PURRING AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE is book six in Liz
Mugavero's Pawsitively
Organic cozy mystery series. In PURRING AROUND THE
CHRISTMAS TREE, readers get much more than a run-of-the-mill
murder mystery. Liz Mugavero creates a fascinating,
multilayered mystery full of surprises until tying
everything together for a satisfying conclusion. When Santa
turns up dead in his sleigh, the mood of the Christmas
celebration in the small town of Frog Ledge takes a turn
toward the horrific. After digging past the disguise, the
situation becomes even more bizarre when it's revealed that
the man playing the role of Santa is an unexpected and
sudden substitution. The deeper Stan Connor immerses herself
in this baffling murder mystery, the more questions she has
than answers.
The holidays can be stressful for some people, but this
Christmas Stan is put through the wringer. In addition to
opening her Pawsitively Organic Pet Patisserie, and hosting
a few of her boyfriend's relatives, Stan once again finds
herself donning the mantle of amateur sleuth. I like how Liz
Mugavero gives plausible reasons for Stan to get involved in
the investigation. The missing man who was supposed to be
playing Santa -- Seamus McGee -- is the uncle of Stan's
boyfriend Jake. Another missing local man is Stan's friend
and neighbor, Ray Mackey. If all of that weren't enough,
one of Stan's friends becomes suspect number one. One of
the puzzles for Stan and readers to figure out is whether
the man murdered was really the intended victim, or whether
it was meant to Seamus. Inexplicable acts of vandalism to
Stan's new shop and a sudden influx of dubious newcomers to
town add to the murky nature of this mystery.
PURRING AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE is a fun and perplexing
mystery for animal lovers. After being at odds for so long,
it's great seeing Stan having better relationships with her
mother and sister. Jake's sister, and Stan's employee,
Brenna is a much-needed friend and confidant for Stan in
this book. As Stan hunts for clues and talks to people, she
and Sergeant Jessie Pasquale see each other as a constant
hindrance. I look forward to reading Liz Mugavero's Pawsitively
Organic mystery.
In the New England town of Frog's Ledge, the Holiday
Light Festival is a Christmas tradition. Killing Santa is
not. To bring joy back to the season, organic pet patisserie
owner Kristan "Stan" Connor will have to find another Santa
before it's too late . . .
To the townspeople's delight, the annual lighting of the
tree is a spectacular success. Unfortunately, Santa pulled
up in his sleigh, DOA. At first Stan is sure it's Seamus,
her boyfriend's uncle, inside the red suit. But the victim
turns out to be an employee from the town's Christmas tree
farm. Rumor has it the deceased was a mean drunk with a soft
spot for feral cats. Stan has no idea why he was dressed as
St. Nick—or why he's dead.
Meanwhile, Seamus, a jolly Irishman who comes to America
every December to visit his pub-owner nephew, is nowhere to
be found. Could he just be off on a Boston bar crawl? Or is
something more sinister under the tree? Seamus was supposed
to be dressing up and posing for pet pictures with Santa at
the shop, but the dogs and cats might have to find another
lap to curl up in if Stan doesn't solve two mysteries
soon. Or murder might be the only thing under the mistletoe
this holiday . . .
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