Have a Holly, Haunted Christmas, by Lynn Cahoon

 Have a Holly, Haunted Christmas, by Lynn Cahoon

Part of the Magic Kitchen Witch Mystery series

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Kensingto Books for the ARC.

I've read Lynn Cahoon before and enjoyed her books although, quite frankly, this one wasn't quite what I was expecting. I won't detail the plot other than to say Mia Malone is being haunted by a ghost imploring her to find out who her murderer is. Of course, the first problem is that Mia and her friends have no clue who the ghost is other than the cryptic message it leaves to "Ask Mary Alice," Mia's grandmother who, as we discover, is helping her learn how to be a witch. Even after the ghost is identified, the task ahead is going to be difficult. Let's just say that there is every indication Dorothy, as the ghost turns out to named, appears to have died peacefully in her bed.

Mia's search for answers, which includes digging into finances and birth records, must come in between preparing for the holidays and parties. Ghost Dorothy tells them there is a deadline for her to know the truth about her murder because, basically, if it isn't revealed by the anniversary of her death that year she'll simply, well, go poof. That gives an urgency to the search for answers. With the help of boyfriend Trent, who seems to come from a magical family, too, but has shunned magic to be, as he dubs it, "boring", and some investigation and sheer luck, Mia digs into the mystery. But what if the real mystery isn't what they think it is? Hmmm...

My only real concern with the book is that while as a stand-alone story it manages to work but more background on all involved and the setting of Magic Springs itself might be helpful to first time readers. Heck, I'm sure I've read earlier books in this series and had no clue how or why certain things were happening or, say, why Trent's mother seemed to have contacts with authorities who would know about the afterlife. I also had a few unanswered questions at the end, including who gave Dorothy that deadline in the first place and why. Not to mention the back story on her cat could have been a bit more fully detailed. I obviously missed that book in the series.

That said, it was a quick, fun read. Although not thoroughly satisfying, it got me in the mood for Christmas decorations and food, lots and lots of goodies. A recipe for Cranberry Gooey Bars is included.