Mistletoe Murders 4 by Ken Cuperus
Oh, there’s just something so ridiculously comforting about diving into a world where the Christmas lights never dim, the hot cocoa flows endlessly. .. and yeah, someone’s probably about to get bumped off. Mistletoe Murders 4, the latest drop in Audible’s addictive Original series, nails that perfect holiday vibe: cozy crimes packed with heart, sharp humor and just the right dash of edge to keep you hooked way past your bedtime.
Written by Canadian Screen Award winner Ken Cuperus and brought vividly to life by Cobie Smulders and Raymond Ablack, this fourth installment drops listeners back into the snow-dusted tourist town of Fletcher’s Grove — home to year-round Christmas shop Under the Mistletoe and its owner, amateur sleuth Emily Lane. If that premise alone doesn’t reel you in, trust me, the execution absolutely will.
A Homecoming Wrapped in Tinsel
This season finds Emily returning to Fletcher’s Grove after a long absence and the emotional stakes are immediately higher. She’s not just walking back into a quaint town filled with tinsel and charm, she’s walking straight into unfinished business. There’s her ex, Sam. There’s Sam’s new girlfriend. There’s the complicated past she left behind. And, of course, there’s murder. Because this is Fletcher’s Grove, and peace is never on the menu for long.
What I love most is how it weaves the mystery with real emotional depth. The puzzles are clever and twisty enough for any cozy fan — intriguing without ever getting too bleak. But the heart of it? That simmering storyline from Emily’s past. When another figure from way back shows up under shady circumstances, it stops feeling random and starts feeling like someone’s playing a very long, very targeted game. Is Emily in the crosshairs? And why now? The writing trusts you to connect the dots, building suspense without dumbing it down.
Cobie Smulders Is a Cozy Crimefighter We’d Follow Anywhere
Cobie Smulders is, once again, a delight as Emily Lane. Her performance is effortless — sly without being snarky, warm without ever tipping into saccharine. Emily feels like someone you’d actually want to know: emotionally mature, quietly funny and stubborn enough to chase the truth even when it would be far easier not to. Smulders gives her a grounded humanity that makes every emotional beat land, whether Emily is navigating a crime scene or a painfully awkward personal reunion.
Raymond Ablack brings nuance to Sam, a character whose choices will undoubtedly spark opinions. (They certainly did for me.) Their dynamic crackles with unresolved tension, and the performances ensure it never feels melodramatic.
One of the great joys of Mistletoe Murders as an audio experience is its production quality. The sound design is immersive without being distracting, enhancing the sense of place and pulling you fully into the story. This is the kind of audiobook that’s cinematic, polished and clearly made by people who understand how powerful audio storytelling can be.
A Confession: This Was My First Mistletoe Murders …
Full disclosure: This was my very first Mistletoe Murders listen. And guess what? I wasn’t lost for a second. It stands alone beautifully while teasing the bigger arc, leaving me desperate to backtrack and binge the earlier seasons ASAP. When a series hooks newcomers this seamlessly and still delights die-hards, it’s acing the game.
It’s no surprise that Mistletoe Murders inspired a Hallmark adaptation (currently in its second season), but honestly? the Audible original feels like the gold standard. The audio format is intimate — the voices, the effects — that brings the snow, the secrets, and the suspense alive in a way visuals just can’t match.
All in all, Mistletoe Murders 4 is an endlessly bingeable, festive cozy mystery that’s the equivalent of a crackling fire and a locked door — comforting, familiar and just dangerous enough to thrill. If this series is meant to be a holiday tradition, then consider me officially converted. And impatiently waiting for what comes next.
Get FREE copies of Mistletoe Murders 4 for your book club, courtesy of Audible. Click to request!
About Ken Cuperus:
Ken Cuperus is an award-winning television writer and producer, known for Mistletoe Murders (2024), Hudson & Rex (2019), and Stargate: Atlantis (2004). He gained widespread acclaim for Happy House of Frightenstein, winning Canadian Screen Awards for Best Writing in an Animated Program or Series (2022) and Best Writing in a Preschool Program or Series (2023).
Ken began his career in sketch comedy with the troupe Brave New Weasels and went on to write for numerous children’s and family series, including The Berenstain Bears, Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse, and Total Drama. In 2018, he and his wife Michelle Melanson launched Headspinner Productions, creating beloved shows such as Denis and Me and Aunty B’s House.
Ken and Michelle have been married since 2001 and have two children.
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