CHRISTMAS MARKET MURDER BY CHRIS COLMENERO

BOOK BLURB

Betty Leichenberg has two profound obsessions in life—Christmas and animals. And because of this, her Christmas market days don’t only consist of selling her famous baked goods and crafts. They are filled with something much more menacing.

Betty the Baker may be charming and loving, but don’t let that fool you … she’s also Betty the Bone Breaker. Having a sweet tooth is putting it lightly.
It’s more like a severe taste for sweet revenge.
(This book does not have detailed descriptions of animal abuse.)

Christmas Market Murder is a standalone novella, but it ties into one of my novels called X MEMBERS OF THE FB GROUP

KATHERINE BLACK REVIEW

This is the second book I’ve read by this author, and I enjoyed it even more than X Members of the FB Group. It’s a thrilling atmospheric holiday mystery that combines the cheer of festive markets with the undertones of a murder investigation. It captures the essence of Christmas markets—twinkling lights, mulled wine, and cheerful carollers—and juxtaposes it with sinister events. The motive for murder is straightforward and one that many of us will find justified—well almost! The lead character is lovely and real, with relatable flaws that make her pursuit of justice authentic. The pacing is perfect, with enough twists to keep readers hanging by their nail-beds while appreciating the festive nostalgia of Christmas in the richly described setting.

What makes this book shine is the author’s ability to create a vivid sense of place and people. The setting is as integral to the story as the characters and is populated with wrongdoers. The plot teases us to revelations, creating a narrative that’s clever and satisfying.

The writing is sharp and observant and the characterisation so on point that we all know the characters—or people just like them. Fans of holiday-themed stories will find this book a great addition to their reading list. I like this author’s work and have already added the next one to mine.

Perfect for curling up on a winter’s evening.

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Jade @BookishCoffee.Uk

A great seasonal novella

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 December 2023

My honest thoughts
Well the opening line gripped me in with so much powerful force that I couldn’t put it down until I had finished it.
It’s very easy to read and follow, with the story of Betty, a strong determined woman who does not put up with animal abuse! She’s awesome and I want her to be my bestie!
I love that the meat pues are left to our own imagination! Think that’s incredible.. I did wonder if Ded was imaginary in a few points as he would just turn up at random places..

A great seasonal novella!!

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Hilly Barmby/Billie Hill

Don’t mess with Betty the Baker.

Reviewed in Spain on 9 November 2024

Verified Purchase

What a wonderful little book. I loved following Betty through her Christmas challenges. She is a master baker and pie maker, addicted to Christmas and the safety of animals, but she also has an unusual hobby. This is a morally grey area for me, too. Anyone who abuses a defenseless animal should get their comeuppance, shouldn’t they? Whatever you do, don’t kick a dog in front of Betty, or you might not live to regret it. Betty has a dry sense of humour and a way with words. I loved Ded Moroz, honk-honk, and his grumpiness. (Yes, I had to look him up). Highly recommended.

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Theodore E. Lockwood

A quick murderous Christmas read

Reviewed in the United States on 19 December 2023

Verified Purchase

This is a standalone novella but it does tie in to X Members of the Facebook Group ( you need that book!!!) If you are a Christmas fan it would appeal to you! The MC is Christmas. She loves Christmas, Christmas Markets, she names everything Christmas names…she just is Christmas. If you aren’t a Christmas fan, this is still for you! There’s plotting murder and murder at Christmas time so bah humbug!!! The MC is an interesting character who has a booth at the Christmas Market. She sells pies, paintings, dog treats and while you could probably guess by her name certain things ( I don’t want to spoil so I’ll leave this hanging)…I really enjoyed the trail of clues left throughout the book. The story is straight up but still leaves you guessing and I wound up liking the MC…she’s an animal lover..a true animal lover so if she decided to blow up the moon, I’d still like her..heck I’d offer to help. I love those who rescue animals.
This novella was brilliant in the sense it tied to the X Members book and left you thinking of many possibilities for future books. When I was done reading, my first thought was..d*mn Chris, I want more!! I love the tie in concept and my head was like, ” oh, this would be a good idea for another storyline, and then this idea, and then this!” The greatest gift an author can give you is a headfull of possibilities for their characters and this novella does that. I want more..more of Betty, her house, her garden…more JoDi and Nikky Lee..more novellas tying these characters in and more novels..I just want more!! Gift yourself Christmas Market Murder for the holiday!

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