What makes people kill? Surely something life shattering or a perceived threat? Greed? Tangled emotions? Money? So many reasons. Yet, Vicki Delany managed to come up with a new one for me. Nope, not telling, but definitely gives one pause.
I won't detail the plot, that's what the blurb is for, but it manages to combine a spooky, maybe haunted old mansion, romance and wedding plans, food, and dogs. Mattie/Matterhorn is main character Merry Wilkerson's Saint Bernard and he is definitely not to missed. Actually, that'd be hard to do since he weighs in at 170 pounds. You'll meet Merry's best friend Vicky Casey, who is owned by an "ancient" Golden Labrador. That's not the big news about Vicky, however. She's not only getting married but plans on buying a house with husband-to-be and chef Mark Grosse. You guessed it. The house in question is the rumored haunted mansion that even now rather spooks Merry, who remembers it not to fondly from her youth. Oh, and did I forget to mention that Merry's father is Santa Claus? Well, the official Santa Claus of Rudolph, New York, anyway. Her mother is every inch a diva, a famous but retired opera singer. Rounding out this basic cast is Alan Anderson, Merry's boyfriend, a woodworker who doubles as Santa's head toy-maker at public events. If you haven't noticed, Rudolph is, as the subtitle says, a town dedicated to all things Christmas, even as Easter approaches.
Unfortunately, being dedicated to Christmas doesn't mean bad things don't happen. When Mark is found standing over a dead body in the garden of the garden of the home Vicky and he just bought, Merry can't help but be caught up in the investigation. So, who killed the Jim Cole? It isn't like he didn't have enemies. Even his former wife and supposed girlfriend seem to have had flashing dollar signs in their eyes when they believed they might inherit a huge sum from him. Maybe the daughter he'd basically deserted and ignored? The legal terms of the old homes title add complications. Toss in spooky sounds at night that spook everyone, including Merry, and you'll even be wondering if there are ghosts involved. Will Vicky ever get that cookbook she's writing done? It isn't like she doesn't have a few other things on her mind, like her job, finding new staff, a rapidly approaching wedding day, and the almost mind-boggling repairs their new home will require to keep her occupied. And....enough teasers.
Bottom line, I enjoyed revisiting Rudolph to catch up with Merry and the gang again. It was fun to get a dose of Christmas spirit when not focused on the investigation and creaky boards and sounds. I liked the regular characters and, as always, smiled while rolling my eyes as Merry's mother put on her diva persona as needed and even showed some great investigative skills herself. And, don't forget, Santa knows. Well, not whodunit, but Santa, Noel Wilkerson in the real world, does seem to always manage to show up when he's needed. Rudolph sounds like a delightful place, much of it within walking distance of everything else. As for the mystery, while I wasn't expecting the reason behind the murder, it all made sense in a sad kind of way. People are complicated. The friendship between Merry and Vicky isn't, however. They're simply there for each other, no matter what or when. That's good as it is going to take two heads to sort out the clues and red herrings of this one. Thanks #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for inviting me for an early peek at the goings-on in Rudolph. Always a pleasure to soak up that Christmas spirit of kindness and caring that dominate, even amidst unpleasant circumstances.
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