Audiobook Review: Murder on Mistletoe Lane by Clara McKenna

Murder on Mistletoe Lane
Author: Clara McKenna
Narrator: Sarah Zimmerman
Series: Stella and Lyndy (Book 5)
Publication: Highbridge (October 24, 2023)
Length: 8 hours and 38 minutes

Description: Taking on the responsibilities that come with being Lady Lyndhurst, Stella is eager to embrace yuletide traditions in the Edwardian English countryside and use her strong social influence for good. Her world becomes so consumed with starting a horse farm charity for the holidays that she barely notices the usual oddities attached to her upper crust lifestyle. At least, not until items vanish from her bedroom and maligned housekeeper, Mrs. Nelson, becomes seriously ill—only to be found dead in the cold on Mistletoe Lane...

Cheery spirits are dashed following the sudden death, especially once Stella questions whether her own staff knows what—or who—killed the woman. Her suspicions mount when another person dies under strange circumstances during New Forest's annual Point-to-Point Boxing Day race. Then there's the case of Morrington Hall becoming plagued by false identities, secret affairs, and disgruntled employees...

Now, with two murders unfolding before their eyes in late December, Stella and Lyndy realize they can't fully trust anyone except for themselves while investigating. Because as disturbing answers come into focus, identifying the criminal responsible and surviving into the new year would be the greatest gift of the season...

My Thoughts: It is Christmas time and Stella is looking forward to her first Christmas as Lady Lyndhurst. However, the staff at her new home are reluctant to make the changes Stella would like and her mother-in-law has invited guests to the estate for the holidays. She hasn't been very forthcoming about why she invited them since they hadn't had any contact for years. 

Morrington Hall is also undergoing a variety of changes since the infusion of Stella's very substantial dowry. Central heating is being installed, new maids hired, and other new staff are also arriving. Then things start to go missing and Stella begins receiving love notes that are not from her new husband. 

Events escalate when the housekeeper goes missing and is later found dead on the road. Then the cook disappears leaving all things up in the air and unprepared for the arriving guests. Stella has found a way to insert her own influence by bringing the housekeeper and cook from the home she shared with her father before her marriage. 

Stella and Lyndy also get caught up in the investigation into the housekeeper's death. There are a number of suspects including the guests at the hall. 

I felt that this episode was a little scattered. Listening to the audiobook made it harder to keep up with the changes in viewpoint characters. But everything came together in the end to make a satisfying mystery. 

I bought the Kindle and Audible editions October 22, 2024. You can buy your copy here.