Ep. 25: Holidays (The Holiday Swap + I Am Half Sick of Shadows)

Summary: It’s a holly, jolly holiday here on Hearts & Daggers! Today, Holly and Devin discuss books set during this holiday season. Whatever holiday you do (or don’t) celebrate, these co-hosts appreciate the season for its coziness, the twinkling lights, and an excuse to spike hot chocolate with Bailey’s Irish Cream before the seasonal depression really hits. Both books this round are on the lighter side, and for Holly that means just one (1) murder. 

Topics Discussed:

• The Heart (5:26): Devin discussed The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox, a book chockablock full of fun romance tropes. Cass and Charlie are identical twin sisters living very different lives; Charlie is a glamorous cooking show co-host down in LA, while Cass helps run their parents’ bakery in their quiet, quaint hometown. Due to a series of unfortunate (or fortunate?) events, they switch places without telling anyone and get a taste for how the other twin lives. Her key takeaways were:

• Written under a penname by two Canadian journalist/authors, The Holiday Swap is a delightful combo of The Princess Switch, The Parent Trap, and the entire Hallmark Channel without, somehow, being too much in a single book. 
• Cass and Charlie are endearing protagonists and their love interests (a Physician’s Assistant and a Firefighter) are unique, interesting, and just the right amount of stereotypically hunky. 
• Unlike many holiday romances, the side characters in this novel are well-rounded and complete, adding depth to a light romance that does in fact include a small-town holiday festival with vendor booths, hot coco, and ice skating. 

• The Dagger (20:28): Holly discussed I Am Half Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley, the fourth book in the Flavia de Luce mystery series. Set at Christmastime in 1950s England, Flavia’s family rents their derelict mansion out to a film crew for the holidays after they fall on hard times financially. Flavia is principally focused on finally catching Santa by concocting a glue that will stick him to the chimney flue, but when someone is found murdered in the mansion this 11 year-old pivots with gusto. Her key takeaways were:

• Written from Flavia’s point of view, the book runs rampant with philosophical, literary, and mythological references with lots of dry wit and humor that allows our youthful protagonist to really shine. 
• Bradley weaves in some Sherlockian moments in the novel; Flavia has chemical expertise and attention to detail that helps her notice aspects of crime scenes or corpses that the detectives all miss.
• Overall, the mystery itself was a bit lacking but the biting wit of the writing and a young narrator we can root for made this novel a true holiday delight for anyone who loves murder but also cozy season. 

• Hot On the Shelf (44:27):

• Devin: Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun
• Holly: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

• What’s Making Our Hearts Race (47:34):

• Devin: Single All The Way on Netflix
• Holly: The Menu (film)

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