Kiss Kringle

Search and Rescue Cozy Mysteries, Book 8

By: Patti Benning

Narrated by: Julie McKay

Sometimes holiday celebrations…
Can be murder.

Ten days before Christmas, German Shepherd owner and amateur sleuth, Eve, attends a holiday party with Aidan at the Granite Pines Retreat and finally gets to see where he works.

Romance is in the air, and a run-in with some mistletoe leads to their first kiss.

Eve is bubbling over with happiness all evening…until they decide to look for Aidan’s work friend, Hector, who said he was going to grab something from his employee locker…an hour earlier.

When they discover that Hector has met a tragic end, Eve is positive that the culprit is someone who is attending the party.

Eve knows that she has to get to the bottom of not only what happened, and whodunit, but also…why?

Can she crack the case of the Christmas killer before they strike again? Find out in this Canine Cozy Mystery!

©2024 Patti Benning (P)2025 Blue Nose Publishing

Deadly Mistletoe

Adorable cozy mystery series with the added bonus of furry friends! This series is a bunch of short and sweet novellas about Evelyn Foster and her two search dogs. Great series! I cant wait to read more about Evelyn Foster!

Book 5: Kiss Kringle
Eve and Aidan are attending his work Christmas party! Eve is so excited as they get their first kiss under the mistletoe. As Aidan gives her a tour of his workplace, they discover his good friend Hector murdered. Aidan is devastated. Can Eve help him solve this crime?

Secret retreat murder, what could go wrong?

Kiss Kringle delivers another cozy mystery from Patti Benning, this time set against the backdrop of a secluded retreat where Aidan is working. The setting itself adds an extra layer of intrigue, and as always, Patti knows how to build atmosphere and keep the mystery moving.

While I still very much enjoyed the story, the motive behind the murder felt a little weaker to me than in previous installments. That said, it didn’t pull me out of the book. The pacing remained strong throughout, and the plot unfolded smoothly enough that I stayed invested, even when the “why” didn’t quite land as solidly as the “who.”

Julie McKay once again deserves high praise. Her narration absolutely carried this story for me. She keeps the tension balanced with warmth, maintains excellent momentum, and brings clarity and distinction to a wide cast of characters. Her performance makes these books such an easy, comforting listen.

Overall, Kiss Kringle is still a solid and enjoyable entry in the series. It may not be my favorite mystery in terms of motive, but it’s cozy, well paced, and exactly the kind of audiobook I reach for when I want something engaging without being heavy.

Granite Pines Retreat Explained

The mysterious Granite Pines Retreat Center has been casually mentioned throughtout the series as this weird place that Aidan works. Now it is front and center and the location of the latest murder, as well as Aidan and Eve's first kiss. As the story unravels, we meet many of Aidan's coworkers and party guests, of course the potential murders. Patti creates a detailed group of characters without giving away too much. Julie McKay's performance is brilliant as always, finding a unique voice for each character.

Eve, Alice and Aiden

Book 8 in the Search and Rescue Cozy Mystery series

Eve and Alice attend Aiden's work Christmas Party at the Retreat.

During a tour, they enter the staff lounge, that's where they come across Hector, Aidens work colleague

Who Killed Hector

Love the narrator Julie McKay, she does such a great job you forget she is the solo narrator.

Loving these stories.

Couldn’t stop listening!

Unsure if she was going on a date, Eve attends as Aidan’s guest to his work Christmas Party at Granite Pines Retreat. A night to relax and have fun, meeting new friends took an unexpected turn, a work colleague of Aidan is found murdered.

The premise of the story kept me turning the pages. A lot of ground is covered within this shorter format, easy to follow and kept me guessing throughout. Willow and Atlas, Eve’s search and rescue dogs didn’t feature as much in this book. I don’t dislike this variation within the series. Not every mystery will require her search and rescue services.

The performance from Julie McKay is outstanding. The transition between character voices male and female is top tier. Is this a solo or multicast performance, who can tell. Completely engrossed in Julie’s performance.

Thank you Patti for another intriguing instalment in the Search and Rescue Cozy Mysteries series.

Thank you Blue Nose Audio for an entertaining advanced listener copy.