‘Twas the week before Christmas and all through the village, the night settled in over swirling-smoke chimneys; the air was alive with pine and holly, with sugar and cinnamon and cider, by golly!
Along snowy lanes and through shadows it crept, past windows behind which each villager slept, where sleeping dogs lie and cats rest a’purring—
Tonight, in Christmas Village, a killer is stirring.
Welcome to Christmas Village, a magical hamlet where even in December the roses hold their luster and bees buzz among the bluebells. You’re just in time for the week-long Christmas Festival, and nowhere is Christmas celebrated with such unrestrained merriment as the village which bears its name. Mayor Cobblestone and Sheriff Fell will be somewhere nearby, doing all they can to make sure you’re safe during your stay.
Provided you haven’t booked a room at Plum Cottage.
Nestled betwixt an opulent garden with meandering footpaths and an ancient grove of plum trees, Rose Willoughby’s boarding house is plum-full with lodgers. There are no vacancies, but just wait. Soon there will be one…and another…and another.
Presently lodging at the cottage are: the juggler, the acrobat, the magician, the psychic, the strongman, the manager, and the pretty assistant. In town as festival entertainment they’ve each brought their own bag of tricks. And a closetful of skeletons.
When the entertainers begin dying in inexplicable ways, some villagers believe a beast from old village lore is the culprit. The sheriff knows better, but he’s just as helpless to catch the invisible killer as are the town folk with their eyes to the sky in search of a flying creature. But our mysterious murderer hasn’t counted on yet another lodger coming to the cottage: Maribel Claus.
Short as a stump, round as a wheel, sweet as a candy cane, and a sharp as a whip, Maribel loves a good puzzle. But has she finally met her match at Plum Cottage?
This was a book that made me gasp, giggle and groan, T C Wescott has drawn some nice strong characters and it was fun to get involved with their lives! I would love to stay at Plum Cottage (err but not when there is a murderer also staying there), the food sounds delicious and you are obviously made very welcome by Rose.
With all the traditions in Christmas Village there is plenty to think about and plenty to do and the fact that we have Maribel Claus whose husband is seriously busy and will be until the end of Christmas Eve (leaving her free to snoop and crime solve) just adds to the fun.
An Interview With A Character
What is your full name?
Maribel Claus, née Meriwether.
What is your Profession?
Ho! Oh, my, what don’t I do? Some in the village might uncharitably refer to me as a ‘busybody’ but I prefer to think of myself as a body made busy. When I’m not seeing to the daily ministrations of Claus cottage you’ll find me in Christmas Village inspecting whatever entertainments might be going up in the square (there’s always something happening!) to make sure they’re safe and sound for the villagers’ enjoyment. You might also find me in the mayor’s chambers giving my two cents on behalf of his constituents or at the police station nudging ol’ Sheriff Fell away from his own instincts and towards the proper solution of whatever strange and sordid mystery has visited us upon a night.
What is your current favourite book or movie?
The Hollow Man by John Dickson Carr. You can’t beat the old masters for ingenuity!
What is your go to comfort book or movie?
Oh, goodness! I must say I’m rather fond of that wonderful animated cartoon called Frosty the Snowman. Have you seen it? It’s rumored the producers came upon the idea of their fictional town after visiting our very real village of Christmas. Is there truth to the rumor? Well, I’m sure I couldn’t say, of course.
If someone were to play you in a movie who would it be? OR what would be the character you would want to be in a book?
I don’t see too many movies, but books, that’s another matter! I’ve often fancied a visit to St. Mary Mead in the month of November when it gets a bit snowy for my liking here in Christmas Village. I’m certain Miss Jane Marple and myself would get on marvelously! And I know a bachelor or two of a certain age who could use a smart whip like Miss Marple in their lives, should she ever wish herself liberated from spinsterhood.
What is your ideal evening?
An ideal evening for me is one shared with the mister here at our humble cottage, enjoying a warm tea out in the garden or alongside the fire, with our ferrets—Dancer and Prancer—bouncing about mirthfully at our feet. It is my good fortune that such evenings are in abundance, save for the month of December when the mister is more often than not to be found in his shop. That is his busiest time of year, you know. But worry not for me, as I’ve plenty of friends and books to keep occupied. And on the rare occasion when the peace of our village life is interrupted by sinister forces operating under the cloak of darkness, rest assured I’ll do what I must to drag them into the light!
Tour List
November 23 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
November 23 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST
November 24 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 24 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW
November 25 – Cozy Up With Kathy - REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 25 – Moonlight Rendezvous - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 26 – Laura's Interests - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 26 – My Devotional Thoughts - REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
November 27 – The Book's the Thing - REVIEW, GUEST POST
November 27 – Island Confidential - CHARACTER INTERVIEW
November 28 – Book Babble – REVIEW
November 28 – Bibliophile Reviews - REVIEW, GUEST POST
November 29 – View from the Birdhouse – GUEST POST
November 29 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 30 – A Blue Million Books - AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 1 – Readeropolis - AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 1 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
December 2 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
December 3 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog - REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
December 3 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
December 4 –, A Holland Reads – REVIEW*
December 4 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW
December 5 – The Montana Bookaholic - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
December 5 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
December 6 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW
December 6 – Here's How It Happened – REVIEW
Thanks for hosting Maribel and myself on your blog. It's an honor!
T.C. Wescott
Posted by: T.C. Wescott | 12/04/2018 at 03:41 AM
This sounds terrific! I'm going to look for it right now.
Posted by: Macsbooks1 | 12/04/2018 at 02:43 PM