132) Twelve's Drummer Dying by Gemma Halliday

The Blurb :

Rock Star Becomes Reindeer Roadkill

Visions of sensational headlines, not sugarplums, dance in LA Informer columnist Tina Bender’s head this holiday season.

When the drummer for ’80s hair-metal band Twelve falls from the top of a holiday parade float and gets trampled to death by eight not-so-tiny reindeer, Tina scoops the story of the year! But was the fall an accident or something more sinister? Was the drummer’s jilted lover involved, or his newly discovered son? And what does the snowman have to do with it? Crack tabloid reporter Tina’s on the case—determined to find out who’s been naughty and who’s been downright lethal.

My Thoughts :

I have read most of the books in Gemma Hallidays High Heel's Mystery series but never managed to try anything else by the author.  My revisit to the Twelve Days of Killer Fiction series turned up this novella that I obviously missed last year when they were released.

There isn't much you can say about a novella without giving everything away so I will just say this is definitely worth reading.  A great cozy mystery, some fun bits, some serious bits and some interesting characters.  The plot was well thought out and kept me guessing.  The Christmas angle wasn't too over bearing and it turned out to be  nice little read.

Check out the other Twelve Days of Christmas novellas and see if there are any others you would like!  They are cheap and cheerful and lovely short stories from a wide variety of authors and genres.

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25) Sweetheart in High Heels by Gemma Halliday

The Blurb

Being the wife of a cop isn't all it's cracked up to be. Especially when dead bodies keep ruining your romantic dinner plans. But fashion designer turned amateur sleuth Maddie Springer is determined that her husband's latest case, dubbed the "Sex Shop Murder", will not keep him from celebrating their first anniversary together, which just happens to fall on the most romantic of all holidays, Valentine's Day. She's ready to do whatever it takes to make this night special and distraction-free - even if it means solving his case herself!

My Thoughts :

I was very happy to find this series was still going or at least had some new additions added to it. This was a cozy mystery series I really enjoyed and for some reason I never checked up on it until I saw a recommendation for it on Amazon.

This short story was like going to visit sn old friend. Depsite not reading anything sbout Maddie for so long it didn't take me long to catch-up with her and feel at home with everything. The plot was good for a novella and it managed to fit in some good stuff. A huge improvement on the Christmas novella.

Definitely worth trying if you are sure about the full length mysteries. Also a nice little short cozy to put on your Kindle for when you want a good quick read. I am happy I found this one and hope the author writes some more High Heel stories.

24) Christmas in High Heels by Gemma Halliday

The Blurb :

Fashion designer turned amateur sleuth Maddie Springer can't wait to spend the holidays with her boyfriend, LAPD Detective Jack Ramirez. It's their first Christmas together, and Maddie wants it to be perfect. But between her zany family and wacky friends, Maddie's having a hard time finding alone time with her man. But come Christmas morning, this is one holiday she'll be sure to remember - naughty or nice!

My Thoughts :

I haven't read anthing by the author for years and when I came across a couple of novellas from a series I really enjoyed, well I couldn't resist. The Christmas theme put me off a little. Afterall that holiday is over and I would prefer not to think of it again for at least another eight months or so but this story came first in the order of things so I had to delve back into my Christmas spirit.

As short stories go it was very short. It didn't take very long to read at all. Ten minutes max. It was great to meet up with characters again and realised I hadn't forgotten them and enjoyed glimpsing back into their lives again. However whatever happiness I had about re-visitng this cozy mystery series disappeared when there was no crime! No dead body! No real mystery to solve!

Simple, cute but totally boring. I felt slightly cheated and have to say I could have done without this one. However that is always a risk when reading novellas. Some can be amazing but others can totally let you down.