Murderous Christmas Reads

 Every Christmas, there are particular books that I re-read. For me, they tend to be murder mysteries because nothing says "Good Tidings" like solving whodunnit!

Come up the steps into my warm parlor.  I'll make coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Then let's read until our eyeballs fall out. I pick the following by J D Robb, because all my favorite characters show up for Roarke and Eve's glamorous Christmas party. There is plenty of romance and holiday ambience interspersed with the methodical if  frantic seeking for homicidal type people. There is nothing like J D Robb's descriptive art.  Her dialogue is unparalleled for humor and sarcasm. 

Memory In Death

This book takes Eve down a dark lane in her past when a former foster mom looks her up to renew and rehash--and rewrite---old times. Or to profit from them. 

Festive In Death

Eve is startled and a little dismayed that Morris has brought DeWinter to the Christmas party. 

“She gestured to the ballroom. “The work we do? All three of us. It’s difficult and so often dark. Without this? Without the per“sonal connections, the joy, the interest in each other, it can become more difficult, and darker. I want to be able to put on an amazing red dress now and again, listen to a man I find smart and interesting play the saxophone. I want to eat and drink and talk about nothing particularly important—or about the vitally important—with people I like, respect, and admire. Doing so makes me better at my work. It makes me a better mother.”

“She sipped her champagne as she studied Eve. “You don’t like me yet, but you will. I’ll grow on you.”

I like DeWinter. She adds a smart, motivated, fashionable single mom to the party. 

Conversation between Nadine and DeWinter:

“Yeah. I thought about bringing a date, but I really wasn’t in the mood. Dating over the holidays gets so damn sticky—too important, too symbolic.”

“I know! I swear it’s the only time of the year I half wish I was married so people would stop asking if I have a date for Christmas, for New Year’s Eve, for this party, for that event.”

Excerpt From: J. D. Robb. “Festive in Death.” Apple Books. https://books.apple.com/us/book/festive-in-death/id828760766

Holiday in Death

In this book, a killer is acting out on his worst memories at a time of year that holds darkness instead of Christmas cheer.  

A dating service is involved, and Peabody and McNab both get to go undercover to try to sniff out a suspect.  This is really early in their relationship, and Peabody is more irritated that attracted.