Jacqueline Frost once again brings the perfect mix of cozy holiday charm and small-town mystery in A Wonderful Christmas Crime. Set against the festive backdrop of Mistletoe, Maine, the story delivers everything you’d want from a Christmas cozy: twinkling lights, holiday cheer, and a whodunit that keeps you guessing until the very end.

I loved how Frost balanced the cozy, feel-good vibes of the season with the suspense of the mystery. The characters feel warm and familiar, like catching up with old friends, and the setting is so vivid you can practically smell the pine trees and hot cocoa. The pacing was just right—enough tension to keep me turning the pages, but still light and fun for a holiday read.

If you enjoy Hallmark Christmas movies but wish they had a little more intrigue (and maybe a murder or two), this is the book for you. It’s festive, witty, and keeps the spirit of Christmas alive—even while solving a crime.

A super sweet Christmas mystery! I hadn't read any of the other books in this series, but you can definitely read it as a standalone as well. It is pretty surface, because that's the type of book this is, but it is an enjoyable read.

I really loved this cozy mystery. It's my first time reading a book from this author, and I'm already looking forward to reading more of her books! I really liked that you don't have to have read the other books in the series to appreciate this book. The book can be read as a standalone,
I loved the book's pace. It held my interest in finding out who the murderer was, and the author did a great job of drawing the reader into the story. I really felt like I was a part of this cozy small town. The main characters were all likable and relatable. The murderer wasn't obvious, which I appreciated. The conclusion of the book answered all the questions the reader had about the players involved with the murder, providing a satisfying ending. I really liked the ending, which I would guess leads into the next book of the series. I can't wait!
It's a great book to read to get into the holiday spirit. It's the perfect cozy mystery to read during the Christmas season.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc.
This is a perfect cosy Crime Book.
If you Like Mystery but dont want it to be scary this is the one for you. It gave me all the christmas vibes in the Best possible way. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up during christmas its a vibe

5/5 ⭐️
First person POV, single narrative, linear timeline

Themes: Tight-knit community, amateur sleuth, multi-generational friendships, cozy murder mystery, cozy holiday setting & activities

Book 6 of A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery
This was such a fantastic cozy, holiday murder mystery. I haven’t read the previous 5 books in this series but Jacqueline Frost did an excellent job bringing us up to speed with just enough details of events and characters from previous stories.

I really enjoyed the over abundance of Christmasy details and the heartwarming sense of community. additionally there is a touch of romance that is intertwined into the plot, giving it more depth. The mystery itself was well thought out and presented well.

I am definitely going back and reading the previous books in this series!

Thank you Crooked Lane for providing me a copy of this book for review consideration via NetGalley!

This is book 6 in the Christmas Tree Farm series. Holly is to be taking it easy this Christmas season and husband Sheriff Evan Gray buys her and her friends to Mistletoe, Maine's annual rotating dinner. When they witness a their trying to steal an antique ornament he is thwarted but escapes. on their way to the next location they find the body. A fun Christmas cozy with all the friends returning to help Holly solve the crime. Can be read as a stand alone.

This is my favorite mystery series! Laugh out loud funny, quirky, and some of the best side characters, seriously, Cookie and her goats are the best! This sixth installment to the series is just as good as all the rest. The mystery is intriguing, and I love all the clues sprinkled throughout the book to help you try to solve the crime. The writing style is easy to read, the characters are lovable and well-written, and the atmosphere sucks you right into the holidays. This is a series I will be reading every year!

I'm absolutely over the moon for this series! Jacqueline Frost has outdone herself with 'A Wonderful Christmas Crime.'which is 6th in the series. It's a joyful, festive tale that's packed with holiday cheer and just the right amount of mystery.
The mystery itself is well done and I was surprised,not surprised at " who dunnit"
I adore Holly and her friends, and the Christmas Farm in Mistletoe, Maine, is the perfect winter wonderland setting. Can't wait to dive into the next installment as this series brings me lots of Christmas reading pleasure and get me in the Holiday spirit!
Thanks so much to NetGslley, crooked lane Books and the author for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful read. The release date is October 21st, 2025

I absolutely love this series! It gives off all the cozy Christmas vibes that makes me wish it wasn't a fictional town!! Throw in a murder and it is the perfect read. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Every year I look forward to reading the next installment of Jacqueline Frost’s Christmas Tree Farm mystery series. It’s been so fun to follow Holly’s life and growing family throughout this series.

I do feel that this installment focused a little less on the farm, but that was ok. I still felt the coziness of the town and its people.

I do not want to give away any spoilers on this one. If you’ve enjoyed the previous books, check this one out. If not, you could still pick it up and enjoy it. It’s a great way to get in the holiday spirit.

Thanks to Net Galley for an advance reading copy. Appreciate it!

I'm not sure it would feel like Christmas without a yearly visit to Mistletoe, Maine, and I've come to look forward to the new installments in this series each holiday season.

A Wonderful Christmas Crime was pretty much everything I could have wanted in a Christmas cozy mystery, and I've come to truly adore these characters over the years. The mysteries are always well done by Jacqueline Frost, but there's also always just enough of a touch of romance and familial gatherings for the story to always feel well rounded and never boring.

This particular title was a tad different than any of the previous titles as due to certain circumstances, Holly ends up not being able to do as much of the investigating this season as she normally does. That being said, of course she's still finding herself somewhat in the midst, but it was refreshing to see her having to learn to rely on her friends and family to help her much more than in any of the previous titles.

As well as Holly and Evan, it was lovely getting to check back in with Cookie, Libby, Ray, Carolyn and Zane, and there was also the introduction of a couple of new characters whom I hope will appear in titles to come. The Christmas tree farm as always was the perfect setting, and I love how much this farm has come to mean to Holly over the years.

While I won't spoil anything for anyone, I thought the mystery was well put together and kept me guessing, I loved the side story happening between Holly and Evan, and the secondary included mystery that brought tears to my eyes with its resolution.

Overall, this is definitely another winner in my eyes, and not only would I recommend this title personally, but I'd honestly recommend the whole series. They are some of the best cozy mysteries on the market, and ones you definitely don't want to miss out on.

Final Rating: 4/5.



Thanks so much to Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read and review this title!



I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Crooked Lane Books) via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review.

A Wonderful Christmas Crime by Jacqueline Frost is another festive delight in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series. The mix of cozy small-town cheer, holiday magic, and clever sleuthing makes this a perfect seasonal read. Fans of cozy mysteries will love the blend of humor, suspense, and heartwarming community spirit that Frost delivers.

how can a book with murder be just so gorgeous. i sometimes feel a little guilty in delighting in it so much with it being crime, lol. but i do i do i do love this series. each time i see it coming up on my tbr pile im getting more excited. especially this time of year, its not Christmas, but this brings all those cosy feels you want from that time and these themed seasonal books.
i love the way Jacqueline writes. she has such wit and flow to her words. the pages spill over into each other and out to us. so we are involved,immersed and in love with her writing.
you wont want to miss these books. you will want to get to know them, want to get to know the characters and want to read them too quickly but then slower so they dont finish too soon.
Christmas in Mistletoe in Maine is going to be as eventful as ever. Holly is being told to take it easy. she has good reason. but she has a new mystery to solve and we all know what good telling Holly to do something did...
sheriff Evan is back along with a brilliant cast of characters that are all as important to the story.
you will smile, feel warmed, and do more than smile and chuckle out loud as once again Holly is back at her best.
another wonderful book to the series. ive got to admit i was rather protective of Holly in this one,even more than usual.
im so glad to be back with the gang. but if you haven't been here before this can totally be your first time with the community. just make sure you try and read the other next too. you wont regret it. and then youll be like me getting all the more giddy when a new one gets bought out. trouble is we are now on half a dozen books in. they cant end. they cant!

I am now caught up with Holly and her motley crew of family and friends in Mistletoe, ME, the Christmas themed town that has a history of having a murder every Christmas, for now the sixth year in a row. The host and fans of the podcast, Dead and Berried, have now nicknamed Holly the Gumdrop Gumshoe because Holly always inserts herself into the investigation and the center of the murder and mayhem every year.

However, this year, Holly has promised to stay out of the investigation because Evan is worried about Holly and their baby getting injured, as has been the case in the past because Holly never keeps her promises of staying out of the murder and mayhem. Furthermore, she intentionally engages in subterfuge in order to do exactly what she wants and breaking her promises to her family and friends. Oh well, this is just the way that Holly is, and it wouldn’t be a story without Holly doing her thing.

Most of the story revolves around investigating the murder of a woman who had earlier in the night tried to steal a valuable ornament from Alice, one of the participants of the progressive dinner event. Additionally, Holly believes that the murderer is leaving threatening messages to her in the daily newspaper crossword puzzle. Holly zeroes in on one particular person who was at the restaurant the night the murdered victim tried to steal the ornament. There is also another storyline of inflatable Santa’s being stolen from residents’ front yards.

By the halfway point, Evan discovers that Holly has been doing her own investigation into this person (of course she has Evan) and now the threats are getting more frightening. Evan is forced to assign babysitters to Holly because not only can she no longer be trusted to keep her promises, but she also can’t be trusted to stay out of trouble and keep herself and their baby from being targeted by a murderer. It’s deep into the second half that the storylines come to a conclusion, with one storyline ending being a real tear-jerker.

The continuing character of Holly and the rest of the Mistletoe cast was well done. Love Cookie! She is one of my fave characters. The pacing was steady and the storyline interesting. The writing was on par with the series. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.9 that I will be rounding up to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #CrookedLaneBooks #AWonderfulChristmasCrime

This is the 6th book in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series and I love every single book in the series.

This one didn’t disappoint! As always, the plot was great and Holly and her friends need to solve another mystery. Every time I read books in this series I want to live in this small town. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

Holly and Evan's joy of discovering they're about to become first time parents is quickly subdued by a murder investigation. True, Evan is trying even more than usual to caution Holly about putting herself in danger's way but, well, Holly being Holly, we pretty much know how well that'll work. Then there's the weird case of the Snowman Thief. Seriously? Who goes around stealing inflatable snowmen? And, oh, what's with the daily crossword's weird clues?

I always enjoy my virtual trips to Mistletoe, Maine, and have come to enjoy hanging out with the likable regulars. Wait till you see Libby in action in action in her new job. Holly's reputation precedes her as the Gumdrop Gumshoe, a moniker she picked up after being showcased on a true crime show, but she'd just as rather it disappear. It gets lots of play this go-round, however, making it hard to be subtle about asking questions when people not only know who you are but why you're asking. But, who knew a delightful evening out with her husband would lead to a mystery and then murder? Why was that woman trying to steal an antique ornament? Is it a coincidence that the Antiques Roadhouse is in town? Who later killed her...and why?

Bottom line, it's a fun, relatively quick read. I won't detail the plot any further other than to say that Holly quickly chaffs under the multiple mother-hen types about her but, hey, one really does need to watch their blood pressure, especially when pregnant. While the murder aspect of the plot was a bit slow in taking off, we got a fun virtual tour of the town and Holly's family Christmas tree farm, the Reindeer Games Tree Farm. Thanks #CrookedLaneBooks and #NetGalley for the early invite to check out the Christmas doings in Mistletoe and hear Holly's big news. Loved the ending and am already wondering what name they'll ultimately decide on.

Jacqueline Frost delivers a festive cozy mystery in A Wonderful Christmas Crime, combining holiday cheer with a dash of intrigue. Set against a charming small-town backdrop, the story follows protagonist Jillian, whose holiday preparations are interrupted by a puzzling crime that needs solving.

Frost balances Christmas warmth—decorations, community events, and seasonal treats—with a clever mystery full of twists and surprises. The characters are relatable and engaging, and the pacing keeps readers turning pages while enjoying the festive atmosphere.

A delightful holiday cozy mystery that blends seasonal charm with a smart whodunit. Perfect for fans of Christmas-themed mysteries looking for a heartwarming and suspenseful read.

It was a delicious Christmas treat as usual from Jacqueline Frost. It's always fun to cool off with a Christmas story during the summer months and visiting with Holly, Evan, and the whole crew at the Tree Farm in Mistletoe, Maine is always special. This time, Holly and Evan are adding something a little special to the mix. When Evan treats Holly to a ticket to a rotating holiday dinner for a girl's night out she is excited to be celebrating this holiday season without the pressures of being the Innkeeper or trying to solve a mystery, just fun with friends and keeping her blood pressure down! Unfortunately, at their first stop, Holly's friend Alice's, Cup of Cheer, someone tries to steal some of her vintage Swedish holiday decorations. When the girls decide to stop back at the end of their dinner to make sure that Alice is ok, they find a dead body, it's the same woman who tried to steal the ornaments and now Alice is a suspect. While Holly desperately tries to aly everyone's fears by not investigating, you know things will not go as planned! Come along for a wonderful holiday tale with some heartwarming additions as well as plenty of snow. Many thanks to #Netgally, #CrookedLaneBooks, and the author for an opportunity to read. #AWonderfulChristmasCrime #ChristmasFarmMysteries #JacquelineFrost #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

Huge thank you to NetGalley, Jacqueline Frost and Crooked Lane Books for sending me this ARC because it was so fun!

This is the 6th book in ‘A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery’ and my first time reading this series and I must say I am so mad I didn’t know much about this series prior. I am definitely going to be reading every single previous book in the series from this author this was just so cozy! I know I’m reading this in the middle of summer but did I ever feel all of the Christmas cheer! Along with the figuring out the mystery which our MC Holly always seems to be wrapped in the middle of!

Great plot, great characters, cozy and fun setting, I loved it! Absolutely recommend!