Slashing Through the Snow is the third installment in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series set in Mistletoe, Maine and featuring Holly White. Holly is looking forward to her new role as Innkeeper at her family's Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm and is hoping that her current guest, Karen Moody the travel critic for New England Magazine, is going to leave a glowing review.

Although Holly is doing her best to keep the cranky critic happy, the woman seems determined to put a damper on the holiday season. After a few altercations with Holly's friends it's not really a surprise when Karen winds up dead - but, the murder weapon is the nutcracker that Cookie had given to Holly just hours earlier and unfortunately, Sheriff Evan Gray has no choice but to hold the elderly woman as a suspect.

An entertaining read with the return of series regulars. While I enjoyed the setting, reconnecting with Holly's friends and family, and the descriptions of the mouthwatering treats served up on the farm, there was just something a little off with this latest addition. The reveal and reason for the murder just didn't really seem to connect for me. There's a lot going on with Holly, Evan and his sister Libby so I will look forward to my next visit to Reindeer Games.

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Slashing Through the Snow is the 3rd novel in A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. I always enjoy visiting Mistletoe, Maine where the residents are friendly and there is plenty of Christmas cheer. The White's Christmas Tree Farm is a festive place where you can stay at the inn, eat at the Hearth, play in the twelve days of Reindeer Games, pick out a tree, go for a sleigh ride, and relax in front of the fire with delicious hot cocoa. I find the characters to be varied and developed. Cookie and Theodore add the quirky to the story. Cookie's antics had me laughing. The mystery was well thought out. I enjoyed following the clues in order to solve it. There is misdirection and various warnings. The reveal was suspenseful. The only thing I did not like was everyone telling Holly to stay out of the investigation. They should have known that she would not. I love the descriptions of Holly's recycled glass candy jewelry. Slashing Through the Snow will get in you in the holiday spirit with all the Christmas activities. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the latest A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery and I cannot wait for the next one (I hope we do not have as long a wait). Slashing Through the Snow is a jolly tale with gooey gumdrops, a teddy bear bonanza, rousing Reindeer Games, a caustic critic, a surfeit of toys, and a cheery Christmas.

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Dollycas's Thoughts

There is now a B&B at the Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm in Mistletoe, Maine and Holly White is so excited to be an innkeeper. She is also in charge of wrapping all the presents for the town's toy drive. But she is really focused on the B&B critic who has just checked in. A good review could put the B&B on the map. A bad review could hurt their chance of keeping the rooms filled. But a dead body could have the guests leaving in droves never to return. A dead B&B critic . . . well at least she won't be reviewing the place.

There are plenty of suspects but it is Cookie's fingerprints on the murder weapon, a metal nutcracker that she just gave Holly. Holly gathers all her friends together to try to crack the case to save her inn, Cookie, and Christmas.

Dashing through the snow . . . oh, I mean Slashing Through the Snow with a Grinch named Karen. What fun!

I just love the setting of this series, Mistletoe, Maine, the Reindeer Games Tree Farm, and now the White family has added a B&B. A wonderful place to spend the holidays. There is always something happening. The author really brings the place to life with her descriptive style.

Holly has taken on the B&B with her mother handling any food involved. The local toy drive has become a massive event which means a heck of a lot of wrapping. I love the ways everyone comes together to get that done. Even Holly's boyfriend, Sherrif Evan Gray squeezes in a little time to help.

Everyone also gets involved to try to figure out who whacked critic Karen over the head with Holly's new Nutcracker. I really enjoyed the way Ms. Frost plotted out this story twisting the mystery with all the other things happening. Christmas games, including a Snowball Roll, a toy drive, a Christmas wedding along with regular everyday events all kept the pages turning and gave plenty of time for Holly to do a little sleuthing. She tried so hard to crack the case, and just when she was about to give up, she found herself right in the middle of an exciting showdown. I swear the blustery winds and the icy snow sent an actual shiver down my spine. The fighting, the chase, the cold, the screams, had me right on the edge of my seat.

While I really enjoyed the entire book, my favorite part was the very last chapter. Mistletoe is a very special place and it was never shown more clearly in the last few pages of this story.

Slashing Through the Snow is a delightful story full of Christmas cheer, charming characters, and a captivating cozy mystery, sprinkled with humor and a little bit of romance. A very entertaining holiday read.

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