The Knife Before Christmas

I’ll admit, I side-eyed the premise at first: *another* Christmas cozy mystery? But *The Knife Before Christmas* won me over by refusing to coast on holiday tropes. Carlisle makes the season feel integral, not ornamental—Shannon’s stress over hosting Mac’s family for the first time collides with a murder investigation in ways that heighten both plots. The victim’s connection to Mac’s past adds real emotional weight, and I appreciated how the book doesn’t shy from the awkwardness of blended-family dynamics amid a homicide probe. That said, the red herrings here are *aggressively* telegraphed; by the third time a character clutched their pearls over a “shocking” reveal, I’d already guessed the twist. Jae Delane’s performance elevates the material significantly. Her Shannon sounds like a woman who’s wielded a nail gun since puberty—dry, capable, and just sarcastic enough to keep the schmaltz at bay. The real standout is her handling of the romantic subplot: she nails the push-pull between Shannon’s exasperation with Mac’s overprotectiveness and her genuine affection for him. My only gripe? The audio mixing occasionally drowns out Delane’s lower register during action scenes, forcing me to rewind. Still, the production’s atmospheric touches (subtle jingle bells in transition music, the crunch of snow underfoot) immerse you in Lighthouse Cove’s winter chaos. If you’re craving a mystery where the sleuth’s expertise feels earned and the narrator makes you *care* about the body in the gingerbread house, this delivers—though you might want to skip the eggnog while listening.