Title:	Christmas Corpse
	Author:	Mona Marple, Katie Forrest
	Published:	December 3, 2020,
	No. of Pages:	156
	Cover Price:	$23.99 Hardcover, $11.99 Paperback, $5.99 Kindle, $7.99 Audio book

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Anyone looking for a new, festive cozy novel will want to pick up Christmas Corpse. The protagonist, Holly Wood, slides off the road and is rescued by a sweet old lady named Mrs. Clause. She is taken to recover from frostbite to Candy Cane Hollow and to a mansion named Candy Cane Cottage, which is located just east of London (apparently, the North Pole is too cold). Holly is taken to the town doctor, and the receptionist tells her in no uncertain terms that she is not welcome. Unfortunately, that receptionist is found poisoned, and Mrs. Clause is blamed because the poison was found in one of her mince pies. Holly knows Mrs. Clause isn’t guilty and sets out to find the real murderer.

The author, writing under the pseudonym, Mona Maples, knows how to tell a cute story, and does a good job here. While there isn’t a lot of suspense in this novel, there is enough to keep readers interested. The characters are well-developed and believable.

This is the first installment of The Christmas Cozy Series, and there have been eight subsequent novels. This one is short and can be read or listened to in an afternoon. If you listen to the audiotape the narrator is excellent and takes readers (listeners) to a new place where the British accent is strong and the English culture comes through; readers will feel like they are actually there, even though it is a fictional place.

This is an excellent novel for all ages who like cozies. It is perfect to read for the holidays and even though most of us are busy at that time, this one is short enough to be read on a few breaks from what is going on.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.