Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Maine Clambake Mystery series is one of my favorites, so I was thrilled to discover Nogged Off, a “between the novels” story about Julia Snowden set at Christmastime. This little novella didn’t disappoint! I really enjoyed getting to meet the young lady who had sublet Julia’s apartment. A very unique introduction of a new character!

Julia is off on a short trip to New York to finish picking up the last of her things from her apartment that she is now subletting. When she arrives it soon becomes apparent that the young woman who was going to take over her apartment is no longer able too. Imogen seems to be surrounded by bad luck, she accidentally poisoned the people in her office, her boyfriend broke up with her, and now she has no where to go because she has no money. Julia feels sorry for her so after packing up the entire apartment she offers Imogen a place to stay for the holidays. Imogen except and the so are off to Maine. When it comes time to unpack the truck a body falls out and everything seems to go sideways. The body belongs to Imogens ex and the police are looking at her as the killer. Julia doesn't think the girl could hurt a fly and wants to look into the man's death in hopes that she can clear Imogen's name. Follow along as Julia delves deeper I to the life of the dead man and is surprised at all the clues that keep popping up. Can she fit all the clues together to solve the puzzle of who the killer is or will she be missing some pieces in the end? This was a fun short and a great way to follow the characters in between books.

Julia Snowden is going to New York to pack up her subletted apartment but there's a problem. Imogen Geinkes is now jobless and homeless after a disastrous holiday party where her tainted eggnog sickened all her work colleagues. Julia invites Imogen to spend the Christmas holidays in Busman’s Harbor. Things go awry when their rental truck is stolen from the driveway of her mother's house. The police soon find the stolen contents, the missing truck and the body of Imogen’s former boyfriend, Wade. Imogen and Julia's family are shocked when the victim's identical twin arrives, He claims he is Wade and that the victim is criminal brother Wayne. Has Imogene been double-crossed by an evil twin? Was the eggnog “accident” no accident at all? Julia is determined to save Imogen and her family from a manipulative psychopath.

I received an eARC from Netgalley and Kensington with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

Nogged Off by Barbara Ross was originally published in Eggnog Murder. This well-plotted novella is a quick and easy read with great characters. The author provides enough character background that readers who are new to these series will not feel lost.

Julia Snowden and her boyfriend, Chris Durand, live in Busman’s Harbor, Maine. During the off-season, they operate their fine dining restaurant and bar. During the summer months, Julia helps with her family’s business, the Snowden Family Clambake. Julia travels to New York to pick up the last of her personal possessions and officially turn her apartment over to Imogen Geinkes, who was subleasing the unit and keeping Julia’s furniture. Julia finds Imogen in tears and learns that she quit her job after giving her co-workers food poisoning at a holiday party, can’t pay the rent, broke up with her boyfriend, and has nowhere to go. Julia rents a truck, hires two helpers, and quickly packs up everything and cleans the apartment so she’ll get her deposit back. Kindhearted Julia agrees to take her home to Busman’s Harbor, and Julia’s mother opens up her home to Imogen. The truck is stolen, and when it’s found, Imogen’s boyfriend’s body is found inside.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Nogged Off by Barbara Ross was a fun and entertaining book to read.

Description
Previously published in the collection Egg Nog Murder.

Description:
‘Twas the week before Christmas, and Julia Snowden’s escape from New York has just hit a snag. Fresh off accidentally poisoning half her colleagues with her “Killer Eggnog,” Julia’s would-be subletter, Imogen Geinkes, is now jobless and homeless—leading Julia to invite the young woman home for the holidays in Maine. But when they unload the rental truck in Busman’s Harbor, they find something that wasn’t on anyone’s packing list: the body of Imogen’s former boyfriend. Suddenly, the wordplay in Imogen’s name—“I’m a jinx”—isn’t so adorable. But for all the calamities that follow in Imogen’s wake, Julia’s certain she’s no killer. As Julia digs into the case, the appearance of the ex’s brother—his identical twin—doubles the confusion. Has Imogene been double-crossed by an evil twin? Was the eggnog “accident” no accident at all? If Julia doesn’t unwrap the murderer’s true identity soon, one of the twelve days of Christmas could be her last . . .

My Review:
I'm a sucker for Christmas novels and this one does not disappoint. Published previously I had not had the opportunity to read, so I am glad I was able to pick up this new published version. As murder mystery goes this book is filled with interesting characters and plenty of twists and turns. Juliet cannot help herself not knowing that her kindness will lead her to solve a murder. It was a fun read and I highly recommend it.

I was provided this book free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion and I highly recommend it giving it a 5 Star.

I just love Juliet Snowden and her family clambake and this, being a Christmas themed mystery, is a wonderful addition to this entertaining series. Juliet has made a commitment to stay in Maine with her family and is going to New York to finally give up her apartment and take her inherited family furniture back to Busman's Harbor. When she gets to her apartment she finds her tenant in tears, having just lost her job and her boyfriend. Juliet winds up taking her back to Maine with her where she gets involved in finding her truck with the furniture stolen and the boyfriend dead. Juliet is able to solve both crimes and still celebrate the holidays in true Maine fashion. The story is brimming with Maine Christmas traditions, with delicious food and with warm family memories. I loved it!

I read this book several years ago. Love this series. Not sure why the author published it again. Julia permanently moved back to Maine and thought she was subletting her apt to find out imogen lost her job.

I'm confused. I've already read this "new" book. Is it a re-release? I don't see it listed as one in the series.

This was a cute lightweight Christmas story within the clambake series. I missed this the first time it was released under a different title. It doesn't seem as long as the regular stories, more of a novella. As such it also seems to not go into as much work or detail about the mystery. But it is an easy read for a lazy afternoon.

When the young woman subletting her NY apartment, Imogen Geinkes, finds herself alone for the holidays, Julia Snowden invites her to spend Christmas with her family in Busman's Harbor, Maine. After Santa ends up in the harbor, a messy disaster at the Christmas tree raffle, and a dead body is found in their stolen rental van, Julia begins to wonder if Imogen is really jinxed! A holiday cozy mystery with lots of twists, Nogged Off is a very enjoyable story, and can be read as a standalone to those readers new to the series. A+

This is a novella in the Maine Clambake mystery series. In this Christmas installment, Julia Snowden has gone to New York to clean out her apartment and finds the women she had sublett the apartment to in tears. Imogen is jobless as she accidentally poisoned her co-workers with her eggnog. Julia lets her tag along and head back to Maine with her. Julia begins to think there might be more going on when she is constantly seeing a white car perhaps following them back to Maine. When they arrive in Maine and the next day the truck is missing and then found with Imogen's ex-boyfriend dead in the truck the plot thickens. An identical twin adds to the mix and confusion. Great short story and can be read as a stand alone as I have not read all the books in the series yet. Looking forward to the next in this series.

Julia’s trip to New York to move out of her apartment takes an unexpected twist when the subletting tenant, Imogen, finds herself out of a job. Imogen travels to Busman’s Harbor, Maine for the holidays where she stays with Julia’s mother.

During the night, someone steals the rental truck loaded with all of Julia’s belongings and furniture. When police find the truck, a dead body is duct taped to a desk chair in the back. Turns out the body is Imogen’s ex-boyfriend – someone Julia noticed following them from New York in a white Camry.

When Wade’s brother comes to identify the body, seems the deceased is Wade’s twin, Wayne, and Wade is alive and well. While this is a Maine Clambake Mystery, most of the story revolves around figuring out who killed Wayne and why. A well-crafted mystery, Nogged Off offers a Christmas theme just in time for the holidays

This was a nice evening's reading. I did not see the ending coming. My only complaint is that it is too short and you don't get enough time with the characters to really feel like you get as much information about them as you could.

Absolutely loved it!
Julia is in the thick of another murder mystery...
I started this book today and couldn't put it down...Barbara Ross has a way of writing that pulls you in and you don't want to stop.
Excellent characters!
Can't wait for the next book in the series..
Highly recommend A Maine Clambake Mystery series..

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a digital ARC of this book.
And thank you to Barbara Ross for writing such wonderful stories

Christmas time’s a coming and Julia Snowden is heading to NYC to pack up the last of the personal items in her apartment before she gives it up. But when she arrives, the woman subletting her apartment has just quit her job and can’t take the lease over, so Julia gets a truck and packs up the apartment, and her submitter, and heads back to Maine for Christmas.

Something feels off to Julia when she spots a man sitting in a white car as she packs up, but thinks no more of it once she gets on the road. When she finally stops LL Bean for Imogen to get a coat, he sees the car again. It can’t be, can it? But she gets home and park the car, and Imogen, at her mother’s house and goes to her place to sleep. When she wakes up, the truck and all of her items are gone. Who stole it and all of her family heirlooms? Bah Humbug!

When the truck is found, with Imogen’s ex boyfriend in the back, the pieces just don’t fit together correctly for Julia and she suspects someone has been a bad boy and makes some wild accusations. Is she right and will the police prove it before Julia’s Mother pays the ultimate price?

This novella is the first I have read in this series and there are no gaping holes, so it is fine as a stand alone. Like the characters and am impressed with the reveals the author put together on this one. Well written and I look forward to reading more in this series.

Really fun short story! I thought I had read this before, but this was new to me. Good, quick read. Read it in a few hours.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a quick fun, read. Julia and company are so much fun to read about. The mystery was a good one!!

It took me only a few pages to recognize why this novella was familiar. I had previously read it in an anthology a few years ago. I very much appreciate Barbara Ross and her Main Clambake Mysteries and 'Nogged Off' is no exception. It is a concise and appealing cozy, Do yourself a favor and get the entire series, you will be glad you did.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I enjoyed this little story. I always like checking in with Julia and Chris. The town seems like a great place. They murder kept me guessing.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book did not hold my attention.
I found the characters uninteresting, however the mystery was a standard cozy whodunit which will appeal to fans of the series.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of the book.