Oops, did I say I’d written my last review of the year?
I thought so, but hey, with free time over the holiday, I squeezed in this neat novella, and now I want to share it with you!
A Mayfair Christmas Carol: A Marcia Banks and Buddy Mystery Novella by Kassandra Lamb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a fun Christmas read! The small Florida township of Mayfair, named after it’s founding family, some of whom are still around, plans on dragging a few tourists away from nearby Disneyland with the wacky idea of building an ice skating rink for their Victorian Christmas Fair. Unfortunately work on the rink comes to an abrupt halt when a skeleton is uncovered on the site. How long has it been there? And is there any chance of identifying the murder victim, who’s head took a good bashing.
I love a cozy mystery, and this one has all the choice ingredients – a strong central character, a cast of slightly eccentric individuals, and a mystery that leads to a satisfying, and in the spirit of Christmas, somewhat happy ending. Delving into mental health issues and family loyalty, the outcome could have been much nastier, but Kassandra Lamb delivers instead a pleasing and unusual wrap up to a murder mystery, with a yarn that brings her characters and setting alive in an accomplished style.
A quick-read novella, intriguing stand-alone seasonal story that introduced me to a new series I shall be reading more of. Highly recommended.
deborahjay 
I picked this up after Kass posted about it on TWS, and now I’m just looking for time to get it read! SO many books, and yet I keep buying more! What am I thinking???? Great review, Debby, and I know Kass will be very pleased that you enjoyed it so much. Glad you managed to squeeze one more in for the year. 😀 ❤
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Ha ha, we all know that problem, don’t we?
I picked it up at the same time as you, but as it’s seasonal I wanted to read it at the appropriate time of year, and (as you know) I’m happy to squeeze a novella in between the longer books in my TBR list. Sometimes it’s nice to read something you know won’t take too long. I know you’ll enjoy it.
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Don’t tell anybody…
but cozys are my dirty little secret.
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Shhh, mine too…
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Anything that stars a dog–worth changing your mind (about the last review). This looks precious.
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[…] What a fun Christmas read! The small Florida township of Mayfair, named after it’s founding family, some of whom are still around, plans on dragging a few tourists away from nearby Disneyland with the wacky idea of building an ice skating rink for their Victorian Christmas Fair. Unfortunately work on the rink comes to an abrupt halt when a skeleton is uncovered on the site. How long has it been there? And is there any chance of identifying the mu …more […]
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