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Curious what kind of sleuth you’d be in a cozy mystery? Erica Wynters has put together a super-fun post featuring a game for the Holidays & Homicides tour. Dive in and see which sleuth fits you best, and don’t miss my own review of the collection!
What Kind of Sleuth Are You?
By Erica Wynters
If you’ve ever read a mystery and thought, I would’ve solved that by chapter five, you’re in good company. Cozy mystery readers are a special breed—we love our small towns, our quirky neighbors, and our puzzles tucked between cups of tea and trays of cookies.
But if you suddenly found yourself in a real-life mystery—say, in a rural Illinois town called Star Junction, where gossip travels fast and the local florist seems to attract more crime scenes than corsages—what kind of sleuth would you be?
Let’s find out.
Grab your favorite cozy beverage (bonus points if it’s peppermint cocoa), and take this quick quiz to discover your inner detective type.
1. You notice your neighbor acting strangely. What do you do?
- A) Start a discreet background search—there’s always a paper trail somewhere.
- B) Trust your gut—something feels off, and you’ve learned to listen to that inner voice.
- C) You just happen to trip over the evidence while delivering banana bread.
2. Your go-to investigation tool is:
- A) A notebook full of observations, color-coded and cross-referenced.
- B) Your intuition—and maybe your cat’s reaction to suspects. (Cats always know.)
- C) Dumb luck, a friendly smile, and your smartphone camera set to “oops, did I just record that?”
3. When you crack the case, it’s because:
- A) You connected the dots no one else saw.
- B) You understood the people, not just the facts.
- C) The culprit practically confessed while you were chatting about scones.
4. Your favorite part of a mystery is:
- A) The logic puzzle—how all the clues fit together perfectly.
- B) The emotional payoff—justice, healing, and community restored.
- C) The chaos—because somehow, you’re always in the middle of it!
5. If you could be any fictional detective, you’d choose:
- A) Sherlock Holmes, for the razor-sharp mind.
- B) Miss Marple, for the heart and humanity.
- C) Jessica Fletcher, for solving crimes between pie contests and PTA meetings.
Now, tally your answers!
Mostly A’s: The Analytical Detective You’re sharp, methodical, and meticulous. You thrive on logic and love the thrill of fitting each piece of evidence into its proper place. You’d probably have your own corner in Star Junction’s Camelot Flowers shop—a whiteboard covered in alibis, timelines, and floral diagrams linking the suspects.
You’re a natural-born problem solver, and while others might overlook a clue, you never do. Gwen Stevens, Star Junction’s resident florist-sleuth, would admire your precision. You’d be the one she calls when she needs someone to remember which bouquet was delivered before the suspicious fire started.
Your cozy weapon of choice: A magnifying glass and a perfect floral arrangement. Your catchphrase: “The petals always tell the story.”
Mostly B’s: The Intuitive Amateur You lead with your heart and follow your instincts. You understand people, their quirks, their secrets, their kindnesses. Maybe you’d fit right in at Camelot Flowers, helping Gwen choose the perfect sympathy bouquet—only to notice something off about the handwriting on the card.
You’re the kind of sleuth who senses the truth before the evidence confirms it. You’d be by Gwen’s side during the town’s Christmas Market, recognizing that the tension between two craft vendors wasn’t just about booth placement—it was about betrayal, envy, and a spark that would literally ignite.
Your cozy weapon of choice: A steaming mug of tea and an empathetic ear. Your catchphrase: “I can’t explain it—I just know.”
Mostly C’s: The Accidental Sleuth Let’s be honest—you didn’t mean to get involved. You were just minding your own business, juggling holiday orders at Camelot Flowers, when you tripped over the fire hose and landed in the middle of a mystery. But once you’re there, you can’t help but dig in.
You’re endlessly curious, wonderfully persistent, and usually in the right place at the wrong time. You might not plan your investigations, but somehow you end up saving the day anyway.
Gwen would welcome you as her partner—right after she reminds you not to step in the poinsettias.
Your cozy weapon of choice: A casserole dish and sheer luck. Your catchphrase: “Wait—that’s the murder weapon?”
So… what kind of sleuth are you?
No matter your type, every cozy mystery needs all three kinds of detectives to thrive. The Analytical keeps the story grounded in logic, the Intuitive brings warmth and heart, and the Accidental reminds us that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.
Take Gwen Stevens, for instance—the florist at the heart of the Camelot Flowers Mysteries. She never set out to solve crimes. But somehow, between arranging centerpieces and keeping her best friend Penny out of trouble, she’s uncovered more secrets than the Star Junction library has romance novels.
In Gwen’s latest adventure in the cozy mystery anthology Holidays and Homicides by Gemma Halliday Publishing, Holly, Handcuffs, and Hearsay, Christmas cheer takes a dangerous turn. When a craft booth at the town’s holiday market bursts into flames, one vendor accuses her longtime rival of arson. As sirens wail and snowflakes fall, Gwen’s best friend Penny—nine months pregnant—goes into labor. But instead of heading to the hospital, Penny insists on solving the mystery first.
Caught between contractions and clues, Gwen dives into a tangled web of rivalries, secrets, and holiday hijinks. With time running out and the cocoa cooling fast, she must crack the case before Christmas—and before Penny delivers a baby between the mistletoe and the marshmallows.
It’s a perfect example of why readers love cozy mysteries: heart, humor, friendship, and justice served with a side of baked goods.
So, whether you’re the meticulous detective, the intuitive empath, or the happy accident waiting to happen, remember this: in Star Junction—and in life—curiosity isn’t just a quirk. It’s your superpower.
Now tell me… which kind of sleuth are you?
Erica Wynters is the author of the Camelot Flowers Mysteries, set in the charming small town of Star Junction, Illinois, where bouquets come with a side of murder. When she’s not plotting fictional crimes, she can be found drinking too much iced tea, reading plenty of cozy mysteries, and dreaming up Gwen’s next adventure.
Holidays & Homicides: A Short Story Collection by Rosalie Spielman, Catherine Bruns, Gin Jones, Annie McEwen, Lena Gregory, Jennifer Fischetto, Anne Marie Stoddard, Kelly Rey, Misty Simon, Christine Knapp, Jamie L. Adams, Erica Wynters
About Holidays & Homicides
Holidays & Homicides: A Short Story Collection
Holiday Cozy Mysteries
Publisher : Gemma Halliday Publishing
Publication date : December 2, 2025
Print length : 419 pages
ASIN : B0FSNH17GM
From twelve USA Today bestselling and award-winning authors, comes a short story collection stuffed full of mirthful mysteries, clever criminals, and holiday cheer! These short holiday bites are perfect for enjoying between rounds of wrapping or binge-reading over a cup of cocoa!
Stories include:- A Hometown Christmas Caper (Hometown Mysteries)
by Rosalie Spielman - Gossip, Guilt & Gingerbread (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
by Lena Gregory - Larceny & Twinkle Lights (Jamie Winters Mysteries)
by Kelly Rey - Holidays & Heists (Aloha Lagoon Mysteries)
by Anne Marie Stoddard - Ornaments, Surprise & Dead Guys (Gianna Mancini Mysteries)
by Jennifer Fischetto - It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Mischief (Northwoods Mysteries)
by Annie McEwen - You Can’t See the Forest for the Christmas Trees (Modern Midwife Mysteries)
by Christine Knapp - Jingle Bell Rocker (Sunny Side Up Mysteries)
by Misty Simon - Holly, Handcuffs, and Hearsay (Camelot Flowers Mysteries)
by Erica Wynters - Search for the Silent Santa (Ghost Town Mysteries)
by Jamie L. Adams - Nothing But Truffle (Cookies & Chance Mysteries)
by Catherine Bruns - A Heartland Homicide (Bourbon B&B Mysteries)
by Gin Jones
About the Authors
Discover more about these talented writers. Scroll down to read their full bios and connect with them online.
My Review of Holidays & Homicides
Holidays & Homicides is such a fun, easy-to-read collection. Perfect for the busy holiday season when you want something festive and mysterious but don’t quite have the time or focus for a full novel. With twelve short stories from twelve cozy mystery authors, it offers a great mix of familiar favorites and completely new-to-me voices.
One of the things I enjoyed most was how each story gave me a quick peek into a different cozy world. It’s also a great way to get introduced to new authors and series that I now want to explore, always a win for any cozy reader!
While the title promises “Homicides,” not all of the mysteries involve a murder. Some focus on missing items, holiday pranks, or smaller crimes. Even so, they all carry that cozy charm, seasonal spirit, and character-driven storytelling I love.
Overall, this collection is charming, varied, and perfect for squeezing in a little mystery between holiday chaos. If you’re looking for quick, festive, and fun cozy reads, this anthology is definitely worth picking up.
Buy Links: TOUR PARTICIPANTS:- December 2 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW
- December 2 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
- December 3 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
- December 3 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – AUTHOR GUEST POST
- December 4 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
- December 4 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW – AUTHOR GUEST POST
- December 5 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – AUTHOR GUEST POST
- December 5 – Hall Ways Blog – SPOTLIGHT
- December 6 – @bibliophile_foodie – REVIEW
- December 6 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT
- December 6 – Jemima Pett, Author – REVIEW
- December 7 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
- December 8 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT
- December 8 – Bea’s Book Nook – REVIEW – INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY
- December 9 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST
- December 9 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
- December 10 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW
- December 10 – Caboodle of Cozies – SPOTLIGHT
- December 11 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
- December 11 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
- December 12 – Salty Inspirations – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST
- December 12 – The Mystery of Writing – SPOTLIGHT
- December 13 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
- December 13 – Reading Is My SuperPower – SPOTLIGHT
- December 14 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
- December 15 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW
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I’m definitely the Analytical Sleuth!
I love this guest post. So much fun! I’m so happy you enjoyed Holidays & Homicides! Thank you so much for taking the time to review, and thank you for sharing our release!