I am so glad that this series has been revived! In this 8th in the series, it is Christmas in Rudolph, NY, and Merry is working on a float for the annual Christmas parade. Her busybody neighbor is supposed to help but is a no-show because new neighbors are moving into a house across the street and she needs to be on the binoculars. I think this neighbor is tiresome, but she is the focus of this story. The mystery does not involve Merry directly, as previous mysteries have, but that doesn't stop Merry from working the case when murder raises its ugly head. A sub-thread of the neighboring town of Muddle Harbor (What a name!) wanting to improve itself is interesting. I hope that continues in future books. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an ARC.

A small town in NY has turned its self into a holiday town. Christmas is big business that has made the town a destination. Merry owns a shop in town and lives in a large home that has a couple apartments on the second floor. The home is owned by the town gossip and nosy neighbor. Across the street is a house that has been a a rental but is currently empty. But not as empty as the gossip thinks it is. A mystery is a foot. And it is a good one.

The cover drew me in. It looks like a cozy story. But it is a full on book with intrigue, a bit of romance and all the drama of people that know too much about each other. I liked the characters and the storyline. I enjoyed the book.

Rudolph, NY is the perfect getaway, Christmas or not! Merry, Vicky, Jackie and Mrs. Mable D'Angelo provide an action packed adventure in this entry to the Year Round Christmas Mystery series. As Detective Simmonds says, she really should put Mrs. D'Angelo on the police department payroll. As Christmas nears with all of the activities in Rudolph coming fast and furious, a new neighbor moves into the house across the street from Merry and her landlady, the queen of village gossip, Mrs. D. As the self-proclaimed welcome committee, Mable is on the lookout for the new neighbors so she can officially welcome them to the neighborhood with cookies. When Mable's friend George cannot get hold of her after two days, he frantically begs Merry for help looking for her. Eventually Merry and Vicky find her along with a dead body. Too busy with Christmas to worry about investigating, Merry finds herself being lured into action by Mabel's nosy mishaps.
While I did figure out who the killer was about half-way into the book, I still found myself a bit enchanted with the story and simply had to keep reading until I was finished. Who needs sleep? Then I went back to reread parts of the story, the ones that made me laugh out loud! Jackie and Kyle certainly provided a bit of lively action. Life in a small village at it's best!
Several mouth-watering recipes are the bonus at story's end. The Christmas Cake recipe reminds me of one my mom used to make, while those cookies are definitely calling my name! I am already wishing it was December and time to decorate for Christmas and I am totally ready for my next trip to Rudolph, NY where it's Christmas all year round!
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When Merry's landlady goes missing she sets out with her friend and dog Mattie and go across the street. Hearing a noise they break a window and enter the house to find the landlady tied up. The dog leads Merry to the basement, and they find a dead woman on the floor. With a house of murder, and counterfeiting machines it leads the reader on a dance. Fun read but a great author. Would recommend.