Murder on 34th Street by Colette Clark and featuring her plucky sleuth Penelope Banks is a cozy mystery novel set in 1920s New York during the holiday season. The book follows Penelope “Pen” Banks and her cousin Cordelia as they attend the Macy’s Christmas Parade ending at 34th Street. Pen also plans to host Detective Richard Prescott’s family for Thanksgiving dinner and is on the hunt for a popular toy for Richard’s young nephew.

While shopping for the toy, Pen stumbles upon a murder in the toy store’s back room. Despite the police arresting a suspect, Pen is not convinced of their guilt and decides to investigate further. When the crime seems to follow her home, Pen enlists the help of her and Richard’s families to solve the mystery.

The book offers a delightful blend of historical detail, cozy mystery elements, and holiday cheer. The setting of 1920s New York during Prohibition and the Jazz Age adds a unique and interesting backdrop to the murder investigation. The characters, including Pen and Richard, are well-drawn and engaging, and the mystery plot is well-crafted with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing until the end.

Murder on 34th Street is an enjoyable and engaging read that will appeal to fans of cozy mysteries, historical fiction, and holiday-themed books. The book is the eighth in the Penelope Banks Mystery series but can be read as a standalone adventure.

You can get this fun holiday romp from Amazon here.