Wreath Between the Lines by Daryl Wood Gerber is the seventh book in the “Cookbook Nook” mystery series. Publisher: Beyond the Page, November 2018.

The Agatha Award–winning author of Pressing the Issue returns to the Cookbook Nook, where Jenna Hart is busy decking the halls and ducking a killer . . .

The holidays are Jenna Hart’s favorite time of year, but just as she’s decorating the Cookbook Nook for all the festive events, her imperious older sister makes a surprise visit, anxious that her husband’s been more naughty than nice. To make matters worse, her father’s good friend Jake shows up on her doorstep with a frantic report that his friend has been murdered—trussed with Christmas lights and impaled with a tree star.

Worried that Jake was the intended victim, Jenna makes a list of suspects and checks it twice. Swapping her Santa’s hat for a sleuthing cap, she gets busy investigating Jake’s long-lost sister, his Grinch of a neighbor, and a stamp collector who covets Jake’s most treasured piece. When Jake himself is poisoned and nearly dies, Jenna knows she’ll have to do whatever it takes to corner the culprit before it’s lights out for Jake . . .

Includes tantalizing holiday recipes!

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I really love this series. It gives me pleasure to read about Jenna and the people that surrounds her. In her latest adventure, a body is found all wrapped up in Christmas decorations and when the suspects appear to hit a bit closer to home, there’s only one thing Jenna could do. . . and that is investigate and find the person with a stronger motive to kill. As always, Daryl delivers a wonderful tale where mayhem threatens to wreck the holiday. This well-written murder mystery was staged with plenty of suspects with a bit of twist here and there and everywhere to keep me immersed in all that was happening in Crystal Cove. The author does a good job in ratcheting up the suspense factor to keep me intrigued throughout and it was fun to follow along with Jenna as each clue discovered would eventually lead to the killer’s identity. With familial situation intertwined, this was a well-rounded tale filled with the Christmas spirit and it was fun to reconnect with Bailey, Katie, Rhett, Jake and especially Tigger. This was a delightfully charming tale and I look forward to the next adventures with Jenna and her friends.