Killer in a Winter Wonderland by Wendy Sand Eckel
Killer in a Winter Wonderland (Level Best Books) follows an intrepid small business owner and part-time sleuth as she balances the exigencies and emotion of the holiday season, while attempting to unravel a murder in an otherwise charming community on the eastern coast of Maryland. Award winning author Wendy Sand Eckel brings us the newest installment in the Rosalie Hart Mystery series, blending small-town Gilmore Girls charm with an exciting modern-day Sherlock Holmes mystery.
Not-So-Happy Holidays
As the novel opens, Rosalie prepares for a turbulent holiday season; trying to meet the demands of running a bustling local café, navigating a complicated custody situation with her ex, and dedicating time to nurture a promising new relationship. When a neighbor is found deceased under suspicious circumstances just weeks before Christmas, the mystery of his death threatens to derail her holiday season and unravel an otherwise tight knit community.
Rosalie has never been one to sit quietly when there is injustice in the small town of Cardigan, Maryland that she calls home. She’s still relatively new to the area, but with the assistance of her trusted friend, Glenn Breckenridge, the duo have already solved a few intriguing capers. This Christmas season will be difficult for Rosalie; it’s the first she’ll spend without her daughter after a recent divorce.
Just as she reluctantly considers decorations for her popular café and trying to muster some Christmas spirit, Rosalie hears some unfortunate news that threatens to dampen the mood. There’s been a suspicious death on the outskirts of town; a neighbor who lived next-door to Glenn, who takes the news with particular gravity. Rosalie and Glenn team up to ask questions and look under any stones that may have been left unturned by the local law enforcement.
A Cozy Mystery With Added Complexity
Beyond the enthralling suspense of Killer in a Winter Wonderland, this story offers the reader much more than the average mystery. The first thing that sets this book apart is the inviting setting in the cozy town of Cardigan on the eastern coast of Maryland. Created specifically for this story, the community is filled with friendly faces, helpful neighbors and charming, unique shops. Flowing and elegant descriptions of local businesses, beautiful landscapes and even the mouth-watering daily specials on the menu of Rosalie’s café make this the ideal place to spend a long weekend, or at least a few hours at a time while reading this book. Of course, things in Cardigan may not be quite as harmonious as they seem.
In addition to an inviting setting, Eckel has a gift for creating characters that come to life, creating an emotional connection with the reader. The story is written in first person perspective of the protagonist Rosalie, someone who we come to cheer for very early on. Rosalie does incredible things in her community, but she isn’t perfect either. She second guesses herself, sometimes hurts the people she loves and she must learn to trust those whom she initially judged too critically. Crime solving partner, Glenn Breckenridge, asks Rosalie’s help to look into the unexpected death of his neighbor; a man who he knew very little about, and regrets not getting to know better.
Some Unusual Suspects
In addition to these main characters, we are also introduced to the delightful crew that help keep the Day Lily café running while Rosalie is off solving murders. This gang includes motorcycle riding Custer Wells, nicknamed “Masterchef”, who desperately wants to make a name for himself in the kitchen; a twenty-something clairvoyant named Crystal who gives Rosalie some important insight when she needs it most; and several other characters who bring the story to life. We learn of the many wonderful people within this community, but simultaneously come to suspect that one of them may be guilty of murder.
Killer in a Winter Wonderland is a fascinating exploration of how the people around us can be more complicated and special than we realize. The relationships we form with the people around us can help sustain us and enable us to accomplish remarkable things. To the opposite point, the book illustrates the damage and danger that can result from letting toxic people remain in our lives and how festering resentment can have deadly consequences.
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Wendy Sand Eckel is the award-winning author of the Rosalie Hart Mystery Series. Holiday-themed Killer in a Winter Wonderland is the fourth in the series. Her mystery series has been awarded ‘Best Cozy’ by Suspense magazine and Mystery at Windswept Farm, the third book in the series, made the humorous novel bestseller list on Amazon.
