Eggnog & Evidence: A Maine Campground Cozy Mystery
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Maine
Publisher ‏ : Independently Published
Publication Date ‏ : ‎ October 13, 2026

Synopsis

Some secrets are like Christmas lights: they get worse the more you try to untangle them.

Noelle Cooper is teaming up with her family to launch a festive new venture: a holiday extravaganza complete with Santa, gallons of eggnog, and a spectacular tree lighting guaranteed to make the season merry and bright.

There’s just one problem: Holly Winterbourne, the abrasive holiday consultant Noelle’s father has hired to help pull it off. Holly insists on holding a practice run at Babbling Brook Campground—in the middle of July—and she rubs everyone the wrong way.

When an incident at the tree lighting turns deadly, the festivities come to a shocking halt. Noelle feels partly responsible for the tragedy, but then the police determine that it was no accident, and Noelle’s guilt turns to suspicion. She sets out to discover who tried to pull the plug on the festival.

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Guest Post

Christmas in July versus a Traditional Maine Cozy Christmas

Even if you’ve never been to Maine, you’re probably familiar with the stereotypical, picturesque Christmas scene:

• fat snowflakes falling outside
• a crackling fire burning inside
• hot cocoa with marshmallows
• loved ones snuggled under blankets
• the perfectly decorated Christmas tree aglow in the background

Books and Hallmark movies will make you drool over a Maine Christmas scene, and that’s even before anyone brings out the baked goods!

I adore my family’s traditional Maine Christmas. My parents decorate every inch of the house, there is enough food to feed an army, and friends and family come together for hours of catching up and exchanging gifts. There are always at least twenty pairs of boots scattered by the door, and everyone is wearing their coziest sweaters.

When I set out to write my first holiday book in the Maine Campground Cozy Mystery series, I considered setting the story in December and highlighting all the things that make Christmas my favorite holiday to celebrate in Maine.

The problem: how to include all of the quirky characters that make up Babbling Brook Campground? Those characters are the “summer people” in the life of the main character, Noelle. And the campground setting keeps Noelle on the go, especially when she has her beagle, Corny, in tow.

So, I decided to write the Christmas in July book, Eggnog & Evidence. The challenge was finding new traditions, fun and games, and foods that the characters would enjoy on hot summer days.

Here’s how Babbling Brook Campground’s Christmas in July festival compares to a traditional Maine Christmas in winter:

Tree Lighting Ceremony

In July, the sun sets late behind the mountains that surround Mirror Lake. You wait until at least nine o’clock for the residual light to fade before setting off fireworks or holding a tree lighting ceremony.

The opposite is true in November and December. During those months, it gets dark by 5:00 PM in Maine. The temperature is usually in the thirties (Fahrenheit) by then, so the sooner you light the trees, the sooner everyone can get home to warm up! And if you miss the tree lighting, you can always drive around with the heat on looking at the neighborhood lights.

Snowman Building Competition

A sand sculpture or sand “snowman” competition is the way to go in July. Throw on a bathing suit, grab a bucket, and head to the beach.

Sometimes December in Maine can be dry and brown, and you’re truly “dreaming of a white Christmas.” Often, you get your wish at the last minute, and you’re able to make a snowman on Christmas Day.

Holiday Music

At the campground in July, fast-paced Christmas tunes keep the festival vibes alive. Turn the volume up so everyone can hear it.

In December, when the thermometer dips and you’re stuck inside, Bing Crosby and traditional holiday hymns offer comfort and coziness. Keep the volume low, so you can hear the crackle of the fire.

Ugly Sweater Contest

Instead of showing off your most cringe-worthy holiday sweater, Christmas in July gets whacky with a frozen t-shirt contest. Fold some wet shirts, freeze them, and then everyone must try to get their head and arms through the t-shirt holes. It’s a race to see who can do it the fastest.

Christmas Meals

Hot, heavy foods are too much for the July heat. Besides the cookies, eggnog, and ice cream, a Christmas in July feast in Maine might include a green pesto pasta salad with sweet, red cherry tomatoes. Finish it off with a slice of red and white peppermint cream pie.

A traditional Maine Christmas dinner would include roast turkey or ham, cranberry sauce, Canadian meat pie (Tourtière), and buttery dinner rolls. For dessert, a little slice of both chocolate cream pie and pecan pie (because you shouldn’t have to choose just one).

Santa’s Arrival

In July, Santa comes in on a boat! And he’s wearing shorts, because that big red suit will make him sweat out half his body weight in that heat.

A traditional Maine Christmas festival or parade will have Santa arriving on a sleigh pulled by horses, a pickup truck, or a tractor. And he’s probably wearing two layers of long underwear beneath his fuzzy red suit to stay warm.

Holiday Fun No Matter the Season

Although I adore the traditional Maine Christmas in December, I had fun writing the Christmas in July story set at the campground. It just takes a little imagination to turn your favorite event or holiday into one you can celebrate at any time of year. I highly recommend it!

About the Author

Nikki Weber grew up reading in unconventional places: the backseat of a car, the top of the monkey bars on her backyard play set, and the corners of the quietest hallways in her elementary school. She was born and raised in Maine and spent her childhood summers camping with her family and their beagle. She loves dogs, nachos, coffee, and ice cream, and so far, she’s managed to work three of those four things into the books in the Maine Campground Cozy Mystery series. She’s working on her next book right now, so grab a copy of whatever you haven’t read yet and get started!

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