Stalking around the Christmas tree

In Frost's fourth "Christmas Tree Farm Mystery" (following Slashing Through the Snow), it's the busiest time of the year in Mistletoe, ME, for both holiday cheer and murder. Holly White has her hands full preparing for her wedding to Mistletoe sheriff Evan Gray, and her inn is fully booked by a troupe of ballerinas who will be performing in The Nutcracker. After three Christmas murders in three years, the town hopes for a fun and uneventful holiday season. But once again, the holiday season turns deadly when the ballet troupe's star dancer dies in the middle of a Christmas parade. Despite pleas from her friends and her fiancé to stay away from the investigation, Holly pieces together the clues to make sure the killer is caught before the troupe leaves town. Frost's novel also contains a thrilling side plot focused on Evan's sister Libby, who featured prominently in a previous book. VERDICT Readers of the other books in Frost's series will be pleased with this newest addition, full of Christmas foods, decorations, and festivities, with an intriguing central mystery; it's sure to be a hit with cozy-mystery lovers.--Tristan Draper

Mistletoe, Maine, is all about Christmas and murder. Holly White's parents own Reindeer Games, a tree farm complete with an inn and restaurant. Holly runs the inn, her mom the restaurant and her dad the farm. As if that's not enough, Holly's about to get married, an event her best friend Caroline West is organizing down to the last detail. Caroline is also about to star Mrs. White as the featured baker on her YouTube channel, and the appearance of a well-regarded ballet company performing The Nutcracker has prompted Holly's fiance, Sheriff Evan Gray, to hire extra security to make sure this additional influx of holiday tourists doesn't disturb the peace. On top of all that hustle and bustle, Evan's sister, Libby, who testified against a gangster, has become reclusive and odd, going about in disguises and dumping her boyfriend. When prima ballerina Tiffany Kreig, the only member of the company to appear in the town's Christmas parade, dies, apparently of poison, Holly pitches in once again along with her friends and family to help Evan solve the crime before their nuptials become another casualty. Taking the opportunity to get acquainted with some of the ballet company staying at the inn, Holly becomes suspicious of ballet master George Ashton, but because Tiffany had recently been promoted over other, better dancers and given the starring role, she could have plenty of other enemies. It's not long before Holly starts to receive threats from someone desperate to leave Tiffany's death unsolved. If it weren't for that one fatality, this would be a happy tale of quirky characters and holiday cheer. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.