A fun Christmas themed cozy mystery involving infidelity, parties, lies and on dead woman named Carol. Included with this novella are a few recipes, my favorite is the Christmas Pinwheels. These come together quickly, look impressive, and make for a great party appetizer.
Book #13.5 in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series. Hayley, her friend Mona, and her boss’s wife, Rosanna, receive a Christmas card that starts cheerily and ends with the proclamation that the sender (Carol) is leaving town with one of their husbands.
Death of a Christmas Carol by Lee Hollis
Christmas Pin Wheel Appetizers
from a cozy mystery:
Death of a Christmas Carol
by Lee Hollis
Book Outline and Tone:
A novella with a clever concept, easy to read in one sitting. Hayley is the hostess for the Bar Harbor Times Christmas party. Just as she, Mona, and Rosanna are prepping, a Christmas card is delivered that is addressed to all three of them. The card is from Carol, the town flirt, who is known for flirting with married men. The card claims that Carol is leaving town that night with one of their husbands. Hayley soon sleuths out that all 3 husbands are accounted for so is the card a mean prank or a wicked truth?
Intertwined with the mystery are the food and cocktail columns that Hayley writes for the newspaper. These columns contain a funny personal anecdote as well as a recipe for a cocktail and a nosh. The recipes in this novella are Christmas themed. The Christmas pinwheels use spinach tortillas for green and pimentos for touches of red. They are delicious and so easy to put together.
The Best Quote:
“To my Dear Friends, Hayley, Mona, and Rosanna, Blessings, love and peace to you all this holiday season. May the Magic of Christmas fill every. Corner of your homes and hearts. If you haven’t heard, I am moving away from Bar Harbor. I have so much to be grateful for this year, especially since one of you has given me the most wonderful gift that I will be taking with me as I embark on this exciting new journey: your husband!”
Point of View:
The novel is told in third person with the reader knowing Hayley’s thoughts.
The Author: Lee Hollis
This book was written by Lee Hollis. Well sort of… Lee Hollis is the pseudonym for the real authors, a brother and sister team, Rick Copp and Holly Simason. There is more information on Goodreads. Like their protagonist Hayley Powell, Copp and Simason are from Maine. Copp moved to Hollywood and wrote for The Golden Girls, Wings, Teen Titans and a long list of impressive television and movies. Simason is a columnist in Maine and writes a cooking column. Fortunately for us readers, they decided to combine their talents and write the Lee Hollis series, currently being published by Kensington House Publishing Corporation. The Hayley Powell series has a Facebook page. The authors are active on both X and Instagram.
What is not to like?:
I enjoyed this mystery so much, I wish this had been a full length novel and not a 112 page novella. On the other hand, it did make for an easy read during a busy month.
The verdict:
First, make the Pinwheel appetizers, even my picky kids liked them! Second, read the novella, Hayley is a fun spunky character and her mysteries are always good!
Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you).
Christmas Pin Wheel Appetizers
Assemble the Ingredients
In a large bowl, mix together the cream cheese
and ranch dressing mix and mix until combined.
Add the pimentos, drained and patted dry.
Finely shred the cheddar cheese.
Add 1 cup to the bowl.
Add the can green chilies, drained and patted dry
The can of sliced black olives, drained and patted dry.
into the cream cheese mixture and continue mixing until combined.
Divide the cream cheese mixture onto the 4 tortillas. Using a spatula, spread evenly over all tortillas.
Tightly roll up the tortilla and wrap in saran wrap and store in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or even overnight.
Remove tortillas from the fridge and using a serrated knife, cut into 1/2-inch slices and place on a plate. You’ll be the hit of any holiday party!
Christmas Pin Wheel Appetizers
Ingredients
- 2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 package ranch dressing mix
- 1 4-ounce jar pimentos, drained and patted dry
- 1 cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 4-ounce can green chilies, drained and patted dry
- 1 2.25-ounce can of sliced black olives, drained and patted dry
- 2 green onions, chopped
- ½ cup small diced yellow pepper
- 4 spinach flour tortillas (12-inch)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together the cream cheese and ranch dressing mix and mix until combined.
- Add the rest of the ingredients into the cream cheese mixture and continue mixing until combined.
- Divide the cream cheese mixture onto the 4 tortillas. Using a spatula, spread evenly over all tortillas.
- Tightly roll up the tortilla and wrap in saran wrap and store in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or even overnight.
- Remove tortillas from the fridge and using a serrated knife, cut into 1/2-inch slices and place on a plate. You'll be the hit of any holiday party!
What would I do differently next time?
I would not change anything. These are simple and delicious!
More fantastic recipes from Lee Hollis books.
Southern Mac and Cheese from Death of a Country Fried Redneck,
Pumpkin Chocolate Chips Cookies from Death of a Pumpkin Carver,
Lemon Tart from Death of a Cupcake Queen, and
Dreamy Orange Dreamsicle Cake from Death of a Cupcake Queen.
