I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide
by Lois Winston
Series: Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery #8
Series Rating:
on October 1, 2019
Genres: Cozy Crafts and Hobbies Culinary Holiday Mystery
Pages: 212
Format: Kindle
Source: Great Escapes Book Tours
Goodreads
BookBub
Get Your Copy at: Amazon, Book Depository, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks
Two and a half weeks ago magazine crafts editor Anastasia Pollack arrived home to find Ira Pollack, her half-brother-in-law, had blinged out her home with enough Christmas lights to rival Rockefeller Center. Now he’s crammed her small yard with enormous cavorting inflatable characters. She and photojournalist boyfriend (and possible spy) Zack Barnes pack up the unwanted lawn decorations to return to Ira. They arrive to find his yard the scene of an over-the-top Christmas extravaganza. His neighbors are not happy with the animatronics, laser light show, and blaring music creating traffic jams on their normally quiet street. One of them expresses his displeasure with his fists before running off.
In the excitement, the deflated lawn ornaments are never returned to Ira. The next morning Anastasia once again heads to his house before work to drop them off. When she arrives, she discovers Ira’s attacker dead in Santa’s sleigh. Ira becomes the prime suspect in the man’s murder and begs Anastasia to help clear his name. But Anastasia has promised her sons she’ll keep her nose out of police business. What’s a reluctant amateur sleuth to do?
Christmas craft projects included.
Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide by Lois Winston is a fast-paced ride, complete with murder, kidnapping, holiday hijinks, and Christmas celebrations. I put it another way; I loved it.
Is Ira a murder, or is Ira the target?
Anastasia
Anastasia Pollack has her hands full. She the crafts editor at a woman’s magazine, and she is a mother of two teenage boys. Although that isn’t all, she also has to deal with her mom, her mother-in-law, half-brother-in-law, and his kids. Then there are her pets, a french bulldog (ownership is questionable), and a parrot. Did I mention that she also is our sleuth? Well, she is.
Anastasia is such a likable character; I was immediately pulling for her. The only thing that I thought she might want to try to let go of the past and her deceased husband. It’s hard, and it’s only been about a year that seems like a hundred, but for her sanity, let go of the Dead Louse of a Spouse.
Mystery
It all happens so fast. Ira moves in, sets up a holiday extravaganza in his front yard, Ira is assaulted, and a man is found dead in his yard. Don’t worry, Anastasia is on the case, well unwillingly, but she is on it. Anastasia, with the help of her friends and family, finds the killer and get justice. Sorry, that is all you get. You’ll have to read the book to find out her the killer is.
Five Stars
I thoroughly loved Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide by Lois Winston, so it gets five stars. The story had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I haven’t read the other books, but if they are half as good as this one, then you should read them too.
Other Books in the Series
Giveaway
Prize: (5) E-COPY – Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide (An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery) by Lois Winston
Tour Organized by:
To find all the tour information, click the banner at the top of the page or HERE.
Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here Find Details and Sign Up Today!
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide by Lois Winston. Check out the other stops and giveaway if you have time.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
About Lois Winston
USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick-lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is a former literary agent and an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2019 Cloak and Dagger
- 2019 Craving For Cozies Reading Challenge
- 2019 Cruisin' Thru The Cozies Reading Challenge
- 2019 Goodreads Reading Challenge
- 2019 New Release Challenge
Karen, thank you so much for the lovely review! I’m so glad you enjoyed reading about Anastasia, her family, and the trouble I get her into (and out of!)