Title: SLAY BELLS
Series: Christmas Village Mystery #1
Author: T.C. Wescott
Publisher: Better Mousetrap Books
Publish Date: 11.23.2018
Category /Genre: Cozy Mystery
Recommended for: 16+ due to murder theme
Grammar/editing: A – near perfect
Received from: T.C. Wescott (as an ARC gifted copy)
Goodreads link: Slay Bells
Date completed: 12.26.2018
Description from the publisher:
‘Twas the week before Christmas and
all through the village, the night settled in over swirling-smoke chimneys; the
air was alive with pine and holly, with sugar and cinnamon and cider, by golly!
Along snowy lanes and through shadows it crept, past windows behind which each villager slept, where sleeping dogs lie and cats rest a’purring—
Tonight, in Christmas Village, a killer is stirring.
Welcome to Christmas Village, a magical hamlet where even in December the roses hold their luster and bees buzz among the bluebells. You’re just in time for the week-long Christmas Festival, and nowhere is Christmas celebrated with such unrestrained merriment as the village which bears its name. Mayor Cobblestone and Sheriff Fell will be somewhere nearby, doing all they can to make sure you’re safe during your stay.
Provided you haven’t booked a room at Plum Cottage.
Nestled betwixt an opulent garden with meandering footpaths and an ancient grove of plum trees, Rose Willoughby’s boarding house is plum-full with lodgers. There are no vacancies, but just wait. Soon there will be one…and another…and another.
Presently lodging at the cottage are: the juggler, the acrobat, the magician, the psychic, the strongman, the manager, and the pretty assistant. In town as festival entertainment they’ve each brought their own bag of tricks. And a closetful of skeletons.
When the entertainers begin dying in inexplicable ways, some villagers believe a beast from old village lore is the culprit. The sheriff knows better, but he’s just as helpless to catch the invisible killer as are the town folk with their eyes to the sky in search of a flying creature. But our mysterious murderer hasn’t counted on yet another lodger coming to the cottage: Maribel Claus.
Short as a stump, round as a wheel, sweet as a candy cane, and a sharp as a whip, Maribel loves a good puzzle. But has she finally met her match at Plum Cottage?
Can you figure out whodunit before Maribel does? If you’re up to the challenge, here’s your first clue—the key to unlocking the secret of the murderer’s identity lies in figuring out how the murders were committed. Good luck!
If you’re looking for a fun, baffling read that’s cozier and more mysterious than the usual fare, replete with diagrams of the murder scenes and a one-of-a-kind BOOK GROUP CHALLENGE, then Slay Bells is the perfect gift to buy yourself this Christmas.
Along snowy lanes and through shadows it crept, past windows behind which each villager slept, where sleeping dogs lie and cats rest a’purring—
Tonight, in Christmas Village, a killer is stirring.
Welcome to Christmas Village, a magical hamlet where even in December the roses hold their luster and bees buzz among the bluebells. You’re just in time for the week-long Christmas Festival, and nowhere is Christmas celebrated with such unrestrained merriment as the village which bears its name. Mayor Cobblestone and Sheriff Fell will be somewhere nearby, doing all they can to make sure you’re safe during your stay.
Provided you haven’t booked a room at Plum Cottage.
Nestled betwixt an opulent garden with meandering footpaths and an ancient grove of plum trees, Rose Willoughby’s boarding house is plum-full with lodgers. There are no vacancies, but just wait. Soon there will be one…and another…and another.
Presently lodging at the cottage are: the juggler, the acrobat, the magician, the psychic, the strongman, the manager, and the pretty assistant. In town as festival entertainment they’ve each brought their own bag of tricks. And a closetful of skeletons.
When the entertainers begin dying in inexplicable ways, some villagers believe a beast from old village lore is the culprit. The sheriff knows better, but he’s just as helpless to catch the invisible killer as are the town folk with their eyes to the sky in search of a flying creature. But our mysterious murderer hasn’t counted on yet another lodger coming to the cottage: Maribel Claus.
Short as a stump, round as a wheel, sweet as a candy cane, and a sharp as a whip, Maribel loves a good puzzle. But has she finally met her match at Plum Cottage?
Can you figure out whodunit before Maribel does? If you’re up to the challenge, here’s your first clue—the key to unlocking the secret of the murderer’s identity lies in figuring out how the murders were committed. Good luck!
If you’re looking for a fun, baffling read that’s cozier and more mysterious than the usual fare, replete with diagrams of the murder scenes and a one-of-a-kind BOOK GROUP CHALLENGE, then Slay Bells is the perfect gift to buy yourself this Christmas.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SLAY BELLS is the first book in the Christmas Village Mystery series. It is yet to be seen if they will need to be
read in the order of release, though this one stands on its own with no
cliffhanger.
The story is a wonderful cozy
mystery with a Christmas theme.
Christmas Village is a peculiar little town that embraces everything to
do with the Yule season and will use any excuse for a fair or town celebration.
My favorite character is Rose’s best
friend Maribel Claus. Her husband is
very busy and will not be available until after Christmas Eve is over. He is working with his helpers in the
workshop. Hmmm, I wonder what he could
be working on that is so important? It
never is said!
I love the humor, the characters,
the well-plotted mystery, and the setting.
I must admit that I did figure out the who long before the end, but the
how had me stumped until just a chapter or two before the reveal. I like that.
The clues were provided, and it could be figured out. I didn’t feel cheated as so often in other
books some clue is held back that you can’t possibly know the answer until the
final page.
I look forward to returning to
Christmas Village!
Note: While I received this book as a gifted ARC
via NetGalley, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
Christmas Village Mystery series:
- Slay Bells
Also from T.C. Wescott:
Running
Store Mystery Series:
- Running from Scissors
- Running from Arrows
