Tinsel? Check. Murder? Also check. A deranged Mrs. Claus wielding a screwdriver like it's part of her North Pole starter pack? Oh absolutely check.

Sarah Bonner serves up a *spiked* eggnog of a read in *How to Slay at Christmas*, where holiday cheer meets unhinged femme rage — and trust me, it's giving Santa's gone feral.

You’ve got Jessica: sweet on the outside, absolute menace on the inside, and using her Mrs. Claus gig as a murder cover-up. She’s basically the chaotic neutral icon we didn’t know the holiday genre needed. Then there’s Fearne: Christmas-hating, emotionally exhausted, and *this close* to setting the entire market on fire. When their lives collide — whew. Think *Love Actually* if it were written by a true crime podcaster with a grudge.

Bonner balances pitch-black humor with thriller tension like a freakin’ pro. One second you’re cackling, the next you’re side-eyeing your own Christmas decorations like “...are these safe?” The body count rises, the secrets spill, and the Naughty List? Let’s just say it’s getting longer by the minute.

This isn’t your grandma’s cozy holiday read (unless your grandma’s into stylishly stabby women and satirical murder rampages — in which case, bless). It’s sharp, chaotic, feminist, and just *so fun* in that twisted, “I need to tell five friends about this immediately” kinda way.

🎁 Perfect for:
– Fans of Bella Mackie’s *How to Kill Your Family*
– Grinches with good taste
– Anyone who loves murder with their mulled wine

Warning: after reading this, you may never trust a mall Santa... or Mrs. Claus... ever again. 😈🎄

I’ve read all of the How To Slay books so far and have loved every one. This time it’s Christmas and Jessica is in a new town hoping to find her Mrs Claus job for this year. Fearne is roped in, yet again, to help her husband with the Xmas market - something he takes very seriously indeed.

I loved the dual POV of this one, and the weird other chapters. I wasn’t sure who they were until quite far on, which shocked me a bit. There’s some great humour and sarcasm in this book and some really fab scenes and amusing characters too.

I’m hoping there’ll be more of these in the future, they’re such a fun read every time.

This book is basically if “Love Actually” and “Dexter” had a feral little baby and sent it to Elf School with a switchblade in its lunchbox. “How to Slay at Christmas” is bonkers, blood-spattered, and surprisingly wholesome. Like eating gingerbread men while plotting revenge against your landlord. Which, let’s be honest, is a vibe.

So let’s meet Jessica Williams. She loves Christmas. No, like, she LOVES it. She is a human Hallmark movie with a body count. Professional poker player the rest of the year, but come November? She’s slapping on a red velvet dress and going full Mrs. Claus at the Ellsbury Christmas Market. She’s warm, sweet, generous... and also very into vigilante justice. She’s basically a human peppermint mocha. Delicious and comforting but with just enough caffeine to ruin your life.

Now enter Fearne Dixon, local wife of the market manager and the human equivalent of burnt tinsel. She hates Christmas. She hates her useless husband Sebastian (honestly, get in line). She hates the market. But she’s not allowed to quit because she’s the glue holding this whole snow-globe-from-hell together. Also, secret werewolf erotica writer. No notes.

Jessica and Fearne’s paths don’t so much “cross” as “collide in a flaming sleigh of carnage.” You know it’s only a matter of time before these two start sharing secrets, maybe some murder, maybe some eggnog. And yes, the plot leans full camp. We’ve got vigilante kills with questionable logistics. There’s a teenage runaway. A guy who rescues puppies. A sleazy landlord who practically walks around with a neon sign that says “STAB ME.” It’s absolutely unhinged. It’s also kind of beautiful.

One of the weird triumphs of this book is how emotionally competent Jessica is for a serial killer. She’s not just stabbing dudes for funsies. She has a code. A very murdery moral compass, but still a compass. And when she actually starts building real friendships... Fearne, the girls at the market, a runaway teen who’s been through some things... it gets weirdly tender. Like, are we rooting for this homicidal Mrs. Claus? Yes. Unequivocally yes.

Fearne, meanwhile, is the slow-burn redemption arc of my dreams. At first you’re like, “Girl, leave your crusty man already.” But then you start to see the fire under the frustration. There’s a beautiful moment of catharsis when she stops caring what anyone thinks and finally taps into her rage. It’s less “Silent Night,” more “You’re All On Fire and I’m Fine With That.”

Now, is this book grounded in reality? Absolutely not. Jessica spends money like she’s sponsored by Visa while claiming she’s broke. People get over attempted murder like it’s a parking ticket. Tonal shifts whiplash between festive vibes and oops, another corpse. But honestly? Who cares. You didn’t pick up “How to Slay at Christmas” because you wanted gritty realism. You came for candy cane chaos and cathartic kills and that’s exactly what you get.

This is not a cozy mystery. This is a glitter-drenched fever dream full of questionable choices, chaotic good energy, and just enough emotional sincerity to keep you invested. It's the kind of book where the twist sneaks up on you while you’re distracted by a talking alpaca and then smacks you with a candy cane shiv.

Four stars for festive murder, emotionally intelligent serial killers, and the most satisfying revenge plot ever set to carols.

Merry Mayhem Prize: For Making the Naughty List Look Like a To-Do List

Huge thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC, and for putting this festive fever dream directly into my twisted little hands. I am now both inspired and deeply concerned about my own holiday to-do list.

devoured this darkly humorous thriller, set against the festive backdrop of the Christmas season, with gusto. The protagonist's morally complex profession of targeting unsavory characters added a layer of intrigue to the narrative. Despite the subject matter, the story exuded a surprising amount of holiday warmth, thanks in part to the engaging and well-crafted main character.

The author's sarcastic tone perfectly captured the essence of a modern murder mystery or female serial killer genre, keeping me enthralled and invested in the story. This wasn't a cozy mystery by any stretch, but rather a fast-paced, suspenseful tale that expertly balanced humor and darkness.

I'm eager to explore more of the "How to Slay" series, having only just scratched the surface with this installment. Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing access to this riveting read to review.

Real rating: 4.5 stars

The only thing I didn't like about the book is that it's Christmas-themed and it came out in August. Hard to feel the holiday cheer when you're drenched in sweat because it's so hot outside.

Other than that, How to Slay at Christmas is the best in the How to Slay series so far. I've had the privilege to read arcs of all three books so far and the storytelling, writing style, and character building has improved so much.

Jessica Williams is genuinely likable, unlike all the previous MCs in the series, although they share several similarities. She is genuinely nice and has an interesting backstory, she is helpful, and entertaining. The fact that Jessica, who was hired as Mrs. Claus for a Christmas market in a small town,, really loved Christmas and didn't fake it just to kill well-deserving people was really one of the good parts of the book. The friendships and genuine support for other women was another.

I genuinely disliked Fearne at the beginning, although you could understand her reasoning, and I wanted her to stab Sebastian so many times.

The twist at the end? Chef's kiss.

How to slay at Christmas by Sarah Bonner is a great story I loved !

Jessica loves everything about Christmas .
Fearne hates everything about it .

I loved thus book. I enjoyed the multiple point of views .

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book which was a mixture of dark intrigue and humour. I especially liked the strong female lead characters and the friendships that developed between them. This book has a bit of everything and I found it thoroughly entertaining. Will definitely recommend.

Have you ever felt that Christmas would be improved by removing certain people from the experience? That's how Jessica feels, as she kills them on order to make Ellsbury - her temporary home for the festive season - a better place to be.

This is quick and sharp and completely brilliant, I finished it in a day. I'm loving this whole series so much, the twists are so good!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of How to slay at Christmas by Sarah Bonner pub date 7th Aug. Jessica loves everything Christmas from the mince pies to santa and everything in-between, Fearne on the other hand hates the festive season with a passion and with her overbearing husband Sebastian she is at her wits ends , so when the two womans lives collides some people will be on santas naughty list. I loved this book so much the chapters each from the two woman’s life’s , the characters were brilliant so real and you couldn’t help feeling sorry for Fearne and you were on her side all the time. I Cant wait to recommend this book to all my friends

I really enjoyed this book it was interesting book. that kept me turning pages and the murders kept coming as they are happing at the Christmas markets
Who is killing and why?
I love the characters Jessica, Mrs Claus, Fearne and all other characters
There is a lot of suspense, and some humour, and strange, weird things occur and twists in the story
loved it easy and good pace in reading the novel

This one was... fine. The narrator was a little hard for me to read, I wasn't too fond of her. The Christmas theme was kind of forced, but fun I guess. The pacing was good, though. More to come on TikTok.

This book delivers a genuinely engaging experience—with immersive worldbuilding and heartfelt character arcs that grabbed me from the outset. The author’s prose is evocative and detailed, painting scenes that felt alive and emotionally resonant. Whether it’s quiet character moments or vivid setting descriptions, there’s an undeniable sense of care in every line.

The ensemble cast impressed me with their authenticity and depth. You can sense their internal struggles and evolving relationships—while none felt perfect, most felt honest and earned. I connected especially with moments of vulnerability and quiet decision-making, which added emotional weight beyond the central plot.

That said, it wasn’t flawless. The pacing drifts at times—certain chapters leaned a bit slow, and some thematic threads felt underdeveloped. A couple of subplots seem launched with promise but don’t quite reach satisfying resolutions. Still, these imperfections didn’t overshadow the overall experience for me.

What truly stood out was the balance between tension and tenderness. Emotional moments deliver impact without becoming melodramatic. Small gestures—a meaningful look, an unspoken exchange—often spoke louder than grand declarations. It’s clear the author trusts the reader’s intuition, crafting intimacy through subtlety.

In short, it’s a well-crafted story that enthralls with ambition and nuance, even if it occasionally stumbles in structure or focus. A strong, worthwhile read. Perfect for readers who appreciate character-driven fiction with emotional sincerity—and who don’t mind a few narrative detours along the way.

A darkly festive delight!
How to Slay at Christmas is sharp, silly, and wickedly entertaining. Jessica Williams genuinely loves Christmas — which makes her role as Mrs Claus-slash-serial killer all the more fun to follow. With murder, mayhem, puppies, romance, and dark humor wrapped in fairy lights, this is the perfect holiday read for those who like their Christmas stories with a sinister twist.

You don’t want to end up on her naughty list!

Jessica works as Mrs Claus at Christmas fayres around England. She also has a side job, compiling a naughty list of abusive men she encounters and killing them. Fearne’s husband runs the fayre that Jessica has chosen this year, though Fearne thanklessly works at managing it too as well as working as a novel writer. Will Fearne’s husband end up on the naughty list?

I have read one of the other books in this series (I’m saving the on holiday book for my holiday) and this addition was great! It manages to be a cosy Christmas read as well as a female vigilante killer comedy. How to Slay at Christmas is one I will definitely be rereading come December!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

3.5 but not quite a 4.

This is an entertaining read. I liked Jessica and, like many of us I think, I have a soft spot for a female vigilante targeting men who abuse women.

I also liked Fearne and I was glad at what happens to her husband at the end (no spoilers).. The Christmas Market setting is fun and the stalls sound great. It is interesting to have the unknown, until the surprise at the end, investigator looking into all the past murders and trying to establish who committed them and I liked the little twist about some of the victims. I also liked the ending and I would read any further books.

I must say that I enjoyed Slay on Holiday a bit more, I thought the main characters in that book had a little more depth but this Slay is a also great read.

This book is another enjoyable outing for Sarah Bonner's How to Slay series. This book did feel like it had a different flow than books 1 & 2 that I enjoyed a bit more than this one. We know from the beginning that Jessica has an unusual side unpaid job where she knocks off creeps. She describes some of her previous victims such as a pair of human traffickers and it does humanize Jessica a bit, she is not a murder but more of a vigilante. I'm not condoning what she does but it is easier understand and care about a killer who has a code. I think of her in terms of other characters who did not follow the straight and narrow and where still great characters (like Angel and Arrow.)
Jessica starts planning her list pretty quickly in the story and neither on the men who go on the naughty list are particularly sympathetic. In fact, the landlord might have well have had the words lecherous creep tattooed on his forehead. It was easy to see him taking advantage of innocent woman. When Jessica adds him to the list, you are not surprised because you just know he hurt people. I will not spoil anything by telling you if he or the other man added remain on the final list.
Fearne was tougher to like than Jessica. I couldn't help but wonder by Fearne did not kick her jerk husband to the curb and write her books her way without needing to babysit an entitled adult.
This book is incredibly atmospheric. The descriptions of Santa's grotto and the Christmas village have you wishing you could visit. I personally think this book would have been better suited to be released for Christmas in July or for Christmas. But maybe the author's goal by releasing this book in August is to get us all in the mood for the holiday season.
This was another dark kind of fun book with some humor which was also on the dark side, a touch of romance and revenge on the book's truest villains. The author needs to keep this series going.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC..

Rating: 3.9/5

The accompanying marketing blurb claims that this book will appeal to fans of C.J. Skuse and Katy Brent. It is not unusual for publishers to make such claims as they endeavour to tap into dedicated readers of other established authors, but the claims are not necessarily always substantiated. However, in this instance, I would say that it is entirely appropriate.

If you are familiar with "Sweetpea" by C.J. Skuse then it will be impossible not to make comparisons and draw parallels with that novel when you read this. It could be argued that C.J. Skuse's creation, Sweetpea, paved the way for a sub-genre of strong, individual leading ladies with a penchant for serial killing. Katy Brent includes nods of acknowledgement to that fact in her series of books featuring Kitty Collins and there are a number of other writers (predominantly female) who have taken their inspiration from this source to create their own darkly humorous novels. Some have done it quite successfully, while others have produced rather disappointing facsimiles. I am pleased to say that Sarah Bonner is at the better end of the scale.

This is the third book in the author's "How to Slay ..." series. I have not read the first one, but I did enjoy book two, "How to Slay on Hoilday", which was enough to persuade me to come back for more - and I actually think "How to Slay at Christmas" is a little better than its predecessor. The writing is fluent and the characters are engaging. In amongst the serial killing there is plenty of humour (often dark), but also goodly amounts or warmth and even sprinklings of romance - so a touch of something for everyone. I will certainly be keeping an eye out for Sarah Bonner's next offering.

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

Sarah Bonner never misses - I'm blessed to have received this as an ARC but any books by this author are an immediate pick up for me! Funny, seasonal, but still keeping the relevant themes of violence against women meaningful.

A serial killer Mrs Claus. I think it's absolutely genius. In this hilarious thriller that is not like any other book. I have certainly not read many comedy thrillers but after reading this I would really love there to be more written. It's a festive rollicking good time and also a serial killer with unbelievable twists especially towards the end. I would recommend this for thriller lovers that want something a bit lighter and different.

Thank you NetGalley! Another great addition the Sarah Bonner’s How to Slay books. I’m so thank muck ti be able to read them all. I loved that this one contained more character viewpoints and the “villian” showing a human side