Merry Murder Season

by Lynn Cahoon

When Greg and Jill attend a fund raiser to support needy families at Christmas time, they never expect that the dart tournament would result in the torture death of the bar owner across the street. Money was not taken so the motive for the torment is veiled in mystery. Jill becomes involved in investigating the murder. At the same time, she tries to stay out of the conflict between Greg’s brother Jim and his fiancée Beth. Beth is a wonderful person, and Jill promises to consider her a sister even if the wedding plans blow up. Jim is insistent that Beth should be a full-time homemaker while Beth has her eyes set on a professorship when she finishes her degree. 

The plot is also complicated by a motorcycle gang that attended the tournament. Dom, its leader, is interested in reforming the gang, keeping the motorcycles but dropping the drugs and rivalries. He is also dating Lille who owns the only restaurant in town and for some unknown reason despises Jill. Also popping up in this book are Jill’s surfing friend Amy and the town dispatcher and psychic Esmeralda. Jill never knows quite what to think of Esmeralda who always seems to vaguely know more  about the town happenings than anyone else. Jill’s dog Emma is ever present in this story, but does not play an important role.

Another subplot is concerned with Matty, a newcomer to South Cove, who is hateful to all except Josh, the one man she wants to use in an illegal scheme. Josh has never been very likable himself, but his new wife Mandy is bringing out the best in him. Jill and others circle around him as “South Cove takes care of its own.”

Like all of Lynn Cahoon’s cozy mysteries, this one is full of action and likable characters. The setting is Thanksgiving leading into Christmas, a busy time in the tourist town. I always enjoy a visit with the characters in South Cove and Merry Murder Season is no exception.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery, Fiction

Notes: 1. #18 in the Tourist Trap Mystery Series. There are a lot of recurring characters in this series. You could read the books as standalones, but might enjoy them more if you read several to have more background.

  2. Includes a recipe for Ribbon Cookies which is a variation on Pinwheel Cookies.

3. Somehow I missed posting this review back in December when I read the book and wrote the review. It is a good cozy mystery and deserves to be discovered–especially by fans of author Lynn Cahoon and those who like mysteries with a Christmas setting.

Publication: November 4,  2025—Kensington

Memorable Lines:

What do you get when you mix a gangster, a cop, a grumpy aunt, a fighting couple, and the angst of a family holiday together? I didn’t know, but I was about to find out. And I didn’t think it was a joke.

He was a people watcher and could tell who was responding to his banter, changing it up when it wasn’t working. He knew what people want most. To be seen. He saw everyone.

“I didn’t understand how we could have gotten on not only two different pages, but I think we’re in two different libraries in two different countries. Okay, he’s probably reading a magazine at a ball game and I’m in a library.”