What day is today? Why it’s Christmas, of course.
You are probably checking the calendar and wondering what on earth I’m talking about, but let me explain.
In Rudolph, New York, we love Christmas so much we celebrate it all year round. We’re a Year Round Christmas destination.
My name is Merry Wilkinson and I am the proud owner of Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, located on Jingle Bell Lane. I stock everything you need for holiday decorating, as well as gifts such as jewellery and a special line of toys. Many of my goods are things you won’t find anyplace else – hand made by local artisans.
Everyone gets into the spirit of the thing. Victoria’s Bake Shoppe is famous for its gingerbread. There’s Candy Cane Sweets, the North Pole Ice Cream Parlour, The Elves Lunchbox, Cranberries Coffee Bar, Touch of Holly Restaurant, The Yuletide Inn, the Carolers Motel. (Looking at this list it seems as though the residents and visitors to Rudolph like to eat a lot. Come to think of it, we do.)
My dad, Noel, is Santa Claus. Yes, I know he isn’t really Santa, but sometimes I do wonder. He has a way of knowing exactly what you want before even you do.
We have two Santa Claus parades, the big one in December and a fun one for Christmas in July. This year I have high hopes for winning best in parade trophy for my float, the Elves Workshop. My strongest completion will be from my best friend, Vicky Casey, owner and chief baker at Victoria’s Bake Shoppe.
After the parade, we’re having a reception at the town community center. Vicky will be catering with her special gingerbread and hot apple cider. I’ve heard whispers there’s a reporter from a major international travel magazine in town, ready to do a feature on America’s Christmas Town. I certainly hope nothing goes wrong at the reception to put a Grinch into our Christmas.
You can read more about Merry in Rest Ye Murdered Gentleman, the first book in the NEW “Year-Round Christmas” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime.
About Rest Ye Murdered Gentleman
In Rudolph, New York, it’s Christmastime all year long. But this December, while the snow-lined streets seem merry and bright, a murder is about to ruin everyone’s holiday cheer. . .
As the owner of Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, Merry Wilkinson knows how to decorate homes for the holidays. That’s why she thinks her float in the semi-annual Santa Claus parade is a shoe-in for best in show. But when the tractor pulling Merry’s float is sabotaged, she has to face facts: there’s a Scrooge in Christmas Town.
Merry isn’t ready to point fingers, especially with a journalist in town writing a puff piece about Rudolph’s Christmas spirit. But when she stumbles upon the reporter’s body on a late night dog walk—and police suspect he was poisoned by a gingerbread cookie crafted by her best friend, Vicky—Merry will have to put down the jingle bells and figure out who’s really been grinching about town, before Vicky ends up on Santa’s naughty list. . .
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GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on November 12 for your chance to win a print copy of Rest Ye Murdered Gentleman. (US and Canadian entries only, please.) Good luck everyone!
About the author
Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers. She is the author of the Year Round Christmas mystery series, set in Rudolph New York, “America’s Christmas Town.” The first book in the series, Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen will be released on November 3rd. from Berkley Prime Crime. Under the pen name of Eva Gates, she is the national bestselling author of the Lighthouse Library series, the latest of which is Booked for Trouble. Vicki is also the current president of the Crime Writers of Canada.
Vicki can be found at www.vickidelany.com and on Facebook
A good Christmas mystery.
Oh how marvelous to have Christmas all year! With a name like Merry, this just couldn’t be a better storyline. I’d love to have a chance to read this. I would add it to the library’s collection as soon as I read it so I can share with the community. Thanks, Dru for introducing me to a new author. Thanks Vicky Delany/Eva Gates for the giveaway.
Another wonderful series to fall into. Thanks for the chance to win.
Sounds like a fun series for the serious Christmas celebrator. I know a woman who used to put 10 trees up!
I love Christmas shoppes and think this would be a fun book and neat series to start.
Love the holiday themes cozies; thanks for the chance 🙂
I love Christmas mysteries. Thanks for the giveaway.
Sounds like a fun new cozy series. Love the idea of Christmas all year long. Thanks for the giveaway.
Now that’s serious!
Oh I love, love, love to read awesome Christmas mysteries especially with cute doggies in them…or even cute kitties!!!! I love all of Vicki Delaney’s awesome books and can’t wait to read this one too!!!! Such a cute cover on this new book too!!!! It is also so super duper exciting when it is the first book in a new series!!!! Thanks so much for the chance to win!!! God bless you dearest Dru and Vicki!!!!
Thanks for your excitement, Beverly! I’m excited too. Thanks for your comments.
I enjoy reading holiday themed cozies, and this one looks amazing. Thank you for the chance to win.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Sounds like another fun read.
It is beginning to look like the season of Christmas approaching fast. Nothing gets me into the mood like a good book with the holiday theme. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of this book. robeader53@yahoo.com
Sounds cheery! Thanks for the chance
Sounds little me a fun book.
I love holiday books, this one sounds great
I am so looking forward to this book. I love the Lighthouse Library series and I know I will love this one too! Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Thanks, Barbara.
I love the Molly Smith series and love Christmas, so this series will be a real treat. Thanks for the chance to win.
Thanks Gail. This is very different in tone from Molly Smith, much lighter in tone, but I hope you’ll have fun with it. BTW, look for the next Molly, Unreasonable Doubt, in February.
I love holiday books! Thank you for the chance
This sounds great!
Yay – Christmas all year! Love your books and this new series looks terrific.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
I absolutely love Christmas. It is my favorite time of year…plus my birthday is one week before Christmas so that makes it even better for me. This book sounds so great, I can’t wait to read this. Thank you for the chance to win Dru!!
This sounds like another fun series from the author! Since I like her others, I am sure this one will be a hit as well/ 😉 Thanks “Vicki” and Dru for the information and the contest. Merry Christmas! 🙂
What an awesome idea, Christmas all year round! Thanks Dru and Vicki.
I love Christmas cozies!
Me too!
Nothing like a good book to get you in the mood for Christmas. Thanks for the giveaway.
There is something about Christmas, isn’t there, that we enjoy reading books set in the season.
A delightful and special book. Thanks.
Thanks, Anne!
I love Christmas stories. I had hoped to go to Indiana to the Santaland but it’s not going to happen. Anything Christmas, anytime, what fun.
thanks.
Christmas all year around, my kind of book and a cozy mystery to boot. She cant lose, hope I win, love christmas time books
Another new series/cozy! A fun sounding premise and I love the name Merry for the lead character. Anxious to read and great timing for the release.
Being able to enjoy a new cozy series is always an enjoyable treat. With it being November and the story is based on a Christmas themed town makes this a perfect read. Thanks for the giveaway!
Christmas year ’round. Hm…Maybe that would smooth out some of the usual insanity.
Love the sound of the book.
I love Christmas, food, and a mystery, so this sounds like a perfect series.
Sounds like a great book! Thank you for the contest.
This sounds wonderful. Can’t wait to read it.
I would love to begin a new series by this author. I enjoyed all of the book that she wrote in the Lighthouse series under the name Eva Gates. Thank you so much for including me in this giveaway.
Sincerely,
Cynthia B.
Thanks Cynthia. I’m so glad you enjoyed Lucy and the gang at the lighthouse
I love the idea of a town with Christmas all year long, this definitely sounds like a winner to me. Thanks for the chance to win…now I have a craving for gingerbread, I wonder why? LOL
Ummm… gingerbread.
God rest ye..
I don’t know if I could handle Christmas all year—-a couple months is just about right for me. Thanks for the giveaway.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
It would get a bit much, wouldn’t it. Still we can pretend, and let Merry and the rest handle it.
I really enjoy this author’s other series so I am looking forword to this new one. Year Round Christmas could be fun.
This sounds like a fun mystery! As far as Christmas year-round, I really miss one of the little towns near my hometown…I could handle Frankenmuth, and Bronner’s, year round if I weren’t living so far away from them now!
That’s why we have books. You can visit without leaving your house.
Love reading Christmas mysteries in December. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
Christmas all year long–what could be better! This sounds like a great new series. I can’t wait to read it.
This sounds so awesome – I really can’t wait to read this one! I love Christmas and this cozy sounds right up my alley. 🙂
Rest Ye Murdered Gentleman sounds like a fun mystery. I love the idea of a town with Christmas all year long. I’ve added this book to my ever growing TBR and Wish Lists. Thank you for this chance.
Thanks for commenting everyone, and good luck in the contest.
Love cozy Christmas books!
This is a new author for me. I can’t wait to read this.
It’s beginning to look like we have a great new series to read! Plus what great timing for this book to come out. Can’t wait to learn more about Rudolph and all its inhabitants. Thanks for the chance to win.
I would love to start this series.
A perfect way to get into a holiday mood, and a series that seems bound to keep me there no matter what time of year! Thanks for the chance to win another TBR!
I am ready for a holiday read. Sign me up for the giveaway, please.
Thanks Vicki for commenting and interacting with my readers.
Contest is closed.