It Came upon a Midnight Shear

I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for holiday cozies, but *It Came upon a Midnight Shear* sneaks up on you like an unexpected frost. Brittany Pressley’s narration is the audiobook equivalent of curling up with a hot drink—her Libby Beckett is equal parts weary business owner and determined sleuth, her voice dripping with the exhaustion of holiday prep colliding with murder. Pressley nails the small-town vibe, making every side character feel like your nosy but lovable neighbor, while Allie Pleiter’s cameo as the shop’s gossip queen is pure comic gold. The story’s strongest suit is its setting: Collinstown’s holiday decorations feel like a character themselves, from the twinkling lights to the overzealous inflatable reindeer. The mystery unfolds like a particularly tricky cable-knit pattern—there’s a rhythm to the clues, but just when you think you’ve got it, the stitches pull tight again. My only quibble? The subplot involving Libby’s love life feels a tad predictable, as if the book couldn’t resist a dash of holiday romance. Still, the production is crisp, the humor lands, and the body count (metaphorically and literally) keeps the tension high. If you crave cozy mysteries with bite, this one’s your sleigh ride.