OUTSTANDING!!!! I knew the professor dude was the bad guy and his "mistress" was as well... shady ass peeps! 🤣🤣 I loved Xavier in this one... he had a much bigger part and his eccentricities make me love his character more and more... now that Sam officially proposed to Emma we need another book!!! I hope another is on the way! So much has evolved from the start of this series that my own life has been impacted by their journey... this is one of those series that could go on forever... as usual,...

I have been under the weather the past few days and have intentionally been waiting to write this review because I want to do it justice. All of the cough-cough-sneeze-sneeze isn’t exactly making concentration very easy. I also may be dragging my feet due to the fact that this is the last published book in the series and I’m all sorts of sad about it. I am guessing the latter has more to do with my procrastination so I will pull up my big girl skivvies, I will stop throwing my dramatic fit, and

The Girl and the Black ChristmasThis was not a great thriller. I always loved the books in this series but this one did not measure up to the rest. The first half of the book I basically past. The last part was the best part. I was really disappointed in this book.

Bechdel FailI thought the first book was a little rough, but hilarious, and loved Emma and her backstory. Despite the humor, the author did a great job with the horror of a serial killer. I was getting into the second book, and understood the psychology behind Emma being changed by life, and not wanting to recommit to Sam. I was looking forward to her exploring her own feelings and being the primary, sometimes on her own, and investigating the mysteries of her past and possibly other cases. as s...

This was an entertaining story about a woman who is an FBI agent, who has just come off some kind of trauma with a big case. Receiving a package with a gruesome item inside sends her mind reeling back to her first 'case' where her friend disappeared, while they were both college students. The story moves back and forth in time, spanning a couple of decades, as the agent continues to find odd and gruesome items in her mail. Using the packages and the expertise of her group of friends (not really

Emma is looking forward to spending the holidays with the family she’s built around herself.Bellamy, Eric, Dean, and Xavier are coming to Sherwood to celebrate the season with her and Sam, and she’s looking forward to spending some time relaxing and sharing traditions, old and new.Before the festivities can begin, she takes a trip to Feathered Nest to bring some closure, but before they can leave, an email brings an uncomfortable reminder that there are always more questions to be answered.Soon

Another great readAs always I hated for this book to end and hoping there will be another one. I have read all the books in the series. I have come to know and like all the characters especially Emma. As always this book is full of twist and turns. The writer always takes you to a great ending. There are clues along the way. Some I missed. Some were not real clues. You always get the answer towards the end of the book, but it is not in one place so do not cheat. Enjoy the ride!

Again we have a crime that has everything to do with Emma, and she is the only one that can solve it.  I liked the glimpse we got at her past, we get to see a little more of how were the days before her life changed and she became the woman she is now.  I feel like once again she has to go against everyone in order to solve the crime no one else is seeing.  I have to appreciate her drive and commitment to find the answer to her questions, to solve the mysteries no one else wants to acknowledge. ...

2.5 stars. This hasn’t been my favorite series, but it’s been entertaining. Emma isn’t exactly a likable character, but she has her moments. The supporting characters are far more interesting. This book has been my least favorite. It’s so convoluted and twisty, but not in a good way. It’s just too unbelievable, even in a series where most things are unbelievable. And Emma is a terrible FBI agent. She talks about how wonderful she is, but every decision she makes is terrible. I’d love a series wi...

Emma Griffin is my favorite!I've read every book in this series and this one did not disappoint. I was so thrilled to see the injuries and somewhat carelessness of Emma toned down a bit. I didn't much care for the "bouncing" of times but other than that Miss Rivers did an excellent job at holding my attention and keeping me intrigued. Emma seems to be maturing and realizing she's not invincible and I love that! Keep them coming Miss Rivers, I'll be waiting.

A little bizarreI’ve read all the Emma Griffin books. This one lost me a bit. It just didn’t seem to tie together very well. I still don’t understand the end quite honestly. I don’t want to ruin the end for anyone, I’ll just say the end didn’t really come together. There were people admitting to murders they didn’t do and characters coming out of nowhere that didn’t make a lot of sense. This was definitely not my favorite in the series.

Always great reading A.J. Rivers' books!I always look forward to continuing Emma Griffin's cases. This book was a little confusing at times going from 13 years ago to 17 years ago to present. But I eventually caught on. Emma is one tough cookie; stubborn but tough! Even at the end, I kept waiting for a final twist, but none came. I suspected who the bad guy was, but I usually do. Love these books!

The Girl and the Black Christmas"What do you mean?" How many times do you have to use that statement in one book? It's stupid. Like these people can't possibly understand a statement. I'm glad this is the last book. Emma is portrayed as a super agent but keeps making the same stupid mistakes in every case. She is a hot head who thinks she is such a great investigator. After 11 books she's old and tired. So am I. Goodbye.

I love Emma and Sam and hope A.J.Rivers continues the series. One of the best things about 2020 is that I found AJ and several other great Murder mystery authors. I have read over 50 books since March which probably doesn’t compare to others but it good for me. This book was so confusing to begin with and that’s what makes it hard to put down. Great writing, great story and great (kind of) conclusion.

Love the Emma series, 11 least favoriteI have really enjoyed the Emma series. It took me a little to get into book one but once I did I just kept scrolling through to the next book. Her plots are unique and most have a one book mystery with an overarching series mystery which I appreciate. Books1-10 I would give 4-5 stars. Less on this one because I felt it dragged a little, took along time to get into the plot and the time jump plot was too confusing for me until 3/4 in.

I’m at 32%, chapter 19 and nothing has happened. I’m bummed. I’ve really liked all the Emma books so far. I’m thinking the author had to get a third of the book in to the publisher and was just putting words on pages hoping for something to develop into a plot. I’m going to read another chapter or two then bail if it doesn’t get any better. I’ll amend this review if it gets interesting.

Book Review: The Girl and the Black Christmas by A.J. Rivers ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Another great Emma Griffin mystery!! I love following her journeys and all the different cases she is involved in! She has some great friends and I am so glad that Xavier is staying in the picture as he is definitely my favorite character. This was book 11 and I finished book 12 yesterday. Just found the 13th book as well and I can’t wait to read it!! Definitely recommend this book! #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookstagram #boo...

Another great readThis was good, a little slower in style this time but all very relevant. She is a master at intertwining story lines and just when you think something nay not be "relevant" you find how wrong you will be! I have loved making my way through these 12 books. Bravo! I am an avid reader & I read to escape. Rivers ability to craft her words in a way the reader can picture clearly what it all would have looked like.

Thank you,AJ! Great story!AJ Rivers is writing prolifically with my favorite characters, new & old, that move to places you get wrapped in! After giving us a glimpse of Emma's past, the story includes the oddities, the mysteries & keeps her focused on the task at hand to identify another crazed serial killer! 🤔 And the proposal by Sam topped off the horror with love & hope for Future.!

Emma thinks she is going on a simple Christmas vacation but she is wrong. She has to return to Feathers Nest beforehand and starts receiving strange things. It begins with an email with a holiday style puzzle related to past cases that she has worked on. After that, things become more extreme. I love how we got a bit more of Emma's backstory and how much Xavier has grown in this story. He really got more involvement this time and I loved it!

Emma is an amazing FBI agent and to think it all started by being a persistent teenager when her friend disappeared. Healing from her past while more of her past comes to light. Emma weaves through all the twists n turns and manages to figure things out. Will she finally heal from all her past?I received this as an arc and this is my honest and voluntary review.

ReviewEnjoyed this tremendously!! Was well written and liked the description of Christmas and Thanksgiving holidays.Really made you feel as if you were there! Can't wait for the next book and please keep all the same characters ,especially Xavier!! Really like him!!! Can't wait to read the next eleven!!! Keep them coming,A.J.!!!

Just a great book!I do not think this is as much a thriller as it is just a great criminal mystery. Emma is at it again, and we, as readers, are not disappointed! She and Same are getting closer with every book, but she still has time to solve a mystery! Rivers can weave a story together masterfully! Looking forward to the next one!

About 15% of the book is really interesting. It was filled with a lot of fluff until the last 85 percent of the book. Then everything rushed together. Most of her books have been a summary of previous books and things to fill space like what was eaten or cooked. Things that don't have a thing to do with the story line. Completely

WOWThis novel was the last one in the series and just as exciting and well written as all of the others. I read one after another in a week. They can be read as a stand alone but the author has woven all of the main characters into secondary stories that develop as you go along. Reading these books was a better treat than eating a box of gourmet chocolate!

The best Emma Griffin mystery so far.I have been binge reading this series and each book is a read all night page turner. The whole gang is part of Emma and Sam's holiday celebrations, but most of the investigation is pure Emma. The plot is a bit far fetched, but if you can get past the bubbles in the reality of the whole, the ending is worth the mental eye rolling you'll do.

A great way to spend the afternoon!This series is addictive. I read the first one and got hooked and have followed Emma through all of them. It gets scary sometimes, but it is really well written and entices the reader to keep on turning the page. Thank you!

Fabulous!!!This like all her books was just amazing! I love all the characters and especially weird Xavier lol💖👍. Looking forward to the next book since I've read everything she's written so far!

Great book!Great book that happens at Christmas, without the story being fully about Christmas! Lots of mystery, but mixed with nostalgia and a family/friend group that adds some holiday charm.

AJ has done it again! Another suspenseful FBI agent mystery. Agent Emma Griffin is like wonder woman and has survived more injuries than I care to think about. This is the latest in the series and I love that she gives us some of the back story as well. Great series and they flow from one book to the next.