Murder on 34th Street by Mariah Fredericks: Book Review

Murder on 34th Street is the latest release from Mariah Fredericks. Expected to be released on October 6, 2026, it takes readers to Macy’s Department store in 1932. Grace Verlander is the assistant to personnel and, as such, knows everyone in the store. The day before the famed Thanksgiving Parade, the man who will be Santa tells her he received a threatening note. She’s left wondering who would hurt Santa Claus?

I want to thank Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of Murder on 34th Street. All opinions presented here are solely mine.

Synopsis from Goodreads

New York, 1932. Grace Verlander is the secret beating heart of Macy’s. She’s the “assistant to the assistant to the someone who’s in charge”, the go-to person for keeping everything running smoothly behind-the-scenes at the famous, bustling store.

It’s not every day you get a letter from Santa Claus, but three days before the Macy’s annual Thanksgiving Day Parade, Grace arrives at work to find a note from the store Santa Claus in her someone has sent him a death threat. Shocked, Grace promises to look into it and speaks to the store detective about the parade’s security, confident that they’ve found a solution that will keep everyone safe. But on the day of the parade, despite all their precautions, a dead body is found in the holiday section of the store.

Using her wits and deep knowledge of the ways of the place, Grace is determined to find the killer and seek justice—not just for the dead man, but to save the reputation of this iconic store from ruin.

My Opinions

Why did I add Murder on 34th Street to my TBR? There were multiple reasons for it. One is the fact that I love Miracle on 34th Street. While I knew this wouldn’t be the same as the sweet, cozy movie, I already knew where it was set! The second reason is that it’s set during the holiday season and isn’t a rom-com. And the third reason? I’ve read a previous book by Fredericks and wanted to read more of her work.

While reading the book, I loved the way Fredericks told the story. Many of her descriptions of the characters and the setting felt as though they were written in the 1930s instead of the 2020s. I mean, who calls a character a “gal” anymore? That being said, the book was still very easy to read and understand.

Now to the mystery! There were plenty of suspects to choose from. They all had reasons for the murder, or at least you are led to believe that they do. I must say, though, that the reveal was a tad underwhelming. Partly because I don’t think I ever had the murderer on my radar. However, I don’t know why I didn’t. I don’t want to say more, because I don’t want to spoil anything.

Overall, if you are looking for a holiday read that isn’t a romance yet is full of holiday feelings, you should give Murder on 34th Street a read. Fredericks’ historical fiction is next level, and you won’t be disappointed.

Are you looking for some more books to read? Check out my bookish lists, book reviews, and monthly reading wrap-ups.