A perfect blend of madcap merriment and mayhem. As always, life around Poppy McAllister is never dull. At least she didn't find the a dead body this time. Just when she's about to celebrate that fact, her detective friend Amber tells her that her name was pinned to the victim's body. So much for that brief moment of not being a murder magnet. Toss in the the crime occurs in an ex-boyfriend's eatery and that there is no love lost between Poppy and Tim's now wife, Gigi, and it's even more complicated. While no fan of Tim, Poppy doesn't believe he'd be capable of murder although, quite frankly, she's not so sure about Gigi. That unease increases when early clues seem to point to Tim and Gigi being the guilty parties.
Oddly enough, in some ways the murder investigation is actually a side story in this book. While Poppy has always wondered why her mother just walked out on her at about age seven, Iris seems to be snooping around. While all this is going on, the madcap part of the story involves a mysterious engagement ring found and a fierce home decoration competition between Aunt Ginny and a neighbor. And, oh, my, the noise. Er, Christmas songs and sounds coming from there. While trying to figure out who's defacing the B&B's Christmas Village display and trying to detour Figaro the cat's repeated theft of bird ornaments, Poppy also finds herself working a second job, this time undercover.
And, you know, that's not even the half of it. So much going on. Through it all, I'm reminded why I enjoy revisiting Poppy so often. Not only is she kind and caring, not to mention patient, but the characters about her are, well, unique characters, too. From boyfriend Gio to his sometimes overbearing Italian family, to discovering she's been signed up for all sorts of volunteer spots for Christmas doings, trying to help a homeless man, and pondering if her family really is cursed. Trust me, it all makes sense in the end. In the meantime, you'll have a delightful visit amidst the madcap comings and going and quirky pets, and, ah, romance. Thanks #KensingtonPublishing - #KensingtonCozies for inviting me over for an early virtual Christmas visit. I absolutely adored the ending.
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