In the next book in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series, O DEADLY NIGHT by Vicki Delany, Merry Wilkinson (shop owner of Mrs. Claus’ Treasures) enters her float in the Santa Claus parade. The book is set in Rudolph, New York, at Christmastime. Mable D’Angelo, Merry’s landlady, fails to show up to play the elves’ foreman and help supervise the kids who play the elves. George, Mabel’s friend, phones Mabel and learns that she stays at home and misses the parade because new neighbors moved in across the street from her, and she has to be her nosy self. I want to know more about the newcomers and see what happens.

I am reading this book in July. Christmas in July—what fun! Vicki Delany creates a lovely Christmassy setting in her Year-Round Christmas Mystery series. All of the recurring characters return, some with Christmas-related names like Merry and Noel. The general ambiance of the book is as interesting as the mystery that ensues. I look forward to reading other books in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series. Thank you, Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of O DEADLY NIGHT.

If Vicki Delaney ever stops writing this series, I’ll be in a full blown depression! Every single time I open up A Year Round Christmas Mystery, I am filled with joy and happiness. The fictional town of Rudolph, New York and its residents are back for another fun mystery. Merry finds herself at the center of a murder when nosy neighbor and landlord Mrs. D’Angelo can’t just leave the new neighbors alone! Full of its signature charm and whit, this series just ignites the old school holiday spirit in me, no matter what time of year I read them. Getting to read another book each year fills me with a nostalgia that few series do. If you haven’t started this series, what are you waiting for? It’s everything you could ask for in a cozy.

Year-Round Christmas Mystery book # 8

A cozy mystery

The story in a few words:

Mrs. D’Angelo is the center of all gossip and is determined to introduce herself to the new arrivals across from her house but soon she noticed strange things about them …. Then, strangely Mabel D’ Angelo disappears. Merry Wilkinson a long-time friend is worried and admits something might be terribly wrong……

My thoughts:

In a steady pace the story moseys along and we see Merry sleuthing doing what she does best searching for clues and finally figuring out what happened, where Marbel was, why this occurred and who was behind this kidnapping. Mabel was not alone where she was found….a body was lying at the bottom of the basement….murder, suspense and mystery… the why, the who, the what….

Cute little mystery well said and well done but easy to figure who might be the killer ..

This one might be a caution about becoming too much of a snoopy neighbor but, well, since it's Merry's curiosity and caring that leads to the solution, I don't think we're supposed to take that literally. Grin. In any case, this is another favorite series with characters you'll like, even if they do annoy you at times. Kyle, I'm looking at you. Mabel D'Angelo, Merry's landlady, is determined to greet her new neighbors properly, all in being neighborly, of course, not snooping. And, if you believe that, I'm sure the realtor in town has some swamp land they'd like to unload on you.

Merry is annoyed when Mrs. D'Angelo's, who was supposed to be helping with the shop's float in the annual Christmas parade, is a no show. Crazy busy as Merry is, however, she doesn't think much beyond wondering who's moved in across the street. Then a couple days later a mutual friend mentions Mrs. D'Angelo is missing and isn't answering her phone. That's very unlike her. Merry and BFF Vicky decide to check up on her.

That's where the story really takes off. Merry's good deed winds up with her not only rescuing Mrs. D'Angelo from a frightening situation but finding a dead body. One that turns out to have ties to the quaint town of Rudolph, NY, where Christmas is celebrated all year. Merry's sister Eve, an actress home for the holiday, recalls the victim being a mean girl in high school. I won't detail the plot much further but will note it involves online scams, illegal activities, greed, a family's drama, unrequited love, well, infatuation, and, oh, yeah, a dog gets skunked. And that's just hitting the high(low?)lights. Mrs. D'Angelo plays a pivotal role here and the regulars seem to largely be on hand, including Merry's father who might as well be Santa Claus as well as just portraying him. Her mother is an opera singer. How's that for an odd couple? Vicky is, as always, there when Merry most needs an assist, even reminding Merry not to be TSTL (too stupid to live) at one critical point.

Bottom line, this was a fun read. The characters are easy to relate to and like and, well, who wouldn't like to at least try spending some time in a town where it's Christmas every day. There's even a horse-drawn sleigh! Watching the way Merry's St. Bernard Maddy adores the police detective is a hoot, too. The side-stories show Santa, er, Merry's dad, isn't just caring when dressed as Santa, either, and even Merry sometimes wonders about his Santa connections. Thanks #CrookedLaneBooks and #NetGalley for this early chance to celebrate Christmas virtually in Rudolph. We do have a North Pole here in in Alaska, so I feel a kinship with those townspeople.

Another great addition to a wonderful series! I so love the Christmas theme to these books! The mystery was so well done, I was invested in trying to figure out who did it, and I was surprised at the end! This is a great cozy mystery, that I would recommend to everyone!

Super fun read that really put me in a holiday mood. Merry is busy running her shop in the heart of Christmas town, when something out of the ordinary happens. Her downstairs neighbor, and landlady, well known for her love of gossip has disappeared, shortly after the empty house across the street is reoccupied. Merry, being concerned, takes her friend Vicky to check out the new house and find her neighbor tied up in a pantry and a dead body in the basement. Merry tries to keep her head down because of the busy season, but she cannot help but get pulled into the mystery. I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one!

Really enjoyed this latest book in the Christmas-Year-Round series! I will say that I’m ready for some development between Merry and Alan; progression is needed!

I’m a huge fan of Vicki Delaney’s A Year-Round Christmas Mystery series and love spending time with the Wilkinson family: Merry, Matterhorn (or Mattie, the dog), Noel, Vicky, Alan, Dt. Diane Simmonds, and Mrs. Mabel D’Angelo.

One of my favorite moments in this book, and in all of the other books in the series, was seeing how Detective. Diane Simmonds treats Matterhorn, and how Mattie absolutely melts under her attention. The affection between them in every book makes this series so warm and real. Also, the line (or similar in other books) “I know my dad isn’t Santa Claus. But sometimes, I wonder,” really gives me goosebumps. It makes me believe in Christmas all over again, even at almost 40!

That said, O Deadly Night felt a bit underwhelming. The mystery mostly happens to Mrs. D’Angelo rather than through Merry’s sleuthing, with Merry having very little detective work except a few moments. The investigation really picks up whenever Mrs. D’Angelo is on the scene. While this fits the story’s focus, it felt like it would have worked better if the story were told from her point of view.

Still, I enjoyed the relaxed, feel-good vibe of hanging out with Merry’s family without the usual danger or tension . Overall, this story could have been a novella from Mrs. D’Angelo’s POV, but as a novel, it still offers a cozy atmosphere I love in this series.

I absolutely adore Vicki Delany's books and this one did not disappoint. Yet another fantastic murder mystery in the wonderful Christmas town of Rudolph.

New, mysterious neighbours move into the house across from Merry. Merry's landlady Mrs D'Angelo, being the biggest gossip in Rudolph, obviously want's the scoop of the new neighbours. But it turns out to be extremely difficult since no-body every seems to be home, and when they do come home they refuse to open the door. The mystery of the neighbours deepen when Merry, under strange circumstances, finds a dead body in the cellar.

I love Merry as a character and the whole supporting cast of these books. Not only is it fun to read about the drama and going ons of the townsfolk but also the tourist that come to visit Rudolph. The mystery is fun and well written. The mystery is well balanced the overall happenings in the town.

If you want a fun and well written mystery then you should definitely read this one!

Always a great pleasure to read author Vicki Delany. This is the eighth year-round Christmas mystery series. Great characters, delightful setting and a solid mystery. Some new comers to the neighborhood are suspected in foul play when Mrs. D'Angelo goes missing. Thanks #Netgalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

"O, Deadly Night (A Year-Round Christmas Mystery #8)" by Vicki Delany has Rudolph, New York at another Christmas season. Merry is, yet again, not the Christmas Parade float winner. That's okay as she plenty of other Christmas season things to look forward to. However, her landlady was supposed to help her out on her float but didn't show because there were new neighbors moving in across the street from their house. Being a key link in the local gossip chain, Mrs. D'Angelo just had to stick around and snoop.

Things get a little "Rear Window" when Mrs. D'Angelo can't seem to let it go that something isn't right about the new neighbors. Luckily for Mrs. D'Angelo, she has caring friends that notice within a day or so that she's been oddly quiet/absent. One thing leads to another, plus it's a cozy mystery and she's a main character, Mrs. D'Angelo is found relatively unscathed. Kicker is, so is a dead body.

Now, Merry really didn't have to get involved in this one. Most of what happens is because she just can't stop herself and neither can most of her friends. In the course of her gossiping and usually curiosity she gets herself a bit of a stalker. I had them pinned as a suspect but I guess Merry just thought they were odd. Everything wraps up happily.

I will read anything brilliant author Vicki Delany writes, because I know I am going to be greatly entertained with clever plots, and will interact in my mind with all the characters I have befriended while traveling to her fictional locations.

The Christmas Year-round Mysteries is one of my favorite series, so I dove into this latest book with much anticipation.

I was immediately taken to Rudolph, NY and caught up with my friend Merry Wilkinson, the protagonist in this series. We are in December, and there is going to be a Christmas parade, and a murder, of course!

This plot was just as smart and ingenious as ever, and the story flew by, as I was glued to my kindle screen, eagerly reading on as the story unfolded.

There are newcomers in town, and someone who Merry went to high school with many years ago.

Again, after so many of Vicki’s mysteries, I did not guess whodunnit, and was quite surprised to find out who it was, and why.

Another fabulous mystery to be treasured. If you read this when it is not yet Christmastime, you will get that cozy feeling. If you read this right before Christmas, it will really get you in the mood…other than murder, that is.

I highly recommend this book, and all the previous books in this series.

The town of Rudolph reinvented itself as a year-round Christmas town and business has been booming ever since. Merry and her friends are extra busy now that the actual Christmas season is here, but there’s always time for checking out what’s going on in the neighborhood. Merry’s landlady is always nosy and gossipy, but now she’s suspicious of the new neighbors next door. It’s a big house, but she has only seen one man coming or going and he stays out of sight. When nobody hears from her for a few days, Merry goes over to investigate and finds her tied up in a closet and a body in the basement!
It’s always fun to visit Rudolph and its inhabitants. Reading of snow, cold, and Christmas is the perfect remedy to the summer heat. There were plenty of suspects and motives in the mystery. Was the girl killed for past grudges, revenge by someone she scammed, or jealousy? This is a fun cozy mystery to read to relax and get into the holiday spirit anytime of the year.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

It's Christmas in Rudolph and Merry is ready to begin the annual float parade but she's missing a volunteer, her landlady Mrs. D'Angelo. It turns out Mrs. D got busy watching the new people move in to the house across the street. She has concerns about them, which no one takes seriously until Mrs. D goes missing. Merry finds her tied up in the pantry of the the house along with a dead body in the basement. So now instead fully focusing on pre-Christmas sales, Merry inserts herself into a murder investigation.
O, Deadly Night was a fun read and it was nice to imagine the cold winter weather while it's 95 degrees outside. Towards the end I had my suspicions as to who the killer was, but not the why. I enjoyed the interactions between Merry and Mrs. D'Angelo but found myself increasingly frustrated with Jackie. I can't wait for another visit to Upstate New York.
Thank you Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is one of my favorite series written by Vicki Delany. I've been reading from the first book and by now the characters feel like old friends. The writing is always excellent and the plot moves along at a strong pace. The story keeps the reader hooked until the end making them invested in the journey and the outcome. Long time fans of the series will very much enjoy this book.

I decided to deal with the ridiculously hot weather this week by reading the next book in Vicki Delany's Year Round Christmas series. Fortunately, O Deadly Night takes place in the couple of weeks leading up to Christmas, and there is plenty of snow! Merry is very busy at the shop with the holidays around the corner, so she is not paying too much attention to her landlady, Mrs D'Angelo, and her concern about the new neighbors across the street. After a busy weekend in Rudolph, it is brought to Merry's attention that her landlady, who doesn't miss a trick, hasn't been seen in two days, so now she is concerned. Did the nosy lady walk around the house across the street and maybe fall in the snow? When Merry goes to check it out, she hears calls for help from inside the house and finds Mrs. D'Angelo tied up in the pantry, and not only that but a dead body! What did Mrs D'Angelo stumble across? Who does the house belong to, and who are the new tenants? Can Merry keep her attention on Christmas sales, or will her attention be diverted? Will we get answers so everyone can enjoy a wonderful Christmas holiday? Come along for a nice, cool holiday mystery. Thanks to #Netgally, #CrookedLaneBooks, and the author for the opportunity to cool down with this holiday read. #ODeadlyNight #YearRoundChristmasMysteries #VickiDelany #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!!

Upon receiving this book, I didn’t realize that it was 8th in the series, oops! That being said, it didn’t hinder my reading experience at all.

This book has such a feel good vibe to it (minus the murder, yikes! 😅)

I can’t wait to check out more from this author!

This was a fun, cozy mystery. I love the characters and the small town setting with a Christmas theme. The plot was mysterious, with a few twists and red herrings, which made it more enjoyable and kept me guessing. Great book!
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review.

This was a fun mystery novel, and I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

Vicki Delany kicked it up a notch in her latest A Year-Round Christmas Mystery series in 'O, Deadly Night'. There is still all the charm of the characters and Rudolph, New York, but the seriousness of the plot grabbed me from the beginning. I was fooled into thinking that nosy neighbor Mrs. D'Angelo was just annoyingly involved yet I was soon disabused of that notion. There were twists and turns that led me down a path that ultimately fooled me completely, and I loved it! I can't wait for more in the series, and I hope it is soon.

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