Publishers Weekly

At the start of Kingsbury's engaging fourth holiday Pennyfoot Hotel mystery set during the Edwardian era (after 2007's Shrouds of Holly), amateur sleuth Cecily Sinclair Baxter is hoping for a festive winter season at her hotel on England's windy southeast coast, but the Christmas curse strikes again. The speaker of the House of Lords, Sir Walter Hetherton, and his wife, Lady Clara, are killed by an explosive Yuletide cracker at the Pennyfoot Country Club, which Cecily now manages. Constable Sam Northcutt believes the explosion was caused by a malfunctioning gas lamp, but after Sam leaves for vacation, one of Cecily's employees alerts her to some disturbing evidence. Could Pennyfoot be harboring a murderer? Suspects include Hetherton's political rival, Roland Crossley. A scary, vanishing snowman heightens the suspense. While the murderer's motive might strike some as a bit unconvincing, cozy fans will be pleased to ring in the new year with this cheerful Kingsbury trifle. (Nov.)