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theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles by Leslie Budewitz is the fifth novel in A Food Lover’s Village Mystery series. Erin Murphy is the manager of Murphy’s Glacier Mercantile (aka The Merc) in Jewel Bay, Montana. The town is getting ready for Christmas with Decorating Day. While switching out a tub of lights, Erin witnesses (along with the rest of the town) an unpleasant scene between Taya Thornton and her daughter, Merrily. Erin is shocked at the bitterness expressed by Taya towards Merrily after eighteen years. Erin invites Merrily over to The Merc and to the cookie swap at her house on Sunday. Merrily does not show up for the cookie exchange, and she is AWOL from Building Supply where she works on Monday. Not only is Merrily missing, but cash from the business is as well. Many say that Merrily failed to change her ways. Then Merrily is found dead with a string of Christmas lights around her neck. With Greg Taylor as a prime suspect, Erin starts snooping (not that she needed a reason). Who would risk going on Santa’s naughty list by killing Merrily? Can Erin wrap up the case before her wedding?
As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles is well-written and has a steady pace. I found Ms. Budewitz’s conversational writing style to be pleasing. I was drawn into the story and my attention was held throughout. Jewel Bay is a charming, small town that goes all out for Christmas. I loved the descriptions of the shops and the decorations (I wanted to visit and do some shopping). I like how everyone pitches in to help with various activities. The characters are nicely developed and, for the most part, are friendly and relatable. Detective Bello is the grinch of the story (I could imagine him saying Bah Humbug). I enjoy Erin’s approach to sleuthing with her Spreadsheet of Suspicion. The mystery was well-crafted and multi-faceted. There are many gratifying cozy moments in As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles. Erin is preparing for her wedding, buying Christmas presents, cooking, cookie exchange, Erin and Adam with their new home, baking, Adam worrying about his brothers coming to town, and spending time with family and friends. While there is a lot going on in the story, it is not overwhelming. I agreed with Erin about the cuteness of the Property Brothers. I recommend reading the books in A Food Lover’s Village Mystery in order. I am grateful for the list of characters at the front of the book (helpful). It was a pleasure to visit Jewel Bay in As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles and I look forward to returning in the next A Food Lover’s Village Mystery.
As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles is well-written and has a steady pace. I found Ms. Budewitz’s conversational writing style to be pleasing. I was drawn into the story and my attention was held throughout. Jewel Bay is a charming, small town that goes all out for Christmas. I loved the descriptions of the shops and the decorations (I wanted to visit and do some shopping). I like how everyone pitches in to help with various activities. The characters are nicely developed and, for the most part, are friendly and relatable. Detective Bello is the grinch of the story (I could imagine him saying Bah Humbug). I enjoy Erin’s approach to sleuthing with her Spreadsheet of Suspicion. The mystery was well-crafted and multi-faceted. There are many gratifying cozy moments in As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles. Erin is preparing for her wedding, buying Christmas presents, cooking, cookie exchange, Erin and Adam with their new home, baking, Adam worrying about his brothers coming to town, and spending time with family and friends. While there is a lot going on in the story, it is not overwhelming. I agreed with Erin about the cuteness of the Property Brothers. I recommend reading the books in A Food Lover’s Village Mystery in order. I am grateful for the list of characters at the front of the book (helpful). It was a pleasure to visit Jewel Bay in As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles and I look forward to returning in the next A Food Lover’s Village Mystery.
kimdavishb's review against another edition
5.0
AS THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE CRUMBLES by Leslie Budewitz is the fifth book in the Food Lovers series. The Christmas holidays are gearing up with lots of festivities planned in Jewel Bay, Montana, which prides itself on promoting local food and crafts. Erin Murphy, manager of her family’s Murphy Mercantile, is a delightful protagonist. I adore the closeness she shares with her family which spills over into the close-knit community. Erin is kind-hearted and befriends Merrily, who has been shunned from her family for a long-ago transgression which she had paid dearly for. Given the ongoing holiday festivities, Merrily’s family situation becomes all that more heartbreaking. I found Ms. Budewitz writes rich, emotional connections between the characters and brings the spirit of the season to life on the pages. And even though it’s only June, I’m happy to read about Christmas any time of the year!
When Merrily is found murdered, Erin grieves for a friend she barely knew and is pulled into finding justice for the woman. Even though Erin is busy finalizing her wedding plans to Adam and participating in the town’s events, she still finds time to ask questions and find the truth. There were enough suspects to keep me guessing without too many overwhelming the plot. Subplots were woven into the story to bring an added depth of richness to the tale and Ms. Budewitz brings all the threads together in one satisfying conclusion. I also appreciated how the author includes a list of characters at the very beginning of the book. While I didn’t need to reference it since characters were judiciously introduced, it was nice to have “just in case”. And truth be told, it was terrific to have when writing this review since I got so caught up in the fast-paced story I forgot to take many notes.
With the Christmas season being celebrated in the village, Erin hosts a cookie exchange party. It was fun reading Erin’s description of how she connects the cookie qualities with the personality of the baker who brought them to the exchange. The reader will be drooling over the myriad of recipes Ms. Budewitz includes at the back of the book, both for cookies and savory dishes alike!
I was provided an advance copy via Netgalley with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When Merrily is found murdered, Erin grieves for a friend she barely knew and is pulled into finding justice for the woman. Even though Erin is busy finalizing her wedding plans to Adam and participating in the town’s events, she still finds time to ask questions and find the truth. There were enough suspects to keep me guessing without too many overwhelming the plot. Subplots were woven into the story to bring an added depth of richness to the tale and Ms. Budewitz brings all the threads together in one satisfying conclusion. I also appreciated how the author includes a list of characters at the very beginning of the book. While I didn’t need to reference it since characters were judiciously introduced, it was nice to have “just in case”. And truth be told, it was terrific to have when writing this review since I got so caught up in the fast-paced story I forgot to take many notes.
With the Christmas season being celebrated in the village, Erin hosts a cookie exchange party. It was fun reading Erin’s description of how she connects the cookie qualities with the personality of the baker who brought them to the exchange. The reader will be drooling over the myriad of recipes Ms. Budewitz includes at the back of the book, both for cookies and savory dishes alike!
I was provided an advance copy via Netgalley with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
bookwrm526's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
git_r_read's review against another edition
4.0
A very good mystery tale, holiday or otherwise. There's a lot going on here. It's the holiday time of year and the main character owns her own business, a wedding on the horizon...the very near horizon, decorating, a home that she and her fiancé are renovating, her business building that needs some repair, and a murder that needs investigating.
One of the characters I wish I could have had more time with was the one who was murdered. We learn about her in sort of reminiscent manner, but I felt a bit cheated.
Erin getting involved in the investigation always feels real enough, but dadgum, I don't know how she finds the time! Especially this time with everything on her plate. It felt kind of like she was the only one doing anything, the town detectives weren't mentioned very much.
Maybe I was just in a grouchy frame of mind...maybe should have read it in my usual holiday timeframe of November and December. Reading it in January and back to reality might not have been best idea. It's on my Nook so I can read it later this year in winter.
I know I can definitely recommend this author, this series and her Spice Shop Mystery series.
One of the characters I wish I could have had more time with was the one who was murdered. We learn about her in sort of reminiscent manner, but I felt a bit cheated.
Erin getting involved in the investigation always feels real enough, but dadgum, I don't know how she finds the time! Especially this time with everything on her plate. It felt kind of like she was the only one doing anything, the town detectives weren't mentioned very much.
Maybe I was just in a grouchy frame of mind...maybe should have read it in my usual holiday timeframe of November and December. Reading it in January and back to reality might not have been best idea. It's on my Nook so I can read it later this year in winter.
I know I can definitely recommend this author, this series and her Spice Shop Mystery series.
dnemec's review against another edition
4.0
Food Lovers' Village Mystery series is on my list of favorites. I like the town, cast of characters, and all the food, which is why I requested to review this book and subsequently held my breath until I heard back.
This is the fifth installment for the series. Erin, manager of the Merc, gets involved in the investigation of the murder of Merrily Thornton. (Her parents love Christmas, can you tell? The sister's name is Holly...) After having recently returned to Jewel Bay, Merrily has been accused of embezzlement (for which she went to jail twenty years earlier) when her body is discovered. What follows is a complicated web of lies, stealing, and just about the worst family dynamic I have seen in a cozy. All the meanwhile, Erin is trying to keep the Merc afloat during the busy holiday season and plan her wedding, which is to occur on Christmas Eve.
There's a lot of different things going on here, but it's presented well and isn't confusing. I also appreciate "The Cast" listed at the beginning as it has been awhile since I read one of the books in the series and there is a large amount of characters. Also while there is a hint, it is not obvious who the guilty party is (or are...?), which I always prefer. Definitely recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the fifth installment for the series. Erin, manager of the Merc, gets involved in the investigation of the murder of Merrily Thornton. (Her parents love Christmas, can you tell? The sister's name is Holly...) After having recently returned to Jewel Bay, Merrily has been accused of embezzlement (for which she went to jail twenty years earlier) when her body is discovered. What follows is a complicated web of lies, stealing, and just about the worst family dynamic I have seen in a cozy. All the meanwhile, Erin is trying to keep the Merc afloat during the busy holiday season and plan her wedding, which is to occur on Christmas Eve.
There's a lot of different things going on here, but it's presented well and isn't confusing. I also appreciate "The Cast" listed at the beginning as it has been awhile since I read one of the books in the series and there is a large amount of characters. Also while there is a hint, it is not obvious who the guilty party is (or are...?), which I always prefer. Definitely recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
books_by_the_bottle's review against another edition
4.0
This was a super cute and festive read! The descriptions of this little town as it came to life for Christmas were perfect. It’s everything you would want in a small town, from the cozy little shops to the families that have all grown up together and go all out to bring Christmas to their town. In the middle of it all is a murder mystery. I have to be honest, I didn’t find the mystery itself that thrilling but I was happy with how it was resolved and where the story ended for most of the characters. If you are looking for a feel-good story that makes you feel a bit of Christmas magic, this is a good pick! Oh and at the very end of the book, after the story ends, are some fabulous looking recipes - I loved this idea!
This review is also posted on my Instagram blog (books_by_the_bottle) as of today.
Thank you to NetGalley, Beyond the Page Publishing and Leslie Budewitz for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review is also posted on my Instagram blog (books_by_the_bottle) as of today.
Thank you to NetGalley, Beyond the Page Publishing and Leslie Budewitz for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
been2boston's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
meezcarrie's review against another edition
4.0
The town of Jewel Bay, Montana is the quintessential cozy mystery small town and is the perfect spot for a Food Lover’s Village! I would love to visit the various shops, particularly the Merc that Erin owns and stocks with items (including, of course, food) from local vendors. Shops like that are right up my alley, next in line to independent bookstores, that is. Erin and her family and friends and employees are realistic characters who, in spite of the quirks that go hand-in-hand with cozy mysteries, feel like people you could easily befriend in real life.
The murder mystery in As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles kept me guessing all the way until the big reveal. I changed my mind umpteen times about who I thought did it, even circling back around a time or ten to characters I thought I had already eliminated as suspects. Some of my suspicions ultimately proved right but I was also way off on a couple of points – not easy for an author to surprise me like that, considering how many Murder She Wrote, Perry Mason, and Matlock episodes I watched as a kid – not to mention all the Nancy Drew books I read back then plus all the mysteries I’ve read since. A very nicely crafted mystery plot indeed!
Bottom Line: Cute, Christmasy and cozy, As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles is entertaining and heartwarming. The murder mystery is superbly plotted out, and the town full of suspects will keep readers on their toes! Great characters to befriend and local shops to sample – this series from Leslie Budewitz has it all! (While this is the 5th book in the series, it can also be read well as a stand alone.)
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
The murder mystery in As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles kept me guessing all the way until the big reveal. I changed my mind umpteen times about who I thought did it, even circling back around a time or ten to characters I thought I had already eliminated as suspects. Some of my suspicions ultimately proved right but I was also way off on a couple of points – not easy for an author to surprise me like that, considering how many Murder She Wrote, Perry Mason, and Matlock episodes I watched as a kid – not to mention all the Nancy Drew books I read back then plus all the mysteries I’ve read since. A very nicely crafted mystery plot indeed!
Bottom Line: Cute, Christmasy and cozy, As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles is entertaining and heartwarming. The murder mystery is superbly plotted out, and the town full of suspects will keep readers on their toes! Great characters to befriend and local shops to sample – this series from Leslie Budewitz has it all! (While this is the 5th book in the series, it can also be read well as a stand alone.)
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
asanford's review against another edition
3.0
I don't want to quit the series because I'm invested in it - but I'm still struggling to care about the characters. I feel like Erin whines a lot and I don't ever feel like I can care when she gets herself into trouble. I'll keep reading but I'm not loving it. Oh the mystery - some surprising twists and turns but didn't ever feel like I was in the know or getting a good feel for the suspects.