Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off Book Review

This Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off book review is for cozy mystery readers who love their whodunits wrapped in twinkling lights, holiday traditions, and plenty of comfort food. Set during Christmastime in a lively small town, this story leans fully into festive cheer while delivering a gentle, curiosity-driven mystery that’s perfect for seasonal reading. If you’re browsing for a holiday cozy that prioritizes atmosphere, warmth, and feel-good vibes, this book offers a comforting escape that pairs beautifully with cookies, cocoa, and a quiet winter evening.

Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off - Darci Hannah

Series: Beacon Bakeshop Mysteries
Vibes: Festive holiday cozy, foodie comfort, small-town charm, Christmas competition drama, gentle seasonal mystery

Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off Book Review

If you love your cozy mysteries wrapped in twinkling lights, dusted with sugar, and steeped in holiday cheer, Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off is a festive delight from start to finish. Set during Christmastime in the charming town of Beacon Harbor, Michigan, this book delivers full Hallmark-style holiday energy paired with a comforting, foodie-forward mystery that never loses its cozy heart.

This is the kind of Christmas cozy that leans fully into the season — decorations, traditions, family visits, friendly competition, and all the emotions that come with wanting the holidays to be perfect.

The Sleuth:
Determined, Relatable, and Holiday-Stressed (in the Best Way)

Lindsey Bakewell is a determined amateur sleuth who feels immediately relatable, especially during the holiday season. At the start of the story, she’s anxious and overwhelmed — short-staffed at her lighthouse bakeshop café, preparing for a town-wide Christmas cookie bake-off, and bracing herself for family visits. That stress feels very real and very human.

As the story unfolds, Lindsey settles into a mix of relief, concern, and determination, particularly as the bake-off approaches. What makes her such an enjoyable protagonist is how deeply she cares — about her family, her business, and creating a warm, magical Christmas for the people she loves. Her desire to decorate both the lighthouse and her bakery to keep the holiday spirit alive adds a lovely emotional layer to the story.

She genuinely loves baking for a living, and that passion shines through. Whether she’s worrying about cookie recipes or navigating holiday expectations, Lindsey feels like someone who belongs in this cozy world — not just solving a mystery, but living her dream, even when it’s messy.

The Setting:
Cozy, Busy, and Bursting with Christmas Spirit

Beacon Harbor is the perfect backdrop for a holiday cozy mystery. The town feels cozy but busy during the holidays, alive with seasonal energy rather than quiet and sleepy. The lighthouse bakeshop café stands out as an especially memorable setting, blending small-town charm with a unique sense of place.

Christmas is not just a backdrop here — it’s everywhere. From decorations to events to the general atmosphere, this book delivers full Hallmark-style holiday vibes. If you love Christmas cozies that fully commit to the season, this one absolutely does.

The setting captures that magical December feeling where everything seems brighter, warmer, and just a little more emotional — even when things go wrong.

Side Characters:
Cozy Chaos and Emotional Warmth

The supporting cast adds a wonderful mix of cozy chaos and emotional warmth, making the town feel lived-in and alive. One standout is Mrs. Nichols, Lindsey’s surprise new assistant baker, who brings heart, personality, and a comforting presence to the bakery. She quickly becomes someone you enjoy seeing on the page, adding depth to Lindsey’s daily life and work routines.

The bake-off rival, Felicity Stewart, is annoying but entertaining in a very cozy-mystery way. She adds just the right amount of friction and competition, and while she’s often overbearing, there are moments where she inspires a surprising bit of sympathy. That emotional nuance keeps her from feeling cartoonish and adds interest to the story.

Overall, the book balances tight-knit community vibes with found-family elements, especially as Lindsey navigates holiday stress and support from those around her.

The Mystery:
Gentle, Festive, and Comfortably Twisty

The mystery itself lands firmly in the moderate cozy tension range. There’s no gore, no grim darkness, and nothing that disrupts the comforting holiday atmosphere. Even when the stakes rise, the story remains gentle and inviting.

Interestingly, while the murder involves crumbs from Lindsey’s signature cookie, it doesn’t create stressful tension — instead, it sparks curiosity. The mystery unfolds in a comfortably twisty way, encouraging readers to wonder how everything connects rather than worrying about danger or intensity.

The clues feel fair, the pacing stays smooth, and the resolution fits the cozy tone perfectly. This is very much a “curl up and enjoy the ride” mystery rather than one that demands intense focus or emotional investment.

Vibes Check:
Festive, Foodie, and Full of Christmas Comfort

This book checks all the holiday cozy boxes:

• Festive holiday cozy
• Foodie-forward mystery
• Small-town charm
• Christmas competition drama

It’s the kind of read that makes you crave Christmas cookies, eggnog, and a table full of comfort food. The atmosphere alone is enough to make it a perfect December reread, especially if Christmas is your favorite holiday.

There are also very light paranormal mentions and dogs woven into the story, adding a touch of extra cozy appeal without shifting the genre focus.

Who Will Enjoy This Book Most?

Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off is perfect for holiday cozy fans who want their mysteries drenched in Christmas spirit. It’s especially well-suited for readers who love:

• Christmas-themed cozy mysteries
• Food-based cozies with baking at the center
• Competition-style mysteries
• Small towns that feel lively during the holidays

While it can work as a standalone holiday cozy, it’s best enjoyed as part of the series, where the relationships and setting really get to shine.

My Final Thoughts:
Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off Book Review

This book captures exactly what a holiday cozy mystery should feel like: warm, festive, comforting, and just a little dramatic in a fun, seasonal way. If Christmas stories are your comfort reads, Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off delivers that feeling beautifully — not through shocking moments or high tension, but through atmosphere, heart, and holiday joy.

It’s a cozy mystery that feels like Christmas itself — familiar, comforting, and something you’ll want to return to again.

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Enjoyed My Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off Book Review? If so,
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