Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from Netgalley. This was an entertaining, light - hearted comedy. It owned its silliness meaning the persistent need to suspend disbelief didn't matter. I enjoyed the characters and the plot, and the sneaky Thursday Murder Club reference. The story was wrapped up a bit quickly, and I'm not quite sure how Anna reached the right conclusion, but ultimately, it was a fun festive read.

My first book by this author, and I'd heard a lot of good things about this book. It's very funny and there is a lot of laughs through it which helped it earn it's 3 stars. However, I really struggled with the storyline and found it all a little bit silly (and not in a funny way!). I get it's a story and stories don't have to be realistic, but it just felt that little bit too far-fetched - are detectives going to completely miss out basic entry level investigating so they can get to their Christmas party in time and are you really going to leave a dead body in the pantry and go to Starbucks, are just a couple of examples of things that irked me! I really liked the humour but the rest of the book wasn't really for me.

I am a little bit 'bah humbug' when it somes to Christmas books as I can't be doing with all the schmaltzy, fluffy ones! But this one was right up my street!

After hosting a brilliant Christmas party, Anna was expecting a horrendous clean up the morning after, but a dead Santa in her larder is a step further than her hungover head can deal with! When the police finally show up, they seem more concerned about getting back to the station in time for their Christmas party, so Anna and her husband Oli decide to try and solve it themselves, before the imminent arrival of the in-laws!

Brilliant, dark comedy that made me laugh out loud several times. Perfect if you like your Christmas reads on the non-lovey-dovey side!

I love a good Christmas/holiday mystery. Add in a good dash of humor and it’s a recipe for success. I had a really good time with this book and found myself constantly laughing. Absolutely recommend for anyone who loves a fun mystery!

The run up to Christmas is stressful enough but when Anna wakes up on Christmas Eve after a festive party at home with friends and work colleagues the last thing she expects is to find her boss dead in her larder and he's dressed as Santa!

With the police more interested in rushing back to their own Christmas party than looking for suspects Anna decides to look for clues herself. It must have been one of their friends, but who would want to kill Colin and use one of her favourite knives (from an expensive set) to stab him as well!

As well as turning detective she also needs to find the time to clean and decorate the house for the impending arrival of the judgy inlaws, whilst shielding her 7 year old from discovering Santas demise...

A very funny book that keeps you guessing to the end! It will appeal to the stressed 40 something mum at Christmas!

Thank you Netgalley, Avon Books UK and Jo Middleton for the eArc of Happy Bloody Christmas.
Olivia Mace (Narrator)

This is my first book that I have read by Jo Middleton and I loved it! Her writing style with the cosy, comical whodunit edge had me engaged throughout the book. I loved the MC, Anna, her family and her closest friend characters which felt realistic and well rounded. The humour that is weaved throughout the narrative really tickled me. It's well placed and light so I had some great laugh out loud moments. There is some great foreshadowing and even though some might think it was predictable, I still really enjoyed the finale. I'll be looking out for more books by this author.

I also had the pleasure of listening to part of the audiobook when I didn't have time to sit and read. Olivia Mace has a wonderful voice for this type of genre and also portrayed the humorous side of the book really well.


4.5 for Storygraph, 5 for other review sites.

A very enjoyable murder mystery, investigating the stabbing of Father Christmas. When the police seem to be incompetent, Anna with her family and friends set about solving the mystery and identifying the killer. Light-hearted and fun story.

Oh what an hilarious book!
I was already hooked from seeing the cover and knew this was going to be a good one!

Anna wakes up on Christmas Eve with a big hangover and a house to clean after the party her family threw the night before for her friends and co-workers. She has only a few hours to clean and prepare for the in-laws for Christmas Day and she’s already dreading it. When she goes downstairs and opens the pantry, to her shock, her boss Colin has been stabbed and is dressed as Father Christmas dead on the floor. She rings her best friend Jennie and they start collecting some evidence and start the detective skills that everyone wishes they could do just once!

Absolutely loved the writing style, it was so easy to read and I managed to finish it so quickly!

Definitely recommend for a hilarious Christmas read.

When Anna wakes up on Christmas Eve with a hangover, the last thing she expects is to find a body in her larder.
But the next twenty-four hours will be her busiest yet, not only is she getting ready for her in-laws to stay over and preparing the Christmas dinner, but she's also solving a murder.

This novel was outrageously funny, and I found myself laughing out loud at certain scenes. I loved the devotion Oli has for Anna, and this is definitely 'Couple Goals' relationship vibe. I also adored the best friend, Jennie, who was a little quirky but who constantly had Anna's back.

This novel truly showed us not to mess with this female main character as she really can do it all.

This book was a bit of a god send for me. I could feel myself slipping into a bit of a book slump and this brought me back from the brink! I love a bit of a murder mystery, and with the added Christmas theme, the chaos of incoming in-laws and the addition of a hangover, it just made the whole thing even better! I found myself giggling at some points, it was very UK centred which I love as the references were completely on point and I just found it really comforting. Thank you to the team at @avonbooks for sending me a copy - I’m well and truly in the Christmas spirit now… just without the murder part 😉

Sadly this book felt too unrealistic for me to enjoy. I couldn’t get past them continuing with their day after a murder in the house and also the police not really doing much about it. I liked the style of writing so if you can suspend reality I’m sure you could enjoy this book just not for me unfortunately.

I thought this was a fun read, full of real people in unreal circumstances as well as caricatures such as the police officers . You had to suspend belief but I really enjoyed it.

If you are looking for a light, funny but dark read for December then pick this one up!

After my last read, I needed something really light and murdery, and well ‘tis the season, so I finally picked this one up. I knew it was going to be funny, but I did not expect it to be that funny - it’s absolutely brilliant. It felt like it was a really short book as I finished it quick, but on looking at the page count it would appear that I just flew through it. As the person who has the inlaws for dinner as well, I was having absolute palpitations over how much time they were wasting “faffing around” and going out, and they partied on pre-Christmas eve? What?! I could not cope…

Overall, loved it so much - an antidote to the Christmas stress!

My thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have to be honest—I didn’t enjoy this book. The story felt ridiculous; the idea of continuing with your day while there’s a body in the pantry was just too far-fetched for me. While I understand it was intended as dark humor, it simply didn’t resonate with me. Unfortunately, I got about 80% through the book and found myself losing interest, so I decided not to finish it. For these reasons, I won’t be reviewing it publicly, as I don’t feel I can recommend it.

Most of my go to Christmas reads are cosy romances, so this festive mystery was a refreshing change of pace!

It’s Christmas Eve, and Anna is nursing a hangover after last night’s party. With a house to clean before the in-laws arrive the last thing she needs is a dead Santa in her larder!

Anna enlists the help of her husband Oli, their teenage son, and her best friend Jennie to try and solve the mystery while still trying to pull off a perfect Christmas.

This book is witty and entertaining. Its engaging plot and lively characters make it an enjoyable read for anyone looking for a Christmas story that steps beyond the traditional.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for the ARC

***advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
Enjoyable Christmas cozy murder mystery - a little predictable perhaps but no less fun for it. Something a bit like Bridget Jones meets Poirot - if you’re looking for the winter season equiv of a beach read, you’d do worse than picking this up.

‘Happy Bloody Christmas’ has the perfect mixture of murder mystery and comedy. The Christmas shenanigans are reminiscent of many families and added to the fun of the book!

Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for the arc to review.

Enjoyed reading this and was chuckling throughout 😁 definitely puts you off office parties although it did seem that Anna has found her new calling in life. I couldn't help feel sorry for her as she was trying to hold it all together for Christmas while trying to play detective in a bid to uncover a murderer - who could have been one of her nearest and dearest. Trying to do that when waiting for a monster in-law to descend on you and criticise your every effort adds to further stress that she could do without. She handles it all perfectly, with great humour and better than the police- all with time to spare for Christmas ⛄🎁

It's a fun read that really does have you laughing out loud at times. Lots of fun references too and you can't help identify with Anna at times.

Christmas Eve, and Anna wakes with a hangover and a huge to-do list before her in laws arrive for Christmas. Unfortunately she also finds the body of her boss in her larder, stabbed. She, husband Oli and best friend Jennie decide they need to find the murderer, particularly as they have got the most inept police in the world on their case - seriously, they walk over incriminating footprints, never interview the party goers including Oli, and disappear for Christmas nibbles with no further interest in the case.

The result is very funny in parts, although Anna is easily distracted and the reader becomes frustrated as time ticks on while she faffs about instead of preparing her home for the dreaded mother in law's arrival. However, the list of suspects is long and the alibis numerous, so its quite clever how it all falls into place.

Anna is a realistic mum in the modern world and apart from the unlikelihood of finding a body and not ringing the police instantly, as well as withholding evidence, it makes for a fun Christmas read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If playing Cluedo was more of an immersive family activity, than a board game, this lot would be the experts! Alongside, all of the stress, drama, chaos and pressure of organising the perfect family Christmas, there's the small matter of solving the mystery of the dead Father Christmas in the pantry.

Fabulous, funny, festive and guaranteed to make you appreciate your own holiday season.