Publishing on October 24, 2023

Summary

It is December1905 and this will be the first Christmas that Stella and Lyndy have spent together as a married couple. Stella is hoping to experience Christmas with the the excitement and joy she felt as a child back in Kentucky. Unfortunately, Mrs. Cole, the cook, doesn’t seem at all interested in Stella’s foreign foods, and Lady Atherly, Stella’s mother-in-law, just wants Stella to behave like a proper Viscountess for a change instead of always being so American. As company is expected for the holidays, Lady Atherly wants the household to be perfect. When the body of Morrington’s housekeeper, Mrs. Nelson, is found dead in Mistletoe Lane on Christmas Eve morning, a perfect holiday seems to be the least of their problems. 

Mrs. Nelson had been so sick the night before, so the questions of why she was on Mistletoe Lane and how she got there and what happened once she arrived are questions that Stella fully intends to answer.

My Thoughts

This was a captivating story with an exceptionally well-crafted mystery. It was a multilayered puzzle in a house with many secrets. Items are disappearing, a maid has lied about her identity and vanished, and somebody has been leaving love notes for Stella in places that only someone close to the household could access. There are secrets, whispered conversations and outright threats. Although the pool of potential suspects isn’t huge, there are many possible motives. Clues are dispersed nicely throughout the story and there are some interesting red herrings. 

I did figure out who was responsible for the murder, but not until a second murder had taken place much later on. Even then, it was a challenge to figure out how it had happened. I very much appreciated that it was a puzzle that kept me working.

This is book #5 in the Stella and Lyndy series, but having read none of the others in the series, I found that it did well as a standalone book.

Stella is an endearing character. It’s easy to feel sorry for her, but she isn’t wallowing in self-pity. She is a very compassionate individual who is determined to use her wealth for the good of others – be they human or horse. 

What Else I Liked

• In spite of Stella’s concerns that there would be no popcorn strings or pecan pie, there were plenty of delightful holiday touches in this Christmas mystery. Cold snowy weather, caroling in sleighs, gorgeous decorations, traditional English Christmas activities, a Christmas morning church service and sumptuous meals all add to the overall holiday feeling. I have pretty high expectations for Christmas mysteries and I give it a 5/5 for its Christmas theme. 

• – I feel like a great deal of research was done into this time period. It all felt very authentic.

What I Didn’t Like

Lyndy hasn’t quite grown on me yet, but Stella clearly adores him and he clearly adores her. I also get the feeling that his personality has improved from the earlier books, so I suspect he will continue to be influenced for the better by his love for his wife.

Possible Upsetting Scenes/Trigger Warnings

• Stalking
• Sexual harassment
• Attempted sexual assault

My Rating 4/5

I received a free eArc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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About the Author

Clara lives in Iowa where she writes the historical Stella & Lyndy mystery series. She’s a founding member of Sleuths in Time, and a member of Sisters in Crime. 

To learn more about her and sign up for her newsletter, check out her website, claramckenna.com