Slay Bells: A Christmas Village Mystery

A lovely cozy that brings you to an enchanted town. I loved this book, the style of writing, the cast of characters, and the plot.
It's enjoyable, heartwarming and entertaining.
I hope that this is the beginning of a new series because I would like to read more books set in this town and with this cast of characters.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC

This is a cozy mystery with a good plot and some very good mysteries. The characters are maybe a little too strange, and you will probably not feel too much of a Christmas spirit.

Review of SLAY BELLS by T. C. Wescott

This nifty little Christmastide cozy is A Christmas Village Mystery #1. Christmas Village is a very magical place, where special snow and beautiful flowers exist year round, villagers are kind and loving, visitors are in awe; and where Mr. and Mrs. Claus live. Maribel Claus is a delightfully winning personality, an amateur sleuth, extraordinarily observant, a great cook, and the devoted owner of two ferrets. When her friend Rose Willoughby's Bed and Breakfast—Plum Cottage Inn—hosts a carnival troupe, Maribel leaps to help out, especially needed after Rose sprains her ankle hanging the Mistletoe.

Unfortunately all is not sweetness and light at this Christmastide, and Rose soon discovers she is harbouring a murderous viper. The Sheriff is well-meaning and dedicated, but Christmas Village can be thankful Maribel Claus is on the trail.

This is the second T.C. Wescott book that I read and I absolutely loved it. If there is a list of perfect books for Christmas, then I am pretty sure that Slay Bells is also on the list.

I love T.C Wescott's books. A cozy crime novel with oodles of suspense, Slay Bells is one of the best books that I have read so far! If I had to describe this book in three words, I would say Fascinating, Brilliant and Spectacular.

Not just the Elders or Doctor Wilcox or Sheriff Fell or Rose, even I was curious to know how the murderer committed these crimes. No DNA or fingerprint evidence whatsoever and no footprints, how on earth did the two victims die?

The folklore - Glockenvogel, and Doppelkopflome (double-headed lion) was a nice inclusion to the story. With Pontifex seeing a blue figure that hopped from one tree to another, the story of the big bird seemed almost real!

Maribel's caring and curious nature reminded me of Miss Marple. But let me tell you, Maribel's husband is Mr.Claus and he owns a toy shop. The Mister, as Maribel fondly calls him, is busy during Christmas, visiting children and giving them gifts. Does it ring a bell? There's more about Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the end of the story.

How can I not mention the wonderful and mouth-watering delicacies that Maribel makes for the guests and for the stall at the festival! Tarts, cookies, sandwiches and whatnot, Maribel is an all-rounder! She's a member at the Historical Society and she's also one of the seven Elders (the council). Now you know why I called her an all rounder. There are also a mention or two of how Maribel helped the police in solving a case or two. And it goes without saying that Maribel (helps) solves the mystery behind these murders too.

There's something about Wescott's writing style that makes it quite different from the usual cozy or crime mystery. Maribel reveals the identity of the perp and the perp is arrested. But the question of how the murders were committed still remains a mystery. Maribel makes Rose and the troop, Sheriff Fell and Mayor Cobblestone wait until the next day to reveal the mystery. Not just the characters in the book, even I was eager to know how the murderer committed the crime. Did they fly? Did they jump? Or, were they so strong that they could throw Snipes' body over the hill?

There's no doubt that T.C. Wescott is in the list of my favorite authors. His storytelling skills are mind-blowing, the stories are full of suspense and keeps the reader hooked onto the book until the very end and the endings are simply fantastic! If you are looking for a cozy crime mystery this Christmas then do not miss to check out Slay Bells by T.C.Wescott

cozy-mystery, magic, fantasy, Christmas, suspense, friendship, whodunit

What fun! A Christmas village with all interesting characters and omens of evil brought on by the character so patently out of place that the reader is glad when he is bumped off! Mrs Claus is the chief snoop, half of the characters are members of street players, and the other half are proud members of the community. The sleuthing is pretty good and complete with surprising twists and red herrings. Great fun!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Better Mousetrap Books via NetGalley.

An exciting story in Christmas Village. The entertainers for the Christmas Fair are staying at Plum Cottage. Mrs Maribel Claus - not having a lot to do at home as it's her husband's busy time of year - is helping out at Rose - the owner of the cottage - has sprained her ankle; when the owner of the troupe turns up dead.

Will the Sheriff - with the help of Maribel - find the murderer befor Christmas is ruined?

A good fun book and interesting read.

I am usually an avid fan of cozy mysteries, but I really struggled to get into this one. The premise sounded wonderful, but I was somewhat disappointed in the book at first. I really struggled to get past the first few chapters.

The setting is sort of a fairy tale place, Christmas village, which is the home of Santa and Mrs. Claus and a whole host of somewhat quirky and often slightly unusual residents. Mrs. Claus is the amateur sleuth, and the sheriff is portrayed as somewhat bumbling and inept.

Once I got into it, I was interested enough in the story to keep reading, and I will say that T. C. Westport did manage to pull off a fairly well plotted story once I got into it. He began with what at first seemed like an impossible mystery, threw in a few red herrings, some more unforeseen happenings, and wrapped it all up with a very plausible solution.

I think that this book will definitely appeal to mystery fans that appreciate a novel that is just the tiniest bit out of the ordinary.

Intriguing story with lots of plot twists that will keep you guessing until the end. Some very interesting characters that will keep you entertained. Can a town with very little crime solve this mystery? You'll read just to find out all the details.

I just finished Slay Bells: A Christmas Village Mystery by T. C. Wescott and I give it 5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed this cheeky cozy mystery. I loved how little details of Christmas were weaved into everything, I loved the main character, Mrs. Claus, and the setting was so dreamy. I enjoyed the creativity and although I suspected who was the murderer, I didn’t know until it was revealed. I definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a cozy Christmas mystery. I look forward to following Maribel Claus in the future.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and thoroughly enjoyed it. Set in Christmas Village just before Christmas, we have a group of entertainers there to preform. Mrs. Claus investigates since she is a village elder as well as a friend to the property owner where the body was found. The mystery kept me entertained and guessing. I look forward to more in this series.

I thank the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I started out thinking this book was set sometime in the past, with Rose Willoughby hanging mistletoe in the parlor of her lodging house, with a traveling troupe of performers - her lodgers - watching. There was also more formal speech and no mention of a geographical location - at least none I'm familiar with. But as I continued reading, small mentions of modern day began to creep in - jeans, lawyers, texting - and it made me feel a bit disoriented. As I got to know the characters and the plot progressed, I decided to let all that go and just enjoy the story, and I'm glad I did! This is a richly woven mystery with solid, plausible suspects, puzzling crime scenes, and plenty of plot twists. I didn't really figure out the culprit(s) until the final reveal.

Despite my initial confusion about the time and location of this book, I really enjoyed the story! The feeling of near-timelessness and mysterious location with perpetual snow and foliage, along with protagonist Meribel Claus, whose husband spends most of his time in his workshop up through Christmas Eve, lend a magical, North Pole feel to Christmas Village. I'm interested to read more in this series, and find out if we'll get to see Christmas Village at another time of year. This was my first book by T.C. Wescott, but it won't be my last.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Who wouldn't enjoy taking a break in all their holiday preparations and reading a clever golden age style mystery set in a Christmas Village with a main protagonist named Maribel Claus who husband is away and busy through Christmas Eve. Maribel's friend, Rose, takes in lodgers but needs help caring for them after spraining her ankle. This Christmas, the village has hired a troupe of circus performers and they are staying with Rose when sadly a murder takes place, a seemingly impossible one. Take a break from wrapping and see if you can figure this out.

A fun and festive read, Slay Bells is a cosy murder-mystery guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.

It’s Christmas Village’s most wonderful time of year when all the inhabitants are preparing for the annual, week-long Christmas Festival.

But all is not right at Plum Cottage, as a troupe of entertainers in town for the festival are shocked at the death of their manager, Mr Stipes.

But this wasn’t just any death. Mr Stipes was murdered and left atop Plum hill, with no footprints going up or down in the snow. The town is baffled as to how the murder was committed, and who committed it.

As the village tries to go on with the festival, Sherriff Fell, along with the help of Maribel Claus, try to quell rumours of a Glockenvogel (or giant mythical bird) while working to find the murderer before they strike again.

In my opinion, there are four things that make a great murder-mystery and Slay Bells has them all.

Firstly, you need a suitable setting and if Christmas Village isn’t the perfect setting for a cosy mystery then nothing is.

It’s like every village from Midsomer Murders rolled into one. It’s got a town hall and council (or Elders as they’re called here), a historical society, gossipy villagers, cute cottages, and so much more that make it an ideal place to get engrossed in.

Secondly, you need a seemingly unsolvable murder. A locked-room murder, if you will.

While there’s no locked room in Slay Bells there is a body at the top of a hill with no footprints going up or down. How could the murderer have climbed up and down the hill without leaving any mark in the snow? It’s seemingly impossible!

Thirdly, a list of suspects, all with their own motive for wanting to kill the victim.

The troupe of entertainers make up this list, with an acrobat, a magician, a juggler, a strong-man, a psychic, and their beautiful assistant, all with their own grudges and gripes against the dead man. Freakin’ perfect.

Lastly, a great murder-mystery needs an investigator who leaves no stone unturned when trying to find the murderer. Maribel Claus is the investigator in this book, along with Sherriff Fell, the local head policeman.

I was a bit worried when I started this book first, as I thought Maribel was going to be a Miss Marple knockoff.

I hate Miss Marple.

I know, I know, it’s an unpopular opinion. But I just think she’s a nosy cow who needs to mind her own damn business, and she annoys me so much!

So I wasn’t looking forward to reading about another old lady sticking her nose into police business.

But Maribel is nowhere near as annoying as Miss Marple. She’s kind and funny and makes a great amateur detective, and she’s not too smug when she figures everything out before Sherriff Fell.

There was only one thing that annoyed me about this book and that was the ending being dragged out for much longer than it needed to be.

Once Maribel figures out who the murderer is, she waits until the next morning to reveal how the murders were carried out rather than just telling everyone straight away. What a tease!

It was the only part of the book that annoyed me because we just want to find out what happened, dragging it out for two or three chapters was a bit unnecessary.

But Slay Bells is the perfect festive read nonetheless. It’s cosy, it’s intriguing, it keeps you hooked, and it gives you all the Christmas feels you could possibly need.

Plus the title has a pun in it, and if you don’t love that then I’m sorry, I don’t think we can be friends.

A wonderful holiday mystery to cozy up with on a cold winter's night. The quirky characters make the plot line even better. The perfect book to read by Christmas Tree light while sipping eggnog. I wish all holiday mysteries were this entertaining!

I usually don’t read any thriller/mystery books, but I decided to try this one because of the Christmas theme and the beautiful cover, and then when I read the description, I thought it would turn out to be an interesting read. And it was.

Pairing the Christmas theme with Wescott’s beautiful writing style made this installment wonderful! I admired the writing style greatly while I was reading it.

As for the characterization, I absolutely loved it! All the characters are built up very well, and their actions and dialogue are very natural. (Maybe with the exception of Madame Zorena). I think my favorite characters are Maribel, Eric, and Sticks!

I can honestly say that this book is funny. The humor was on point and I would just burst out laughing sometimes!

As for the plot itself, welllll it was awesome. With every passing chapter, I would suspect a different character, and then I would think that maybe they all committed the murder together or something, then I would change my mind and it went on and on and on… until the end of the book.

I definitely recommend this book!

This was such an enjoyable read! It was lovely getting to know the village of Christmas; it reminded me of what you might see on a Hallmark movie. The plot was great and kept me guessing. I loved that it was a quick, easy read. There was also some humor, which I always love in books. The perfect cozy read for Christmas time!

Princess Fuzzypants here: It’s hard work writing and authors want their books to be full of literary sugar plums. To get the perfect recipe is a challenge as there are times a book will try to be too many things at once. The characters and the story line can damaged by too much of a good thing.
This one starts out with some delightful premises. It is set in a place called Christmas Village that sounds almost magical. Its protagonist is Maribel Claus, married to one “mister” who is exceedingly busy the week before the big day. Her best friend owns a charming cottage where she lets out rooms to tourists. This week her guests are the performers who will be entertaining the crowds during a festival. When the despicable manager of the troupe is murdered, all the other members are suspects. But what makes the mystery so special is it is the proverbial locked door killing but in snow. The corpse is discovered at the top of a snowy hill as if a giant bird has plopped him down. No tracks are discovered either up or down the hill. Who did it, how did they do it and why?
So far, so good. It even has the feel of a classic British mystery in both the dialogue and the settings. I should have adored it. But I found it a tougher read than some. It was not a bad story, nor was it a great one. I just felt it was trying to be too many things at once and it diluted the enjoyment. I did, by the way, figure out who the villain was and how the crime was committed pretty early in the book
I will still give it four purrs and one paw up.

This book was sweet, cozy, well-written, and had an interesting story. Christmas Village is a quirky place, with funny, interesting residents just enough crazy to be adorable. As Wescott's previous mystery, it had all the attributes a classic crime story has, and beyond that it transferred a wonderful holiday atmosphere that I felt so needed in my life!

Just as before, I loved the author's style, and the story was engaging. Even though I figured out the person of the murderer pretty soon, I didn't guess the 'how' that soon - and I had that 'whaaat, really, I should've known that' feeling at the end. It was fantastic! (Really, it was super logical. I can't believe I didn't think of it earlier.) And having Mrs. Claus as our main amateur sleuth investigating? How awesome is that?

My only tiny problem that I should mention was that for a very long time I didn't really care about the actual suspects. (The 'outsiders' in the village.) The villagers were so great characters, but those lodgers were pretty forgettable. It took me a lot of pages to become able to tell one from the other (well, the men at least), and even then I didn't really care which one was the murderer (only for the sake of the mystery) - I didn't feel like it would made a difference. By the end, it improved a bit, or so I felt. Otherwise, it was all perfect, and I loved the villagers and their place and traditions very much!

My actual rating if 4.5!

A delightful holiday read set in a fanciful place called Christmas Village that from the first page to the last grips the reader. Wescott's amateur sleuth Maribel Claus, her friend Rose, and Sheriff Fell are a welcome addition to the ranks of the cozy mystery genre. Combining the quirky and fanciful aspects of Christmas traditions with the harsh realities of human cruelty and fallibility makes the book enjoyable and believable. I hope that Wescott will continue the series and that I can enjoy spending time with his characters each Christmas.

Another 5 star read. Awesome story line, great characters. Loved every minute of reading this book. 5 stars

Christmas is upon us once again, the cold winter nights making us long for a warm blanket and a cozy read.  Slay Bells is the perfect choice for readers tired of Christmas reruns, and looking for something fresh and seasonal.  Christmas Village is a magical place, far removed from the city, and steeped in tradition. But when a troupe of carnies visiting the town begin dying one by one, it’s time for Mrs. Claus to step in. Yes she might or might not be that Mrs Claus, but she is one heck of a perceptive lady, which is a big help, as the hapless sheriff is not equipped for a real investigation.  Part of Slay Bells charm is Wescott’s kindness in depicting the villagers’ quirks and foibles. It makes the characters endearing, even though you know someone will be unmasked as a killer.


Slay Bells not going to win any awards, but I can say the novel brought a smile to my face.  The idea of Mrs Claus as a sleuth is definitely an original one.


4 / 5


I received a copy of Slay Bells from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.


-- Crittermom

a mystery , a murder is happening in christmas village. the police needs h elp and an elderly woman Maribel is the one who solves the murder. entertaining to read

When I first started reading I found the writing style a little old-fashioned but I soon got used to it and got lost in the story.
Rose (Willoughby) has a troupe of street performers staying at her lodging house in Christmas Village in the lead up to Christmas. When the Manager of the troupe is found dead in the snow on Plum Hill near the house the police start to investigate with the help of Rose’s friend Maribel Clause.
With very little to go on they are struggling to find the killer when another member for the troupe is murdered and another one goes missing. Can Maribel unmask the killer before anyone else dies?
Although I did guess who the killer was before they were revealed it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the book.

This book was a fun read, very interesting characters and many twists and surprises along the way. This isn't your typical Christmas book. It gives you the holiday spirit while thinking and having mysteries all around. I recommend this book as a fun read. And you will never guess who Mrs. Clause is married to. :)

Slay Bells: A Christmas Village Mystery is murder mystery like no other. Although it follow that the theme of a mystery murder, it has surprising twist that led you wanting to know more. The characters are thoughtful and engaging within in this thriller. It’s magic captivates the audience and keeps them turning the page. I’d recommend this to anyone seeking and adventure or loving a good murder mystery.

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Maribel Claus is helping her friend with her guesthouse as Rose has injured herself. The lodgers start to die in unusual circumstances and Mrs Claus begins to investigate. The village is quirky and magical with unusual characters.

There's a puzzle and red herrings and the characters are likeable . A fun and easy to read novel.

A charming murder mystery set in a village called Christmas! And Christmas and all its old traditions are certainly the most important thing to its inhabitants. Set during the week before Christmas Day a troupe of circus performers are staying in Rose Willoughby's guesthouse as part of the magnificent entertainment laid on in the village which draws in visitors from far and wide. All is going well until Rose sprains her ankle and her great friend and fellow cook Maribel Claus jumps in to help out. A good thing as it happens since the troupe's manager is found murdered and Maribel has a talent for seeking out the truth. From the Sheriff and the Doc to the Elders there are some fantastic and very individual characters who are well described, and this turns out to be a great whodunit (not to mention HOW did they do it?!) Heartwarming and most enjoyable, I would certainly like to read more of the adventures of the inhabitants of Christmas village.

T.C. Wescott's Slay Bells: A Christmas Village Mystery is a very nice holiday cozy with a good mystery. Well written!

This is a solid cozy mystery with some fun characters and mysterious deaths to unravel.

Plum Cottage Inn is housing a traveling troupe that is in town as entertainment for the Christmas Festival. The troupe includes a magician, a strongman, a juggler who walks on stilts, an acrobat and a fortuneteller. The troupe leader is a tyrannical, complaining man who is assisted by the troupe’s efficient arranger. The Inn’s proprietor, Rose, is happy to share local myths and folklore and is busy with holiday preparations until she injures her ankle. Fortunately, her very good friend, Maribel Claus, steps in to help. That puts Maribel, who is a keen observer and lover of puzzles, in the middle of the mystery when death comes knocking.

The first victim is the unpleasant troupe leader who has no shortage of people who would be glad to see him gone. He is discovered on the top of a small hill outside of the Inn with no evidence of footprints or obvious murder weapon. This creates the first puzzle that pulls Maribel in to help the local sheriff to his frustration and reluctant acknowledgment of her skills. The investigation is serious in its efforts even as they try to ignore a local character who insists that monsters of folklore have descended on the town.

Several of the troupe members are easily suspected but the authorities are struggling to put together definitive evidence. A second murder occurs leaving another puzzling path as there are no footsteps leading to the spot of death other than the victim and then the footprints leading away from the body don’t match any of the suspects.

I enjoyed the cozy writing style although the beginning seemed a little busy and full of characters. As the book proceeds the characters are sorted out with the help of the investigation. It was fun to have the clues and theories bounced around committee consisting of the sheriff, his deputy, the town mayor, a local professor and, of course, Maribel. This is a solid cozy mystery and I recommend to fans of the genre.

Source: NetGalley.

This was such an enjoyable read! It was lovely getting to know the village of Christmas; it reminded me of what you might see on a Hallmark movie. The plot was great and kept me guessing. I loved that it was a quick, easy read. There was also some humor, which I always love in books. The perfect cozy read for Christmas time!

A mystery = I am interested

A murder mystery = I am invested

A murder mystery with clues = I am itching to play the sleuth

A murder mystery with clues and a revealing "this is what that happened" = now you are talking my language.

And T. C. Wescott did indeed speak my language.

This was my first book by this author, and it gave an aura of a cute old time mystery. If you have read books for as long as I have, you will enjoy this book and appreciate those snippets of timelessness in this book.

A cute cozy village with different eccentric people, a bumbling sheriff, his reasonably sane deputy, a cackling effervescent mayor, a sweet, charming inn owner Rose, and the delightful intelligent omniscient MRS. MIRABEL CLAUS whose brain was a sponge which absorbed and stored all the clues and analyzed it later like a jigsaw puzzle.

Amidst this entered an entertainer group for the village festival before Christmas with various talents like the man on stilts, a strong man, a magician, an acrobat, and a psychic. And 2 of them got themselves murdered in mysterious circumstances by a disappearing ghoul. The mystery started, time to wear my detective cap!!

The book progressed slowly and some parts dragged for me, the rest showed me the lives of various people with their relationships, clues were scattered all around, tarts and puddings seemed scrumptious (I had a few chocolate chip cookies while reading the book, and I don't even like them, so I blame the author for this craving). The writing had an golden era charm to it, I could identify it with the books read in the decades past.

The story allowed me to play the supersleuth, I did guess how one of the murders occurred but the other eluded me. One out of two, was still a good score. I think author T. C. Wescott should deputize me, give me a sheriff's badge for the next book..

First in the Christmas Village series. Rose Willoughby owns Plum Cottage and she has a group of travelling entertainer staying at her B&B. As she is hanging he mistletoe the manager (and scrooge) of the group runs into Rose as she is hanging the mistletoe. Rose’s ankle is injured and she needs help to run the cottage and finish baking for the Christmas Village festivities. Her friend Maribell Clause comes to stay at the cottage and when all the guests come down for breakfast one is missing Mr. Snipes the manager. As they are about to search for him Dr. Pontifex (local loner and keeper of local lore and myths) comes screaming about a dead body that has been killed by a mythical bird that leaves a bell on its victims. Sure enough the body appears to been dropped on the hill where there are no other footprints disturbing the snow not even the victim. Guess Maribell is known for solving puzzles and is willing to try and work on this as well as stay with Rose since there is a murderer staying at plum cottage. Another murder happens and it appears to be just as mysterious as the first with the only the victims footprints leading to the spot he is found and a different set of footprints leaving the body. Very creative murders and crime scenes and all makes sense at the end when you realize what clues were laid out for you along the way. Enjoyable read. Looking forward to the next in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first cozy mystery read. I will warn you right now, I am apparently not a cozy mystery genre fan. I found this book to be too cheesy at times and lacked some substance for me. However, I can look past what makes a cozy mystery a cozy mystery and provide an honest review about the overall writing.

Despite all the cheesiness, I was hooked in to this book. The premise is a troupe of performers stay at Plum Cottage while they perform nightly during the Christmas Festival in Christmas Village. There are a lot of characters introduced in the beginning, to the point where it’s overwhelming, and are quite eccentric. Mrs. Claus helps her friend who owns Plum Cottage and suddenly one of the troupe members is murdered.

What intrigued me was how the murder happened and who did it. I could not forecast how exactly the murder happened nor could I figure out who did it (until much later in the book). A second murder also occurs which is also as equally puzzling as the first; this is why I kept reading.

The premise of the murders was so mind boggling that I ignore the cheesiness of the book just to figure out how they were committed. Mrs. Claus has a lot to do with solving the murders, which is something that is a bit bizarre. And yes, there are references to her husband who is very busy this time of year, along with her pet ferrets, coincidentally named after famous reindeer. I would have preferred a more realistic storyline instead of a happier, light one, but, to each their own.

I will say I was shocked with how both murders were committed. I was not surprised at who did it, the author alludes to who did it as the book progresses. However, those murders! I really could not figure out in my head how they were committed and just wow. The first body is found in the snow with no footprints around it. I will say that how the murder occurred is revealed at the very end and blew my mind. The second murder is crazy in its own right as well. If not for the uniqueness of these murders, I doubt I would have kept reading.

Overall, I would rate this book 3.5 stars (which ultimately rounds up to 4 stars on Goodreads and Amazon). I would recommend this book if you’re into a puzzling murder case around Christmas time and can look past an overly cheesy barrage of characters and storyline. If you know you do not like cozy mysteries, don’t pick this book up. If you are curious, go ahead and try it, just know that I warned you.

This was a great start to a new series. I loved playing the sleuth! Thanks to BooksGoSocial and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

SLAY BELLS is the first book in the Christmas Village Mystery series. It is yet to be seen if they will need to be read in the order of release, though this one stands on its own with no cliffhanger.

The story is a wonderful cozy mystery with a Christmas theme. Christmas Village is a peculiar little town that embraces everything to do with the Yule season and will use any excuse for a fair or town celebration.

My favorite character is Rose’s best friend Maribel Claus. Her husband is very busy and will not be available until after Christmas Eve is over. He is working with his helpers in the workshop. Hmmm, I wonder what he could be working on that is so important? It never is said!

I love the humor, the characters, the well-plotted mystery, and the setting. I must admit that I did figure out the who long before the end, but the how had me stumped until just a chapter or two before the reveal. I like that. The clues were provided, and it could be figured out. I didn’t feel cheated as so often in other books some clue is held back that you can’t possibly know the answer until the final page.

I look forward to returning to Christmas Village!

Note: While I received this book as a gifted ARC via NetGalley, my opinions are my own and are given freely.

Miss Marple meet the happy hamlet of Christmas Village where a murder will mar the tranquillity and joy with which the townsfolk carry out their daily activities.
Okay so this isn’t a Miss Marple story but it sure gives off the same charming vibe, right down to the cute sketches of key scenes!
I found the mystery satisfactorily done. It wasn’t too hard to figure out the culprit but the motive and means kept me guessing.
The characters are delicious. Miss Marple... I mean Mrs. Claus is too cute for words as is her friend Rose. The other secondary characters add funny moments and create a unique community.

Sheriff Fell stepped forward to speak. “Sound? It’s not a sound theory at all! You have a man climbing a tree with one hand while carrying a person in the other.”
“Tarzan did it all the time,” was the mayor’s response.

The language is actually a bit dated, so much so that I was surprised at times when modern conveniences such as cell phones and text message explosions were mentioned! I think this adds a tremendous amount of charm to the story, however, and I really enjoyed it.
Sometimes the cutesy descriptions, while great for creating a festive atmosphere, are a bit excessive and I found myself skimming a little.
Perhaps my biggest disappointment with this one is the big reveal. I found it to be unnecessarily drawn out. Thankfully the charm continues at full tilt to make up for it all. I look forward to returning to this hamlet to read more Christmasy mysteries.

Overall I give this story 4/5 stars and recommend it to anyone looking for a Christmas Cozy.

This story was almost too cute for words. Mrs. Clause is a dazzling detective and just days away from the Mister's big day. Helping her friend Rose to determine which of her B&B guest carnie workers is a murderer. The story has an old world feel the characters are using cell phones to text. The plot was good and I did not guess who the killer was but I was able to noodle out how the first victim ended up on the undisturbed, snow covered hill.

It is a great mystery book set in Christmas Village, where the Sheriff with the help of Mrs. Claus will have to solve a mystery. You can only guess but it is not who you think. Nice cozy mystery.
Thank you Netgalley for this delightful story.

Christmas should be a merry time in the village called Christmas but instead, they are dealing with a murderer who had already taken two lives. Imagine that, and to back it up they had very inept law enforcers mainly in the form of the sheriff and his deputy. So it was up to Mirabel to put her deductive and intuitive skills to work, to unmask the villain, all this drama brought about a Christmas miracle with the eccentric and reclusive Doctor reconnecting with his community. A wonderful entertaining and intriguing read.

Who doesn't love a high drama mystery to solve during the holidays. It's up to Maribel to discover who is trying to ruin the holidays. Very entertaining.

Slay Bells had all the makings of a Hallmark movie with a quaint village, quirky characters and it's holiday atmosphere. A quick and easy read, the author's writing style is engaging to readers and filled with lots of suspense.

What I enjoyed about Slay Bells:
- The diverse and interesting cast of characters. Magicians and psychics make up some of this unusual, but unique cast of characters. Plus "Mrs. Claus" is the lead sleuth on the case which is pretty cool!
- The folklore.
- The humor.
- The small town setting. The setting was right out of a Hallmark movie and sort of reminded me of Whoville. The whole town is alive with the Christmas spirit.
- The crime. There was so many different suspects and with the addition of a town legend that it feels like the author is challenging the reader to go on and figure out who committed the crime.

Slay Bells is quite the holiday tale and was my favorite read of Christmas 2018. A perfect cozy for Christmas, T.C. Wescott was a new to me author, but is now one that I can't wait to read more from.

very cute book!

Though i did not read it during the Christmas period, i could feel that festive vibe throughout :)

A very cozy Christmas story, which you should definitely try reading anytime in the month of December! :)


Also, very nice cover!! ;)

I loved reading this cozy little mystery around the holiday season. It is packed with Christmas, and a murder mystery so it is a fun thing to read. I personally love trying to figure the mystery out before it is solved in the book, and this one presented a challenge for me; in the end, I guess right. I loved the characters in this book and the small little village setting. Besides the murder, this is where I wanted to be during Christmas. Cute read and great for the holiday season!

This is a new author to me and I loved the writing.. even thought it was a cozy mystery it’s formula for The Who done it was quite different . Just when I thought that I knew who did it I was proven wrong by the end of the story. This is definitely an author that I will continue to read because the fact that the story had me second guess my conclusion as to the mystery means that the author has a talent for story telling.

December should be a magical time in the Christmas Village but when the entertainers start dying some of the villagers wonder if the old lore is right. The sheriff knows better but he needs help proving it. He needs someone good at puzzles. Enters Maribel Claus, Maribel is great with puzzles. This is a fun start to a new series. This is a quick read with several twists and turns. The characters are entertaining. The is a great holiday read. I look forward to more in this series.

I voluntarily agreed to read a copy of this book supplied by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced by anyone.

A sweet cozy mystery set in an enchanting place, the Christmas Village. A well-written story with a strong plot, interesting characters, it will leave you with all the happy feelings and will put you in the Christmas spirit.

Such a great book. Makes for a wonderful read. I can not wait to read more from this author. I love books like this.

You can't beat a cozy christmastime crime, but this one is one you could read at any other time of the year.

Less of a whodunnit, and more of a howdunnit, Maribel Claus et al, work to discover answers to both questions, with a delightfully, and well done slow reveal it's a magical mystery

I love a cozy christmas mystery, they don't take a lot of brain power to get through and are perfect when you just need a light distraction from life. It wasn't a complex story but it kept me engaged and working through the clues to solve the mystery.

This was actually so cute!! A cozy Christmas mystery, perfect for the holidays! It was entertaining and not too scary.

A fun cozy mystery with a Christmas setting (that won't necessarily give you "Christmas" vibes - so you can read this at any time. REALLY quirky characters, a lot of fun plot twists, and a fun setting. This was a delight.