Mistletoe and Murder - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads:  Mistletoe and Murder (A Kate Hamilton Mystery #4.5) by Connie Berry

Rating: Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  In Connie Berry’s festive holiday novella Mistletoe and Murder , American antiques dealer Kate Hamilton has a long way to go before she gets down the aisle, but will someone stand in the way of her happily ever after?

Five days before her wedding to Detective Inspector Tom Mallory, Kate Hamilton finds her friend Sheila in need of her help. Sheila, a soon-to-be bride herself, needs Kate’s help to get Carl Curtis, her fiancé, out of Venezuela. His passport was taken from him by the authorities, and they say he owes them money. Carl says it’s a bribe, but he’s unable to leave unless it’s paid.

Sheila decides to sell her grandfather’s coin collection, including a valuable gold coin presented by Queen Victoria to her great-grandmother. Among her grandfather’s stored possessions is a letter from the Queen. When someone breaks into Sheila’s house, all signs point to even more foul play. As Kate deals with a disturbing number of wedding-plan hitches, a fire in town reveals a body. Unfortunately, the burned-out flat is next to the bridal salon where Kate’s dress is being altered. Can the cleaners really eliminate the odor of smoke?

As the clock ticks down to Kate and Tom’s “I do”s, Kate goes to Sheila’s house to help her search for the royal letter, but she’s nowhere to be found. The house has been torn apart, and Sheila is missing. Could Sheila’s disappearance be connected to the death in town? Kate will have to piece together the clues.

Genre:  Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I've really enjoyed the previous books in the series and this cover was just gorgeous!

My Impression:   Every book in this series that I read is better than the last one and this novella is no exception.  I loved the mix of wedding activity with the different investigations.  I really like Kate and the community she has built.  Her relationship with Tom is loving and supportive and feels genuine.

The mystery in this hooked me right from the beginning.  I had some suspicions as to what Sheila had gotten herself into but I had no idea how things were going to unfold or just what Kate and Tom were going to discover next.  

This book covers several of my favorite subjects to come across in books - antiques, missing people, and scams - and was like a Christmas gift of a read.  It was fast paced with likable characters and just the right amount of twists and turns.   I flew through this in 2 sittings and really could have read it in one if non-bookish responsibilities hadn't forced me to go to bed!  While this definitely falls into the category of cozy mystery this whole series has a classic mystery feel to it with a crisp investigation and a logical sleuth.   

This is a series that is best read in order as the stories and character connections grow from book to book and might be confusing if you are jumping in with this book.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Definitely!  There is a bit of setup for the next mystery and I'm already looking forward to reading it!

Would I Recommend this Book? If you enjoy cozy mysteries or classic English mysteries this is an enjoyable and satisfying series.  

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *