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  • 'Twas the Knife Before Christmas

  • A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery, Book 2
  • Written by: Jacqueline Frost
  • Narrated by: Allyson Ryan
  • Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (103 ratings)

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'Twas the Knife Before Christmas cover art

'Twas the Knife Before Christmas

Written by: Jacqueline Frost
Narrated by: Allyson Ryan
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Publisher's Summary

A Christmas delight, 'Twas the Knife Before Christmas will charm the stockings off fans of Joanne Fluke and Leslie Meier.

It's out of the cupcake tin, into the fire for Holly White's best friend, Caroline. Can Holly clear Caroline's name in time to go caroling?

When a body turns up in the dumpster behind Caroline's Cupcakes, Holly White is horrified to learn her best friend, Caroline, is the main suspect. Everyone in town, including Mistletoe, Maine's sheriff, saw Caroline fighting with the victim on the night of his death. Worse, Caroline's fingerprints are all over the murder weapon, a custom-designed marble rolling pin. 

Now, just 10 days before Christmas, Holly's up to her jingle bells in holiday shenanigans and in desperate need of a miracle. Juggling extra shifts at her family's Christmas tree farm and making enough gingerbread jewelry to satisfy the crowd is already more than she can handle - and now she has to find time to clear her best friend of murder. Add in her budding relationship with the sheriff and run-ins with an ex-fiance looking to make amends, and Holly's ready to fly south until springtime. 

But her Sherpa-lined mittens come off when Caroline is taken into custody. Can Holly wrap up the case in time for Christmas...even after she gains the true killer's attention? Find out in 'Twas the Knife Before Christmas, Jacqueline Frost's second pine-scented Christmas Tree Farm mystery.

©2018 Jacqueline Frost (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about 'Twas the Knife Before Christmas

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Perfectly cozy with a touch of Xmas magic

Such a nice listen either way great characters. Excellent narration as well. Will listen to the rest in the series.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fun read/listen

This book was a super fun listen, so much so that my husband even enjoyed it! The characters, storyline, plot, narration are all too notice!! I can’t wait for the next book!! I definitely recommend!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Fun Christmas Mystery

I enjoyed the story and the characters. Definitely helped bring me into the holiday spirit.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
  • CTB
  • 2023-11-17

Could have been a novella

This book took way too long to get to the point. I lost interest and skipped to the end. Was not shocked at who the murderer turned out to be. Tighter writing would have improved this novel greatly.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

a big step down

this was just fine, but very much a step down from the last one.

I hated holly more every chapter. the mystery was done, but I didn't particularly care who dun it in the end

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

repetative

the plot is sooo very much as the previous book...she's nosey, silly, and almost dies but thank goodness her night in shining armour arrives at the last moment. I mean COME-ON! lol

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Such a fun listen!

Listening to this made me so happy. Perfect combination of Christmas and small town murder/cozy mystery.

Looking forward to the next book in the series.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Series keeps getting better

When I reviewed the previous book 12 slays of Christmas I gave it a four overall because I thought both the performance and the story even for a cosy mystery was little bit rough. By the time I was done the second book I thought any issues I had with the previous Brooks performance or story had been improved greatly.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Even better than the first

After having finished Twelve Slays of Christmas last week, I decided to head back into Mistletoe immediately and read ‘Twas the Knife Before Christmas, the second instalment in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series.

I was not let down.

First off, once again, the descriptions of Mistletoe and the Christmas Tree farm were beautifully cosy; I deeply regret that I couldn’t just hop into my book and see Reindeer Games for myself. All of the details from the farm's decor to the smells of the Hearth put me right into a festive mood.

As for the characters, they were all fun to return to and follow on this adventure - despite a few minor annoyances that I had with Holly.

However, what I enjoyed most about ‘Twas the Knife Before Christmas was the obvious improvement of the author since the first book. This instalment felt more intense and dangerous in a way, but not so much so that it would be out of the ‘cozy’ category.

Finally, What really brought the spark of life to this novel, was the return of Allyson Ryan as the narrator; her expert ability to create separate character voices (including male) brought another dimension to the story.

Overall, there is nothing of note that I disliked about ‘Twas the Knife Before Christmas; the improved writing, the cozy setting, and fantastic mystery, all make this a wonderful story to settle in with during the Holiday season.

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