Books Like The Toast of New Year’s Eve

New Year is a time for celebration with friends or family as everyone looks forward to an optimistic future. It is often also a time of gratitude and introspection while new goals are set and resolutions are made. Of course, the celebrations are also a big part of New Year as feasts and festivities are held to mark the occasion. However, not everyone attends these events to reconnect and celebrate. Sometimes the celebrations can turn sinister, such as The Toast of New Year’s Eve by Virginia K. Bennett, where a partygoer drops dead when the clock strikes midnight at an Elegant Eighties New Year’s Eve Party. Librarian Rebecca Ramsey and her police chief boyfriend are in attendance when this happens and set out to solve the mystery of the deceased woman.  For more novels that take place during New Year, but with a murder mystery twist, check out the following books like The Toast of New Year’s Eve. A New Year’s MurderBy Beatrix WoodleyA New Year’s Murder by Beatrix Woodley is set in the town of Shady Pines, where Vivian Cross is hosting the annual New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball. Vivian is a somewhat reclusive historian who is passionate about solving unsolved historical crimes, but never imagined she would end up with a murder at her own festive gathering. Her social anxiety makes her an unlikely sleuth, but with the town’s wealthiest restaurant found dead in a shadowed corner of her Victorian mansion, she has no choice but to investigate. Fortunately, Vivian is joined by retired detective Milo and her tech-savvy cousin Ellie, as they race to track down the killer before they can strike again.Murder on New Year’s EveBy P. CreedenMurder on New Year’s Eve by P. Creeden is a quick, clean, cozy mystery starring 20-year-old Emma Wright and Colby Davidson. Emma has a crush on Colby, who is the K9 search and rescue deputy, so she is thrilled when he allows her to accompany him while he’s on patrol at the Ridgeway Illumination Festival. Emma hopes that the night might end in a kiss that will take them beyond just being friends. However, when they are asked by a stranger to take some pictures at the event, things take a darker turn. The man’s girlfriend is killed and Emma and Colby’s assistance turns them into alibis for him. While all the clues seem to indicate a robbery gone bad, Emma has her doubts. New Year’s Eve MurderBy Leslie MeierNew Year’s Eve Murder is part of the Lucy Stone Mysteries series by Leslie Meier. In this novel, Lucy Stone and her daughter Elizabeth are ready to ring in the new year in style after Elizabeth wins a mother/daughter winter makeover from Jolie magazine. The duo embarks on an all-expenses-paid trip to Manhattan, but things start to go south after arriving at the magazine’s offices. The two sense a lot of bitterness and aggression thanks to the backstabbing, rumors, and cliquishness at the magazine. Then, when the self-absorbed fashion editor Nadine Nelson falls mysteriously ill and dies, and Nadine is rushed to hospital with disturbingly similar symptoms, Lucy has to track down the killer.Deadly New YearBy Helen GoldenDeadly New Year is a novella in the “A Right Royal Cozy Investigation” series by Helen Golden. Lady Beatrice, the Countess of Rossex, is hosting the annual New Year’s Eve event for the first time and is somewhat nervous about her hosting debut. The ball is a tradition at Francis Court and is held yearly as a thank you to the two hundred staff and their partners working at the family’s sixteenth-century stately home and estate. Lady Beatrice hired a sought-after event company to handle the planning and catering. However, when one of the event planners is found dead, Lady Beatrice sets out to find the murderer before the partygoers find out what happened. Have a Deadly New YearBy Lynn CahoonHave a Deadly New Year is part of the Farm-to-Fork Mysteries series by Lynn Cahoon. In this novel, Chef Angie Turner and her crew are catering a bash for a famous band. Even more exciting, Angie and her crew get to stay at the singer’s Sun Valley house for an entire week once the New Year party is over. Unfortunately, things don’t turn out as planned when one of the musicians is found murdered. Not sure whether it was over creative differences turned lethal or other motives, Angie and her fellow foodies try to solve the case themselves before the killer can strike again.New Year, New MurderBy Kathleen SuzetteNew Year, New Murder is A Freshly Baked Cozy Mystery entry by Kathleen Suzette. The story is set in Sandy Harbor, Maine where things appear to be business as usual for the new year. That is until there is a murder and Allie, discovers the victim is her friend Lucy’s ex-husband. The only problem is that Lucy never told anyone that she ever had an ex-husband. This puzzles Allie as the two always tell each other everything. Even worse, Allie made the grisly discovery in Lucy’s storage shed. All evidence points towards Lucy, but Allie sets out to investigate if her friend is being framed or if she really murdered her ex-husband. New Year NuisanceBy Tonya KappesNew Year Nuisance is a Holiday Cozy Mystery novel by Tonya Kappes. It is set in the small town of Holiday Junction, where New Year’s Eve has always been a special time thanks to the Sparkle Ball, which is an annual tradition. Unfortunately, the murder of local nuisance and troublemaker, Hillary Stevens, whose body is found in holiday town’s mini-village, puts a damper on things. Violet Rhinehammer, the town’s resident nosy journalist, takes it upon herself to uncover the truth behind the murder and bring the killer to justice. However, the town is full of secrets, and the killer might strike again.