Missing Santas Book Review

This Missing Santas book review takes a closer look at a holiday mystery set in a town where Christmas isn’t just a season — it’s an identity. When festive traditions begin unraveling and suspicion lands in uncomfortable places, the story blends small-town tension with twinkling lights and peppermint-sweet atmosphere. As a short seasonal read, it delivers warmth, drama, and just enough mystery to keep the pages turning — even if the execution occasionally feels uneven. If you’re browsing for a cozy that leans heavily into holiday spirit with moderate tension and Hallmark-style charm, this one may fit your December reading mood.

Missing Santas - Sharon Michaels

Series: Holiday Corner Christmas Cozy Mystery
Vibes: Christmas festival cozy, small-town charm, holiday drama, light foodie elements, Hallmark-style whimsy

Missing Santas Book Review

This Missing Santas book review is for cozy mystery readers who enjoy Hallmark-style Christmas towns, low-tension mysteries, and short festive reads that can be finished in a sitting or two. As the first installment in the Holiday Corner Christmas Cozy Mystery short-read series, this book leans heavily into holiday atmosphere and small-town drama while keeping the mystery soft and approachable.

Set in Holiday Corner, Vermont — a town that prides itself on celebrating Christmas 365 days a year — this story blends twinkling lights, missing Santas, town gossip, and seasonal sabotage into a quick, lighthearted mystery. It’s charming, occasionally dramatic, and firmly rooted in holiday spirit, even when things don’t unfold as smoothly as planned.

The Sleuth:
Festive, Stressed, and Determined

Joy Holiday is a sleuth who feels very much shaped by her circumstances. As an event planner in a town literally named after her ancestor, she carries both legacy and expectation on her shoulders. That weight adds emotional context to the mystery and gives her motivation beyond simply solving a crime.

Joy comes across as festive yet stressed — someone who desperately wants to create holiday magic but finds herself constantly reacting to events spiraling out of her control. She’s more reactive than strategic when it comes to sleuthing, which makes her feel realistic in a short-read format. She’s not calculating clues with clinical precision; she’s responding to chaos as it unfolds around her.

Despite the tension and suspicion directed toward her, Joy remains determined. Her personality is easy to like. You want things to work out for her, especially as the town’s frustration grows and her reputation feels at stake. The fact that the town carries her family name adds emotional weight, reinforcing why failure would feel personal rather than professional.

She isn’t flashy or overly quirky — but she is heartfelt and sincere, which works well for a holiday-centered cozy.

The Setting:
Hallmark Christmas Energy

Holiday Corner is exactly what you’d expect from the name: cozy, warm, slightly dramatic, and undeniably Hallmark-movie charming. Garland, wreaths, twinkling lights — this town fully embraces its identity.

The setting feels central to everything. The Christmas theme isn’t background décor; it’s the entire foundation of the story. The town’s pride in its holiday traditions raises the stakes when things begin going wrong. Missing Santas? In a town built on Christmas spirit? That’s practically a crisis of identity.

Interestingly, the lack of snow — which might have been a dramatic device — doesn’t add much tension. It’s mentioned, but emotionally it doesn’t carry heavy weight, especially if you’re someone used to green Christmases. The real tension comes from town suspicion and interpersonal drama rather than weather.

Would you visit Holiday Corner? Possibly — especially for the events Joy tries to create. There’s something inviting about a place that leans so wholeheartedly into celebration. It’s easy to imagine browsing booths or attending one of the festive gatherings, even if living there full-time might feel a bit intense.

Side Characters:
Suspicion, Support, and a Surprise Pup

The side characters lean into small-town drama. Some are supportive. Some are suspicious. That tension creates friction and helps drive the story forward, especially as blame begins shifting toward Joy.

Emily Dear stands out among the supporting cast, and Joy’s billionaire ex-husband adds a layer of external pressure that works well in a short format. His presence raises the stakes without overwhelming the cozy tone. For this particular story length, that tension feels effective rather than over-the-top.

The most memorable addition, however, comes toward the end: an elderly Saint Bernard who unexpectedly enters the story and ultimately becomes Joy’s pet. That element adds warmth and emotional payoff. It’s a sweet development and arguably one of the most surprising and satisfying parts of the book.

For pet-loving cozy readers, that detail alone adds an extra layer of charm.

The Mystery:
Soft, Moderate, and Occasionally Choppy

The mystery itself sits firmly in the moderate cozy tension range. The crimes are handled softly — no graphic details, no lingering grimness — just enough tension to keep things moving without disrupting the festive mood.

That said, the pacing can feel choppy at times. As a short read, the story moves quickly, but not always smoothly. Some transitions feel abrupt, and the structure doesn’t always flow as seamlessly as it could. If you prefer tightly plotted mysteries, this might stand out to you.

However, the culprit remains surprising, which adds value. The reveal is satisfying, even if the journey there isn’t perfectly polished.

The cookie recipes enhance rather than distract. They fit naturally within the holiday atmosphere and reinforce the cozy, homey feel of the town.

Vibes Check:
Festive Distraction with Small-Town Drama

Dominant vibes include:

• Christmas festival cozy
• Small-town drama
• Holiday sabotage mystery
• Hallmark-style charm
• Light foodie elements

This is very much a festive distraction — something you might pick up during December when you’re in the mood for twinkling lights and seasonal mischief rather than deep emotional complexity.

While enjoyable, it may leave you wanting a bit more depth by the end. The premise is strong, and the atmosphere is inviting, but the execution doesn’t always reach the emotional or structural richness it could.

Who Will Enjoy This Book Most?

Missing Santas is a good fit for:

• Holiday cozy lovers
• Readers who enjoy short reads
• Fans of low-tension mysteries
• Hallmark-style Christmas drama readers
• Cozy fans who enjoy light recipes included in the story

Both new and experienced cozy readers could enjoy this, though it likely works best for readers looking for something quick and seasonal rather than immersive and complex.

My Final Thoughts:
Missing Santas Book Review

Missing Santas ultimately feels like a quick seasonal read — one that delivers charm, Christmas spirit, and a satisfying conclusion, even if the journey feels slightly uneven at times.

You finish amused and reasonably satisfied, though perhaps wishing for more depth and smoother pacing. The premise is fun. The town is charming. The mystery resolves cleanly. And the surprise dog addition adds heart.

While it may not be a must-continue series, it works well as a light holiday escape — something to curl up with when you want twinkle lights, small-town drama, and a mystery that won’t demand too much emotional heavy lifting.

If you’re in the mood for a cozy Christmas distraction with soft tension and festive flair, Missing Santas may be just the kind of short holiday read you’re looking for.

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Enjoyed My Missing Santas Book Review? If so,
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