Murder Under the Mistletoe - (A Mainely Murder Mystery) by Sherry Lynn (Paperback)

Murder Under the Mistletoe by Sherry Lynn has Kinsley Clark’s business Seascapes decorating Harborside, Maine for the holidays. Kinsley gets help from volunteers to make the numerous kissing balls she needs to bedeck the town. I enjoyed the descriptions of the town decorated for the holidays as well as the homes Kinsley and her crew adorned. A boat parade is something that I am familiar with living in Florida. At least I do not shiver (not most years) while watching it. The author captured the chilly temperatures of Maine. I could imagine the cold wind coming in off the water (brr). The town alderman dressed appropriately as the Grinch gets murdered during the boat parade. The suspect list is longer than a five-year-olds Christmas list for Santa. Kinsley accompanied by bestie, Becca set out to solve the murder. I wish the guilty party had not been so obvious (there might as well have been a neon arrow pointing at the person). The mystery is neatly wrapped up at the end of the book in time for the holidays. Kinsley’s brother is home for a month, but some unexpected news gets his visit off to a rough start. There is a secondary mystery that is not resolved in this book. I could have done with less romance. There are numerous mentions of Pete and how Kinsley feels about him. I like the gift Kinsley receives from her brother for Christmas. I had a feeling she would receive this particular gift from the references throughout the story, but I still enjoyed her reaction to it. Murder Under the Mistletoe is the second A Mainely Murder Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those who have not read Digging Up Daisy. Murder Under the Mistletoe is a Christmas cozy with a chilly climate, a petty politician, a bar bruhaha, a slew of suspects, a surprising secret, scrumptious cocoa, and a Happy Holiday!