Leslie Caine

This book was a gift 3 years ago at Christmas but I resisted reading it because "A Domestic Bliss Mystery" just appeal to me. But since I try to read every book that comes as a gift I thought now might be a good time to read it as it might get me in a holiday spirit despite the pandemic. It was a quick read at least but I won't be looking for any more books in this series.

The action takes place in a small village in the mountains of Colorado that has recently been taken over by a developer for a ski resort. The lovely old Goodwin Estate is being turned into a B & B by Sullivan and Gilbert Design who have a contract to have it ready for opening by Christmas Eve. Unfortunately the building inspector keeps finding items that aren't up to code and it is looking like they might not be ready for occupancy by then. Erin Gilbert and Steve Sullivan are not just business partners as they are romantically involved as well. Then up pops Erin's old college sweetheart at the fix-it man for the developer. He says he can sort out the inspector but won't give details. When the inspector is found dead on the estate's property it looks like maybe he found the ultimate solution. However he and Erin were having dinner together so he couldn't have done the deed. The local sheriff actually thinks Erin killed the inspector herself but he just doesn't like the fact that Erin and Steve are outsiders. Soon another body turns up in front of the estate and there are several other attempts at murder. Erin and Steve don't trust the sheriff to find the killer so they start looking for clues. There are no shortage of suspects with motives but, of course, the real murderer is someone who doesn't seem possible until the very end.

I didn't even get in the holiday mood from reading this; the interior decorators are just so over the top about their decorating ideas that no real person could keep up.… (mer)