Holly Grey nee White is back for another cozy Christmas murder in the town of Mistletoe. The Gumdrop Gumshoe is making money on her notoriety which is a blessing and a curse. Holly has a history of being curious, an almost insatiable curiosity that often puts her in the path of a murder. Speaking of history, what a neat aspect to incorporate a She just can't seem to help herself but not this time around. There are more people to think about this time, one very small, teenie tiny person to be. Holly and Ethan are expecting which means that family and friends are on "Holly watch" because the annual Christmas murder has taken place and Holly has promised to leave it be, but can she? It was entertaining to see how many people had been enlisted to keep Holly safe and sound. There are plenty of other things for Holly to keep herself busy with. There is the annual toy drive wrapping, the numerous Christmas cards that need to be addressed and sent out, the activities at The Hearth, and there are plenty of orders for jewelry to be crafted, packaged and mailed. She can also work on crossword puzzles with hidden meanings. She can get the remainder of her holiday shopping completed at one of the numerous vendor booths. Including the Antique Roadshow in the story was a very unique aspect that added some nice holiday history involving a yule goat and interestingly named foods. In addition to these great holiday touches are the usual and sometimes unusual but always entertaining bits. The mystery is well plotted with just enough clues and red herrings to figure it out without being obvious.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this arc it’s a very cozy Christmas read. Very much enjoy this book

As Christmas approaches, Mistletoe Maine is due for its annual Christmas murder and, once again , this 6th book in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series follows Holly White, the usual sleuth, and her attempt to solve the crime even while trying not to get involved.

A delightful, engaging installment in this terrific series. I absolutely love this series, which ranks among my favorite cozy mystery series. Great plots. Great characters.

Highly recommended to cozy mystery fans!!

It's a couple of weeks before Christmas and the town of Mistletoe, ME is in the midst of its annual holiday celebration. Holly White and her husband Sheriff Evan Gray have received news and Holly promises him she'll take it easy during the festivities this year.
Cue what has become the annual murder and all bets could be off. Is it possible Holly has a stalker? Or, at the very least, someone who doesn't want her poking her nose where it doesn't belong.
This series has become a regular Christmas cozy read for me and the newest story didn't disappoint. Recommended to fans of the series and a Christmas cozy mystery filled with quirky characters.

An incredibly cute and cozy Christmas mystery. I loved Holly’s story, and didn’t suspect the killer to be who it turned out to be.

A great addition to this series that made me cry and laugh within the first few chapters. The mystery was solid but felt like more of an afterthought to some of the emotional subplots in this particular book. However, if you enjoy the series, you'll love the focus on the characters!

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

Will review this in my upcoming July reading wrap up YouTube video.

Jacqueline Frost returns to the heart of Mistletoe, Maine, with a tale as crisp as the winter air and as warm as a mug of mulled cider. A Wonderful Christmas Crime, the sixth instalment in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series, is a charming blend of holiday sparkle and small-town suspense.

Our ever-resourceful innkeeper Holly White is expecting a new addition to the family, but rest is hardly on the menu. When an attempted theft of an antique ornament at a town-wide dinner takes a deadly turn, Holly finds herself tangled in yet another Yuletide whodunit. With her sheriff husband pleading for peace and quiet, Holly’s sleuthing instincts refuse to take a holiday—and thank goodness for that.

Frost’s writing glows with festive cheer, laced with just enough intrigue to keep your mittens clenched. The cozy setting of Mistletoe is lovingly rendered: twinkle lights, community spirit, and a dash of danger beneath the snow. Holly and her loyal crew bring heart and humour to every page, making this mystery feel like catching up with old friends.

Curl up with this one by the fire—it’s a seasonal delight, gently paced but satisfyingly twisty. Perfect for readers who love their holiday mysteries served with cinnamon and sass.

With thanks to Jacqueline Frost, NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A Wonderful Christmas Crime is #6 of the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery by Jacqueline Frost. The book starts off right in the beginning chapter when main characters Holly and Evan share a wonderful surprise with their readers. It’s Christmas on the tree farm and in the town of Mistletoe. On the busiest time of the year while Christmas shoppers are everywhere a murder happens. This is an annual occurrence in Mistletoe and our sleuth Holly is grounded from getting involved in the investigation. Her husband Evan who happens to be the Sheriff wants her to let him do his job and find out who murdered this year’s victim. Find out how that all goes when you read the book.
I thought the book had a wonderful ending. Though I didn’t guess Whodunnit I wasn’t too surprised by who the real murderer was. The story is very Christmassy . There’s some edge of seat reading before the real murderer is revealed.
I recommend this book to readers of Cozy Mysteries and to those who enjoy a good Christmas story.
This book can be read as a stand alone. I have only read two books in this series although I hope to read the ones I missed soon. This book is scheduled for release on 10/21/25.
I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed here in this review are solely my own.
#AWonderfulChristmasCrime #NetGalley

I loved traveling back to Mistletoe, Maine for another Christmas Tree Farm Mystery! In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the town is always packed with visitors and it’s the same at the farm. Folks from all over come for the Reindeer Games and yummy food and drinks, and if I could jump into the book, I’d be spending my time there too!

Now that Holly and Evan are married, Cookie has taken over as the inn’s manager. She lives in Holly’s old place at the inn, and her goats live in luxury in the barn on site. Cookie is always the life of the party, but she was a little sad this time around. Then a new character shows up, and she perks up. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens there. It’s always like visiting old friends with this series, and it was no different with this book.

When the murder happens, Holly’s under strict orders to stay out of it because of the bundle of joy she’s now carrying…and her blood pressure is already a little high. She does her best to stay out of it. Her mom, dad, and friends make sure she gets her rest and keeps out of trouble. I love how you can just feel the warmth shared by these characters. Of course, Holly does get a little bit mixed up in the crime solving, but don’t worry, her friends and family always have her back.

I’m really glad that this series is continuing, and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

In A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS CRIME, written by Jacqueline Frost, Holly White, the protagonist goes to a doctor and finds out she is pregnant with her and Sheriff Evan Gray’s first child. It’s Christmastime in Mistletoe, Maine. Antiques Roadshow is coming to Mistletoe. Someone steals an ornament and someone dies. Since it takes a while to get to this point, I don’t want to say more and give away the plot.

I am happy to return to Reindeer Games Tree Farm in Mistletoe, Maine, and the continuing characters in the next book in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series. I am reading this book in July—Christmas in July. What fun! The Christmas setting is appreciated. I feel like it took some time for the plot to advance to its satisfying conclusion. I like this book enough to want to continue reading the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series. Thank you, Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS CRIME.

Even though A Wonderful Christmas Time is a murder mystery, I always feel upbeat and happy after reading this series. The characters are my favorite part of this series. I love the growth the characters have had over this series and watching many of them find their footing and become rooted into village life.

Frost creates a Christmas-y feeling world that embraces the reader. A multi-generational Christmas tree farm anchors the family vibes. The Hearth, the farm’s café, is a life-sized gingerbread house with red and green gumdrop chandeliers, tabletops that look like chocolate bars with licorice stick legs, candy cane-striped booths and barstools shaped like lollipops. Reindeer Games at Christmas, both outside in the snow and inside the café. Cookies, hot chocolate, games with candy pieces-a few of my favorite things.

The mystery is, as always in this series, not an easy one to solve. Even if I guess the killer’s identity, the motive eludes me, so that’s always a plus. There is plenty of misdirection and red herrings to keep me guessing. Even though A Wonderful Christmas Time is a murder mystery, I always feel upbeat and happy after reading this series.

A Wonderful Christmas Crime is a fantastic addition to this series. 4/5 stars.

I have to say that while I enjoyed this story, it was a bit too happy-go-lucky for me. I missed Holly digging deep into the investigation and questioning people. So much of the story was her sitting with Libby, Ray, Cookie, Caroline, and Zane at the Hearth for Reindeer Games that it just felt repetitive rather than Jacqueline's usually thrilling cozies. It made the ending feel more lackluster, too, because Holly didn't really do much to find the killer. The killer came to her without really having much of a reason to. And the solution to the mystery felt...I don't know, it didn't feel right. The killer's motivation felt so weak compared to some of the other suspect's reasons and it didn't feel very believable. I'll keep reading the series, but I was a bit disappointed with this one.

A Wonderful Christmas Time is a wonderful mix of holiday cheer and crime. The author, Jacqueline Frost, gives readers a vivid image of the town of Mistletoe. It is easy to feel you are there while reading. The only thing I struggled with was the slow start to the book. I would definite Read more of this series!

Every Christmas season there’s a murder in the town of Mistletoe, Maine. Every year Holly White, the Gumdrop Gumshoe, solves the case. Until this year, that is. Holly and hubby Sheriff Evan White are expecting a baby and both are determined that Holly will not risk her life or that of their unborn child chasing murderers.

The plot revolves around the theft of heirloom antique Swedish Christmas goat figurines from the collection of Holly’s friend Alice. A dead body is found at the crime scene making Alice the prime suspect. Antiques Roadshow is in town along with a huge antique show, which means there are several people who might know how valuable Alice’s antique Swedish Christmas goats are. And is there any connection between the theft of the antiques and the theft of giant inflatable snowmen from front yards around the town?

Quirky characters abound in this cozy series. Holly herself makes Christmas-themed jewelry and is well-known as an amateur sleuth. In fact, she has been branded the “Gumdrop Gumshoe” for solving murders in the previous books and is a reluctant local celebrity who is pursued by the media, including local podcasters. Her friend Cookie, manager of the local inn, is obsessed with goats (think goat yoga, goat calendars, etc.) and co-owns a bakery with her friend Caroline. The inn and bakery feature holiday decorations, activities, and baked goods (especially cupcakes).

The Christmas theme of book is echoed in the setting. Mistletoe, Maine goes all-out for Christmas and Holly’s parents own a Christmas tree farm with daily activities for families. They also host merchant booths for convenient Christmas shopping. Even the huge antique show plays into the Christmas theme with most of the characters shopping there throughout the novel as Holly investigates-without-investigating the people who might know the value of antique Swedish Christmas goats.

The only thing missing from this series are recipes for all the wonderful holiday treats.

If you love Christmas and light cozies, this is the book/series for you! I have not read any of the previous books in this series but was able to jump right in with this book. This is only the third series I’m aware of where every book takes place at Christmas. The other two are Anne Perry’s Christmas series and Kate Kingsbury’s Pennyfoot Hotel series. Given the popularity of the Christmas and cozy mysteries I am surprised there aren’t more.

Julie Hatcher writes mysteries and romantic suspense (Harlequin Intrigue) and also publishes as Bree Baker (Seaside Café Mysteries), Julie Anne Lindsey (Patience Price Mysteries, Geek Girl Mysteries, Bonnie & Clyde Mysteries, Cider Shop Mysteries, and two non-series YA romantic suspense), and Julie Chase (Kitty Couture Mysteries). Cat lovers note that the Bonnie & Clyde Mysteries and the Kitty Couture Mysteries feature cats!

Merry Christmas in July!

I am not a fan of heat and humidity, so Christmas in July is a form of escape for me. I love watching Christmas movies and reading Christmas books at the this time of year. I'm so excited to have received an ARC of the sixth book in Jacqueline Frost's Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series, A Wonderful Christmas Crime. This series has become a favorite of mine and it fit the theme perfectly this month. It has all the cozy Christmas feels I was hoping for.

Something significant is revealed at the beginning of this installment. I won't spoil it, but it plays a huge role in Holly's motivation not to get involved in crime-solving this Christmas. In an effort to relax and have some fun, Holly participates in a town-wide progressive dinner. After an attempted robbery at one of the stops, followed by the discovery of a dead body, Holly can't help thinking about why all of this happened and who is responsible for yet another Christmas crime in Mistletoe, Maine. Holly knows the person accused of the crime is not the responsible party and, with the help of her friends and family, she is determined to get to the bottom of it all.

This is a solid mystery. In fact, there are multiple mysteries going on simultaneously. I was especially thrilled to see one involving crossword puzzles. You will have to read it to find out if and how they are all connected. I was really shocked when the killer was revealed, but it came to a logical conclusion. There are several suspects to consider and twists and turns along the way, which made for a mind-boggling mystery.

The setting for this entire series is one of my favorites in any cozy mystery. It has all the festive and cozy Christmas feels, complete with hot chocolate and reindeer games. The imagery is vivid with lots of descriptions to awaken all five senses. This is one town where I would love to spend Christmas.

It was comforting to meet up again with the same main characters who have been present throughout the series. Everyone is so warm and welcoming and it feels like a true community. The progressive dinner is the perfect example of how they all come together.

Holly is one lucky lady to be surrounded by so much love. However, I did feel like her loved ones were very over-protective of her in this installment. Throughout the book, she is struggling to keep her blood pressure under control. I understand why her friends and family were concerned, but as much as they babysat her (this term was actually used in the book multiple times), that alone would be enough to raise her blood pressure. They needed to loosen the grip. She's a grown woman who is fully capable of making her own decisions. I also wasn't a fan of her acquired goofy nickname.

Overall, though, this is yet another strong installment in the beloved Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series. If you've read all of the previous books in the series, this is definitely one you won't want to miss. It's light-hearted and fun, just like all of the previous books in the series. If you have not yet read any books in the series, I highly recommend starting with the first one, Twelve Slays of Christmas, and reading them in order. Each installment is a self-contained mystery, but it's a lot of fun to follow the growth of the characters with each consecutive book.

As I was reading this book, I thought it was going to be the final one in the series. However, I was delighted to learn that there will be another one released next year. I can't wait! I'm definitely going to read it!

A Wonderful Christmas Crime releases on October 21, 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an ARC of this book.

This series is always a preorder for me. Frost continues to deliver such amusing characters and suspense that each book turns into my new favorite of the series. I would love to live in Mistletoe and have Holly as a friend. I’m always rooting for her and her crew and hope another book shares their next adventure. Thank you NetGalley for the free review copy!

The sixth installment in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series is a festive, feel-good read that blends cozy holiday atmosphere with a heartfelt personal journey. Returning to Mistletoe, Maine, feels like stepping into a Hallmark movie—with the added intrigue of a well-paced mystery. Holly and Evan’s evolving relationship brings genuine emotional depth to the series and is one of the reasons I recommend reading in order. Despite recovering from an injury and navigating big life changes, Holly remains a smart and steady amateur sleuth—curious and capable without ever crossing into reckless. The mystery kept me engaged throughout, striking just the right balance between suspense and seasonal charm. As always, the supporting characters bring warmth and humour, and the town of Mistletoe is as inviting as ever.

This continues to be one of my favourite holiday cozy series, and I’m already looking forward to the book in the series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

A Wonderful Christmas Crime is book six in the Christmas Tree Farm Mysteries and would be best read as part of the series to get a feel for the main characters. An antique show is in the town of Mistletoe and someone tries to steal Alice’s antique Yule goats and then someone is murdered. Holly finds herself embroiled in another murder mystery as she tries to navigate pregnancy and elevated blood pressure while walking straight into danger. The characters are entertaining and the cozy keeps you guessing for another good read in the series. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

I so love the Christmas Tree Farm series!! This is another wonderful and mystery filled season!! The characters are so well written and the mystery is always so satisfying that I’m always surprised by who done it! I look forward to each new book we get in this series!! It’s one of my all time favorites in Cozy Mystery!! I hope there are more books to come!!! I highly recommend this book and series to everyone!!

I received a free copy of, A Wonderful Christmas Crime, by Jacqueline Frost, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book six, in a Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series. Its Christmas in Mistletoe , Maine, and even though she is pregnant Holly still has a mystery to solve. Cozy Christmas mysteries are the best, I really enjoyed this story, Holly and her friends are great characters.