4-STAR REVIEW: THE HOLIDAY PHOTO MURDER by Jeanne Quigley

A Robyn Cavanagh Mystery: Book 3
Publication Date: November 11, 2025

Portrait Photographer Robyn Cavanagh has had a busy fall season taking a record number of client photos for holiday cards. She’s ready for a quiet December to do her own Christmas preparations, but she has one more job to close the year. It’s the best gift of the season: taking photographs at wealthy Natalie Hoffmann’s holiday party.

Excited to be the official photographer at the party held at the publisher’s estate overlooking the majestic Hudson River, Robyn hopes the event will win her new clients. Everyone will want to forget the evening, however, after Natalie’s companion, Russell Nowak, is found dead in the garden.

Who among the guests wanted the successful businessman dead? While everyone counts down to Christmas, Robyn’s wish list is filled with suspects. She teams with her friend Will Vonderlin to catch the killer and restore her holiday spirit in time to enjoy the festive season.

The Holiday Photo Murder is the third book in the Robyn Cavanagh Mysteries series by Jeanne Quigley. Not having read the first two books put me at a disadvantage, since amateur sleuth, accountant, and photographer Robyn has previously solved two murders that were often referenced.

Set in a picturesque small town along the Hudson River in New York, the novel features vivid descriptions sprinkled throughout. There are small shops, lots of townspeople, family and friends, pets, celebrations, food, and beautiful scenery throughout.

It’s also almost Christmas, and everyone is in the holiday spirit, even if there is a murder to solve. There are clues to sift through, interviews of those who attended the party where the crime was committed, and red herrings to distract them in their pursuit of justice. The discussions Robyn had with her parents, her boyfriend Will, or one of the detectives on the police force were interesting in how they evolved and what, if any, additional insight and information was gleaned.

There are twists and turns to the story, which had a good flow. Multiple storylines are woven together, even when they seem to go off on separate tangents, but most are trying to figure out whodunnit.

When Robyn finally figures out who committed the crime, especially while so many were in attendance at the party, she’s with several other people, and it’s not who I thought it would be. There was closure, but some loose ends too, which will hopefully get wrapped up in the next book.

The Holiday Photo Murder is a cozy mystery set before Christmas with a crime to be solved.

Jeanne Quigley is the author of the Veronica Walsh Mysteries and the Robyn Cavanagh Mysteries. Unlike her fictional sleuths, she has never been a soap opera star, accountant, or professional photographer, but she has worked in the music industry, for an educational publisher, and in a county agency. She lives in New York’s historic Hudson Valley.

November 12 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST 

November 12 – fundimental – SPOTLIGHT

November 13 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

November 13 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

November 14 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

November 14 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 15 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

November 15 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

November 16 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

November 17 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 17 – @bibliophile_foodie – REVIEW

November 18 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

November 18 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 19 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW  

November 20 – Baroness Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 20 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 21 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

November 21 – Novels Alive – REVIEW