Dru’s Short Musing:
When her employee becomes a prime suspect in a Pine Bluff resident’s death, Dawna is on the case to prove her innocence.

This was a fun book with crisp writing, a comfortable tone and a fast-paced whodunit that I could not put down until all was said and done. The author did a great job in setting the holiday stage in this enticingly twisty drama with an intriguing method of murder and a pool of suspects that grew with each motive being exposed. The mystery was nicely defined with a solid multi-plot scenario and a few red herrings that hammered how well this story was being told with visually descriptive narrative and engaging dialogue that moved the tale forward with increasing and steady pacing that ratcheted up a notch as we got closer to the identity of the person responsible. Overall, this was a terrific read and one of the best books in this delightfully charming series, and I look forward to more adventures with the Carpenter women.

Series Name: A “Hometown Hardware” Mystery, Book 3
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: October 21, 2025
Format: Digital, Print
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Book Synopsis:
Silver bells ring out, but in the air there’s a feeling of…murder.

Pine Bluff, Oregon resembles a perfect cozy Christmas card. Sparkling Christmas trees line snowy main street. Wreaths, red ribbons, and colored lights adorn every door. Hardware store owner Dawna Carpenter is in a festive mood. She invites her elderly neighbor, Smitty, to join her and daughter April on the Christmas Light Tour, a trolley that takes guests through all the best decorated neighborhoods while they enjoy steaming mugs of hot cocoa and scrumptious treats.

But when Smitty spies one of the homeowners dead—a macabre decoration in an otherwise merry display—the cheerful ride turns somber fast. Dawna notices the ghost of the deceased woman standing next to the display, clearly angry over her recent demise. As snow blankets the valley and her newest employee is implicated in the crime, it’s up to Dawna to find out who’s been naughty and who’s been nice—before it’s lights out for her, too.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the author.