Madeline Martin does not want to deal with Harley Granger. She can think of many other things she’d like better than to re-live the worst time of her life with a true crime podcaster, especially one known for his unethical practices. But Granger wants to know what happened the night Madeline was left for dead by Evan Handy, and she, well, she needs to know what’s been happening since.

Lila Macapagal knows better than to trust her cousin Ronnie when he rolls back into town, claiming to be a new man. But when he’s accused of murder, Lila needs to put her resentment aside and prove his innocence. Because he is innocent, isn’t he?

Molly Gray loves the holidays, but the first few Christmases without her grandmother were hard. This year, however, promises to be an improvement; her beau, Juan Manuel, is set on making that happen. But when a new mystery embroils Molly, she has to ask herself if Juan Manuel is someone she can trust.

Charlotte Holmes’ strength lies in solving mysteries, but it’s her more disreputable skills that are required in this book. Charlotte must recover stolen letters hidden in a Van Dyck painting that is about to auctioned off. What could possibly go wrong?

As Charlotte is about to discover: a lot.

Venus McGee, Draya Carter, and Jackie Benson can’t stand their horrible boss. In an impromptu gathering after their company holiday party, the three of them bemoan having to deal with him and fantasize about killing him. But when he does turn up dead the next day, and Draya is at risk of being held responsible, they come together to stop that from happening.

I was sold on this book when I read “If Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club kissed under the mistletoe” on the blurb.

Ernest Cunningham has a bad habit of getting stuck in the middle of mysteries. This holiday season is no exception: a famous magician’s benefactor has just been murdered, and Ernest needs to solve the case. Except there’s a problem. All of his suspects are masters of misdirection, and all of his clues look like they were taken straight out of a game of Clue. Will this be the case that finally stumps him?

When Gethsemane Brown goes undercover at a party to help clear her brother-in-law’s name after a theft accusation, she becomes the prime suspect for her host’s murder. Now she must clear her own name and avoid ending up dead in the process.

It’s one thing to solve a murder. It’s another entirely to solve three murders commited in a 70 year span, and blamed on the family ghost. Jaya ends up traveling to France and Cambodia to solve this case. Or should I say fleeing to France and Cambodia? After all, it’s a case that hits very close to home.