A Christmas Peril (A Theater Cop Mystery) by J. A. Hennrikus
A Christmas Peril
A Theater Cop Mystery, Book 1
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Midnight Ink (September 8, 2017) Paperback: 288 pages ISBN-13: 978-0738754154
About the Book:
When Edwina “Sully” Sullivan’s life imploded, she left behind her job on the police force and her unfaithful husband to start a new life as the general manager of her hometown theater, the Cliffside Theater Company. For five years, she focused on budgets instead of crimes and kept the Cliffside running alongside its mercurial artistic director.
But when her best friend is arrested for killing his father, the rich and powerful Peter Whitehall, no one is looking for another suspect. So, in between keeping A Christmas Carol on budget and Scrooge sober, Sully dusts off her investigative skills to find a killer. Her two lives collide when her ex-husband gets on the suspect list and she’s forced to confront her past in order to save her present.
My Review:
Full of twists and turns, A Christmas Peril is an enjoyable mystery throws in red herrings to lead the reader astray. The author does a great job concealing the murderer and unraveling the mystery. The world building is done well and the characters are well developed.
Sully's character is down-to-earth and likable. She loves her friends and her job running the Cliffside Theater Company. She gets along with everyone. Her biggest attribute is that she doesn't do stupid things that jeopardize her safety or the safety of others. She's not a perfect heroine but she's perfectly written for this story. The secondary characters, including Eric, Harry, Gus, and others, are fun and enjoyable, too.
The book is a little slow at times but has a mostly steady pace. I was never bored with the plot, characters, or antics that went on in the book. The addition of the theater company gave the book a different feel. Many of the cozies I read include crafting, backing, or something to do with animals. I like the ones that are based around theater.
I can't wait for the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of A Christmas Peril.
My Rating:
About The Author:
J. A. Hennrikus is the author of the Theater Cop Mystery series. As Julianne Holmes, she writes the Agatha-nominated Clock Shop Mystery series for Berkley Prime Crime. Hennrikus blogs with the Wicked Cozy Authors, is on the board of Sisters in Crime, and is a member of Mystery Writers of America. She is also an arts administrator who lives in Massachusetts.
Wicked Cozy Authors Blog - https://wickedcozyauthors.com/
I also blog on Live to Write/Write to Live, and I blog on Killer Characters on the 20th of each month.
I love when a mystery keeps you constantly guessing the killer.
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