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Mayhem & Mistletoe (2020) by Amanda M. Lee is the seventeenth entry in the popular Avery Shaw Mystery series. The book follows reporter protagonist Avery Shaw in her hometown of Macomb County as a bizarre holiday‑themed murder case emerges amid tension both professional and personal. The story matters because Lee uses the festive backdrop to elevate stakes in the cozy‑mystery genre, blending humor, newsroom banter and serious danger in a fresh way for long‑time fans.
The book was published in 2020 and carries ISBN‑13: 979‑8657061000.
Setting & Author Context
The novel is set in suburban Michigan, centered around a small‑town newspaper environment where Avery Shaw works. The setting → provides → a familiar backdrop of newsroom antics and local crime. Amanda M. Lee’s style → draws on → her own newspaper experience, bringing authenticity and snark to the workplace scenes.
In Mayhem & Mistletoe, the holiday season becomes more than decoration: the seasonal context influences the tone, as the festive mischief masks darker deeds. The festive setting → contrasts → the danger Avery encounters, adding both levity and tension.
Plot Summary (No Spoilers)
In Mayhem & Mistletoe, Avery Shaw returns to her journalism post and finds herself drawn into a strange case: a pile of dead Santas near the railroad tracks in Macomb County. The death pile → triggers → Avery’s investigation into a drug ring that stretches into Detroit and beyond. One charmed element of the story is that Avery’s personal life is also in motion: her live‑in partner Eliot Kane is poised to propose, and Avery must navigate whether she’s ready. Meanwhile, local law‑enforcement contact Jake Farrell resists releasing names, complicating the case further. The investigation → heightens → professional pressure, personal stakes and imminent change for Avery. Linda Fe works to survive the unraveling danger while juggling her relationship and career.
Characters & Themes
Main characters:
- Avery Shaw — The series’ protagonist, a local newspaper reporter whose curiosity and courage drive the series. In this book Avery Shaw → faces → both career‑threatening investigations and personal crossroads.
- Eliot Kane — Avery’s loyal partner; Eliot Kane → represents → support, commitment and the question of “what’s next?” for Avery.
- Jake Farrell — Macomb County Sheriff’s deputy (or sheriff) figure; Jake Farrell → embodies → institutional resistance and the challenge of sharing truth.
- Drug‑ring suspects, Santa‑costumed victims — These characters help develop the thematic tension: the case → reveals → hidden layers of crime beneath holiday spectacle.
Themes:
- Balancing career ambition and personal life — The novel explores how Avery Shaw negotiates her professional drive with the possibility of major personal change.
- Holiday contrast: joy versus danger — The festive season backdrop emphasizes how appearances can mislead; the holiday cheer → masks → dark undercurrents.
- Journalistic ethics and risk — The story highlights how pursuing a story can entail real danger, and the newspaper environment gives authenticity to that theme.
- Growth and change — Avery Shaw is at a pivot point; the book suggests that even a seasoned sleuth may need to shift gears, accept new responsibilities or confront arrangement inertia.
Tropes & Reader Experience
Mayhem & Mistletoe uses several cozy‑mystery tropes — an amateur detective (though professional reporter), small‑town setting, quirky side characters — while injecting higher stakes and a seasonal theme. The tropes → define → reader expectations of light humor, a strong voice‑led narrator and a puzzle to solve. Amanda M. Lee delivers by combining snarky first‑person narration with genuine suspense, making the story appealing to readers who enjoy witty heroines, newsroom scenarios and cozy crime with edge. Reader ratings show an average of approximately 4.7 stars on Goodreads for this title.
For readers used to the series, the tone feels familiar yet the personal stakes and holiday theme give the book a fresh twist.
Series Placement / Reading Order
Mayhem & Mistletoe is #17 in the Avery Shaw Mystery series.
Here’s a brief snippet of the surrounding titles for context:
- #16: New Media & Old Grudges (2020)
- #17: Mayhem & Mistletoe (2020)
- #18: Weddings & Whodunits (2021)
While each book is written so that new readers can jump in, reading the series in order deepens character arcs—especially Avery’s personal growth and newsroom dynamics.
Reader Suitability / Why Read It
If you enjoy cozy mysteries that feature a sharp female reporter, small‑town settings, a holiday twist and a mix of humor and suspense, then Mayhem & Mistletoe is a strong pick. Amanda M. Lee’s Avery Shaw appeals to readers who like their sleuth smart‑mouthed, resourceful and relatable. The tone here is accessible, witty yet serious when it matters, and the genre classification as “cozy mystery” is accurate — albeit with more bite than some gentler examples. The novel → appeals to → fans of women sleuths, newsroom settings, snarky humor and layered crime‑plots. The holiday setting adds a festive flavor without undermining the mystery core.
Continue the Avery Shaw Mystery Series
Read other books in the Avery Shaw Mystery Series.