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Claire Malloy #12
A Holly, Jolly Murder
THE GIFT THAT GIVES ON GIVING. . .
With Farberville's college on holiday break, Claire Malloy's bookstore is quiet . . . deadly quiet. Breaking the silence is a little old lady looking for volumes on pagan rituals, applied magick, and Celtic mysticism. Claire is intrigued and―miffed that her lover, Farberville police Lieutenant Peter Rosen, says she's in a rut―happily accepts an invitation to welcome the winter solstice at dawn. HOMICIDE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Showing up at the Sacred Grove, Claire expects wild chanting or even nude dancing. Instead she ends up sitting on a stump watching the Arch Druid clean her bifocals. Then winter arrives and so does a dead man. Someone has shot the wealthy benefactor of Farberville's neo-pagans. Now Claire is mixing some snooping with her Christmas shopping. But instead of wrapping up the case, she finds out ‘tis the season for ho- ho- homicide . . . and she may be the next victim.
With Farberville's college on holiday break, Claire Malloy's bookstore is quiet . . . deadly quiet. Breaking the silence is a little old lady looking for volumes on pagan rituals, applied magick, and Celtic mysticism. Claire is intrigued and―miffed that her lover, Farberville police Lieutenant Peter Rosen, says she's in a rut―happily accepts an invitation to welcome the winter solstice at dawn. HOMICIDE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Showing up at the Sacred Grove, Claire expects wild chanting or even nude dancing. Instead she ends up sitting on a stump watching the Arch Druid clean her bifocals. Then winter arrives and so does a dead man. Someone has shot the wealthy benefactor of Farberville's neo-pagans. Now Claire is mixing some snooping with her Christmas shopping. But instead of wrapping up the case, she finds out ‘tis the season for ho- ho- homicide . . . and she may be the next victim.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 1997
32 people are currently reading
390 people want to read
About the author
Joan Hess
115 books337 followersJoan Hess was the author of both the Claire Malloy and the Maggody mystery series. Hess was a winner of the American Mystery Award, a member of Sisters in Crime, and a former president of the American Crime Writers League. She lived in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Joan Hess also wrote a mystery series under the pseudonym of Joan Hadley.
Series contributed to:
. Crosswinds
. The Year's 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories
. Malice Domestic
. Deadly Allies
. Sisters in Crime
Joan Hess also wrote a mystery series under the pseudonym of Joan Hadley.
Series contributed to:
. Crosswinds
. The Year's 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories
. Malice Domestic
. Deadly Allies
. Sisters in Crime
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
December 5, 2016
Bookstore owner Claire Malloy finds her holiday season clouded by local pagans, who involve her in their disputes and in a murder case.
March 31, 2019
Sometimes you need a little implausible nonsense.
December 19, 2014
Still not my favorite series, but not bad either.
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
December 29, 2016
Accused of being in a rut, bookseller Claire Malloy accepts an invitation to attend a winter solstice ceremony, but instead of a celebration, one of the members of the Sacred Grove is found dead. This was my final Christmas cozy mystery of the season and I was disappointed. I have read the "Claire Malloy" mystery series years ago but did not feel at all compelled to pick it up again. Joan Hess writes the Arly Hanks, Maggody cozy mystery series too and I find that much funnier with more detailed characters.
December 17, 2022
A Holly, Jolly Murder by Joan Hess is part of her "Claire Malloy" series featuring Claire, divorced mother of a teen daughter and a bookseller.
Claire is looking forward to the holidays, if only in anticipation of selling more books at her small book store near the campus of Farberville's college. With her boyfriend, Lieutenant Peter Rosen, out of town, however, Claire is looking at a blue Christmas. When Peter accuses her of being predictable, Claire decides to do something spontaneous. What could be more spontaneous than accepting the invitation of a Druid to attend the Winter Solstice ceremony in a sacred grove? It's not what Claire expected at all, and no one else seems to have expected their leader to be found shot dead in his home. Claire is content to let the police handle things, but various members of the grove continue to call her for one reason or another, drawing Claire further and further into the murder investigation. In the meantime, her teenage daughter, Caron, is embroiled in her own drama involving a stint as a reindeer and a lawsuit, and Claire begins to suspect that Peter is seeing more of his ex-wife than she is comfortable with. If she can make it through the holidays alive, she'll count that as a win.
The story was entertaining for the most part. I enjoyed Claire's witty observations and wry comments, and Caron was a hoot. She could have her own series. What didn't impress me was how easily Claire allowed this group of strangers to drag her deeper and deeper into their drama. At what point does she simply refuse to engage in the reindeer games? Good grief. Characterizations were done well, but the resolution was convoluted enough that I can't fathom how Claire figured things out.
Waffling on a score here. It was at times entertaining, yet at others, vastly annoying. Eh, I'll embrace the Christmas spirit and give this a four.
Claire is looking forward to the holidays, if only in anticipation of selling more books at her small book store near the campus of Farberville's college. With her boyfriend, Lieutenant Peter Rosen, out of town, however, Claire is looking at a blue Christmas. When Peter accuses her of being predictable, Claire decides to do something spontaneous. What could be more spontaneous than accepting the invitation of a Druid to attend the Winter Solstice ceremony in a sacred grove? It's not what Claire expected at all, and no one else seems to have expected their leader to be found shot dead in his home. Claire is content to let the police handle things, but various members of the grove continue to call her for one reason or another, drawing Claire further and further into the murder investigation. In the meantime, her teenage daughter, Caron, is embroiled in her own drama involving a stint as a reindeer and a lawsuit, and Claire begins to suspect that Peter is seeing more of his ex-wife than she is comfortable with. If she can make it through the holidays alive, she'll count that as a win.
The story was entertaining for the most part. I enjoyed Claire's witty observations and wry comments, and Caron was a hoot. She could have her own series. What didn't impress me was how easily Claire allowed this group of strangers to drag her deeper and deeper into their drama. At what point does she simply refuse to engage in the reindeer games? Good grief. Characterizations were done well, but the resolution was convoluted enough that I can't fathom how Claire figured things out.
Waffling on a score here. It was at times entertaining, yet at others, vastly annoying. Eh, I'll embrace the Christmas spirit and give this a four.
January 7, 2019
Let me start by saying that I'm not a huge fan of cozy mysteries. I bought this book while at a bar/bookstore after having too many glasses of wine. Clearly my judgement was affected. However because I owned it and it fit the category of a book challenge I'm doing, I decided to read it. This book has so many problems. As other reviews pointed out, the cover leads you to believe it will be a Christmas-themed mystery but the only things Christmasy about it are the title and the fact that it takes place around Christmas time. Okay, I can forgive that. What I can't forgive is that the main character did things that made no sense. She even called it out in the book asking herself several times, "Why am I doing this?" Yeah, Claire, why? No person with any kind of common sense would have acted the way she did. She basically said and did things to move the plot along but because they didn't make sense, I had a hard time getting into the story. The other characters did this as well by randomly going into a monologue about some backstory that has nothing to do with what's going (looking at you, Malthea). And the side plot with Claire's daughter was just annoying. I thought about not finishing the book about halfway through but persevered for the sake of my book challenge. I will not be reading anymore Joan Hess books.
December 11, 2020
Claire Malloy owns Book Depot bookstore in the town of Farberville, Arkansas. Her main customers are the students at Farber College, but at Christmas time most of the students are gone. Customers are few and far between.
When an old woman, dressed in a long, print dress, wool socks, sandals, her thin, grey hair pulled back in a bun and a red cloak as an overcoat comes in asking for New Age books, Claire finds herself accepting an invitation to a winter solstice celebration. It turns out the customer is the Arch Druid of the Sacred Grove of Keltria.
When Claire arrives at the early morning event, she finds a murder instead of a bonfire. She also finds that the group has quite a bit of friction between the members and there are some dangerous secrets being kept.
While Claire is trying to not get involved, but is being pulled in by various members, her daughter is dealing with being a Santa’s helper and the trials and tribulations of parents, kids and having pictures taken with Santa.
It is a cozy mystery with a good dose of humour. A fun and quick read.
When an old woman, dressed in a long, print dress, wool socks, sandals, her thin, grey hair pulled back in a bun and a red cloak as an overcoat comes in asking for New Age books, Claire finds herself accepting an invitation to a winter solstice celebration. It turns out the customer is the Arch Druid of the Sacred Grove of Keltria.
When Claire arrives at the early morning event, she finds a murder instead of a bonfire. She also finds that the group has quite a bit of friction between the members and there are some dangerous secrets being kept.
While Claire is trying to not get involved, but is being pulled in by various members, her daughter is dealing with being a Santa’s helper and the trials and tribulations of parents, kids and having pictures taken with Santa.
It is a cozy mystery with a good dose of humour. A fun and quick read.
December 13, 2020
I liked the subplot concerning the daughter and her job as an elf at a mall much more than I did the protagonist's (Claire Malloy) story of unraveling a murder and group Druids. And I think I didn't enjoy the fact that Claire's personal life seemed so messy. Hard to believe she could solve a mystery or that the characters didn't just find her pushy and abrasive.
December 24, 2025
ok
I do prefer the Maggody novels. But this was sort of ok. In the end I couldn’t keep up with the complicated story line. All kinds of lies. Attempted murder..which the author thinks will be given a very light sentence..not my cup of tea.
I do prefer the Maggody novels. But this was sort of ok. In the end I couldn’t keep up with the complicated story line. All kinds of lies. Attempted murder..which the author thinks will be given a very light sentence..not my cup of tea.
February 23, 2020
Published in 1997. It was a mystery story.
February 15, 2021
What a clusterfuck! Too many characters and motives are a bit unclear! Wish the plot wasn’t so scattered!
December 24, 2022
One of my favorite cozy sleuths and series of all time. This Christmas themed cozy did not disappoint, and lived up to the seasonal billing.
November 23, 2023
Interesting book. Took me a bit to follow and keep up. A lot of twists and turns and very quirky characters.
January 22, 2025
DNF. In all fairness, I didn't give it a lot of time. I'm new to the series and did not particularly like the protagonist or her daughter after the first couple chapters.
December 6, 2008
Very disappointing addition to the Claire Malloy series. A Holly, Jolly Murder has been tagged as a "Holiday Themed" book. Only by stretching the imagination to its very outer limits would I categorize it that way. Merely because Hess mentions Christmas or Santa Claus now and then doesn't make this book anywhere near being about the holidays. It's about Druids and Satan-Worship and Wiccans... if that dredges up sweet memories of Christmases past for some readers, fine. It certainly did not do that for me.
But it isn't just the lack of material that supposedly defines this book as a holiday mystery. It's also that the whole story from beginning to end is terribly contrived. What humor there is, and that's sparse, is forced. What used to pass for Hess' wit comes across in this book as artificial and affected. I've read other Claire Malloy books. I've seen how good Hess can be when she's at the top of her game. This book simply doesn't have even a remnant of that creativity. It's like Hess wrote this one because someone was threatening to pry off her fingernails slowly and painstakingly, so she wrote anything to avoid being unable to wear nail polish for a while.
The plot to this mess concerns a group of people with mixed spiritual beliefs. Some are Druids, some Wiccans, and some Satanic followers. One of the group is murdered, and for no reason that makes any sense whatsoever, Claire Malloy gets involved in the trials and tribulations of the members left alive.
Meanwhile, Claire's daughter, Caron, is involved in some trouble of her own. This turns out to be a minor, somewhat annoying, distraction from the real mess of the book which is who killed the victim. Getting deeper and deeper into that part of the story only serves to muddle the plot further, and if I weren't absolutely anal about having to finish books I start to read, I'd have hurled this one at my favorite spot on the wall and forgot about it.
Word to the Wise: Skip this one and find something far more interesting and better constructed to read than A Holly, Jolly Murder... like maybe your cereal box.
But it isn't just the lack of material that supposedly defines this book as a holiday mystery. It's also that the whole story from beginning to end is terribly contrived. What humor there is, and that's sparse, is forced. What used to pass for Hess' wit comes across in this book as artificial and affected. I've read other Claire Malloy books. I've seen how good Hess can be when she's at the top of her game. This book simply doesn't have even a remnant of that creativity. It's like Hess wrote this one because someone was threatening to pry off her fingernails slowly and painstakingly, so she wrote anything to avoid being unable to wear nail polish for a while.
The plot to this mess concerns a group of people with mixed spiritual beliefs. Some are Druids, some Wiccans, and some Satanic followers. One of the group is murdered, and for no reason that makes any sense whatsoever, Claire Malloy gets involved in the trials and tribulations of the members left alive.
Meanwhile, Claire's daughter, Caron, is involved in some trouble of her own. This turns out to be a minor, somewhat annoying, distraction from the real mess of the book which is who killed the victim. Getting deeper and deeper into that part of the story only serves to muddle the plot further, and if I weren't absolutely anal about having to finish books I start to read, I'd have hurled this one at my favorite spot on the wall and forgot about it.
Word to the Wise: Skip this one and find something far more interesting and better constructed to read than A Holly, Jolly Murder... like maybe your cereal box.
July 25, 2016
The Claire Malloy series is a step above a Cozy, mainly because you actually LIKE the characters. Claire is the single mother of Caron, a teenaged daughter who's at the age of speaking in ALL CAPS. Claire is also the proprietor of a bookstore (which she doesn't seem to spend much time in, on account of solving murders and trying to calm Caron down to at least italics). Peter is Claire's detective boyfriend whom she's lucky to have, otherwise she'd spend the majority of her time in a holding cell for interfering with crime scenes.
If you're looking for a mystery series where you actually LIKE the characters (I love Christie, but spent much of my extracurricular time plotting the death of the sanctimonious bitch Ms. Marple), start on the Claire Malloy series. Likewise, if you're wondering whether to have children, pay close attention to Caron. I work with kids and can assure you that all teen girls go through the "I HATE YOU--I NEED A RIDE TO THE MALL" phase. Unless you're saving for boarding school, pay attention.
If you're looking for a mystery series where you actually LIKE the characters (I love Christie, but spent much of my extracurricular time plotting the death of the sanctimonious bitch Ms. Marple), start on the Claire Malloy series. Likewise, if you're wondering whether to have children, pay close attention to Caron. I work with kids and can assure you that all teen girls go through the "I HATE YOU--I NEED A RIDE TO THE MALL" phase. Unless you're saving for boarding school, pay attention.
December 22, 2014
There's nothing lonelier than a bookstore near a college campus when school is out of session but that has never stopped Claire Malloy from being visited by several weird and assorted characters, especially in this holiday driven book where in a moment of trying to find some excitement, Claire decides to join the local Druids and Wiggans as they celebrate the winter solstice. As usual, it doesn't go off without a hitch: one of their flock doesn't show up and when they check on him, he is dead.
Everyone has their statement to make only very soon it is apparent that not a one is telling the truth. And if that is not enough, Clare's daughter gets in trouble during a holiday job at the mall and her boyfriend is out of town ... with his ex and his wife.
Makes for a fun cozy frolic and a quick read.
Everyone has their statement to make only very soon it is apparent that not a one is telling the truth. And if that is not enough, Clare's daughter gets in trouble during a holiday job at the mall and her boyfriend is out of town ... with his ex and his wife.
Makes for a fun cozy frolic and a quick read.
November 30, 2012
This is the first Joan Hess book I have read, and I really enjoyed the book. I found the plot interesting, and did not have a definite idea about who had committed the crime until very near to the end. I enjoyed the subplot with Claire's daughter too. I am looking forward to reading more Joan Hess books in this series.
Also, unlike other reviewers I found the Christmas theme very important to the plot of the book. The main character discusses Christmas on practically every page. If you are looking for a good murder mystery set at Christmas, I would recommend this one!
Also, unlike other reviewers I found the Christmas theme very important to the plot of the book. The main character discusses Christmas on practically every page. If you are looking for a good murder mystery set at Christmas, I would recommend this one!
December 29, 2015
I haven't read anything by Hess is quite awhile, but I remember liking the Malloy series. I simply could not get through this book and on about page 47, I wondered why I was reading it. Malloy, who is smart enough to help solve murders, was portrayed by her actions as witless and her supposedly clever thoughts were mundane. I was looking forward to a little cozy for the holidays, but I was disappointed instead.
December 31, 2008
While poking fun at organized pagans, Hess shows a surprising appreciation for all the various forms and an understanding of some of the political/religious differences between druids, wiccans, etc. Made me think she might have done some personal research--perhaps at my alma mater, where the druids were revived in the late 60s!
January 31, 2012
I thought this story' is boring. Not much about Christmas. The plot was weird and weak. I liked the character Clare. She was interesting and straight forward. Her daughter on the other hand was very snotty. Which is very un becoming for a young girl. I learnt nothing about theDruids and Wiccans. I'm glad that I finally finished the book.
August 28, 2012
This was really a slow moving boring book - usually I really enjoy the Claire book store owner books but, just took me months to read ---- I could care less about the witches, druids or Wiccans religion etc and just kept wading along -- Santa was a drunk, there was no holly jolly anything in this story. The last maybe third of the book was worth reading ..... maybe.
May 31, 2014
Hess, Joan: A HOLLY, JOLLY MURDER, A Claire Malloy Mystery (#12): neither any of the characters, nor the plot could hold my interest—dropped after 100+-pages; on my GoodReads “To Read” list; not sure where I heard about it but it was added to my list in mid-Mar. ’14, so guessing it was NYTimes review; published 1997 hardback via Madison Co. Public Library, 265 pgs.; attempted May 2014
April 20, 2012
I expected this book to have more of a Christmas theme, but the Christmas holiday seemed to be more in the way of the story (especially when it came to Caron's mall job fiasco). Instead, Claire gets entangled in some Druid drama that doesn't quite fit with the title or book cover. *sigh*
Read
December 21, 2013I had a lot of trouble tracking this story. Not sure if this is due to the story or the fact that I read this late at night (and fell asleep doing so more than one night). The side story, involving Caron's part time job, was entertaining.
July 4, 2016
I must read more of Joan Hess' work! As mysteries go, this one was exceptional! She is acerbic, hilarious and witty. This was not your normal Christmas story either. Wiccans, Druids and Satanists -- oh my! Highly recommended.
March 1, 2016
Joan Hess, A Claire Malloy Mystery, Bk 12, PB-B @ 1997, 5/10. Bookseller Claire gets involved with wacko witches and druids when their benefactor is found dead of a gunshot wound, and the druids are harboring secrets. Weird, nothing to write home about.
December 20, 2023
I have read others in this series and enjoyed them, but was really disappointed in this addition. I wasn't drawn into it, and had to skim through to finish it. The usual tone of light playfulness deteriorates to a bit of bitter snarkiness.
February 15, 2008
Clare Malloy gets involved with a group of Druids and Wiccans who all seem linked to the murder of a prominent citizen.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews