Eggnog Murder

Starred review from September 19, 2016
This anthology boasts three terrific tales of yuletide murder in coastal Maine. In bestseller Meier’s title novella, reporter Lucy Stone—featured in 24 full-length mysteries (British Manor Murder, etc.)—must discover who poisoned horrid Dorcas Philpott, write a circulation-boosting story for the Tinker’s Cove Pennysaver, and mediate a hilarious domestic culture clash when daughter Elizabeth returns from Paris, sporting silk scarves and affectations. In Hollis’s “Death by Eggnog,” a Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails mystery, tyrannical librarian Agatha Farnsworth dies in exquisitely awful detail at the Restaurant Association Dinner, first choking on fiery wings made by Hayley’s restaurateur brother, Randy, then suffering anaphylaxis after gulping eggnog mislabeled as nondairy. Julia Snowden, the heroine of five Maine Clambake mysteries (Fogged Inn, etc.), unwittingly brings trouble home to her mother’s for Christmas in Ross’s “Nogged Out,” a creepily convincing tale of tinsel-decked, cookie-scented psychopathology. It’s not just the nog: sparkly writing and emotional depth link this trio of holiday cozies.

Three tales of mayhem-by-eggnog penned by Maine boosters Ross, Hollis, and Meier.Hollis and Meier go full-throttle, with victims succumbing to shock after chugging the holiday treat. In Meier's novella, which furnishes the collection's title, nut-allergic Dorcas Philpott meets her end after drinking eggnog made with almond milk. Reporter Lucy Stone (British Manor Murder, 2016, etc.) has little sympathy for the deceased since the greedy cow shouldn't have been drinking anything that fattening to begin with. (Hearty appetites are acceptable only for the svelte Stones, who spend much of the holiday complaining about eldest daughter Elizabeth, home from her job in Paris, who wants to feed the family tiny French-style meals.) But Lucy fears that the fatal bottle of eggnog may have been meant for her friend Phyllis Lundgren's husband, Wilf, so she investigates anyway. The victim in Hollis' Death by Eggnog is even less appealing than Dorcas. Librarian Agatha Farnsworth browbeats employees, threatens patrons, and terrorizes children until she's dispatched by eggnog containing real milk, which triggers her dairy allergy. Hayley Powell (Death of a Pumpkin Carver, 2016, etc.) hunts Farnsworth's killer, who proves considerably more devious than the food critic would have imagined. In Nogged Off, Ross gives readers a welcome break from anaphylaxis. Imogen Geinkes doesn't kill anyone with her concoction; she just gives all her co-workers food poisoning. Out of a job, Imogen can't take over the lease on Julia Snowden's New York apartment. But she does persuade gentle Julia (Fogged Inn, 2016, etc.) to bring her home to spend the holiday in Busman's Harbor. The trip proves chaotic and ultimately deadly, but quick-thinking Julia finally restores order.Heavy on cream and light on plot, this trio is most likely to appeal to fans of eggnog and coastal Maine. COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 15, 2016

These three tales of deadly eggnog will make you pause before indulging in the holiday treat. In Meier's "Eggnog Murder," reporter Lucy Stone tries to find out who sent the mysterious bottle of eggnog that killed busybody Dorcas Philpott. "Death by Eggnog" from Lee Hollis has food and cocktails columnist Hayley Powell investigating grumpy librarian Agatha Farnsworth's fatal allergic reaction to the beverage. Finally, in Barbara Ross's "Nogged Off," Julia Snowden gets more than she bargained for when she invites her tenant to join her family in Maine for the holidays. VERDICT This collection of short cozy mysteries set in Maine and featuring delicious recipes serves as a great introduction to these authors' series for new readers or as a bite-sized delicacy to tide established fans over until the next book.

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