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Murder at Mistletoe Manor: A Mystery Novella (Windy Pines Mystery Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

4.0 out of 5 stars 2,010 ratings

A cozy Christmas mystery that will keep you guessing, from the author of Kindle Unlimited All-Star winner Sweet Hollow Women.

Klarinda Snow is the innkeeper of a beautiful, historic bed and breakfast in Windy Pines, Idaho. Guests come to Mistletoe Manor to escape from their troubles while enjoying the scenic mountain town. When all seven rooms of the inn get booked on a Tuesday night in December, Klarinda is excited about having so much business, but a little confused as well. After all, her inn normally isn't exactly a destination hotspot. The guests have barely settled in before strange things begin happening. Is this the most accident prone group of travelers ever, or is someone out for revenge?

Book one in the Windy Pines Mystery Series. All books in the series can be read as standalones.



"This was the perfect mystery novella, sprinkled with a holiday vibe. A great read for this time of year, and one that will keep you guessing, nearly every step of the way."
--Sara Steven of Chick Lit Central

"I loved this who done it mystery!! It is different from a lot of the stories I have been reading and it was really refreshing."
--Mirela's Book Review

"This book was quite interesting and was a great read. ... I recommend this book if you like a good mystery."
--Steamy Book Mama

"Murder at Mistletoe Manor will have you hooked from page one to the end. And with it being a novella, you can rip through it quite quickly. Holly Tierney-Bedord has a fan for life in me!!! Hopefully she will hook you also!!!"
--Missi's Book Reviews

"I thought having so many characters might hinder my reading, but each was well developed and so my fears were not founded. This really was a bit farcical and a fun read."
--Avid Mystery Reader

"I adored this novella - a perfect Sunday afternoon read, all 'Christmassy' and 'murdery', in fact just good old fashioned excitement."
--Apple Tree Books

"This was a quick read, and it was really entertaining. ...This book was a great mystery novella. I highly recommend it."
--The Unapologetic Book Addict

"There are plenty of surprises and twists to keep you turning the pages. A fun read any time of the year, but especially near the holidays!"
--Jena C. Henry, author of The Golden Age of Charli series


If you love closed-room mysteries like And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, you'll love this holiday who-dunnit. This is the first book set at Mistletoe Manor in Windy Pines, Idaho. Don't miss the others, including the newest book in the series: WEEKEND IN WINDY PINES.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Top book of 2019."
--BRMaycock's Book Blog

"Such a cute Christmas mystery! Could totally see it being a play in some small country playhouse!"
--Peter Monn

"Made you feel like you were trying to solve the crime. ... It's a short listen with a really great narrator that really sets the merry pace."
--Britney & Brad of AudioShelf podcast

"This was the perfect mystery novella, sprinkled with a holiday vibe. A great read for this time of year, and one that will keep you guessing, nearly every step of the way."
--Sara Steven of Chick Lit Central

"I loved this who done it mystery!! It is different from a lot of the stories I have been reading and it was really refreshing."
--Mirela's Book Review

"This book was quite interesting and was a great read. ... I recommend this book if you like a good mystery."

--Steamy Book Mama

"Murder at Mistletoe Manor
will have you hooked from page one to the end. And with it being a novella, you can rip through it quite quickly. Holly Tierney-Bedord has a fan for life in me!!! Hopefully she will hook you also!!!"
--Missi's Book Reviews

"I thought having so many characters might hinder my reading, but each was well developed and so my fears were not founded. This really was a bit farcical and a fun read."

--Avid Mystery Reader

"I adored this novella - a perfect Sunday afternoon read, all 'Christmassy' and 'murdery', in fact just good old fashioned excitement."

--Apple Tree Books

"This was a quick read, and it was really entertaining. ...This book was a great mystery novella. I highly recommend it."
--The Unapologetic Book Addict

"There are plenty of surprises and twists to keep you turning the pages. A fun read any time of the year, but especially near the holidays!"
--Jena C. Henry, author of The Golden Age of Charli series

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01M1H4W9I
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 12, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.7 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 184 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ Windy Pines Mystery Series
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 2,010 ratings

About the author

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Holly Tierney
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Holly Tierney is the author of over twenty novels and novellas including Kindle Unlimited All-Star winner Sweet Hollow Women, cozy mystery classic Murder at Mistletoe Manor, and the new Delilah Crumbworthy cozy mystery series. Count on her stories to have quirky characters, unexpected twists and turns, dark secrets, and lots of laughs.

Holly is also an artist and miniaturist, creator of the mid-century dollhouse restoration blog flipthisminihouse.com, and the author of several non-fiction books about creating miniatures. She lives in Wisconsin. When she's not writing or decorating her real house or mini houses, she's traveling. Visit her website at www.authorhollytierney.com to learn more about her books and to subscribe to her newsletter.

Praise for The Port Elspeth Jewelry Making Club:

"I loved this book! It is in my opinion one of those perfect summer reads! It has been one of the highlights of my current reads whether for pleasure or review. It was exactly what I needed to have read."

-- Whitney of Honestly Austen book blog

"FIVE BOUNDLESS STARS

This book was excellent. It is a book that grabs you. It was full of drama and mystery. ... I picked it up and couldn't put it down. I just wanted more. It was written in a very well detailed and enthralling."

-- Stormi of Boundless Book Reviews

"Tierney-Bedord crafts a tightly woven plot that drops hints about the true identity of the killer in a masterful way that reminds me of Gillian Flynn's writing. The twists in this novel are fabulous!"

-- Valerie Biel, author of the Circle of Nine series

"Everything stops when Author Bedord has a new release. And you'll want to grab her latest book, too."

-- Jena C. Henry, author of The Golden Age of Charli series

"...I recommend this book for anyone that likes chick-lit with a brain, mystery, and contemporary settings."

--Hardly A. Goddess book blog

"The mystery of this book was also wonderful as it left you both laughing, worried and just wanting to turn the page to another leading to another chapter and another until you finish the book."

--Hufflepuff Nerdette book blog

"Holly Tierney-Bedord, a gifted story-teller, has given us yet another gem!"

--Geralyn Corcillo, author of Queen of the Universe and Catch a Falling Star

"This was the perfect cozy murder mystery book and I enjoyed every word of it."

--Books in the Skye book blog

"There really is something for everyone at Port Elspeth, which is why it was more than deserving of the five stars I've given it."

--Sara Steven of Chick Lit Central

"A cross between Jessica Fletcher and the Desperate Housewives ... I'm so glad I read this book; packed with fun and mystery, this has turned me into a fan of this author's work!"

--Grace J. Reviewerlady, book blogger

"I loved this novel."

--The Haunted Reading Room

Praise for Run Away Baby:

I thought Run Away Baby was an amazing book, it captured my attention immediately. I felt I was sitting in front of any of my clients over the years hearing her story. Holly Tierney-Bedord captured the true nature of power and control brilliantly. She showed that it doesn't just happen to poor or disabled women. Most importantly, she showed how easy it is to want to ignore your intuition when someone offers you away out, often leading women into another abusive relationship. She has a fan! Can't wait to read the rest of her books.

-- Melanie Hooker

Executive Director

Domestic Violence Coalition, Inc.

In a life of abuse and isolation, escape can seem impossible. In Run Away Baby, Abby finds her hero in a most unexpected place...the mirror.

-- Tracey Osborne, Daring Woman ~ daringwomaninc.com

(In Run Away Baby, Holly Tierney-Bedord)..."illustrated well how domestic abuse (physical, mental and emotional) cuts across all economic classes and how truly challenging it is for these women to escape their abuser."

-- Jane, JLWOS

This book was unpredictable. ...This was a great thriller and a very fast-paced read. The premise of the book was fascinating. I would recommend it!

-- Elizabeth of Chick Lit Chickadees

I have to congratulate Holly for being brave enough to cover the theme of domestic violence within this story.Holly has portrayed a very realistic relationship between the characters with compassion and accuracy.

This is one of those books that I am praying becomes a movie because I would definitely go to watch it. Abby is a likeable and I felt invested in her from the very beginning. Although she is a trophy wife, she remains genuine and humble throughout.

Although the scene of violence made me uncomfortable, the reader instantly becomes aware of the need for Abby to be away from the situation. Holly has done a superb job of integrating this scene delicately but also in a way that makes it realistic.

-- Little Miss Book Lover 87

Praise for Surviving Valencia:

"Just as you settle into the quiet, wrenching character study, you bank sharply into your first twist, then a turn - as secrets from the past zoom into suspenseful danger in the present. The twists keep turning until the very last chapter, making the read both satisfying and chilling! I cannot recommend Surviving Valencia highly enough."

--Geralyn Corcillo, author of Queen of the Universe

"At first I thought the book was a bit strange, but I soon began to fall in love with this young girl. ...It was a very well written story and was a very good read."

--Stormi of Boundless Book Reviews

"...I didn't want to put it down."

--RebeccaBookReview

"...I am so glad I discovered this book."

--Ishita of Bookmyopia

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
2,010 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this mystery novella, describing it as a delightfully intriguing murder mystery that keeps them reading. The book is easy to read, with one customer noting it reads like an old Agatha Christie novel, and customers find it a quick page-turner. While the concept and character development receive mixed reactions, with some finding the characters interesting while others describe them as inane, customers express frustration with the police characters, describing them as incredibly stupid. The death rate receives mixed reactions, with some appreciating the multiple victims while others find them unlikable.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

147 customers mention "Story quality"115 positive32 negative

Customers enjoy this murder mystery novella, describing it as a delightful and suspenseful tale with an unusual plot and good flow.

"...at the Inn, will keep you turning the pages of this delightfully intriguing murder mystery until you get to the very end...." Read more

"This is a good story with many twists and turns that keeps you reading. The characters are interesting and some are a pain in the back...." Read more

"...This is a novella, which makes it a pretty quick read. This saves it from becoming totally tiresome, and makes it instead just a quick, light read...." Read more

"...It had an uncomplicated plot- no major drama- just smooth sailing. This book also had a surprisingly large number of cookie recipes at the end!..." Read more

114 customers mention "Enjoyment"114 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, describing it as an intriguing read that keeps them engaged. One customer mentions it's a nice little read for a stormy afternoon.

"...Really? I found this to be a most enjoyable read and listen. It is my first book by this author and I really love her writing style...." Read more

"This is a good story with many twists and turns that keeps you reading. The characters are interesting and some are a pain in the back...." Read more

"...It will capture your interest from the start and there is a two chapter preview of the next book in the series. Well worth the time to read." Read more

"...But this was a refreshing take, and fitting for a small town, I assume...." Read more

61 customers mention "Readability"58 positive3 negative

Customers find the book easy and quick to read, with one customer noting it reads like an old Agatha Christie novel.

"...It is my first book by this author and I really love her writing style. I'm off to check out her other books as soon as I can...." Read more

"...This is a novella, which makes it a pretty quick read. This saves it from becoming totally tiresome, and makes it instead just a quick, light read...." Read more

"...It was a very light, sweet, and charming story. It had an uncomplicated plot- no major drama- just smooth sailing...." Read more

"...Basically well-written and well-edited, with only a few minor errors in grammar and punctuation, and with quirky characters and a delightful..." Read more

10 customers mention "Page turner"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy this book as a page turner.

"This is a good story with many twists and turns that keeps you reading. The characters are interesting and some are a pain in the back...." Read more

"Many twists, turns, and clues but kept you guessing til the end. Delightful and descriptive characters made you feel as though you were right there...." Read more

"...book read like an old Agatha Christie novel with twists and turns around every corner. A very nice quiet winter's evening read." Read more

"Cute Christmas story, quick reading, lots of twists and turns to keep the mystery going. Merry Christmas to you a'll." Read more

61 customers mention "Character development"41 positive20 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book, with some finding them interesting while others describe them as inane.

"...The characters are interesting and some are a pain in the back. There is some subtle humor between them." Read more

"...A delightful read with fascinating characters...." Read more

"...just didn't really like the writing style in general, and none of the characters felt real to me. I couldn't relate to them...." Read more

"...only a few minor errors in grammar and punctuation, and with quirky characters and a delightful setting, the problem lay in its believability...." Read more

10 customers mention "Death rate"6 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the death rate in the book, with some appreciating the intense murder plot while others find the victims unlikable.

"Engaging characters and off-putting victims, a ten little Indians style mystery set in a snowbound inn. An enjoyable quick read." Read more

"This could have been a great cozy, except it was not believable. Five people are dead, and the police do nothing but crack jokes and flirt?..." Read more

"The murder is intense ya just don't know who done it. I read it in 1 day." Read more

"...Five people die, FIVE! And the Deputy says “I’m beat, and my shift is over. I’ll check back with you all in the morning.”..." Read more

7 customers mention "Concept"4 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's concept, with some finding it good while others criticize its execution.

"Great concept, extremely poor execution. This was free and a quick read but it’s bad enough that I feel I’m owed money...." Read more

"Short Christmas cozy mystery. I thought the idea was ok, but it fell apart in the execution...." Read more

"...Very lightweight, almost a mimicry of the murder mystery. Had the right elements, just no follow through. And they missed several typos...." Read more

"...There is no real detecting in the book. No brilliant deductions. No one is even caught...." Read more

12 customers mention "Police professionalism"0 positive12 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the police characters in the book, with several finding them incredibly stupid, while one customer describes them as painfully silly at times.

"...What I don't like is ridiculously incompetent police, wildly over the top characters and unimaginative plots...." Read more

"...This book is painfully silly at times and the nonchalant way that the deaths are treated with made them all just shallow, horrible people...." Read more

"...The bumbling police were not fun or quirky. The whole story felt like a knock off of an Agatha Christy novel. It was a quick read...." Read more

"This inn was a hot mess. It was almost depressing but I guess it needed to be to move the story in the direction it needed to go...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2019
    Klarinda Snow, the Inn Keeper, and the cast of quirky characters in this story, both employees and guests at the Inn, will keep you turning the pages of this delightfully intriguing murder mystery until you get to the very end. Seven guests, a winter storm that keeps them stranded at the Inn and someone with revenge in their plan. What more do you need? Who makes it out alive? Can you figure out who the murderer is? You'll think you know, but do you? Really?

    I found this to be a most enjoyable read and listen. It is my first book by this author and I really love her writing style. I'm off to check out her other books as soon as I can.

    The narrator, Christopher Lane, was engaged and very easy to listen to.
    7 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2022
    This is a good story with many twists and turns that keeps you reading. The characters are interesting and some are a pain in the back. There is some subtle humor between them.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2018
    Klarinda Snow owns a small old inn in Windy Pines, Idaho. When an ordinary weeknight before Christmas finds her totally booked up, she is confused, excited, and a bit nervous, as normally, she would be lucky to have even one guest. She becomes even more perplexed when each guest shows an invitation for their stay at her inn--printed on old inn stationery. Things quickly escalate when this group of guests seem to be the most unlucky people ever when one accident after another take them down. The police are either incredibly stupid or totally incompetent as they blissfully accept each death as an accident--after all, there is a blizzard going on, the roads are closed and they have many road accidents to deal with. So even as the body count rises, who has time to deal with it?

    This was a story starting with the ancient plot of a small group of people marooned in a country house and unable to leave. Although at the beginning there seems to be no connection between the people gathered together, as always there is a link between them somewhere in their past. Usually the police are unable to get to the scene, or the people are unable to reach out for help, but in this case the police are simply worthless. This is a novella, which makes it a pretty quick read. This saves it from becoming totally tiresome, and makes it instead just a quick, light read. Not terrible, but nothing to be sought out.
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2017
    Murder at Mistletoe Manor: A Mystery Novella...is about Klarinda Snow, who owns Mistletoe Manor, her staff (Myrtle and Pierre who stayed on from working for the previous owner) and the seven guests booked for the same time. The Mistletoe Manor is an older established inn located in Windy Pines and is in need of repair or at least some cheery Christmas décor, being that usually the inn doesn't have all it's rooms booked at once. Once the guests start to arrive, Klarinda and Myrtle try to guess if these are random people staying there or a reunion or some other event. The weather is bad with blizzard conditions and roads closing, so all the guests arrive just in time to avoid the brunt of the weather. Then the mailman comes and gives Klarinda an envelope which she later finds ten thousand dollars in with a note that she doesn't understand. There wasn't any return address or what the money was to be used for. Each guest seems to have some complaint but stay anyway. The guests soon find out that they all went to the same Academy, all except one woman named Benji who dressed in orange with orange accessories. Later in the evening one of the guests has a fatal "accident", then another "accident", by the next day four of the seven guests have had "accidents" or is it murder and why? Klarinda starts to put things together and with the police point them towards one particular guest, only to find out she guessed the wrong person for these "accidents" (murders). When she finally realized who it was, it was too late, the person had already left the inn. The story is like reading about a murder/mystery themed weekend gathering/play. It will capture your interest from the start and there is a two chapter preview of the next book in the series. Well worth the time to read.
    16 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2016
    Main character Mist sees the world a little bit differently than everyone else- some say she has magic. She looks for ways to brighten up others' lives and has an uncanny ability to figure out what they need. She has a cafe inside of a bed and breakfast type establishment. Betty and Clive run the hotel. This Christmas, a variety of people are coming who have all experienced some sort of loss and loneliness this past year. Mist takes it upon herself to make sure everyone has a magical Christmas.

    This was everything a person wants a Christmas novella to be. It was a very light, sweet, and charming story. It had an uncomplicated plot- no major drama- just smooth sailing. This book also had a surprisingly large number of cookie recipes at the end! It is the kind of story you would read sipping cocoa by the fire. If you need to get in the Christmas mood, I would recommend this story.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2020
    I lost track of time reading this book, and was late to meet my grandmother. A delightful read with fascinating characters. I felt like I was seeing everything through Klarinda's view including the ineptitude of the police and the frustration that comes with it. Which is new to me in a cozy mystery. Usually the cops are always written as heroic and highly capable. But this was a refreshing take, and fitting for a small town, I assume.

    Love the mystery behind this, and just when I think I know who did it, new clues arise to make me question myself.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Star Platinum
    5.0 out of 5 stars MurderS at Mistletoe Manor - an enthralling cosy mystery
    Reviewed in Australia on November 20, 2016
    Klarinda Snow gave up her high-profile job and bought Mistletoe Manor, a bed and breakfast in a small town called Windy Pines. On a Tuesday in December, all seven rooms of the inn were booked which was truly a surprise because there were no special events in the town that night. Oftentimes, there would only be a couple of reservations at a time and mostly, they were of couples. Mistletoe Manor badly needs advertisement to up the occupancy rate and pay for the refurbishment it badly needs. Klarinda has 2 employees who she inherited from the previous owner: Myrtle, her Jill-of-all-trades and her chef, Pierre. Mistletoe Manor’s restaurant is the best in the area so she had regular diners who kept the place going.
    On the 13th of December, Klarinda’s guests started to trickle in. There was a storm brewing and the roads were blanketed with snow. The strange thing was that the guests came in individually and everyone assumed that it was Klarinda who invited them. Al the invites were the same musty old card bearing the MM initials. Even stranger was the envelope full of bills amounting to ten thousand dollars that was couriered to Klarinda without giving a clue who the donor was. Klarinda assumed the guests had a reunion of some sort because they all knew each other from Mount Hemlock Academy. All except for one lady named, Benji.

    Guests start to turn up dead one after the other in a matter of hours. The cause of deaths appeared to be accidents. Police were in and out of Mistletoe Manor. Never had they been so busy as Windy Pines has always been heralded as a safe, crime-free place. Will Klarinda and her staff be persons of interest? What was the significance of what happened ten years past? Will they be able to solve the mystery why her guests were dropping off like flies? What exactly was the connection her guests shared? Mistletoe Manor got trashed and Klarinda despaired that no one would ever like to stay in a place where people got killed off. Will they ever get to the bottom of this? Who will be the next victim? Is this the end of Klarinda’s dream? Will she die a slow, agonizing, financial death?

    I truly enjoyed this gripping cosy mystery. The author kept me guessing till the very end. The characters were all well-developed. The author established everyone’s individuality and before some characters’ lives ended, the reader really got to know what sort of people they were. I was a bit incredulous at how the police chalked the deaths off as accidents but the killer seemed to be an absolute genius or just very lucky. Even Klarinda started to second-guess her hypothesis and her amateur detective skills. There were injections of humour, too.

    I have read another of Holly Tierney-Bedord’s book, Right Under Your Nose which I also liked. The dialogues and the characters’ thoughts are funny. Overall, this was one entertaining novel. Highly recommended reading for lovers of cosy mysteries.
  • KT Walsh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cosy and cute
    Reviewed in Canada on June 21, 2019
    Really enjoyed the book. Read it in one sitting. Enjoyed the characters and little mystery. Will read more of the authors books
  • Louise
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 8, 2017
    A delightful read, a true of fashioned murder mystery. I can honestly say I read the book within two evenings and enjoyed it. Light hearted and entertaining.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Annemarie Houtenbos
    1.0 out of 5 stars Langweilig
    Reviewed in Germany on January 30, 2020
    Ich mag Mordermysteries aber diese ist langweilig und blöd: Ich habe halbwegs das Buch zur Seite gelegt.
    Offensichtlich ist diese Autorin sehr beliebt, aber das verstehe ich nicht. Hoffentlich sind ihre andere Bücher besser geschrieben.
    Report
  • Zoe
    4.0 out of 5 stars Mmmm
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 10, 2020
    Was well written and it was a good read right up until the last few chapters and it was not so well written.

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