A Merry Little Murder Plot by Jenn McKinlay

A Merry Little Murder Plot
by Jenn McKinlay

ISBN-13: 9780593639368
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: October 8, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
During the most wonderful time of the year, famous author Helen Monroe arrives in Briar Creek to be the writer in residence, but her “bah humbug” attitude excludes her from the many holiday celebrations the town residents enjoy. When an altercation happens between Helen and another patron, library director Lindsey Norris begins to suspect the author has been keeping to herself for a reason.

Another newcomer, Jackie Lewis, reveals she’s visiting Briar Creek to be near Helen. Having dealt with a stalker in the past, Lindsey feels compelled to tell Helen about Jackie, as she suspects that Helen is unaware her “number one” fan is in town.

When Jackie’s body is later discovered in the town park beneath the holiday-light display with a copy of Helen’s latest manuscript in her hand, the reclusive novelist becomes the prime suspect in the murder of her self-proclaimed mega-fan. Helen’s frosty demeanor melts when Lindsey offers her help, and now the librarian and her crafternoon pals must prove the author innocent before "The End" becomes Helen's final sentence.


My Review:
A Merry Little Murder Plot is a cozy mystery. It's the 15th in a series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil the whodunits of the previous mysteries.

The main characters were likable and interesting. Lindsey and her helpers asked good questions and noticed clues. This clue-based mystery could be guessed before the end. I guessed "whodunit" correctly, though I wasn't completely certain until the end since there were several possibilities that weren't explored until later on. There were no sex scenes. There were only a few uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.