How the Finch Stole Christmas

Christmas is coming to Ruby Lake, and the only things on Birds & Bees owner Amy Simms’ wish list are peace, quiet, and her beau. What she gets is murder. Before Amy can get into the holiday spirit, she meets Franklin Finch, the arrogant new owner of Christmas House Village, one of the most beloved attractions in town. Locals are upset over his decision to sack staff members for younger, cheaper help and changing the name of the store.

Finch voids the contract with Amy to provide birdseed ornaments for the Village Store and doesn’t care what happens to her or her business. It seems he is the biggest Scrooge around. That is until his dead body is found swinging in the attic of one of the festive Victorians that make up Christmas House Village.

Chief Kennedy isn’t happy when Amy is on-site at another investigation scene and shouting murder. He doesn’t believe that Mr. Finch was murdered and would prefer her to drop the matter. Amy sets out to prove him wrong. But while her investigation quickly reveals a gaggle of disgruntled ex-Christmas House Village employees and unusual clues, Amy must move with caution as she focuses in on the killer.

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Series: A Bird Lover’s Mystery – Book 6
Author: J.R. Ripley
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Animal/Holiday
Publisher: Lyrical Underground

Rating:

There is much to enjoy in J.R. Ripley’s How the Finch Stole Christmas. The characters are warm, kind, and compassionate, as well as stubborn and mischievous. The plot is original with enough Christmas cheer to make it believable without being laughable. There is no sexual content or bad language, and the writing is fluid with no awkward transitions.

Amy’s Christmas may not have a jolly ending if she isn’t careful. Someone doesn’t like her interfering with the investigation into Finch’s death, and they are showing their displeasure. Amy is a determined individual and will not stop until the truth is revealed. She is a very likable character with drive and personality.

The other characters are memorable and well rounded. Ester and Kim are very different people, but in many ways, they are also the same. They work with Amy; one considered her best friend, the other a pain in the behind. Yet they work well together; they care about Amy’s business and life.

The location of Ruby Lake is a wonderful setting for a Christmas story. The town is involved in every aspect of the story and is truly a place the reader would like to visit during the holidays. The descriptions of the other businesses, people, and surrounding scenery are detailed enough to be interesting without being overt.

There are a few problems, the story ends too abruptly, and a situation does not get resolved, leaving the reader hanging. Unfortunately, this is unnecessary to the plot of the story or the next book in the series. It would have been better to end the book with all situations resolved. However, the book is still enjoyable.

How the Finch Stole Christmas is a fast-paced read filled with action, as well as great characters. It is recommended to those who enjoy writers such as Jacqueline Frost or Donna Andrews. Overall it is a good story that is well worth reading and will keep the reader guessing to the end.