I used to turn to Louise Penny’s Armand Gamache books when I wanted beautiful writing. Now, I do the same with Paula Munier’s mysteries. In The Snow Lies Deep, the seventh Mercy Carr mystery, Munier describes a Vermont Christmas with poetic, magical turns of phrase. It’s a suspenseful book, with nostalgic, rustic descriptions of the town of Northshire and Grackle Tree Farm.
Just a little background. Mercy Carr is a former MP who spent time in Afghanistan, as did her bomb-sniffing dog, Elvis, and Troy Warren, her game warden husband. Mercy and Elvis both suffered from PTSD. Now, though, Mercy and Troy, and all of their extended family are celebrating the first Christmas for their daughter, Felicity. That means everyone is enjoying the wonder of winter through the eyes of a toddler, including Northshire’s Solstice Soiree, twelve days of eating, drinking and making merry that begins with the winter solstice.
When Santa abruptly deserts his post where he’s greeting children, Mercy and Elvis follow him into the woods. Although they’re not far behind him, they’re far enough that the man has been killed and set ablaze with a Yule log. Uncle Laz was a family friend, the acting mayor, and the organist for the upcoming Living Christmas Tree. Mercy thought she knew the man, but it isn’t long before they discover Uncle Laz had secrets as a fiancee and an adult daughter come forward. It’s just the first secret surrounding Laz, and it’s also the first murder in town that season. It’s Mercy’s mother, Grace, in charge of the Solstice Soiree who pushes her daughter to investigate the deaths. While everyone insists “Nothing is going to interfere with Felicity’s first Christmas”, multiple deaths can interfere.
Despite all the murders and the secrets, along with a somewhat confusing ending with too many people involved, The Snow Lies Deep is a beautifully written descriptive story that captures the picturesque Vermont winter and Christmas celebrations. If you’re looking for a mystery that’s filled with the magic of the season, this is it.
Paula Munier’s website is https://www.paulamunier.com/
The Snow Lies Deep by Paula Munier. Minotaur Books, 2025. 320p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a galley from the publisher, through NetGalley, with no promise of a positive review.
I really like Paula Munier’s series too and am certainly up for reading something beautiful and cozy right now! Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll probably curl up with this one closer to Christmas.
Beautiful, Kate. Not necessarily cozy with the murders, but the atmosphere she creates is certainly cozy.
Would love to read all of her books!
You can read this one as a standalone, but I do recommend, Carol, that you start at the beginning of the series with A Borrowing of Bones.
Thank you for this review, Lesa! I really like the emotional depth of the Mercy Carr books.
Me, too, Trisha. Her books have that quality missing in even many of the mysteries I enjoy.
I just got the new Karen Pirie book by Val McDermid from the Cloud Library, and this one should be next. Can’t wait.
A little muddled at the end, Jeff, but worth it for every descriptive word.
I have been meaning to start this series for a while and think I will do so in the new year. I’m not really a dog person, but I do have granddogs – ha! And you know me – I love mysteries and crime novels. Thanks for sharing, Lesa!
I’m not a dog person either, Kay, but I love Elvis and Susie Bear this this series. I think you’ll like the depth of these mysteries.
I have not read anything by Paula Munier, and don’t know why. This wonderful review was the nudge i needed. Now to decide if I want to read this one or the first in the series. Which do you recommend?
I’d start with the first, Kaye. It provides the background. They’re all written beautifully. But, if you’re in the mood for a story set at Christmas, Paula said in her newsletter that you can read them in any order.