Deck the Halls with Homicide

Killer Chocolate Mysteries, Book 3

De: Christina Romeril

Narrado por: Rebecca Gallagher

When a holiday decorating contest turns deadly, twin sisters Alex and Hanna trade tinsel and twinkle lights for tracking the twists and turns of a cunning killer.

Alex and Hanna, owners of Murder and Mayhem book and chocolate shop, are hoping for a quiet holiday. That is, after Alex is finished judging the Deck the Halls contest organized by Vanessa, nicknamed “The Dragon.” The whole experience has turned Alex’s usual festive spirit a little grinchy. Instead of inspiring holiday cheer with fun lawn displays, the contest has turned cutthroat, and decorations have started disappearing.

After Alex’s beau, Tom, is seen in a heated argument with the Dragon about his stolen trimmings, Alex finds him dressed as Santa, kneeling over Vanessa’s dead body...with one of his missing candy cane decorations buried in her chest. It’s no surprise he becomes the sheriff’s top suspect.

Alex and Hanna quickly amass a cast of suspects deeper than Santa’s reindeer roster, including an old family friend tasked by their mother with romantic interference; a nosy reporter eager to reveal Alex’s previous murder exploits; and the victim’s psychologist-to-the-stars husband with a spicy secret. But as they try to catch a crafty killer, Alex also grapples with the escalating wrath of Tom’s daughter, and a mysterious psychic dropping cryptic clues, while Hanna deals with her own Christmas crisis.

Murder puts a bitter spin on the twins’ sweet confections and they must find the killer and wrap up the case to keep Santa off the naughty list.

©2025 Christina Romeril (P)2025 Dreamscape Media

Absolutely Charming Cozy Christmas Themed Mystery

Last year I had the pleasure of listening to Cristina Romeril's Killer Chocolate mystery books #1 and 2 in the series. As soon as I read that a third mystery book would be coming out before Christmas, I bought it and put it in my TBR list...there were so many fabulous Cozy Christmas themed mystery books this year that I wasn't able to listen to it by Christmas.

I must say that the series is a lot of fun, especially if you like chocolate, because twin sisters Alex and Hannah own "Murder and Mayhem", a book and chocolate shop. They make their own chocolates and give them funny names. Lots of quirky and endearing characters abound, and it was nice to reconnect with them again this year.

This year there is a holiday decorating contest, and Vanessa "The Dragon", one of the obnoxious judges, is murdered. Alex's boyfriend Tom is suspected in the killing, since he was discovered kneeling over Vanessa's body dressed as Santa Claus and the weapon was a missing candy cane! The twins get busy trying to clear his name. There is plenty of friction between the sheriff and the twins, but in the end, justice prevails, as one would expect.

I anxiously listened attentively to Rebecca Gallagher's superb "performance" as she interpreted every character's voice very distinctively, waiting until the tense ending. I really enjoyed not guessing correctly whodunnit among so many suspects, and was satisfied with the final outcome.

I highly recommend this book and the series to any mystery lover. I also hope there will me bore books in this series in the near future!

5 stars

Deck the Halls with Homicide is a well written and entertaining cozy mystery. I look forward to the next book.