An easy read cosy crime I thoroughly enjoyed. Light, easy reading that doesn't get gruesome - just what we like!

This is a fun, read. Full of twists and turns and you're never sure of whom the murderer is right until the very end; nope, I didn't guess it either. Though the 4th book in the series, it can easily be read as a stand alone, though I suspect reading the others in order would help with figuring out the relationships. In fact, I've just gone and bought the first two, that tells you how much I enjoyed it. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the reading copy.

Thank you for the advanced copy of The mistletoe murder club by Katie Marsh pub date 5th September , Clio is a former actress and private detective she finds her self embroiled in a murder mystery at a villages Christmas pantomime , Will she find out who done it before the curtains rises? Or will the audience be shouting there behind you on the culprit? Loved this book such great characters I was whizzing through the book too find out who done it, great twists I never guessed the ending. Would highly recommend this wonderful book .

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood books for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

This book is about three friends who solve the murder of a theatre legend, during the said legend's last production. The story telling is good, the characters are funny and relatable, we have a mother of twins struggling to juggle life and kids. The most relatable detectives of all I've read so far.

The only part I found odd was how this is a 4th book of a series but there was no indication of it on Netgalley so I was super confused at the start as there was no introduction to the characters.

I ended up DNFing at 19%. The characters didn't feel engaging and the story was heavily relying on people overhearing conversations they shouldn't have. I also didn't like the director/victim at all and had no desire to continue the mystery.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future

Really enjoyed this book, the 4th in the Bad Girls Detective Agency series by Katie Marsh. The story goes like this...

Clio is involved with the local panto, being held in a theatre owned by Dame Beatrice Butler, who also happens to be directing the show.

Beatrice, as it turns out, is not a very likable person, so when she is murdered, almost every member of the cast comes under suspicion.

That's when Clio decides to get Amber and Jeanie involved in solving the crime, and if they can do it before DI Marco Santini (Amber's old colleague from her Police days), all the better.

The problem is that there were at least five attempts on Beatrice's life, so it could be one person or multiple people, each with their own reason for wanting her dead.

It's time for The Mistletoe Murder Club to get to work...

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This is another great addition to an already fun series. It moves along at a great pace; there are plenty of secrets and lies to uncover, and great chemistry between the three main characters.

I liked that Beatrice's back story also played out in specific chapters of the book that basically counted down the time until she was killed, adding clues and a few red herrings, so that you can guess along.

If you’re looking for something fun and easy to relax with, I’d definitely recommend this book. It’s a really enjoyable cozy mystery and just a pleasant read all around.

Anyone who enjoys this genre will have a good time with it.

With thanks to NetGalley for the early copy in return for an honest review.

Great fun!
Lighthearted, great characters and it kept me guessing.
I might not rush to reread but as a light Christmas mystery it’s very nice.

The Mistletoe Murder Club is a fun mystery. It is the fourth book in the series, which I wasn't aware.
The story was really good, but I felt lost with some of the backstory.

The characters were well crafted and fleshed out.

This is the fourth delightful installment of The Bad Girls Detective Agency, however it can be read as a standalone. Jeanie, Amber and Clio are in their forties, with well defined unique personalities who are amateur detectives. This book centers on Clio, the former actress, when a murder occurs on the stage of her Christmas pantomime. The prose is clever and sharp, there are a multitude of quirky characters, some recurring, and the mystery itself is interesting. The women have a tight bond and they exude warmth and humor. I highly recommend this heartfelt and entertaining book. With thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

3.5⭐️

I have not read the previous books in the series so I was a bit concerned I’d be coming in at a big disadvantage in understanding everything and all the dynamics. But, fear not, I don’t think having read the other 3 books would have made a huge difference.

So to the book itself, we have our 3 friends of The Bad Girl’s Detective Agency and it’s Christmas! And what beer way to celebrate than a Christmas play. Clio is the theater lover of the trio and part of the cast. Amber, an ex cop, the “grinch” of the three, and then there’s Jeanie, mom of some hellion twins. Each chapter is told from one of their POVs as well as our murder victim.

I love that these are not 20-something’s but grown women on HRT. Thank you for the representation. The best friends not only solve crime but have fun and are reminiscent of your own friendships. A super cute, not overly holiday heavy read.

a holiday murder mystery full of life and christmas spirit.
Marsh knows how to write relatable characters that seem so life like you want to befriend them.
i love how the story portrays real struggles and friends that stick together.
i cannot wait for the next!

Rating: 2.3/5

For the fourth book in her "The Bad Girls Detective Agemcy" series, Katie Marsh has opted for a seasonal setting, with events taking place around the production of a pantomime. Oh, no it doesn't! - Oh, yes, it does! As with the earlier books in the series the writing is fluent enough and adequately engaging, but without being particularly memorable or outstanding. This is essentially a light, comedic cosy mystery with a bias towards "chick-lit with a slight kick".

The humorous elements are more likely to raise the occasional gentle smile rather than prompt rib-tickling laughter, while the murder mystery aspect has the level of robustness that is only ever going to be acceptable in this type of light-hearted cosy mystery. An inoffensive read, but ultimately, no more than pretty standard fare for the genre.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

"Roll up, roll up...this year's Christmas show has a twist you won't see coming...murder.

When Clio - a former actress and current struggling private detective - manages to score a key role in the town's Christmas pantomime, she's secretly delighted. At last, perhaps, her talents will be recognized?

It's all going dramatically well, until their esteemed director is found murdered on the opening night. And Clio knows it's up to her to find out who the mistletoe murderer is.

She knows her best chance of capturing the culprit is to bring her best friends Amber and Jeanie into the cast. Even if the best way to sneak them in is to carefully conceal them both in a pantomime cow costume.

But before she can cry 'he's behind you', all of them will be in danger for their lives, as there's a murderer with only one thing on their mind...yo bring the curtain down on the Mistletoe Murder Club. Forever.

Screamingly funny cozy crime - that fans of Richard Osman, Agatha Christie, and How to Kill Men and Get Away With It will ADORE."

Yes. I am starting to compile my Christmas reading list, and you should be too!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Cozy Christmas Whodunit!

Think: Only Murders in the Building meets holiday pantomime chaos 🎭🎄

When Clio—a washed-up actress turned amateur detective—joins the local Christmas show, she’s hoping for a comeback. What she gets instead? A murder on opening night and a chance to solve the mystery… with the help of her two best friends (in a pantomime cow costume, no less).

✔️ Small-town charm
✔️ Holiday hijinks
✔️ Strong female friendship
✔️ Murder with a wink

It’s festive, funny, and full of mystery, with just enough campy chaos to keep you turning the pages. A perfect cozy mystery for your December TBR—with a very dramatic flair.

In The Mistletoe Murder Club, the cozy mystery genre receives a spirited infusion of theatrical flair and festive mischief. With a well-calibrated blend of humor, suspense, and holiday charm, this novel introduces readers to Clio, a former actress turned fledgling private investigator, whose stagecraft is put to the test when a Christmas pantomime turns fatally real.

Set against the quaint backdrop of a community theatre in the throes of holiday preparation, the novel capitalizes on one of the genre’s most enduring tropes: the amateur sleuth with a flair for the dramatic. Clio is a protagonist in the classic cozy mold—resourceful, underestimated, and driven by an insatiable curiosity. Her transition from private eye to pantomime performer is not merely a plot device but a clever narrative stratagem that allows the author to explore the permeability between performance and truth—a recurring theme in detective fiction.

The novel’s central conceit—a murder occurring on the opening night of a local Christmas production—borrows from the locked-room theatrical mysteries of the Golden Age while updating the scenario with a knowing wink. The world of amateur dramatics is painted in broad, affectionate strokes, populated by a cast of eccentric players and thinly veiled secrets. The victim, a celebrated director with no shortage of enemies, provides ample motive for a diverse range of suspects, and the narrative deftly maintains a brisk pace while juggling red herrings, clues, and comic interludes.

One of the most delightful elements of the novel is the deployment of Clio’s friends, Amber and Jeanie, as undercover investigators—literally hidden in a pantomime cow costume. This whimsical turn exemplifies the genre’s embrace of absurdity and character-driven plotting, while also serving a functional purpose in Clio’s pursuit of the killer. Far from undermining the tension, such moments of levity reinforce the book’s tonal equilibrium: light-hearted but never unserious.

Stylistically, the prose is crisp and well-tempered, favoring economy over flourish and permitting the dialogue to carry much of the characterization. The pacing is measured, with a strong structural integrity built around the three-act arc of the pantomime itself—auditions, rehearsal, and performance—mirroring Clio’s own investigative journey.

Thematically, the novel touches on performance both literal and metaphorical: the facades people wear, the roles they play in society, and the interplay between truth and illusion. Clio’s own struggle to be recognized—both onstage and off—resonates with the genre’s larger preoccupation with identity and justice.

In sum, The Mistletoe Murder Club is a charming and well-executed addition to the cozy mystery tradition, demonstrating a shrewd awareness of genre conventions while imbuing them with fresh theatrical vitality. With its festive setting, theatrical intrigue, and cast of memorably idiosyncratic characters, it is sure to appeal to readers seeking both merriment and murder in equal measure.

Verdict: A witty and well-plotted holiday mystery that deftly balances camp, character, and cleverness. A standing ovation for this sleuthing adventure.

The plot and characters sounded intriguing. However, I struggled to make it to 28% and then I stopped. I wasn't enjoying it. It didn't feel Christmassy or cozy to me at all. The director/theatre owner was awful. She was horribly abusive to her amateur cast. Jeanie, the mother of two (of the twins) came across as being unable to come up with a plan to manage her toddlers - she gave me no confidence that she could help solve a murder. Clio, Amber, Jeanie, I didn't find any of them likeable. Their motivation was to take on and beat the police to the killer. Hmmm.. Nothing I read in the first part of the book felt funny.

However, from the many positive reviews so far, its evident that I am not the audience for this particular story-style

With thanks to Boldwood Bools and Netgalley for my free copy. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Clios been given a role in coral coves panto. The director a well known actress has and agenda of her own. Clios a struggling private investigator with her friends Amber and Jeanie. Then there's a murder at the theatre

The detectives are the most fun characters! The forty-something team is comprised of former actress Clio, friend and mother of diabolical 3 year-old twins Jeanie, ex-cop Amber, and Melissa (Amber’s newly found American relative). The place is a decrepit former theatre, the victim is the despicable elder former actress now directing the Christmas pantomime as her swan song. Good sleuthing, lots of situational humor, intricate background material on the Bad Girls, victim, complete with sneaky red herrings and a plot twist or three. Laughed my sox off!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected reader's proof from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. Avail Sep 05, 2025 ***** #review @bookbub @goodreads @librarythingofficial @the.storygraph #TheMistletoeMurderClub by @katiemarshauthor #BadGirlsDetectiveAgencyBk4 #NetGalley @theboldbookclub #Cozycrime #MurderMystery #Humour #friendship #privateinvestigators #twins #cozycrime #suspense #theatre #Christmaspantomime #actors #unputdownable #drama #ex-cop #secrets #localcops #investigation #suspense #hilarious #extortion

Clio, Amber, and Jeanie are now private detectives, but have been friends for a long time. Clio is a former actress and jumps at the chance to be in a Christmas pantomime with Beatrice, an older famous actress. Beatrice is the director and is mean to one and all. The story begins with Beatrice’s murder and then the events leading up to her death are unrolled. Amber, a former police detective, and Jeanie, mother to rambunctious 3-year old twins, investigate, along with Clio. Everyone in the cast and crew is a suspect since Beatrice made them all hate her.
From the very beginning, the story is laced with humor. Clio, Amber, Jeanie, and Melissa (Amber’s newly found relative) are quirky and all very unique. Jeanie’s struggles with her twins was hilarious and relatable. I loved the humor, the characters, and the mystery.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC.