HaveYourselfaDeadlyLittleChristmas

Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas

by Vicki Delany

I am disappointed when I read an apparently Christmas themed book that has little to do with Christmas. Sometimes the only Christmasy aspect is a beautiful cover. Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas is NOT in that category! From start to finish the book depends on a Christmas theme because its setting is Rudolph, New York, a town that aspires to be known as “America’s Christmas Town.” In a show of unity, the business owners specialize in shops with cute names and sponsor town-wide Christmas events.

The protagonist, Merry, owns Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, located on Jingle Bell Lane. The community theater group decides to produce a musical version of A Christmas Carol. It is an amateur group with the exception of Merry’s mother, a retired opera singer. There are a number of ego-driven conflicts among the performers, but Merry, not a part of the cast, is drawn into the undercurrents of discord when a cast member is killed in her shop. Is the death somehow related to the play? Merry just can’t let it go!

Merry’s mother is a diva, but Merry is down-to-earth. Her kind father plays Santa Claus at various events and looks the part. Her boyfriend Alan is a talented woodworker creating furniture and children’s toys. He also is “Santa’s head toymaker at public events.” Merry has a lumbering Saint Bernard, and Alan has a Jack Russell; both dogs have important roles in this cozy mystery.

It’s probably hard to write a mystery with strong Christmas vibes, but Vicki Delany is very successful in doing just that. With good characters, a mystery that offers a true puzzle and numerous motivations, and a little danger thrown in, this cozy had me turning pages and ended for me with a gentle “aww!” reaction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 5/5

Category: General Fiction, Mystery

Notes: #6 in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery Series, but could definitely be enjoyed as a standalone. I had not read any others in the series, but now I would like to.

Publication: September 19, 2023—Crooked Lane Books

Memorable Lines:

“A Christmas Carol, however, is not to be trifled with. It, more than most works, is firmly locked in time and place. That is what people expect. That is its appeal. The tradition of the Christmas season and the emotions it arouses.”

“Jackie O’Reilly, of all people, has asked to stay for a private lesson once the chorus practice has finished. Making silk purses out of sows’ ears comes to mind.”

Ranger leapt up and down, yipping in an excess of excitement. He’s a Jack Russell and excess excitement is his entire nature. He sniffed my boots, ran in circles around my legs, and then headed toward Mattie for more greetings. Mattie woofed in warning; Ranger decided discretion was the better part of valor and he hurried to sniff at the wheels of my car.

Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas is book 6 in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series. I read the first couple of books in the series before I read this one, but not books 3,4,and 5. I think this one can be read as a stand-alone.

If you're in the mood for a fast-paced and festive cozy mystery, this is a good one to pick up. It will definitely put you in the Christmas spirit!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

"Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas" is a very entertaining holiday book. From upstate N.Y a little town with so much happening was a very enjoyable read. Merry is not sticking her nose into the killer but in the end she does and solves the mystery in the nik of time.

*Year-Round Christmas Mystery Book 6
*Easy read
*Good plot, weak motive
*Revolves around A Christmas Carol play
*Surprise reveal- I totally thought the suspect was another character

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I’m so glad Vicki Delany decided to continue this series. The whole crew is back in this Christmas themed cozy. This year, Rudolph is in the midst of preparing for Christmas visitors. To do so, the local theater company is putting on a performance of A Christmas Carol. Of course whenever Merry is involved, murder is sure to follow….

Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas is the sixth book in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series. This was the first one I've read and I think it worked fine as a standalone. I loved the cozy setting of Rudolph, New York and wish it were a real place I could visit (minus the murder.) I liked the murder mystery and the interactions between characters. I recommend this one for anyone who wants to read a holiday-themed book but isn't in the mood for romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas: A Year-Round Christmas Mystery
By Vicki Delany
Crooked Lane Books
2023

Review by Cynthia Chow

The town of Rudolph, New York has made itself famous to tourists around the world by celebrating Christmas throughout the year, but in December it truly goes all out. Most of the businesses are all Christmas related, with locals also participate in the holiday celebratory events. That’s how Mrs. Claus’s Treasures owner Merry Wilkinson finds herself at the Rudolph Community Theater Players annual picnic helping her friend cater the food. Merry’s father Noel regularly appears as the town’s Santa Claus, but her opera star mother is coming out of retirement to take on dual roles in the production of A Christmas Carol. For a community theater performance the players are alarmingly competitive, pushing their director and the wardrobe mistress to their limits. Acting in the role of Mrs. Cratchit, Paula Monahan not only demands a bigger spotlight, she allows her very unlike-Tiny-Tim son to bully and physically attack other children. So when Merry steps out of her gift and décor store to check on her massive pooch Matterhorn and returns only to discover Paula’s body, motives range from those unsatisfied with her performance or as retribution for the acts by her son.

The show must go on though, and now Merry’s shop assistant Jackie O’Reilly steps into Paula’s role as the unglamorous Mrs. Cratchit. That doesn’t mean that Jackie won’t try to shuzz up her costume or her place in the production, which also places her right in a different kind of spotlight, that of lead suspect for murder. Jackie’s thrill at the news of Paula’s death isn’t exactly subtle, but Merry also doesn’t wonder if the victim hadn’t accidentally been mistaken for an even more abrasive woman. Catherine Renshaw may be financing the production, but despite having no theater experience she isn’t shy with her casting suggestions as she attempts to overrule a frustrated director. As accustomed as Merry is to her famous actress mother and her over-the-top behavior, but Merry is unprepared for the egos and narcissism involved in what should be a supportive community production.

The prolific author Vicki Delany can always be relied upon for well-plotted mysteries filled with clever dialogue and entertaining characters. The town of Rudolph comes alive and never seems more engaging than it is here, and the inclusion of the community theater players only adds to the fun. Merry’s diva mother and her self-involved behavior is balanced out by Noel’s genial warm-heartedness, ensuring that their family is always entertaining and never boring. While Christmas of course has a starring role in this Christmas-themed mystery, what truly takes center stage is the satiric depiction of the theater world and those who populate it. Merry has a surprisingly amenable reunion with her sister, whose perfect family and perfect job have always had Merry feeling like a disappointment. It’s been three years since the last appearance by Merry and her Christmas-obsessed town, and while it was worth the wait, readers hopefully won’t have to wait long for another delightful and hilarious entry in this holiday mystery series.