I have read quite a few Cozy Mystery books and I found this one to be lacking. I didn't like the fact the the Sheriff in this book was portrayed as a bumbling idiot. If it wasn't for Mrs. Claus this case never would have gotten solved. She literally took over the whole case and everyone looked to her for answers and really for a cozy mystery that's not how the story should go. Yes she should help but not take over and not make the Sheriff seem like he has no idea what he is doing. I know who the killer was in the beginning of the story and to get to how everything happened just took way to long and the only one who could see it was Mrs. Claus.


*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*

An exciting story in Christmas Village. The entertainers for the Christmas Fair are staying at Plum Cottage. Mrs Maribel Claus - not having a lot to do at home as it's her husband's busy time of year - is helping out at Rose - the owner of the cottage - has sprained her ankle; when the owner of the troupe turns up dead.

Will the Sheriff - with the help of Maribel - find the murderer befor Christmas is ruined?

A good fun book and interesting read.

This is a classic English country house murder mystery! It is set at Christmas! The book sets up the mystery from the beginning. There is a Troupe of performers staying in the village at Plum Cottage, the murderer is also staying there which makes everyone suspicious of each other. It turns out one of the performers is the murderer and then the finger gets pointed at every performer. Then another dies and Christmas pudding trinkets are linked to the murder and they start turning up on those who are alive which was a great plan and it gave Christmas pudding a sinister twist. The Sherriff and Maribel set a trap to catch the killer and it works! I have to say I didn't expect who did it but at the same time I wasn't shocked.

I loved the Descriptions of Christmas village, it sounded like a beautiful Christmas village and it made me feel very warm and Christmassy. Also I loved the villages Christmas Traditions like the walk of lanterns.
Maribel Claus is quite sassy which I liked. She's the investigator and I'm pretty sure she is Santa's wife. I liked her friendship with Rose (she owns Plum Cottage) and the rest of the villagers. I loved the Sherriff. He is the Sherriff who isn't really equipped to deal with murder and the book pokes fun at him. I also loved the Mayor! The people who lived in the village are eccentric and they sometimes go off topic which I really enjoyed. It made it feel more realistic to me. The discussion of how the murders could have happened are funny as some of the things suggested are just ridiculous. I really liked that it ended with a Christmas Eve celebration,

cozy-mystery, magic, fantasy, Christmas, suspense, friendship, whodunit

What fun! A Christmas village with all interesting characters and omens of evil brought on by the character so patently out of place that the reader is glad when he is bumped off! Mrs Claus is the chief snoop, half of the characters are members of street players, and the other half are proud members of the community. The sleuthing is pretty good and complete with surprising twists and red herrings. Great fun!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Better Mousetrap Books via NetGalley.

This is the second T.C. Wescott book that I read and I absolutely loved it. If there is a list of perfect books for Christmas, then I am pretty sure that Slay Bells is also on the list.

I love T.C Wescott's books. A cozy crime novel with oodles of suspense, Slay Bells is one of the best books that I have read so far! If I had to describe this book in three words, I would say Fascinating, Brilliant and Spectacular.

Not just the Elders or Doctor Wilcox or Sheriff Fell or Rose, even I was curious to know how the murderer committed these crimes. No DNA or fingerprint evidence whatsoever and no footprints, how on earth did the two victims die?

The folklore - Glockenvogel, and Doppelkopflome (double-headed lion) was a nice inclusion to the story. With Pontifex seeing a blue figure that hopped from one tree to another, the story of the big bird seemed almost real!

Maribel's caring and curious nature reminded me of Miss Marple. But let me tell you, Maribel's husband is Mr.Claus and he owns a toy shop. The Mister, as Maribel fondly calls him, is busy during Christmas, visiting children and giving them gifts. Does it ring a bell? There's more about Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the end of the story.

How can I not mention the wonderful and mouth-watering delicacies that Maribel makes for the guests and for the stall at the festival! Tarts, cookies, sandwiches and whatnot, Maribel is an all-rounder! She's a member at the Historical Society and she's also one of the seven Elders (the council). Now you know why I called her an all rounder. There are also a mention or two of how Maribel helped the police in solving a case or two. And it goes without saying that Maribel (helps) solves the mystery behind these murders too.

There's something about Wescott's writing style that makes it quite different from the usual cozy or crime mystery. Maribel reveals the identity of the perp and the perp is arrested. But the question of how the murders were committed still remains a mystery. Maribel makes Rose and the troop, Sheriff Fell and Mayor Cobblestone wait until the next day to reveal the mystery. Not just the characters in the book, even I was eager to know how the murderer committed the crime. Did they fly? Did they jump? Or, were they so strong that they could throw Snipes' body over the hill?

There's no doubt that T.C. Wescott is in the list of my favorite authors. His storytelling skills are mind-blowing, the stories are full of suspense and keeps the reader hooked onto the book until the very end and the endings are simply fantastic! If you are looking for a cozy crime mystery this Christmas then do not miss to check out Slay Bells by T.C.Wescott

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
Afraid to say this book was not for me
Loved the cover and the whole concept but didn't do it

Obviously in the minority here, but really struggled to get into this book. The writing seemed a little off to my taste, and I had trouble getting into the characters. Ended up skimming a bit, and was just curious enough to find out the ending. Would recommend, but would probably not read again.

Review of SLAY BELLS by T. C. Wescott

This nifty little Christmastide cozy is A Christmas Village Mystery #1. Christmas Village is a very magical place, where special snow and beautiful flowers exist year round, villagers are kind and loving, visitors are in awe; and where Mr. and Mrs. Claus live. Maribel Claus is a delightfully winning personality, an amateur sleuth, extraordinarily observant, a great cook, and the devoted owner of two ferrets. When her friend Rose Willoughby's Bed and Breakfast—Plum Cottage Inn—hosts a carnival troupe, Maribel leaps to help out, especially needed after Rose sprains her ankle hanging the Mistletoe.

Unfortunately all is not sweetness and light at this Christmastide, and Rose soon discovers she is harbouring a murderous viper. The Sheriff is well-meaning and dedicated, but Christmas Village can be thankful Maribel Claus is on the trail.

This is a cozy mystery with a good plot and some very good mysteries. The characters are maybe a little too strange, and you will probably not feel too much of a Christmas spirit.

A lovely cozy that brings you to an enchanted town. I loved this book, the style of writing, the cast of characters, and the plot.
It's enjoyable, heartwarming and entertaining.
I hope that this is the beginning of a new series because I would like to read more books set in this town and with this cast of characters.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC