The Christmas Cookie Killer
by Livia J. Washburn
Series: Fresh-Baked Mystery #3
Series Rating:
Published by Berkley on September 30, 2008
Genres: Cozy Culinary Holiday Mystery
Pages: 308
Format: Kindle
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon
Also in this series: The Pumpkin Muffin Murder
It's Christmastime in Weatherford, Texas, and retired teacher-cum-amateur sleuth Phyllis Newsom is looking forward to finishing up what has been one unlucky year. But she won't be hanging up her apron quite yet, because this year's Christmas bake-off is going to be cutthroat.
Phyllis would like to think she's just entering the Christmas cookie contest for fun. But that's not exactly true. She's can't imagine anyone beating her delicate, snowflake-shaped lime sugar cookies--although her friend Carolyn's pecan shortbread, along with her neighbor Mrs. Simmons's gingerdoodles, might give her a run for her money.
Then, after her annual Christmas cookie exchange, Phyllis heads over to elderly Mrs. Simmons's home and finds the poor thing in a pile of lime sugar cookies, strangled by the belt of her own bathrobe. With a number of names on Santa's naughty list, this case is a cookie Phyllis means to crumble...
Will Phyllis be able to figure out who killed the next-door neighbor?
The Christmas Cookie Killer by Livia J. Washburn was a fantastic book. All of the characters are so realistic, and the interrelationships are magnificent. This book is the second that I have read in this series. We have quite a selection of characters in this installment, and I love them all.
The main sleuth is Phyllis Newsom, and she is a retired school teacher in Weatherford, Texas. Phyllis’s son Mike Newsom is a Deputy of the sheriff’s department (enter the local lawman connection). The murderer kills Agnes Simmons in a way that is quite a crime of passion.
The Sleuth
Phyllis Newsom is an elderly lady maybe in her late sixties early seventies and is still full of life. She loves her son, daughter-in-law, and adorable three-year-old grandson by the name of Bobby. Phyllis’s has solved two other mysteries in town before this third mystery. However, this is the first one with Detective Largo leading the case. Phyllis is quite a resourceful woman when she is trying to solve a murder, especially one this close to her home.
I would love being related to Phyllis. Watch for her Lime Snowflake Cookies. I will be featuring them later this month, and I can’t wait to try these myself.
What I like about Phyllis is that she still misses her husband, Kenny. Although she slowly realizes that she may have feelings for Sam. I also really like how she can get people to open up to her. It’s like she does it without even trying. Another thing that I love about Phyllis is that she and Carolyn have a great friendship when they aren’t competing against each other, and it shows. I especially enjoy when the two are in the kitchen cooking together.
The only thing that I don’t like about Phyllis is that she doesn’t tell law enforcement everything that she found out about the murder. Who cares if it’s hearsay?
The Law Connection
Phyllis’s only son is the law connection in this series. I think this is an excellent twist in the cozy mystery world since it’s usually the love interest — what a sweet little spin. Mike Newsom is a terrific character. I wouldn’t mind having someone like Mike in my life. You can immediately tell that he has been raised right.
What I like about Mike is that he is a great son and tries to be there for his mom whenever he can. Phyllis even calls him a bit overprotective of her. I can see why he is since she likes getting mixed up in cases involving murder. Mike also tries to be the best husband and dad that he can. The last thing that I love about Mike that he is an outstanding deputy. The only thing that I dislike about Mike is that he underestimates his mother’s nosiness.
The Case
This case is different than others that I have read in cozy mystery stories. I thought the way that poor Agnes Simmons was killed is horrible. She was strangled with her bathrobe cord in her living room with cookies all over her. What a terrible way to die, it isn’t like she could stand up to her murderer in the first place. I thought I had this one, but I was wrong. Word of warning, don’t get too caught up in the red herrings in this one as I did.
Five Stars
The Christmas Cookie Killer by Livia J. Washburn was an exciting tale, and I look forward to reading another one of her mysteries. Ms. Washburn’s includes these lovely recipes. Look out for the Lime Snowflake Cookies later this month. I might do some other recipes from this book as well. I am also in love with this author’s style. Ms. Washburn did a fantastic job planting and discrediting the clues to who killed Agnes Simmons. I was utterly stumped, once again, until Phyllis figured it out at the end and it started to click in my mind.
I am giving this book five stars and recommending it to anyone that loves a good cozy mystery. This book comes with some added bookish recipes. So, you can try them out for the upcoming Christmas holiday.
Here is the full list of recipes in this book: Lime Snowflake Cookies, Pecan Pie Cookies, Sam’s Fudgy Peanut Butter Cookies, Gingerdoodle Cookies, Chocolate Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Stuffed Zucchini, Corn Bread, Wild Rice and Cranberry Corn Bread Stuffing, Cola Ham, Dinner Rolls, Peachy Keen Salad, Sweet Potato Casserole, Scalloped Potatoes, Fresh Green Bean Casserole, and Phyllis’s Favorite Hot Cocoa.
Anyways until the next time enjoy this review brought to you by,
About Livia J. Washburn
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2018 Goodreads Reading Challenge
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