A Corpse Among the Carolers (A Food Blogger Mystery) by Debra Sennefelder
About A Corpse Among the Carolers
Hope Early is fully immersed in the spirit of the Christmas season, until the sounds of joyful carolers are silenced by the words “Ho-ho-homicide” . . .
Food blogger Hope Early always gets a hearty holiday laugh from knowing that the weeks leading up to Christmas are as frantic as they are festive. But in spite of everything she has to do, the one thing she always has time for is the annual Jingle Bell Stroll, a night when the community gathers to sing their hearts out and enjoy each other’s company. This year’s caroling feels especially heartwarming, until the final note lands with a thud when Hope finds the body of the man who’d volunteered to play Santa, a knife plunged into his back.
With virtually the whole town present at the caroling, the list of suspects seems endless. It doesn’t take long, though, for both Hope and the police to turn a sharp eye on the victim’s bitter and vindictive ex-wife, along with his new wife, who may have been after his money. Then Hope unearths a clue that suggests the dead man may have been hiding a sordid past and connections to unseemly characters. But as she closes in on the killer, they’re determined to wring her neck before she can ring in the new year . . .
Includes tasty and toasty holiday recipes!
EXCERPT:
“How’s Trixie?” Hope asked. Right after Halloween, Drew worked on a story for a local animal rescue group, and there he met a girl who stole his heart. Her name was Trixie, and she was a four-month-old Jack Russell terrier. So, he thought it was a good idea to double down on the chaos of his life, which included renovating his new home, by adopting a puppy. Since she’d pretty much done the same thing, she couldn’t judge her best friend.
“She’s in her absolute terror phase. And those sharp little teeth are brutal. But when she’s asleep, she’s adorbs.”
Hope chuckled. She’d warned him, but he’d heard none of it. Though, she was confident he would survive Trixie’s puppyhood.
They stepped out of the church hall, their breath visible in the chilly winter air. She tucked a stray lock of dark hair behind her ear, her gaze wandering across the parking lot and stopping abruptly on a heated argument playing out just a few feet away.
Ralph Lang’s face was flushed with anger as he pointed a trembling finger at Mitty Fitzgerald. “You think you can get away with cheating me? Let me tell you, you’ve got another thing coming!”
Mitty Fitzgerald, his usual calm manner slightly rattled, replied, “Look, I didn’t cheat you. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Hope watched with fascination as her curiosity was piqued. What had driven these two mild-mannered men into such a heated confrontation? Then she remembered. She’d heard that Ralph believed that Mitty had sold him a fake antique six months earlier. A tall, lanky man with a perpetual smile and a reputation for being the town’s easiest-going and most honest handyman, Ralph hadn’t missed an opportunity to gripe about Mitty and the lamp he purchased.
“This isn’t good,” Drew whispered to Hope. “We should break it up.”
Hope nodded, and together they stepped forward. But they were too late.
Before her eyes, Ralph’s frustration reached its boiling point, and he shoved Mitty hard enough to send him stumbling back into the side of his pickup truck. The impact echoed through the quiet parking lot, and Hope gasped in shock, her heart pounding.
“Whoa!” Drew’s eyes bugged out and, in a split second, he took off in a sprint. He put himself between the two arguing men. “You both need to cool off.”
Meanwhile, Hope hurried to Mitty, who peeled himself away from the side of his truck and signaled to Hope that he didn’t need any help.
Ralph’s chest heaved as he shot an accusing glance at Mitty. “This man is a swindler, Drew! He ripped me off, and I won’t stand for it. In fact, you should write an article in the Gazette about his shop and warn the public.”
Mitty, still shaken from the shove, shook his head. “It’s not true. I have never sold fake antiques. I have sold reproductions, but I’ve always made it clear what they were.”
Ralph huffed in frustration, then turned and stormed away. Before disappearing, he cast one last warning glance at Mitty. “You’ll regret this, Mitty!”
Hope couldn’t help but be astonished. Ralph was the last person she’d expect to lose his temper like that, and Mitty’s calm response was a stark contrast to the accusations. Something didn’t add up.
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BY AUTHOR DEBRA SENNEFELDER
Wreath-Making, Caroling, and the Simple Joys of Christmas Traditions:
The holiday season is filled with cozy traditions that bring people together, from the creative joy of wreath-making to the spirited fun of caroling. In my latest cozy mystery, A CORPSE AMONG THE CAROLERS, A Food Blogger Mystery, these timeless activities aren’t just holiday tasks—they’re cherished moments for characters to connect, swap stories, and share laughter. Wreath-making, for example, goes beyond crafting; it’s a time for friends to gather, bond, and even trade a little gossip over ribbon and pinecones. Each wreath becomes a keepsake of those shared moments, warming hearts as much as it brightens doors.
Caroling, on the other hand, brings a different kind of magic. It’s a joyful, slightly chaotic event where friends and neighbors come together, belting out Christmas classics with all their might (even if a bit off-key!). It’s a tradition that invites everyone to join in, reminding us that the season is about joy, not perfection. Though, in A CORPSE AMONG THE CAROLERS, the event takes a very unexpected and deadly turn.
These simple traditions have a way of connecting us to each other and to the heart of the season. This Christmas, why not dive into a new tradition, whether it’s wreath-making, cookie baking, or singing your favorite holiday songs? After all, it’s these moments that make the holidays truly special.
I’d love to share a little snippet from A CORPSE AMONG THE CAROLERS, where Hope making wreaths with her boyfriend’s daughters:
Later that night at home, a festive playlist of Christmas tunes filled the air and a flickering fire cast a warm glow across the family room, creating the perfect ambiance for a delightful wreath-making session. On Hope’s dining table, the remnants of a delicious dinner were replaced with an array of evergreens, floral wire, sparkling ornaments, and colorful spools of wide plaid ribbon, waiting to be assembled into magnificent decorations.
From her regal perch on the cat tree in the heart of the family room, Princess kept an eye on everyone. Not far away, Bigelow, with his contented full belly, slumbered on his bed by the crackling fire.
Molly and Becca were huddled at the table, their hands busily working on a wreath for their mom while Hope meticulously added the finishing touches to a special wreath for Drew. With all the remodeling chaos, she knew that holiday decorations would be scarce. And she was determined to bring some holiday magic to his doorstep. She had more than just a wreath up her sleeve. Her surprise delivery would include a fragrant loaf of cranberry-apple bread, a token of warmth and holiday spirit.
“Will Bigelow and Princess have Christmas stockings?” Becca asked as she helped her sister cut a length of ribbon for the wreath.
Hope smiled as she answered, her hands deftly maneuvering the boughs into place.“Absolutely, Becca! Christmas just wouldn’t be complete without stockings for every member of the family.”
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About Debra Sennefelder
Debra Sennefelder is the acclaimed author of charming and suspenseful cozy mysteries set in small towns filled with intriguing characters and delightful pets. Based in Connecticut, Debra shares her home with her family and a lovable, slightly spoiled Shih Tzu. Her passion for mystery fiction, particularly cozy mysteries, inspires her to create engaging stories that blend crime-solving with delicious recipes and stylish fashion. She is the author of the Food Blogger Mystery series, the Resale Boutique Mystery series, and the Cookie Shop Mystery series. When she’s not plotting her next whodunit, you’ll find her baking sweet treats or indulging in a good book.
When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. Yeah, she’s that person.
Born and raised in New York City, where she majored in her hobby of fashion buying, she now lives and writes in Connecticut with her writing companion, Connie.
She can be reached at Debra@DebraSennefelder.com
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