A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Excellent fast-paced crime novella that had me hooked from the first page. Thanks to netgalley and publishers for this ARC, will definitely be checking out more books by author.

This book delivers a well-crafted, complex mystery filled with intriguing characters and nonstop suspense. At the heart of the story is a strong, relentless, and incredibly intelligent female lead who refuses to back down, no matter the obstacles in her path. The tension builds beautifully as KC navigates veiled threats, sabotaged vehicles, and disappearing evidence, all while digging deeper into a tangled web of corruption that reaches from city hall right into her own department.
If you love a suspenseful mystery with a fearless lead who stops at nothing to expose the truth, this is definitely a book worth picking up!

Crime rarely happens in Pine Grove, but just before Christmas, KC finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation.
As the bodies start to pile up, the sheriff brings in the FBI to help KC investigate.

Christmas murders is a fast paced novella, with lots of twists and turns, and full of action, buried secrets and a mole. It reads as thought it could be the introduction to a series, so hopefully we will be seeing more of KC in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for letting me read a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

I did not enjoy this book. I found it to be repetitive and inconsistent (eg waiting for ballistics when there were no casings, using a burner phone, but tracing it to a person). I was also very frustrated at the protagonist's poor decision making such as sharing information with someone she suspects of being a mole. At about the 70% mark there seems to be a big jump in the story almost like a chapter was taken out. Finally, the only thing Christmas related here is the decor. This is my preferred genre and I really wanted to like it but overall it felt very rushed.

The novella is well plotted and packs a whole lot of events in a fairly small space. The suspense built up around certain chapters kept me on the edge of my seat, making me eager to learn more about the characters and their roles. Overall, it was a good read.

A fun read for the holidays - perfect for those who want something to read around christmas that isn't a romance or fluff and a little darker.

Fast read but not that rememberable. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this exciting read.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this title, thank you for providing me with a free Arc. I have had a few family emergencies and have been unable to complete the title and given the holiday is over I think its best if I move on and circle back next year.

How about a murder mystery with friends disappearing, cryptic messages, and all right before Christmas? Sign me up! KC, the main character, has to worry about her job and wonders what will happen after Christmas. Yet the highly political murder takes most of her time, as well as the FBI agent who helps her along the way when times get tough. With having to watch because of the mole in the department, sometimes KC had to watch who she trusted. The murderer (and mole) was one of my suspects, but I am glad that everything worked out in the end There was a happy ending, and maybe more stories of KC in the future.

This is a short novella and may have worked better as a longer book as I felt that there was not enough time spent to build up what was happening and certain things seemed to be skipped over. Despite saying that the book should be longer the writing was awkward and a one point the writer forgot how to spell a character's name.

Christmas Murders was a quick little novella! Moved very fast and was very enjoyable! KC gets involved in a series of murders of prominent figures in the small town of Pine Grove. She learns it may be an inside job.... my first by this author and will definitely check out more!

Thank you so much NetGalley for gifting me this copy of Christmas Murders to read and review. I will start by saying that while it was refreshing to read a Christmas novella that was not a romance the plot was a bit formulaic and the characters were not very unique. I also wasn't a huge fan of the writing I had a hard time focusing since there were quite a few cliches. The setting of the novel was in the spirit of Christmas and I did like the description of the trees and the holiday decor around the town. I wish I could have reviewed this on Goodreads but it was not available on that platform. All in all I would give this a solid two stars.

Who would love this:
readers who like a good mystery
readers looking for a Christmas book that is not a romance
readers looking for a short and sweet holiday read

Overall this was an engaging and fun mystery for the holidays. The writing was conversational and easy to read, but at times I found it to be too blunt, lacking descriptions and the pacing a bit rushed. The characters were likable, and I’ll definitely read more from this author!

I really enjoyed this little christmas mystery!
It kept me engaged throughout and it kept me guessing!
This is the first christmas book I've actually ever read so I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it!
Will definitely recommend to my reader friends.

*Christmas Murders* by S.F. Baumgartner is a tightly plotted police procedural that delivers a lot of story in a compact package. With plenty of suspense, unexpected twists, and a strong, kickass female lead, it keeps you hooked from start to finish. While the title and the story's setting during the holiday season hint at a festive theme, don't expect a traditional Christmas tale—it's more about the gripping mystery. Still, it's a quick, engaging read that's perfect for the busy holiday season!

Who doesn’t love mysteries at Christmas time. This book was great! I didn’t want to put it down. I highly recommend this book.

For a mystery that is akin to James Patterson books, I see why, but that's a tall order. I was trying to confirm the target audience for this, but if Patterson books are meant for adults, this one felt like it was better suited for teenagers. The mystery was too cookie cutter, everything seems to be figured out immediately, the suspect too sus hence it's really predictable, and the main character is deemed smart but actually it didn't take a lot to figure out what was going on. In short, it's too unbelievable for both the police and FBI to not solve the case. Everything felt rushed but it's just a novella so I guess it had to. I wouldn't say it was a holiday book, it just so happened that the murders happened during Christmastime, so don't read for holiday feels only. Overall it was just okay for me, might recommend to a younger audience.

Detective Kylie "KC" Cassidy's career wilts like a thirsty poinsettia in the Florida heat. When a councilman is found dead during Christmas week, KC must solve this high-profile case before the New Year's Eve fireworks or face unemployment.
As she delves deeper, more bodies surface like unwanted gifts. KC is running out of time, the clock ticking down as though in a twisted Advent calendar.

Just when she thinks it’s over, the tables turn. Will she survive the ordeal and save her career, or will this be her last Christmas?


Loved it. Cannot wait to read more from the author. Will recommend to others.

A short but sweet Christmas crime mystery! You meet detective Kylie Cassidy aka KC, who is a detective in a small town in Florida. It’s Christmas time and while Pine Grove is getting in the festive spirit, KC finds herself with a missing family member, a dead councilman and more bodies piling up. KC starts to realize there might be more going on in the dark in this sleepy little town and she must put a stop to it before the new year or she’s out of a job.
I enjoyed this novella, I like reading classic cop procedural crime books so this one had all the right vibes! Other then the title, there was not as much Christmas vibes in it though. I am intrigued to check out the author’s other books because the criminal, The Ghost, from her mirrored estates series is mentioned in this novella.
I do also hope we get more books about Detective Cassidy! Thanks NetGalley for the ARC