Gingerdead Man by Maya Corrigan is a fun cozy mystery that would make a great Hallmark movie. In Gingerdead Man, Val and her friends are enjoying tea and some treats after helping with the town’s Christmas festival. While they are enjoying their food, the Ghost of Christmas Presents leaves a gift for everyone at their table. Jake opens up his gift which is a giant gingerdead man ( a Halloween gingerbread man). Shortly after he finishes his cookie, he drops over dead. A few days later, another resident from the town dies after eating chocolate candy that he received as a gift. Why are these individuals being poisoned? Val decides that she needs to figure who is behind these killings and stop him or her before there is another death.

I enjoyed reading about Val and her granddad keeping busy and trying to stay out of trouble. Its a real comfort and relaxing book to read. Also the writer shares her thoughts on how she is thinking on how to find the killer.

Gingerdead Man is a great addition to the Five Ingredient Mystery series. It’s Christmastime in Bayport and the own is having a Dickens Festival. Unfortunately, one of the participants collapses and dies. Val and her grandfather are both present when this happens and begin to investigate. Full of great characters, twists and turns, this story will keep you guessing until the end.

This is the first book I have read in this series and the author had me at "Val and her grandfather". I loved this book and couldn't put it down. The detective team of Val and her grandfather could not be beat! The characters (Elaine, Chatty, Bethany, Bram, Irene, Roger, Jewel, etc.) were described in such a way that they painted a vivid picture of life in Bayport. I could imagine myself strolling through the town and conversing with the various characters portrayed in the book. I also loved the name of the town and the reference to the Hardy Boys! The first murder was perfectly executed and kept me guessing as more bodies accumulated. I enjoyed riding along with Val and Granddad as they sifted through the evidence and explored various theories until the method and the murder reveal at the edge of your seat ending. I am looking forward to reading more books by this newly discovered (to me!) author. The only drawback to reading this book that includes descriptions of delicious food and 5 ingredient recipes at the end, is that it made me hungry! So...off I go to try my hand at making gingerdead men and hoping that no one dies from my cooking! If murder and mystery are on your holiday menu, this book will not disappoint!

This series gets better and better with each book. The characters are becoming goos friends and are relafeabls3. The setting is always perfect and readg for a murder. The multiple instances within the plot keep you on your toes and wondering how and the where of the connection, if there is one. I cannot wait for the next one in the series!

Val Deniston and her grandfather are at it again hoping to solve the "murder" of the new santa.(who replaced grandpa this year).Just about the time they think they've found the murder another victim is done in exactly the same way. How are these murders related? Or are they? How deep do they have to dig to find out.? With no real leads Val is about to admit she will never solve these 2 murders. However a break comes when a 3rd person is targeted. You may figure out who did it but the ending will surprise you.

I enjoyed the holiday theme and close knit cast of characters in Gingerdead Man, the seventh in the Five-Ingredient Mystery series by Maya Corrigan. Val Deniston is catering a holiday tea for volunteers of the Dickens of a Holiday festival in Bayport, Maryland when “bad” Santa keels over and dies. Val is concerned about the impact on her catering business as rumors swirl. Her grandfather begins gathering clues when another neighbor dies unexpectedly. Are these deaths related? It will take some clever sleuthing to discover the truth.

This mystery showcases a great supporting cast as the mystery unfolds, as well as a romantic interest for both Val and her grandfather. The many twists and turns will keep you reading until the last page. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy and all opinions are my own.

Bayport is holding their annual Dickens of a Holiday Festival. The theme of the festival is based upon the Dickens novel, A Christmas Carol. With everybody dressed up in period costumes, you almost feel as if you are in Victorian London. Rather than playing Santa, as he usually does, Val's granddad was given the role of Scrooge. This year, Santa was portrayed by a newcomer to Bayport, Jake Smith. Jake's wife, Jewel, was playing the part of Mrs. Claus. Val had agreed to host a private tea party that evening for several of the volunteer workers. The tea party has a brief visit by an unexpected guest that Jake jokingly referred to as the Ghost of Christmas Presents. The ghost left a gift bag near each place setting at the table. Jake was the fist to dig into his bag, where he found a Gingerbread cookie with an icing skeleton on it. After eating the cookie, Jake rose from his chair, swayed and fell over. Unfortunately, Jake died at the hospital and it was determined that he was poisoned.

The following night, Val was hired to cater a birthday dinner for Oliver Naiman. Except for some family issues, the birthday dinner goes well. The next morning, Val learns that Oliver is dead of apparent heart failure. When Val notices a package of home-made chocolate candy, she has her doubts about the actual cause of Oliver's death.

Who killed Jake? Why was he killed? How did Oliver really die? Was he murdered? Is there a connection between the two deaths? Can Val unscramble the clues and get to the bottom of the mystery?

Maya Corrigan has another winner with this installment of the series. The story has several complexities that add to the mystery. The characters, as well as the situations, are very realistic. This episode is sure to keep the reader engaged from beginning to end.

Enjoyed it but didn't enjoy the atmosphere, partly because I am not ready for snowy scenes since summer just kicked off here. The story was decent as were the characters.

Love this series. Its Christmas time. When someone is killed. Val and her grandfather set out to find thr killer. To hear more read the book

A fast paced fun dive back into Bayport, this time with the Dickens Festival that keeps you guessing while trying to figure out the mystery. Definitely need to check out the rest of the series that I haven't read yet.

This is the seventh installment in this delightful series. It's Christmas but not everyone is jolly.

Bayport and the town are hosting a Dicken's themed festival with all the town volunteers dressed as Dicken's characters. Val will be hosting the festival committee at the of the day and she is feeling apprehensive. Val's grandfather has been ousted from his role as Santa Claus by newcomer Jake Smith. The man is anything but jolly and chugging from a flask and making rude comments to all including his wife, Jewel. A costumed ghost of Christmas present arrives at the tea party and hands out gift bags with gingerbread men cookies. After eating a cookie it's only minutes before Jake drops to the ground dead.

With so many people not liking him there's numerous suspects. But when another local man dies after eating a box a chocolate left on his doorstep, and her best friend Bethany also gets poisoned by a separate box of chocolates, Val and her grandfather set out to catch a killer.

This is a fast pace fun read. Lots of twist and turns to go keep you guessing.
I can't wait for the next book in this series!

#GingerdeadMan #NetGalley Val Deniston and her Grandfather once again get caught up in a murder mystery in their hometown of Bayport. This visit to the tourist town takes place during the Christmas season. When the man who was picked to play Santa in the Dickens festival winds up murdered during the volunteer tea served in Cat Corner the tearoom run by Val and Irene, She knows the only way to keep talk of her food having caused the death is to find the killer.

Another murder occurs. This after Val caterers a family dinner. This only adds to her determination to solve the mystery before it sinks her fledgling business. When her friend Bethany narrowly escapes becoming a victim of the murderer it becomes personal.

Her Grandfather as usual has his own schemes in place to help solve the murders. This adds to the over all feel of the story. It felt like I was visiting beloved relatives over the holidays.

The supporting characters add to the story. The romance of Val and her Grandfather with Mother and Son is an ongoing subplot which adds to the overall feel of the story. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a cozy mystery to sink their teeth in.

I found this to be a very cozy mystery. A friends and family story where daughter and dad worked together to try to find the bad guy. Val works two jobs one at a cafe and one as a caterer. When people start dying at both jobs and a vindictive daughter set out to ruin her livelihood will Val be able to turn things around? Lots of interaction with other families and good interaction with police. If you are tired of violent murder mysteries this is the book to read.

Gingerdead Man is the seventh installment in the A Five-Ingredient Mystery series set in Bayport, Maryland and featuring caterer, Val Deniston. It's Christmas season in Bayport and the town is hosting a Dicken's themed festival with all of the town volunteers dressed as their favorite Dickens characters. After hosting several public tea parties, Val's last one of the day is for the festival committee and she's feeling apprehensive.

Val's grandfather has been ousted from his annual role as Santa Claus by newcomer Jake Smith. The man is anything but jovial and seems to be rubbing everyone the wrong way as he's swilling from a flask, suffering from a bad cold and making sarcastic comments to all that cross his path including his wife, Jewel. A costumed Ghost of Christmas Present arrives at the tea party and hands out gift bags filled with gingerbread men cookies. After shoving a cookie in his mouth, it's only minutes before Jake collapses to the ground - dead.

With so many people despising the dead man, there's no shortage of suspects. When another local man dies after eating a box of chocolates left on his doorstep, and her best friend Bethany also being poisoned by a separate box of chocolates, Val and her grandfather set out to catch a killer.

A well crafted plot features the return of series regulars and mouthwatering recipes. Val's relationship with her boyfriend, Bram continues to evolve and things between her grandfather and Bram's mother, Dorothy are also heating up. A wonderful addition to the series.

I received an advanced copy of Gingerdead Man from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

I enjoyed reading this book And I loved the cover. Bayport is having a Dickens Holiday Festival. Granddad has played Santa for a number of years. But this year someone else got the part and granddad plays Ebenezer Scrooge . He is not happy about that. . Val is hosting a private tea party for costumed volunteers. Irene is helping her. The Ghost of Christmas Present is handing out gingerbread cookies. Santa eats one and just like that he's dead. Was there something in the cookie? What about the rest of the cookies? Who would want to kill Santa? Were they actually after granddad? Come along on this ride and find out. Who will die next?
Characters are fleshed out, plot is well thought out and story is well written..
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from NetGallery and I'm voluntarily posting a review. My opinion is entirely my own.

Maya Corrigan’s Gingerdead Man is another great cozy murder mystery in the Five Ingredient series. It was so gripping I didn’t want to put it down. Val, the heroine, has to solve the murder before Christmas and before her friend Bethany is hurt. The characters, scenery, and food, as always, make this story. Ms. Corrigan knows how to set a scene, making the reader feel as if they’re standing on the cold street or in the warm kitchen. It has been interesting to see the characters grow and learn more about their back stories with each of these books. And never have I wanted a gingerbread cookie so bad. Add dash of humor and romance and you have a fun mystery read with a holiday spin that has it all.

I loved this Holiday-themed cozy about a dead (and Bad!) Santa and a granddaughter-grandfather amateur sleuthing team. It was full of unexpected twists and turns, the characters seemed realistic and had a personal stake in the investigation (first a career, then a best friend, oh my!), and it was also absolutely YUMMY when it came to the description of food prepared and consumed (even if some of it was poisoned). I enjoyed that the (first) crime happened at a Dickens festival and the culprit was "a Ghost of Christmas Presents" - it really made me feel the spirit of Holidays (in June, amidst a pandemic). The "Gingerdead Man" managed to achieve that perfect balance of cozy and suspenseful.

Moreover, I loved the pun in the title and the role it played in the narrative (most of the time, cozy puns are just it, and the plot doesn't actually have anything to do with them - this was not the case in this book and I was pleasantly surprised by that). and also how self-aware the book was when the characters discussed why cozies have so many poisonings. Overall, a smart, fun cozy mystery, destined to fulfill all your Holiday needs when it comes to that light, page-turning reading by a fireplace and with a cup of hot cocoa. And perhaps with a gingerbread cookie or two!

This is the 7th installment in the 5 ingredient mystery series. This is a Christmas themed mystery which I always love holiday themed mysteries. Bayport is hosting a Dickens Holiday Festival. Val Denniston and her Grandfather are getting in the holiday spirit by hosting a tea party for volunteers of the festival. Everyone comes in Dicken’s themed costumes with one really creepy ghost of Christmas present who is passing out gingerbread cookies decorated with skeletons (doesn’t the ghost know the season lol). Santa is not all that jolly except for his love of the gingerbread cookies until he eats so many he turns blue and dies. Who killed Santa? Val and her Grandfather need to find out. I like the relationship of Val and her Grandfather. This is a fast paced and clever mystery that keeps you engaged. I think this series continues to get better and I always look forward to reading them.

Perfect escapist cozy mystery set in Bayport during the local Victorian Christmas fair.
The residents may be dressed as characters from the novels of Charles Dickens but the murders are very much up to date.
Expect family secrets, a complex and at times a confusingly large number of local characters and plenty of twists and turns. And food. There are recipes galore!