5-STAR REVIEW: MISTLETOE, MUTTS AND MURDER by S.A. Kazlo

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The Description

Samantha Davies Mysteries Series: Book 6
Publication Date: December 3, 2024

Christmas is coming and children’s book author, Samantha Davies, and her lovable dachshund, Porkchop, are caught up in the holiday festivities in beautiful upstate New York. Sam’s parents, Chuck and Barbara, who have been enjoying their retired life in sunny Florida, have flown into Wings Falls to spend the holidays with Sam and meet her new boyfriend, Detective Hank Johnson. Sam is also busy hosting this year’s Christmas party for the Loopy Ladies, Sam’s rug hooking group.

The Loopy Ladies know how to party and are enjoying an evening eating, drinking, and making merry… until Santa crashes the party. Unfortunately, this Santa is Sam’s next-door neighbor who her parents have had a long-running feud with. When not playing the local mall’s not-so-jolly old St. Nick, Leo Sayers is a newspaper reporter, and he announces to the group that he’s written a damning article accusing Sam’s dad and his close friend, Herb Feinstein, of some very shady dealings in their past. To preserve peace on earth—and among the Loopy Ladies—Chuck and Herb escort Leo from the party.

Only, not long after being sent on his way, Santa is found dead—lying in the snow, run over by a plastic reindeer, with a string of Christmas lights around his neck! Are Sam’s father and Herb now on the naughty list? If Sam can’t prove them innocent of murdering Santa, she’s afraid their stockings will contain handcuffs and a one-way ticket to prison this year!

The Review

Mistletoe, Mutts, and Murder is the sixth book in author S.A. Kazlo’s Samantha Davies Mysteries series, and I suspect there will be more to follow based on what I was reading. No spoilers, I promise.

Kazlo does a great job setting up the story and recapping the previous books in the series. While reading the prior books in the series may not be necessary, it would undoubtedly enhance the reading experience.

The tale takes place in my home state of New York, which I love. The main character, Sam, lives in her parents’ home while her parents live in Florida. I could relate to that as I also live in my snowbird parents’ house. It’s fun when you can understand the feelings of the lead characters in a book, film, or TV show.

I enjoyed the relationship between Sam and her man, Hank. The reader can see that they are a team. They’re committed to each other and can depend on one another.

Hank and Sam are likable characters, both individually and as a couple. Readers will root for them as they watch their relationship grow and prosper.

The mystery is also very solid, with plenty of twists, turns, and dilemmas to muddle through. It was a fun holiday read with loads of laughs along the way to solving the whodunit.

Mistletoe, Mutts, and Murder will help anyone get into the Christmas spirit. It will entertain them and give them a laugh or two at the zaniness of the Samantha Davies Mysteries. Buy Links

About The Author Syrl, a retired teacher, lives in upstate New York with her husband and two lively dachshunds. She writes the Samantha Davies Mystery series, featuring Samantha Davies and her loveable dachshund, Porkchop. When not writing she is busy hooking, rug hooking that is, and enjoying her family. Her newest book, number six in the series is, Mistletoe, Mutts and Murder.