Holiday cheer abounds in Rudolph, NY, as this small town celebrates Christmas year-round. December has arrived and the trees are trimmed and the stockings are hung. The downtown shops are humming and the Randolph Community Theater Players are getting ready for their performance of A Christmas Carol. Unfortunately, there’s a Scrooge afoot and the cast and crew are at each other’s throats. Will the show go on or will it be curtains for good in HAVE YOURSELF A DEADLY LITTLE CHRISTMAS, the sixth Year-Round Christmas Mystery, by Vicki Delany?

Merry Wilkinson owns Mrs. Claus’s Treasures gift shop on Jingle Bell Lane. Her mother, Aline Steiner, was a former opera star and is now the musical director of the upcoming Christmas show. Yet, the show has a host of problems, including its new artistic director, Catherine Renshaw. Catherine’s infusing the production with some much-needed cash. However, she is also making large demands and casting changes. The longtime director is threatening to walk and the cast and crew are bickering about everything from stage time to costumes. Merry hasn’t seen so much theatrical squabbling in her life!  When one of the actresses is found dead in Merry’ s store, the drama becomes much more real. Who killed Paula Monahan? Merry thinks it might have been a case of mistaken identity or someone who wanted her role as Mrs. Cratchit.  As Merry investigates, she learns Paula’s marriage was on the rocks and her young son was out of control. Was the killer another member of the community theater group, or someone much closer to her?

HAVE YOURSELF A DEADLY LITTLE CHRISTMAS is a delightful Christmas cozy filled with good cheer, small-town charm, holiday antics, and likable characters. From holiday-themed shops to characters with names like Merry and Noel, readers will be immersed in the holiday spirit as they try and solve this nicely crafted mystery. The theatrics and constant squabbling between the community theater players are lively and entertaining. Filled with big personalities and super-egos, the drama is ramped up and everyone is a suspect, making this a great whodunit. The ending brings about a nice resolution and the addition of a real Scrooge in town who finally gets pulled into the community fold is a nice touch. Grab some gingerbread cookies, play some holiday music, and enjoy this fun, festive holiday mystery.