Mark Pghfan’s Comments (group member since Mar 06, 2014)

Mark Pghfan’s comments from the The Parlor PI's group.

No hurry--plenty of time.

I'm not sure where you all are in getting and starting the book, but since December is here, I thought I get us going.

We have read Christmas mysteries many times in the past, some of which weren't particularly Christmassy. Not in this case!

This is the first in a series of "Christmas Tree Farm " mysteries. Published in 2017.

Our heroine is Holly White, 26 years old, daughter of a family who own a Christmas Tree farm in Mistletoe, Maine. She was going to be married in a Christmas Eve wedding but was jilted, hence her return home. There is a café on the property called The Hearth. Her cat is named Cindy Lou Who. Is that Christmassy enough for you?

Author Jacqueline Frost (Jack Frost--get it?) does the right first series author thing by presenting an unpleasant person, aggravating all the people, and getting herself killed right off the bat. And suspicion on Holly's family.

Let me know what you think!

I got "slays" on kindle and will start it in a day or so, after I get into it a bit.

Lots to do, lots to read, lots to bake and lots to eat!

I can host, if you'd like.

We just need to wear our masks, stay socially distant and stop meeting in large groups.

I'm OK with two reads. I want to read Slays, regardless.

Belated Happy to you all as well. A quiet one for me.

Twelve Slays is $1.99 on Kindle. I vote for this!

Murder in Season is $14 on Kindle, no paperback yet. Too rich for something I'm likely to only read once.

Murder in Season sounds good for December, Murder of 12 sounds good for later in the winter.

I am fine with MSW as well. I don't remember the title. Can you refresh me?

If you have a Kindle, there are some Christmas Story collections downloading for free or very little.

The midwinter Christie tales are all previously published, just gathered here for their winter theme. Here are the contents: INCLUDES THE STORIES:
The Chocolate Box
A Christmas Tragedy
The Coming of Mr Quin
The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest
The Clergyman’s Daughter
The Plymouth Express
Problem at Pollensa Bay
Sanctuary
The Mystery of Hunter’s Lodge
The World’s End
The Manhood of Edward Robinson
Christmas Adventure

Not a lot of them Christmas, but winter, yes.

I have a few suggestions. Some are classic and some are cozy and some are short stories.

Silent Nights, Short stories, 2015
Tied Up in Tinsel, Ngaio Marsh
Santa Clawed, Rita Mae Brown
Joanne Fluke, various
Leslie Meyer, various
Kate Kingsbury, various Christmas Hotel mysteries
A Highland Christmas, MC Beaton
Mrs. Jeffries, a few Christmas stories
Death Comes at Christmas, Gladys Mitchell
Murder in the Snow, Gladys Mitchell

Anything sound interesting. I have a ton of short story collections, though a lot of the others as well.

Well, still not a lot about turkeys, but some tension with Lish and Lush. A good bit about the storm of 1913, which was very interesting, but hardly related to the story, at least as far and I can figure out.

I have a good many books of Christmas short stories. I'll look there as well. The cookie baking is especially welcome!

I'm not good with the keyboard things, either!

I think the background of the town, the recurring characters and the charm of the place is the hook in these stories. The mystery is somewhat secondary.

Tina, my guess is that he/she saw the word "turkey" and assumed thanksgiving.

I blame the person who made the book list. Clearly they weren't familiar with the book.