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.

Solid plot with some creative red herrings and plot twists. I always love this author's writings.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected e-galley from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley.
#ODeadlyNight by @vicki.delany #YearRoundChristmasMysteryBk8 @crookedlanebooks Avail Oct 14, 2025
#CanadianAuthor #stbernarddog #NYstate #cozymystery #counterfeiter #murder #amateursleuth
#friends #family #relationships #scamming #smalltowngossip #suspense #neighbors #landlady ****review

Merry's nosy landlady Mrs. D'Angelo thinks something fishy is going on with the new neighbors across the street and when she goes missing, Merry has no choice but to get involved. There is mystery, suspense, and plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing! I love the small town setting, the Christmas theme, and the returning cast of wonderful characters.

Merry's landlady , Mabel D'Angelo, is determined to meet the new neighbors but receives no response
when knocking on the door. When Mabel suddenly disappears, Merry finds her in the new neighbor's
house tied up along with a dead female in another room. The connection of the dead female to the
town is revealed when she is identified. What was the female involved in that would cause someone to
kill her?
Enjoyable series and characters.
#ODeadlyNight #CrookedLaneBooks #NetGalley

Any time of year is fun for a visit Rudolph, New York but it is especially delightful to be there in December. This entry in the series is filled with all the familiar characters enjoying the peak shopping season of the year. Inserting itself into the holiday frivolity, come some shady characters and a murder most foul. Chock full of plausible red herrings, this one keeps you guessing until almost the last page.

Mistletoe with a side of murder and mince tarts

O, Deadly Night is the 8th entry in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series. Vicky Delany infuses the story with the spirit, sounds and scents of Christmas while delivering a suspenseful whodunit.

Rudolph, NT, is bustling with tourists enjoying the Christmas season in America’s favourite Christmas town. A new neighbour has moved in across the street from Merry Wilkinson’s home. Merry’s landlady, the town gossip Mabel D’Angelo, is snooping around to meet the new neighbour. It is Merry’s busiest time of the year, and she doesn’t have time for Mrs. D’Angelo’s conspiracy theories. Until that is, Mrs. D’Angelo disappears. She is missing for a couple of days, when Mabel’s worried friend George, asks for help. During Merry and George’s search for Mabel, they stumble upon a body. Detective Simmonds takes over the investigation, and Merry tries to stay out of it. If only clues wouldn’t keep falling in her lap. Danger lurks in the snowy streets of Rudolph.

I love revisiting the cozy but deadly town of Rudolph. It is like checking in on old friends. Merry’s family and friends are quirky and lovely. Her parents, Noel Wilkinson, the former mayor and town Santa Claus and Aline Steiner, a retired opera diva who always brings drama to the story. Her best friend, Vicky, owns Victoria’s Bake Shoppe and Merry’s boyfriend, Alan Anderson, is a local toymaker. Aside from the many murders, Rudolph sounds like it would be a fun town to live in.

If you love your mistletoe with a side of murder and mince tarts, you will love this book. Cuddle up with a warm drink and a cookie and immerse yourself in a little deadly Christmas!

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for access to a digital ARC.

Merry Wilkinson lives in Rudolph, New York and owns a gift store that sells Santa-themed items all year round. The town is as Christmasy as it gets, especially this time of year. When Merry is preparing her annual Christmas float, she expects her landlady, Mrs. Mabel D'Angelo, to show up as one of the elves, but she doesn't. When she learns the reason why -- Mrs. D'Angelo, a gossip center, is trying to introduce herself to the new neighbors, but isn't having any luck. As the days go on, Mabel sees that there is something going on across the street, but can't put her finger on it. Merry, used to Mabel and her fancies, blows most of it off. But when Mabel disappears and no one can find her, Merry begins to worry.

When she does find Mabel, it's across the street -- and Merry also finds a dead body. It turns out that the dead person had a connection to the town and several of its residents, including Merry's younger sister, Eve. But does Eve know anything about the murder? As Merry starts to dig deeper, she finds that the dead woman had more than a connection with the town, and her past wasn't pretty. In fact, it was ugly enough that someone wanted her dead...

I love this series, and most of the characters in it (yes, there are some that get on my nerves, just as in real life they would do so); and I especially love Merry's father. He seems unflappable, and remains calm in most, if not all, situations. Unfortunately, at least in this book, her boyfriend Alan appears just as an afterthought, he's in it so little. I hope to see more of him in the next book.

But back to Merry's sleuthing: she's right at home doing what she does best, and we get to see her at work while she's searching for clues. She's even misled at one time, but eventually figures it out, which is important. This is the busiest time of year, and trying to run her business and find a murderer (not that the police detective isn't capable herself) is a lot to handle. Yet she does so, and does it well.

I knew the murderer before Merry did, but then again, I read a lot of mysteries, so that's something. Even so, watching her put the clues together and figure it out herself is worth it, especially watching how her best friend helped her! All in all, this was a great cozy to read, and I enjoyed it immensely. I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended,

I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

Who wouldn't love living in a town that celebrates Christmas all year long? That town would be Rudolph, New York, where O, Deadly Night, the 8th book in The Year Christmas mystery series takes place. I love this series and each story is better than the last. A great read for any time of the year.
Thank you #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the opportunity to read this wonderful story.