I have not read any Sarah Bonner books before but I picked this one up thinking it might be similar to 'Assistant to the villian'. It has the same sort of vibe to it. It's an easy read. If you've ever dreamed of getting rid of the people who annoy you, this is the book for you.

The book is full of dark humour and despite the profession of the main character, the author has written her as likeable. It's not too gruesome so if you hate guts and gore, then you won't need to worry about this book.

I receive complimentary books from various sources, including NetGalley, authors, and others. I am not required to write a positive review, and I have not received any compensation for my thoughts.

I had not read any books by Sarah Bonner prior to this but I will certainly be picking some more up now! So thank you bolwood books for pre authorising me for this read based on my reading history as I don’t think I’d have picked it up otherwise.

I smashed through this book in one setting, it was such an easy read that was entertaining throughout and still had twists and turns to make you question situations. This book has a host of strong female characters and females on the road to becoming strong independent women.

Jessica the powerhouse of a lead female character, loves Christmas, the food, the drink and festivities and of course her trusted naughty list. Jessica’s need to rid the world of despicable/disgraceful men who have made others suffer is strong and what better to cover up her murderous intentions with the leading role as Mrs Claus. After all who would suspect Mrs Claus of such horrendous crimes.

On the other hand we have Fearne the Christmas hating, long suffering author, with what I can only describe as a a***hole of a husband. Watching Fearne and Jessica’s relationship grow throughout the book keeps you on edge, Jessica is risking her love of murder to help build up a fellow woman.

This is a comic thriller/cosy crime (in my opinion), the whole book is full of humor, murder, empowerment and new and growing relationships. A great easy read and it didn’t feel wrong reading a Christmas themed book in the 38 degree heat - which to me shows it’s a great bit of writing that drew me in and kept me engaged!

There is one section in the book where Hanna is messaging Jessica where I think there is a typo - the text message image shows Jessica as having sent a message to Hanna but I am pretty sure it is the other way around - I forgot to note the location but it is when Hanna is arranging drinks with Ferne and Jessica.

Review of ‘How to Slay at Christmas ’ by Sarah Bonner, due to be published on 7 August 2025 by Boldwood Books.

Two main female protagonists - Fearne, wife of Sebastian, organisers of the Ellsbury Christmas Market (who hates Christmas) and Jessica, newly appointed ‘Mrs Claus’ and a killer secret (who loves the whole Christmas season).

Add in the gorgeous Alvi, ready to steal Jessica’s heart, his sister Hanna, 17 year old runaway Lena, Fearne’s daughter Immy - and not forgetting Fearne's arch nemesis *Erin*Winters!

Friendships are formed, secrets are hidden, until their lives entwine in spectacular fashion - their friendships are put to the ultimate test of trust, loyalty and honesty.

The story is full of dark humour, has mystery and suspense and is a fabulous run up to Christmas read. I really enjoyed it, and will definitely read other outings for Jessica - the Slay Queen!

Another absolute riot.

This is going to make a great present for those that love the series or love clever, funny, fast paced novels.

This book follows Fearne who absolutely hates all the things that comes with the Christmas season whereas Jessica loves it, she’s a poker pro with a great side line in serial killing. This book becomes impossible to put down once their lives intertwine.

You’ll love it and so will pretty much everyone you know.

Read in one sitting at the beach — the perfect mix of sunshine, bratwurst, and body bags.

How to Slay at Christmas is festive, funny, and just the right amount of feral. If you’ve ever wanted Sweetpea, Bad Sisters, or How to Kill Your Family wrapped up in fairy lights and bloodshed, this is your moment.

Jessica Williams, professional poker player turned seasonal vigilante Mrs Claus, is totally unhinged — and somehow still likeable. She’s chaotic, calculating, and convinced she’s doing the world a favour by taking out the truly awful. Enter Fearne Dixon, the deeply relatable Christmas market wife who hates December, her husband, and everything in between. Their storylines unfold side by side until they finally (and violently) intersect.

This book is so much sharper than it first appears. There’s real craft in the pacing, the humour is wicked, and even the background characters feel textured. It never gets too heavy, even when the bodies start piling up — think mulled wine with a poisoned twist.

Yes, you have to suspend your disbelief. But if you’re here for festive chaos, dark humour, and morally questionable women doing what they do best… you won’t mind one bit.

Bonner’s writing is self-aware, punchy, and full of sly commentary on gender, power, and small-town perfectionism. This is satire with a body count, and I devoured it.

Highly recommend for fans of comic thrillers with bite. I’ll be slipping this into stockings — for the right people, obviously.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.

I'll start by saying I love these types of stories, How To Kill You Family, How to Kill Men and Get Away With It Sweetpea etc etc.

You definitely have to suspend belief and just not question certain things!

In 'How to Slay at Christmas' we meet Jessica, a 30 something woman who plays poker during the summer months and Mrs Claus during the festive months. She loves Christmas, animals, moves around a lot, helps vulnerable people and murders wrong uns in her spare time.

This year she gets the Mrs Claus gig at the Ellsbury Christmas Market ran by Sebastian Dixon who expects his long suffering wife Fearne to drop everything to help him. It doesn't take long for Jessica to start offing some bad guys intent on ruining the lives of others. She befriends Fearne who resents her husband and is downcast when her old work rival arrives to oversee the market. There's just so many people trying to make others miserable...

The story is well written and page turning, we get to know the main characters pretty well as well as a few side characters and a mysterious person lurking in the background.

I've not read How To Slay At Work yet (now on my list) but have read the Holiday one and much preferred this. These Slay books are very different to Sarah Bonners earlier thrillers which I also enjoyed.

Thanks to Netgalley for the early access to this great read.

The two main characters in this story could not be more different. But they might find an unexpected connection - or at least, a crossover point...

There are people who love Christmas, and there are people who hate it. And they have a variety of reasons in either case.

Fearne hates the pressure that the season puts on her in work terms. Jessica loves the opportunities it provides for her in work terms.

Though Jessica's work is more of a passion really. And an opportunity to be Mrs Santa Claus provides an excellent cover for her to increase the cheer of the festive season by offing some of the people whom you really don't want around your Christmas table!

A cleverly plotted, funny offering in the vein of recent female serial killer novels, this one's worth a read.

Ok so I accidentally finished this in one sitting. There are definitely twists and turns and the protagonist is complex! I hated her initially and then was on her side and then things got weird. This book gets more wild as you read.

This is definitely a fun one for year round despite the holiday cover and I’ll be scratching my head at this one for a bit.

I wish I had liked the protagonist more but I think I’m meant to slightly dislike her. I’m impressed with the emotions the author was able to illicit from me with this one.

Thank you for this treat! I received an eARC and am leaving this honest feedback voluntarily.

I always enjoy Sarah Bonner books. Her latest, How to Slay at Christmas was very good. It’s out soon.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

Jessica Williams loves Christmas. She also casually offs bad people (mostly men) on her Naughty List who destroy her festive spirit by being awful human beings. To avoid detection, she travels a lot. This year she is Mrs Claus at the Ellsbury Christmas Market grotto, where she makes friends with Fearne, Hanna and Lena. But is letting her guard down a good idea? Soon the bodies pile up and suspicions are raised. Who is the person looking into Jessica's background and what are their motives?

Fearne Dixon hates Christmas. For years she has been assisting her annoying husband Sebastian in running the Christmas Market but she's really an author of regency romances, and - her real passion and moneymaker - erotica that she writes under a pen name as Sebastian would never stand for it. Is this Christmas the one where she finally snaps?

What a wonderful addition to the How to Slay series this is! The first book How to Slay at Work was a sensation, the second, How to Slay on Holiday, not quite as good, but this one is fantastic again. Both Jessica and Fearne get a POV, the writing style is easy to follow and I read the book in a day.

I loved all the side characters, from Fearne's daughter Immy to young homeless Lena, to Hanna Jakkinen and brother Alvi from Finland who is an animal rescuer. Even Sebastian redeems himself at the end, and Fearne's nemesis Effing Erin Effing Winters is easy to hate. There is plenty of dark humour and I loved the twist at the end. It looks like the best people in the book are the killers! Highly recommended and I can see this book in a lot of Christmas stockings this year! Read if you like subversive humour and vigilante violence that comes with a dash of festive hot chocolate (with Baileys) and Bratwurst.

How to Slay at Christmas- Sarah Bonner
She has done it again. The queen of dark comedy thriller is back and this time she's a festive Slay Qwueen.
Jessica is a firm believer in justice being served but as we all know that is not always how things work out. Karma doesn't always get them....but Jessica does....
Jessica, while taking on her yearly role of Mrs Claus, serves up milk and cookies with a side of vigilante justice. Who will end up on her naughty list this year? And will her naughty past catch up with her? Will Jessica finally hang up her knives and settle down to a normal life?

This is the second novel that I have read by the wonderful @sarahbonner101 and I am hooked. I absolutely love her style of writing. Murder and dark comedy perfectly balanced. It's not often I find myself on the side of a serial killer in thriller novels but Bonner makes it so hard to dislike our femme fatal Jessica. And has she met her match, in every sense of the word, when she happens upon a handsome stranger in her new town?
Flew through it. Enjoyed every minute of it. Love, love, loved it. Has me already excited for the festive season. 🤣🧑‍🎄🙈🫢
Thank you as always to @netgalley for the wonderful ARC.
Thank you also to @theboldbookclub who's books never disappoint. Honoured to get to read and review them.

Thank you to Boldwood Books, the author and NetGalley for a pre-approved DRC in return for an honest review

Well, looks like Im going to have to break a habit of a lifetime and read a Christmas book outside of December!

I've never read anything by this author before, but after finding out that this book is quite similar to 'Happy Bloody Christmas' by Jo Middleton (which was a delicious Christmas treat in 2024!) I am hoping that I will love Sarah Bonner's book just as much! Apparently both are great for readers who, like me, like their festive fiction dark, hilarious and just a little bit twisted. This is the third in the murderous 'How to slay' series and promises just as much sublime dark humour as the first two, If this book lives up to expections I will definitely be reading the others. Oh and if Sarah Bonner puts out another festive offering, I will endeavor to read that as well...in December!

#HowtoSlayatChristmas #NetGalley

Just brilliant!!
Another crazy read from this fabulous author.
Hilarious, dark and twisty.
My life was on hold this weekend as i just couldn't put it down.
A big five stars from me.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.